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〃depends as much on the colour and composition of its own surface
as on the amount it receives。 It is conceivable that these
moons； if placed at the earth's distance from the sun； would be
far brighter than our moon； and that our familiar satellite； if
removed to Saturn； would seem very dim。 We know how much more
brilliant a mountain in the sunlight is when clad in snow than
when its sides are bare。 These moons evidently reflect a large
proportion of the light they receive。〃
When they came out shortly after midnight the girl's…face moon
had already set； leaving a dark and dreary void in the part of
the sky it had so ideally filled。 The inexpressibly sad
satellite （on account of its shorter distance and more rapid rate
of revolution） was still above the horizon； and； being slightly
tilted； had a more melancholy； heart…broken look than before。
While they gazed sadly at the emptiness left by Dione； Cortlandt
saw Ayrault's expression change； and； not clearly perceiving its
cause； said； wishing to cheer him： 〃Never mind； Dick； to…morrow
night we shall see it again。〃
〃Ah； prosaic reasoner；〃 retorted Bearwarden； who saw that this；
like so many other things； had reminded Ayrault of Sylvia； 〃that
is but small consolation for having lost it now； though I suppose
our lot is not so hard as if we were never to see it again。 In
that moon's face I find the realization of my fancied ideal
woman； while that sad one yonder seems as though some celestial
lover； in search of his fate； had become enamoured of her； and
tried in vain to win her； and the grief in his mind had impressed
itself on the then molten face of a satellite to be the monument
throughout eternity of love and a broken heart。 If the spirits
and souls of the departed have any command of matter； why may not
their intensest thoughts engrave themselves on a moon that； when
dead and frozen； may reflect and shine as they did； while
immersed in the depths of space？ At first Dione bored me； now I
should greatly like to see her again。〃
〃History repeats itself；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃and the same phases
of life recur。 It is we that are in a changed receptive mood。
The change that seems to be in them is in reality in us。 Remain
as you are now； and Dione will give you the same pleasure
tomorrow that she gave to…day。〃
To Ayrault this meant more than the mere setting to rise again of
a heavenly body。 The perfume of a flower； the sighing of the
wind； suggesting some harmony or song； a full or crescent moon；
recalled thoughts and associations of Sylvia。 Everything seemed
to bring out memory； and he realized the utter inability of
absence to cure the heart of love。 〃If Sylvia should pass from
my life as that moon has left my vision；〃 his thoughts continued；
〃existence would be but sadness and memory would be its cause；
for the most beautiful sounds entail sorrow； the most beautiful
sights； intense pain。 〃Ah；〃 he went on with a trace of
bitterness； while his friends fell asleep in the cave； 〃I might
better have remained in love with science； for whose studies
Nature； which is but a form of God； in the right spirit； is not
dependent for his joy or despair on the whims of a girl。 She； of
course； sees many others； and； being only twenty； may forget me。
Must I content myself with philosophical rules and mathematical
formulae； when she； whose changefulness I may find greater than
the winds that sigh over me； now loves me no longer？ O love；
which makes us miserable when we feel it； and more miserable
still when it is gone！〃
He strung a number of copper wires at different degrees of
tension between two trees； and listened to the wind as it ranged
up and down on this improvised AEolian harp。 It gradually ran
into a regular refrain； which became more and more like words。
Ayrault was puzzled； and then amazed。 There could be no doubt
about it。 〃You should be happy；〃 it kept repeating〃you should
be happy；〃 in soft musical tones。
〃I know I should；〃 replied Ayrault； finally recognizing the voice
of Violet Slade in the song of the wind； 〃and I cannot understand
why I am not。 Tell me； is this paradise； Violet； or is it not
rather purgatory？〃
The notes ranged up and down again； and he perceived that she was
causing the wind to blow as she desiredin other words； she was
making it play upon his harp。
〃That depends on the individual；〃 she replied。 〃It is rather
sheol； the place of departed spirits。 Those whose consciences
made them happy on earth are in paradise here； while those good
