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？ she hastened to communicate and explain it。 Was some veteran sage of the College perplexed and wearied with the toil of an abstruse study？ she would patiently devote herself to his aid； work out details for him； sustain his spirits with her hopeful smile； quicken his wit with her luminous suggestion； be to him； as it were； his own good genius made visible as the strengthener and inspirer。 The same tenderness she exhibited to the inferior creatures。 I have often known her bring home some sick and wounded animal； and tend and cherish it as a mother would tend and cherish her stricken child。 Many a time when I sat in the balcony； or hanging garden； on which my window opened； I have watched her rising in the air on her radiant wings； and in a few moments groups of infants below； catching sight of her； would soar upward with joyous sounds of greeting； clustering and sporting around her； so that she seemed a very centre of innocent delight。 When I have walked with her amidst the rocks and valleys without the city； the elk…deer would scent or see her from afar； come bounding up； eager for the caress of her hand； or follow her footsteps； till dismissed by some musical whisper that the creature had learned to comprehend。 It is the fashion among the virgin Gy…ei to wear on their foreheads a circlet； or coronet； with gems resembling opals； arranged in four points or rays like stars。 These are lustreless in ordinary use； but if touched by the vril wand they take a clear lambent flame； which illuminates； yet not burns。 This serves as an ornament in their festivities； and as a lamp； if； in 107their wanderings beyond their artificial lights； they have to traverse the dark。 There are times； when I have seen Zee's thoughtful majesty of face lighted up by this crowning halo； that I could scarcely believe her to be a creature of mortal birth； and bent my head before her as the vision of a being among the celestial orders。 But never once did my heart feel for this lofty type of the noblest womanhood a sentiment of human love。 Is it that； among the race I belong to； man's pride so far influences his passions that woman loses to him her special charm of woman if he feels her to be in all things eminently superior to himself？ But by what strange infatuation could this peerless daughter of a race which； in the supremacy of its powers and the felicity of its conditions； ranked all other races in the category of barbarians； have deigned to honour me with her preference？ In personal qualifications； though I passed for good…looking amongst the people I came from； the handsomest of my countrymen might have seemed insignificant and homely beside the grand and serene type of beauty which characterised the aspect of the Vril…ya。
That novelty； the very difference between myself and those to whom Zee was accustomed； might serve to bias her fancy was probable enough； and as the reader will see later； such a cause might suffice to account for the predilection with which I was distinguished by a young Gy scarcely out of her childhood； and very inferior in all respects to Zee。 But whoever will consider those tender characteristics which I have just ascribed to the daughter of Aph…Lin； may readily conceive that the main cause of my attraction to her was in her instinctive desire to cherish； to comfort； to protect； and； in protecting； to sustain and to exalt。 Thus； when I look back； I account for the only weakness unworthy of her lofty nature； which bowed the daughter of the Vril…ya to a woman's affection for one so inferior to herself as was her father's guest。 But be the cause what it may； the consciousness that I had inspired such 108affection thrilled me with awe… a moral awe of her very imperfections； of her mysterious powers； of the inseparable distinctions between her race and my own； and with that awe； I must confess to my shame； there combined the more material and ignoble dread of the perils to which her preference would expose me。
Under these anxious circumstances； fortunately； my conscience and sense of honour were free from reproach。 It became clearly my duty； if Zee's preference continued manifest； to intimate it to my host； with； of course； all the delicacy which is ever to be preserved by a well…bred man in confiding to another any degree of favour by which one of the fair sex may condescend to distinguish him。 Thus； at all events； I should be freed from responsibility or suspicion of voluntary participation in the sentiments of Zee； and the superior wisdom of my host might probably suggest some sage extrication from my perilous dilemma。 In this resolve I obeyed the ordinary instinct of civilised and moral man； who； erring though he be； still generally prefers the right course in those cases where it is obviously against his inclinations； his interests； and his safety to elect the wrong one。
Chapter XXII。
As the reader has seen； Aph…Lin had not favoured my general and unrestricted intercourse with his countrywomen。 Though relying on my promise to abstain from giving any information as to the 109world I had left； and still more on the promise of those to whom had been put the same request； not to question me； which Zee had exacted from Taee； yet he did not feel sure that； if I were allowed to mix with the strangers whose curiosity the sight of me had aroused； I could sufficiently guard myself against their inquiries。 When I went out； therefore； it was never alone； I was always accompanied either by one of my host's family； or my child…friend Taee。 Bra； Aph…Lin's wife； seldom stirred beyond the gardens which surrounded the house； and was fond of reading the ancient literature； which contained something of romance and adventure not to be found in the writings of recent ages； and presented pictures of a life unfamiliar to her experience and interesting to her imagination； pictures； indeed； of a life more resembling that which we lead every day above ground； coloured by our sorrows； sins； passions； and much to her what the tales of the Genii or the Arabian Nights are to us。 But her love of reading did not prevent Bra from the discharge of her duties as mistress of the largest household in the city。 She went daily the round of the chambers； and saw that the automata and other mechanical contrivances were in order； that the numerous children employed by Aph…Lin； whether in his private or public capacity； were carefully tended。 Bra also inspected the accounts of the whole estate； and it was her great delight to assist her husband in the business connected with his office as chief administrator of the Lighting Department； so that her avocations necessarily kept her much within doors。 The two sons were both completing
their education at the College of Sages； and the elder； who had a strong passion for mechanics； and especially for works connected with the machinery of timepieces and automata； had decided on devoting himself to these pursuits； and was now occupied in constructing a shop or warehouse； at which his inventions could be exhibited and sold。 The younger son 110preferred farming and rural occupations； and when not attending the College； at which he chiefly studied the theories of agriculture； was much absorbed by his practical application of that science to his father's lands。 It will be seen by this how completely equality of ranks is established among this people… a shopkeeper being of exactly the same grade in estimation as the large landed proprietor。 Aph…Lin was the wealthiest member of the community； and his eldest son preferred keeping a shop to any other avocation； nor was this choice thought to show any want of elevated notions on his part。
This young man had been much interested in examining my watch； the works of which were new to him； and was greatly pleased when I made him a present of it。 Shortly after； he returned the gift with interest； by a watch of his own construction； marking both the time as in my watch and the time as kept among the Vril…ya。 I have that watch still； and it has been much admired by many among the most eminent watchmakers of London and Paris。 It is of gold； with diamond hands and figures； and it plays a favorite tune among the Vril…ya in striking the hours： it only requires to be wound up once in ten months； and has never gone wrong since I had it。 These young brothers being thus occupied； my usual companions in that family； when I went abroad； were my host or his daughter。 Now； agreeably with the honourable conclusions I had come to； I began to excuse myself from Zee's invitations to go out alone with her； and seized an occasion when that learned Gy was delivering a lecture at the College of Sages to ask Aph…Lin to show me his country…seat。 As this was at some little distance； and as Aph…Lin was not fond of walking； while I had discreetly relinquished all attempts at flying； we proceeded to our destination in one of the aerial boats belonging to my host。 A child of eight years old； in his employ； was our conductor。 My host and myself reclined on cushions； and I found the movement very easy and luxurious。
111〃Aph…Lin；〃 said I； 〃you will not； I trust； be displeased with me； if I ask your permission to travel for a short time； and visit other tribes or communities of