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was brightening。 As I looked into the centre of that glow； a planet；
magnified by the wonderful air； came swinging up； pale but splendid； and
mapped by soft coloursgreen； violet； and red。 I knew it on the min… ute；
Heaven only knows how； but I knew it； and a des… perate thrill of
loneliness swept over me； a spasm of com… prehension of the horrible void
dividing us。 Never did yearn… ing babe stretch arms more wistfully to an
unattainable mother than I at that moment to my mother earth。 All her
meanness and prosaicness was forgotten； all her im… perfections and
shortcomings； it was home； the one tangible thing in the glittering
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emptiness of the spheres。 All my soul went into my eyes； and then I
sneezed violently； and turning round； found that sweet damsel whose silky
head nestled so friendly on my shoulder was tickling my nose with a
feather she had picked up。
Womanlike； she had forgotten all about her first question； and now
asked another； 〃Will you come to supper with me； stranger？ 'Tis nearly
ready； I think。〃
〃To be able to say no to such an invitation； lady； is the first thing a
young man should learn；〃 I answered lightly； but then； seeing there was
nothing save the most innocent friendliness in those hazel eyes； I went on；
〃but that stern rule may admit of variance。 Only； as it chances； I have
just supped at the public expense。 If； instead； you would be a sailor's
sweetheart for an hour； and take me to this show of yoursyour princess's
benefit； or whatever it is I shall be obliged； my previous guide is hull
down over the horizon； and I am clean out of my reckoning in this crowd。〃
By way of reply； the little lady； light as an elf； took me by the
fingertips； and； gleefully skipping forward； piloted me through the mazes
of her city until we came out into the great square fronting on the palace；
which rose beyond it like a white chalk cliff in the dull light。 Not a taper
showed anywhere round its circumference； but a mysterious kind of
radiance like sea phosphorescence beamed from the palace porch。 All
was in such deathlike silence that the nails in my 〃ammunition〃 boots
made an unpleasant clanking as they struck on the marble pavement； yet；
by the uncertain starlight； I saw； to my surprise； the whole square was
thronged with Martians； all facing towards the porch； as still； graven
images； and as voiceless； for once； as though they had indeed been marble。
It was strange to see them sitting there in the twilight； waiting for I knew
not what； and my friend's voice at my elbow almost startled me as she said；
in a whisper； 〃The princess knows you are in the crowd； and desires you to
go up upon the steps near where she will be。〃
〃Who brought her message？〃 I asked； gazing vaguely round； for none
had spoken to us for an hour or more。
〃No one；〃 said my companion； gently pushing me up an open way
towards the palace steps left clear by the sitting Martians。 〃It came direct
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from her to me this minute。〃
〃But how？〃 I persisted。
〃Nay；〃 said the girl； 〃if we stop to talk like this we shall not be placed
before she comes； and thus throw a whole year's knowledge out。〃
So； bottling my speculations； I allowed myself to be led up the first
flight of worn； white steps to where； on the terrace between them and the
next flight leading directly to the palace portico； was a flat； having a circle
about twenty feet across； inlaid upon the marble with darker coloured
blocks。 Inside that circle； as I sat down close by it in the twilight；
showed another circle； and then a final one in whose inmost middle stood
a tall iron tripod and something atop of it covered by a cloth。 And all
round the outer circle were magic symbolsI started as I recognised the
meaning of some of themwithin these again the inner circle held what
looked like the representations of planets； ending； as I have said； in that
dished hollow made by countless dancers' feet； and its solitary tripod。
Back again； I glanced towards the square where the great concourse ten
thousand of them； perhapswere sitting mute and silent in the deepening
shadows； then back to the magic circles； till the silence and expectancy of
a strange scene began to possess me。
Shadow down below； star…dusted heaven above； and not a figure
moving； when suddenly something like a long… drawn sigh came from the
lips of the expectant multitude； and I was aware every eye had suddenly
turned back to the palace porch； where； as we looked； a figure； wrapped in
pale blue robes； appeared and stood for a minute； then stole down the steps
with an eagerness in every movement holding us spellbound。 I have seen
many splendid pageants and many sights； each of which might be the talk
of a life… time； but somehow nothing ever so engrossing； so thrilling； as
that ghostly figure in flowing robes stealing across the piazza in starlight
and silencethe princess of a broken kingdom； the priestess of a forgotten
faith coming to her station to perform a jugglery of which she knew not
even the meaning。 It was my versatile friend Heru； and with quick；
incisive steps； her whole frame ambent for the time with the fervour of her
mission； she came swiftly down to within a dozen yards of where I stood。
Heru； indeed； but not the same princess as in the morning； an inspired
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priestess rather； her slim body wrapped in blue and quiver… ing with
emotion； her face ashine with Delphic fire； her hair loose； her feet bare；
until at last when； as she stood within the limit of the magic circle； her
white hands upon her breast； her eyes flashing like planets themselves in
the star… shine she looked so ghostly and unreal I felt for a minute I was
dreaming。
Then began a strange； weird dance amongst the im… agery of the rings；
over which my earth planet was begin… ning to throw a haze of light。 At
first it was hardly more than a walk； a slow procession round the twin
circumfer… ences of the centred tripod。 But soon it increased to an
extraordinary graceful measure； a cadenced step without music or sound
that riveted my eyes to the dancer。 Pres… ently I saw those mystic；
twinkling feet of hersas the dance became swifterwere performing a
measured round amongst the planet signsspelling out something； I knew
not what； with quick； light touch amongst the zodiac figures； dancing out a
soundless invocation of some kind as a dumb man might spell a message
by touching letters。 Quicker and quicker； for minute after minute； grew
the dance； swifter and swifter the swing of the light blue drapery as the
priestess； with eager face and staring eyes； swung pant… ing round upon
her orbit； and redder and redder over the city tops rose the circumference
of the earth。 It seemed to me all the silent multitude were breathing
heavily as we watched that giddy dance； and whatever THEY felt； all my
own senses seemed to be winding up upon that re… volving figure as thread
winds on a spindle。
〃When will she stop？〃 I whispered to my friend under my breath。
〃When the earth…star rests in the roof…niche of the temple it is
climbing；〃 she answered back。
〃And then？〃
〃On the tripod is a globe of water。 In it she will see the destiny of the
year； and will tell us。 The whiter the water stays； the better for us； it
never varies from white。 But we must not talk； see！ she is stopping。〃
And as I looked back； the dance was certainly ebbing now with such
smoothly decre