第12章

Findingtheyhadbroughtstraight—boredguns,theyarrangedtheircartridgessimilarly,andsetoutinthedirectioninwhichthewingedlizardsordragonshadgone。

CHAPTERIV。

APROVIDENTIALINTERVENTION。

Thevalleynarrowedastheyadvanced,thebanksrisinggentlyonbothsides。Bothdragonshadflownstraighttoagroveoftall,spreadingtrees。Oncomingneartothis,theynoticedafaintsmelllikethatofthedragon,andalsolikethetracetheyfoundintheaironleavingtheCallistothedaybefore,aftertheyhadsoughtsafetywithinit。Soonitalmostknockedthemdown。

"Wemustgettowindward,"saidCortlandt。"Ialreadyfeelfaint,andbelievethosedragonscouldkillamanbybreathingonhim。"

Accordingly,theyskirtedaroundthegrove,andhavingmadeaquartercircle——fortheydidnotwishthedragonstowindthem——againdrewnearer。Treeaftertreewaspassed,andfinallytheysawanopenspacetwelveorfifteenacresinareaatthecentreofthegrove,whentheywerearrestedbyacurioussoundofmunching。Peeringamongthetrunksofthehugetrees,theyadvancedcautiously,butstoppedaghast。Intheopeningwereatleastahundreddragonsdevouringthetoadstoolswithwhichthegroundwascovered。Manyofthemwerethirtytofortyfeetlong,withhugeandterriblylong,sharpclaws,andjawsarmedwithgleamingbatteriesofteeth。Thoughtheyhadevidentlylungs,andtheclawsandmouthofananimal,theyremindedtheobserversinmanyrespectsofinsectsenormouslyexaggerated,fortheirwings,composedofasortoftransparentscale,weresmall,andmoved,astheyhadalreadyseen,atfargreaterspeedthanthoseofabird。Theirprojectingeyeswerealsosetrigidlyintheirheadsinsteadofturning,andconsistedofanumberofflatsurfacesorfacets,likeafly"seye,sothattheycouldseebackwardandallaround,eachfacetseeinganythingtheraysfromwhichcameatrightanglestoitssurface。Thisbeautifulgrovewasdoubtlesstheirfeeding—ground,and,assuch,waslikelytobevisitedbymanymore。Concludingitwouldbewisetolettheirwoundedgameescape,thethreemenwereabouttoretreat,havingfounditdifficulttobreathetheairevenatthatdistancefromthemonsters,whenthewoundeddragonthattheyhadobservedmovingaboutinaveryrestlessmanner,andevidentlysufferingagooddealfromtheeffectofitswounds,espiedthem,and,witharoarthatmadetheechoesring,startedtowardsthemslowlyalongtheground,followedbytheentireherd,thenearerofwhichnowalsosawthem。Seeingthattheirliveswereindanger,thehuntersquicklyregainedtheopen,andthenstretchedtheirlegsagainstthewind。Thedragonscamethroughthetreesontheground,andthen,raisingthemselvesbytheirwings,thewholeswarm,snorting,anddarkeningtheairwiththeirdeadlybreath,madestraightforthemen,whobycomparisonlookedlikeLilliputians。WiththeslugfromhisrightbarrelBearwardenendedthewoundeddragon"scareerbyshootinghimthroughthehead,andwithhisleftlaidlowtheonefollowing。Ayraultalsokilledtwohugemonsters,andCortlandtkilledoneandwoundedanother。Theirsupplyofpreparedcartridgeswasthenexhausted,andtheyfellbackontheirrevolversandineffectivespreadingshot。Resolvedtoselltheirlivesdearly,theyretreated,keepingtheirbackstothewind,withthepoisonousdragonsinfront。Butthebreezewasveryslight,andtheywerebeingrapidlyblindedandasphyxiatedbytheloathsomefumes,anddeafenedbythehideousroaringandsnappingofthedragons"

jaws。Realizingthattheycouldnotmuchlongerreplytothediabolicalhostwithlead,theybelievedtheirlasthourhadcome,whenthegroundonwhichtheyweremakingtheirlaststandshook,therewasarendingofrocksandarushofimprisonedsteamthatdrownedeventhedragons"roar,andtheywereseparatedfromthembyalongfissureandawallofsmokeandvapour。Strugglingbackfromtheedgeofthechasm,theyfellupontheground,andthenforthefirsttimefullyrealizedthattheearthquakehadsavedthem,forthedragonscouldnotcomeacrosstheopening,andwouldnotventuretoflythroughthesmokeandsteam。Whentheyrecoveredsomewhatfromtheshock,theycutanumberofcartridgesinthesamewaythattheyhadpreparedthosethathaddonethemsuchgoodservice,andkeptonebarrelofeachgunloadedwiththatkind。

