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with the basest criminals； and yet deem simple embezzlement a bar
to friendly intercourse。 I cannot understand you。〃
〃But I am poor myself；〃 cried I。
〃You were；〃 said he； 〃and you were liable to be severely punished
for it；indeed； at the council which was held concerning you； this
fact was very nearly consigning you to what I should myself
consider a well…deserved chastisement〃 （for he was getting angry；
and so was I）； 〃but the Queen was so inquisitive； and wanted so
much to see you； that she petitioned the King and made him give you
his pardon； and assign you a pension in consideration of your
meritorious complexion。 It is lucky for you that he has not heard
what you have been saying now； or he would be sure to cancel it。〃
As I heard these words my heart sank within me。 I felt the extreme
difficulty of my position； and how wicked I should be in running
counter to established usage。 I remained silent for several
minutes； and then said that I should be happy to accept the
embezzler's invitation；on which my instructor brightened and said
I was a sensible fellow。 But I felt very uncomfortable。 When he
had left the room； I mused over the conversation which had just
taken place between us； but I could make nothing out of it； except
that it argued an even greater perversity of mental vision than I
had been yet prepared for。 And this made me wretched； for I cannot
bear having much to do with people who think differently from
myself。 All sorts of wandering thoughts kept coming into my head。
I thought of my master's hut； and my seat upon the mountain side；
where I had first conceived the insane idea of exploring。 What
years and years seemed to have passed since I had begun my journey！
I thought of my adventures in the gorge； and on the journey hither；
and of Chowbok。 I wondered what Chowbok told them about me when he
got back；he had done well in going back； Chowbok had。 He was not
handsomenay； he was hideous； and it would have gone hardly with
him。 Twilight drew on； and rain pattered against the windows。
Never yet had I felt so unhappy； except during three days of sea…
sickness at the beginning of my voyage from England。 I sat musing
and in great melancholy； until Yram made her appearance with light
and supper。 She too； poor girl； was miserable； for she had heard
that I was to leave them。 She had made up her mind that I was to
remain always in the town； even after my imprisonment was over； and
I fancy had resolved to marry me though I had never so much as
hinted at her doing so。 So what with the distressingly strange
conversation with my teacher； my own friendless condition； and
Yram's melancholy； I felt more unhappy than I can describe； and
remained so till I got to bed； and sleep sealed my eyelids。
On awaking next morning I was much better。 It was settled that I
was to make my start in a conveyance which was to be in waiting for
me at about eleven o'clock； and the anticipation of change put me
in good spirits； which even the tearful face of Yram could hardly
altogether derange。 I kissed her again and again； assured her that
we should meet hereafter； and that in the meanwhile I should be
ever mindful of her kindness。 I gave her two of the buttons off my
coat and a lock of my hair as a keepsake； taking a goodly curl from
her own beautiful head in return： and so； having said good…bye a
hundred times； till I was fairly overcome with her great sweetness
and her sorrow； I tore myself away from her and got down…stairs to
the caleche which was in waiting。 How thankful I was when it was
all over； and I was driven away and out of sight。 Would that I
could have felt that it was out of mind also！ Pray heaven that it
is so now； and that she is married happily among her own people；
and has forgotten me！
And now began a long and tedious journey with which I should hardly
trouble the reader if I could。 He is safe； however； for the simple
reason that I was blindfolded during the greater part of the time。
A bandage was put upon my eyes every morning； and was only removed
at night when I reached the inn at which we were to pass the night。
We travelled slowly； although the roads were good。 We drove but
one horse； which took us our day's journey from morning till
evening； about six hours； exclusive of two hours' rest in the
middle of the day。 I do not suppose we made above thirty or
thirty…five miles on an average。 Each day we had a fresh horse。
As I have said already； I could see nothing of the country。 I only
know that it was level； and that several times we had to cross
large rivers in ferry…boats。 The inns were clean and comfortable。
In one or two of the larger towns they were quite sumptuous； and
the food was good and well cooked。 The same wonderful health and
grace and beauty prevailed everywhere。
I found myself an object of great interest； so much so； that the
driver told me he had to keep our route secret； and at times to go
to places that were not directly on our road； in order to avoid the
press that would otherwise have awaited us。 Every evening I had a
reception； and grew heartily tired of having to say the same things
over and over again in answer to the same questions； but it was
impossible to be angry with people whose manners were so
delightful。 They never once asked after my health； or even whether
I was fatigued with my journey； but their first question was almost
invariably an inquiry after my temper； the naivete of which
astonished me till I became used to it。 One day； being tired and
cold； and weary of saying the same thing over and over again； I
turned a little brusquely on my questioner and said that I was
exceedingly cross； and that I could hardly feel in a worse humour
with myself and every one else than at that moment。 To my
surprise； I was met with the kindest expressions of condolence； and
heard it buzzed about the room that I was in an ill temper； whereon
people began to give me nice things to smell and to eat； which
really did seem to have some temper…mending quality about them； for
I soon felt pleased and was at once congratulated upon being
better。 The next morning two or three people sent their servants
to the hotel with sweetmeats； and inquiries whether I had quite
recovered from my ill humour。 On receiving the good things I felt
in half a mind to be ill…tempered every evening； but I disliked the
condolences and the inquiries； and found it most comfortable to
keep my natural temper； which is smooth enough generally。
Among those who came to visit me were some who had received a
liberal education at the Colleges of Unreason； and taken the
highest degrees in hypothetics； which are their principal study。
These gentlemen had now settled down to various employments in the
country； as straighteners； managers and cashiers of the Musical
Banks； priests of religion； or what not； and carrying their
education with them they diffused a leaven of culture throughout
the country。 I naturally questioned them about many of the things
which had puzzled me since my arrival。 I inquired what was the
object and meaning of the statues which I had seen upon the plateau
of the pass。 I was told that they dated from a very remote period；
and that there were several other such groups in the country； but
none so remarkable as the one which I had seen。 They had a
religious origin； having been designed to propitiate the gods of
deformity and disease。 In former times it had been the custom to
make expeditions over the ranges； and capture the ugliest of
Chowbok's ancestors whom they could find； in order to sacrifice
them in the presence of these deities； and thus avert ugliness and
disease from the Erewhonians themselves。 It had been whispered
（but my informant assured me untruly） that centuries ago they had
even offered up some of their own people who were ugly or out of
health； in order to make examples of them； these detestable
customs； however； had been long discontinued； neither was there any
present observance of the statues。
I had the curiosity to inquire what would be done to any of
Chowbok's tribe if they crossed over into Erewhon。 I was told that
nobody knew； inasmuch