Somonthbymonth，summerandwinter，theoldlifegoeson——reading，praying，weeping，praying。Theytelluswebecomeutterlystupid。Weknowit。Eventhemultiplicationtablewelearntwithsomuchcareweforgot。
Thephysicalworldrecedesfurtherandfurtherfromus。Trulywelovenottheworld，neitherthethingsthatareinit。Acrosstheboundsofsleepourgrieffollowsus。Whenwewakeinthenightwearesittingupinbedweepingbitterly，orfindourselfoutsideinthemoonlight，dressed，andwalkingupanddown，andwringingourhands，andwecannottellhowwecamethere。Sopasstwoyears，asmenreckonthem。
V。
Thenanewtime。
Beforeustherewerethreecoursespossible——togomad，todie，tosleep。
Wetakethelattercourse；ornaturetakesitforus。
Allthingstakerestinsleep；thebeasts，birds，theveryflowersclosetheireyes，andthestreamsarestillinwinter；allthingstakerest；thenwhynotthehumanreasonalso？Sothequestioningdevilinusdropsasleep，andinthatsleepabeautifuldreamrisesforus。Thoughyouhearallthedreamsofmen，youwillhardlyfindaprettieronethanours。Itranso：
InthecentreofallthingsisamightyHeart，which，havingbegottenallthings，lovesthem；and，havingbornthemintolife，beatswithgreatthrobsoflovetowardsthem。NodeathforHisdearinsects，nohellforHisdearmen，noburningupforHisdearworld——Hisown，ownworldthathehasmade。Intheendallwillbebeautiful。Donotaskushowwemakeourdreamtallywithfacts；thegloryofadreamisthis——thatitdespisesfacts，andmakesitsown。Ourdreamsavesusfromgoingmad；thatisenough。
Itspeculiarpointofsweetnesslayhere。WhentheMightyHeart’syearningoflovebecametoogreatforotherexpression，itshapeditselfintothesweetRoseofheaven，thebelovedMan—god。
Jesus！youJesusofourdream！howwelovedyou；noBibletellsofyouasweknewyou。Yoursweethandsheldoursfast；yoursweetvoicesaidalways，\"Iamhere，mylovedone，notfaroff；putyourarmsaboutme，andholdfast。\"
WefindHimineverythinginthosedays。Whenthelittlewearylambwedrivehomedragsitsfeet，weseizeonit，andcarryitwithitsheadagainstourface。Hislittlelamb！WefeelwehavegotHim。
WhenthedrunkenKafferliesbytheroadinthesunwedrawhisblanketoverhishead，andputgreenbranchesofmilk—bushonit。HisKaffer；whyshouldthesunhurthim？
Intheevening，whenthecloudsliftthemselveslikegates，andtheredlightsshinethroughthem，wecry；forinsuchgloryHewillcome，andthehandsthatachetotouchHimwillholdhim，andweshallseethebeautifulhairandeyesofourGod。\"Liftupyourheads，O，yegates；andbeyeliftedup，yeeverlastingdoors，andourKingofgloryshallcomein！\"
Thepurpleflowers，thelittlepurpleflowers，areHiseyes，lookingatus。
Wekissthem，andkneelaloneontheflat，rejoicingoverthem。AndthewildernessandthesolitaryplaceshallbegladforHim，andthedesertshallrejoiceandblossomasarose。
Ifever，inourtearful，joyfulecstasy，thepoor，sleepy，half—deaddevilshouldraisehishead，welaughathim。Itisnothishournow。
\"Ifthereshouldbeahell，afterall！\"hemutters。\"IfyourGodshouldbecruel！IfthereshouldbenoGod！Ifyoushouldfindoutitisallimagination！If——\"
Welaughathim。Whenamansitsinthewarmsunshine，doyouaskhimforproofofit？Hefeels——thatisall。Andwefeel——thatisall。WewantnoproofofourGod。Wefeel，wefeel！
WedonotbelieveinourGodbecausetheBibletellsusofHim。WebelieveintheBiblebecauseHetellsusofit。WefeelHim，wefeelHim，wefeel—
—thatisall！Andthepoor，half—swampeddevilmutters：
\"Butifthedayshouldcomewhenyoudonotfeel？\"
Andwelaughandcryhimdown。
