India，too，reallymovedhim。HeadmiredtheancientbuildingsatDelhiandAgra，especiallytheTajMahal。This，hedeclared，wasreminiscentofsomeofthepalacesthatstoodatPani，thecapitalcityoftheSonsofWisdom，beforeitwasdestroyedbytheBarbarians。
TheEnglishadministrationofthecountryalsoattractedawordofpraisefromhim，Ithinkbecauseofitsratherautocraticcharacter。Indeedhewentsofarastodeclarethat，withcertainmodifications，itshouldbecontinuedinthefuture，andeventointimatethathewouldbearthematterinmind。DemocraticformsofgovernmenthadnocharmsforOro。
Amongstotherplaces，westoppedatBenaresandwatchedthefuneralritesinprogressuponthebanksoftheholyGanges。Thebearersofthedeadbroughtthebodyofawomanwrappedinaredshroudthatglitteredwithtinselornaments。Comingforwardatarunandchantingastheyran，theyplacedituponthestonesforalittlewhile，thenlifteditupagainandcarrieditdownthestepstotheedgeoftheriver。Heretheytookwaterandpoureditoverthecorpse，thusperformingtheriteofthebaptismofdeath。Thisdone，theyplaceditsfeetinthewaterandleftitlookingverysmallandlonely。Presentlyappearedatall，white—drapedwomanwhotookherstandbythebodyandwailed。Itwasthedeadone’smother。Againthebearersapproachedandlaidthecorpseupontheflamingpyre。
\"Theseritesareancient，\"saidOro。\"WhenIruledasKingoftheWorldtheywerepractisedinthisveryplace。ItispleasanttometofindsomethingthathassurvivedthechangefulnessofTime。Letitcontinuetilltheend。\"
HereIwillcease。TheseexperiencesthatIhaverecordedarebutsamples，foralsowevisitedRussiaandothercountries。
Perhaps，too，theywerenotexperiencesatall，butonlydreamsconsequentonmystateofhealth。Icannotsayforcertain，thoughmuchofwhatIseemedtoseefittedinverywellindeedwithwhatIlearnedinafterdays，andcertainlyatthetimetheyappearedasrealasthoughOroandIhadstoodtogetheruponthosevariousshores。
ChapterXXI
Love’sEternalAltarNowofallthesehappeningsIsaidverylittletoBastinandBickley。Theformerwouldnothaveunderstoodthem，andthelatterattributedwhatIdidtellhimtomentaldelusionsfollowingonmyillness。ToYvaIdidspeakaboutthem，however，imploringhertoexplaintheiroriginandtotellmewhetherornottheywerebutvisionsofthenight。
Shelistenedtome，asIthoughtnotwithoutanxiety，fromwhichIgatheredthatshetoofearedformymind。Itwasnotso，however，forshesaid：
\"Iamglad，OHumphrey，thatyourjourneyingsaredone，sincesuchthingsarenotwithoutdanger。Hewhotravelsfaroutofthebodymaychancetoreturntherenomore。\"
\"Butweretheyjourneyings，ordreams？\"Iasked。
Sheevadedadirectanswer。
\"Icannotsay。Myfatherhasgreatpowers。Idonotknowthemall。Itispossiblethattheywereneitherjourneyingsnordreams。Mayhapheusedyouasthesorcerersintheolddaysusedthemagicglass，andafterhehadputhisspelluponyou，readinyourmindthatwhichpasseselsewhere。\"
Iunderstoodhertorefertowhatwecallclairvoyance，whenthepersonentrancedrevealssecretordistantthingstotheentrancer。Thisisamoreorlessestablishedphenomenonandmuchlessmarvelousthantheactualtransportationofthespiritualselfthroughspace。OnlyIneverknewofaninstanceinwhichtheseer，onawaking，rememberedthethingsthathehadseen，asinmycase。There，however，thematterrested，orrests，forIcouldextractnothingmorefromYva，whoappearedtometohaveherordersonthepoint。
