liked him better than I liked Strong。 I was a foolbut there！ As
for Higgs； he liked； but did not love me。 If I had let him alone
he would have done the like by me； and let each other alone we did；
till the day before he was taken down to the capital。 On that day；
whether through his fault or mine I know notwe neither of us
meant itit was as though Nature； my dear； was determined that you
should not slip through her fingerswell； on that day we took it
into our heads that we were broken…hearted loversthe rest
followed。 And how； my dearest boy； as I look upon you； can I feign
repentance？
〃My husband； who never saw Higgs； and knew nothing about him except
the too little that I told him； pressed his suit； and about a month
after Higgs had gone； having recovered my passing infatuation for
him； I took kindly to the Mayor and accepted him； without telling
him what I ought to have told himbut the words stuck in my
throat。 I had not been engaged to him many days before I found
that there was something which I should not be able to hide much
longer。
〃You know； my dear； that my mother had been long dead； and I never
had a sister or any near kinswoman。 At my wits' end who I should
consult； instinct drew me to Mrs。 Humdrum； then a woman of about
five…and…forty。 She was a grand lady； while I was about the rank
of one of my own housemaids。 I had no claim on her； I went to her
as a lost dog looks into the faces of people on a road； and singles
out the one who will most surely help him。 I had had a good look
at her once as she was putting on her gloves； and I liked the way
she did it。 I marvel at my own boldness。 At any rate； I asked to
see her； and told her my story exactly as I have now told it to
you。
〃'You have no mother？' she said； when she had heard all。
〃'No。'
〃'Then； my dear； I will mother you myself。 Higgs is out of the
question； so Strong must marry you at once。 We will tell him
everything； and I； on your behalf； will insist upon it that the
engagement is at an end。 I hear good reports of him； and if we are
fair towards him he will be generous towards us。 Besides； I
believe he is so much in love with you that he would sell his soul
to get you。 Send him to me。 I can deal with him better than you
can。'〃
〃And what；〃 said George； 〃did my father； as I shall always call
him； say to all this？
〃Truth bred chivalry in him at once。 'I will marry her；' he said；
with hardly a moment's hesitation； 'but it will be better that I
should not be put on any lower footing than Higgs was。 I ought not
to be denied anything that has been allowed to him。 If I am
trusted； I can trust myself to trust and think no evil either of
Higgs or her。 They were pestered beyond endurance； as I have been
ere now。 If I am held at arm's length till I am fast bound； I
shall marry Yram just the same； but I doubt whether she and I shall
ever be quite happy。'
〃'Come to my house this evening；' said Mrs。 Humdrum； 'and you will
find Yram there。' He came； he found me； and within a fortnight we
were man and wife。〃
〃How much does not all this explain；〃 said George； smiling but very
gravely。 〃And you are going to ask me to forgive you for robbing
me of such a father。〃
〃He has forgiven me； my dear； for robbing him of such a son。 He
never reproached me。 From that day to this he has never given me a
harsh word or even syllable。 When you were born he took to you at
once； as； indeed； who could help doing？ for you were the sweetest
child both in looks and temper that it is possible to conceive。
Your having light hair and eyes made things more difficult； for
this； and your being born； almost to the day； nine months after
Higgs had left us； made people talkbut your father kept their
tongues within bounds。 They talk still； but they liked what little
they saw of Higgs； they like the Mayor and me； and they like you
the best of all； so they please themselves by having the thing both
ways。 Though； therefore； you are son to the Mayor； Higgs cast some
miraculous spell upon me before he left； whereby my son should be
in some measure his as well as the Mayor's。 It was this miraculous
spell that caused you to be born two months too soon； and we called
you by Higgs's first name as though to show that we took that view
of the matter ourselves。
〃Mrs。 Humdrum； however； was very positive that there was no spell
at all。 She had repeatedly heard her father say that the Mayor's
grandfather was light…haired and blue…eyed； and that every third
generation in that family a light…haired son was born。 The people
believe this too。 Nobody disbelieves Mrs。 Humdrum； but they like
the miracle best； so that is how it has been settled。
〃I never knew whether Mrs。 Humdrum told her husband； but I think
she must； for a place was found almost immediately for my husband
in Mr。 Humdrum's business。 He made himself useful； after a few
years he was taken into partnership； and on Mr。 Humdrum's death
became head of the firm。 Between ourselves； he says laughingly
that all his success in life was due to Higgs and me。〃
