Thethrob，throb，throb——beat，oftheaeropile’sflight，thathadseemedsopotentandsoswift，suddenlyappearedslowbycomparisonwiththistremendousrush。Howgreatthemonsterseemed，howswiftandsteady！Itpassedquitecloselybeneaththem，drivingalongsilently，avastspreadofwirenettedtranslucentwings，athingalive。Grahamhadamomentaryglimpseoftherowsandrowsofwrapped—uppassengers，slungintheirlittlecradlesbehindwind—screens，ofawhite—clothedengineercrawlingagainstthegalealongaladderway，ofspoutingenginesbeatingtogether，ofthewhirlingwindscrew，andofawidewasteofwing。Heexultedinthesight。
Andinaninstantthethinghadpassed。
Itroseslightlyandtheirownlittlewingsswayedintherushofitsflight。Itfellandgrewsmaller。
Scarcelyhadtheymoved，asitseemed，beforeitwasagainonlyaflatbluethingthatdwindledinthesky。
ThiswastheaeroplanethatwenttoandfrobetweenLondonandParis。Infairweatherandinpeacefultimesitcameandwentfourtimesaday。
TheybeatacrosstheChannel，slowlyasitseemednow，toGraham’senlargedideas，andBeachyHeadrosegreylytotheleftofthem。
"Land，"calledtheaeronaut，hisvoicesmallagainstthewhistlingoftheairoverthewind—screen。
"Notyet，"bawledGraham，laughing。"Notlandyet。Iwanttolearnmoreofthismachine。"
"Imeant——"saidtheaeronaut。
"Iwanttolearnmoreofthismachine，"repeatedGraham。
"I’mcomingtoyou，"hesaid，andhadflunghimselffreeofhischairandtakenastepalongtheguardedrailbetweenthem。Hestoppedforamoment，andhiscolourchangedandhishandstightened。Anotherstepandhewasclingingclosetotheaeronaut。Hefeltaweightonhisshoulder，thepressureoftheair。
Hishatwasawhirlingspeckbehind。Thewindcameingustsoverhiswind—screenandblewhishairinstreamerspasthischeek。Theaeronautmadesomehastyadjustmentsfortheshiftingofthecentresofgravityandpressure。
"Iwanttohavethesethingsexplained，"saidGraham。"Whatdoyoudowhenyoumovethatengineforward？"
Theaeronauthesitated。Thenheanswered，"Theyarecomplex，Sire。"
"Idon’tmind，"shoutedGraham。"Idon’tmind。"
Therewasamoment’spause。"Aeronauticsisthesecret——theprivilege——"
"Iknow。ButI’mtheMaster，andImeantoknow。"Helaughed，fullofthisnovelrealisationofpowerthatwashisgiftfromtheupperair。
Theaeropilecurvedabout，andthekeenfreshwindcutacrossGraham’sfaceandhisgarmentluggedathisbodyasthestempointedroundtothewest。Thetwomenlookedintoeachother’seyes。
"Sire，therearerules——"
"NotwhereIamconcerned，"saidGraham。"Youseemtoforget。"
Theaeronautscrutinisedhisface。"No，"hesaid。
"Idonotforget，Sire。Butinalltheearth——nomanwhoisnotaswornaeronaut——haseverachance。
Theycomeaspassengers——"
"Ihaveheardsomethingofthesort。ButI’mnotgoingtoarguethesepoints。DoyouknowwhyI
haveslepttwohundredyears？Tofly！"
"Sire，"saidtheaeronaut，"therules——ifIbreaktherules——"
Grahamwavedthepenaltiesaside。
"Thenifyouwillwatchme——"
"No，"saidGraham，swayingandgrippingtightasthemachinelifteditsnoseagainforanascent。
"That’snotmygame。Iwanttodoitmyself。DoitmyselfifIsmashforit！No！Iwill。See。Iamgoingtoclamberbythistocomeandshareyourseat。Steady！ImeantoflyofmyownaccordifIsmashattheendofit。Iwillhavesomethingtopayformysleep。Ofallotherthings——。Inmypastitwasmydreamtofly。Now——keepyourbalance。"
"Adozenspiesarewatchingme，Sire！"
