第17章

Shesmiled，and，afteralast，longglance，gavemebackthephotographandtheminiature，sayingasshedeliveredthelatter：

"Irejoicetoseethatyouarefaithful，Humphrey，andwearthispictureonyourheart，aswellasinit。"

"Thenyoumustbeaveryremarkablewoman，"saidBickley。

"NeverbeforedidIhearoneofyoursexrejoicebecauseamanwasfaithfultosomebodyelse。"

"HasBickleybeendisappointedinhislove—heart，thatheissoangrytouswomen？"askedYvainnocentlyofme。Then，withoutwaitingforananswer，sheinquiredofhimwhetherhehadbeensuccessfulinhisanalysisoftheLife—water。

"HowdoyouknowwhatIwasdoingwiththeLife—water？DidBastintellyou？"exclaimedBickley。

"Bastintoldmenothing，exceptthathewasafraidofthedescenttoNyo；thathehatedNyowhenhereachedit，asindeedI

do，andthathethoughtthatmyfather，theLordOro，wasadevilorevilspiritfromsomeUnder—worldwhichhecalledhell。"

"Bastinhasanopenheartandanopenmouth，"saidBickley，"forwhichIrespecthim。Followhisexampleifyouwill，LadyYva，andtelluswhoandwhatistheLordOro，andwhoandwhatareyou。"

"Havewenotdonesoalready？Ifnot，Iwillrepeat。TheLordOroandIaretwowhohavelivedonfromtheoldtimewhentheworldwasdifferent，andyet，Ithink，thesame。Heisamanandnotagod，andIamawoman。Hispowersaregreatbecauseofhisknowledge，whichhehasgatheredfromhisforefathersandinalifeofathousandyearsbeforehewenttosleep。Hecandothingsyoucannotdo。Thus，hecanpassthroughspaceandtakeotherswithhim，andreturnagain。Hecanlearnwhatishappeninginfar—offpartsoftheworld，ashedidwhenhetoldyouofthewarinwhichyourcountryisconcerned。Hehasterriblepowers；

forinstance，hecankill，ashekilledthosesavages。Also，heknowsthesecretsoftheearth，and，ifitpleaseshim，canchangeitsturningsothatearthquakeshappenandseabecomesland，andlandsea，andtheplacesthatwerehotgrowcold，andthosethatwerecoldgrowhot。"

"Allofwhichthingshavehappenedmanytimeinthehistoryoftheglobe，"saidBickley，"withoutthehelpoftheLordOro。"

"Othershadknowledgebeforemyfather，andothersdoubtlesswillhaveknowledgeafterhim。EvenI，Yva，havesomeknowledge，andknowledgeisstrength。"

"Yes，"Iinterposed，"butsuchpowersasyouattributetoyourfatherarenotgiventoman。"

"Youmeantomanasyouknowhim，manlikeBickley，whothinksthathehaslearnedeverythingthatwaseverlearned。Butitisnotso。Hundredsofthousandsofyearsagomenknewmorethanitseemstheydotoday，tentimesmore，astheylivedtentimeslonger，orsoyoutellme。"

"Men？"Isaid。

"Yes，men，notgodsorspirits，astheuninstructednationssupposedthemtobe。Myfatherisamansubjecttothehopesandterrorsofman。Hedesirespowerwhichisambition，andwhentheworldrefusedhisrule，hedestroyedthatpartofitwhichrebelled，whichisrevenge。Moreover，aboveallthingshedreadsdeath，whichisfear。Thatiswhyhesuspendedlifeinhimselfandmefortwohundredandfiftythousandyears，ashisknowledgegavehimstrengthtodo，becausedeathwasnearandhethoughtthatsleepwasbetterthandeath。"

"Whyshouldhedreadtodie，"askedBickley，"seeingthatsleepanddeatharethesame？"

"BecausehisknowledgetellshimthatSleepandDeatharenotthesame，asyou，inyourfoolishness，believe，forthereBastiniswiserthanyou。BecauseforallhiswisdomheremainsignorantofwhathappenstomanwhentheLightofLifeisblownoutbythebreathofFate。ThatiswhyhefearstodieandwhyhetalkswithBastinthePreacher，whosayshehasthesecretofthefuture。"

"Anddoyoufeartodie？"Iasked。

"No，Humphrey，"sheansweredgently。"BecauseIthinkthatthereisnodeath，and，havingdonenowrong，Idreadnoevil。I

haddreamswhileIwasasleep，OHumphrey，anditseemedtomethat——"

