once again be glad with the Master; they thought
that was only reasonable, considering His victory. When the disciples
found that only two of them could go with Him, they were distressed,
for all had been obliged to share the hard times with Him.

"Have you ever lacked anything with Me?" He asked. "Have you suffered
want?"

"No, Lord, never!" For by His side they had never felt want. The
Master rejoiced over their disinterestedness, and the ten decided that
the youngest and the oldest should go with Him, as was only fair. So
John and Simon Peter were chosen. The rest found lodging with citizens
of the town. Joseph of Arimathea, who had property round Jerusalem,
received some of the disciples. There was the rich Simeon, who had
once ridden out into the wilderness to gain eternal life, and had
nearly lost his mortal life. Since then he had changed his opinion
about the value of great possessions; at least, he let the needy share
them, and he received some of the disciples. James had business in
Bethpage, on the farther slope of the Mount of Olives, where he had
hired the ass. He took Andrew with him. The animal had been sent
back, but had not yet been paid for. The little old man came to meet
them in most friendly fashion. He was proud beyond everything that his
noble brown ass had had so great an honour. He had himself been in the
city, and had heard how the Prophet reproved the Pharisees in the
Temple. That was the finest day of his life. If the Master would only
come and heal his wife of her rheumatism, he would be converted.

That was a good thing, said James, because they hadn't any money with
which to pay him. The little old man whistled in surprise. He saw now
that people were right when they set no store by men of Galilee.

In order to save their countrymen's honour, they offered to work in the
garden until they had fully paid the debt. So both the disciples set
to digging, and thought, perhaps, of the parable of the labourers in
the vineyard. Then they discussed the events in Jerusalem, and how
they would rather be ministers of the Messiah in the golden palace than
doing such hard work here.

When Jesus with John and Peter reached Bethany, their host Amon had
himself pushed in his wheeled chair to meet them, and called to his
wife, Martha, to make haste and come and pay her respects to the
guests. She had, she said, no time for that; she had things to look
after, in the parlour, the din