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。\"