straighteners。〃
〃But the straighteners；〃 said my father； 〃could not co…exist with
Sunchildism； and it is hard to see how the claims of the Banks can
be reasonably gainsaid。〃
〃Perhaps； and after all the Banks are our main bulwark against the
evils that I fear will follow from the repeal of the laws against
machinery。 This has already led to the development of a
materialism which minimizes the miraculous element in the
Sunchild's ascent； as our own people minimize the material means
that were the necessary prologue to the miraculous。〃
Thus did they converse； but I will not pursue their conversation
further。 It will be enough to say that in further floods of talk
Mr。 Balmy confirmed what George had said about the Banks having
lost their hold upon the masses。 That hold was weak even in the
time of my father's first visit； but when the people saw the
hostility of the Banks to a movement which far the greater number
of them accepted； it seemed as though both Bridgeford and the Banks
were doomed； for Bridgeford was heart and soul with the Banks。
Hanky； it appeared； though under thirty； and not yet a Professor；
grasped the situation； and saw that Bridgeford must either move
with the times； or go。 He consulted some of the most sagacious
Heads of Houses and Professors； with the result that a committee of
enquiry was appointed； which in due course reported that the
evidence for the Sunchild's having been the only child of the sun
was conclusive。 It was about this timethat is to say some three
years after his ascentthat 〃Higgsism；〃 as it had been hitherto
called； became 〃Sunchildism；〃 and 〃Higgs〃 the 〃Sunchild。〃
My father also learned the King's fury at his escape （for he would
call it nothing else） with my mother。 This was so great that
though he had hitherto been； and had ever since proved himself to
be； a humane ruler； he ordered the instant execution of all who had
been concerned in making either the gas or the balloon； and his
cruel orders were carried out within a couple of hours。 At the
same time he ordered the destruction by fire of the Queen's
workshops； and of all remnants of any materials used in making the
balloon。 It is said the Queen was so much grieved and outraged
（for it was her doing that the material ground…work； so to speak；
had been provided for the miracle） that she wept night and day
without ceasing three whole months； and never again allowed her
husband to embrace her； till he had also embraced Sunchildism。
When the rain came； public indignation at the King's action was
raised almost to revolution pitch； and the King was frightened at
once by the arrival of the promised downfall and the displeasure of
his subjects。 But he still held out； and it was only after
concessions on the part of the Bridgeford committee； that he at
last consented to the absorption of Sunchildism into the Musical
Bank system； and to its establishment as the religion of the
country。 The far…reaching changes in Erewhonian institutions with
which the reader is already acquainted followed as a matter of
course。
〃I know the difficulty；〃 said my father presently； 〃with which the
King was persuaded to allow the way in which the Sunchild's dress
should be worn to be a matter of opinion； not dogma。 I see we have
adopted different fashions。 Have you any decided opinions upon the
subject？〃
〃I have； but I will ask you not to press me for them。 Let this
matter remain as the King has left it。〃
My father thought that he might now venture on a shot。 So he said；
〃I have always understood； too； that the King forced the repeal of
the laws against machinery on the Bridgeford committee； as another
condition of his assent？〃
〃Certainly。 He insisted on this； partly to gratify the Queen； who
had not yet forgiven him； and who had set her heart on having a
watch； and partly because he expected that a development of the
country's resources； in consequence of a freer use of machinery；
would bring more money into his exchequer。 Bridgeford fought hard
and wisely here； but they had gained so much by the Musical Bank
Managers being recognised as the authorised exponents of
Sunchildism； that they thought it wise to yieldapparently with a
good graceand thus gild the pill which his Majesty was about to
swallow。 But even then they feared the consequences that are
already beginning to appear； all which； if I mistake not； will
assume far more serious proportions in the future。〃
〃See；〃 said my father suddenly； 〃we are coming to another
procession； and they have got some banners； let us walk a little
quicker and overtake it。〃
〃Horrible！〃 replied Mr。 Balmy fiercely。 〃You must be short…
sighted； or you could never have called my attention to it。 Let us
get it behind us as fast as possible； and not so much as look at
it。〃
〃Oh yes； yes；〃 said my father； 〃it is indeed horrible； I had not
seen what it was。〃
He had not the faintest idea what the matter was； but he let Mr。
Balmy walk a little ahead of him； so that he could see the banners；
the most important of which he found to display a balloon pure and
