for foot passengers； through which the great； humped camel with
his load could not possibly squeeze himself： or perhaps at a
great risk； if he were a little camel； he might get through。 For
one could not absolutely exclude the rich man from heaven； said
the Sunday school teachers。
It pleased her also to know； that in the East one must use
hyperbole； or else remain unheard； because the Eastern man must
see a thing swelling to fill all heaven； or dwindled to a mere
nothing； before he is suitably impressed。 She immediately
sympathized with this Eastern mind。
Yet the words continued to have a meaning that was untouched
either by the knowledge of gateways or hyperboles。 The
historical； or local； or psychological interest in the words was
another thing。 There remained unaltered the inexplicable value
of the saying。 What was this relation between a needle's eye； a
rich man； and heaven？ What sort of a needle's eye； what sort of
a rich man； what sort of heaven？ Who knows？ It means the
Absolute World； and can never be more than half interpreted in
terms of the relative world。
But must one apply the speech literally？ Was her father a
rich man？ Couldn't he get to heaven？ Or was he only a half…rich
man？ Or was he merely a poor man？ At any rate； unless he gave
everything away to the poor； he would find it much harder to get
to heaven。 The needle's eye would be too tight for him。 She
almost wished he were penniless poor。 If one were ing to the
base of it； any man was rich who was not as poor as the
poorest。
She had her qualms； when in imagination she saw her father
giving away their piano and the two cows； and the capital at the
bank； to the labourers of the district； so that they； the
Brangwens； should be as poor as the Wherrys。 And she did not
want it。 She was impatient。
〃Very well；〃 she thought； 〃we'll forego that heaven； that's
all……at any rate the needle's eye sort。〃 And she dismissed
the problem。 She was not going to be as poor as the Wherrys； not
for all the sayings on earth……the miserable squalid
Wherrys。
So she reverted to the non…literal application of the
scriptures。 Her father very rarely read； but he had collected
many books of reproductions； and he would sit and look at these；
curiously intent； like a child； yet with a passion that was not
childish。 He loved the early Italian painters； but particularly
Giotto and Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi。 The great
positions cast a spell over him。 How many times had he turned
to Raphael's 〃Dispute of the Sacrament〃 or Fra Angelico's 〃Last
Judgment〃 or the beautiful； plicated renderings of the
Adoration of the Magi； and always； each time； he received the
same gradual fulfilment of delight。 It had to do with the
establishment of a whole mystical； architectural conception
which used the human figure as a unit。 Sometimes he had to hurry
home； and go to the Fra Angelico 〃Last Judgment〃。 The pathway of
open graves； the huddled earth on either side； the seemly heaven
arranged above； the singing process to paradise on the one hand；
the stuttering descent to hell on the other； pleted and
satisfied him。 He did not care whether or not he believed in
devils or angels。 The whole conception gave him the deepest
satisfaction； and he wanted nothing more。
Ursula； accustomed to these pictures from her childhood；
hunted out their detail。 She adored Fra Angelico's flowers and
light and angels； she liked the demons and enjoyed the hell。 But
the representation of the encircled God； surrounded by all the
angels on high； suddenly bored her。 The figure of the Most High
bored her； and roused her resentment。 Was this the culmination
and the meaning of it all； this draped； null figure？ The angels
were so lovely； and the light so beautiful。 And only for this；
to surround such a banality for God！
She was dissatisfied； but not fit as yet to criticize。 There
was yet so much to wonder over。 Winter came； pine branches were
torn down in the snow； the green pine needles looked rich upon
the ground。 There was the wonderful； starry； straight track of a
pheasant's footsteps across the snow imprinted so clear； there
was the lobbing mark of the rabbit； two holes abreast； two holes
following behind； the hare shoved deeper shafts； slanting； and
his two hind feet came down together and made one large pit； the
cat podded little holes； and birds made a lacy pattern。
Gradually there gathered the feeling of expectation。
Christmas was ing。 In the shed； at nights； a secret candle
was burning； a sound of veiled voices was heard。 The boys were
learning the old mystery play of St。 George and Beelzebub。 Twice
a week； by lamplight； there was choir practice in the church；
for the learning of old carols Brangwen wanted to hear。 The
girls went to these practices。 Everywhere was a sense of mystery
and rousedness。 Everybody was preparing for something。
The time came near； the girls were decorating the church；
with cold fingers binding holly and fir and yew about the
pillars； till a new spirit was in the church； the stone broke
out into dark； rich leaf； the arches put forth their buds； and
cold flowers rose to blossom in the dim； mystic atmosphere。
Ursula must weave mistletoe over the door； and over the screen；
and hang a silver dove from a sprig of yew； till dusk came down；
and the church was like a grove。
In the cow…shed the boys were blacking their faces for a
dress…rehearsal； the turkey hung dead； with opened； speckled
wings； in the dairy。 The time was e to make pies； in
readiness。
The expectation grew more tense。 The star was risen into the
sky； the songs； the carols were ready to hail it。 The star was
the sign in the sky。 Earth too should give a sign。 As evening
drew on； hearts beat fast with anticipation； hands were full of
ready gifts。 There were the tremulously expectant words of the
church service； the night was past and the morning was e； the
gifts were given and received； joy and peace made a flapping of
wings in each heart； there was a great burst of carols； the
Peace of the World had dawned； strife had passed away； every
hand was linked in hand； every heart was singing。
It was bitter； though； that Christmas Day； as it drew on to
evening； and night； became a sort of bank holiday； flat and
stale。 The morning was so wonderful； but in the afternoon and
evening the ecstasy perished like a nipped thing； like a bud in
a false spring。 Alas； that Christmas was only a domestic feast；
a feast of sweetmeats and toys！ Why did not the grown…ups also
change their everyday hearts； and give way to ecstasy？ Where was
the ecstasy？
How passionately the Brangwens craved for it； the ecstasy。
The father was troubled； dark…faced and disconsolate； on
Christmas night； because the passion was not there； because the
day was bee as every day； and hearts were not aflame。 Upon
the mother was a kind of absentness； as ever； as if she were
exiled for all her life。 Where was the fiery heart of joy； now
the ing was fulfilled； where was the star； the Magi's
transport； the thrill of new being that shook the earth？
Still it was there； even if it were faint and inadequate。 The
cycle of creation still wheeled in the Church year。 After
Christmas； the ecstasy slowly sank and changed。 Sunday followed
Sunday； trailing a fine movement； a finely developed
transformation over the heart of the family。 The heart that was
big with joy； that had seen the star and had followed to the
inner walls of the Nativity； that there had swooned in the great
light； must now feel the light slowly withdrawing； a shadow
falling； darkening。 The chill crept in； silence came over the
earth； and then all was darkness。 The veil of the temple was
rent； each heart gave up the ghost； and sank dead。
They moved quietly； a little wanness on the lips of the
children； at Good Friday； feeling the shadow upon their hearts。
Then； pale with a deathly scent； came the lilies of
resurrection； that shone coldly till the forter was
given。
But why the memory of the wounds and the death？ Surely Christ
rose with healed hands and feet； sound and strong and glad？
Surely the passage of the cross and the tomb was forgotten？ But
no……always the memory of the wounds； a