business, filling all the air with echoes of blessing.  And all the people who were coming and going smiled upon her, and she knew they were all glad for her that she had seen him, and got the desire of her heart.  Some of them waved their hands as they passed, and some paused a moment and spoke to her with tender congratulations.  They seemed to have the tears in their eyes for joy, remembering every one the first time they had themselves seen him, and the joy of it; so that all about there sounded a concord of happy thoughts all echoing to each other, “She has seen the Lord!”

Why did she say, “And that I will! and that I will!” with such fervor and delight?  She could not have told, but yet she knew.  The first thing was that she had yet to wait and believe until all things should be accomplished, neither doubting nor fearing, but knowing that all should be well; and the second was that she must delay no longer, but rise up and serve the Father according to what was given her as her reward.  When she had recovered a little of her rapture, she rose from her knees, and stood still for a little, to be sure which way she was to go.  And she was not aware what guided her, but yet turned her face in the appointed way without any doubt.  For doubt was now gone away forever, and that fear that once gave her so much trouble lest she might not be doing what was best.  As she moved along she wondered at herself more and more.  She felt no longer, as at first, like the child she remembered to have been, venturing out in the awful lovely stillness of the morning before any one was awake; but she felt that to move along was a delight, and that her foot scarcely touched the grass.  And her whole being was instinct with such lightness of strength and life, that it did not matter to her how far she went, nor what she carried, nor if the way was easy or hard.  The way she chose was one of those which led to the great gate, and many met her coming from thence, with looks that were somewhat bewildered, as if they did not yet know whither they were going or what had happened to them,—­upon whom she smiled as she passed them with soft looks of tenderness and sympathy, knowing what they were feeling, but did not stop to explain to them, because she had something else that had been given her to do.  For this is what always follows in that country when you meet the Lord, that you instantly know what it is that he would have you do.

The little Pilgrim thus went on and on toward the gate, which she had not seen when she herself came through it, having been lifted in his arms by the great Death Angel, and set down softly inside, so that she did not know it, or even the shadow of it.  As she drew nearer, the light became less bright, though very sweet, like a lovely dawn, and she wondered to herself to think that she had been here but a moment ago, and yet so much had passed since then.  And still she was not aware what was her errand, but wondered if she was to go back by these same gates, and perhaps