Findingtheyhadbroughtstraight—boredguns,theyarrangedtheircartridgessimilarly,andsetoutinthedirectioninwhichthewingedlizardsordragonshadgone。
CHAPTERIV。
APROVIDENTIALINTERVENTION。
Thevalleynarrowedastheyadvanced,thebanksrisinggentlyonbothsides。Bothdragonshadflownstraighttoagroveoftall,spreadingtrees。Oncomingneartothis,theynoticedafaintsmelllikethatofthedragon,andalsolikethetracetheyfoundintheaironleavingtheCallistothedaybefore,aftertheyhadsoughtsafetywithinit。Soonitalmostknockedthemdown。
\"Wemustgettowindward,\"saidCortlandt。\"Ialreadyfeelfaint,andbelievethosedragonscouldkillamanbybreathingonhim。\"
Accordingly,theyskirtedaroundthegrove,andhavingmadeaquartercircle——fortheydidnotwishthedragonstowindthem——againdrewnearer。Treeaftertreewaspassed,andfinallytheysawanopenspacetwelveorfifteenacresinareaatthecentreofthegrove,whentheywerearrestedbyacurioussoundofmunching。Peeringamongthetrunksofthehugetrees,theyadvancedcautiously,butstoppedaghast。Intheopeningwereatleastahundreddragonsdevouringthetoadstoolswithwhichthegroundwascovered。Manyofthemwerethirtytofortyfeetlong,withhugeandterriblylong,sharpclaws,andjawsarmedwithgleamingbatteriesofteeth。Thoughtheyhadevidentlylungs,andtheclawsandmouthofananimal,theyremindedtheobserversinmanyrespectsofinsectsenormouslyexaggerated,fortheirwings,composedofasortoftransparentscale,weresmall,andmoved,astheyhadalreadyseen,atfargreaterspeedthanthoseofabird。Theirprojectingeyeswerealsosetrigidlyintheirheadsinsteadofturning,andconsistedofanumberofflatsurfacesorfacets,likeafly\'seye,sothattheycouldseebackwardandallaround,eachfacetseeinganythingtheraysfromwhichcameatrightanglestoitssurface。Thisbeautifulgrovewasdoubtlesstheirfeeding—ground,and,assuch,waslikelytobevisitedbymanymore。Concludingitwouldbewisetolettheirwoundedgameescape,thethreemenwereabouttoretreat,havingfounditdifficulttobreathetheairevenatthatdistancefromthemonsters,whenthewoundeddragonthattheyhadobservedmovingaboutinaveryrestlessmanner,andevidentlysufferingagooddealfromtheeffectofitswounds,espiedthem,and,witharoarthatmadetheechoesring,startedtowardsthemslowlyalongtheground,followedbytheentireherd,thenearerofwhichnowalsosawthem。Seeingthattheirliveswereindanger,thehuntersquicklyregainedtheopen,andthenstretchedtheirlegsagainstthewind。Thedragonscamethroughthetreesontheground,andthen,raisingthemselvesbytheirwings,thewholeswarm,snorting,anddarkeningtheairwiththeirdeadlybreath,madestraightforthemen,whobycomparisonlookedlikeLilliputians。WiththeslugfromhisrightbarrelBearwardenendedthewoundeddragon\'scareerbyshootinghimthroughthehead,andwithhisleftlaidlowtheonefollowing。Ayraultalsokilledtwohugemonsters,andCortlandtkilledoneandwoundedanother。Theirsupplyofpreparedcartridgeswasthenexhausted,andtheyfellbackontheirrevolversandineffectivespreadingshot。Resolvedtoselltheirlivesdearly,theyretreated,keepingtheirbackstothewind,withthepoisonousdragonsinfront。Butthebreezewasveryslight,andtheywerebeingrapidlyblindedandasphyxiatedbytheloathsomefumes,anddeafenedbythehideousroaringandsnappingofthedragons\'
