to one that he and my mother had perished long years ago； and even
though he rang at the bell； there was no harm that he either could
or would now do to her or hers； still； so long as she did not
certainly know that he was dead； or otherwise precluded from
returning； she could not be sure that he would not one day come
back by the way that he would alone know； and she had rather he
should not do so。
Hence； on hearing from Professor Hanky that a man had been seen
between the statues and Sunch'ston wearing the old Erewhonian
dress； she was disquieted and perplexed。 The excuse he had
evidently made to the Professors aggravated her uneasiness； for it
was an obvious attempt to escape from an unexpected difficulty。
There could be no truth in it。 Her son would as soon think of
wearing the old dress himself as of letting his men do so； and as
for having old clothes still to wear out after seventeen years； no
one but a Bridgeford Professor would accept this。 She saw；
therefore； that she must keep her wits about her； and lead her
guests on to tell her as much as they could be induced to do。
〃My son；〃 she said innocently； 〃is always considerate to his men；
and that is why they are so devoted to him。 I wonder which of them
it was？ In what part of the preserves did you fall in with him？〃
Hanky described the place； and gave the best idea he could of my
father's appearance。
〃Of course he was swarthy like the rest of us？〃
〃I saw nothing remarkable about him； except that his eyes were blue
and his eyelashes nearly white； which； as you know； is rare in
Erewhon。 Indeed； I do not remember ever before to have seen a man
with dark hair and complexion but light eyelashes。 Nature is
always doing something unusual。〃
〃I have no doubt；〃 said Yram； 〃that he was the man they call
Blacksheep； but I never noticed this peculiarity in him。 If he was
Blacksheep； I am afraid you must have found him none too civil； he
is a rough diamond； and you would hardly be able to understand his
uncouth Sunch'ston dialect。〃
〃On the contrary； he was most kind and thoughtfuleven so far as
to take our permit from us； and thus save us the trouble of giving
it up at your son's office。 As for his dialect； his grammar was
often at fault； but we could quite understand him。〃
〃I am glad to hear he behaved better than I could have expected。
Did he say in what part of the preserves he had been？〃
〃He had been catching quails between the place where we saw him and
the statues； he was to deliver three dozen to your son this
afternoon for the Mayor's banquet on Sunday。〃
This was worse and worse。 She had urged her son to provide her
with a supply of quails for Sunday's banquet； but he had begged her
not to insist on having them。 There was no close time for them in
Erewhon； but he set his face against their being seen at table in
spring and summer。 During the winter； when any great occasion
arose； he had allowed a few brace to be provided。
〃I asked my son to let me have some；〃 said Yram； who was now on
full scent。 She laughed genially as she added； 〃Can you throw any
light upon the question whether I am likely to get my three dozen？
I have had no news as yet。〃
〃The man had taken a good many； we saw them but did not count them。
He started about midnight for the ranger's shelter； where he said
he should sleep till daybreak； so as to make up his full tale
betimes。〃
Yram had heard her son complain that there were no shelters on the
preserves； and state his intention of having some built before the
winter。 Here too； then； the man's story must be false。 She
changed the conversation for the moment； but quietly told a servant
to send high and low in search of her son； and if he could be
found； to bid him come to her at once。 She then returned to her
previous subject。
〃And did not this heartless wretch； knowing how hungry you must
both be； let you have a quail or two as an act of pardonable
charity？〃
〃My dear Mayoress； how can you ask such a question？ We knew you
would want all you could get； moreover； our permit threatened us
with all sorts of horrors if we so much as ate a single quail。 I
assure you we never even allowed a thought of eating one of them to
cross our minds。〃
〃Then；〃 said Yram to herself； 〃they gorged upon them。〃 What could
she think？ A man who wore the old dress； and therefore who had
almost certainly been in Erewhon； but had been many years away from
it； who spoke the language well； but whose grammar was defective
hence； again； one who had spent some time in Erewhon； who knew
nothing of the afforesting law now long since enacted； for how else
would he have dared to light a fire and be seen with quails in his
possession； an adroit liar； who on gleaning information from the
Professors had hazarded an excuse for immediately retracing his
steps； a man； too； with blue eyes and light eyelashes。 What did it
matter about his hair being dark and his complexion swarthyHiggs
was far too clever to attempt a second visit to Erewhon without
dyeing his hair and staining his face and hands。 And he had got
