all roads lead to calvary-µÚ2ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
s¡¡creatures¡¡for¡¡all¡¡eternity£¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡what¡¡use¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡religion¡¡as¡¡that¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future£¿
She¡¡must¡¡have¡¡knelt¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡mechanically£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡service¡¡was¡¡ended¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pulpit¡¡was¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡an¡¡elderly¡¡uninteresting¡looking¡¡man¡¡with¡¡a¡¡troublesome¡¡cough¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡one¡¡sentence¡¡he¡¡had¡¡let¡¡fall¡¡had¡¡gripped¡¡her¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡remember¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her£º¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡Roads¡¡lead¡¡to¡¡Calvary¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡struck¡¡her¡¡as¡¡rather¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡worth¡¡listening¡¡to¡£¡¡¡¨To¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨comes¡¡a¡¡choosing¡¡of¡¡two¡¡ways£º¡¡¡¡either¡¡the¡¡road¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡success£»¡¡the¡¡gratification¡¡of¡¡desires£»¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡and¡¡approval¡¡of¡¡our¡¡fellow¡menor¡¡the¡¡path¡¡to¡¡Calvary¡£¡¨
And¡¡then¡¡he¡¡had¡¡wandered¡¡off¡¡into¡¡a¡¡maze¡¡of¡¡detail¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tradesman£»¡¡dreaming¡¡perhaps¡¡of¡¡becoming¡¡a¡¡Whiteley£»¡¡having¡¡to¡¡choose¡¡whether¡¡to¡¡go¡¡forward¡¡or¡¡remain¡¡for¡¡all¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡little¡¡shop¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡statesmanshould¡¡he¡¡abide¡¡by¡¡the¡¡faith¡¡that¡¡is¡¡in¡¡him¡¡and¡¡suffer¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡popularity£»¡¡or¡¡renounce¡¡his¡¡God¡¡and¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡Cabinet£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡artist£»¡¡the¡¡writer£»¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡labourerthere¡¡were¡¡too¡¡many¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡well¡chosen¡¡examples¡¡would¡¡have¡¡sufficed¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡that¡¡irritating¡¡cough£¡
And¡¡yet¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡arresting¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡his¡¡prime£»¡¡Joan¡¡felt£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡great¡¡preacher¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡now£»¡¡decrepit¡¡and¡¡wheezy£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡flashes¡¡of¡¡magnetism£»¡¡of¡¡eloquence¡£¡¡The¡¡passage¡¡where¡¡he¡¡pictured¡¡the¡¡Garden¡¡of¡¡Gethsemane¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fair¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡only¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡us¡¡by¡¡the¡¡shadows¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡soft¡¡lights¡¡shining¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡beckoning¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡its¡¡mingled¡¡voices¡¡stealing¡¡to¡¡us¡¡through¡¡the¡¡silence£»¡¡whispering¡¡to¡¡us¡¡of¡¡its¡¡well¡remembered¡¡ways£»¡¡its¡¡pleasant¡¡places£»¡¡its¡¡open¡¡doorways£»¡¡friends¡¡and¡¡loved¡¡ones¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡above£»¡¡the¡¡rock¡strewn¡¡Calvary£º¡¡¡¡and¡¡crowning¡¡its¡¡summit£»¡¡clear¡¡against¡¡the¡¡starlit¡¡sky£»¡¡the¡¡cold£»¡¡dark¡¡cross¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡perhaps¡¡to¡¡us¡¡the¡¡bleeding¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡feet£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡bitter¡¡tears¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡Calvary¡¡may¡¡be¡¡a¡¡very¡¡little¡¡hill¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡where¡¡Prometheus¡¡suffered£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡us¡¡it¡¡is¡¡steep¡¡and¡¡lonely¡£¡¨
There¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡stopped¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡good¡¡note¡¡on¡¡which¡¡to¡¡finish¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡there¡¡was¡¡another¡¡point¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡make¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sinner¡¡Calvary¡¡calls¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡Judaseven¡¡to¡¡him¡¡the¡¡gates¡¡of¡¡the¡¡life¡giving¡¡Garden¡¡of¡¡Gethsemane¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡closed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨With¡¡his¡¡thirty¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡silver¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡stolen¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡some¡¡distant¡¡crowded¡¡city¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡Empire¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡unknown£»¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡¡¡Life¡¡still¡¡had¡¡its¡¡pleasures£»¡¡its¡¡rewards¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡him¡¡also¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡the¡¡choice¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡thirty¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡silver¡¡that¡¡had¡¡meant¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡him£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡flings¡¡them¡¡at¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tempters¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡not¡¡take¡¡them¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡rushes¡¡out¡¡and¡¡hangs¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡Shame¡¡and¡¡death¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡his¡¡own¡¡hands¡¡he¡¡will¡¡build¡¡his¡¡own¡¡cross£»¡¡none¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He£»¡¡tooeven¡¡Judas£»¡¡climbs¡¡his¡¡Calvary¡£¡¡¡¡Enters¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fellowship¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡through¡¡all¡¡ages¡¡have¡¡trod¡¡its¡¡stony¡¡pathway¡£¡¨
Joan¡¡waited¡¡till¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡congregation¡¡had¡¡disappeared£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡little¡¡pew¡opener¡¡who¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡doors¡£¡¡¡¡Joan¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡what¡¡she¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sermon£»¡¡but¡¡Mary¡¡Stopperton£»¡¡being¡¡a¡¡little¡¡deaf£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡heard¡¡it¡£
¡¨It¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡goodthe¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Joan¡¡told¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡Roads¡¡lead¡¡to¡¡Calvary¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡idea¡¡is¡¡that¡¡there¡¡comes¡¡a¡¡time¡¡to¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us¡¡when¡¡we¡¡have¡¡to¡¡choose¡£¡¡¡¡Whether£»¡¡like¡¡your¡¡friend¡¡Carlyle£»¡¡we¡¡will¡¡'give¡¡up¡¡things'¡¡for¡¡our¡¡faith's¡¡sake¡£¡¡¡¡Or¡¡go¡¡for¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡and¡¡pair¡£¡¨
Mary¡¡Stopperton¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡right£»¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡does¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡come£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡so¡¡hard¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡to¡¡pray¡¡and¡¡pray¡¡and¡¡pray¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡even¡¡then¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡always¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡She¡¡touched¡¡with¡¡her¡¡little¡¡withered¡¡fingers¡¡Joan's¡¡fine¡¡white¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡¡are¡¡so¡¡strong¡¡and¡¡brave£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡continued£»¡¡with¡¡another¡¡little¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡so¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡well¡¡on¡¡her¡¡way¡¡home¡¡that¡¡Joan£»¡¡recalling¡¡the¡¡conversation£»¡¡found¡¡herself¡¡smiling¡¡at¡¡Mary¡¡Stopperton's¡¡literal¡¡acceptation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡argument¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡she¡¡remembered£»¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡her¡£
Mary¡¡Stopperton¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡preacher¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡common¡¡for¡¡chance¡¡substitutes¡¡to¡¡officiate¡¡there£»¡¡especially¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡¡¡Joan¡¡had¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡her¡¡acceptance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡shilling£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡note¡¡of¡¡her¡¡address£»¡¡feeling¡¡instinctively¡¡that¡¡the¡¡little¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡would¡¡¡¨come¡¡in¡¡useful¡¨¡¡from¡¡a¡¡journalistic¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view¡£