jaws。Realizingthattheycouldnotmuchlongerreplytothediabolicalhostwithlead,theybelievedtheirlasthourhadcome,whenthegroundonwhichtheyweremakingtheirlaststandshook,therewasarendingofrocksandarushofimprisonedsteamthatdrownedeventhedragons\'roar,andtheywereseparatedfromthembyalongfissureandawallofsmokeandvapour。Strugglingbackfromtheedgeofthechasm,theyfellupontheground,andthenforthefirsttimefullyrealizedthattheearthquakehadsavedthem,forthedragonscouldnotcomeacrosstheopening,andwouldnotventuretoflythroughthesmokeandsteam。Whentheyrecoveredsomewhatfromtheshock,theycutanumberofcartridgesinthesamewaythattheyhadpreparedthosethathaddonethemsuchgoodservice,andkeptonebarrelofeachgunloadedwiththatkind。
\"WemaythankProvidence,\"saidBearwarden,\"forthatescape。I
hopeweshallhavenomoresuchclosecalls。\"
Withapartingglanceatthechasmthathadsavedtheirlives,andfromwhichacloudstillarose,theyturnedslightlytotherightoftheirformercourseandclimbedthegentlyrisingbank。
Whennearthetop,beingtiredoftheirexcitingexperiences,theysatdowntorest。Thegroundallaboutthemwascoveredwithmushrooms,whiteontopandpinkunderneath。
\"Thisisawonderfulplaceforfungi,\"saidAyrault。\"Here,doubtless,weshallbesafefromthedragons,fortheyseemedtopreferthetoadstools。\"Ashelayonthegroundhewatchedoneparticularmushroomthatseemedtogrowbeforehiseyes。
Suddenly,ashelooked,itvanished。Dumfoundedatthisunmistakablemanifestationofthephenomenontheythoughttheyhadseenonlanding,hecalledhiscompanions,and,choosinganothermushroom,thethreewatcheditclosely。Presently,withouttheleastnoiseorcommotion,thatalsodisappeared,leavingnotrace,andthesamefatebefellanumberofothers。
Atacertainpointoftheirdevelopmenttheyvanishedascompletelyasabubbleofaircomingtothesurfaceofwater,exceptthattheycausednoripple,leavingmerelyasmalldepressionwheretheyhadstood。
\"Well,\"saidBearwarden,\"inallmytravelsIneverhaveseenanythinglikethis。IfIwereatasleight—of—handperformance,andtheprestidigitateur,afterdoingthat,askedformytheory,Ishouldsay,\'Igiveitup。\'Howisitwithyou,doctor？\"heasked,addressingCortlandt。
\"Theremustbeanexplanation,\"repliedCortlandt,\"onlywedonotknowthenaturallawtowhichthephenomenonissubject,havinghadnoexperiencewithitonearth。Weknowthatallsubstancescanbeconvertedintogases,andthatallgasescanbereducedtoliquids,andevensolids,bytheapplicationofpressureandcold。Ifthereisanywaybywhichthevisiblesubstanceofthesefungicanbeconvertedintoitsinvisiblegases,aswaterintooxygenandhydrogen,whatwehaveseencanbelogicallyexplained。Perhaps,favouredbysomeaffinityoftheatmosphere,itsconstituentpartsarebrokenupandbecomegasesatthisbarometricpressureandtemperature。Wemustaskthespirit,ifhevisitsusagain。\"
\"Iwishhewould,\"saidAyrault;\"therearelotsofthingsI
shouldliketoaskhim。\"
\"Presidentsofcorporationsandotherchairmen,\"saidBearwarden,\"arenotusuallysuperstitious,andI,ofcourse,takenostockinthesupernatural;butsomehowIhaveawell—formedideathatourfriendthebishop,withthegreatpowerofhismindovermatter,hadahandinthatearthquake。Heseemstohaveanexaltedideaofourimportance,andmaybeexertinghimselftomakethingspleasant。\"
Atthispointthesunsankbelowthehorizon,andtheyfoundthemselvesconfrontedwithnight。
\"Dear,dear！\"saidBearwarden,\"andwehaven\'tacrumbtoeat。
I\'llstandthedrinksandthepipes,\"hecontinued,passingaroundhisubiquitousflaskandtobacco—pouch。
\"IfIplayedsuchprankswithmyinterioronearth,\"saidCortlandt,helpinghimselftoboth,\"asIdoonthisplanet,itwouldgivemenoendoftrouble,buthereIseemtohavethedigestionofanostrich。\"
