erewhon revisited-第33章
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could not conceive。
On the right of the table there was a reliquary （b） of glass； much
adorned with gold； or more probably gilding； for gold was so scarce
in Erewhon that gilding would be as expensive as a thin plate of
gold would be in Europe： but there is no knowing。 The reliquary
was attached to a portable stand some five feet high； and inside it
was the relic already referred to。 The crowd was so great that my
father could not get near enough to see what it contained； but I
may say here； that when； two days later； circumstances compelled
him to have a close look at it； he saw that it consisted of about a
dozen fine coprolites； deposited by some antediluvian creature or
creatures； which； whatever else they may have been； were certainly
not horses。
In the apse there were a few cross benches （G and H） on either
side； with an open space between them； which was partly occupied by
the President's seat already mentioned。 Those on the right； as one
looked towards the apse； were for the Managers and Cashiers of the
Bank； while those on the left were for their wives and daughters。
In the centre of the nave； only a few feet in front of the steps
leading to the apse； was a handsome pulpit and lectern （d）。 The
pulpit was raised some feet above the ground； and was so roomy that
the preacher could walk about in it。 On either side of it there
were cross benches with backs （E and F）； those on the right were
reserved for the Mayor； civic functionaries； and distinguished
visitors； while those on the left were for their wives and
daughters。
Benches with backs （A； B； C； D） were placed about half…way down
both nave and aislesthose in the nave being divided so as to
allow a free passage between them。 The rest of the temple was open
space； about which people might walk at their will。 There were
side doors （e； j； and f； h） at the upper and lower end of each
aisle。 Over the main entrance was a gallery in which singers were
placed。
As my father was worming his way among the crowd； which was now
very dense； he was startled at finding himself tapped lightly on
the shoulder； and turning round in alarm was confronted by the
beaming face of George。
〃How do you do； Professor Panky？〃 said the youthwho had decided
thus to address him。 〃What are you doing here among the common
people？ Why have you not taken your place in one of the seats
reserved for our distinguished visitors？ I am afraid they must be
all full by this time； but I will see what I can do for you。 Come
with me。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said my father。 His heart beat so fast that this was
all he could say； and he followed meek as a lamb。
With some difficulty the two made their way to the right…hand
corner seats of block C； for every seat in the reserved block was
taken。 The places which George wanted for my father and for
himself were already occupied by two young men of about eighteen
and nineteen； both of them well…grown； and of prepossessing
appearance。 My father saw by the truncheons they carried that they
were special constables； but he took no notice of this； for there
were many others scattered about the crowd。 George whispered a few
words to one of them； and to my father's surprise they both gave up
their seats； which appear on the plan as （k）。
It afterwards transpired that these two young men were George's
brothers； who by his desire had taken the seats some hours ago； for
it was here that George had determined to place himself and my
father if he could find him。 He chose these places because they
would be near enough to let his mother （who was at i； in the middle
of the front row of block E； to the left of the pulpit） see my
father without being so near as to embarrass him； he could also see
and be seen by Hanky； and hear every word of his sermon； but
perhaps his chief reason had been the fact that they were not far
from the side…door at the upper end of the right…hand aisle； while
there was no barrier to interrupt rapid egress should this prove
necessary。
It was now high time that they should sit down； which they
accordingly did。 George sat at the end of the bench； and thus had
my father on his left。 My father was rather uncomfortable at
seeing the young men whom they had turned out； standing against a
column close by； but George said that this was how it was to be；
and there was nothing to be done but to submit。 The young men
seemed quite happy； which puzzled my father； who of course had no
idea that their action was preconcerted。
Panky was in the first row of block F； so that my father could not
see his face except sometimes when he turned round。 He was sitting
on the Mayor's right hand； while Dr。 Downie was on his left； he
looked at my father once or twice in a puzzled way； as though he
ought to have known him； but my father did not think he recognised
him。 Hanky was still with President Gurgoyle and others in the
robing…room； N； Yram had already taken her seat： my father knew
her in a moment； though he pretended not to do so when George
pointed her out to him。 Their eyes met for a second； Yram turned
hers quickly away； and my father could not see a trace of
recognition in her face。 At no time during the whole ceremony did
he catch her looking at him again。
〃Why； you stupid man；〃 she said to him later on in the day with a
quick； kindly smile； 〃I was looking at you all the time。 As soon
as the President or Hanky began to talk about you I knew you would
stare at him； and then I could look。 As soon as they left off
talking about you I knew you would be looking at me； unless you
went to sleepand as I did not know which you might be doing； I
waited till they began to talk about you again。〃
My father had hardly taken note of his surroundings when the choir
began singing； accompanied by a few feeble flutes and lutes； or
whatever the name of the instrument should be； but with no violins；
for he knew nothing of the violin； and had not been able to teach
the Erewhonians anything about it。 The voices were all in unison；
and the tune they sang was one which my father had taught Yram to
sing； but he could not catch the words。
As soon as the singing began； a procession； headed by the venerable
Dr。 Gurgoyle； President of the Musical Banks of the province； began
to issue from the robing…room； and move towards the middle of the
apse。 The President was sumptuously dressed； but he wore no mitre；
nor anything to suggest an English or European Bishop。 The Vice…
President； Head Manager； Vice…Manager； and some Cashiers of the
Bank； now ranged themselves on either side of him； and formed an
impressive group as they stood； gorgeously arrayed； at the top of
the steps leading from the apse to the nave。 Here they waited till
the singers left off singing。
When the litany； or hymn； or whatever it should be called； was
over； the Head Manager left the President's side and came down to
the lectern in the nave； where he announced himself as about to
read some passages from the Sunchild's Sayings。 Perhaps because it
was the first day of the year according to their new calendar； the
reading began with the first chapter； the whole of which was read。
My father told me that he quite well remembered having said the
last verse； which he still held as true； hardly a word of the rest
was ever spoken by him； though he recognised his own influence in
almost all of it。 The reader paused； with good effect； for about
five seconds between each paragraph； and read slowly and very
clearly。 The chapter was as follows：…
These are the words of the Sunchild about God and man。 He said …
1。 God is the baseless basis of all thoughts； things； and deeds。
2。 So that those who say that there is a God； lie； unless they
also mean that there is no God； and those who say that there is no
God； lie； unless they also mean that there is a God。
3。 It is very true to say that man is made after the likeness of
God； and yet it is very untrue to say this。
4。 God lives and moves in every atom throughout the universe。
Therefore it is wrong to think of Him as 'Him' and 'He；' save as by
the clutching of a drowning man at a straw。
5。 God is God to us only so long