Graham’stemperwasatend。Perhapshechoseitshouldbe。Heswore。Heswunghimselfroundtheinterveningmassofleversandtheaeropileswayed。
"AmIMasteroftheearth？"hesaid。"OrisyourSociety？Now。Takeyourhandsoffthoselevers，andholdmywrists。Yes——so。Andnow，howdoweturnhernosedowntotheglide？"
"Sire，"saidtheaeronaut。
"Whatisit？"
"Youwillprotectme？"
"Lord！Yes！IfIhavetoburnLondon。Now！"
AndwiththatpromiseGrahamboughthisfirstlessoninaerialnavigation。"It’sclearlytoyouradvantage，thisjourney，"hesaidwithaloudlaugh——fortheairwaslikestrongwine——"toteachmequicklyandwell。
DoIpullthis？Ah！So！Hullo！"
"Back，Sire！Back！"
"Back——right。One——two——three——goodGod！Ah！Upshegoes！Butthisisliving！"
Andnowthemachinebegantodancethestrangestfiguresintheair。Nowitwouldsweeproundaspiralofscarcelyahundredyardsdiameter，nowitwouldrushupintotheairandswoopdownagain，steeply，swiftly，fallinglikeahawk，torecoverinarushingloopthatsweptithighagain。Inoneofthesedescentsitseemeddrivingstraightatthedriftingparkofballoonsinthesoutheast，andonlycurvedaboutandclearedthembyasuddenrecoveryofdexterity。Theextraordinaryswiftnessandsmoothnessofthemotion，theextraordinaryeffectoftherarefiedairuponhisconstitution，threwGrahamintoacarelessfury。
Butatlastaqueerincidentcametosoberhim，tosendhimflyingdownoncemoretothecrowdedlifebelowwithallitsdarkinsolubleriddles。Asheswooped，cameatapandsomethingflyingpast，andadroplikeadropofrain。Thenashewentondownhesawsomethinglikeawhiteragwhirlingdowninhiswake。"Whatwasthat？"heasked。"Ididnotsee。"
Theaeronautglanced，andthenclutchedatthelevertorecover，fortheyweresweepingdown。Whentheaeropilewasrisingagainhedrewadeepbreathandreplied。"That，"andheindicatedthewhitethingstillflutteringdown，"wasaswan。"
"Ineversawit，"saidGraham。
Theaeronautmadenoanswer，andGrahamsawlittledropsuponhisforehead。
TheydrovehorizontallywhileGrahamclamberedbacktothepassenger’splaceoutofthelashofthewind。Andthencameaswiftrushdown，withthewind—screwwhirlingtochecktheirfall，andtheflyingstagegrowingbroadanddarkbeforethem。Thesun，sinkingoverthechalkhillsinthewest，fellwiththem，andlefttheskyablazeofgold。
Soonmencouldbeseenaslittlespecks。Heheardanoisecominguptomeethim，anoiselikethesoundofwavesuponapebblybeach，andsawthattheroofsabouttheflyingstageweredarkwithhispeoplerejoicingoverhissafereturn。Adarkmasswascrushedtogetherunderthestage，adarknessstippledwithinnumerablefaces，andquiveringwiththeminuteoscillationofwavedwhitehandkerchiefsandwavinghands。
CHAPTERXVII
THREEDAYS
LincolnawaitedGrahaminanapartmentbeneaththeflyingstages。Heseemedcurioustolearnallthathadhappened，pleasedtohearoftheextraordinarydelightandinterestwhichGrahamtookinflyingGrahamwasinamoodofenthusiasm。"Imustlearntofly，"hecried。"Imustmasterthat。Ipityallpoorsoulswhohavediedwithoutthisopportunity。Thesweetswiftair！Itisthemostwonderfulexperienceintheworld。"
"Youwillfindournewtimesfullofwonderfulexperiences，"saidLincoln。"Idonotknowwhatyouwillcaretodonow。Wehavemusicthatmayseemnovel。"
"Forthepresent，"saidGraham，"flyingholdsme。
Letmelearnmoreofthat。Youraeronautwassayingthereissometradesunionobjectiontoone’slearning。"
