And now she found herself at a distance from the great city which shone in the light with its beautiful towers, and roofs, and all its monuments, softly fringed with trees, and set in a heavenly firmament.  And the Pilgrim thought of those words that described this lovely place as a bride adorned for her husband, and did not wonder at him who had said that her streets were of gold and her gates of pearl, because gold and pearls and precious jewels were as nothing to the glory and the beauty of her.  The little Pilgrim was glad to have seen these wonderful things, and her mind was like a cup running over with almost more than it could contain.  It seemed to her that there never could be a time when she should want for wonder and interest and delight so long as she had this to think of.  Yet she was not sorry to turn her back upon the beautiful city, but went on her way singing in unutterable content, and thinking over what the lady had said, that we were in God’s secret, more than all the great worlds above and even the angels, because of knowing how it is that in darkness and doubt, and without any open vision, a man may still keep the right way.  The path lay along the bank of the river which flowed beside her and made the air full of music, and a soft air blew across the running stream and breathed in her face and refreshed her, and the birds sang in all the trees.  And as she passed through the villages the people came out to meet her, and asked of her if she had come from the city, and what she had seen there.  And everywhere she found friends, and kind voices that gave her greeting.  But some would ask her why she still spoke the little language, though it was sweet to their ears; and others when they heard it hastened to call from the houses and the fields some among them who knew the other tongue but a little, and who came and crowded round the little Pilgrim and asked her many questions both about the things she had been seeing and about the old time.  And she perceived that the village folk were a simple folk, not learned and wise like those she had left.  And that though they lived within sight of the great city, and showed every stranger the beautiful view of it, and the glory of its towers, yet few among them had travelled there; for they were so content with their fields and their river, and the shade of their trees and the birds singing, and their simple life, that they wanted no change; though it pleased them to receive the little Pilgrim, and they brought her in to their villages rejoicing, and called every one to see her.  And they told her that they had all been poor and laboured hard in the old time, and had never rested; so that now it was the Father’s good pleasure that they should enjoy great peace and consolation among the fresh-breathing fields and on the riverside, so that there were many who even now had little occupation except to think of the Father’s goodness and to rest.  And they told her how the Lord Himself would come among them, and sit down under