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of a simple but impressive kind； during this I am afraid I must own
that my father； tired with his walk； dropped off into a refreshing
slumber； from which he did not wake till George nudged him and told
him not to snore； just as the Vice…Manager was going towards the
lectern to read another chapter of the Sunchild's Sayingswhich
was as follows：…
The Sunchild also spoke to us a parable about the unwisdom of the
children yet unborn； who though they know so much； yet do not know
as much as they think they do。
He said：…
〃The unborn have knowledge of one another so long as they are
unborn； and this without impediment from walls or material
obstacles。 The unborn children in any city form a population
apart； who talk with one another and tell each other about their
developmental progress。
〃They have no knowledge； and cannot even conceive the existence of
anything that is not such as they are themselves。 Those who have
been born are to them what the dead are to us。 They can see no
life in them； and know no more about them than they do of any stage
in their own past development other than the one through which they
are passing at the moment。 They do not even know that their
mothers are alivemuch less that their mothers were once as they
now are。 To an embryo； its mother is simply the environment； and
is looked upon much as our inorganic surroundings are by ourselves。
〃The great terror of their lives is the fear of birth；that they
shall have to leave the only thing that they can think of as life；
and enter upon a dark unknown which is to them tantamount to
annihilation。
〃Some； indeed； among them have maintained that birth is not the
death which they commonly deem it； but that there is a life beyond
the womb of which they as yet know nothing； and which is a million
fold more truly life than anything they have yet been able even to
imagine。 But the greater number shake their yet unfashioned heads
and say they have no evidence for this that will stand a moment's
examination。
〃'Nay；' answer the others； 'so much work； so elaborate； so wondrous
as that whereon we are now so busily engaged must have a purpose；
though the purpose is beyond our grasp。'
〃'Never；' reply the first speakers； 'our pleasure in the work is
sufficient justification for it。 Who has ever partaken of this
life you speak of； and re…entered into the womb to tell us of it？
Granted that some few have pretended to have done this； but how
completely have their stories broken down when subjected to the
tests of sober criticism。 No。 When we are born we are born； and
there is an end of us。'
〃But in the hour of birth； when they can no longer re…enter the
womb and tell the others； Behold！ they find that it is not so。〃
Here the reader again closed his book and resumed his place in the
apse。
CHAPTER XVI： PROFESSOR HANKY PREACHES A SERMON； IN THE COURSE OF
WHICH MY FATHER DECLARES HIMSELF TO BE THE SUNCHILD
Professor Hanky then went up into the pulpit； richly but soberly
robed in vestments the exact nature of which I cannot determine。
His carriage was dignified； and the harsh lines on his face gave it
a strong individuality； which； though it did not attract； conveyed
an impression of power that could not fail to interest。 As soon as
he had given attention time to fix itself upon him； he began his
sermon without text or preliminary matter of any kind； and
apparently without notes。
He spoke clearly and very quietly； especially at the beginning； he
used action whenever it could point his meaning； or give it life
and colour； but there was no approach to staginess or even
oratorical display。 In fact； he spoke as one who meant what he was
saying； and desired that his hearers should accept his meaning；
fully confident in his good faith。 His use of pause was effective。
After the word 〃mistake；〃 at the end of the opening sentence； he
held up his half…bent hand and paused for full three seconds；
looking intently at his audience as he did so。 Every one felt the
idea to be here enounced that was to dominate the sermon。
The sermonso much of it as I can find room forwas as follows：…
〃My friends； let there be no mistake。 At such a time； as this； it
is well we should look back upon the path by which we have
travelled； and forward to the goal towards which we are tending。
As it was necessary that the material foundations of this building
should be so sure that there shall be no subsidence in the
superstructure； so is it not less necessary to ensure that there
shall be no subsidence in the immaterial structure that we have
raised in consequence of the Sunchild's sojourn among us。
Therefore； my friends； I again say； 'Let there be no mistake。'
Each stone that goes towards the uprearing of this visible fane；
each human soul that does its part in building the invisible temple
of our national faith； is bearing witness to； and lending its
support to； that which is either the truth of truths； or the
baseless fabric of a dream。
〃My friends； this is the only possible alternative。 He in whose
name we are here assembled； is either worthy of more reverential
honour than we can ever pay him； or he is worthy of no more honour
than any other honourable man among ourselves。 There can be no
halting between these two opinions。 The question of questions is；
was he the child of the tutelary god of this worldthe sun； and is
it to the palace of the sun that he returned when he left us； or
was he； as some amongst us still do not hesitate to maintain； a
mere man； escaping by unusual but strictly natural means to some
part of this earth with which we are unacquainted。 My friends；
either we are on a right path or on a very wrong one； and in a
matter of such supreme importancethere must be no mistake。
〃I need not remind those of you whose privilege it is to live in
Sunch'ston； of the charm attendant on the Sunchild's personal
presence and conversation； nor of his quick sympathy； his keen
intellect； his readiness to adapt himself to the capacities of all
those who came to see him while he was in prison。 He adored
children； and it was on them that some of his most conspicuous
miracles were performed。 Many a time when a child had fallen and
hurt itself； was he known to make the place well by simply kissing
it。 Nor need I recall to your minds the spotless purity of his
lifeso spotless that not one breath of slander has ever dared to
visit it。 I was one of the not very many who had the privilege of
being admitted to the inner circle of his friends during the later
weeks that he was amongst us。 I loved him dearly； and it will ever
be the proudest recollection of my life that he deigned to return
me no small measure of affection。〃
My father； furious as he was at finding himself dragged into
complicity with this man's imposture； could not resist a smile at
the effrontery with which he lowered his tone here； and appeared
unwilling to dwell on an incident which he could not recall without
being affected almost to tears； and mere allusion to which； had
involved an apparent self…display that was above all things
repugnant to him。 What a difference betwee