Heresheceasedandglancedatwheresheknewtheminiaturewashanginguponmybreast。

"Now，"shecontinued，afteralittlepause，"tellmeofyourworld，ofitshistory，ofitslanguages，ofwhathappensthere，forIlongtoknow。"

Sothenandthere，assistedbyBickley，IbegantheeducationoftheLadyYva。Idonotsupposethattherewaseveramoreaptpupilinthewholeearth。Tobeginwith，shewasbetteracquaintedwitheverysubjectonwhichItouchedthanIwasmyself；allshelackedwasinformationastoitsmodernaspect。

Herknowledgeendedtwohundredandfiftythousandyearsago，atwhichdate，however，itwouldseemthatcivilisationhadalreadytouchedahigherwater—markthanithaseversinceattained。

Thus，thisvanishedpeopleunderstoodastronomy，naturalmagnetism，theforceofgravity，steam，alsoelectricitytosomesubtleuseofwhich，Igathered，thelightingoftheirundergroundcitywastobeattributed。Theyhadmasteredarchitectureandthearts，astheirbuildingsandstatuesshowed；

theycouldflythroughtheairbetterthanwehavelearnedtodowithinthelastfewyears。

More，they，orsomeofthem，hadlearnedtheuseoftheFourthDimension，thatistheirmostinstructedindividuals，couldmovethroughopposingthings，aswellasoverthem，upintothemandacrossthem。Thispowerthesepossessedinatwo—foldform。I

mean，thattheycouldeitherdisintegratetheirbodiesatonespotandcausethemtointegrateagainatanother，ortheycouldprojectwhattheoldEgyptianscalledtheKaorDouble，andmodernTheosophistsnametheAstralShape，toanydistance。

Moreover，thisDouble，orAstralShape，whileitselfinvisible，still，sotospeak，hadtheuseofitssenses。Itcouldsee，itcouldhear，anditcouldremember，and，onreturningtothebody，itcouldavailitselfoftheexperiencethusacquired。

Thus，atleast，saidYva，whileBickleycontemplatedherwithacoldandunbelievingeye。Sheevenwentfurtherandallegedthatincertaininstances，individualsofherextinctracehadbeenabletopassthroughtheetherandtovisitotherworldsinthedepthsofspace。

"Haveyoueverdonethat？"askedBickley。

"OnceortwiceIdreamedthatIdid，"sherepliedquietly。

"Wecanalldream，"heanswered。

Asitwasmylottomakeacquaintancewiththisstrangeanduncannypoweratalaterdate，Iwillsaynomoreofitnow。

Telepathy，shedeclared，wasalsoadevelopedgiftamongtheSonsofWisdom；indeed，theyseemtohaveuseditasweusewirelessmessages。Only，intheircase，thesendingandreceivingstationswereskilledandsusceptiblehumanbeingswhowentondutyforsomanyhoursatatime。Thusintelligencewastransmittedwithaccuracyanddespatch。Thosewhohadthisfacultywere，shesaid，alsoveryaptatreadingthemindsofothersandthereforenoteasytodeceive。

"IsthathowyouknowthatIhadbeentryingtoanalyseyourLife—water？"askedBickley。

"Yes，"sheanswered，withherunvaryingsmile。"AtthemomentI

spokethereofyouwerewonderingwhethermyfatherwouldbeangryifheknewthatyouhadtakenthewaterinalittleflask。"Shestudiedhimforamoment，thenadded："Nowyouarewondering，first，whetherIdidnotseeyoutakethewaterfromthefountainandguessthepurpose，and，secondly，whetherperhapsBastindidnottellmewhatyouweredoingwithitwhenwemetinthesepulchre。"

"Lookhere，"saidtheexasperatedBickley，"Iadmitthattelepathyandthought—readingarepossibletoacertainlimitedextent。Butsupposingthatyoupossessthosepowers，asIthinkinEnglish，andyoudonotknowEnglish，howcanyouinterpretwhatispassinginmymind？"

"PerhapsyouhavebeenteachingmeEnglishallthiswhilewithoutknowingit，Bickley。Inanycase，itmatterslittle，seeingthatwhatIreadisthethought，notthelanguagewithwhichitisclothed。Thethoughtcomesfromyourmindtomine——

thatis，ifIwishit，whichisnotoften——andIinterpretitinmyownorothertongues。"

"Iamgladtohearitisnotoften，LadyYva，sincethoughtsaregenerallyconsideredprivate。"

