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1851； and had amassed great wealth。 We knew of his existence； but
there had been no intercourse between him and my father； and we did
not even know that he was rich and unmarried。 He died intestate
towards the end of 1885； and my father was the only relative he
had； except； of course； myself； for both my father's sisters had
died young； and without leaving children。
The solicitor through whom the news reached us was； happily； a man
of the highest integrity； and also very sensible and kind。 He was
a Mr。 Alfred Emery Cathie； of 15 Clifford's Inn； E。C。； and my
father placed himself unreservedly in his hands。 I was at once
sent to a first…rate school； and such pains had my father taken
with me that I was placed in a higher form than might have been
expected considering my age。 The way in which he had taught me had
prevented my feeling any dislike for study； I therefore stuck
fairly well to my books； while not neglecting the games which are
so important a part of healthy education。 Everything went well
with me； both as regards masters and school…fellows； nevertheless；
I was declared to be of a highly nervous and imaginative
temperament； and the school doctor more than once urged our
headmaster not to push me forward too rapidlyfor which I have
ever since held myself his debtor。
Early in 1890； I being then home from Oxford （where I had been
entered in the preceding year）； my mother died； not so much from
active illness； as from what was in reality a kind of maladie du
pays。 All along she had felt herself an exile； and though she had
borne up wonderfully during my father's long struggle with
adversity； she began to break as soon as prosperity had removed the
necessity for exertion on her own part。
My father could never divest himself of the feeling that he had
wrecked her life by inducing her to share her lot with his own； to
say that he was stricken with remorse on losing her is not enough；
he had been so stricken almost from the first year of his marriage；
on her death he was haunted by the wrong he accused himselfas it
seems to me very unjustlyof having done her； for it was neither
his fault nor hersit was Ate。
His unrest soon assumed the form of a burning desire to revisit the
country in which he and my mother had been happier together than
perhaps they ever again were。 I had often heard him betray a
hankering after a return to Erewhon； disguised so that no one
should recognise him； but as long as my mother lived he would not
leave her。 When death had taken her from him； he so evidently
stood in need of a complete change of scene； that even those
friends who had most strongly dissuaded him from what they deemed a
madcap enterprise； thought it better to leave him to himself。 It
would have mattered little how much they tried to dissuade him； for
before long his passionate longing for the journey became so
overmastering that nothing short of restraint in prison or a
madhouse could have stayed his going； but we were not easy about
him。 〃He had better go；〃 said Mr。 Cathie to me； when I was at home
for the Easter vacation； 〃and get it over。 He is not well； but he
is still in the prime of life； doubtless he will come back with
renewed health and will settle down to a quiet home life again。〃
This； however； was not said till it had become plain that in a few
days my father would be on his way。 He had made a new will； and
left an ample power of attorney with Mr。 Cathieor； as we always
called him； Alfredwho was to supply me with whatever money I
wanted； he had put all other matters in order in case anything
should happen to prevent his ever returning； and he set out on
October 1； 1890； more composed and cheerful than I had seen him for
some time past。
I had not realised how serious the danger to my father would be if
he were recognised while he was in Erewhon； for I am ashamed to say
that I had not yet read his book。 I had heard over and over again
of his flight with my mother in the balloon； and had long since
read his few opening chapters； but I had found； as a boy naturally
would； that the succeeding pages were a little dull； and soon put
the book aside。 My father； indeed； repeatedly urged me not to read
it； for he said there was much in itmore especially in the
earlier chapters； which I had alone found interestingthat he
would gladly cancel if he could。 〃But there！〃 he had said with a
laugh； 〃what does it matter？〃
He had hardly left； before I read his book from end to end； and； on
having done so； not only appreciated the risks that he would have
to run； but was struck with the wide difference between his
character as he had himself portrayed it； and the estimate I had
formed of it from personal knowledge。 When； on his return； he
detailed to me his adventures； the account he gave of what he had
said and done corresponded with my own ideas concerning him； but I
doubt not the reader will see that the twenty years between his
first and second visit had modified him even more than so long an
interval might be expected to do。
I heard from him repeatedly during the first two months of his
absence； and was surprised to find that he had stayed for a week or
ten days at more than one place of call on his outward journey。 On
November 26 he wrote from the port whence he was to start for
Erewhon； seemingly in good health and spirits； and on December 27；
1891； he telegraphed for a hundred pounds to be wired out to him at
this same port。 This puzzled both Mr。 Cathie and myself； for the
interval between November 26 and December 27 seemed too short to
admit of his having paid his visit to Erewhon and returned； as；
moreover； he had added the words； 〃Coming home；〃 we rather hoped
that he had abandoned his intention of going there。
We were also surprised at his wanting so much money； for he had
taken a hundred pounds in gold； which from some fancy； he had
stowed in a small silver jewel…box that he had given my mother not
long before she died。 He had also taken a hundred pounds worth of
gold nuggets； which he had intended to sell in Erewhon so as to
provide himself with money when he got there。
I should explain that these nuggets would be worth in Erewhon fully
ten times as much as they would in Europe； owing to the great
scarcity of gold in that country。 The Erewhonian coinage is
entirely silverwhich is abundant； and worth much what it is in
Englandor copper； which is also plentiful； but what we should
call five pounds' worth of silver money would not buy more than one
of our half…sovereigns in gold。
He had put his nuggets into ten brown holland bags； and he had had
secret pockets made for the old Erewhonian dress which he had worn
when he escaped； so that he need never have more than one bag of
nuggets accessible at a time。 He was not likely； therefore； to
have been robbed。 His passage to the port above referred to had
been paid before he started； and it seemed impossible that a man of
his very inexpensive habits should have spent two hundred pounds in
a single monthfor the nuggets would be immediately convertible in
an English colony。 There was nothing； however； to be done but to
cable out the money a