were man and wife。〃
〃How much does not all this explain；〃 said George； smiling but very
gravely。 〃And you are going to ask me to forgive you for robbing
me of such a father。〃
〃He has forgiven me； my dear； for robbing him of such a son。 He
never reproached me。 From that day to this he has never given me a
harsh word or even syllable。 When you were born he took to you at
once； as； indeed； who could help doing？ for you were the sweetest
child both in looks and temper that it is possible to conceive。
Your having light hair and eyes made things more difficult； for
this； and your being born； almost to the day； nine months after
Higgs had left us； made people talkbut your father kept their
tongues within bounds。 They talk still； but they liked what little
they saw of Higgs； they like the Mayor and me； and they like you
the best of all； so they please themselves by having the thing both
ways。 Though； therefore； you are son to the Mayor； Higgs cast some
miraculous spell upon me before he left； whereby my son should be
in some measure his as well as the Mayor's。 It was this miraculous
spell that caused you to be born two months too soon； and we called
you by Higgs's first name as though to show that we took that view
of the matter ourselves。
〃Mrs。 Humdrum； however； was very positive that there was no spell
at all。 She had repeatedly heard her father say that the Mayor's
grandfather was light…haired and blue…eyed； and that every third
generation in that family a light…haired son was born。 The people
believe this too。 Nobody disbelieves Mrs。 Humdrum； but they like
the miracle best； so that is how it has been settled。
〃I never knew whether Mrs。 Humdrum told her husband； but I think
she must； for a place was found almost immediately for my husband
in Mr。 Humdrum's business。 He made himself useful； after a few
years he was taken into partnership； and on Mr。 Humdrum's death
became head of the firm。 Between ourselves； he says laughingly
that all his success in life was due to Higgs and me。〃
〃I shall give Mrs。 Humdrum a double dose of kissing；〃 said George
thoughtfully； 〃next time I see her。〃
〃Oh； do； do； she will so like it。 And now； my darling boy； tell
your poor mother whether or no you can forgive her。〃
He clasped her in his arms； and kissed her again and again； but for
a time he could find no utterance。 Presently he smiled； and said；
〃Of course I do； but it is you who should forgive me； for was it
not all my fault？〃
When Yram； too； had become more calm； she said； 〃It is late； and we
have no time to lose。 Higgs's coming at this time is mere
accident； if he had had news from Erewhon he would have known much
that he did not know。 I cannot guess why he has comeprobably
through mere curiosity； but he will hear or have heardyes； you
and he talked about itof the temple； being here； he will want to
see the dedication。 From what you have told me I feel sure that he
will not make a fool of himself by saying who he is； but in spite
of his disguise he may be recognised。 I do not doubt that he is
now in Sunch'ston； therefore； to…morrow morning scour the town to
find him。 Tell him he is discovered； tell him you know from me
that he is your father； and that I wish to see him with all good…
will towards him。 He will come。 We will then talk to him； and
show him that he must go back at once。 You can escort him to the
statues； after passing them he will be safe。 He will give you no
trouble； but if he does； arrest him on a charge of poaching； and
take him to the gaol； where we must do the best we can with him
but he will give you none。 We need say nothing to the Professors。
No one but ourselves will know of his having been here。〃
On this she again embraced her son and left him。 If two
photographs could have been taken of her； one as she opened the
door and looked fondly back on George； and the other as she closed
it behind her； the second portrait would have seemed taken ten
years later than the first。
As for George； he went gravely but not unhappily to his own room。
〃So that ready； plausible fellow；〃 he muttered to himself； 〃was my
own father。 At any rate； I am not son to a fooland he liked me。〃
CHAPTER X： MY FATHER； FEARING RECOGNITION AT SUNCH'…STON； BETAKES
HIMSELF TO THE NEIGHBOURING TOWN OF FAIRMEAD
I will now return to my father。 Whether from fatigue or over…
excitement； he slept only by fits and starts； and when awake he
could not rid himself of the idea that； in spite of his disguise；
he might be recognised； either at his inn or in the town； by some
one of the many who had seen him when he was in prison。 In this
