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are still hardened unbelievers。〃
〃Alas！ you speak too truly。 Bridgeford and the Musical Banks for
the first three years fought tooth and nail to blind those whom it
was their first duty to enlighten。 I was a Professor of the
hypothetical language； and you may perhaps remember how I was
driven from my chair on account of the fearlessness with which I
expounded the deeper mysteries of Sunchildism。〃
〃Yes； I remember well how cruelly〃 but my father was not allowed
to get beyond 〃cruelly。〃
〃It was I who explained why the Sunchild had represented himself as
belonging to a people in many respects analogous to our own； when
no such people can have existed。 It was I who detected that the
supposed nation spoken of by the Sunchild was an invention designed
in order to give us instruction by the light of which we might more
easily remodel our institutions。 I have sometimes thought that my
gift of interpretation was vouchsafed to me in recognition of the
humble services that I was hereby allowed to render。 By the way；
you have received no illumination this morning； have you？〃
〃I never do； sir； when I am in the company of one whose
conversation I find supremely interesting。 But you were telling me
about Bridgeford： I live hundreds of miles from Bridgeford； and
have never understood the suddenness； and completeness； with which
men like Professors Hanky and Panky and Dr。 Downie changed front。
Do they believe as you and I do； or did they merely go with the
times？ I spent a couple of hours with Hanky and Panky only two
evenings ago； and was not so much impressed as I could have wished
with the depth of their religious fervour。〃
〃They are sincere nowmore especially Hankybut I cannot think I
am judging them harshly； if I say that they were not so at first。
Even now； I fear； that they are more carnally than spiritually
minded。 See how they have fought for the aggrandisement of their
own order。 It is mainly their doing that the Musical Banks have
usurped the spiritual authority formerly exercised by the
straighteners。〃
〃But the straighteners；〃 said my father； 〃could not co…exist with
Sunchildism； and it is hard to see how the claims of the Banks can
be reasonably gainsaid。〃
〃Perhaps； and after all the Banks are our main bulwark against the
evils that I fear will follow from the repeal of the laws against
machinery。 This has already led to the development of a
materialism which minimizes the miraculous element in the
Sunchild's ascent； as our own people minimize the material means
that were the necessary prologue to the miraculous。〃
Thus did they converse； but I will not pursue their conversation
further。 It will be enough to say that in further floods of talk
Mr。 Balmy confirmed what George had said about the Banks having
lost their hold upon the masses。 That hold was weak even in the
time of my father's first visit； but when the people saw the
hostility of the Banks to a movement which far the greater number
of them accepted； it seemed as though both Bridgeford and the Banks
were doomed； for Bridgeford was heart and soul with the Banks。
Hanky； it appeared； though under thirty； and not yet a Professor；
grasped the situation； and saw that Bridgeford must either move
with the times； or go。 He consulted some of the most sagacious
Heads of Houses and Professors； with the result that a committee of
enquiry was appointed； which in due course reported that the
evidence for the Sunchild's having been the only child of the sun
was conclusive。 It was about this timethat is to say some three
years after his ascentthat 〃Higgsism；〃 as it had been hitherto
called； became 〃Sunchildism；〃 and 〃Higgs〃 the 〃Sunchild。〃
My father also learned the King's fury at his escape （for he would
call it nothing else） with my mother。 This was so great that
though he had hitherto been； and had ever since proved himself to
be； a humane ruler； he ordered the instant execution of all who had
been concerned in making either the gas or the balloon； and his
cruel orders were carried out within a couple of hours。 At the
same time he ordered the destruction by fire of the Queen's
workshops； and of all remnants of any materials used in making the
balloon。 It is said the Queen was so much grieved and outraged
（for it was her doing that the material ground…work； so to speak；
had been provided for the miracle） that she wept night and day
without ceasing three whole months； and never again allowed her
husband to embrace her； till he had also embraced Sunchildism。
When the rain came； public indignation at the King's action was
raised almost to revolution pitch； and the King was frightened at
once by the arrival of the promised downfall and the displeasure of
his subjects。 But he still held out； and it was only after
concessions on the part of the Bridgeford committee； that he at
last consented to the absorption of Sunchildism into the Musical
Bank system； and to its establishment as the religion of the
country。 The far…reaching changes in Erewhonian institutions with
which the reader is already acquainted followed as a matter of
course。
〃I know the difficulty；〃 said my father presently； 〃with which the
King was persuaded to allow the way in which the Sunchild's dress
should be worn to be a matter of opinion； not dogma。 I see we have
adopted different fashions。 Have you any decided opinions upon the
subject？〃
〃I have； but I will ask you not to press me for them。 Let this
matter remain as the King has left it。〃
My father thought that he might now venture on a shot。 So he said；
〃I have always understood； too； that the King forced the repeal of
the laws against machinery on the Bridgeford committee； as another
condition of his assent？〃
〃Certainly。 He insisted on this； partly to gratify the Queen； who
had not yet forgiven him； and who had set her heart on having a
watch； and partly because he expected that a development of the
country's resources； in consequence of a freer use of machinery；
would bring more money into his exchequer。 Bridgeford fought hard
and wisely here； but they had gained so much by the Musical Bank
Managers being recognised as the authorised exponents of
Sunchildism； that they thought it wise to yieldapparently with a
good graceand thus gild the pill which his Majesty was about to
swallow。 But even then they feared the consequences that are
already beginning to appear； all which； if I mistake not； will
assume far more serious proportions in the future。〃
〃See；〃 said my father suddenly； 〃we are coming to another
procession； and they have got some banners； let us walk a little
quicker and overtake it。〃
〃Horrible！〃 replied Mr。 Balmy fiercely。 〃You must be short…
sighted； or you could never have called my attention to it。 Let us
get it behind us as fast as possible； and not so much as look at
it。〃
〃Oh yes； yes；〃 said my father； 〃it is indeed horrible； I had not
seen what it was。〃
He had not the faintest idea what the matter was； but he let Mr。
Balmy walk a little ahead of him； so that he could see the banners；
the most important of which he found to display a balloon pure and
simple； with one figure in the c