"WemaythankProvidence,"saidBearwarden,"forthatescape。I

hopeweshallhavenomoresuchclosecalls。"

Withapartingglanceatthechasmthathadsavedtheirlives,andfromwhichacloudstillarose,theyturnedslightlytotherightoftheirformercourseandclimbedthegentlyrisingbank。

Whennearthetop,beingtiredoftheirexcitingexperiences,theysatdowntorest。Thegroundallaboutthemwascoveredwithmushrooms,whiteontopandpinkunderneath。

"Thisisawonderfulplaceforfungi,"saidAyrault。"Here,doubtless,weshallbesafefromthedragons,fortheyseemedtopreferthetoadstools。"Ashelayonthegroundhewatchedoneparticularmushroomthatseemedtogrowbeforehiseyes。

Suddenly,ashelooked,itvanished。Dumfoundedatthisunmistakablemanifestationofthephenomenontheythoughttheyhadseenonlanding,hecalledhiscompanions,and,choosinganothermushroom,thethreewatcheditclosely。Presently,withouttheleastnoiseorcommotion,thatalsodisappeared,leavingnotrace,andthesamefatebefellanumberofothers。

Atacertainpointoftheirdevelopmenttheyvanishedascompletelyasabubbleofaircomingtothesurfaceofwater,exceptthattheycausednoripple,leavingmerelyasmalldepressionwheretheyhadstood。

"Well,"saidBearwarden,"inallmytravelsIneverhaveseenanythinglikethis。IfIwereatasleight—of—handperformance,andtheprestidigitateur,afterdoingthat,askedformytheory,Ishouldsay,"Igiveitup。"Howisitwithyou,doctor？"heasked,addressingCortlandt。

"Theremustbeanexplanation,"repliedCortlandt,"onlywedonotknowthenaturallawtowhichthephenomenonissubject,havinghadnoexperiencewithitonearth。Weknowthatallsubstancescanbeconvertedintogases,andthatallgasescanbereducedtoliquids,andevensolids,bytheapplicationofpressureandcold。Ifthereisanywaybywhichthevisiblesubstanceofthesefungicanbeconvertedintoitsinvisiblegases,aswaterintooxygenandhydrogen,whatwehaveseencanbelogicallyexplained。Perhaps,favouredbysomeaffinityoftheatmosphere,itsconstituentpartsarebrokenupandbecomegasesatthisbarometricpressureandtemperature。Wemustaskthespirit,ifhevisitsusagain。"

"Iwishhewould,"saidAyrault;"therearelotsofthingsI

shouldliketoaskhim。"

"Presidentsofcorporationsandotherchairmen,"saidBearwarden,"arenotusuallysuperstitious,andI,ofcourse,takenostockinthesupernatural;butsomehowIhaveawell—formedideathatourfriendthebishop,withthegreatpowerofhismindovermatter,hadahandinthatearthquake。Heseemstohaveanexaltedideaofourimportance,andmaybeexertinghimselftomakethingspleasant。"

Atthispointthesunsankbelowthehorizon,andtheyfoundthemselvesconfrontedwithnight。

"Dear,dear！"saidBearwarden,"andwehaven"tacrumbtoeat。

I"llstandthedrinksandthepipes,"hecontinued,passingaroundhisubiquitousflaskandtobacco—pouch。

"IfIplayedsuchprankswithmyinterioronearth,"saidCortlandt,helpinghimselftoboth,"asIdoonthisplanet,itwouldgivemenoendoftrouble,buthereIseemtohavethedigestionofanostrich。"

