第19章

Onanothernighthebegantotemptme，verysubtly。"Iseeasparkofgreatnessinyou，Humphrey，"hesaid，"anditcomesintomyheartthatyou，too，mightlearntorule。WithYva，thelastofmyblood，itisotherwise。Sheisthechildofmyageandofaraceoutworn；toogentle，toomuchallwomanly。Thesoulthattriumphsmustshinelikesteelinthesun，andcutifneedbe；

notmerelybebeauteousandshedperfumelikealilyintheshade。Yetsheisverywiseandfair，"herehelookedatme，"perchanceofhermightcomechildrensuchasweretheirforefathers，whoagainwouldwieldthesceptreofthedominionoftheearth。"

Imadenoanswer，wonderingwhathemeantexactlyandthinkingitwisesttobesilent。

"Youareoftheshort—livedraces，"hewenton，"yetverymuchaman，notwithoutintelligence，andbytheartsIhaveIcansostrengthenyourframethatitwillenduretheshocksoftimeforthreesuchlivesasyours，orperchanceformore，andthen——"

Againhepausedandwenton：

"TheDaughterofkingslikesyoualso，perhapsbecauseyouresemble——"herehefixedmewithhispiercingeyes，"acertainkingletofbasebloodwhomonceshealsoliked，butwhomitwasmydutytodestroy。Well，Imustthink。Imuststudythisworldofyoursalsoandthereinyoumayhelpme。PerhapsafterwardsI

willtellyouhow。Nowsleep。"

Inanothermomenthewasgone，butnotwithstandinghispowerfulcommand，forawhileIcouldnotsleep。IunderstoodthathewasofferingYvatome，butuponwhatterms？Thatwasthequestion。

Withherwastogogreatdominionoverthekingdomsoftheearth。

IcouldnothelprememberingthatalwaysthishasbeenandstillisSatan’sfavouritebait。Tomeitdidnotparticularlyappeal。

Ihadbeenambitiousinmytime——whoisnotthatisworthhissalt？Icouldhavewishedtoexcelinsomething，literatureorart，orwhateveritmightbe，andthustoensurethememoryofmynameintheworld。

Ofcoursethisisamostfutiledesire，seeingthatsoonorlateeverynamemustfadeoutoftheworldlikeanunfixedphotographwhichisexposedtothesun。Evenifitcouldendure，astheolddemigod，ordemidevil，Oro，hadpointedout，veryshortly，bycomparisonwithTime’sunmeasuredvastness，thewholesolarsystemwillalsofade。Soofwhatuseisthisfeebleloveoffameandthisvainattempttoberememberedthatanimatesussostrongly？Moreover，theideaofenjoyingmeretemporalasopposedtointellectualpower，appealedtomenotatall。IamastudentofhistoryandIknowwhathasbeenthelotofkingsandtheevilthat，oftenenough，theyworkintheirlittleday。

AlsoifIneededanyfurtherexample，therewasthatofOrohimself。HehadoutlivedthegreatnessofhisHouse，asaroyalfamilyiscalled，andaftersomegiganticmurder，ifhisownstorywastobebelieved，indulgedinaprolongedsleep。Nowheawoketofindhimselfquitealoneintheworld，saveforadaughterwithwhomhedidnotagreeorsympathise。Inshort，hewasbutakindofanimatedmummyinspiredbyoneideawhichI

feltquitesurewouldbedisappointed，namely，torenewhisformergreatness。Tomeheseemedasmiserableafigureasonecouldimagine，broodingandplottinginhisilluminatedcave，attheendofanextendedbutmisspentlife。

AlsoIwonderedwhathe，orratherhisego，hadbeendoingduringallthosetwohundredandfiftythousandyearsofsleep。

PossiblyifYva’stheory，asIunderstoodit，werecorrect，hehadreincarnatedasAttila，orTamerlane，orNapoleon，orevenasChakatheterribleZuluking。Atanyratetherehewasstillintheworld，filledwiththedreadofdeath，butconsumednowaseverbyhisinsatiableandmostuselessfiniteambitions。

