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INTRODUCED TO A FUTURE DAUGHTER…IN…LAW
My father said he was followed to the Mayor's house by a good many
people； whom the Mayor's sons in vain tried to get rid of。 One or
two of these still persisted in saying he was the Sunchildwhereon
another said； 〃But his hair is black。〃
〃Yes；〃 was the answer； 〃but a man can dye his hair； can he not？
look at his blue eyes and his eye…lashes？〃
My father was doubting whether he ought not to again deny his
identity out of loyalty to the Mayor and Yram； when George's next
brother said； 〃Pay no attention to them； but step out as fast as
you can。〃 This settled the matter； and in a few minutes they were
at the Mayor's； where the young men took him into the study； the
elder said with a smile； 〃We should like to stay and talk to you；
but my mother said we were not to do so。〃 Whereon they left him
much to his regret； but he gathered rightly that they had not been
officially told who he was； and were to be left to think what they
liked； at any rate for the present。
In a few minutes the Mayor entered； and going straight up to my
father shook him cordially by the hand。
〃I have brought you this morning's paper；〃 said he。 〃You will find
a full report of Professor Hanky's sermon； and of the speeches at
last night's banquet。 You see they pass over your little
interruption with hardly a word； but I dare say they will have made
up their minds about it all by Thursday's issue。〃
He laughed as he produced the paperwhich my father brought home
with him； and without which I should not have been able to report
Hanky's sermon as fully as I have done。 But my father could not
let things pass over thus lightly。
〃I thank you；〃 he said； 〃but I have much more to thank you for； and
know not how to do it。〃
〃Can you not trust me to take everything as said？〃
〃Yes； but I cannot trust myself not to be haunted if I do not say
or at any rate try to saysome part of what I ought to say。〃
〃Very well； then I will say something myself。 I have a small joke；
the only one I ever made； which I inflict periodically upon my
wife。 You； and I suppose George； are the only two other people in
the world to whom it can ever be told； let me see； then； if I
cannot break the ice with it。 It is this。 Some men have twin
sons； George in this topsy turvey world of ours has twin fathers
you by luck； and me by cunning。 I see you smile； give me your
hand。〃
My father took the Mayor's hand between both his own。 〃Had I been
in your place；〃 he said； 〃I should be glad to hope that I might
have done as you did。〃
〃And I；〃 said the Mayor； more readily than might have been expected
of him； 〃fear that if I had been in yoursI should have made it
the proper thing for you to do。 There！ The ice is well broken；
and now for business。 You will lunch with us； and dine in the
evening。 I have given it out that you are of good family； so there
is nothing odd in this。 At lunch you will not be the Sunchild； for
my younger children will be there； at dinner all present will know
who you are； so we shall be free as soon as the servants are out of
the room。
〃I am sorry； but I must send you away with George as soon as the
streets are emptysay at midnightfor the excitement is too great
to allow of your staying longer。 We must keep your rug and the
things you cook with； but my wife will find you what will serve
your turn。 There is no moon； so you and George will camp out as
soon as you get well on to the preserves； the weather is hot； and
you will neither of you take any harm。 To…morrow by mid…day you
will be at the statues； where George must bid you good…bye； for he
must be at Sunch'ston to…morrow night。 You will doubtless get
safely home； I wish with all my heart that I could hear of your
having done so； but this； I fear； may not be。〃
〃So be it；〃 replied my father； 〃but there is something I should yet
say。 The Mayoress has no doubt told you of some gold； coined and
uncoined； that I am leaving for George。 She will also have told
you that I am rich； this being so； I should have brought him much
more； if I had known that there was any such person。 You have
other children； if you leave him anything； you will be taking it
away from your own flesh and blood； if you leave him nothing； it
will be a slur upon him。 I must therefore send you enough gold； to
provide for George as your other children will be provided for； you
can settle it upon him at once； and make it clear that the
settlement is instead of provision for him by will。 The difficulty
is in the getting the gold into Erewhon； and until it is actually
here； he must know nothing about it。〃
I have no space for the discussion that followed。 In the end it
was settled that George was to have 2000 pounds in gold； which the
Mayor declared to be too much； and my father too little。 Both；
however； were agreed that Erewhon would before long be compelled to
enter into relations with foreign countries； in which case the
value of gold would decline so much as to make 2000 pounds worth
little more than it would be in England。 The Mayor proposed to buy
land with it； which he would hand over to George as a gift from
himself； and this my father at once acceded to。 All sorts of
questions such as will occur to the reader were raised and settled；
but I must beg him to be content with knowing that everything was
arranged with the good sense that two such men were sure to bring
to bear upon it。
The getting the gold into Erewhon was to be managed thus。 George
was to know nothing； but a promise was to be got from him that at
noon on the following New Year's day； or whatever day might be
agreed upon； he would be at the statues； where either my father or
myself would meet him； spend a couple of hours with him； and then
return。 Whoever met George was to bring the gold as though it were
for the Mayor； and George could be trusted to be human enough to
bring it down； when he saw that it would be left where it was if he
did not do so。
〃He will kick a good deal；〃 said the Mayor； 〃at first； but he will
come round in the end。〃
Luncheon was now announced。 My father was feeling faint and ill；
more than once during the forenoon he had had a return of the
strange giddiness and momentary loss of memory which had already
twice attacked him； but he had recovered in each case so quickly
that no one had seen he was unwell。 He； poor man； did not yet know
what serious brain exhaustion these attacks betokened； and finding
himself in his usual health as soon as they passed away； set them
down as simply effects of fatigue and undue excitement。
George did not lunch with the others。 Yram explained that he had
to draw up a report which would occupy him till dinner time。 Her
three other sons； and her three lovely daughters； were there。 My
father was delighted with all of them； for they made friends with
him at once。 He had feared that he would have been disgraced in
their eyes； by his having just come from prison； but whatever they
may have thought； no trace of anything but a little engaging
timidity on the girls' part was to be seen。 The two elder boysor
rather young men； for they seemed full