“That won’t do,” cried the philosophical contingency, “whoever is dead remains dead.”
“Don’t interrupt him. Of course it’s only a story!”
Walter continued: “He returned to the earth and learned French. Then he appeared at the gate again and said, ‘Oui, Monsieur!’ but it did no good; he was not admitted.”
“I should think not; he ought to have said: ‘j’aime, tu aimes.’”
“I don’t know anything about that,” Walter replied.
“Then he went to the earth again and learned his lessons till he could say them backwards. He did this for the keeper of the gate; but all this did no good; he was not allowed to go in.”
“Of course not,” cried one of the wise ones, “to get to heaven you must be confirmed. Had he been confirmed?”
“No. That’s the reason it was so difficult. Then he tried something else. He said that he was engaged to his sister.”
“Just like Betty,” cried Emma.
“Yes, like Betty—and that he loved her and wanted to marry her. But it was all of no use; they wouldn’t let him into heaven.