erewhon revisited-第58章

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when　I　was　a　private　man。　　A　little　indiscretion　on　my　part　would
plunge　the　country　in　civil　war。　　Our　engineers　and　so…called　men
of　science　are　sturdily　begging　for　endowments；　and　steadily
claiming　to　have　a　hand　in　every　pie　that　is　baked　from　one　end　of
the　country　to　the　other。　　The　missionaries　are　buying　up　all　our
silver；　and　a　change　in　the　relative　values　of　gold　and　silver　is
in　progress　of　which　none　of　us　foresee　the　end。

〃The　King　and　I　both　think　that　annexation　by　England；　or　a　British
Protectorate；　would　be　the　saving　of　us；　for　we　have　no　army　worth
the　name；　and　if　you　do　not　take　us　over　some　one　else　soon　will。
The　King　has　urged　me　to　send　for　you。　　If　you　come　（do！　do！　do！）
you　had　better　come　by　way　of　Erewhemos；　which　is　now　in　monthly
communication　with　Southampton。　　If　you　will　write　me　that　you　are
coming　I　will　meet　you　at　the　port；　and　bring　you　with　me　to　our
own　capital；　where　the　King　will　be　overjoyed　to　see　you。〃

*　*　*

The　rest　of　the　letter　was　filled　with　all　sorts　of　news　which
interested　me；　but　would　require　chapters　of　explanation　before
they　could　become　interesting　to　the　reader。

The　letter　wound　up：…

〃You　may　publish　now　whatever　you　like；　whenever　you　like。

〃Write　to　me　by　way　of　Erewhemos；　care　of　the　Right　Reverend　the
Lord　Bishop；　and　say　which　way　you　will　come。　　If　you　prefer　the
old　road；　we　are　bound　to　be　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　statues　by
the　beginning　of　March。　　My　next　brother　is　now　Ranger；　and　could
meet　you　at　the　statues　with　permit　and　luncheon；　and　more　of　that
white　wine　than　ever　you　will　be　able　to　drink。　　Only　let　me　know
what　you　will　do。

〃I　should　tell　you　that　the　old　railway　which　used　to　run　from
Clearwater　to　the　capital；　and　which；　as　you　know；　was　allowed　to
go　to　ruin；　has　been　reconstructed　at　an　outlay　far　less　than　might
have　been　expectedfor　the　bridges　had　been　maintained　for
ordinary　carriage　traffic。　　The　journey；　therefore；　from　Sunch'ston
to　the　capital　can　now　be　done　in　less　than　forty　hours。　　On　the
whole；　however；　I　recommend　you　to　come　by　way　of　Erewhemos。　　If
you　start；　as　I　think　possible；　without　writing　from　England；
Bishop　Kahabuka's　palace　is　only　eight　miles　from　the　port；　and　he
will　give　you　every　information　about　your　further　journeya
distance　of　less　than　a　couple　of　hundred　miles。　　But　I　should
prefer　to　meet　you　myself。

〃My　dearest　brother；　I　charge　you　by　the　memory　of　our　common
father；　and　even　more　by　that　of　those　three　hours　that　linked　you
to　me　for　ever；　and　which　I　would　fain　hope　linked　me　also　to
yourselfcome　over；　if　by　any　means　you　can　do　socome　over　and
help　us。

〃GEORGE　STRONG。〃


〃My　dear；〃　said　I　to　my　wife　who　was　at　the　other　end　of　the
breakfast　table；　〃I　shall　have　to　translate　this　letter　to　you；　and
then　you　will　have　to　help　me　to　begin　packing；　for　I　have　none　too
much　time。　　I　must　see　Alfred；　and　give　him　a　power　of　attorney。
He　will　arrange　with　some　publisher　about　my　book；　and　you　can
correct　the　press。　　Break　the　news　gently　to　the　children；　and　get
along　without　me；　my　dear；　for　six　months　as　well　as　you　can。〃

*　*　*

I　write　this　at　Southampton；　from　which　port　I　sail　to…morrowi。e。
November　15；　1900for　Erewhemos。



Footnotes：

｛1｝　　See　Chapter　X。






End