"Thereis，Ibelieve，"saidLincoln。"Butforyou——！Ifyouwould’liketooccupyyourselfwiththat，wecanmakeyouaswornaeronauttomorrow。"
Grahamexpressedhiswishesvividlyandtalkedofhissensationsforawhile。"Andasforaffairs，"heaskedabruptly。"Howarethingsgoingon？"
Lincolnwavedaffairsaside。"Ostrogwilltellyouthattomorrow，"hesaid。"Everythingissettlingdown。TheRevolutionaccomplishesitselfallovertheworld。Frictionisinevitablehereandthere，ofcourse；butyourruleisassured。YoumayrestsecurewiththingsinOstrog’shands。"
"Woulditbepossibleformetobemadeaswornaeronaut，asyoucallit，forthwith——beforeIsleep？"
saidGraham，pacing。"ThenIcouldbeatittheveryfirstthingtomorrowagain。
"Itwouldbepossible，"saidLincolnthoughtfully。
"Quitepossible。Indeed，itshallbedone。"Helaughed。"Icamepreparedtosuggestamusements，butyouhavefoundoneforyourself。IwilltelephonetotheaeronauticalofficesfromhereandwewillreturntoyourapartmentsintheWind—VaneControl。Bythetimeyouhavedinedtheaeronautswillbeabletocome。Youdon’tthinkthatafteryouhavedined，youmightprefer——？"Hepaused。
"Yes，"saidGraham。
"Wehadpreparedashowofdancers——theyhavebeenbroughtfromtheCapritheatre。"
"Ihateballets，"saidGraham，shortly。"Alwaysdid。Thatother——。That’snotwhatIwanttosee。
Wehaddancersintheolddays。Forthematterofthat，theyhadtheminancientEgypt。Butflying——"
"True，"saidLincoln。"Thoughourdancers——"
"Theycanaffordtowait，"saidGraham；"theycanaffordtowait。Iknow。I’mnotaLatin。There’squestionsIwanttoasksomeexpert——aboutyourmachinery。I’mkeen。Iwantnodistractions。"
"Youhavetheworldtochoosefrom，"saidLincoln；
"whateveryouwantisyours。"
Asanoappeared，andundertheescortofastrongguardtheyreturnedthroughthecitystreetstoGraham’sapartments。Farlargercrowdshadassembledtowitnesshisreturnthanhisdeparturehadgathered，andtheshoutsandcheeringofthesemassesofpeoplesometimesdrownedLincoln’sanswerstotheendlessquestionsGraham’saerialjourneyhadsuggested。AtfirstGrahamhadacknowledgedthecheeringandcriesofthecrowdbybowsandgestures，butLincolnwarnedhimthatsucharecognitionwouldbeconsideredincorrectbehaviour。Graham，alreadyalittleweariedbyrhythmiccivilities，ignoredhissubjectsfortheremainderofhispublicprogress。
DirectlytheyarrivedathisapartmentsAsanodepartedinsearchofkinematographicrenderingsofmachineryinmotion，andLincolndespatchedGraham’scommandsformodelsofmachinesandsmallmachinestoillustratethevariousmechanicaladvancesofthelasttwocenturies。ThelittlegroupofappliancesfortelegraphiccommunicationattractedtheMastersostronglythathisdelightfullyprepareddinner，servedbyanumberofcharminglydexterousgirls，waitedforaspace。Thehabitofsmokinghadalmostceasedfromthefaceoftheearth，butwhenheexpressedawishforthatindulgence，inquiriesweremadeandsomeexcellentcigarswerediscoveredinFlorida，andsenttohimbypneumaticdispatchwhilethedinnerwasstillinprogress。Afterwardscametheaeronauts，andafeastofingeniouswondersinthehandsofalatter—dayengineer。Forthetime，atanyrate，theneatdexterityofcountingandnumberingmachines，buildingmachines，spinningengines，patentdoorways，explosivemotors，grainandwaterelevators，slaughter—housemachinesandharvestingappliances，wasmorefascinatingtoGrahamthananybayadere。"Weweresavages，"washisrefrain，"weweresavages。Wewereinthestoneage——comparedwiththis……Andwhatelsehaveyou？"
