Anothersceneofstupendousandchangingawfulness。Countriesweresinking，citiescrashingdown，volcanoeswerespoutingfire；
theendoftheearthseemedtobeathand。Wecouldseehumanbeingsrunningtoandfrointhousandslikeants。Theninhugewaveshundredsandhundredsoffeethigh，theoceanflowedinandallwastroubled，yeastysea。
\"OrocarriesouthisthreattodestroytheNationswhohadrebelledagainsthim，\"saidYva。\"Muchoftheworldsinksbeneaththewaves，butinplaceofitotherlandsariseabovethewaves，tobeinhabitedbytheseedofthosewhoremainlivinginthoseportionsoftheEarththatthedelugespared。\"
Thishorriblevisionpassedandwassucceededbyonemore，thatofOrostandinginthesepulchreofthecavebythesideofthecrystalcoffinwhichcontainedwhatappearedtobethebodyofhisdaughter。Hegazedather，thendranksomepotionandlaidhimselfdowninthecompanioncoffin，thatinwhichwehadfoundhim。
AllvanishedawayandYva，appearingtowakefromsomekindoftrance，smiled，andinhernaturalvoiceaskedifwehadseenenough。
\"Quite，\"Iansweredinatonethatcausedhertosay：
\"Iwonderwhatyouhaveseen，Humphrey。MyselfIdonotknow，sinceitisthroughmethatyouseeatallandwhenyouseeIaminyouwhosee。\"
\"Indeed，\"Ireplied。\"Well，Iwilltellyouaboutitlater。\"
\"Thankyousomuch，\"exclaimedBastin，recoveringsuddenlyfromhisamazement。\"Ihaveheardagreatdealofthesemoving—pictureshowswhicharebecomingsopopular，buthavealwaysavoidedattendingthembecausetheirinfluenceontheyoungissupposedtobedoubtful，andapriestmustsetagoodexampletohiscongregation。NowIseethattheycanhaveadistincteducationalvalue，evenifitispresentedintheformofromance。\"
\"Howisitdone？\"askedBickley，almostfiercely。
\"Idonotaltogetherknow，\"sheanswered。\"ThisIdoknow，however，thateverythingwhichhashappenedonthisworldcanbeseenfrommomenttomomentatsomepointinthedepthsofspace，forthitherthesun’slighttakesit。There，too，itcanbecaughtandthenceinaninstantreturnedtoearthagain，tobereflectedinthemirrorofthepresentbythosewhoknowhowthatmirrorshouldbeheld。Askmenomore；onesowiseasyou，O
Bickley，cansolvesuchproblemsforhimself。\"
\"Ifyoudon’tmind，LadyYva，\"saidBastin，\"IthinkIshouldliketogetoutofthisplace，interestingasitis。Ihavefoodtocookupaboveandlotsofthingstoattendto，especiallyasI
understandIamtocomebackheretomorrow。Wouldyoumindshowingmethewaytothatliftormovingstaircase？\"
\"Come，\"shesaid，smiling。
SowewentpasttheimageofFate，outofthetemple，downthevastandlonelystreetssounnaturallyilluminated，totheplacewherewehadfirstfoundourselvesonarrivalinthedepths。
Therewestood。
Amomentlaterandwewerewhirlingupaswehadwhirleddown。
IsupposethatYvacamewithusthoughIneversawherdoso，andtheoddthingwasthatwhenwearrivedinthesepulchre，sheseemedalreadytobestandingtherewaitingtodirectus。
\"Really，\"remarkedBastin，\"thisisexactlylikeMaskelyneandCook。Didyoueverseetheirperformance，Bickley？Ifso，itmusthavegivenyoulotstoexplainforquitealongwhile。\"
\"Juggleryneverappealedtome，whetherinLondonorinOrofena，\"repliedBickleyinasourvoiceasheextractedfromhispocketanendofcandletowhichhesetlight。
\"Whatisjugglery？\"askedBastin，andtheydepartedarguing，leavingmealonewithYvainthesepulchre。
