had expended itself。 The ladies were just putting away their work
and preparing to go out。 I asked them where they were going。 They
answered with a certain air of reserve that they were going to the
bank to get some money。
Now I had already collected that the mercantile affairs of the
Erewhonians were conducted on a totally different system from our
own； I had； however； gathered little hitherto； except that they had
two distinct commercial systems； of which the one appealed more
strongly to the imagination than anything to which we are
accustomed in Europe； inasmuch as the banks that were conducted
upon this system were decorated in the most profuse fashion； and
all mercantile transactions were accompanied with music； so that
they were called Musical Banks； though the music was hideous to a
European ear。
As for the system itself I never understood it； neither can I do so
now： they have a code in connection with it； which I have not the
slightest doubt that they understand； but no foreigner can hope to
do so。 One rule runs into； and against； another as in a most
complicated grammar； or as in Chinese pronunciation； wherein I am
told that the slightest change in accentuation or tone of voice
alters the meaning of a whole sentence。 Whatever is incoherent in
my description must be referred to the fact of my never having
attained to a full comprehension of the subject。
So far； however； as I could collect anything certain； I gathered
that they have two distinct currencies； each under the control of
its own banks and mercantile codes。 One of these （the one with the
Musical Banks） was supposed to be THE system； and to give out the
currency in which all monetary transactions should be carried on；
and as far as I could see； all who wished to be considered
respectable； kept a larger or smaller balance at these banks。 On
the other hand； if there is one thing of which I am more sure than
another； it is that the amount so kept had no direct commercial
value in the outside world； I am sure that the managers and
cashiers of the Musical Banks were not paid in their own currency。
Mr。 Nosnibor used to go to these banks； or rather to the great
mother bank of the city； sometimes but not very often。 He was a
pillar of one of the other kind of banks； though he appeared to
hold some minor office also in the musical ones。 The ladies
generally went alone； as indeed was the case in most families；
except on state occasions。
I had long wanted to know more of this strange system； and had the
greatest desire to accompany my hostess and her daughters。 I had
seen them go out almost every morning since my arrival and had
noticed that they carried their purses in their hands； not exactly
ostentatiously； yet just so as that those who met them should see
whither they were going。 I had never； however； yet been asked to
go with them myself。
It is not easy to convey a person's manner by words； and I can
hardly give any idea of the peculiar feeling that came upon me when
I saw the ladies on the point of starting for the bank。 There was
a something of regret； a something as though they would wish to
take me with them； but did not like to ask me； and yet as though I
were hardly to ask to be taken。 I was determined； however； to
bring matters to an issue with my hostess about my going with them；
and after a little parleying； and many inquiries as to whether I
was perfectly sure that I myself wished to go； it was decided that
I might do so。
We passed through several streets of more or less considerable
houses； and at last turning round a corner we came upon a large
piazza； at the end of which was a magnificent building； of a
strange but noble architecture and of great antiquity。 It did not
open directly on to the piazza； there being a screen； through which
was an archway； between the piazza and the actual precincts of the
bank。 On passing under the archway we entered upon a green sward；
round which there ran an arcade or cloister； while in front of us
uprose the majestic towers of the bank and its venerable front；
which was divided into three deep recesses and adorned with all
sorts of marbles and many sculptures。 On either side there were
beautiful old trees wherein the birds were busy by the hundred； and
a number of quaint but substantial houses of singularly comfortable
appearance； they were situated in the midst of orchards and
gardens； and gave me an impression of great peace and plenty。
Indeed it had been no error to say that this building was one that
appealed to the imagination； it did moreit carried both
imagination and judgement by storm。 It was an epic in stone and
marble； and so powerful was the effect it produced on me； that as I
beheld it I was charmed and melted。 I felt more conscious of the
existence of a remote past。 One knows of this always； but the
knowledge is never so living as in the actual presence of some
witness to the life of bygone ages。 I felt how short a space of
human life was the period of our own existence。 I was more
impressed with my own littleness； and much more inclinable to
