Man and Maid

I spent a memorable day with Miss Sharp in the parc yesterday. I do

not even remember what I did in the intermediate time--it seems of so

little importance--but this Thursday will always stand out as a landmark

of our acquaintance.

We drove in a fiacre to the Little Trianon after she arrived, with

Burton on the box to help me out, and then I walked with my crutch to a

delicious spot I know, rather near the grotto, and yet with a view of

the house--I was determined I would entice her to talk as much as I

could, and began very cautiously so as not to provoke her to suggest

work.

"Have you ever read that wonderful story called 'An Adventure'--The two

old ladies seeing Marie Antoinette and some other ghosts here?"

"No."

So I told her about it, and how they had accounted for it.

"I expect it was true," she said.

"You believe in ghosts then?"

"Some ghosts."

"I wish I did--then I should know that there is a beyond--."

I felt she was looking surprised.

"But of course there is a beyond--we have all been there many times

during our evolution, after each life."

"That is what I want to know about--that theory of reincarnation," I

responded eagerly--"can you tell me?"

"I could get you a book about it--."

"I would much rather hear it personally explained--the merest

outline,--please tell me, it might help me not to be such a rotter--."

She looked away toward the giant trees, her mouth had a slightly sad

expression, I could have torn those glasses off her blue eyes!

"We came up through the animal group soul--and finally were re-born

individualized, into man--and from then onward the life on this earth is

but a school for us to learn experience in, to prepare us eventually for

higher spheres. When we advance far enough we need not be re-born

again--."

"Yes--as a theory--I follow that--."

She went on-"Everything is cause and effect--We draw the result of every action

we commit, good or bad--and sometimes it is not until the next re-birth

we pay for the bad ones, or receive the result of the good ones--."

"Is that why then that I am a cripple and life seems a beastly

affair--?"

"Of course--You drew that upon yourself by some actions in your last

life--. Also it may be to teach you some lesson in the improvement of

the soul--."