\"You’lldothatanywaywhenyourtimecomes，Bickley，Imeandecease，ofcourse，\"interruptedBastin。\"Andwhoknows，perhapsallthisisanopportunitygivenbyProvidencetoopenyoureyes，which，Imustsay，aresingularlyblind。Youthinkyouknoweverythingthereistolearn，butthefactisthatliketherestofus，youknownothingatall，andgoodmanthoughyouare，obstinatelyrefusetoadmitthetruthandtoseeksupportelsewhere。FormypartIbelievethatyouareafraidoffallinginlovewiththatGlitteringLadyandofbeingconvincedbyherthatyouarewronginyourmostunsatisfactoryconclusions。\"
\"Iamout—votedanyway，\"saidBickley，\"andfortherest，Bastin，lookafteryourselfandleavemealone。IwilladdthatonthewholeIthinkyouarebothright，andthatitiswisestforustostopwhereweare，forafterallwecanonlydieonce。\"
\"Iamnotsosure，Bickley。Thereisathingcalledtheseconddeath，whichiswhatistroublingthatoldscoundrel，Oro。NowI
willgoandlookforthosebooks。\"
Sotheideaofflightwasabandoned，althoughIadmitthateventomyselfithadattractions。ForIfeltthatIwasbeingwrappedinanetofmysteriesfromwhichIsawnoescape。Yes，andofmorethanmysteries；IwhohadswornthatIwouldneverlookuponanotherwoman，waslearningtolovethissweetandwondrousYva，andofthatwhatcouldbetheend？
Wecollectedallwehadcometoseek，andstartedhomewardsescortedbyMaramaandhispeople，includinganumberofyoungwomenwhodancedbeforeusinalightarrayofflowers。
Passingouroldhouse，wecametothegrovewheretheidolOrohadstoodandBastinwassonearlysacrificed。Therewasanotheridoltherenowwhichhewishedtoexamine，butintheenddidnotasthenativessoobviouslyobjected。IndeedMaramatoldmethatnotwithstandingthemysteriousdeathofthesorcerersontheRockofOfferings，therewasstillastrongpartyintheislandwhowouldbegladtodousamischiefifanyfurtheraffrontwereofferedtotheirhereditarygod。
Hequestionedusalsotentativelyabouttheapparition，forsuchheconceivedittobe，whichhadappearedupontherockandkilledthesorcerers，andIansweredhimasIthoughtwisest，tellinghimthataterriblePowerwasafootintheland，whichhewoulddowelltoobey。
\"Yes，\"hesaid；\"theGodoftheMountainofwhomthetraditionhascomedowntousfromourforefathers。Heisawakeagain；hesees，hehearsandweareafraid。Pleadwithhimforus，O
Friend—from—the—Sea。\"
Ashespokewewerepassingthroughalittlepatchofthickbush。Suddenlyfromoutofthisbush，Isawaladappear。Heworeamaskuponhisface，butfromhisshapecouldnothavebeenmorethanthirteenorfourteenyearsofage。Inhishandwasawoodenclub。Heranforward，stopped，andwithayellofhatehurledit，IthinkatBastin，butithitme。AtanyrateIfeltashockandrememberednomore。
Dreams。Dreams。Endlessdreams！Whatweretheyallabout？Idonotknow。ItseemedtomethatthroughthemcontinuallyIsawthestatelyfigureofoldOrocontemplatingmegravely，asthoughheweremakinguphismindaboutsomethinginwhichImustplayapart。Thentherewasanotherfigure，thatofthegraciousbutimperialYva，whofromtimetotime，asIthought，leantovermeandwhisperedinmyearwordsofrestandcomfort。Norwasthisall，sincehershapehadawayofchangingsuddenlyintothatofmylostwifewhowouldspeakwithhervoice。OrperhapsmywifewouldspeakwithYva’svoice。Tomydisorderedsenseitwasasthoughtheywereonepersonality，havingtwoshapes，eitherofwhichcouldbeassumedatwill。Itwasmoststrangeandyettomemostblessed，sinceinthelivingIseemedtohavefoundthedead，andinthedeadtheliving。More，Itookjourneys，orrathersomeunknownpartofmeseemedtodoso。OneoftheseI