Sotheysatandsmokedforanhour,tillthestarstwinkledandtheringsshoneintheirglory。
\"Well,\"saidAyrault,finally,\"sincewehavenothingbutmotionstolayonthetable,Imoveweadjourn。\"
\"TheonlymotionIshallmake,\"saidCortlandt,whowasalreadyundressed,\"willbethatofgettingintobed,\"sayingwhich,herolledhimselfinhisblanketandsoonwasfastasleep。
Havingdecidedthat,onaccountoftheproximityofthedragons,amanmustinanyeventbeonthewatch,theydidnotsettheprotection—wires。Fromtheshortnessofthenights,theydividedthemintoonlytwowatchesoffromtwohourstotwoandahalfeach,sothat,evenwhenconstantwatchdutywasnecessary,eachmanhadonefullnight\'ssleepinthree。OnthisoccasionAyraultandCortlandtwerethewatchers,CortlandthavingthemorningandAyraulttheeveningwatch。Manycuriousquadrupedbirds,aboutthesizeoflargebears,andsimilarinshape,havingbear—shapedheads,andseveralcreaturesthatlookedlikethedragons,flewabouttheminthemoonlight;butneitherwatcherfiredashot,asthecreaturesshowednodesiretomakeanattack。Allthesespeciesseemedtobelongtotheowlorbattribe,fortheyroamedabroadatnight。
CHAPTERV。
AYRAULT\'SVISION。
WhenAyrault\'swatchwasended,herousedCortlandt,whotookhisplace,andfeelingadesireforsolitudeandforalastlonglookattheearth,hecrossedthetopoftheridgeontheslopeofwhichtheyhadcamped,andlaydownonthefartherside。TheSouthwindintheupperairrushedalonginthemightywhirl,occasionallycarryingfilmycloudsacrossthefacesofthemoons;
butaboutAyraultallwasstill,andhefeltaquietandserenerepose。Hehadeveryintentionofremainingawake,andwasponderingonthesteadfastnessofthehumanheartandtheconstancyoflove,whenhismeditationsbegantowander,and,withhislastthoughtsonSylvia,hefellasleep。Notabranchmoved,nordidaleaffall,yetbeforeAyrault\'s,sleepingeyesastrangescenewasenacted。Afigureinwhitecamenearandstoodbeforehim,andherecognizedinitoneVioletSlade,averyattractivegirltowhomhehadbeenattentiveinhiscollegedays。Shewasatthattimejusteighteen,andpeoplebelievedthatshelovedhim,butforsomereason,heknewnotwhy,hehadnotproposed。
\"Ithoughtyouhaddied,\"hesaid,asshegazedathim,\"butyouarenowlookingbetterthanever。\"
\"Fromtheworld\'spointofviewIAMdead,\"shereplied。\"Idiedandwasburied。ItisthereforepermissiblethatIshouldshowyouthetruth。YouneverbelievedIlovedyou。Ihavewishedearnestlytoseeyou,andtohaveyouknowthatIdid。\"
\"Ididyouaninjustice,\"Ayraultanswered,perceivingallthatwasinherheart。\"Couldmortalsbutseeasspiritsdo,therewouldbenomisunderstandings。\"
\"Iamsogladtoseeyou,\"shecontinued,\"andtoknowyouarewell。Hadyounotcomehere,wecouldprobablynothavemetuntilafteryourdeath;forIshallnotbesufficientlyadvancedtoreturntoearthforalongtime,thoughmygreatestsolacewhiletherewasmyreligion,whichisallthatbroughtmehere。
We,however,knowthatasourcapacityfortruehappinessincreasesweshallbehappier,andthataftertheresurrectiontherewillbenomoretears。Farewell,\"shewhispered,whilehereyeswerefilledwithlove。
Ayrault\'ssleepwasthenundisturbedforsometime,whensuddenlyanangel,wreathedinlight,appearedbeforehimandspokethesewords:\"HethatwalkedwithAdamandtalkedwithMoseshassentmetoguardyouwhileyousleep。Noplagueorfever,wildbeastorearthquake,canmolestyou,foryouareequallyprotectedfromthemostpowerfulmonsterandthemostinsidiousdisease—germ。
