94 "I am in the wrong place," answered the Oxman.
"I am a dirty, ugly brute. I met a stranger on the road and followed
after him because he amused me, but now I find he is a man of greatness
and I am out of place. "
95 The woman laughed. "If he told you to come with him," she answered,
"you cannot be out of place. For surely he sees your destiny. Of all
men not in his care, does he not know every breath we take? How could
you be out of place?"
96 "For a great lady," complimented The Oxman, "you are kind. I wish I
were a great man, so I might share your house. "
97 The Young Teacher looked up from his food. "This," he announced,
"is your wife, these are your daughters. When our travels are done, you shall return here, and
be unto them a father, worthy of honor. Make her that promise now,
before this company. "
98 "But Lord," argued The Oxman, "what have I to offer her?"
99 "That," answered The Teacher, "which she needs most....honesty,
compassion, tenderness, those things her riches cannot buy. "
100 "If she would ask me to return," answered The Oxman, "I would be
proud to."
101 The woman turned to The Teacher. "Lord ," she asked , "at what hour
shall he return to me?"
102 "In the tenth hour," answered The Teacher, "will he come to your
door."
103 "Then from the ninth hour to the eleventh hour every day," promised
the woman, "I will stand by the door, waiting, that he may not have to
bruise his hand to knock."
104 "Now," announced The Teacher, "we must to bed. I have business in
the temple tomorrow. "