"Yes，andthereforeIwillreadyoursnomore。WhyshouldI，whentheyaresofullofdisbeliefofallItellyou，andsometimesofotherthingsaboutmyselfwhichIdonotseektoknow？"

"Nowonderthat，accordingtothestoryinthepictures，thoseNations，whomyounamedBarbarians，madeanendofyourpeople，LadyYva。"

"Youaremistaken，Bickley；theLordOromadeanendoftheNations，thoughagainstmyprayer，"sheaddedwithasighThenBickleydepartedinarage，anddidnotappearagainforanhour。

"Heisangry，"shesaid，lookingafterhim；"nordoIwonder。

ItishardfortheverycleverlikeBickley，whothinkthattheyhavemasteredallthings，tofindthatafteralltheyarequiteignorant。Iamsorryforhim，andIlikehimverymuch。"

"Thenyouwouldbesorryformealso，LadyYva？"

"Why？"sheaskedwithadazzlingsmile，"whenyourheartisathirstforknowledge，gapingforitlikeafledgling’smouthforfood，and，asitchances，thoughIamnotverywise，Icansatisfysomethingofyoursoul—hunger。"

"Notverywise！"Irepeated。

"No，Humphrey。IthinkthatBastin，whoinmanywaysissostupid，hasmoretruewisdomthanIhave，becausehecanbelieveandacceptwithoutquestion。Afterall，thewisdomofmypeopleisalloftheuniverseanditswonders。Whatyouthinkmagicisnotmagic；itisonlygatheredknowledgeandthefindingoutofsecrets。Bickleywilltellyouthesame，althoughasyethedoesnotbelievethatthemindofmancanstretchsofar。"

"Youmeanthatyourwisdomhasinitnothingofthespirit？"

"Yes，Humphrey，thatiswhatImean。Idonotevenknowifthereissuchathingasspirit。OurgodwasFate；Bastin’sgodisaspirit，andIthinkyoursalso。"

"Yes。"

"Therefore，IwishyouandBastintoteachmeofyourgod，asdoesOro，myfather。Iwant——oh！somuch，Humphrey，tolearnwhetherweliveafterdeath。"

"You！"Iexclaimed。"Youwho，accordingtothestory，havesleptfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears！You，whohave，unlessImistake，hintedthatduringthatsleepyoumayhavelivedinothershapes！Doyoudoubtwhetherwecanliveafterdeath？"

"Yes。Sleepinducedbysecretartsisnotdeath，andduringthatsleeptheIwithinmightwanderandinhabitothershapes，becauseitisforbiddentobeidle。Moreover，whatseemstobedeathmaynotbedeath，onlyanotherformofsleepfromwhichtheIawakesagainupontheworld。Butatlastcomestherealdeath，whentheIisextinguishedtotheworld。ThatmuchIknow，becausemypeoplelearnedit。"

"Youmean，youknowthatmenandwomenmayliveagainandagainupontheworld？"

"Yes，Humphrey，Ido。Forintheworldthereisonlyacertainstoreoflifewhichinmanyformstravelsonandon，tillthelotofeachIisfulfilled。Thencomestherealdeath，andafterthat——what，oh！——what？"

"YoumustaskBastin，"Isaidhumbly。"Icannotdaretoteachofsuchmatters。"

"No，butyoucananddobelieve，andthathelpsme，Humphrey，whoamintunewithyou。Yes，ithelpsmemuchmorethandoBastinandhisnewreligion，becausesuchiswoman’sway。Now，I

thinkBickleywillsoonreturn，soletustalkofothermatters。

Tellmeofthehistoryofyourpeople，Humphrey，thatmyfathersaysarenowatwar。"

ChapterXVIII

TheAccidentBickleydidreturn，havingrecoveredhistemper，sinceafterallitwasimpossibleforanyonetoremainangrywiththeLadyYvaforlong，andwespentaveryhappytimetogether。Weinstructedandshewasthehumblepupil。

Howswiftandnimblewasherintelligence！Inthatonemorningshelearnedallouralphabetandhowtowriteourletters。Itappearedthatamongherpeople，atanyrateintheirlaterperiods，theonlyformofwritingthatwasusedwasahighlyconcentratedshorthandwhichsavedlabour。Theyhadnojournals，sincenewswhicharrivedtelepathicallyorbysomeformofwirelesswasproclaimedtothosewhocaredtolisten，andonitallformedtheirownjudgments。Inthesamewaypoemsandevenromanceswererepeated，asinHomer’sdayorinthetimeoftheNorsesagas，bywordofmouth。Noneoftheirsecretknowledgewaswrittendown。LiketheritualofFreemasonryitwasconsideredtoosacred。

