ertainly
would not surrender him in obedience to any law of extradition. And
he might leave his property to trustees who would manage it on his
behalf; although, as far as Britannula was concerned, he would be
beyond the reach of law, and regarded even as being without the pale
of life. And if he, the first of the Fixed-Periodists, were to run
away, the fashion of so running would become common. We should thus
be rid of our old men, and our object would be so far attained. But
looking forward, I could see at a glance that if one or two wealthy
members of our community were thus to escape, it would be almost
impossible to carry out the law with reference to those who should
have no such means. But that which vexed me most was that Gabriel
Crasweller should desire to escape,--that he should be anxious to
throw over the whole system to preserve the poor remnant of his life.
If he would do so, who could be expected to abstain? If he should
prove false when the moment came, who would prove true? And he, the
first, the very first on our list! Young Grundle had now left me,
and as I sat thinking of it I was for a moment tempted to abandon
the Fixed Period altogether. But as I remained there in silent
meditation, better thoughts came to me. Had I dared to regard myself
as the foremost spirit of my age, and should I thus be turned back
by the human weakness of one poor creature who had not sufficiently
collected the strength of his heart to be able to look death in the
face and to laugh him down. It was a difficulty--a difficulty the
more. It might be the crushing difficulty which would put an end to
the system as far as my existence was concerned. But I bethought
me how many early reformers had perished in their efforts, and how
seldom it had been given to the first man to scale the walls of
prejudice, and force himself into the citadel of reason. But they had
not yielded when things had gone against them; and though they had
not brought their visions down to the palpable touch of humanity,
still they had persevered, and their efforts had not been altogether
lost to the world.

"So it shall be with me," said I. "Though I may never live to deposit
a human being within that sanctuary, and though I may be doomed by
the foolish prejudice of men to drag out a miserable existence amidst
the sorrows and weakness of old age; though it may never be given to
me to feel the ineffable comforts of a triumphant deposition,--still
my name w