Sotheysatandsmokedforanhour,tillthestarstwinkledandtheringsshoneintheirglory。

"Well,"saidAyrault,finally,"sincewehavenothingbutmotionstolayonthetable,Imoveweadjourn。"

"TheonlymotionIshallmake,"saidCortlandt,whowasalreadyundressed,"willbethatofgettingintobed,"sayingwhich,herolledhimselfinhisblanketandsoonwasfastasleep。

Havingdecidedthat,onaccountoftheproximityofthedragons,amanmustinanyeventbeonthewatch,theydidnotsettheprotection—wires。Fromtheshortnessofthenights,theydividedthemintoonlytwowatchesoffromtwohourstotwoandahalfeach,sothat,evenwhenconstantwatchdutywasnecessary,eachmanhadonefullnight"ssleepinthree。OnthisoccasionAyraultandCortlandtwerethewatchers,CortlandthavingthemorningandAyraulttheeveningwatch。Manycuriousquadrupedbirds,aboutthesizeoflargebears,andsimilarinshape,havingbear—shapedheads,andseveralcreaturesthatlookedlikethedragons,flewabouttheminthemoonlight;butneitherwatcherfiredashot,asthecreaturesshowednodesiretomakeanattack。Allthesespeciesseemedtobelongtotheowlorbattribe,fortheyroamedabroadatnight。

CHAPTERV。

AYRAULT"SVISION。

WhenAyrault"swatchwasended,herousedCortlandt,whotookhisplace,andfeelingadesireforsolitudeandforalastlonglookattheearth,hecrossedthetopoftheridgeontheslopeofwhichtheyhadcamped,andlaydownonthefartherside。TheSouthwindintheupperairrushedalonginthemightywhirl,occasionallycarryingfilmycloudsacrossthefacesofthemoons;

butaboutAyraultallwasstill,andhefeltaquietandserenerepose。Hehadeveryintentionofremainingawake,andwasponderingonthesteadfastnessofthehumanheartandtheconstancyoflove,whenhismeditationsbegantowander,and,withhislastthoughtsonSylvia,hefellasleep。Notabranchmoved,nordidaleaffall,yetbeforeAyrault"s,sleepingeyesastrangescenewasenacted。Afigureinwhitecamenearandstoodbeforehim,andherecognizedinitoneVioletSlade,averyattractivegirltowhomhehadbeenattentiveinhiscollegedays。Shewasatthattimejusteighteen,andpeoplebelievedthatshelovedhim,butforsomereason,heknewnotwhy,hehadnotproposed。

"Ithoughtyouhaddied,"hesaid,asshegazedathim,"butyouarenowlookingbetterthanever。"

"Fromtheworld"spointofviewIAMdead,"shereplied。"Idiedandwasburied。ItisthereforepermissiblethatIshouldshowyouthetruth。YouneverbelievedIlovedyou。Ihavewishedearnestlytoseeyou,andtohaveyouknowthatIdid。"

"Ididyouaninjustice,"Ayraultanswered,perceivingallthatwasinherheart。"Couldmortalsbutseeasspiritsdo,therewouldbenomisunderstandings。"

"Iamsogladtoseeyou,"shecontinued,"andtoknowyouarewell。Hadyounotcomehere,wecouldprobablynothavemetuntilafteryourdeath;forIshallnotbesufficientlyadvancedtoreturntoearthforalongtime,thoughmygreatestsolacewhiletherewasmyreligion,whichisallthatbroughtmehere。

We,however,knowthatasourcapacityfortruehappinessincreasesweshallbehappier,andthataftertheresurrectiontherewillbenomoretears。Farewell,"shewhispered,whilehereyeswerefilledwithlove。

Ayrault"ssleepwasthenundisturbedforsometime,whensuddenlyanangel,wreathedinlight,appearedbeforehimandspokethesewords:"HethatwalkedwithAdamandtalkedwithMoseshassentmetoguardyouwhileyousleep。Noplagueorfever,wildbeastorearthquake,canmolestyou,foryouareequallyprotectedfromthemostpowerfulmonsterandthemostinsidiousdisease—germ。

