At luncheon that day we had spoken of Prof. William James and Sir Frederick Myers, and later in the evening Mrs. Gaylord asked Frederick whether he knew Professor James.
“I know him, but I am not sure he knows me. He is a great force, and many of us go to him for help and instruction. Only one other man has the same sort of power. That is Sir Frederick.”
“Are you with people from this world only?” some one asked. “And does everybody go there, or only a certain element?”
“There are people from this world only, but it is as with you, not all people are equally prepared. Growth is easier here if one has earned it there. But not all have earned it, and the penalty for laziness is long struggle.... Purgatory is not a bad definition of it. The right to do big work must be earned. Some people have a terrible struggle of it. [Their?] Moral muscles are flabby.”
“Do you agree with Mary Kendal that there is humor there, but that this is no time for it?”
“Oh, she didn’t mean that! She meant that this particular crisis is not humorous to her. She is deeply concerned to get into touch with him.... Good night, Mother dearest. I’ll be with you all night.”
“Good night,” said Mary Kendal. “I’m sorry I upset you.”