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id I guess how unnecessary my fears were； or of the incredible fairy tale of adventure into which fate was going to plunge me。
Still engrossed the next morning by these thoughts； I decided I would go to Hath。 Hath was a manat least they said sohe might sympathise even though he could not help； and so； dressing finished； I went down towards the innermost palace whence for an hour or two had come sounds of unwonted bustle。 Asking for the way occasion… ally from sleepy folk lolling about the corridors； waiting as it seemed for their breakfasts to come to them； and embarrassed by the new daylight； I wandered to and fro in the labyrinths of that stony ant…heap until I chanced upon a curtained doorway which admitted to a long cham… ber； high…roofed； ample in proportions； with colonnades on either side separated from the main aisle by rows of flowery figures and emblematic scroll…work； meaning I knew not what。 Above those pillars ran a gallery with many windows looking out over the ruined city。 While at the further end of the chamber stood three broad steps leading to a dais。 As I entered； the whole place was full of bustling girls； their yellow garments like a bed of flowers in the sunlight trickling through the casements； and all intent on the spreading of a feast on long tables ranged up and down the hall。 The morning light streamed in on the white cloths。 It glittered on the glass and the gold they were putting on the trestles； and gave resplendent depths of colour to the ribbon bands round the pillars。 All were so busy no one noticed me standing in the twilight by the door； but presently； laying a hand on a worker's shoulder； I asked who they banqueted for； and why such unwonted preparation？
〃It is the marriage…feast tonight； stranger； and a marvel you did not know it。 You； too； are to be wed。〃
〃I had not heard of it； damsel； a paternal forethought of your Government； I suppose？ Have you any idea who the lady is？〃
〃How should I know？〃 she answered laughingly。 〃That is the secret of the urn。 Meanwhile； we have set you a place at the table…head near Princess Heru； and tonight you dip and have your chance like all of them； may luck send you a rosy bride； and save her from Ar…hap。〃
〃Ay； now I remember； An told me of this before； Ar…hap is the sovereign with whom your people have a little difference； and shares unbidden in the free distribution of brides to…night。 This promises to be interesting； depend on it I will come； if you will keep me a place where I can hear the speeches； and not forget me when the turtle soup goes round； I shall be more than grateful。 Now to another matter。 I want to get a few minutes with your President； Prince Hath。 He concentrates the fluid intelligence of this sphere； I am told。 Where can I find him？〃
〃He is drunk； in the library； sir！〃
〃My word！ It is early in the day for that； and a singular conjunction of place and circumstance。〃
〃Where；〃 said the girl； 〃could he safer be？ We can always fetch him if we want him； and sunk in blue ob… livion he will not come to harm。〃
〃A cheerful view； Miss； which is worthy of the attention of our reformers。 Nevertheless； I will go to him。 I have known men tell more truth in that state than in any other。〃
The servitor directed me to the library； and after deso… late wanderings up crumbling steps and down mouldering corridors； sunny and lovely in decay； I came to the im… mense lumber…shed of knowledge they had told me of； a city of dead books； a place of dusty cathedral aisles stored with forgotten learning。 At a table sat Hath the purposeless； enthroned in leather and vellum； snoring in divine content amongst all that wasted labour； and nothing I could do was sufficient to shake him into semblance of intelligence。 So perforce I turned away till he should have come to him… self； and wandering round the splendid litter of a noble library； presently amongst the ruck of volumes on the floor； amongst those lordly tomes in tattered green and gold； and ivory； my eye lit upon a volume propped up curiously on end； and going to it through the confusion I saw by the dried fruit rind upon the sticks supporting it； that the grave and reverend tome was set to catch a mouse！ It was a splendid book when I looked more closely； bound as a king might bind his choicest treasure； the sweet… scented leather on it was no doubt frayed； the golden arabesques upon the covers had long since shed their eyes of inset gems； the jewelled clasp locking its learning up from vulgar gaze was bent and open。 Yet it was a lordly tome with an odour of sanctity about it； and lifting it with diffi… culty； I noticed on its cover a red stain of mouse's blood。 Those who put it to this quaint use of mouse…trap had already had some sport； but surely never was a mouse crushed before under so much learning。 And while I stood
