Gentola--I hear a sound as of sweet, low toned bells, and voices of persons coming nearer and nearer; and now they are entering preceded by a very tall, extremely handsome youth of bronze complexion, fine features, large, dark, brilliant eyes, blue-black, waving hair, held back by a gemmed fillet, and white teeth gleaming between his parted scarlet lips. As he approaches, bearing aloft a golden tray heaped high with oond[a:] blooms, he presents a picture of uncommon beauty. There are nine men and as many women, the latter clothed so beautifully in loose, graceful, white silken, gold embroidered robes that, henceforth, I shall detest the dress with which I have been accustomed to torment and disfigure myself. The important looking person seats the guests, and the youth crowns each one with a chaplet of oond[a:] blossoms. But two seats, one at either end of the table, are still vacant. Again the sweet toned bells are sounding. The guests rise, and with a most graceful movement of their hands, salute a stately, handsome man and a very lovely woman, who with gracious smiles and graceful salutations, approach and take the vacant seats, and the guests resume theirs. Now the youth approaches the host and hostess, tendering them chaplets of oond[a:] blossoms, which they receive and retain in their hands. Inidor[a:] will be kind enough to continue the description which to me grows somewhat unintelligible. Inidora--As a recognition of Andûman[a:]'s gift of this golden fruit to his children the annual feast of the oond[a:] is observed by all Entoans. Oond[a:] in your language would mean divine, and as it is the favorite fruit of the dwellers in Astranol[a:], it is thought to be appropriately named. Those who have this moment entered are the governor of Wy[a:]mo, Darraon Olēv[a:]s and his wife, the Lady Noûni[a:]. Now the governor rises, and bearing aloft his chaplet, he approaches his wife and places it on her head, fervently praying: "Andûman[a:], Creator and Giver of all good gifts even as I crown Thy child with oond[a:] blooms, so crown Thou her with the priceless blessing of a long and happy life;" and the guests respond, "R[a:]û, r[a:]û, r[a:]û." Now he kneels by the side of his wife, and as she places her chaplet on his head, with trembling lips she implores Andûman[a:] to prolong the days of her beloved, and that they may be as full of the fragrance of noble deeds as are oond[a:] blooms full of the perfume of Andûman[a:]'s breath, and again the guests respond, "R[a:]û, r[a:]û, r[a:]û."