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。