remember，foritsmajesticcharacterstampeditselfuponmymindinsuchafashionthatallthewatersofdeliriumcouldnotwashitoutnorallitswindsblowawaythatmemory。
IwastravellingthroughspacewithYvaathousandtimesfasterthanlightcanflash。Wepassedsunaftersun。Theydrewnear，theygrewintoenormous，flamingGloriesroundwhichcircledworlduponworld。Theybecamesmall，dwindledtopointsoflightanddisappeared。
Wefoundfootinguponsomefarlandandpassedamarvelouswhitecitywhereinwerebuildingswithdomesofcrystalandalabaster，inthelatterofwhichweresetwindowsmadeofgreatjewels；sapphiresorrubiestheyseemedtome。Wewentonupalovelyvalley。Totheleftwerehills，downwhichtumbledwaterfalls；totherightwasariverbroadanddeepthatseemedtooverflowitsbanksasdoestheNile。Behindwerehighmountainsontheslopesofwhichgrewforestsofglorioustrees，someofthemaflamewithbloom，whilefarawayuptheircrestsstoodcolossalgoldenstatuessetwideapart。Theylookedlikeguardianangelswatchingthatcityandthatvale。Thelandwaslitwithalightsuchasthatofthemoon，onlyintensifiedandofmanycolours。Indeedlookingup，Isawthataboveusfloatedthreemoons，eachofthembiggerthanourownatthefull，andgatheredthathereitwasnight。
Wecametoahousesetamidscentedgardensandhavinginfrontofitterracesofflowers。Itseemednotunlikemyownhouseathome，butItooklittlenoteofit，becauseofawomanwhosatupontheverandah，ifImaycallitso。Shewascladingarmentsofwhitesilkfastenedabouthermiddlewithajewelledgirdle。
Onherneckalsowasacollarofjewels。Iforgetthecolour；
indeedthisseemedtochangecontinuallyasthelightfromthedifferentmoonsstruckwhenshemoved，butIthinkitsprevailingtingewasblue。Inherarmsthiswomannursedabeauteous，sleepingchild，singinghappilyassherockedittoandfro。Yvawenttowardsthewomanwholookedupatherstepandutteredalittlecry。ThenforthefirsttimeIsawthewoman’sface。Itwasthatofmydeadwife！
AsIfollowedinmydream，alittlecloudofmistseemedtocoverbothmywifeandYva，andwhenIreachedtheplaceYvawasgone。Onlymywiferemained，sheandthechild。Thereshestood，solemnandsweet。WhileIdrewnearshelaiddownthechilduponthecushionedseatfromwhichshehadrisen。Shestretchedoutherarmsandflungthemaboutme。SheembracedmeandIembracedherinaraptureofreunion。Thenturningsheliftedupthechild，itwasagirl，formetokiss。
\"Seeyourdaughter，\"shesaid，\"andbeholdallthatIammakingreadyforyouwhereweshalldwellinadaytocome。\"
Igrewconfused。
\"Yva，\"Isaid。\"WhereisYvawhobroughtmehere？Didshegointothehouse？\"
\"Yes，\"sheansweredhappily。\"Yvawentintothehouse。Lookagain！\"
IlookedanditwasYva’sfacethatwaspressedagainstmyown，andYva’seyesthatgazedintomine。Onlyshewasgarbedasmywifehadbeen，andonherbosomhungthechangefulnecklace。
\"Youmaynotstay，\"shewhispered，andlo！itwasmywifethatspoke，notYva。
\"Tellmewhatitmeans？\"Iimplored。
\"Icannot，\"sheanswered。\"Therearemysteriesthatyoumaynotknowasyet。LoveYvaifyouwillandIshallnotbejealous，forinlovingYvayouloveme。Youcannotunderstand？Thenknowthis，thatthespirithasmanyshapes，andyetisthesamespirit——
