He tried to check his thoughts, but they ran on till he remembered that he must fetch the lantern forgotten among the rocks, and that he should follow the twisting path up and down the hillside seemed more than he could accomplish.  Strength and will seemed to have departed from him; yet he must go back to fetch the lantern.  He had left it lighted, and some curious person might be led by the light ... the open sepulchre would attract his eye, and he might take up the light and discover the tomb to be empty.  It wasn’t likely, but some such curious one might be on the prowl.  Now was the only safe time to fetch the lantern.  He daren’t leave it....  At the first light Mary and Martha would be at the sepulchre, and the finding of a lantern by the door of the empty sepulchre would give rise to—­

He passed through his gates, locking them after him, too weary to think further what might and might not befall.

CHAP.  XIX.

And when he returned with the lantern he had forgotten he threw himself on his bed, remembering that he must not sleep, for to miss Esora as she came downstairs would mean to leave Jesus in pain longer than he need be left.  But sleep closed his eyelids.  Sleep!  He did not know if he had slept.  The room was still quite dark, and Esora did not come down till dawn; and, sitting up in his bed, he said:  God saved him from death, or raised him out of death, but he has not raised him yet into heaven.  He is in the gardener’s cottage!  If only Esora can cure him of his wounds, he continued, he and I might live together in this garden happily.

He closed his eyes so that he might enjoy his dream of Jesus’ companionship, but fell into a deeper sleep, from which he was awakened by the sound of footsteps on the stairs.  It is Esora trying to descend without awakening me, he said.  But nobody was on the stairs, and he stood listening on the landing, asking himself if Esora was at work so early.  And then it seemed to him that he could hear somebody in her pantry....  To make sure he descended and found her before her table brushing the clothes he had thrown off.  You must have been in my room and picked up my clothes without my hearing you, he said; it was not till you were on the second flight of stairs that I awoke.  I didn’t know that you rose so early, Esora.  It is still dusk.  And if I didn’t, Master, I don’t know how the work would get done.  But the Sabbath, Joseph rejoined; and incontinently began to discuss the observances of the Sabbath with her.  But even on the Sabbath there is work to be done, she answered; your clothes—­a nice state you brought them home in, and if they were not cleaned for you, you could not present yourself in the synagogue to-day.  But, Esora, Joseph answered faintly, I don’t see why you should be up and at work at this hour and that girl, Matred, still asleep.  Does she never help you in your work?  Esora muttered