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〃Why wait？ Why； because though the rich man's dinner goes in at his mouth； the poor man must often be content to dine through his nose。 I tell you I have nothing to get me a meal with。〃
The stranger seemed to speculate on this for a time； and then he said； 〃I cannot fathom your meaning； sir。 Buying and selling； gold and money； all these have no mean… ing to me。 Surely the twin blessings of an appetite and food abundant ready and free before you are enough。〃
〃What！ free is itfree like the breakfast served out this morning？〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said the youth； with mild depreci… ation； 〃everything here is free。 Everything is his who will take it； without exception。 What else is the good of a co… herent society and a Government if it cannot provide you with so rudimentary a thing as a meal？〃
Whereat joyfully I undid my belt； and； without nicely examining the argument； marched into the booth； and there put Martian hospitality to the test； eating and drinking； but this time with growing wisdom； till I was a new man； and then； paying my leaving with a wave of the hand to the yellow…girted one who dispensed the common provender； I sauntered on again； caring little or nothing which way the road went； and soon across the current of my medita… tions a peal of laughter broke； accompanied by the piping of a flute somewhere close at hand； and the next minute I found myself amid a ring of light…hearted roisterers who were linking hands for a dance to the music a curly… headed fellow was making close by。
They made me join them！ One rosey…faced damsel at the hither end of the chain drew up to me； and； without a word； slipped her soft； baby fingers into my hand； on the other side another came with melting eyes； breath like a bed of violets； and banked…up fun puckering her dainty mouth。 What could I do but give her a hand as well？ The flute began to gurgle anew； like a drinking spout in spring… time； and away we went； faster and faster each minute； the boys and girls swinging themselves in time to the tune； and capering presently till their tender feet were twinkling over the ground in gay confusion。 Faster and faster till； as the infection of the dance spread even to the outside groups； I capered too。 My word！ if they could have seen me that night from the deck of the old Carolina； how they would have laughedsword swinging； coat…tails flying faster and faster； round and round we went； till limbs could stand no more； the gasping piper blew himself quite out； and the dance ended as abruptly as it commenced； the dancers melting away to join others or casting themselves panting on the turf。
Certainly these Martian girls were blessed with an in… gratiating simplicity。 My new friend of the violet…scented breath hung back a little； then after looking at me de… murely for a minute or two； like a child that chooses a new playmate； came softly up； and； standing on tiptoe； kissed me on the cheek。 It was not unpleasant； so I turned the other； whereon； guessing my meaning； without the smallest hesitation； she reached up again； and pressed her pretty mouth to my bronzed skin a second time。 Then； with a little sigh of satisfaction； she ran an arm through mine； saying； 〃Comrade； from what country have you come？ I never saw one quite like you before。〃
〃From what country had I come？〃 Again the frown dropped down upon my forehead。 Was I dreamingwas I mad？ Where indeed had I come from？ I stared back over my shoulder； and there； as if in answer to my thought there； where the black tracery of flowering shrubs waved
in the soft night wind； over a gap in the crumbling ivory ramparts； the sky was brightening。 As I looked into the centre of that glow； a planet； magnified by the wonderful air； came swinging up； pale but splendid； and mapped by soft coloursgreen； violet； and red。 I knew it on the min… ute； Heaven only knows how； but I knew it； and a des… perate thrill of loneliness swept over me； a spasm of com… prehension of the horrible void dividing us。 Never did yearn… ing babe stretch arms more wistfully to an unattainable mother than I at that moment to my mother earth。 All her meanness and prosaicness was forgotten； all her im… perfections and shortcomings； it was home； the one tangible thing in the glittering emptiness of the spheres。 All my soul went into my eyes； and then I sneezed violently； and turning round； found that sweet damsel whose silky head nestled so friendly on my shoulder was tickling my nose with a feather she had picked up。
Womanlike； she had forgotten all about her first question； and now asked another； 〃Will you come to supper with me； stranger？ 'Tis nearly ready； I think。〃
