登陆注册
4911100000055

第55章

"It is not enough," said Hanky, "that the Sunchild should have ensured the preparation of authoritative evidence of his supernatural character. The evidences happily exist in overwhelming strength, but they must be brought home to minds that as yet have stubbornly refused to receive them. During the last five years there has been an enormous increase in the number of those whose occupation in the manufacture of machines inclines them to a materialistic explanation even of the most obviously miraculous events, and the growth of this class in our midst constituted, and still constitutes, a grave danger to the state.

"It was to meet this that the society was formed on behalf of which I appeal fearlessly to your generosity. It is called, as most of you doubtless know, the Sunchild Evidence Society; and his Majesty the King graciously consented to become its Patron. This society not only collects additional evidences--indeed it is entirely due to its labours that the precious relic now in this temple was discovered--but it is its beneficent purpose to lay those that have been authoritatively investigated before men who, if left to themselves, would either neglect them altogether, or worse still reject them.

"For the first year or two the efforts of the society met with but little success among those for whose benefit they were more particularly intended, but during the present year the working classes in some cities and towns (stimulated very much by the lectures of my illustrious friend Professor Panky) have shewn a most remarkable and zealous interest in Sunchild evidences, and have formed themselves into local branches for the study and defence of Sunchild truth.

"Yet in spite of all this need--of all this patient labour and really very gratifying success--the subscriptions to the society no longer furnish it with its former very modest income--an income which is deplorably insufficient if the organization is to be kept effective, and the work adequately performed. In spite of the most rigid economy, the committee have been compelled to part with a considerable portion of their small reserve fund (provided by a legacy) to tide over difficulties. But this method of balancing expenditure and income is very unsatisfactory, and cannot be long continued.

"I am led to plead for the society with especial insistence at the present time, inasmuch as more than one of those whose unblemished life has made them fitting recipients of such a signal favour, have recently had visions informing them that the Sunchild will again shortly visit us. We know not when he will come, but when he comes, my friends, let him not find us unmindful of, nor ungrateful for, the inestimable services he has rendered us. For come he surely will. Either in winter, what time icicles hang by the wall and milk comes frozen home in the pail--or in summer when days are at their longest and the mowing grass is about--there will be an hour, either at morn, or eve, or in the middle day, when he will again surely come. May it be mine to be among those who are then present to receive him."Here he again glared at my father, whose blood was boiling. George had not positively forbidden him to speak out; he therefore sprang to his feet, "You lying hound," he cried, "I am the Sunchild, and you know it."George, who knew that he had my father in his own hands, made no attempt to stop him, and was delighted that he should have declared himself though he had felt it his duty to tell him not to do so.

Yram turned pale. Hanky roared out, "Tear him in pieces--leave not a single limb on his body. Take him out and burn him alive." The vergers made a dash for him--but George's brothers seized them.

The crowd seemed for a moment inclined to do as Hanky bade them, but Yram rose from her place, and held up her hand as one who claimed attention. She advanced towards George and my father as unconcernedly as though she were merely walking out of church, but she still held her hand uplifted. All eyes were turned on her, as well as on George and my father, and the icy calm of her self-possession chilled those who were inclined for the moment to take Hanky's words literally. There was not a trace of fluster in her gait, action, or words, as she said -"My friends, this temple, and this day, must not be profaned with blood. My son will take this poor madman to the prison. Let him be judged and punished according to law. Make room, that he and my son may pass."Then, turning to my father, she said, "Go quietly with the Ranger."Having so spoken, she returned to her seat as unconcernedly as she had left it.

Hanky for a time continued to foam at the mouth and roar out, "Tear him to pieces! burn him alive!" but when he saw that there was no further hope of getting the people to obey him, he collapsed on to a seat in his pulpit, mopped his bald head, and consoled himself with a great pinch of a powder which corresponds very closely to our own snuff.

George led my father out by the side door at the north end of the western aisle; the people eyed him intently, but made way for him without demonstration. One voice alone was heard to cry out, "Yes, he is the Sunchild!" My father glanced at the speaker, and saw that he was the interpreter who had taught him the Erewhonian language when he was in prison.

George, seeing a special constable close by, told him to bid his brothers release the vergers, and let them arrest the interpreter--this the vergers, foiled as they had been in the matter of my father's arrest, were very glad to do. So the poor interpreter, to his dismay, was lodged at once in one of the Bank prison-cells, where he could do no further harm.

