fVYLDER'S HAJVD
171
her, and she is very grateful; and I am glad," said Ra-
chel, "that I happened to ligbt on you."
They were by this time walking side by side; and she
glanced at him enquiringly; and he thought that the
handsome girl looked rather thin and pale.
"You once said," Miss Lake resumed, "that sooner or
later I should be taught the value of religion, and would
learn to prize my great privileges; and that for some
spirits the only approach to the throne of mercy was
through great tribulation. I have often thought since of
those words, and they have begun, for me, to take the
spirit of a prophecy — sometimes that is — but at others
they sound differently — like a dreadful menace — as if
my afflictions were only to bring me to the gate of life to
find it shut."
"Knock, and it shall be opened," said the Vicar; but
the comfort was sadly spoken, and lie sighed.
"But is there not a time, Mr. Wylder, when He shall
have shut the door, and are there not some who. crying to
him to open, shall yet remain for ever in outer darkness."
"I see, dear Miss Lake, that your mind is at work —
it is a good influence — at work upon the great theme
which every mortal spirit ought to be employed upon."
"My fears are at work; my mind is altogether dark
and turbid; I am sometimes at the brink of despair."
"Take comfort from those fears. There is hope in that
despair; " and he looked at her with great interest in his
gentle eyes.
She looked at him, and then away toward the declining
sun, and she said despairingly —
"I cannot comprehend you."
Miss Lake's way lay by a footpath across a corner of
the park to Redman's Dell. So they crossed the stile,