them a prey to fear. Yes, My friends, it is easier for a camel to go
through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter our heaven."

The word was spoken more in sorrow than in anger. And then someone
ventured to say: "Yes, if the commandments are too hard, there must be
sin. Men are bound to transgress them."

Jesus looked at the trembler: "Why, then, am I come? Why, then, do I
show you how light the burden is? Do you not see for yourselves how
free a man is when he has thrown off great cares and desires? Nay, you
will never see that till the grace of God is given you."

They scarcely heard what He said. The brilliant procession had
attracted their attention, and as it moved off with its horses, camels,
riders, Moors, and lovely women, they looked after it with longing
eyes. A little old hunchbacked Israelite, who was cowering behind a
block of stone, murmured with some malice: "Seems to me they'd rather
go with the heathen than wait here for the grace of the Heavenly
Father."

Simeon once more lay in the swaying litter and thought. He tried to
reconcile his unaccomplished purpose with his conscience. This
Prophet--he was a visionary. What could the Kingdom of God within us
mean? Visionary! intended only to make people lazy and incapable. A
doctrine for vagabonds and beggars! And so that was living for ever!
So long as _he_ lived he should believe himself to be right, and when
he was dead, he could not know that he had been wrong. And then the
social danger. The possessor not the owner of his own property? He
must give it up, share it with the poor. Such equality of property or
lack of property would prevent all progress, and plunge everything into
mediocrity. No, that is not my salvation! Ah, well, this journey into
the desert will be an advantage to me in one way: it will make me feel
happier than ever in my comfortable house.

He took the opportunity of a last look at the place on which he now
turned his back. Several, attracted by the brilliant cavalcade, had
followed from afar. Three of the disciples had even come after him in
order to set right a misunderstanding. They came up with the stranger
at a spring which gushed forth from a rock, and grass grew round it.
The Moors wished to prevent them coming nearer, but Simeon recognised
that they were not dangerous, and let them approach him.

James, one of the disciples, said: "Great Lord, it is a pity. You are
one of the few who have