Therecamealsopracticalpsychologistswithsomeveryinterestingdevelopmentsintheartofhypnotism。
ThenamesofMilneBramwell，Fechner，Liebault，WilliamJames，MyersandGurney，hefound，boreavaluenowthatwouldhaveastonishedtheircontemporaries。Severalpracticalapplicationsofpsychologywerenowingeneraluse；ithadlargelysupersceededdrugs，antisepticsandanaestheticsinmedicine；wasemployedbyalmostallwhohadanyneedofmentalconcentration。Arealenlargementofhumanfacultyseemedtohavebeeneffectedinthisdirection。
Thefeatsof"calculatingboys，"thewonders，asGrahamhadbeenwonttoregardthem，ofmesmerisers，werenowwithintherangeofanyonewhocouldaffordtheservicesofaskilledhypnotist。Longagotheoldexaminationmethodsineducationhadbeendestroyedbytheseexpedients。Insteadofyearsofstudy，candidateshadsubstitutedafewweeksoftrances，andduringthetrancesexpertcoacheshadsimplytorepeatallthepointsnecessaryforadequateanswering，addingasuggestionoftheposthypnoticrecollectionofthesepoints。Inprocessmathematicsparticularly，thisaidhadbeenofsingularservice，anditwasnowinvariablyinvokedbysuchplayersofchessandgamesofmanualdexterityaswerestilltobefound。Infact，alloperationsconductedunderfiniterules，ofaquasi—mechanicalsortthatis，werenowsystematicallyrelievedfromthewanderingsofimaginationandemotion，andbroughttoanunexampledpitchofaccuracy。
Littlechildrenofthelabouringclasses，sosoonastheywereofsufficientagetobehypnotised，werethusconvertedintobeautifullypunctualandtrustworthymachineminders，andreleasedforthwithfromthelong，longthoughtsofyouth。Aeronauticalpupils，whogavewaytogiddiness，couldberelievedfromtheirimaginaryterrors。Ineverystreetwerehypnotistsreadytoprintpermanentmemoriesuponthemind。Ifanyonedesiredtorememberaname，aseriesofnumbers，asongoraspeech，itcouldbedonebythismethod，andconverselymemoriescouldbeeffaced，habitsremoved，anddesireseradicated——asortofpsychicsurgerywas，infact，ingeneraluse。
Indignities，humblingexperiences，werethusforgotten，amorouswidowswouldobliteratetheirprevioushusbands，angryloversreleasethemselvesfromtheirslavery。Tograftdesires，however，wasstillimpossible，andthefactsofthoughttransferencewereyetunsystematised。Thepsychologistsillustratedtheirexpositionswithsomeastoundingexperimentsinmnemonicsmadethroughtheagencyofatroupeofpale—facedchildreninblue。
Graham，likemostofthepeopleofhisformertime，distrustedthehypnotist，orhemightthenandtherehaveeasedhismindofmanypainfulpreoccupations。
ButinspiteofLincoln’sassurancesheheldtotheoldtheorythattobehypnotisedwasinsomewaythesurrenderofhispersonality，theabdicationofhiswill。Atthebanquetofwonderfulexperiencesthatwasbeginning，hewantedverykeenlytoremainabsolutelyhimself。
