was a star. . .'

"You may think you have failed, child, but remember that in the
coming times your name and fame will awaken beauty, and many's the
traveler on the hard road will find his courage again, and he thinking
of Marco Polo. And many's the young man will dream dreams, and many's
the old man will see visions, and they reading the book by the golden
candle-light; and many's the young girl will give you love, and you
dead for centuries. But for this you must keep your dream.

"Now you'll think it's the queer pope I am to be telling you things
like this instead of demanding converts. But the wisdom that surpasses
wisdom comes to you with the Annointing of the Oil. 'I knew a man in
Christ above fourteen years ago,' writes Saint Paul, '(whether in the
body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell. God
knoweth.)

"'How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, which is not lawful for a man to utter.'

"Now you see there is a wisdom surpassing wisdom, and it is out of
this fount of wisdom I am drawing when I speak to you these words.

"Child, I will not keep you any longer. Only to say this, and this
is the chiefest thing: never let your dream be taken from you.
Keep it unspotted from the world. In darkness and in tribulation
it will go with you as a friend; but in wealth and power hold fast
to it, for then is danger. Let not the mists of the world, the gay
diversions, the little trifles, draw you from glory.