CHAPTER VIII.
Before Matilda had any chance for more talk in private with David, theweek came to an end; and Sunday afternoon found her in Sunday school asusual. But not as usual, she had hardly a word or a minute to spare forSarah, who was telling of her progress in learning to use a sewingmachine and of her own and her mother's bettered health. Delightful asit was, and as Sarah's face was, all luminous with grateful and gladfeeling, Matilda through the whole of it was intent upon Mr.Wharncliffe and his motions; and the instant Sarah had left her shesprang to his side.
"Are you busy, sir? can I talk to you?"
"Talk?" said Mr. Wharncliffe; "then we want some time for it, do we?"
"If you please, sir; a little."
"Then we'll talk as we walk. Now, what is it?"
But Matilda waited, until they were out of hearing of all that theyknew; then in the solitude of the wide avenue she began.
"Mr. Wharncliffe, I want some advice. I don't just know how to managesomething."
"Very likely. Let us hear."
"I want to know how to speak to somebody who does not know about Jesus,and who wants to know."
"That often calls for wisdom," said Mr. Wharncliffe; "but I shouldthink it would not be difficult in your case. You can tell what youknow; what Jesus has done and is doing for you, and what he haspromised to do for everybody."
"Yes, sir, but it is not _that_. It is somebody who wants to knowwhether Jesus is the Messiah?" And Matilda looked up very eagerly inher teacher's face.
"Well. When 'somebody' has found out that Jesus is the Saviour, he willhave no doubt that he is the One 'anointed to save.' You know, Messiah,and Christ, mean simply 'anointed.'"
"Yes, sir, I know. But--this person--"
"What of him?" said Mr. Wharncliffe smiling. "Is he a very difficultperson?"
"Rather," said Matilda slowly; "because--he has never known that Jesus_is_ the Messiah."
"My dear child, to know that truly, in the full meaning and scope ofthe words, is what no one ever does except by the teaching of theSpirit of God."
"_That_ isn't it," said Matilda. "This person--does not know whether tobelieve the New Testament."
"I would not advise you, Matilda, to hold arguments with an infidel,young or old."
"O he is not an infidel, sir! He is a Jew."
"A Jew!" exclaimed Mr. Wharncliffe.
"Yes. And now, he wants to know whether Jesus is the Messiah."
"Is he in earnest, or talking for talk's sake?"
"Oh, in earnest, sir! very much in earnest."
There came a sudden veil over the clear blue eyes that looked down atMatilda; then their owner said,
"I must take you home with me."
It was not far, down a cross street. Mr. Wharncliffe left Matilda inthe parlour a few moments, and returned with a book in his hand.
"This is the best I can do for you," he said. "Unless you could bringyour friend to see me?"
"Oh no, sir! he would not. I don't think he has spoken to anybody butme."
"Nobody but you? Has he no one to speak to?"
"No, sir. Not about this."
"Well, my child, as I said, this is the best thing I can do for you."
"What is it, sir?"
"A first-rate reference Bible."
"I have got a Bible."
"I know that. But this has references, which you will find will explaina vast many things to you. I advise you not to talk much, because youmight not always know just what to say. Do this. Let your friend bringany word or promise about the Messiah that he knows of in the OldTestament Scriptures; you find the place in this little Bible, and seewhat passages of the _New_ Testament it refers to; see, here are thewords of the Bible on one page and the references to each verse on thepage opposite. You know what these abbreviations mean?"
"O yes, sir. O thank you, sir!" said Matilda, whose hands had nowreceived the volume and whose eyes were eagerly scanning it. "I willtake great care of it, sir."
"I hope you will; but not for my sake. I wish you to keep it, Matilda.It will be useful to you very often. And I shall want to hear how youget on."
He took back the book to put her name in it, while Matilda colouredhigh, and could hardly find words to speak her thanks. Her teachersmiled at her, escorted her to her own door again, and Matilda went ina happy child.
She was eager now for another chance to talk with David, and shefancied he wished for it too; but demands of school on the one hand,and Norton and Mrs. Laval on the other, for days made it impossible.For Matilda well understood that the matter was not to be openly spokenof, and the opportunity must be private when it came. She studied hernew little Bible meanwhile with great assiduity, hoping to prepareherself for David's questions; however, she soon found she could not dothat. She could only get familiar with the arrangements of her book;what David might ask or might say, it was impossible to guess.
Meantime Judy's disagreeable attentions continued.
"Why do you not eat your soup, Matilda?" Mrs. Lloyd asked one day. Itwas Sunday of course; the day when the young folks dined with the oldones.
