in the measurements of time and space, not one of
their musings dwelt upon me or on aught with which I had to do.

Between me and them there was a great gulf fixed and a high wall built.

Oh, look! One came shining like a star, and from far away came another
with dove-like eyes and beautiful exceedingly, and with this last a
maiden, whose eyes were as hers who my own heart told me was her mother.

Well, I knew them both; they were those whom I had come to seek, the
women who had been mind upon the earth, and at the sight of them my
spirit thrilled. Surely they would discover me. Surely at least they
would speak of me and feel my presence.

But, although they stayed within a pace or two of where I rested, alas!
it was not so. They seemed to kiss and to exchange swift thoughts about
many things, high things of which I will not write, and common things;
yes, even of the shining robes they wore, but never a one of _me!_ I
strove to rise and go to them, but could not; I strove to speak and
could not; I strove to throw out my thought to them and could not; it
fell back upon my head like a stone hurled heavenward.

They were remote from me, utterly apart. I wept tears of bitterness that
I should be so near and yet so far; a dull and jealous rage burned in
my heart, and this they did seem to feel, or so I fancied; at any rate,
apparently by mutual consent, they moved further from me as though
something pained them. Yes, my love could not reach their perfected
natures, but my anger hurt them.

As I sat chewing this root of bitterness, a man appeared, a very noble
man, in whom I recognised my father grown younger and happier-looking,
but still my father, with whom came others, men and women whom I knew
to be my brothers and sisters who had died in youth far away in
Oxfordshire. Joy leapt up in me, for I thought--these will surely know
me and give me welcome, since, though here sex has lost its power, blood
must still call to blood.

But it was not so. They spoke, or interchanged their thoughts, but not
one of me. I read something that passed from my father to them. It was
a speculation as to what had brought them all together there, and read
also the answer hazarded, that perhaps it might be to give welcome to
some unknown who was drawing near from below and would feel lonely and
unfriended. Thereon my father replied that he did not see or feel this
wanderer, and thought that it could not be so, since it was his mission
t