Soitwas。Thewholeplacewasfilledwithasoftradiance，equaltothatofthesunatnoon，butgentlerandwithoutheat。
　　"Wheredoesitcomefrom？"IwhisperedtoYva。
　　"Oh！"shereplied，asIthoughtevasively。"ItisthelightoftheUnder—worldwhichweknowhowtouse。Theearthisfulloflight，whichisnotwonderful，isit，seeingthatitsheartisfire？Nowlookaboutyou。"
　　Ilookedandleantonherharderthanever，sinceamazementmademeweak。Wewereinsomevastplacewhereoftheroofseemedalmostasfaroffastheskyatnight。AtleastallthatIcouldmakeoutwasadimanddistantarchwhichmighthavebeenoneofcloud。Fortherest，ineverydirectionstretchedvastness，illuminatedfarastheeyecouldreachbythesoftlightofwhichIhavespoken，thatis，probablyforseveralmiles。Butthisvastnesswasnotempty。Onthecontraryitwasoccupiedbyagreatcity。TherewerestreetsmuchwiderthanPiccadilly，allborderedbyhouses，thoughthese，Iobserved，wereroofless，veryfinehouses，someofthem，builtofwhitestoneormarble。Therewereroadwaysandpavementswornbythepassageoffeet。There，fartheron，weremarket—placesorpublicsquares，andthere，lastly，wasahugecentralenclosureoneortwohundredacresinextent，whichwasfilledwithmajesticbuildingsthatlookedlikepalaces，ortown—halls；and，inthemidstofthemall，avasttemplewithcourtsandacentraldome。Forhere，notwithstandingthelackofnecessity，itsbuildersseemedtohaveadheredtotheOver—worldtradition，andhadroofedtheirfane。
　　Andnowcametheterror。Allofthisenormouscitywasdead。
　　Haditstooduponthemoonitcouldnothavebeenmoredead。Nonepaceditsstreets；nonelookedfromitswindow—places。Nonetraffickedinitsmarkets，noneworshippedinitstemple。Swept，garnished，lighted，practicallyuntouchedbythehandofTime，herewherenorainsfellandnowindsblew，itwasyetahowlingwilderness。Forwhatwildernessistheretoequalthatwhichoncehasbeenthebusyhauntofmen？LetthosewhohavestoodamongtheburiedcitiesofCentralAsia，orofAnarajapurainCeylon，orevenamidtheruinsofSalamisonthecoastofCyprus，answerthequestion。Butherewassomethinginfinitelymoreawful。A
　　hugehumanhauntinthebowelsoftheearthutterlydevoidofhumanbeings，andyetasperfectasonthedaywhentheseceasedtobe。
　　"Idonotcareforundergroundlocalities，"remarkedBastin，hisgruffvoiceechoingstrangelyinthatterriblesilence，"butitdoesseemapitythatallthesefinebuildingsshouldbewasted。Isupposetheirinhabitantslefttheminsearchoffreshair。"
　　"Whydidtheyleavethem？"IaskedofYva。
　　"Becausedeathtookthem，"sheansweredsolemnly。"Eventhosewholiveathousandyearsdieatlast，andiftheyhavenochildren，withthemdiestherace。"
　　"Thenwereyouthelastofyourpeople？"Iasked。
　　"Inquireofmyfather，"shereplied，andledthewaythroughthemassivearchofagreatbuilding。
　　Itledintoawalledcourtyardinthecentreofwhichwasaplaincupolaofmarblewithagateofsomepalemetalthatlookedlikeplatinummixedwithgold。Thisgatestoodopen。