"It is very hot, grandmamma."
"Hot? mine isn't hot. It is not hot at all; not _too_ hot."
"It is hot with pepper, I think."
"Pepper? There is not pepper enough in it."
Matilda thought that Mrs. Lloyd's palate and her own perhaps perceivedpepper differently. But when the first course was served and Matildahad taken curry, of which she was very fond, this was again hot; sosharp, in fact, that she could not eat it.
"What's the matter?" said Mrs. Lloyd,--"pepper there too?"
"It is very hot, ma'am," said Matilda, while Judy burst out laughing.
"Curry always is hot, child," said the old lady. "Why do you take it,if you do not like it?"
"I like it very much, grandmamma; only to-day--"
"It is not any hotter than usual, to-day. You should know what you wantbefore you take it. You can make your dinner of rice, then."
The rice was as hot as the rest of it, Matilda thought. She could noteat; and she was hungry, for she had had a good walk and a brisk lessonin Sunday school; but the fiery portion on her plate quite baffled herhunger. She was never helped to pudding or pie more than once; she wenthungry to bed.
That did her no harm; but it happened again and again that, if notstarved, she was at least disappointed of eating something she liked,or had something she did eat, spoiled by its seasoning. Very indulgentas Mrs. Lloyd was about things in general, respecting table manners andall the etiquette of graceful behaviour at meal times she wasexceedingly particular. She did not allow the young people to make anyado about what they eat. She gave them liberty enough of choice, butonce the choice made, it was made; and mistakes were at the person'sown risk. So when Matilda's salad was very spicy with cinnamon, or herice cream excessively and unaccountably salt, or her oysters seemed tohave been under a heavy shower of red pepper, there was no resource butto be quiet; unless she would have made a scene; as it was, she gotcredit for being fanciful and very dainty.
Weeks passed before she and David could be alone together; eager andcurious and sympathetic as she was. David did not change; the gloom ofhis troublesome thoughts hung over him, she could see, all the while;though nobody else seemed to notice it. At last, one evening in March,it fell out that all the family were going to the theatre. Even Mrs.Lloyd; for some particular attraction was just then drawing crowds tothe nightly spectacle; and Norton and Judy had put in their claim to beallowed to go, and it had been granted. David was invited, but herefused without ceremony. Mrs. Laval turned to Matilda; and Mrs. Lloydasked graciously if she would like to go? Now Matilda would have likedvery much to go, on one side of the question; yet her answer was agrateful negative.
"What's the reason?" said the old lady. "It is no use asking for Davy'sreasons, for they are sure to be immovable; but you, Tilly, what's thematter with you? Were you ever there?"
"No, ma'am, never."
"It'll amuse you, child; come! Judy's going."
It was difficult to answer; but Matilda remembered words she had heardfrom Mr. Richmond, which shewed that he did not think the theatre aplace for a Christian to be amused in; and without in the leastunderstanding his reasons, Matilda did not dare go. She said, andtruly, that she would rather stay at home; and so it fell out that sheand David were left for a whole evening alone.
The carriage had driven off; the two came back into the littlereception room where the family usually had tea and spent the evening;Matilda having slipped upstairs and brought down her two Bibles. Davidturned up the gas and looked at her.
"What have you got there, Tilly?"
"A book that will help us, I hope."
"I wish it would help me!" said David, as he sat down and buried hisface in his hands.
"We've got all the evening to ourselves, if we want it," said Matilda alittle timidly.
"Yes. They will not be home before twelve o' clock."
But David did not seem in a hurry to avail himself of his opportunity.He sat with his head in his hands, and then got up and walked about,looking dark enough. Matilda waited and watched him, wondering andanxious.
"What do you think of Judy?" he said suddenly, coming to a standopposite Matilda.
"I think she likes to amuse herself," Matilda answered, very muchsurprised.
"How do you like her amusing herself at your expense?"
"I don't like it, David."
"Why don't you get angry?"
"I do."
"So do I, sometimes; but it is your affair. Why don't you speak out?"
"She wouldn't care, David; it wouldn't make any difference."
"Judy? No, not with her; but why don't you speak out to grandmamma, oraunt Zara? They would care."
Matilda's cheeks flushed, and her eyes even looked a little watery; shedid not answer at once.
"I don't want to do that, David."
"Why not?"
"It wouldn't be returning good for evil, you know."
"Good for evil! no," said David; "but it would be right."
"I don't think it would be right," Matilda said gently.
"Why wouldn't it? Good for evil? that is not the law; and it is notjustice. The law is, 'Life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth fortooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.'"
"I don't want to do justice," said Matilda smiling.
