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CHAPTER XXIX
Toward morning Everychild had a dream. In his dream his mother came and stood near him, and looked at him wonderingly and sadly. And then—in the dream—his father could be seen, standing apart and slowly shaking his head.
It seemed that there was a cry of joy in his throat, and that he ran to embrace his mother. He felt that he should weep for joy when he flung his arms about her neck and felt her face touching his.
But then he awoke, and his parents were not there: but only the great chamber in the heart of the mountain, and all the other children rising from their beds, eager to begin a new day.
He could not rid his mind of the vivid dream, nor his heart of the strange softness it had brought. And as soon as he could do so he sought the Masked Lady, his intention being to inquire of her what his dream had meant.
She stood waiting for him, as it seemed, and he approached her with increasing eagerness. And now he perceived that she was no longer wearing the dress of a piper, but had on the soft white dress in which he had first beheld her, and wore a jewel in her hair.
He had the strange thought that she might be really beautiful if only she would remove the mask which gave her face that distant expression and almost hid her eyes. And he remembered, all of a sudden, how he had often been helped by her, and how she had always been near, as if she wished to help him even more, and how she had comforted him that night when he had seen a star fall by assuring him that he was a little bit of God .
He began speaking to her with a new feeling of constraint. "I dreamed of seeing my mother and father last night," he said.
She smiled faintly. "I know," she replied. "All the other children had the same dream. That is what all children dream of here in this chamber."
He opened his eyes very wide. How could she know what all the other children had dreamed, since it did not appear that they had told her of their dreams? But he continued: "They seemed a little sad," he said. "My mother's eyes were troubled, and my father shook his head."
"Yes, Everychild?"
"And I wondered if I might not see them again, really. It would be good to see them again; and you know I have come so far …"
The Masked Lady replied: "Nothing delights me so much as to have children and their parents find each other. That is my highest dream—to bring together the parents and children who have lost each other."
"And shall I find them?"
"I think you are on the way even now to find them—perhaps sooner than you dare to hope."
"If I could find them now," continued Everychild, "I think I could willingly give up my search for—for the truth. It seemed a wonderful thing to seek for when I began, but I am not anxious to do so any more."
There was a new note in her voice as she replied, "Truth is very close to those who still seek, but who have ceased to be anxious."
He did not know why the words should have thrilled him so. If he could find the truth, after all, and still have his parents again! He permitted his eyes to rest on the Masked Lady's rather forbidding face. And then he began impulsively—"Dear lady!…"
"Yes, Everychild?" she returned gently.
He sought eagerly for the right words. "I did not know it myself for a long time," he said, "But I think I know now …"
"I am waiting, Everychild!"
His voice almost failed him. "There was such a long time that I thought I feared you a little," he continued, "—when it seemed better to stand quite apart from you and look at you from a distance. But you've been so good a friend that now at last …"
"At last, Everychild?"
He timidly sought her hand; and having found it he stood with downcast eyes. "At last I know I—I love you!"
Still standing with downcast eyes he could not know how radiantly she appeared before him. He could not see how the mask fell from her face at last. The Masked Lady no more, but Truth herself in all her glory!
She cried out triumphantly, "Lift up your eyes, Everychild, and look at me!"
He lifted his eyes slowly, gaining courage little by little. And when he looked upon her an expression of amazement and swiftly dawning delight was in his eyes.
"You are—oh, it is you!" he cried, fearing even yet to name her.
"It is I," she said.
And he was not fearful of her now. Truth at last—and yet she was one who had been near him a long time and had often aided him.
"But you are beautiful!" he cried at last in wonder and delight.
"I am always beautiful to those who love me," she said.
"But oh, dear lady," he cried, "could you not have helped me to know you in the beginning?"
"Ah," she replied, "each soul must find me for itself."
Then she put her arm about him and comforted him for long days and nights of wandering.
They were interrupted soon by the other children who came forward eagerly. They too had come to tell their dream; and Everychild watched joyously while Truth—to him the Masked Lady no more—reassured them by saying that even now they were on their way to find their parents. And the children gathered together in groups and agreed that they all wished very much to see their parents again.
And then Everychild listened attentively while Truth declared to the assembled band: "If you would really find your parents again, and be happy with them, you must promise one thing only: that you will love them better than you love yourselves."
And all the children, having forgotten many of the hardships they had undergone at home, replied almost in one voice—
"We promise!"
Then after they had remained silent a little while, wondering how they were to find their parents, from whom they had wandered so far, they began to inquire how so difficult a thing could be brought about; and they were informed that it was true that one great obstacle still lay in the way of their return to their parents, but that perhaps it would be possible to remove that obstacle.
They drew apart, whispering among themselves and looking beamingly into one another's faces.
They were startled suddenly by a great voice, crying out in anguish—
"Lady—dear lady!"
It was the giant, who had remained apart a little because of his blindness. He was now approaching Truth, his hands outstretched.
"I am here," she said. And he came and knelt by her side.