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you myself； and to have learned what became of youand of your
wife。 I know you wish well to all of us； be sure that we all of us
wish most heartily well to you and yours。 I sent for you and
George； because I could not say all this unless we were alone； it
is all I can do；〃 she said； with a smile； 〃to say it now。〃
Indeed it was； for the tears were in her eyes all the time； as they
were also in my father's。
〃Let this；〃 continued Yram； 〃be our leave…takingfor we must have
nothing like a scene upstairs。 Just shake hands with us all； say
the usual conventional things； and make it as short as you can； but
I could not bear to send you away without a few warmer words than I
could have said when others were in the room。〃
〃May heaven bless you and yours；〃 said my father； 〃for ever and
ever。〃
〃That will do；〃 said George gently。 〃Now； both of you shake hands；
and come upstairs with me。〃
* * *
When all three of them had got calm； for George had been moved
almost as much as his father and mother； they went upstairs； and
Panky came for his answer。 〃You are very possibly right；〃 said my
father〃the version you hold to be corrupt is the one in common
use amongst ourselves； but it is only a translation； and very
possibly only a translation of a translation； so that it may
perhaps have been corrupted before it reached us。〃
〃That；〃 said Panky； 〃will explain everything；〃 and he went
contentedly away。
My father talked a little aside with Mrs。 Humdrum about her grand…
daughter and George； for Yram had told him that she knew all about
the attachment； and then George； who saw that my father found the
greatest difficulty in maintaining an outward calm； said； 〃Mr。
Higgs； the streets are empty； we had better go。〃
My father did as Yram had told him； shook hands with every one；
said all that was usual and proper as briefly as he could； and
followed George out of the room。 The Mayor saw them to the door；
and saved my father from embarrassment by saying； 〃Mr。 Higgs； you
and I understand one another too well to make it necessary for us
to say so。 Good…bye to you； and may no ill befall you ere you get
home。〃
My father grasped his hand in both his own。 〃Again；〃 he said； 〃I
can say no more than that I thank you from the bottom of my heart。〃
As he spoke he bowed his head； and went out with George into the
night。
CHAPTER XXV： GEORGE ESCORTS MY FATHER TO THE STATUES； THE TWO THEN
PART
The streets were quite deserted as George had said they would be；
and very dark； save for an occasional oil lamp。
〃As soon as we can get within the preserves；〃 said George； 〃we had
better wait till morning。 I have a rug for myself as well as for
you。〃
〃I saw you had two；〃 answered my father； 〃you must let me carry
them both； the provisions are much the heavier load。
George fought as hard as a dog would do； till my father said that
they must not quarrel during the very short time they had to be
together。 On this George gave up one rug meekly enough； and my
father yielded about the basket； and the other rug。
It was about half…past eleven when they started； and it was after
one before they reached the preserves。 For the first mile from the
town they were not much hindered by the darkness； and my father
told George about his book and many another matter； he also
promised George to say nothing about this second visit。 Then the
road became more rough； and when it dwindled away to be a mere
lanebecoming presently only a foot trackthey had to mind their
footsteps； and got on but slowly。 The night was starlit； and warm；
considering that they were more than three thousand feet above the
sea； but it was very dark； so that my father was well enough
pleased when George showed him the white stones that marked the
boundary； and said they had better soon make themselves as
comfortable as they could till morning。
〃We can stay here；〃 he said； 〃till half…past three； there will be a
little daylight then； we will rest half an hour for breakfast at
about five； and by noon we shall be at the statues； where we will
dine。〃
This being settled； George rolled himself up in his rug； and in a
few minutes went comfortably off to sleep。 Not so my poor father。
He wound up his watch； wrapped his rug round him； and lay down； but
he could get no sleep。 After such a day； and such an evening； how
could any one have slept？
About three the first signs of dawn began to show； and half an hour
later my father could see the sleeping face of his sonwhom it
went to his heart to wake。 Nevertheless he woke him； and in a few
minutes the two were on their wayGeorge as fresh as a larkmy
poor father intent on nothing so much as on hiding from George how
ill and unsound in body and mind he was feeling。
They walked on； saying but little； till at five by my father's
watch George proposed a halt for breakfast。 The spot he chose was
a grassy oasis among the trees； carpeted with subalpine flowers；
now in their fullest beauty； and close to a small stream that here
came down from a side valley。 The freshness of the morning air；
the extreme beauty of the place； the lovely birds that flitted from
tree to tree； the exquisite shapes and colours of the flowers；
still dew…bespangled； and above all； the tenderness with which
George treated him； soothed my father； and when he and George had
lit a fire and made some hot corn…coffeewith a view to which Yram
had put up a bottle of milkhe felt so much restored as to look
forward to the rest of his journey without alarm。 Moreover he had
nothing to carry； for George had left his own rug at the place
where they had slept； knowing that he should find it on his return；
he had therefore insisted on carrying my father's。 My father
fought as long as he could； but he had to give in。
〃Now tell me；〃 said George； glad to change the subject； 〃what will
those three men do about what you said to them last night？ Will
they pay any attention to it？〃
My father laughed。 〃My dear George； what a questionI do not know
them well enough。〃
〃Oh yes； you do。 At any rate say what you think most likely。〃
〃Very well。 I think Dr。 Downie will do much as I said。 He will
not throw the whole thing over； through fear of schism； loyalty to
a party from which he cannot well detach himself； and because he
does not think that the public is quite tired enough of its toy。
He will neither preach nor write against it； but he will live
lukewarmly against it； and this is what the Hankys hate。 They can
stand either hot or cold； but they are afraid of lukewarm。 In
England Dr。 Downie would be a Broad Churchman。〃
〃Do you think we shall ever get rid of Sunchildism altogether？〃
〃If they stick to the cock…and…bull stories they are telling now；
and rub them in； as Hanky did on Sunday； it may go； and go soon。
It has taken root too quickly and easily； and its top is too heavy
for its roots； still there are so many chances in its favour that
it may last a long time。〃
〃And how about Hanky？〃
〃He will brazen it out； relic； chariot； and all： and he will
welcome more relics and more cock…and…bull stories； his single eye
will be upon his own aggrandisement an