"Blessedisthemanwhoseoffencesarecoveredandwhosesinsareforgiven。"Sleepon,therefore,andberefreshed,forthebodymusthaverest。"

"Amanmayrestindeed,"repliedAyrault,"whenhehasaguardianangel。IhadthemostunboundedfaithinyourexistencebeforeI

sawyou,andbelieveandknowthatyouorothershaveoftenshieldedmefromdangerandsavedmylife。WhyamIworthyofsomuchcare？"

""WhosodwellethunderthedefenceoftheMostHighshallabideundertheshadowoftheAlmighty,""answeredtheangel,andthereuponhebecameinvisible,adiffusedlighttakinghisplace。

Shortlyafterwardsthispaledandcompletelyvanished。

"NotonlyamIinparadise,"thoughtAyrault;"IbelieveIamalsointheseventhheaven。WouldImighthearsuchwordsagain！"

Agroupofliliesthenappearedbeforethesleeper"seyes。Inthemidstwasonelilyfarlargerthantherest,andofadazzlingwhite。Thisspokeinagentlevoice,butwiththetonesofatrombone:

"Thythoughtsandactsareapleasuretome。Thouhastraisednoidolswithinthyheart,andthyfaithisasincensebeforeme。

ThynameisnowintheBookofLife。Continueasthouhastbegun,andthoushaltliveandreignforever。"

Hereupontheearthshook,andAyraultwasawakened。Greatboulderswererollingandcrashingdowntheslopeabouthim,whilethedawnwasalreadyintheeast。

"MymortaleyesandsensesarekeenerherewhileIsleepthanwhenIwake,"hethought,ashelookedabouthim,"forspirits,unabletoaffectmewhilewaking,havemadethemselvesfeltinmymoresensitivestatewhileIwasasleep。Nevertheless,thisisnoneotherbutthehouseofGod,andthisisthegateofheaven。

"TheboulderswerestillinmotionwhenIopenedmyeyes,"hemused;"canitbethatthereishereaboutssuchaflowerasinmydreamsIseemedtosee？"andlookingbeyondwherehisheadhadlain,hebeheldtheidenticallilysurroundedbythegroupthathisclosedeyeshadalreadyseen。Thereuponheuncoveredhisheadanddepartedquickly。Crossingthedivide,hedescendedtocamp,wherehefoundCortlandtindeepthought。

"Icannotgetoverthedreams,"saidthedoctor,"Ihadinthefirstpartofthenight。Notwithstandingyesterday"sexcitementandfatigue,mysleepwasmostdisturbed,andIwasvisitedbyvisionsofmywife,whodiedlongago。Shewarnedmeagainstskepticism,andseemedmuchdistressedatmypresentspiritualstate。"

"I,"saidBearwarden,whohadbeenoutearly,andhadsucceededinbringinginhalfadozenbirds,"wassodisturbedIcouldnotsleep。ItseemedtomeasthoughhalfthemenIhaveeverknowncameandwarnedmeagainstagnosticismandmymaterialistictendencies。Theykeptrepeating,"Youarelosingtherealityfortheshadow。""

"Iamconvinced,"saidAyrault,"thattheywerenotaltogetherdreams,or,ifdreamsindeed,thattheyweresuperinducedbyahigherwill。Weknowthatangelshaveoftenappearedtomeninthepast。Mayitnotbethat,asourappreciativenessincreases,thesecommunicationswillrecur？"Thereuponherelatedhisownexperiences。

"Thethingthatsurprisedme,"saidCortlandt,astheyfinishedbreakfast,"wastheextraordinaryrealismofthescene。Wemustseeifourvisionsreturnonanythingbutanemptystomach。"

CHAPTERVI。

AGREATVOIDANDAGREATLONGING。

Resumingtheirmarch,thetravellersproceededalongthecircumferenceofacirclehavingaradiusofaboutthreemiles,withtheCallistointhecentre。Incrossingsoftplacestheyobservedfoot—printsformingintheearthallaroundthem。Theimpressionswereofallsizes,andceasedwhentheyreachedrisingorhardground,onlytoreappearintheswamps,regulatingtheirspeedbythatofthetravellers。Thethreemenweregreatlysurprisedatthis。

