She and Allan
Page 39
The story was told and I hearkened for the judgment, my own judgment onmyself, which I knew would be accepted without question and registeredfor good or ill. But none came, since ere the balance sank this way orthat, ere it could be uttered, I was swept afar.
Through Infinity I was swept, and as I fled faster than the light, themeaning of what I had seen came home to me. I knew, or seemed to knowfor the first time, that at the last _man must answer to himself_,or perhaps to a divine principle within himself, that out of his ownfree-will, through long aeons and by a million steps, he climbs or sinksto the heights or depths dormant in his nature; that from what he was,springs what he is, and what he is, engenders what he shall be for everand aye.
Now I envisaged Immortality and splendid and awful was its face. Itclasped me to its breast and in the vast circle of its arms I wasup-borne, I who knew myself to be without beginning and without end,and yet of the past and of the future knew nothing, save that these werefull of mysteries.
As I went I encountered others, or overtook them, making the samejourney. Robertson swept past me, and spoke, but in a tongue I couldnot understand. I noted that the madness had left his eyes and that hisfine-cut features were calm and spiritual. The other wanderers I did notknow.