\"WhathaveIseen？\"Iaskedher。
\"Idonotknow，Humphrey。Everyoneseesdifferentthings，butperhapssomethingofthetruth。\"
\"Ihopenot，Yva，foramongstotherthingsIseemedtoseeyouswearyourselftoamanforever。\"
\"Yes，andthisIdid。Whatofit？\"
\"Onlythatitmightbehardforanotherman。\"
\"Yes，foranothermanitmightbehard。Youwereoncemarried，wereyounot，Humphrey，toawifewhodied？\"
\"Yes，Iwasmarried。\"
\"Anddidyounotsweartothatwifethatyouwouldneverlookinloveuponanotherwoman？\"
\"Idid，\"Iansweredinashamedvoice。\"Buthowdoyouknow？I
nevertoldyouso。\"
\"Oh！Iknowyouandthereforeguessed。\"
\"Well，whatofit，Yva？\"
\"Nothing，exceptthatyoumustfindyourwifebeforeyouloveagain，andbeforeIloveagainImustfindhimwhomIwishtobemyhusband。\"
\"Howcanthathappen，\"Iasked，\"whenbotharedead？\"
\"Howdidallthatyouhaveseento—dayinNyohappen？\"shereplied，laughingsoftly。\"Perhapsyouareveryblind，Humphrey，orperhapswebothareblind。Ifso，mayhaplightwillcometous。Meanwhiledonotbesad。TomorrowIwillmeetyouandyoushallteachme——yourEnglishtongue，Humphrey，andotherthings。\"
\"Thenletitbeinthesunlight，Yva。IdonotlovethosedarksomehallsofNyothatglowlikesomethingdead。\"
\"Itisfitting，foraretheynotdead？\"sheanswered，withalittlelaugh。\"Sobeit。Bastinshallteachmyfatherdownbelow，sincesunandshadearethesametohimwhoonlythinksofhisreligion，andyoushallteachmeupabove。\"
\"IamnotsocertainaboutBastinandofwhathethinks，\"I
saiddoubtfully。\"AlsowilltheLordOropermityoutocome？\"
\"Yes，forinsuchmattersIrulemyself。Also，\"sheaddedmeaningly，\"heremembersmyoaththatIwillwednoman——saveonewhoisdead。NowfarewellawhileandbidBastinbeherewhenthesunisthreehourshigh，notbeforeorafter。\"
ThenIlefther。
ChapterXVII
YvaExplainsWhenIreachedtherockIwaspleasedtofindMaramaandabouttwentyofhispeopleengagedinerectingthehousethatwehadorderedthemtobuildforouraccommodation。Indeed，itwasnearlyfinished，sincehouse—buildinginOrofenaisasimplebusiness。Theframeworkofpolesletintopalmtrunks，sincetheycouldnotbedrivenintotherock，hadbeenputtogetheronthefurthershoreandtowedoverbodilybycanoes。Theoverhangingrockformedonesideofthehouse；theendswereofpalmleavestiedtothepoles，andtheroofwasofthesamematerial。Theothersidewasleftopenforthepresent，whichinthatequableandbalmyclimewasnodisadvantage。Thewholeedificewasaboutthirtyfeetlongbyfifteendeepanddividedintotwoportions，oneforsleepingandoneforliving，byapalmleafpartition。
Really，itwasquiteacomfortableabode，coolandrainproof，especiallyafterBastinhadbuilthishutinwhichtocook。
Maramaandhispeoplewereveryhumbleintheirdemeanourandimploredustovisitthemonthemainisland。Iansweredthatperhapswewouldlateron，aswewishedtoprocurecertainthingsfromthewreck。Also，herequestedBastintocontinuehisministrationsasthelattergreatlydesiredtodo。ButtothisproposalIwouldnotallowhimtogiveanydirectansweratthemoment。Indeed，IdarednotdosountilIwassureofOro’sapproval。
Towardseveningtheydepartedintheircanoes，leavingbehindthemtheusualamplestoreofprovisions。
