"Your mother to the rescue, then," replied Harry Evringham, smiling.
Jewel turned to look at her mother, and, rising again, picked up her ha.s.sock and carried it to the steamer chair in which Mrs. Evringham was reclining.
Her mother looked into her serious eyes and nodded rea.s.suringly as she began:--
"As that sorry old man stood there on the terrace, things had never looked so black to him. He was so tired, so tired of hating. He longed for a thousand things, he knew not what, but he was sure they were to be found at the Castle of True Delight; but he was shut in! There was no way out. As he was thinking these despairing thoughts and looking about on the scenes which had grown hateful to him, he saw something that made him start. The great iron gates leading out of his grounds opened as once before, and a little girl in white garments came in and moved toward him. His heart leaped at the sight,--and it swelled a bit, too!
"Instead of ordering her off, he hurried toward her and, although he scowled in his eagerness, she smiled and lifted dark eyes that beamed lovingly.
""I cannot find my way to your country nor to the Castle of True Delight,"
said the man, "and I need you to show me. Since you have found your road hither twice, surely you can go back again."
""Yes, easily," replied Purity, "and since you know that you need me, you are ready, and the King welcomes all."
""He will not like me," said the sorry man, "because n.o.body does."
""I do," replied the child; and at her tone the man"s heart swelled a little more.
""There is water in my eyes," he said, as if to himself. "What does that mean?"
""It will make you see better," replied the child. "It is the kind of water that softens the heart, and that always improves the sight."
""Be it so, then. Perhaps I can better see the way; but the road is full of perils innumerable, child. Have you found some other path?"
""There is but one," replied Purity.
""So the roc said," declared the man. "How did you pa.s.s the dragon?"
"The child looked up wonderingly. "I saw no dragon," she answered.
"The man stared at her. "There are pitfalls and obstacles innumerable," he repeated, "and an ever-wakeful dragon. You pa.s.sed it in the night, perhaps, and were too small to be observed."
""I saw none," repeated the child.
""Yet I will risk it!" exclaimed the man. "Rather death than this life.
Wait until I buckle on my sword and order our horses."
"He turned to go, but the child caught his hand. "We need no horses," she said, gently, "and what would you with a sword?"
""For our defense."
"The child pressed his hand softly. "Those who win to True Delight use only the sword of spirit," she answered.
"The man frowned at her, but even frowning he wondered. Again came the swelling sensation within his breast, which he could not understand.
"The child smiled upon him and started toward the heavy gates and the man followed. He wondered at himself, but he followed.
"Emerging into the woodland road, Purity took a path too narrow and devious for a horse to tread, but the man saw that it led toward the rising sun.
She seemed perfectly sure of her way, and occasionally turned to look sweetly on the pilgrim whose breast was beginning to quake at thought of the difficulties to come. No defense had he but his two hands, and no guide but this gentle, white-robed child in her ignorant fearlessness. Indeed it was worse than being alone, for he must defend her as well as himself. She was so young and helpless, and she had looked love at him. With this thought the strange water stood again in his eyes and the narrow heart in his bosom swelled yet more.
"The forest thickened and deepened. Sharp thorns sprang forth and at last formed a network before the travelers.
""You will hurt yourself, Purity!" cried the man. "Let me go first," and pushing by the little child, he tried to break the th.o.r.n.y branches and force a way; but his hands were torn in vain; and seeing the hopelessness, after a long struggle, he turned sadly to his guide.
""I told you!" he said.
""Yes," she answered, and the light from her eyes shone upon the tangle.
"On this road, force will avail nothing; but there are a thousand helps for him who treads this path with me."
"As she spoke, an army of bright-eyed little squirrels came fleetly into the thicket and gnawed down thorns and briers before the pilgrims, until they emerged safely into an open field.
""A heart full of thanks, little ones," called Purity after them as they fled.
""Why did they do that for us?" asked the astonished man.
""Because they know I love them," replied the child, and she moved forward lightly beside her companion.
"They had walked for perhaps half an hour when a sound of rushing waters came to their ears, and they soon reached a broad river. There was no bridge and the current was deep and swift.
"The man gazed at the roaring torrent in dismay. "Oh, child, behold the flood! Even if I could build a raft, we should be carried out to sea, and no swimmer could stem that tide with you in his arms. How ever came you across by yourself?"
""Love helped me," answered Purity.
""Alas, it will not help me," said the man. "I know Hate better."
""But you are becoming acquainted with Love, else you would not look on me so kindly," returned the child. "Have faith and come to the sh.o.r.e." She put her little hand in his and he held it close, and together they walked to the edge of the rushing river. Suddenly its blackness was touched and twinkling with silver which grew each instant more compact and solid, and, without a moment"s hesitation, Purity stepped upon the silver path, drawing with her the man, who marveled to see that countless large fish, with their noses toward the current and their fins working vigorously, were offering their bodies as a buoyant bridge, over which the two pa.s.sed safely.
""A thousand thanks, dear ones," said Purity, as they reached the farther bank; and instantly there was a breaking and twinkling of the silver, and the rushing water swallowed up the kindly fish.
"The man, speechless with wonder, moved along beside his guide, and from time to time she sang a little song, and as she sang he could feel his heart swelling and there was a strange new happiness born in it, which seemed to answer her song though his lips were mute.
"And then Purity talked to him of her King and of the rich delights which were ever poured out to him who once found the path to the Heavenly Country; and the man listened quite eagerly and humbly and clung to Purity as to his only hope.
"When night fell he feared to close his eyes lest the child slip away from him; but she smiled at his fears.
""I can never leave you while you want me," she answered; "beside, I do not wish to, for I love you. Do you forget that?"
"At this the man lay down quite peacefully. His heart was full and soft, and the strange water that filled his eyes overflowed upon his cheeks.
"In the morning they ate fruits and berries, and pursued their journey, and it was not long before another of the obstacles which the roc and the hermit had foretold threatened to end their pilgrimage. It was a chasm that fell away so steeply and was so deep and wide that, looking into the depths below, the man shuddered and started back. Before he had time to utter his dismay, a large mountain deer appeared noiselessly before the travelers.
The man started eagerly, but as the creature"s bright, wild gaze met his, it vanished as silently and swiftly as it had come.
""Ah, why was that?" exclaimed Purity. "Felt you an unloving thought?"
"""Twas a fine deer. Had I but possessed a bow and arrow, I could have taken it!" returned the man, with excitement.