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charity。
I had already gained the ear of the Queen； and had so worked upon
her curiosity that she promised to get leave for me to have a
balloon made and inflated； I pointed out to her that no complicated
machinery would be wantednothing； in fact； but a large quantity
of oiled silk； a car； a few ropes； &c。； &c。； and some light kind of
gas； such as the antiquarians who were acquainted with the means
employed by the ancients for the production of the lighter gases
could easily instruct her workmen how to provide。 Her eagerness to
see so strange a sight as the ascent of a human being into the sky
overcame any scruples of conscience that she might have otherwise
felt； and she set the antiquarians about showing her workmen how to
make the gas； and sent her maids to buy； and oil； a very large
quantity of silk （for I was determined that the balloon should be a
big one） even before she began to try and gain the King's
permission； this； however； she now set herself to do； for I had
sent her word that my prosecution was imminent。
As for myself； I need hardly say that I knew nothing about
balloons； nor did I see my way to smuggling Arowhena into the car；
nevertheless； knowing that we had no other chance of getting away
from Erewhon； I drew inspiration from the extremity in which we
were placed； and made a pattern from which the Queen's workmen were
able to work successfully。 Meanwhile the Queen's carriage…builders
set about making the car； and it was with the attachments of this
to the balloon that I had the greatest difficulty； I doubt； indeed；
whether I should have succeeded here； but for the great
intelligence of a foreman； who threw himself heart and soul into
the matter； and often both foresaw requirements； the necessity for
which had escaped me； and suggested the means of providing for
them。
It happened that there had been a long drought； during the latter
part of which prayers had been vainly offered up in all the temples
of the air god。 When I first told her Majesty that I wanted a
balloon； I said my intention was to go up into the sky and prevail
upon the air god by means of a personal interview。 I own that this
proposition bordered on the idolatrous； but I have long since
repented of it； and am little likely ever to repeat the offence。
Moreover the deceit； serious though it was； will probably lead to
the conversion of the whole country。
When the Queen told his Majesty of my proposal； he at first not
only ridiculed it； but was inclined to veto it。 Being； however； a
very uxorious husband； he at length consentedas he eventually
always did to everything on which the Queen had set her heart。 He
yielded all the more readily now； because he did not believe in the
possibility of my ascent； he was convinced that even though the
balloon should mount a few feet into the air； it would collapse
immediately； whereon I should fall and break my neck； and he should
be rid of me。 He demonstrated this to her so convincingly； that
she was alarmed； and tried to talk me into giving up the idea； but
on finding that I persisted in my wish to have the balloon made；
she produced an order from the King to the effect that all
facilities I might require should be afforded me。
At the same time her Majesty told me that my attempted ascent would
be made an article of impeachment against me in case I did not
succeed in prevailing on the air god to stop the drought。 Neither
King nor Queen had any idea that I meant going right away if I
could get the wind to take me； nor had he any conception of the
existence of a certain steady upper current of air which was always
setting in one direction； as could be seen by the shape of the
higher clouds； which pointed invariably from south…east to north…
west。 I had myself long noticed this peculiarity in the climate；
and attributed it； I believe justly； to a trade…wind which was
constant at a few thousand feet above the earth； but was disturbed
by local influences at lower elevations。
My next business was to break the plan to Arowhena； and to devise
the means for getting her into the car。 I felt sure that she would
come with me； but had made up my mind that if her courage failed
her； the whole thing should come to nothing。 Arowhena and I had
been in constant communication through her maid； but I had thought
it best not to tell her the details of my scheme till everything
was settled。 The time had now arrived； and I arranged with the
maid that I should be admitted by a private door into Mr。
Nosnibor's garden at about dusk on the following evening。
I came at the appointed time； the girl let me into the garden and
bade me wait in a secluded alley until Arowhena should come。 It
was now early summer； and the leaves were so thick upon the trees
that even though some one else had entered the garden I could have
easily hidden myself。 The night was one of extreme beauty； the sun
had long set； but there was still a rosy gleam in the sky over the
ruins of the railway station； below me was the city already
twinkling with lights； while beyond it stretched the plains for
many a league until they blended with the sky。 I just noted these
things； but I could not heed them。 I could heed nothing； till； as
I peered into the darkness of the alley； I perceived a white figure
gliding swiftly towards me。 I bounded towards it； and ere thought
could either prompt or check； I had caught Arowhena to my heart and
covered her unresisting cheek with kisses。
So overjoyed were we that we knew not how to speak； indeed I do not
know when we should have found words and come to our senses； if the
maid had not gone off into a fit of hysterics； and awakened us to
the necessity of self…control； then； briefly and plainly； I
unfolded what I proposed； I showed her the darkest side； for I felt
sure that the darker the prospect the more likely she was to come。
I told her that my plan would probably end in death for both of us；
and that I dared not press itthat at a word from her it should be
abandoned； still that there was just a possibility of our escaping
together to some part of the world where there would be no bar to
our getting married； and that I could see no other hope。
She made no resistance； not a sign or hint of doubt or hesitation。
She would do all I told her； and come whenever I was ready； so I
bade her send her maid to meet me nightlytold her that she must
put a good face on； look as bright and happy as she could； so as to
make her father and mother and Zulora think that she was forgetting
meand be ready at a moment's notice to come to the Queen's
workshops； and be concealed among the ballast and under rugs in the
car of the balloon； and so we parted。
I hurried my preparations forward； for I feared rain； and also that
the King might change his mind； but the weather continued dry； and
in another week the Queen's workmen had finished the balloon and
car； while the gas was ready to be turned on into the balloon at
any moment。 All being now prepared I was to ascend on the
following morning。 I had stipulated for being allowed to take
abundance of rugs and wrappings as protection from the cold of the
upper atmosphere； and also ten or a dozen good…sized bags of
ballast。
I had nearly a quarter's pension in hand； and with this I fee'd
Arowhena's maid； and bribed the Queen's foremanwho would； I
believe； have given me assistance even without a bribe。 He helped
me to secrete food and wine in the bags of ballast； and on the
morning of my ascent he kept the other workmen out of the way while
I got Arowhena into the car。 She came with early dawn； muffled up；
and in her maid's dress。 She was supposed to be gone to an early
performance at one of the Musical Banks； and told me that she
should not be missed till breakfast； but that her absence must then
be discovered。 I arranged the ballast about her so that it should
conceal her as she lay at the bottom of the car； and covered her
with wrappings。 Although it still wanted some hours of the time
fixed for my ascent； I could not trust myself one moment from the
car； so I got into it at once； and watched the gradual inflation of
the balloon。 Luggage I had none