"So who shall say where Shakespeare and you and I come in--tiny links in an endless chain, so tiny that even Shakespeare is no bigger than we! And just a little way behind us, those little wriggling transparent things, all stomach, that we descend from; and far ahead of ourselves, but in the direct line of a long descent from _us_, an ever-growing conscious Power, so strong, so glad, so simple, so wise, so mild, and so beneficent, that what can we do, even now, but fall on our knees with our foreheads in the dust, and our hearts brimful of wonder, hope, and love, and tender shivering awe; and worship as a yet unborn, barely conceived, and scarce begotten _Child_--that which we have always been taught to worship as a _Father_--That which is not now, but _is_ to be--That which we shall all share in and be part and parcel of in the dim future--That which is slowly, surely, painfully weaving Itself out of us and the likes of us all through the limitless Universe, and Whose coming we can but faintly foretell by the casting of its shadow on our own slowly, surely, painfully awakening souls!" * * * * * Then she went on to speak of earthly things, and ask questions in her old practical way. First of my bodily health, with the tenderest solicitude and the wisest advice--as a mother to a son. She even insisted on listening to my heart, like a doctor. Then she spoke at great length of the charities in which she had been interested, and gave me many directions which I was to write, as coming from myself, to certain people whose names and addresses she impressed upon me with great care. I have done as she wished, and most of these directions have been followed to the letter, with no little wonder on the world's part (as the world well knows) that such sagacious and useful reforms should have originated with the inmate of a criminal lunatic asylum. * * * * * At last the time came for us to part. She foresaw that I should have to wake in a few minutes, and said, rising---- "And now, Gogo, the best beloved that ever was on earth, take me once more in your dear arms, and kiss me good-bye for a little while--_auf wiedersehen_. Come here to rest and think and remember when your body sleeps. My spirit will always be here with you. I may even be able to come back again myself--just this poor husk of me--hardly more to look at than a bundle of old clothes; but yet a world made up of love for _you_. Good-bye, good-bye, dearest and best. Time is nothing, but I shall count the hours. Good-bye...." Even as she strained me to her breast I awoke. [Illustration: "GOOD-BYE"] * * * * * I awoke, and knew that the dread black shadow of melancholia had passed away from me like a hideous nightmare--like a long and horrible winter. My heart was full of the sunshine of spring--the gladness of awaking to a new life.