"Why not?" He was observing the little girl closely.
"I don't know, David; it would be no pleasure. Besides--"
"Besides what?"
"Jesus says we mustn't."
"Mustn't what? Do justice?"
"Yes. No--not to ourselves sometimes. You asked me what I knew abouthim; this is one thing. He says we must not return evil for evil; norbe angry."
"You were angry at Judy, though?"
"Well, for a little while, sometimes. I couldn't always help it; or I_could_, I suppose, but I didn't."
"How could you?" said David. "I cannot. When I am angry, I am angry;and there is nothing to do but wait till I get over it."
"That's another thing I know about Jesus," said Matilda gravely. "Hetakes the anger away." She wished that David would begin upon hisformer line of inquiry, now that she had her little book to consult;but she could not hurry him. David looked hard at her, and then hisgloom seemed to come over him. He sunk his head again; and Matildawaited.
"What can you tell me?" he said at last.
"I don't know. Perhaps, if you would try it, my book would tell yousomething."
"What could it tell me?"
"Answer some of your questions, perhaps."
David at last roused to action. He went off upstairs and brought down_his_ Bible--half a Bible, it looked to Matilda's eyes; and under thebright gas lights the two sat down to compare notes.
"I don't know but a part of the things that are said about theMessiah," said David, turning over the leaves; "but what I do know,seem to me impossible to be fulfilled in him you Gentiles think theMessiah. And yet--they said--"
David stopped, in great perplexity.
"What are some of those things?"
"Well, this is one. He is to be of the seed of David; for so Isaiahprophesied."
"'And a rod hath come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch fromhis roots is fruitful. Rested on him hath the Spirit of Jehovah, thespirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,the spirit of knowledge and fear of Jehovah.'"
"Well, David, Jesus was that. See,--here is the whole list of the namesof the people." And she put in the boy's hands the first chapter ofMatthew.
"'The son of David, the son of Abraham'!" cried he; but thenimmediately became so absorbed in the chapter and in that list of nameswhich Matilda had always thought very uninteresting, that she couldonly watch him and doubt if he would come back to talk with her anymore that evening.
"But," said David at last, handing back her book, "that is only onething. Listen to this. The promise was to David--' I have raised up thyseed after thee, who is of thy sons, and I have established hiskingdom; he doth build for me a house, and I have established histhrone unto the age.' Where is the throne of--of your Messiah, as youcall him? And see here again, in the Psalms of David--
"'I have made a covenant for my chosen, 'I have sworn to David my servant, 'Even to the age do I establish thy seed, 'And have built from generation to generation thy throne.'"
"What is 'to the age'?" Matilda asked.
"For ever! Where is the throne of your Jesus?"
"It is in heaven," said Matilda promptly.
"But Messiah is to reign on earth."
"Now listen, David; this is what the angel said of Jesus, when he cameto tell Mary that he should be her son. 'He shall be great, and shallbe called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto himthe throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house ofJacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.'"
"Well," said David, "but when? and where?"
"Here is another place that my book turns to, David; now listen. 'Davidhimself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sitthou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.'"
"Yes, I know, it says so."
"Well, David, then don't you see he will be up in heaven until the timecomes? Here is another passage--it begins about something else, andthen goes on; 'Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from thedead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, farabove all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and everyname that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which isto come; and hath put all things under his feet.' And here again--'Butthis man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, satdown on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till hisenemies be made his footstool.'"
"When will that be?" said David.
"I don't know. I don't think it tells."
"But Messiah is to be a Conqueror," David went on, passing from onething to another. It is written,--
"'Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty, 'Thy glory and thy majesty! 'As to thy majesty--prosper!--ride! 'Because of truth and meekness--righteousness.
'And thy right hand sheweth thee fearful things. 'Thine arrows are sharp, 'Peoples fall under thee-- 'In the heart of the enemies of the king.'"
"Where is that?" Matilda asked, and David told her. She eagerlyconsulted her little book, and then cried out,
"Why it is the very same thing! Look here, David; or just listen, and Iwill read.
"'And I saw heaven opened'--"
"Stop. _Who_ saw heaven opened? Who said that?"
Matilda paused. "It is in the Revelation," she said.
"Yes, but what is that?"
"I don't know exactly; but I know it is the things that were shown toJohn, the apostle, about what is going to be by and by."
"Who was that John?"
"Why, one of the apostles, David; one of the twelve apostles, that werealwa
ys with Jesus, and went everywhere with him and saw all that hedid. Then after he was gone, they preached to the people, and told whatthey had seen and heard."
"After he was gone where?"
