And it came to pass that after a while the artist was forgotten--but the
work lived.

St. Leonards-on-Sea.



X. "I THOUGHT I STOOD."

I thought I stood in Heaven before God's throne, and God asked me what I
had come for. I said I had come to arraign my brother, Man.

God said, "What has he done?"

I said, "He has taken my sister, Woman, and has stricken her, and wounded
her, and thrust her out into the streets; she lies there prostrate. His
hands are red with blood. I am here to arraign him; that the kingdom be
taken from him, because he is not worthy, and given unto me. My hands are
pure."

I showed them.

God said, "Thy hands are pure.--Lift up thy robe."

I raised it; my feet were red, blood-red, as if I had trodden in wine.

God said, "How is this?"

I said, "Dear Lord, the streets on earth are full of mire. If I should
walk straight on in them my outer robe might be bespotted, you see how