ve suffered so much, were so
strongly tempted, so grievously afflicted, so many ways tried and
exercised. Thou oughtest therefore to call to mind the more heavy
sufferings of others, that thou mayest the easier bear thy little
adversities. And if they seem not little unto thee, beware lest thy
impatience be the cause thereof.... Blessed are those ears that
receive the whispers of the divine voice, and listen not to the
whisperings of the world. Blessed are those ears which hearken not
unto the voice which soundeth outwardly, but unto the Truth which
teacheth inwardly...."

2. A strange thrill of awe passed through Maggie while she read, as if
she had been awakened in the night by a strain of solemn music,
telling of beings whose souls had been astir while hers was in stupor.
She went on from one brown mark to another, where the quiet hand
seemed to point, hardly conscious that she was reading--seeming rather
to listen while a low voice said:--

3. "Why dost thou here gaze about, since this is not the place of thy
rest? In heaven ought to be thy dwelling, and all earthly things are
to be looked on as they forward thy journey thither. All things pass
away, and thou together with them. Beware thou cleave not unto them,
lest thou be entangled and perish.... If a man should give all his
substance yet it is as nothing. And, if he should do great penances,
yet they are but little. And if he should attain to all knowledge, he
is yet far off. And if he should be of great virtue, and very fervent
devotion, yet is there much wanting--to wit, one thing, which is most
necessary for him. What is that? That having left all, he leave
himself, and go wholly out of himself, and retain nothing of
self-love.... I have often said unto thee, and now again I say the
same: Forsake thyself, resign thyself, and thou shalt enjoy much
inward peace.... Then shall all vain imaginations, evil perturbations,
and superfluous cares fly away; then shall immoderate fear leave thee,
and inordinate love shall die."

4. Maggie drew a long breath and pushed her heavy hair back as if to
see a sudden vision more clearly. Here, then, was a secret of life
that would enable her to renounce all other secrets; here was a
sublime height to be reached without the help of outward things; here
was insight, and strength and conquest, to be won by means entirely
within her own soul, where a supreme Teacher was waiting to be heard.
It flashed through her, like the sudd