“Why, that was what you meant, wasn’t it,” answered Rhoda, “when you talked about finding happiness in piety?”
“And when did I do that?”
“Just now, this minute back,” said Rhoda in surprise.
“My dear child, you strangely misapprehend me. I never spoke a word of finding happiness in piety; I spoke of finding it in God. And God is not sermons, nor chanting, nor death. He is life, and light, and love. I never think how soon I shall die. I often think how soon the Lord may come; but there is a vast difference between looking for the coming of a thing that you dread, and looking for the coming of a person whom you long to see.”
“But you will die, Mrs Dolly?”
“Perhaps, my dear. The Lord may come first; I hope so.”
“Oh dear!” said Rhoda. “But that means the world may come to an end.”
“Yes. The sooner the better,” replied the old lady.
“But you don’t want the world to end, Mrs Dolly?”
“I do, my clear. I want the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”