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take more than a minute； but it was startling in its results； and reduced me
to an extraordinary state of hypnotic receptibility。 When it was over my
instructor tapped with a finger on my lips； uttering aloud as he did so the
words
〃Know none； know some； know little； know morel〃 again and again；
and the strangest part of it is that as he spoke I did know at first a little；
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then more； and still more； by swift accumulation； of his speech and
meaning。 In fact； when pre… sently he suddenly laid a hand over my eyes
and then let go of my head with a pleasantly put question as to how I felt； I
had no difficulty whatever in answering him in his own tongue； and rose
from the ground as one gets from a hair…dresser's chair； with a vague idea
of looking round for my hat and offering him his fee。
〃My word； sir！〃 I said； in lisping Martian； as I pulled down my cuffs
and put my cravat straight； 〃that was a quick process。 I once heard of a
man who learnt a language in the moments he gave each day to having his
boots blacked； but this beats all。 I trust I was a docile pupil？〃
〃Oh； fairly； sir；〃 answered the soft； musical voice of the strange being
by me； 〃but your head is thick and your brain tough。 I could have taught
another in half the time。〃
〃Curiously enough；〃 was my response； 〃those are almost the very
words with which my dear old tutor dismissed me the morning I left
college。 Never mind； the thing is done。 Shall I pay you anything？〃
〃I do not understand。〃
〃Any honorarium； then？ Some people understand one word and not
the other。〃 But the boy only shook his head in answer。
Strangely enough； I was not greatly surprised all this time either at the
novelty of my whereabouts or at the hypnotic instruction in a new
language just received。 Per… haps it was because my head still spun too
giddily with that flight in the old rug for much thought； perhaps be… cause
I did not yet fully realise the thing that had happened。 But； anyhow； there
is the fact； which； like so many others in my narrative； must； alas！ remain
unexplained for the moment。 The rug； by the way； had completely disap…
peared； my friend comforting me on this score； however； by saying he had
seen it rolled up and taken away by one whom he knew。
〃We are very tidy people here； stranger；〃 he said； 〃and everything
found Lying about goes back to the Palace store… rooms。 You will laugh
to see the lumber there； for few of us ever take the trouble to reclaim our
property。〃
Heaven knows I was in no laughing mood when I saw that enchanted
web again！
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When I had lain and watched the brightening scene for a time； I got up；
and having stretched and shaken my clothes into some sort of order； we
strolled down the hill and joined the light…hearted crowds that twined
across the plain and through the streets of their city of booths。 They were
the prettiest； daintiest folk ever eyes looked upon； well…formed and like to
us as could be in the main； but slender and willowy； so dainty and light；
both the men and the women； so pretty of cheek and hair； so mild of aspect；
I felt； as I strode amongst them； I could have plucked them like flowers
and bound them up in bunches with my belt。 And yet somehow I liked
them from the first minute； such a happy； careless； light…hearted race；
again I say； never was seen before。 There was not a stain of thought or
care on a single one of those white foreheads that eddied round me under
their peaked； blossom…like caps； the perpetual smile their faces wore never
suffered rebuke anywhere； their very movements were graceful and slow；
their laughter was low and musical； there was an odour of friendly；
slothful happiness about them that made me admire whether I would or
no。
Unfortunately I was not able to live on laughter； as they appeared to be；
so presently turning to my acquaintance； who had told me his name was
the plain monosyllabic An； and clapping my hand on his shoulder as he
stood lost in sleepy reflection； said； in a good； hearty way； 〃Hullo； friend
Yellow…jerkin！ If a stranger might set himself athwart the cheerful
current of your meditations； may such a one ask how far 'tis to the nearest
wine…shop or a booth where a thirsty man may get a mug of ale at a
moderate reckoning？〃
That gilded youth staggered under my friendly blow as though the
hammer of Thor himself had suddenly lit upon his shoulder； and ruefully
rubbing his tender skin； he turned on me mild； handsome eyes； answering
after a moment； dur… ing which his native mildness struggled with the pain
I had unwittingly given him
〃If your thirst be as emphatic as your greeting； friend Heavy…fist； it
will certainly be a kindly deed to lead you to the drinking…place。 My
shoulder tingles with your good… fellowship；〃 he added； keeping two
arms'…lengths clear of me。 〃Do you wish；〃 he said； 〃merely to cleanse a
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dusty throat； or for blue or pink oblivion？〃
〃Why；〃 I answered laughingly； 〃I have come a longish journey since
yesterday nighta journey out of count of all reasonable mileageand I
might fairly plead a dusty throat as excuse for a beginning； but as to the
other things mentioned； those tinted forgetfulnesses； I do not even know
what you mean。〃
〃Undoubtedly you are a stranger；〃 said the friendly youth； eyeing me
from top to toe with renewed wonder； 〃and by your unknown garb one
from afar。〃
〃From how far no man can saynot even Ibut from very far； in truth。
Let that stay your curiosity for the time。 And now to bench and ale…mug；
on good fellow！the short… est way。 I was never so thirsty as this since
our water…butts went overboard when I sailed the southern seas as a tramp
apprentice； and for three days we had to damp our black tongues with the
puddles the night…dews left in the lift of our mainsail。〃
Without more words； being a little awed of me； I thought； the boy led
me through the good…humoured crowd to where； facing the main road to
the town； but a little sheltered by a thicket of trees covered with gigantic
pink blossoms； stood a drinking…placea cluster of tables set round an
open grass…plot。 Here he brought me a platter of some light inefficient
cakes which merely served to make hunger more self…conscious； and some
fine aromatic wine contained in a triple…bodied flask； each division
containing vintage of a separate hue。 We broke our biscuits； sipped that
mysterious wine； and talked of many things until at last something set us
on the subject of astronomy； a study I found my dapper gallant had some
knowledge of which was not to be wondered at seeing he dwelt under
skies each night set thick above his curly head with tawny planets； and
glittering constellations sprinkled through space like flowers in May
meadows。 He knew what worlds went round the sun； larger or lesser； and
seeing this I be… gan to question him； for I was uneasy in my innermost
mind and； you will remember； so far had no certain knowledge of where I
was； only a dim； restless suspicion that I had come beyond the ken of all
men's knowledge。
Therefore； sweeping clear the board with my sleeve； and breaking the
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wafer cake I was eating； I set down one central piece for the sun； and； 〃See
here！〃 I said； 〃good fel… low！ This morsel shall stand for that sun you
have just been welcoming back with quaint ritual。 Now stretch your
starry knowledge to the utmost； and put down that tankard for a moment。
If this be yonder sun and this lesser crumb be the outermost one of our
revolving system； and this the next within； and this the next； and so on；
now if this be