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THE FIXED PERIOD
ORIGINALLr PUBLISHED IN ''BLACKWOOD'S
ORIGINALLY MAGAZINE''
BLACKWOOD'S :MAGAZINE
THE FIXED PEEIOD
PERIOD

NOVEL
A lVOVEL

BY

ANTHONY TROLLOPE
TEOLLOPE

TWO VOL
IN T\VO VOLUMES
Ul\IES

VOL. 1.
I.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

WILLIAn! BLACK,VOOD
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXII
 rtw^

o0 NT E NTS OF
CONTENTS 0 F VOL. 1.I.

C HA P.
CHAP. PAGE

1.
I. INTRODUCTION, I
1

II. GABRIEL CRASWELLER,

II. . 27
27

III.
III. THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN,
BREAK-DOWN. 55
IV.
IV. JACK NEVERBEND, 86

V.
V. THE
THE CRICKET-MATCH,
CRICKET-MATCH, 123
123

VI.
VI. THE
THE COLLEGE,
COLLEGE, 169
169
 THE FIXED PEKIOD.
PERIOD.

- -+-

CHAPTER
CHAPTER I.
I.

INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.

IT
It be doubted
may be doubted 'whether
whether a brighter, more
a brighter, more
prosperous,
prosperous, and specially
specially a
a more orderly
orderly colony

than Britannula
than Britannula ,vas
was ever
ever settled
settled by British
British

colonists.
colonists. But it
it had its
its period
period of
of separation
separation

from the
the mother country,
country, though never
never of
of re-
re-

bellion, —
bellion, -like
like its
its elder
elder sister
sister N e\v Zealand.
New Zealand.

Indeed,
Indeed, in
in that
that respect
respect it
it simply
simply follo\ved
followed the

lead
lead given
given her
her by the
the Australias,
Australias, \vhich,
which, when

they
they set
set up for
for themselves, did so
themselves, did so with
with the
the

full
full co-operation
co-operation of
of England.
England. There
There \vas,
was, no

VOL. 1.
I. A
 —

"

22 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

doubt, aa special
doubt, special cause
cause witli
\vith us
us which did
did not
not
exist in
exist in Australia,
Australia, ,vas only,
and which was only, in
in
part,
part, understood by the
understood the British
British Government
when we Britannulists
Britannulists were
\vere allowed
allo\ved to
to stand
stand
ourselves.
by ourselves. great doctrine
The great doctrine of
of aa ""Fixed
Fixed

Period" was
Period" was received
received by them at
at first with
first 'with
ridicule,
ridicule, then with
and then with dismay;
dismay; but
but it
it was
,vas
undoubtedly the
undoubtedly the strong faith
strong faith which w'e of
we of
Britannula
Britannula had in
had in that
that doctrine
doctrine which in-
in-
duced our
duced our separation.
separation. Nothing could have
been more successful
been successful than our
our efforts to live
efforts to live

alone
alone during the thirty
during the years that
thirty years that we
\ve remained
our
our o\vn masters.
own masters. We repudiated no debt,-
'Ve debt,

as
as have
have done
done some of
of our
our neighbours;
neighbours and no;

attempts
attempts have
have been
been made towards connllunism,
communism,
—
-as
as has
has been
been the
the case
case ,vith
with others.
others. We have
"Ve
been laborious,
laborious, contented,
contented, and prosperous;
prosperous and ;

if
if we have been
been reabsorbed
reabsorbed by the mother

coun try, in
country, in accordance
accordance \vith
with what II cannot but

call
call the
the pusillanimous
pusillanimous conduct of
of certain
certain of

our
our elder Britannulists, it
elder Britannulists, it has
has not
not been fronl
from

any failure the part

failure on the part of
of the
the island,
island, but fronl
from
 INTRODUCTION.
INTEODUCTION. *
3
3

the
the opposition
opposition 'with
with \vhich
which the
the Fixed Period
Period

has
has been regarded.
regarded.

II think
think II must begin
begin my story
story by explaining
explaining

in
in moderate language
language a
a few of
of the
the manifest
manifest

advantages which would attend

attend the
the adoption
adoption

of
of the
the Fixed Period
Period in
in all
all countries.
countries. As far
far

as
as the
the law \vent
went it
it was adopted
adopted in
in Britannula.
Britannula.

Its
Its adoption
adoption \vas
was the
the first
first thing
thing discussed
discussed by

our
our young Assembly, \vhen
when we found ourselves
ourselves

alone;
alone and though there
; there \vere
were disputes
disputes on the
the
subject,
subject, in
in none of
of them was opposition
opposition made

to the system.
to the system. II myself,
myself, at
at the
the age
age of
of thirty,
thirty,

had been elected

elected Speaker of that
Speaker of that Parliament.
Parliament.

But II was,
was, nevertheless,
nevertheless, able
able to
to discuss
discuss the
the

merits
merits of
of the
the bills
bills in committee, and II did
in committee, did

so
so with some enthusiasm.
enthusiasm. Thirty
Thirty years
years have

passed
passed since,
since, and n1y
my "period"
"period" is
is dra\ving
drawing nigh.
nigh.

But II am still
still as
as energetic
energetic as
as ever,
ever, and as
as as-
as-

sured that the

sured that the doctrine
doctrine will
will ultimately
ultimately prevail
prevail

over
over the
the face
face of
of the
the civilised
civilised world,
world, though II

\vill
will ackno\vledge
acknowledge that
that men are
are not
not as
as yet
yet ripe
ripe

for
for it.
it.
44 THE FIXED PERIOD.
TERIOD.

The Fixed
Fixed Period
Period has
has been so
so far
far discussed
discussed

as
as to
to make it
it almost
almost unnecessary
unnecessary for
for Ine to
me to
explain
explain its
its tenets,
tenets, though its
its advantages may

require a fe\v
require a few ,vords
words of
of argument in
in a
a ,vorld
world

that
that is
is at
at present
present dead to
to its
its charms. It
It con-
con-

sists
sists altogether
altoGjether of
of the
the abolition
abolition of the nliseries,
of the miseries,

,veakness, faineant ilubecility

weakness, and faineant imbecility of
of old
old age,
age,

the prearranged
by the prearranged ceasing
ceasing to
to live
live of
of those
those \vho
who
,vonld
would otherwise
otherwise become old.
old. Need II explain
explain

to
to the
the inhabitants
inhabitants of
of England, for
for whom II

chiefly \vrite, ho\v

chiefly write, how extreme are
are those
those sufferings,
sufferings,

and ho\v
how great
great the
the costliness
costliness of
of that
that old
old age
age

is unable in
which is in any degree
degree to
to supply its
its

own 'wants?
wants ? Such old
old age
age should not,
not, 've
we
Britannulists
Britannulists maintain,
maintain, be
be allowed
allowed to
to be.
be. This
This

should
should be prevented, in
be prevented, in the
the interests
interests both of
of

the
the young and of those who do become old
of those old

\v hen obliged
when obliged to
to linger
linger on after period""
their "" period
after their

of
of ,york
work is
is over.
over. Two mistakes
mistakes have been

made by mankind in
lllade in reference
reference to
to their
their o,vn
own
race, —
race,-first,
first, in
in allowing
allowing the
the ,vorld
world to
to be
be bur-
bur-

dened with
with the
the continued
continued maintenance of
of those
those
 INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION. 56

whose cares
cares should have been nlade
made to
to cease,
cease,

and whose troubles

troubles should be
be at
at an end.
end. Does
Does
not the Psalmist say the same ?-"
? " If
—
If by reason
reason

of strength they be fourscore years,

years, yet
yet is
is their
their

strength labour and sorrow."

sorrow." And the
the second,
second,

in
in requiring those
those who remain to
to live
live a
a useless
useless

and painful life.

life. Both these
these errors
errors have conle
come
from an ill-j udged and aa thoughtless
ill-judged thoughtless tender-
tender-

ness,—
ness,-a
a tenderness to
to the young in
in not
not calling
calling

upon them to
to provide for
for the decent and conl-
com-
fortable
fortable departure of
of their
their progenitors;
progenitors and ;

a tenderness to
to the
the old lest the
old lest the man, when
\vhen
uninstructed and unconscious
uninstructed unconscious of
of good and evil,
evil,

be unwilling to
should be to leave the world
leave the world for
for

is not
which he is not fitted.
fitted. such tenderness
But such tenderness
IS
is no better
better than unpardonable
unpardonable \veakness.
weakness.

Statistics
Statistics told us
have told that the
us that the sufficient sus-
sufficient sus-
tenance of
tenance of an old
old is more costly
man is costly than
than the
the
feeding of
feeding of aa. young one,—
one,-as is also
as is also the
the care,
care,
nourishment, and education
nourishment, education of
of the
the as
as yet
yet un-
un-
profitable child.
profitable child. Statistics also
Statistics also have told
have told us
us
that the
that the unprofitable
unprofitable the no
young and the no less
less
6
6 THE FIXED PERIOD.

unprofitable old
unprofitable old fOrIn
form aa third
third of
of the
the population.
population.

Let the
Let the reader
reader think of
of the
the burden ,vith
with which

the labour
the of the
labour of the ·world
world is
is thus
thus saddled.
saddled. To
To
these are
these are to
to be
be added all
all who,
who, because
because of
of illness
illness

cannot
cannot ,vork,
work, and because of
of idleness
idleness will
will not.
not.

Ho,Y are
How are a
a people
people to
to thrive
thrive 'v hen so
when so ,veighted
weighted ? ?

And for
for what good
good?1 As for
for the
the children,
children,

they
they are
are clearly
clearly necessary.
necessary. They have to
to be
be

nourished in
nourished in order
order that
that they may do
do good
good
work as
,vork their time shall
as their shall come. But for
for whose

good are
are the
the old
old and effete
effete to
to be maintained

ainid
amid all these troubles
all these troubles and miseries?
miseries? Had
there
there been anyone
any one in
in our
our Parlialnent
Parliament capable
capable

of that they
of showing that they could
could reasonably
reasonably desire
desire it,
it,

the
the bill
bill ,vould
would not
not have
have been
been passed.
passed. Though
to
to 111e
me the politico
politico -- econonlical
economical view of
of the
the

subject
subject was ahvays
always very
very strong,
strong, the
the relief
relief to
to

be brought to
to the
the age~
aged ,vas
was the
the one
one argunlent
argument
to
to ·which
which no reply
reply could
could be
be given.
given.

It
It ,vas put forward
was put forward by some "\v
who ho opposed
opposed

the movement, that

the that the
the old
old themselves
themselves would

not like
like it.
it. II never
never felt
felt sure
sure of that, 110r
of that, nor do
do II
 INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION. 77

now. vVhen
When the
the colony had
had become used
used to
to

the
the Fixed Period system,
system, the
the old
old would be-
be-

come accustomed as
as ,veIl
well as
as the
the young.
young. It
It is
is

to
to be understood that
that a
a euthanasia
euthanasia was to
to be
be

prepared
prepared for — and ho,v
for them ;-and
;
how many, as
as men

now are,
are, does
does a
a euthanasia a,vait?
await ? And they
they

'would
would depart with the
the full
full respect
respect of
of all
all their
their

fellow-citizens.
fellow-citizens. To how many does
does that
that lot
lot

no,v
now fall?
fall ? During the
the last
last years
years of
of their
their lives
lives

they were to
to be saved from any of
of the
the horrors
horrors

of
of poverty.
poverty. How many no\v
now lack
lack the
the comforts
comforts

they cannot earn

they earn for
for themselves?
themselves ? And to
to

there would be
them there be no degraded
degraded feeling that
feeling that

they were the

they the recipients
recipients of
of charity.
charity. They
be prepared
would be prepared for their departure,
for their departure, for
for the
the
benefit of
benefit of their
their country,
country, surrounded
surrounded all the
by all the
comforts to
comforts to which,
which, at
at their
their time
time of
of life, they
life, they
would be ~usceptible, in
be susceptible, in aa college
college maintained
maintained
at the
at the public
public expense
expense; ; each, as
and each, as he
he drew
nearer to
nearer to the
the happy day,
day, would be
be treated
treated with
with
still increasing
still increasing honour.
honour. I
I myself had gone
myself gone
closely into
most closely into the
the question
question of
of expense,
expense, and

•
 88 THE FIXED PERIOD.

had
had found
found that
that by the
the use
use of
of machinery the
the

college
college could
could alnlost
almost be made self-supporting.
self-supporting.

But
But \ve
we should
should save
save on an average
average £50 for
for

each
each man and \vornan
woman who had departed.
departed.

vVhen
When our
our population
population should
should have become a
a

nlillion,
million, presuming that
that one only in
in fifty
fifty would

have
have reached
reached the
the desired
desired age,
age, the
the sunl
sum ac-
ac-

tually
tually saved
saved to the colony would amount to
to the to
£1,000,000
£1,000,000 a-year.
a-year. It
It would keep us
us out
out of
of

debt,
debt, nlake
make for
for us
us our railways,
railways, render
render all
all our

rivers
rivers navigable,
navigable, construct
construct our
our bridges,
bridges, and

leave
leave us
us shortly
shortly the
the richest
richest people
people on God's

earth!
earth ! And this
this ,vould
would be
be effected
effected by a
a nleas-
meas-

ure
ure doing to the
doing more good to the aged than to
to any

other
other class
class of the community!
of the community !

Many arguments ,vere

were used against us, but
against us, but

,vere
were vain
vain and futile
futile in
in their
their conception.
conception. In
In it
it

religion
religion was brought to
to bear;
bear and in
;in talking
talking of
of

this
this the
the terrible word "murder"
terrible ,vord " murder " was brought

into
into conlmon
common use.
use. II remember startling
startling the
the

House by forbidding
forbidding any member to
to use
use a
a

phrase
phrase so
so revolting
revolting to
to the
the majesty of
of the
the

•
 INTRODUCTION. 9
9

people. "
people. Murder!
Murder ! Did allY
any one who at-
at-

tempted to
to deter us by the
deter us the use
use of
of foul
foul lan-
lan-

guage, bethink himself

guage, himself that
that nlurder,
murder, to
to be

murder, must be
be opposed to
to the
the la'w?
law ? This
This

thing
thing was to be done by the
to be the law.
law. There can
can

be no other
be other murder.
murder. If
If a
a murderer be
be hanged,
hanged,

—
-in
in England, II nlean,
mean, for
for in
in Britannula 've
we
have no capital
capital punishment, — is that
punishment,-is that murder?
murder ?
It
It is
is not
not so,
so, only
only because
because the
the law enacts
enacts it.
it. II
and aa few others
others did succeed at
did succeed at last
last in
in stop-
stop-

ping the
the use
use of
of that,
that word.
word. Then they
they talked
talked

to
to us
us of
of Methuselah, and endeavoured to
to dra\v
draw
an argument from the
the age
age of
of the
the patriarchs.
patriarchs. II
asked them in
in comnlittee
committee whether they
they were

prepared to prove that

to prove that the
the 969
969 years,
years, as
as spoken
spoken
of in
of in Genesis,
Genesis, \V'ere
were the
the same measure of
of time
time

as
as 969 years
years now, and told
told them that
that if
if the
the

sanitary
sanitary arrangements of the world
of the world ,vould
would again
again

permit
permit men to
to live
live as
as long
long as
as the
the patriarchs,
patriarchs,

we would gladly change the

the Fixed Period.
Period.

In fact,
fact, there
there was not
not a
a word to
to be
be said
said

except that
against us except that which referred
referred to
to the
the
10
10 THE !i'IXED
FIXED PERIOD.

feelings
feelings of
of the
the young and old.
old. Feelings
Feelings are
are

changeable,
changeable, II told
told them at
at that
that great
great and

glorious 111eeting
glorious meeting ,vhich
which we had at
at Gladston-
Gladston-

opolis,
opolis, and though naturally
naturally governed only
only by

instinct,
instinct, ,vould
would be
be taught
taught at
at last
last to
to comply

,vith
with reason.
reason. II had lately
lately read
read how feelings
feelings

had been
been allowed
allowed in
in England to
to stand
stand in
in the
the

,yay
way of
of the
the great
great work of
of cremation.
cremation. A son
son

will not
will not like,
like, you say,
say, to
to lead
lead his
his father
father into
into

the college.
the college. But ought he not
not to
to like
like to
to do

so?
so ? and if
if so,
so, 'v ill not
will not reason
reason teach
teach him to
to like
like

to do
to do ,vhat
what he
he ought
ought?1 II can conceive
conceive ,vith
with

rapture
rapture the
the pride,
pride, the
the honour,
honour, the
the affection
affection

,vith which, ,vhen

with which, when the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period had come,
come,

II could
could have led
led my father
father into
into the
the college,
college,

there
there to
to enjoy
enjoy for
for twelve
twelve months that
that prepara-
prepara-

tion
tion for
for euthanasia
euthanasia which no cares
cares for
for this
this

world would be
be allowed
allowed to
to disturb.
disturb. All
All the
the

existing
existing ideas
ideas of
of the
the grave
grave would be
be absent.
absent.

