erewhon revisited-第39章
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happened； but they did not happen。〃
〃And you are not yet quite twenty？〃
〃No； but I am son to my motherand；〃 he added； 〃to one who can
stretch a point or two in the way of honesty as well as other
people。〃
Having said this with a laugh； he again took my father's hand
between both his； and went back to his officewhere he set himself
to think out the course he intended to take when dealing with the
Professors。
CHAPTER XVIII： YRAM INVITES DR。 DOWNIE AND MRS。 HUMDRUM TO
LUNCHEONA PASSAGE AT ARMS BETWEEN HER AND HANKY IS AMICABLY
ARRANGED
The disturbance caused by my father's outbreak was quickly
suppressed； for George got him out of the temple almost
immediately； it was bruited about； however； that the Sunchild had
come down from the palace of the sun； but had disappeared as soon
as any one had tried to touch him。 In vain did Hanky try to put
fresh life into his sermon； its back had been broken； and large
numbers left the church to see what they could hear outside； or
failing information； to discourse more freely with one another。
Hanky did his best to quiet his hearers when he found that he could
not infuriate them；
〃This poor man；〃 he said； 〃is already known to me； as one of those
who have deluded themselves into believing that they are the
Sunchild。 I have known of his so declaring himself； more than
once； in the neighbourhood of Bridgeford； and others have not
infrequently done the same； I did not at first recognize him； and
regret that the shock of horror his words occasioned me should have
prompted me to suggest violence against him。 Let this unfortunate
affair pass from your minds； and let me again urge upon you the
claims of the Sunchild Evidence Society。〃
The audience on hearing that they were to be told more about the
Sunchild Evidence Society melted away even more rapidly than
before； and the sermon fizzled out to an ignominious end quite
unworthy of its occasion。
About half…past twelve； the service ended； and Hanky went to the
robing…room to take off his vestments。 Yram； the Mayor； and Panky；
waited for him at the door opposite to that through which my father
had been taken； while waiting； Yram scribbled off two notes in
pencil； one to Dr。 Downie； and another to Mrs。 Humdrum； begging
them to come to lunch at oncefor it would be one o'clock before
they could reach the Mayor's。 She gave these notes to the Mayor；
and bade him bring both the invited guests along with him。
The Mayor left just as Hanky was coming towards her。 〃This；
Mayoress；〃 he said with some asperity； 〃is a very serious business。
It has ruined my collection。 Half the people left the temple
without giving anything at all。 You seem；〃 he added in a tone the
significance of which could not be mistaken； 〃to be very fond；
Mayoress； of this Mr。 Higgs。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Yram； 〃I am； I always liked him； and I am sorry for
him； but he is not the person I am most sorry for at this moment
he； poor man； is not going to be horsewhipped within the next
twenty minutes。〃 And she spoke the 〃he〃 in italics。
〃I do not understand you； Mayoress。〃
〃My husband will explain； as soon as I have seen him。〃
〃Hanky；〃 said Panky； 〃you must withdraw； and apologise at once。〃
Hanky was not slow to do this； and when he had disavowed
everything； withdrawn everything； apologised for everything； and
eaten humble pie to Yram's satisfaction； she smiled graciously； and
held out her hand； which Hanky was obliged to take。
〃And now； Professor；〃 she said； 〃let me return to your remark that
this is a very serious business； and let me also claim a woman's
privilege of being listened to whenever she chooses to speak。 I
propose； then； that we say nothing further about this matter till
after luncheon。 I have asked Dr。 Downie and Mrs。 Humdrum to join
us〃
〃Why Mrs。 Humdrum？〃 interrupted Hanky none too pleasantly； for he
was still furious about the duel that had just taken place between
himself and his hostess。
〃My dear Professor；〃 said Yram good…humouredly； 〃pray say all you
have to say and I will continue。〃
Hanky was silent。
〃I have asked；〃 resumed Yram； 〃Dr。 Downie and Mrs。 Humdrum to join；
us； and after luncheon we can discuss the situation or no as you
may think proper。 Till then let us say no more。 Luncheon will be
over by two o'clock or soon after； and the banquet will not begin
till seven； so we shall have plenty of time。〃
Hanky looked black and said nothing。 As for Panky he was morally
in a state of collapse； and did not count。
Hardly had they reached the Mayor's house when the Mayor also
arrived with Dr。 Downie and Mrs。 Humdrum； both of whom had seen and
recognised my father in spite of his having dyed his hair。 Dr。
Downie had met him at supper in Mr。 Thims's rooms when he had
visited Bridgeford； and naturally enough had observed him closely。
Mrs。 Humdrum； as I have already said； had seen him more than once
when he was in prison。 She and Dr。 Downie were talking earnestly
over the strange reappearance of one whom they had believed long
since dead； but Yram imposed on them the same silence that she had
already imposed on the Professors。
〃Professor Hanky；〃 said she to Mrs。 Humdrum； in Hanky's hearing；
〃is a little alarmed at my having asked you to join our secret
conclave。 He is not married； and does not know how well a woman
can hold her tongue when she chooses。 I should have told you all
that passed； for I mean to follow your advice； so I thought you had
better hear everything yourself。〃
Hanky still looked black； but he said nothing。 Luncheon was
promptly served； and done justice to in spite of much
preoccupation； for if there is one thing that gives a better
appetite than another； it is a Sunday morning's service with a
charity sermon to follow。 As the guests might not talk on the
subject they wanted to talk about； and were in no humour to speak
of anything else； they gave their whole attention to the good
things that were before them； without so much as a thought about
reserving themselves for the evening's banquet。 Nevertheless； when
luncheon was over； the Professors were in no more genial；
manageable； state of mind than they had been when it began。
When the servants had left the room； Yram said to Hanky； 〃You saw
the prisoner； and he was the man you met on Thursday night？〃
〃Certainly； he was wearing the forbidden dress and he had many
quails in his possession。 There is no doubt also that he was a
foreign devil。〃
At this point； it being now nearly half…past two； George came in；
and took a seat next to Mrs。 Humdrumbetween her and his mother
who of course sat at the head of the table with the Mayor opposite
to her。 On one side of the table sat the Professors； and on the
other Dr。 Downie； Mrs。 Humdrum； and George； who had heard the last
few words that Hanky had spoken。
CHAPTER XIX： A COUNCIL IS HELD AT THE MAYOR'S； IN THE COURSE OF
WHICH GEORGE TURNS THE TABLES ON THE PROFESSORS
〃Now who；〃 said Yram； 〃is this unfortunate creature to be； when he
is brought up to…morrow morning； on the charge of poaching？〃
〃It is not necessary；〃 said Hanky severely； 〃that he should be
brought up for poaching。 He is a foreign devil； and as such your
son is bound to fling him without trial into the Blue Pool。 Why
bring a smaller charge when you must inflict the death penalty on a
more serious one？ I have already told you that I shall feel it my
duty to report the matter at headquarters； unless I am satisfied
that the death penalty has been inflicted。〃
〃Of course；〃 said George； 〃we must all of us do our duty； and I
shall not shrink from minebut I have arrested this man on a
charge of poaching； and must give my reasons； the case cannot be
dropped； and it must be heard in public。 Am I； or am I not； to
have the sworn depositions of both you gentlemen to the fact that
the prisoner is the man you saw with quails in his possession？ If
you can depose to this he will be convicted； for there can be no
doubt he killed the birds himself。 The least penalty my father can
inflict is twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour； and he
must undergo this sentence before I can Blue…Pool him。
〃Then comes th