\"Itwillnevercome——never，\"andthepoordevilslinkstosleepagain，withhistailbetweenhislegs。Fierceassertionmanytimesrepeatedishardtostandagainst；onlytimeseparatesthetruthfromthelie。Sowedreamon。
Onedaywegowithourfathertotown，tochurch。Thetownspeoplerustleintheirsilks，andthemenintheirsleekcloth，andsettlethemselvesintheirpews，andthelightshinesinthroughthewindowsontheartificialflowersinthewomen’sbonnets。Wehavethesamemiserablefeelingthatwehaveinashopwherealltheclerksareverysmart。Wewishourfatherhadn’tbroughtustotown，andwewereoutonthekaroo。Thenthemaninthepulpitbeginstopreach。Histextis\"Hethatbelievethnotshallbedamned。\"
Thedaybeforethemagistrate’sclerk，whowasanatheist，hasdiedinthestreetstruckbylightning。
Themaninthepulpitmentionsnoname；buthetalksof\"ThehandofGodmadevisibleamongstus。\"Hetellsushow，whenthewhitestrokefell，quiveringandnaked，thesoulfled，robbedofhisearthlyfilament，andlayatthefootstoolofGod；howoveritsheadhasbeenpouredoutthewrathoftheMightyOne，whoseexistenceithasdenied；and，quiveringandterrified，ithasfledtotheeverlastingshade。
We，aswelisten，halfstartup；everydropofbloodinourbodyhasrushedtoourhead。Helies！helies！helies！Thatmaninthepulpitlies！
Willnoonestophim？Havenoneofthemheard——dononeofthemknow，thatwhenthepoor，darksoulshutitseyesonearthitopenedtheminthestilllightofheaven？thatthereisnowrathwhereGod’sfaceis？thatifonecouldoncecreeptothefootstoolofGod，thereiseverlastingpeacethere，likethefreshstillnessoftheearlymorning？Whiletheatheistlaywonderingandafraid，Godbentdownandsaid：\"Mychild，hereIam——I，whomyouhavenotknown；I，whomyouhavenotbelievedin；Iamhere。I
sentMymessenger，thewhitesheet—lightning，tocallyouhome。Iamhere。\"
Thenthepoorsoulturnedtothelight——itsweaknessandpainweregoneforever。
Havetheynotknown，havetheynotheard，whoitisrules？
\"ForalittlemomenthaveIhiddenmyfacefromthee；butwitheverlastingkindnesswillIhavemercyuponthee，saiththeLordthyRedeemer。\"
Wemutterontoourselves，tillsomeonepullsusviolentlybythearmtoremindusweareinchurch。Weseenothingbutourownideas。
Presentlyeveryoneturnstopray。TherearesixhundredsoulsliftingthemselvestotheEverlastinglight。
Behindussittwoprettyladies；onehandsherscent—bottlesoftlytotheother，andamotherpullsdownherlittlegirl’sfrock。Oneladydropsherhandkerchief；agentlemanpicksitup；sheblushes。Thewomeninthechoirturnsoftlytheleavesoftheirtune—books，tobereadywhentheprayingisdone。ItisasthoughtheythoughtmoreofthesingingthantheEverlastingFather。Oh，woulditnotbemoreworshipofHimtositaloneinthekarooandkissonelittlepurpleflowerthathehadmade？Isitnotmockery？Thenthethoughtcomes，\"Whatdoestthouhere，Elijah？\"Wewhojudge，whatarewebetterthanthey？——ratherworse。Isitanyexcusetosay，\"Iambutachildandmustcome？\"DoesGodallowanysoultostepinbetweenthespirithemadeandhimself？Whatdowethereinthatplace，whereallthewordsareliesagainsttheAllFather？Filledwithhorror，weturnandfleeoutoftheplace。Onthepavementwesmiteourfoot，andswearinourchild’ssoulneveragaintoenterthoseplaceswheremencometosingandpray。Wearequestionedafterward。Whywasitwewentoutofthechurch。
Howcanweexplain？——westandsilent。Thenwearepressedfurther，andwetrytotell。Thenaheadisshakensolemnlyatus。NoonecanthinkitwrongtogotothehouseoftheLord；itistheidleexcuseofawickedboy。Whenwillwethinkseriouslyofoursouls，andlovegoingtochurch？
