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loved Tommy and for his sake had spared our lives。 Lastly； I do
not altogether wonder that he came to certain hasty conclusions
as to the value of our modern civilisations。
〃I am very glad to hear it； Humphrey； since while there is a
spark left the whole fire may burn up again； and I believe that
to the Divine mercy there are no limits； though Oro will have a
long road to travel before he finds it。 And now I have something
to say。 It has troubled me very much that I was obliged to leave
those Orofenans wandering in a kind of religious twilight。〃
〃You couldn't help that；〃 said Bickley； 〃seeing that if you had
stopped； by now you would have been wandering in religious
light。〃
〃Still； I am not sure that I ought not to have stopped。 I seem
to have deserted a field that was open to me。 However； it can't
be helped； since it is certain that we could never find that
island again； even if Oro has not sunk it beneath the sea； as he
is quite capable of doing； to cover his tracks； so to speak。 So I
mean to do my best in another field by way of atonement。〃
〃You are not going to become a missionary？〃 I said。
〃No； but with the consent of the Bishop； who； I think； believes
that my locum got on better in the parish than I do； as no doubt
was the case； I； too； have volunteered for the Front； and been
accepted as a chaplain of the 201st Division。〃
〃Why； that's mine！〃 said Bickley。
〃Is it？ I am very glad； since now we shall be able to pursue
our pleasant arguments and to do our best to open each other's
minds。〃
〃You fellows are more fortunate than I am；〃 I remarked。 〃I also
volunteered； but they wouldn't take me； even as a Tommy； although
I misstated my age。 They told me； or at least a specialist whom I
saw did afterwards； that the blow I got on the head from that
sorcerer's boy〃
〃I know； I know！〃 broke in Bickley almost roughly。 〃Of course；
things might go wrong at any time。 But with care you may live to
old age。〃
〃I am sorry to hear it；〃 I said with a sigh； 〃at least I think
I am。 Meanwhile； fortunately there is much that I can do at home；
indeed a course of action has been suggested to me by an old
friend who is now in authority。〃
Once more Bickley and Bastin in their war…stained uniforms were
dining at my table and on the very night of their return from the
Front； which was unexpected。 Indeed Tommy nearly died of joy on
hearing their voices in the hall。 They； who played a worthy part
in the great struggle； had much to tell me； and naturally their
more recent experiences had overlaid to some extent those which
we shared in the mysterious island of Orofena。 Indeed we did not
speak of these until； just as they were going away； Bastin paused
beneath a very beautiful portrait of my late wife； the work of an
artist famous for his power of bringing out the inner character；
or what some might call the soul； of the sitter。 He stared at it
for a while in his short…sighted way； then said： 〃Do you know；
Arbuthnot； it has sometimes occurred to me； and never more than
at this moment； that although they were different in height and
so on； there was a really curious physical resemblance between
your late wife and the Lady Yva。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered。 〃I think so too。〃
Bickley also examined the portrait very carefully； and as he
did so I saw him start。 Then he turned away； saying nothing。
Such is the summary of all that has been important in my life。
It is； I admit； an odd story and one which suggests problems that
I cannot solve。 Bastin deals with such things by that acceptance
which is the privilege and hall…mark of faith； Bickley disposes；
or used to dispose； of them by a blank denial which carries no
conviction； and least of all to himself。
What is life to most of us who； like Bickley； think ourselves
learned？ A round； short but still with time and to spare wherein
to be dull and lonesome； a fateful treadmill to which we were
condemned we know not how； but apparently through the casual
passions of those who went before us and are now forgotten；
causing us； as the Bible says； to be born in sin； up which we
walk wearily we know not why； seeming never to make progress； off
which we fall outworn we know not when or whither。
Such upon the surface it appears to be； nor in fact does our
ascertained knowledge； as Bickley would sum it up； take us much
further。 No prophet has yet arisen who attempted to define either
the origin or the reasons of life。 Even the very Greatest of them
Himself is quite silent on this matter。 We are tempted to wonder
why。 Is it because life as expressed in the higher of human
beings； is； or will be too vast； too multiform and too glorious
for any definition which we could understand？ Is it because in
the end it will involve for some； if not for all； majesty on
unfathomed majesty； and glory upon unimaginable glory such as at
present far outpass the limits of our thought？
The experiences which I have recorded in these pages awake in
my heart a hope that this may be so。 Bastin is wont； like many
others； to talk in a light fashion of Eternity without in the
least comprehending what he means by that gigantic term。 It is
not too much to say that Eternity； something without beginning
and without end； and involving； it would appear； an everlasting
changelessness； is a state beyond human comprehension。 As a
matter of fact we mortals do not think in constellations； so to
speak； or in aeons； but by the measures of our own small earth and
of our few days thereon。 We cannot really conceive of an
existence stretching over even one thousand years； such as that
which Oro claimed and the Bible accords to a certain early race
of men； omitting of course his two thousand five hundred
centuries of sleep。 And yet what is this but one grain in the
hourglass of time； one day in the lost record of our earth； of
its sisters the planets and its father the sun； to say nothing of
the universes beyond？
It is because I have come in touch with a prolonged though
perfectly finite existence of the sort； that I try to pass on the
reflections which the fact of it awoke in me。 There are other
reflections connected with Yva and the marvel of her love and its
various manifestations which arise also。 But these I keep to
myself。 They concern the wonder of woman's heart； which is a
microcosm of the hopes and fears and desires and despairs of this
humanity of ours whereof from age to age she is the mother。
HUMPHREY ARBUTHNOT。
NOTE
By J。 R。 Bickley； M。R。C。S。
WITHIN about six months of the date on which he wrote the last
words of this history of our joint adventures； my dear friend；
Humphrey Arbuthnot； died suddenly； as I had foreseen that
probably he would do； from the results of the injury he received
in the island of Orofena。
He left me the sole executor to his will； under which he
divided his property into three parts。 One third he bequeathed to
me； one third （which is strictly tied up） to Bastin； and one
third to be devoted； under my direction； to the advancement of
Science。
His end appears to have been instantaneous； resulting from an
effusion of blood upon the brain。 When I was summoned I found him
lying dead by the writing desk in his library at Fulcombe Priory。
He had been writing at the desk； for on it was a piece of paper
on which appear these words： 〃I have seen her。 I〃 There the
writing ends； not stating whom he thought he had seen in the
moments of mental disturbance or delusion which preceded his
decease。
Save for certain verbal corrections； I publish this manuscript
without comment as the will directs； only adding that it sets out
our mutual experiences very faithfully； though Arbuthnot's
deductions from them are not always my own。
I would say also that I am contemplating another visit to the
South Sea Islands； where I wish to make some further
investigations。 I dare say； however； that these will be barren of
results； as the fountain of Life…water is buried for ever； nor；
as I think； will any human being stand again in the Hades…like
halls of Nyo。 It is probable also that it would prove impossible
to rediscover the island of Orofena； if indeed that volcanic land
still remains above the waters of the deep。
Now that he is a very wealthy man； Bastin talks of accompanying
me for purposes quite different from my own； but on the whole I
hope he will abandon this idea。 I may add that when he learned of
his unexpected inheritance he talked much of the 〃deceitfulness
of riches；〃 but that he has not as yet taken any steps to escape
their golden snare。 Indeed he now converses of his added
〃opportunities of usefulness；〃 I gather in connection with
missionary enterprise。
J。 R。 BICKLEY。
P。S。I forgot to state that the spaniel Tommy died within
three days of his owner。 The poor little beast was present in the
room at