〃To be able to say no to such an invitation； lady； is the first thing a young man should learn；〃 I answered lightly； but then； seeing there was nothing save the most innocent friendliness in those hazel eyes； I went on； 〃but that stern rule may admit of variance。 Only； as it chances； I have just supped at the public expense。 If； instead； you would be a sailor's sweetheart for an hour； and take me to this show of yoursyour princess's benefit； or whatever it is I shall be obliged； my previous guide is hull down over the horizon； and I am clean out of my reckoning in this crowd。〃
By way of reply； the little lady； light as an elf； took me by the fingertips； and； gleefully skipping forward； piloted me through the mazes of her city until we came out into the great square fronting on the palace； which rose beyond it like a white chalk cliff in the dull light。 Not a taper showed anywhere round its circumference； but a mysterious kind of radiance like sea phosphorescence beamed from the palace porch。 All was in such deathlike silence that the nails in my 〃ammunition〃 boots made an unpleasant clanking as they struck on the marble pavement； yet； by the uncertain starlight； I saw； to my surprise； the whole square was thronged with Martians； all facing towards the porch； as still； graven images； and as voiceless； for once； as though they had indeed been marble。 It was strange to see them sitting there in the twilight； waiting for I knew not what； and my friend's voice at my elbow almost startled me as she said； in a whisper； 〃The princess knows you are in the crowd； and desires you to go up upon the steps near where she will be。〃
〃Who brought her message？〃 I asked； gazing vaguely round； for none had spoken to us for an hour or more。
〃No one；〃 said my companion； gently pushing me up an open way towards the palace steps left clear by the sitting Martians。 〃It came direct from her to me this minute。〃
〃But how？〃 I persisted。
〃Nay；〃 said the girl； 〃if we stop to talk like this we shall not be placed before she comes； and thus throw a whole year's knowledge out。〃
So； bottling my speculations； I allowed myself to be led up the first flight of worn； white steps to where； on the terrace between them and the next flight leading directly to the palace portico； was a flat； having a circle about twenty feet across； inlaid upon the marble with darker coloured blocks。 Inside that circle； as I sat down close by it in the twilight； showed another circle； and then a final one in whose inmost middle stood a tall iron tripod and something atop of it covered by a cloth。 And all round the outer circle were magic symbolsI started as I recognised the meaning of some of themwithin these again the inner circle held what looked like the representations of planets； ending； as I have said； in that dished hollow made by countless dancers' feet； and its solitary tripod。 Back again； I glanced towards the square where the great concourse ten thousand of them； perhapswere sitting mute and silent in the deepening shadows； then back to the magic circles； till the silence and expectancy of a strange scene began to possess me。
Shadow down below； star…dusted heaven above； and not a figure moving； when suddenly something like a long… drawn sigh came from the lips of the expectant multitude； and I was aware every eye had suddenly turned back to the palace porch； where； as we looked； a figure； wrapped in pale blue robes； appeared and stood for a minute； then stole down the steps with an eagerness in every movement holding us spellbound。 I have seen many splendid pageants and many sights； each of which might be the talk of a life… time； but somehow nothing ever so engrossing； so thrilling； as that ghostly figure in flowing robes stealing across the piazza in starlight and silencethe princess of a broken kingdom； the priestess of a forgotten faith coming to her station to perform a jugglery of which she knew not even the meaning。 It was my versatile friend Heru； and with quick； incisive steps； her whole frame ambent for the time with the fervour of her mission； she came swiftly down to within a dozen yards of where I stood。 Heru； indeed； but not the same princess as in the morning； an inspired priestess rather； her slim body wrapped in blue and quiver… ing with emotion； her face ashine with Delphic fire； her hair loose； her feet bare； until at last when； as she stood within the limit of the magic circle； her white hands upon her breast； her eyes flashing like planets themselves in the star… shine she looked so ghostly and unreal I felt for a minute I was dr