erewhon revisited-第25章
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two thousand years。 After a hundred years it may generally come
down； though it will still be under a cloud。 After two thousand
years it may be mentioned in any society without holding up of
hands in horror。 Our sense of moral guilt varies inversely as the
squares of its distance in time and space from ourselves。
Not so with heroism； this loses no lustre through time and
distance。 Good is gold； it is rare； but it will not tarnish。 Evil
is like dirty waterplentiful and foul； but it will run itself
clear of taint。
The Doctor having thus expatiated on his own opinions concerning
heaven and hell； concluded by tilting at those which all right…
minded people hold among ourselves。 I shall adhere to my
determination not to reproduce his arguments； suffice it that
though less flippant than those of the young student whom I have
already referred to； they were more plausible； and though I could
easily demolish them； the reader will probably prefer that I should
not set them up for the mere pleasure of knocking them down。 Here；
then； I take my leave of good Dr。 Gurgoyle and his pamphlet；
neither can I interrupt my story further by saying anything about
the other two pamphlets purchased by my father。
CHAPTER XII： GEORGE FAILS TO FIND MY FATHER； WHEREON YRAM CAUTIONS
THE PROFESSORS
On the morning after the interview with her son described in a
foregoing chapter； Yram told her husband what she had gathered from
the Professors； and said that she was expecting Higgs every moment；
inasmuch as she was confident that George would soon find him。
〃Do what you like； my dear；〃 said the Mayor。 〃I shall keep out of
the way； for you will manage him better without me。 You know what
I think of you。〃
He then went unconcernedly to his breakfast； at which the
Professors found him somewhat taciturn。 Indeed they set him down
as one of the dullest and most uninteresting people they had ever
met。
When George returned and told his mother that though he had at last
found the inn at which my father had slept； my father had left and
could not be traced； she was disconcerted； but after a few minutes
she said …
〃He will come back here for the dedication； but there will be such
crowds that we may not see him till he is inside the temple； and it
will save trouble if we can lay hold on him sooner。 Therefore；
ride either to Clearwater or Fairmead； and see if you can find him。
Try Fairmead first； it is more out of the way。 If you cannot hear
of him there； come back； get another horse； and try Clearwater。 If
you fail here too； we must give him up； and look out for him in the
temple to…morrow morning。〃
〃Are you going to say anything to the Professors？〃
〃Not if you can bring Higgs here before night…fall。 If you cannot
do this I must talk it over with my husband； I shall have some
hours in which to make up my mind。 Now gothe sooner the better。〃
It was nearly eleven； and in a few minutes George was on his way。
By noon he was at Fairmead； where he tried all the inns in vain for
news of a person answering the description of my fatherfor not
knowing what name my father might choose to give； he could trust
only to description。 He concluded that since my father could not
be heard of in Fairmead by one o'clock （as it nearly was by the
time he had been round all the inns） he must have gone somewhere
else； he therefore rode back to Sunch'ston； made a hasty lunch； got
a fresh horse； and rode to Clearwater； where he met with no better
success。 At all the inns both at Fairmead and Clearwater he left
word that if the person he had described came later in the day； he
was to be told that the Mayoress particularly begged him to return
at once to Sunch'ston； and come to the Mayor's house。
Now all the time that George was at Fairmead my father was inside
the Musical Bank； which he had entered before going to any inn。
Here he had been sitting for nearly a couple of hours； resting；
dreaming； and reading Bishop Gurgoyle's pamphlet。 If he had left
the Bank five minutes earlier； he would probably have been seen by
George in the main street of Fairmeadas he found out on reaching
the inn which he selected and ordering dinner。
He had hardly got inside the house before the waiter told him that
young Mr。 Strong； the Ranger from Sunch'ston； had been enquiring
for him and had left a message for him； which was duly delivered。
My father； though in reality somewhat disquieted； showed no
uneasiness； and said how sorry he was to have missed seeing Mr。
Strong。 〃But；〃 he added； 〃it does not much matter； I need not go
back this afternoon； for I shall be at Sunch'ston to…morrow morning
and will go straight to the Mayor's。〃
He had no suspicion that he was discovered； but he was a good deal
puzzled。 Presently he inclined to the opinion that George； still
believing him to be Professor Panky； had wanted to invite him to
the banquet on the following dayfor he had no idea that Hanky and
Panky were staying with the Mayor and Mayoress。 Or perhaps the
Mayor and his wife did not like so distinguished a man's having
been unable to find a lodging in Sunch'ston； and wanted him to stay
with them。 Ill satisfied as he was with any theory he could form；
he nevertheless reflected that he could not do better than stay
where he was for the night； inasmuch as no one would be likely to
look for him a second time at Fairmead。 He therefore ordered his
room at once。
It was nearly seven before George got back to Sunch'ston。 In the
meantime Yram and the Mayor had considered the question whether
anything was to be said to the Professors or no。 They were
confident that my father would not commit himselfwhy； indeed；
should he have dyed his hair and otherwise disguised himself； if he
had not intended to remain undiscovered？ Oh no； the probability
was that if nothing was said to the Professors now； nothing need
ever be said； for my father might be escorted back to the statues
by George on the Sunday evening and be told that he was not to
return。 Moreover； even though something untoward were to happen
after all； the Professors would have no reason for thinking that
their hostess had known of the Sunchild's being in Sunch'ston。
On the other hand； they were her guests； and it would not be
handsome to keep Hanky； at any rate； in the dark； when the
knowledge that the Sunchild was listening to every word he said
might make him modify his sermon not a little。 It might or it
might not； but that was a matter for him； not her。 The only
question for her was whether or no it would be sharp practice to
know what she knew and say nothing about it。 Her husband hated
finesse as much as she did； and they settled it that though the
question was a nice one； the more proper thing to do would be to
tell the Professors what it might so possibly concern one or both
of them to know。
On George's return without news of my father； they found he thought
just as they did； so it was arranged that they should let the
Professors dine in peace； but tell them about the Sunchild's being
again in Erewhon as soon as dinner was over。
〃Happily；〃 said George； 〃they will do no harm。 They will wish
Higgs's presence to remain unknown as much as we do； and they will
be glad that he should be got out of the country immediately。〃
〃Not so； my dear；〃 said Yram。 〃'Out of the country' will not do
for those people。 Nothing short of 'out of the world' will satisfy
them。〃
〃That；〃 said George promptly； 〃must not be。〃
〃Certainly not； my dear； but that is what they will want。 I do not
like having to tell them； but I am afraid we must。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said the Mayor； laughing。 〃Tell them； and let us see
what happens。〃
They then dressed for dinner； where Hanky and Panky were the only
guests。 When dinner was over Yram sent away her other children；
George alone remaining。 He sat opposite the Professors； while the
Mayor and Yram were at the two ends of the table。
〃I am afraid； dear Professor Hanky；〃 said Yram； 〃that I was not
quite open with you last night； but I wanted time to think things
over； and I know you will forgive me when you remember what a
number of guests I had to attend to。〃
