Perhaps the simple story carried a deeper meaning to these brooding mountains and solemn sky than to the purblind hearts within.

It was a far-off story to them,--very far off.

The old school-master heard it with a lowered head, with the proud obedience with which a cavalier would receive his leader's orders.

Was not the leader a knights the knight of truest courage?
All that was high, chivalric in the old man sprang up to own him Lord.

That he not only preached to, but ate and drank with publicans and sinners, was a requirement of his mission; nowadays----.
Joel heard the "good word" with a bewildered consciousness of certain rules of honesty to be observed next day, and a maze of crowns and harps shining somewhere beyond.