Yva，also！Hercasewashis，butyethowdifferent。InallthislongnightofTimeshehadbutripenedintooneofthesweetestandmostgentlewomenthatevertheworldbore。She，too，wasgreatinherway，itappearedinhereverywordandgesture，butwherewastheferocityofherfather？Wherehisdesiretoreachtosplendourbytreadingonablood—stainedroadpavedwithbrokenhumanhearts？Itdidnotexist。Hernaturewasdifferentalthoughherbodycameofalonglineofthesepower—lovingkings。Whythisprofounddifferenceofthespirit？Likeeverythingelseitwasamystery。ThetwowereasfarapartasthePoles。EveryonemusthavehatedOro，fromthebeginning，howevermuchhefearedhim，buteveryonewhocameintouchwithhermusthavelovedYva。

HereImaybreakintomypersonalnarrativetosaythatthis，bytheirownconfession，provedtobetrueoftwosuchvariouspersonsasBastinandBickley。

"Thetruth，whichIamsureitwouldbewrongtohidefromyou，Arbuthnot，"saidtheformertomeoneday，"isthatduringyourlongillnessIfellinlove，Isupposethatistherightword，withtheGlitteringLady。Afterthinkingthematteroveralso，I

conceivedthatitwouldbepropertotellhersoifonlytocleartheairandpreventfuturemisunderstandings。AsIremarkedtoheronthatoccasion，Ihadhesitatedlong，asIwasnotcertainhowshewouldfilltheplaceofthewifeoftheincumbentofanEnglishparish。"

"Mothers’Meetings，andtherest，"Isuggested。

"Exactlyso，Arbuthnot。AlsothereweretheviewsoftheBishoptobeconsidered，whomighthaveobjectedtotheintroductionintothedioceseofastrikingpersonwhosorecentlyhadbeenaheathen，andtooneinsuchstrongcontrasttomylatebelovedwife。"

"Isupposeyoudidn’tconsiderthelateMrs。Bastin’sviewsonthesubjectofre—marriage。Irememberthattheywerestrong，"I

remarkedrathermaliciously。

"No，Ididnotthinkitnecessary，sincetheScripturalinstructionsonthematterareveryclear，andinanotherworldnodoubtalljealousies，evenSarah’s，willbeobliterated。Uponthatpointmyconsciencewasquiteeasy。SowhenIfoundthat，unlikeherparent，theLadyYvawasmuchinclinedtoaccepttheprinciplesofthefaithinwhichitismyprivilegetoinstructher，Ithoughtitpropertosaytoherthatifultimatelyshemadeuphermindtodoso——ofcoursethiswasasinequanon——I

shouldbemuchhonoured，andasaman，notasapriest，itwouldmakememosthappyifshewouldtakemeasahusband。OfcourseI

explainedtoherthatIconsidered，underthecircumstances，I

couldquitelawfullyperformthemarriageceremonymyselfwithyouandBickleyaswitnesses，evenshouldOrorefusetogiveheraway。AlsoItoldherthatalthoughafterhervariedexperiencesinthepast，lifeatFulcombe，ifwecouldevergetthere，mightbealittlemonotonous，stillitwouldnotbeentirelydevoidofinterest。"

"YoumeanChristmasdecorationsandthatsortofthing？"

"Yes，andchoirtreatsandentertainingDeputationsandattendingotherChurchactivities。"

"Well，andwhatdidshesay，Bastin？"

"Oh！shewasmostkindandflattering。Indeedthathourwillalwaysremainthepleasantestofmylife。Idon’tknowhowithappened，butwhenitwasoverIfeltquitedelightedthatshehadrefusedme。Indeedonsecondthoughts，IamnotcertainbutthatIshallbemuchhappierinthecapacitiesofabrotherandteacherwhichsheaskedmetofill，thanIshouldhavebeenasherhusband。Totellyouthetruth，Arbuthnot，therearemomentswhenIamnotsurewhetherIentirelyunderstandtheLadyYva。Itwasratherlikeproposingtoone’sguardianangel。"

