I say
anything else seems--ah--unreal?"

Dr. Howe rose and walked to the window. He stood there a few minutes, but
the golden June day was dim, and there was a tightening in his throat
that kept him silent. When he came back to the bedside, he stood, looking
down at the sick man, without speaking. Mr. Denner was embarrassed.

"I did not mean to pain you," he said.

"William," the rector answered, "have I made religion so worthless? Have
I held it so weakly that you feel that it cannot help you now?"

"Oh, not at all," responded Mr. Denner, "not at all. I have the greatest
respect for it,--I fear I expressed myself awkwardly,--the greatest
respect; I fully appreciate its value, I might say its necessity, in the
community. But--but if you please, Archibald, since you have kindly come
to tell me of this--change, I should like to speak of it in our ordinary
way; to approach the subject as men of the world. It is in this manner,
if you will be so good, I should like to ask you a question. I think we
quite understand each other; it is unnecessary to be anything
but--natural."

The clergyman took his place on the side of the bed, but he leaned his
head on his hand, and his eyes were hidden. "Ask me anything you will.
Yet, though I may not have lived it, William, I cannot answer you as
anything but a Christian man now."

"Just so," said Mr. Denner politely--"ah--certainly; but, between
ourselves, doctor, putting aside this amiable and pleasing view of
the church, you understand,--speaking just as we are in the habit of
doing,--what do you suppose--what do you think--is beyond?"

His voice had sunk to a whisper, and his eager eyes searched Dr. Howe's
face.

"How can we tell?" answered the rector. "That it is infinitely good we
can trust; 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard'"--He stopped, for Mr.
Denner shook his head with a fine sort of impatience.

"If you please, doctor!"

The rector was silent.

"I have wondered about it often," the other continued. "I have
expected--this, for some days, and I have wondered. Think how strange: in
a few days--almost a few hours, I shall know all, or--nothing! Yes, the
mystery of all the ages will be mine!" There was a thrill of triumph in
his feeble voice. "Think of that, doctor. I shall know more than the
wisest man that lives,--I! I was never a very clever person, never very
wise; and yet, here is a knowledge which shall not be too wonderful for
me, and to which I can attain."