believe that the people whose sense of the fitness of things was
equal to the upraising of so serene a handiwork； were hardly likely
to be wrong in the conclusions they might come to upon any subject。
My feeling certainly was that the currency of this bank must be the
right one。
We crossed the sward and entered the building。 If the outside had
been impressive the inside was even more so。 It was very lofty and
divided into several parts by walls which rested upon massive
pillars； the windows were filled with stained glass descriptive of
the principal commercial incidents of the bank for many ages。 In a
remote part of the building there were men and boys singing； this
was the only disturbing feature； for as the gamut was still
unknown； there was no music in the country which could be agreeable
to a European ear。 The singers seemed to have derived their
inspirations from the songs of birds and the wailing of the wind；
which last they tried to imitate in melancholy cadences that at
times degenerated into a howl。 To my thinking the noise was
hideous； but it produced a great effect upon my companions； who
professed themselves much moved。 As soon as the singing was over；
the ladies requested me to stay where I was while they went inside
the place from which it had seemed to come。
During their absence certain reflections forced themselves upon me。
In the first place； it struck me as strange that the building
should be so nearly empty； I was almost alone； and the few besides
myself had been led by curiosity； and had no intention of doing
business with the bank。 But there might be more inside。 I stole
up to the curtain； and ventured to draw the extreme edge of it on
one side。 No； there was hardly any one there。 I saw a large
number of cashiers； all at their desks ready to pay cheques； and
one or two who seemed to be the managing partners。 I also saw my
hostess and her daughters and two or three other ladies； also three
or four old women and the boys from one of the neighbouring
Colleges of Unreason； but there was no one else。 This did not look
as though the bank was doing a very large business； and yet I had
always been told that every one in the city dealt with this
establishment。
I cannot describe all that took place in these inner precincts； for
a sinister…looking person in a black gown came and made unpleasant
gestures at me for peeping。 I happened to have in my pocket one of
the Musical Bank pieces； which had been given me by Mrs。 Nosnibor；
so I tried to tip him with it； but having seen what it was； he
became so angry that I had to give him a piece of the other kind of
money to pacify him。 When I had done this he became civil
directly。 As soon as he was gone I ventured to take a second look；
and saw Zulora in the very act of giving a piece of paper which
looked like a cheque to one of the cashiers。 He did not examine
it； but putting his hand into an antique coffer hard by； he pulled
out a quantity of metal pieces apparently at random； and handed
them over without counting them； neither did Zulora count them； but
put them into her purse and went back to her seat after dropping a
few pieces of the other coinage into an alms box that stood by the
cashier's side。 Mrs。 Nosnibor and Arowhena then did likewise； but
a little later they gave all （so far as I could see） that they had
received from the cashier back to a verger； who I have no doubt put
it back into the coffer from which it had been taken。 They then
began making towards the curtain； whereon I let it drop and
retreated to a reasonable distance。
They soon joined me。 For some few minutes we all kept silence； but
at last I ventured to remark that the bank was not so busy to…day
as it probably often was。 On this Mrs。 Nosnibor said that it was
indeed melancholy to see what little heed people paid to the most
precious of all institutions。 I could say nothing in reply； but I
have ever been of opinion that the greater part of mankind do
approximately know where they get that which does them good。
Mrs。 Nosnibor went on to say that I must not think there was any
want of confidence in the bank because I had seen so few people
there； the heart of the country was thoroughly devoted to these
establishments； and any sign of their being in danger would bring
in support from the most unexpected quarters。 It was only because
people knew them to be so very safe； that in some cases （as she
lamented to say in Mr。 Nosnibor's） they felt that their support was
unnecessary。 Moreover these institutions never departed from the
safest and most approved banking principles。 Thus they never
allowed interest on deposit； a thing now frequently done by certain
bubble companies； which by doing an illegitimate trade had drawn
many customers away； and even the shareholders were fewer than
formerly； owing to the innovations of these unscrupulous persons；
for the Musical Banks paid little or no dividend； but divided their
profits by way of bonus on the original shares once in every thirty
thousand years； and as it was now only two thousand year