There would be no further

be no further struggles
struggles to
to prolong
prolong

the
the time of
of misery
misery ,vhich
which nature
nature had herself
herself

produced. That temptation

temptation to
to the
the young to
to
 INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION. 11
11

begrudge to
begrudge to the
the old
old the
the costly
costly comforts
comforts which
which
they could
they could not
not earn
earn would
would be
be no
no longer
longer fos-
fos-

tered.
tered. It
It would be
would be aa pride
pride for
for the
the young
young man
to feel
to that his
feel that his parent's
parent's been enrolled
name had been enrolled
to all
to all coming time
coming time in
in the
the bright
bright books of
of the
the
college
college which was
which was to
to be
be established
established for
for the
the
Fixed Period.
Fixed Period. I
I have aa son
have son of
of my own, and
I
I have carefully
have carefully educated
educated him to
to look
look forward
for,vard
to the
to the day in
day in which
which he
he shall
shall deposit
deposit there
me there
as the
as the proudest
proudest of
of his
his life.
life. Circumstances, as
Circumstances, as
II shall relate in
shall relate this story,
in this have s0111ewhat
story, have somewhat in-
in-

terfered with
terfered with him but he
him;j but he will,
will, II trust,
trust, yet
come
come back
back to
to the
the right
right way of
of thinking.
thinking. That
II shall
shall never
never spend
spend that
that last
last happy year within

the
the walls
walls of
of the
the college,
college, is
is to
to me,
me, from a
a selfish
selfish

point
point of
of view,
view, the
the saddest
saddest part
part of
of England's re-
re-

assuming
assuming our
our island
island as
as a
a colony.
colony.

My readers
readers will
will perceive
perceive that
that II am an en-

thusiast.
thusiast. But there
there are
are reforms
reforms so
so great
great that

aa man cannot
cannot but
but be
be enthusiastic
enthusiastic when
when he has
received
received into
into his
his very
very soul
soul the
the truth
truth of
of any
any

human
human improvement.
improvement. Alas
Alas me!
me II shall
!shall never
12
12 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

live to
live to see
see carried
carried out
out the
the glory
glory of
of this
this measure

to
to ,vhich II have
which have devoted the best
devoted the best years of my
years of
existence.
existence. college, which
The college, ,vhich has
has been built
built
under
under nly auspices
my auspices as
as aa preparation
preparation for
for the
the
happy departure,
happy departure, is
is to
to be
be made
l1lade aa Chamber of
of
COl1lmel'Ce.
Commerce. Those aged
Those aged ,vho were
men who ,vere await-
a"wait-
ing, as
ing, as II verily
verily believe,
believe, in
in inlpatience the
impatience the com-
com-
ing day
ing day of
of their
their perfected
perfected dignity,
dignity, have been
turned loose
turned loose in the world,
in the ,vorld, and allowed
allowed to
to grovel
grovel
again with mundane
again with nlundane thoughts
thoughts amidst the
the idle-
idle-
ness of
ness of years that are
years that useless.
are useless. bridges,
Our bridges,
our rail ways, our
our railways, our Government are not provided
are not

for.
for. Our young men are
are again
again becoming torpid
torpid

beneath the
the 'v eight inlposed
weight imposed upon them. II
'vas,
was, in
in truth,
truth, wrong to
to think that so
so great a

reform
reform could
could be
be brought to
to perfection
perfection within

the
the days
days of
of the
the first
first reformers.
reformers. A divine
divine idea
idea

has
has to
to be to men's minds by fre-
be made common to fre-

quent ventilation before it

ventilation before it ,vill
will be
be seen
seen to
to be

fit
fit for
for hunlanity.
humanity. Did not
not the
the first
first Christians
Christians

all
all suffer
suffer affliction,
affliction, poverty,
poverty, and martyrdorn
martyrdom?1
How many centuries
Ho,v has it
centuries has it taken
taken in
in the
the his-
his-
 INTRODUCTION. 13
13

tory
tory of
of the
the world to
to induce it
it to
to denounce the
the

not
not yet
yet abolished
abolished theory
theory of
of slavery
slavery 1
? A throne,
throne,

aa lord,
lord, and a
a bishop
bishop still
still remain to
to encumber

the
the earth!
earth !\Vhat
What right
right had I, then, as
I, then, as the
the first
first

of the Fixed-Periodists,
of the Fixed-Periodists, to
to hope that
that II might
live
live to see my scheme carried
to see carried out,
out, or that II
or that

might be
be allowed to depart as
to depart as among the
the first
first

glorious
glorious recipients
recipients of
of its
its advantages?
advantages ?

It
It would appear
appear absurd to
to say
say that
that had

there
there been such a
a law in
in force
force in
in England,

England would not have prevented its

its adop-
adop-

tion in
tion in Britannula.
Britannula. That is
is a nlatter of
a matter of course.
course.

But it
it has been because
because the
the old
old men are
are still
still

alive
alive in
in England that
that the
the young in
in Britannula
Britannula

are
are to afflicted, — the young and the
to be affiicted,-the the old
old as
as

well.
well. The Prime Minister
Minister in
in Downing Street
Street

seventy-two when we were debarred

was seventy-two debarred from
from

carrying
carrying out
out our
our project,
project, and the
the Secretary
Secretary for
for

the
the Oolonies
Colonies was sixty-nine.
sixty-nine. Had they been
been

among us,
us, and had ,ve
we been allo,ved
allowed to use our
to use our

'wisdom
wisdom without
without interference
interference from effete
effete old
old

age,
age, where ,vould
would they
they have
have been?
been ? II ,vish
wish to
to
14
14 THE
TIlE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PEnIOD.

speak with
speak with all respect
all respect of
of Sir
Sir William
"\Villiam Glad-
Glad-
stone.
stone. "\Vhen we
When ,ve named our
our metropolis
metropolis after
after
him, we
him, 've were
,vere aware
aware of
of his
his good qualities. He
good qualities.
has not
has not the
the eloquence
eloquence of
of his
his great-grandfather,
great-grandfather,
but he
but he is, they
is, they tell
tell us,
us, aa safe
safe man.
man. to the
As to the
l\Iinister for
Minister for the
the —
Colonies,-of
Crown Colonies, ,vhich,
of which,

alas! Britannula
alas Britannula has
! has again
again —
one,-II do
become one, do
not, II
not, o\vn, look
own, look upon him as
as aa great
great states-
states-

man.
man. present Duke of
The present of Hatfield
Hatfield has
has none
of the dash,
of the dash, if he has
if he has more than
than the
the prudence,
prudence,
of
of his grandfather. He ,vas
his grandfather. was elected to the
elected to the pres-
pres-
ent
ent Upper Chamber as
as a
a strong
strong anti-Church

Liberal, but
Liberal, but he never has
he never has had the
the spirit to be
spirit to be aa
true
true reformer.
reformer. It
It is
is now
how due to
to the" feelings ,;
the "feelings"

,vhich
which fill
fill no
no doubt
doubt the
the bosoms of
of these
these two

anti-Fixed-Period
anti-Fixed-Period seniors,
seniors, that
that the
the doctrine
doctrine of
of

the
the Fixed Period
Period has
has for
for a
a time
time been quenched

in
in Britannula.
Britannula. It
It is
is sad
sad to
to think that
that the

strength
strength and intellect
intellect and spirit
spirit of
of manhood

should
should thus
thus be
be conquered
conquered by that
that very
very inlbecility
imbecility

which it
it is
is their
their desire
desire to
to banish
banish froln
from the
the world.

Two years
years since
since II had become the
the President
President
 INTRODUCTION. 15
15

of
of that
that ,vhich
which ,ve
we gloried
gloried to
to call
call the
the rISIng
rising

Empire of
of the
the South Pacific.
Pacific. And in
in spite
spite of
of

all
all internal
internal opposition,
opposition, the
the college
college of
of the
the Fixed
Fixed
Period
Period ,vas
was already
already completed.
completed. II then received
received

violent
violent notice
notice from the
the British
British Government

that
that Britannula
Britannula had ceased
ceased to
to be
be independent,
independent,

and had again

again been absorbed
absorbed by the
the mother

country among the

the Crown Colonies.
Colonies. How that
that

information
information ,vas
was received,
received, and ,vith
with 'what
what weak-
weak-
ness
ness on the
the part
part of
of the
the Britannulists,
Britannulists, II no,v
now
proceed
proceed to
to tell.
tell.

II confess
confess that
that II for
for one was not
one was not at
at first
first pre-
pre-

pared to
to obey.
obey. We were small,
\Ve small, but
but we ,vere
were
independent,
independent, and owed no more of
of submission
submission

to
to Great Britain than we do
Great Britain do to
to the
the Salomon

Islands
Islands or
or to
to Otaheite.
Otaheite. It
It was for
for us
us to
to make

our
our own laws,
laws, and we had hitherto
hitherto made them

in
in conformity
conformity ,vi
withth the
the institutions,
institutions, and,
and, II

must say,
say, ,vith
with the
the prejudices
prejudices of
of so-called
so-called civ-
civ-

ilisation.
ilisation. We had no'w
now made aa first
first attempt

at
at progress
progress beyond these
these limits,
limits, and ,,1e
we ,vere
were

immediately
immediately stopped
stopped by the
the fatuous
fatuous darkness
16
16 THE FIXED PERIOD.
~

of
of the
the old
old nlen
men ,vhom,
whom, had Great Britain
Britain

known her
her own interest,
interest, she
she ,vould
would already
already

have silenced
silenced by a
a Fixed Period
Period law on her
her

own account.
account. No greater
greater instance
instance of
of uncalled-
uncalled-

for
for tyranny is
is told of in
told of in the
the history
history of
of the
the

,vorld
world as
as already
already ,vritten.
written. But my brother
brother

Britannulists
Britannulists did not
not agree that, in
agree with me that, in

the interest
interest of
of the coming races,
races, it
it was our
our

duty rather to
to die
die at
at our posts
posts than yield
yield to
to

of the Duke of
the menaces of of Hatfield.
Hatfield. One
British
British gunboat,
gunboat, they
they d~clared,
declared, in
in the
the harbour

of
of Gladstonopolis, reduce us-to
Gladstonopolis, would reduce —
us to order.
order.

\Vhat order?
What order ? A 250 - ton
ton steam -- swiveller
- swiveller

could no doubt crush

could us, and bring
us, bring our
our Fixed
Fixed
Period college in
Period college premature ruin
in premature ruin about
about our
our

ears.
ears. But,
But, as
as ,vas
was said, the captain
said, the captain of the
of the

gunboat 'would never dare

would never to touch
dare to touch the
the ,vue
wire

that should
that should commit so wide aa destruction.
so wide destruction. An
,vould hesitate
Englishman would hesitate to
to fire
fire aa shot
shot that
that
,vould send perhaps
would perhaps five
five thousand
thousand of
of his
his fel-
fel-
low:creatures to
low-creatures to destruction
destruction before
before their
their Fixed
Fixed
Period.
Period. even
But even in Britannula
in Britannula fear
fear still
still
 INTRODUCTION. 17
17

remaIDs.
remaiDS. It
It was decided,
decided, II will
will confess
confess by the
the

common voice
voice of
of the island, that
the island, that ,ve
we should
should

admit this
this Governor,
Governor, and swear fealty
fealty again
again

to
to the
the British
British Crown. Sir
Sir Ferdinando Bro,vn
Brown
,vas
was allowed
allowed to
to land,
land, and by the
the rejoicing
rejoicing

made at
at the
the first
first Government House ball,
ball, as
as

II have already
already learned
learned since
since II left
left the
the island,
island,

it
it appeared that
that the
the Britannulists
Britannulists rejoiced
rejoiced

rather than otherwise

rather otherwise at
at their
their thraldom.
thraldom.

Two nlonths
months have passed
passed since
since that
that time,
time,

and I,
I, being a
a worn-out
worn-out old
old man, and fitted
fitted

only for
for the
the glory of the
glory of the college,
college, have nothing
nothing
left me but to
left to write
write this
this story,
story, so
so that
that coming

ages
ages may see
see how noble
noble ,vere
were our
our efforts.
efforts. But
in
in truth,
truth, the
the difficulties
difficulties which lay
lay in
in our
our way

were very
very stern.
stern. philosophical truth
The philosophical truth on

'v hich the

which the systenl
system is
is founded was too
too strong,
strong,

too
too mighty, too
too divine,
divine, to be adopted by man
to be

in
in the
the immediate age
age of
of its
its first
first appearance.
appearance.

But it
it has
has appeared;
appeared and II perhaps
; perhaps should be
be

contented
contented and gratified,
gratified, during
during the
the years
years ,vhich
which
II am doomed to
to linger
linger through impotent inl-
im-

VOL. 1.
I. B
18
18 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

becility, to think
becility, to think that
that II have been
been the
the first
first
reformer of
reformer of my time,
time, though
though II shall
shall be
be doomed
to perish
to perish without having
without having enjoyed
enjoyed its fruits.
its fruits.

II explain before
must now explain begin my story
before II begin story
certain details
certain details of
of our
our plan,
plan, created much
which created
schism among ourselves.
schism ourselves. In the
In the first place,
first place,
what should
what should be
be the
the Fixed
Fixed Period?
Period? When aa
party' of
party of us,
us, three
three or
or four
four hundred
hundred in
in number,
first emigrated
first emigrated from
from New
N e\v Zealand
Zealand to
to Britan-
Britan-
l1ula,
nula, ,ve were,
we \vere, almost
aln10st all
all of
of us,
us, young people.
people.
We would not
'Ve not consent to
to measures in
in regard
regard
to
to their public
their public debt 'which
debt which the Houses in
the in

New Zealand
Zealand threatened
threatened to
to take;
take and as
as this
this ;

island
island had been discovered, a part of it
discovered, and a it

cultivated,
cultivated, thither
thither \ve
we determined to
to go.
go. Our
resolution
resolution ,vas
was very
very popular,
popular, not
not only with

certain
certain parties
parties in
in New Zealand,
Zealand, but also
also in
in

the
the mother
mother country.
country. Others followed
followed us,
us, and

we settled
settled ourselves
ourselves with great
great prosperity.

But we \vere
But were essentially
essentially a
a young community.

There
There \vere
were not
not above
above ten
ten among us \vho
who had
then
then reached
reached any
any Fixed
Fixed Period;
Period and
and not above
above
;
 INTRODUCTION. 19
19

twenty others
others 'who
who could be said
said to
to be
be ap-
ap-

proaching it.
it. There never could
could arrive
arrive a
a tinle
time

or
or a
a people when, or
or among ,vhom,
whom, the
the system
system

could be tried with so

tried ,vith so good a
a hope of
of success.
success.

It
It \vas
was so
so long before
before ,ve
we had been allo\ved
allowed to
to

bottom, that
stand on our botton1, that the
the Fixed Period
Period

became aa matter of
of common conversation
conversation in
in

Britannula. There were many who looked

looked for-
for-

,yard
ward to
to it
it as
as the
the creator
creator of
of a
a new idea
idea of
of

,vealth
wealth and cornfort;
comfort and it
it ,vas
was in
; in those
those days
days

that the calculation

calculation \vas
was made as
as to
to the
the rivers
rivers

and railways.
railways. II think that
that in
in England they
they
thought that aa few, and but
thought but aa few,
few, among us
us

\vere dreamers of
were of a
a dream. they believed
Had they believed

that the
that the Fixed Period
Period would ever
ever have
have become
become
la\v, they
law, they 'would not
would not have permitted
permitted us
us to
to be
be
la\v-makers.
law-makers. I
I acknowledge that.
that. But when
,ve were once
we once independent,
independent, then
then again
again to
to re-
re-
us to
duce us submission by aa 250-
to submission 250- ton
ton steam-
steanl-
swiveller
swiveller act of
was an act of gross
gross tyranny.
tyranny.
should be
What should be the
the Fixed
Fixed Period?
Period? That
That
,vas the
was the first
first question
question which
which demanded an
an im-
im-
20 THE FIXED PERIOD.

luediate
mediate ans,ver.
answer. Years
Years ,vere
were named absurd
absurd

in
in their
their intended
intended leniency
leniency ;-eighty—
eighty and even
; even

eighty-five!
eighty-five! Let us
us say
say a
a hundred,
hundred, said
said I,
I,

aloud, turning
^loud, turning upon thelll all the
them all the battery
battery of
of

my ridicule.
ridicule. II suggested
suggested sixty;
sixty but the
the term
;

,vas
was received
received ,vitb
with silence.
silence. II pointed
pointed out that
out that

the few old

the old luen
men no,v
now on the
the island
island might be
be

exempted:
exempted, and that
that even those
those above fifty-five
fifty-five

might
misjht be
be allo,ved
allowed to
to drag
dra<? out
out their
their existences
existences

if
if they
they were ,veak
weak enough to
to select
select for
for thelll-
them-
selves so
selves so degrading
degrading a
a position.
position. This latter
latter

proposition
proposition ,vas
was accepted
accepted at
at once,
once, and the
the
exempt sho,ved
showed no repugnance even ,vhen
when it
it

,vas proved to
was proved to theln
them that
that they ,vonld
would be left
left

alone in
alone in the
the community and entitled
entitled to
to no

honour, and never

honour, never allowed
allowed eveii"
even toto enter
enter the
the

pleasant gardens
pleasant gardens of the college.
of the college. II think now
that sixty
that sixty ,vas
was too
too early
early an age,
age, and that
that sixty-
sixty-

fi ve, to
five, to ,vhich
which II gracefully yielded, is
gracefully yielded, is the
the proper
proper

Fixed Period
Period for the 1111nlall
for the human race.
race. Let any
man look
look among his
his friends
friends and see
see 'v hether
whether

men of
of sixty-five
sixty-five are not in
are not in the
the ,yay
way of
of those
those
 INTRODUCTION. 21
21

are still
who are still aspiring
aspiring to
to rise
rise in
In the
the world.
\vorld.
A judge
judge shall
shall be
be deaf
deaf on the
the bench when
\vhen
younger
younger below him can
men below can hear
hear ·with accur-
with accur-

acy.
acy. His voice
His voice shall
shall have
have descended to aa
to poor
poor

treble, or his eyesight shall be

treble, or his eyesight shall be dim and failing.
failing.
any rate,
At any rate, his
his limbs will have
limbs will have lost
lost all
all that
that
robust agility
robust agility which is needed
is needed for
for the
the adequate
adequate
performance of
performance the work of
of the of the
the world.
\vorld. I t is
It is
self-evident that at
self-evident that at sixty-five
sixty -five a
a man has
has done

all that he
all that he is
is fit to do.
fit to do. He should
should be troubled
be troubled

no longer
no with labour,
longer with labour, and therefore
therefore should
be troubled
be troubled no
no longer with
longer with life.
life. "It
" It is all
is all

vanity and vexation

vanity vexation of
of spirit,"
spirit," sU9h
such a
a one

would say, if
would say, if still
still brave,
brave, and still
still desirous
desirous

of
of honour.
honour. "Lead
" Lead me into
into the
the college,
college, and

there
there let
let me prepare
prepare myself for
for that
that brighter
brighter

life
life which
w^hich will
will requIre
require no mortal
mortal strength."
strength."