sometimes。NowIwhoamfar，yetnear，bidyoufarewellawhile。\"
Thenallpassedinaflashandthedreamended。
SuchwastheonlyoneofthosevisionswhichIcanrecall。
Iseemedtowakeupasfromalongandtumultuoussleep。ThefirstthingIsawwasthepalmroofofourhouseupontherock。I
knewitwasourhouse，forjustabovemewasapalmleafofwhichIhadmyselftiedthestalktotheframeworkwithabitofcolouredribbonihadIhadchancedtofindinmypocket。ItcameoriginallyfromtheprogrammecardofadancethatIhadattendedatHonoluluandIhadkeptitbecauseIthoughtitmightbeuseful。FinallyIusedittosecurethatlooseleaf。Istaredattheribbonwhichbroughtbackafloodofmemories，andasIwasthusengagedIheardvoicestalking，andlistened——Bickley’svoice，andtheLadyYva’s。
\"Yes，\"Bickleywassaying，\"hewilldowellnow，buthewentnear，verynear。\"
\"Iknewhewouldnotdie，\"sheanswered，\"becausemyfathersaidso。\"
\"Therearetwosortsofdeaths，\"repliedBickley，\"thatofthebodyandthatofthemind。Iwasafraidthatevenifhelived，hisreasonwouldgo，butfromcertainindicationsIdonotthinkthatwillhappennow。Hewillgetquitewellagain——though——\"andhestopped。
\"Iamverygladtohearyousayso，\"chimedinBastin。\"ForweeksIthoughtthatIshouldhavetoreadtheBurialServiceoverpoorArbuthnot。IndeedIwasmuchpuzzledastothebestplacetoburyhim。FinallyIfoundaverysuitablespotroundthecornerthere，whereitisn’trock，inwhichonecan’tdigandthesoilisnotliabletobeflooded。InfactIwentsofarastoclearawaythebushandtomarkoutthegravewithitsfoottotheeast。Inthisclimateonecan’tdelay，youknow。\"
WeakasIwas，Ismiled。ThispracticalproceedingwassoexactlylikeBastin。
\"Well，youwastedyourlabour，\"exclaimedBickley。
\"Yes，IamgladtosayIdid。ButIdon’tthinkitwasyouroperationsandtherestthatcuredhim，Bickley，althoughyoutakeallthecredit。IbelieveitwastheLife—waterthattheLadyYvamadehimdrinkandthestuffthatOrosentwhichwegavehimwhenyouweren’tlooking。\"
\"ThenIhopethatinthefutureyouwillnotinterferewithmycases，\"saidtheindignantBickley，andeitherthevoicespassedawayorIwenttosleep。
WhenIwokeupagainitwastofindtheLadyYvaseatedatmysidewatchingme。
\"Forgiveme，Humphrey，becauseIhere；othersgoneoutwalking，\"shesaidslowlyinEnglish。
\"Whotaughtyoumylanguage？\"Iasked，astonished。\"BastinandBickley，whileyouill，theyteach；theyteachmemuch。Manjustsamenowashewashundredthousandyearsago，\"sheaddedenigmatically。\"Allthinkonewomanbeautifulwhennootherwomanthere。\"
\"Indeed，\"Ireplied，wonderingtowhatproceedingsonthepartofBastinandBickleyshealluded。Couldthatself—centredpair——
oh！itwasimpossible。
\"HowlonghaveIbeenill？\"IaskedtoescapethesubjectwhichIfelttobeuncomfortable。
Sheliftedherbeautifuleyesinsearchofwordsandbegantocountuponherfingers。
\"Twomoon，onehalfmoon，yes，tenweek，countingSabbath，\"sheansweredtriumphantly。
\"Tenweeks！\"Iexclaimed。
\"Yes，Humphrey，tenwholeweeksandthreedaysyoufirstbad，thenmad。Oh！\"shewenton，breakingintotheOrofenantonguewhichshespokesoperfectly，althoughitwasnotherown。ThatlanguageofhersIneverlearned，butIknowshethoughtinitandonlytranslatedintoOrofenan，becauseofthegreatdifficultywhichshehadinrenderingherhighandrefinedideasintoitssimplermetaphor，andthestrangewordswhichoftensheintroduced。\"Oh！youhavebeenveryill，friendofmyheart。AttimesIthoughtthatyouweregoingtodie，andweptandwept。
