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At last there was no one left with the Guide but the two old
friends；
Doctor McLean and John Weightman。 They were standing in front of
one of the largest and fairest of the houses； whose garden glowed
softly
with radiant flowers。 The Guide laid his hand upon the doctor's
shoulder。
〃This is for you；〃 he said。 〃Go in； there is no more pain here；
no more death； nor sorrow； nor tears； for your old enemies are
all conquered。 But all the good that you have done for others；
all the help that you have given； all the comfort that you have
brought；
all the strength and love that you have bestowed upon the
suffering；
are here； for we have built them all into this mansion for you。〃
The good man's face was lighted with a still joy。 He clasped his
old friend's hand closely； and whispered： 〃How wonderful it is！
Go on； you will come to your mansion next； it is not far away；
and we shall see each other again soon； very soon。〃
So he went through the garden； and into the music within。
The Keeper of the Gate turned to John Weightman with level；
quiet；
searching eyes。 Then he asked； gravely：
〃Where do you wish me to lead you now？〃
〃To see my own mansion；〃 answered the man； with half…concealed
excitement。
〃Is there not one here for me？ You may not let me enter it yet；
perhaps；
for I must confess to you that I am only〃
〃I know；〃 said the Keeper of the Gate〃I know it all。
You are John Weightman。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the man； more firmly than he had spoken at first；
for it gratified him that his name was known。 〃Yes； I am John
Weightman；
Senior Warden of St。 Petronius' Church。 I wish very much to see
my mansion here； if only for a moment。 I believe that you have
one for me。
Will you take me to it？〃
The Keeper of the Gate drew a little book from the breast of his
robe
and turned over the pages。
〃Certainly；〃 he said； with a curious look at the man； 〃your name
is here；
and you shall see your mansion if you will follow me。〃
It seemed as if they must have walked miles and miles； through
the
vast city； passing street after street of houses larger and
smaller；
of gardens richer and poorer； but all full of beauty and delight。
They came into a kind of suburb； where there were many small
cottages；
with plots of flowers； very lowly； but bright and fragrant。
Finally they reached an open field； bare and lonely…looking。
There were two or three little bushes in it； without flowers；
and the grass was sparse and thin。 In the center of the field
was a tiny hut； hardly big enough for a shepherd's shelter。
It looked as if it had been built of discarded things； scraps and
fragments of other buildings； put together with care and pains；
by some one who had tried to make the most of cast…off material。
There was something pitiful and shamefaced about the hut。
It shrank and drooped and faded in its barren field； and seemed
to
cling only by sufferance to the edge of the splendid city。
〃This；〃 said the Keeper of the Gate； standing still and speaking
with
a low； distinct voice〃this is your mansion； John Weightman。〃
An almost intolerable shock of grieved wonder and indignation
choked the man for a moment so that he could not say a word。
Then he turned his face away from the poor little hut
and began to remonstrate eagerly with his companion。
〃Surely； sir；〃 he stammered； 〃you must be in error about this。
There is something wrongsome other John Weightmana confusion
of namesthe book must be mistaken。〃
〃There is no mistake；〃 said the Keeper of the Gate； very calmly；
〃here is your name； the record of your title and your possessions
in this place。〃
〃But how could such a house be prepared for me；〃 cried the man；
with a resentful tremor in his voice〃for me； after my
long and faithful service？ Is this a suitable mansion for
one so well known and devoted？ Why is it so pitifully small and
mean？
Why have you not built it large and fair； like the others？〃
〃That is all the material you sent us。〃
〃What！〃
〃We have used all the material that you sent us；〃 repeated the
Keeper of the Gate。
〃Now I know that you are mistaken；〃 cried the man； with growing
earnestness； 〃for all my life long I have been doing things that
must have supplied you with material。 Have you not heard that
I have built a school…house； the wing of a hospital； twoyes；
threesmall churches； and the greater part of a large one；
the spire of St。 Petro〃
The Keeper of the Gate lifted his hand。
〃Wait；〃 he said； 〃we know all these things。 They were not ill
done。
But they were all marked and used as foundation for the name and
mansion of
John Weightman in the world。 Did you not plan them for that？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the man； confused and taken aback； 〃I confess
that
I thought often of them in that way。 Perhaps my heart was
set upon that too much。 But there are other thingsmy endowment
for
the collegemy steady and liberal contributions to all the
established charitiesmy support of every respectable〃
〃Wait；〃 said the Keeper of the Gate again。 〃Were not all these
carefully recorded on earth where they would add to your credit？
They were not foolishly done。 Verily； you have had your reward
for them。
Would you be paid twice？〃
〃No；〃 cried the man； with deepening dismay； 〃I dare not claim
that。
I acknowledge that I considered my own interest too much。 But
surely
not altogether。 You have said that these things were not
foolishly done。
They accomplished some good in the world。 Does not that count
for something？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered he Keeper of the Gate； 〃it counts in the
worldwhere you
counted it。 But it does not belong to you here。 We have saved
and used
everything that you sent us。 This is the mansion prepared for
you。〃
As he spoke； his look grew deeper and more searching； like a
flame of fire。
John Weightman could not endure it。 It seemed to strip him naked
and wither him。 He sank to the ground under a crushing weight of
shame；
covering his eyes with his hands and cowering face downward
upon the stones。 Dimly through the trouble of his mind he felt
their
hardness and coldness。
〃Tell me； then；〃 he cried； brokenly； 〃since my life has been so
little worth； how came I here at all？〃
〃Through the mercy of the King〃the answer was like the soft
tolling of
a bell。
〃And how have I earned it？〃 he murmured。
〃It is never earned； it is only given；〃 came the clear； low
reply。
〃But how have I failed so wretchedly；〃 he asked； 〃in all the
purpose of
my life？ What could I have done better？ What is it that counts
here？〃
〃Only that which is truly given；〃 answered the bell…like voice。
Only that good which is done for the love of doing it。
Only those plans in which the welfare of others