My words did
did avail
avail \vith
with many, and then

they
they demanded that
that seventy
seventy should be the
the

Fixed
Fixed Period.
Period.

How long
long \ve
we fought
fought over
over this
this point need

not
not no\v
now be
be told.
told. But \ve
we decided
decided at
at last
last to
to
22
22 THE FIXED PERIOD.

divide
divide the
the interval.
interval. Sixty-seven
Sixty-seven and a
a half
half

,vas
was named by a
a majority
majority of
of the
the Assembly as
as

the
the Fixed
Fixed Period.
Period. Surely
Surely the
the colony
colony was

determined
determined to grow in
to gro\v in truth
truth old
old before
before it
it

could
could go
go into
into the
the college.
college. But then there
there
came aa further
further dispute.
dispute. On ,vhich
which side
side of
of

the Fixed Period

the Period should
should the
the year
year of
of grace
grace be
be

taken? Our debates

debates even on this
this subject
subject

'vere
were long
long and animated.
animated. It
It ,vas
was said
said that
that

the
the seclusion
seclusion ,vitllin
within the
the college
college 'would
would be
be
tantamount to
tantamount to penal
penal departure,
departure, and that
that the
the

old
old men should thus
thus have the
the last
last lingering
lingering

drops
di'ops of
of breath
breath allowed
allowed them,
them, 'without,
without, in
in the
the

\vorld
world at
at large.
large. It
It was at
at last
last decided
decided that
that

men and
and*.. women should
should be
be brought
brought into
into the
the

college
college at
at sixty-seven,
sixty-seven, and that
that before
before their
their

sixty-eighth
sixty-eighth birthday
birthday they
they should
should have de-
de-

parted.
parted. Then the
the bells
bells were
were rung,
rung, and the
the

whole community rejoiced,

rejoiced, and banquets
banquets were
were
eaten,
eaten, and the
the young men and ,vomen
women called
called

each other
other brother
brother and sister,
sister, and it
it was felt
felt

that
that a
a great
great reform
reform had been
been inaugurated
inaugurated
 INTRODUCTION. 23
23

among us for
for the
the benefit
benefit of
of mankind at
at

large.
large.

Little
Little was thought about it
it at
at home in
in Eng-

land when the

the bill
bill was passed.
passed. There was,
was, II

suppose,
suppose, in
in the
the estimation
estimation of
of Englishmen, time
time

to think about it.

enough to it. The idea
idea was so
so

strange
strange to
to them that
that it
it was considered
considered im-

possible
possible that
that we should carry
carry it
it out.
out. They
heard of
of the
the bill,
bill, no doubt;
doubt but II maintain
maintain
;

that,
that, as
as we had been allowed
allowed to
to separate
separate our-
our-

selves
selves and stand alone,
alone, it
it was no lllore
more their
their

concern than
than if
if it
it had been done in
in Arizona

or
or Idaho, or
or any of
of those
those Western States
States of
of

America ,vhich have lately

which have lately formed themselves
themselves
into
into a union.
a new union. It
It was from them,
them, no
no
doubt,
doubt, that
that we chiefly
chiefly expected that sympathy
expected that

which, however,
which, we did not receive.
did not receive. The
world was clearly
world not yet
clearly not yet alive
alive to
to the
the grand

things in
things in store
store for
for it.
it. We received,
received, indeed,
indeed, aa
violent remonstrance
violent remonstrance from the
from the old-fashioned
old-fashioned
at Washington
Government at vVashington; but
but in to
in answer to
;

that
that stated that
we stated that we were
,vere prepared
prepared to
to stand
stand
24
24 THE FIXED PERIOD.

and fall
fall by the
the ne\v system — that \ve
new systenl-that we expected
glory
glory rather
rather than
than ignollliny,
ignominy, and to
to be
be followed
followed

rather than repudiated.

by mankind rather repudiated. We had
'Ve
aa lengthened
lengthened correspondence
correspondence also
also 'with
with N e\v
New
Zealand and \vith
with Australia;
Australia but
but England at
; at

first
first did
did nut
not believe
believe us;
us and \vhen
; when she
she \vas
was
given to
to understand that
that \ve
we \vere
were in
in earnest,
earnest,

she
she brought to
to bear
bear upon us
us the
the one
one argument

that
that could
could have force,
force, and sent
sent to
to our
our harbour

her 250-ton
her 250 -ton steam-swiveller.
steam -swiveller. The 2S0-ton
250 -ton

s\viveller,
swiveller, no doubt,
doubt, \vas unanswerable -— un-
was unans\verable
less \ve
less we \vere
were prepared
prepared to
to die
die for
for our
our system.
system.

prepared, but II could

II was prepared, could not
not carry
carry the
the

people of
people of my country with me.
me.

II have no\v
now given
given the
the necessary
necessary prelude
prelude to
to

the
the story
story \vhich
which II have to
to tell.
tell. cannot but
II cannot but

think that,
think that, in
in spite
spite of
of the
the isolated
isolated manners

of
of Great Britain, readers in
Britain, readers in that
that country
country gen-
gen-

erally
erally must have become acquainted
acquainted with the
the

views of
views of the
the Fixed-Periodists.
Fixed-Periodists. It
It cannot
cannot but

be that
that a
a scheme with such
such po\ver
power to
to change,
change,

—
-and,
and, II may say,
say, to
to improve,-the —
improve, the manner~
manners
 ;

INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION. 25
25

and habits
and habits of
of mankind,
lnankind, should
should be
be known
kno,vn in
ln
a country
a country in
in which
which aa portion
portion of
of the
the inhabitants
inhabitants
do, at
do, at any rate,
any rate, read
read and write.
write. boast,
They boast,
indeed, that not
indeed, that not aa or aa woman in
man or in the
the
British Islands
British Islands is now ignorant
is ignorant of
of his
his letters
letters;
but II
but am informed
informed that
that the
the knowledge seldom
seldom
approaches to
approaches to any literary
literary taste.
taste. It
It be
may be
that aa portion
that portion of the masses
of the masses should
should have
have been
been
ignorant of
ignorant of what
,vhat was
,vas being
being done
done within
within the
the
empire of
empire of the
the South Pacific.
Pacific. I
I therefore
have therefore

written this
written this preliminary
preliminary chapter to explain to
chapter to to
the condition
them what was the condition of
of Britannula in
in

regard to the
regard to the Fixed Period just twelve
Period just t,velve months
before
before England had taken possession
possession of
of us,
us,

and once
once more made us
us her own.
O'Vll. Sir
Sir Fer-
Fer-

dinando
dinando Bro,vn
Brown no\v
now rules
rules us,
us, II must say,
say, not
not

with
with aa rod
rod of
of iron,
iron, but
but very
very much after
after his
his

good ,vilt
own good will. He makes us
us flo\very
flowery speeches,
speeches,

and thinks
thinks that
that they
they will
will stand
stand in
in lieu
lieu of
of

.
independence.
independence. He collects
collects his
his revenue,
revenue, and

informs
informs us
us that
that to
to be
be taxed
taxed is
is the
the highest

privilege
privilege of
of an
an ornate civilisation. He pointed
ornate civilisation.
26
26 THE FIXED PERIOD.

to the
to the gunboat in
gunboat in the
the bay
bay when
,vhen it came,
it caIne, and
called
called it the
it the divine
divine depository
depository of
of beneficent
beneficent
power.
power. For aa time,
For time, no
no doubt,
doubt, British
British " tender-
tt tender-

ness" will
ness" ,vill prevail.
prevail. shall have
But II shall have wasted
,vas ted
thoughts, and in
my thoughts, in vain
vain poured out my
poured out
eloquence as to
eloquence as to the
the Fixed
Fixed Period,
Period, if, in
if, in the
the.
course of
course of years,
years, it does not
it does not again
again spring
spring to
to the
the
front, and
front, and prove
prove itself
itself to
to be
be necessary
necessary before
before
man can
can accomplish
accomplish all that he
all that he is
is destined to
destined to

achieve.
achieve.
 27
27

CHAPTER 11.
II.

GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
GABEIEL CRASvYELLER.

II WILL begin my tale.

'VILL now begin tale. It
It is
is above thirty
above thirty-

years since
years since II commenced my agitation
agitation in Brit-
in Brit-

annula.
annula. We were
were aa small people, and had not
small people, not
then been blessed
then blessed by separation but
separation j but ; were,
we were,
II think,
think, peculiarly
peculiarly intelligent.
intelligent. We were the
the
very
very cream,
cream, as
as it
it were,
were, that
that had been skimmed

from the
from the milk-pail
milk-pail of
of the
the people
people of
of a
a wider
wider

colony,
colony, themselves gifted with more than or-
themselves gifted or-

dinary
dinary intelligence.
intelligence. the elite
We were the elite of the
of the

selected
selected population
population of
of New Zealand.
Zealand. II think
II may say
say that
that no race
race so
so well
well informed ever
ever

before
before set
set itself
itself down to
to form a
a new nation.
nation.

II am now nearly
nearly sixty years old,-very
sixty years old, —
very nearly
nearly

fit for the

fit for the college
college which,
which, alas!
alas ,vill
will never
! never be
28 THE FIXED PEInOD.
PERIOD.

open
open for me, — and II was nearly
for me,-and nearly thirty when II
thirty ,vhen

began
began to
to be
be in
in earnest
earnest as
as to
to the
the Fixed Period.
Period.

At that
that time
time my dearest
dearest friend
friend and most

trusted
trusted coadjutor
coadjutor ,vas
was Gabriel
Gabriel Crasweller.
Crasweller. He
,vas
was ten
ten years
years nly
my senior
senior then,
then, and is
is now

therefore
therefore fit
fit for deposition in
for deposition in the
the college
college were

the
the college
college there
there to
to receive
receive him. He \vas
was one
of
of those
those who brought
brought with
with them merino sheep
sheep

into
into the
the colony.
colony. At great
great labour and expense

he New
he exported from N e'v Zealand a small flock
flock

of
of choice
choice animals,
animals, with which he ,vas
was success-
success-

ful from the

ful the first.
first. He took possession
possession of
of the
the

lands
lands of
of Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch, five
five or
or six
six miles
miles

from Gladstonopolis,
Gladstonopolis, and showed great judg-
great judg-

ment in the selection.

in the selection. A prettier spot,
prettier spot, as
as it
it

turned out,
turned for the
out, for the fattening of both
fattening of both beef
beef and
and
mutton and for the growth of
for the wool, it
of wool, it ,vould
would
impossible to
have been impossible to have
have found.
found. Every-
Every-

thing that
thing that hUlllan nature
human nature wants
\vants was
,vas there
there
at
at Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch. streams which
The streams \vhich
,vatered the
watered the land
land ,vere bright and
were bright and rapid,
rapid, and
and
al ways running.
always runnIng. grasses were
The grasses ,vere peculiarly
peculiarly
 GABRIEL CRASWELLER. 29
29

rich, and
rich, and the
the old
old English
English fruit-trees,
fruit-trees, which
,vhich we
,ve
had brought
had brought with
with us
us from
frolu New
N e,v Zealand,
Zealand, throve
throve
there with
there with an
an exuberant
exuberant fertility,
fertility, of
of which the
the
mother country,
mother country, I
I told, knows nothing.
am told, nothing.
had imported
He had imported pheasants'
pheasants' eggs,
eggs, and salmon-
salmon-
spawn, and
spawn, and young deer,
deer, and black-cock
black-cock and
grouse,
grouse, and those
and those beautiful
beautiful little
little Alderuey
Alderney
co,vs no
cows no bigger than good-sized
bigger than dogs, which,
good-sized dogs, ,vhich,
milked, give
when milked, nothing but
give nothing but cream. All
All

these things
these things throve ,vith
throve with him uncommonly,
so that it
so that be declared
it may be declared of that his
of him that his
lines
lines had fallen in
had fallen pleasant places.
in pleasant places. But he
had no
had no son;
son; and therefore
therefore ill discussing ,vith
in discussing with

him,
him, as
as II did
did daily, the question
daily, the question of the Eixed
of the Fixed

Period, promised him that

Period, II pronlised that it
it should
should be my

lot
lot to
to deposit
deposit him in
in the
the sacred
sacred college
college ,vhen
when
the day of
the of his
his withdrawal
withdrawal should
should have conle.
come.

He had been
been married
married before
before ,ve
we left
left New Zea-
Zea-

land,
land, and was childless
childless when he nlade
made for
for

himself
himself and his
his wife his homestead at
wife his at Little
Little

Christchurch.
Christchurch. But there,
there, after
after a
a few years,
years,

aa daughter
daughter was born
born to
to him,
him, and II ought to
to
30 THE FIXED PERIOD.

have when II promised to

have remembered, 'when to hinl
him
that last
that last act
act of
of friendship,
friendship, that
that it
it might be-
be-

come the
the duty of
of that
that child's
child's husband to
to do

for
for him \vith
with filial
filial reverence
reverence the
the loving
loving \vork
work
\v hich II had undertaken to
which to perform.
perform.

l\ianyand
Many and most interesting were the
interesting were the conver-
conver-

sations
sations held
held bet\veen
between Crasweller
Crasweller and myself
myself on

the
the great
great subject
subject which filled
filled our
our hearts.
hearts. He
undoubtedly was sympathetic,
undoubtedly sympathetic, and took
took delight
delight

in
in expatiating
expatiating on all
all those benefits that
those benefits that \vould
would
to the
come to the world from the
the race
race of
of mankind

which knew nothing of the

nothing of the debility
debility of
of old
old age.
age.

