The Broad Highway

Little by little upon this silence stole the rustle of leaves,

and in the leaves were the imps who mocked me: "Who is he that doth love--in despite of himself, and shall do,

all his days--be she good or evil, whatever she was, whatever she

is? Who is the very Fool of Love? Peter Vibart! Peter Vibart!"

And so I bowed my face upon my hands, and remained thus a great

while, heeding no more the tempest about me. For now indeed was

my question answered, and my fear realized.

"I love her!--whatever she was--whatever she is--good or evil--I

love her. O Fool!--O most miserable Fool!"

And presently I rose, and went on down the hill. Fast I strode,

stumbling and slipping, plunging on heedlessly through bush and

brake until at last, looking about me, I found myself on the

outskirts of a little spinney or copse; and then I became

conscious that the storm had passed, for the thunder had died

down to a murmur, and the rain had ceased; only all about me were

little soft sounds, as if the trees were weeping silently

together.

Pushing on, I came into a sort of narrow lane, grassy underfoot

and shut in on either hand by very tall hedges that loomed solid

and black in the night; and, being spent and weary, I sat down

beneath one of these and propped my chin in my hands.

How long I remained thus I cannot say, but I was at length

aroused by a voice--a strangely sweet and gentle voice at no

great distance, and the words it uttered were these: "Oh! give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy

endureth forever! O Lord! I beseech Thee look down in Thine

infinite pity upon this, Thy world; for to-day is at hand, and

Thy children must soon awake to life and toil and temptation.

Oh! Thou who art the Lover of Men, let Thy Holy Spirit wait to

meet with each one of us upon the threshold of the dawn, and lead

us through this coming day. Like as a father pitieth his

children, so dost Thou pity all the woeful and heavy-hearted.

Look down upon all those who must so soon awake to their griefs,

speak comfortably to them; remember those in pain who must so

soon take up their weary burdens! Look down upon the hungry and

the rich, the evil and the good, that, in this new day, finding

each something of Thy mercy, they may give thanks unto the Lord,

for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever."