“So,” said the knight, the old twinkle in his eye; “and what hast thou learned, O wise one?”
“That the joy of the Christmas feast may be found in dried peas if faith be there at table.”
“And thou, Sir Beggar?”
“That the joy of the Christmas feast is his who hath honest sweat upon his brow.”
“And thou, Sir Merchant?”
“That the joy of the Christmas feast lieth not in the viands, but in finding joy for others.”
“And thou, Sir Melancholy?”
“That there may be joy in the Christmas feast, even for the bitter in soul, if they look not backward, but forward.”
“And thou, Sir—craving thy pardon—Sir Thief?”
“It was a good guess,” said the thief. His eyes met the soldier’s squarely. “But I have learned. There is no Christmas joy without an honest conscience.”