case there was no knowing what might happen； but at best； discovery
would probably prevent his seeing the temple dedicated to himself；
and hearing Professor Hanky's sermon； which he was particularly
anxious to do。
So strongly did he feel the real or fancied danger he should incur
by spending Saturday in Sunch'ston； that he rose as soon as he
heard any one stirring； and having paid his bill； walked quietly
out of the house； without saying where he was going。
There was a town about ten miles off； not so important as
Sunch'ston； but having some 10；000 inhabitants； he resolved to find
accommodation there for the day and night； and to walk over to
Sunch'ston in time for the dedication ceremony； which he had found
on inquiry； would begin at eleven o'clock。
The country between Sunch'ston and Fairmead； as the town just
referred to was named； was still mountainous； and being well wooded
as well as well watered； abounded in views of singular beauty； but
I have no time to dwell on the enthusiasm with which my father
described them to me。 The road took him at right angles to the
main road down the valley from Sunch'ston to the capital； and this
was one reason why he had chosen Fairmead rather than Clearwater；
which was the next town lower down on the main road。 He did not；
indeed； anticipate that any one would want to find him； but whoever
might so want would be more likely to go straight down the valley
than to turn aside towards Fairmead。
On reaching this place； he found it pretty full of people； for
Saturday was market…day。 There was a considerable open space in
the middle of the town； with an arcade running round three sides of
it； while the fourth was completely taken up by the venerable
Musical Bank of the city； a building which had weathered the storms
of more than five centuries。 On the outside of the wall； abutting
on the market…place； were three wooden sedilia； in which the Mayor
and two coadjutors sate weekly on market…days to give advice；
redress grievances； and； if necessary （which it very seldom was） to
administer correction。
My father was much interested in watching the proceedings in a case
which he found on inquiry to be not infrequent。 A man was
complaining to the Mayor that his daughter； a lovely child of eight
years old； had none of the faults common to children of her age；
and； in fact； seemed absolutely deficient in immoral sense。 She
never told lies； had never stolen so much as a lollipop； never
showed any recalcitrancy about saying her prayers； and by her
incessant obedience had filled her poor father and mother with the
gravest anxiety as regards her future well…being。 He feared it
would be necessary to send her to a deformatory。
〃I have generally found；〃 said the Mayor； gravely but kindly； 〃that
the fault in these distressing cases lies rather with the parent
than the children。 Does the child never break anything by
accident？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the father。
〃And you have duly punished her for it？〃
〃Alas！ sir； I fear I only told her she was a naughty girl； and must
not do it again。〃
〃Then how can you expect your child to learn those petty arts of
deception without which she must fall an easy prey to any one who
wishes to deceive her？ How can she detect lying in other people
unless she has had some experience of it in her own practice？ How；
again； can she learn when it will be well for her to lie； and when
to refrain from doing so； unless she has made many a mistake on a
small scale while at an age when mistakes do not greatly matter？
The Sunchild （and here he reverently raised his hat）； as you may
read in chapter thirty…one of his Sayings； has left us a touching
tale of a little boy； who； having cut down an apple tree in his
father's garden； lamented his inability to tell a lie。 Some
commentators； indeed； have held that the evidence was so strongly
against the boy that no lie would have been of any use to him； and
that his perception of this fact was all that he intended to
convey； but the best authorities take his simple words； 'I cannot
tell a lie；' in their most natural sense； as being his expression
of regret at the way in which his education had been neglected。 If
that case had come before me； I should have punished the boy's
father； unless he could show that the best authorities are mistaken
（as indeed they too generally are）； and that under more favourable
circumstances the boy would have been able to lie； and would have
lied accordingly。
〃There is no occasion for you to send your child to a deformator