them, to which he answered sharply: I am the seer, and fell at once to
gazing on Saul as if he saw in him the one that had been revealed to
him. For you see, Son, seers have foresight, and the seer had been
warned overnight that the Lord would send a young man to him, so the
moment he saw Saul he knew him to be the one the Lord had promised, and
he said: thou art he whom the Lord has promised to send me for
anointment, but more than that I cannot tell thee, being on my way to
offer sacrifice, but afterwards we will eat together, and all that has
been revealed to me I will tell. You understand me, Son, the old woman
crooned, the Lord had been with Samuel beforetimes and had promised to
send the King of Israel to him for anointment, and the moment he laid
eyes on Saul he knew him to be the king; and that was why he asked him
to eat with him after sacrifice. Yes, Granny, I understand: but did the
Lord set the asses astray that Saul might follow them and come to Samuel
to be made a King? I daresay there was something like that at the bottom
of it, the old woman answered, and continued her story till her knees
ached under the boy's weight.

The child's asleep, she said, and on the instant he awoke crying: no,
Granny, I wasn't asleep. I heard all you said and would like to be a
prophet. A prophet, Joseph, and to anoint a king? But there are no more
prophets or kings in Israel. And now, Joseph, my little prophet, 'tis
bedtime and past it. Come. I didn't say I wanted to anoint kings, he
answered, and refused to go to bed, though manifestly he could hardly
keep awake. I'll wait up for Father.

Now what can the child want his father for at this hour? she muttered as
she went about the room, not guessing that he was angry and resentful,
that her words had wounded him deeply and that he was asking himself, in
his corner, if she thought him too stupid to be a prophet.