He sa\v
saw the
the beauty of
of the
the theory
theory as
as \vell
well as
as did
did

II myself,
myself, and would speak
speak often
often of
of the
the weak-

ness of that
ness of that pretended
pretended tenderness
tenderness which \vould
would
fear
fear to
to comlnence
commence aa ne\v operation in
new operation in regard to
to

the
the feelings
feelings of
of the
the men and women of
of the old
old

world.
world. "Can
" Can any luan
man love
love another
another better
better

than II do you?"
than you ? " II \vould
would say
say to
to him with

energy;
energy "and
" and yet
; would II scruple
yet \vould scruple for
for a
a

moment to
to deposit
deposit you In
in the
the college
college when

the day had C0111e?

the come ? II should
should lead
lead you in
in
 GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
GABRIEL CRASWELLER. 31
31

with
with that
that perfect
perfect reverence
reverence which
which it
it is
is Im-
im-

possible
possible that
that the
the young
young should
should feel
feel for
for the
the old
old

when they
\vhen they become
become feeble
feeble and incapable." II
and incapable."
doubt now whether
doubt now whether he
he relished
relished these
these allusions
allusions

to
to his own seclusion.
his own seclusion. He
He would
would run
run away
away
from
from his
his own
own individual
individual case,
case, and
and generalise
generalise

\videly
widely about
about some
some future
future time.
time. And 'when
when
the
the time
time for
for voting
voting came, he certainly
certainly did
did vote
vote

for
for seventy
seventy -- five.
five. But II took
took no offence
offence at
at

his
his vote.
vote. Gabriel Crasweller ;vas
was almost
almost my

dearest
dearest friend,
friend, and as
as his
his girl
girl grew up it
it was
was
aa matter
matter of regret to
of regret to me that my only
nle that only son was
son was

not quite
not quite old
old enough to
to be
be her
her husband.
husband.
Eva
Eva Crasweller was, II think,
Crasweller was, think, the
the most
most per-
per-
fect piece I ever
fect piece I ever beheld
beheld of
of youthful
youthful feminine
feminine
beauty.
beauty. I
I have not
have not yet
yet seen
seen those
those English
English
beauties of
beauties of which
which so
so much is
much is said
said in
in their
their
own
own romances,
romances, but wh~m the
but whom the young
young men
men from
from
New
New York
York and
and San
San Erancisco
Francisco who
\v ho make
make their
their
way
way to
to Gladstonopolis do not
Gladstonopolis do not seem
seem to
to admire
admire
very much.
very much. Eva was
Eva was perfect
perfect in
in symmetry,
symmetry,
in features,
in features, in
in complexion,
complexion, and
and in
in simplicity
simplicity
32
32 THE FIXED PERIOD.

of
of manners. All languages
languages are
are the
the same to
to

her;
her but that accomplishment has
; has beCOl1le
become
so
so comlnon
common in
in Britannula that
that but
but little
little is
is

thought of
of it.
it. II do not
not know ,vhether
whether she
she

ravished our ears

ears nlost
most \vith
with the
the old-fashioned
old-fashioned

piano
piano and the
the nearly obsolete
obsolete violin,
violin, or
or \vith
with

or the
the modern mousometor, or the l110re
more perfect
perfect

melpolneneon.
melpomeneon. It
It ,vas
was \vonderful
wonderful to
to hear
hear the
the

\vay with \v
way ,vith hich she
which she expressed
expressed herself
herself at
at the
the

meeting held about the

the rising
rising buildings
buildings of
of the
the

college
college \vhen
when she
she was only sixteen.
sixteen. But II
think
think she
she touched me nlost
most ,vith just aa roly-
with just roly-
poly pudding ,vhich
which she
she made ,yith
with her
her own

fair
fair hands for
for our
our dinner
dinner one Sunday at
at Little
Little

Christchurch.
Christchurch. And once \vhen II saw her
once when her by

chance take
take aa kiss
kiss fronl her lover
from her behind the
lover behind the
door,
door, II felt
felt that
that it
it ,vas
was a pity indeed that
a pity that aa
should ever
man should ever become
become old.
old. Perhaps,
Perhaps, however,
ho,vever,
in the
in the eyes
eyes of
of her brightest
some her brightest charm lay
lay
in the
in the wealth
wealth which her
her father
father possessed.
possessed. His

sheep had greatly

sheep increased in
greatly increased in number; the
the
valleys were
valleys were filled with
filled \vith his
his cattle
cattle; and he
;
 CRASWELLER.
GABRIEL CHASvYELLER. 33

could
could ahvays
always sell
sell his
his salmon for
for half-a-cro,vn
lialf-a-crown

aa pound and his

his pheasants
pheasants for
for seven-and-six-
seven-and-six-

pence aa brace.
brace. Everything had thriven
thriven with

Crasweller, and everything

Crasvveller, nlust belong to
everything must to Eva
as
as soon
soon as
as he should have been led
should have led into
into the
the

college.
college. Eva's
Eva's mother ,vas
was no,Y
now dead,
dead, and no

other child had been born.

other child born. Cras,veller
Crasweller had also
also

elubarked
embarked his largely in
his money largely in the
the ,yool
wool trade,
trade,

and had become aa sleeping

sleeping -- partner
partner in
in the
the

house
house of Grundle & Grabbe.
of Grunclle Grabbe. He vvas
was an older
older

Ulan
man by ten
ten years
years than either
either of
of his
his partners,
partners,

but
but yet
yet Grundle's
Grundle's eldest
eldest son
son Abraham ,vas
was
older
older than Eva 'Y hen Cras,Yeller
when Crasweller lent
lent his
his money

to
to the
the firm.
firm. I
Itt ,vas
was soon
soon known who was to
to be

the
the happiest
happiest luan
man in
in the
the empire.
empire. IItt ,vas
was young
Abraham, by whonl Eva ,vas
whom was kissed
kissed behind the
the

door
door that
that Sunday ,yhen
when ,ve
we ate
ate the
the roly-poly
roly-poly

pudding.
pudding. Then she
she came into
into the
the room, and,
and,

with her
with her eyes
eyes raised
raised to
to heaven,
heaven, and ,vith
with aa halo
halo

of
of glory
glory almost
almost round her
her head as
as she
she poured

forth
forth her
her voice,
voice, she
she touched the
the 1110usolnetor,
mousometor,

and gave us
us the
the Old Hundredth psahn.
psalm.

VOL. 1.
L C
c
34 THE FIXED PERIOD.

She
She ,vas
was aa fine
fine girl
girl at
at all points, and had
all points,

been
been quite
quite alive
alive to
to the
the dawn of
of the
the Fixed

Period
Period system.
system. But at
at this
this time,
time, on the

memorable occasion
occasion of
of the
the eating
eating of
of that
that din-
din-

ner, it
ner, it first
first began to
to strike
strike me that
that my friend
friend

Crasweller
Crasweller was getting
getting very
very near
near his
his Fixed

Period, and it
Period, it occurred
occurred to
to me to
to ask
ask myself

questions
questions as
as to,vhat
to what might be
be the
the daughter's
daughter's

,vishes.
wishes. It
It was the
the state
state of
of her
her feelings
feelings rather
rather

that
that ,vould
would push itself
itself into
into my mind. Quite
lately
lately he had said
said nothing
nothing about —
about it,-nor
it, nor had

she.
she. On that
that Sunday morning when he and

his
his girl were at
girl ,vere church, — for Crasweller
at church,-for Crasweller had

stuck to
to the
the old
old habit
habit of
of saying
saying his
his prayers
prayers

in
in a special
special place
place on a
a special
special day,-I
day, —
I had

discussed the
the Inatter
matter ,vith
with young Grundle.
Grundle.

Nobody had been into

into the
the college
college as
as yet.
yet.

Three or four had died

or four died naturally,
naturally, but
but Cras-
Cras-

,veller
weller was about to
to be the first.
be the first. "T
Wee ,vere
were
arranging that
that he should
should be
be attended
attended by pleas-
pleas-

ant visitors
visitors till
till wi thin the
within the last
last week or
or two,
two,

and II was making special

special allusion to the
allusion to the law
 GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
CRASvVELLER. 35
35

,vhich required
which required that
that he
he should
should abandon all
all con-
con-
trol of his property
trol of his property immediately
immediately on
on his
his entering
entering
the college.
the college. "I suppose
"I suppose he
he would
,vould do
do that,"
that,"
said Grundle,
said Grundle, expressing
expressing considerable
considerable interest
interest
the tone
by the tone of
of his
his voice.
voice.
"Oh,
" Oh, certainly," said I;
certainly," said I ; "he must do that
that
in accordance
in accordance with
,vith the
the law.
la\v. he can
But he can make
his will
his will to the
up to the very in which
very moment in \vhich he
is
is deposited."
deposited." then about twelve
He had then twelve
to run.
months to run. II suppose there
there was not
not aa
man or
or ,vornan
woman In the community 'who
in the who ,vas
was
not accurately
not accurately aware of the very
of the very day of Cras-
of Cras-

'v eller's birth.

weller's birth. We had already
'Ve already introduced the
the
habit
habit of tattooing on the
of tattooing the backs of
of the
the babies
babies

the
the day on 'W hich they were born;
which born and \ve
we ;

had succeeded
succeeded in
in operating
operating also
also on nlany
many of
of

the children \v
the children whoho had come into
into the
the world

before
before the
the great
great law.
law. Some there
there were who

\vould
would not
not submit on
on behalf
behalf of
of themselves or
or

their
their children;
children and we did
; did look
look forward to
to

some little confusion in

little confusion in this
this matter.
matter, A reais-
regis-
o

ter
ter had of
of course
course been
been commenced, and there
36
36 THE FIXED PERIOD.

,vere
were already those ,vho
already those who refused
refused to
to state
state their
their

exact
exact ages;
ages but
but II had been long on the look-
;
look-

out
out for
for this,
this, and had a
a little of my o,vn
little book of own in
in

,vhich
which ,vere
were inscribed
inscribed the"
the " periods"
periods " of
of all
all those
those

who had con1e

come to
to Britannula
Britannula ,vith
with us;
us and ;

since
since II had first thought of
first thought of the
the Fixed Period

II had been very careful

careful to
to note
note faithfully
faithfully

the
the births
births as
as they
they occurred.
occurred. The reader
reader will
will

see
see how important,
important, as
as time ,vent
went on,
on, it
it ,vould
would
beco1l1e
become toto have an accurate
accurate record,
record, and II

already
already then feared
feared that
that there
there n1ight
might be
be some

,vant
want of
of fidelity
fidelity after
after II 11lyself
myself had been de-
de-

posited.
posited. But my friend
friend Crasweller
Crasweller ,vas
was the
the

first
first on the
the list,
list, and there
there '"as
was no doubt in
in

the
the enlpire
empire as
as to
to the
the exact
exact day on
on ,vhich
which he
he

,vas
was born.
born. All
All Britallnula
Britannula kne,v
knew that
that he
he

would be the
the first,
first, and that
that he ,vas
was to
to be
be

deposited the 13th of

deposited on the of June 1980.
1980. In con-
con-

versation
versation with llly
my friend
friend II had frequently
frequently

alluded to the very day,-to

to the day, —
to the
the happy day,
day,

as
as IT used to call it
to call it before
before II became acquainted
acquainted

with his
his actual feelings, —
actual feelings,-and
and he
he never
never ven-
ven-
 GABRIEL CKASWELLER.
CRAS\VELLER. 37
37

tured to
tureclto deny that
that on
on that
that day
day he
he would
\vonld
sixty -seven.
become sixty-seven.
I
I have attempted
have attempted to
to describe
describe his
his daughter
daughter
Eva, and
Eva, and I must say
I say aa word
,vord as
as to
to the
the personal
personal
qualities of
qualities her father.
of her father. too was
He too ,vas aa remark-
remark-
ably handsome man,
ably man, and though
though his
his hair
hair was
\vas
beautifully white,
beautifully ,vhite, had fewer
had fewer of the symptoms
of the
of age
of than
age than any old
any n1an II had before
old man before known.
kno\vn.
He ,vas tall, robust,
was tall, robust, and broad,
broad, and there
there ,vas
was
no beginning
no beginning even of
of a
a stoop
stoop about him.
hinl. He
spoke
spoke always
always clearly
clearly and audibly,
audibly, and he was
\vas
known for the firm
for the voice with
firm voice \vith which he
he would
\vould
perform
perform occasionally
occasionally at
at some of
of our
our decin1al
decimal

readings.
readings. We had fixed
\Ve fixed our price at
our price at a
a decimal

in
in order
order that
that the
the sum so
so raised
raised might be used

for
for the
the ornamentation of the
ornamentation of the college.
college. Our
population
population at
at G ladstonopolis \vas
Gladstonopolis was so
so thriving
thriving

that
that we found
found it
it as
as easy to collect
easy to collect ten
ten pennies

as
as one.
one. At these
these readings
readings Gabriel Orasweller
Crasweller

was the
,vas the favourite
favourite performer,
performer, and it
it had begun

to
to be
be whispered
whispered by some caitiffs
caitiff's ,vho
who ,vould
would

,villingly
willingly disarrange
disarrange the
the \vhole
whole starry system
 —

38
38 FIXED period.
THE :F'ixed PERIOD.

for
for their
their o\vn immediate
own immediate gratification,
gratification, that
that
Cras\veller should
Crasweller should not
not be
be deposited
deposited because
because of
of
the beauty
the beauty of
of his
his voice.
voice. then the
And then the dif-
dif-
ficulty
liculty \vas somewhat
was some\vbat increased the care
increased by the care
and precision
and precision with
\vith which he
he attended
attended to his
to his
business.
own business. 'was as
He was as careful
careful as
as ever
ever about
about
his flocks,
his flocks, at shearing-time
and at shearing-time would stand
stand all
all
day in
day in the
the wool-shed
wool-shed to
to see
see to
to the
the packing
packing of
of
his wool
his \vool the marking of
and the his bales.
of his bales.
"" It
It ,vould be aa pity,"
would be pity," said to me aa Britan-
said to Britan-
nulist one day,-a
nulist one day, —
n1all younger than
a man than myself,
myself,-
"to lock up old
" to lock old Cras\veller,
Crasweller, and let
let the
the business
business
go
go into the hands of
into the of young Grundle. Young
Grundle
Grundle will
will never
never kno\v half as
know half as much about
about

sheep, in
sheep, in spite
spite of
of his
his conceit;
conceit and Crasweller
; Crasweller

is
is a
a deal
deal fitter
fitter for
for his work than for
his \vork for living
living idle
idle

in the college
in the till you shall
college till shall put an end to
to him."
him."

There 'vas
was n1uch
much in
in these
these words \vhich
which made
me very
very angry.
angry. According to
to this
this man's feel-
feel-

ings, the \v
ings, the hole system \vas
whole was to
to be nlude
made to
to suit
suit

itself
itself to
to the
the peculiarities
peculiarities of
of one individual
individual con-
con-

stitution.
stitution. who so
A man ,vho so spoke could have
 GABRIEL CRASWELLEE.
GABRIEL CRAS'YELLER. 39
39

known nothing
known nothing of
of the
the general
general beauty
beauty of
of the
the
Fixed Period.
Fixed Period. And he
And he had
had alluded
alluded to
to the
the
manner of
manner of depositing
depositing in
in most
most disrespectful
disrespectful
terms.
terms. II had felt
had felt it
it to
to be
be essentially
essentially necessary
necessary
so to
so to maintain
maintain the
the dignity
dignity of
of the
the ceremony as
ceremony as
to
to it appear
make it appear as
as unlike
unlike an execution
execution as
as
possible.
possible. this depositing
And this depositing of
of Crasweller
Crasweller
was to
was to be
be the
the first,
first, and
and should —
should-according to
according to

my own intentions-be
o,vn intentions —be attended
attended with
with aa pecu-
pecu-
liar grace and
liar grace and reverence.
reverence. "I don't know what
" I don't

you call
you call locking np," said
locking up/' said I,
I, angrily.
angrily. ""Had
Had
Mr Crasweller
Crasweller been
been about to be dragged to
to be to a
a

felon's
felon's prison,
prison, you could
could not
not have used more

oppro brious language;

opprobrious language and as
as to
; to putting an

end
end to
to him,
him, you must,
must, II think,
think, be ignorant
ignorant of
of

the
the method proposed
proposed for
for adding honour and

glory
glory to
to the
the last
last moments in
in this
this world of
of

those
those dear
dear friends
friends whose happy lot
lot it
it ,vill
will be

to
to be from the
be withdrawn from the world's
world's troubles

amidst
amidst the
the love
love and
and veneration
veneration of
of their
their fello,v-
fellow-

subjects."
subjects." As
As to
to the
the actual
actual mode
mode of
of transition,
transition,

there
there · had
had been
been many
many discussions
discussions held
held by
by the
the
40
40 THE FIXED PEEIOD.
PERIOD.

executive in
executive In President
President Square,
Square, and it had at
it at
last
last been decided
decided that
that certain
certain veins
veins should
should be
opened while
opened the departing
while the departing one
one should,
should, under
the influence
the influence of
of morphine,
nl0rphine, be
be gently
gently entranced
entranced
within aa
within ,varm bath.
warm bath. I, as
I, as president
president of
of the
the
empire, agreed to
enlpire, had agreed to use
use the
the lancet
lancet in
in the
the
first two
first two or
or three
three cases,
cases, thereby
thereby intending
intending to
to
increase' the honours conferred.
increase the conferred. Under these
these
circlllnstances
circumstances II did
did feel the sting
feel the bitterly when
sting bitterly

he spoke
he spoke of
of my putting "an end" to
putting "Rll to him.
"" But
But you have
have not,"
not," II said,
said, "at all realised
" at all realised
the feeling
the feeling of the cerenl0ny.
of the ceremony. A fe\v
few ill-spoken
ill-spoken

,vords,
words, such
such as these you
as these yon have
have just
just uttered,
uttered,
will
will do
do us
us more harm in
in the
the minds of
of 11lany
many
than
than all
all your voting
voting ,vill
will have done good."
good."

In
In answer to
to this he nlerely
this he merely repeated
repeated his
his ob-
ob-

servation
servation that
that Orasweller
Crasweller was a
a very bad

specImen
specimen to
to begin
begin ,vith.
with. ((" He has got
got ten

years
years of
of work in
in him," said my friend,
him," said friend, "and

yet
yet you intend
intend to
to make a\vay
away with hinl
him with-
out
out the
the slightest
slightest compunction."

