"Taee tells me," she said, "that Aph-Lin has made it the law* of his house that you are not to be questioned as to the country you come from or the reason why you visit us.

Is it so ?" * Literally "has said, In this house be it requested." Words synonymous with law, as implying forcible obligation, are avoided by this singular people.

Even had it been decreed by the Tur that his College of Sages should dissect me, the decree would have ran blandly thus,--"Be it requested that, for the good of the community, the carnivorous Tish be requested to submit himself to dissection." "It is." "May I, at least, without sinning against that law, ask at least if the Gy-ei in your country are of the same pale colour as yourself, and no taller ?" "I do not think, O beautiful Gy, that I infringe the law of Aph-Lin, which is more binding on myself than any one, if I answer questions so innocent.

The Gy-ei in my country are much fairer of hue than I am, and their average height is at least a head shorter than mine." "They cannot then be so strong as the Ana amongst you?
But I suppose their superior vril force makes up for such extraordinary disadvantage of size ?" "They do not profess the vril force as you know it.

But still they are very powerful in my country, and an An has small chance of a happy life if he be not more or less governed by his Gy." "You speak feelingly," said Taee's sister, in a tone of voice half sad, half petulant.