第13章

"Youaretalkingforeffect,Dick——whichisuselesshere,forI

seehowutterlyyouareinlove。"

"IAMinlove,Violet;andthough,asIsaid,IhavenoreasontodoubtSylvia"ssteadfastnessandconstancy,Iamveryunhappy。I

havealwaysheardthattimeisabalsamthatcuresallills,yetIbecomemorewretchedeveryday。"

"Doallyoucantopreservethatlove,anditwillbringyoujoyallyourlife。Yourhappinessismyhappiness。Whatdistressesyou,distressesme。"

Thetonesheregrewfainterandseemedabouttocease。

"Beforeyouleaveme,"criedAyrault,"tellmehowandwhenImayseeorhearyouagain。"

"Whileyouremainonthisplanet,Ishallbenear;butbeyondSaturnIcannotgo。"

"Yettellme,Violet,howImayseeyou？Myloveunattained,youperceive,makesmewretched,whileyoualwaysgavemecalmandpeace。IfImaynotkissthehandIalmostaskedmightbemine,letmehavebutaglancefromyoursweeteyes,whichwillcomfortmesomuchnow。"

"Ifyoubreaktheiceinthepoolbehindyou,youshallseemetilltheframemelts。"

Afterthisthesilencewasbrokenonlybythesighingofthewindinthetrees。Thepoolhadsuddenlybecomecoveredwithiceseveralinchesthick。Takinganaxe,Ayraulthewedoutaparallelogramaboutthreefeetbyfourandsetitonendagainstthebank。Thecoldgreyofmorningwasalreadycolouringtheeast,andinthegrowinglightAyraultbeheldavisionofVioletwithintheice。Thefacewasataboutthreefourths,andhadacontemplativeair。Thehairwasarrangedashehadformerlyseenit,andthethoughtfullookwasstrongestinthebeautifulgreyeyes,whichweremoreseriousthanofyore。Ayraultstoodrivetedtothespotandgazed。"Icouldhavebeenhappywithher,"hemused,andtothinksheisnomore！"

Asdropsfellfromtheice,tearsrosetohiseyes……

"Whataprettygirl！"saidBearwardentoCortlandt,astheycameuponitlaterintheday。"Thefaceseemsetchedorimprintedbysomepeculiarformoffreezingfarwithintheice。"

Thenextmorningtheyagainsetout,andsotramped,hunted,andinvestigatedwithvaryingsuccessfortenSaturniandays。TheyfoundthatintheanimalandplantformsoflifeNaturehadoften,bysomeseemingaccident,struckoutinacourseverydifferentfromanyontheearth。Manyoftheanimalswerebipedsandtripeds,thelatterarrangedintandem,thelastlegbeingevidentlyanenormouslydevelopedtail,bywhichthecreaturepropelleditselfaswithaspring。Thequadrupedshadalsosometimeswings,andtheirboneswerehollow,likethoseofbirds。Whetherthisgreatmotiveandliftingpowerwastheresultoftheplanet"ssizeandthepowerofgravitation,orwhethersomecreatureshadinadditionthepowerofdevelopingadegreeofapergeticrepulsiontooffsetit,astheysuspectedinthecaseoftheboa—constrictorthatfelluponCortlandtonJupiter,theycouldnotabsolutelyascertain。LifewasfarlessprolificonSaturnthanonJupiter,doubtlessasaresultofitsgreaterdistancefromthesun,andofitsextremesofclimate,almostallorganiclifebeingdriventothelatitudesneartheequator。Therewere,asonJupiter,manyvariationsfromtheformsoflifetowhichtheywereaccustomed,andadaptationstotheconditionsinwhichtheyfoundthemselves;but,withtheexceptionofthestrangemanifestationsofspiritlife,theyfoundtheworkingsofthefundamentallawsthesame。Oftenwhentheywokeatnighttheairwasluminous,andtheywereconvincedthatiftheyremainedtherelongenoughitwouldbeeasytodevisesometelegraphiccodeoflight—flashesbywhichtheycouldcommunicatewiththespiritworld,andsogetideasfromthehostofspiritsthathadalreadysolvedtheproblemoflifeanddeath,butwhowerenotasyetsufficientlydevelopedtobeabletoreturntotheearth。Onedaytheystoppedtoinvestigatewhattheyhadsupposedtobeanopticalillusion。Theyobservedthatleavesandotherlightsubstancesfloatedseveralinchesabovethesurfaceofthewaterinthepools。Oncomingtotheedgeandmakingtests,theyfoundalightliquid,asinvisibleasair,superimposeduponthewater,withsufficientbuoyancytosustaindrywoodandalsosomeformsoflife。Theyalsoobservedthatinsectscomingclosetothesurfaceandapparentlyinhalingit,rapidlyincreasedinsizeandweight,fromwhichtheyconcludeditmustthrowoffnitrogen,carbon,orsomeothernourishmentintheformofgas。Thedepthuponthewaterwasunaffectedbyrain,whichpassedthroughit,butdependedratherontheconditionoftheatmosphere,fromwhichitwasevidentlycondensed。Thereseemedalsotobearelationbetweentheamountofthisliquidandtheactivityofthespirits。Finally,whentheirammunitionshowedsignsofrunninglow,theydecidedtoreturntotheCallisto,goinittotheothersideoftheplanet,andresumetheirinvestigationsthere。Accordingly,theysetouttoretracetheirsteps,returningbyacourseafewmilestoonesideofthewaytheyhadcome,andmakingthecavetheirobjectivepoint。Arrivingthereoneeveningaboutsunset,theypitchedtheircamp。Thecavewasshelteredandcomfortable,andtheymadepreparationforpassingthenight。

