afraid now--oh, I can see it in your eyes. You are not happy, but you
are not afraid. You know it is the Father. Do not say God, that is far
off--Father!" said the little Pilgrim, holding up the woman's hand
clasped in her own. And there came into her soul an ecstasy, and tears
that were tears of blessedness fell from her eyes, and all about her
there seemed to shine a light. When she came to herself, the woman who
was her charge had come quite close to her, and had added her other hand
to that the Pilgrim held, and was weeping, and saying, "I am not
afraid," with now and then a gasp and sob, like a child who, after a
passion of tears, has been consoled, yet goes on sobbing and cannot
quite forget, and is afraid to own that all is well again. Then the
Pilgrim kissed her, and bade her rest a little, for even she herself
felt shaken, and longed for a little quiet and to feel the true sense of
the peace that was in her heart. She sat down beside her upon the
ground, and made her lean her head against her shoulder, and thus they
remained very still for a little time, saying no more. It seemed to the
little Pilgrim that her companion had fallen asleep, and perhaps it was
so, after so much agitation. All this time there had been people
passing, entering by the many doors. And most of them paused a little to
see where they were, and looked round them, then went on; and it seemed
to the little Pilgrim that, according to the doors by which they
entered, each took a different way. While she watched, another came in
by the same door as that at which the woman who was her charge had come
in. And he too stumbled and looked about him with an air of great
wonder and doubt. When he saw her seated on the ground, he came up to
her, hesitating as one in a strange place who does not want to betray
that he is bewildered and has lost his way. He came with a little
pretence of smiling, though his countenance was pale and scared, and
said, drawing his breath quick, "I ought to know where I am, but I have
lost my head, I think. Will you tell me which is the way?"