The secret garden

CHAPTER XXIBEN WEATHERSTAFFof the strange things about living in theworld is that it isonly now and then one isquite sure one is going to live forever and everand ever. One knows it sometimes when one ogetsup at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes outand stands alone and throws one's head far backand looks up and up and watches the pale skyslowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknownthings happening until the East almostmakes one cry out and one's heart stands still atthe strange unchanging majesty of the rising of thesun which has been happening every morningfor thousands and thousands and thousands ofyears. One knows it then for a moment or so.And one knows it sometimes when one stands byoneself in a wood at sunset and the mysteriousdeep gold stillness slanting through and underthe branches seems to be saying slowly again andagain something one cannot quite hear, howevermuch one tries. Then sometimes the immensequiet of the dark blue at night with millions of268