ied blessedness."

"You must see Egyplosis," said she, "ere you depart from us, and there
learn the possibility of ideal love in actual life."

"To discover such a joy," I replied, "will repay my journey to
Atvatabar a thousandfold."

We alighted from the boat on a rocky margin of the lake that led into
a labyrinth of flowers. Here we wandered at will, discovering at every
step new delights. Lyone was not only a goddess, but also the fond
incarnation of a comrade soul.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE JOURNEY TO EGYPLOSIS.

Never did time pass so rapidly or so happily as the days spent in the
palace of the goddess. Although I met Lyone at the daily banquets and
at our scientific discussions with the astronomers, naturalists,
chemists, geologists, physicians and philosophers of Atvatabar, yet
neither by look nor gesture did she betray the slightest memory of
that ravishing scene in her garden only a few days before.

Again and again I asked myself, Was it possible that that calm and
crowned goddess of the pantheon was a being that could feel thrilled
with ordinary human ecstasy? Would I, most daring of men, ever be
permitted to kiss that far-off mouth divine, and not be slain by one
dreadful glance of contempt?

[Illustration: The Blocus.]

Our discussions terminated in an invitation by the goddess to
accompany her in her aerial yacht, the _Aeropher_, to Egyplosis,
whither, according to the sacred calendar, she must proceed to take
part in the ceremony of the installation of a twin soul. Her holiness,
their majesties the king and queen, myself and officers of the _Polar
King_, together with the chief minister Koshnili, the military, civil
and naval officers, the poets, savants, artists, and musicians of
Atvatabar, would sail in the yacht of the goddess.

[Illustration: The Funny-Fenny, or Clowngrass.]

A host of lesser dignitaries, including the sailors of the _Polar
King_ under command of Flathootly, would follow us in another yacht,
called the _Fletyeming_. Each yacht had its own priest-captain,
officers and crew of aerial navigators.

Each yacht consisted of a deck of fine woven cane, compact as steel,
woven with great skill, with cabins, staterooms, etc., of the same
material erected thereon, and high bamboo bulwarks to prevent the
voyagers falling off the deck.

The propelling apparatus consisted of two large wheels, having
numerous aerial fans that alternately beat backward and cut through
the air as t