"Back to heaven."
"Well--read," said David, with a troubled sigh.
"'And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat onhim was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judgeand make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head weremany crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew but hehimself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and hisname is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heavenfollowed him upon white horses, clothed in white linen, white andclean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he shouldsmite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and hetreadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Andhe hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGSAND LORD OF LORDS.'"
"But he was to be a Prophet, like Moses," said David; "and he was to beborn in Bethlehem in the land of Judah."
"Well, he was," said Matilda.
"Then how should he be all _that?_" And the boy's frame shook, as if anervous shudder had taken him.
"Don't you remember the 110th Psalm?" said Matilda after a little morestudy. "'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until Imake thine enemies thy footstool.' Look at it."
David did so, in his own Scriptures, and pondered the words a secondtime.
"And this is what the Lord Jesus said about those very words, David.'While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying,What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son ofDavid. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord,saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till Imake thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how ishe his son?'"
"What did they say?" asked David eagerly.
"Who?"
"Those Pharisees. What did they answer?"
"It says 'no man was able to answer him a word.'"
Poor David was in the same condition. "Well, go on," he said, betweenpuzzle and despondency.
Matilda consulted her references to see with what she should go on; andthen read the three first verses of the epistle to the Hebrews.
"'God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time pastunto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken untous by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom alsohe made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and theexpress image of his person, and upholding all things by the word ofhis power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on theright hand of the Majesty on high.'"
"But--but,--" said David looking up, "Messiah was to be born inBethlehem of Judah, for so said the prophet Micah."
"Jesus was born in Bethlehem," Matilda replied.
"But--he was called the Nazarene," said David with a kind of shiver.The boy was terribly excited, though he controlled the outwardexpression of his excitement as much as possible.
"He lived in Nazareth," said Matilda eagerly; "that was his home."
"Then how could he be born in Bethlehem? it's near a hundred miles off,I think."
"But don't you know?" said Matilda. "Caesar Augustus ordered everybodyto be--what is it you call it? I forget;--to have their names put down,in a list of all the families and tribes, so that they might be taxed--"
"Taking the census?"
"I don't know; maybe it's that. And so, Joseph and Mary had to go toBethlehem to have their names put down there, because it was David'scity, you know, and they were of the house of David. And while theywere there, Jesus was born. But after a while they went back and livedin Nazareth."
David looked dark, and eager; he made no answer.
"And it says in the first chapter of Matthew, David, that the prophetsaid, 'they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,God with us.'"
"It is true," said David. "So spoke the prophet Isaiah. But how thendid he speak also of Messiah's sufferings? how could that be?"
"Where, David? and how?"
The boy turned over gloomily the leaves of the book which he held, andbegan to read at the fifty-third chapter.
"'Who hath given credence to that which we heard? and the arm ofJehovah, on whom hath it been revealed?'"
"What chapter is that?" Matilda asked; and he told her. She turned tothe place.
"'_Who hath believed our report?_' that is it exactly, David. Don't yousee? You do not believe it, and all the Jews do not believe it, when itis told to them."
"What?" said David.
"Why, that Jesus is the Messiah; and all about him. 'He is despised andrejected of men'--see how it goes on."
"What does this mean, I wonder," said David as he looked over thechapter--"'He is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for ouriniquities, The chastisement of our peace is on him, And by his bruisethere is healing to us'?"
"This is what it means, David; 'the Son of man came not to beministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom formany.' That is in Matthew. And here in Romans--'God commendeth his lovetoward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Muchmore then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved fromwrath through him.' And in Corinthians--'He hath made him to be sin forus, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God inhim.' Don't you see?"
"O hush! stop!" said David; "you bewilder me. Here Isaiah goes on
"'Each to his own way we have turned, 'And Jehovah hath caused to meet on him 'The punishment of us all.
'It hath been exacted, and he hath answered. 'And he openeth not his mouth, 'As a lamb to the slaughter he is brought--'"
David stopped again, and Matilda searched for words to answer him, andpresently read,
"'So Christ was once offered to bear the sin of many; and unto themthat look for him shall he appear the second time without sin untosalvation.'"
"The second time?" said David.
"Yes; when he comes to take the kingdom, you know."
David sighed deeply.
"David," said Matilda hesitatingly, she had been watching for a chanceto say it, "don't you know what Zechariah says about him?"
"Zechariah?"
"Yes; the prophet Zechariah. Mr. Wharncliffe says that is a time comingto your people;--in the twelfth chapter. You can read it best foryourself in your own book. It begins at the ninth verse--what I mean."
"This?" said David.