Bickleythinksthathesavedyouandheisveryclever。Buthecouldnothavesavedyou；thatwantedmoreknowledgethananyofyourpeoplehave；onlyIprayyou，donottellhimsobecauseitwouldhurthispride。\"
\"Whatwasthematterwithmethen，Yva？\"
\"Allwasthematter。First，theweaponwhichthatyouththrew——
hewasthesonofthesorcererwhommyfatherdestroyed——crushedintheboneofyourhead。Heisdeadforhiscrimeandmayhebeaccursedforever，\"sheaddedintheonlyoutbreakofrageandvindictivenessinwhichIeversawherindulge。
\"Onemustmakeexcusesforhim；hisfatherhadbeenkilled，\"I
said。
\"Yes，thatiswhatBastintellsme，anditistrue。Still，forthatyoungmanIcanmakenoexcuse；itwascowardlyandwicked。
Well，Bickleyperformedwhathecallsoperation，andtheLordOro，hecameupfromhishouseandhelpedhim，becauseBastinisnogoodinsuchthings。Thenhecanonlyturnawayhisheadandpray。I，too，helped，holdinghotwaterandlinenandjarofthestuffthatmadeyoufeellikenothing，althoughthesightmademefeelmoresickthananythingsinceIsawoneIlovedkilled，oh，long，longago。\"
\"Wastheoperationsuccessful？\"Iasked，forIdidnotdaretobegintothankher。
\"Yes，thatcleverman，Bickley，liftedthebonewhichhadbeencrushedin。Onlythensomethingbrokeinyourheadandyoubegantobleedhere，\"andshetouchedwhatIbelieveiscalledthetemporalartery。\"Theveinhadbeencrushedbytheblow，andgaveway。Bickleyworkedandworked，andjustintimehetieditupbeforeyoudied。Oh！thenIfeltasthoughIlovedBickley，thoughafterwardsBastinsaidthatIoughttohavelovedhim，sinceitwasnotBickleywhostoppedthebleeding，buthisprayer。\"
\"Perhapsitwasboth，\"Isuggested。
\"Perhaps，Humphrey，atleastyouweresaved。Thencameanothertrouble。Youtookfever。Bickleysaidthatitwasbecauseacertaingnathadbittenyouwhenyouwentdowntotheship，andmyfather，theLordOro，toldmethatthiswasright。Attheleastyougrewveryweakandlostyourmind，anditseemedasthoughyoumustdie。Then，Humphrey，IwenttotheLordOroandkneeledbeforehimandprayedyoulife，forIknewthathecouldcureyouifhewould，thoughBickley’sskillwasatanend。
\"’Daughter，’hesaidtome，’notoncebutagainandagainyouhavesetupyourwillagainstmineinthepast。WhythenshouldI
troublemyselftograntthisdesireofyoursinthepresent，andsaveamanwhoisnothingtome？’
\"Irosetomyfeetandanswered，’Idonotknow，myFather，yetIamcertainthatforyourownsakeitwillbewelltodoso。I
amsurethatofeverythingevenyoumustgiveanaccountatlast，greatthoughyoube，andwhoknows，perhapsonelifewhichyouhavesavedmayturnthebalanceinyourfavour。’
\"’SurelythepriestBastinhasbeentalkingtoyou，’hesaid。
\"’Hehas，’Ianswered，’andnothealone。Manyvoiceshavebeentalkingtome。’\"
\"Whatdidyoumeanbythat？\"Iasked。
\"ItmattersnothingwhatImeant，Humphrey。Bestillandlistentomystory。Myfatherthoughtawhileandanswered：
\"’Iamjealousofthisstranger。Whatishebutashort—livedhalf—barbariansuchasweknewintheolddays？Andyetalreadyyouthinkmoreofhimthanyoudoofme，yourfather，thedivineOrowhohaslivedathousandyears。AtfirstIhelpedthatphysiciantosavehim，butnowIthinkIwishhimdead。’
