going down to Sunch'ston； and； though somewhat curtly； proposed
that he and my father should walk together。
〃By all means；〃 answered my father。
〃Before they had gone more than a few hundred yards his companion
said； 〃If you will come with me a little to the left； I can show
you the Blue Pool。〃
To avoid the precipitous ground over which the stream here fell；
they had diverged to the right； where they had found a smoother
descent； returning now to the stream； which was about to enter on a
level stretch for some distance； they found themselves on the brink
of a rocky basin； of no great size； but very blue； and evidently
deep。
〃This；〃 said the Ranger； 〃is where our orders tell us to fling any
foreign devil who comes over from the other side。 I have only been
Head Ranger about nine months； and have not yet had to face this
horrid duty； but；〃 and here he smiled； 〃when I first caught sight
of you I thought I should have to make a beginning。 I was very
glad when I saw you had a permit。〃
〃And how many skeletons do you suppose are lying at the bottom of
this pool？〃
〃I believe not more than seven or eight in all。 There were three
or four about eighteen years ago； and about the same number of late
years； one man was flung here only about three months before I was
appointed。 I have the full list； with dates； down in my office；
but the rangers never let people in Sunch'ston know when they have
Blue…Pooled any one； it would unsettle men's minds； and some of
them would be coming up here in the dark to drag the pool； and see
whether they could find anything on the body。〃
My father was glad to turn away from this most repulsive place。
After a time he said； 〃And what do you good people hereabouts think
of next Sunday's grand doings？〃
Bearing in mind what he had gleaned from the Professors about the
Ranger's opinions； my father gave a slightly ironical turn to his
pronunciation of the words 〃grand doings。〃 The youth glanced at
him with a quick penetrative look； and laughed as he said； 〃The
doings will be grand enough。〃
〃What a fine temple they have built；〃 said my father。 〃I have not
yet seen the picture； but they say the four black and white horses
are magnificently painted。 I saw the Sunchild ascend； but I saw no
horses in the sky； nor anything like horses。〃
The youth was much interested。 〃Did you really see him ascend？〃 he
asked； 〃and what； pray； do you think it all was？〃
〃Whatever it was； there were no horses。〃
〃But there must have been； for； as you of course know； they have
lately found some droppings from one of them； which have been
miraculously preserved； and they are going to show them next Sunday
in a gold reliquary。〃
〃I know；〃 said my father； who； however； was learning the fact for
the first time。 〃I have not yet seen this precious relic； but I
think they might have found something less unpleasant。〃
〃Perhaps they would if they could；〃 replied the youth； laughing；
〃but there was nothing else that the horses could leave。 It is
only a number of curiously rounded stones； and not at all like what
they say it is。〃
〃Well； well；〃 continued my father； 〃but relic or no relic； there
are many who； while they fully recognise the value of the
Sunchild's teaching； dislike these cock and bull stories as
blasphemy against God's most blessed gift of reason。 There are
many in Bridgeford who hate this story of the horses。〃
The youth was now quite reassured。 〃So there are here； sir；〃 he
said warmly； 〃and who hate the Sunchild too。 If there is such a
hell as he used to talk about to my mother； we doubt not but that
he will be cast into its deepest fires。 See how he has turned us
all upside down。 But we dare not say what we think。 There is no
courage left in Erewhon。〃
Then waxing calmer he said； 〃It is you Bridgeford people and your
Musical Banks that have done it all。 The Musical Bank Managers saw
that the people were falling away from them。 Finding that the
vulgar believed this foreign devil Higgsfor he gave this name to
my mother when he was in prisonfinding thatBut you know all
this as well as I do。 How can you Bridgeford Professors pretend to
believe about these horses； and about the Sunchild's being son to
the sun； when all the time you know there is no truth in it？〃
〃My sonfor considering the difference in our ages I may be
allowed to call you sowe at Bridgeford are much like you at
Sunch'ston； we dare not always say what we think。 Nor would it be
wise to do so； when we should not be listened to。 This fire must
burn itself out； for it has got such hold that nothing can either
stay or turn it。 Even though Higgs himself were to return and tell
it from the house…tops that he was a mortalay； and a very common
onehe would be killed； but not believed。〃
〃Let him come； let him show himself； speak out and die； if the
people choose to kill him。 In that case I would forgive him；
accept him for my father； as silly people sometimes say he is； and
honour him to my dying day。〃
〃Would that be a bargain？〃 said my father； smiling in spite of
