Chapter 13

By nature shy and reticent, Andrew was accustomed, when guests (never of his own invitation) were present, to consider himself a mere boarder who had purchased his place at the table and whose sole interest in the party was his rightful share of the food. He always ate in silence, attentive to his plate, seeming not even to hear the conversation, much less to show any interest in it; and by his long practice of such detachment, guests who did not know him very well but hoped to draw him into the talk for courtesy’s sake, invariably raised their voices when looking his way, presuming him to be deaf.

But that night, such was his uncontrollable fascination, he neglected his food and listened. Presently, finding himself staring hard into their guest’s far-seeing eyes, he made an impulsive effort to avert his gaze—and discovered that he couldn’t do it. And the peculiar thing about this captivity was that—after the first bewildering moment—he didn’t want to get away; nor was he any longer self-conscious. Jesus had made him a member of the party, in good and regular standing. It was really the first time in his life that Andrew had felt like a member of any party; and when Jesus asked him if he enjoyed his occupation as a fisherman he had surprised himself and his relatives by replying, with a smile, that fishing was fun only for people who had some other means of support. They all laughed merrily; and Andrew, instead of being embarrassed, felt a previously unexperienced glow of pleasure.

Next morning, after Jesus and Simon, having finished their breakfast, had left the house, Andrew had made a clumsy effort to define his impressions.

Hannah had said, when the silence between them had become oppressive: ‘Andrew, what is it—about this man—that makes him different from everyone else?’

‘Well,’ Andrew had replied, after considerable deliberation, ‘everyone else is a body—with a soul. He is a soul—with a body.’

‘But surely, Andrew—you don’t think that Jesus is—is more than human!’ exclaimed Hannah.

‘I don’t know,’ mumbled Andrew, rising from the table; ‘but I think he knows!’

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