Wecookedourmealasusual，onlytodiscoverthatwhatYvahadsaidabouttheLife—waterwasquitetrue，sincewehadbutlittleappetiteforsolidfood，thoughthisreturneduponthefollowingday。Thesamethinghappeneduponeveryoccasionafterdrinkingofthatwaterwhichcertainlywasamostinvigoratingfluid。
Neverforyearshadanyofusfeltsowellasitcausedustodo。
Sowelitourpipesandtalkedaboutourexperiencesthoughofthese，indeed，wescarcelyknewwhattosay。Bastinacceptedthemassomethingoutofthecommon，ofcourse，butasfactswhichadmittedofnodiscussion。Afterall，hesaid，theOldTestamenttoldmuchthesamestoryofpeoplecalledtheSonsofGodwholivedverylonglivesandranafterthedaughtersofmenwhomtheyshouldhaveleftalone，andthusbecametheprogenitorsofaremarkablerace。Ofthisrace，hepresumedthatOroandhisdaughterweresurvivors，especiallyastheyspokeoftheirfamilyas\"Heavenborn。\"Howtheycametosurvivewasmorethanhecouldunderstandandreallyscarcelyworthbotheringover，sincetheretheywere。
ItwasthesameabouttheDeluge，continuedBastin，althoughnaturallyOrospokefalsely，or，atanyrate，grosslyexaggerated，whenhedeclaredthathehadcausedthiscatastrophe，unlessindeedhewastalkingaboutatotallydifferentdeluge，thougheventhenhecouldnothavebroughtitabout。Itwascurious，however，thatthepeopledrownedweresaidtohavebeenwicked，andOrohadthesameopinionaboutthosewhomheclaimedtohavedrowned，thoughforthematterofthat，hecouldnotconceiveanyonemorewickedthanOrohimself。Onhisownshowinghewasamostrevengefulpersonandonewhodeclinedtoagreetoaquitesuitablealliance，apparentlydesiredbybothparties，merelybecauseitoffendedhisfamilypride。No，onreflectionhemightbeunjusttoOrointhisparticular，sincehenevertoldthatstory；itwasonlyshowninsomepictureswhichverylikelywerejustmadeuptoastonishus。Meanwhile，itwashisbusinesstopreachtothisoldsinnerdowninthathole，andheconfessedhonestlythathedidnotlikethejob。Still，itmustbedone，sowithourleavehewouldgoapartandseekinspiration，whichatpresentseemedtobequitelacking。
ThusdeclaimedBastinanddeparted。
\"Don’tyoutellyouropinionabouttheDelugeorhemaycauseanotherjusttoshowthatyouarewrong，\"calledBickleyafterhim。
\"Ican’thelpthat，\"answeredBastin。\"CertainlyIshallnothidethetruthtosaveOro’sfeelings，ifhehasgotany。Ifherevengeshimselfuponusinanyway，wemustjustputupwithitlikeothermartyrs。\"
\"Ihaven’ttheslightestambitiontobeamartyr，\"saidBickley。
\"No，\"shoutedBastinfromalittledistance，\"Iamquiteawareofthat，asyouhaveoftensaidsobefore。Therefore，ifyoubecomeone，IamsorrytosaythatIdonotseehowyoucanexpectanybenefit。Youwouldonlybelikeamanwhoputsasovereignintotheoffertorybaginmistakeforashilling。Theextranineteenshillingswilldohimnogoodatall，sinceinhisheartheregretstheerrorandwishesthathecouldhavethemback。\"
Thenhedeparted，leavingmelaughing。ButBickleydidnotlaugh。
\"Arbuthnot，\"hesaid，\"IhavecometotheconclusionthatI
havegonequitemad。IbegyouifIshouldshowsignsofhomicidalmania，whichIfeeldevelopinginmewhereBastinisconcerned，orofotherabnormalviolence，thatyouwilltakewhateverstepsyouconsidernecessary，eventoputtingmeoutofthewayifthatisimperative。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked。\"Youseemsaneenough。\"
