The gates ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

The Gates Ajar. 93
before a saint. Many lives - all such lives an
yours and mine - would become -
" Would become what? "
"One long defiance to the First Commandment."
I cannot become used to such words from
such quiet lips. Yet they give me a curious
sense of the trustworthiness of her peace.
" Founded upon a rock," it seems to be. She
has done what it takes a lifetime for some of us
to do; what some of us go into eternity,
leaving undone; what I am afraid I shall never
do, —sounded her own nature. She knows
the worst of herself, and faces it as fairly, I believe, as anybody can do in this world. As
for the best of herself, she trusts that to Christ,
and he knows it, and we. I hope she, in her
sweet humbleness, will know it some day.
"I suppose, nevertheless," she said, "that
Roy knows what you are doing and feeling as
well as, perhaps better than, he knew it three
months ago. So he can help you without
harming you."
I asked her, turning suddenly, how that
could be, and yet heaven be heaven, - how he
could see me suffer what I had suffered, could
see me sometimes when I supposed none but