time analyse that influence! The seemingly
inscrutable in her I would fain penetrate: to understand something of
her mode of being would be to look into marvels such as imagination
could never have suggested! In this I was too daring: a man must not,
for knowledge, of his own will encounter temptation! On the other hand,
I had reinstated an evil force about to perish, and was, to the extent
of my opposing faculty, accountable for what mischief might ensue! I had
learned that she was the enemy of children: the Little Ones might be in
her danger! It was in the hope of finding out something of their history
that I had left them; on that I had received a little light: I must have
more; I must learn how to protect them!

Hearing at length a little stir in the place, I walked through the
next gate, and thence along a narrow street of tall houses to a little
square, where I sat down on the base of a pillar with a hideous bat-like
creature atop. Ere long, several of the inhabitants came sauntering
past. I spoke to one: he gave me a rude stare and ruder word, and went
on.

I got up and went through one narrow street after another, gradually
filling with idlers, and was not surprised to see no children. By
and by, near one of the gates, I encountered a group of young men who
reminded me not a little of the bad giants. They came about me staring,
and presently began to push and hustle me, then to throw things at me.
I bore it as well as I could, wishing not to provoke enmity where
wanted to remain for a while. Oftener than once or twice I appealed to
passers-by whom I fancied more benevolent-looking, but none would halt
a moment to listen to me. I looked poor, and that was enough: to the
citizens of Bulika, as to house-dogs, poverty was an offence! Deformity
and sickness were taxed; and no legislation of their princess was more
heartily approved of than what tended to make poverty subserve wealth.

I took to my heels at last, and no one followed me beyond the gate. A
lumbering fellow, however, who sat by it eating a hunch of bread, picked
up a stone to throw after me, and happily, in his stupid eagerness,
threw, not the stone but the bread. I took it, and he did not dare
follow to reclaim it: beyond the walls they were cowards every one. I
went off a few hundred yards, threw myself down, ate the bread, fell
asleep, and slept soundly in the grass, where the hot sunlight renewed
my strength.

It was night when I woke. The moon l