laying for him； when George gripped him tightly by the knee and
whispered； 〃Don'tyou are in great danger。〃 And he smiled kindly
as he spoke。
My father sank back dumbfounded。 〃You know me？〃 he whispered in
reply。
〃Perfectly。 So does Hanky； so does my mother； say no more；〃 and he
again smiled。
George； as my father afterwards learned； had hoped that he would
reveal himself； and had determined in spite of his mother's
instructions； to give him an opportunity of doing so。 It was for
this reason that he had not arrested him quietly； as he could very
well have done； before the service began。 He wished to discover
what manner of man his father was； and was quite happy as soon as
he saw that he would have spoken out if he had not been checked。
He had not yet caught Hanky's motive in trying to goad my father；
but on seeing that he was trying to do this； he knew that a trap
was being laid； and that my father must not be allowed to speak。
Almost immediately； however； he perceived that while his eyes had
been turned on Hanky； two burly vergers had wormed their way
through the crowd and taken their stand close to his two brothers。
Then he understood； and understood also how to frustrate。
As for my father； George's ascendancy over himquite felt by
Georgewas so absolute that he could think of nothing now but the
exceeding great joy of finding his fears groundless； and of
delivering himself up to his son's guidance in the assurance that
the void in his heart was filled； and that his wager not only would
be held as won； but was being already paid。 How they had found
out； why he was not to speak as he would assuredly have donefor
he was in a white heat of furywhat did it all matter now that he
had found that which he had feared he should fail to find？ He gave
George a puzzled smile； and composed himself as best he could to
hear the continuation of Hanky's sermon； which was as follows：…
〃Who could the Sunchild have chosen； even though he had been gifted
with no more than human sagacity； but the body of men whom he
selected？ It becomes me but ill to speak so warmly in favour of
that body of whom I am the least worthy member； but what other is
there in Erewhon so above all suspicion of slovenliness； self…
seeking； preconceived bias； or bad faith？ If there was one set of
qualities more essential than another for the conduct of the
investigations entrusted to us by the Sunchild； it was those that
turn on meekness and freedom from all spiritual pride。 I believe I
can say quite truly that these are the qualities for which
Bridgeford is more especially renowned。 The readiness of her
Professors to learn even from those who at first sight may seem
least able to instruct themthe gentleness with which they correct
an opponent if they feel it incumbent upon them to do so； the
promptitude with which they acknowledge error when it is pointed
out to them and quit a position no matter how deeply they have been
committed to it； at the first moment in which they see that they
cannot hold it righteously； their delicate sense of honour； their
utter immunity from what the Sunchild used to call log…rolling or
intrigue； the scorn with which they regard anything like hitting
below the beltthese I believe I may truly say are the virtues for
which Bridgeford is pre…eminently renowned。〃
The Professor went on to say a great deal more about the fitness of
Bridgeford and the Musical Bank managers for the task imposed on
them by the Sunchild； but here my father's attention flaggednor；
on looking at the verbatim report of the sermon that appeared next
morning in the leading Sunch'ston journal； do I see reason to
reproduce Hanky's words on this head。 It was all to shew that
there had been no possibility of mistake。
Meanwhile George was writing on a scrap of paper as though he was
taking notes of the sermon。 Presently he slipped this into my
father's hand。 It ran：…
〃You see those vergers standing near my brothers； who gave up their
seats to us。 Hanky tried to goad you into speaking that they might
arrest you； and get you into the Bank prisons。 If you fall into
their hands you are lost。 I must arrest you instantly on a charge
of poaching on the King's preserves； and make you my prisoner。 Let
those vergers catch sight of the warrant which I shall now give
you。 Read it and return it to me。 Come with me quietly after
service。 I think you had better not reveal yourself at all。〃
As soon as he had given my father time to read the foregoing；
George took a warrant out of his pocket。 My father pretended to
read it and returned it。 George then laid his hand on his
shoulder； and in an undertone arrested him。 He then wrote on
another scrap of paper and passed it on to the elder of his two
brothers。 It was to the effect that he had now arrested my father；
and that if the vergers attempted in any way to interfere between
him and his prisoner； his brothers were to arrest both of them；
which； as special constables； they had power to do。
Yram had noted Hanky's attempt to goad my father； and had not been
prepared for his stealing a march upon her by trying to get my
father arrested by Musical Bank officials； rather than by her son。
On the preceding evening this last plan had been arranged on； and
she knew nothing of the note that Hanky had sent an hour or two
later to the Manager of the templethe substance of which the
reader can sufficiently guess。 When she had heard Hanky's words
and saw the vergers； she was for a few minutes seriously alarmed；
but she was reassured when she saw George give my father the
warrant； and her two sons evidently explaining the position to the
vergers。
Hanky had by this time changed his theme； and was warning his
hearers of the dangers that would follow on the legalization of the
medical profession； and the repeal of the edicts against machines。
Space forbids me to give his picture of the horrible tortures that
future generations would be put to by medical men； if these were
not duly kept in check by the influence of the Musical Banks； the
horrors of the inquisition in the middle ages are nothing to what
he depicted as certain to ensue if medical men were ever to have
much money at their command。 The only people in whose hands money
might be trusted safely were those who presided over the Musical
Banks。 This tirade was followed by one not less alarming about the
growth of materialistic tendencies among the artisans employed in
the production of mechanical inventions。 My father； though his
eyes had been somewhat opened by the second of the two processions
he had seen on his way to Sunch'ston； was not prepared to find that
in spite of the superficially almost universal acceptance of the
new faith； there was a powerful； and it would seem growing；
undercurrent of scepticism； with a desire to reduce his escape with
my mother to a purely natural occurence。
〃It is not enough；〃 said Hanky； 〃that the Sunchild should have
ensured the preparation of authoritative evidence of his
supernatural character。 The evidences happily exist in
overwhelming strength； but they must be brought home to minds that
as yet have stubbornly refused to receive them。 During the last
five years there has been an enormous increase in the number of
those whose occupation in the manufacture of machines inclines them
to a materialistic explanation even of the most obviously
miraculous events； and the growth of this class in our midst
constituted； and still constitutes； a grave danger to the state。
〃It was to meet this that the society was formed on behalf of which
I appeal fearlessly to your generosity。 It is called； as most of
you doubtless know； the Sunchild Evidence Society； and his Majesty
the King graciously consented to become its Patron。 This society
not only collects additional evidencesindeed it is entirely due
to its labours that the precious relic now in this temple was
discoveredbut it is its beneficent purpose to lay those that have
been authoritatively investigated before men who； if left to
themselves； would either neglect them altogether； or worse still
reject them。
〃For the first year or two the efforts of the society met with but
little success among those for whose benefit they were more
particularly intended； but during the present year the working
classes in some cities and towns （stimulated very much by the
lectures of my illustrious friend Professor Panky） have shewn a
most remarkable and zealous interest in Sunchild evidences； and
have formed themselves into local branches for the study and
defence of Sunchild truth。
〃Yet in spite of all this needof all this patient labour and
really very gratifying successthe subscriptions to the society no
longer furnish it with its former very modest incomean income
which is deplorably insufficient if the organization is to be kept
effective； and the work adequately performed。 In spite of the most
rigid economy； the committee have been compelled to part with a
considerable portion of their small reserve fund （provided by a
legacy） to tide over difficulties。 But this method of balancing
expenditure and income is very unsatisfactory； and cannot be lon