legacy） to tide over difficulties。 But this method of balancing
expenditure and income is very unsatisfactory； and cannot be long
continued。
〃I am led to plead for the society with especial insistence at the
present time； inasmuch as more than one of those whose unblemished
life has made them fitting recipients of such a signal favour； have
recently had visions informing them that the Sunchild will again
shortly visit us。 We know not when he will come； but when he
comes； my friends； let him not find us unmindful of； nor ungrateful
for； the inestimable services he has rendered us。 For come he
surely will。 Either in winter； what time icicles hang by the wall
and milk comes frozen home in the pailor in summer when days are
at their longest and the mowing grass is aboutthere will be an
hour； either at morn； or eve； or in the middle day； when he will
again surely come。 May it be mine to be among those who are then
present to receive him。〃
Here he again glared at my father； whose blood was boiling。 George
had not positively forbidden him to speak out； he therefore sprang
to his feet； 〃You lying hound；〃 he cried； 〃I am the Sunchild； and
you know it。〃
George； who knew that he had my father in his own hands； made no
attempt to stop him； and was delighted that he should have declared
himself though he had felt it his duty to tell him not to do so。
Yram turned pale。 Hanky roared out； 〃Tear him in piecesleave not
a single limb on his body。 Take him out and burn him alive。〃 The
vergers made a dash for himbut George's brothers seized them。
The crowd seemed for a moment inclined to do as Hanky bade them；
but Yram rose from her place； and held up her hand as one who
claimed attention。 She advanced towards George and my father as
unconcernedly as though she were merely walking out of church； but
she still held her hand uplifted。 All eyes were turned on her； as
well as on George and my father； and the icy calm of her self…
possession chilled those who were inclined for the moment to take
Hanky's words literally。 There was not a trace of fluster in her
gait； action； or words； as she said …
〃My friends； this temple； and this day； must not be profaned with
blood。 My son will take this poor madman to the prison。 Let him
be judged and punished according to law。 Make room； that he and my
son may pass。〃
Then； turning to my father； she said； 〃Go quietly with the Ranger。〃
Having so spoken； she returned to her seat as unconcernedly as she
had left it。
Hanky for a time continued to foam at the mouth and roar out； 〃Tear
him to pieces！ burn him alive！〃 but when he saw that there was no
further hope of getting the people to obey him； he collapsed on to
a seat in his pulpit； mopped his bald head； and consoled himself
with a great pinch of a powder which corresponds very closely to
our own snuff。
George led my father out by the side door at the north end of the
western aisle； the people eyed him intently； but made way for him
without demonstration。 One voice alone was heard to cry out； 〃Yes；
he is the Sunchild！〃 My father glanced at the speaker； and saw
that he was the interpreter who had taught him the Erewhonian
language when he was in prison。
George； seeing a special constable close by； told him to bid his
brothers release the vergers； and let them arrest the interpreter
this the vergers； foiled as they had been in the matter of my
father's arrest； were very glad to do。 So the poor interpreter； to
his dismay； was lodged at once in one of the Bank prison…cells；
where he could do no further harm。
CHAPTER XVII： GEORGE TAKES HIS FATHER TO PRISON； AND THERE OBTAINS
SOME USEFUL INFORMATION
By this time George had got my father into the open square； where
he was surprised to find that a large bonfire had been made and
lighted。 There had been nothing of the kind an hour before； the
wood； therefore； must have been piled and lighted while people had
been in church。 He had no time at the moment to enquire why this
had been done； but later on he discovered that on the Sunday
morning the Manager of the new temple had obtained leave from the
Mayor to have the wood piled in the square； representing that this
was Professor Hanky's contribution to the festivities of the day。
There had； it seemed； been no intention of lighting it until
nightfall； but it had accidentally caught fire through the
carelessness of a workman； much about the time when Hanky began to
preach。 No one for a moment believed that there had been any
sinister intention； or that Professor Hanky when he urged the crowd
