I crept into bed as speedily as possible, to try to forget my sadness in
sleep. But oblivion would not be forced, and so I took what comfort I
could in thinking of that interrupted song, and in trying to feel over
again in memory that pleasure which my fleshly ears no longer gave me. I
could still recognize a distinct tinge of familiarity in the notes, but
when I came to the question of locating the singer I was utterly without a
clew. I knew well enough that there was no earthly voice which could enter
into the comparison, and so I need waste no time in going over that part
of my life. But I had heard no singing of any kind in Mars before this
night. How was it possible that I could have experienced that delightful
sensation before and not be able to fix the place or time? It was a
puzzling question, but I refused to give it up I knew the song, and the
memory of it warmed my heart with each recurring flash, but the singer I
did not know.

At length I fell asleep, and woke to find the sun of Mars shining
pleasantly upon my bed. I recalled at once the experience of the night and
confirmed my memory by finding on the desk the paper I had written, and
still there was enough suspicion in my mind of the reality of the whole
thing to make me anxious to know if the doctor had heard what had so
impressed me. But on going to find him I discovered that he had left his
room, and so it happened that we did not meet till the family came
together in the morning reception room, in preparation for breakfast. Here
Proctor presented us to his wife, Fronda, and his daughters, two stately
girls, whom he did not name. Thorwald and Zenith kindly helped the doctor
and me to answer the many questions which these new friends were so eager
to ask, so that, as breakfast proceeded, all became engaged in the
conversation. My own mind, however, was somewhat preoccupied. I thought
perhaps Thorwald might be in haste to depart for home, and I was