"Is the counterpart soul loved in spite of disparity of circumstances, or is an equality of circumstances, such as rank, wealth and nationality, etc., a factor in the case?" I inquired. "Outward circumstances have nothing whatever to do with the matter," said Lyone. "Friends, wealth, rank, everything is thrown aside in favor of the inward circumstance that the two souls are one." "But," I urged, "you expose your spiritual creed to very violent shocks at times. The king of to-day may be a beggar to-morrow, and, besides, one or both of two souls may before they have known each other have been freighted with lifelong responsibilities. How, then, do you prevent a catastrophe to some one?" "I admit," she said, "that as far as the every-day world is concerned, there are serious difficulties to contend with. But we avoid these by creating a little world of our own, exclusively for the cultivation of the spiritual soul. Just as some people apply themselves to physical culture to become athletes and show how grand the physical man may become, so we set apart a number of people as soul-priests to develop spirituality, or power over themselves and others and power over matter. It was for this object that Egyplosis was founded, to form a fitting environment for those who have achieved the ideal life. This life fully ripened, with its fresh and glorious enjoyment, can be maintained for a hundred years without diminution or loss of ecstasy." "And do you mean that, after living one hundred years, beginning with your twentieth birthday, you are still only commencing your twenty-first year?" "That is exactly what I mean," said Lyone. "I myself have lived ten years of Nirvana, and am yet only twenty years old." I could well believe that such glorious freshness and beauty as hers was quite as young as she had represented it; but it was a strange idea--this achievement of an earthly Nirvana. "Do you believe in the independent life of the soul after death?" I inquired. "I believe that, as our bodies when they die become reabsorbed into the bosom of nature, to become in part or whole reincarnated in other forms of life, so also our souls are reabsorbed into the great ocean of existence, to also dwell, in time, wholly or in part in some other form of life or love." CHAPTER XXVI. THE BANQUET ON THE AERIAL SHIP. The saloon, which was also the _salle a manger_, was situated in the centre of the ship. Thus the entire travellers could assemble together without disturbing the centre of gravity of the structure. The saloon was composed of woven cane, and ornamented with a dado of sage-green silk, on which were embroidered storks, pheasants and eagles flying through space. An elongated table, also of wicker work, contained a sumptuous repast. The goddess congratulated the guests on their safety, which proved that the skill that produced the _Aeropher_ had successfully grappled with the difficult problem of aerial navigation.