not travel alone, but with Zee you would be safe; and I have
no doubt that she would accompany you on a tour round the neighbouring
communities of Vril-ya (to the savage states, No!): I will ask her."

Now, as my main object in proposing to travel was to escape from Zee, I
hastily exclaimed, "Nay, pray do not! I relinquish my design. You have
said enough as to its dangers to deter me from it; and I can scarcely
think it right that a young Gy of the personal attractions of your
lovely daughter should travel into other regions without a better
protector than a Tish of my insignificant strength and stature."

Aph-Lin emitted the soft sibilant sound which is the nearest approach
to laughter that a full-grown An permits to himself, ere he replied:
"Pardon my discourteous but momentary indulgence of mirth at any
observation seriously made by my guest. I could not but be amused at the
idea of Zee, who is so fond of protecting others that children call her
'THE GUARDIAN,' needing a protector herself against any dangers arising
from the audacious admiration of males. Know that our Gy-ei, while
unmarried, are accustomed to travel alone among other tribes, to see if
they find there some An who may please them more than the Ana they find
at home. Zee has already made three such journeys, but hitherto her
heart has been untouched."

Here the opportunity which I sought was afforded to me, and I said,
looking down, and with faltering voice, "Will you, my kind host, promise
to pardon me, if what I am about to say gives offence?"

"Say only the truth, and I cannot be offended; or, could I be so, it
would not be for me, but for you to pardon."

"Well, then, assist me to quit you, and, much as I should have like
to witness more of the wonders, and enjoy more of the felicity, which
belong to your people, let me return to my own."

"I fear there are reasons why I cannot do that; at all events, not
without permission of the Tur, and he, probably, would not grant it. You
are not destitute of intelligence; you may (though I do not think
so) have concealed the degree of destructive powers possessed by your
people; you might, in short, bring upon us some danger; and if the Tur
entertains that idea, it would clearly be his duty, either to put an end
to you, or enclose you in a cage for the rest of your existence. But why
should you wish to leave a state of society which you so politely allow
to be more felicitous than your own?"

"Oh, Aph-