“By no means. The writer says the book belongs to you, and would never presume to such an act. It is simply recognised as a failure, as undoubtedly it is.”
“Then,” said I, “I am afraid I have made you a very worthless present, since the stone is the emblem of the book.”
“I am fond of worthless presents. I am fond of failures. I am fond of rejections. You know the old story of the stone which the builders rejected, and it has always held good from then to now. We are very clever, we can make so much out of nothing. Sometimes, of course, the giver has to wait for many years, till the last great failure, death, has been accomplished, and I have known a man who, when shown his own worthless gifts in after times, took them to be amongst the most precious heaven held; and when their history was unfolded to him one big tear of thankfulness rolled from his glistening eyes, and fell, a diamond of rare price—another gift in lieu of that which we returned to him. Whatever is brought to us can never fall fruitlessly. We accept everything that is given in purity and truth, and set it out to gain the interest that it merits.”
“Then you accept my gift?”
“Undoubtedly. It has been offered to others before, but they could see no merit in it. I think even once it was offered as a sacrifice, but that would have been a very unpleasant thing, for earth has a generous heart. But we in heaven can afford to be cruel, selfish, jealous of our power and influence, vindictive when ill-pleased, anything, everything, so long as in the end we get our way, thus turning the ill-wind into fair, to please an intellect that cannot comprehend us.”
“You speak in riddles.”
“The language of spirits and of God, who never yet spoke plainly, in order to have the after-pleasure of upbraiding those dull pupils who could not understand.”
Whilst we had been speaking Sunbeam and Virginius had been much engrossed at the further end of the room, for on leaving the tea-table we had come to one which seemed much generally used.
She was showing him a very dainty pair of slippers, and they were admiring them together.
“I finished the embroidery this afternoon when Genius fell asleep the second time. To-night I’m going to put the soles on. They are all pricked ready for sewing.”