同类推荐
  • 蜀鉴

    蜀鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 情史

    情史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四溟诗话

    四溟诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝无量度人上品妙经法

    太上洞玄灵宝无量度人上品妙经法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲投梭记

    六十种曲投梭记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 续城之半生浮图

    续城之半生浮图

    不曾想,有一个人会以横冲直撞之势破入生命。与他争锋相对横眉怒骂,与他一同经历险难,他轻抱着我说:你是个好女孩。但转身他就指着我的鼻子冷扬了语调骂:“小九,你没有心。”如果无心,我不会觉得痛;如果无心,我不会停留原地。嘴角是苦涩的笑,但我只是深深凝看着他,没有说一句话。许久之后,才知陆续爱我。人生的两岸,一个抚我入眠,一个将我唤醒。光阴的两岸,却终究无法以一苇渡杭,我知你心意。曾想与你相忘于江湖,以沧桑为饮,年华果腹,岁月做衣锦华服,于百转千回后,悄然转身,然后,离去。但到底没敌过那强大的命运,把我与你绑在了一起。只是,当多年以后,陆续,你是否还会如最初那般待我?
  • 新世纪诗典(第五季)

    新世纪诗典(第五季)

    “新世纪诗典”是诗人伊沙开设的微博(微信)诗歌荐评,每日推荐一首优秀原创诗歌,也因此每年集成一本《新世纪诗典》,此为第五本。不以姿态、立场、资历、辈分取舍作品,只以作品质量为唯一评价标准,《新世纪诗典》是新世纪以来中国诗歌的集体呈现,它记录时代的声音,展示国人的生存,传递诗人的情感。伊沙的编选不含门户之见,具有一种无所不包的大气象,他对每首诗所作的精彩点评加在一起也可看做是对中国当下诗坛所做的一次整体性观察和评价。
  • 不要让猪知道

    不要让猪知道

    我没好气地白他们一眼,“你们继续在这里拼个你死我,我就不奉陪了,我走先!”肚子好饿,去弄点东西来吃,不跟这两个家伙一般见识!“小迷——”“小迷一一”两个人立刻由虎视眈眈的对峙中清醒过来,在我后面追了上来。我笑出声,伸展开双臂,一手挽着一个,左边是自己爱的人右边是自己喜欢的人,朝目标——那个漂亮的蛋糕进发,深深地呼吸一口气,周围都是幸福的如同蛋糕一样甜蜜的空气……
  • 绝世毒妃:逆天七小姐

    绝世毒妃:逆天七小姐

    【全文完】安以若,华夏毒医世家第五代传人。一朝穿越,沦为安府废材七小姐。废材翻身,盛世风华,绝代容颜,轻功绝世,翻手飞刀,覆手银针。昔日废材,如今盛世风华,睥睨天下。前世今朝两茫茫,记忆醒,王者归,笑江湖。三世今生天注定,爱恨缘,浮生怨,今朝醉。一袭紫衣飞扬,笑傲江湖。一袭红衣傲天,宠妻上天。“娘子,待我平定天下,许你一世长安!”笔墨纵横,落下三千惆怅。丹青妙手,泼墨渲染祭年。红颜劫,樱花似雪漫天扬。可曾记得奈何桥边飘逸的身影。丹青妙手在宣纸上渲染出江山,墨笔飞扬书写着纵横的牵绊,黛眉轻佻遥望着尘世的凄美,鱼台钓月回忆着以往的沧桑……我愿执你之手,与你共度三世风霜。
  • 临安末世

    临安末世

    他逆着人海,放弃光明的人生,在黑暗潮湿的角落找到她。他想,他想将这世界的光明分她一半。
  • 襄阳守城录

    襄阳守城录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 人脉历练智慧(下)

    人脉历练智慧(下)

    常言说“一个篱笆三个桩,一个好汉三个帮”,“一人成木,二人成林,三人成森林”,可见,要想做成大事,必定要有做成大事的人脉网络和人脉支持系统。如果说血脉是人的生理生命支持系统的话,那么人脉则是人的社会生命支持系统。人脉,决定发展!
  • 灵宝九幽长夜起尸度亡玄章

    灵宝九幽长夜起尸度亡玄章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洪荒之亘古

    洪荒之亘古

    重生到了混沌,却因为盘古的原因修为被毁。不过他也因此得到了超脱大道的希望,看其如何打败洪荒诸多对手一统洪荒,最终超脱混沌得证大道。
  • 宿主电量不足

    宿主电量不足

    江悬用着最后的存款在网上买了一部手机,而这部手机却拥有着穿越另外一个世界的功能!但是似乎电量不够呀……为了更多的电量,他开启了虚拟游戏,创建了一个名为《秩序之约》的游戏!让玩家们帮他打工!“宿主电量不足!”“好好!马上充!”