Mercia, the astronomer royal: A romanceMears, A. Garland
Science
Mercia, the astronomer royal: A romance
Mears, A. Garland
Science fiction; Utopian fiction
But what appeared most inexplicable to the multitude was the expression
of serene sweetness that overspread her countenance. It was indeed an
indefinable expression, indicating a variety of emotions. Joy, content,
intense happiness, and possession, all united in imparting to her face a
look of subdued and silent triumph; but he who could gaze beneath the
surface might have read that LOVE, all conquering LOVE had made his home
in her bosom, and through her brilliant eyes, illumined with a divine
radiance those windows of her soul.
All bent their gaze upon her. The noble stature; the perfectly moulded
form; the well-shaped head; the exquisite beauty of every feature,
lighted by that divine expression which shone from out her star-like
eyes, brought a murmur of admiration, and suppressed enthusiasm from
every side.
All through the Hall it spread itself; and Swami perceived that in those
millions of brain-waves floating round him, admiration for the woman who
held his soul was the one prevailing emotion.
After the first burst of enthusiasm had subsided Swami himself came in
for notice.
‘Dayanand Swami! The great thought-reader!’ exclaimed different persons
_sotto voce_, as each one recognised him.
‘Whoever saw the Eastern Hermit in a public place before? What means
this strange innovation?’
‘Now this is getting mysterious,’ observed Prince Osbert gaily to his
neighbour, Louis, of France, ‘our great Magician escorting our fair
Astronomer—what in the name of goodness is going to happen?’
‘Beauty holds Magic, all the world over, and star-gazing and
thought-reading complete the full magician,’ answered the French monarch
gallantly.
‘I bet she’s been to get her fortune told, and Swami, like the rest of
us, has succumbed. But no fellow has the shadow of a chance with her;
she’s gone on Geometrus, that melancholy being sitting yonder. He’s the
cause of all the row,’ whispered Osbert oracularly, ‘but for him our
cousin Felicitas might not have fared so badly. However, ’tis better so;
’tis time his wings were clipped.’
‘All the world avers,’ returned Louis earnestly, ‘that this beauteous
being is a slave to Duty. Day and night, year in, year out, she’s ever
at her post, and gives no thought to love, the essence of existence.’
While these observations were going on, the three Judges, attired as in
days of old, took their seats with suitable solemnity, when the Court
opened with the same formularies as had been in use for hundreds of
years: for the Courts of Law more than any other institution cling to
the ancient order of things with tenacity.
Even the old-fashioned blunder of saying ‘you’ for ‘thee’ was still
adhered to in the Law Courts, verbal innovations being equally
discountenanced.
After a short delay the auditory was startled by hearing the charge
delivered, of which the following is the substance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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