enough to reach heaven at last； but in whom some dross remains；
are further refined in spirit； and to them it is purgatory。
Those who are in love can be happy in but one way while their
love lasts。 What IS happiness； anyway？〃
〃It is the state in which desires are satisfied； my fair Violet；〃
answered Ayrault。
〃Say； rather； the state in which desire coincides with duty；〃
replied the song。 〃Self…sacrifice for others gives the truest
joy； being with the object of one's love； the next。 You never
believed that I loved you。 I dissembled well； but you will see
for yourself some day； as clearly as I see your love for another
now。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Ayrault； sadly； 〃I am in love。 I have no reason
to believe there is cause for my unrest； and； considering every
thing； I should be happy as man can be； yet； mirabile dictu； I am
inhades； in the very depths！〃
〃Your beloved is beyond my vision； your heart is all I can see。
Yet I am convinced she will not forget you。 I am sure she loves
you still。〃
〃I have always believed in homoeopathy to the extent of the
similia similibus curantur； Violet； and it is certain that where
nothing else will cure a man of love for one woman； his love for
another will。 You can see how I love Sylvia； but you have never
seemed so sweet to me as to…day。〃
〃It is a sacrilege； my friend； to speak so to me now。 You are
done with me forever。 I am but a disembodied spirit； and escaped
hades by the grace of the Omnipotent； rather than by virtue of
any good I did on earth。 So far as any elasticity is left in my
opportunities； I am dead as yon moon。 You have still the gift
that but one can give。 Within your animal body you hold an
immortal soul。 It is pliable as wax； you can mould it by your
will。 As you shape that soul； so will your future be。 It is the
ark that can traverse the flood。 Raise it； and it will raise
you。 It is all there is in yourself。 Preserve that gift； and
when you die you will； I hope； start on a plane many thousands of
years in advance of me。 There should be no more comparison
between us than between a person with all his senses and one that
is deaf and blind。 Though you are a layman； you should； with
your faith and frame of mind； soon be but little behind our
spiritual bishop。〃
〃I supposed after death a man had rest。 Is he； then； a bishop
still？〃
〃The progress； as he told you； is largely on the old lines。 As
he stirred men's hearts on earth； he will stir their souls in
heaven； and this is no irksome or unwelcome work。〃
〃You say he WILL do this in heaven。 Is he； then； not there yet？〃
〃He was not far from heaven on earth； yet technically none of us
can be in heaven till after the general resurrection。 Then； as
we knew on earth； we shall receive bodies； though； as yet；
concerning their exact nature we know but little more than then。
We are all in sheolthe just in purgatory and paradise； the
unjust in hell。〃
〃Since you are still in purgatory； are you unhappy？〃
〃No； our state is very happy。 All physical pain is past； and can
never be felt again。 We know that our evil desires are overcome；
and that their imprints are being gradually erased。 I
occasionally shed an intangible tear； yet for most of those who
strove to obey their consciences； purgatory； when essential；
though occasionally giving us a bitter twinge； is a joy…producing
state。 Not all the glories imaginable or unimaginable could make
us happy； were our consciences ill at ease。 I have advanced
slowly； yet some things are given us at once。 After I realized I
had irrevocably lost your love； though for a time I had hoped to
regain it； I became very restless； earth seemed a prison； and I
looked forward to death as my deliverer。 I bore you no malice；
you had never especially tried to win me； the infatuationthat
of a girl of eighteenhad been all on my side。 I lived five sad
and lonely years； although； as you know； I had much attention。
People thought me cold and heartless。 How could I have a heart；
having failed to win yours； and mine being broken？ Having lost
the only man I loved； I knew no one else could replace him； and I
was not the kind to marry for pique。 People thought me handsome；
but I felt myself aged when you ceased to call。 Perhaps when you
and she who holds all your love come to sheol； she may spare you
to me a little； for as a spirit my every thought is known； or
perhaps after the resurrection； when I； too； can leave this
planet； we shall all soar through space together； and we can
study the stars as of old。〃
〃Your voice is a symphony； sweetest Violet；