THE ATONEMENT Now these are the things that seemed to happen to Barbara after her earthly death.

Or rather some of the things, for most of them have faded away and been lost to her mortal memory.
Consciousness returned to her, but at first it was consciousness in an utter dark.

Everywhere was blackness, and in it she was quite alone.

The whole universe seemed to centre in her solitary soul.

Still she felt no fear, only a kind of wonder at this infinite blank through which she was being borne for millions and millions of miles.
Lights began to shine in the blackness like to those of passing ships upon a midnight sea.