or remember as you choose, the truth remains, that all of you, young and old, rich and poor, are endowed in your own selves with the ‘making of an angel.’  The ‘Soul’ within you, which you may elect to keep or to lose, is the infant of Heaven.  It depends on you for care,—­for sustenance;—­it needs all your work and will to aid it in growing up to its full stature and perfection.  It shall profit you nothing if you gain the whole world, and at death have naught to give to your Maker but crumbling clay.  Let the Angel be ready,—­the ‘Soul’ in you prepared, and full-winged for flight!  According to the power and purity with which you have invested and surrounded it, will be its fate.  If you have voluntarily checked and stunted its aspirations, even so checked and stunted must be its next probation,—­but if you have faithfully done your best to nourish it with loving thoughts and noble aims,—­if you have given it room to expand and shine forth with all its own original God-born radiance, then will its ascension to a higher sphere of action and attainment be attended with unimaginable joy and glory.  Let the world go, rather than lose the Divine Light within you!  For that Light will, and must, attract all that is worth knowing, worth loving and worth keeping in our actual environment.  The rest can be well spared,—­whether it be money, position, notoriety or social influence,—­for none of these things last,—­none of them are in any way precious, save to such ignorant and misguided persons as are deceived by external shows.  The Soul is all!  Keep but that ‘breath of God’ within you, and the world becomes merely one step of the ladder on which you may easily mount through everlasting love upon love, joy upon joy, to the utmost height of Heaven!”

He ceased.  For a moment there was a profound stillness.  And then, with the usual formula—­“Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost be praise, honour and glory for ever and ever”—­the congregation stood up.  Lady Beaulyon shook her silken skirts delicately.  Mrs. Bludlip Oourtenay put her hand to her back hair coil and made sure that it was safe.  And there was a general stir and movement, which instantly subsided again, as the people knelt to receive the parting benediction.  Maryllia’s eyes were riveted on Walden as he stretched out his hands;—­she was conscious of a certain vague awe and reverence for this man with whom she had so casually walked and talked, only as it seemed the other day;—­he appeared, as it were, removed from her by an immeasurable distance,- -his spirit and hers had gone wide apart,—­his was throned upon a height of noble ideals,—­hers was low, low down in a little valley of worldly nothings,—­and oh, how small and insignificant she felt!  Cicely’s hand caught hers and gave it an affectionate little pressure, as they bowed their heads together under the solemnly pronounced blessing.

“The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord,”—­here Walden turned ever so slightly towards the place where Maryllia knelt; “and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always!”