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opposite sex。 But； from the day of her marriage she wears wings no
more； she suspends them with her own willing hand over the nuptial couch；
never to be resumed unless the marriage tie be severed by divorce or
death。
Now when Zee's voice and eyes thus softened… and at that softening I
prophetically recoiled and shuddered… Taee； who had accompanied us in
our flights； but who； child…like； had been much more amused with my
awkwardness； than sympathising in my fears or aware of my danger；
hovered over us； poised amidst spread wings； and hearing the endearing
words of the young Gy； laughed aloud。 Said he； 〃If the Tish cannot learn
the use of wings； you may still be his companion； Zee； for you can
suspend your own。〃
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CHAPTER XXI。
I had for some time observed in my host's highly informed and
powerfully proportioned daughter that kindly and protective sentiment
which； whether above the earth or below it； an all…wise Providence has
bestowed upon the feminine division of the human race。 But until very
lately I had ascribed it to that affection for 'pets' which a human female at
every age shares with a human child。 I now became painfully aware that
the feeling with which Zee deigned to regard me was different from that
which I had inspired in Taee。 But this conviction gave me none of that
complacent gratification which the vanity of man ordinarily conceives
from a flattering appreciation of his personal merits on the part of the fair
sex； on the contrary； it inspired me with fear。 Yet of all the Gy…ei in the
community； if Zee were perhaps the wisest and the strongest； she was； by
common repute； the gentlest； and she was certainly the most popularly
beloved。 The desire to aid； to succour； to protect； to comfort； to bless；
seemed to pervade her whole being。 Though the complicated miseries
that originate in penury and guilt are unknown to the social system of the
Vril…ya； still； no sage had yet discovered in vril an agency which could
banish sorrow from life； and wherever amongst her people sorrow found
its way； there Zee followed in the mission of comforter。 Did some sister
Gy fail to secure the love she sighed for？ Zee sought her out； and brought
all the resources of her lore； and all the consolations of her sympathy； to
bear upon a grief that so needs the solace of a confidant。 In the rare cases；
when grave illness seized upon childhood or youth； and the cases； less rare；
when； in the hardy and adventurous probation of infants； some accident；
attended with pain and injury occurred； Zee forsook her studies and her
sports； and became the healer and nurse。 Her favourite 106flights were
towards the extreme boundaries of the domain where children were
stationed on guard against outbreaks of warring forces in nature； or the
invasions of devouring animals； so that she might warn them of any peril
which her knowledge detected or foresaw； or be at hand if any harm had
befallen。 Nay； even in the exercise of her scientific acquirements there
was a concurrent benevolence of purpose and will。 Did she learn any
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novelty in invention that would be useful to the practitioner of some
special art or craft？ she hastened to communicate and explain it。 Was
some veteran sage of the College perplexed and wearied with the toil of an
abstruse study？ she would patiently devote herself to his aid； work out
details for him； sustain his spirits with her hopeful smile； quicken his wit
with her luminous suggestion； be to him； as it were； his own good genius
made visible as the strengthener and inspirer。 The same tenderness she
exhibited to the inferior creatures。 I have often known her bring home
some sick and wounded animal； and tend and cherish it as a mother would
tend and cherish her stricken child。 Many a time when I sat in the
balcony； or hanging garden； on which my window opened； I have watched
her rising in the air on her radiant wings； and in a few moments groups of
infants below； catching sight of her； would soar upward with joyous
sounds of greeting； clustering and sporting around her； so that she seemed
a very centre of innocent delight。 When I have walked with her amidst
the rocks and valleys without the city； the elk…deer would scent or see her
from afar； come bounding up； eager for the caress of her hand； or follow
her footsteps； till dismissed by some musical whisper that the creature had
learned to comprehend。 It is the fashion among the virgin Gy…ei to wear
on their foreheads a circlet； or coronet； with gems resembling opals；
arranged in four points or rays like stars。 These are lustreless in ordinary
use； but if touched by the vril wand they take a clear lambent flame； which
illuminates； yet not burns。 This serves as an ornament in their festivities；
and as a lamp； if； in 107their wanderings beyond their artificial lights； they
have to traverse the dark。 There are times； when I have seen Zee's
thoughtful majesty of face lighted up by this crowning halo； that I could
scarcely believe her to be a creature of mortal birth； and bent my head
before her as the vision of a being among the celestial orders。 But never
once did my heart feel for this lofty type of the noblest womanhood a
sentiment of human love。 Is it that； among the race I belong to； man's pride
so far influences his passions that woman loses to him her special charm
of woman if he feels her to be in all things eminently superior to himself？
But by what strange infatuation could this peerless daughter of a race
which； in the supremacy of its powers and the felicity of its conditions；
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ranked all other races in the category of barbarians； have deigned to
honour me with her preference？ In personal qualifications； though I passed
for good…looking amongst the people I came from； the handsomest of my
countrymen might have seemed insignificant and homely beside the grand
and serene type of beauty which characterised the aspect of the Vril…ya。
That novelty； the very difference between myself and those to whom
Zee was accustomed； might serve to bias her fancy was probable enough；
and as the reader will see later； such a cause might suffice to account for
the predilection with which I was distinguished by a young Gy scarcely
out of her childhood； and very inferior in all respects to Zee。 But
whoever will consider those tender characteristics which I have just
ascribed to the daughter of Aph…Lin； may readily conceive that the main
cause of my attraction to her was in her instinctive desire to cherish； to
comfort； to protect； and； in protecting； to sustain and to exalt。 Thus；
when I look back； I account for the only weakness unworthy of her lofty
nature； which bowed the daughter of the Vril…ya to a woman's affection for
one so inferior to herself as was her father's guest。 But be the cause what
it may； the consciousness that I had inspired such 108affection thrilled me
with awe… a moral awe of her very imperfections； of her mysterious
powers； of the inseparable distinctions between her race and my own； and
with that awe； I must confess to my shame； there combined the more
material and ignoble dread of the perils to which her preference would
expose me。
Under these anxious circumstances； fortunately； my conscience and
sense of honour were free from reproach。 It became clearly my duty； if
Zee's preference continued