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。\"