NordidOroevertalkofwhatIhadseemedtoseeinhiscompany，althoughhecontinuedfromtimetotimetovisitmeatnight。Butnowourconversationwasofothermatters。AsBastinhaddiscovered，bysomeextraordinarygifthehadsoonlearnedhowtoreadtheEnglishlanguage，althoughheneverspokeasinglewordinthattongue。Amongourreferencebooksthatwebroughtfromtheyacht，wasathinpapereditionoftheEncyclopediaBritannica，whichheborrowedwhenhediscoveredthatitcontainedcompressedinformationaboutthevariouscountriesoftheworld，alsoconcerningalmosteveryothermatter。Mybeliefisthatwithinamonthorsothatmarvelousoldmannotonlyreadthisstupendousworkfromendtoend，butthatherememberedeverythingofinterestwhichitcontained。Atleast，hewouldappearandshowthefullestacquaintancewithcertainsubjectsorplaces，seekingfurtherlightfrommeconcerningthem，whichveryoftenIwasquiteunabletogivehim。
Anaccident，asitchanced，whereofIneednotsetoutthedetails，causedmetodiscoverthathisremarkableknowledgewaslimited。Thus，atoneperiod，heknewlittleaboutanymoderntopicwhichbeganwithaletterlaterinthealphabetthan，letussay，C。AfewdaysafterwardshewasacquaintedwiththoseuptoF，orG；andsoontillhereachedZ，whenheappearedtometoknoweverything，andreturnedthebook。Now，indeed，hewasamonumentoflearning，veryancientandverynew，andwithsomeEncyclopedia—garneredfactsordeductionsofwhathadhappenedbetween。
Moreover，hetooktoastronomicalresearch，formorethanoncewesawhimstandingontherockatnightstudyingtheheavens。Ononeoftheseoccasions，whenhehadthetwometalplates，ofwhichIhavespoken，inhishands，Iventuredtoapproachandaskwhathedid。Herepliedthathewascheckinghiscalculationsthathefoundtobequitecorrect，anexactperiodoftwohundredandfiftythousandyearshavinggonebysincehelaidhimselfdowntosleep。Then，byaidoftheplates，hepointedouttomecertainalterationsthathadhappenedduringthatperiodinthepositionsofsomeofthestars。
Forinstance，heshowedmeonewhich，byhelpofmyglasses，I
recognisedasSirius，andremarkedthattwohundredandfiftythousandyearsagoitwasfurtherawayandmuchsmaller。Nowitwaspreciselyintheplaceandofthesizewhichhehadpredicted，andhepointedtoitonhispropheticmap。Againheindicatedastarthatthenight—glasstoldmewasCapella，which，Isuppose，isoneofthemostbrilliantstarsinthesky，andshowedmethatonthemaphehadmadetwohundredandfiftythousandyearsago，itdidnotexist，asthenitwastoofarnorthtoappearthereon。Still，heobserved，thepassageofthisvastperiodoftimehadproducedbutlittleeffectuponthefaceoftheheavens。Tothehumaneyethemajorityofthestarshadnotmovedsoveryfar。
\"Andyettheytravelfast，OHumphrey，\"hesaid。\"Considerthenhowgreatistheirjourneybetweenthetimetheygatherandthatdaywhen，worn—out，oncemoretheymelttovaporousgas。Youthinkmelong—livedwhocomparedtothemexistbutatinyfractionofasecond，nearlyallofwhichIhavebeendoomedtopassinsleep。And，Humphrey，Idesiretolive——I，whohavegreatplansandwouldshaketheworld。Butmydaydrawsin；afewbriefcenturiesandIshallbegone，and——whither，whither？\"
\"Ifyoulivedaslongasthosestars，theendwouldbethesame，Oro。\"
\"Yes，butthelifeofthestarsisverylong，millionsofmillionsofyears；also，afterdeath，theyreform，asotherstars。ButshallIreformasanotherOro？Withallmywisdom，I
donotknow。ItisknowntoFateonly——Fate—themasterofworldsandmenandthegodstheyworship——Fate，whomitmaypleasetospillmygatheredknowledge，tobelostinthesandsofTime。\"
\"Itseemsthatyouaregreat，\"Isaid，\"andhavelivedlongandlearnedmuch。Yettheendofitisthatyourlotisneitherworsenorbetterthanthatofuscreaturesofanhour。\"
