the coming race(一个即临种族)-第40章
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seemed to me to possess the average of good looks； but there was an
expression in her face that pleased me more than did the faces of the
young Gy…ei generally； because it looked less bold… less conscious of
female rights。 I observed that； while she talked to Bra； she glanced； from
time to time； sidelong at my young friend。
〃Courage；〃 said I； 〃that young Gy loves you。〃
〃Ay； but if she shall not say so； how am I the better for her love？〃
〃Your mother is aware of your attachment？〃
〃Perhaps so。 I never owned it to her。 It would be un…Anly to
confide such weakness to a mother。 I have told my father； he may have
told it again to his wife。〃
〃Will you permit me to quit you for a moment and glide behind your
mother and your beloved？ I am sure they are talking about you。 Do not
hesitate。 I promise that I will not allow myself to be questioned till I
rejoin you。〃
The young An pressed his hand on his heart； touched me lightly on the
head； and allowed me to quit his side。 I stole unobserved behind his
mother and his beloved。 I overheard their talk。 130 Bra was speaking；
said she； 〃There can be no doubt of this： either my son； who is of
marriageable age； will be decoyed into marriage with one of his many
suitors； or he will join those who emigrate to a distance and we shall see
him no more。 If you really care for him； my dear Lo； you should
propose。〃
〃I do care for him； Bra； but I doubt if I could really ever win his
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affections。 He is fond of his inventions and timepieces； and I am not like
Zee； but so dull that I fear I could not enter into his favourite pursuits； and
then he would get tired of me； and at the end of three years divorce me；
and I could never marry another… never。〃
〃It is not necessary to know about timepieces to know how to be so
necessary to the happiness of an An； who cares for timepieces； that he
would rather give up the timepieces than divorce his Gy。 You see； my
dear Lo；〃 continued Bra； 〃that precisely because we are the stronger sex；
we rule the other provided we never show our strength。 If you were
superior to my son in making timepieces and automata； you should； as his
wife； always let him suppose you thought him superior in that art to
yourself。 The An tacitly allows the pre…eminence of the Gy in all except
his own special pursuit。 But if she either excels him in that； or affects not
to admire him for his proficiency in it； he will not love her very long；
perhaps he may even divorce her。 But where a Gy really loves； she soon
learns to love all that the An does。〃
The young Gy made no answer to this address。 She looked down
musingly； then a smile crept over her lips； and she rose； still silent； and
went through the crowd till she paused by the young An who loved her。 I
followed her steps； but discreetly stood at a little distance while I watched
them。 Somewhat to my surprise； till I recollected the coy tactics among
the Ana； the lover seemed to receive her advances with an air of
indifference。 He even moved away； but she pursued his steps； 131and； a
little time after； both spread their wings and vanished amid the luminous
space above。
Just then I was accosted by the chief magistrate； who mingled with the
crowd distinguished by no signs of deference or homage。 It so happened
that I had not seen this great dignitary since the day I had entered his
dominions； and recalling Aph…Lin's words as to his terrible doubt whether
or not I should be dissected； a shudder crept over me at the sight of his
tranquil countenance。
〃I hear much of you； stranger； from my son Taee；〃 said the Tur； laying
his hand politely on my bended head。 〃He is very fond of your society；
and I trust you are not displeased with the customs of our people。〃
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I muttered some unintelligible answer； which I intended to be an
assurance of my gratitude for the kindness I had received from the Tur；
and my admiration of his countrymen； but the dissecting…knife gleamed
before my mind's eye and choked my utterance。 A softer voice said； 〃My
brother's friend must be dear to me。〃 And looking up I saw a young Gy；
who might be sixteen years old； standing beside the magistrate and gazing
at me with a very benignant countenance。 She had not come to her full
growth； and was scarcely taller than myself （viz。； about 5 feet 10 inches）；
and； thanks to that comparatively diminutive stature； I thought her the
loveliest Gy I had hitherto seen。 I suppose something in my eyes
revealed that impression； for her countenance grew yet more benignant。
〃Taee tells me；〃 she said； 〃that you have not yet learned to accustom
yourself to wings。 That grieves me； for I should have liked to fly with
you。〃
〃Alas！〃 I replied； 〃I can never hope to enjoy that happiness。 I am
assured by Zee that the safe use of wings is a hereditary gift； and it would
take generations before one of my race could poise himself in the air like a
bird。〃
132〃Let not that thought vex you too much；〃 replied this amiable
Princess； 〃for； after all； there must come a day when Zee and myself must
resign our wings forever。 Perhaps when that day comes we might be glad
if the An we chose was also without wings。〃
The Tur had left us； and was lost amongst the crowd。 I began to feel
at ease with Taee's charming sister； and rather startled her by the boldness
of my compliment in replying； 〃that no An she could choose would ever
use his wings to fly away from her。〃 It is so against custom for an An to
say such civil things to a Gy till she has declared her passion for him； and
been accepted as his betrothed； that the young maiden stood quite
dumbfounded for a few moments。 Nevertheless she did not seem
displeased。 At last recovering herself； she invited me to accompany her
into one of the less crowded rooms and listen to the songs of the birds。 I
followed her steps as she glided before me； and she led me into a chamber
almost deserted。 A fountain of naphtha was playing in the centre of the
room； round it were ranged soft divans； and the walls of the room were
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open on one side to an aviary in which the birds were chanting their artful
chorus。 The Gy seated herself on one of the divans； and I placed myself
at her side。 〃Taee tells me；〃 she said； 〃that Aph…Lin has made it the law*
of his house that you are not to be questioned as to the country you come
from or the reason why you visit us。 Is it so？〃
* Literally 〃has said； In this house be it r
