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Popular Government； and the pugnacious valour of my beloved
countrymen； I believe that if the Vril…ya first appeared in free America… as；
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being the choicest portion of the habitable earth； they would doubtless be
induced to do… and said； 〃This quarter of the globe we take； Citizens of a
Koom…Posh； make way for the development of species in the Vril…ya；〃 my
brave compatriots would show fight； and not a soul of them would be left
in this life； to rally round the Stars and Stripes； at the end of a week。
I now saw but little of Zee； save at meals； when the family assembled；
and she was then reserved and silent。 My apprehensions of danger from
an affection I had so little encouraged or deserved； therefore； now faded
away； but my dejection continued to increase。 I pined for escape to the
upper world； but I racked my brains in vain for any means to effect it。 I
was never permitted to wander forth alone； so that I could not even visit
the spot on which I had alighted； and see if it were possible to reascend to
the mine。 Nor even in the Silent Hours； when the household was locked
in sleep； could I have let myself down from the lofty floor in which my
apartment was placed。 I knew not how to command the automata who
stood mockingly at my beck beside the wall； nor could I ascertain the
springs by which were set in movement the platforms that supplied the
place of stairs。 The knowledge how 148to avail myself of these
contrivances had been purposely withheld from me。 Oh； that I could but
have learned the use of wings； so freely here at the service of every infant；
then I might have escaped from the casement； regained the rocks； and
buoyed myself aloft through the chasm of which the perpendicular sides
forbade place for human footing！
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CHAPTER XXVII。
One day； as I sat alone and brooding in my chamber； Taee flew in at
the open window and alighted on the couch beside me。 I was always
pleased with the visits of a child； in whose society； if humbled； I was less
eclipsed than in that of Ana who had completed their education and
matured their understanding。 And as I was permitted to wander forth
with him for my companion； and as I longed to revisit the spot in which I
had descended into the nether world； I hastened to ask him if he were at
leisure for a stroll beyond the streets of the city。 His countenance seemed
to me graver than usual as he replied； 〃I came hither on purpose to invite
you forth。〃
We soon found ourselves in the street； and had not got far from the
house when we encountered five or six young Gy…ei； who were returning
from the fields with baskets full of flowers； and chanting a song in chorus
as they walked。 A young Gy sings more often than she talks。 They
stopped on seeing us； accosting Taee with familiar kindness； and me with
the courteous gallantry which distinguishes the Gy…ei in their manner
towards our weaker sex。
And here I may observe that； though a virgin Gy is so frank in her
courtship to the individual she favours； there is nothing that approaches to
that general breadth and loudness of manner which those young ladies of
the Anglo…Saxon race； to whom the 149distinguished epithet of 'fast' is
accorded； exhibit towards young gentlemen whom they do not profess to
love。 No； the bearing of the Gy…ei towards males in ordinary is very
much that of high…bred men in the gallant societies of the upper world
towards ladies whom they respect but do not woo； deferential；
complimentary； exquisitely polished… what we should call 'chivalrous。'
Certainly I was a little put out by the number of civil things addressed
to my 'amour propre；' which were said to me by those courteous young
Gy…ei。 In the world I came from； a man would have thought himself
aggrieved； treated with irony； 'chaffed' （if so vulgar a slang word may be
allowed on the authority of the popular novelists who use it so freely）；
when one fair Gy complimented me on the freshness of my complexion；
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another on the choice of colours in my dress； a third； with a sly smile； on
the conquests I had made at Aph…Lin's entertainment。 But I knew already
that all such language was what the French call 'banal；' and did but express
in the female mouth； below earth； that sort of desire to pass for amiable
with the opposite sex which； above earth； arbitrary custom and hereditary
transmission demonstrate by the mouth of the male。 And just as a high…
bred young lady； above earth； habituated to such compliments； feels that
she cannot； without impropriety； return them； nor evince any great
satisfaction at receiving them； so I who had learned polite manners at the
house of so wealthy and dignified a Minister of that nation； could but
smile and try to look pretty in bashfully disclaiming the compliments
showered upon me。 While we were thus talking； Taee's sister； it seems；
had seen us from the upper rooms of the Royal Palace at the entrance of
the town； and； precipitating herself on her wings； alighted in the midst of
the group。
Singling me out； she said； though still with the inimitable deference of
manner which I have called 'chivalrous；' yet not without a certain
abruptness of tone which； as addressed to the weaker sex； Sir Philip
Sydney might have termed 'rustic；' 〃Why do you never come to see us？〃
150 While I was deliberating on the right answer to give to this unlooked…
for question； Taee said quickly and sternly； 〃Sister； you forget… the stranger
is of my sex。 It is not for persons of my sex； having due regard for
reputation and modesty； to lower themselves by running after the society
of yours。〃
This speech was received with evident approval by the young Gy…ei in
general； but Taee's sister looked greatly abashed。