〃I shall give Mrs。 Humdrum a double dose of kissing；〃 said George
thoughtfully； 〃next time I see her。〃
〃Oh； do； do； she will so like it。 And now； my darling boy； tell
your poor mother whether or no you can forgive her。〃
He clasped her in his arms； and kissed her again and again； but for
a time he could find no utterance。 Presently he smiled； and said；
〃Of course I do； but it is you who should forgive me； for was it
not all my fault？〃
When Yram； too； had become more calm； she said； 〃It is late； and we
have no time to lose。 Higgs's coming at this time is mere
accident； if he had had news from Erewhon he would have known much
that he did not know。 I cannot guess why he has comeprobably
through mere curiosity； but he will hear or have heardyes； you
and he talked about itof the temple； being here； he will want to
see the dedication。 From what you have told me I feel sure that he
will not make a fool of himself by saying who he is； but in spite
of his disguise he may be recognised。 I do not doubt that he is
now in Sunch'ston； therefore； to…morrow morning scour the town to
find him。 Tell him he is discovered； tell him you know from me
that he is your father； and that I wish to see him with all good…
will towards him。 He will come。 We will then talk to him； and
show him that he must go back at once。 You can escort him to the
statues； after passing them he will be safe。 He will give you no
trouble； but if he does； arrest him on a charge of poaching； and
take him to the gaol； where we must do the best we can with him
but he will give you none。 We need say nothing to the Professors。
No one but ourselves will know of his having been here。〃
On this she again embraced her son and left him。 If two
photographs could have been taken of her； one as she opened the
door and looked fondly back on George； and the other as she closed
it behind her； the second portrait would have seemed taken ten
years later than the first。
As for George； he went gravely but not unhappily to his own room。
〃So that ready； plausible fellow；〃 he muttered to himself； 〃was my
own father。 At any rate； I am not son to a fooland he liked me。〃
CHAPTER X： MY FATHER； FEARING RECOGNITION AT SUNCH'…STON； BETAKES
HIMSELF TO THE NEIGHBOURING TOWN OF FAIRMEAD
I will now return to my father。 Whether from fatigue or over…
excitement； he slept only by fits and starts； and when awake he
could not rid himself of the idea that； in spite of his disguise；
he might be recognised； either at his inn or in the town； by some
one of the many who had seen him when he was in prison。 In this
case there was no knowing what might happen； but at best； discovery
would probably prevent his seeing the temple dedicated to himself；
and hearing Professor Hanky's sermon； which he was particularly
anxious to do。
So strongly did he feel the real or fancied danger he should incur
by spending Saturday in Sunch'ston； that he rose as soon as he
heard any one stirring； and having paid his bill； walked quietly
out of the house； without saying where he was going。
There was a town about ten miles off； not so important as
Sunch'ston； but having some 10；000 inhabitants； he resolved to find
accommodation there for the day and night； and to walk over to
Sunch'ston in time for the dedication ceremony； which he had found
on inquiry； would begin at eleven o'clock。
The country between Sunch'ston and Fairmead； as the town just
referred to was named； was still mountainous； and being well wooded
as well as well watered； abounded in views of singular beauty； but
I have no time to dwell on the enthusiasm with which my father
described them to me。 The road took him at right angles to the
main road down the valley from Sunch'ston to the capital； and this
was one reason why he had chosen Fairmead rather than Clearwater；
which was the next town lower down on the main road。 He did not；
indeed； anticipate that any one would want to find him； but whoever
might so want would be more likely to go straight down the valley
than to turn aside towards Fairmead。
On reaching this place； he found it pretty full of people； for
Saturday was market…day。 There was a considerable open space in
the middle of the town； with an arcade running round three sides of
it； while the fourth was completely taken up by the venerable
Musical Bank of the city； a building which had weathered the storms
of more than five centuries。 On the outside of the wall； abutting
on the market…place； were three wooden sedilia； in which the Mayor
and two coadjutors sate weekly on market…days to give advice；
redress grievances； and； if necessary （which it very seldom was） to
administer correction。
My father was much interested in watching the proceedings in a case
which he found on inquiry to be not infrequent。 A man was
complaining to the Mayor that his daughter； a lovely child of eight
years old； had none of the faults common to children of her age；
and； in fact； seemed absolutely deficient in immoral sense。 She
never told lies； had never stolen so much as a lollipop； never
showed any recalcitrancy about saying h