1\fake
Make away ,vith
with him!
him ! \Vhat
What an expressIon
expression
 —

GABRIEL
GABEIEL CRAS\VELLER.
CRASWELLER. 41
41

to
to use,-anc1
use, —
and this
this from the
the lllouth
mouth ofof one \v
whoho
had been
been a
a determined
determined Fixed - Periodist!
Periodist
- ! It
It

angered
angered me to
to think that
that lnell
men should be so
so

little
little reasonable
reasonable as
as to
to draw deductions as
as to
to

an entire
entire system from a
a single
single instance.
instance. Cras-
Cras-

\veller
weller might in
in truth
truth be
be strong
strong and hearty at
at

the
the Fixed Period.
Period. But that
that period
period had been
been
chosen with reference
reference to
to the
the C0111n1unity
community at at

large;
large and what though he might have to
; to

depart
depart a
a year or
or t,vo
two before
before he ,vas
was worn out,
out,

still
still he 'would
would do so
so with everything
everything around

him to
to make him happy, and would dep~rt
depart

before
before he had ever
ever known the
the agony of
of a
a head-
head-

ache.
ache. Looking at
at the
the entire
entire question
question with the
the

eyes
eyes of
of reason,
reason, II could
could not
not but
but tell
tell myself that
that

aa better
better example of
of a
a triumphant beginning
beginning to
to

our
our system could
could not
not have been found.
found. But
yet
yet there
there was in
in it
it something unfortunate.
unfortunate.

Had our
our first
first hero
hero been compelled to
to abandon

his
his business
business by old
old age-had—
age had he become doting

over
over its details — parsimonious, or
its details-parsinlonious, or extravagant,
extravagant,

or
or even
even short sighted in
short -- sighted in his
his speculations-
speculations
42 THE FIXED PERIOD.

pu blic feeling,
public feeling, than \v hich nothing
which IS
is more
ignorant}
ignorant, \vould
would ha ve risen
have risen in
in favour
favour of
of the
the

Fixed Period.
Period. " How true
"Ho\v true is
is the
the preside~t's
president's

reasoning,"
reasoning," the
the people
people \vould
would have said.
said. "" Look
at
at Crasweller;
Crasweller he would have
he; have ruined
ruined Little
Little

Christchurch he stayed
Christchurch had he stayed there
there much longer."
longer."

But everything he did

did seemed to
to prosper;
prosper and ;

it
it occurred
occurred to
to me at
at last
last that
that he forced
forced himself
himself

into
into abnormal sprightliness,
sprightliness, \vith
with aa view of
of

bringing
bringing disgrace
disgrace upon the of the
the law of the Fixed

Period.
Period. If
If there
there w"ere any such
were such feeling,
feeling, I
I regard
regard

it
it as
as certainly
certainly mean.

On the
the day after
after the
the dinner
dinner at
at \v hich Eva's
which Eva's

pudding \vas
was eaten,
eaten, Abraham Grundle came to
to

me at
at the
the Executive
Executive Hall,
Hall, and said
said that
that he had

aa few things
things to
to discuss
discuss with TIle
me ofof importance.
importance.

Abraham 'was
was aa good-looking
good-looking young man, \vith
with

black hair
black hair and bright
bright eyes,
eyes, and a
a remarkably

handsome moustache;
moustache and he was one \vell
; well

inclined
inclined to
to business,
business, in
in \vhose
whose hands the firnl
firm

of
of Grundle, Grabbe, & Cras\veller
Grundle, Grabbe, Crasweller was likely
likely to
to

thrive;
thrive ; but
but II myself
myself had never
never liked
liked him
 "

GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
GABEIEL CRAS'YELLER. 43

nluch.
niucli. II had thought hinl
him to
to be
be a
a little
little

wanting in
in that
that reverence
reverence which he owed to
to

his
his elders,
elders, and to
to be, moreover, sOlnevvhat
be, moreover, somewhat over-
over-

fond of
of money. It
It had leaked
leaked out
out that
that though

he was no doubt attached to Eva Crasweller,

attached to Crasweller,

he had thought
thought quite
quite as
as much of
of Little
Little Christ-
Christ-

church;
church and though he
; he could
could kiss
kiss Eva behind

the
the door,
door, after the ,vays
after the ways of
of young men, still
still

he was more intent

intent on the
the fleeces
fleeces than on her

lips.
lips. "I vvant
want to
to say
say a
a vvord
word to
to you,
you, Mr

President,"
President," he began,
began, "upon
" upon a
a subject
subject that
that

disturbs
disturbs my conscience
conscience very
very much."

"Your
" Your conscience?" said 1.
conscience ? " said I.

"" Yes,
Yes, Mr President.
President. II believe you're aware
believe you're

that
that II anl
am engaged to
to marry Miss Cras,veller?"
Crasweller ?

It
It may be as
as \vell
well to
to explain
explain here
here that
that my

own eldest
eldest son,
son, as
as fine a boy as
fine a as ever
ever delighted
delighted a
a

mother's
mother's eye,
eye, \vas
was only years younger than
only two years

Eva, and that

that my \vife,
wife, Mrs N everbend, had of
ISTeverbend, of

late
late got
got it
it into
into her
her head
head that
that he \vas
was quite
quite old
old

enough to marry the

to lnarry the girl.
girl. It
It vvas
was in
in vain that
that

II told
told her
her that
that all
all that
that had been settled
settled while
44:
44 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Jack \vas
was still
still at
at the
the didascalion.
didascalion. He had
been Colonel
Colonel of
of the
the Curricululn,
Curriculum, tts
tis they no\v
now
call
call the
the head boy;
boy but Eva had not
; then cared
not then cared

for
for Colonels
Colonels of
of Curriculunls,
Curriculums, but
but had thought

l110re
more ofof young GruncUe's
Grundle's moustache. My \vife
l\1y wife

declared that all

declared that all that
that \vas —
was altered,-that
altered, that Jack

\vas,
was, in
in fact,
fact, a
a much more manly fello\v
fellow than

Abrahanl
Abraham \vith
with his
his shiny bit
bit of
of beard;
beard and ;

that
that if
if one could get
get at
at a
a lllaiden's
maiden's heart,
heart, \ve
we
should find
find that
that Eva thought
thou£jht so.
so. In ans\ver
answer to
to

this
this II bade her
her hold her
her tongue,
tongue, and remem-

ber
ber that
that in
in Britannula
Britannula a
a promise 'vas
was al \vays
always

held to
held to be
be as
as good as
as a
a bond.
bond. "" II suppose
aa young \vornan
woman may change her
her mind in
in Brit-
Brit-

annula as
as \vell
well as
as elsewhere," said my wife.
elsewhere," said wife. II
turned all
all this
this over
over in my mind,
in nly mind, because
because the
the

slopes
slopes of
of Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch are
are very alluring,
alluring,

and they \vould

would all
all belong
belong to
to Eva so
so soon.
soon.

And then it
it \vould
would be
be well,
well, as
as II \vas
was about
about to
to

perfornl
perform for Crasweller so
for Cras\veller so important a
a portion
portion

of
of his
his final
final ceremony, our
our close
close intimacy should

be
be drawn still
still nearer
nearer by a
a fanlily
family connection.
connection.
 GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
GABRIEL CRAS'VELLER. 45
45

II did think
did think of
of it; but
it but then
; then it
it occurred
occurred
to
to 111e that
me that the
the giiTs
girl's engagement
engagement to
to young
young
Grundle was
Grundle ,vas an
an established
established fact, it did
fact, and it did
not behove
not behove to sanction
me to sanction the
the breach
breach of
of aa
contract.
contract. "Oh
"Oh yes," said II to
yes," said to the
the young man,
nlan,
"II am
^'
anl aware
aware that
that there
there is
is an
an understanding
understanding
to that effect
to that effect bet\veen you
between you and
and Eva's
Eva's father."
father."

"And between Eva, II can

bet·ween me and Eva, can assure
assure
yon."
you."

Having observed
Having observed the
the kiss
kiss behind
behind the
the door
door on
on
the previous
the previous day,
day, II could not deny
could not deny the
the truth
truth of
of

this
this assertion.
assertion.

"It
"It is
is quite
quite understood,"
understood," continued Abraham,

"" and
and II had
had always thought that
always thought that it
it ,vas
was to
to take
take

place
place at
at once,
once, so
so that
that Eva might get
get used to
to

her 1ie,v
her new life
life before
before her
her papa ,vas
was deposited."
deposited."

To this
this II merely bowed my head,
head, as
as though

to signify that
to signify that it
it ,vas
was aa matter with 'v hich II
which
was
was not
not personally
personally concerned.
concerned. "I
" I had taken

it
it for
for granted
granted that
that nly
my old
old friend
friend ,vould
would like
like

to
to see
see his
his daughter
daughter settled,
settled, and
and Little
Little Christ-

church
church put
put into
into his
his daughter's
daughter's hands before
before he
 — "

46
46 THE FIXED PEIUOD.
PERIOD.

should
should biel
bid adieu to his
adieu to his own sublunary affairs,"
affairs,"

II remarked,
remarked, \vhen
when II found t.hat
that he paused.
paused.
" We all
"\Ve all thought so
so up at the \varehouse,"
at the warehouse,"

said he,-"
said he, " II and father,
father, and Grabbe,
Grabbe, and Post-
Post-

lecott,
lecott, our
our chief
chief clerk.
clerk. Postlecott
Postlecott is the next
is the

but
but three
tliree on the
the books,
books, and is
is getting
getting very

melancholy.
melancholy. But
Bat he is
is especially
especially anxious just
anxious just

at
at present
present to
to see
see ho\v
how Crasweller
Crasweller bears
bears it."
it."

"'Vhat
"What has all
all that
that to
to do \vith
with Eva's
Eva's

marriage
marriage ?? "
"I
" I suppose
suppose II nlight
might marry her.
her. But he
he
hasn't
hasn't made any \vil1."
will."

"'Vhat
''What does
does that
that matter? There is
is no body
nobody
to
to interfere
interfere \vith
with Eva."

"But
" But he might go
go off,
off, lVlr
Mr N everbend," \vhis-
JSTeverbend," whis-

pered Grundle;
pered Grundle ; "and
" and \v here should
where should II be
be 'then?
Ihen ?

If
If he \vas to get
was to get across
across to
to Auckland, or
or to
to

Sydney, and t.o

to leave
leave SOlne
some one
one to
to manage the
the

property for him, what could you do 1

property for ? That's
That's

·what
what II \vant
want to
to know. The la\v
law says
says that
that he
he

shall
shall be
be deposited
deposited on a
a certain
certain day."
day."

"He
" He will
will beconle
become as
as no body in
nobody in the
the eye
eye of
of
 " —
CRASWELLER.
GABRIEL CRASvVELLER. 47

the
the law,"
law," said
said I,
I, ""ith
with all
all the authority
authority of
of a
a

President.
President.

"But
" But if
if he
he and his
his daughter have understood

each other;
other and if
; if some deed be forthcoming

by which Little
Little Christchurch shall
shall have been

left
left to
to trustees;
trustees and if
; if he goes
goes on living
living at
at

Sydney, let
let us say,
say, on the
the fat
fat of
of the
the land,-
land,

drawing all
all the
the income, and leaving
leaving the
the trustees
trustees

as
as legal
legal owners,-w —
here should
owners, where should II be
be then
then 1
? "

"In
" In that
that case,"
case," said
said I,
I, having taken two or
or

three minutes for

three for consideration,-"
consideration, " in
—
in that
that case,
case,

II presume the
the property \vould
would be confiscated
confiscated

by law, would go
law, and \yould go to
to his
his natural
natural heir.
heir.

Now if his natural

if his heir be
natural heir be then your wife,
\vife, it
it

will be just
will be just the
the same as the property
as though the property
yours."
were yours." Young Grundle shook his
his head.
head.
"I
" I don't
don't know what more you \yould want. At
would want.
rate, there
any rate, there is
is no more for to get."
for you to get." II
confess that at
confess that at that
that the idea
moment the of my
idea of
boy's chance of
boy's of succeeding
succeeding with
\vith the
the heiress
heiress did
did
present itself
present to
itself to my mind.
mind. According
According to
to what
\y hat
my wife
\vife had said.
said, Jack would have
have jumped at
at
48
48 THE FIXED PERIOD.

the
the girl
girl with just
just \vhat
what she
she stood
stood up Ill;
in ; and
had sworn
sw^orn to
to his
his mother, hen he had been
when
mother, 'W

told
told that
that nlorning
mornin" about
about the
the kiss
kiss behind the
the

door,
door, that
that he ,vouid
would knock that
that brute's
brute's head off
off

his
his shoulders
shoulders before
before TIlany
many days 'were
were gone by.
by.

Looking at
at the
the matter merely on behalf
behalf of
of Jack,
Jack,

it
it appeared to
to me that
that Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch

\vould, in
would, that case,
in that case, be quite
quite safe,
safe, let
let Cl'as\veller
Crasweller

deposited, —
be deposited,-or
be run a~Nay
or run away to
to Sydney.
Sydney.

"You do not
not kno\v
know for
for certain
certain about
about the
the

confiscation
confiscation of
of the
the property,"
property," said
said Abraham.

"I've told you as

" I've told as much, l\fr
Mr Grundle,
Grundle, as
as it
it

is
is fit
fit that
that you should
should know," II replied,
replied, with
with

severity.
severity. "For
" For the
the absolute
absolute condition
condition of the
of the

la\v
law you must look in
in the
the statute-book,
statute-book, and not
not

conle
come to
to the
the President
President of
of the
the errlpire."
empire."

Abrahan1
Abraham Grnndle
Grundle then departed.
departed. II had as-
as-

SUlned
sumed an angry air,
air, as
as though II were offended
offended

with
with him,
him, for
for troubling me on aa matter by
troubling Inc

referring
referring sinlply
simply to
to an individual.
individual. But he had
in
in truth
truth given
given rise
rise to
to very serious
serious and solemn

thoughts.
thoughts. Could it
it be that Cras\veller,
be that my own
Crasweller, DIy
 GABRIEL CRASWELLER. 49

confidential
confidential friend-the
friend —
the man to
to whom II had
had
truste~
trusted the
the very secrets
secrets of
of my soul
soul on this
this im-
im-

portant matter, — could it

portant matter,-could it be that
that he should
should be
be

unwilling to
to be deposited
deposited when the
the day had

come?
come ? Could it
it be that
that he should be
be anxious
anxious

to
to fly
fly from his
his country and her la\vs,
laws, just
just as
as the
the

tin1e
time had arrived
arrived when those laws might operate
operate

upon him for

for the
the benefit
benefit of
of that
that country?
country ? II
could not think that he was so
so vain,
vain, so
so greedy,
greedy,

so
so selfish,
selfish, and so
so unpatriotic.
unpatriotic. But this
this was

not
not all.
all. Should he attempt to
to fly,
fly, could
could \ve
we
prevent his
his flying?
flying ? And if
if he did
did fly,
fly, \vhat
what
step
step should we take next? The Governlnent
Government
of
of N e\v South Wales was
'New \vas hostile to us
hostile to us on
the very
the very matter
n1atter of the Fixed Period,
of the Period, and cer-
cer-

tainly
tainly not surrender him in
would not in obedience to
obedience to

any law of
of extradition.
extradition. And he might leave
leave

his property
his property to
to trustees
trustees \vho would
who \vould manage it
nlanage it
on his
on his behalf;
behalf; although,
although, as
as far
far as
as Britannula
Britannula
,vas concerned,
was concerned, he
he would
\vould be
be beyond the
the reach
reach
of law,
of law, and regarded
regarded even as
as being the
being without the
pale of
pale of life.
life. if he,
And if he, the
the first
first of
of the
the Fixed-
Fixed-
I.
VOL. I. D
 50
50 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Periodists,
Periodists, were
were to
to run away,
run away, the
the fashion
fashion of
of so
so
runnIng would
running would become common. We should
should
thus be
thus be rid
rid of
of our
our old
old men,
men, and our
our object
0 bj ect

would be
would be so
so far
far attained.
attained. looking for-
But looking for-
ward, II could
ward, could see
see at
at aa glance
glance that
that if one
if one or
or
two wealthy
two wealthy members of
of our
our community
comlllunity were
,vere
thus to
thus to escape,
escape, it would
it ,vould be
be almost
almost impossible
impossible
to carry
to carry out the
out the la\v with
law with reference
reference to those
to those
,vho
who should have no
should have no such means. that
But that
,vhich vexed me most
which vexed nlost was that
that Gabriel
Gabriel Cras-
Cras-

,velIeI'
weller should desire to
should desire —
to escape,-that
escape, he should
that he

be anxious
be to throw
anxious to thro\v over the ,vhole
over the whole system to
to
preserve the
preserve the poor
poor remnant of his
of his life.
life. If he
If he

,vould
would do so,
so, 'v
whoho could
could be expected to
to a b-
ab-

stain
stain?1 If
If he
he should
should prove
prove false
false ,vhen
when the
moment came,
came, who ,vould
would prove
prove true
true 1
? And
he,
he, the
the first,
first, the
the very
very first
first on our
our list
list ! Young
!