"Yes，"Isaid，"that’saboutit，oldfellow。’GuardianAngel’

isnotabadnameforher。"

AfterwardsIreceivedtheconfidenceofBickley。

"Lookhere，Arbuthnot，"hesaid。"Iwanttoownuptosomething。IthinkIoughtto，becauseofcertainthingsIhaveobserved，inordertopreventpossiblefuturemisunderstandings。"

"What’sthat？"Iaskedinnocently。

"Onlythis。Asyouknow，Ihavealwaysbeenaconfirmedbacheloronprinciple。Womenintroducetoomanycomplicationsintolife，andalthoughitinvolvessomesacrifice，onthewhole，Ihavethoughtitbesttodowithoutthemandleavethecarryingonoftheworldtoothers。"

"Well，whatofit？Yourviewsarenotsingular，Bickley。"

"Onlythis。WhileyouwereillthesweetnessofthatLadyYvaandherwonderfulqualitiesasanurseovercameme。Iwenttopiecesallofasudden。IsawinherarealisationofeveryidealIhadeverentertainedofperfectwomanhood。Sotospeak，myresolvesofalifetimemeltedlikewaxinthesun。

Notwithstandingherqueerhistoryandthemarvelswithwhichsheismixedup，Iwishedtomarryher。Nodoubtherphysicallovelinesswasatthebottomofit，but，howeverthatmaybe，thereitwas。"

"Sheisbeautiful，"Icommented；"thoughIdaresayolderthanshelooks。"

"ThatisapointonwhichImadenoinquiries，andIshouldadviseyou，whenyourturncomes，asnodoubtitwill，tofollowmyexample。Youknow，Arbuthnot，"hemused，"howeverlovelyawomanmaybe，itwouldputoneoffifsuddenlysheannouncedthatshewas——letussay——ahundredandfiftyyearsold。"

"Yes，"Iadmitted，"fornobodywantstomarrythecontemporaryofhisgreat—grandmother。However，shegaveherageastwenty—

sevenyearsandthreemoons。"

"Anddoubtlessforoncedidnottellthetruth。But，asshedoesnotlookmorethantwenty—five，Ithinkthatwemayallagreetoletitstandatthat，namely，twenty—seven，plusanindefiniteperiodofsleep。Atanyrate，sheisasweetandmostgraciouswoman，apparentlyinthebloomofyouth，and，tocutitshort，Ifellinlovewithher。"

"LikeBastin，"Isaid。

"Bastin！"exclaimedBickleyindignantly。"Youdon’tmeantosaythatclericaloafpresumed——well，well，afterall，Isupposethatheisaman，soonemustn’tbehardonhim。Butwhocouldhavethoughtthathewouldrunsocunning，evenwhenheknewmysentimentstowardsthelady？Ihopeshetoldhimhermind。"

"Thepointis，whatdidshetellyou，Bickley？"

"Me？Oh，shewasperfectlycharming！Itreallywasapleasuretoberefusedbyher，sheputsonesothoroughlyatone’sease。"

（Here，rememberingBastinandhisstory，Iturnedawaymyfacetohideasmile。）"Shesaid——whatdidshesayexactly？Suchalotthatitisdifficulttoremember。Oh！thatshewasnotthinkingofmarriage。Also，thatshehadnotyetrecoveredfromsomerecentloveaffairwhichleftherheartsore，sincethetimeofhersleepdidnotcount。Also，thatherfatherwouldneverconsent，andthatthemereideaofsuchathingwouldexcitehisanimosityagainstallofus。"

"Isthatall？"Iasked。

"Notquite。SheaddedthatshefeltwonderfullyflatteredandextremelyhonouredbywhatIhadbeensogoodastosaytoher。

Shehoped，however，thatIshouldneverrepeatitorevenalludetothematteragain，asherdearestwishwastobeabletolookuponmeashermostintimatefriendtowhomshecouldalwayscomeforsympathyandcounsel。"

"Whathappenedthen？"

