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people must be to find out things like that！〃
Lonely tramps faring through the wintry night murmured those
words to comfort themselveslooking skyward。 〃It has need to be
nearer； for the night's as cold as charity。 Don't seem much warmth
from it if it IS nearer； all the same。〃
〃What is a new star to me？〃 cried the weeping woman kneeling
beside her dead。
The schoolboy； rising early for his examination work； puzzled
it out for himselfwith the great white star shining broad and
bright through the frost…flowers of his window。 〃Centrifugal；
centripetal；〃 he said； with his chin on his fist。 〃Stop a planet
in its flight； rob it of its centrifugal force； what then？
Centripetal has it； and down it falls into the sun！ And this！
〃Do WE come in the way？ I wonder〃
The light of that day went the way of its brethren； and with
the later watches of the frosty darkness rose the strange star
again。 And it was now so bright that the waxing moon seemed but a
pale yellow ghost of itself； hanging huge in the sunset。 In a
South African City a great man had married； and the streets were
alight to welcome his return with his bride。 〃Even the skies have
illuminated；〃 said the flatterer。 Under Capricorn； two negro
lovers； daring the wild beasts and evil spirits； for love of one
another； crouched together in a cane brake where the fire…flies
hovered。 〃That is our star；〃 they whispered； and felt strangely
comforted by the sweet brilliance of its light。
The master mathematician sat in his private room and pushed
the papers from him。 His calculations were already finished。 In
a small white phial there still remained a little of the drug that
had kept him awake and active for four long nights。 Each day；
serene； explicit； patient as ever； he had given his lecture to his
students； and then had come back at once to this momentous
calculation。 His face was grave； a little drawn and hectic from
his drugged activity。 For some time he seemed lost in thought。
Then he went to the window； and the blind went up with a click。
Half way up the sky； over the clustering roofs； chimneys and
steeples of the city； hung the star。
He looked at it as one might look into the eyes of a brave
enemy。 〃You may kill me；〃 he said after a silence。 〃But I can
hold youand all the universe for that matterin the grip of this
little brain。 I would not change。 Even now。〃
He looked at the little phial。 〃There will be no need of
sleep again；〃 he said。 The next day at noonpunctual to the
minute； he entered his lecture theatre； put his hat on the end of
the table as his habit was； and carefully selected a large piece of
chalk。 It was a joke among his students that he could not lecture
without that piece of chalk to fumble in his fingers； and once he
had been stricken to impotence by their hiding his supply。 He came
and looked under his grey eyebrows at the rising tiers of young
fresh faces； and spoke with his accustomed studied commonness of
phrasing。 〃Circumstances have arisencircumstances beyond my
control；〃 he said and paused； 〃which will debar me from completing
the course I had designed。 It would seem； gentlemen； if I may put
the thing clearly and briefly； thatMan has lived in vain。〃
The students glanced at one another。 Had they heard aright？
Mad？ Raised eyebrows and grinning lips there were； but one or two
faces remained intent upon his calm grey…fringed face。 〃It will be
interesting；〃 he was saying； 〃to devote this morning to an
exposition； so far as I can make it clear to you； of the
calculations that have led me to this conclusion。 Let us assume〃
He turned towards the blackboard； meditating a diagram in the
way that was usual to him。 〃What was that about 'lived in vain？'〃
whispered one student to another。 〃Listen；〃 said the other；
nodding towards the lecturer。
And presently they began to understand。
That night the star rose later； for its proper eastward motion
had carried it some way across Leo towards Virgo； and its
brightness was so great that the sky became a luminous blue as it
rose； and every star was hidden in its turn； save only Jupiter near
the zenith； Capella； Aldebaran； Sirius and the pointers of the
Bear。 It was very white and beautiful。 In many parts of the world
that night a pallid halo encircled it about。 It was perceptibly
larger； in the clear refractive sky of the tropics it seemed as if
it were nearly a quarter the size of the moon。 The frost was still
on the ground in England； but the world was as brightly lit as if
it were midsummer moonlight。 One could see to read quite ordinary
print by that cold clear light； and in the cities the lamps burnt
yellow and wan。
And everywhere the world was awake that night； and throughout
Christendom a sombre murmur hung in the keen air over the country
side like the belling of bees in the heather； and this murmurous
tumult grew to a clangour in the cities。 It was the tolling of the
bells in a million belfry towers and steeples； summoning the people
to sleep no more； to sin no more； but to gather in their churches
and pray。 And overhead； growing larger and brighter as the earth
rolled on its way and the night passed； rose the dazzling star。
And the streets and houses were alight in all the cities； the
shipyards glared； and whatever roads led to high country were lit
and crowded all night long。 And in all the seas about the
civilised lands； ships with throbbing engines； and ships with
bellying sails； crowded with men and living creatures； were
standing out to ocean and the north。 For already the warning of
the master mathematician had been telegraphed all over the world；
and translated into a hundred tongues。 The new planet and Neptune；
locked in a fiery embrace； were whirling headlong； ever faster and
faster towards the sun。 Already every second this blazing mass
flew a hundred miles； and every second its terrific velocity
increased。 As it flew now； indeed； it must pass a hundred million
of miles wide of the earth and scarcely affect it。 But near its
destined path； as yet only slightly perturbed； spun the mighty
planet Jupiter and his moons sweeping splendid round the sun。
Every moment now the attraction between the fiery star and the
greatest of the planets grew stronger。 And the result of that
attraction？ Inevitably Jupiter would be deflected from its orbit
into an elliptical path； and the burning star； swung by his
attraction wide of its sunward rush； would 〃describe a curved path〃
and perhaps collide with； and certainly pass very close to； our
earth。 〃Earthquakes； volcanic outbreaks； cyclones； sea waves；
floods； and a steady rise in temperature to I know not what
limit〃so prophesied the master mathematician。
And overhead； to carry out his words； lonely and cold and
livid； blazed the star of the coming doom。
To many who stared at it that night until their eyes ached； it
seemed that it was vis