that Joseph followed with strained eyes, till at last the white bloom passed out of sight; and he turned to the dragonflies, hoping to capture one of the fearful kind, often nearly succeeding, but failing at the last moment and returning disappointed to Azariah who, seated on a comfortable stone, waited till Joseph’s ardour should abate a little.  These stones will be too hot in another hour, he said.  But it will be cool enough under the boughs, Joseph answered.  Perhaps too cool, Azariah muttered, and Joseph wondered if it were reasonable to be so discontented with the world, especially on a morning like this, he said to himself; and to hearten Azariah he mentioned again that the path up the hillside zigzagged.  You’ll not feel the ascent, Sir.  To which encouragement Azariah made no answer but drew Joseph’s attention to the industry of the people of Arimathea.  The eager boy could spare only a few moments for the beauty of the fig and mulberry leaves showing against the dark rocks, but he snuffed the scent the breeze bore and said it was the same that had followed them yesterday.  The scent of the vine-flower, Azariah rejoined.  The hillsides were covered with the pale yellow clusters.  But I thought, Joseph, that you were too tired yesterday to notice anything.  Only towards the end of the journey, Joseph muttered.  But what are you going to do, Sir? he asked.  I am going to run up the hill.  You may run if you please, the preceptor answered, and as he followed the boy at a more leisurely pace he wondered at Joseph’s spindle shanks struggling manfully against the ascent.  He will stop before the road turns, he said, but Joseph ran on.  He is anxious to reach the top, Azariah pondered.  There is some pleasant turf up there full of flowers:  he’ll like to roll like a young donkey, his heels in the air, Azariah said to himself as he ascended the steep path, stopping from time to time that he might better ponder on the moral of this spring morning.  He will roll among the grass and flowers like a young donkey, and then run hither and thither after insects and birds, his heart aflame with delight.  He desires so many things that he knows not what he desires, only that he desires.  Whereas I can but remember that once I was as he is to-day.  So the spring is sad for the young as well as for the old.

But old as he was he was glad to feel that he was still liable to the season’s thrill in retrospect at least, and he asked himself questions:  how many years ago is it since...?  But he did not get further with his recollections.  The ascent is too steep, he said, and he continued the ascent thinking of his breath rather than of her.