Iftheyweresure，eachone，offindingamansionthere，couldnothebefarmoresure？Hislifehadbeenmorefruitfulthantheirs。
Hehadbeenaleader，afounderofnewenterprises，apillarofChurchandState，aprinceoftheHouseofIsrael。Tentalentshadbeengivenhim，andhehadmadethemtwenty。Hisrewardwouldbeproportionate。
Hewasgladthathiscompanionsweregoingtofindfitdwellingspreparedforthem；buthethoughtalsowithacertainpleasureofthesurprisethatsomeofthemwouldfeelwhentheysawhisappointedmansion。
Sotheycametothesummitofthemoorlandandlookedoverintotheworldbeyond。Itwasavast，greenplain，softlyroundedlikeashallowvase，andcircledwithhillsofamethyst。Abroad，shiningriverflowedthroughit，andmanysilverthreadsofwaterwerewovenacrossthegreen；andtherewerebordersoftalltreesonthebanksoftheriver，andorchardsfullofrosesabloomalongthelittlestreams，andinthemidstofallstoodthecity，whiteandwonderfulandradiant。
Whenthetravelerssawittheywerefilledwithaweandjoy。
Theypassedoverthelittlestreamsandamongtheorchardsquicklyandsilently，asiftheyfearedtospeaklestthecityshouldvanish。
Thewallofthecitywasverylow，achildcouldseeoverit，foritwasmadeonlyofpreciousstones，whichareneverlarge。
Thegateofthecitywasnotlikeagateaall，foritwasnotbarredwithironorwood，butonlyasinglepearl，softlygleaming，markedtheplacewherethewallendedandtheentrancelayopen。
Apersonstoodtherewhosefacewasbrightandgrave，andwhoserobewasliketheflowerofthelily，notawovenfabric，butalivingtexture。
\"Comein，\"hesaidtothecompanyoftravelers；\"youareatyourjourney\'send，andyourmansionsarereadyforyou。\"
JohnWeightmanhesitated，forhewastroubledbyadoubt。
Supposethathewasnotreally，likehiscompanions，athisjourney\'send，butonlytransportedforalittlewhileoutoftheregularcourseofhislifeintothismysteriousexperience？Supposethat，afterall，hehadnotreallypassedthroughthedoorofdeath，liketheseothers，butonlythroughthedoorofdreams，andwaswalkinginavision，alivingmanamongtheblesseddead。Woulditberightforhimtogowiththemintotheheavenlycity？Woulditnotbeadeception，adesecration，adeepandunforgivableoffense？Thestrange，confusingquestionhadnoreasoninit，asheverywellknew；
forifhewasdreaming，thenitwasalladream；butifhiscompanionswerereal，thenhealsowaswiththeminreality，andiftheyhaddiedthenhemusthavediedtoo。Yethecouldnotridhismindofthesensethattherewasadifferencebetweenthemandhim，anditmadehimafraidtogoon。But，ashepausedandturned，theKeeperoftheGatelookedstraightanddeepintohiseyes，andbeckonedtohim。Thenheknewthatitwasnotonlyrightbutnecessarythatheshouldenter。
Theypassedfromstreettostreetamongfairandspaciousdwellings，setinamaranthinegardens，andadornedwithaninfinitelyvariedbeautyofdivinesimplicity。Themansionsdifferedinsize，inshape，incharm:
eachoneseemedtohaveitsownpersonallookofloveliness；
yetallwerealikeinfitnesstotheirplace，inharmonywithoneanother，intheadditionwhicheachmadetothesingularandtranquilsplendorofthecity。
Asthelittlecompanycame，onebyone，tothemansionswhichwerepreparedforthem，andtheirGuidebeckonedtothehappyinhabitanttoenterinandtakepossession，therewasasoftmurmurofjoy，halfwonderandhalfrecognition；asifthenewandimmortaldwellingwerecrownedwiththebeautyofsurprise，lovelierandnoblerthanallthedreamsofithadbeen；andyetalsoasifitweretouchedwiththebeautyofthefamiliar，theremembered，thelong-loved。
Oneafteranotherthetravelerswereledtotheirownmansions，andwentingladly；andfromwithin，throughtheopendoorwayscamesweetvoicesofwelcome，andlowlaughter，andsong。
AtlasttherewasnooneleftwiththeGuidebutthetwooldfriends，DoctorMcLeanandJohnWeightman。Theywerestandinginfrontofoneofthelargestandfairestofthehouses，whosegardenglowedsoftlywithradiantflowers。TheGuidelaidhishanduponthedoctor\'sshoulder。
\"Thisisforyou，\"hesaid。\"Goin；thereisnomorepainhere，nomoredeath，norsorrow，nortears；foryouroldenemiesareallconquered。Butallthegoodthatyouhavedoneforothers，allthehelpthatyouhavegiven，allthecomfortthatyouhavebrought，allthestrengthandlovethatyouhavebestoweduponthesuffering，arehere；forwehavebuiltthemallintothismansionforyou。\"
Thegoodman\'sfacewaslightedwithastilljoy。Heclaspedhisoldfriend\'shandclosely，andwhispered:\"Howwonderfulitis！
Goon，youwillcometoyourmansionnext，itisnotfaraway，andweshallseeeachotheragainsoon，verysoon。\"
Sohewentthroughthegarden，andintothemusicwithin。
TheKeeperoftheGateturnedtoJohnWeightmanwithlevel，quiet，searchingeyes。Thenheasked，gravely:
\"Wheredoyouwishmetoleadyounow？\"
\"Toseemyownmansion，\"answeredtheman，withhalf-concealedexcitement。
\"Istherenotonehereforme？Youmaynotletmeenterityet，perhaps，forImustconfesstoyouthatIamonly——\"
\"Iknow，\"saidtheKeeperoftheGate——\"Iknowitall。
YouareJohnWeightman。\"
\"Yes，\"saidtheman，morefirmlythanhehadspokenatfirst，foritgratifiedhimthathisnamewasknown。\"Yes，IamJohnWeightman，SeniorWardenofSt。Petronius\'Church。Iwishverymuchtoseemymansionhere，ifonlyforamoment。Ibelievethatyouhaveoneforme。
Willyoutakemetoit？\"
TheKeeperoftheGatedrewalittlebookfromthebreastofhisrobeandturnedoverthepages。
\"Certainly，\"hesaid，withacuriouslookattheman，\"yournameishere；
andyoushallseeyourmansionifyouwillfollowme。\"
Itseemedasiftheymusthavewalkedmilesandmiles，throughthevastcity，passingstreetafterstreetofhouseslargerandsmaller，ofgardensricherandpoorer，butallfullofbeautyanddelight。
Theycameintoakindofsuburb，wherethereweremanysmallcottages，withplotsofflowers，verylowly，butbrightandfragrant。
Finallytheyreachedanopenfield，bareandlonely-looking。
Thereweretwoorthreelittlebushesinit，withoutflowers，andthegrasswassparseandthin。Inthecenterofthefieldwasatinyhut，hardlybigenoughforashepherd\'sshelter。