Wearewicked，verywicked。Andwe——weslinkawayandgoalonetocry。
Willitbealwaysso？Whetherwehateanddoubt，orwhetherwebelieveandlove，toourdearest，arewetoseemalwayswicked？
Wedonotyetknowthatinthesoul’ssearchfortruththebitternesslieshere，thestrivingcannotalwayshideitselfamongthethoughts；soonerorlateritwillclotheitselfinoutwardaction；thenitstepsinanddividesbetweenthesoulandwhatitloves。Allthingsonearthhavetheirprice；
andfortruthwepaythedearest。Webarteritforloveandsympathy。Theroadtohonourispavedwiththorns；butonthepathtotruth，ateverystepyousetyourfootdownonyourownheart。
VI。
Thenatlastanewtime——thetimeofwaking；short，sharp，andnotpleasant，aswakingsoftenare。
Sleepanddreamsexistonthiscondition——thatnoonewakethedreamer。
Andnowlifetakesusupbetweenherfingerandthumb，shakesusfuriously，tillourpoornoddingheadiswell—nighrolledfromourshoulders，andshesetsusdownalittlehardonthebareearth，bruisedandsore，butpreternaturallywideawake。
Wehavesaidinourdaysofdreaming，\"Injusticeandwrongareaseeming；
painisashadow。OurGod，Heisreal，Hewhomadeallthings，andHeonlyisLove。\"
Nowlifetakesusbytheneckandshowsusafewotherthings，——new—madegraveswiththeredsandflyingaboutthem；eyesthatwelovewiththewormseatingthem；evilmenwalkingsleekandfat，thewholeterriblehurly—burlyofthethingcalledlife，——andshesays，\"Whatdoyouthinkofthese？\"Wedarenotsay\"Nothing。\"Wefeelthem；theyareveryreal。Butwetrytolayourhandsaboutandfeelthatotherthingwefeltbefore。Inthedarknightinthefuel—roomwecrytoourBeautifuldream—god：\"Oh，letuscomenearyou，andlayourheadagainstyourfeet。Nowinourhourofneedbenearus。\"ButHeisnotthere；Heisgoneaway。Theoldquestioningdevilisthere。
Wemusthavebeenawakenedsoonerorlater。Theimaginationcannotalwaystriumphoverreality，thedesireovertruth。Wemusthavebeenawakened。
Ifitwasdonealittlesharply，whatmatter？Itwasdonethoroughly，andithadtobedone。
VII。
Andanewlifebeginsforus——anewtime，alifeascoldasthatofamanwhositsonthepinnacleofanicebergandseestheglitteringcrystalsallabouthim。Theoldlooksindeedlikealonghotdelirium，peopledwithphantasies。Thenewiscoldenough。
NowwehavenoGod。Wehavehadtwo：theoldGodthatourfathershandeddowntous，thatwehated，andneverliked：thenewonethatwemadeforourselves，thatweloved；butnowhehasflittedawayfromus，andweseewhathewasmadeof——theshadowofourhighestideal，crownedandthroned。
NowwehavenoGod。
\"Thefoolhathsaidinhisheart，ThereisnoGod。\"Itmaybeso。Mostthingssaidorwrittenhavebeentheworkoffools。
Thisthingiscertain——heisafoolwhosays，\"Nomanhathsaidinhisheart，ThereisnoGod。\"
Ithasbeensaidmanythousandtimesinheartswithprofoundbitternessofearnestfaith。
Wedonotcryandweep：wesitdownwithcoldeyesandlookattheworld。
Wearenotmiserable。Whyshouldwebe？Weeatanddrink，andsleepallnight；butthedeadarenotcolder。
Andwesayitslowly，butwithoutsighing，\"Yes，weseeitnow；thereisnoGod。\"
And，weadd，growingalittlecolderyet。\"Thereisnojustice。Theoxdiesintheyoke，beneathitsmaster’swhip；itturnsitsanguish—filledeyesonthesunlight，butthereisnosignofrecompensetobemadeit。
Theblackmanisshotlikeadog，anditgoeswellwiththeshooter。Theinnocentareaccusedandtheaccusertriumphs。Ifyouwilltakethetroubletoscratchthesurfaceanywhere，youwillseeundertheskinasentientbeingwrithinginimpotentanguish。\"