"Nothing，ofcourse，exceptthatIpromisedeverythingthatshewished，andmeantosticktoit，too。Naturally，Iwasverysoreandupset，butIamgettingoverit，havingalwayspractisedself—control。"

"Iamsorryforyou，oldfellow。"

"Areyou？"heaskedsuspiciously。"Thenperhapsyouhavetriedyourluck，too？"

"No，Bickley。"

Hisfacefellalittleatthisdenial，andheanswered：

"Well，itwouldhavebeenscarcelydecentifyouhad，seeinghowlatelyyouweremarried。Butthen，sowasthatartfulBastin。

Perhapsyouwillgetoverit——recentmarriage，Imean——ashehas。"Hehesitatedawhile，thenwenton："Ofcourseyouwill，oldfellow；Iknowit，and，whatismore，Iseemtoknowthatwhenyourturncomesyouwillgetadifferentanswer。Ifso，itwillkeepherinthefamilyasitwere——andgoodlucktoyou。

Only——"

"Onlywhat？"Iaskedanxiously。

"Tobehonest，Arbuthnot，Idon’tthinkthattherewillberealgoodluckforanyoneofusoverthiswoman——notintheordinarysense，Imean。Thewholebusinessistoostrangeandsuperhuman。

Isshequiteawoman，andcouldshereallymarryamanasothersdo？"

"Itiscuriousthatyoushouldtalklikethat，"Isaiduneasily。"Ithoughtthatyouhadmadeupyourmindthatthewholebusinesswaseitherillusionortrickery——Imean，theoddsideofit。"

"Ifitisillusion，Arbuthnot，thenamancannotmarryanillusion。Andifitistrickery，thenhewillcertainlybetricked。But，supposingthatIamwrong，whatthen？"

"Youmean，supposingthingsareastheyseemtobe？"

"Yes。Inthatevent，Arbuthnot，Iamsurethatsomethingwilloccurtopreventyourbeingunitedtoawomanwholivedthousandsofyearsago。Iamsorrytosayit，butFatewillintervene。

Remember，itisthegodofherpeoplethatIsupposesheworships，and，Imayadd，towhichthewholeworldbows。"

Athiswordsakindofchillfelluponme。Ithinkhesawordivinedit，forafterafewremarksuponsomeindifferentmatter，heturnedandwentaway。

ShortlyafterthisYvacametositwithme。ShestudiedmeforawhileandIstudiedher。Ihadreasontodoso，forIobservedthatoflateherdresshadbecomemuchmoremodern，andonthepresentoccasionthisstruckmeforcibly。Idonotknowexactlyinwhatthechange，orchanges，consisted，becauseIamnotskilledinsuchmattersandcanonlyjudgeofawoman’sgarmentsbytheirgeneraleffect。Atanyrate，thegorgeoussweepingrobesweregone，andthoughherattirestilllookedforeignandsomewhatoriental，withatouchofbarbaricsplendouraboutit——

itwassimplerthanithadbeenandshowedmoreofherfigure，whichwasdelicate，yetgracious。

"Youhavechangedyourrobes，Lady，"Isaid。"Yes，Humphrey。

Bastingavemepicturesofthoseyourwomenwear。"（OnfurtherinvestigationIfoundthatthisreferredtoanoldcopyoftheQueennewspaper，which，somehoworother，hadbeenbroughtwiththebooksfromtheship。）"Ihavetriedtocopythemalittle，"

sheaddeddoubtfully。

"Howdoyoudoit？Wheredoyougetthematerial？"Iasked。

"Oh！"sheansweredwithanairywaveofherhand，"Imakeit——

itisthere。"

"Idon’tunderstand，"Isaid，butsheonlysmiledradiantly，offeringnofurtherexplanation。Then，beforeIcouldpursuethesubject，sheaskedmesuddenly：

"WhathasBickleybeensayingtoyouaboutme？"Ifenced，answering："Idon’tknow。BastinandBickleytalkoflittleelse。

YouseemtohavebeenagreatdealwiththemwhileIwasill。"