"Youmayobserve,"saidCortlandt,"thatthesurfaceoftheimpressionisdepressedasyouwatchit,asthoughbyaweight,andyoucansee,andevenhear,thewaterbeingsqueezedout,thoughwhateverisdoingitisentirelyinvisible。Theymustbemadebyspiritssufficientlyadvancedtohaveweight,butnotadvancedenoughtomakethemselvesvisible。"

Movedbyaspeciesofvandalism,Bearwardenraisedhistwelve—bore,andfiredanordinarycartridgethathehadnotpreparedforthedragons,atthespacedirectlyoverthenearestformingprints。Therewasabrilliantdisplayofprismaticcolours,asinarainbow,andthoughtheimpressionsalreadymaderemained,nonewoneswereformed。

"Nowyouhavedoneit！"saidCortlandt。"Ihopedtobeabletoinvestigatethisfurther。"

"Weshalldoubtlessseeotherandperhapsmorewonderfulthings,"

repliedBearwarden。"Imustsaythisgivesmeanuncannyfeeling。"

Whentheyhadcompletedalittleoverhalftheircircle,theycameuponanotherofthegroveswithwhichSaturnseemedtoabound,attheedgeofwhich,inaside—hill,wasacave,theentranceofwhichwascomposedofrockymassesthathadapparentlyfallentogether,thefloorbeingbutlittlehigherthanthesurfaceoutside。Thearchedroofofthevestibulewasrenderedwatertightbythesoilthathadformeduponit,whichagainwasovergrownbyvinesandbushes。

"This,"saidBearwarden,"willbeagoodplacetocamp,forthecavewillprotectusfromdragons,unlesstheyshouldtakeanotiontobreatheatusfromtheoutside,anditwillkeepusdryincaseofrain。To—morrowwecanstartwiththisasacentre,andmakeanothercircuit。"

"WecanexploreSaturnonfoot,"saidCortlandt,"andfarmorethoroughlythanJupiter,onaccountofitscomparativefreedomfrommonsters。Noteventhedragonscantroubleus,unlesswemeettheminlargenumbers。"

Thereupontheysetaboutgettingfuelfortheirfire。Besidescollectingsomeofthedeadwoodthatwaslyingallabout,theysplitupanumberofresinouspineandfirtreeswithexplosivebulletsfromtheirrevolvers,sothatsoontheynotonlyhadaroaringfire,butfilledthebackpartofthecavewithlogstodry,incasetheyshouldcampthereagainatsomelaterday。

NeitherCortlandtnorBearwardenfeltmuchlikesleeping,andso,afterfinishingthebirdsthepresidenthadbroughtdownthatmorning,theypersuadedAyraulttositupandsmokewiththem。

Wrappingthemselvesintheirblankets——fortherewasachillintheair——theysataboutthecamp—firetheyhadbuiltinthemouthofthecave。Twomoonsthatwereatthefullroserapidlyintheclear,coldsky。Onaccountoftheirdistancefromthesun,theywerelessbrightthantheterrestrialmoon,buttheyshonewithamarvellouslypurepalelight。Thelargercontainedtheexactfeaturesofaman。Therewasthesomewhataquilinenose,aclear—cutandexpressivemouth,andlarge,handsomeeyes,whichwereshadedbywell—markedeyebrows。Thewholefacewasverystriking,butwasapersonificationofthemostintensegrief。

Theexpressionwasindeedsadderthanthatofanyfacetheyhadeverseen。Theothercontainedtheprofileofasurpassinglybeautifulyoungwoman。Thehandsomeeyes,shadedbylashes,lookedstraightahead。Thenosewasperfect,andtheearsmall,whilethehairwasartisticallyarrangedatthetopandbackofthehead。Thismoonalsoreflectedapurewhiteray。Theformerappearedaboutonceandaquarter,thelatterbutthreequarters,thesizeoftheterrestrialmoon,andthetravellersimmediatelyrecognizedthembytheirsizesandrelativepositionsasTethysandDione,discoveredbyJ。D。CassiniinMarch,1684。Thesadfacewasturnedslightlytowardsthatofitscompanion,anditlookedasifsometaleofthehumanheart,someromance,hadbeenengravedandpreservedforalltimeonthefeaturesofthesedeadbodies,astheysilentlyswungintheirorbitsforeverandanonweresidebyside。

