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all those present shared my own temporary blindness； the whole
action from the moment when the balloon left the earth； moved so
rapidly； that we were flustered； and hardly knew what it was that
we were really seeing。 It was not till two or three years later
that I found the scene presenting itself to my soul's imaginary
sight in the full splendour which was no doubt witnessed； but not
apprehended； by my bodily vision。〃
〃There；〃 said my father； 〃you confirm an opinion that I have long
held。Nothing is so misleading as the testimony of eye…witnesses。〃
〃A spiritual enlightenment from within；〃 returned Mr。 Balmy； 〃is
more to be relied on than any merely physical affluence from
external objects。 Now； when I shut my eyes； I see the balloon
ascend a little way； but almost immediately the heavens open； the
horses descend； the balloon is transformed； and the glorious
pageant careers onward till it vanishes into the heaven of heavens。
Hundreds with whom I have conversed assure me that their experience
has been the same as mine。 Has yours been different？〃
〃Oh no； not at all； but I always see some storks circling round the
balloon before I see any horses。〃
〃How strange！ I have heard others also say that they saw the
storks you mention； but let me do my utmost I cannot force them
into my mental image of the scene。 This shows； as you were saying
just now； how incomplete the testimony of an eye…witness often is。
It is quite possible that the storks were there； but the horses and
the chariot have impressed themselves more vividly on my mind than
anything else has。〃
〃Quite so； and I am not without hope that even at this late hour
some further details may yet be revealed to us。〃
〃It is possible； but we should be as cautious in accepting any
fresh details as in rejecting them。 Should some heresy obtain wide
acceptance； visions will perhaps be granted to us that may be
useful in refuting it； but otherwise I expect nothing more。〃
〃Neither do I； but I have heard people say that inasmuch as the
Sunchild said he was going to interview the air…god in order to
send us rain； he was more probably son to the air…god than to the
sun。 Now here is a heresy which〃
〃But； my dear sir；〃 said Mr。 Balmy； interrupting him with great
warmth； 〃he spoke of his father in heaven as endowed with
attributes far exceeding any that can be conceivably ascribed to
the air…god。 The power of the air…god does not extend beyond our
own atmosphere。〃
〃Pray believe me；〃 said my father； who saw by the ecstatic gleam in
his companion's eye that there was nothing to be done but to agree
with him； 〃that I accept〃
〃Hear me to the end；〃 replied Mr。 Balmy。 〃Who ever heard the
Sunchild claim relationship with the air…god？ He could command the
air…god； and evidently did so； halting no doubt for this beneficent
purpose on his journey towards his ultimate destination。 Can we
suppose that the air…god； who had evidently intended withholding
the rain from us for an indefinite period； should have so
immediately relinquished his designs against us at the intervention
of any less exalted personage than the sun's own offspring？
Impossible！〃
〃I quite agree with you；〃 exclaimed my father； 〃it is out of the〃
〃Let me finish what I have to say。 When the rain came so copiously
for days； even those who had not seen the miraculous ascent found
its consequences come so directly home to them； that they had no
difficulty in accepting the report of others。 There was not a
farmer or cottager in the land but heaved a sigh of relief at
rescue from impending ruin； and they all knew it was the Sunchild
who had promised the King that he would make the air…god send it。
So abundantly； you will remember； did it come； that we had to pray
to him to stop it； which in his own good time he was pleased to
do。〃
〃I remember；〃 said my father； who was at last able to edge in a
word； 〃that it nearly flooded me out of house and home。 And yet；
in spite of all this； I hear that there are many at Bridgeford who
are still hardened unbelievers。〃
〃Alas！ you speak too truly。 Bridgeford and the Musical Banks for
the first three years fought tooth and nail to blind those whom it
was their first duty to enlighten。 I was a Professor of the
hypothetical language； and you may perhaps remember how I was
driven from my chair on account of the fearlessness with which I
expounded the deeper mysteries of Sunchildism。〃
〃Yes； I remember well how cruelly〃 but my father was not allowed
to get beyond 〃cruelly。〃
〃It was I who explained why the Sunchild had represented himself as
