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saw no chance of getting to know the factsunless； indeed； he
should be able to learn something from Hanky's sermon； he was
therefore not sorry to find an elderly gentleman of grave but
kindly aspect seated opposite to him when he sat down to supper。
The expression on this man's face was much like that of the early
Christians as shewn in the S。 Giovanni Laterano bas…reliefs at
Rome； and again； though less aggressively self…confident； like that
on the faces of those who have joined the Salvation Army。 If he
had been in England； my father would have set him down as a
Swedenborgian； this being impossible； he could only note that the
stranger bowed his head； evidently saying a short grace before he
began to eat； as my father had always done when he was in Erewhon
before。 I will not say that my father had never omitted to say
grace during the whole of the last twenty years； but he said it
now； and unfortunately forgetting himself； he said it in the
English language； not loud； but nevertheless audibly。
My father was alarmed at what he had done； but there was no need；
for the stranger immediately said； 〃I hear； sir； that you have the
gift of tongues。 The Sunchild often mentioned it to us； as having
been vouchsafed long since to certain of the people； to whom； for
our learning； he saw fit to feign that he belonged。 He thus
foreshadowed prophetically its manifestation also among ourselves。
All which； however； you must know as well as I do。 Can you
interpret？〃
My father was much shocked； but he remembered having frequently
spoken of the power of speaking in unknown tongues which was
possessed by many of the early Christians； and he also remembered
that in times of high religious enthusiasm this power had
repeatedly been imparted； or supposed to be imparted； to devout
believers in the middle ages。 It grated upon him to deceive one
who was so obviously sincere； but to avoid immediate discomfiture
he fell in with what the stranger had said。
〃Alas！ sir；〃 said he； 〃that rarer and more precious gift has been
withheld from me； nor can I speak in an unknown tongue； unless as
it is borne in upon me at the moment。 I could not even repeat the
words that have just fallen from me。〃
〃That；〃 replied the stranger； 〃is almost invariably the case。
These illuminations of the spirit are beyond human control。 You
spoke in so low a tone that I cannot interpret what you have just
said； but should you receive a second inspiration later； I shall
doubtless be able to interpret it for you。 I have been singularly
gifted in this respectmore so； perhaps； than any other
interpreter in Erewhon。〃
My father mentally vowed that no second inspiration should be
vouchsafed to him； but presently remembering how anxious he was for
information on the points touched upon at the beginning of this
chapter； and seeing that fortune had sent him the kind of man who
would be able to enlighten him； he changed his mind； nothing； he
reflected； would be more likely to make the stranger talk freely
with him； than the affording him an opportunity for showing off his
skill as an interpreter。
Something； therefore； he would say； but what？ No one could talk
more freely when the train of his thoughts； or the conversation of
others； gave him his cue； but when told to say an unattached
〃something；〃 he could not even think of 〃How do you do this
morning？ it is a very fine day；〃 and the more he cudgelled his
brains for 〃something；〃 the more they gave no response。 He could
not even converse further with the stranger beyond plain 〃yes〃 and
〃no〃； so he went on with his supper； and in thinking of what he was
eating and drinking for the moment forgot to ransack his brain。 No
sooner had he left off ransacking it； than it suggested something
not； indeed； a very brilliant something； but still something。 On
having grasped it； he laid down his knife and fork； and with the
air of one distraught he said …
〃My name is Norval； on the Grampian Hills
My father feeds his flocka frugal swain。〃
〃I heard you；〃 exclaimed the stranger； 〃and I can interpret every
word of what you have said； but it would not become me to do so；
for you have conveyed to me a message more comforting than I can
bring myself to repeat even to him who has conveyed it。〃
Having said this he bowed his head； and remained for some time
wrapped in meditation。 My father kept a respectful silence； but
after a little time he ventured to say in a low tone； how glad he
was to have been the medium through whom a comforting assurance had
been conveyed。 Presently； on finding himself encouraged to renew