"Ishallbesorry,"saidAyrault,astheysatneartheirfire,"toleavethisplacewithoutagainseeingthebishop。Hesaidwecouldimpresshimanywhere,butitmaybemoredifficulttodothatattheantipodesthanhere。"

"Itdoesseem,"saidBearwarden,"asthoughweshouldbemissingitinnotseeinghimagain,ifthatispossible。Nothingbutapoison—stormbroughthimthefirsttime,anditisnotcertainthateveninsuchanemergencywouldhecomeagainuncalled。"

"Ithink,"saidAyrault,"asnoneofthespiritsherearemalevolent,theywouldwarnusofdangeriftheycould。Thebishop"sspiritseemstohavebeentheonlyonewithsufficientlydevelopedpowertoreappearasaman。Ithereforesuggestthatto—morrowwetrytomakehimfeelourthoughtandbringhimtous。"

CHAPTERVII。

THESPIRIT"SSECONDVISIT。

Accordingly,thenextmorningtheyconcentratedtheirmindssimultaneouslyonthespirit,wishingwithalltheirstrengththatheshouldreappear。

"Whetherhebefarornear,"saidAyrault,"hemustfeelthat,forweareusingtheentireforceofourminds。"

Shadowsbegantoform,anddancingprismaticcoloursappeared,butasyettherewasnosignofthedeceasedbishop,whensuddenlyhetookshapeamongthem,hisappearanceanddisappearancebeingmuchlikethatofstereopticonviewsonthesheetbeforealantern。Heheldhimselferect,andhisthoughtful,dignifiedfacehadthesamecalmexpressionithadwornbefore。

"Weattractedyourattention,"saidAyrault,"inthewayyousaidwemight,becausewelongedsotoseeyou。"

"Yes,"addedBearwardenandCortlandt,"wefeltweMUSTseeyouagain。"

"Iamalwaysatyourservice,"repliedthespirit,"andwillansweryourquestions。Withregardtomyvisibilityandinvisibility"——hecontinued,withasmile,"forIwillnotwaitforyoutoasktheexplanationofwhatisinyourminds——itisverysimple。Aman"ssoulcanneverdie;amanifestationofthesoulisthespirit;thishasentity,consciousness,andwill,andthesealsoliveforever。Asinthenaturalormateriallife,asIshallcallit,willaffectsthematerialfirst。Thus,achildhaspowertomoveitshandoramaterialobject,asatoy,beforeitcanbecomethemediuminapsychologicalseance。Soitishere。Beforebecomingvisibletoyoureyes,I,bymywill,drawcertainmaterialsubstancesintheformofgasesfromtheground,water,orairaroundme。ThesetakeanyshapeIwish——notnecessarilythatofman,thoughitismorenaturaltoappearaswedidonearth——andmayabsorbaportionoflight,andsobeabletocastashadoworbreakupthewhiteraysintoprismaticcolours,ortheymaybewhollyinvisible。Byaneffortofthewill,then,Icombineandcondensethesegases——whichconsistprincipallyofoxygen,hydrogen,nitrogen,andcarbon——intoflesh,blood,water,oranythingelse。Youhavealreadylearnedonearththat,bytheapplicationofheat,everysolidandeveryliquidsubstance,whichissolidorliquidsimplybecauseofthetemperatureatwhichyoufindit,canbeexpandedintogasorgases;andthatbycoldandpressureeverygascanbereducedtoaliquidorasolid。Onearththestateofasubstance,whethersolid,liquid,orgaseous,dependssimplyuponthosetwoconditions。Hereneitherthermalnorbarometricchangesarerequired,for,bymasteringthenewnaturallawsthatatdeathbecomepatenttooursenses,wehaveallthenecessarycontrol。

