The
Hili-lites were anxious to get rid of Peters, which had much to do with
their willingness to 'speed the parting guest.' It seems that Pym for
months after the death of Lilama was in an extremely morbid state of
mind. He spent most of his time with Masusaelili, who allowed him to see
Lilama's apparition or wraith many times. The aged mystic explained to
Pym the scientific _modus operandi_ of the production, so that he was in
no way deceived into thinking that he met Lilama in person; but we may
presume that, as it is to each of us some gratification to look at a
painting or a photograph of a departed friend, it must have been a still
greater pleasure for Pym thus to have reproduced for him the living,
moving form and features of his lost darling--reproduced or simulated in
such a manner that he might see her, and touch her, and hear her
voice--even though he was told that the image was only a likeness.
During Pym's abstraction, Peters was left almost entirely to himself;
and his worst qualities, long inactive (partly because there had not
been opportunity for their display, and partly because of Pym's
influence), now came prominently to the surface. He associated with the
wildest characters on the neighboring islands, making them even wilder
and more ungovernable than before his arrival.
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