"What seeketh thou, Sarah?" he asked, as she drew near.
"I would speak with thee, Ezra," replied Sarah.
"Of what wouldst thou speak, Sarah, that thou seeketh me in the fields at my labor?" asked Ezra. "Canst thou not wait until the day's toil be ended?"
"Nay, or I would not seek thee at thy labor," answered Sarah. "I would not speak with thee of this before our children lest they think that thy wife hold but lightly her husband's judgment. Ezra, the hearts of our children are sad that thou delayeth the maiden's journey to Samaria."
"Our children be young and knoweth not patience," said Ezra.
"Nay, Ezra, our son and eldest-born hath never known youth," sadly answered Sarah. "Youth is sturdy of body, light of limb, joyous of heart. Isaac knoweth naught of these things. Impatient, sayeth thou, Ezra? Ay, and thou also would be impatient, even with the years of wisdom upon thy shoulders, if thou wert crippled from birth, and when the light of hope shone, for the first time, across thy dark pathway, thou wert bidden to wait."
"'Tis but a few days until the fruits shall have ripened," muttered Ezra.
"Ay, thou art right," said Sarah, "'tis but a few days, but a little while ago I did hear our son say that the five days of waiting had been the longest and dreariest of a life in which every day is long and dreary."
"Thou art but a woman, Sarah, and the softness of thy heart doth steal away thy wisdom," said Ezra.