told you it was remarkably spotty and just as smelly."

"_But,_" continued Judith with emphasis, "I must say that, dirt and
all, it is more _glorious-ified_ than I thought it would be. That
big-winged angel or whatever it is at the top of the stairs looks as if
it would soar right up to the top of heaven--it's so white and strong!"

Patricia's eyes filled with the ready tears as she caught the look on
Judith's thin face, raised in adoring admiration to the great Winged
Victory that stood poised at the top of the wide flight of stone
stairs, showing triumphant in the misty light that seems to fill all
great indoor spaces.

"That's the part that makes up for all the soil and smudge, Ju
darling," said Elinor softly. "Paint and charcoal and clay are dirty
things, but when they're wielded with the force of an Ideal, they can
illuminate the world."

Judith swept her adoring gaze from the Victory to her sister's face.

"Oh, oh," she breathed, "I didn't know you could talk like that,
Elinor. It sounds like some beautiful book."

Elinor blushed and laughed. "I can't, usually," she said, gayly. "It
is the Victory that did it. She must have handed down some of the
thoughts of the old Greek that carved her out of the white marble under
that blue, blue sky of ancient days."

Patricia nodded her quick appreciation. "I wonder how many she has
spoken to, in all the centuries?" she mused, her eyes growing wide and
absent. "Think of them, Norn--those people who felt her spell and
heard the message. What a glorious company!"

It was Elinor's turn to raise misty eyes to the Messenger of the Ideal,
and, like Judith, she was silent, busy with this thought.

"Do you know," Patricia went on, the peculiarly sweet, clear tone that
marked her best self growing as she spoke, "I've come to care a lot
about that glorious company. 'The kings of the earth shall bring their
glory and honor into it,' and I don't see why we all shouldn't have
some chance to add our tiny scrap to the splendor. I know I shan't
ever do much--only commonplace, humdrum things, but if I can come at
last with the least, tiniest bit of a radiant snip to add to the glory
and honor, I'll be more than satisfied."

She broke off suddenly, smiling a wistful smile at the two others.

"I oughtn't to envy you, but I do," she said, softly. "You'll both
come in simply glittering, and I'll have to brag that you're my near
relatives. I'm such an ostentatious beast