Grundle had no\v

now left
left nle,
me, and as
as II sat
sat thinking

of
of it
it I
I ,vas
was for
for a
a moment tempted to
to abandon

the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period altogether.
altogether. But as
as II remained

.~
./y^ there
there in
in silent
silent meditation,
meditation, better
better thoughts came

to
to me.
me. Had II dared
dared to
to regard
regard myself
myself as
as
 GABEIEL CRASvVELLER.
GABRIEL CRASWELLEE. 51
51

the foremost
foremost spirit
spirit of
of my age,
age, and should
should 1
1

thus be turned back by the

the human \veakness
weakness
creature \v
of one poor creature whoho had not
not sufficiently
sufficiently

collected
collected the
the strength
strength of
of his
his heart
heart to
to be
be able
able to
to

look death in
look death in the
the face
face and to
to laugh him do\vn.
down.
It
It was a difficulty-a
difficulty —
a difficulty
difficulty the
the more.
more. It
It

lllight
might be the crushing difficulty
difficulty \v hich \vould
which would
put an end to
to the
the systelll
system asas far
far as
as my exist-
exist-

ence \vas
was concerned. But II bethought me how
lllany perished in
many early reformers had perished in their
their

efforts, and how seldom it

efforts, it had been given
given to
to

the
the first
first man to
to scale
scale the
the \valls
walls of
of prejudice,
prejudice,

and force hinlself into

force himself the citadel
into the citadel of reason.
of reason.

not yielded
But they had not yielded \vhen things had
when things bad
gone against they had not
against them; and though they not
brought their
brought their visions
visions down
do\vn to
to the
the palpable
palpable touch
touch
of humanity,
of still persevered, and
still they had persevered, and their
their
efforts had not
efforts not been altogether
altogether lost
lost to the world.
to the \vorld.
"
" So it shall
it shall be
be with
\vith me,"
llle," said 1.
said I. " Though
"

I
I may never live
live to
to deposit
deposit aa human being
being
within that
within that sanctuary,
sanctuary, and though II be
may be
the foolish
doomed by the foolish prejudice
prejudice of
of men to
to
52
52 THE FIXED PEKIOD.
PERIOD.

drag out
dras out aa miserable
Iniserable existence
existence amidst
alnidst the
the sor-
sor-

rows aud
rows and weakness
,veakness of
of old
old age
age; though
; it may
it Dlay
never be
never be given
given to
to 111e
me toto feel
feel the
the ineffable
ineffable
conlforts of
comforts of aa triumphant
triumphant deposition, —
deposition,-still
still my
na1ne will
name will be
be handed down
do,vn to
to coming
conling ages,
ages,
and II shall
and shall be
be spoken of
of as
as the
the first
first who
,vho
endeavoured to
endeavoured to save
save grey
grey hairs
hairs from being
being

brought wdtli
brought with sorrow
sorrow to the grave."
to the grave."
II anl 'vriting on board H.M. gunboat
am now writing
John Bright, —
Bright,-for the tyrannical
for the tyrannical slaves
slaves of
of a
a

Blodern monarch have taken me in

modern the flesh
in the flesh

and are
and are carrying
carrying me off to England,
off to England, so that,
so that,

as they say,
as they say, all that nonsense
all that nonsense of
of a
a Fixed

Period
Period nlay
may die
die a way in
away in Britannula.
Britannula. They
think, —
think,-poor
poor ignorant
ignorant fighting —
fighting men,-that
men, that such
such

aa theqry
theory can
can be made to
to perish because one
perish because one

individual
individual shall
shall have been nlastered.
mastered. But no ! !

The idea
idea will
will still
still live,
live, and in
in ages
ages to
to come

ll1en
men ,vill
will prosper
prosper and be strong,
strong, and thrive,
thrive,

unpolluted
unpolluted by the
the greed and cowardice of
of

second
second childhood,
childhood, because John N everbend
Neverbend
,vas
was at
at one
one tilne
time President
President of
of Britannula.
Britannula.
 "

CRASWELLER.
GABRIEL CRAS"\VELLER. 53
53

It
It occurred
occurred to
to me then,
then, as
as II sat
sat meditating
meditating

over
over the
the tidings
tidings conveyed to
to me by Abraham

Grundle, that
that it
it 'would
would be
be well
well that
that II should
should

see
see Cras"\veller,
Crasweller, and talk
talk to
to him freely
freely on the
the

subject.
subject. It
It had sometimes been that my
that by illy

strength
strencjth II had reinvigorated his
hadreinvigorated his halting
halting courage.
courage.

This
This suggestion that he migbt
suggestion that might run a"\vay
away asas

the
the day of
of his
his deposition
deposition dre"\v
drew nigb,-or
nigh, —
or rather,
rather,

that
that others
others might run a — had been the
\vay,-
away, the

subject
subject of
of SOlne
some conversation
conversation bet'ween
between him and
..xTie.
ne. "Ho,v
" How will
will it
it be,"
be," he had said
said,. "if
" if they
they

mizzle ?"
mizzle?" He had intended
intended to
to allude
allude to
to the
the

possible
possible premature departure
departure of
of those
those "\v
who ho "\vere
were

about to
to be
be deposited.
deposited.

"" Men "\vill never be

will never be so
so "\veak,"
weak," II said.
said.

"" II suppose you'd take all

all their
their property?"
property ?

"Every
" Every stick
stick of
of it."
it"

"But property
property IS
is a
a thing
thing "\vhich
which can
can be

conveyed aaway."
way."
"We should keep aa sharp
"'Ve sharp look-out
look-out upon

themselves.
themselves. There might be a "\vrit,
be a writ, you kno,v,
know,
ne
ne excant
exeant Tcgno.
regno. If
If we are
are driven
driven to
to a
a pinch,
pinch.
54 THE FIXED PERIOD.

that
that ,vill
will be
be the
the last
last thing
tiling to
to do.
do. But II should
should

be
be sorry
sorry to
to be driven
driven to
to express my fear
express Iny fear of
of

human ,veakness
weakness by any general
general measure of
of

that
that kind.
kind. It
It \vouid
would be
be tantalnount
tantamount to
to an

accusation
accusation of
of covvardice
cowardice against
against the
the whole

empire."
empire."

Crasweller
Crasweller had only
only shaken his
his head.
head. But
II had understood hinl to
understood him to shake it
it on the
the part
part

of
of the
the hUInan
human race
race generally,
generally, and not
not on his
his

o\vn
own behalf.
behalf.
 55
55

OHAPTER III.
CHAPTEE III.

THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN.

IT ,vas
It was mid-\vinter,
now mid- winter, and it
it ,vanted just
wanted just
twelve months
twelve months to
to that
that 30th of
of June on ,vhich,
which,

in
in accordance with all
accordance with our plans,
all our plans, Crasweller

,vas to he
was to be deposited.
deposited. A full year would,
full year would, no
doubt,
douht, suffice
suffice for to arrange
for him to his ,vorldly
arrange his worldly

affairs,
affairs, and to
to see
see his daughter married;
his daughter married but
hut
;

it
it would not
not more than
than suffice.
suffice. He still
still went

about
ahout his business with an alacrity
his husiness marvellous
alacrity marvellous

in
in one who was so
so soon
soon about
about to
to withdra\v
withdraw
himself from the
the world.
world. The fleeces
fleeces for
for bear-
hear-

ing
ing which he ,was
was preparing
preparing his
his flocks,
flocks, though

they might be
he shorn
shorn by him,
him, would never return
return

their
their prices
prices to
to his
his account.
account. They would do so
so

for
for his
his daughter
daughter and his
his son-in-law;
son-in-law; but in
in these
these
56
56 THE FIXED PERIOD.

circumstances,
circumstances, it
it 'would
would have been well
\yell for
for him

to
to have left
left the
the flocks
flocks to
to his
his son-in-Ia,v,
son-in-law, and to
to
have turned his
have his lnind
mind to
to the
the consideration
consideration of
of

other
other matters.
matters. "There
" There should
should be
be a
a year
year de-
de-

voted to that
voted to that final
final year
year to
to be
be passed
passed within
within

the college, so
the college, so that,
that, by degrees,
degrees, the
the mind nlay
may
be weaned from the
be the ignoble
ignoble art
art of
of money-

making." once so
II had once so spoken to
to him;
him but ;

there he 'vas,
there was, as
as intent
intent as
as ever,
ever, \vith
with his
his mind
fixed on the
fixed the records
records of
of the
the price
price of
of ,vool
wool as
as

they
they canle
came back to
to him from the
the English

and American markets.

markets. "It
" It is
is all
all for
for his
his

daughter,"
daughter," II had said
said to
to myself.
myself. "Had
" Had he
he

been blessed
blessed with
with a
a son,
son, it
it would have been
been

otherwise
otherwise with hinl."
with him." So II got
got on to
to my

steam-tricycle,
steam-tricycle, and in
in a
a few minutes II ,vas
was at
at

Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch. He was coming in
in after
after a
a

hard
hard day's
day's ,vork
work among the
the flocks,
flocks, and seemed

to
to be careful at
be triumphant and careful at the
the salne
same time.
time.

"I
" I tell
tell you ,vhat
what it
it is,
is, N everbend," said
Neverbend," said

he;
he; "we shall
shall have the
the fluke
fluke over
over here
here if
if

\ve
we don't
don't look
look after
after ourselves."
ourselves."
 " !

BREAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST BREAK-DO"\VN. 57
57

"Have
" Have you found symptonls
symptoms of
of it?"
it ?

"" 'VeIl;
Well not exactly among my own sheep;
; sheep ;

but II know the

the signs
signs of
of it
it so
so well.
well. My
lVly
grasses
grasses are
are peculiarly
peculiarly dry,
dry, and my flocks
flocks are
are

remarkably well
well looked after;
after; but II can see
see

indications
indications of
of it.
it. Only fancy where 'we
we should
should

all be if
all if fluke
fluke sho\ved
showed itself
itself in
in Britannula!
Britannula

If
If it
it once got
got ahead we should be
be no better
better

off
off than the
the Australians."
Australians."

This might be anxiety for

for his
his daughter;
daughter;

but it
it looked
looked strangely
strangely like
like that
that personal
personal

feeling
feeling ,vhich expected in
which would have been expected in

him twenty years ago.

ago. "Crasweller,"
" Crasweller/' said
said I,
I,

"do
''do you lllind
mind coming into the house,
into the house, and
and
having a little
little chat?"
chat ? " and so
so II got
got off
off my

tricycle.
tricycle.

"I was gOIng to be

going to be very
very busy,"
busy," he
he said,
said,

showing an unwillingness.
unwillingness. _ "I
" I have fifty
, fifty

young foals in that

foals in that meadow there
there; ; and II
like to
like to see that
see that they get
they get their
their suppers
suppers served
served
to
to them 'varm."
warm."

"Bother
" the
Bother the foals!"" said
young foals 1
said 1.
I. "As
" if
As if
58
58 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERrOD.

you had
you had not
not men enough about
about the
the place
place to
to
see to
see to feeding
feeding your stock
your stock without
\vithout troubling
troubling
yourself.
yourself. II have
have come out
out from
fronl Gladston-
Gladston-
opolis,
opolis, because II want
because \vant to
to see
see you
you; and
; no\v
now
II am to
to be
be sent
sent back in
in order
order that
that you might
attend to
attend to the
the administration
adn1inistration of
of hot
hot mashes
mashes! !

Come into the house."

into the house." Then II entered
entered in
in

under the
under the verandah,
verandah, and he
he followed.
followed. " You
"You
certainly have got
certainly have the best-furnished
got the best- furnished house
In the empire,"
in the said I,
empire," said as I
I, as threw myself
I threw Dlyself on
to aa double
to double arm-chair,
arm-chair, lighted my cigar
and lighted cIgar
in the inner
in the verandah.
inner verandah.

"" Yes,
Yes, yes,"
yes," said he; "it
said he;
" it IS
is pretty
pretty com-
fortable."
fortable."

He was evidently
evidently melancholy, and knew

the for which I

the purpose for I had conle.
come. "I
" I don't
don't

suppose
suppose any girl
girl in
in the
the old
old country
country \vas
was ever
ever

better
better provided for than will
provided for be Eva."
will be This
This

II said
said \vishing
wishing to
to comfort him, and at
at the
the

same time
time to
to prepare
prepare for
for what ,vas
was to
to be
be said.
said.

"Eva is
is a girl, — a
a good girl,- a dear
dear girl.
girl. But II
am not
not at
at all
all so
so sure
sure about that
that young fello\v
fellow
 FIRST BREAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST
THE BREAK-DO"\VN. 59
59

Abraham Grundle.
Abraham Grundle. It's aa pity,
It's pity, President,
President, your
your
son had not
son had not been
been born
born aa few
fe\v years
years sooner."
sooner."
At this
At this moment
Inoment my
my boy
boy was
'vas half
half aa head
head taller
taller
than young
than young Grundle,
Grundle, and
and aa much
much better
better speci-
speci-
men of
men of aa Britannulist.
Britannulist. " But
" But it
it is
is too
too late
late now,
now,
II suppose,
suppose, to talk of
to talk of that.
that. It
It seems to
seems to me
nle that
that
fJ aek never
Jack never even
even thinks
thinks of
of looking
looking at
at Eva."
Eva."
This was
This was aa view
vie,v of
of the
the case
case which
'which certainly
certainly
'was strange
was strange to
to me,
me, and
and seemed to
to indicate
indicate
that
that Crasweller was
Crasweller was gradually fit
gradually becoming fit

for the college.

for the college. If he could
If he not see
could not that Jack
see that

was
was madly
madly in
in love
love 'with
with Eva, he could see

nothing at
nothing at all.
all. But II 11ad
had not
not come out to
to

Little Christchurch at
Little Christchurch at the
the present
present moment

to
to talk
talk to
to him about
about the
the love
love matters of the

two
two children.
children. II was intent
intent on
on something
something of

infinitely
infinitely greater
greater importance.
importance. ""Crasweller,"
Crasweller,"
said
said I,
I, "" you
you and
and II have
have always
always agreed
agreed to
to the
the

letter
letter on
on this
this great
great matter
matter of
of the
the Fixed
Eixed Period."
Period."

He
He looked
looked into
into my
my face
face with
with supplicating,
supplicating,

weak
weak eyes,
eyes, but
but he
he said
said nothing.
nothing. "Your
" Your period
period

now
now will
will soon
soon have
have been
been reached,
reached, and
and II think
think
 "

60 THE FIXED PERIOD.

it
it \vell
well that
that \ve,
we, as
as dear
dear loving
loving friends,
friends, should
should

learn
learn to
to discuss
discuss the
the matter closely
closely as
as it
it dra\vs
draws

nearer.
nearer. II do not
not think that
that it
it becomes either
either

of
of us
us to
to be afraid
afraid of
of it."
it."

"That's
" That's all
all very \vell
well for
for you,"
you," he replied.
replied.

"" II anl
am your senior."
senior."

"" Ten years,

years, II believe."
believe."

"" About nine,

nine, II think."
think."

This
This might have come froln
from a mistake of
a mistake of

his
his as my exact
to n1y
as to exact age;
age and though II ,vas
; was
surprised
surprised at
at the
the error,
error, I
I did
did not
not notice
notice it
it

on this
this occasion.
occasion. "You have no objection
objection

to the
to the la\v as it
law as it stands
stands now ?"
?
" I
I said.
said.

"" It
It might have been seventy."
seventy."
"That
" That has all
all been discussed
discussed fully,
fully, and you
you
have given your assent.
have assent. Look round on the
the
men whom
111en \VhOnl you can remelnber,
remember, and tell
tell Ine,
me,

on how Inany
on of them
many of life has not
life has not sat
sat as
as aa
burden at seventy
at seventy years
years of
of age
age 1
? "

"IVlen
" are so
Men are different," said
so different," he.
said he. "As
" As far
far

as one
as one can
can judge
judge of
of his
his capacities, II was
own capacities, was
never better
never better able
able to
to manage my
n1y business
business than
than
 THE FIRST
THE BREAK-DOWN.
FIRST BREAK-DO"\VN. 61
61

am at
II am at present.
present. It
It is
is more
more than
than II can
can say
say

for
for that
that young
young fello\v
fellow Grundle,
Grundle, who
who is
is so
so

anxious
anxious to
to step
step into my shoes."
into my shoes."

