ful city; and all who lived there were
ready to tell them whatever they desired to know, and show them the
finest houses and the greatest pictures. And this gave a feeling of
holiday and pleasure which was delightful beyond description, for all
the busy people about were full of sympathy with the strangers--bidding
them welcome, inviting them into their houses, making the warmest
fellowship. And friends were meeting continually on every side; but the
Pilgrim had no sense that she was forlorn in being alone, for all were
friends; and it pleased her to watch the others, and see how one turned
this way and one another, every one finding something that delighted
him above all other things. She herself took a great pleasure in
watching a painter, who was standing upon a balcony a little way above
her, painting upon a great fresco: and when he saw this he asked her to
come up beside him and see his work. She asked him a great many
questions about it, and why it was that he was working only at the
draperies of the figures, and did not touch their faces, some of which
were already finished and seemed to be looking at her, as living as she
was, out of the wall, while some were merely outlined as yet. He told
her that he was not a great painter to do this, or to design the great
work, but that the master would come presently, who had the chief
responsibility. "For we have not all the same genius," he said, "and if
I were to paint this head it would not have the gift of life as that one
has; but to stand by and see him put it in, you cannot think what a
happiness that is: for one knows every touch, and just what effect it
will have, though one could not do it one's self; and it is a wonder and
a delight perpetual that it should be done."

The little Pilgrim looked up at him and said, "That is very beautiful to
say. And do you never wish to be like him--to make the lovely, living
faces as well as the other parts?"

"Is not this lovely too?" he said; and showed her how he had just put in
a billowy robe, buoyed out with the wind, and sweeping down from the
shoulders of a stately figure in such free and graceful folds that she
would have liked to take it in her hand and feel the silken texture; and
then he told her how absorbing it was to study the mysteries of colour
and the differences of light. "There is enough in that to make one
happy," he said. "It is thought by some that we will all come to the
higher point with work and thoug