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what want of modesty in your sex！ But have you never proposed； never
loved one Gy more than another？〃
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I felt embarrassed by these ingenious questionings； and said； 〃Pardon
me； but I think we are beginning to infringe upon Aph…Lin's injunction。
This much only will I answer； and then； I implore you； ask no more。 I
did once feel the preference you speak of； I did propose； and the Gy would
willingly have accepted me； but her parents refused their consent。〃
〃Parents！ Do you mean seriously to tell me that parents can interfere
with the choice of their daughters？〃
〃Indeed they can； and do very often。〃
〃I should not like to live in that country； said the Gy simply； 〃but I
hope you will never go back to it。〃
I bowed my head in silence。 The Gy gently raised my face with her
right hand； and looked into it tenderly。 〃Stay with us；〃 she said； 〃stay
with us； and be loved。〃 134 What I might have answered； what dangers of
becoming a cinder I might have encountered； I still trouble to think； when
the light of the naphtha fountain was obscured by the shadow of wings；
and Zee； flying though the open roof； alighted beside us。 She said not a
word； but； taking my arm with her mighty hand； she drew me away； as a
mother draws a naughty child； and led me through the apartments to one
of the corridors； on which； by the mechanism they generally prefer to
stairs； we ascended to my own room。 This gained； Zee breathed on my
forehead； touched my breast with her staff； and I was instantly plunged
into a profound sleep。
When I awoke some hours later； and heard the songs of the birds in the
adjoining aviary； the remembrance of Taee's sister； her gentle looks and
caressing words； vividly returned to me； and so impossible is it for one
born and reared in our upper world's state of society to divest himself of
ideas dictated by vanity and ambition； that I found myself instinctively
building proud castles in the air。
〃Tish though I be；〃 thus ran my meditations… 〃Tish though I be； it is
then clear that Zee is not the only Gy whom my appearance can captivate。
Evidently I am loved by A PRINCESS； the first maiden of this land； the
daughter of the absolute Monarch whose autocracy they so idly seek to
disguise by the republican title of chief magistrate。 But for the sudden
swoop of that horrible Zee； this Royal Lady would have formally proposed
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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
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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 deeme