And，wesayfurther，andourheartisastheheartofthedeadforcoldness，\"Thereisnoorder：allthingsaredrivenaboutbyablindchance。\"
Whatasouldrinksinwithitsmother’smilkwillnotleaveitinaday。
Fromourearliesthourwehavebeentaughtthatthethoughtoftheheart，theshapingoftherain—cloud，theamountofwoolthatgrowsonasheep’sback，thelengthofadrought，andthegrowingofthecorn，dependonnothingthatmovesimmutable，attheheartofallthings；butonthechangeablewillofachangeablebeing，whomourprayerscanalter。Tous，fromthebeginning，naturehasbeenbutapoorplasticthing，tobetoyedwiththiswayorthat，asmanhappenstopleasehisdeityornot；togotochurchornot；tosayhisprayersrightornot；totravelonaSundayornot。WasitpossibleforusinaninstanttoseeNatureassheis——theflowingvestmentofanunchangingreality？Whenthesoulbreaksfreefromthearmsofasuperstition，bitsoftheclawsandtalonsbreakthemselvesoffinhim。Itisnottheworkofadaytosqueezethemout。
Andso，forus，thehuman—likedriverandguidebeinggone，allexistence，aswelookoutatitwithourchilled，wonderingeyes，isanaimlessriseandswellofshiftingwaters。Inallthatwelteringchaoswecanseenospotsolargeasaman’shandonwhichwemayplantourfoot。
Whetheramanbelievesinahuman—likeGodornoisasmallthing。Whetherhelooksintothementalandphysicalworldandseesnorelationbetweencauseandeffect，noorder，butablindchancesporting，thisisthemightiestfactthatcanberecordedinanyspiritualexistence。Itwerealmostamercytocuthisthroat，ifindeedhedoesnotdoitforhimself。
We，however，donotcutourthroats。Todosowouldimplysomedesireandfeeling，andwehavenodesireandnofeeling；weareonlycold。Wedonotwishtolive，andwedonotwishtodie。OnedayasnakecurlsitselfroundthewaistofaKafferwoman。Wetakeitinourhand，swingitroundandround，andflingitontheground——dead。Everyonelooksatuswitheyesofadmiration。Wealmostlaugh。Isitwonderfultoriskthatforwhichwecarenothing？
Intruth，nothingmatters。Thisdirtylittleworldfullofconfusion，andthebluerag，stretchedoverheadforasky，issolowwecouldtouchitwithourhand。
Existenceisagreatpot，andtheoldFatewhostirsitroundcaresnothingwhatrisestothetopandwhatgoesdown，andlaughswhenthebubblesburst。Andwedonotcare。Letitboilabout。Whyshouldwetroubleourselves？Neverthelessthephysicalsensationsarereal。Hungerhurts，andthirst，thereforeweeatanddrink：inactionpainsus，thereforeweworklikegalley—slaves。Noonedemandsit，butwesetourselvestobuildagreatdaminredsandbeyondthegraves。Inthegreydawnbeforethesheepareletoutweworkatit。Allday，whiletheyoungostricheswetendfeedaboutus，weworkonthroughthefiercestheat。Thepeoplewonderwhatnewspirithasseizedusnow。Theydonotknowweareworkingforlife。Webearthegreateststones，andfeelasatisfactionwhenwestaggerunderthem，andarehurtbyapangthatshootsthroughourchest。
Whileweeatourdinnerwecarryonbasketsfullofearth，asthoughthedevildroveus。TheKafferservantshaveastorythatatnightawitchandtwowhiteoxencometohelpus。Nowall，theysay，couldgrowsoquicklyunderoneman’shands。
Atnight，aloneinourcabin，wesitnomorebroodingoverthefire。Whatshouldwethinkofnow？Allisemptiness。Sowetaketheoldarithmetic；
andthemultiplicationtable，whichwithsomuchpainswelearntlongagoandforgotdirectly，welearnnowinafewhours，andneverforgetagain。
