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。