\"Itisso，Humphrey。Presentlyyouwilldie，andwithinafewcenturiesIshalldiealsoandbeasyouare。Youbelievethatyouwillliveagaineternally。Itmaybesobecauseyoudobelieve，sinceFateallowsFaithtoshapethefuture，ifonlyforalittlewhile。ButinmeWisdomhasdestroyedFaithandthereforeImustdie。EvenifIsleepagainfortensofthousandsofyears，whatwillithelpme，seeingthatsleepisunconsciousnessandthatIshallonlywakeagaintodie，sincesleepdoesnotrestoretousouryouth？\"
Heceased，andwalkedupanddowntherockwithatroubledmien。Thenhestoodinfrontofmeandsaidinatriumphantvoice：
\"Atleast，whileIliveIwillrule，andthenletcomewhatmaycome。Iknowthatyoudonotbelieve，andthefirstvictoryofthisnewdayofmineshallbetomakeyoubelieve。Ihavegreatpowersandyoushallseethematwork，andafterwards，ifthingsgoright，rulewithmeforalittlewhile，perhaps，asthefirstofmysubjects。Hearkennow；inonesmallmattermycalculations，madesolongago，havegonewrong。Theyshowedmethatatthistimeadayofearthquakes，suchasthosethatagainandagainhaverockedandsplittheworld，wouldrecur。Butnowitseemsthatthereisanerror，atinyerrorofelevenhundredyears，whichmustgobybeforethoseearthquakescome。\"
\"Areyousure，\"Isuggestedhumbly，\"thatthereisnotalsoanerrorinthosestar—mapsyouhold？\"
\"Iamsure，Humphrey。Someday，whoknows？Youmayreturntoyourworldofmodernmenwho，Igather，haveknowledgeofthegreatscienceofastronomy。TakenowthesemapswithwhichIhavedone，andsubmitthemtothemostlearnedofthosemen，andletthemtellyouwhetherIwasrightorwronginwhatIwroteuponthismetaltwohundredandfiftythousandyearsago。Whateverelseisfalse，atleastthestarsintheirmotionscanneverdie。\"
Thenhehandedmethemapsandwasgone。Ihavethemtoday，andifeverthisbookispublished，theywillappearwithit，thatthosewhoarequalifiedmayjudgeofthemandofthetruthorotherwiseofOro’swords。
FromthatnightforwardforquitealongtimeIsawOronomore。Norindeeddidanyofus，sinceforsomereasonofhisownheforbadeustovisittheundergroundcityofNyo。Oddlyenough，however，hecommandedYvatobringdownthespaniel，Tommy，tobewithhimfromtimetotime。WhenIaskedherwhy，shesaiditwasbecausehewaslonelyanddesiredthedog’scompanionship。Itseemedtousverystrangethatthissuper—man，whohadthewisdomoftenSolomonsgatheredinonewithinhisbreast，shouldyetdesirethecompanyofalittledog。Whatthenwastheworthoflearningandlonglife，or，indeed，ofanything？
Well，Solomonhimselfaskedthequestionagessince，andcouldgivenoanswersavethatallisvanity。
InotedaboutthistimethatYvabegantogrowverysadandtroubled；indeed，lookingathersuddenlyontwoorthreeoccasions，Isawthatherbeautifuleyeswereaswimwithtears。
Also，Inotedthatalwaysasshegrewsaddershebecame，inasense，morehuman。Inthebeginningshewas，asitwere，faraway。Onecouldneverforgetthatshewasthechildofsomealienracewhoseeyeshadlookedupontheworldwhen，bycomparison，humanitywasyoung；attimes，indeed，shemighthavebeenthedenizenofanotherplanet，strayedtoearth。Althoughsheneverflauntedit，onefeltthathersimplestwordhidsecretwisdom；
thattoherbookswereopeninwhichwecouldnotread。Moreover，asIhavesaid，occasionallypowerflamedoutofher，powerthatwasbeyondourkenandunderstanding。