to burn my father alive； even knew that there was a pile of wood in
the square at allmuch less that it had been lightedfor he could
hardly have supposed that the wood had been got together so soon。
Nevertheless both George and my father； when they knew all that had
passed； congratulated themselves on the fact that my father had not
fallen into the hands of the vergers； who would probably have tried
to utilise the accidental fire； though in no case is it likely they
would have succeeded。
As soon as they were inside the gaol； the old Master recognised my
father。 〃Bless my heartwhat？ You here； again； Mr。 Higgs？ Why；
I thought you were in the palace of the sun your father。〃
〃I wish I was；〃 answered my father； shaking hands with him； but he
could say no more。
〃You are as safe here as if you were；〃 said George laughing； 〃and
safer。〃 Then turning to his grandfather； he said； 〃You have the
record of Mr。 Higgs's marks and measurements？ I know you have：
take him to his old cell； it is the best in the prison； and then
please bring me the record。〃
The old man took George and my father to the cell which he had
occupied twenty years earlierbut I cannot stay to describe his
feelings on finding himself again within it。 The moment his
grandfather's back was turned； George said to my father； 〃And now
shake hands also with your son。〃
As he spoke he took my father's hand and pressed it warmly between
both his own。
〃Then you know you are my son；〃 said my father as steadily as the
strong emotion that mastered him would permit。
〃Certainly。〃
〃But you did not know this when I was walking with you on Friday？〃
〃Of course not。 I thought you were Professor Panky； if I had not
taken you for one of the two persons named in your permit； I should
have questioned you closely； and probably ended by throwing you
into the Blue Pool。〃 He shuddered as he said this。
〃But you knew who I was when you called me Panky in the temple？〃
〃Quite so。 My mother told me everything on Friday evening。〃
〃And that is why you tried to find me at Fairmead？〃
〃Yes； but where in the world were you？〃
〃I was inside the Musical Bank of the town； resting and reading。〃
George laughed； and said； 〃On purpose to hide？〃
〃Oh no； pure chance。 But on Friday evening？ How could your mother
have found out by that time that I was in Erewhon？ Am I on my head
or my heels？〃
〃On your heels； my father； which shall take you back to your own
country as soon as we can get you out of this。〃
〃What have I done to deserve so much goodwill？ I have done you
nothing but harm？〃 Again he was quite overcome。
George patted him gently on the hand； and said； 〃You made a bet and
you won it。 During the very short time that we can be together；
you shall be paid in full； and may heaven protect us both。〃
As soon as my father could speak he said； 〃But how did your mother
find out that I was in Erewhon？〃
〃Hanky and Panky were dining with her； and they told her some
things that she thought strange。 She cross…questioned them； put
two and two together； learned that you had got their permit out of
them； saw that you intended to return on Friday； and concluded that
you would be sleeping in Sunch'ston。 She sent for me； told me all；
bade me scour Sunch'ston to find you； intending that you should be
at once escorted safely over the preserves by me。 I found your
inn； but you had given us the slip。 I tried first Fairmead and
then Clearwater； but did not find you till this morning。 For
reasons too long to repeat； my mother warned Hanky and Panky that
you would be in the temple； whereon Hanky tried to get you into his
clutches。 Happily he failed； but if I had known what he was doing
I should have arrested you before the service。 I ought to have
done this； but I wanted you to win your wager； and I shall get you
safely away in spite of them。 My mother will not like my having
let you hear Hanky's sermon and declare yourself。〃
〃You half told me not to say who I was。〃
〃Yes； but I was delighted when you disobeyed me。〃
〃I did it very badly。 I never rise to great occasions； I always
fall to them； but these things must come as they come。〃
〃You did it as well as it could be done； and good will come of it。〃
〃And now；〃 he continued； 〃describe exactly all that passed between
you and the Professors。 On which side of Panky did Hanky sit； and
did they sit north and south or east and west？ How did you getoh
yes； I know thatyou told them it would be of no further use to
them。 Tell me all else you can。〃
My father said that the Professors were sitting pretty