Thenextday，andanotherday，andyetanotherdaypassedinsuchinterestsasthese。EachdayGrahamspentmanyhoursinthegloriousentertainmentofflying。OnthethirddayhesoaredacrossmiddleFrance，andwithinsightofthesnow—cladAlps。Thesevigorousexercisesgavehimrestfulsleep，andeachdaysawagreatstrideinhishealthfromthespiritlessanaemiaofhisfirstawakening。Andwheneverhewasnotintheair，andawake，Lincolnwasassiduousinthecauseofhisamusement；allthatwasnovelandcuriousincontemporaryinventionwasbroughttohim，untilatlasthisappetitefornoveltywaswell—nighglutted。
Onemightfilladozeninconsecutivevolumeswiththestrangethingstheyexhibited。Eachafternoonheheldhiscourtforanhourorso。Hespeedilyfoundhisinterestinhiscontemporariesbecomingpersonalandintimate。Atfirsthehadbeenalertchieflyforunfamiliarityandpeculiarity；anyfoppishnessintheirdress，anydiscordancewithhispreconceptionsofnobilityintheirstatusandmannershadjarreduponhim，anditwasremarkabletohimhowsoonthatstrangenessandthefainthostilitythatarosefromit，disappeared；howsoonhecametoappreciatethetrueperspectiveofhisposition，andseetheoldVictoriandaysremoteandquaint。Hefoundhimselfparticularlyamusedbythered—haireddaughteroftheManageroftheEuropeanPiggeries。Ontheseconddayafterdinnerhemadetheacquaintanceofalatter—daydancinggirl，andfoundheranastonishingartist。Andafterthat，morehypnoticwonders。OnthethirddayLincolnwasmovedtosuggestthattheMastershouldrepairtoaPleasureCity，butthisGrahamdeclined，norwouldheaccepttheservicesofthehypnotistsinhisaeronauticalexperiments。ThelinkoflocalityheldhimtoLondon；hefoundaperpetualwonderintopographicalidentificationsthathewouldhavemissedabroad。"Here——orahundredfeetbelowhere，"hecouldsay，"IusedtoeatmymiddaycutletsduringmyLondonUniversitydays。UnderneathherewasWaterlooandtheperpetualhuntforconfusingtrains。
OftenhaveIstoodwaitingdownthere，baginhand，andstaredupintotheskyabovetheforestofsignals，littlethinkingIshouldwalksomedayahundredyardsintheair。Andnowinthatveryskythatwasonceagreysmokecanopy，Icircleinanaeropile。"
DuringthosethreedaysGrahamwassooccupiedwithsuchdistractionsthatthevastpoliticalmovementsinprogressoutsidehisquartershadbutasmallshareofhisattention。Thoseabouthimtoldhimlittle。DailycameOstrog，theBoss，hisGrandVizier，hismayorofthepalace，toreportinvaguetermsthesteadyestablishmentofhisrule；"alittletrouble"
soontobesettledinthiscity，"aslightdisturbance"
inthat。Thesongofthesocialrevoltcametohimnomore；heneverlearnedthatithadbeenforbiddeninthemunicipallimits；andallthegreatemotionsofthecrow’snestslumberedinhismind。
Butonthesecondandthirdofthethreedayshefoundhimself，inspiteofhisinterestinthedaughterofthePigManager，oritmaybeby，reasonofthethoughtsherconversationsuggested，rememberingthegirlHelenWotton，whohadspokentohimsooddlyattheWind—VaneKeeper’sgathering。Theimpressionshehadmadewasadeepone，albeittheincessantsurpriseofnovelcircumstanceshadkepthimfrombroodinguponitforaspace。Butnowhermemorywascomingtoitsown。
Hewonderedwhatshehadmeantbythosebrokenhalf—forgottensentences；thepictureofhereyesandtheearnestpassionofherfacebecamemorevividashismechanicalinterestsfaded。Herbeautycamecompellinglybetweenhimandcertainimmediatetemptationsofignoblepassion。Buthedidnotseeheragainuntilthreefulldayswerepast。
CHAPTERXVIII
GRAHAMREMEMBERS