\'Blessedisthemanwhoseoffencesarecoveredandwhosesinsareforgiven。\'Sleepon,therefore,andberefreshed,forthebodymusthaverest。\"
\"Amanmayrestindeed,\"repliedAyrault,\"whenhehasaguardianangel。IhadthemostunboundedfaithinyourexistencebeforeI
sawyou,andbelieveandknowthatyouorothershaveoftenshieldedmefromdangerandsavedmylife。WhyamIworthyofsomuchcare？\"
\"\'WhosodwellethunderthedefenceoftheMostHighshallabideundertheshadowoftheAlmighty,\'\"answeredtheangel,andthereuponhebecameinvisible,adiffusedlighttakinghisplace。
Shortlyafterwardsthispaledandcompletelyvanished。
\"NotonlyamIinparadise,\"thoughtAyrault;\"IbelieveIamalsointheseventhheaven。WouldImighthearsuchwordsagain！\"
Agroupofliliesthenappearedbeforethesleeper\'seyes。Inthemidstwasonelilyfarlargerthantherest,andofadazzlingwhite。Thisspokeinagentlevoice,butwiththetonesofatrombone:
\"Thythoughtsandactsareapleasuretome。Thouhastraisednoidolswithinthyheart,andthyfaithisasincensebeforeme。
ThynameisnowintheBookofLife。Continueasthouhastbegun,andthoushaltliveandreignforever。\"
Hereupontheearthshook,andAyraultwasawakened。Greatboulderswererollingandcrashingdowntheslopeabouthim,whilethedawnwasalreadyintheeast。
\"MymortaleyesandsensesarekeenerherewhileIsleepthanwhenIwake,\"hethought,ashelookedabouthim,\"forspirits,unabletoaffectmewhilewaking,havemadethemselvesfeltinmymoresensitivestatewhileIwasasleep。Nevertheless,thisisnoneotherbutthehouseofGod,andthisisthegateofheaven。
\"TheboulderswerestillinmotionwhenIopenedmyeyes,\"hemused;\"canitbethatthereishereaboutssuchaflowerasinmydreamsIseemedtosee？\"andlookingbeyondwherehisheadhadlain,hebeheldtheidenticallilysurroundedbythegroupthathisclosedeyeshadalreadyseen。Thereuponheuncoveredhisheadanddepartedquickly。Crossingthedivide,hedescendedtocamp,wherehefoundCortlandtindeepthought。
\"Icannotgetoverthedreams,\"saidthedoctor,\"Ihadinthefirstpartofthenight。Notwithstandingyesterday\'sexcitementandfatigue,mysleepwasmostdisturbed,andIwasvisitedbyvisionsofmywife,whodiedlongago。Shewarnedmeagainstskepticism,andseemedmuchdistressedatmypresentspiritualstate。\"
\"I,\"saidBearwarden,whohadbeenoutearly,andhadsucceededinbringinginhalfadozenbirds,\"wassodisturbedIcouldnotsleep。ItseemedtomeasthoughhalfthemenIhaveeverknowncameandwarnedmeagainstagnosticismandmymaterialistictendencies。Theykeptrepeating,\'Youarelosingtherealityfortheshadow。\'\"
\"Iamconvinced,\"saidAyrault,\"thattheywerenotaltogetherdreams,or,ifdreamsindeed,thattheyweresuperinducedbyahigherwill。Weknowthatangelshaveoftenappearedtomeninthepast。Mayitnotbethat,asourappreciativenessincreases,thesecommunicationswillrecur？\"Thereuponherelatedhisownexperiences。
\"Thethingthatsurprisedme,\"saidCortlandt,astheyfinishedbreakfast,\"wastheextraordinaryrealismofthescene。Wemustseeifourvisionsreturnonanythingbutanemptystomach。\"
CHAPTERVI。
AGREATVOIDANDAGREATLONGING。
Resumingtheirmarch,thetravellersproceededalongthecircumferenceofacirclehavingaradiusofaboutthreemiles,withtheCallistointhecentre。Incrossingsoftplacestheyobservedfoot—printsformingintheearthallaroundthem。Theimpressionswereofallsizes,andceasedwhentheyreachedrisingorhardground,onlytoreappearintheswamps,regulatingtheirspeedbythatofthetravellers。Thethreemenweregreatlysurprisedatthis。
