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desired to question。 To them； in their several ways； the Swedish
castle had grown to mean some gigantic representation； some spectacle
like those whose colors and masses are skilfully and harmoniously
marshalled by the poets； and whose personages； imaginary actors to
men； are real to those who begin to penetrate the Spiritual World。 On
the tiers of this Coliseum Monsieur Becker seated the gray legions of
Doubt； the stern ideas； the specious formulas of Dispute。 He convoked
the various antagonistic worlds of philosophy and religion； and they
all appeared； in the guise of a fleshless shape； like that in which
art embodies Time；an old man bearing in one hand a scythe； in the
other a broken globe； the human universe。
Wilfrid had bidden to the scene his earliest illusions and his latest
hopes； human destiny and its conflicts； religion and its conquering
powers。
Minna saw heaven confusedly by glimpses； love raised a curtain wrought
with mysterious images； and the melodious sounds which met her ear
redoubled her curiosity。
To all three； therefore； this evening was to be what that other
evening had been for the pilgrims to Emmaus； what a vision was to
Dante； an inspiration to Homer；to them； three aspects of the world
revealed； veils rent away； doubts dissipated； darkness illumined。
Humanity in all its moods expecting light could not be better
represented than here by this young girl； this man in the vigor of his
age； and these old men； of whom one was learned enough to doubt； the
other ignorant enough to believe。 Never was any scene more simple in
appearance； nor more portentous in reality。
When they entered the room； ushered in by old David； they found
Seraphita standing by a table on which were served the various dishes
which compose a 〃tea〃； a form of collation which in the North takes
the place of wine and its pleasures；reserved more exclusively for
Southern climes。 Certainly nothing proclaimed in her； or in him； a
being with the strange power of appearing under two distinct forms；
nothing about her betrayed the manifold powers which she wielded。 Like
a careful housewife attending to the comfort of her guests； she
ordered David to put more wood into the stove。
〃Good evening； my neighbors；〃 she said。 〃Dear Monsieur Becker； you do
right to come； you see me living for the last time； perhaps。 This
winter has killed me。 Will you sit there？〃 she said to Wilfrid。 〃And
you； Minna； here？〃 pointing to a chair beside her。 〃I see you have
brought your embroidery。 Did you invent that stitch？ the design is
very pretty。 For whom is it；your father； or monsieur？〃 she added；
turning to Wilfrid。 〃Surely we ought to give him； before we part； a
remembrance of the daughters of Norway。〃
〃Did you suffer much yesterday？〃 asked Wilfrid。
〃It was nothing；〃 she answered； 〃the suffering gladdened me； it was
necessary； to enable me to leave this life。〃
〃Then death does not alarm you？〃 said Monsieur Becker； smiling； for he
did not think her ill。
〃No； dear pastor； there are two ways of dying： to some； death is
victory； to others； defeat。〃
〃Do you think that you have conquered？〃 asked Minna。
〃I do not know；〃 she said； 〃perhaps I have only taken a step in the
path。〃
The lustrous splendor of her brow grew dim； her eyes were veiled
beneath slow…dropping lids； a simple movement which affected the
prying guests and kept them silent。 Monsieur Becker was the first to
recover courage。
〃Dear child；〃 he said； 〃you are truth itself； and you are ever kind。 I
would ask of you to…night something other than the dainties of your
tea…table。 If we may believe certain persons； you know amazing things；
if this be true； would it not be charitable in you to solve a few of
our doubts？〃
〃Ah！〃 she said smiling； 〃I walk on the clouds。 I visit the depths of
the fiord； the sea is my steed and I bridle it； I know where the
singing flower grows； and the talking light descends； and fragrant
colors shine！ I wear the seal of Solomon； I am a fairy； I cast my
orders to the wind which； like an abject slave； fulfils them； my eyes
can pierce the earth and behold its treasures； for lo！ am I not the
virgin to whom the pearls dart from their ocean depths and〃
〃who led me safely to the summit of the Falberg？〃 said Minna；
interrupting her。
〃Thou！ thou too！〃 exclaimed the strange being； with a luminous glance
at the young girl which filled her soul with trouble。 〃Had I not the
faculty of reading through your foreheads the desires which have
brought you here； should I be what you think I am？〃 she said；
encircling all three with her controlling glance； to David's great
satisfaction。 The old man rubbed his hands with pleasure as he left
the room。
〃Ah！〃 she resumed after a pause； 〃you have come； all of you； with the
curiosity of children。 You； my poor Monsieur Becker； have asked
yourself how it was possible that a girl of seventeen should know even
a single one of those secrets which men of science seek with their
noses to the earth；instead of raising their eyes to heaven。 Were I
to tell you how and at what point the plant merges into the animal you
would begin to doubt your doubts。 You have plotted to question me； you
will admit that？〃
〃Yes； dear Seraphita；〃 answered Wilfrid； 〃but the desire is a natural
one to men； is it not？〃
〃You will bore this dear child with such topics；〃 she said； passing
her hand lightly over Minna's hair with a caressing gesture。
The young girl raised her eyes and seemed as though she longed to lose
herself in him。
〃Speech is the endowment of us all；〃 resumed the mysterious creature；
gravely。 〃Woe to him who keeps silence； even in a desert； believing
that no one hears him； all voices speak and all ears listen here
below。 Speech moves the universe。 Monsieur Becker； I desire to say
nothing unnecessarily。 I know the difficulties that beset your mind；
would you not think it a miracle if I were now to lay bare the past
history of your consciousness？ Well； the miracle shall be
accomplished。 You have never admitted to yourself the full extent of
your doubts。 I alone； immovable in my faith； I can show it to you； I
can terrify you with yourself。
〃You stand on the darkest side of Doubt。 You do not believe in God；
although you know it not；and all things here below are secondary to
him who rejects the first principle of things。 Let us leave aside the
fruitless discussions of false philosophy。 The spiritualist
generations made as many and as vain efforts to deny Matter as the
materialist generations have made to deny Spirit。 Why such
discussions？ Does not man himself offer irrefragable proof of both
systems？ Do we not find in him material things and spiritual things？
None but a madman can refuse to see in the human body a fragment of
Matter； your natural sciences； when they decompose it； find little
difference between its elements and those of other animals。 On the
other hand； the