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larger； that the pews were filled with angels； so crowded together
that they had to tuck up their wings very close indeedand Harry
could not help wondering what they wanted them for； that they were
all singing psalms； that the pulpit by a little change had been
converted into a throne； on which sat God the Father； looking very
solemn and severe； that Jesus was seated in the reading…desk；
looking very sad； and that the Holy Ghost sat on the clerk's desk；
in the shape of a white dove； that a cherub； whose face reminded him
very much of a policeman he knew； took him by the shoulder for
trying to pluck a splendid green feather out of an archangel's wing；
and led him up to the throne； where God shook his head at him in
such a dreadful way； that he was terrified； and then stretched out
his hand to lay hold on him； that he shrieked with fear； and that
Jesus put out his hand and lifted him into the reading…desk； and hid
him down below。 And there Harry lay； feeling so safe； stroking and
kissing the feet that had been weary and wounded for him； till； in
the growing delight of the thought that he actually held those feet；
he came awake and remembered it all。 Truly it was a childish dream；
but not without its own significance。 For surely the only refuge
from heathenish representations of God under Christian forms； the
only refuge from man's blinding and paralysing theories； from the
dead wooden shapes substituted for the living forms of human love
and hope and aspiration； from the interpretations which render
scripture as dry as a speech in Chancerysurely the one refuge from
all these awful evils is the Son of man； for no misrepresentation
and no misconception can destroy the beauty of that face which the
marring of sorrow has elevated into the region of reality； beyond
the marring of irreverent speculation and scholastic definition。
》From the God of man's painting； we turn to the man of God's being；
and he leads us to the true God； the radiation of whose glory we
first see in him。 Happy is that man who has a glimpse of this； even
in a dream such as Harry's！a dream in other respects childish and
incongruous； but not more absurd than the instruction whence it
sprung。
But the troubles returned with the day。 Prayers revived them。 He
sought Euphra in her room。
〃They say I must repent and be sorry for my sins；〃 said he。 〃I have
been trying very hard； but I can't think of any； except once that I
gave Gog〃 （his Welsh pony） 〃such a beating because he would go where
I didn't want him。 But he's forgotten it long ago； and I gave him
two feeds of corn after it； and so somehow I can't feel very sorry
now。 What shall I do？But that's not what I mind most。 It always
seems to me it would be so much grander of God to say： 'Come along；
never mind。 I'll make you good。 I can't wait till you are good； I
love you so much。'〃
His own words were too much for Harry； and he burst into tears at
the thought of God being so kind。 Euphra； instead of trying to
comfort him； cried too。 Thus they continued for some time； Harry
with his head on her knees； and she kindly fondling it with her
distressed hands。 Harry was the first to recover； for his was the
April time； when rain clears the heavens。 All at once he sprung to
his feet； and exclaimed：
〃Only think； Euphra！ What if； after all； I should find out that God
is as kind as you are！〃
How Euphra's heart smote her！
〃Dear Harry；〃 answered she； 〃God must be a great deal kinder than I
am。 I have not been kind to you at all。〃
〃Don't say that； Euphra。 I shall be quite content if God is as kind
as you。〃
〃Oh； Harry！ I hope God is like what I dreamed about my mother last
night。〃
〃Tell me what you dreamed about her； dear Euphra。〃
〃I dreamed that I was a little child〃
〃Were you a little girl when your mother died？〃
〃Oh； yes； such a tiny！ But I can just remember her。〃
〃Tell me your dream； then。〃
〃I dreamed that I was a little girl； out all alone on a wild
mountain…moor； tripping and stumbling on my night…gown。 And the
wind was so cold！ And； somehow or other； the wind was an enemy to
me； and it followed and caught me； and whirled and tossed me about；
and then ran away again。 Then I hastened on； and the thorns went
into my feet； and the stones cut them。 And I heard the blood from
them trickling down the hill…side as I walked。〃
〃Then they would be like the feet I saw in my dream last night。〃
〃Whose feet were they？〃
〃Jesus' feet。〃
〃Tell me about it。〃
〃You must finish yours first； please； Euphra。〃
