To forfeit if the fame of Jesus grew." "And grow it did surpassing even their fears," Mary resumed, at silent sign from Paul; "For but a little while before, and nigh Jerusalem, a height of miracle Jesus had wrought. One four days dead, nay, one Already four days in his sepulcher, Our Lord, with only 'Lazarus, come forth!'-- Commanded in loud voice before the tomb-- Summoned to life again. The dead came forth Bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his head Bound with a napkin round about--no pause, Not of an instant, in obeying that word, Prevention none felt from impediment. Abrupt descent then from such miracle To the plain level of sobering commonplace. For he whom Jesus from the dead could call To leave his tomb, to stand upright, to walk, Unconscious of obstruction, swathed about With grave-clothes though he was, must be released By others from his bonds; the Master said To those near by, 'Loose him and let him go.'" While Mary told these things, a sense diffused Of something felt by all the Christians there, Felt, but acknowledged not in word or sign, Signalled itself despite to all the rest; And through a kind of dumb intelligence It came that Publius, Julius, and that deep Discerning Indian, Krishna, with one mind To all, unspoken, fixed inquiring gaze On Rachel and on Stephen, who their hands Meantime had silently, unconsciously, With simultaneous mutual movement clasped, As if in token of some memory Which they that moment felt between them rise, Some sacred memory, some undying love. Then Mary, with the happy instinct hers Of what was fitting to be said, and when, And what more fitting to be left unsaid, And how to say all, or how silent be, Assuming, with a look of deference First toward the twain, their present leave to speak-- Granted to her as so much trusted in For wisdom, and for love in wisdom poised-- Said, with a certain courtesy implied For Publius as the master of the feast, And for the others needing to be told: "That Lazarus, raised by Jesus from the dead, Is to the Christians of this company A name the dearer that to two of us He is the dearest memory of their lives. For after he had risen from the dead At Jesus' call he lived his human life As he before had done, till in due time A husband and a father he became. But Rachel lives in honored widowhood, As, with her, half in orphanhood lives Stephen, Because he after fell asleep in Christ To be waked only when Christ comes again."