按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
after all； the Professors would have no reason for thinking that
their hostess had known of the Sunchild's being in Sunch'ston。
On the other hand； they were her guests； and it would not be
handsome to keep Hanky； at any rate； in the dark； when the
knowledge that the Sunchild was listening to every word he said
might make him modify his sermon not a little。 It might or it
might not； but that was a matter for him； not her。 The only
question for her was whether or no it would be sharp practice to
know what she knew and say nothing about it。 Her husband hated
finesse as much as she did； and they settled it that though the
question was a nice one； the more proper thing to do would be to
tell the Professors what it might so possibly concern one or both
of them to know。
On George's return without news of my father； they found he thought
just as they did； so it was arranged that they should let the
Professors dine in peace； but tell them about the Sunchild's being
again in Erewhon as soon as dinner was over。
〃Happily；〃 said George； 〃they will do no harm。 They will wish
Higgs's presence to remain unknown as much as we do； and they will
be glad that he should be got out of the country immediately。〃
〃Not so； my dear；〃 said Yram。 〃'Out of the country' will not do
for those people。 Nothing short of 'out of the world' will satisfy
them。〃
〃That；〃 said George promptly； 〃must not be。〃
〃Certainly not； my dear； but that is what they will want。 I do not
like having to tell them； but I am afraid we must。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said the Mayor； laughing。 〃Tell them； and let us see
what happens。〃
They then dressed for dinner； where Hanky and Panky were the only
guests。 When dinner was over Yram sent away her other children；
George alone remaining。 He sat opposite the Professors； while the
Mayor and Yram were at the two ends of the table。
〃I am afraid； dear Professor Hanky；〃 said Yram； 〃that I was not
quite open with you last night； but I wanted time to think things
over； and I know you will forgive me when you remember what a
number of guests I had to attend to。〃 She then referred to what
Hanky had told her about the supposed ranger； and shewed him how
obvious it was that this man was a foreigner； who had been for some
time in Erewhon more than seventeen years ago； but had had no
communication with it since then。 Having pointed sufficiently； as
she thought； to the Sunchild； she said； 〃You see who I believe this
man to have been。 Have I said enough； or shall I say more？〃
〃I understand you；〃 said Hanky； 〃and I agree with you that the
Sunchild will be in the temple to…morrow。 It is a serious
business； but I shall not alter my sermon。 He must listen to what
I may choose to say； and I wish I could tell him what a fool he was
for coming here。 If he behaves himself； well and good： your son
will arrest him quietly after service； and by night he will be in
the Blue Pool。 Your son is bound to throw him there as a foreign
devil； without the formality of a trial。 It would be a most
painful duty to me； but unless I am satisfied that that man has
been thrown into the Blue Pool； I shall have no option but to
report the matter at headquarters。 If； on the other hand； the poor
wretch makes a disturbance； I can set the crowd on to tear him in
pieces。〃
George was furious； but he remained quite calm； and left everything
to his mother。
〃I have nothing to do with the Blue Pool；〃 said Yram drily。 〃My
son； I doubt not； will know how to do his duty； but if you let the
people kill this man； his body will remain； and an inquest must be
held； for the matter will have been too notorious to be hushed up。
All Higgs's measurements and all marks on his body were recorded；
and these alone would identify him。 My father； too； who is still
master of the gaol； and many another； could swear to him。 Should
the body prove； as no doubt it would； to be that of the Sunchild；
what is to become of Sunchildism？〃
Hanky smiled。 〃It would not be proved。 The measurements of a man
of twenty or thereabouts would not correspond with this man's。 All
we Professors should attend the inquest； and half Bridgeford is now
in Sunch'ston。 No matter though nine…tenths of the marks and
measurements corresponded； so long as there is a tenth that does
not do so； we should not be flesh and blood if we did not ignore
the nine points and insist only on the tenth。 After twenty years
we shall find enough to serve our turn。 Think of what all the
learning of the country is committed to； think of the change in all
