Her bright activity and banter surprised me into laughter at my own folly and obtuseness. Scarcely had I reached this consummation before I knew that there was gladness in the air of the island. How could I have failed to notice the jubilant strains that were fitfully wafted across my hearing, unless through my dull absorption in my own feelings? I felt thankful to Thyriel that I had been drawn out of my isolation, which seemed to me now little less than disloyalty to the race that had done so much for me. I wondered what could be the occasion of all this exultation that I was conscious of. Pæan after pæan rose from every part of the island, and, as the moments passed, the many-sounding music seemed to gather towards one centre. The radius lessened, and adjacent masses of melody fused together. Nearer and nearer they came, ever more coalescing and lessening in number; then the jubilance melted into grave and massive harmony, and I recognised some of the world-music I had heard from the cosmophone. The sense of universes creating and dissolving sprang into my mind. It was the diapason of creation that was ringing through the island. Loud, then low, the cosmic symphony swept the atmosphere like a tempest. I knew that some far-reaching event or movement was occurring amongst this people. I turned to my comrade to confirm and define my conjectures, but she was gone. Away on the horizon I could see the rapid beat of her wings. I followed as swiftly as I could, and, as I rose in the air, I saw company after company soaring like coveys of birds towards a high isolated plateau that stretched from far up Lilaroma and beetled cliff-like over the sea. I had often used it as a flight-platform whence I could spring into the air, and had long known it by the name of Doomalona. I had never thought over the meaning of the word, but now it flashed upon me that it meant the hill of farewells. Thence messengers who were embarking on difficult and important expeditions set out. The elders of the people and the families of the couriers came here to give them their love and benison, in order to make them feel, as they journeyed, that the sympathy of their home went with them like a fire from the hearth.