'No; nothing but simple and very plain fact. It is this first,--that all truth is one; and this next,--that in the world of creation things material are the expression of things spiritual. So all real beauty in form or colour has back of it a greater beauty of higher degree.' 'You are talking pure mystery.' 'No, surely,' said Pitt eagerly. 'You certainly recognise the truth of what I am saying, in some things. For instance, you cannot look up steadily into the blue infinity of one of our American skies on a clear day--at least _I_ cannot--without presently getting the impression of truth, pure, unfailing, incorruptible truth, in its Creator. The rose, everywhere in the world, so far as I know, is the accepted emblem of love. And for another very familiar instance,--Christ is called in the Bible the Sun of righteousness--the Light that is the life of man. Do you know how close to fact that is? What this earth would be if deprived of the sun for a few days, is but a true image of the condition of any soul finally forsaken by the Sun of righteousness. In one word, death; and that is what the Bible means by death, of which the death we commonly speak of is again but a faint image.' Betty fidgeted a little; this was not what she wished to speak of; it was getting away from her point. 'Your staircase set me wondering about _you_,' she said boldly, not answering his speech at all. 'In yet another connection?' said Pitt, smiling. 'In another connection. You remember you used to talk to me pretty freely last summer about your new views and plans of life?' 'I remember. But my staircase?'-- 'Yes, your staircase. You know it is rich and stately, as well as beautiful. Whatever it signifies to you, to my lower vision it means a position in the world and the means to maintain it. And I debated with myself, as I went up the stairs, whether the owner of all this would _still_ think it his duty to live altogether for others, and not for himself like common people.' She looked at him, and Pitt met her inquiring eyes with a steady, penetrating, grave look, which half made her wish she had let the question alone. He delayed his answer a little, and then he said,-- 'Will you let me meet that doubt in my own way?' 'Certainly!' said Betty, surprised; 'if you will forgive me its arising.' 'Is one responsible for doubts? One _may_ be responsible for the state of mind from which they spring. Then, if you will allow me, I will say no more on the subject for a day or two. But I will not leave you unanswered; that is, unless you refuse to submit to my guidance, and will not let me take my own way.' 'You are mysterious!' 'Will you go with me when I ask you?' 'Yes.' 'Then that is sufficient.' Betty thought she had not gained much by her move.