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。"