as I had never seen before; whilst the air sparkled with
myriads of winged things, which flew here and there, as if to shew how
happy they were.

All through the garden, too, I saw every sort of beast, in all its
natural grace and beauty; and all at peace. Great lions moved about
amongst tender sheep; and striped tigers lay down quietly to sleep
amongst the dappled fawns which sported around them. But, amidst all
these beautiful sights, my eyes followed more than all, the two glorious
forms which were walking together with such a kingly majesty through the
happy garden: they were, truly, I could see, beings of this earth; they
were talking to each other; they were speaking of ONE who had made them
out of the dust of the earth; who had given to them living souls: who was
their Father and their Friend; who had planted for them this beautiful
garden, and made them the rulers of all that was in it.

Now I marked them as they talked, and I could see that their eyes were
often turned from all the beauty round them towards one far end of the
garden; and as I watched them, I saw that they were still passing on
towards it. Then I also fixed my eyes there, and in a while I could see
that, at the end of the garden to which they were moving, there was a
bright light, brighter and purer than the light of the sun; and I thought
that in it I could see here and there heavenly forms moving up and down,
flying upon silver wings, or borne along upon the light breath of the
sunny air. But as I strained my eyes to pierce into it, it seemed to
dazzle and confound them by its great lustre. Then, again, I heard the
words of the two; and they spake of what was before them; of the bright
light, and the heavenly forms: and I found that they were only travellers
through this beautiful garden; that the King who had placed them in it
dwelt in that light, the brightness of which had so confounded my gaze;
that they were on their way to His presence, and that when they reached
it, they should be happy for ever; even as those shining spirits were
already, whose golden figures I had been just able to discover.

Now, whilst I was pondering upon these things, and casting my eyes round
and round this beautiful garden, I heard all at once a most terrible
sound, as of thunder, such as man's ears had never heard. I looked up,
and the bright light at the end of the garden seemed to turn itself into
angry fire, and to flash red and threatening through th