"Inalltheages,"saidCortlandt,"thatthesemoonshavewanderedwithSaturnaboutthesun,andwiththesolarsysteminitsjourneythroughspace,theycanneverhavegazeduponthescenetheynowbehold,forwemaybeconvincedthatnomortalmanhasbeenherebefore。"

"Wemaysay,"saidAyrault,"thattheyseeinourbodiesatypeofthesourcefromwhichcomeallthespiritualbeingsthatarehere。"

"If,asthewritersofmythologysupposed,"repliedCortlandt,"inanimateobjectswereendowedwithsenses,thesemoonswoulddoubtlessbeunabletoperceivethespiritualbeingshere;forthesatellites,beingmaterial,should,tobeconsistent,haveonlythosesensespossessedbyourselves,sothattothemthisplanetwouldordinarilyappeardeserted。"

"Ishallbeglad,"saidBearwarden,gloomily,"whenthosemoonswaneandaresucceededbytheirfellows,foronewouldgivemeanattackoftheblues,whiletheotherwouldsubjectmetotheinconvenienceoffallinginlove。"

Ashespoke,theupperbranchesofthetreesinthegrovebegantoswayasacoldgustfromthenorthsighedamongthem。"Losenomoreopportunities,"itseemedtocry,"forlifeisshortanduncertain。SoonyouwillallbecolderthanI,andyourfuture,stillaseasilymouldedasclay,willbesetasMarpesianmarble,morefixedthanthehardestrock。"

"Paradise,"saidCortlandt,"containssightsandsoundsthatmight,Ishouldthink,arousesadreminiscenceswithouttheaidofthewatersofLethe,unlessthejoyofitssoulsintheirnewresourcesandthesenseofforgivenessoutweighallelse。"

Withapartinglookattherefined,silverymoon,anditssorrow—ladencompanion,theyretiredtotheshelteringcave,piledupthefire,andtalkedonforanhour。

"Idonotseehowitis,"saidBearwarden,"thatthesemoons,consideringtheirdistancefromthesun,andtheconsequentlysmallamountoflighttheyreceive,aresobright。"

"Abody"sbrightnessinreflectinglight,"repliedCortlandt,"dependsasmuchonthecolourandcompositionofitsownsurfaceasontheamountitreceives。Itisconceivablethatthesemoons,ifplacedattheearth"sdistancefromthesun,wouldbefarbrighterthanourmoon,andthatourfamiliarsatellite,ifremovedtoSaturn,wouldseemverydim。Weknowhowmuchmorebrilliantamountaininthesunlightiswhencladinsnowthanwhenitssidesarebare。Thesemoonsevidentlyreflectalargeproportionofthelighttheyreceive。"

Whentheycameoutshortlyaftermidnightthegirl"s—facemoonhadalreadyset,leavingadarkanddrearyvoidinthepartoftheskyithadsoideallyfilled。Theinexpressiblysadsatellite（onaccountofitsshorterdistanceandmorerapidrateofrevolution）wasstillabovethehorizon,and,beingslightlytilted,hadamoremelancholy,heart—brokenlookthanbefore。

WhiletheygazedsadlyattheemptinessleftbyDione,CortlandtsawAyrault"sexpressionchange,and,notclearlyperceivingitscause,said,wishingtocheerhim:"Nevermind,Dick;to—morrownightweshallseeitagain。"

"Ah,prosaicreasoner,"retortedBearwarden,whosawthatthis,likesomanyotherthings,hadremindedAyraultofSylvia,"thatisbutsmallconsolationforhavinglostitnow,thoughIsupposeourlotisnotsohardasifwewerenevertoseeitagain。Inthatmoon"sfaceIfindtherealizationofmyfanciedidealwoman;whilethatsadoneyonderseemsasthoughsomecelestiallover,insearchofhisfate,hadbecomeenamouredofher,andtriedinvaintowinher,andthegriefinhismindhadimpresseditselfonthethenmoltenfaceofasatellitetobethemonumentthroughouteternityofloveandabrokenheart。Ifthespiritsandsoulsofthedepartedhaveanycommandofmatter,whymaynottheirintensestthoughtsengravethemselvesonamoonthat,whendeadandfrozen,mayreflectandshineastheydid,whileimmersedinthedepthsofspace？AtfirstDioneboredme;nowI

shouldgreatlyliketoseeheragain。"