Moreover，whenmenlivedforhundredsofyearsthiswasnotsonecessary，especiallyastheirgreatfearwaslestitshouldfallintothehandsoftheoutsidenations，whomtheycalledBarbarians。For，beitremembered，theseSonsofWisdomwerealwaysaverysmallpeoplewhoruledbytheweightoftheirintelligenceandthestrengthoftheiraccumulatedlore。Indeed，theycouldscarcelybecalledapeople；ratherweretheyafewfamilies，allofthemmoreorlessconnectedwiththeoriginalrulingDynastywhichconsidereditselfhalfdivine。Thesefamilieswerewaiteduponbyamultitudeofservantsorslavesdrawnfromthesubjectnations，forthemostpartskilledinoneartoranother，orperhaps，remarkablefortheirpersonalbeauty。

Stilltheyremainedoutsidethepale。

TheSonsofWisdomdidnotintermarrywiththemorteachthemtheirlearning，orevenallowthemtodrinkoftheirLife—water。

Theyruledthemasmenruledogs，treatingthemwithkindness，butnomore，andasmanydogsruntheircourseanddieinthelifetimeofonemaster，sodidmanyoftheseslavesinthatofoneoftheSonsofWisdom。Therefore，theslavescametoregardtheirlordsnotasmen，butgods。Theylivedbutthreescoreyearsandtenliketherestofus，andwenttheirway，they，whosegreat—great—grandfathershadservedthesamemasterandwhosegreat—great—great—grandchildrenwouldstillservehim。WhatshouldwethinkofalordwhoweknewwasalreadyadultinthetimeofWilliamtheConqueror，andwhoremainedstillvigorousandall—powerfulinthatofGeorgeV？One，moreover，whocommandedalmostinfiniteknowledgetowhichweweredeniedthekey？Wemighttremblebeforehimandlookuponhimashalf—

divine，butshouldwenotlongtokillhimandpossesshisknowledgeandtherebyprolongourownexistencetohiswondrousmeasure？

Such，saidYva，wasthecasewiththeirslavesandthepeoplesfromwhencethesesprang。Theygrewmadwithjealoushate，tillatlengthcametheendweknew。

Thuswetalkedonforhourstillthetimecameforustoeat。

AsbeforeYvapartookoffruitandweofsuchmeatsaswehadathand。These，wenoticed，disgustedher，because，assheexplained，theChildrenofWisdom，unlessdriventheretobynecessity，touchednoflesh，butlivedonthefruitsoftheearthandwinealone。OnlytheslavesandtheBarbariansateflesh。IntheseviewsBickleyforonceagreedwithher，thatis，exceptasregardsthewine，forintheory，ifnotinpractice——hewasavegetarian。

"IwillbringyoumoreoftheLife—water，"shesaid，"andthenyouwillgrowtohatethesedeadthings，asIdo。Andnowfarewell。Myfathercallsme。Ihearhimthoughyoudonot。To—

morrowIcannotcome，butthedayafterIwillcomeandbringyoutheLife—water。Nay，accompanymenot，butasIseehewishesit，letTommygowithme。Iwillcareforhim，andheisafriendinallthatlonelyplace。"

Soshewent，andwithherTommy，rejoicing。

"Ungratefullittledevil！"saidBickley。"Herewe’vefedandpettedhimfrompuppyhood，oratleastyouhave，andyetheskipsoffwiththefirststranger。Ineversawhimbehavelikethattoanywoman，exceptyourpoorwife。"

"Iknow，"Ianswered。"Icannotunderstandit。Hullo！herecomesBastin。"

Bastinitwas，dishevelledandlookingmuchtheworseforwear，alsominushisBibleinthenativetongue。

"Well，howhaveyoubeengettingon？"saidBickley。

"Ishouldlikesometea，alsoanythingthereistoeat。"

Wesuppliedhimwiththesenecessaries，andafterawhilehesaidslowlyandsolemnly：

"IcannothelpthinkingofachildishstorywhichBickleytoldorinventedonenightatyourhouseathome。Irememberhehadanargumentwithmywife，whichhesaidputhiminmindofit，IamsureIdon’tknowwhy。Itwasaboutamonkeyandaparrotthatwerelefttogetherunderasofaforalongwhile，wheretheyweresoquietthateverybodyforgotthem。Thentheparrotcameoutwithonlyonefeatherleftinitstailandnoneatallonitsbody，saying，’I’vehadnoendofatime！’afterwhichitdroppeddownanddied。Doyouknow，Ifeeljustlikethatparrot，onlyI

don’tmeantodie，andIthinkIgavethemonkeyquiteasgoodashegaveme！"

