The stranger looked dimly with his heavy eyes.  And he replied, ’It is as a dream that I know you, and know from whence you came.  And the dream is sweet to lie here, and think that I am at peace.  Deceive me not, oh! deceive me not with dreams that are sweet; but let me go upon my way and find the end, if there is any end, or if any good can be.’

‘What shall we do,’ cried the little Pilgrim, ’to persuade him that he has arrived and is safe, and dreams no more?’

And they stood round him wondering, and troubled to find how little they could do for him, and that the light entered so slowly into his soul.  And he lay on the bank like one left for death, so weary and so worn with all the horrors of the way that his heart was faint within him, and peace itself seemed to him but an illusion.  He lay silent while they watched and waited, then turned himself upon the grass, which was as soft to the weary wayfarer as angels’ wings; and then the sunshine caught his eye, as if he had been a newborn babe awakened to the light.  He put out his hand to it, and touched the ground that was golden with those heavenly rays, and gathered himself up till he felt it upon his face, and opened wide his dazzled eyes, then shaded them with trembling hands, and said to himself, ‘It is the sun; it is the sun!’ But still he did not dare to believe that the danger and the toil were over, nor could he listen, nor understand what the brethren said.  While they all stood around and watched and waited, wondering each how the new-comer should be satisfied, there suddenly arose a sound with which they were all acquainted,—­the sound of One approaching.  The faces of the blessed were all around like the stars in the sky,—­multitudes whom none could count or reckon; but He who came was seen of none, save him to whom He came.  The weary man rose up with a great cry, then fell again upon his knees, and flung his arms wide in the wonder and the joy.  And ‘Lord,’ he cried, ’was it Thou?  Lord, it was Thou!  Thine was the face.  And Thou hast brought me here!’

The watchers knew not what the other voice said, for what is said to each new-comer is the secret of the Lord.  But when they looked again, the man stood upright upon his feet, and his face was full of light; and though he trembled with weakness and with weariness, and with exceeding joy, yet the confusion and the fear were gone from him.  And he had no longer any suspicion of them, as if they might betray him, but held out his trembling hands and cried, ’Friends,—­you are friends? and you spoke to me and called me brother?  And am I here?  And am I here?’ For to name the name of that blessed country was not needful any longer, now that he had seen the Lord.

Then a great band and guard of honor, of angels and principalities and powers, surrounded him, and led him away to the holy city, and to the presence of the Father, who had permitted and had not forbidden what the Lord had done.  And all the companies of the blessed followed after with wonder and gladness and triumph, because the great love of the Lord had drawn out of the darkness even those who were beyond hope.