eat Dragon of the Law,' which says: 'Thou shalt'--'Thou shalt not.'"

"What?" he said in surprise. "Is there another dragon besides Tuetzi? And
one that can talk, too! I never heard of _him_!"

"Nietzsche was speaking metaphorically, of course," said Edna
impatiently. "He meant the human laws and customs and prejudices which a
true Superman should soar above. I think you ought to be more of a
Superman."

"Ought I?" he said, open-mouthed. "What sort of things does a--one of
those gentlemen--do?"

"Well," said Edna, after refreshing her memory by her notes, "you should
begin by 'hating and despising the ideals of the average man'! You
should create your own Truth--your own Morality. Obey only your
primordial instincts--the Will to Power."

"I wonder if I could do all that."

"Of course you can, if you are strong enough--and I believe you are."

"And what _else_ ought I to do, Princess?"

"Well, let me see--oh, yes, you should 'act towards slave or stranger
exactly as you think fit.' You should be 'an intrepid experimentalist,
ceaselessly looking for new forms of existence.' You must 'be able to
bear the sight of others' pain, remembering that you cannot attain the
height of greatness----'"

"I've grown taller lately," he interjected, "a great deal taller;
haven't you noticed it?"

"'Attain the height of greatness,'" resumed Edna severely, "if you do
not feel within yourself both the will and the power to inflict great
suffering! And 'through it all you must exhibit the joyous innocence of
a child that is amusing itself.' Do you understand?"

"I think I do. It means I must do whatever I feel inclined, without
minding what people say. Shall you be pleased with me, Princess, if I do
that?"

"I shall at least respect you more than I can do while you form your
conduct entirely on Sunday School standards."

"Then I'll try," he said. "Yes, I will certainly try. Do you know, I
think I shall rather like being what your great teacher with a name like
a sneeze calls a Superman."

"Then make yourself one," she said, "for I am quite sure that you have
the power."

Probably she did not know herself exactly what she wanted him to be; it
did not mean much more than the admiration for the prehistoric male
brute to which the more advanced type of young woman seems peculiarly
prone. But when he left she felt that she had made a most promising
convert, and had every reason to be satisfied with the success of her
afternoon