"Rufus read the letter through again and again.
"'What does it mean?' he asked. 'Where does this King live? Where is
the way to Him? We would like to go to Him if He wants us, would we not,
Cicely?'
"'Oh, yes,' Cicely cried. 'Let us go at once. Show us the way.'
"The old man smiled.
"'Are you in earnest?' he asked. 'Do you really want to go to my Master?
Then follow me. He has sent me to show you the way.'
"Then he led the children to the bank of the river, and told them to look
across it. They saw on the other side a green hill with people walking
up, and at the very top some glittering golden gates.
"'That is the Golden City,' he said gently. 'If you want real happiness
it is to be found inside those gates; no pain, no unkindness, no
disappointment ever finds its way there, and no sin.'
"He said these last words very solemnly.
"Rufus and Cicely began to feel uncomfortable.
"'We aren't altogether good,' they said.
"Then they looked about them with interest. They saw other children
trying to cross the river; one boy was rowing himself across in a boat,
another was building a bridge, some were standing on the bank hesitating.
One little girl and boy bravely jumped in and began wading through it.
"'They will be drowned,' exclaimed Cicely. 'How shall we get across? In
a boat?'
"The old man shook his head.
"'It is the King's wish that all travellers shall arrive at His gates
with spotlessly clean clothes. Look through this telescope and you will
see what is written above the gates.'
"The children looked through eagerly, and Cicely spelled out: '"There
shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth."'
"'What does that mean?' she asked.
"'It means that no dust or dirt of any kind is allowed inside.'
"Rufus looked down at his boots and clothes, then at his sister's.
"'We are very muddy,' he said; 'how can we make ourselves clean?'
"'By plunging into this river and being washed,' the old man said. 'The
King's Son made this river. It cost Him His life, but it was the only
way travellers could be cleansed. Look up at that sign-post and read
what it says.'
"Rufus read: '"Wash and be clean." "If I wash thee not, thou hast no
part with Me."'
"'The river is the only true way to the Golden City,' the old man
said. 'You will only be turned away at the gates if you arrive there
without washing in the river. That boy you see building a bridge is very
eager and earnest, but his clothes will be too travel-stained and dusty
to allow him to enter the gates when he gets there. He has made a wrong
start, and is trying to reach the Golden City in the wrong way.'
"'And the boy in the boat?' asked Rufus.
"'He is wrong too, he too has overlooked the first start of all. The
King would never have placed the river there if He did not mean every
one to go through it.'
"Then Rufus led Cicely down to the river.
"'We will go through,' he said. 'We want to be washed clean.'
"Cicely was rather frightened at first, but the river was not deep, and
when they clambered up the other side, they found to their delight that
their clothes were new and fresh and clean. Then they started walking
up the hill.
"It was steep and stony, but they kept their eyes fixed on the golden
gates, and presently they found their old friend by their side again.
"Other people were climbing the hill, but many had never been through
the river, and they were so dusty and shabby that their chance of
entering the city was small indeed. Suddenly Cicely, who had been walking
carelessly, stumbled and fell. She picked herself up, but her clean
frock was soiled. She began to cry.
"'I can't keep myself clean,' she said; 'what shall I do?'
"The old man took hold of her hand and showed her a little stream running
along by the side of the path.
"'It comes from the river,' he said, 'and is always close to you. You
can wash in it whenever you get yourself dirty.'
"So Cicely dried her tears and quickly washed away her stain, and she
went on happily with her brother. They walked with other children a part
of the way; sometimes they found themselves alone; sometimes the path
was rough, sometimes easy, and after a long, long time they reached
the Golden City. It was a happy day for them then. They were tired,
but they forgot their troubles when they saw the lovely gates. Two shining
angels stood by the entrance, and they only let those in who had
been washed in the river. They were the only ones who arrived in clean
clothes. The others sadly turned away. Then Rufus and Cicely saw the
King Himself. He came to meet them, and His look and smile was wonderful.
I cannot tell you what He said, but He put His hands upon their heads
and blessed them, and they followed Him up the golden street."
Miss Falkner paused. There was a short silence, then Bumps remarked
reflectively--
"That was Jesus; no one puts their hands on children's heads and blesses
them except Him!"
"It's a sort of parable, isn't it?" asked Jack. "I don't like parables,
they make me feel so muddled. I love the _Pilgrim's Progress_ if nobody
tries to explain it. But it gets so mixed up when they do, that it's
quite spoilt!"
"Would you like me to explain my story?" asked Miss Falkner gently.
"No," said Jack promptly.
"Yes," said Jill, in the same tone.
"We ought to be all journeying to the Golden City every day," said Miss
Falkner. "I have only told you about the start, because I wanted you
to make the right beginning. Perhaps some of you have started, have you?"
The children made no answer. Jill uncurled her feet, and her big
questioning eyes were fixed intently upon her governess.
"I haven't started," she said abruptly.
"The King wants you quite as much as He wanted Rufus and Cicely," Miss
Falkner said softly; "He wants all three of you."
"But where's the river?" asked Jack.
"Jesus Christ is the Water of Life, His blood that He shed will wash
you whiter than snow. You must go to Him and ask Him to cleanse you,
and then you will be able to start on your journey."
"I like journeys," announced Bumps, only dimly understanding the allegory,
"partic'ly when we have thandwiches."
Jack rolled over on the grass.
"It will be a first-rate game," he said, rising to his feet; "I think
better than Joseph!"
Then he caught sight of an early butterfly, and in a moment was off
across the lawn in pursuit of it.
The little party broke up. Bumps trotted after Jack, but Jill betook
herself to their hammock. Here she swung herself to and fro wrapped in
deep meditation. The Golden City had entranced her. For the first time
in her little life she began to long to be good, and later on that
day, after she had been put to bed, Miss Falkner heard her murmur in
her sleep--
"I'll start to-morrow!"