Itrequiresbutaneffortofmywilltobealmostinstantlyclothedinhumanform,andbutanotherefforttorearrangethemoleculesinsuchawayastomaketheenvelopevisible。Somewhohavebeendeadlonger,orhadagreaternaturalaptitudethanI,haveadvancedfurther,andallarelearning;butthedifferenceintherateatwhichspiritsacquirecontrolofpreviouslyunknownnaturallawsvariesfarmorethanamongindividualsonearth。

"Theseformsoforganiclifedonotdisintegratetillafterdeath;hereinthenaturalstatetheybreakdownanddissolveintotheirstructuralelementsinfullbloom,aswasdonebythefungi。Thepoisonouselementinthedeadlygust,againstwhichI

warnedyou,camefromthegaseousingredientsoftoadstools,whichbutseldom,andthenonlywhentheatmospherehasthegreatestaffinityforthem,dissolveautomatically,producingadeath—spreadingwave,againstwhichyourmeteorologicalinstrumentsinfuturecanwarnyou。Theslightfallyounoticedintemperaturewasbecausethespecificheatofthesegasesishigh,andtobecomegaswhileinthesolidstatetheyhadtowithdrawsomewarmthfromtheair。Thefatalbreathofthewingedlizards——ordragons,asyoucallthem——resultsfromthesamecause,theactionoftheirdigestionbreakingupthefungus,whichdoesnotkillthem,becausetheyexhalethepoisonouspartingaseousformwiththeirbreath。Themushroomsdissolvemoreeasily;thenaturalseparationthattakesplaceastheyreachacertainstageintheirdevelopmentbeingprecipitatedbyconcussionorshock。

"Havingseenthat,asonearth,wegaincontrolofthematerialfirst,ouracquisitivenessthenextendstoabetterunderstandingandappreciationofournewsenses,andwearecontinuallyfindingnewobjectsofbeauty,andnewbeautiesinthingswesupposedwealreadyunderstood。WewereaccustomedonearthtothemarvellousvarietythatNatureproducedfromapparentlysimplemeansandpresentedtoourverylimitedsenses;herethereisanindescribablygreatervarietytobeexaminedbyvastlykeenersenses。Thesoulsinhellhaveanequallykeenbutdistortedcounterpartofoursenses,sothattheyseeinamagnifiedformeverythingvileinthemselvesandineachother。

Totheirsensesonlytheuglyandhatefulsideisvisible,sothatthebeautyandperfumeofafloweraretothemasloathsomeastheappearanceandfumesofatoadstool。Asevolutionandthetendencyofeverythingtoperpetuateitselfandintensifyitspeculiaritiesareinvariablethroughouttheuniverse,theseunhappysoulsandourselvesseemdestinedtodivergemoreandmoreastimegoeson;andwhileweconstantlybecomehappierasourcapacityforhappinessincreases,theirsharpeningsenseswillgivethemaworseandworseideaofeachother,tilltheirmutualrepugnancewillknownobounds,andofeverythingconcerningwhichtheyobtainknowledgethroughtheirsenses。

Thusthesepoorcreaturesseemtobethevictimsofcircumstancesandtheunalterablelawsoffate,andweretheresuchathingasdeath,theirmiserywouldunquestionablyfinallybreaktheirhearts。Thattherewillbefinalforgivenessforthecondemned,haslongbeenahumanhope;butasyettheyhaveexperiencednone,andthereisnoanalogyforitinNature。

"ButwhileyouhavestillyourearthlybodiesandtheopportunitiestheygiveyouofservingGod,youneednotbeconcernedabouthell;nooneonearth,knowinghowthingsreallyare,wouldeveragainforsakeHisways。Theearthlystateisthemostpreciousopportunityofsecuringthatforwhichamanwouldgivehisall。Evenfromthemostworldlypointofview,amanisanunspeakablefoolnottoimprovehistalentsanddogood。Whatwouldthoseinsheolnotgivenowforbutonedayinthefleshonearth,ofwhichyouunappreciativesmaystillhavesomany？Thewell—usedopportunitiesofevenonehourmightbringjoytothoseinparadiseforever,andgreatlyeasethelotofthoseinhell。