"Historyrepeatsitself,"repliedCortlandt,"andthesamephasesofliferecur。Itiswethatareinachangedreceptivemood。

Thechangethatseemstobeinthemisinrealityinus。Remainasyouarenow,andDionewillgiveyouthesamepleasuretomorrowthatshegaveto—day。"

ToAyraultthismeantmorethanthemeresettingtoriseagainofaheavenlybody。Theperfumeofaflower,thesighingofthewind,suggestingsomeharmonyorsong,afullorcrescentmoon,recalledthoughtsandassociationsofSylvia。Everythingseemedtobringoutmemory,andherealizedtheutterinabilityofabsencetocuretheheartoflove。"IfSylviashouldpassfrommylifeasthatmoonhasleftmyvision,"histhoughtscontinued,"existencewouldbebutsadnessandmemorywouldbeitscause,forthemostbeautifulsoundsentailsorrow;themostbeautifulsights,intensepain。"Ah,"hewentonwithatraceofbitterness,whilehisfriendsfellasleepinthecave,"Imightbetterhaveremainedinlovewithscience;forwhosestudiesNature,whichisbutaformofGod,intherightspirit,isnotdependentforhisjoyordespaironthewhimsofagirl。She,ofcourse,seesmanyothers,and,beingonlytwenty,mayforgetme。

MustIcontentmyselfwithphilosophicalrulesandmathematicalformulae,whenshe,whosechangefulnessImayfindgreaterthanthewindsthatsighoverme,nowlovesmenolonger？Olove,whichmakesusmiserablewhenwefeelit,andmoremiserablestillwhenitisgone！"

Hestrunganumberofcopperwiresatdifferentdegreesoftensionbetweentwotrees,andlistenedtothewindasitrangedupanddownonthisimprovisedAEolianharp。Itgraduallyranintoaregularrefrain,whichbecamemoreandmorelikewords。

Ayraultwaspuzzled,andthenamazed。Therecouldbenodoubtaboutit。"Youshouldbehappy,"itkeptrepeating——"youshouldbehappy,"insoftmusicaltones。

"IknowIshould,"repliedAyrault,finallyrecognizingthevoiceofVioletSladeinthesongofthewind,"andIcannotunderstandwhyIamnot。Tellme,isthisparadise,Violet,orisitnotratherpurgatory？"

Thenotesrangedupanddownagain,andheperceivedthatshewascausingthewindtoblowasshedesired——inotherwords,shewasmakingitplayuponhisharp。

"Thatdependsontheindividual,"shereplied。"Itisrathersheol,theplaceofdepartedspirits。Thosewhoseconsciencesmadethemhappyonearthareinparadisehere;whilethosegoodenoughtoreachheavenatlast,butinwhomsomedrossremains,arefurtherrefinedinspirit,andtothemitispurgatory。

Thosewhoareinlovecanbehappyinbutonewaywhiletheirlovelasts。WhatIShappiness,anyway？"

"Itisthestateinwhichdesiresaresatisfied,myfairViolet,"

answeredAyrault。

"Say,rather,thestateinwhichdesirecoincideswithduty,"

repliedthesong。"Self—sacrificeforothersgivesthetruestjoy;beingwiththeobjectofone"slove,thenext。YouneverbelievedthatIlovedyou。Idissembledwell;butyouwillseeforyourselfsomeday,asclearlyasIseeyourloveforanothernow。"

"Yes,"repliedAyrault,sadly,"Iaminlove。Ihavenoreasontobelievethereiscauseformyunrest,and,consideringeverything,Ishouldbehappyasmancanbe;yet,mirabiledictu,Iamin——hades,intheverydepths！"

"Yourbelovedisbeyondmyvision;yourheartisallIcansee。

YetIamconvincedshewillnotforgetyou。Iamsureshelovesyoustill。"