\"’Ifyouletthismandie，myFather，’Ianswered，’thenwepart。RememberthatIalsohaveofthewisdomofourpeople，andcanuseitifIwill。’
\"’Thensavehimyourself，’hesaid。
\"’PerhapsIshall，myFather，’Ianswered，’butifsoitwillnotbehere。Isaythatifsowepartandyoushallbelefttoruleinyourmajestyalone。’
\"NowthisfrightenedtheLordOro，forhehastheweaknessthathehatestobealone。
\"’IfIdowhatyouwill，doyouswearnevertoleaveme，Yva？’
heasked。’Knowthatifyouwillnotswear，themandies。’
\"’Iswear，’Ianswered——foryoursake，Humphrey——thoughIdidnotlovetheoath。
\"ThenhegavemeacertainmedicinetomixwiththeLife—water，andwhenyouwerealmostgonethatmedicinecuredyou，thoughBickleydoesnotknowit，asnothingelsecouldhavedone。NowI
havetoldyouthetruth，foryourownearonly，Humphrey。\"
\"Yva，\"Iasked，\"whydidyoudoallthisforme？\"
\"Humphrey，Idonotknow，\"sheanswered，\"butIthinkbecauseI
must。Nowsleepawhile。\"
ChapterXIX
TheProposalsofBastinandBickleySofarasmybodywasconcernedIgrewwellwithgreatrapidity，thoughitwaslongbeforeIgotbackmystrength。ThusIcouldnotwalkfarorendureanysustainedexertion。Withmyminditwasotherwise。Icannotexplainwhathadhappenedtoit；
indeedIdonotknow，butinasenseitseemedtohavebecomedetachedandtohaveassumedakindofpersonalityofitsown。Attimesitfeltasthoughitwerenolongeraninhabitantofthebody，butratheritsmoreorlessindependentpartner。Iwasperfectlyclear—headedandofinsanityIexperiencednosymptoms。
Yetmymind，Iusethattermfromlackofabetter，wasnotentirelyundermycontrol。Foronething，atnightitappearedtowanderfaraway，thoughwhitheritwentandwhatitsawthereI
couldneverremember。
Irecordthisbecausepossiblyitexplainscertainmysteriousevents，iftheywereeventsandnotdreams，whichshortlyImustsetout。IspoketoBickleyaboutthematter。Heputitbylightly，sayingthatitwasonlyaresultofmylongandmostsevereillnessandthatIshouldsteadydownintime，especiallyifwecouldescapefromthatislandanditsunnaturalatmosphere。
Yetashespokeheglancedatmeshrewdlywithhisquickeyes，andwhenheturnedtogoawayIheardhimmuttersomethingtohimselfabout\"unholyinfluences\"and\"thatconfoundedoldOro。\"
Thewordswerespokentohimselfandquitebeneathhisbreath，andofcoursenotmeanttoreachme。Butoneofthecuriousconcomitantsofmystatewasthatallmysenses，andespeciallymyhearing，hadbecomemostabnormallyacute。Awhisperfarawaywasnowtomelikealoudremarkmadeinaroom。
Bickley’sreflection，forIcanscarcelycallitmore，setmethinking。YvahadsaidthatOrosentmemedicinewhichwasadministeredtomewithoutBickley’sknowledge，andasshebelieved，savedmylife，orcertainlymyreason。Whatwasinit？
Iwondered。ThentherewasthatLife—waterwhichYvabroughtandinsisteduponmydrinkingeveryday。Undoubtedlyitwasamarveloustonicanddidmegood。Butithadothereffectsalso。
Thus，asshesaidwouldbethecase，afteracourseofitI
conceivedthegreatestdislike，whichImayaddhasneverentirelyleftme，ofanyformofmeat，alsoofalcohol。AllI
seemedtowantwasthiswaterwithfruit，orsuchnativevegetablesastherewere。Bickleydisapprovedandmademeeatfishoccasionally，buteventhisrevoltedme，andsinceIgainedsteadilyinweight，aswefoundoutbyasimplecontrivance，andremainedhealthyineveryotherway，soonheallowedmetochoosemyowndiet。