ShecameuponhimatlastinalittlegallerythatranfromtheWindVaneOfficestowardhisstateapartments。Thegallerywaslongandnarrow，withaseriesofrecesses，eachwithanarchedfenestrationthatlookeduponacourtofpalms。Hecameuponhersuddenlyinoneoftheserecesses。Shewasseated。
Sheturnedherheadatthesoundofhisfootstepsandstartedatthesightofhim。Everytouchofcolourvanishedfromherface。Sheroseinstantly，madeasteptowardhimasiftoaddresshim，andhesitated。
Hestoppedandstoodstill，expectant。Thenheperceivedthatanervoustumultsilencedher，perceivedtoo，thatshemusthavesoughtspeechwithhimtobewaitingforhiminthisplace。
Hefeltaregalimpulsetoassisther。"Ihavewantedtoseeyou，"hesaid。"Afewdaysagoyouwantedtotellmesomething——youwantedtotellmeofthepeople。Whatwasityouhadtotellme？"
Shelookedathimwithtroubledeyes。
"Yousaidthepeoplewereunhappy？"
Foramomentshewassilentstill。
"Itmusthaveseemedstrangetoyou，"shesaidabruptly。
"Itdid。Andyet——"
"Itwasanimpulse。"
"Well？"
"Thatisall。"
Shelookedathimwithafaceofhesitation。Shespokewithaneffort。"Youforget，"shesaid，drawingadeepbreath。
"What？"
"Thepeople——"
"Doyoumean——？"
"Youforgetthepeople。"
Helookedinterrogative。
"Yes。Iknowyouaresurprised。Foryoudonotunderstandwhatyouare。Youdonotknowthethingsthatarehappening。"
"Well？"
"Youdonotunderstand。"
"Notclearly，perhaps。But——tellme。"
Sheturnedtohimwithsuddenresolution。"Itissohardtoexplain。Ihavemeantto，Ihavewantedto。
Andnow——Icannot。Iamnotreadywithwords。
Butaboutyou——thereissomething。ItisWonder。
Yoursleep——yourawakening。Thesethingsaremiracles。Tomeatleast——andtoallthecommonpeople。Youwholivedandsufferedanddied，youwhowereacommoncitizen，wakeagain，liveagain，tofindyourselfMasteralmostoftheearth。"
"Masteroftheearth，"hesaid。"Sotheytellme。
ButtryandimaginehowlittleIknowofit。"
"Cities——Trusts——theLabourCompany——"
"Principalities，powers，dominions——thepowerandtheglory。Yes，Ihaveheardthemshout。Iknow。
IamMaster。King，ifyouwish。WithOstrog，theBoss——"
Hepaused。
Sheturneduponhimandsurveyedhisfacewithacuriousscrutiny。"Well？"
Hesmiled。"Totaketheresponsibility。"
"Thatiswhatwehavebeguntofear。"Foramomentshesaidnomore。"No，"shesaidslowly。"Youwilltaketheresponsibility。Youwilltaketheresponsibility。Thepeoplelooktoyou。"
Shespokesoftly。"Listen！Foratleasthalftheyearsofyoursleep——ineverygeneration——multitudesofpeople，ineverygenerationgreatermultitudesofpeople，haveprayedthatyoumightawake——
prayed。"
Grahammovedtospeakanddidnot。
Shehesitated，andafaintcolourcreptbacktohercheek。"Doyouknowthatyouhavebeentomyriads——KingArthur，Barbarossa——theKingwhowouldcomeinhisowngoodtimeandputtheworldrightforthem？"
"Isupposetheimaginationofthepeople——"
"Haveyounotheardourproverb，’WhentheSleeperwakes？’Whileyoulayinsensibleandmotionlessthere——thousandscame。Thousands。Everyfirstofthemonthyoulayinstatewithawhiterobeuponyouandthepeoplefiledbyyou。WhenIwasalittlegirlIsawyoulikethat，withyourfacewhiteandcalm。"
Sheturnedherfacefromhimandlookedsteadfastlyatthepaintedwallbeforeher。Hervoicefell。"WhenIwasalittlegirlIusedtolookatyourface……itseemedtomefixedandwaiting，likethepatienceofGod。"
"Thatiswhatwethoughtofyou，"shesaid。"Thatishowyouseemedtous。"