Yetwithallthistherewasnothingelfishabouther，nothinguncanny。Shewasalwayskind，and，aswecouldfeel，innatelygoodandgentle—hearted，justawomanmadehalf—divinebygiftsandexperiencethatotherslack。Shedidnot，evenmakeuseofherwondrousbeautytomaddenmen，asshemightwellhavedonehadshebeensominded。ItistruethatbothBastinandBickleyfellinlovewithher，butthatwasonlybecauseallwithwhomshehadtodomustloveher，andthen，whenshetoldthemthatitmightnotbe，itwasinsuchafashionthatnosorenesswasleftbehind。Theywentonlovingher，thatwasall，butasmenlovetheirsistersortheirdaughters；asweconceivethattheymayloveinthatlandwherethereisnomarryingorgivinginmarriage。
Butnow，inhersadness，shedrewevernearertous，andespeciallytomyself，moreintunewithourageandthought。Intruth，saveforherroyalandglitteringlovelinessinwhichtherewassomequalitywhichproclaimedherofanotherblood，andforthatreserveofhiddenpowerwhichattimeswouldlookoutofhereyesorbreakthroughherwords，shemightinmostwayshavebeensomesingularlygiftedandbeautifulmodernwoman。
ThetimehascomewhenImustspeakofmyrelationswithYvaandoftheirclimax。Asmayhavebeenguessed，fromthefirstI
begantoloveher。Whiletheweekswentonthatlovegrewandgrew，untilitutterlypossessedme，althoughforacertainreasonconnectedwithonedead，atfirstIfoughtagainstit。Yetitdidnotdevelopquiteinthefashionthatmighthavebeenexpected。Therewasnoblazingupofpassion’sfire；ratherwasthereanever—increasingglowoftheholiestaffection，tillatlastitbecamealampbywhichImustguidemyfeetthroughlifeanddeath。Thisloveofmineseemednotofearthbutfromthestars。AsyetIhadsaidnothingtoherofitbecauseinsomewayIfeltthatshedidnotwishmetodoso，feltalsothatshewaswellawareofallthatpassedwithinmyheart，anddesired，asitwere，togiveittimetoripenthere。Thenonedaytherecameachange，andthoughnoglanceortouchofYva’stoldmeso，IknewthatthebarsweretakendownandthatImightspeak。
Itwasanightoffullmoon。AllthatafternoonshehadbeentalkingtoBastinapart，Isupposeaboutreligion，forIsawthathehadsomebooksinhishandfromwhichhewasexpoundingsomethingtoherinhisslow，earnestway。Thenshecameandsatwithuswhilewetookoureveningmeal。IrememberthatmineconsistedofsomeoftheLife—waterwhichshehadbroughtwithherandfruit，for，asIthinkIhavesaid，Ihadacquiredherdisliketomeat，alsothatsheatesomeplantains，throwingtheskinsforTommytofetchandlaughingathisplay。Whenitwasover，BastinandBickleywentawaytogether，whetherbychanceordesignIdonotknow，andshesaidtomesuddenly：
\"Humphrey，youhaveoftenaskedmeaboutthecityPani，ofwhichalittleportionoftheruinsremainsuponthisisland，therestbeingburiedbeneaththewaters。IfyouwishIwillshowyouwhereourroyalpalacewasbeforethebarbariansdestroyeditwiththeirairships。Themoonisverybright，andbyitwecansee。\"
Inodded，for，knowingwhatshemeant，somehowIcouldnotanswerher，andwebegantheascentofthehill。Sheexplainedtometheplanofthepalacewhenwereachedtheruins，showingmewhereherownapartmentshadbeen，andtherest。Itwasverystrangetohearherquietlytellingofbuildingswhichhadstoodandofthingsthathadhappenedovertwohundredandfiftythousandyearsbefore，muchasanymodernladymightdoofahousethathadbeendestroyedamonthagobyanearthquakeoraZeppelinbomb，whileshedescribedthedetailsofadisasterwhichnowfrightenedhernomore。IthinkitwasthenthatforthefirsttimeIreallybegantobelievethatinfactYvahadlivedallthoseaeonssinceandbeenasshestillappeared。
Wepassedfromthepalacetotheruinsofthetemple，throughwhat，asshesaid，hadbeenapleasure—garden，pointingoutwhereacertainavenueofrarepalmshadgrown，downwhichonceitwasherhabittowalkinthecooloftheday。Or，rather，thereweretwoterracedtemples，onededicatedtoFatelikethatintheundergroundcityofNyo，andtheothertoLove。OfthetempletoFateshetoldmeherfatherhadbeentheHighPriest，andofthetempletoLoveshewastheHighPriestess。