　　Withinitwasthestatueofawomanbeautifullyexecutedinwhitemarbleandsetinanicheofsomeblackstone。Thefigurewasdrapedasthoughtoconcealtheshape，andthefacewassternandmajesticratherthanbeautiful。Theeyesofthestatuewerecunninglymadeofsomeenamelwhichgavethemastrangeandlifelikeappearance。Theystaredupwardsasthoughlookingawayfromtheearthanditsconcerns。Thearmswereoutstretched。Intherighthandwasacupofblackmarble，intheleftasimilarcupofwhitemarble。Fromeachofthesecupstrickledathinstreamofsparklingwater，whichtwostreamsmetandmingledatadistanceofaboutthreefeetbeneaththecups。Thentheyfellintoametalbasinwhich，althoughitmusthavebeenquiteafootthick，wascutrightthroughbytheirconstantimpact，andapparentlyvanisheddownsomepipebeneath。OutofthismetalbasinTommy，whogambolledintotheplaceaheadofus，begantodrinkinagreedyanddemonstrativefashion。
　　"TheLife—water？"Isaid，lookingatourguide。
　　Shenoddedandaskedinherturn：
　　"Whatisthestatueandwhatdoesitsignify，Humphrey？"
　　Ihesitated，butBastinanswered：
　　"Justaratheruglywomanwhohidupherfigurebecauseitwasbad。Probablyshewasarelationoftheartistwhowishedtohaveherlikenessdoneandsatfornothing。"
　　"ThegoddessofHealth，"suggestedBickley。"Herproportionsareperfect；arobust，athoroughlynormalwoman。"
　　"Now，Humphrey，"saidYva。
　　Istaredattheworkandhadnotanidea。ThenitflashedonmewithsuchsuddennessandcertainitythatIamconvincedtheanswertotheriddlewaspassedtomefromheranddidnotoriginateinmyownmind。
　　"Itseemsquiteeasy，"Isaidinasuperiortone。"ThefiguresymbolisesLifeandisdrapedbecauseweonlyseethefaceofLife，therestishidden。ThearmsarebarebecauseLifeisrealandactive。OnecupisblackandoneiswhitebecauseLifebringsbothgoodandevilgifts；thatiswhythestreamsmingle，tobelostbeneathinthedarknessofdeath。Thefeaturesaresternandeventerrifyingratherthanlovely，becausesuchistheaspectofLife。Theeyeslookupwardandfarawayfrompresentthings，becausethereallifeisnothere。"
　　"Ofcourseonemaysayanything，"saidBastin，"butIdon’tunderstandallthat。"
　　"Imaginationgoesalongway，"brokeinBickley，whowasvexedthathehadnotthoughtofthisinterpretationhimself。ButYvasaid：
　　"Ibegintothinkthatyouarequiteclever，Humphrey。Iwonderwhencethetruthcametoyou，forsuchisthemeaningofthefigureandthecups。HadItoldittoyoumyself，itcouldnothavebeenbettersaid，"andsheglancedatmeoutofthecornersofhereyes。"Now，Strangers，willyoudrink？Oncethatgatewasguarded，andonlyatagreatpriceorasagreatrewardwerecertainoftheHighestBloodgiventhefreedomofthisfountainwhichmighttouchnocommonlips。Indeeditwasoneofthecausesofourlastwar，foralltheworldwhichwas，desiredthiswaterwhichnowislappedbyastranger’shound。"
　　"Isupposethereisnothingmedicinalinit？"saidBastin。
　　"OncewhenIwasverythirsty，Imadeamistakeanddrankthreetumblersofsomethingofthesortinthedark，thinkingthatitwasApollinaris，andIdon’twanttodoitagain。"
　　"Justthesortofthingyouwoulddo，"saidBickley。"But，LadyYva，whatarethepropertiesofthiswater？"
　　"Itisveryhealth—giving，"sheanswered，"andifdrunkcontinually，notlessthanonceeachthirtydays，itwardsoffsickness，lessenshungerandpostponesdeathformany，manyyears。ThatiswhythoseoftheHighBloodenduredsolongandbecametherulersoftheworld，andthat，asIhavesaid，isthegreatestofthereasonswhythepeopleswhodweltintheancientoutercountriesandneverwishedtodie，madewaruponthem，towinthissecretfountain。Havenofear，OBastin，forsee，Iwillpledgeyouinthiswater。"