\"Youmayobserve,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatthesurfaceoftheimpressionisdepressedasyouwatchit,asthoughbyaweight,andyoucansee,andevenhear,thewaterbeingsqueezedout,thoughwhateverisdoingitisentirelyinvisible。Theymustbemadebyspiritssufficientlyadvancedtohaveweight,butnotadvancedenoughtomakethemselvesvisible。\"
Movedbyaspeciesofvandalism,Bearwardenraisedhistwelve—bore,andfiredanordinarycartridgethathehadnotpreparedforthedragons,atthespacedirectlyoverthenearestformingprints。Therewasabrilliantdisplayofprismaticcolours,asinarainbow,andthoughtheimpressionsalreadymaderemained,nonewoneswereformed。
\"Nowyouhavedoneit！\"saidCortlandt。\"Ihopedtobeabletoinvestigatethisfurther。\"
\"Weshalldoubtlessseeotherandperhapsmorewonderfulthings,\"
repliedBearwarden。\"Imustsaythisgivesmeanuncannyfeeling。\"
Whentheyhadcompletedalittleoverhalftheircircle,theycameuponanotherofthegroveswithwhichSaturnseemedtoabound,attheedgeofwhich,inaside—hill,wasacave,theentranceofwhichwascomposedofrockymassesthathadapparentlyfallentogether,thefloorbeingbutlittlehigherthanthesurfaceoutside。Thearchedroofofthevestibulewasrenderedwatertightbythesoilthathadformeduponit,whichagainwasovergrownbyvinesandbushes。
\"This,\"saidBearwarden,\"willbeagoodplacetocamp,forthecavewillprotectusfromdragons,unlesstheyshouldtakeanotiontobreatheatusfromtheoutside,anditwillkeepusdryincaseofrain。To—morrowwecanstartwiththisasacentre,andmakeanothercircuit。\"
\"WecanexploreSaturnonfoot,\"saidCortlandt,\"andfarmorethoroughlythanJupiter,onaccountofitscomparativefreedomfrommonsters。Noteventhedragonscantroubleus,unlesswemeettheminlargenumbers。\"
Thereupontheysetaboutgettingfuelfortheirfire。Besidescollectingsomeofthedeadwoodthatwaslyingallabout,theysplitupanumberofresinouspineandfirtreeswithexplosivebulletsfromtheirrevolvers,sothatsoontheynotonlyhadaroaringfire,butfilledthebackpartofthecavewithlogstodry,incasetheyshouldcampthereagainatsomelaterday。
NeitherCortlandtnorBearwardenfeltmuchlikesleeping,andso,afterfinishingthebirdsthepresidenthadbroughtdownthatmorning,theypersuadedAyraulttositupandsmokewiththem。
Wrappingthemselvesintheirblankets——fortherewasachillintheair——theysataboutthecamp—firetheyhadbuiltinthemouthofthecave。Twomoonsthatwereatthefullroserapidlyintheclear,coldsky。Onaccountoftheirdistancefromthesun,theywerelessbrightthantheterrestrialmoon,buttheyshonewithamarvellouslypurepalelight。Thelargercontainedtheexactfeaturesofaman。Therewasthesomewhataquilinenose,aclear—cutandexpressivemouth,andlarge,handsomeeyes,whichwereshadedbywell—markedeyebrows。Thewholefacewasverystriking,butwasapersonificationofthemostintensegrief。
Theexpressionwasindeedsadderthanthatofanyfacetheyhadeverseen。Theothercontainedtheprofileofasurpassinglybeautifulyoungwoman。Thehandsomeeyes,shadedbylashes,lookedstraightahead。Thenosewasperfect,andtheearsmall,whilethehairwasartisticallyarrangedatthetopandbackofthehead。Thismoonalsoreflectedapurewhiteray。Theformerappearedaboutonceandaquarter,thelatterbutthreequarters,thesizeoftheterrestrialmoon,andthetravellersimmediatelyrecognizedthembytheirsizesandrelativepositionsasTethysandDione,discoveredbyJ。D。CassiniinMarch,1684。Thesadfacewasturnedslightlytowardsthatofitscompanion,anditlookedasifsometaleofthehumanheart,someromance,hadbeenengravedandpreservedforalltimeonthefeaturesofthesedeadbodies,astheysilentlyswungintheirorbitsforeverandanonweresidebyside。