Indoingactsofphilanthropy,however,youmustrememberthetextofthesermonthedoctorofdivinitypreachedtoCraninerandRidleyjustbeforetheyperishedatthestake:"ThoughI

givemybodytobeburned,andhavenotcharity,itprofitethmenothing"——whichshowsthatevengooddeedsmustbeperformedintheproperspirit。

"Aneweraissoontodawnonearth。Notwithstandingyourgreatmaterialprogress,thefuturewillexceedallthepast。Manwillfindeverysubstance"smaximumuse,therebyvastlyincreasinghiscomfort。Then,whenadvancedinscienceandreason,withthepowerofhissensesincreasedbythedelicateinstrumentsthatyou,astheforerunnersofthecomingman,arealreadylearningtomake,mayheceasetobeagroveller,likeourprogenitorsthequadrupeds,andmayhisthoughtsrisetohisCreator,whohasbroughthimtosuchheightsthroughalltheintricaciesoftheway。Yourpreparationforthelifetocomecanalsobegreatlyaidedbyintercoursewiththosewhohavealreadydied。Whenyoureallywanttoassociatespirituallywithus,youcandoso;for,thoughperhapsonlyoneinahundredmillioncan,likeme,soclothehimselfastobeagainvisibletomortaleyes,manyofuscouldaffectgelatineorextremelysensitiveplatesthatwouldshowinterruptionsintheultra—violetchemicalraysthat,likethethermalredbeyondthevisiblespectroscope,youknowexistthoughyoucanneitherseenorfeelthem。Spiritscouldnotaffectthemagneticeye,becausemagnetism,thoughimmaterialitself,isinducedandaffectedonlybyamaterialsubstance。

Theimpressionontheplate,however,liketheprismaticcoloursyouhavealreadynoticed,canbeproducedbyaslightrarefactionofthehydrogenintheair,sothat,thoughnospiritcouldbephotographedassuch,acodeandlanguagemightbeestablishedbymeansoftheeffectproducedontheairbythespirit"smind。I

amsointerestedinthesubjectofmydisquisitionthatIhadalmostforgottenthatyourspiritsarestillsubjecttotherequirementsofthebody。LasttimeIdinedwithyou;letmenowplaythehost。"

"Weshallbecharmedtodinewithyou,"saidAyrault,"andshallbeonlytoogladofanythingthatwillkeepyouwithus。"

"Then,"saidthespirit,"asthetableclothislaid,weneedonlytohavesomethingonit。Leteachpleaseholdacorner,"hecontinued,takingonehimselfwithhislefthand,whilehepassedhisrighttohisbrow。Soonflakesasofsnowbegantoformintheairabove,andslowlydescendeduponthecloth;and,glancingup,thethreemensawthatforaconsiderableheightthisprocesswasgoingon,theflakesincreasinginsizeastheyfelltilltheyattainedalengthofseveralinches。Whentherewasenoughforthemallonthetable—cloththeshowerceased。Sittingdownontheground,theybegantoeatthismanna,whichhadadeliciousflavourandmarvellouspurityandfreshness。

"Asyoudoubtlesshavealreadysuspected,"saidthespirit,"thebasisofthisineverycaseiscarbon,combinedwithnitrogeninitssolidform,andwiththeothergasestheatmosphereherecontains。Youmaynoticethattheflakesvaryincolouraswellasintaste,bothofwhichareofcoursegovernedbythegaswithwhichthecarbon,alsoinitsvisibleform,iscombined。Itisalmostthesameprocessasthatperformedbyeveryplantinwithdrawingcarbonfromtheairandstoringitinitstrunkintheformofwood,which,ascharcoal,isagainalmostpurecarbon,onlyinthiscasethemetamorphosisisfarmorerapid。

ThisisperhapsthenaturallawthatElijah,byGod"said,invokedinthemiracleofthewidow"scruse,andthatproducedthemannathatfedtheIsraelitesinthedesert;whileapergycameinplayinthecaseofthestreamthatMosescalledfromtherockinthewilderness,whichfollowedthedescendantsofAbrahamovertheroughcountrythroughwhichtheypassed。Inexaminingmiracleswiththeutmostdeference,aswehavearightto,weseeonelawrunningthroughall。EveninChrist"smiracleofchangingthewatertowine,therewasanaturallaw,thoughonlyonehasdweltonearthwhocouldmakethatchange,which,fromachemist"sstandpoint,waspeculiarlydifficultonaccountoftherequiredfermentation,whichistheresultofadevelopedandmaturedgerm。ManyofHismiracles,however,areasfarbeyondmysmallpowerasheavenisabovetheearth。MuchofthesubstanceoftheloavesandfisheswithwhichHefedthemultitude——thecarbonandnitrogenousproducts——alsocamefromtheair,thoughHecouldhavetakenthemfrommanyothersources。