guessing at what the book might hold within； Heru； the princess； came tripping in to me； and with the abrupt famili… arity of her kind； laid a velvet hand upon my wrist； conned the title over to herself。
〃What does it say； sweet girl？〃 I asked。 〃The matter is learned； by its feel；〃 and that maid； pursing up her pretty lips； read the title to me〃The Secret of the Gods。〃
〃The Secret of the Gods；〃 I murmured。 〃Was it pos… sible other worlds had struggled hopelessly to come within the barest ken of that great knowledge； while here the same was set to catch a mouse with？〃
I said； 〃Silver…footed； sit down and read me a passage or two；〃 and propping the mighty volume upon a table drew a bench before it and pulled her down beside me。
〃Oh！ a horrid； dry old book for certain；〃 cried that lady； her pink fingertips falling as lightly on the musty leaves as almond petals on March dust。 〃Where shall I begin？ It is all equally dull。〃
〃Dip in；〃 was my answer。 〃 'Tis no great matter where； but near the beginning。 What says the writer of his intention？ What sets he out to prove？〃
〃He says that is the Secret of the First Great Truth； descended straight to him〃
〃Many have said so much； yet have lied。〃
〃He says that which is written in his book is through him but not of him； past criticism and beyond cavil。 'Tis all in ancient and crabbed characters going back to the threshold of my learning； but here upon this passage…top where they are writ large I make them out to say； 'ONLY THE MAN WHO HAS DIED MANY TIMES BEGINS TO LIVE。'〃
〃A pregnant passage！ Turn another page； and try again； I have an inkling of the book already。〃
〃'Tis poor； silly stuff；〃 said the girl； slipping a hand covertly into my own。 〃Why will you make me read it？ I have a book on pomatums worth twice as much as this。〃
〃Nevertheless； dip in again； dear lady。 What says the next heading？〃 And with a little sigh at the heaviness of her task； Heru read out： 〃SOMETIMES THE GODS THEM… SELVES FORGET THE ANSWERS TO THEIR OWN RIDDLES。〃
〃Lady； I knew it！
〃All this is still preliminary to the great matter of the book； but the mutterings of the priest who draws back the cur… tains of the shrineand here； after the scribe has left these two yellow pages blank as though to set a space of reverence between himself and what comes nexthere speaks the truth； the voice； the fact of all life。〃 But 〃Oh！ Jones；〃 she said； turning from the dusty pages and clasping her young； milk…warm hands over mine and leaning towards me until her blushing cheek was near to my shoulder and the incense of her breath upon me。 〃Oh！ Gulliver Jones；〃 she said。 〃Make me read no more； my soul revolts from the task； the crazy brown letters swim before my eyes。 Is there no learning near at hand that would be pleasanter reading than this silly book of yours？ What； after all；〃 she said； growing bolder at the sound of her own voice； 〃what； after all； is the musty reticence of gods to the whispered secret of a maid？ Jones； splendid stranger for whom all men stand aside and women look over shoulders； oh； let me be your book！〃 she whispered； slipping on to my knee and winding her arms round my neck till； through the white glimmer of her single vest； I could feel her heart beating against mine。 〃Newest and dearest of friends； put by this dreary learning and look in my eyes； is there nothing to be spelt out there？〃
And I was constrained to do as she bid me； for she was as fresh as an almond blossom touched by the sun； and looking down into two swimming blue lakes where shyness and passion were contendingbooks easy enough； in truth； to be read； I saw that she loved me； with the unconventional ardour of her nature。
It was a pleasant discovery； if its abruptness was em… barrassing； for she was a maid in a thousand； and half ashamed and half laughing I let her escalade me； throwing now and then a rueful look at the Secret of the Gods； and all that priceless knowledge treated so unworthily。
What else could I do？ Besides； I loved her myself！ And if there was a momentary chagrin at having yonder golden knowledge put off by this lovely interruption； yet I was flesh and blood； the gods could waitthey had to wait long and often before； and when this sweet interpreter was comforted we would have another try。 So it happened I took her into my heart and gave her the answer she asked for。
For a long time w