"My dear
"My dear Cras weller," II rej
Crasweller," oined, "it
rejoined, "it was
was
out of
of the question
question so
so to
to arrange
arrange the
the la\v
law as
as to
to

vary to suit
vary the term to suit the
the peculiarities
peculiarities of
of one

man or another."
"But in
in a change of
of such terrible
terrible severity
severity

you should have suited

suited the
the eldest."
eldest."

to lne,-that
This was dreadful to —
me, that he,
he, the
the first
first

to receive at
to receive at the hands of
of his
his country
country the
the great
great

honour intended for

honour for him,-tbat—
him, that he should
should have
have
already allo\ved his
already allowed his mind to
to have
have rebelled
rebelled
against
against it
it !
! If he,
If he, who had once
once been
been so
so keen
keen aa
supporter of
supporter of the
the Fixed Period,
Period, no\v turned
now turned round
round
and opposed
and opposed it, how could
it, could others
others who
\v ho should
should
follow be
follow be expected
expected to
to yield
yield themselves
themselves up in
in aa
fitting frame
fitting frame of mind?? And then
of mind then II spoke
spoke my
illy
thoughts freely
thoughts freely to
to him.
him. ""Are
Are you afraid
you afraid of
of de-
de-
parture?" II said,—
parture?" said,-"" afraid
afraid of
of that
that which
which must
must
come; afraid
come; afraid to
to meet
meet as
as aa friend
friend that
that which
which
you must
you must meet
meet so
so soon
soon as
as friend
friend or
or enemy
ellemy ??"" II
62
62 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEIUOD.

paused; but
paused but he
; he sat
sat looking
looking at
at nle without
me ,vithout reply.
reply.
" To fear
" fear departure
departure ;-must
must it
;
—
it not
not be
be the
the greatest
greatest
evil of
evil of all our
all our life,
life, if
if it
it be
be necessary
necessary?? Can
God have brought
brought us
us into
into the
the world,
,vorld, intending
intending
us so
us so to
to leave
leave it that
it that the
the very
very act
act of
of doing
doing so
so
shall be regarded
shall be regarded by us
us as
as aa curse
curse so
so terrible
terrible as
as
to neutralise
to lleutralise all the blessings
all the blessings of
of our existence 1~
our existence
it be
Can it be that
that He who
,vho created
created us
us should
should have
intended that we should so
intended that regard our dismissal
so regard dismissal

the world
from the world?? teachers of
The teachers religion have
of religion

endeavoured to
to reconcile
reconcile us
us to
to it,
it, and have,
have, in
in

their vain
their vain zeal, endeavoured to
zeal, effect it
to effect it by

picturing to our
picturing to our inlaginations
imaginations a hell-fire into
a hell-fire into

'v hich ninety

which -nine nlust
ninety-nine must fall;
fall 'v hile one shall
while shall
;

be
be allowed
allowed to
to escape to aa heaven,
escape to heaven, ,vhich
which is
is

hardly
hardly nlade
made lllore
more alluring to us!
alluring to us ! Is that the
Is that the

way to
to make a
a Ulan
man comfortable
comfortable at
at the
the prospect
prospect

of
of leaving
leaving this
this ,vorId?
world ? But it
it is
is necessary to
necessary to

our
our dignity
dignity as
as nlen
men that
that ,ve
we shall
shall find
find the
the mode

of doing so.
of doing so. To lie
lie quivering and quaking on

my bed at
at the
the expectation
expectation of
of the
the Black Angel

of
of Death, does not
Death, does not suit manhood, — which
suit my manhood,-which
 FIRST BREAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST BREAK-DovVN. 63
63

would fear
would fear nothing
nothing; -w
which
; —
hich does
does not,
not, and shall
shall
not, stand
not, in
stand in a we of
awe of aught but my own sins.
aught but sins.
best shall
How best shall we prepare
prepare ourselves
ourselves for the
for the
day which
day which we know cannot
cannot be
be avoided
avoided?? That

is the
is the question
question which II have
have ever
ever been
been asking
asking
myself, —
myself,-which
which you and II have asked
asked ourselves,
ourselves,
and which II thought
and \ve had answered.
thought we answered. Let
Let

us turn the
us turn the inevitable
inevitable into
into that
that which
,vhich shall
shall in
in
itself be esteemed
itself be a glory
esteemed a to us.
glory to us. Let us
us teach
teach
the world so
the ,vorld to look
so to look forward with longing
forward with longing eyes,
eyes,

and not
not with
with a
a faint
faint heart.
heart. II had thought
thought to
to
have touched son1e
have touched some fe\v,
few, not the eloquence
not by the eloquence
of words, but
of my words, but by the
the energy
energy of thoughts;
of my thoughts;

you, oh my friend,
and you, friend, have ever been he whom
ever been

it
it has
has been my greatest joy to
greatest joy to have had \vith
with

me as the sharer
as the sharer of
of my aspirations."
aspirations."

"But
" But II am nine
nine years
years older
older than you are."
are."

II again passed by the

again passed the one
one year to my
year added to

age.
age. There ,vas
was nothing
nothing no\v
now in
in so
so trifling
trifling an

error.
error. "But
" But you still
still agree
agree ,vith
with nle
me as
as to
to the
the

fundamental truth
truth of
of our
our doctrine."
doctrine."

"" II suppose
suppose so,"
so," said
said Crasweller.
Crasweller.
 "

64 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"I
" I suppose so!"
so " repeated
repeated I.
!
I. "Is
" Is that
that all
all

that can
that can be
be said
said for
for the
the philosophy to
to ,vhich
which
,ve
we have devoted
devoted ourselves,
ourselves, and in
in ,vhich
which noth-
noth-

ing
ing false
false can be
be found?"
found ?

"" It
It ,von't
won't teach
teach anyone to think
any one to think it
it better to
better to

live than
live than to
to die
die ,vhile
while he is
is fit
fit to
to perform all
all

the
the functions
functions of
of life.
life. It
It might be
be very ,veIl
well

if
if you could
could arrange
arrange that
that a
a man should be

deposited
deposited as
as soon
soon as
as he becomes
becomes absolutely
absolutely

infirnl."
infirm."

"" Some men are infirm at

are infirm at forty."
forty."

"Then
" Then deposit
deposit theIn,"
them," said
said Crasweller.
Crasweller.

"" Yes;
Yes but
;but they
they ,vill
will not
not o,vn
own that
that they are
are

infirm.
infirm. If
If a
a nlan
man be
be ,veak
weak at that age,
at that age, he

thinks
thinks that
that with advancing years
years he ,vill
will

reSUl1le
resume the
the strength
strength of
of his
his youth.
youth. There
must, in
must, in fact,
fact, be a
a Fixed Period.
Period. We have
'Ve
discussed
discussed that
that fifty
fifty times,
times, and have ahvays
always

arrived at
arrived at the
the sanle
same conclusion."
conclusion."

He sat
sat still,
still, silent,
silent, unhappy, and confused.
confused.

II sa"w
saw that
that there
there ,vas
was something on his
his mind

to
to ,vhich
which he
he hardly
hardly dared to
to give
give ,vords.
words. 'Vish-
Wish-
 THE FIRST
THE BREAK-DOWN.
FIKST BREAK-DO'VN. 65
65

iug
ing to
to encourage . him, II \vent
went on.
on. ""After
After all,
all,

you have a full

full twelve months yet
yet before
before the
the

day shall
shall have come."

"" Two years,"

years," he said,
said, doggedly.

"" Exactly;
Exactly t,vo
two years
;years before
before your
your departure,
departure,

but twelve nlonths

months before
before deposition."
deposition."

"Two years before

before deposition,"
deposition," said
said Cras-
Cras-

weller.
weller.

At this
this II own II \vas
was astonished.
astonished. Nothing
\vas
was better
better known in
in the
the empire than the
the ages
ages

of the
the two or
or three
three first
first inhabitants
inhabitants to
to be
be de-
de-

posited.
posited. II would have undertaken to
to declare
declare

that not
that not aa man or
or a
a woman in Britannula ,vas
in Britannula was
in
in doubt as to Mr Crasweller's
as to Crasweller's exact
exact age.
age. It
It

written in
had been written the records,
in the records, and
and upon the
the
stones belonging
stones belonging to
to the
the college.
college. There was no
that within
doubt that within twelve
twelve months
nl0nths of
of the
the present
present
date he was due to
date to be
be detained
detained there
there as the
as the
first inhabitant.
first inhabitant. no\v II was
And now ·was astounded
astounded to
to
hear him claim
hear clainl another
another year,
year, which
\vhich could
could not
not
allowed him.
be allowed

"That
" inlpuclent fellow
That impudent fellow Grundle
Grundle has
has been
been
VOL. I.
VOL. I. E
66
66 THE FIXED PERIOD.

with me," he continued,

continued, "and
" and wishes
wishes to
to make

believe that
me believe that he
he can
can get
get rid
rid of
of me In
in one

year.
year. II have,
have, at
at any rate,
rate, two years
years left
left of
of

my out-of-door
out-of-door existence,
existence, and II do not
not mean

to
to give
give up a
a day of
of it
it for
for Grundle or
or anyone
any one
else."
else."

It
It ,vas
was something to
to see
see that he still
that he still re-
re-

cognised the
the la\v,
law, though he was so
so meanly

anxious to
to evade it.
it. There had been some
whisperings in
,vhisperings in the
the empire among the
the elderly
elderly

men and ,vomen

women of
of a
a desire
desire to
to obtain
obtain the
the

assistance
assistance of
of Great Britain
Britain in
in setting
setting it
it aside.
aside.

Peter
Peter Grundle,
Grundle, for
for instance,
instance, Crasweller's
Crasweller's senior
senior

partner,
partner, had been heard
heard to say that
to say that England

would not
not allo\v
allow aa deposited
deposited man to
to be
be slaugh-
slaugh-

tered.
tered. There was much in
in that
that which had

angered
angered me.
me. The 'word slaughter was in
word slaughter in itself
itself

peculiarly
peculiarly objectionable
objectionable to
to my ears, —
ears, -to
to me

\v
whoho had undertaken to
to perfornl
perform the
the first
first cere-
cere-

as an act
mony as act of
of grace.
grace. And w hat had
what
to do
England to do with our la\vs?
laws? It
It was as
as

though Russia
Eussia were to
to turn upon the
the United
 BEEAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST BREAK-DO'VN. 67
67

States
States and declare
declare that
that their
their Congress should

be
be put
put down. 'Vhat
What would avail
avail the loudest

VOIce
voice of
of Great
Great Britain
Britain against
against the
the smallest
smallest

spark
spark of
of a
a law passed
passed by our Assenlbly
Assembly?—1-,',
unless,
unless, indeed,
indeed, Great
Great Britain
Britain should conde-

scend
scend to
to avail
avail herself
herself of
of her
her great
great power, and

thus
thus to
to crush
crush the
the free
free voice
voice of
of those
those \v hom
whom
she
she had already
already recognised
recognised as
as independent.
independent.

As II no\v
now write,
write, this
this is
is what she
she has already
already

done,
done, and history
history will
will have to
to tell
tell the
the story.
story.

But it
it \vas
was especially
especially sad
sad to
to have to
to think
think

that
that there
there should be a
a Britannulist
Britannulist so
so base,
base,

such aa coward,
coward, such a
a traitor,
traitor, as
as himself
himself to
to

propose
propose this
this expedient for
for adding
adding a
a few
few years
years

to
to his
his own wretched
wretched life.
life.

But Crasweller did

did not,
not, as
as it
it seemed,
seemed, intend
intend

to
to avail
avail himself of
of these
these \vhispers.
whispers. His
His mind
was intent
,vas intent on devising
devising some falsehood
falsehood by

\vhich
which he should obtain
obtain for
for himself just one
himself just one

other
other year
year of
of life,
life, and his
his expectant
expectant son-in-law
son-in-law

purposed to prevent him.

to prevent him. II hardly
hardly kne\v
knew as
as

II turned it
it all
all in
in my mind,
mind, \vhich
which of
of the
the two
68
68 THE FIXED PERIOD.

,vas
was the
the more sordid;
sordid but
but II think
; think that
that my

sympathies 'v ere rather

were rather in
in accord
accord with the
the

co,vardice
cowardice of
of the
the old
old man than
than ,vith the greed
with the greed

of the young.
of the young. After
After all,
all, I
I had known from

the beginnincj that

the beginning that the
the fear
fear of
of death
death \vas
was aa

human \veakness.
weakness. To obliterate
obliterate that
that fear
fear from

the
the human heart,
heart, and to build up a
to build a perfect
perfect

manhood that
that should
should be
be liberated
liberated froln
from so
so vile
vile

aa thraldom, had been one of

of the
the chief
chief objects
objects

of
of my schenle.
scheme. II had no right to be
right to be angry

,vith
with Crasw'eller,
Crasweller, because
because Crasweller,
Crasweller, ,vhen
when
tried,
tried, proved himself to
to be
be no stronger
stronger than
than

the world at
the ,vorld at large.
large. It
It was a
a matter
matter to
to me of
of

infinite
infinite regret that it
regret that it should
should be
be so.
so. He ,vas
was
the
the very man, the
the very friend,
friend, on 'v hOln II
whom
had relied
relied with confidence!
confidence ! But his
his weakness

,vas
was only
only a
a proof
proof that
that II 111yself
myself had been mis-
mis-

taken.
taken. In all
all that
that Assenlbly
Assembly by which the
the

law had been passed,

passed, consisting
consisting chiefly
chiefly of
of

young men, ,vas

was there
there one on 'v hom II could
whom could

rest
rest with confidence
confidence to
to carry
carry out
out the
the purpose
purpose

of
of the
the law when his
his own time should
should come?
come ?
 !

THE FIRST
THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN. 69
69

Ought II not so
SO to
to have arranged matters
matters that
that

II myself should have been the first,-to

first, —
to have

postponed the use of the college

college till
till such time
time

as II might myself have been deposited?

as deposited ? This
This

had occurred to
to me often throughout the
the whole

agitation; but then it

agitation; it had occurred also
also that
that

none might perhaps follow

follow me, when under
under
such circumstances II should have departed!
departed

But in my heart II could forgive

forgive Crasweller.
Crasweller.

For Grundle II felt

felt nothing but personal
personal dislike.
dislike.

He was anxious to
to hurry on the
the deposition
deposition of
of

his
his father-in-law, in
in order
order that
that the
the entire pos-
entire pos-

session of Little
Little Christchur~h might COlne
Christchurch come into
into

his own hands just

just one year
year the
the earlier
earlier!! No
'No

doubt the exact

doubt he knew the exact age
age of
of the
the as
man as
well as II did,
,veIl as did, but it ,vas not
it was not for
for him to
to have
have
hastened his
hastened his deposition.
deposition. then II could
And then could
not but think,
not think, even in
in this
this of public
moment of public
misery,
misery, how willing ,vould have
,villing Jack would have been
been to
to
assisted old
have assisted old Crasweller
Crasweller in
in his
his little fraud,
little fraud,

so that
so that might have been
Eva might been the
the reward.
re,vard. My
IVly
belief is
belief is that
that he would have
he have sworn
s,vorn against
against his
his
70
70 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

o\vn father,
own father, perjured
perjured himself
himself in
in the
the very
very teeth
teeth
of truth,
of truth, to
to have
have obtained
obtained from
froln Eva that
Eva that little
little
privilege
privilege \vhich II had
which had once
once seen
seen Grundle
Grundle en-
en-
JOyIng.
joying.

I was
I was sitting
sitting there
there silent
silent in
in Cras\veller's
Crasweller's

verandah as
verandah as passed through my mind.
all this passed
all this mind.
But before
But before II spoke
spoke again
again II was
,vas enabled
enabled to
to see
see
clearly
clearly duty required
what duty required of
of me.
me. Eva and
Little Christchurch,
Little Christchurch, \vitb Jack's
with Jack's feelings
feelings and
interests,
interests, and
and all my wife's
all wife's longings,
longings, must be
be
laid on one
laid on side, and my
one side, nly whole
\vhole energy must be
devoted
devoted to the literal
to the literal carrying out of
of the law.
law.

It
It 'was
was aa great
great 'world's
world's nlovement
movement that
that had been

projected, and if
projected, if it
it \vere
were to
to fail
fail now, just
just at
at its
its

commencelnent,
commencement, ,vhen
when everything had been ar-
ar-

ranged for the

ranged for the ,York,
work, 'when
when again would there
there

be
be hope?
hope ? It
It was a
a matter
matter ,vhich
which required
required

legislative sanction in
legislative sanction in whatever country might

adopt
adopt it.
it. despot could attempt it,
No despot it, let
let his
his

po\ver
power be
be ever
ever so
so confirmed.
confirmed. The ,vhole
whole coun-

try
try would rise
rise against
against hinl
him \vhen
when informed,
informed, in
in

its
its ignorance,
ignorance, of
of the
the contemplated
contemplated intention.
intention.
 ! "

BREAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST BREAK-DO"\VN. 71
71

Nor
ISTor could
could it
it be effected
effected by any congress
congress of
of

which the
the large
large majority were not at
at any rate
rate

under forty
forty years
years of
of age.
age. II had seen
seen enough

of
of human nature
nature to
to understand its
its weakness in
in

this respect.
this respect. All circumstances
circumstances had combined

to make it
to it practicable
practicable in
in Britannula,
Britannula, but
but all
all

these
these circumstances might never be
be combined

agaIn.
again. And it
it seemed to
to me to
to depend now

entirely the power which II might exert

entirely on the exert in
in

creating
creating courage
courage in
in the
the heart
heart of
of the
the poor
poor timid
timid

creature who sat

creature ,vho sat before
before me. II did
did know that
that

\vere
were Britannula
Britannula to
to appeal
appeal aloud
aloud to
to England,

England,
England, with that
that desire
desire for
for interference
interference 'which
which
has
has always
always characterised
characterised her,
her, would interfere.
interfere.

