a journey in other worlds-第37章

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〃depends　as　much　on　the　colour　and　composition　of　its　own　surface
as　on　the　amount　it　receives。　　It　is　conceivable　that　these
moons；　if　placed　at　the　earth's　distance　from　the　sun；　would　be
far　brighter　than　our　moon；　and　that　our　familiar　satellite；　if
removed　to　Saturn；　would　seem　very　dim。　　We　know　how　much　more
brilliant　a　mountain　in　the　sunlight　is　when　clad　in　snow　than
when　its　sides　are　bare。　　These　moons　evidently　reflect　a　large
proportion　of　the　light　they　receive。〃
　　　
When　they　came　out　shortly　after　midnight　the　girl's…face　moon
had　already　set；　leaving　a　dark　and　dreary　void　in　the　part　of
the　sky　it　had　so　ideally　filled。　　The　inexpressibly　sad
satellite　（on　account　of　its　shorter　distance　and　more　rapid　rate
of　revolution）　was　still　above　the　horizon；　and；　being　slightly
tilted；　had　a　more　melancholy；　heart…broken　look　than　before。　
While　they　gazed　sadly　at　the　emptiness　left　by　Dione；　Cortlandt
saw　Ayrault's　expression　change；　and；　not　clearly　perceiving　its
cause；　said；　wishing　to　cheer　him：　　〃Never　mind；　Dick；　to…morrow
night　we　shall　see　it　again。〃
　　　
〃Ah；　prosaic　reasoner；〃　retorted　Bearwarden；　who　saw　that　this；
like　so　many　other　things；　had　reminded　Ayrault　of　Sylvia；　〃that
is　but　small　consolation　for　having　lost　it　now；　though　I　suppose
our　lot　is　not　so　hard　as　if　we　were　never　to　see　it　again。　　In
that　moon's　face　I　find　the　realization　of　my　fancied　ideal
woman；　while　that　sad　one　yonder　seems　as　though　some　celestial
lover；　in　search　of　his　fate；　had　become　enamoured　of　her；　and
tried　in　vain　to　win　her；　and　the　grief　in　his　mind　had　impressed
itself　on　the　then　molten　face　of　a　satellite　to　be　the　monument
throughout　eternity　of　love　and　a　broken　heart。　　If　the　spirits
and　souls　of　the　departed　have　any　command　of　matter；　why　may　not
their　intensest　thoughts　engrave　themselves　on　a　moon　that；　when
dead　and　frozen；　may　reflect　and　shine　as　they　did；　while
immersed　in　the　depths　of　space？　　At　first　Dione　bored　me；　now　I
should　greatly　like　to　see　her　again。〃
　　　
〃History　repeats　itself；〃　replied　Cortlandt；　〃and　the　same　phases
of　life　recur。　　It　is　we　that　are　in　a　changed　receptive　mood。　
The　change　that　seems　to　be　in　them　is　in　reality　in　us。　　Remain
as　you　are　now；　and　Dione　will　give　you　the　same　pleasure
tomorrow　that　she　gave　to…day。〃
　　　
To　Ayrault　this　meant　more　than　the　mere　setting　to　rise　again　of
a　heavenly　body。　　The　perfume　of　a　flower；　the　sighing　of　the
wind；　suggesting　some　harmony　or　song；　a　full　or　crescent　moon；
recalled　thoughts　and　associations　of　Sylvia。　　Everything　seemed
to　bring　out　memory；　and　he　realized　the　utter　inability　of
absence　to　cure　the　heart　of　love。　　〃If　Sylvia　should　pass　from
my　life　as　that　moon　has　left　my　vision；〃　his　thoughts　continued；
〃existence　would　be　but　sadness　and　memory　would　be　its　cause；
for　the　most　beautiful　sounds　entail　sorrow；　the　most　beautiful
sights；　intense　pain。　　〃Ah；〃　he　went　on　with　a　trace　of
bitterness；　　while　his　friends　fell　asleep　in　the　cave；　〃I　might
better　have　remained　in　love　with　science；　for　whose　studies
Nature；　which　is　but　a　form　of　God；　in　the　right　spirit；　is　not
dependent　for　his　joy　or　despair　on　the　whims　of　a　girl。　　She；　of
course；　sees　many　others；　and；　being　only　twenty；　may　forget　me。　
Must　I　content　myself　with　philosophical　rules　and　mathematical
formulae；　when　she；　whose　changefulness　I　may　find　greater　than
the　winds　that　sigh　over　me；　now　loves　me　no　longer？　　O　love；
which　makes　us　miserable　when　we　feel　it；　and　more　miserable
still　when　it　is　gone！〃
　　　
He　strung　a　number　of　copper　wires　at　different　degrees　of
tension　between　two　trees；　and　listened　to　the　wind　as　it　ranged