"Whathappened？"Iasked，intenselyinterested。

"Oh！theGlitteringLadytookmeintothatpalacehallwhereOrowassittinglikeaspiderinaweb，andleftmethere。Igottoworkatonce。HewasmuchinterestedintheOldTestamentstoriesandsaidtherewerepointsoftruthaboutthem，althoughtheyhadevidentlycomedowntothemodernwriter——hecalledhimamodernwriter——inalegendaryform。Ithoughthisremarksimpertinentandwithdifficultyrefrainedfromsayingso。LeavingthestoryoftheDelugeandallthat，Ispokeofothermatters，tellinghimofeternallifeandHeavenandHell，ofwhichthepoorbenightedmanhadneverheard。Ipointedoutespeciallythatunlessherepented，hislife，byallaccounts，hadbeensowicked，thathewascertainlydestinedtothelatterplace。"

"Whatdidhesaytothat？"Iasked。

"Doyouknow，Ithinkitfrightenedhim，ifonecouldimagineOrobeingfrightened。AtanyrateheremarkedthatthetruthorfalsityofwhatIsaidwasanurgentmatterforhim，ashecouldnotexpecttolivemorethanafewhundredyearslonger，thoughperhapshemightprolongtheperiodbyanotherspellofsleep。

ThenheaskedmewhyIthoughthimsowicked。Irepliedbecausehehimselfsaidthathehaddrownedmillionsofpeople，whichshowedanevilheartandintentionevenifitwerenotafact。Hethoughtalongwhileandaskedwhatcouldbedoneinthecircumstances。Irepliedthatrepentanceandreparationweretheonlycoursesopentohim。"

"Reparation！"Iexclaimed。

"Yes，reparationwaswhatIsaid，thoughIthinkImadeamistakethere，asyouwillsee。AsnearlyasIcanremember，heansweredthathewasbeginningtorepent，asfromallhehadlearnedfromus，hegatheredthattheraceswhichhadarisenasaconsequenceofhisaction，wereworsethanthosewhichhehaddestroyed。Asregardsreparation，whathehaddoneoncehecoulddoagain。Hewouldthinkthematteroverseriously，andseeifitwerepossibleandadvisabletoraisethosepartsoftheworldwhichhadbeensunk，andsinkthosewhichhadbeenraised。Ifso，hethoughtthatwouldmakeveryhandsomeamendstothedepartednationsandsethimquiterightwithanysuperiorPower，ifsuchathingexisted。Whatareyoulaughingat，Bickley？Idon’tthinkitalaughingmatter，sincesuchremarksdonotseemtometoindicateanyrealchangeinOro’sheart，whichiswhatIwastryingtoeffect。"

Bickley，whowasconvulsedwithmerriment，wipedhiseyesandsaid：

"Youdearolddonkey，don’tyouseewhatyouhavedone，orratherwouldhavedoneiftherewereawordoftruthinallthisridiculousstoryaboutadeluge？Youwouldbeinthewayofmakingyourpreciouspupil，whocertainlyisthemostmasterlyoldliarintheworld，repeathisoffenceandsendEuropetothebottomofthesea。"

"Thatdidoccurtome，butitdoesn’tmuchmatterasIamquitecertainthatsuchathingwouldneverbeallowed。Ofcoursetherewasarealdelugeonce，butOrohadnomoretodowithitthanI

had。Don’tyouagree，Arbuthnot？"

"Ithinkso，"Iansweredcautiously，"butreallyinthisplaceIambeginningtolosecountofwhatisorisnotpossible。Also，ofcourse，theremayhavebeenmanydeluges；indeedthehistoryoftheworldshowsthatthiswasso；itiswritteninitsgeologicalstrata。Whatwastheendofit？"

"TheendwasthathetooktheSouthSeaBibleand，afterIhadexplainedalittleaboutourletters，seemedtobeabletoreaditatonce。Isupposehewasacquaintedwiththeartofprintinginhisyouth。Atanyratehesaidthathewouldstudyit，Idon’tknowhow，unlesshecanread，andthatintwodays’timehewouldletmeknowwhathethoughtaboutthematterofmyreligion。Thenhetoldmetogo。IsaidthatIdidnotknowthewayandwasafraidoflosingmyself。Thereuponhewavedhishand，andI

reallycan’tsaywhathappened。"

