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“Yes,” he affirmed. “Why should there be any question about it? You earthlings debate as to the existence or non-existence of Hell, and there it is, staring you in the face, all the time. Of course it warms and cheers you when it shines moderately. But you cannot look at it with the naked eye without suffering a horrible shock, or even blindness. Are not its effects in summer fiendish and intolerable? And when it shines too intensely, does it not drive people mad and cause epidemics of wrath and suicide? Also it seems quite reasonable that malefactors, lost souls from this earth, should be utilized by being contributed to that immense combustion which gives useful heat and comfort to you here. That would be a sort of compensation for the evil they did while on this planet.”

It was a curious notion, not entirely new to some readers and thinkers; yet it caused much dispute among the people he met.

After that, I never could listen to the dreary groanings of the sun-telephone without thinking of what he said. Perhaps this strengthened the desire that was rising in me to get away to some serener clime and entourage than this earth’s. Then, too, in spite of all obstacles and opposition, I could not give up the idea of winning Electra.

I had talked with Zorlin about it; and while, as a Kurol, he could not quite approve my marrying, he at last consented to accompany me if I could induce Electra to leave the country — in brief, to elope with me.

Going to her, I used all my faculties of persuasion, but she would agree to nothing more than to make a brief tour around the earth with me, on condition that Zorlin should go with us as counselor, companion, and friend. It must be done, however, I told her, without the knowledge of Graemantle, and especially without that of Hammerfleet, who was still at large, although he had been excluded from the house, and was not allowed to see her.

This was how I came to make my trip to Europe and other parts of the globe, and to observe the new state of things everywhere; and a wonderfully interesting and delightful trip it was. But several things prevented it from becoming a genuine elopement.

In the first place, Electra held to her idea that she ought not to marry me. In the next place, Zorlin, being with us, was similarly inclined to prevent my marrying Electra. And finally, just after we had embarked in the commodious air-ship that I had engaged for the journey, I found that Eva Pryor had been smuggled aboard by Electra, and was to be one of our party.

The noble Electra fairly laughed in my face when Eva appeared from the cabin; though she laughed with such good humor and grace that I could not possibly take offence or do anything else but admire her. What impressed me also very favorably was that Eva had abandoned her dreadful nineteenth century costume and was dressed in the peaceful and becoming robes of the new day; for this I took — perhaps conceitedly — as evidence of a gentle and womanly desire to give pleasure to me.

There was soon a very exciting flight and chase; for both Graemantle and Hammerfleet, on learning of our departure, followed us in different airboats.

It was a wild career, indeed, high in air above the whirling globe; but I shall never regret the impulse which led me into it, because we had so many adventures and such charming talks — Electra, Eva, and I, with the missionary from Mars; and because I learned so many things about the temporal advancement of men in this new age.

Ascending from Fire Island at dawn we swept southward along the Atlantic coastline; our ship flying through the atmospheric expanses like a huge bird, without effort. Never shall I forget the exhilaration of that moment and of the next few hours. After the first surprise and disappointment of finding that Eva was with us it was astonishing how soon I reconciled myself to the situation. When you are separated from your own century and all your accustomed surroundings and thrown into the air, even with