WHITHER NOW?
The days that followed were full of pleasure; and Dolly kept to her resolution, not to spoil the present by care about the future. Indeed, the balmy air and the genial light and all the wealth that nature has bestowed upon southern Italy, were a help to such a resolution. The infinite lavish fulness of the present quite laughed at the idea of barrenness or want anywhere in time to come. Dolly knew that was nature's subtle flattery, not to be trusted, and yet she willingly admitted the flattery. Nothing should spoil these days.
One evening she and Christina were sitting again on the bank, wondering at the marvellous sunset panorama.
"How difficult it is, looking at this," said Dolly, "to believe that there is want and misery in the world."
"Why should you believe it?" said Christina. "I don't think there is, except where people have brought it upon themselves."
"People bring it upon other people. But to look at this, one would say it was impossible. And this is how the world was meant to be, I suppose."
"What do you mean? how?" said Christina. "It is rich to hear you talk."
"Oh, look at it, Christina! Look at the colours and the lights and the sparkle everywhere, the perfect wealth of loveliness in form as well as colour; and if you think a minute you will know that He who made it all meant people to be happy, and meant them to be as full of happiness as the earth is full of beauty."
"I don't see 'lights' and 'colours' so much as you do, Dolly; I am not an artist; but if God meant them to be happy, why aren't they happy?"
"Sin," said Dolly.