Thecombinationandbuildingupoftheseintheordinarywaywouldhavetakenweeksormonths,butwasperformedinstantaneouslybyHismightypower。"

"Whatnaturallawsareknowntoyou,"askedBearwarden,"thatwedonotunderstand,orconcerningtheexistenceofwhichweareignorant？"

"Mostofthelawsintheinvisibleworld,"saidthespirit,"arethecounterpartorextensionoflawsthatappearonearth,thoughyouasyetunderstandbutasmallpartofthose,manynothavingcometoyournotice。You,forinstance,knowthatlight,heat,andmotionareanalogous,andeitherofthelasttwocanbeconvertedintotheother;butinpracticeyouproducemotionofthewatermoleculesbytheapplicationofheat,andseldomreverseit。Oneofthefirstthingswemasterhereisthepowertofreezeorboilwater,bycheckingthemotionofthemoleculesinonecase,andbyincreasingit,andtheirmutualrepulsion,intheother。Thisisbyvirtueofasimplelaw,thoughinthiscasethereisnonaturalmanifestationofitonearthwithwhichtocompareit。Whileknowledgemustbeacquiredherethroughstudy,asonearth,thenewsenseswereceivewiththeawakeningfromdeathrenderthedoingsoeasy,thoughwithonlythesenseswehadbeforeitwouldhavebeennexttoimpossible。

"AtthismomentsnowisfallingontheCallisto;butthisyoucouldnotknowbyseeing,andscarcelyanydegreeofevolutioncoulddevelopyoursightsufficiently,unassistedbydeath。Withyourinstruments,however,youcouldalreadyperceiveit,notwithstandingtheinterveningrocks。

"Yourresearchonearthisthebestandmostthoroughinthehistoryoftherace;andcouldwebutgiveyousuggestionsastothedirectioninwhichtopushit,thedifferencebetweenyourselvesandangelsmightbebutlittlemorethanthatbetweenthenumberandintensityofthesensesandthecompositionofthebody。Bythecombinationofnaturallawsyouhaveridyourselvesoftheimpedimentofmaterialweight,andcanroamthroughspacelikespirits,orasColumbus,byvirtueoftheconfidencethatcamewiththediscoveryofthemariner"scompass,roameduponandexploredthesea。Youhavemadeagoodbeginning,andwerenotyourlivessoshort,andtheirrequirementssoperemptory,youmightvisitthedistantstars。

"Iwillshowyoutheworkingofevolution。Lifesleepsinminerals,dreamsinplants,andwakesinyou。Therockwornbyfrostandagecrumblestoearthandsoil。Thisentersthesubstanceoftheprimordialplant,which,slowlyrising;producestheanimalgerm。Afterthatthewayisclear,andmanisevolvedfromprotoplasmthroughthevertebrateandtheape。Herewehavetheepitomeofthestruggleforlifeintheagespast,andtheanalogueofthejourneyintheyearstocome。DoesnottheAlmightyHimselfmakethisclearwhereHesaysthroughhisservantIsaiah,"BeholdofthesestoneswillIraiseupchildren"？——andthenameAdammeansredearth。God,havingbroughtmansofar,willnotletevolutioncease,andthenextstageoflifemustbethespiritual。"

"Canyoutellusanything,"askedAyrault,"concerningthebodiesthatthosesurvivingthefinaljudgmentwillreceive？"

"Notwithstandingtheunfoldingofknowledgethathascometoushere,"repliedthespirit,"therearestillsomesubjectsconcerningwhichwemustlookforinformationtotheinspiredwritersintheBible,andeverygainordiscoverygoestoprovetheirveracity。Weknowthattherearecelestialbodiesandbodiesterrestrial,andthatthespiritualbodiesweshallreceiveintheresurrectionwillhavepowerandwillbeincorruptibleandimmortal。Wealsoknowbyanalogyandreasonthattheywillbeunaffectedbythecoldandvoidofspace,sothattheirpossessorscanrangethroughtheuniversefornon—nillionsanddecillionsofmiles,thattheywillhavemarvellouscapacitiesforenjoyingwhattheyfind,andthatnoundertakingorjourneywillbetoodifficult,thoughitbetothecentreofthesun。Thoughmanyofuscanalreadyvisittheremoteregionsofspaceasspirits,nonecanasyetseeGod;butweknowthatasthesightwearetoreceivewithournewbodiessharpens,thepureinheartwillseeHim,thoughHeisstillasinvisibletotheeyesofthemostdevelopedhereastheetherofspaceistoyours。"