"Ihavealwaysbelievedinhomoeopathytotheextentofthesimiliasimilibuscurantur,Violet,anditiscertainthatwherenothingelsewillcureamanofloveforonewoman,hisloveforanotherwill。YoucanseehowIloveSylvia,butyouhaveneverseemedsosweettomeasto—day。"

"Itisasacrilege,myfriend,tospeaksotomenow。Youaredonewithmeforever。Iambutadisembodiedspirit,andescapedhadesbythegraceoftheOmnipotent,ratherthanbyvirtueofanygoodIdidonearth。Sofarasanyelasticityisleftinmyopportunities,Iamdeadasyonmoon。Youhavestillthegiftthatbutonecangive。Withinyouranimalbodyyouholdanimmortalsoul。Itispliableaswax;youcanmoulditbyyourwill。Asyoushapethatsoul,sowillyourfuturebe。Itisthearkthatcantraversetheflood。Raiseit,anditwillraiseyou。Itisallthereisinyourself。Preservethatgift,andwhenyoudieyouwill,Ihope,startonaplanemanythousandsofyearsinadvanceofme。Thereshouldbenomorecomparisonbetweenusthanbetweenapersonwithallhissensesandonethatisdeafandblind。Thoughyouarealayman,youshould,withyourfaithandframeofmind,soonbebutlittlebehindourspiritualbishop。"

"Isupposedafterdeathamanhadrest。Ishe,then,abishopstill？"

"Theprogress,ashetoldyou,islargelyontheoldlines。Ashestirredmen"sheartsonearth,hewillstirtheirsoulsinheaven;andthisisnoirksomeorunwelcomework。"

"YousayheWILLdothisinheaven。Ishe,then,notthereyet？"

"Hewasnotfarfromheavenonearth,yettechnicallynoneofuscanbeinheaventillafterthegeneralresurrection。Then,asweknewonearth,weshallreceivebodies,though,asyet,concerningtheirexactnatureweknowbutlittlemorethanthen。

Weareallinsheol——thejustinpurgatoryandparadise,theunjustinhell。"

"Sinceyouarestillinpurgatory,areyouunhappy？"

"No,ourstateisveryhappy。Allphysicalpainispast,andcanneverbefeltagain。Weknowthatourevildesiresareovercome,andthattheirimprintsarebeinggraduallyerased。I

occasionallyshedanintangibletear,yetformostofthosewhostrovetoobeytheirconsciences,purgatory,whenessential,thoughoccasionallygivingusabittertwinge,isajoy—producingstate。Notallthegloriesimaginableorunimaginablecouldmakeushappy,wereourconsciencesillatease。Ihaveadvancedslowly,yetsomethingsaregivenusatonce。AfterIrealizedI

hadirrevocablylostyourlove,thoughforatimeIhadhopedtoregainit,Ibecameveryrestless;earthseemedaprison,andI

lookedforwardtodeathasmydeliverer。Iboreyounomalice;

youhadneverespeciallytriedtowinme;theinfatuation——thatofagirlofeighteen——hadbeenallonmyside。Ilivedfivesadandlonelyyears,although,asyouknow,Ihadmuchattention。

Peoplethoughtmecoldandheartless。HowcouldIhaveaheart,havingfailedtowinyours,andminebeingbroken？HavinglosttheonlymanIloved,Iknewnooneelsecouldreplacehim,andI

wasnotthekindtomarryforpique。Peoplethoughtmehandsome,butIfeltmyselfagedwhenyouceasedtocall。Perhapswhenyouandshewhoholdsallyourlovecometosheol,shemayspareyoutomealittle,forasaspiritmyeverythoughtisknown;orperhapsaftertheresurrection,whenI,too,canleavethisplanet,weshallallsoarthroughspacetogether,andwecanstudythestarsasofold。"

"Yourvoiceisasymphony,sweetestViolet,andIlovetohearyourwords。Ah,wouldyoucouldoncemorereturntoearth,orthatIwereanetherealspirit,thatwemightcommunefacetoface！IwouldfollowyoufromoneendofShadowlandtotheother。Ofwhatuseislifetome,withdistractionsthatdrawmythoughtstoearthasgravitationdrewmybody？IwishIwereashade。"