“Why do you ask me such questions,” answered the girl, “when you know that I have thought only as you have taught me to think, am but repeating the faith I learned from your lips?  Surely, there is a land ahead, or rather many lands,—­lands and seas and blessed islands in the seas where the blessed live; and loves and lovers and homes exquisitely and endlessly peaceful are there; and men who have grown nobler than they were here; and women, far sweeter than their short life here might make them, live and love in the lands ahead.”

The girl spoke low but earnestly, and her words sounded on the silent air like softly-breathed music, so much did her sweet self possess her words.  And the man listened as men listen to music when it comes softly and sweetly to their ears.

“Mary,” said the man, “you make the life ahead seem so sweet that I shrink from entering it, lest by so doing I escape the punishment for my sin I would fain inflict upon myself.”

“Oh, master!” exclaimed the girl, “you do mistake; for though I do believe all I have said and would trust myself to the far future as young eagles trust themselves to the warm air when they have grown equal to the joy of flight, yet the life of this earth is sweet, so sweet when the heart is satisfied that one might fear to exchange it for another as one fears to part with what fully satisfies, even though the promise of more abundant things is sure as God.  It is sweet to breathe the airs of the earth as health receives them.  ’Tis sweet to live and love and serve in loving and find your happiness in giving it.  ’Tis sweet to teach and guide men up and on to wider knowledge and nobler living,—­to make them gentler and finer in their thoughts and happier-hearted; and oh, my master, ’tis sweet to live with one you love; be unto him a new life daily, and see him grow in your growth, matching it, and so go on in that perfect companionship that the future may give to us as the highest fortune, and, having given, has given its best and all.”

“You shall live,” answered the man, “you shall live and have as you deserve, dear girl; and if I have taught you aught which, being known, has made or shall make your life on earth sweeter, take it as my legacy to you.  I had thought to leave you something more, perhaps something better, but that is past.”

“I will not take your legacy and stay,” answered the girl, “I will rather take it and go with you, that where you are I may be with you.  You have promised nothing and I want no promise.  I have only asked one thing and only one thing now do I ask, and that you will not hold from me, for I have earned it, earned it by patient serving and by growth that you know came from you.”

“What is it that you ask?  Tell me,” replied the man, “for you shall have it if it be in the power of my giving.”