CHAPTERVIII。

CASSANDRAANDCOSMOLOGY。

Thewater—jugbeingempty,Ayraulttookitup,and,crossingtheridgeofasmallhill,descendedtoarunning—brook。Hehadfilledit,andwasstraighteninghimself,whenthestoneonwhichhestoodturned,andhemighthavefallen,hadnotthebishop,ofwhosepresencehehadbeenunaware,stretchedouthishandandupheldhim。

"Ithoughtyoumightneedalittlehelp,"hesaidwithasmile,"andsowalkedbesideyou,thoughyouknewitnot。Waterisheavy,andyoumaynotyethavebecomeaccustomedtoitsSaturnianweight。"

"Manythanks,mymaster,"repliedAyrault,retaininghishand。

"WereitnotthatIamengagedtothegirlIlove,andamsometimeshauntedbythethoughtthatinmyabsenceshemaybeforgettingme,Ishouldwishtospendtherestofmynaturallifehere,unlessIcouldpersuadeyoutogowithmetotheearth。"

"Byremaininghere,"repliedthespirit,withasadlook,"youwouldbelosingthemostpricelessopportunitiesofdoinggood。

NeitherwillIgowithyou;but,asyourdistressisreal,Iwilltellyouofanythinghappeningonearththatyouwishtoknow。"

"Tellme,then,whatthepersonnowinmythoughtsisdoing。"

"Sheisstandinginawindowfacingwest,wateringsomeforget—me—notswithasmallsilversprinklerwhichhasarubyinthehandle。"

"Canyouseeanythingelse？"

"Beneaththejewelisaninscriptionthatruns:

"BythosewhoinwarmJulyarebornAsinglerubyshouldbeworn;

ThenwilltheybeexemptandfreeFromlove"sdoubtsandanxiety。""

"Marvellous！HadIanydoubtsastoyourprescienceandpower,theywouldbedispellednow。Onethingmoreletmeask,however:

Doesshestillloveme？"

"Inhermindisbutonethought,andinherheartisanimage——thatofthemanbeforeme。Shelovesyouwithallhersoul。"

"Mymosteagerwishissatisfied,andforthemomentmyheartisatrest,"repliedAyrault,astheyturnedtheirstepstowardscamp。"Yet,suchismyweaknessbynature,that,eretwenty—fourhourshavepassedIshalllongtohaveyoutellmeagain。"

"Ihavebeeninlovemyself,"repliedthespirit,"andknowthefeeling;yettobeofthesmallestservicetoyougivesmefarmorehappinessthanitcangiveyou。Themutualloveinparadiseexceedseventhelover"sloveonearth,foritisonlythosethatlovedandcanlovethatareblessed。

"Youcanhardlyrealize,"thebishopcontinued,astheyrejoinedBearwardenandCortlandt,"thejoythataspiritinparadiseexperienceswhen,onreopeninghiseyesafterpassingdeath,whichisbuttheportal,hefindshimselfendowedwithsightthatenableshimtoseesuchdistancesandwithsuchdistinctness。

Thesolarsystem,withthisringedplanet,itsswarmofasteroids,anditsintra—Mercurialplanets——oneofwhich,Vulcan,youhavealreadydiscovered——isabeautifulsight。Theplanetsnearestthesunreceivesuchburningraysthattheirsurfacesarered—hot,andattheequatoratperihelionaremolten。Thesearenotseenfromtheearth,because,risingorsettingalmostsimultaneouslywiththesun,theyarelostinitsrays。ThegreatplanetbeyondNeptune"sorbitisperhapsthemostinteresting。ThiswecallCassandra,becauseitwouldbeaprophetofeviltoanyvisitorfromthestarswhoshouldjudgethesolarsystembyit。ThisplanetisnearlyaslargeasJupiter,being80,000milesindiameter,buthasaspecificgravitylighterthanSaturn。Bode"slaw,youknow,says,Writedown0,3,6,12,24,48,96。Add4toeach,andget4,7,10,16,28,52,100;andthisseriesofnumbersrepresentsverynearlytherelativedistancesoftheplanetsfromthesun。

