"It all roots back in that extra dense air of theirs. See why?" Apparently the three did not. The doctor explained: "Life is much easier for them than for us. It is no great struggle to gain a livelihood where transportation is so easy and simple. In consequence of this their advancement was much more rapid than ours here on the earth, up to a certain point; and they've reached that point already. "Coming back to that commission again: instead of trying out a democratic form of government, in which every citizen would be equally responsible regardless of property--they've standardized the protective, paternalistic principle." "Which is precisely the correct method!" insisted the geologist. "Radical changes of any kind are always dangerous. The only safe method is to improve what we already have." "Suppose," remarked Billie--"suppose government becomes so thoroughly standardized that it can't be improved further?" "Then it becomes permanent." "If it isn't overthrown." The doctor smilingly interposed. "Let me finish and get this out of my system. By their own confession, the commission's chief function is to keep the majority in ignorance, which is said to be the same thing as bliss. This man Ernol and his pitiful rebellion only serve to prove the rule. "In a word, the Capellans have carried the principle of improvement, as opposed to reform, to its logical conclusion. They can go no further." "And why not?" challenged Van Emmon. "Because the fittest have survived, on Capellette as elsewhere. These commissioners are the fittest." The doctor nodded gravely. "True enough, Van. But the point I want to make is, the commissioners have put an end to the processes of evolution. They won't allow progress. They stopped all that a century ago. "Friend, Capellette is a world that has given up. It has quit!" VIII THE UPPER CRUST The next time Billie went into the tele-conscious state, forty-eight hours later, she found that she had "arrived" in the midst of a conversation. It told her worlds. "I answered the telephone," some one was saying, "and Mr. Powart clearly said that he would be here within the hour." [Footnote: The word hour is used advisedly. Of course, the Capellan hour may have an entirely different length from ours.] "I suppose it is just as well," answered the surgeon whom Billie now knew as Mona. "Yes, I dare say it is quite as well." "Is there any reason why he shouldn't, dear?" inquired the other party, a middle-aged woman, magnificently dressed, of decidedly distinguished appearance. "No, mother," replied the girl; "not so far as he is concerned. But--Mr. Fort also is coming to-day." The older woman saw nothing alarming about this. "I am glad to hear it. He impressed me as being a very nice boy, although rather impulsive." "You don't understand. It's going to be very embarrassing for me. Mr. Fort warned me last night--laughingly, of course, but I think he meant it--that he intended to propose to-day."