'My father,' I said, 'if I must go, may I not see my mother and my brothers and sisters who are dead? Where are they?'
'Yes,' he answered, 'they are all here; you may see them for a moment, but do not address them.'
He now led me through a number of apartments in which I saw fresh objects of wonder. Here were various intricate passages into a large garden, a garden indeed of indescribable luxuriances and beauty. On one portion of it a large pavilion of silver tissue stood out in bold relief. I purposely abstain from the details of description, relating only the salient points of all the grand things that I saw. As we approached this pavilion we heard the sound of music from within. As we entered I was obliged to lift my hand to shield my eyes from the soft and enchanting glow of fairy-like light with which they were dazzled. I was lost in astonishment, and my guide was evidently under the powerful influence of some strong emotion. Neither of us spoke a word. At a large instrument like an octagon piano sixteen young ladies sat, all playing together a brilliant piece of music. Others sat round them playing on instruments resembling guitars and flageolets. I never before heard such delightful music. There were lovely children also in this pavilion.
Not far from this group there was another, which consisted of twelve ladies of very elegant appearance. They looked like Roman matrons seated on thrones of ivory and gold, and were engaged upon some peculiar description of embroidery, having a large coloured cloth like a banner spread on their knees, and stretching out on the floor before them. On our approach they looked up from their work, and one of them, an extremely beautiful woman, smiled graciously and rose from her seat, but at a sign from my father she sat down again, while her face assumed an