Accordingtothislaw,youwouldexpecttheplanetnextbeyondNeptunetobeabout5,000,000,000milesfromthesun。Butitisabout9,500,000,000,sothatthereisagapbetweenNeptuneandCassandra,asbetweenMarsandJupiter,exceptthatinCassandra"scasetherearenoasteroidstoshowwhereanyplanetwas;wemust,then,supposeitisanexceptiontoBode"slaw,orthattherewasaplanetthathascompletelydisappeared。AsCassandrawouldbewithinthelawiftherehadbeenanintermediaryplanet,wehavegoodprimafaciereasonforbelievingthatitexisted。Cassandratakes,inroundnumbers,athousandyearstocompleteitsorbit,andfromitthesun,thoughbrighter,appearsnolargerthantheearth"seveningormorningstar。Cassandrahasalsothreelargemoons;butthese,whenfull,shinewithapale—greylight,liketheoldmooninthenewmoon"sarms,inthatterrestrialphenomenonwhentheearth,byreflectingthecrescent"slight,andthatofthesun,makesthedarkpartvisible。ThetemperatureatCassandra"ssurfaceisbutlittleabovethecoldofspace,andnowaterexistsintheliquidstate,itbeingasmuchasolidasaluminumorglass。Thereareriversandlakes,buttheseconsistofliquefiedhydrogenandothergases,theheavierliquidcollectedindeepPlaces,andthelighter,withlessthanhalfthespecificgravityofether,floatinguponitwithoutmixing,asoilonwater。Whentheheavierpenetratestoasufficientdepth,theinteriorbeingstillwarm,itisconvertedintogasanddrivenbacktothesurface,onlytoberecondensedonreachingtheupperair。Thusitmayhappenthattworainscomposedofseparateliquidsmayfalltogether。Therebeingbutlittleofanyotheratmosphere,muchofitconsistsofwhatyoumightcallthevapourofhydrogen,andmanyofthewell—knowngasesandliquidsonearthexistonlyasliquidsandsolids;sothat,weretheremortalinhabitantsonCassandra,theymightbuildtheirhousesofblocksofoxygenorchlorine,asyoudooflimestoneormarble,anduseicethatnevermelts,inplaceofglass,fortransparence。Theywouldalsousemercuryforbulletsintheirrifles,justasinhabitantsoftheintra—Vulcanplanetsattheotherextrememight,iftheirbodiesconsistedofasbestos,orwereinanyotherwaynon—combustiblyconstituted,batheintin,lead,orevenzinc,whichordinarilyexistintheliquidstate,aswaterandmercurydoontheearth。

"ThoughCassandra"satmosphere,suchasitis,ismostlyclear,fortheevaporationfromtheriversandicymediterraneansisslight,thebrightnessofeventhehighestnoonislessthananearthlytwilight,andthestarsneverceasetoshine。Thedarkbaseoftherockycliffsiswashedbythefrigidtide,butthereisscarcelyasound,forthepebblescannotbemovedbytheweightlesswaves,andanoccasionalmurmurisallthatisheard。

Greatrocksoficereflectthelightofthegreymoons,andneveraleaffallsorabirdsings。Withtheexceptionofthemournfulripples,theplanetissilentasthegrave。Theanimalandplantkingdomsdonotexist;onlythemineralandspiritualworlds。I

sayspiritual,becausetherearesoulsuponit;butitisthehomeofthecondemnedinhell。Heredwellthetransgressorswhodiedunrepentant,andthosewhowerenotsavedbyfaith。ThisistheoneinstanceinwhichIdonotenjoymydevelopedsight,forIsometimesglanceintheirdirection,andthevisionthatmeetsme,asmyeyesfocus,distressesmysoul。Theirsensesarelikeanimperfectmirror,magnifyingallthatisbadinoneanother,anddistortinganythingstillpartiallygoodwhenthatexists。

Allthosethingsthatmightatleastdistractthemarehollow,theirmiserybeingtheinevitableresultoftheconditionofmindtowhichtheybecameaccustomedonearthandwhichbroughtthemtoCassandra。Butletusturntosomethingbrighter。