AboutthistimeOrobegantopaymefrequentvisits。Healwayscameatnight，andwhatismoreIknewwhenhewascoming，althoughhenevergavemewarning。HereIshouldexplainthatduringmyillnessBastin，whowassoingeniousinsuchmatters，hadbuiltanotherhutinwhichheandBickleyslept，ofcoursewhentheywerenotwatchingme，leavingouroldbed—chambertomyself。
Well，IwouldwakeupandbeawarethatOrowascoming。Thenheappearedinasilentandmysteriousway，asthoughhehadmaterialisedintheroom，forIneversawhimpassthedoorway。
Inthemoonlight，orthestarlight，whichflowedthroughtheentranceandthesideofthehutthatwasonlyenclosedwithlatticework，Iperceivedhimseathimselfuponacertainstool，lookinglikeamostmajesticghostwithhisflowingrobes，longwhitebeard，hookednoseandhawkeyes。Intheday—timehemuchresembledthelateGeneralBoothwhomIhadoftenseen，exceptforcertainaddedqualitiesofheightandclassicbeautyofcountenance。Atnight，however，heresemblednoonebuthimself，indeedtherewassomethingmightyandgodlikeinhisappearance，somethingthatmadeonefeelthathewasnotasareothermen。
Forawhilehewouldsitandlookatme。Thenhebegantospeakinalow，vibrantvoice。Whatdidhespeakof？Well，manymatters。Itwasasthoughhewereunburdeningthathoarysoulofhisbecauseitcouldnolongerendurethegrandeurofitsownloneliness。Amongstsundrysecretthings，hetoldmeofthepasthistoryofthisworldofours，andofthemightycivilisationswhichforuncountedagesheandhisforefathershadruledbythestrengthoftheirwillandknowledge，ofthedwindlingoftheirraceandofthefinaldestructionofitsenemies，althoughI
noticedthatnowhenolongersaidthatthiswashisworkalone。
OnenightIaskedhimifhedidnotmissallsuchpompandpower。
Thensuddenlyhebrokeout，andforthefirsttimeIreallylearnedwhatambitioncanbewhenitutterlypossessesthesoulofman。
\"Areyoumad，\"heasked，\"thatyousupposethatI，Oro，theKingofkings，canbecontenttodwellsolitaryinagreatcavewithnonebuttheshadowsofthedeadtoserveme？Nay，Imustruleagainandbeevengreaterthanbefore，orelseItoowilldie。Bettertofacethefuture，evenifitmeansoblivion，thantoremainthusarelicofagloriouspast，stilllivingandyetdead，likethatstatueofthegreatgodFatewhichyousawinthetempleofmyworship。\"
\"Bastindoesnotthinkthatthefuturemeansoblivion，\"I
remarked。
\"Iknowit。Ihavestudiedhisfaithandfindittoohumbleformytaste，alsotoonew。ShallI，Oro，creepasuppliantbeforeanyPower，andconfesswhatBastinispleasedtocallmysins？
Nay，Iwhoamgreatwillbetheequalofallgreatness，ornothing。\"
Hepausedawhile，thenwenton：
\"Bastinspeaksof’eternity。’Whereandwhatthenisthiseternitywhichifithasnoendcanhavehadnobeginning？Iknowthesecretofthesunsandtheirattendantworlds，andtheyarenomoreeternalthantheinsectwhichglittersforanhour。Outofshapeless，rushinggasestheygatheredtolivetheirday，andintogasesatlasttheydissolveagainwithalltheybore。\"
\"Yes，\"Ianswered，\"buttheyreformintonewworlds。\"
\"Thathavenopartwiththeold。Thisworld，too，willmelt，departingtowhenceitcame，asyoursacredwritingssay，andwhatthenofthosewhodweltanddwellthereon？No，Manoftoday，givemeTimeinwhichIruleandkeepyourdreamsofanEternitythatisnot，andinwhichyoumuststillcrawlandserve，evenifitwere。Yet，ifImight，Iconfessit，Iwouldliveonforever，butasMasternotasSlave。\"