emotion so strong that he could hardly bring the words out of his
mouth。
〃Yes； it would；〃 said the youth doggedly。
〃Then let me shake hands with you on his behalf； and let us change
the conversation。〃
He took my father's hand； doubtfully and somewhat disdainfully； but
he did not refuse it。
CHAPTER VI： FURTHER CONVERSATION BETWEEN FATHER AND SONTHE
PROFESSORS' HOARD
It is one thing to desire a conversation to be changed； and another
to change it。 After some little silence my father said； 〃And may I
ask what name your mother gave you？〃
〃My name；〃 he answered； laughing； 〃is George； and I wish it were
some other； for it is the first name of that arch…impostor Higgs。
I hate it as I hate the man who owned it。〃
My father said nothing； but he hid his face in his hands。
〃Sir；〃 said the other； 〃I fear you are in some distress。〃
〃You remind me；〃 replied my father； 〃of a son who was stolen from
me when he was a child。 I searched for him； during many years； and
at last fell in with him by accident； to find him all the heart of
father could wish。 But alas！ he did not take kindly to me as I to
him； and after two days he left me； nor shall I ever again see
him。〃
〃Then； sir； had I not better leave you？〃
〃No； stay with me till your road takes you elsewhere； for though I
cannot see my son； you are so like him that I could almost fancy he
is with me。 And nowfor I shall show no more weaknessyou say
your mother knew the Sunchild； as I am used to call him。 Tell me
what kind of a man she found him。〃
〃She liked him well enough in spite of his being a little silly。
She does not believe he ever called himself child of the sun。 He
used to say he had a father in heaven to whom he prayed； and who
could hear him； but he said that all of us； my mother as much as
he； have this unseen father。 My mother does not believe he meant
doing us any harm； but only that he wanted to get himself and Mrs。
Nosnibor's younger daughter out of the country。 As for there
having been anything supernatural about the balloon； she will have
none of it； she says that it was some machine which he knew how to
make； but which we have lost the art of making； as we have of many
another。
〃This is what she says amongst ourselves； but in public she
confirms all that the Musical Bank Managers say about him。 She is
afraid of them。 You know； perhaps； that Professor Hanky； whose
name I see on your permit； tried to burn her alive？〃
〃Thank heaven！〃 thought my father； 〃that I am Panky；〃 but aloud he
said； 〃Oh； horrible！ horrible！ I cannot believe this even of
Hanky。〃
〃He denies it； and we say we believe him； he was most kind and
attentive to my mother during all the rest of her stay in
Bridgeford。 He and she parted excellent friends； but I know what
she thinks。 I shall be sure to see him while he is in Sunch'ston；
I shall have to be civil to him but it makes me sick to think of
it。〃
〃When shall you see him？〃 said my father； who was alarmed at
learning that Hanky and the Ranger were likely to meet。 Who could
tell but that he might see Panky too？
〃I have been away from home a fortnight； and shall not be back till
late on Saturday night。 I do not suppose I shall see him before
Sunday。〃
〃That will do；〃 thought my father； who at that moment deemed that
nothing would matter to him much when Sunday was over。 Then；
turning to the Ranger； he said； 〃I gather； then； that your mother
does not think so badly of the Sunchild after all？〃
〃She laughs at him sometimes； but if any of us boys and girls say a
word against him we get snapped up directly。 My mother turns every
one round her finger。 Her word is law in Sunch'ston； every one
obeys her； she has faced more than one mob； and quelled them when
my father could not do so。〃
〃I can believe all you say of her。 What other children has she
besides yourself？〃
〃We are four sons； of whom the youngest is now fourteen； and three
daughters。〃
〃May all health and happiness attend her and you； and all of you；
henceforth and for ever；〃 and my father involuntarily bared his
head as he spoke。
〃Sir；〃 said the youth； impressed by the fervency of my father's
manner； 〃I thank you； but you do not talk as Bridgeford Professors
generally do； so far as I have seen or heard them。 Why do you wish
us all well so very heartily？ Is it because you think I am like
your son； or is there some other reason？〃
〃It is not my son alone that you resemble；〃 said my father
tremulously； for he knew he was going too far。 He carried it off
by adding； 〃You resemble all who love truth and hate lies； as I
do。〃
〃Then； sir；〃 said the youth gravely； 〃you much belie your
reputation。 And now I must leave you for another part of the
preserves； where I think it likely that last night's poachers may
now be； and where I shall pass the night in watching for them。 You
may want your permit for a few miles further； so I will not take
it。 Neither need you give it up at Sunch'ston。 It is dated； and
will be useless after this evening。〃
With this he strode off into the forest； bowing politely but
somewhat coldly； and withou