"Yes，agreatdeal。Theyarethenearesttoyouwhoweresosick。Isitnotso？"

"Idon’tknow，"Iansweredagain。"Inmyillnessitseemedtomethatyouwerethenearest。"

"AboutBastin’swordsIcanguess，"shewenton。"ButIaskagain——whathasBickleybeensayingtoyouaboutme？Ofthefirstpart，letitbe；tellmetherest。"

Iintendedtoevadeherquestion，butshefixedthoseviolet，compellingeyesuponmeandIwasobligedtoanswer。

"IbelieveyouknowaswellasIdo，"Isaid；"butifyouwillhaveit，itwasthatyouarenotasotherhumanwomenare，andthathewhowouldtreatyouassuch，mustsuffer；thatwasthegistofit。"

"SomemightbecontenttosufferforsuchasI，"sheansweredwithquietsweetness。"EvenBastinandBickleymaybecontenttosufferintheirownlittleways。"

"YouknowthatisnotwhatImeant，"Iinterruptedangrily，forIfeltthatshewasthrowingreflectionsonme。

"No；youmeantthatyouagreedwithBickleythatIamnotquiteawoman，asyouknowwomen。"

Iwassilent，forherwordsweretrue。

Thensheblazedoutintooneofherflashesofsplendour，likesomethingthattakesfireonaninstant；likethefaintanddistantstarwhichflamesintosuddenglorybeforethewatcher’stelescope。

"ItistruethatIamnotasyourwomenare——yourpoor，palewomen，theshadowsofanhourwithnightbehindthemandbefore。

BecauseIamhumbleandpatient，doyouthereforesupposethatI

amnotgreat？Manfromthelittlecountryacrossthesea，Ilivedwhentheworldwasyoung，andgathereduptheancientwisdomofagreaterracethanyours，andwhentheworldisoldIthinkthatI

stillshalllive，thoughnotinthisshapeorhere，withallthatwisdom’sessenceburninginmybreast，andwithallbeautyinmyeyes。Bickleydoesnotbelievealthoughheworships。Youonlyhalfbelieveanddonotworship，becausememoryholdsyouback，andImyselfdonotunderstand。Ionlyknowthoughknowingsomuch，stillIseekroadstolearning，eventhehumbleroadcalledBastin，thatyetmayleadmyfeettothegateofanimmortalcity。"

"NordoIunderstandhowallthiscanbe，Yva，"Isaidfeebly，forshedazzledandoverwhelmedmewithherblazeofpower。

"No，youdonotunderstand。Howcanyou，whenevenIcannot？

ThusfortwohundredandfiftythousandyearsIslept，andtheywentbyasalightningflash。OnemomentmyfathergavemethedraughtandIlaidmedown，thenextIawokewithyoubendingoverme，orsoitseemed。YetwherewasIthroughallthosecenturieswhenformetimehadceased？Tellme，Humphrey，didyoudreamatallwhileyouwereill？IaskbecausedowninthatlonelycavernwhereIsleepastrangedreamcametomeonenight。

Itwasofajourneywhich，asIthought，youandIseemedtomaketogether，pastsunsanduniversestoaverydistantearth。Itmeantnothing，Humphrey。IfyouandIchancedtohavedreamedthesamething，itwasonlybecausemydreamtravelledtoyou。Itismostcommon，orusedtobe。Humphrey，Bickleyisquiteright，I

amnotaltogetherasyourwomenare，andIcanbringnohappinesstoanyman，orattheleast，toonewhocannotwait。Therefore，perhapsyouwoulddowelltothinklessofme，asIhavecounselledBastinandBickley。"

Thenagainshegazedatmewithherwonderful，greateyes，and，shakingherglitteringheadalittle，smiledandwent。