simple； with one figure in the car。 True； at the top of the banner
there was a smudge which might be taken for a little chariot； and
some very little horses； but the balloon was the only thing
insisted on。 As for the procession； it consisted entirely of men；
whom a smaller banner announced to be workmen from the Fairmead
iron and steel works。 There was a third banner； which said；
〃Science as well as Sunchildism。〃
CHAPTER XV： THE TEMPLE IS DEDICATED TO MY FATHER； AND CERTAIN
EXTRACTS ARE READ FROM HIS SUPPOSED SAYINGS
〃It is enough to break one's heart；〃 said Mr。 Balmy when he had
outstripped the procession； and my father was again beside him。
〃'As well as；' indeed！ We know what that means。 Wherever there is
a factory there is a hot…bed of unbelief。 'As well as'！ Why it is
a defiance。〃
〃What； I wonder；〃 said my father innocently； 〃must the Sunchild's
feelings be； as he looks down on this procession。 For there can be
little doubt that he is doing so。〃
〃There can be no doubt at all；〃 replied Mr。 Balmy； 〃that he is
taking note of it； and of all else that is happening this day in
Erewhon。 Heaven grant that he be not so angered as to chastise the
innocent as well as the guilty。〃
〃I doubt；〃 said my father； 〃his being so angry even with this
procession； as you think he is。〃
Here； fearing an outburst of indignation； he found an excuse for
rapidly changing the conversation。 Moreover he was angry with
himself for playing upon this poor good creature。 He had not done
so of malice prepense； he had begun to deceive him； because he
believed himself to be in danger if he spoke the truth； and though
he knew the part to be an unworthy one； he could not escape from
continuing to play it； if he was to discover things that he was not
likely to discover otherwise。
Often； however； he had checked himself。 It had been on the tip of
his tongue to be illuminated with the words；
Sukoh and Sukop were two pretty men；
They lay in bed till the clock struck ten；
and to follow it up with；
Now with the drops of this most Yknarc time
My love looks fresh；
in order to see how Mr。 Balmy would interpret the assertion here
made about the Professors； and what statement he would connect with
his own Erewhonian name； but he had restrained himself。
The more he saw； and the more he heard； the more shocked he was at
the mischief he had done。 See how he had unsettled the little mind
this poor； dear； good gentleman had ever had； till he was now a
mere slave to preconception。 And how many more had he not in like
manner brought to the verge of idiocy？ How many again had he not
made more corrupt than they were before； even though he had not
deceived themas for example； Hanky and Panky。 And the young？ how
could such a lie as that a chariot and four horses came down out of
the clouds enter seriously into the life of any one； without
distorting his mental vision； if not ruining it？
And yet； the more he reflected； the more he also saw that he could
do no good by saying who he was。 Matters had gone so far that
though he spoke with the tongues of men and angels he would not be
listened to； and even if he were； it might easily prove that he had
added harm to that which he had done already。 No。 As soon as he
had heard Hanky's sermon； he would begin to work his way back； and
if the Professors had not yet removed their purchase； he would
recover it； but he would pin a bag containing about five pounds
worth of nuggets on to the tree in which they had hidden it； and；
if possible； he would find some way of sending the rest to George。
He let Mr。 Balmy continue talking； glad that this gentleman
required little more than monosyllabic answers； and still more
glad； in spite of some agitation； to see that they were now nearing
Sunch'ston； towards which a great concourse of people was hurrying
from Clearwater； and more distant towns on the main road。 Many
whole families were coming；the fathers and mothers carrying the
smaller children； and also their own shoes and stockings； which
they would put on when nearing the town。 Most of the pilgrims
brought provisions with them。 All wore European costumes； but only
a few of them wore it reversed； and these were almost invariably of
higher social status than the great body of the people； who were
mainly peasants。
When they reached the town； my father was relieved at finding that
Mr。 Balmy had friends on whom he wished to call before going to the
temple。 He asked my father to come with him； but my father said
that he too had friends； and would leave him for the present； while
hoping to meet him again later in the day。 The two； therefore；
shook hands with great effusion； and went their several ways。 My
father's way took him first into a confectioner's shop； where he
bought a couple of Sunchild buns； which he put into his pocket； and
refreshed himself with a bottle of Sunchild cordial and water。 All
shops except those dealing in refreshments were closed； and the
town was gaily decorated with flags and flowers； often festooned
into words or emblems proper f