ThenitwasthatIunderstoodwhyshehadbroughtmehere。
Sheledthewaytoamarbleblockcoveredwithworn—outcarvingsandalmostburiedinthedebris。This，shesaid，wasthealtarofofferings。Iaskedherwhatofferings，andsherepliedwithasmile：
\"Onlywine，tosignifythespiritoflife，andflowerstosymboliseitsfragrance，\"andshelaidherfingeronacup—likedepression，stillapparentinthemarble，intowhichthewinewaspoured。
Indeed，IgatheredthattherewasnothingcoarseorbacchanalianaboutthisworshipofaprototypeofAphrodite；onthecontrary，thatitwasmoreorlessspiritualandethereal。Wesatdownonthealtarstone。Iwonderedalittlethatsheshouldhavedoneso，butshereadmythought，andanswered：
\"Sometimeswechangeourfaiths，Humphrey，orperhapstheygrow。Also，haveInottoldyouthatsacrificeswereofferedonthisaltar？\"andshesighedandsmiled。
Idonotknowwhichwasthesweeter，thesmileorthesigh。
Welookedatthewaterglimmeringinthecraterbeneathusontheedgeofwhichwesat。Welookedatheavenaboveinwhichthegreatmoonsailedroyally。Thenwelookedintoeachother’seyes。
\"Iloveyou，\"Isaid。
\"Iknowit，\"sheansweredgently。\"Youhavelovedmefromthefirst，haveyounot？EvenwhenIlayasleepinthecoffinyoubegantoloveme，butuntilyoudreamedacertaindreamyouwouldnotadmitit。\"
\"Yva，whatwasthemeaningofthatdream？\"
\"Icannotsay，Humphrey。ButItellyouthis。Asyouwilllearnintime，onespiritmaybeclothedindifferentgarmentsoftheflesh。\"
Ididnotunderstandher，but，insomestrangeway，herwordsbroughttomymindthosethatNataliespokeatthelast，andI
answered：
\"Yva，whenmywifelaydyingshebademeseekherelsewhere，forcertainlyIshouldfindher。Doubtlessshemeantbeyondtheshoresofdeath——orperhapsshealsodreamed。\"
Shebentherhead，lookingatmeverystrangely。
\"Yourwife，too，mayhavehadthegiftofdreams，Humphrey。AsyoudreamandIdream，somayhapshedreamed。Ofdreams，then，letussaynomore，sinceIthinkthattheyhaveservedtheirpurpose，andallthreeofusunderstand。\"
ThenIstretchedoutmyarms，andnextinstantmyheadlayuponherperfumedbreast。Shelifteditandkissedmeonthelips，saying：
\"WiththiskissagainIgivemyselftoyou。Butoh！Humphrey，donotasktoomuchofthegodofmypeople，Fate，\"andshelookedmeintheeyesandsighed。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked，trembling。
\"Many，manythings。Amongthem，thathappinessisnotformortals，andrememberthatthoughmylifebeganlongago，Iammortalasyouare，andthatineternitytimemakesnodifference。\"
\"Andifso，Yva，whatthen？Dowemeetbuttopart？\"
\"Whosaidit？NotI。Humphrey，Itellyouthis。Norearth，norheaven，norhellhaveanybarsthroughwhichlovecannotburstitswaytowardsreunionandcompleteness。Onlytheremustbelove，manifestedinmanyshapesandatmanytimes，buteverstrivingtoitsend，whichisnotoftheflesh。Aye，lovethathaslostitself，lovescorned，lovedefeated，lovethatseemsfalse，lovebetrayed，lovegoneastray，lovewanderingthroughtheworlds，loveasleepandlivinginitssleep，loveawakeandyetsleeping；alllovethathasinitthegermoflife。Itmattersnotwhatformlovetakes。IfitbetrueItellyouthatitwillwinitsway，andinthemanythatithasseemedtoworship，stillfindtheone，thoughperchancenothere。
Atherwordsanumbfeargrippedmyheart。
\"Nothere？Thenwhere？\"Isaid。