　　Thensheliftedastrange—looking，shallow，metalcupwhereofthehandleswereformedoftwistedserpents，thatlayinthebasin，filleditfromthetricklingstream，bowedtousanddrank。ButasshedrankInotedwithathrillofjoythathereyeswerefixedonmineasthoughitweremeshepledgedandmealone。Againshefilledthecupwiththesparklingwater，foritdidsparkle，likethatFrenchliqueurinwhicharemingledlittleflakesofgold，andhandedittome。
　　Ibowedtoheranddrank。Isupposethefluidwaswater，buttomeittastedmorelikestrongchampagne，dashedwithChateauYquem。Itwasdelicious。More，itseffectsweredistinctlypeculiar。Somethingquickandsubtleranthroughmyveins；
　　somethingthatforafewmomentsseemedtoburnawaytheobscurenesswhichblursourthought。Ibegantounderstandseveralproblemsthathadpuzzledme，andthenlosttheirexplanationsinthemidstoflight，innerlight，Imean。
　　Moreover，ofasuddenitseemedtomeasthoughawindowhadbeenopenedintheheartofthatGlitteringLadywhostoodbesideme。
　　AtleastIknewthatitwasfullofwonderfulknowledge，wonderfulmemoriesandwonderfulhopes，andthatinthelattertwooftheseIhadsomepart；whatpartIcouldnottell。AlsoI
　　knewthatmyheartwasopentoherandthatshesawinitsomethingwhichcausedhertomarvelandtosigh。
　　Inafewseconds，thirtyperhaps，allthiswasgone。NothingremainedexceptthatIfeltextremelystrongandwell，happier，too，thanIhadbeenforyears。MutelyIaskedherformoreofthewater，butsheshookherheadand，takingthecupfromme，filleditagainandgaveittoBickley，whodrank。Heflushed，seemedtolosetheself—controlwhichwashisverystrongcharacteristic，andsaidinaratherthickvoice：
　　"Curious！butIdonotthinkatthismomentthereisanyoperationthathaseverbeenattemptedwhichIcouldnottacklesingle—handedandwithsuccess。"
　　Thenhewassilent，andBastin’sturncame。Hedrankrathernoisily，afterhisfashion，andbegan：
　　"Mydearyounglady，IthinkthetimehascomewhenIshouldexpoundtoyou——"Herehebrokeoffandcommencedsingingverybadly，forhisvoicewassomewhatraucous：
　　FromGreenland’sicymountains，FromIndia’scoralstrand，WhereAfric’ssunnyfountainsRolldowntheirgoldensand。
　　Ceasingfrommelody，headded：
　　"IdeterminedthatIwoulddrinknothingintoxicatingwhileI
　　wasonthisislandthatImightbeashininglightinadarkplace，andnowIfearthatquiteunwittinglyIhavebrokenwhatI
　　lookuponasapromise。"
　　Thenhe，too，grewsilent。
　　"Come，"saidYva，"myfather，theLordOro，awaitsyou。"
　　WecrossedthecourtoftheWaterofLifeandmountedstepsthatledtoawideandimpressiveportico，Tommyfriskingaheadofusinamostexcitedwayforadogofhisexperience。
　　Evidentlythewaterhadproduceditseffectuponhimaswellasuponhismasters。ThisporticowasinasolemnstyleofarchitecturewhichIcannotdescribe，becauseitdifferedfromanyotherthatIknow。ItwasnotEgyptianandnotGreek，althoughitssolidityremindedmeoftheformer，andthebeautyandgraceofsomeofthecolumns，ofthelatter。TheprofusenessandrathergrotesquecharacterofthecarvingssuggestedtheruinsofMexicoandYucatan，andtheenormoussizeoftheblocksofstone，thoseofPeruandBaalbec。Inshort，alltheknownformsofancientarchitecturemighthavefoundtheirinspirationhere，andthegeneraleffectwastremendous。
　　"ThepalaceoftheKing，"saidYva，"whereofweapproachthegreathall。"
