erewhon revisited-第32章
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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 for the occasion。
My father； it being now a quarter to eleven； made his way towards
the temple； and his heart was clouded with care as he walked along。
Not only was his heart clouded； but his brain also was oppressed；
and he reeled so much on leaving the confectioner's shop； that he
had to catch hold of some railings till the faintness and giddiness
left him。 He knew the feeling to be the same as what he had felt
on the Friday evening； but he had no idea of the cause； and as soon
as the giddiness left him he thought there was nothing the matter
with him。
Turning down a side street that led into the main square of the
town； he found himself opposite the south end of the temple； with
its two lofty towers that flanked the richly decorated main
entrance。 I will not attempt to describe the architecture； for my
father could give me little information on this point。 He only saw
the south front for two or three minutes； and was not impressed by
it； save in so far as it was richly ornamentedevidently at great
expenseand very large。 Even if he had had a longer look； I doubt
whether I should have got more out of him； for he knew nothing of
architecture； and I fear his test whether a building was good or
bad； was whether it looked old and weather…beaten or no。 No matter
what a building was； if it was three or four hundred years old he
liked it； whereas； if it was new； he would look to nothing but
whether it kept the rain out。 Indeed I have heard him say that the
mediaeval sculpture on some of our great cathedrals often only
pleases us because time and weather have set their seals upon it；
and that if we could see it as it was when it left the mason's
hands； we should find it no better than much that is now turned out
in the Euston Road。
The ground plan here given will help the reader to understand the
few following pages more easily。
＋＋
N / a
W＋E / b ＋
S / G H ｜
｜ C ｜ N ｜
＋…＋…＋…＋＋
｜ … I ｜
｜ … ｜
｜ … ｜
｜ o' o' ｜
｜ ｜
｜ E ｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜ ｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜ F ｜
｜ ｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜ ｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜ ｜
｜ ｜
｜ e A o' B C o' D ｜ f
｜ … … … … ｜
｜ … … … … ｜
｜ … … … … ｜
｜ … o' … … o' … ｜
｜ … … … … ｜
｜ … … … … ｜
｜ … … … … ｜
｜ … o' … … o' … ｜
｜ ｜
｜ ｜
｜ ｜
｜ o' o' ｜
｜ ｜
｜ ｜
｜ g ｜ h
｜ o' o' ｜
＋…＋＋…＋
｜ ｜｜ ｜
｜ ｜…M｜ ｜
｜ K ｜｜ L ｜
｜ ｜｜ ｜
｜ ｜｜ ｜
｜ ｜ ｜ ｜
＋…＋ ＋…＋
a。 Table with cashier's seat on either side； and alms…box in
front。 The picture is exhibited on a scaffolding behind it。
b。 The reliquary。
c。 The President's chair。
d。 Pulpit and lectern。
e。 ｝
f。 ｝ Side doors。
g。 ｝
h。 ｝
i。 Yram's seat。
k。 Seats of George and the Sunchild。
o' Pillars。
A； B； C； D； E； F； G； H； blocks of seats。
I。 Steps leading from the apse to the nave。
K and L。 Towers。
M。 Steps and main entrance。
N。 Robing…room。
The building was led up to by a flight of steps （M）； and on
entering it my father found it to consist of a spacious nave； with
two aisles and an apse which was raised some three feet above the
nave and aisles。 There were no transepts。 In the apse there was
the table （a）； with the two bowls of Musical Bank money mentioned
on an earlier page； as also the alms…box in front of it。
At some little distance in front of the table stood the President's
chair （c）； or I might almost call it throne。 It was so placed that
his back would be turned towards the table； which fact again shews
that the table was not regarded as having any greater sanctity than
the rest of the temple。
Behind the table； the picture already spoken of was raised aloft。
There was no balloon； some clouds that hung about the lower part of
the chariot served to conceal the fact that the painter was
uncertain whether it ought to have wheels or no。 The horses were
without driver； and my father thought that some one ought to have
had them in hand； for they were in far too excited a state to be
left safely to themselves。 They had hardly any harness； but what
little there was was enriched with gold bosses。 My mother was in
Erewhonian costume； my father in European； but he wore his clothes
reversed。 Both he and my mother seemed to be bowing graciously to
an unseen crowd beneath them； and in the distance； near the bottom
of the picture； was a fairly accurate representation of the
Sunch'ston new temple。 High up； on the right hand； was a disc；
raised and gilt； to represent the sun； on it； in low relief； there
was an indication of a gorgeous palace； in which； no doubt； the sun
was supposed to live； though how they made it all out my father
could not conceive。
On the right of the table there was a reliquary （b） of glass； much
adorned with go
