The Moral Imperative does not fully understand itself

"You mean you could if you chose."

"Where's the difference?"

"All the difference in the world."

CHAPTER THREE

A Little Southward

I thought that John would have questioned him further, but now they came in sight of a woman who was walking slower than they so that they presently came up with her and wished her a good-day. When she turned, they saw that she was young and comely, though a little dark of complexion. She was friendly and frank, but not wanton like the brown girls, and the whole world became pleasanter to the young men because they were travelling the same way with her. But first they told her their names, and she told them hers, which was Media Halfways.

"And where are you travelling to, Mr. Vertue?" she asked.

"To travel hopefully is better than to arrive¹⁸," said Vertue.

"Do you mean you are just out for a walk, just for exercise?"

"Certainly not," said Vertue, who was becoming a little confused. "I am on a pilgrimage. I must admit, now that you press me, I have not a very clear idea of the end. But that is not the important question. These speculations don't make one a better walker. The great thing is to do one's thirty miles a day."

"Why?"

"Because that is the rule."

"Ho-ho!" said John. "So you do believe in the Landlord after all."

"Not at all. I didn't say it was the Landlord's rule."

"Whose is it then?"

"It is my own rule. I made it myself."

"But why?"

"Well, that again is a speculative question. I have made the best rules I can. If I find any better ones I shall adopt them. In the meantime, the great thing is to have rules of some sort and to keep them."

John decides that Aesthetic Experience is the thing to pursue

"And where are you going?" said Media, turning to John.

Then John began to tell his companions about the Island, and how he had first seen it, and was determined to give up everything for the hope of finding it.

"Then you had better come and see my father." said she. "He lives in the city of Thrill, and at the bottom of this hill there is a turn to the left which will bring us there in half an hour."

"Has your father been to the Island? Does he know the way?"

"He often talks about something very like it."

"You had better come with us, Vertue," said John, "since you do not know where you are going and there can be no place better to go than the Island."

"Certainly not," said Vertue. "We must keep to the road. We must keep on."

"I don't see why," said John.

"I dare say you don't," said Vertue.

All this time they were going down the hill, and now they came to a little grassy lane on the left which went off through a wood. Then I thought I saw that John had a little hesitation: but partly because the sun was now hot and the hard metal of the road was becoming sore to his feet, and partly because he felt a little angry with Vertue, and most of all because Media was going that way, he decided to turn down the lane. They said good-bye to Vertue, and he went on his way stumping up the next hill without ever looking back.

CHAPTER FOUR

Soft Going

When they were in the lane they walked more gently. The grass was soft under their feet, and the afternoon sun beating down on the sheltered place made it warm. And presently they heard a sound of sweet and melancholy chimes.

"Those are the bells of the city," said Media.

As they went on they walked closer together, and soon they were

"Romantic" poetry professes to give what hitherto he has only desired

walking arm in arm. Then they kissed each other: and after that they went on their way kissing and talking in slow voices, of sad and beautiful things. And the shadow of the wood and the sweetness of the girl and the sleepy sound of the bells reminded John a little bit if the Island, and a little bit of the brown girls.

"This is what I have been looking for all my life," said John. "The brown girls were too gross and the Island was too fine. This is the real thing."

"This is Love," said Media with a deep sigh. "This is the way to the real Island."

Then I dreamed that they came in sight of the city, very old, and full of spires and turrets, all covered with ivy, where it lay in a little grassy valley, built on both sides of a lazy, winding river. And they passed the gate in the ruinous old city wall and came and knocked at a certain door and were let in. Then Media brought him in to a darkish room with a vaulted roof and windows of stained glass, and exquisite food was brought to them. With the food came old Mr. Halfways. He was a gliding gentleman with soft, silver hair and a soft, silver voice, dressed in flowing robes: and he was so solemn, with his long beard, that John was reminded of the Steward with his mask on. "But it is much better than the Steward," thought John, "because there is nothing to be afraid of. Also, he doesn't need a mask: his face is really like that."

CHAPTER FIVE

Leah for Rachel¹⁹

As they are John told him about the Island.

"You will find your Island here," said Mr. Halfways, looking into John's eyes.

"But how can it be here in the middle of the city?"

"It needs no place. It is everywhere and nowhere. It refuses entry to none who asks. It is an Island of the Soul," said the old gentleman. "Surely even in Puritania they told you that the Landlord's castle was within you?"