up　and　down　on　this　improvised　AEolian　harp。　　It　gradually　ran
into　a　regular　refrain；　which　became　more　and　more　like　words。　
Ayrault　was　puzzled；　and　then　amazed。　　There　could　be　no　doubt
about　it。　　〃You　should　be　happy；〃　it　kept　repeating〃you　should
be　happy；〃　in　soft　musical　tones。
　　　
〃I　know　I　should；〃　replied　Ayrault；　finally　recognizing　the　voice
of　Violet　Slade　in　the　song　of　the　wind；　〃and　I　cannot　understand
why　I　am　not。　　Tell　me；　is　this　paradise；　Violet；　or　is　it　not
rather　purgatory？〃
　　　
The　notes　ranged　up　and　down　again；　and　he　perceived　that　she　was
causing　the　wind　to　blow　as　she　desiredin　other　words；　she　was
making　it　play　upon　his　harp。　　　　

〃That　depends　on　the　individual；〃　she　replied。　〃It　is　rather
sheol；　the　place　of　departed　spirits。　　Those　whose　consciences
made　them　happy　on　earth　are　in　paradise　here；　while　those　good
enough　to　reach　heaven　at　last；　but　in　whom　some　dross　remains；
are　further　refined　in　spirit；　and　to　them　it　is　purgatory。　
Those　who　are　in　love　can　be　happy　in　but　one　way　while　their
love　lasts。　　What　IS　happiness；　anyway？〃
　　　
〃It　is　the　state　in　which　desires　are　satisfied；　my　fair　Violet；〃
answered　Ayrault。
　　　
〃Say；　rather；　the　state　in　which　desire　coincides　with　duty；〃
replied　the　song。　　〃Self…sacrifice　for　others　gives　the　truest
joy；　being　with　the　object　of　one's　love；　the　next。　　You　never
believed　that　I　loved　you。　　I　dissembled　well；　but　you　will　see
for　yourself　some　day；　as　clearly　as　I　see　your　love　for　another
now。〃
　　　
〃Yes；〃　replied　Ayrault；　sadly；　〃I　am　in　love。　　I　have　no　reason
to　believe　there　is　cause　for　my　unrest；　and；　considering　every
thing；　I　should　be　happy　as　man　can　be；　yet；　mirabile　dictu；　I　am
inhades；　in　the　very　depths！〃
　　　
〃Your　beloved　is　beyond　my　vision；　your　heart　is　all　I　can　see。　
Yet　I　am　convinced　she　will　not　forget　you。　　I　am　sure　she　loves
you　still。〃
　　　
〃I　have　always　believed　in　homoeopathy　to　the　extent　of　the
similia　similibus　curantur；　Violet；　and　it　is　certain　that　where
nothing　else　will　cure　a　man　of　love　for　one　woman；　his　love　for
another　will。　　You　can　see　how　I　love　Sylvia；　but　you　have　never
seemed　so　sweet　to　me　as　to…day。〃
　　　
〃It　is　a　sacrilege；　my　friend；　to　speak　so　to　me　now。　　You　are
done　with　me　forever。　　I　am　but　a　disembodied　spirit；　and　escaped
hades　by　the　grace　of　the　Omnipotent；　rather　than　by　virtue　of
any　good　I　did　on　earth。　　So　far　as　any　elasticity　is　left　in　my
opportunities；　I　am　dead　as　yon　moon。　　You　have　still　the　gift
that　but　one　can　give。　　Within　your　animal　body　you　hold　an
immortal　soul。　　It　is　pliable　as　wax；　you　can　mould　it　by　your
will。　　As　you　shape　that　soul；　so　will　your　future　be。　　It　is　the
ark　that　can　traverse　the　flood。　　Raise　it；　and　it　will　raise
you。　　It　is　all　there　is　in　yourself。　　Preserve　that　gift；　and
when　you　die　you　will；　I　hope；　start　on　a　plane　many　thousands　of
years　in　advance　of　me。　　There　should　be　no　more　comparison
between　us　than　between　a　person　with　all　his　senses　and　one　that
is　deaf　and　blind。　　Though　you　are　a　layman；　you　should；　with
your　faith　and　frame　of　mind；　soon　be　but　little　behind　our
spiritual　bishop。〃
　　　
〃I　supposed　after　death　a　man　had　rest。　　Is　he；　then；　a　bishop
still？〃
　　　
〃The　progress；　as　he　told　you；　is　largely　on　the　old　lines。　　As
he　stirred　men's　hearts　on　earth；　he　will　stir　their　souls　in
heaven；　and　this　is　no　irksome　or　unwelcome　work。〃
　　　
〃You　say　he　WILL　do　this　in　heaven。　　Is　he；　then；　not　there　yet？〃
　　　
〃He　was　not　far　from　heaven　on　earth；　yet　technically　none　of　us
can　be　in　heaven　till　after　the　general　resurrection。　　Then；　as
we　knew　on　earth；　we　shall　receive　bodies；　though；　as　yet；
concerning　their　exact　nature　we　know　but　little　more　than　then。　
