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。