to me at all； and then to have as little to do with him as〃
At this point there was a loud ring at the door bell。 〃Hanky and
Panky come to see me； no doubt；〃 said Mr。 Turvey。 〃I do hope it is
so。 You must stay and see them。〃
〃My dear sir；〃 said my father； putting his handkerchief up to his
face； 〃I am taken suddenly unwell and must positively leave you。〃
He said this in so peremptory a tone that Mr。 Turvey had to yield。
My father held his handkerchief to his face as he went through the
passage and hall； but when the servant opened the door he took it
down； for there was no Hanky or Pankyno one； in fact； but a poor；
wizened old man who had come； as he did every other Saturday
afternoon； to wind up the Deformatory clocks。
Nevertheless； he had been scared； and was in a very wicked…fleeth…
when…no…man…pursueth frame of mind。 He went to his inn； and shut
himself up in his room for some time； taking notes of all that had
happened to him in the last three days。 But even at his inn he no
longer felt safe。 How did he know but that Hanky and Panky might
have driven over from Sunch'ston to see Mr。 Turvey； and might put
up at this very house？ or they might even be going to spend the
night here。 He did not venture out of his room till after seven by
which time he had made rough notes of as much of the foregoing
chapters as had come to his knowledge so far。 Much of what I have
told as nearly as I could in the order in which it happened； he did
not learn till later。 After giving the merest outline of his
interview with Mr。 Turvey； he wrote a note as follows：… 〃I suppose
I must have held forth about the greatest happiness of the greatest
number； but I had quite forgotten it； though I remember repeatedly
quoting my favourite proverb； 'Every man for himself； and the devil
take the hindmost。' To this they have paid no attention。〃
By seven his panic about Hanky and Panky ended； for if they had not
come by this time； they were not likely to do so。 Not knowing that
they were staying at the Mayor's； he had rather settled it that
they would now stroll up to the place where they had left their
hoard and bring it down as soon as night had fallen。 And it is
quite possible that they might have found some excuse for doing
this； when dinner was over； if their hostess had not undesignedly
hindered them by telling them about the Sunchild。 When the
conversation recorded in the preceding chapter was over； it was too
late for them to make any plausible excuse for leaving the house；
we may be sure； therefore； that much more had been said than Yram
and George were able to remember and report to my father。
After another stroll about Fairmead； during which he saw nothing
but what on a larger scale he had already seen at Sunch'ston； he
returned to his inn at about half…past eight； and ordered supper in
a public room that corresponded with the coffee…room of an English
hotel。
CHAPTER XIV： MY FATHER MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MR BALMY； AND
WALKS WITH HIM NEXT DAY TO SUNCH'STON
Up to this point； though he had seen enough to shew him the main
drift of the great changes that had taken place in Erewhonian
opinions； my father had not been able to glean much about the
history of the transformation。 He could see that it had all grown
out of the supposed miracle of his balloon ascent； and he could
understand that the ignorant masses had been so astounded by an
event so contrary to all their experience； that their faith in
experience was utterly routed and demoralised。 It a man and a
woman might rise from the earth and disappear into the sky； what
else might not happen？ If they had been wrong in thinking such a
thing impossible； in how much else might they not be mistaken also？
The ground was shaken under their very feet。 understand that a
single incontrovertible miracle of the first magnitude should
uproot the hedges of caution in the minds of the common people； but
he could not understand how such men as Hanky and Panky； who
evidently did not believe that there had been any miracle at all；
had been led to throw themselves so energetically into a movement
so subversive of all their traditions； when； as it seemed to him；
if they had held out they might have pricked the balloon bubble
easily enough； and maintained everything in statu quo。
How； again； had they converted the Kingif they had converted him？
The Queen had had full knowledge of all the preparations for the
ascent。 The King had had everything explained to him。 The workmen
and workwomen who had made the balloon and the gas could testify
that none but natural means had been made use ofmeans which； if
again employed any number of times； would effect a like result。
How could it be that when the means of resistance were so ample and
so easy； the movement should nevertheless have been irresistible？
For had it not been irresistible； was it to be believed that astute
men like Hanky and Panky would have let themselves be drawn into
it？
What then had been its inner history？ My father had so fully
determined to make his way back on the following evening； that he
