ittle thing. Observe."

He called Edward twice in a caressing voice, and immediately the stem of
the plant bent downwards and the silky blue ball rubbed itself
caressingly against my host's cheek. Almost immediately the other plant
began to agitate its leaves violently and to waggle its black ball
backwards and forwards.

"You observe?" said my guide. "Frederick is jealous."

He gave each of them a little water and we then went back to the
sleeping-room again.

"I never saw anything like that in my life before," I said. "Plants with
us cannot move of their own volition. They----"

"Surely you mistake," said the Professor. "I am no botanist, but I have
made a special study of what went on in the old world, and I think I am
correct in saying that there were creeping plants there which moved to
find their supports, and plants whose leaves shrivelled up at a touch,
and others that actually devoured the insects which formed their
sustenance. Almost anything can be done with plants and knowledge. The
old world produced many new varieties--some of them of real utility, as
for instance the thornless cactus. We have merely gone a little further.
We live in solitude and a companion of some kind is a necessity. I think
you will find that every first-class being here keeps one or two pet
plants."

"You don't keep dogs or cats?"

"We keep nothing which can be both offensive and provocative of strong
affection. Cats and dogs, common though they were in the old world,
stand condemned under both categories."

CHAPTER IV

"This," said the Professor, "is the hour at which on fine and warm days
we go out and bask in the sun. Sunlight is the enemy of disease and the
friend of longevity. You would perhaps like to come with me. We shall
find many more engaged in the same occupation."

We passed out of the house and up the spiral incline. The scene before
me reminded me somewhat of certain stretches of grass in our public
parks on a hot day. Here and there on the coarse grass or sand were
stretched the grey-clad bodies of beings of the first class. I did not
see any engaged in conversation or in reading or even in sleep. They
simply lay still in the sun. Some of them had brought rugs with them.
One who appeared to be very infirm was carried in a kind of litter by
four finely built men who walked erect.

"That," said the Professor, "is the grandson of the great Q666."

"And who are the fine-looking men who are carrying h