\"Sane，whenIbelievethatIhaveseenandexperiencedagreatnumberofthingswhichIknowittobequiteimpossiblethatI
shouldhaveseenorexperienced。TheonlyexplanationisthatI
amsufferingfromdelusions。\"
\"ThenisBastinsufferingfromdelusions，too？\"
\"Certainly，butthatisnothingnewinhiscase。\"
\"Idon’tagreewithyou，Bickley——aboutBastin，Imean。Iambynomeanscertainthatheisnotthewisestofthethreeofus。Hehasafaithandhestickstoit，asmillionshavedonebeforehim，andthatisbetterthanmakingspiritualexperiments，asI
amsorrytosayIdo，orrejectingthingsbecauseonecannotunderstandthem，asyoudo，whichisonlyaformofintellectualvanity。\"
\"Iwon’targuethematter，Arbuthnot；itisofnouse。IrepeatthatIammad，andBastinismad。\"
\"Howaboutme？Ialsosawandexperiencedthesethings。AmI
mad，too？\"
\"Yououghttobe，Arbuthnot。Ifitisn’tenoughtodriveamanmadwhenheseeshimselfexactlyreproducedinanutterlyimpossiblemoving—pictureshowexhibitedbyanutterlyimpossibleyoungwomaninanutterlyimpossibleundergroundcity，thenI
don’tknowwhatis。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked，starting。
\"Mean？Well，ifyoudidn’tnoticeit，there’shopeforyou。\"
\"Noticewhat？\"
\"Allthatenvoyscene。There，asIthought，appearedYva。Doyouadmitthat？\"
\"Ofcourse；therecouldbenomistakeonthatpoint。\"
\"Verywell。Thenaccordingtomyversiontherecameaman，stillyoung，dressedinoutlandishclothes，whomadepropositionsofpeaceandwantedtomarryYva，whowantedtomarryhim。Isthatright？\"
\"Absolutely。\"
\"Well，anddidn’tyourecognisetheman？\"
\"No；Ionlynoticedthathewasafine—lookingfellowwhoseappearanceremindedmeofsomeone。\"
\"Isupposeitmustbetrue，\"musedBickley，\"thatwedonotknowourselves。\"
\"SotheoldGreekthought，sinceheurgedthatthisshouldbeourspecialstudy。’Knowthyself，’youremember。\"
\"Imeantphysically，notintellectually。Arbuthnot，doyoumeantotellmethatyoudidnotrecogniseyourowndoubleinthatman？Shaveoffyourbeardandputonhisclothesandnoonecoulddistinguishyouapart。\"
Isprangup，droppingmypipe。
\"Nowyoumentionit，\"Isaidslowly，\"Isupposetherewasaresemblance。Ididn’tlookathimverymuch；IwasstudyingthesimulacrumofYva。Also，youknowitissometimesince——Imean，therearenopier—glassesinOrofena。\"
\"Themanwasyou，\"wentonBickleywithconviction。\"IfIweresuperstitiousIshouldthinkitaqueersortofomen。ButasIamnot，IknowthatImustbemad。\"
\"Why？Afterall，anancientmanandamodernmanmightresembleeachother。\"
\"Therearedegreesinresemblance，\"saidBickleywithoneofhiscontemptuoussnorts。\"Itwon’tdo，Humphrey，myboy，\"headded。\"Icanonlythinkofonepossibleexplanation——outsideoftheobviousoneofmadness。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"
\"TheGlitteringLadyproducedwhatBastincalledthatcinematographshowinsomewayorother，didshenot？Shesaidthatinordertodothissheloosedsomehiddenforces。Isuggestthatshedidnothingofthesort。\"
\"Thenwhencedidthepicturescomeandwhy？\"
\"Fromherownbrain，inordertoimpressuswithacock—and—
bull，fairy—bookstory。Ifthisweresoshewouldquitenaturallyfilltheroleoftheloverofthepiecewiththelastmanwhohadhappenedtoimpressher。Hencetheresemblance。\"