\"Inalltheages,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatthesemoonshavewanderedwithSaturnaboutthesun,andwiththesolarsysteminitsjourneythroughspace,theycanneverhavegazeduponthescenetheynowbehold,forwemaybeconvincedthatnomortalmanhasbeenherebefore。\"
\"Wemaysay,\"saidAyrault,\"thattheyseeinourbodiesatypeofthesourcefromwhichcomeallthespiritualbeingsthatarehere。\"
\"If,asthewritersofmythologysupposed,\"repliedCortlandt,\"inanimateobjectswereendowedwithsenses,thesemoonswoulddoubtlessbeunabletoperceivethespiritualbeingshere;forthesatellites,beingmaterial,should,tobeconsistent,haveonlythosesensespossessedbyourselves,sothattothemthisplanetwouldordinarilyappeardeserted。\"
\"Ishallbeglad,\"saidBearwarden,gloomily,\"whenthosemoonswaneandaresucceededbytheirfellows,foronewouldgivemeanattackoftheblues,whiletheotherwouldsubjectmetotheinconvenienceoffallinginlove。\"
Ashespoke,theupperbranchesofthetreesinthegrovebegantoswayasacoldgustfromthenorthsighedamongthem。\"Losenomoreopportunities,\"itseemedtocry,\"forlifeisshortanduncertain。SoonyouwillallbecolderthanI,andyourfuture,stillaseasilymouldedasclay,willbesetasMarpesianmarble,morefixedthanthehardestrock。\"
\"Paradise,\"saidCortlandt,\"containssightsandsoundsthatmight,Ishouldthink,arousesadreminiscenceswithouttheaidofthewatersofLethe,unlessthejoyofitssoulsintheirnewresourcesandthesenseofforgivenessoutweighallelse。\"
Withapartinglookattherefined,silverymoon,anditssorrow—ladencompanion,theyretiredtotheshelteringcave,piledupthefire,andtalkedonforanhour。
\"Idonotseehowitis,\"saidBearwarden,\"thatthesemoons,consideringtheirdistancefromthesun,andtheconsequentlysmallamountoflighttheyreceive,aresobright。\"
\"Abody\'sbrightnessinreflectinglight,\"repliedCortlandt,\"dependsasmuchonthecolourandcompositionofitsownsurfaceasontheamountitreceives。Itisconceivablethatthesemoons,ifplacedattheearth\'sdistancefromthesun,wouldbefarbrighterthanourmoon,andthatourfamiliarsatellite,ifremovedtoSaturn,wouldseemverydim。Weknowhowmuchmorebrilliantamountaininthesunlightiswhencladinsnowthanwhenitssidesarebare。Thesemoonsevidentlyreflectalargeproportionofthelighttheyreceive。\"
Whentheycameoutshortlyaftermidnightthegirl\'s—facemoonhadalreadyset,leavingadarkanddrearyvoidinthepartoftheskyithadsoideallyfilled。Theinexpressiblysadsatellite（onaccountofitsshorterdistanceandmorerapidrateofrevolution）wasstillabovethehorizon,and,beingslightlytilted,hadamoremelancholy,heart—brokenlookthanbefore。
WhiletheygazedsadlyattheemptinessleftbyDione,CortlandtsawAyrault\'sexpressionchange,and,notclearlyperceivingitscause,said,wishingtocheerhim:\"Nevermind,Dick;to—morrownightweshallseeitagain。\"
\"Ah,prosaicreasoner,\"retortedBearwarden,whosawthatthis,likesomanyotherthings,hadremindedAyraultofSylvia,\"thatisbutsmallconsolationforhavinglostitnow,thoughIsupposeourlotisnotsohardasifwewerenevertoseeitagain。Inthatmoon\'sfaceIfindtherealizationofmyfanciedidealwoman;whilethatsadoneyonderseemsasthoughsomecelestiallover,insearchofhisfate,hadbecomeenamouredofher,andtriedinvaintowinher,andthegriefinhismindhadimpresseditselfonthethenmoltenfaceofasatellitetobethemonumentthroughouteternityofloveandabrokenheart。Ifthespiritsandsoulsofthedepartedhaveanycommandofmatter,whymaynottheirintensestthoughtsengravethemselvesonamoonthat,whendeadandfrozen,mayreflectandshineastheydid,whileimmersedinthedepthsofspace？AtfirstDioneboredme;nowI