Shaking¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡eastward£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡to¡¡Sloane¡¡Square¡¡and¡¡there¡¡take¡¡the¡¡bus¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡Oakley¡¡Street¡¡she¡¡overtook¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡to¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡peering¡¡up¡¡through¡¡his¡¡glasses¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡and¡¡Joan¡¡caught¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡face¡¡beneath¡¡a¡¡gas¡¡lamp¡£
And¡¡suddenly¡¡it¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡face¡¡she¡¡knew¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡dim¡lit¡¡church¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡clearly¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡still¡¡peering¡¡upward¡£¡¡¡¡Joan¡¡stole¡¡another¡¡glance¡£¡¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡met¡¡him¡¡somewhere¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡very¡¡changed£»¡¡quite¡¡different£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡ago¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡child¡£
CHAPTER¡¡II
One¡¡of¡¡Joan's¡¡earliest¡¡recollections¡¡was¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡herself¡¡standing¡¡before¡¡the¡¡high¡¡cheval¡¡glass¡¡in¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡dressing¡¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡clothes¡¡lay¡¡scattered¡¡far¡¡and¡¡wide£»¡¡falling¡¡where¡¡she¡¡had¡¡flung¡¡them£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡shred¡¡of¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡covering¡¡was¡¡left¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡very¡¡small£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡could¡¡remember¡¡looking¡¡up¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡high¡¡above¡¡her¡¡head¡¡the¡¡two¡¡brass¡¡knobs¡¡by¡¡which¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡was¡¡fastened¡¡to¡¡its¡¡frame¡£¡¡¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glass£»¡¡there¡¡looked¡¡a¡¡scared¡¡red¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡hovered¡¡there¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡it¡¡in¡¡swift¡¡succession¡¡there¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡expressions£»¡¡first¡¡of¡¡petrified¡¡amazement£»¡¡secondly¡¡of¡¡shocked¡¡indignation£»¡¡and¡¡thirdly¡¡of¡¡righteous¡¡wrath¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡it¡¡swooped¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡image¡¡in¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡became¡¡a¡¡confusion¡¡of¡¡small¡¡naked¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡legs¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡green¡¡cotton¡¡gloves¡¡and¡¡purple¡¡bonnet¡¡strings¡£
¡¨You¡¡young¡¡imp¡¡of¡¡Satan£¡¡¨¡¡demanded¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Mundayher¡¡feelings¡¡of¡¡outraged¡¡virtue¡¡exaggerating¡¡perhaps¡¡her¡¡real¡¡sentiments¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡are¡¡you¡¡doing£¿¡¨
¡¨Go¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡I'se¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡myself£»¡¨¡¡had¡¡explained¡¡Joan£»¡¡struggling¡¡furiously¡¡to¡¡regain¡¡the¡¡glass¡£
¡¨But¡¡where¡¡are¡¡your¡¡clothes£¿¡¨¡¡was¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday's¡¡wonder¡£
¡¨I'se¡¡tooked¡¡them¡¡off£»¡¨¡¡explained¡¡Joan¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡information¡¡that¡¡really£»¡¡all¡¡things¡¡considered£»¡¡seemed¡¡unnecessary¡£
¡¨But¡¡can't¡¡you¡¡see¡¡yourself£»¡¡you¡¡wicked¡¡child£»¡¡without¡¡stripping¡¡yourself¡¡as¡¡naked¡¡as¡¡you¡¡were¡¡born£¿¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡maintained¡¡Joan¡¡stoutly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡hate¡¡clothes¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡As¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡fact¡¡she¡¡didn't£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡those¡¡early¡¡days¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡favourite¡¡amusements¡¡was¡¡¡¨dressing¡¡up¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡This¡¡sudden¡¡overmastering¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡arrive¡¡at¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡about¡¡herself¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡new¡¡conceit¡£
