"How insignificant we are!" said Gregory, gloomily; "how the great world goes right on without us! It is the same when one dies and leaves it, as we left it by climbing this mountain. In the main we are unknown and uncared for, and even to those who know us it is soon the same as if we had never been." "But the world cannot go on without God. Though forgotten, He never forgets! His friends need never have the sense of being lost or lonely--any more than a child travelling with his father in a foreign land among indifferent strangers. God does not look at us, His creatures, as we do at the foliage of these forests, seeing only the general effect. He sees each one as directly as I now look at you." "I wish I could believe He looked as kindly." "I wish you could, Mr. Gregory. It is sad to me that people can't believe what is so true. The fondest look your mother ever gave you was cold compared with the yearning, loving face God turns toward every one of us, even as we go away from Him." He looked at her earnestly for a moment and saw that sincerity was written on her face. He shook his head sadly, and then said, rather abruptly, "Those lengthening shadows remind us that we must be on our way"; and then their thoughts dwelt on lighter subjects as they ascended another lofty mountain terrace, and paused again to scan the wider prospect that made the sense of daily life in the valleys below as remote as the world seems to the hermit in his devotional seclusion. Then they began to descend the sloping plateau which inclined toward the brow of the hill overlooking the region of the Walton residence. After one or two hours of broken but very agreeable conversation Annie suddenly sighed deeply. "Now, Miss Walton," said Gregory, "that sigh came from the depths. What hidden sorrow could have caused it?" With a slight flush and laugh, she said, "It was caused by a mere passing thought, like that cloud there sailing over the mountain slope." "Your simile is so pretty that I should like to know the thought." "I hardly know whether to tell it to you. It might have the same effect as if that cloud should expand and cover the sky." "Might not the telling also have the same effect as if the cloud were dissipated altogether?" She looked at him quickly and said, "How apt your answer is! Yes, it might if you would be sensible. I do not know you so very well yet. Are you not a little ready to take offence?" "You do not look as if about to say anything I should resent very deeply. But I promise that the cloud shall vanish." "I am not so sure about that. The cloud represents my thought; and yet I hope it may eventually vanish utterly. The thought occurred to me after the pleasant hours of this afternoon what congenial friends we _might_ be." "And that caused you to sigh so deeply?" "I laid emphasis on the word _might_." "And why should you, Miss Annie? Why need you?" he asked, eagerly.