　　Weenteredthroughmightymetaldoors，oneofwhichstoodajar，intoavestibulewhichfromcertainindicationsIgatheredhadoncebeenaguard，orperhapsanassembly—room。Itwasaboutfortyfeetdeepbyahundredwide。Thencesheledusthroughasmallerdoorintothehallitself。Itwasavastplacewithoutcolumns，fortherewasnorooftosupport。ThewallsofmarbleorlimestoneweresculpturedlikethoseofEgyptiantemples，apparentlywithbattlescenes，thoughofthisIamnotsureforI
　　didnotgoneartothem。Exceptforabroadavenuealongthemiddle，upwhichwewalked，theareawasfilledwithmarblebenchesthatwould，Ipresume，haveaccommodatedseveralthousandpeople。Buttheywereempty——empty，andoh！thelonelinessofitall。
　　Farawayattheheadofthehallwasadaisenclosed，and，asitwere，roofedinbyatoweringstructurethatmingledgraceandmajestytoawonderfuldegree。Itwasmodelledonthepatternofahugeshell。Thebaseoftheshellwastheplatform；behindweretheribs，andabove，theoverhanginglipoftheshell。Onthisplatformwasathroneofsilverymetal。Itwassupportedonthearchedcoilsofsnakes，whereofthetailsformedthebackandtheheadsthearmsofthethrone。
　　Onthisthrone，arrayedingorgeousrobes，sattheLordOro，hiswhitebeardflowingoverthem，andajewelledcapuponhishead。Infrontofhimwasalowtableonwhichlaygravensheetsofmetal，andamongthemalargeballofcrystal。
　　Therehesat，solemnandsilentinthemidstofthisawfulsolitude，lookinginverytruthlikeagod，asweconceivesuchabeingtoappear。Smallashewasinthathugeexpanseofbuildings，heseemedyettodominateit，inasensetofilltheemptinesswhichwasaccentuatedbyhispresence。Iknowthatthesightofhimfilledmewithtruefearwhichithadneverdoneinthelightofday，notevenwhenhearosefromhiscrystalcoffin。
　　NowforthefirsttimeIfeltasthoughIwerereallyinthepresenceofaBeingSupernatural。Doubtlessthesurroundingsheightenedthisimpression。Whatwerethesemightyedificesinthebowelsoftheworld？Whencamethiswondrous，all—pervadingandtranslucentlight，whereofwecouldseenoorigin？Whitherhadvanishedthosewhohadrearedandinhabitedthem？Howdidithappenthatofthemall，thisman，ifhewereaman；andthislovelywomanatmyside，who，ifImighttrustmysensesandinstincts，wascertainlyawoman，alonesurvivedoftheirdepartedmultitudes？
　　Thethingwascrushing。IlookedatBickleyforencouragement，butgotnone，forheonlyshookhishead。EvenBastin，nowthatthefirsteffectsoftheLife—waterhaddeparted，seemedoverwhelmed，andmutteredsomethingaboutthehallsofHades。
　　OnlythelittledogTommyremainedquitecheerful。Hetrotteddownthehall，jumpedontothedaisandsathimselfcomfortablyatthefeetofitsoccupant。
　　"Igreetyou，"Orosaidinhisslow，resonantvoice。"Daughter，leadthesestrangerstome；Iwouldspeakwiththem。"
　　ChapterXV
　　OroinHisHouseWeclimbedontothedaisbysomemarblesteps，andsatourselvesdowninfourcuriouschairsofmetalthatweremoreorlesscopiedfromthatwhichservedOroasathrone；atleastthearmsendedingravenheadsofsnakes。ThesechairsweresocomfortablethatIconcludedtheseatswerefixedonsprings，alsowenoticedthattheywerebeautifullypolished。
　　"Iwonderhowtheykeepeverythingsoclean，"saidBastinaswemountedthedais。"Inthisbigplaceitmusttakealotofhousemaids，thoughIdon’tseeany。Butperhapsthereisnodusthere。"
　　Ishruggedmyshoulderswhileweseatedourselves，theLadyYvaandIonOro’sright，BickleyandBastinonhisleft，asheindicatedbypointingwithhisfinger。
　　"Whatsayyouofthiscity？"Oroaskedafterawhileofme。