shouldgreatlyliketoseeheragain。\"
\"Historyrepeatsitself,\"repliedCortlandt,\"andthesamephasesofliferecur。Itiswethatareinachangedreceptivemood。
Thechangethatseemstobeinthemisinrealityinus。Remainasyouarenow,andDionewillgiveyouthesamepleasuretomorrowthatshegaveto—day。\"
ToAyraultthismeantmorethanthemeresettingtoriseagainofaheavenlybody。Theperfumeofaflower,thesighingofthewind,suggestingsomeharmonyorsong,afullorcrescentmoon,recalledthoughtsandassociationsofSylvia。Everythingseemedtobringoutmemory,andherealizedtheutterinabilityofabsencetocuretheheartoflove。\"IfSylviashouldpassfrommylifeasthatmoonhasleftmyvision,\"histhoughtscontinued,\"existencewouldbebutsadnessandmemorywouldbeitscause,forthemostbeautifulsoundsentailsorrow;themostbeautifulsights,intensepain。\"Ah,\"hewentonwithatraceofbitterness,whilehisfriendsfellasleepinthecave,\"Imightbetterhaveremainedinlovewithscience;forwhosestudiesNature,whichisbutaformofGod,intherightspirit,isnotdependentforhisjoyordespaironthewhimsofagirl。She,ofcourse,seesmanyothers,and,beingonlytwenty,mayforgetme。
MustIcontentmyselfwithphilosophicalrulesandmathematicalformulae,whenshe,whosechangefulnessImayfindgreaterthanthewindsthatsighoverme,nowlovesmenolonger？Olove,whichmakesusmiserablewhenwefeelit,andmoremiserablestillwhenitisgone！\"
Hestrunganumberofcopperwiresatdifferentdegreesoftensionbetweentwotrees,andlistenedtothewindasitrangedupanddownonthisimprovisedAEolianharp。Itgraduallyranintoaregularrefrain,whichbecamemoreandmorelikewords。
Ayraultwaspuzzled,andthenamazed。Therecouldbenodoubtaboutit。\"Youshouldbehappy,\"itkeptrepeating——\"youshouldbehappy,\"insoftmusicaltones。
\"IknowIshould,\"repliedAyrault,finallyrecognizingthevoiceofVioletSladeinthesongofthewind,\"andIcannotunderstandwhyIamnot。Tellme,isthisparadise,Violet,orisitnotratherpurgatory？\"
Thenotesrangedupanddownagain,andheperceivedthatshewascausingthewindtoblowasshedesired——inotherwords,shewasmakingitplayuponhisharp。
\"Thatdependsontheindividual,\"shereplied。\"Itisrathersheol,theplaceofdepartedspirits。Thosewhoseconsciencesmadethemhappyonearthareinparadisehere;whilethosegoodenoughtoreachheavenatlast,butinwhomsomedrossremains,arefurtherrefinedinspirit,andtothemitispurgatory。
Thosewhoareinlovecanbehappyinbutonewaywhiletheirlovelasts。WhatIShappiness,anyway？\"
\"Itisthestateinwhichdesiresaresatisfied,myfairViolet,\"
answeredAyrault。
\"Say,rather,thestateinwhichdesirecoincideswithduty,\"
repliedthesong。\"Self—sacrificeforothersgivesthetruestjoy;beingwiththeobjectofone\'slove,thenext。YouneverbelievedthatIlovedyou。Idissembledwell;butyouwillseeforyourselfsomeday,asclearlyasIseeyourloveforanothernow。\"
\"Yes,\"repliedAyrault,sadly,\"Iaminlove。Ihavenoreasontobelievethereiscauseformyunrest,and,consideringeverything,Ishouldbehappyasmancanbe;yet,mirabiledictu,Iamin——hades,intheverydepths！\"
\"Yourbelovedisbeyondmyvision;yourheartisallIcansee。