Wetakeastrangesatisfactioninworkingarithmeticalproblems。Wepauseinourbuildingtocoverthestoneswithfiguresandcalculations。WesavemoneyforaLatinGrammarandAlgebra，andcarrythemaboutinourpockets，poringoverthemasoverourBibleofold。Wehavethoughtwewereutterlystupid，incapableofrememberinganything，oflearninganything。Nowwefindthatalliseasy。Hasanewsoulcreptintothisoldbody，thatevenourintellectualfacultiesarechanged？Wemarvel；notperceivingthatwhatamanexpendsinprayerandecstasyhecannothaveoverforacquiringknowledge。Younevershedatear，orcreateabeautifulimage，orquiverwithemotion，butyoupayforitatthepractical，calculatingendofyournature。Youhavejustsomuchforce：whentheonechannelrunsovertheotherrunsdry。
AndnowweturntoNature。Alltheseyearswehavelivedbesideher，andwehaveneverseenher；andnowweopenoureyesandlookather。
Therockshavebeentousablurofbrown：webendoverthem，andthedisorganisedmassesdissolveintoamany—coloured，many—shaped，carefully—
arrangedformofexistence。Heremassesofrainbow—tintedcrystals，half—
fusedtogether；therebandsofsmoothgreyandredmethodicallyoverlyingeachother。Thisrockhereiscoveredwithadelicatesilvertracery，insomemineral，resemblingleavesandbranches；thereontheflatstone，onwhichwesooftenhavesattoweepandpray，welookdown，andseeitcoveredwiththefossilfootprintsofgreatbirds，andthebeautifulskeletonofafish。Wehaveoftentriedtopictureinourmindwhatthefossiledremainsofcreaturesmustbelike，andallthewhilewesatonthem，wehavebeensoblindedbythinkingandfeelingthatwehaveneverseentheworld。
Theflatplainhasbeentousareachofmonotonousred。Welookatit，andeveryhandfulofsandstartsintolife。Thatwonderfulpeople，theants，welearntoknow；seethemmakewarandpeace，playandwork，andbuildtheirhugepalaces。Andthatsmallerpeoplewemakeacquaintancewith，wholiveintheflowers。Thebittoflowerhasbeenforusamereblurofyellow；wefinditsheartcomposedofahundredperfectflowers，thehomesofthetinyblackpeoplewithredstripes，whomoveinandoutinthatlittleyellowcity。Everybluebellhasitsinhabitant。Everydaythekarooshowsusanewwondersleepinginitsteemingbosom。
Onourwaybacktoworkwepauseandstandtoseetheground—spidermakeitstrap，buryitselfinthesand，andthenwaitforthefallinginofitsenemy。
Furtheronwalksahornedbeetle，andnearhimstartsopenthedoorofaspider，whopeepsoutcarefully，andquicklypullsitdownagain。Onakaroo—bushagreenflyislayinghersilvereggs。Wecarrythemhome，andseetheshellspierced，thespottedgrubcomeout，turntoagreenfly，andflitaway。WearenotsatisfiedwithwhatNatureshowsus，andweseesomethingforourselves。Underthewhitehenweputadozeneggs，andbreakonedaily，toseethewhitespotwaxintothechicken。Wearenotexcitedorenthusiasticaboutit；butamanisnottolayhisthroatopen，hemustthinkofsomething。Soweplantseedsinrowsonourdam—wall，andpulloneupdailytoseehowitgoeswiththem。Alladeenburiedherwonderfulstone，andagoldenpalacesprungupatherfeet。Wedofarmore。Weputabrownseedintheearth，andalivingthingstartsout——
startsupward——why，nomorethanAlladeencanwesay——startsupward，anddoesnotdesisttillitishigherthanourheads，sparklingwithdewintheearlymorning，glitteringwithyellowblossoms，shakingbrownseedswithlittleembryosoulsontotheground。Welookatitsolemnly，fromthetimeitconsistsoftwoleavespeepingabovethegroundandasoftwhiteroot，tillwehavetoraiseourfacestolookatit；butwefindnoreasonforthatupwardstarting。
Welookintodeadducksandlambs。Intheeveningwecarrythemhome，spreadnewspapersonthefloor，andlieworkingwiththemtillmidnight。