their permit out of the Professors before he left them； clearly；
then； he meant coming back； and coming back at once before the
permit had expired。 How could she doubt？ My father； she felt
sure； must by this time be in Sunch'ston。 He would go back to
change his clothes； which would not be very far down on the other
side the pass； for he would not put on his old Erewhonian dress
till he was on the point of entering Erewhon； and he would hide his
English dress rather than throw it away； for he would want it when
he went back again。 It would be quite possible； then； for him to
get through the forest before the permit was void； and he would be
sure to go on to Sunch'ston for the night。
She chatted unconcernedly； now with one guest now with another；
while they in their turn chatted unconcernedly with one another。
Miss La Frime to Mrs。 Humdrum： 〃You know how he got his
professorship？ No？ I thought every one knew that。 The question
the candidates had to answer was； whether it was wiser during a
long stay at a hotel to tip the servants pretty early； or to wait
till the stay was ended。 All the other candidates took one side or
the other； and argued their case in full。 Hanky sent in three
lines to the effect that the proper thing to do would be to promise
at the beginning； and go away without giving。 The King； with whom
the appointment rested； was so much pleased with this answer that
he gave Hanky the professorship without so much as looking 。 。 。 〃
Professor Gabb to Mrs。 Humdrum： 〃Oh no； I can assure you there is
no truth in it。 What happened was this。 There was the usual
crowd； and the people cheered Professor after Professor； as he
stood before them in the great Bridgeford theatre and satisfied
them that a lump of butter which had been put into his mouth would
not melt in it。 When Hanky's turn came he was taken suddenly
unwell； and had to leave the theatre； on which there was a report
in the house that the butter had melted； this was at once stopped
by the return of the Professor。 Another piece of butter was put
into his mouth； and on being taken out after the usual time； was
found to shew no signs of having 。 。 。 〃
Miss Bawl to Mr。 Principal Crank： 。 。 。 〃The Manager was so tall；
you know； and then there was that little mite of an assistant
managerit WAS so funny。 For the assistant manager's voice was
ever so much louder than the 。 。 。 〃
Mrs。 Bawl to Professor Gabb： 。 。 。 〃Live for art！ If I had to
choose whether I would lose either art or science； I have not the
smallest hesitation in saying that I would lose 。 。 。 〃
The Mayor and Dr。 Downie： 。 。 。 〃That you are to be canonised at
the close of the year along with Professors Hanky and Panky？〃
〃I believe it is his Majesty's intention that the Professors and
myself are to head the list of the Sunchild's Saints； but we have
all of us got to 。 。 。 〃
And so on； and so on； buzz； buzz； buzz； over the whole table。
Presently Yram turned to Hanky and said …
〃By the way； Professor； you must have found it very cold up at the
statues； did you not？ But I suppose the snow is all gone by this
time？〃
〃Yes； it was cold； and though the winter's snow is melted； there
had been a recent fall。 Strange to say； we saw fresh footprints in
it； as of some one who had come up from the other side。 But
thereon hangs a tale； about which I believe I should say nothing。〃
〃Then say nothing； my dear Professor；〃 said Yram with a frank
smile。 〃Above all；〃 she added quietly and gravely； 〃say nothing to
the Mayor； nor to my son； till after Sunday。 Even a whisper of
some one coming over from the other side disquiets them； and they
have enough on hand for the moment。〃
Panky； who had been growing more and more restive at his friend's
outspokenness； but who had encouraged it more than once by vainly
trying to check it； was relieved at hearing his hostess do for him
what he could not do for himself。 As for Yram； she had got enough
out of the Professor to be now fully dissatisfied； and mentally
informed them that they might leave the witness…box。 During the
rest of dinner she let the subject of their adventure severely
alone。
It seemed to her as though dinner was never going to end； but in
the course of time it did so； and presently the ladies withdrew。
As they were entering the drawing…room a servant told her that her
son had been found more easily than was expected； and was now in
his own room dressing。
〃Tell him；〃 she said； 〃to stay there till I come； which I will do
directly。〃
She remained for a few minutes with her guests； and then； excusing
herself quietly to Mrs。 Humdrum； she stepped out and hastened to
her son's room。 She told him that Professors Hanky and Panky were
staying in the house； and that during dinner they had told her
something he ought to know； but which there was no time to tell him
until her guests were gone。 〃I had rather；〃 she said； 〃tell you
about it before you see the Professors； for if you see them the
whole thing will be reopened； and you are sure to let them see how
much more there is in it than they suspec