"Thoughthesolarsystemmayseemcomplex,thesunisbutastaramongthemillionsintheMilkyWay,and,comparedwiththeplanetarysystemsofSirius,thestarsoftheSouthernCross,andthemotionsofthenebula,itissimplicityitself。ComparedwiththesplendourofSirius,withitsdiameteroftwelvemillionmiles,thesun,measuringbuteighthundredandfortythousand,becomesinsignificant;andthisgiant"ssystemincludesgroupsandclustersofplanets,manywiththreetimesthemassofJupiter,fiveandsixtogether,eachadifferentcolour,revolvingaboutacommoncentre,whiletheyswingabouttheirprimary。Theirnumerousmoonshavesatellitesencirclingthem,withorbitsinsomecasesatrightanglestotheplaneoftheecliptic,sothattheyshineperpendicularlyonwhatcorrespondtothearcticandantarcticregions,whiletheiraxesaresoinclinedthatthesatellitesturnacompletesomersaultateachrevolution,producingglisteningeffectsoficeandsnowatthepoles。Someofthemoonsareataredorwhiteheat,andsopreventthechillofnightontheplanets,whiletheyshinewithmorethanreflectedlight。Inadditiontothefiveorsixlargeplanetsineachgroup,which,however,aremanymillionsofmilesapart,thereisinsomeclustersasmallplanetthatswingsbackwardandforwardacrossthecommoncentre,likeapendulum,butinnearlyastraightline;andwhilethismultiplicityofmotiongoeson,thewholeaggregationsweepsmajesticallyaroundSirius,itsmightysun。Ourlittlesolarsystemcontains,asweknow,aboutonethousandplanets,satellites,andasteroidslargeenoughtobedignifiedbythenameofheavenlybodies。Vastnumbersofthestarshaveahundredandevenathousandtimesthemassofoursun,andtheirsystemsbeingrelativelyascomplexasours——insomecasesevenmoreso——theycontainahundredthousandoramillionindividualbodies。

"Oversixtymillionbrightorincandescentstarswerevisibletotheterrestrialtelescopesahundredyearsago,theaveragesizeofwhichfarexceedsoursun。Tothemagnificenttelescopesofto—daytheyareliterallycountless,andthenumbercanbeindefinitelyextendedasyouropticalresourcesgrow。Yetthenumberofstarsyouseeisutterlyinsignificantcomparedwiththecoldanddarkonesyoucannotsee,butconcerningwhichyouareconstantlylearningmore,byobservingtheireffectonthebrightones,bothbyperturbingthemandbyobscuringtheirrays。

Occasionally,asyouknow,astarofthetwelfthorfifteenthmagnitude,oronethathasbeeninvisible,flaresupforseveralmonthstothefourthorfifth,throughacollisionwithsomedarkgiant,andthenreturnstowhatitwasinthebeginning,agaseous,filmynebula。Theseinnumerablehostsofdarkmonsters,thoughdead,arecentresofsystems,likemostofthestarsyoucansee。

"Aslightconsiderationofthesefigureswillshowthat,notwithstandingthenumberofsoulstheCreatorhasgivenlifeonearth,eachonemightinfacthaveasystemtohimself;andthat,howeverlongthelittleglobemayremain,asitwere,amint,inwhichsoulsaretriedbyfireandmoulded,andreceivetheirfinalstamp,theywillalwayshaveroomtocirculate,andwillbeprizedaccordingtotheimpresstheirfacesorheartsmustshow。

ButSiriusitselfismovingmanytimesfasterthantheswiftestcannonball,carryingitssystemwithit;andIseeyouasking,"Towhatdoesallthismotiontend？"Iwillshowyou。Manyquadrillionsofmilesaway,sofarthatyourmostpowerfultelescopeshavenotyetcaughtaglimmer,restsinitsserenegrandeurastarthatwecallCosmos,becauseitisthecentreofthisuniverse。ItsdiameterisasgreatasthediameterofCassandra"sorbit,andnotwithstandingitsterrificheat,itsspecificgravity,onaccountoftheirresistiblepressureatandnearthecentre,isasgreatasthatoftheplanetMercury。Thisholdsallthatyoureyesorminecansee;andtheso—calledmotionsofthestars——forweknowthatSirius,amongothers,isreceding——isbutthedifferenceintherateatwhichthedifferentsystemsandconstellationsswingaroundCosmos,thoughindoingsotheyoftenrevolveaboutothersystemsorswingroundcommoncentres,sothatmanyaresatellitesofsatellitesmanytimesrepeated。Theorbitsofsomearecircular,andofotherselliptical,asthoseofcomets,andsomerevolveabouteachother,or,aswehaveseen,aboutacommonpointwhiletheyperformtheircelestialjourney。Astar,therefore,recedesoradvances,asJupiterandVenuswithrelationtotheearth。Theplanetinthesmallerorbitmovesfasterthanthatinthelarger,sothattheinterveningdistanceswaxandwane,thoughallaregoinginthesamegeneraldirection。Inthecaseofthemembersofthesolarsystem,astronomicalrecordcantellwhenevenamostdistantknownplanethasbeeninoppositionorconjunction;