Butoh！thatsmiledrewmyheartafterher。

ChapterXX

OroandArbuthnotTravelbyNightAstimewenton，Orobegantovisitmemoreandmorefrequently，tillatlastscarcelyanightwentbythathedidnotappearmysteriouslyinmysleeping—place。TheoddthingwasthatneitherBickleynorBastinseemedtobeawareofthesenocturnalcalls。Indeed，whenImentionedthemononeortwooccasions，theystaredatmeandsaiditwasstrangethatheshouldhavecomeandgoneastheysawnothingofhim。

Onmyspeakingagainofthematter，Bickleyatonceturnedtheconversation，fromwhichIgatheredthathebelievedmetobesufferingfromdelusionsconsequentonmyillness，orperhapstohavetakentodreaming。Thiswasnotwonderfulsince，asI

learnedafterwards，Bickley，afterhewassurethatIwasasleep，madeapracticeoftyingathreadacrossmydoorwayandofascertainingatthedawnthatitremainedunbroken。ButOrowasnottobecaughtinthatway。Isuppose，asitwasimpossibleforhimtopassthroughthelatticeworkoftheopensideofthehouse，thatheundidthethreadandfasteneditagainwhenheleft；atleast，thatwasBastin’sexplanation，or，rather，oneofthem。Anotherwasthathecrawledbeneathit，butthisIcouldnotbelieve。IamquitecertainthatduringallhisprolongedexistenceOronevercrawled。

Atanyrate，hecame，orseemedtocome，andpumpedme——Icanusenootherword——mostenergeticallyastoexistingconditionsintheworld，especiallythoseofthecivilisedcountries，theirmethodsofgovernment，theirsocialstate，thephysicalcharacteristicsofthevariousraces，theirreligions，theexactdegreesofcivilisationthattheyhaddeveloped，theirattainmentsinart，scienceandliterature，theirmartialcapacities，theirlaws，andIknownotwhatbesides。

ItoldhimallIcould，butdidnotintheleastseemtosatisfyhisperennialthirstforinformation。

"Ishouldprefertojudgeformyself，"hesaidatlast。"Whyareyousoanxioustolearnaboutallthesenations，Oro？"I

asked，exhausted。

"BecausetheknowledgeIgathermayaffectmyplansforthefuture，"hereplieddarkly。

"Iamtold，Oro，thatyourpeopleacquiredthepoweroftransportingthemselvesfromplacetoplace。"

"ItistruethatthelordsoftheSonsofWisdomhadsuchpower，andthatIhaveitstill，OHumphrey。"

"Thenwhydoyounotgotolookwithyourowneyes？"I

suggested。

"BecauseIshouldneedaguide；onewhocouldexplainmuchinashorttime，"hesaid，contemplatingmewithhisburningglanceuntilIbegantofeeluncomfortable。

TochangethesubjectIaskedhimwhetherhehadanyfurtherinformationaboutthewar，whichhehadtoldmewasraginginEurope。

Heanswered："Notmuch；onlythatitwasgoingonwithvaryingsuccess，andwouldcontinuetodosountilthenationsinvolvedthereinwereexhausted，"orsohebelieved。ThewardidnotseemgreatlytointerestOro。Itwas，heremarked，butasmallaffaircomparedtothosewhichhehadknownintheolddays。Thenhedeparted，andIwenttosleep。

Nextnightheappearedagain，and，aftertalkingalittleondifferentsubjects，remarkedquietlythathehadbeenthinkingoverwhatIhadsaidastohisvisitingthemodernworld，andintendedtoactuponthesuggestion。

"When？"Iasked。

"Now，"hesaid。"IamgoingtovisitthisEnglandofyoursandthetownyoucallLondon，andyouwillaccompanyme。"

"Itisnotpossible！"Iexclaimed。"Wehavenoship。"

"Wecantravelwithoutaship，"saidOro。

Igrewalarmed，andsuggestedthatBastinorBickleywouldbeamuchbettercompanionthanIshouldinmyresentweakstate。

"Anempty—headedman，oronewhoalwaysdoubtsandargues，wouldbeuseless，"herepliedsharply。"Youshallcomeandyouonly。"

Iexpostulated；Itriedtogetupandfly——which，indeed，Ididdo，inanothersense。