"Didyoulevitateuphere，"askedBickley，"likethelatelamentedMr。Homeatthespiritualisticseances？"

"No，Ididnotexactlylevitate，butsomethingorsomeoneseemedtogetaholdofme，andIwasjustrushedalonginamosttumultuousfashion。ThenextthingIknewwasthatIwasstandingatthedoorofthatsepulchre，thoughIhavenorecollectionofgoingupinthelift，orwhateveritis。Ibelievethosebeastlycavesarefullofghosts，ordevils，andtheworstofitisthattheyhavekeptmysolar—tope，whichIputonthismorningforgettingthatitwouldbeuselessthere。"

"TheLadyYva’sFourthDimensioninaction，"Isuggested，"onlyitwouldn’tworkonsolar—topes。"

"Idon’tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout，"saidBastin，"butifmyhathadtobeleft，whynotmybootsandothergarments？

Pleasestopyournonsenseandpassthetea。ThankgoodnessI

haven’tgottogodowntheretomorrow，asheseemstohavehadenoughofmeforthepresent，soIvoteweallpayavisittotheship。Itwillbeaverypleasantchange。Icouldn’tstandtwodaysrunningwiththatoldfiend，andhisghostsordevilsinthecave。"

Nextmorningaccordingly，fearingnoharmfromtheOrofenans，wetookthecanoeandrowedtothemainisland。Maramahadevidentlyseenuscoming，forheandanumberofhispeoplemetuswitheverydemonstrationofdelight，andescortedustotheship。Herewefoundthingsjustaswehadleftthem，fortherehadbeennoattemptattheftorothermischief。

WhilewewereinthecabinafitofmoralweaknessseemedtoovercomeBickley，thefirstandImayaddthelastfromwhichI

eversawhimsuffer。

"Doyouknow，"hesaid，addressingus，"Ithinkthatweshoulddowelltotrytogetoutofthisplace。Eliminatingagreatdealofthemarvelouswithwhichweseemtohavecomeintouchhere，itisstillobviousthatwefindourselvesinverypeculiarandunhealthysurroundings。Imeanmentallyunhealthy，indeedIthinkthatifwestayheremuchlongerweshallprobablygooffourheads。Nowthatboatonthedeckremainssoundandseaworthy。Whyshouldnotweprovisionherandtakeourchance？Weknowmoreorlesswhichwaytosteer。"

BastinandIlookedateachother。Itwashewhospokefirst。

"Wouldn’titberatherariskyjobinanopenboat？"heasked。

"However，thatdoesn’tmattermuchbecauseIdon’ttakeanyaccountofrisks，knowingthatIamofmorevaluethanasparrowandthatthehairsofmyheadareallnumbered。"

"Theymightbenumberedunderwateraswellasaboveit，"

mutteredBickley，"andIfeelsurethatonyourownshowing，youwouldbeasvaluabledeadasalive。"

"WhatIseemtofeel，"wentonBastin，"isthatIhaveworktomyhandhere。Also，thelocumtenensatFulcombenodoubtrunstheparishaswellasIcould。IndeedIconsiderhimabettermanfortheplacethanIam。ThatoldOroisatoughproposition，butIdonotdespairofhimyet，andbesideshimthereistheGlitteringLady，amostopen—mindedperson，whomIhavenotyethadanyrealopportunityofapproachinginaspiritualsense。

Thenthereareallthesenativeswhocannotlearnwithoutateacher。SoonthewholeIthinkIwouldratherstaywhereIamuntilProvidencepointsoutsomeotherpath。"

"Iamofthesameopinion，ifforsomewhatdifferentreasons，"

Isaid。"Idonotsupposethatithasoftenbeenthefortuneofmentocomeintouchwithsuchthingsaswehavefounduponthisisland。Theymaybeillusions，butatleasttheyareveryinterestingillusions。Onemightlivetenlifetimesandfindnothingelseofthesort。ThereforeIshouldliketoseetheendofthedream。"

Bickleyreflectedalittle，thensaid：

"OnthewholeIagreewithyou。OnlymybraintottersandIamterriblyafraidofmadness。IcannotbelievewhatIseemtohearandsee，andthatwaymadnesslies。Itisbettertodiethantogomad。"