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and pestilences； in a sort of blind passion； not caring where they go or
whom they hurt； quite heedless of who is in the way； if she wants to do
anything or go anywhere。 Now； that Madam How can be very terrible
there can be no doubt： but there is no doubt also that； if people choose to
learn； she will teach them to get out of her way whenever she has business
to do which is dangerous to them。 But as for her being cruel and unjust；
those may believe it who like。 You； my dear boys and girls； need not
believe it； if you will only trust to Lady Why； and be sure that Why is the
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
mistress and How the servant； now and for ever。 That Lady Why is
utterly good and kind I know full well； and I believe that； in her case too；
the old proverb holds； 〃Like mistress； like servant；〃 and that the more we
know of Madam How； the more we shall be content with her； and ready to
submit to whatever she does： but not with that stupid resignation which
some folks preach who do not believe in lady Whythat is no resignation
at all。 That is merely saying …
〃What can't be cured Must be endured；〃
like a donkey when he turns his tail to a hail…storm；but the true
resignation； the resignation which is fit for grown people and children
alike； the resignation which is the beginning and the end of all wisdom and
all religion； is to believe that Lady Why knows best； because she herself is
perfectly good； and that as she is mistress over Madam How； so she has a
Master over her； whose nameI say againI leave you to guess。
So now that I have taught you not to be afraid of Madam How； we will
go and watch her at her work； and if we do not understand anything we
see； we will ask her questions。 She will always show us one of her
lesson books if we give her time。 And if we have to wait some time for
her answer； you need not fear catching cold； though it is November； for
she keeps her lesson books scattered about in strange places； and we may
have to walk up and down that hill more than once before we can make
out how she makes the glen。
Wellhow was the glen made？ You shall guess it if you like； and I
will guess too。 You think； perhaps； that an earthquake opened it？
My dear child； we must look before we guess。 Then； after we have
looked a little； and got some grounds for guessing； then we may guess。
And you have no ground for supposing there ever was an earthquake here
strong enough to open that glen。 There may have been one： but we
must guess from what we do know； and not from what we do not。
Guess again。 Perhaps it was there always； from the beginning of the
world？ My dear child； you have no proof of that either。 Everything
round you is changing in shape daily and hourly； as you will find out the
longer you live； and therefore it is most reasonable to suppose that this
glen has changed its shape； as everything else on earth has done。 Besides；
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
I told you not that Madam How had made the glen； but that she was
making it； and as yet has only half finished。 That is my first guess； and
my next guess is that water is making the glenwater； and nothing else。
You open your young eyes。 And I do not blame you。 I looked at
this very glen for fifteen years before I made that guess； and I have looked
at it some ten years since； to make sure that my guess held good。 For
man after all is very blind； my dear boy； and very stupid； and cannot see
what lies under his own feet all day long； and if Lady Why； and He whom
Lady Why obeys； were not very patient and gentle with mankind； they
would have perished off the face of the earth long ago； simply from their
own stupidity。 I； at least； was very stupid in this case； for I had my head
full of earthquakes； and convulsions of nature； and all sorts of prodigies
which never happened to this glen； and so； while I was trying to find what
was not there； I of course found nothing。 But when I put them all out of
my head； and began to look for what was there； I found it at once； and lo
and behold！ I had seen it a thousand times before； and yet never learnt
anything from it； like a stupid man as I was； though what I learnt you may
learn as easily as I did。
And what did I find？
The pond at the bottom of the glen。
You know that pond； of course？ You don't need to go there？ Very
well。 Then if you do； do not you know also that the pond is always
filling up with sand and mud； and that though we clean it out every three
or four years； it always fills again？ Now where does that sand and mud
come from？
Down that stream； of course； which runs out of this bog。 You see it
coming down every time there is a flood； and the stream fouls。
Very well。 Then； said Madam How to me； as soon as I recollected
that； 〃Don't you see； you stupid man； that the stream has made the glen；
and the earth which runs down the stream was all once part of the hill on
which you stand。〃 I confess I was very much ashamed of myself when
she said that。 For that is the history of the whole mystery。 Madam How
is digging away with her soft spade； water。 She has a harder spade； or
rather plough； the strongest and most terrible of all ploughs； but that； I am
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
glad to say； she has laid by in England here。
Water？ But water is too simple a thing to have dug out all this great
glen。
My dear child； the most wonderful part of Madam How's work is； that
she does such great things and so many different things； with one and the
same tool； which looks to you so simple； though it really is not so。 Water；
for instance； is not a simple thing； but most complicated； and we might
spend hours in talking about water； without having come to the end of its
wonders。 Still Madam How is a great economist； and never wastes her
materials。 She is like the sailor who boasted （only she never boasts） that；
if he had but a long life and a s