Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/289

 We had, meanwhile, taken our position beside the instrument. Scarcely had he ceased speaking when a voice —that voice associated in my mind since infancy with all that is tender and good and pure—came vibrating over the far-extending wires from that distant island in the Pacific. The tone of anxiety I could read in those dear, familiar accents thrilled me with compunction for what now seemed my selfish neglect; while, at the same time, I experienced a sort of mysterious awe, as if listening to a voice from beyond the grave. Utis, seeing my agitation, first sent a few words of preparation and explanation, then withdrew.

The allotted quarter of an hour flew all too quickly. The last few words were in my sister's voice, and ceased abruptly in the midst of a sentence, from which I, and correctly as it seems, inferred that the wires had been disconnected. The chief reason, indeed, for the delay of two hours at Ualdoth was, as Utis explained, to enable passengers to communicate with their friends by telephone. To people accustomed to almost instantaneous communication with every part of the world, a three-days' interruption of intercourse was almost as serious a deprivation as to us would be a separation from postal facilities for three months. Here there was no occasion for the passengers to leave the ship. Connection once established with the submarine cable, intercourse with friends could be maintained till the moment when it became necessary to disconnect, on the voyage being resumed.

The four early working-hours of the following morning were devoted by my host and me to the various labors necessary for the maintenance of the garden, and other