There were clouds in the sky, so the sun kept coming and going.  A great lantern, Joseph said.  That God holds in his hands, Azariah answered; and when tired of waiting for maidens who did not appear their beguilement was continued by shadows advancing and retreating across the roadway.  The town was an enchantment in the still limpid morning, but when they rose to their feet their eyes fell on a greater enchantment—­the hills clothed in moving light and shade so beautiful that the appeal to come away to the woods and fields continued in their hearts after they had lowered their eyes and would not be denied, though they prayed for strength to adhere to their original project.  It had died out of their hearts through no fault of theirs, as far as they could see; and wondering how they might get remission from it they strode about the city, idly casting their eyes into ravines whither the walls dropped, and raising them to the crags whither the walls rose:  faithful servants, Azariah said, that have saved the city many times from robbers from the other side of Jordan.

Joseph’s thoughts were far away on the hillside opposite amid the woods, and Azariah’s voice jarred.  By this time, he said, the maidens are drawing water.  But perhaps, Joseph answered, none will be able to tell us the way to the rock, and if none has heard for certain on which rock Samuel offered sacrifice we might go roaming over the hills and into forests yonder to find perhaps some wolf cubs in a cave.  But a she-wolf with cubs is dangerous, Azariah replied.  If we were to try to steal her cubs, Joseph interjected.  But we don’t want to meddle with them, only to see them.  May we go roaming to-day, Sir, and read the story of David and Goliath to-morrow?  The boy’s voice was full of entreaty and Azariah had very little heart to disappoint him, but he dared not break an engagement which he looked upon as almost sacred; and walked debating with himself, asking himself if the absence of a maiden at the fountain might be taken as a sign that they were free to abandon the Scriptures for the day, only for the day.  And seeing the fountain deserted Joseph cried out in his heart:  we are free!  But as they turned aside to go their way a maiden came with a pitcher upon her head; but as she had never heard of the rock, nor indeed of Samuel, Joseph was certain that God had specially designed her ignorant, so that they might know that the day before them was for enjoyment.  You said, Sir, that if none could direct us we might leave the story until to-morrow.  I did not say that, Azariah answered.  All the same he did not propose to wait for another maiden more learned than the first, but followed Joseph to the gates of the city, nor did he raise any objection to passing through them, and they stood with their eyes fixed on the path that led over the brow down into the valley, a crooked twisting path that had seemed steep to Azariah’s mule overnight and that now seemed steeper to Azariah.  And will seem still steeper to me in the evening when we return home tired, he said.  But we shall not be tired, Joseph interposed, we need not go very far, only a little way into the forest.  And he did not dare to say more, lest by some careless word he might provoke an unpremeditated opposition.