Page:Emily Climbs.pdf/51

 wants most is to be free from him—or just to. That would satisfy her.

“There’s Dean—I wonder what brought him to prayer-meeting? His face is very solemn, but his eyes are mocking Mr. Sampson—what’s that Mr. Sampson’s saying?—oh, something about the wise virgins. I hate the wise virgins—I think they were horribly selfish. They have given the poor foolish ones a little oil. I don’t believe Jesus meant to praise them any more than He meant to praise the unjust steward—TI think He was just trying to warn foolish people that they must not careless, and foolish, because if they were, prudent, selfish folks would never help them out. I wonder if it’s very wicked to feel that I’d rather be outside with the foolish ones trying to help and comfort them, than inside feasting with the wise ones. It would be, too.

“There’s Mrs. Kent and Teddy. Oh, wants something terribly—I don’t know what it is but it’s something she can never get, and the hunger for it goads her night and day. That is why she holds Teddy so closely—I know. But I don’t know what it is that makes her so different from other women. I can never get a peep into soul—she shuts every one out—the door is never unlatched.

“What do want most? It is to climb the Alpine Path to the very top,

“We're all hungry. We all want some bread of life—but Mr. Sampson can’t give it to us. I wonder what wants most? His soul is so muggy I can’t see into it. He has a lot of sordid wants—he doesn’t want enough to dominate him. Mr. Johnson wants to help people and preach truth—he really does. And Aunt Janey wants most of all to see the whole heathen world Christianized. Her soul hasn’t any dark wishes in it. I