　　"Wedonotknowwhattosay，"Ireplied。"Itamazesus。Inourworldthereisnothingliketoit。"
　　"Perchancetherewillbeinthefuturewhenthenationsgrowmoreskilledintheartsofwar，"saidOrodarkly。
　　"Bepleased，LordOro，"Iwenton，"ifitisyourwill，totelluswhythepeoplewhobuiltthisplacechosetoliveinthebowelsoftheearthinsteadofuponitssurface。"
　　"Theydidnotchoose；itwasforceduponthem，"wastheanswer。
　　"Thisisacityofrefugethattheyoccupiedintimeofwar，notbecausetheyhatedthesun。IntimeofpeaceandbeforetheBarbariansdaredtoattackthem，theydweltinthecityPaniwhichsignifiesAbove。Youmayhavenotedsomeofitsremainingruinsonthemountandthroughouttheisland。Therestofthemarenowbeneaththesea。Butwhentroublecameandthefoerainedfireonthemfromtheair，theyretreatedtothistown，Nyo，whichsignifiesBeneath。"
　　"Andthen？"
　　"Andthentheydied。TheWaterofLifemayprolonglife，butitcannotmakewomenbearchildren。Thattheywillonlydobeneaththeblueofheaven，notdeepinthebellyoftheworldwhereNatureneverdesignedthattheyshoulddwell。Howwouldthevoicesofchildrensoundinsuchhallsasthese？Tellme，you，Bickley，whoareaphysician。"
　　"Icannot。Icannotimaginechildreninsuchaplace，andifbornheretheywoulddie，"saidBickley。
　　Oronodded。
　　"Theydiddie，andiftheywentabovetoPanitheyweremurdered。SosoonthehabitofbirthwaslostandtheSonsofWisdomperishedonebyone。Yes，theywhoruledtheworldandbytensofthousandsofyearsoftoilhadgatheredintotheirbosomsallthesecretsoftheworld，perished，tillonlyafew，andamongthemIandthisdaughterofmine，wereleft。"
　　"Andthen？"
　　"Then，Humphrey，havingpowersotodo，IdidwhatlongIhadthreatened，andunchainedtheforcesthatworkattheworld’sheart，anddestroyedthemwhoweremyenemiesandevil，sothattheyperishedbymillions，andwiththemalltheirworks。
　　Afterwardsweslept，leavingtheothers，oursubjectswhohadnotthesecretofthisSleep，todie，asdoubtlesstheydidinthecourseofNatureorbythehandofthefoe。Therestyouknow。"
　　"Cansuchathinghappenagain？"askedBickleyinavoicethatdidnothidehisdisbelief。
　　"Whydoyouquestionme，Bickley，youwhobelievenothingofwhatItellyou，andthereforemakewrath？StillIwillsaythis，thatwhatIcausedtohappenIcancauseoncemore——onlyonce，I
　　think——asperchanceyoushalllearnbeforeallisdone。Now，sinceyoudonotbelieve，Iwilltellyounomoreofourmysteries，no，notwhencethislightcomesnorwhatarethepropertiesoftheWaterofLife，bothofwhichyoulongtoknow，norhowtopreservethevitalsparkofBeinginthegraveofdreamlesssleep，likealivejewelinacasketofdeadstone，noraughtelse。Astothesematters，Daughter，Ibidyoualsotobesilent，sinceBickleymocksatus。Yes，withallthisaroundhim，hewhosawusrisefromthecoffins，stillmocksatusinhisheart。Thereforelethim，thislittlemanofalittleday，whenhisfewyearsaredonegotothetombinignorance，andhiscompanionswithhim，theywhomighthavebeenaswiseasIam。"
　　ThusOrospokeinavoiceoficyrage，hisdeepeyesglowinglikecoals。HearinghimIcursedBickleyinmyheartforIwassurethatoncespoken，hisdecreewasliketothatoftheMedesandPersiansandcouldnotbealtered。Bickley，however，wasnotintheleastdismayed。Indeedhearguedthepoint。HetoldOrostraightoutthathewouldnotbelieveintheimpossibleuntilithadbeenshowntohimtobepossible，andthatthelawofNatureneverhadbeenandnevercouldbeviolated。Itwasnoanswer，hesaid，toshowhimwonderswithoutexplainingtheircause，sinceallthatheseemedtoseemightbebutmentalillusionsproducedheknewnothow。
