and bade her pause a moment
and look back into the city as they passed the end of the great street
out of which they came. And then the Pilgrim was more and more consoled,
for she saw many who had before been alone now walking together hand in
hand.

"It is not as it was," Ama said. "For all of us have work to do which is
needed for the worlds, and it is no longer needful that one should sit
at home while the other goes forth; for our work is not for our life as
of old, or for ourselves, but for the Father who has given us so great
a trust. And, little sister, you must know that though we are not so
great as the angels, nor as many that come to visit us from the other
worlds, yet we are nearer to Him. For we are in His secret, and it is
ours to make it clear."

The little Pilgrim's heart was very full to hear this; but she said--

"I was never clever, nor knew much. It is better for me to go away to my
little border-land, and help the strangers who do not know the way."

"Whatever is your work is the best," the lady said; "but though you are
so little you are in the Father's secret too; for it is nature to you to
know what the others cannot be sure of, that we must have the victory at
the last. So that we have this between us, the Father and we. And though
all are His children, we are of the kindred of God, because of our Lord
who is our Brother;" and then the Lady Ama kissed her, and bade her when
she returned to the great city, either for rest or for love, or because
the Father sent for her, that she should come to the house by the river.
"For we are friends for ever," she said, and so threw her white veil
over her head, and was gone upon her mission, whither the little Pilgrim
did not know.

And now she found herself at a distance from the great city which shone
in the light with its beautiful towers, and roofs, and all its
monuments, softly fringed with trees, and set in a heavenly firmament.
And the Pilgrim thought of those words that described this lovely place
as a bride adorned for her husband, and did not wonder at him who had
said that her streets were of gold and her gates of pearl, because gold
and pearls and precious jewels were as nothing to the glory and the
beauty of her. The little Pilgrim was glad to have seen these wonderful
things, and her mind was like a cup running over with almost more than
it could contain. It seemed to her that there never could be a time
when she should want for wonder an