\"Youpresupposeagreatdeal，Bickley，includingsupernaturalcunningandunexampledhypnoticinfluence。Idon’tknow，first，whysheshouldbesoanxioustoaddanotherimpressiontothemanywehavereceivedinthisplace；and，secondly，ifshewas，howshemanagedtomesmerisethreeaveragebuttotallydifferentmenintoseeingthesamethings。Myexplanationisthatyouweredeceivedastothelikeness，which，mindyou，Ididnotrecognise；nor，apparently，didBastin。\"
\"Bastinneverrecognisesanything。Butifyouareindoubt，askYvaherself。Sheoughttoknow。NowI’mofftotrytoanalysethatconfoundedLife—water，whichIsuspectisoftheordinaryspringvariety，lightenedupwithnaturalcarbonicacidgasandpossiblynotuninfluencedbyradium。ThetroubleisthathereI
canonlyapplysomeveryelementarytests。\"
Sohewentalso，inanoppositedirectiontoBastin，andIwasleftalonewithTommy，whoannoyedmemuchbyattemptingcontinuallytowanderoffintothecave，whenceImustrecallhim。Isupposethatmyexperiencesoftheday，reviewedbeneaththesweetinfluencesofthewonderfultropicalnight，affectedme。Atanyrate，thatmysticalsideofmynature，towhichI
thinkIalludedatthebeginningofthisrecord，sprangintoactiveand，inasense，unholylife。Thenormalvanished，theabnormaltookpossession，andthatisunholytomostofuscreaturesofhabitandtradition，atanyrate，ifweareBritish。
Ilostmyfootingontheworld；myspiritbegantowanderinstrangeplaces；ofcourse，alwayssupposingthatwehaveaspirit，whichBickleywoulddeny。
Igaveupreason；Isurrenderedmyselftounreason；itisanotunpleasantprocess，occasionally。Supposingnowthatallweseeandacceptisbutthemerestfragmentofthetruth，orperhapsonlyarefractionthereof？Supposingthatwedoliveagainandagain，andthatouranimatingprinciple，whateveritmightbe，doesinhabitvariousbodies，which，naturallyenough，itwouldshapetoitsowntasteandlikeness？Wouldthattasteandlikenessvarysoverymuchover，letussay，amillionyearsorso，which，afterall，isbutanhour，oraminute，intheaeonsofEternity？
Onthishypothesis，whichissowildthatonebeginstosuspectthatitmaybetrue，wasitimpossiblethatIandthatmurderedmanofthefarpastwereinfactidentical？Ifthewomanwerethesame，preservedacrossthegulfinsomeunknownfashion，whyshouldnotherloverbethesame？WhatdidIsay——herlover？WasIherlover？No，Iwastheloverofonewhohaddied——mylostwife。Well，ifIhaddiedandlivedagain，whyshouldnot——whyshouldnotthatSleeper——havelivedagainduringherlongsleep？
Throughallthoseyearsthespiritmusthavehadsomehome，and，ifso，inwhatshapesdiditlive？Therewerepoints，similarities，whichrushedinuponme——oh！itwasridiculous。
Bickleywasright。Wewereallmad！
Therewasanotherthing。OrohaddeclaredthatwewereatwarwithGermany。Ifthiswereso，howcouldheknowit？Suchknowledgewouldpresumepowersoftelepathyorvisionbeyondthosegiventoman。Icouldnotbelievethathepossessedthese；
asBickleysaid，itwouldbepastexperience。Yetitwasmoststrangethathewhowasuninformedastoournationalhistoryanddangers，shouldhavehituponacountrywithwhichwemightwellhavebeenplungedintosuddenstruggle。HereagainIwasbewilderedandovercome。Mybrainrocked。Iwouldseeksleep，andinitescape，oratanyraterestfromallthesemysteries。
