And because even in a dream you believe me, I will help you .-- Put forth your left hand open, and close it gently: it will clasp the hand of your Lona, who lies asleep where you lie dreaming you are awake." I put forth my hand: it closed on the hand of Lona, firm and soft and deathless.
"But, father," I cried, "she is warm!" "Your hand is as warm to hers.

Cold is a thing unknown in our country.
Neither she nor you are yet in the fields of home, but each to each is alive and warm and healthful." Then my heart was glad.

But immediately supervened a sharp-stinging doubt.
"Father," I said, "forgive me, but how am I to know surely that this also is not a part of the lovely dream in which I am now walking with thyself ?" "Thou doubtest because thou lovest the truth.

Some would willingly believe life but a phantasm, if only it might for ever afford them a world of pleasant dreams: thou art not of such! Be content for a while not to know surely.

The hour will come, and that ere long, when, being true, thou shalt behold the very truth, and doubt will be for ever dead.
Scarce, then, wilt thou be able to recall the features of the phantom.
Thou wilt then know that which thou canst not now dream.