Withastartedfeelingnearakintoecstasyweopenthelumpoffleshcalledaheart，andfindlittledoorsandstringsinside。Wefeelthem，andputtheheartaway；buteverynowandthenreturntolook，andtofeelthemagain。Whywelikethemsowecanhardlytell。
Aganderdrownsitselfinourdam。Wetakeitout，andopenitonthebank，andkneellookingatit。Abovearetheorgansdividedbydelicatetissues；belowaretheintestinesartisticallycurvedinaspiralform，andeachtiercoveredbyadelicatenetworkofblood—vesselsstandingoutredagainstthefaintbluebackground。Eachbranchoftheblood—vesselsiscomprisedofatrunk，bifurcatingandrebifurcatingintothemostdelicate，hair—likethreads，symmetricallyarranged。Wearestruckwithitssingularbeauty。And，moreover——andherewedropfromourkneelingintoasittingposture——thisalsoweremark：ofthatsameexactshapeandoutlineisourthorn—treeseenagainsttheskyinmid—winter：ofthatshapealsoisdelicatemetallictracerybetweenourrocks；inthatexactpathdoesourwaterflowwhenwithoutafurrowweleaditfromthedam；soshapedaretheantlersofthehornedbeetle。Howarethesethingsrelatedthatsuchdeepunionshouldexistbetweenthemall？Isitchance？Or，aretheynotallthefinebranchesofonetrunk，whosesapflowsthroughusall？Thatwouldexplainit。Wenodoverthegander’sinside。
Thisthingwecallexistence；isitnotasomethingwhichhasitsrootsfardownbelowinthedark，anditsbranchesstretchingoutintotheimmensityabove，whichweamongthebranchescannotsee？Notachancejungle；alivingthing，aOne。Thethoughtgivesusintensesatisfaction，wecannottellwhy。
Wenodoverthegander；thenstartupsuddenly，lookintothebluesky，throwthedeadganderandtherefuseintothedam，andgotoworkagain。
Andso，itcomestopassintime，thattheearthceasesforustobeawelteringchaos。Wewalkinthegreathalloflife，lookingupandroundreverentially。Nothingisdespicable——allismeaning—full；nothingissmall——allispartofawhole，whosebeginningandendweknownot。Thelifethatthrobsinusisabeginningandendweknownot。Thelifethatthrobsinusisapulsationfromit；toomightyforourcomprehension，nottoosmall。
Andso，itcomestopassatlast，thatwhereastheskywasatfirstasmallblueragstretchedoutoverus，andsolowthatourhandsmighttouchit，pressingdownonus，itraisesitselfintoanimmeasurablebluearchoverourheads，andwebegintoliveagain。
Chapter2。II。Waldo’sStranger。
Waldolayonhisstomachontheredsand。Thesmallostrichesheherdedwanderedabouthim，peckingatthefoodhehadcut，oratpebblesanddrysticks。Onhisrightlaythegraves；tohisleftthedam；inhishandwasalargewoodenpostcoveredwithcarvings，atwhichheworked。Dosslaybeforehimbaskinginthewintersunshine，andnowandagaincastinganexpectantglanceatthecornerofthenearestostrichcamp。Thescrubbythorn—treesunderwhichtheylayyieldednoshade，butnonewasneededinthatgloriousJuneweather，wheninthehottestpartoftheafternoonthesunwasbutpleasantlywarm；andtheboycarvedon，notlookingup，yetconsciousofthebrownsereneearthabouthimandtheintenselyblueskyabove。
Presently，atthecornerofthecamp，Emappeared，bearingacoveredsaucerinonehandandintheotherajug，withacupinthetop。Shewasgrownintoaprematurelittleoldwomanofsixteen，ridiculouslyfat。Thejugandsaucersheputdownonthegroundbeforethedogandhismasteranddroppeddownbesidethemherself，pantingandoutofbreath。
\"Waldo，asIcameupthecampsImetsomeoneonhorseback，andIdobelieveitmustbethenewmanthatiscoming。\"