the conversation； he threw out a deferential feeler as to the
causes that might have induced Mr。 Balmy to come to Fairmead。
〃Perhaps；〃 he said； 〃you； like myself； have come to these parts in
order to see the dedication of the new temple； I could not get a
lodging in Sunch'ston； so I walked down here this morning。〃
This； it seemed； had been Mr。 Balmy's own case； except that he had
not yet been to Sunch'ston。 Having heard that it was full to
overflowing； he had determined to pass the night at Fairmead； and
walk over in the morningstarting soon after seven； so as to
arrive in good time for the dedication ceremony。 When my father
heard this； he proposed that they should walk together； to which
Mr。 Balmy gladly consented； it was therefore arranged that they
should go to bed early； breakfast soon after six； and then walk to
Sunch'ston。 My father then went to his own room； where he again
smoked a surreptitious pipe up the chimney。
Next morning the two men breakfasted together； and set out as the
clock was striking seven。 The day was lovely beyond the power of
words； and still freshfor Fairmead was some 2500 feet above the
sea； and the sun did not get above the mountains that overhung it
on the east side； till after eight o'clock。 Many persons were also
starting for Sunch'ston； and there was a procession got up by the
Musical Bank Managers of the town； who walked in it； robed in rich
dresses of scarlet and white embroidered with much gold thread。
There was a banner displaying an open chariot in which the Sunchild
and his bride were seated； beaming with smiles； and in attitudes
suggesting that they were bowing to people who were below them。
The chariot was； of course； drawn by the four black and white
horses of which the reader has already heard； and the balloon had
been ignored。 Readers of my father's book will perhaps remember
that my mother was not seen at allshe was smuggled into the car
of the balloon along with sundry rugs； under which she lay
concealed till the balloon had left the earth。 All this went for
nothing。 It has been said that though God cannot alter the past；
historians can； it is perhaps because they can be useful to Him in
this respect that He tolerates their existence。 Painters； my
father now realised； can do all that historians can； with even
greater effect。
Women headed the processionthe younger ones dressed in white；
with veils and chaplets of roses； blue cornflower； and pheasant's
eye Narcissus； while the older women were more soberly attired。
The Bank Managers and the banner headed the men； who were mostly
peasants； but among them were a few who seemed to be of higher
rank； and these； for the most part； though by no means all of them；
wore their clothes reversedas I have forgotten to say was done
also by Mr。 Balmy。 Both men and women joined in singing a litany
the words of which my father could not catch； the tune was one he
had been used to play on his apology for a flute when he was in
prison； being； in fact； none other than 〃Home； Sweet Home。〃 There
was no harmony； they never got beyond the first four bars； but
these they must have repeated； my father thought； at least a
hundred times between Fairmead and Sunch'ston。 〃Well；〃 said he to
himself； 〃however little else I may have taught them； I at any rate
gave them the diatonic scale。〃
He now set himself to exploit his fellow…traveller； for they soon
got past the procession。
〃The greatest miracle；〃 said he； 〃in connection with this whole
matter； has beenso at least it seems to menot the ascent of the
Sunchild with his bride； but the readiness with which the people
generally acknowledged its miraculous character。 I was one of
those that witnessed the ascent； but I saw no signs that the crowd
appreciated its significance。 They were astounded； but they did
not fall down and worship。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the other； 〃but you forget the long drought and the rain
that the Sunchild immediately prevailed on the air…god to send us。
He had announced himself as about to procure it for us； it was on
this ground that the King assented to the preparation of those
material means that were necessary before the horses of the sun
could attach themselves to the chariot into which the balloon was
immediately transformed。 Those horses might not be defiled by
contact with this gross earth。 I too witnessed the ascent； at the
moment； I grant you； I saw neither chariot nor horses； and almost
all those present shared my own temporary blindness； the whole
action from the moment when the balloon left the earth； moved so
rapidly； th