belonging to a people in many respects analogous to our own； when
no such people can have existed。 It was I who detected that the
supposed nation spoken of by the Sunchild was an invention designed
in order to give us instruction by the light of which we might more
easily remodel our institutions。 I have sometimes thought that my
gift of interpretation was vouchsafed to me in recognition of the
humble services that I was hereby allowed to render。 By the way；
you have received no illumination this morning； have you？〃
〃I never do； sir； when I am in the company of one whose
conversation I find supremely interesting。 But you were telling me
about Bridgeford： I live hundreds of miles from Bridgeford； and
have never understood the suddenness； and completeness； with which
men like Professors Hanky and Panky and Dr。 Downie changed front。
Do they believe as you and I do； or did they merely go with the
times？ I spent a couple of hours with Hanky and Panky only two
evenings ago； and was not so much impressed as I could have wished
with the depth of their religious fervour。〃
〃They are sincere nowmore especially Hankybut I cannot think I
am judging them harshly； if I say that they were not so at first。
Even now； I fear； that they are more carnally than spiritually
minded。 See how they have fought for the aggrandisement of their
own order。 It is mainly their doing that the Musical Banks have
usurped the spiritual authority formerly exercised by the
straighteners。〃
〃But the straighteners；〃 said my father； 〃could not co…exist with
Sunchildism； and it is hard to see how the claims of the Banks can
be reasonably gainsaid。〃
〃Perhaps； and after all the Banks are our main bulwark against the
evils that I fear will follow from the repeal of the laws against
machinery。 This has already led to the development of a
materialism which minimizes the miraculous element in the
Sunchild's ascent； as our own people minimize the material means
that were the necessary prologue to the miraculous。〃
Thus did they converse； but I will not pursue their conversation
further。 It will be enough to say that in further floods of talk
Mr。 Balmy confirmed what George had said about the Banks having
lost their hold upon the masses。 That hold was weak even in the
time of my father's first visit； but when the people saw the
hostility of the Banks to a movement which far the greater number
of them accepted； it seemed as though both Bridgeford and the Banks
were doomed； for Bridgeford was heart and soul with the Banks。
Hanky； it appeared； though under thirty； and not yet a Professor；
grasped the situation； and saw that Bridgeford must either move
with the times； or go。 He consulted some of the most sagacious
Heads of Houses and Professors； with the result that a committee of
enquiry was appointed； which in due course reported that the
evidence for the Sunchild's having been the only child of the sun
was conclusive。 It was about this timethat is to say some three
years after his ascentthat 〃Higgsism；〃 as it had been hitherto
called； became 〃Sunchildism；〃 and 〃Higgs〃 the 〃Sunchild。〃
My father also learned the King's fury at his escape （for he would
call it nothing else） with my mother。 This was so great that
though he had hitherto been； and had ever since proved himself to
be； a humane ruler； he ordered the instant execution of all who had
been concerned in making either the gas or the balloon； and his
cruel orders were carried out within a couple of hours。 At the
same time he ordered the destruction by fire of the Queen's
workshops； and of all remnants of any materials used in making the
balloon。 It is said the Queen was so much grieved and outraged
（for it was her doing that the material ground…work； so to speak；
had been provided for the miracle） that she wept night and day
without ceasing three whole months； and never again allowed her
husband to embrace her； till he had also embraced Sunchildism。
When the rain came； public indignation at the King's action was
raised almost to revolution pitch； and the King was frightened at
once by the arrival of the promised downfall and the displeasure of
his subjects。 But he still held out； and it was only after
concessions on the part of the Bridgeford committee； that he at
last consented to the absorption of Sunchildism into the Musical
Bank system； and to its establishment as the religion of the
country。 The far…reaching changes in Erewhonian institutions with
which the reader is already acquainted followed as a matter of
course。
〃I know the difficulty；〃 said my father prese