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monotony which would have been tedious but for the society of Yram；
the jailor's daughter； who had taken a great fancy for me and
treated me with the utmost kindness。 The man came every day to
teach me the language； but my real dictionary and grammar were
Yram； and I consulted them to such purpose that I made the most
extraordinary progress； being able at the end of a month to
understand a great deal of the conversation which I overheard
between Yram and her father。 My teacher professed himself well
satisfied； and said he should make a favourable report of me to the
authorities。 I then questioned him as to what would probably be
done with me。 He told me that my arrival had caused great
excitement throughout the country； and that I was to be detained a
close prisoner until the receipt of advices from the Government。
My having had a watch； he said； was the only damaging feature in
the case。 And then； in answer to my asking why this should be so；
he gave me a long story of which with my imperfect knowledge of the
language I could make nothing whatever； except that it was a very
heinous offence； almost as bad （at least； so I thought I understood
him） as having typhus fever。 But he said he thought my light hair
would save me。
I was allowed to walk in the garden； there was a high wall so that
I managed to play a sort of hand fives； which prevented my feeling
the bad effects of my confinement； though it was stupid work
playing alone。 In the course of time people from the town and
neighbourhood began to pester the jailor to be allowed to see me；
and on receiving handsome fees he let them do so。 The people were
good to me； almost too good； for they were inclined to make a lion
of me； which I hatedat least the women were； only they had to
beware of Yram； who was a young lady of a jealous temperament； and
kept a sharp eye both on me and on my lady visitors。 However； I
felt so kindly towards her； and was so entirely dependent upon her
for almost all that made my life a blessing and a comfort to me；
that I took good care not to vex her； and we remained excellent
friends。 The men were far less inquisitive； and would not； I
believe； have come near me of their own accord； but the women made
them come as escorts。 I was delighted with their handsome mien；
and pleasant genial manners。
My food was plain； but always varied and wholesome； and the good
red wine was admirable。 I had found a sort of wort in the garden；
which I sweated in heaps and then dried； obtaining thus a
substitute for tobacco； so that what with Yram； the language；
visitors； fives in the garden； smoking； and bed； my time slipped by
more rapidly and pleasantly than might have been expected。 I also
made myself a small flute； and being a tolerable player； amused
myself at times with playing snatches from operas； and airs such as
〃O where and oh where；〃 and 〃Home； sweet home。〃 This was of great
advantage to me； for the people of the country were ignorant of the
diatonic scale and could hardly believe their ears on hearing some
of our most common melodies。 Often； too； they would make me sing；
and I could at any time make Yram's eyes swim with tears by singing
〃Wilkins and his Dinah；〃 〃Billy Taylor；〃 〃The Ratcatcher's
Daughter；〃 or as much of them as I could remember。
I had one or two discussions with them because I never would sing
on Sunday （of which I kept count in my pocket…book）； except chants
and hymn tunes； of these I regret to say that I had forgotten the
words； so that I could only sing the tune。 They appeared to have
little or no religious feeling； and to have never so much as heard
of the divine institution of the Sabbath； so they ascribed my
observance of it to a fit of sulkiness； which they remarked as
coming over me upon every seventh day。 But they were very
tolerant； and one of them said to me quite kindly that she knew how
impossible it was to help being sulky at times； only she thought I
ought to see some one if it became more seriousa piece of advice
which I then failed to understand； though I pretended to take it
quite as a matter of course。
Once only did Yram treat me in a way that was unkind and
unreasonable；at least so I thought it at the time。 It happened
thus。 I had been playing fives in the garden and got much heated。
Although the day was cold； for autumn was now advancing； and Cold
Harbour （as the name of the town in which my prison was should be
translated） stood fully 3000 feet above the sea； I had played
without my coat and waistcoat； and took a sharp chill on resting
myself too long in the open air without protection。 The next day I
had a severe cold and felt really poorly。 Being little used even
to the lightest ailments； and thinking that it would be rather nice
to be petted and cossetted by Yram； I certainly did not make myself
out to be any better than I was； in fact； I remember that I made
the worst of things； and took it into my head to consider myself
upon the sick list。 When Yram brought me my breakfast I complained
somewhat dolefully of my indisposition； expecting the sympathy and
humouring which I should have received from my mother and sisters
at home。 Not a bit of it。 She fired up in an instant； and asked
me what I meant by it； and how I dared to presume to mention such a
thing； especially when I considered in what place I was。 She had
the best mind to tell her father； only that she was afraid the
consequences would be so very serious for me。 Her manner was so
injured and decided； and her anger so evidently unfeigned； that I
forgot my cold upon the spot； begging her by all means to tell her
father if she wished to do so； and telling her that I had no idea
of being shielded by her from anything whatever； presently
mollifying； after having said as many biting things as I could； I
asked her what it was that I had done amiss； and promised amendment
as soon as ever I became aware of it。 She saw that I was really
ignorant； and had had no intention of being rude to her； whereon it
came out that illness of any sort was considered in Erewhon to be
highly criminal and immoral； and that I was liable； even for
catching cold； to be had up before the magistrates and imprisoned
for a considerable periodan announcement which struck me dumb
with astonishment。
I followed up the conversation as well as my imperfect knowledge of
the language would allow； and caught a glimmering of her position
with regard to ill…health； but I did not even then fully comprehend
it； nor had I as yet any idea of the other extraordinary
perversions of thought which existed among the Erewhonians； but
with which I was soon to become familiar。 I propose； therefore； to
make no mention of what passed between us on this occasion； save
that we were reconciled； and that she brought me surreptitiously a
hot glass of spirits and water before I went to bed； as also a pile
of extra blankets； and that next morning I was quite well。 I never
remember to have lost a cold so rapidly。
This little affair explained much which had hitherto puzzled me。
It seemed that the two men who were examined before the magistrates
on the day of my arrival in the country； had been given in charge
on account of ill health； and were both condemned to a long term of
imprisonment with hard labour； they were now expiating their
offence in this very prison； and their exercise ground was a yard
separated by my fives wall from the garden in which I walked。 This
accounted for the sounds of coughing and groaning which I had often
noticed as coming from the other side of the wall： it was high；
and I had not dared to climb it for fear the jailor should see me
and think that I was trying to escape； but I had often wondered
what sort of people they could be on the other side； and had
resolved on asking the jailor； but I seldom saw him； and Yram and I
generally found other things to talk about。
Another month flew by； during which I made such progress in the
language that I could understand all that was said to me； and
express myself with tolerable fluency。 My instructor professed to
be astonished with the progress I had made； I was careful to
attribute it to the pains he had taken with me and to his admirable
method of explaining my difficulties； so we became excellent
friends。
My visitors became more and more frequent。 Among them there were
some； both men and women； who delighted me entirely by their
simplicity； unconsciousness of self； kindly genial manners； and
last； but not least； by their exquisite beauty； there came others
less well…bred； but still comely and agreeable people； while some
were snobs pure and simple。
At the end of the third month the jailor and my instructor came
together to visit me and told me that communications had been
received from the Government to the effect that if I had behaved
well and seemed generally reasonable； and if there could be no
suspicion at all about my bodily health and vigour； and if my hair
was really light； and my eyes blue and complexion fresh； I was to
be sent up at once to the metropolis in order that the King and
Queen might see me and converse with me； but that when I arrived
there I should be set at li