\"Askyourdeadwife，Humphrey。Askthedumbstars。AsktheGodyouworship，forIcannotanswer，saveinoneword——Somewhere！
Man，benotafraid。DoyouthinkthatsuchasyouandIcanbelostintheachingabysmsofspace？Iknowbutlittle，yetItellyouthatweareitsrulers。Itellyouthatwe，too，aregods，ifonlywecanaspireandbelieve。Forthedoubtingandtimidthereisnaught。Forthosewhoseewiththeeyesofthesoulandstretchouttheirhandstograspthereisall。EvenBastinwilltellyouthis。\"
\"But，\"Isaid，\"lifeisshort。Thoseworldsarefaraway，andyouarenear。\"
Shebecamewonderful，mysterious。
\"NearIamfar，\"shesaid；\"andfarIamnear，ifonlythisloveofyoursisstrongenoughtofollowandtoclasp。And，Humphrey，itneedsstrength，forhereIamafraidthatitwillbearlittleofsuchfruitasmendesiretopluck。\"
Againterrortookholdofme，andIlookedather，forIdidnotknowwhattosayorask。
\"Listen，\"shewenton。\"Alreadymyfatherhasofferedmetoyouinmarriage，hashenot，butatapricewhichyoudonotunderstand？Believeme，itisonethatyoushouldneverpay，sincetheruleoftheworldcanbetoodearlyboughtbytheslaughterofhalftheworld。Andifyouwouldpayit，Icannot。\"
\"Butthisismadness！\"Iexclaimed。\"Yourfatherhasnopowersoverourearth。\"
\"IwouldthatIcouldthinkso，Humphrey。Itellyouthathehaspowersandthatitishispurposetousethemashehasdonebefore。You，too，hewoulduse，andme。\"
\"And，ifso，Yva，wearelordsofourselves。Letustakeeachotherwhilewemay。Bastinisapriest。\"
\"Lordsofourselves！Why，foroughtIknow，atthisverymomentOrowatchesusinhisthoughtandlaughs。Onlyindeath，Humphrey，shallwepassbeyondhisreachandbecomelordsofourselves。\"
\"Itismonstrous！\"Icried。\"Thereistheboat，letusflyaway。\"
\"Whatboatcanbearusoutofstretchofthearmoftheoldgodofmypeople，Fate，whereofOroisthehighpriest？Nay，herewemustwaitourdoom。\"
\"Doom，\"Isaid——\"doom？Whatthenisabouttohappen？\"
\"Aterriblething，asIthink，Humphrey。Or，rather，itwillnothappen。\"
\"Whynot，ifitmust？\"
\"Beloved，\"shewhispered，\"Bastinhasexpoundedtomeanewfaithwhereofthemaster—wordisSacrifice。Theterriblethingwillnothappenbecauseofsacrifice！Askmenomore。\"
Shemusedawhile，seatedthereinthemoonlightupontheancientaltarofsacrifice，theveilsheworefallingaboutherfaceandmakinghermysterious。Thenshethrewitback，showingherlovelyeyesandglitteringhair，andlaughed。
\"Wehavestillanearthlyhour，\"shesaid；\"thereforeletusforgetthefar，deadpastandtheeternitiestocomeandbejoyfulinthathour。NowthrowyourarmsaboutmeandIwilltellyoustrangestoriesoflostdays，andyoushalllookintomyeyesandlearnwisdom，andyoushallkissmylipsandtasteofbliss——
you，whowereandareandshallbe——you，thebelovedofYvafromthebeginningtotheendofTime。\"
ChapterXXII
TheCommandIthinkthatbothBastinandBickley，byinstinctasitwere，knewwhathadpassedbetweenYvaandmyselfandthatshehadpromisedherselftome。Theyshowedthisbythewayinwhichtheyavoidedanymentionofhername。AlsotheybegantotalkoftheirownplansforthefutureasmattersinwhichIhadnopart。ThusIheardthemdiscussingthepossibilityofescapefromtheislandwhereofsuddenlytheyseemedtohavegrownweary，andwhetherbyanymeanstwomen（two，notthree）couldmanagetosailandsteerthelifeboatthatremaineduponthewreck。Inshort，asinallsuchcases，thewomanhadcomebetween；alsothepressureofacommonlosscausedthemtoforgettheirdifferencesandtodrawclosertogether。Iwhohadsucceededwheretheybothhadfailed，was，theyseemedtothink，outoftheirlives，somuchthatourancientintimacyhadended。