not yet been to Sunch'ston。 Having heard that it was full to
overflowing； he had determined to pass the night at Fairmead； and
walk over in the morningstarting soon after seven； so as to
arrive in good time for the dedication ceremony。 When my father
heard this； he proposed that they should walk together； to which
Mr。 Balmy gladly consented； it was therefore arranged that they
should go to bed early； breakfast soon after six； and then walk to
Sunch'ston。 My father then went to his own room； where he again
smoked a surreptitious pipe up the chimney。
Next morning the two men breakfasted together； and set out as the
clock was striking seven。 The day was lovely beyond the power of
words； and still freshfor Fairmead was some 2500 feet above the
sea； and the sun did not get above the mountains that overhung it
on the east side； till after eight o'clock。 Many persons were also
starting for Sunch'ston； and there was a procession got up by the
Musical Bank Managers of the town； who walked in it； robed in rich
dresses of scarlet and white embroidered with much gold thread。
There was a banner displaying an open chariot in which the Sunchild
and his bride were seated； beaming with smiles； and in attitudes
suggesting that they were bowing to people who were below them。
The chariot was； of course； drawn by the four black and white
horses of which the reader has already heard； and the balloon had
been ignored。 Readers of my father's book will perhaps remember
that my mother was not seen at allshe was smuggled into the car
of the balloon along with sundry rugs； under which she lay
concealed till the balloon had left the earth。 All this went for
nothing。 It has been said that though God cannot alter the past；
historians can； it is perhaps because they can be useful to Him in
this respect that He tolerates their existence。 Painters； my
father now realised； can do all that historians can； with even
greater effect。
Women headed the processionthe younger ones dressed in white；
with veils and chaplets of roses； blue cornflower； and pheasant's
eye Narcissus； while the older women were more soberly attired。
The Bank Managers and the banner headed the men； who were mostly
peasants； but among them were a few who seemed to be of higher
rank； and these； for the most part； though by no means all of them；
wore their clothes reversedas I have forgotten to say was done
also by Mr。 Balmy。 Both men and women joined in singing a litany
the words of which my father could not catch； the tune was one he
had been used to play on his apology for a flute when he was in
prison； being； in fact； none other than 〃Home； Sweet Home。〃 There
was no harmony； they never got beyond the first four bars； but
these they must have repeated； my father thought； at least a
hundred times between Fairmead and Sunch'ston。 〃Well；〃 said he to
himself； 〃however little else I may have taught them； I at any rate
gave them the diatonic scale。〃
He now set himself to exploit his fellow…traveller； for they soon
got past the procession。
〃The greatest miracle；〃 said he； 〃in connection with this whole
matter； has beenso at least it seems to menot the ascent of the
Sunchild with his bride； but the readiness with which the people
generally acknowledged its miraculous character。 I was one of
those that witnessed the ascent； but I saw no signs that the crowd
appreciated its significance。 They were astounded； but they did
not fall down and worship。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the other； 〃but you forget the long drought and the rain
that the Sunchild immediately prevailed on the air…god to send us。
He had announced himself as about to procure it for us； it was on
this ground that the King assented to the preparation of those
material means that were necessary before the horses of the sun
could attach themselves to the chariot into which the balloon was
immediately transformed。 Those horses might not be defiled by
contact with this gross earth。 I too witnessed the ascent； at the
moment； I grant you； I saw neither chariot nor horses； and almost
all those present shared my own temporary blindness； the whole
action from the moment when the balloon left the earth； moved so
rapidly； that we were flustered； and hardly knew what it was that
we were really seeing。 It was not till two or three years later
that I found the scene presenting itself to my soul's imaginary
sight in the full splendour which was no doubt witnessed； but not
apprehended； by my bodily vision。〃
〃There；〃 said my father； 〃you confirm an opinion that I have long
held。Nothing is so misleading as the testimony of eye…witnesses。〃
〃A spiritual enlightenment from within；〃 returned Mr。 Balmy； 〃is
more to be relied on than any merely physical affluence from
external objects。 Now； when I shut my eyes； I see the balloon
ascend a little way； but almost immediately the heavens open； the
horses descend； the balloon is transformed； and the glorious
pageant careers onward till it vanishes into the heaven of heavens。
Hundreds with whom I have conversed assure me that their experience
