Assyrian warriors with pointed beards, oblique eyes, and oblong
shields, had to represent the Israelites; they marched by in an
endless procession. He saw the blue-green of the vineyards on the
hillside, the shadow of the dusty palm-trees upon the dusty road.
Then a wood of aromatic trees into which all the warriors fled.

Then followed the story of Absalom.

"Absalom rebelled against his father, what a dreadful thing to
think of," said the Dean. "A grown-up man to rebel against his
father." He chanced to look towards Rafael, who turned as red as
fire.

The thought which was constantly in his mind was that when he was
grown up he should rebel against his father.

"But Absalom was punished in a marvellous manner," continued the
Dean. "He lost the battle, and as he fled through the woods, his
long hair caught in a tree, the horse ran away from under him, and
he was left hanging there until he was run through by a spear."

Rafael could see Absalom hanging there, not in the long Assyrian
garments, not with a pointed beard. No! Slender and young, in
Rafael's tight-fitting breeches and stockings, and with his own
red hair! Ah! how distinctly he saw it! The horse galloping far
away--the grey one at home which he used to ride by stealth when
his father was asleep after dinner. He could see the tall, slender
lad, dangling and swaying, with a spear through his body.
Distinctly! Distinctly!