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ise by the republican title of chief magistrate。 But for the sudden swoop of that horrible Zee； this Royal Lady would have formally proposed to me； and though it may be very well for Aph…Lin； who is only a subordinate minister； a mere Commissioner of Light； to threaten me with destruction if I accept his daughter's hand； yet a Sovereign； whose word is law； could compel the community to abrogate any custom that forbids intermarriage with one of a strange race； and which in itself is a contradiction to their boasted equality of ranks。
〃It is not to be supposed that his daughter； who spoke with such incredulous scorn of the interference of parents； would 135not have sufficient influence with her Royal Father to save me from the combustion to which Aph…Lin would condemn my form。 And if I were exalted by such an alliance； who knows but what the Monarch might elect me as his successor？ Why not？ Few among this indolent race of philosophers like the burden of such greatness。 All might be pleased to see the supreme power lodged in the hands of an accomplished stranger who has experience of other and livelier forms of existence； and once chosen； what reforms I would institute！ What additions to the really pleasant but too monotonous life of this realm my familiarity with the civilised nations above ground would effect！ I am fond of the sports of the field。 Next to war； is not the chase a king's pastime？ In what varieties of strange game does this nether world abound？ How interesting to strike down creatures that were known above ground before the Deluge！ But how？ By that terrible vril； in which； from want of hereditary transmission； I could never be a proficient？ No； but by a civilised handy breech…loader； which these ingenious mechanicians could not only make； but no doubt improve； nay； surely I saw one in the Museum。 Indeed； as absolute king； I should discountenance vril altogether； except in cases of war。 Apropos of war； it is perfectly absurd to stint a people so intelligent； so rich； so well armed； to a petty limit of territory sufficing for 10；000 or 12；000 families。 Is not this restriction a mere philosophical crotchet； at variance with the aspiring element in human nature； such as has been partially； and with complete failure； tried in the upper world by the late Mr。 Robert Owen？ Of course one would not go to war with the neighbouring nations as well armed as one's own subjects； but then； what of those regions inhabited by races unacquainted with vril； and apparently resembling； in their democratic institutions； my American countrymen？ One might invade them without offence to the vril nations； our allies； appropriate their territories； extending； perhaps； to the most distant 136regions of the nether earth； and thus rule over an empire in which the sun never sets。 （I forgot； in my enthusiasm； that over those regions there was no sun to set）。 As for the fantastical notion against conceding fame or renown to an eminent individual； because； forsooth； bestowal of honours insures contest in the pursuit of them； stimulates angry passions； and mars the felicity of peace… it is opposed to the very elements； not only of the human； but of the brute creation； which are all； if tamable； participators in the sentiment of praise and emulation。 What renown would be given to a king who thus extended his empire！ I should be deemed a demigod。〃 Thinking of that； the other fanatical notion of regulating this life by reference to one which； no doubt； we Christians firmly believe in； but never take into consideration； I resolved that enlightened philosophy compelled me to abolish a heathen religion so superstitiously at variance with modern thought and practical action。 Musing over these various projects； I felt how much I should have liked at that moment to brighten my wits by a good glass of whiskey…and…water。 Not that I am habitually a spirit…drinker； but certainly there are times when a little stimulant of alcoholic nature； taken with a cigar； enlivens the imagination。 Yes； certainly among these herbs and fruits there would be a liquid from which one could extract a pleasant vinous alcohol； and with a steak cut off one of those elks （ah！ what offence to science to reject the animal food which our first medical men agree in recommending to the gastric juices of mankind！） one would certainly pass a more exhilirating hour of repast。 Then； too； instead of those antiquated dramas performed by childish amateurs； certainly； when I am king； I will introduce our modern opera and a 'corps de ballet；' for which one might find； among the nations I shall conquer； young females of less formidable height and thews than the Gy…ei… not armed with vril； and not insisting upon one's marrying them。
I was so completely rapt in these and similar reforms； 137political； social； and moral； calculated to bestow on the people of the nether world the blessings of a civilisation known to the races of the upper； that I did not perceive that Zee had entered the chamber till I heard a deep sigh； and； raising my eyes； beheld her standing by my couch。
I need not say that； according to the manners of this people； a Gy can； without indecorum； visit an An in his chamber； although an An would be considered forward and immodest to the last degree if he entered the chamber of a Gy without previously obtaining her permission to do so。 Fortunately I was in the full habiliments I had worn when Zee had deposited me on the couch。 Nevertheless I felt much irritated； as well as shocked； by her visit； and asked in a rude tone what she wanted。
〃Speak gently； beloved one； I entreat you；〃 said she； 〃for I am very unhappy。 I have not slept since we parted。〃
〃A due sense of your shameful conduct to me as your father's guest might well suffice to banish sleep from your eyelids。 Where was the affection you pretend to have for me； where was even that politeness on which the Vril…ya pride themselves； when； taking advantage alike of that physical strength in which your sex； in this extraordinary region； excels our own； and of those detestable and unhallowed powers which the agencies of vril invest in your eyes and finger…ends； you exposed me to humiliation before your assembled visitors； before Her Royal Highness… I mean； the daughter of your own chief magistrate；… carrying me off to bed like a naughty infant； and plunging me into sleep； without asking my consent？〃
〃Ungrateful！ Do you reproach me for the evidences of my love？ Can you think that； even if unstung by the jealousy which attends upon love till it fades away in blissful trust when we know that the heart we have wooed is won； I could be indifferent to the perils to which the audacious overtures of that silly little child might expose you？〃
138〃Hold！ Since you introduce the subject of perils； it perhaps does not misbecome me to say that my most imminent perils come from yourself； or at least would come if I believed in your love and accepted your addresses。 Your father has told me plainly that in that case I should be consumed into a cinder with as little compunction as if I were the reptile whom Taee blasted into ashes with the flash of his wand。〃
〃Do not let that fear chill your heart to me；〃 exclaimed Zee； dropping on her knees and absorbing my right hand in the space of her ample palm。 〃It is true； indeed； that we two cannot wed as those of the same race wed； true that the love between us must be pure as that which； in our belief； exists between lovers who reunite in the new life beyond that boundary at which the old life ends。 But is it not happiness enough to be together； wedded in mind and in heart？ Listen： I have just left my father。 He consents to our union on those terms。 I have sufficient influence with the College of Sages to insure their request to the Tur not to interfere with the free choice of a Gy； provided that her wedding with one of another race be but the wedding of souls。 Oh； think you that true love needs ignoble union？ It is not that I yearn only to be by your side in this life； to be part and parcel of your joys and sorrows here： I ask here for a tie which will bind us for ever and for ever in the world of immortals。 Do you reject me？〃
As she spoke； she knelt； and the whole character of her face was changed； nothing of sternness left to its grandeur； a divine light； as that of an immortal； shining out from its human beauty。 But she rather awed me as an angel than moved me as a woman； and after an embarrassed pause； I faltered forth evasive expressions of gratitude； and sought； as delicately as I could； to point out how humiliating would be my position amongst her race in the light of a husband who might never be permitted the name of father。
〃But；〃 said Zee； 〃this community does not constitute the whole world。 No； nor do all the populations comprised in the league 139of the Vril…ya。 For thy sake I will renounce my country and my people。 We will fly together to some region where thou shalt be safe。 I am strong enough to bear thee on my wings across the deserts that intervene。 I am skilled enough to cleave open； amidst the rocks； valleys in which to build our home。 Solitude and a hut with thee would be to me society and the universe。 Or wouldst thou return to thine ow