"'And I have poured on the house of David, 'And on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 'A spirit of grace and supplications, 'And they have looked unto me whom they pierced, 'And they have mourned over it, 'Like a mourning over the only one, 'And they have been in bitterness for it, 'Like a bitterness over the first-born.
'In that day great is the mourning in Jerusalem, 'As the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon; 'And mourned hath the land--every family apart; 'The family of the house of David apart, 'And their women apart; 'The family of the house of Nathan apart, 'And their women apart; 'The family of the house of Levi apart, 'And their women apart; 'The family of Shimei apart, 'And their women apart, 'All the families that are left, 'Every family apart, and their women apart!'"
The boy's face grew darker and darker as he read, and he remainedgloomily looking at the page after he had finished. "It looks like it!"he said at last.
"Looks like what, David?" Matilda asked timidly. His face was verycloudy as he lifted it to speak to her, and he spoke with difficulty.
"They are saying, Matilda,--my uncle, I mean, and the wise ones;--theyare saying, I heard them saying it a few weeks ago, softly, to eachother, that the time must be up; and that if Messiah does not come verysoon--"
"What then?" Matilda asked, for he had stopped suddenly.
"Then--they say--it must be, or may be, that he _has_ come!"
She was a
stonished at the changes in David's face. It flushed andpaled, his lips quivered, his brows were knit; the dark eyes were likeclouds and fire at once. Evidently there was a struggle going on whichshe had no means of gauging.
"What if he has?" she asked gently. "Would you care so very much?"
"Care!" exclaimed David, and his expression startled her."Care!--whether our Messiah has come, and we have not known him, andhave injured him and rejected him?"
"But that is just what Isaiah said would be."
"Don't!" said David. "I can't bear it! If that is true, there will besuch a cry as Zechariah said, and I will begin it. But I don't believeit, Matilda; it cannot be. I will not believe it."
He threw down his book and walked up and down the room with folded armsand a brow black as night. Hardly a boy's action, but neither was it aboy's feeling which possessed him just then. Matilda looked on, verysorry, very much awed, and entirely at a loss to know what to say. Sheconsulted her Bible again and found a passage which she wished to shewhim; but she had to wait for the chance. David walked up and down, upand down, restlessly.
"I can't make it out!" he exclaimed. "It confuses me. If _that_ weretrue, then all our whole nation have been wrong, all these years; andwe have lost everything; the promise made to Abraham and all."
"But Jesus will fulfil all the promises," said Matilda gently.
"To those who disowned him?" David asked almost fiercely.
"I think he will," said Matilda. "Why the first Christians were some ofthose very Jews."
"How can that be?" said David standing still and looking at her.
Matilda found the second chapter of Acts and handed it to him. Shethought her own words were best to be few. David looked unwillingly ather book, but however took it, sat down, and under the light of the gasburner began to read. Matilda could not help furtively watching him,and it almost frightened her; the changes in the boy's face were soquick and strong. He read like one reading for his life; he never knewthat Matilda was watching him; his eyes seemed to pierce the book likesteel lances; and through his parted lips the breath came and wenthurriedly. Matilda thought he never would get through the chapter, hewas so long over it.
"May I keep this a day or two?" he said at last. Matilda joyfullyassented.
"I wish I had some one to talk with about this," he said; "somebody whocould answer me, or who could _not_ answer me."
"Your uncles?" Matilda suggested.
"They would only silence me."
"I wish you could see Mr. Richmond."
"Who's he?"
"He's a friend of mine, and O, the pleasantest and the nicest man! andhe can answer anybody."
"Can he?" said David half smiling. "Where does he live?"
"Up in Shadywalk. I _wish_ you could see him. He could tell you justeverything, and I cannot."
"You have told me so much, though, that I must know more. What is thisMr. Richmond?"
"He is a minister, David. O you would like him."
"He would be the first, then," said David.
"He is not the least like Dr. Blandford not the _least_."
"Maybe there's some chance then. Matilda, don't tell anybody of allthis; it is between you and me."
"No, David, of course I shall not. Are you going to bed?"
"I am going up."
"They won't be home yet for an hour."
"I don't want to see them when they do come."
"Nor have any supper?"
"I don't care about supper. Good night."
He went off, and Matilda's heart was very tender for him. What couldshe do? He had carried away with him the little reference Bible; shecould not look out passages for his help any more. Had they been forhis help? The whole talk looked very confused to Matilda as sheremembered it; and David evidently was in much more trouble than heshewed. Matilda prayed for better help than she could give, prayed withall her heart; then found herself very sleepy and went to bed.