saw no chance of getting to know the factsunless； indeed； he
should be able to learn something from Hanky's sermon； he was
therefore not sorry to find an elderly gentleman of grave but
kindly aspect seated opposite to him when he sat down to supper。
The expression on this man's face was much like that of the early
Christians as shewn in the S。 Giovanni Laterano bas…reliefs at
Rome； and again； though less aggressively self…confident； like that
on the faces of those who have joined the Salvation Army。 If he
had been in England； my father would have set him down as a
Swedenborgian； this being impossible； he could only note that the
stranger bowed his head； evidently saying a short grace before he
began to eat； as my father had always done when he was in Erewhon
before。 I will not say that my father had never omitted to say
grace during the whole of the last twenty years； but he said it
now； and unfortunately forgetting himself； he said it in the
English language； not loud； but nevertheless audibly。
My father was alarmed at what he had done； but there was no need；
for the stranger immediately said； 〃I hear； sir； that you have the
gift of tongues。 The Sunchild often mentioned it to us； as having
been vouchsafed long since to certain of the people； to whom； for
our learning； he saw fit to feign that he belonged。 He thus
foreshadowed prophetically its manifestation also among ourselves。
All which； however； you must know as well as I do。 Can you
interpret？〃
My father was much shocked； but he remembered having frequently
spoken of the power of speaking in unknown tongues which was
possessed by many of the early Christians； and he also remembered
that in times of high religious enthusiasm this power had
repeatedly been imparted； or supposed to be imparted； to devout
believers in the middle ages。 It grated upon him to deceive one
who was so obviously sincere； but to avoid immediate discomfiture
he fell in with what the stranger had said。
〃Alas！ sir；〃 said he； 〃that rarer and more precious gift has been
withheld from me； nor can I speak in an unknown tongue； unless as
it is borne in upon me at the moment。 I could not even repeat the
words that have just fallen from me。〃
〃That；〃 replied the stranger； 〃is almost invariably the case。
These illuminations of the spirit are beyond human control。 You
spoke in so low a tone that I cannot interpret what you have just
said； but should you receive a second inspiration later； I shall
doubtless be able to interpret it for you。 I have been singularly
gifted in this respectmore so； perhaps； than any other
interpreter in Erewhon。〃
My father mentally vowed that no second inspiration should be
vouchsafed to him； but presently remembering how anxious he was for
information on the points touched upon at the beginning of this
chapter； and seeing that fortune had sent him the kind of man who
would be able to enlighten him； he changed his mind； nothing； he
reflected； would be more likely to make the stranger talk freely
with him； than the affording him an opportunity for showing off his
skill as an interpreter。
Something； therefore； he would say； but what？ No one could talk
more freely when the train of his thoughts； or the conversation of
others； gave him his cue； but when told to say an unattached
〃something；〃 he could not even think of 〃How do you do this
morning？ it is a very fine day；〃 and the more he cudgelled his
brains for 〃something；〃 the more they gave no response。 He could
not even converse further with the stranger beyond plain 〃yes〃 and
〃no〃； so he went on with his supper； and in thinking of what he was
eating and drinking for the moment forgot to ransack his brain。 No
sooner had he left off ransacking it； than it suggested something
not； indeed； a very brilliant something； but still something。 On
having grasped it； he laid down his knife and fork； and with the
air of one distraught he said …
〃My name is Norval； on the Grampian Hills
My father feeds his flocka frugal swain。〃
〃I heard you；〃 exclaimed the stranger； 〃and I can interpret every
word of what you have said； but it would not become me to do so；
for you have conveyed to me a message more comforting than I can
bring myself to repeat even to him who has conveyed it。〃
Having said this he bowed his head； and remained for some time
wrapped in meditation。 My father kept a respectful silence； but
after a little time he ventured to say in a low tone； how glad he
was to have been the medium through whom a comforting assurance had
been conveyed。 Presently； on finding himself encouraged to renew
the conversation； he threw out a deferential feeler as to the
causes that might have induced Mr。 Balmy to come to Fairmead。
〃Perhaps；〃 he said； 〃you； like myself； have come to these parts in
order to see the dedication of the new temple； I could not get a
lodging in Sunch'ston； so I walked down here this morning。〃
This； it seemed； had been Mr。 Balmy's own case； except that he had
not yet been to Sunch'ston。 Having heard that it was full to
overflowing； he had determined to p