We　are　all　in　sheolthe　just　in　purgatory　and　paradise；　the
unjust　in　hell。〃
　　　
〃Since　you　are　still　in　purgatory；　are　you　unhappy？〃
　　　
〃No；　our　state　is　very　happy。　　All　physical　pain　is　past；　and　can
never　be　felt　again。　　We　know　that　our　evil　desires　are　overcome；
and　that　their　imprints　are　being　gradually　erased。　　I
occasionally　shed　an　intangible　tear；　yet　for　most　of　those　who
strove　to　obey　their　consciences；　purgatory；　when　essential；
though　occasionally　giving　us　a　bitter　twinge；　is　a　joy…producing
state。　　Not　all　the　glories　imaginable　or　unimaginable　could　make
us　happy；　were　our　consciences　ill　at　ease。　　I　have　advanced
slowly；　yet　some　things　are　given　us　at　once。　　After　I　realized　I
had　irrevocably　lost　your　love；　though　for　a　time　I　had　hoped　to
regain　it；　I　became　very　restless；　earth　seemed　a　prison；　and　I
looked　forward　to　death　as　my　deliverer。　　I　bore　you　no　malice；
you　had　never　especially　tried　to　win　me；　the　infatuationthat
of　a　girl　of　eighteenhad　been　all　on　my　side。　　I　lived　five　sad
and　lonely　years；　although；　as　you　know；　I　had　much　attention。　
People　thought　me　cold　and　heartless。　　How　could　I　have　a　heart；
having　failed　to　win　yours；　and　mine　being　broken？　　Having　lost
the　only　man　I　loved；　I　knew　no　one　else　could　replace　him；　and　I
was　not　the　kind　to　marry　for　pique。　　People　thought　me　handsome；
but　I　felt　myself　aged　when　you　ceased　to　call。　　Perhaps　when　you
and　she　who　holds　all　your　love　come　to　sheol；　she　may　spare　you
to　me　a　little；　for　as　a　spirit　my　every　thought　is　known；　or
perhaps　after　the　resurrection；　when　I；　too；　can　leave　this
planet；　we　shall　all　soar　through　space　together；　and　we　can
study　the　stars　as　of　old。〃
　　　
〃Your　voice　is　a　symphony；　sweetest　Violet；　and　I　love　to　hear
your　words。　　Ah；　would　you　could　once　more　return　to　earth；　or
that　I　were　an　ethereal　spirit；　that　we　might　commune　face　to
face！　　I　would　follow　you　from　one　end　of　Shadowland　to　the
other。　　Of　what　use　is　life　to　me；　with　distractions　that　draw　my
thoughts　to　earth　as　gravitation　drew　my　body？　　I　wish　I　were　a
shade。〃
　　　
〃You　are　talking　for　effect；　Dickwhich　is　useless　here；　for　I
see　how　utterly　you　are　in　love。〃
　　　
〃I　AM　in　love；　Violet；　and　though；　as　I　said；　I　have　no　reason　to
doubt　Sylvia's　steadfastness　and　constancy；　I　am　very　unhappy。　　I
have　always　heard　that　time　is　a　balsam　that　cures　all　ills；　yet
I　become　more　wretched　every　day。〃
　　　
〃Do　all　you　can　to　preserve　that　love；　and　it　will　bring　you　joy
all　your　life。　　Your　happiness　is　my　happiness。　　What　distresses
you；　distresses　me。〃
　　　
The　tones　here　grew　fainter　and　seemed　about　to　cease。
　　　
〃Before　you　leave　me；〃　cried　Ayrault；　〃tell　me　how　and　when　I　may
see　or　hear　you　again。〃
　　　
〃While　you　remain　on　this　planet；　I　shall　be　near；　but　beyond
Saturn　I　cannot　go。〃
　　　
〃Yet　tell　me；　Violet；　how　I　may　see　you？　　My　love　unattained；　you
perceive；　makes　me　wretched；　while　you　always　gave　me　calm　and
peace。　　If　I　may　not　kiss　the　hand　I　almost　asked　might　be　mine；
let　me　have　but　a　glance　from　your　sweet　eyes；　which　will　comfort
me　so　much　now。〃
　　　
〃If　you　break　the　ice　in　the　pool　behind　you；　you　shall　see　me
till　the　frame　melts。〃
　　　
After　this　the　silence　was　broken　only　by　the　sighing　of　the　wind
in　the　trees。　　The　pool　had　suddenly　become　covered　with　ice
several　inches　thick。　　Taking　an　axe；　Ayrault　hewed　out　a
parallelogram　about　three　feet　by　four　and　set　it　on　end　against
the　bank。　　The　cold　grey　of　morning　was　already　colouring　the
east；　and　in　the　growing　light　Ayrault　beheld　a　vision　of　Violet
within　the　ice。　　The　face　was　at　about　three　fourths；　and　had　a
contemplative　air。　　The　hair　was　arranged　as　he　had　formerly　seen
it；　and　the　thoughtful　look　was　strongest　in　the