¡¨I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡Clothes¡¡ain't¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡all¡¡she¡¡would¡¡or¡¡could¡¡vouchsafe£»¡¡and¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday¡¡had¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡freely¡¡confessed¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡things¡¡beyond¡¡her¡¡and¡¡that¡¡Joan¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡succeeded£»¡¡partly¡¡by¡¡force£»¡¡partly¡¡by¡¡persuasion£»¡¡in¡¡restoring¡¡to¡¡Joan¡¡once¡¡more¡¡the¡¡semblance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Christian¡¡child¡£
It¡¡was¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday£»¡¡poor¡¡soul£»¡¡who¡¡all¡¡unconsciously¡¡had¡¡planted¡¡the¡¡seeds¡¡of¡¡disbelief¡¡in¡¡Joan's¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday's¡¡God£»¡¡from¡¡Joan's¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡most¡¡objectionable¡¡personage¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡talked¡¡a¡¡lotor¡¡rather¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday¡¡talked¡¡for¡¡Himabout¡¡His¡¡love¡¡for¡¡little¡¡children¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡He¡¡only¡¡loved¡¡them¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡Joan¡¡was¡¡under¡¡no¡¡delusions¡¡about¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡those¡¡were¡¡His¡¡terms£»¡¡well£»¡¡then£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could¡¡see£»¡¡He¡¡wasn't¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡much¡¡use¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡if¡¡He¡¡hated¡¡naughty¡¡children£»¡¡why¡¡did¡¡He¡¡make¡¡them¡¡naughty£¿¡¡¡¡At¡¡a¡¡moderate¡¡estimate¡¡quite¡¡half¡¡Joan's¡¡wickedness£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Joan£»¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her¡¡unbidden¡£¡¡¡¡Take¡¡for¡¡example¡¡that¡¡self¡examination¡¡before¡¡the¡¡cheval¡¡glass¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡idea¡¡had¡¡come¡¡into¡¡her¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡never¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡her¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡wicked¡£¡¡¡¡If£»¡¡as¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday¡¡explained£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Devil¡¡that¡¡had¡¡whispered¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡then¡¡what¡¡did¡¡God¡¡mean¡¡by¡¡allowing¡¡the¡¡Devil¡¡to¡¡go¡¡about¡¡persuading¡¡little¡¡girls¡¡to¡¡do¡¡indecent¡¡things£¿¡¡¡¡God¡¡could¡¡do¡¡everything¡£¡¡¡¡Why¡¡didn't¡¡He¡¡smash¡¡the¡¡Devil£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Joan¡¡a¡¡mean¡¡trick£»¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡¡how¡¡you¡¡would¡£¡¡Fancy¡¡leaving¡¡a¡¡little¡¡girl¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡Devil¡¡all¡¡by¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡get¡¡angry¡¡because¡¡the¡¡Devil¡¡won£¡¡¡¡¡Joan¡¡came¡¡to¡¡cordially¡¡dislike¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday's¡¡God¡£
Looking¡¡back¡¡it¡¡was¡¡easy¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡smile£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡agony¡¡of¡¡many¡¡nights¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡awake¡¡for¡¡hours¡¡battling¡¡with¡¡her¡¡childish¡¡terrors¡¡had¡¡left¡¡a¡¡burning¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡anger¡¡in¡¡Joan's¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡Poor¡¡mazed£»¡¡bewildered¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday£»¡¡preaching¡¡the¡¡eternal¡¡damnation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wickedwho¡¡had¡¡loved¡¡her£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡only¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡do¡¡her¡¡duty£»¡¡the¡¡blame¡¡was¡¡not¡¡hers¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡that¡¡a¡¡religion¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡inflicting¡¡such¡¡suffering¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡innocent¡¡should¡¡still¡¡be¡¡preached£»¡¡maintained¡¡by¡¡the¡¡State£¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡its¡¡educated¡¡followers¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡believed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡physical¡¡Hell£»¡¡that¡¡its¡¡more¡¡advanced¡¡clergy¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡into¡¡a¡¡conspiracy¡¡of¡¡silence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡was¡¡no¡¡answer¡£¡¡The¡¡great¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡were¡¡not¡¡educated¡£¡¡¡¡Official¡¡Christendom¡¡in¡¡every¡¡country¡¡still¡¡preached¡¡the¡¡everlasting¡¡torture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡race¡¡as¡¡a¡¡well¡¡thought¡¡out¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Creator's¡¡scheme¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡leader¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bold¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡come¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡denounce¡¡it¡¡as¡¡an¡¡insult¡¡to¡¡his¡¡God¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡one¡¡grew¡¡older£»¡¡kindly¡¡mother¡¡Nature£»¡¡ever¡¡seeking¡¡to¡¡ease¡¡the¡¡self¡inflicted¡¡burdens¡¡of¡¡her¡¡foolish¡¡brood£»¡¡gave¡¡one¡¡forgetfulness£»¡¡insensibility¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡condemned¡¡criminal¡¡puts¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gallows¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡may¡¡be£º¡¡¡¡eats£»¡¡and¡¡sleeps¡¡and¡¡even¡¡jokes¡£¡¡¡¡Man's¡¡soul¡¡grows¡¡pachydermoid¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡children£¡¡¡¡¡Their¡¡sensitive¡¡brains¡¡exposed¡¡to¡¡every¡¡cruel¡¡breath¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡philosophic¡¡doubt¡¡permitted¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡learned¡¡disputation¡¡on¡¡the¡¡relationship¡¡between¡¡the¡¡literal¡¡and¡¡the¡¡allegorical¡¡for¡¡the¡¡easing¡¡of¡¡their¡¡frenzied¡¡fears¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡many¡¡million¡¡tiny¡¡white¡faced¡¡figures¡¡scattered¡¡over¡¡Christian¡¡Europe¡¡and¡¡America£»¡¡stared¡¡out¡¡each¡¡night¡¡into¡¡a¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡black¡¡horror£»¡¡how¡¡many¡¡million¡¡tiny¡¡hands¡¡clutched¡¡wildly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bedclothes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Society¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Prevention¡¡of¡¡Cruelty¡¡to¡¡Children£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡done¡¡their¡¡duty£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡prosecuted¡¡before¡¡now¡¡the¡¡Archbishop¡¡of¡¡Canterbury¡£
Of¡¡course¡¡she¡¡would¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Hell¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡a¡¡special¡¡kindness¡¡some¡¡generous¡¡relative¡¡had£»¡¡on¡¡Joan's¡¡seventh¡¡birthday£»¡¡given¡¡her¡¡an¡¡edition¡¡of¡¡Dante's¡¡¡¨Inferno£»¡¨¡¡with¡¡illustrations¡¡by¡¡Dore¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡it¡¡she¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡form¡¡some¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡what¡¡her¡¡eternity¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡God¡¡all¡¡the¡¡while¡¡up¡¡in¡¡His¡¡Heaven£»¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡that¡¡glorious¡¡band¡¡of¡¡praise¡trumpeting¡¡angels£»¡¡watching¡¡her¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡His¡¡eye¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡courage¡¡saved¡¡her¡¡from¡¡despair¡£¡¡¡¡Defiance¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her¡¡aid¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡Him¡¡send¡¡her¡¡to¡¡Hell£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡pray¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡and¡¡make¡¡up¡¡to¡¡Him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡wicked¡¡God¡£¡¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡He¡¡was£º¡¡a¡¡cruel£»¡¡wicked¡¡God¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡one¡¡night¡¡she¡¡told¡¡Him¡¡so¡¡to¡¡His¡¡face¡£
It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡crowded¡¡day£»¡¡even¡¡for¡¡so¡¡busy¡¡a¡¡sinner¡¡as¡¡little¡¡Joan¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡springtime£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡into¡¡the¡¡country¡¡for¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡health¡£¡¡¡¡Maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡season£º¡¡¡¡a¡¡stirring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡sap£»¡¡conducing¡¡to¡¡that¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡being¡¡¡¨too¡¡big¡¡for¡¡one's¡¡boots£»¡¨¡¡as¡¡the¡¡saying¡¡is¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡dangerous¡¡period¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡that¡¡prevention¡¡is¡¡better¡¡than¡¡cure£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Munday¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡a¡¡custom¡¡during¡¡April¡¡and¡¡May¡¡to