has been the same as mine。 Has yours been different？〃
〃Oh no； not at all； but I always see some storks circling round the
balloon before I see any horses。〃
〃How strange！ I have heard others also say that they saw the
storks you mention； but let me do my utmost I cannot force them
into my mental image of the scene。 This shows； as you were saying
just now； how incomplete the testimony of an eye…witness often is。
It is quite possible that the storks were there； but the horses and
the chariot have impressed themselves more vividly on my mind than
anything else has。〃
〃Quite so； and I am not without hope that even at this late hour
some further details may yet be revealed to us。〃
〃It is possible； but we should be as cautious in accepting any
fresh details as in rejecting them。 Should some heresy obtain wide
acceptance； visions will perhaps be granted to us that may be
useful in refuting it； but otherwise I expect nothing more。〃
〃Neither do I； but I have heard people say that inasmuch as the
Sunchild said he was going to interview the air…god in order to
send us rain； he was more probably son to the air…god than to the
sun。 Now here is a heresy which〃
〃But； my dear sir；〃 said Mr。 Balmy； interrupting him with great
warmth； 〃he spoke of his father in heaven as endowed with
attributes far exceeding any that can be conceivably ascribed to
the air…god。 The power of the air…god does not extend beyond our
own atmosphere。〃
〃Pray believe me；〃 said my father； who saw by the ecstatic gleam in
his companion's eye that there was nothing to be done but to agree
with him； 〃that I accept〃
〃Hear me to the end；〃 replied Mr。 Balmy。 〃Who ever heard the
Sunchild claim relationship with the air…god？ He could command the
air…god； and evidently did so； halting no doubt for this beneficent
purpose on his journey towards his ultimate destination。 Can we
suppose that the air…god； who had evidently intended withholding
the rain from us for an indefinite period； should have so
immediately relinquished his designs against us at the intervention
of any less exalted personage than the sun's own offspring？
Impossible！〃
〃I quite agree with you；〃 exclaimed my father； 〃it is out of the〃
〃Let me finish what I have to say。 When the rain came so copiously
for days； even those who had not seen the miraculous ascent found
its consequences come so directly home to them； that they had no
difficulty in accepting the report of others。 There was not a
farmer or cottager in the land but heaved a sigh of relief at
rescue from impending ruin； and they all knew it was the Sunchild
who had promised the King that he would make the air…god send it。
So abundantly； you will remember； did it come； that we had to pray
to him to stop it； which in his own good time he was pleased to
do。〃
〃I remember；〃 said my father； who was at last able to edge in a
word； 〃that it nearly flooded me out of house and home。 And yet；
in spite of all this； I hear that there are many at Bridgeford who
are still hardened unbelievers。〃
〃Alas！ you speak too truly。 Bridgeford and the Musical Banks for
the first three years fought tooth and nail to blind those whom it
was their first duty to enlighten。 I was a Professor of the
hypothetical language； and you may perhaps remember how I was
driven from my chair on account of the fearlessness with which I
expounded the deeper mysteries of Sunchildism。〃
〃Yes； I remember well how cruelly〃 but my father was not allowed
to get beyond 〃cruelly。〃
〃It was I who explained why the Sunchild had represented himself as
belonging to a people in many respects analogous to our own； when
no such people can have existed。 It was I who detected that the
supposed nation spoken of by the Sunchild was an invention designed
in order to give us instruction by the light of which we might more
easily remodel our institutions。 I have sometimes thought that my
gift of interpretation was vouchsafed to me in recognition of the
humble services that I was hereby allowed to render。 By the way；
you have received no illumination this morning； have you？〃
〃I never do； sir； when I am in the company of one whose
conversation I find supremely interesting。 But you were telling me
about Bridgeford： I live hundreds of miles from Bridgeford； and
have never understood the suddenness； and completeness； with which
men like Professors Hanky and Panky and Dr。 Downie changed front。
Do they believe as you and I do； or did they merely go with the
times？ I spent a couple of hours with Hanky and Panky only two
evenings ago； and was not so much impressed as I could have wished
with the depth of their religious fervour。〃
〃They are sincere nowmore especially Hankybut I cannot think I
am judging them harshly； if I say that they were not so at first。
Even now； I fear； that they are more carnally than spiritually
minded。 See how they have fought for the aggrandisement of their
own order。 It is mainly their doing that the Musical Banks have
usurped the spiritual authority formerly exercised by the
straighteners。〃
〃But the straighteners；〃 said my father； 〃could not co…