OnthefollowingmorningwedespatchedBastintokeephisrendezvousinthesepulchreatthepropertime。HadwenotdonesoIfeltsurethathewouldhaveforgottenit，foronthisoccasionhewasforonceanunwillingmissioner。Hetriedtopersuadeoneofustocomewithhim——evenBickleywouldhavebeenwelcome；butwebothdeclaredthatwecouldnotdreamofinterferinginsuchaprofessionalmatter；alsothatourpresencewasforbidden，andwouldcertainlydistracttheattentionofhispupil。
\"Whatyoumean，\"saidthegloomyBastin，\"isthatyouintendtoenjoyyourselvesuphereinthefemalecompanionshipoftheGlitteringLadywhilstIsitthousandsoffeetundergroundattemptingtolightenthedarknessofaviolentoldsinnerwhomI
suspectofbeinginleaguewithSatan。\"
\"Withwhomyoushouldbeproudtobreakalance，\"saidBickley。
\"SoIam，inthedaylight。Forinstance，whenheusesyourmouthtoadvancehisarguments。Bickley，butthisisanothermatter。However，ifIdonotappearagainyouwillknowthatI
diedinagoodcause，and，Ihope，trytorecovermyremainsandgivethemdecentburial。Also，youmightinformtheBishopofhowIcametomyend，thisis，ifyouevergetanopportunity，whichismorethandoubtful。\"
\"Hurryup，Bastin，hurryup！\"saidtheunfeelingBickley，\"oryouwillbelateforyourappointmentandputyourwould—beneophyteintoabadtemper。\"
ThenBastinwent，carryingunderhisarmalargeBibleprintedinthelanguageoftheSouthSeaIslands。
AlittlewhilelaterYvaappeared，arrayedinherwondrousrobeswhich，beingaman，itisquiteimpossibleformetodescribe。Shesawuslookingatthese，and，aftergreetingusboth，alsoTommy，whowasenrapturedathercoming，askedushowtheladiesofourcountryattiredthemselves。
Wetriedtoexplain，withnostrikingsuccess。
\"YouareasstupidaboutsuchmattersaswerethemenoftheOldWorld，\"shesaid，shakingherheadandlaughing。\"Ithoughtthatyouhadwithyoupicturesofladiesyouhaveknownwhichwouldshowme。\"
Now，infact，Ihadinapocket—bookaphotographofmywifeinevening—dress，alsoaminiatureofherheadandbustpaintedonivory，abeautifulpieceofworkdonebyamasterhand，whichI
alwayswore。These，afteramoment’shesitation，Iproducedandshowedtoher，BickleyhavinggoneawayforalittlewhiletoseeaboutsomethingconnectedwithhisattemptedanalysisoftheLife—water。Sheexaminedthemwithgreateagerness，andasshedidsoInotedthatherfacegrewtenderandtroubled。
\"Thiswasyourwife，\"shesaidasonewhostateswhatsheknowstobeafact。Inodded，andshewenton：
\"Shewassweetandbeautifulasaflower，butnotsotallasI
am，Ithink。\"
\"No，\"Ianswered，\"shelackedheight；giventhatshewouldhavebeenalovelywoman。\"
\"Iamgladyouthinkthatwomenshouldbetall，\"shesaid，glancingathershadow。\"Theeyesweresuchasmine，weretheynot——incolour，Imean？\"
\"Yes，verylikeyours，onlyyoursarelarger。\"
\"Thatisabeautifulwayofwearingthehair。WouldyoubeangryifItriedit？Iwearyofthisoldfashion。\"
\"WhyshouldIbeangry？\"Iasked。
AtthismomentBickleyreappearedandshebegantotalkofthedetailsofthedress，sayingthatitshowedmoreoftheneckthanhadbeenthecustomamongthewomenofherpeople，butwasverypretty。
\"Thatisbecausewearestillbarbarians，\"saidBickley；\"atleast，ourwomenare，andthereforerelyuponprimitivemethodsofattraction，likethesavagesyonder。\"
