He is gone into the land of thick darkness, and I cannot follow him in my thoughts.

It is like a gulf between us and him.

Even if he had been farthest away from us in the world--anywhere--we could imagine what he was doing; but we cannot see him or call across the gulf to him.

It is all unknown.

Only God knows!" "God!" echoed Felicita; "if there is a God, let Him help me, for I am the most wretched woman on His earth to-day." "God cannot keep from helping us all," answered Phebe.