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Chapter XXVII。
One day； as I sat alone and brooding in my chamber； Taee flew in at the open window and alighted on the couch beside me。 I was always pleased with the visits of a child； in whose society； if humbled； I was less eclipsed than in that of Ana who had completed their education and matured their understanding。 And as I was permitted to wander forth with him for my companion； and as I longed to revisit the spot in which I had descended into the nether world； I hastened to ask him if he were at leisure for a stroll beyond the streets of the city。 His countenance seemed to me graver than usual as he replied； 〃I came hither on purpose to invite you forth。〃
We soon found ourselves in the street； and had not got far from the house when we encountered five or six young Gy…ei； who were returning from the fields with baskets full of flowers； and chanting a song in chorus as they walked。 A young Gy sings more often than she talks。 They stopped on seeing us； accosting Taee with familiar kindness； and me with the courteous gallantry which distinguishes the Gy…ei in their manner towards our weaker sex。
And here I may observe that； though a virgin Gy is so frank in her courtship to the individual she favours； there is nothing that approaches to that general breadth and loudness of manner which those young ladies of the Anglo…Saxon race； to whom the 149distinguished epithet of 'fast' is accorded； exhibit towards young gentlemen whom they do not profess to love。 No； the bearing of the Gy…ei towards males in ordinary is very much that of high…bred men in the gallant societies of the upper world towards ladies whom they respect but do not woo； deferential； complimentary； exquisitely polished… what we should call 'chivalrous。'
Certainly I was a little put out by the number of civil things addressed to my 'amour propre；' which were said to me by those courteous young Gy…ei。 In the world I came from； a man would have thought himself aggrieved； treated with irony； 'chaffed' （if so vulgar a slang word may be allowed on the authority of the popular novelists who use it so freely）； when one fair Gy complimented me on the freshness of my complexion； another on the choice of colours in my dress； a third； with a sly smile； on the conquests I had made at Aph…Lin's entertainment。 But I knew already that all such language was what the French call 'banal；' and did but express in the female mouth； below earth； that sort of desire to pass for amiable with the opposite sex which； above earth； arbitrary custom and hereditary transmission demonstrate by the mouth of the male。 And just as a high…bred young lady； above earth； habituated to such compliments； feels that she cannot； without impropriety； return them； nor evince any great satisfaction at receiving them； so I who had learned polite manners at the house of so wealthy and dignified a Minister of that nation； could but smile and try to look pretty in bashfully disclaiming the compliments showered upon me。 While we were thus talking； Taee's sister； it seems； had seen us from the upper rooms of the Royal Palace at the entrance of the town； and； precipitating herself on her wings； alighted in the midst of the group。
Singling me out； she said； though still with the inimitable deference of manner which I have called 'chivalrous；' yet not without a certain abruptness of tone which； as addressed to the weaker sex； Sir Philip Sydney might have termed 'rustic；' 〃Why do you never come to see us？〃 150 While I was deliberating on the right answer to give to this unlooked…for question； Taee said quickly and sternly； 〃Sister； you forget… the stranger is of my sex。 It is not for persons of my sex； having due regard for reputation and modesty； to lower themselves by running after the society of yours。〃
This speech was received with evident approval by the young Gy…ei in general； but Taee's sister looked greatly abashed。 Poor thing！… and a PRINCESS too！
Just at this moment a shadow fell on the space between me and the group； and； turning round； I beheld the chief magistrate coming close upon us； with the silent and stately pace peculiar to the Vril…ya。 At the sight of his countenance； the same terror which had seized me when I first beheld it returned。 On that brow； in those eyes； there was that same indefinable something which marked the being of a race fatal to our own… that strange expression of serene exemption from our common cares and passions； of conscious superior power； compassionate and inflexible as that of a judge who pronounces doom。 I shivered； and； inclining low； pressed the arm of my child…friend； and drew him onward silently。 The Tur placed himself before our path； regarded me for a moment without speaking； then turned his eye quietly on his daughter's face； and； with a grave salutation to her and the other Gy…ei； went through the midst of the group；… still without a word。
