among his several news was that you were seen walking with Jesus by the lake in the direction of Capernaum.  We were glad to hear that, for having only returned to us last night you did not know that Jesus has become a great man in these parts, especially since he has come to lodge in Simon Peter’s house.  That was a great step for him.  But I must be hastening away, for a meeting is at Simon Peter’s house.  And I have promised Jesus to be there too, Joseph answered.  Then we may step the way out together, Philip answered, looking up into Joseph’s face, and—­as if he read there encouragement to speak out the whole of his mind—­he continued: 

I was saying that it was a great step up for him when Simon Peter took him to lodge in his house, for beforetimes he had, as the saying is, no place to lay his head:  an outcast from Cana, whither he went first to his mother’s house, and it is said he turned water into wine on one occasion at a marriage feast; but that cannot be true, for if it were, there is no reason that I can see why he should stay his hand and not turn all water into wine.  To which Joseph replied that it would be a great misfortune, for the greater part of men would be as drunk as Noah was when he planted a vineyard, and we know how Lot’s daughters turned their father’s drunkenness to account.  Moreover, Philip, if Jesus had turned all the water into wine there would be no miracle, for a miracle is a special act performed by someone whom God has chosen as an instrument.  It is as likely as not, Master, that you be right in what you say, for there’s no saying what is true and what is false in this world, for what one man says another man denies, and it is not even certain that all men see and hear alike.  But, Philip, thou must remember that though men neither hear nor see alike, yet the love of God is the same in every man.  But is it?  Philip asked.  For can it be denied that some men love God in the hope that God may do something for them, while others love God lest he may punish them.  But methinks that such love as that is more fear than love; and then there are others that can love God—­well, just because it seems to them that God is by them, just as I’m by you at the present moment.  Jesus is such an one.  But there be not many like him, and that was why his teaching found no favour either in Cana or in Nazareth.  In them parts they knew that he was the carpenter’s son, and his mother and his brothers and sisters were a hindrance to him, for thinking him a bit queer, they came ofttimes to the synagogues to ask him to come home with them, for they are shrewd enough to see that such talk as his will bring him no good in the end, for priests are strong everywhere and have the law of the land on their side, for governors would make but poor shift to govern without them.  But why then, Philip, shouldst thou who art a cautious man, be going to Peter’s house to meet him?  Well, that’s the question I’ve been asking myself all the morning till