sparks, nor
would the Nazarenes yield any sparks, even if lightning struck them.
They are like earth and damp straw. They are incapable of enthusiasm:
they are only capable of languid irritation. But you'll not build a
kingdom of heaven with irritation. I despise the wood that always
smokes and never burns."

"My son, I fear you will make such enemies of them that----"

"That I shall not be able to stay in Nazareth. Isn't that what you
mean, mother?"

"I am anxious about you, my son."

"Happy the mother who is nothing worse. I am quite safe." He stopped
and took her hand. "Mother, I'm no longer a child or a boy. Do not
trouble about me. Let me be as I am, and go where I will. There are
other tasks to be fulfilled than building Jonas a cottage or Sarah a
sheep-pen. The old world is breaking up, and the old heaven is falling
into ruin. Let me go, mother; let me be the carpenter who shall build
up the kingdom of heaven."

The constellations spread themselves across the sky. Mary let her son
go on before, down to the little town; she walked slowly behind and
wept. She stood alone and had no influence with him. Every day he
became more incomprehensible.

To what would it lead?

CHAPTER XI

A strange excitement prevailed among the people in Galilee, and spread
through Samaria and Judaea even to Jerusalem. A new prophet had
arisen. There were many in those days, but this one was different from
the rest. As is always the way in such times, at first a few people
paid heed feverishly, then they infected others with their unrest, and
finally roused families and whole villages which had hitherto stood
aloof. So at last all heeded the new prophet. At the time of the
foreign rule old men had spoken of the King and Saviour who was to make
the chosen people great and mighty. Expounders of the Scriptures had
from generation to generation consoled those who were waiting and
longing. Men had grown impatient under the intolerable foreign
oppression, and a national desire and a religious expectation such as
had never before been known in so high a degree had manifested itself.

And lo! strange rumours went through the land. As the south wind of
spring blows over Lebanon, melts the ice, and brings forth buds, so
were the hearts of men filled with new hope. A man out in the
wilderness was preaching a new doctrine. For a long while he preached
to stones, because, he said, they were not so hard as men'