Chapter XXVIII。
When Taee and I found ourselves alone on the broad road that lay between the city and the chasm through which I had descended into this region beneath the light of the stars and sun； I said under my breath； 〃Child and friend； there is a look 151in your father's face which appals me。 I feel as if； in its awful tranquillity； I gazed upon death。〃
Taee did not immediately reply。 He seemed agitated； and as if debating with himself by what words to soften some unwelcome intelligence。 At last he said； 〃None of the Vril…ya fear death： do you？〃
〃The dread of death is implanted in the breasts of the race to which I belong。 We can conquer it at the call of duty； of honour； of love。 We can die for a truth； for a native land； for those who are dearer to us than ourselves。 But if death do really threaten me now and here； where are such counteractions to the natural instinct which invests with awe and terror the contemplation of severance between soul and body？〃
Taee looked surprised； but there was great tenderness in his voice as he replied； 〃I will tell my father what you say。 I will entreat him to spare your life。〃
〃He has； then； already decreed to destroy it？〃
〃'Tis my sister's fault or folly；〃 said Taee； with some petulance。 〃But she spoke this morning to my father； and； after she had spoken； he summoned me； as a chief among the children who are commissioned to destroy such lives as threaten the community； and he said to me； 'Take thy vril staff； and seek the stranger who has made himself dear to thee。 Be his end painless and prompt。'〃
〃And；〃 I faltered； recoiling from the child… 〃and it is； then； for my murder that thus treacherously thou hast invited me forth？ No； I cannot believe it。 I cannot think thee guilty of such a crime。〃
〃It is no crime to slay those who threaten the good of the community； it would be a crime to slay the smallest insect that cannot harm us。〃
〃If you mean that I threaten the good of the community because your sister honours me with the sort of preference which a child may feel for a strange plaything； it is not necessary to kill me。 Let me return to the people I have left； and by the chasm through which I descended。 With a slight help from you I 152might do so now。 You； by the aid of your wings； could fasten to the rocky ledge within the chasm the cord that you found； and have no doubt preserved。 Do but that； assist me but to the spot from which I alighted； and I vanish from your world for ever； and as surely as if I were among the dead。〃
〃The chasm through which you descended！ Look round； we stand now on the very place where it yawned。 What see you？ Only solid rock。 The chasm was closed； by the orders of Aph…Lin； as soon as communication between him and yourself was established in your trance； and he learned from your own lips the nature of the world from which you came。 Do you not remember when Zee bade me not question you as to yourself or your race？ On quitting you that day； Aph…Lin accosted me； and said； 'No path between the stranger's home and ours should be left unclosed； or the sorrow and evil of his home may descend to ours。 Take with thee the children of thy band； smite the sides of the cavern with your vril staves till the fall of their fragments fills up every chink through which a gleam of our lamps could force its way。'〃
As the child spoke； I stared aghast at the blind rocks before me。 Huge and irregular； the granite masses； showing by charred discolouration where they had been shattered； rose from footing to roof…top； not a cranny！
〃All hope； then； is gone；〃 I murmured； sinking down on the craggy wayside； 〃and I shall nevermore see the sun。〃 I covered my face with my hands； and prayed to Him whose presence I had so often forgotten when the heavens had declared His handiwork。 I felt His presence in the depths of the nether earth； and amidst the world of the grave。 I looked up； taking comfort and courage from my prayers； and； gazing with a quiet smile into the face of the child； said； 〃Now； if thou must slay me； strike。〃
Taee shook his head gently。 〃Nay；〃 he said； 〃my father's request is not so formally made as to leave me no choice。 I will speak with him； and may prevail to save thee。 Strange 153that thou shouldst have that fear of death which we thought was only the instinct of