Now in her dream the woman saw a hole. It was a round hole, and it was red inside and very deep And the woman looked down at the hole and said--'What hole is this?' And a loud voice answered her, saying-- 'That hole is Hell!' And the woman looked up, and, lo! there was God laughing at her. * * * * * And the woman looked down again at the hole, and saw how red it was and how very deep. And she knelt down, with both arms leaning on the brink of the hole. And she said to God: 'I like this place.' And God answered: 'Ay, dost thou so?' And God laughed again. And the woman said again: 'I like this place. It seems warm.' And God said: 'Ay, it _is_ warm.' And the woman said: 'I think I will go in thither.' And God said: 'Ay, go by all means!' And the woman went. * * * * * The hole was very wide and red and deep. And the woman had plenty of space to slide down. She slid; and the hole got wider and redder and deeper, but still she slid on. And presently she caught a creature by the hair. And she said to the creature: 'Who art thou?' And the creature answered: 'I am X. Y. Z. of the _Athenæum_, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane. And the woman said: 'Good, I like thee. Give me thy hand, and we will go together.' And the creature went with the woman. * * * * * The hole grew deeper, and it began to be more hot than warm. And further on the woman saw another creature saying mock prayers. And the woman asked: 'To whom dost thou say mock prayers?' And the creature said: 'To God up there. I want him not to laugh at me.' Then the woman said: 'Who art thou that God should laugh?' And the creature writhed, and answered: 'I am the religious Spirit of the _Pall Mall_, abiding in the street called Northumberland, off Strand.' And the woman said again: 'And doth God laugh at thee?' And the creature answered: 'Ay, he laugheth sore.' And the woman said: 'Nay, he shall not laugh. I will tell him to protect thee. Come with me.' And the creature ceased praying mock prayers, and followed the woman. * * * * * And presently the woman from South Africa grew weary. She desired to get out of the hole. And she called aloud to God: 'I wish to leave Hell.' And God said: 'Leave it then.' And she left it. * * * * *