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not fitted my stomach for these constant debauches of gos… samer food）；
strolled into the town again in no very pleasant frame of mind。
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GULLIVER OF MARS
CHAPTER VII
It was only at moments like these I had any time to reflect on my
circumstances or that giddy chance which had shot me into space in this
fashion； and； frankly； the opportunities； when they did come； brought such
an extraordinary de… pressing train of thought； I by no means invited them。
Even with the time available the occasion was always awry for such
reflection。 These dainty triflers made sulking as impossible amongst
them as philosophy in a ballroom。 When I stalked out like that from the
library in fine mood to moralise and apostrophise heaven in a way that
would no doubt have looked fine upon these pages； one sprightly dam… sel；
just as the gloomy rhetoric was bursting from my lips； thrust a flower
under my nose whose scent brought on a violent attack of sneezing； her
companions joining hands and dancing round me while they imitated my
agony。 Then； when I burst away from them and rushed down a nar… row
arcade of crumbling mansions； another stopped me in mid…career； and
taking the honey…stick she was sucking from her lips； put it to mine； like a
pretty； playful child。 An… other asked me to dance； another to drink pink
oblivion with her； and so on。 How could one lament amongst all this
irritating cheerfulness？
An might have helped me； for poor An was intelligent for a Martian；
but she had disappeared； and the terrible vacu… ity of life in the planet was
forced upon me when I realised that possessing no cognomen； no fixed
address； or rating； it would be the merest chance if I ever came across her
again。
Looking for my friendly guide and getting more and more at sea
amongst a maze of comely but similar faces； I made chance acquaintance
with another of her kind who cheerfully drank my health at the
Government's expense； and chatted on things Martian。 She took me to
see a funeral by way of amusement； and I found these people floated their
dead off on flower…decked rafts instead of burying them； the send…offs all
taking place upon a certain swift…flowing stream； which carried the dead
away into the vast region of northern ice； but more exactly whither my
informant seemed to have no idea。 The voyager on this occasion was old；
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and this brought to my mind the curious fact that I had observed few
children in the city； and no elders； all； except perhaps Hath； being in a state
of sleek youthfulness。 My new friend explained the peculiarity by
declaring Mar… tians ripened with extraordinary rapidity from infancy to
the equivalent of about twenty…five years of age； with us； and then
remained at that period however long they might live； Only when they
died did their accumulated seasons come upon them； the girl turning pale；
and wringing her pret… ty hands in sympathetic concern when I told her
there was a land where decrepitude was not so happily postponed。 The
Martians； she said； arranged their calendar by the varying colours of the
seasons； and loved blue as an antidote to the generally red and rusty
character of their soil。
Discussing such things as these we lightly squandered the day away；
and I know of nothing more to note until the evening was come again： that
wonderful purple evening which creeps over the outer worlds at sunset； a
seductive darkness gemmed with ten thousand stars riding so low in the
heaven they seem scarcely more than mast high。 When that hour was
come my friend tiptoed again to my cheek； and then； pointing to the palace
and laughingly hoping fate would send me a bride 〃as soft as catkin and as
sweet as honey；〃 slipped away into the darkness。
Then I remembered all on a sudden this was the con… nubial evening of
my sprightly friendsthe occasion when； as An had told me； the
Government constituted itself into a gigantic matrimonial agency； and；
with the cheerful care… lessness of the place； shuffled the matrimonial pack
anew； and dealt a fresh hand to all the players。 Now I had no wish to
avail myself of a sailor's privilege of a bride in every port； but surely this
game would be interesting enough to see； even if I were but a disinterested
spectator。 As a matter of fact I was something more than that； and had
been thinking a good deal of Heru during the day。 I do not know whether
I actually aspired to her handthat were a large order； even if there had
been no suspicion in my mind she was already bespoke in some vague
way by the invisible Hath； most abortive of princes。 But she was
undeniably a lovely girl； the more one thought of her the more she grew
upon the fancy； and then the preference she had shown myself was very
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gratifying。 Yes； I would certainly see this quaint ceremonial； even if I
took no leading part in it。
The great centre hall of the palace was full of a radiant light bringing
up its ruined columns and intruding creepers to the best effect when I
entered。 Dinner also was just being served； as they would say in another；
and alas！ very distant place； and the whole building thronged with folk。
Down the centre low tables with room for four hundred people were
ranged； but they looked quaint enough since but two hundred were sitting
there； all brand…new bachelors about to be turned into brand new
Benedicts； and taking it mightily calmly it seemed。 Across the hall…top
was a raised table similarly arranged and ornamented； and entering into
the spirit of the thing； and little guessing how stern a reality was to come
from the evening； I sat down in a vacant place near to the dais； and only a
few paces from where the pale； ghost…eyed Hath was already seated。
Almost immediately afterwards music began to buzz all about the hall…
…music of the kind the people loved which always seemed to me as though
it were exuding from the tables and benches； so disembodied and difficult
it was to locate； all the sleepy gallants raised their flower…encircled heads
at the same time； seizing their wine…cups； already filled to the brim； and
the door at the bottom of the hall opening； the ladies； preceded by one
carrying a mysterious vase covered with a glittering cloth； came in。
Now； being somewhat thirsty； I had already drunk half the wine in my
beaker； and whether it was that draught； drugged as all Martian wines are；
or the sheer loveliness of the maids themselves； I cannot say； but as the
procession entered； and； dividing； circled round under the colonnades of
the hall； a sensation of extraordinary felicity came over mean emotion of
divine contentment purged of all gross… nessand I stared and stared at the
circling loveliness； gos… samer…clad； flower…girdled； tripping by me with
vapid de… light。 Either the wine was budding in my head； or there was
little to choose from amongst them； for had any of those ladies sat down in
the vacant place beside me； I should certainly have accepted her as a gift
from heaven； without question or cavil。 But one after another they
slipped by； modestly taking their places in the shadows until at last came
Princess Heru； and at the sight of her my soul was stirred。
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She came undulating over the white marble； the loveliness of her fairy
person dimmed but scarcely hidden by a robe of softest lawn in colour like
rose…petals； her eyes aglitter with excitement and a charming blush upon
her face。
She came straight up to me； and； restin