our ideas and institutions； think of the King and of Court
influence。 I need not enlarge。 We shall not permit the body to be
the Sunchild's。 No matter what evidence you may produce； we shall
sneer it down； and say we must have more before you can expect us
to take you seriously； if you bring more； we shall pay no
attention； and the more you bring the more we shall laugh at you。
No doubt those among us who are by way of being candid will admit
that your arguments ought to be considered； but you must not expect
that it will be any part of their duty to consider them。
〃And even though we admitted that the body had been proved up to
the hilt to be the Sunchild's； do you think that such a trifle as
that could affect Sunchildism？ Hardly。 Sunch'ston is no match for
Bridgeford and the King； our only difficulty would lie in settling
which was the most plausible way of the many plausible ways in
which the death could be explained。 We should hatch up twenty
theories in less than twenty hours； and the last state of
Sunchildism would be stronger than the first。 For the people want
it； and so long as they want it they will have it。 At the same
time the supposed identification of the body； even by some few
ignorant people here； might lead to a local heresy that is as well
avoided； and it will be better that your son should arrest the man
before the dedication； if he can be found； and throw him into the
Blue Pool without any one but ourselves knowing that he has been
here at all。〃
I need not dwell on the deep disgust with which this speech was
listened to； but the Mayor； and Yram； and George said not a word。
〃But； Mayoress；〃 said Panky； who had not opened his lips so far；
〃are you sure that you are not too hasty in believing this stranger
to be the Sunchild？ People are continually thinking that such and
such another is the Sunchild come down again from the sun's palace
and going to and fro among us。 How many such stories； sometimes
very plausibly told； have we not had during the last twenty years？
They never take root； and die out of themselves as suddenly as they
spring up。 That the man is a poacher can hardly be doubted； I
thought so the moment I saw him； but I think I can also prove to
you that he is not a foreigner； and； therefore； that he is not the
Sunchild。 He quoted the Sunchild's prayer with a corruption that
can have only reached him from an Erewhonian source〃
Here Hanky interrupted him somewhat brusquely。 〃The man； Panky；〃
said he； 〃was the Sunchild； and he was not a poacher； for he had no
idea that he was breaking the law； nevertheless； as you say；
Sunchildism on the brain has been a common form of mania for
several years。 Several persons have even believed themselves to be
the Sunchild。 We must not forget this； if it should get about that
Higgs has been here。〃
Then； turning to Yram； he said sternly； 〃But come what may； your
son must take him to the Blue Pool at nightfall。〃
〃Sir；〃 said George； with perfect suavity； 〃you have spoken as
though you doubted my readiness to do my duty。 Let me assure you
very solemnly that when the time comes for me to act； I shall act
as duty may direct。〃
〃I will answer for him；〃 said Yram； with even more than her usual
quick； frank smile； 〃that he will fulfil his instructions to the
letter； unless；〃 she added； 〃some black and white horses come down
from heaven and snatch poor Higgs out of his grasp。 Such things
have happened before now。〃
〃I should advise your son to shoot them if they do；〃 said Hanky
drily and sub…defiantly。
Here the conversation closed； but it was useless trying to talk of
anything else； so the Professors asked Yram to excuse them if they
retired early； in view of the fact that they had a fatiguing day
before them。 This excuse their hostess readily accepted。
〃Do not let us talk any more now；〃 said Yram as soon as they had
left the room。 〃It will be quite time enough when the dedication
is over。 But I rather think the black and white horses will come。〃
〃I think so too； my dear；〃 said the Mayor laughing。
〃They shall come；〃 said George gravely； 〃but we have not yet got
enough to make sure of bringing them。 Higgs will perhaps be able
to help me to…morrow。〃
* * *
〃Now what；〃 said Panky as they went upstairs； 〃does that woman
meanfor she means something？ Black and white horses indeed！〃
〃I do not know what she means to do；〃 said the other； 〃but I know
that she thinks she can best us。〃
〃I wish we had not eaten those quails。〃
〃Nonsense； Panky； no one saw us but Higgs； and the evidence of a
foreign devil； in such straits as his； could not stand