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strong emotion that mastered him would permit。
〃Certainly。〃
〃But you did not know this when I was walking with you on Friday？〃
〃Of course not。 I thought you were Professor Panky； if I had not
taken you for one of the two persons named in your permit； I should
have questioned you closely； and probably ended by throwing you
into the Blue Pool。〃 He shuddered as he said this。
〃But you knew who I was when you called me Panky in the temple？〃
〃Quite so。 My mother told me everything on Friday evening。〃
〃And that is why you tried to find me at Fairmead？〃
〃Yes； but where in the world were you？〃
〃I was inside the Musical Bank of the town； resting and reading。〃
George laughed； and said； 〃On purpose to hide？〃
〃Oh no； pure chance。 But on Friday evening？ How could your mother
have found out by that time that I was in Erewhon？ Am I on my head
or my heels？〃
〃On your heels； my father； which shall take you back to your own
country as soon as we can get you out of this。〃
〃What have I done to deserve so much goodwill？ I have done you
nothing but harm？〃 Again he was quite overcome。
George patted him gently on the hand； and said； 〃You made a bet and
you won it。 During the very short time that we can be together；
you shall be paid in full； and may heaven protect us both。〃
As soon as my father could speak he said； 〃But how did your mother
find out that I was in Erewhon？〃
〃Hanky and Panky were dining with her； and they told her some
things that she thought strange。 She cross…questioned them； put
two and two together； learned that you had got their permit out of
them； saw that you intended to return on Friday； and concluded that
you would be sleeping in Sunch'ston。 She sent for me； told me all；
bade me scour Sunch'ston to find you； intending that you should be
at once escorted safely over the preserves by me。 I found your
inn； but you had given us the slip。 I tried first Fairmead and
then Clearwater； but did not find you till this morning。 For
reasons too long to repeat； my mother warned Hanky and Panky that
you would be in the temple； whereon Hanky tried to get you into his
clutches。 Happily he failed； but if I had known what he was doing
I should have arrested you before the service。 I ought to have
done this； but I wanted you to win your wager； and I shall get you
safely away in spite of them。 My mother will not like my having
let you hear Hanky's sermon and declare yourself。〃
〃You half told me not to say who I was。〃
〃Yes； but I was delighted when you disobeyed me。〃
〃I did it very badly。 I never rise to great occasions； I always
fall to them； but these things must come as they come。〃
〃You did it as well as it could be done； and good will come of it。〃
〃And now；〃 he continued； 〃describe exactly all that passed between
you and the Professors。 On which side of Panky did Hanky sit； and
did they sit north and south or east and west？ How did you getoh
yes； I know thatyou told them it would be of no further use to
them。 Tell me all else you can。〃
My father said that the Professors were sitting pretty well east
and west； so that Hanky； who was on the east side； nearest the
mountains； had Panky； who was on the Sunch'ston side； on his right
hand。 George made a note of this。 My father then told what the
reader already knows； but when he came to the measurement of the
boots； George said； 〃Take your boots off；〃 and began taking off his
own。 〃Foot for foot；〃 said he； 〃we are not father and son； but
brothers。 Yours will fit me； they are less worn than mine； but I
daresay you will not mind that。〃
On this George ex abundanti cautela knocked a nail out of the right
boot that he had been wearing and changed boots with my father； but
he thought it more plausible not to knock out exactly the same nail
that was missing on my father's boot。 When the change was made；
each foundor said he foundthe other's boots quite comfortable。
My father all the time felt as though he were a basket given to a
dog。 The dog had got him； was proud of him； and no one must try to
take him away。 The promptitude with which George took to him； the
obvious pleasure he had in 〃running〃 him； his quick judgement；
verging as it should towards rashness； his confidence that my
father trusted him without reserve； the conviction of perfect
openness that was conveyed by the way in which his eyes never
budged from my father's when he spoke to him； his genial； kindly；
manner； perfect physical health； and the air he had of being on the
best possible terms with himself and every one elsethe
combination of all this so overmastered my poor father （who indeed
had been sufficiently mastered before he had been five minutes in
George's company） that he resigned himself as gratefully to being a
basket； as George had cheerfully undertaken the task of carrying
him。
In passing I may say that George could never get his own boots back
again； though he tried more than once to do so。 My father always
made some excuse。 They were the only memento of George that he
brought home with him； I wonder that he did not ask for a lock of
his hair； but he did not。 He had the boots put against a wall in
his bedroom； where he could see them from his bed； and during his
illness； while consciousness yet remained with him； I saw his eyes
continually turn towards them。 George； in fact； dominated him as
long as anything in this world could do so。 Nor do I wonder； on
the contrary； I love his memory the better； for I too； as will
appear later； have seen George； and whatever little jealousy I may
have felt； vanished on my finding him almost instantaneously gain
the same ascendancy over me his brother； that he had gained over
his and my father。 But of this no more at present。 Let me return
to the gaol in Sunch'ston。
〃Tell me more；〃 said George； 〃about the Professors。〃
My father told him about the nuggets； the sale of his kit； the
receipt he had given for the money； and how he had got the nuggets
back from a tree； the position of which he described。
〃I know the tree； have you got the nuggets here？〃
〃Here they are； with the receipt； and the pocket handkerchief
marked with Hanky's name。 The pocket handkerchief was found
wrapped round some dried leaves that we call tea； but I have not
got these with me。〃 As he spoke he gave everything to George； who
showed the utmost delight in getting possession of them。
〃I suppose the blanket and the rest of the kit are still in the
tree？〃
〃Unless Hanky and Panky have got them away； or some one has found
them。〃
〃This is not likely。 I will now go to my office； but I will come
back very shortly。 My grandfather shall bring you something to eat
at once。 I will tell him to send enough for two〃which he
accordingly did。
On reaching the office； he told his next brother （whom he had made
an under…ranger） to go to the tree he described； and bring back the
bundle he should find concealed therein。 〃You can go there and
back；〃 he said； 〃in an hour and a half； and I shall want the bundle
by that time。〃
The brother； whose name I never rightly caught； set out at once。
As soon as he was gone； George took from a draw