Digging a grave beneath the Temple 's marble floor , the sexton found no virgin earth , such as was meet to receive the maiden 's dust , but an ancient sepulchre , in which were treasured up the bones of generations that had died long ago . Among those forgotten ancestors was the Lily to be laid . And when the funeral procession brought Lilias thither in her coffin , they beheld old Walter Gascoigne standing beneath the dome of the Temple , with his cloak of pall , and face of darkest gloom ; and wherever that figure might take its stand , the spot would seem a sepulchre . He watched the mourners as they lowered the coffin down . `` And so , '' said he to Adam Forrester , with the strange smile in which his insanity was wont to gleam forth , `` you have found no better foundation for your happiness than on a grave ! '' But as the Shadow of Affliction spoke , a vision of Hope and Joy had its birth in Adam 's mind , even from the old man 's taunting words ; for then he knew what was betokened by the parable in which the Lily and himself had acted ; and the mystery of Life and Death was opened to him . `` Joy ! joy ! '' he cried , throwing his arms towards Heaven , `` on a grave be the site of our Temple ; and now our happiness is for Eternity ! '' INTRODUCTORY TO `` THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER '' And when , and where , do you think we find the children next ? No longer in the winter-time , but in the merry month of May . No longer in Tanglewood play-room , or at Tanglewood fireside , but more than half-way up a monstrous hill , or a mountain , as perhaps it would be better pleased to have us call it . They had set out from home with the mighty purpose of climbing this high hill , even to the very tiptop of its bald head . To be sure , it was not quite so high as Chimborazo , or Mont Blanc , and was even a good deal lower than old Graylock . But , at any rate , it was higher than a thousand ant-hillocks , or a million of mole hills ; and , when measured by the short strides of little children , might be reckoned a very respectable mountain . And was Cousin Eustace with the party ? Of that you may be certain ; else how could the book go on a step further ? He was now in the middle of the spring vacation , and looked pretty much as we saw him four or five months ago , except that , if you gazed quite closely at his upper lip , you could discern the funniest little bit of a mustache upon it . Setting aside this mark of mature manhood , you might have considered Cousin Eustace just as much a boy as when you first became acquainted with him . He was as merry , as playful , as good-humored , as light of foot and of spirits , and equally a favorite with the little folks , as he had always been .
This expedition up the mountain was entirely XXXXX his contrivance .
To at by except from in of on towards up