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George in the main street of Fairmeadas he found out on reaching
the inn which he selected and ordering dinner。
He had hardly got inside the house before the waiter told him that
young Mr。 Strong； the Ranger from Sunch'ston； had been enquiring
for him and had left a message for him； which was duly delivered。
My father； though in reality somewhat disquieted； showed no
uneasiness； and said how sorry he was to have missed seeing Mr。
Strong。 〃But；〃 he added； 〃it does not much matter； I need not go
back this afternoon； for I shall be at Sunch'ston to…morrow morning
and will go straight to the Mayor's。〃
He had no suspicion that he was discovered； but he was a good deal
puzzled。 Presently he inclined to the opinion that George； still
believing him to be Professor Panky； had wanted to invite him to
the banquet on the following dayfor he had no idea that Hanky and
Panky were staying with the Mayor and Mayoress。 Or perhaps the
Mayor and his wife did not like so distinguished a man's having
been unable to find a lodging in Sunch'ston； and wanted him to stay
with them。 Ill satisfied as he was with any theory he could form；
he nevertheless reflected that he could not do better than stay
where he was for the night； inasmuch as no one would be likely to
look for him a second time at Fairmead。 He therefore ordered his
room at once。
It was nearly seven before George got back to Sunch'ston。 In the
meantime Yram and the Mayor had considered the question whether
anything was to be said to the Professors or no。 They were
confident that my father would not commit himselfwhy； indeed；
should he have dyed his hair and otherwise disguised himself； if he
had not intended to remain undiscovered？ Oh no； the probability
was that if nothing was said to the Professors now； nothing need
ever be said； for my father might be escorted back to the statues
by George on the Sunday evening and be told that he was not to
return。 Moreover； even though something untoward were to happen
after all； the Professors would have no reason for thinking that
their hostess had known of the Sunchild's being in Sunch'ston。
On the other hand； they were her guests； and it would not be
handsome to keep Hanky； at any rate； in the dark； when the
knowledge that the Sunchild was listening to every word he said
might make him modify his sermon not a little。 It might or it
might not； but that was a matter for him； not her。 The only
question for her was whether or no it would be sharp practice to
know what she knew and say nothing about it。 Her husband hated
finesse as much as she did； and they settled it that though the
question was a nice one； the more proper thing to do would be to
tell the Professors what it might so possibly concern one or both
of them to know。
On George's return without news of my father； they found he thought
just as they did； so it was arranged that they should let the
Professors dine in peace； but tell them about the Sunchild's being
again in Erewhon as soon as dinner was over。
〃Happily；〃 said George； 〃they will do no harm。 They will wish
Higgs's presence to remain unknown as much as we do； and they will
be glad that he should be got out of the country immediately。〃
〃Not so； my dear；〃 said Yram。 〃'Out of the country' will not do
for those people。 Nothing short of 'out of the world' will satisfy
them。〃
〃That；〃 said George promptly； 〃must not be。〃
〃Certainly not； my dear； but that is what they will want。 I do not
like having to tell them； but I am afraid we must。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said the Mayor； laughing。 〃Tell them； and let us see
what happens。〃
They then dressed for dinner； where Hanky and Panky were the only
guests。 When dinner was over Yram sent away her other children；
George alone remaining。 He sat opposite the Professors； while the
Mayor and Yram were at the two ends of the table。
〃I am afraid； dear Professor Hanky；〃 said Yram； 〃that I was not
quite open with you last night； but I wanted time to think things
over； and I know you will forgive me when you remember what a
number of guests I had to attend to。〃 She then referred to what
Hanky had told her about the supposed ranger； and shewed him how
obvious it was that this man was a foreigner； who had been for some
time in Erewhon more than seventeen years ago； but had had no
communication with it since then。 Having pointed sufficiently； as
she thought； to the Sunchild； she said； 〃You see who I believe this
man to have been。 Have I said enough； or shall I say more？〃
〃I understand you；〃 said Hanky； 〃and I agree with you that the
Sunchild will be in the temple to…morrow。 It is a serious
business； but I shall not alter my sermon。 He must listen to what
I may choose to say； and I wish I could tell him what a fool he was
for coming here。 If he behaves himself； well and good： your son
will arrest him quietly after service； and by night he will be in
the Blue Pool。 Your son is bound to throw him there as a foreign
devil； without the formality of a trial。 It would be a most
painful duty to me； but unless I am satisfied that that man has
been thrown into the Blue Pool； I shall have no option but to
report the matter at headquarters。 If； on the other hand； the poor
wretch makes a disturbance； I can set the crowd on to tear him in
pieces。〃
George was furious； but he remained quite calm； and left everything
to his mother。
〃I have nothing to do with the Blue Pool；〃 said Yram drily。 〃My
son； I doubt not； will know how to do his duty； but if you let the
people kill this man； his body will remain； and an inquest must be
held； for the matter will have been too notorious to be hushed up。
All Higgs's measurements and all marks on his body were recorded；
and these alone would identify him。 My father； too； who is still
master of the gaol； and many another； could swear to him。 Should
the body prove； as no doubt it would； to be that of the Sunchild；
what is to become of Sunchildism？〃
Hanky smiled。 〃It would not be proved。 The measurements of a man
of twenty or thereabouts would not correspond with this man's。 All
we Professors should attend the inquest； and half Bridgeford is now
in Sunch'ston。 No matter though nine…tenths of the marks and
measurements corresponded； so long as there is a tenth that does
not do so； we should not be flesh and blood if we did not ignore
the nine points and insist only on the tenth。 After twenty years
we shall find enough to serve our turn。 Think of what all the
learning of the country is committed to； think of the change in all
our ideas and institutions； think of the King and of Court
influence。 I need not enlarge。 We shall not permit the body to be
the Sunchild's。 No matter what evidence you may produce； we shall
sneer it down； and say we must have more before you can expect us
to take you seriously； if you bring more； we shall pay no
attention； and the more you bring the more we shall laugh at you。
No doubt those among us who are by way of being candid will admit
that your arguments ought to be considered； but you must not expect
that it will be any part of their duty to consider them。
〃And even though we admitted that