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〃Pardon me； if I interrupt you for a moment。 You allow that some； even of the Vril…ya； know want； and need relief。〃
〃If by want you mean the destitution that prevails in a Koom…Posh； THAT is impossible with us； unless an An has； by some extraordinary process； got rid of all his means； cannot or will not emigrate； and has either tired out the affectionate aid of this relations or personal friends； or refuses to accept it。〃
〃Well； then； does he not supply the place of an infant or automaton； and become a labourer… a servant？〃
〃No； then we regard him as an unfortunate person of unsound reason； and place him； at the expense of the State； in a public building； where every comfort and every luxury that can mitigate his affliction are lavished upon him。 But an An does not like to be considered out of his mind； and therefore such cases occur so seldom that the public building I speak of is now a deserted ruin； and the last inmate of it was an An whom I recollect to have seen in my childhood。 He did not seem conscious of loss of reason； and wrote glaubs （poetry）。 When I spoke of wants； I meant such wants as an An with desires larger than his means sometimes entertains… for expensive singing…birds； or bigger houses； or country…gardens； and the obvious way to satisfy such wants is to buy of him something that he sells。 Hence Ana like myself； who are very rich； are 121obliged to buy a great many things they do not require； and live on a very large scale where they might prefer to live on a small one。 For instance； the great size of my house in the town is a source of much trouble to my wife； and even to myself； but I am compelled to have it thus incommodiously large； because； as the richest An of the community； I am appointed to entertain the strangers from the other communities when they visit us； which they do in great crowds twice…a…year； when certain periodical entertainments are held； and when relations scattered throughout all the realms of the Vril…ya joyfully reunite for a time。 This hospitality； on a scale so extensive； is not to my taste； and therefore I should have been happier had I been less rich。 But we must all bear the lot assigned to us in this short passage through time that we call life。 After all； what are a hundred years； more or less； to the ages through which we must pass hereafter？ Luckily； I have one son who likes great wealth。 It is a rare exception to the general rule； and I own I cannot myself understand it。〃
After this conversation I sought to return to the subject which continued to weigh on my heart… viz。； the chances of escape from Zee。 But my host politely declined to renew that topic； and summoned our air…boat。 On our way back we were met by Zee； who； having found us gone； on her return from the College of Sages； had unfurled her wings and flown in search of us。
Her grand； but to me unalluring； countenance brightened as she beheld me； and； poising herself beside the boat on her large outspread plumes； she said reproachfully to Aph…Lin… 〃Oh； father； was it right in you to hazard the life of your guest in a vehicle to which he is so unaccustomed？ He might； by an incautious movement； fall over the side； and alas； he is not like us； he has no wings。 It were death to him to fall。 Dear one！〃 （she added； accosting my shrinking self in a softer voice）； 〃have you no thought of me； that you should thus hazard 122a life which has become almost a part of mine？ Never again be thus rash； unless I am thy companion。 What terror thou hast stricken into me！〃
I glanced furtively at Aph…Lin； expecting； at least； that he would indignantly reprove his daughter for expressions of anxiety and affection； which； under all the circumstances； would； in the world above ground； be considered immodest in the lips of a young female； addressed to a male not affianced to her； even if of the same rank as herself。
But so confirmed are the rights of females in that region； and so absolutely foremost among those rights do females claim the privilege of courtship； that Aph…Lin would no more have thought of reproving his virgin daughter than he would have thought of disobeying the orders of the Tur。 In that country； custom； as he implied； is all in all。
He answered mildly； 〃Zee； the Tish is in no danger and it is my belief the he can take very good care of himself。〃
〃I would rather that he let me charge myself with his care。 Oh； heart of my heart； it was in the thought of thy danger that I first felt how much I loved thee！〃
Never did man feel in such a false position as I did。 These words were spoken loud in the hearing of Zee's father… in the hearing of the child who steered。 I blushed with shame for them； and for her； and could not help replying angrily： 〃Zee； either you mock me； which； as your father's guest； misbecomes you； or the words you utter are improper for a maiden Gy to address even to an An of her own race； if he has not wooed her with the consent of her parents。 How much more improper to address them to a Tish； who has never presumed to solicit your affections； and who can never regard you with other sentiments than those of reverence and awe！〃
Aph…Lin made me a covert sing of approbation； but said nothing。
123〃Be not so cruel！〃 exclaimed Zee； still in sonorous accents。 〃Can love command itself where it is truly felt？ Do you suppose that a maiden Gy will conceal a sentiment that it elevates her to feel？ What a country you must have come from！〃
Here Aph…Lin gently interposed； saying； 〃Among the Tish…a the rights of your sex do not appear to be established； and at all events my guest may converse with you more freely if unchecked by the presence of others。〃
To this remark Zee made no reply； but； darting on me a tender reproachful glance； agitated her wings and fled homeward。
〃I had counted； at least； on some aid from my host；〃 I said bitterly； 〃in the perils to which his own daughter exposes me。〃
〃I gave you the best aid I could。 To contradict a Gy in her love affairs is to confirm her purpose。 She allows no counsel to come between her and her affections。〃
Chapter XXIV。
On alighting from the air…boat； a child accosted Aph…Lin in the hall with a request that he would be present at the funeral obsequies of a relation who had recently departed from that nether world。
Now； I had never seen a burial…place or cemetery amongst this people； and； glad to seize even so melancholy an occasion to defer an encounter with Zee； I asked Aph…Lin if I might be permitted to witness with him the interment of his relation； unless； indeed； it were regarded as one of those sacred ceremonies to which a stranger to their race might not be admitted。
〃The departure of an An to a happier world；〃 answered my host； 〃when； as in the case of my kinsman； he has lived so long in 124this as to have lost pleasure in it； is rather a cheerful though quiet festival than a sacred ceremony； and you may accompany me if you will。〃
Preceded by the child…messenger； we walked up the main street to a house at some little distance； and； entering the hall； were conducted to a room on the ground floor； where we found several persons assembled round a couch on which was laid the deceased。 It was an old man； who had； as I was told； lived beyond his 130th year。 To judge by the calm smile on his countenance； he had passed away without suffering。 One of the sons； who was now the head of the family； and who seemed in vigorous middle life； though he was considerably more than seventy； stepped forward with a cheerful face and told Aph…Lin 〃that the day before he died his father had seen in a dream his departed Gy； and was eager to be reunited to her； and restored to youth beneath the nearer smile of the All…Good。〃
While these two were talking； my attention was drawn to a dark metallic substance at the farther end of the room。 It was about twenty feet in length； narrow in proportion； and all closed round； save； near the roof； there were small round holes through which might be seen a red light。 From the interior emanated a rich and sweet perfume； and while I was conjecturing what purpose this machine was to serve； all the time…pieces in the town struck the hour with their solemn musical chime； and as that sound ceased； music of a more joyous character； but still of a joy subdued and tranquil； rang throughout the chamber； and from the walls beyond； in a choral peal。 Symphonious with the melody； those in the room lifted their voices in chant。 The words of this hymn were simple。 They expressed no regret； no farewell； but rather a greeting to the new world whither the deceased had preceded the living。 Indeed； in their language； the funeral hymn is called the 'Birth Song。' Then the corpse； covered by a long cerement； was tenderly lifted up by six of the nearest kinfolk and borne towards the dark thing I have described。 I pressed forward to 125see what happened。 A sliding door or panel at one end was lifted up… the body deposited within； on a shelf… the door reclosed… a spring a the side touched… a sudden 'whishing；' sighing sound heard from within； and lo！ at the other end of the machine the lid fell down； and a small handful of smouldering dust dropped into a 'patera' placed to receive it。 The son