At the challenge the two lads came forward again and all began to talk of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the enthusiasm of the disciples catching upon Joseph he, too, was soon talking of the Kingdom that was to come, and whether they should all go down to Jerusalem together to meet the Kingdom and share it, or wait for it to appear in Galilee.  Share and share alike, Joseph said.  Ay, ay, sure we shall, and enjoy it, Peter rolled out at his elbow.  But we must set our hearts in patience, for there be a rare lot to be converted yet.  Every man must have his chance, and seeing Jesus coming towards him Peter waited till Jesus was by him.  Haven’t I thy promise, Master, he asked, laying his hand on Jesus’ shoulder, that my chair in Kingdom Come will be next to thine?  Before Jesus could answer John and James asked him if their chairs would not be on his left and right.  But not next to the Master’s, Peter answered.  I’m on the right hand of the Master, and my brother Andrew on the left.  Look into his face and read in it that I have said well.  But the disciples were not minded to read the Master’s face as Peter instructed them to read it, and might have come to gripping each other’s throats if Jesus had not asked them if they would have the fat in the narrow chairs and the thin in the wide, as often happens in this world.  The spectacle of Peter trying to sit on James’ chair set them laughing, and as if to make an end of an unseemly disputation John asked the Master whither they were going to cure the sick that day?  To which question Jesus made no answer, for he felt no power on him that day to cure the sick or to cast out demons.  You’ll see him do these things on another occasion, Peter whispered in Joseph’s ear; to-day he’s deep in one of his meditations, and we dare not ask him whither he be going, but must just follow him.  As likely as not he’ll lead us up into the hills for——­ But I see Salome coming this way.  You know her sons, John and James.  The woman bears me an ill will and would have my chair set far down, belike as not between Nathaniel and Philip, who as you have noticed do not hold their heads very high in our company.  But let us hasten a little to hear what she has to say.  Listen, ’tis as I said, Master, Peter continued; you heard her ask him that her sons should sit on either side of him.  Now mark his answer, if he answers her; I doubt if he will, so dark is his mood.

But dark though it was he answered her with a seeming cheerfulness that in the coming world there is neither weariness of spirit nor of body, and therefore chairs are not set in heaven.  A fine answer that, and Peter chuckled; too wise for thee.  Go home and ponder on it.  We shall lie on couches when we are not flying, he added, and being in doubt he asked Joseph if the heavenly host was always on the wing.  A question that seemed somewhat silly to Joseph, though he could not have given his reason for thinking it silly.  Peter called on Jesus to hasten for the