which is our circle, and where we ought to go," he said. And then he too
was silent for a while, looking about him, as all were fain to do on
their first arrival, finding everything so strange. There were people
coming in at every moment, and some were met at the very threshold, and
some went away alone, with peaceful faces; and there were many groups
about, talking together in soft voices, but no one interrupted the
other; and though so many were there, each voice was as clear as if it
had spoken alone, and there was no tumult of sound as when many people
assemble together in the lower world.

The little Pilgrim wondered to find herself with the woman resting upon
her on one side, and the man seated silent on the other, neither having,
it appeared, any guide but only herself who knew so little. How was she
to lead them in the paths which she did not know?--and she was exhausted
by the agitation of her struggle with the woman whom she felt to be her
charge. But in this moment of silence she had time to remember the face
of the Lord, when He gave her this commission, and her heart was
strengthened. The man all this time sat and watched, looking eagerly all
about him, examining the faces of those who went and came: and sometimes
he made a little start as if to go and speak to some one he knew; but
always drew back again and looked at the little Pilgrim, as if he had
said, "This is the one who will serve me best." He spoke to her again
after a while and said, "I suppose you are one of the guides that show
the way."

"No," said the little Pilgrim, anxiously, "I know so little! It is not
long since I came here. I came in the early morning--"

"Why, it is morning now. You could not come earlier than it is now. You
mean yesterday."