ThenewmanwasanEnglishmantowhomtheBoer—womanhadhiredhalfthefarm。
\"Hum！\"saidWaldo。
\"Heisquiteyoung，\"saidEm，holdingherside，\"andhehasbrownhair，andbeardcurlingclosetohisface，andsuchdarkblueeyes。And，Waldo，I
wassoashamed！Iwasjustlookingbacktosee，youknow，andhehappenedjusttobelookingbacktoo，andwelookedrightintoeachother’sfaces；
andhegotred，andIgotsored。Ibelieveheisthenewman。\"
\"Yes，\"saidWaldo。
\"Imustgonow。PerhapshehasbroughtuslettersfromthepostfromLyndall。Youknowshecan’tstayatschoolmuchlonger，shemustcomebacksoon。Andthenewmanwillhavetostaywithustillhishouseisbuilt。
Imustgethisroomready。Good—bye！\"
Shetrippedoffagain，andWaldocarvedonathispost。Dosslaywithhisnoseclosetothecoveredsaucer，andsmeltthatsomeonehadmadenicelittlefatcakesthatafternoon。Bothweresointentontheiroccupationthatnottillahorse’shoofsbeatbesidetheminthesanddidtheylookuptoseeariderdrawinginhissteed。
HewascertainlynotthestrangerwhomEmhaddescribed。Adark，somewhatFrench—lookinglittlemanofeight—and—twenty，ratherstout，withheavy，cloudyeyesandpointedmoustaches。Hishorsewasafierycreature，wellcaparisoned；ahighly—finishedsaddlebaghungfromthesaddle；theman’shandsweregloved，andhepresentedtheappearance—anappearancerareonthatfarm——ofawell—dressedgentleman。
Inanuncommonlymelodiousvoiceheinquiredwhetherhemightbeallowedtoremainthereforanhour。Waldodirectedhimtothefarmhouse，butthestrangerdeclined。Hewouldmerelyrestunderthetreesandgivehishorsewater。HeremovedthesaddleandWaldoledtheanimalawaytothedam。
Whenhereturned，thestrangerhadsettledhimselfunderthetrees，withhisbackagainstthesaddle。Theboyofferedhimofthecakes。Hedeclined，buttookadraughtfromthejug；andWaldolaydownnotfaroffandfelltoworkagain。Itmatterednothingifcoldeyessawit。Itwasnothissheep—shearingmachine。Withmaterialloves，aswithhuman，wegomadonce，loveout，andhavedone。Wenevergetupthetrueenthusiasmasecondtime。Thiswasbutathinghehadmade，labouredover，lovedandliked——nothingmore——nothismachine。
Thestrangerforcedhimselflowerdowninthesaddleandyawned。Itwasadrowsyafternoon，andheobjectedtotravelintheseout—of—the—worldparts。Helikedbettercivilisedlife，whereateveryhourofthedayamanmaylookforhisglassofwine，andhiseasy—chair，andpaper；whereatnighthemaylockhimselfintohisroomwithhisbooksandabottleofbrandy，andtastejoysmentalandphysical。Theworldsaidofhim——theall—knowing，omnipotentworld，whomnolockscanbar，whohasthecat—likepropensityofseeingbestinthedark——theworldsaid，thatbetterthanthebookshelovedthebrandy，andbetterthanbooksorbrandythatwhichithadbeenbetterhadhelovedless。Butfortheworldhecarednothing；hesmiledblandlyinitsteeth。Alllifeisadream；ifwineandphilosophyandwomenkeepthedreamfrombecominganightmare，somuchthebetter。Itisalltheyarefitfor，alltheycanbeusedfor。Therewasanothersidetohislifeandthought；butofthattheworldknewnothing，andsaidnothing，asthewayofthewiseworldis。
Thestrangerlookedfrombeneathhissleepyeyelidsatthebrownearththatstretchedaway，beautifulinspiteofitselfinthatJunesunshine；lookedatthegraves，thegablesofthefarmhouseshowingoverthestonewallsofthecamps，attheclownishfellowathisfeet，andyawned。Buthehaddrunkofthehind’stea，andmustsaysomething。
\"Yourfather’splaceIpresume？\"heinquiredsleepily。
\"No；Iamonlyaservant。\"