Part 20 (1/2)
”How long was the time that the lord Oro set apart for sleep?” I asked
She paused as though puzzled to find words to express her , then held up her hands and said:
”Ten,” nodding at her fingers By second thoughts she took Bickley's hands, not ers
”Ten years,” said Bickley ”Well, of course, it is impossible, but perhaps--” and he paused
”Ten tens,” she went on with a deepening smile, ”one hundred”
”O!” said Bickley
”Ten hundreds, one thousand”
”I say!” said Bickley
”Ten times ten thousand, one hundred thousand”
Bickley became silent
”Twice one hundred thousand and half a hundred thousand, two hundred and fifty thousand years That was the space of time which the lord Oro, my father, set for our sleep Whether it has been fulfilled he will know presently when he has read the book of the stars and made comparison of it hat he wrote before we laid us down to rest,” and she pointed to the
Bickley walked away,so absurd in his indignation that I nearly laughed The Lady Yva actually did laugh, and very h
”He does not believe,” she said ”He is so clever he knows everything
But two hundred and fifty thousand years ago we should have thought him quite stupid Then we could read the stars and calculate their movements for ever”
”So can we,” I answered, rather nettled
”I alad, O Humphrey, since you will be able to show ”
Secretly I hoped that this task would not be laid on e the subject for the edification of Bickley who had recovered and was drawn back by his eager curiosity Just then, too, Bastin joined us, happy in his regained boots
”You tell us, Lady Yva,” I said, ”that you slept, or should have slept for two hundred and fifty thousand years” Here Bastin opened his eyes
”If that was so, where was your mind all this time?”
”If by my mind you mean spirit, O Humphrey, I have to answer that at present I do not know for certain I think, however, that it dwelt elsewhere, perhaps in other bodies on the earth, or some different earth At least, I know that my heart is very full of memories which as yet I cannot unroll and read”
”Great heavens, this is reat heavens,” she answered slowly, ”there are s which you, poor man, would think to be s, or some of them, soon I shall hope to show you”
”Do if you can,” said Bickley
”Why not?” interrupted Bastin ”I think the lady's rehly improbable if really she has slept for two hundred and fifty thousand years, which, of course, I can't decide, that an i
That would be ing in a bed of idleness and shi+rking its duty which is to do its work Also, as she tells you, Bickley, you are not half so clever as you think you are in your silly scepticiss in other worlds which would expose your ignorance, if only you could see thehter She went at once, saying: