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the life of your guest in a vehicle to which he is so unaccustomed？ He
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might； by an incautious movement； fall over the side； and alas； he is not
like us； he has no wings。 It were death to him to fall。 Dear one！〃 （she
added； accosting my shrinking self in a softer voice）； 〃have you no
thought of me； that you should thus hazard 122a life which has become
almost a part of mine？ Never again be thus rash； unless I am thy
companion。 What terror thou hast stricken into me！〃
I glanced furtively at Aph…Lin； expecting； at least； that he would
indignantly reprove his daughter for expressions of anxiety and affection；
which； under all the circumstances； would； in the world above ground； be
considered immodest in the lips of a young female； addressed to a male
not affianced to her； even if of the same rank as herself。
But so confirmed are the rights of females in that region； and so
absolutely foremost among those rights do females claim the privilege of
courtship； that Aph…Lin would no more have thought of reproving his
virgin daughter than he would have thought of disobeying the orders of the
Tur。 In that country； custom； as he implied； is all in all。
He answered mildly； 〃Zee； the Tish is in no danger and it is my belief
the he can take very good care of himself。〃
〃I would rather that he let me charge myself with his care。 Oh； heart
of my heart； it was in the thought of thy danger that I first felt how much I
loved thee！〃
Never did man feel in such a false position as I did。 These words
were spoken loud in the hearing of Zee's father… in the hearing of the child
who steered。 I blushed with shame for them； and for her； and could not
help replying angrily： 〃Zee； either you mock me； which； as your father's
guest； misbecomes you； or the words you utter are improper for a maiden
Gy to address even to an An of her own race； if he has not wooed her with
the consent of her parents。 How much more improper to address them to
a Tish； who has never presumed to solicit your affections； and who can
never regard you with other sentiments than those of reverence and awe！〃
Aph…Lin made me a covert sing of approbation； but said nothing。
123〃Be not so cruel！〃 exclaimed Zee； still in sonorous accents。 〃Can
love command itself where it is truly felt？ Do you suppose that a maiden
Gy will conceal a sentiment that it elevates her to feel？ What a country
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The Coming Race
you must have come from！〃
Here Aph…Lin gently interposed； saying； 〃Among the Tish…a the rights
of your sex do not appear to be established； and at all events my guest may
converse with you more freely if unchecked by the presence of others。〃
To this remark Zee made no reply； but； darting on me a tender
reproachful glance； agitated her wings and fled homeward。
〃I had counted； at least； on some aid from my host；〃 I said bitterly； 〃in
the perils to which his own daughter exposes me。〃
〃I gave you the best aid I could。 To contradict a Gy in her love
affairs is to confirm her purpose。 She allows no counsel to come
between her and her affections。〃
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CHAPTER XXIV。
On alighting from the air…boat； a child accosted Aph…Lin in the hall
with a request that he would be present at the funeral obsequies of a
relation who had recently departed from that nether world。
Now； I had never seen a burial…place or cemetery amongst this people；
and； glad to seize even so melancholy an occasion to defer an encounter
with Zee； I asked Aph…Lin if I might be permitted to witness with him the
interment of his relation； unless； indeed； it were regarded as one of those
sacred ceremonies to which a stranger to their race might not be admitted。
〃The departure of an An to a happier world；〃 answered my host； 〃when；
as in the case of my kinsman； he has lived so long in 124this as to have
lost pleasure in it； is rather a cheerful though quiet festival than a sacred
ceremony； and you may accompany me if you will。〃
Preceded by the child…messenger； we walked up the main street to a
house at some little distance； and； entering the hall； were conducted to a
room on the ground floor； where we found several persons assembled
round a couch on which was laid the deceased。 It was an old man； who
had； as I was told； lived beyond his 130th year。 To judge by the calm
smile on his countenance； he had passed away without suffering。 One of
the sons； who was now the head of the family； and who seemed in
vigorous middle life； though he was considerably more than seventy；
stepped forward with a cheerful face and told Aph…Lin 〃that the day before
he died his father had seen in a dream his departed Gy； and was eager to
be reunited to her； and restored to youth beneath the nearer smile of the
All…Good。〃
While these two were talking； my attention was drawn to a dark
metallic substance at the farther end of the room。 It was about twenty
feet in length； narrow in proportion； and all closed round； save； near the
roof； there were small round holes through which might be seen a red light。
From the interior emanated a rich and sweet perfume； and while I was
conjecturing what purpose this machine was to serve； all the time…pieces in
the town struck the hour with their solemn musical chime； and as that
sound ceased； music of a more joyous character； but still of a joy subdued
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and tranquil； rang throughout the chamber； and from the walls beyond； in a
choral peal。 Symphonious with the melody； those in the room lifted their
voices in chant。 The words of this hymn were simple。 They expressed
no regret； no farewell； but rather a greeting to the new world whither the
deceased had preceded the living。 Indeed； in their language； the funeral
hymn