　　Orolistenedpatiently，thenanswered：
　　"Good。Sobeit，theyareillusions。Iamanillusion；thosesavageswhodiedupontherockwilltellyouso。Thisfairwomanbeforeyouisanillusion；Humphrey，Iamsure，knowsitasyouwillalsobeforeyouhavedonewithher。Thesehallsareillusions。Liveoninyourillusions，Olittlemanofscience，whobecauseyouseethefaceofthings，thinkthatyouknowthebodyandtheheart，andcanreadthesoulatworkwithin。Youareaworthychildoftensofthousandsofyourbreedwhowerebeforeyouandarenowforgotten。"
　　Bickleylookeduptoanswer，thenchangedhismindandwassilent，thinkingfurtherargumentdangerous，andOrowenton：
　　"NowIdifferfromyou，Bickley，inthisway。Iwhohavemorewisdominmyfinger—pointthanyouwithallthephysiciansofyourworldaddedtoyou，haveinyourbrainsandbodies，yetdesiretolearnfromthosewhocangivemeknowledge。I
　　understandfromyourwordstomydaughterthatyou，Bastin，teachafaiththatisnewtome，andthatthisfaithtellsoflifeeternalforthechildrenofearth。Isitso？"
　　"Itis，"saidBastineagerly。"Iwillsetout——"
　　Orocuthimshortwithawaveofthehand。
　　"NotnowinthepresenceofBickleywhodoubtlessdisbelievesyourfaith，ashedoesallelse，holdingitwithjusticeorwithout，tobebutanotherillusion。YetyoushallteachmeandonitIwillformmyownjudgment。"
　　"Ishallbedelighted，"saidBastin。Thenadoubtstruckhim，andheadded："Butwhydoyouwishtolearn？Notthatyoumaymakeamockofmyreligion，isit？"
　　"Imockatnoman’sbelief，becauseIthinkthatwhatmenbelieveistrue——forthem。IwilltellyouwhyIwishtohearofyours，sinceIneverhidethetruth。Iwhoamsowiseandold，yetmustdie；thoughthattimemaybefaraway，stillImustdie，forsuchisthelotofmanbornofwoman。AndIdonotdesiretodie。ThereforeIshallrejoicetolearnofanyfaiththatpromisestothechildrenofearthalifeeternalbeyondtheearth。Tomorrowyoushallbegintoteachme。Nowleaveme，Strangers，forIhavemuchtodo，"andhewavedhishandtowardsthetable。
　　Weroseandbowed，wonderingwhathecouldhavetododowninthisluminoushole，hewhohadbeenforsomanythousandsofyearsoutoftouchwiththeworld。Itoccurredtome，however，thatduringthislongperiodhemighthavegotintouchwithotherworlds，indeedhelookedlikeit。
　　"Wait，"hesaid，"Ihavesomethingtotellyou。Ihavebeenstudyingthisbookofwritings，orworldpictures，"andhepointedtomyatlaswhich，asInowobservedforthefirsttime，wasalsolyinguponthetable。"Itinterestsmemuch。Yourcountryissmall，verysmall。WhenIcausedittoberaisedupI
　　thinkthatitwaslarger，butsincethenthatseashaveflowedin。"
　　HereBickleygroanedaloud。
　　"Thisoneismuchgreater，"wentonOro，castingaglanceatBickleythatmusthavepenetratedhimlikeasearchlight。ThenheopenedthemapofEuropeandwithhisfingerindicatedGermanyandAustria—Hungary。"Iknownothingofthepeoplesoftheselands，"headded，"butasyoubelongtooneofthemandaremyguests，Itrustthatyoursmaysucceedinthewar。"
　　"Whatway？"weaskedwithonevoice。
　　"SinceBickleyissoclever，surelyheshouldknowbetterthananillusionsuchasI。AllIcantellyouisthatIhavelearnedthatthereiswarbetweenthiscountryandthat，"andhepointedtoGreatBritainandtoGermanyuponthemap；"alsobetweenothers。"