ngle aim, never to
complain, but always to impart a bit of her joy and peace to every one
who came near her. All these, and other persons like them, people of
little consideration in the world, but now seemingly all full of great
contentment and an inward gladness that made their steps light, were
in the company that passed along the road, talking together of things
past and things to come, and singing now and then with clear voices
from which the veil of age and sorrow was lifted.

John Weightman joined in some of the songs--which were familiar to him
from their use in the church--at first with a touch of hesitation, and
then more confidently. For as they went on his sense of strangeness
and fear at his new experience diminished, and his thoughts began to
take on their habitual assurance and complacency. Were not these
people going to the Celestial City? And was not he in his right place
among them? He had always looked forward to this journey. If they
were sure, each one, of finding a mansion there, could not he be far
more sure? His life had been more fruitful than theirs. He had been a
leader, a founder of new enterprises, a pillar of Church and State, a
prince of the House of Israel. Ten talents had been given him, and he
had made them twenty. His reward would be proportionate. He was glad
that his companions were going to find fit dwellings prepared for
them; but he thought also with a certain pleasure of the surprise that
some of them would feel when they saw his appointed mansion.

So they came to the summit of the moorland and looked over into the
world beyond. It was a vast green plain, softly rounded like a shallow
vase, and circled with hills of amethyst. A broad, shining river
flowed through it, and many silver threads of water were woven across
the green; and there were borders of tall trees on the banks of the
river, and orchards full of roses abloom along the little streams, and
in the midst of all stood the city, white and wonderful.

When the travellers saw it they were filled with awe and joy. They
passed over the little streams and among the orchards quickly and
silently, as if they feared to speak lest the city should vanish.

The wall of the city was very low, a child could see over it, for it
was made only of precious stones. The gate of the city was not like a
gate at all, for it was not barred with iron or wood, but only a
single pearl, softly gleaming, marked the place where the wall ended