Sheturnedshiningeyestohim，hervoicewasclearandstrong。"Inthecity，intheearth，amyriadmyriadmenandwomenarewaitingtoseewhatyouwilldo，fullofstrangeincredibleexpectations。"
"Yes？"
"Ostrog——noone——cantakethatresponsibility。"
Grahamlookedatherinsurprise，atherfacelitwithemotion。Sheseemedatfirsttohavespokenwithaneffort，andtohavefiredherselfbyspeaking。
"Doyouthink，"shesaid，"thatyouwhohavelivedthatlittlelifesofarawayinthepast，youwhohavefallenintoandrisenoutofthismiracleofsleep——doyouthinkthatthewonderandreverenceandhopeofhalftheworldhasgatheredaboutyouonlythatyoumayliveanotherlittlelife？……Thatyoumayshifttheresponsibilitytoanyotherman？"
"Iknowhowgreatthiskingshipofmineis，"hesaidhaltingly。"Iknowhowgreatitseems。Butisitreal？Itisincredible——dreamlike。Isitreal，orisitonlyagreatdelusion？"
"Itisreal，"shesaid；"ifyoudare。"
"Afterall，likeallkingship，mykingshipisBelief。
Itisanillusioninthemindsofmen。"
"Ifyoudare！"shesaid。
"But——"
"Countlessmen，"shesaid，"andwhileitisintheirminds——theywillobey。"
"ButIknownothing。ThatiswhatIhadinmind。
Iknownothing。Andtheseothers——theCouncillors，Ostrog。Theyarewiser，cooler，theyknowsomuch，everydetail。And，indeed，whatarethesemiseriesofwhichyouspeak？WhatamItoknow？Doyoumean——"
Hestoppedblankly。
"Iamstillhardlymorethanagirl，"shesaid。"Buttometheworldseemsfullofwretchedness。Theworldhasalteredsinceyourday，alteredverystrangely。I
haveprayedthatImightseeyouandtellyouthesethings。Theworldhaschanged。Asifacankerhadseizedit——androbbedlifeof——everythingworthhaving。"
Sheturnedaflushedfaceuponhim，movingsuddenly。
"Yourdayswerethedaysoffreedom。Yes——
Ihavethought。Ihavebeenmadetothink，formylife——hasnotbeenhappy。Menarenolongerfree——
nogreater，nobetterthanthemenofyourtime。Thatisnotall。Thiscity——isaprison。Everycitynowisaprison。Mammongripsthekeyinhishand。
Myriads，countlessmyriads，toilfromthecradletothegrave。Isthatright？Isthattobe——forever？
Yes，farworsethaninyourtime。Allaboutus，beneathus，sorrowandpain。Alltheshallowdelightofsuchlifeasyoufindaboutyou，isseparatedbyjustalittlefromalifeofwretchednessbeyondanytellingYes，thepoorknowit——theyknowtheysuffer。Thesecountlessmultitudeswhofaceddeathforyoutwonightssince——！Youoweyourlifetothem。"
"Yes，"saidGraham，slowly。"Yes。Iowemylifetothem。"
"Youcome，"shesaid，"fromthedayswhenthisnewtyrannyofthecitieswasscarcelybeginning。
Itisatyranny——atyranny。Inyourdaysthefeudalwarlordshadgone，andthenewlordshipofwealthhadstilltocome。Halfthemenintheworldstilllivedoutuponthefreecountryside。Thecitieshadstilltodevourthem。Ihaveheardthestoriesoutoftheoldbooks——therewasnobility！Commonmenledlivesofloveandfaithfulnessthen——theydidathousandthings。Andyou——youcomefromthattime。"
"Itwasnot——。Butnevermind。Howisitnow——？"
"GainandthePleasureCities！Orslavery——unthanked，unhonoured，slavery。"
"Slavery！"hesaid。
"Slavery。"
"Youdon’tmeantosaythathumanbeingsarechattels。"
"Worse。ThatiswhatIwantyoutoknow，whatIwantyoutosee。Iknowyoudonotknow。Theywillkeepthingsfromyou，theywilltakeyoupresentlytoaPleasureCity。Butyouhavenoticedmenandwomenandchildreninpalebluecanvas，withthinyellowfacesanddulleyes？"
"Everywhere。"