So Amer, poor boy, was going through all the agony of mind that had once been hers. Once, long, long ago, she herself had heard the Voice. The remembrance of strange longings, strange fears, began to haunt her soul. She had believed in the Radiant City in those days, and had more than once made up her mind to journey towards it, but something had always come in the way to induce her to put off the decision; some important engagement in the town which she felt she could not give up; some friend who had influenced her to postpone thinking about it for at least a month or two; some occupation which she could not forsake even for the Radiant City; and finally her husband had come across her path, and the thought of him, her love for him, had at first put the subject out of her mind, and when after a while she mentioned to him that she had thought of setting out for the Radiant City before her marriage, he laughed at her, telling her that great and wise people had come to the conclusion that there was no such place, and that those who set out for it were only following a mirage and would be disappointed at last. Was this true? Was there no Radiant City? Was the City of Punon the only reality? Or was Amer right and her husband wrong?
"Mother," said a voice by her side, "has my father told you of my decision?"
"Yes, dear lad," she answered, "but I am not going to think about it, it cannot be. You could not give up all your bright prospects, specially after the pains your father has taken to secure them for you."
"But I have heard the Voice, Mother, and I must obey."
"I heard the Voice once, Amer, and almost made up my mind to set out on the journey myself. But had I done so I should have lost a great deal that makes life delightful to me, and I should have had to start out alone. So will you my boy. Gabrielle will not go with you. You will have to leave her behind."
A spasm of pain crossed the boy's face.
"You do not know that, Mother," he said, "I have hopes of Gabrielle."
"I have none," answered his Mother quietly.
"She loves me," said Amer, "and I know I have influence with her. I believe she will set out on the journey with me."
"I think not," said his Mother.