Itlookedasifithadbeenbuiltofdiscardedthings，scrapsandfragmentsofotherbuildings，puttogetherwithcareandpains，bysomeonewhohadtriedtomakethemostofcast-offmaterial。
Therewassomethingpitifulandshamefacedaboutthehut。
Itshrankanddroopedandfadedinitsbarrenfield，andseemedtoclingonlybysufferancetotheedgeofthesplendidcity。
\"This，\"saidtheKeeperoftheGate，standingstillandspeakingwithalow，distinctvoice——\"thisisyourmansion，JohnWeightman。\"
Analmostintolerableshockofgrievedwonderandindignationchokedthemanforamomentsothathecouldnotsayaword。
Thenheturnedhisfaceawayfromthepoorlittlehutandbegantoremonstrateeagerlywithhiscompanion。
\"Surely，sir，\"hestammered，\"youmustbeinerroraboutthis。
Thereissomethingwrong——someotherJohnWeightman——aconfusionofnames——thebookmustbemistaken。\"
\"Thereisnomistake，\"saidtheKeeperoftheGate，verycalmly；
\"hereisyourname，therecordofyourtitleandyourpossessionsinthisplace。\"
\"Buthowcouldsuchahousebepreparedforme，\"criedtheman，witharesentfultremorinhisvoice——\"forme，aftermylongandfaithfulservice？Isthisasuitablemansionforonesowellknownanddevoted？Whyisitsopitifullysmallandmean？
Whyhaveyounotbuiltitlargeandfair，liketheothers？\"
\"Thatisallthematerialyousentus。\"
\"What！\"
\"Wehaveusedallthematerialthatyousentus，\"repeatedtheKeeperoftheGate。
\"NowIknowthatyouaremistaken，\"criedtheman，withgrowingearnestness，\"forallmylifelongIhavebeendoingthingsthatmusthavesuppliedyouwithmaterial。HaveyounotheardthatIhavebuiltaschool-house；thewingofahospital；two——yes，three——smallchurches，andthegreaterpartofalargeone，thespireofSt。Petro——\"
TheKeeperoftheGateliftedhishand。
\"Wait，\"hesaid；\"weknowallthesethings。Theywerenotilldone。
ButtheywereallmarkedandusedasfoundationforthenameandmansionofJohnWeightmanintheworld。Didyounotplanthemforthat？\"
\"Yes，\"answeredtheman，confusedandtakenaback，\"IconfessthatIthoughtoftenoftheminthatway。Perhapsmyheartwassetuponthattoomuch。Butthereareotherthings——myendowmentforthecollege——mysteadyandliberalcontributionstoalltheestablishedcharities——mysupportofeveryrespectable——\"
\"Wait，\"saidtheKeeperoftheGateagain。\"Werenotallthesecarefullyrecordedonearthwheretheywouldaddtoyourcredit？
Theywerenotfoolishlydone。Verily，youhavehadyourrewardforthem。
Wouldyoubepaidtwice？\"
\"No，\"criedtheman，withdeepeningdismay，\"Idarenotclaimthat。
IacknowledgethatIconsideredmyowninteresttoomuch。Butsurelynotaltogether。Youhavesaidthatthesethingswerenotfoolishlydone。
Theyaccomplishedsomegoodintheworld。Doesnotthatcountforsomething？\"
\"Yes，\"answeredheKeeperoftheGate，\"itcountsintheworld——whereyoucountedit。Butitdoesnotbelongtoyouhere。Wehavesavedandusedeverythingthatyousentus。Thisisthemansionpreparedforyou。\"
Ashespoke，hislookgrewdeeperandmoresearching，likeaflameoffire。
JohnWeightmancouldnotendureit。Itseemedtostriphimnakedandwitherhim。Hesanktothegroundunderacrushingweightofshame，coveringhiseyeswithhishandsandcoweringfacedownwarduponthestones。Dimlythroughthetroubleofhismindhefelttheirhardnessandcoldness。
\"Tellme，then，\"hecried，brokenly，\"sincemylifehasbeensolittleworth，howcameIhereatall？\"
\"ThroughthemercyoftheKing\"——theanswerwaslikethesofttollingofabell。
\"AndhowhaveIearnedit？\"hemurmured。
\"Itisneverearned；itisonlygiven，\"cametheclear，lowreply。
\"ButhowhaveIfailedsowretchedly，\"heasked，\"inallthepurposeofmylife？WhatcouldIhavedonebetter？Whatisitthatcountshere？\"
\"Onlythatwhichistrulygiven，\"answeredthebell-likevoice。
Onlythatgoodwhichisdonefortheloveofdoingit。
Onlythoseplansinwhichthewelfareofothersisthemasterthought。
Onlythoselaborsinwhichthesacrificeisgreaterthanthereward。
Onlythosegiftsinwhichthegiverforgetshimself。\"
Themanlaysilent。Agreatweakness，anunspeakabledespondencyandhumiliationwereuponhim。ButthefaceoftheKeeperoftheGatewasinfinitelytenderashebentoverhim。
\"Thinkagain，JohnWeightman。Hastherebeennothinglikethatinyourlife？\"
\"Nothing，\"hesighed。\"Ifthereeverweresuchthings，itmusthavebeenlongago——theywereallcrowdedout——Ihaveforgottenthem。\"
TherewasanineffablesmileonthefaceoftheKeeperoftheGate，andhishandmadethesignofthecrossoverthebowedheadashespokegently:
\"ThesearethethingsthattheKingneverforgets；andbecausetherewereafewoftheminyourlife，youhavealittleplacehere。\"
ThesenseofcoldnessandhardnessunderJohnWeightman\'shandsgrewsharperandmoredistinct。Thefeelingofbodilywearinessandlassitudeweigheduponhim，buttherewasacalm，almostalightness，inhisheartashelistenedtothefadingvibrationsofthesilverybell-tones。Thechimneyclockonthemantelhadjustendedthelaststrokeofsevenasheliftedhisheadfromthetable。
Thin，palestripsofthecitymorningwerefallingintotheroomthroughthenarrowpartingsoftheheavycurtains。
Whatwasitthathadhappenedtohim？Hadhebeenill？Hadhediedandcometolifeagain？Orhadheonlyslept，andhadhissoulgonevisitingindreams？Hesatforsometime，motionless，notlost，butfindinghimselfinthought。Thenhetookanarrowbookfromthetabledrawer，wroteacheck，andtoreitout。
Hewentslowlyupthestairs，knockedverysoftlyathisson\'sdoor，and，hearingnoanswer，enteredwithoutnoise。Haroldwasasleep，hisbarearmthrownabovehishead，andhiseagerfacerelaxedinpeace。
Hisfatherlookedathimamomentwithstrangelyshiningeyes，andthentiptoedquietlytothewriting-desk，foundapencilandasheetofpaper，andwroterapidly:
\"Mydearboy，hereiswhatyouaskedmefor；dowhatyoulikewithit，andaskformoreifyouneedit。IfyouarestillthinkingofthatworkwithGrenfell，we\'lltalkitoverto-dayafterchurch。
Iwanttoknowyourheartbetter；andifIhavemademistakes——\"
Aslightnoisemadehimturnhishead。Haroldwassittingupinbedwithwide-openeyes。
\"Father！\"hecried，\"isthatyou？\"
\"Yes，myson，\"answeredJohnWeightman；\"I\'vecomeback——ImeanI\'vecomeup——no，Imeancomein——well，hereIam，andGodgiveusagoodChristmastogether。\"