choose, if you will, just to live the spiritual life and discharge whatever duties of citizenship you may be called upon to perform.  That is what most spirits do.  I need not perhaps tell you”—­here he smiled—­“that freedom from the body does not confer upon any one, as our poor brothers and sisters upon earth seem to think, a heavenly vocation.  Neither of course is the earthly fallacy about a mere absorption in worship a true one—­only to a very few is that conceded.  Still less is this a life of leisure.  To be leisurely here is permitted only to the wearied, and to those childish creatures with whom you have spent some time in their barren security.  I do not think you are suited for the work of recording the great scheme of life, nor do I think you are made for a teacher.  You are not sufficiently impartial!  For mere labour you are not suited; and yet I hardly think you would be fit to adopt the most honourable task which your friend Amroth so finely fulfils—­a guide and messenger.  What do you think?”

I said at once that I did not wish to have to make a decision, but that I preferred to leave it to him.  I added that though I was conscious of my deficiencies, I did not feel conscious of any particular capacities, except that I found character a very fascinating study, especially in connection with the circumstances of life upon earth.

“Very well,” he said, “I think that you may perhaps be best suited to the work of deciding what sort of life will best befit the souls who are prepared to take up their life upon earth again.  That is a task of deep and infinite concern; it may surprise you,” he added, “to learn that this is left to the decision of other souls.  But it is, of course, the goal at which all earthly social systems are aiming, the right apportionment of circumstances to temperament, and you must not be surprised to find that here we have gone much further in that direction, though even here the system is not perfected; and you cannot begin to apprehend that fact too soon.  It is unfortunate that on earth it is commonly believed, owing to the deadening influence of material causes, that beyond the grave everything is done with a Divine unanimity.  But of course, if that were so, further growth and development would be impossible, and in view of infinite perfectibility there is yet very much that is faulty and incomplete.  But I am not sure what lies before you; there is something in your temperament which a little baffles me, and our plans may have to be changed.  Your very absorption in your work, your quick power of forgetting and throwing off impressions has its dangers.  But I will bear in mind what you have said, and you may for the present resume your studies, and I will once more commend you; you have done well hitherto, and I will say frankly that I regard you as capable of useful and honourable work.”  He bowed in token of dismissal, and I went back to my work with unbounded gratitude and enthusiasm.