So Euphra went on：
〃I got dreadfully lame。 And the wind ran after me； and caught me
again； and took me in his great blue ghostly arms； and shook me
about； and then dropped me again to go on。 But it was very hard to
go on； and I couldn't stop； and there was no use in stopping； for
the wind was everywhere in a moment。 Then suddenly I saw before me
a great cataract； all in white； falling flash from a precipice； and
I thought with myself； 'I will go into the cataract； and it will
beat my life out； and then the wind will not get me any more。' So I
hastened towards it； but the wind caught me many times before I got
near it。 At last I reached it； and threw myself down into the basin
it had hollowed out of the rocks。 But as I was falling； something
caught me gently； and held me fast； and it was not the wind。 I
opened my eyes； and behold！ I was in my mother's arms； and she was
clasping me to her breast； for what I had taken for a cataract
falling into a gulf； was only my mother； with her white
grave…clothes floating all about her； standing up in her grave； to
look after me。 'It was time you came home； my darling；' she said；
and stooped down into her grave with me in her arms。 And oh！ I was
so happy； and her bosom was not cold； or her arms hard； and she
carried me just like a baby。 And when she stooped down； then a door
opened somewhere in the grave； I could not find out where
exactlyand in a moment after； we were sitting together in a summer
grove； with the tree…tops steeped in sunshine； and waving about in a
quiet loving windoh； how different from the one that chased me
home！and we underneath in the shadow of the trees。 And then I
said； 'Mother； I've hurt my feet。'〃
〃Did you call her mother when you were a little girl？〃 interposed
Harry。
〃No；〃 answered Euphra。 〃I called her mamma； like other children； but
in my dreams I always call her mother。〃
〃And what did she say？〃
〃She said'Poor child！'and held my feet to her bosom； and after
that； when I looked at them； the bleeding was all gone； and I was
not lame any more。〃
Euphra； paused with a sigh。
〃Oh； Harry！ I do not like to be lame。〃
〃What more？〃 said Harry； intent only on the dream。
〃Oh！ then I was so happy； that I woke up directly。〃
〃What a pity！ But if it should come true？〃
〃How could it come true； dear Harry？〃
〃Why； this world is sometimes cold； and the road is hardyou know
what I mean； Euphra。〃
〃Yes； I do。〃
〃I wish I could dream dreams like that！ How clever you must be！〃
〃But you dream dreams； too； Harry。 Tell me yours。〃
〃Oh； no； I never dream dreams； the dreams dream me；〃 answered Harry；
with a smile。
Then he told his dream； to which Euphra listened with an interest
uninjured by the grotesqueness of its fancy。 Each interpreted the
other's with reverence。
They ceased talking； and sat silent for a while。 Then Harry；
putting his arms round Euphra's neck； and his lips close to her ear；
whispered：
〃Perhaps God will say my darling to you some day； Euphra； just as
your mother did in your dream。〃
She was silent。 Harry looked round into her face； and saw that the
tears were flowing fast。
At that instant； a gentle knock came to the door。 Euphra could not
reply to it。 It was repeated。 After another moment's delay； the
door opened； and Margaret walked in。
CHAPTER XII。
A SUNDAY WITH FALCONER。
How happy is he born and taught；
That serveth not another's will；
Whose armour is his honest thought；
And simple truth his utmost skill。
This man is freed from servile bands
Of hope to rise or fear to fall：
Lord of himself； though not of lands；
And； having nothing； yet hath all。
SIR HENRY WOTTON。
It was not often that Falconer went to church； but he seemed to have
some design in going oftener than usual at present。 The Sunday
after the one last mentioned； he went as well； though not to the
same church； and calling for Hugh took him with him。 What they
found there； and the conversation following thereupon； I will try to
relate； because； although they do not immediately affect my outward
story； they greatly influenced Hugh's real history。
They heard the Morning Service and the Litany read in an ordinary
manner； though somewhat more devoutly than usual。 Then； from the
communion…table； rose a voice vibrating with solemn emotion； like
the voice of Abraham pleading for Sodom。 It thrilled through Hugh's
heart。 The sermon which followed affected him no less； although；
when he came out； he confessed to Falconer that he had only caught
flying glimpses of its meaning； scope； and drift。
〃I seldom go to church；〃 said Falconer； 〃b