to-morrow at my father's house."

On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor
of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with
the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my
promise to leave Womla.

"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few
days at the most. It is too bad!"

An idea struck me.

"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to
speak with him, "I have married Alumion."

"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback.

"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of
marriage. I have drunk of the cup."

"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind."

"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word.
But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think
you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while
you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will
give me a longer honeymoon."

"Impossible, my dear fellow--quite impossible," replied the professor.
"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste,
and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar
system."

"Very well, then, I shall stay behind."

"But, my dear fellow--"

"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind."

CHAPTER XI.

THE FLYING APE.

It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little
cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves,
and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and
buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I
ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the
exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards
the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that
_it was gone!_ I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor
the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and
the cloudy sky above it.

What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads
to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe
something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt.

Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having
carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have
done, that I would be eager