which the reader is already acquainted followed as a matter of
course。
〃I know the difficulty；〃 said my father presently； 〃with which the
King was persuaded to allow the way in which the Sunchild's dress
should be worn to be a matter of opinion； not dogma。 I see we have
adopted different fashions。 Have you any decided opinions upon the
subject？〃
〃I have； but I will ask you not to press me for them。 Let this
matter remain as the King has left it。〃
My father thought that he might now venture on a shot。 So he said；
〃I have always understood； too； that the King forced the repeal of
the laws against machinery on the Bridgeford committee； as another
condition of his assent？〃
〃Certainly。 He insisted on this； partly to gratify the Queen； who
had not yet forgiven him； and who had set her heart on having a
watch； and partly because he expected that a development of the
country's resources； in consequence of a freer use of machinery；
would bring more money into his exchequer。 Bridgeford fought hard
and wisely here； but they had gained so much by the Musical Bank
Managers being recognised as the authorised exponents of
Sunchildism； that they thought it wise to yieldapparently with a
good graceand thus gild the pill which his Majesty was about to
swallow。 But even then they feared the consequences that are
already beginning to appear； all which； if I mistake not； will
assume far more serious proportions in the future。〃
〃See；〃 said my father suddenly； 〃we are coming to another
procession； and they have got some banners； let us walk a little
quicker and overtake it。〃
〃Horrible！〃 replied Mr。 Balmy fiercely。 〃You must be short…
sighted； or you could never have called my attention to it。 Let us
get it behind us as fast as possible； and not so much as look at
it。〃
〃Oh yes； yes；〃 said my father； 〃it is indeed horrible； I had not
seen what it was。〃
He had not the faintest idea what the matter was； but he let Mr。
Balmy walk a little ahead of him； so that he could see the banners；
the most important of which he found to display a balloon pure and
simple； with one figure in the car。 True； at the top of the banner
there was a smudge which might be taken for a little chariot； and
some very little horses； but the balloon was the only thing
insisted on。 As for the procession； it consisted entirely of men；
whom a smaller banner announced to be workmen from the Fairmead
iron and steel works。 There was a third banner； which said；
〃Science as well as Sunchildism。〃
CHAPTER XV： THE TEMPLE IS DEDICATED TO MY FATHER； AND CERTAIN
EXTRACTS ARE READ FROM HIS SUPPOSED SAYINGS
〃It is enough to break one's heart；〃 said Mr。 Balmy when he had
outstripped the procession； and my father was again beside him。
〃'As well as；' indeed！ We know what that means。 Wherever there is
a factory there is a hot…bed of unbelief。 'As well as'！ Why it is
a defiance。〃
〃What； I wonder；〃 said my father innocently； 〃must the Sunchild's
feelings be； as he looks down on this procession。 For there can be
little doubt that he is doing so。〃
〃There can be no doubt at all；〃 replied Mr。 Balmy； 〃that he is
taking note of it； and of all else that is happening this day in
Erewhon。 Heaven grant that he be not so angered as to chastise the
innocent as well as the guilty。〃
〃I doubt；〃 said my father； 〃his being so angry even with this
procession； as you think he is。〃
Here； fearing an outburst of indignation； he found an excuse for
rapidly changing the conversation。 Moreover he was angry with
himself for playing upon this poor good creature。 He had not done
so of malice prepense； he had begun to deceive him； because he
believed himself to be in danger if he spoke the truth； and though
he knew the part to be an unworthy one； he could not escape from
continuing to play it； if he was to discover things that he was not
likely to discover otherwise。
Often； however； he had checked himself。 It had been on the tip of
his tongue to be illuminated with the words；
Sukoh and Sukop were two pretty men；
They lay in bed till the clock struck ten；
and to follow it up with；
Now with the drops of this most Yknarc time
My love looks fresh；
in order to see how Mr。 Balmy would interpret the assertion here
made about the Professors； and what statement he would connect with
his own Erewhonian name； but he had restrained himself。
The more he saw； and the more he heard； the more shocked he was at
the mischief he had done。 See how he had unsettled the little mind
this poor； dear； good gentleman had ever had； till he was now a
mere slave to preconception。 And how many more had he not in like
manner brought to the verge of idiocy？ How many again had he not
made more corrupt than they were before； even though he had not
deceived themas for example； Hanky and Panky。 And the young？ how
could such a lie as that a chariot and four horses came down out of
the clouds enter seriously into the life of any one； without
distorting his mental vision； if not ruining it？
And yet； the more he reflected； the more he also saw that he could
do no good by saying who he was。 Matters had gone so far that
though he spoke with the tongues of men and angels he would not be
listened to； and even if he were； it might easily prove that he had
added harm to that which he had done already。 No。 As soon as he
had heard Hanky's sermon； he would begin to work his way back； and
if the Professors had not yet removed their purchase； he would
recover it； but he would pin a bag containing about five pounds
worth of nuggets on to the tree in which they had hidden it； and；
if possible； he would find some way of sending the rest to George。
He let Mr。 Balmy continue talking； glad that this gentleman
required little more than monosyllabic answers； and still more
glad； in spite of some agitation； to see that they were now nearing
Sunch'ston； towards which a great concourse of people was hurrying
from Clearwater； and more distant towns on the main road。 Many
whole families were coming；the fathers and mothers carrying the
smaller children； and also their own shoes and stockings； which
they would put on when nearing the town。 Most of the pilgrims
brought provisions with them。 All wore European costumes； but only
a few of them wore it reversed； and these were almost invariably of
higher social status than the great body of the people； who were
mainly peasants。
When they reached the town； my father was relieved at finding that
Mr。 Balmy had friends on whom he wished to call before going to the
temple。 He asked my father to come with him； but my father said
that he too had friends； and would leave him for the present； while
hoping to meet him again later in the day。 The two； therefore；
shook hands with great effusion； and went their several ways。 My
father's way took him first into a confectioner's shop； where he
bought a couple of Sunchild buns； which he put into his pocket； and
refreshed himself with a bottle of Sunchild cordial and water。 All
shops except those dealing in refreshments were closed； and the
town was gaily decorated with flags and flowers； often festooned
into words or emblems proper for the occasion。
My father； it being now a quarter to eleven； made his way towards
the temple； and his heart was clouded with care as he walked along。
Not only was his heart clouded； but his brain also was oppressed；
and he reeled so much on leaving the confectioner's shop； that he
had to catch hold of some railings till the faintness and giddiness
left him。 He knew the feeling to be the same as what he had felt
on the Friday evening； but he had no idea of the cause； and as soon
as the giddiness left him he thought there was nothing the matter
with him。
Turning down a side street that led into the main square of the
town； he found himself opposite the south end of the temple； with
its two lofty towers that flanked the richly decorated main
entrance。 I will not attempt to describe the architecture； for my
father could give me little information on this point。 He only saw
the south front for two or three minutes； and was not impressed by
it； save in so far as it was richly ornamentedevidently at great
expenseand very large。 Even if he had had a longer look； I doubt
whether I should have got more out of him； for he knew nothing of
architecture； and I fear his test whether a building was good or
bad； was whether it looked old and weather…beaten or no。 No matter
what a building was； if it was three or four hundred years old he
liked it； whereas； if it was new； he would look to nothing but
whether it kept the rain out。 Indeed I have heard him say that the
mediaeval sculpture on some of our great cathedrals often only
pleases us because time and weather have set their seals upon it；
and that if we could see it as it was when it left the mason's
hands； we should find it no better than much that is now turned out
in the Euston Road。
The ground plan here given will help the reader to understand the
few following pages more easily。
＋＋
N / a
W＋E / b ＋
S /