It was a surprise to me then to see so large an assemblage winging their way to Doomalona. It seemed as if there was about to be a great ceremonial. And I was not long in doubt as to the occasion. For with music that rose and fell in marvellous rhythm like the waves of the sea there came across the sky a splendid flight-car, more brilliant in opalescent glow, more majestic in architecture, than anything I had ever seen. Its wings flashed fire through the air and seemed to weave the lightnings of heaven into a diaphanous web. It was a car of victory; for around it bands of flying youth raised jubilant harmony, and over its rear rose a canopy crowned with fire. As it floated nearer I could see beneath this a figure resting upon an elevated couch. The music grew more loudly triumphant as it hovered downwards to the central plateau of the hill of farewells. And then I knew that this was Amiralno on the couch; and all the people, except the few who were needed for the essential services of the island, had assembled to bid him farewell, as he sped in front of them into the land of shadows whither no eye could penetrate. I had without knowing it landed close to Thyriel, so absorbed had I been in the wondrous spectacle. She had been busy with the chorus of acclaim, her thoughts bent on this rare scene of farewell; and she had not noticed my approach. Then a sudden silence, as Amiralno stepped from the faleena, startled the great concourse out of their entranced attitude; their thoughts were set free as by the touch of a magic wand. It was at this that Thyriel became conscious of my presence. I knew in a moment that she had recognised the criticism in my mind. Yet she did not answer or explain the anomaly. She remained perfectly still. A burst of jubilant music broke my reverie, as the sudden silence had broken it before. It led me back to the symphony of the spheres to which I had been accustomed to listen with rapt attention. I could recognise the harmonious strain that meant the creation of a world. I could almost see the whirling orb of fire, as it flew off from the parent sun, and swept into its glowing round through heaven. Nothing I had ever heard could match the rapturous melody which expressed the approach of life to the surface of the new star. Quicker and quicker grew the pace, and higher the pitch, as the living creation developed and spread over the world. Then came a wild dithyramb, as man broke from his bestial surroundings, and mastered his fellow-beasts by cunning, and drew fire from heaven for his purposes. A nobler strain followed, rhythmically measuring the steps by which he rose out of himself and climbed the steep of heaven. Silver-toned harmonies told of his masterpieces of art. Loud diapasons spoke out his marching armies and fierce battles. Soft involved fugues and dulcet chants expressed the struggles and conquests of thought.