YetIamconvincedshewillnotforgetyou。Iamsureshelovesyoustill。\"
\"Ihavealwaysbelievedinhomoeopathytotheextentofthesimiliasimilibuscurantur,Violet,anditiscertainthatwherenothingelsewillcureamanofloveforonewoman,hisloveforanotherwill。YoucanseehowIloveSylvia,butyouhaveneverseemedsosweettomeasto—day。\"
\"Itisasacrilege,myfriend,tospeaksotomenow。Youaredonewithmeforever。Iambutadisembodiedspirit,andescapedhadesbythegraceoftheOmnipotent,ratherthanbyvirtueofanygoodIdidonearth。Sofarasanyelasticityisleftinmyopportunities,Iamdeadasyonmoon。Youhavestillthegiftthatbutonecangive。Withinyouranimalbodyyouholdanimmortalsoul。Itispliableaswax;youcanmoulditbyyourwill。Asyoushapethatsoul,sowillyourfuturebe。Itisthearkthatcantraversetheflood。Raiseit,anditwillraiseyou。Itisallthereisinyourself。Preservethatgift,andwhenyoudieyouwill,Ihope,startonaplanemanythousandsofyearsinadvanceofme。Thereshouldbenomorecomparisonbetweenusthanbetweenapersonwithallhissensesandonethatisdeafandblind。Thoughyouarealayman,youshould,withyourfaithandframeofmind,soonbebutlittlebehindourspiritualbishop。\"
\"Isupposedafterdeathamanhadrest。Ishe,then,abishopstill？\"
\"Theprogress,ashetoldyou,islargelyontheoldlines。Ashestirredmen\'sheartsonearth,hewillstirtheirsoulsinheaven;andthisisnoirksomeorunwelcomework。\"
\"YousayheWILLdothisinheaven。Ishe,then,notthereyet？\"
\"Hewasnotfarfromheavenonearth,yettechnicallynoneofuscanbeinheaventillafterthegeneralresurrection。Then,asweknewonearth,weshallreceivebodies,though,asyet,concerningtheirexactnatureweknowbutlittlemorethanthen。
Weareallinsheol——thejustinpurgatoryandparadise,theunjustinhell。\"
\"Sinceyouarestillinpurgatory,areyouunhappy？\"
\"No,ourstateisveryhappy。Allphysicalpainispast,andcanneverbefeltagain。Weknowthatourevildesiresareovercome,andthattheirimprintsarebeinggraduallyerased。I
occasionallyshedanintangibletear,yetformostofthosewhostrovetoobeytheirconsciences,purgatory,whenessential,thoughoccasionallygivingusabittertwinge,isajoy—producingstate。Notallthegloriesimaginableorunimaginablecouldmakeushappy,wereourconsciencesillatease。Ihaveadvancedslowly,yetsomethingsaregivenusatonce。AfterIrealizedI
hadirrevocablylostyourlove,thoughforatimeIhadhopedtoregainit,Ibecameveryrestless;earthseemedaprison,andI
lookedforwardtodeathasmydeliverer。Iboreyounomalice;
youhadneverespeciallytriedtowinme;theinfatuation——thatofagirlofeighteen——hadbeenallonmyside。Ilivedfivesadandlonelyyears,although,asyouknow,Ihadmuchattention。
Peoplethoughtmecoldandheartless。HowcouldIhaveaheart,havingfailedtowinyours,andminebeingbroken？HavinglosttheonlymanIloved,Iknewnooneelsecouldreplacehim,andI
wasnotthekindtomarryforpique。Peoplethoughtmehandsome,butIfeltmyselfagedwhenyouceasedtocall。Perhapswhenyouandshewhoholdsallyourlovecometosheol,shemayspareyoutomealittle,forasaspiritmyeverythoughtisknown;orperhapsaftertheresurrection,whenI,too,canleavethisplanet,weshallallsoarthroughspacetogether,andwecanstudythestarsasofold。\"
\"Yourvoiceisasymphony,sweetestViolet,andIlovetohearyourwords。Ah,wouldyoucouldoncemorereturntoearth,orthatIwereanetherealspirit,thatwemightcommunefacetoface！IwouldfollowyoufromoneendofShadowlandtotheother。Ofwhatuseislifetome,withdistractionsthatdrawmythoughtstoearthasgravitationdrewmybody？IwishIwereashade。\"