But if
if the
the empire allowed
allowed the
the working of
of the
the

la
laww to
to be
be commenced in
in silence,
silence, then the
the Fixed
Eixed

Period
Period might perhaps be regarded
regarded as a thing
as a thing

settled.
settled. How much, then,
then, depended on the

words which II might use!

,vords use

"Crasweller," II said,
"Crasweller," said, " my friend,
friend, llly
my brother
brother 1"
!
*'

"I
" I don't
don't know much about that.
that. A man
ought
ought not
not to
to be
be so
so anxious
anxious to
to kill
kill his
his brother."
brother."
 "

72
72 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"If I could
" If I could take
take your
your place,
place, as
as God will
will be
be
my judge,
judge, II would do
do so
so with
'with as
as ready
ready aa step
step
as aa
as young man to
young to the
the arms
arnlS of
of his
his beloved.
beloved.
"
if for
And if for myself,
myself, why not for my brother
not for brother 1
? "

"
" do not
You do not know," he
he said.
said. " You have
"

not, in
not, in truth,
truth, been
been tried."
tried."

"Would
" that you could
Would that could try
try me ! " !

" And we are

" are not
not all
all made of
of such
such stuff
stuff as
as
you.
you. have talked
You have talked about this
this till
till you have
have
come to be in
to be in love with deposition
love with deposition and depar-
depar-

ture.
ture. But such is not the
is not the natural
natural condition
condition of
of

a man.
a man. all the
Look back upon all the centuries,
centuries, and

,vill perceive
you will that life
perceive that has ever
life has been dear
ever been dear

to
to the
the best of n1en.
best of men. And you ,vill
will perceive
perceive

also that
also that they ,vho
who have brought tbell1Selves
themselves toto

suicide
suicide have encountered
encountered the
the contempt of
of their
their

fello,v -creatures."
fellow-creatures."

II ,vould
would not
not tell
tell him of
of Cato and Brutus,
Brutus,

feeling that
feeling that II could not
not stir
stir him to
to grandeur of
of

heart
heart by Roman
Eoman instances.
instances. He ,vould
would have
have
told me that
told that in
in those
those days,
days, as
as far
far as
as the
the

Romans knew,
 " " "

THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN.

THE FIRST BREAK-DO\VN. 73
73

"the
*
Everlasting had
the Everlasting
' had not
not fixed
fixed
His canon
His canon 'gainst
'gainst self-slaughter.
self-slaughter."

I
I must reach
must reach him by
by other
other methods
methods than
than these,
these,
if at all. ""\Vho
if at all. can be
Who can be more alive
alive than you,"
you," II
said, to the
the fact
cc to
said, " fact that
that man,
man, by the
the fear
fear of
of death,
death,
is degraded
is degraded below
below the
the level
level of
of the
the brutes
brutes?" ?

" If so, he
" If so, he is
is degraded,"
degraded," said
said Crasweller.
Crasweller. "" It
It
is his
is his condition."
condition."
"
" But need
But need he
he remain
remain so
so ?? Is it
Is it not
not for
for you
and
and me to
to raise
raise him to
to aa higher
higher level?
level " ?

"" Not for me-not

for me —
not for me, certainl3\
for me, certainly. II o,vn
own
that II
that am no
no more
more than
than man. Little
Little Christ-
Christ-

church
church is
is so
so pleasant
pleasant to
to me, and Eva's
Eva's smiles
smiles

and
and happiness;
happiness and the
the lowing of
; of my flocks
flocks

and
and the
the bleating of my sheep
bleating of sheep are
are so
so gracious
gracious in
in

my ears,
ears, and it
it is
is so
so sweet
sweet to
to lily
my eyes
eyes to
to see
see

how fairly
fairly II have
have turned
turned this
this ,vilderness
wilderness into
into a
a

paradise,
paradise, that
that II own that
that II ,vould
would fain
fain stay
stay

here
here a
a little
little longer."
longer."

"But
" But the
the law,
law, my friend,
friend, the
the law,-the
law, the law —
,vhich
which you yourself
yourself have been so
have been so active
active in
in

creating."
creating."
 ;

74
74 THE FIXED PERIOD.

" The law allows

"The allo,vs me two
two years
years yet,"
yet," said
said he
he ;
that look
that look of
of stubbornness
stubbornness which
\vhich II had before
before
observed again
observed again spreading
spreading itself over
itself over his
his face.
face.
Now this lie; an
this was aa lie an absolute,
; absolute, ^undoubted,
undoubted,
demonstrable
demonstrable lie.
lie. yet it
And yet it was
"vas aa lie
lie which,
\vhich,
its mere
by its mere telling,
telling, might
might be
be made available
available for
for
its intended
its intended purpose.
purpose. If
If it
it were known through
the capital
the that Crasweller
capital that Oras\veller was
\vas anxious
anxious to
to ob-
ob-
tain aa year's
tain year's grace
grace by means of
of so
so foul
foul a lie,
a lie,

the year's
the year's grace \vould be
grace would be accorded to him.
accorded to him.
then the
And then the Fixed
Fixed Period \vould be
Period would be at
at an

en,d.
end.

"" II will
will tell
tell you what
\vhat it
it is,"
is," said he, anxious
said he, anxious

to represent
to represent his
his \vishes
wishes to
to me in
in another light.
light.

"" Grundle \vants

wants to
to get
get rid
rid of
of me,"
me."

"" Grundle,
Grundle, II fear,
fear, has truth on his
has truth his side,"
side," said
said

I,
I, determined to show him that
determined to that I,
I, at
at any rate,
rate,

\vould
would not
not consent
consent to
to lend myself to
to the fur-
fur-

therance
therance of
of a
a falsehood.
falsehood.

"Grundle \vants
wants to
to get
get rid
rid of
of me," he re-
re-

peated in
peated in the
the same tone.
tone. "But
" But he shan't
shan't find
find

that
that II am so
so easy
easy to
to deal
deal with.
with. Eva already
 THE FIRST BEEAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST BREAK-DO\VN. 75
75

does not
does not above
above half
half like
like him.
him. Eva thinks
Eva thinks
that this
that this depositing
depositing plan
plan is abominable.
is abon1inable. She
She
says that
says that no
no good
good Christians
Christians ever thought
ever thought
of
of it."
it."

"A child—
"A child-a sweet child—
a sweet child-but still only
but still only aa
child;; and
child and brought
brought up by
up by her
her mother
mother with
with all
all
the old
the old prejudices."
prejudices."
"I don't
"I don't know much about
about that.
that. I never
I never
). knew
knew aa decent
decent woman who wasn't
wasn't an Episco-
Episco-
palian.
palian. Eva is at any
is at any rate
rate aa good girl,
girl, to
to en-
en-
deavour to save
deavour to save her
her father;
father; and I'll tell you
I'll tell

\v,hat-it
what— it is
is not
not too
too late
late yet.
yet. As far
far as my

opinion
opinion goes,
goes, Jack
Jack N everbend is
Neverbend is ten
ten to
to one
one a
a

hetter
better sort
sort of fellow than
of fellow than Abraham Grundle.
Grundle.

Of
Of course
course a
a promise
promise has made but prom-
has been n1ade; ;

ises
ises are
are like
like pie-crusts.
pie- crusts. Don't
Don't you think that

Jack
Jack N everbend is
Neverbend is quite
quite old
old enough
enough to
to marry

aa wife,
wife, and
and that
that he
he only
only needs
needs be
be told
told to
to

make
make up
up his
his mind
mind to
to do
do it
it?~ Little
Little Christ-
Christ-

church would do
church would do just
just as
as well
well for
for him
him as
as for
for

Grundle. If
Grundle. If he
he don't
don't think
think nluch
much of
of the
the girl
girl

be
he must
must think
think something
something of
of the
the sheep."
sheep."
76 THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

Not think much of

of the
the girl!
girl ! Just
Just at
at this
this

time Jack \vas

was talking
talkin^^ to
to his
his mother,
mother, nlorning,
morning,

noon, and night,

night, about
about Eva,
Eva, and threatening
threatening

young Grundle with all

all kinds
kinds of
of schoolboy
schoolboy-

punishments if
if he should persevere
persevere in
in bis
his suit.
suit.

Only yesterday be
he had insulted
insulted Abraham

grossly, and, as
grossly, as II bad
had reason
reason to
to suspect~
suspect, bad
had
been more than once
once out
out to
to Christchurch
Christchurch on

some clandestine
clandestine bj ect,
0object, as
as to
to which it
it was

necessary,
necessary, he thought,
thought, to
to keep old
old Cras\veller
Crasweller

in the
the dark.
dark. And then
then to
to be
be told
told ill
in this
this

l11anner that
manner that Jack didn't
didn't think
think much of
of Eva,
Eva,

be encouraged in
and should be preference to
in preference to look
look

after the sheep!

after the sheep ! He would have sacrificed
sacrificed

every sheep
every the place
sheep on the place for
for the
the sake
sake of
of half
half
\vith Eva alone
an hour with alone in the woods.
in the woods. But
But
\vas afraid
he was afraid of
of Crasweller,
Crasweller, \vhom he
whom he knew
kne\v
to
to have sanctioned an engagement
sanctjoned an engagement with
\vith Abra-
Abra-
Grundle.
ham Grundle.
don't think
"I don't think that
that we
\ve need
need bring
bring Jack
Jack
his love
and his love into
into this
this dispute,"
dispute," said I.
said I.
"Only
" Only that
that it isn't
it isn't too
too late,
late, you
you know.
know.
 " !

THE FIRST
THE BREAK-DOWN.
FIRST BREAK-DO'VN. 77
77

Do you think that Jack could be

be brought
brought to
to

lend an ear
ear to it ~"
to it ?
,
Perish Jack!
Jack perish Eva!
Eva perish
! perish Jack's
Jack's !

mother, before II would allow myself

myself to
to be
be
bribed In
bribed in this
this manner, to
to abandon the
the great
great

object of all
all my life!
life ! This
This was evidently
evidently

Crasweller's purpose. He was endeavouring

endeavouring
to tempt me with his
to his flocks
flocks and herds.
herds. The
The
temptation, had he kno\vn
known it,
it, 'would
would have
have been
been
Eva, — with Eva and the
with Eva,-with the genuine,
genuine, do\vn-
down-
right, of my gallant
right, honest love of gallant boy.
boy. II kne\v,
knew,
too, at home II should not dare
too, that at dare to
to tell
tell

my wife
\vife that
that the
the offer
offer had been
been made to
to me
and had been refused.
refused. My wife
wife could not
could not

understand, —
understand,-Crasweller could not
Crasweller could not understand,
understand,
—
-how
how strong
strong the passion
may be the passion founded
founded on
on
the conviction
the conviction of
of aa life.
life. honesty, simple
And honesty, simple
honesty, would forbid
honesty, forbid it.
it. For
Eor to strike
me to strike aa
bargain with
bargain with one already
already destined
destined for
for deposi-
deposi-
tion, —
tion,-that should be
that he should be withdrawn
withdra\vn from
from his
his
glorious, his
glorious, his almost
almost immortal state, on the
state, the
of aa bribe
payment of bribe to nle and my family
to me family!
78
78 THE FIXED PERIOD.

I
I called this
had called ~ny friend
this man my friend and brother,
brother,
but
but ho\v little
how little had the
the man known me
me! Could !

I have
I have saved
saved all
all Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis from imminent
flames
flames yielding an
by yielding an inch in my convictions,
inch in convictions,
I
I \vould not
would not have
have done in my then
so in
done so then frame
frame
of
of mind; and yet
yet this
this man,
man,-my —
friend and
my friend
brother,-had
brother, —supposed that
had supposed that II could
could be
be bought
bought
to change
to change my purpose
purpose by the
the pretty
pretty slopes
slopes and
fat
fat flocks
flocks of Little Christchurch!
of Little Christchurch !

" Crasweller,"
" Cras\veller," said
said I,
I, "let us keep these
" let us these two
t'wo
things separate;
things separate; or rather, in
or rather, discussing the
in discussing the
momentous question
question of the Fixed Period,
of the Period, let
let

us forget
us the loves
forget the loves of
of a
a boy and a girl."
girl."

"But
" But the
the sheep,
sheep, and the
the oxen,
oxen, and the pas-
pas-

tures!
tures ! II can still make my will."
can still will."

"The
" The sheep,
sheep, and the
the oxen,
oxen, and the pastures
the pastures

must also
also be
be forgotten.
forgotten. They can have nothing

to do
to do 'with
with the
the settlen1ent
settlement of
of this
this matter.
matter. My
boy
boy is
is dear
dear to
to me,
me, and Eva is
is dear also,
also, but

not
not to
to save
save even their lives could J
their young lives I

consent
consent to
to a
a falsehood
falsehood in
in this
this matter."
matter."

"Falsehood!
" Falsehood There is
! is no falsehood
falsehood intended."
 " "

BREAK-DOWN.
THE FIRST BREAK-DO"\VN. 79
79

"" Then there

there need b~
be no bargain as
as to
to Eva,
Eva,

and
and no need for
for discussing
discussing the
the flocks
flocks and

herds
herds on this
this occaSIon.
occasion. Crasweller,
Crasweller, you are
are

sixty-six
sixty-six now, and will
will be sixty-seven
sixty-seven this
this

time next
time next year.
year. Then the
the period
period of
of your de-
de-

position
position will
will have arrived,
arrived, and in
in the
the year
year

following, — two years

following,-two years hence, —
hence, mind,-the
mind, the Fixed
Fixed

Period
Period of
of your departure
departure will
will have come."
come.

"" No."
"" Is
Is not
not such the
the truth?
truth ? "

"" No;
No you put it
;
it all
all on a
a year
year too
too far.
far. II
'was
was never
never more than nine
nine years
years older
older than
than you.
you.

II remember it
it all
all as
as well
well as
as though it
it were
were
yesterday
yesterday when we first
first agreed
agreed to
to come a-way
away
from New Zealand.
Zealand. vVhen
When will
will you have
have to
to

be
be deposited?
deposited?""

"In 1989," II said

said carefully.
carefully. "My Fixed
Period
Period is
is 1990."

"" Exactly;
Exactly; and mIlle
mine IS
is nIne
nine years
years earlier.
earlier.

It
It alw'
ays was nine
always nine years
years earlier."
earlier."

It
It was all
all manifestly
manifestly untrue.
untrue. He knew it
it

to
to be untrue.
untrue. For
For the
the sake
sake of
of one
one poor year
year
80
80 THE FIXED PERIOD.

he was imploring
he imploring my ~ssent to
assent to aa base
base false-
false-
hood, and was endeavouring
hood, endeavouring to
to add strength
strength to
to
his prayer
his prayer by aa bribe.
bribe. How
Ho,v could
could II talk
talk to
to
a
a so far
man who would so far descend
descend from
from the
the dig-
dig-
nity of
nity of manhood??
manhood la,v ,vas
The law there to
was there to sup-
sup-
port me,
port me, and
and the
the definition
definition of
of the
the law
la,v in
was in
this
this instance supported
instance supported by ample evidence.
evidence.

I
I need only
need go before
only go before the
the executive
executive of
of which
,vhich
II myself
nlyself ,vas the chief,
was the chief, desire that the
desire that the estab-
estab-

lished
lished doclunents
documents should be
be searched,
searched, and de-
de-

mand the
the body of
of Gabriel
Gabriel Crasweller to be
Crasweller to be
deposited in
deposited in accordance
accordance ,vith the la,v
with the law as
as en-
en-

acted.
acted. But there
But there ,vas
was no one else to whom II
else to

could
could leave
leave the performance of
the performance of this
this invidious
invidious

task, as
task, as a
a matter
matter of
of course.
course. There ,vere
were alder-
alder-

lnen
men in
in Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis and magistrates
magistrates in
in the
the

country
country ,vhose
whose duty it
it ,vould
would no doubt
doubt be
be to
to

see
see that
that the
the law ,vas
was carried
carried out.
out. Arrange-
Arrange-

ments to
to this
this effect
effect had been
been studiously
studiously made

by myself.
myself. Such arrangements 'would
would no
no
carried out
doubt be carried out when the
the working of
of

the Period had ber,(nne

the Fixed Period become aa thing
thing estab-
estab-
 THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN. 81
81

lished.
lished. But II had lo~g
long foreseen that
that the
the first
first

deposition
deposition should
should be effected with some eclat
be effected dclat

of
of voluntary glory.
glory. It
It ,vould
would be very detri-
detri-

mental to
to the
the cause to
to see
see my special
special friend
friend

Crasweller hauled a\vay

away to
to the college by con-
the college con-

stables through the streets

stables streets of
of Gladstonopolis,
Gladstonopolis,

protesting that he was forced

forced to
to his
his doom

twelve
twelve months before
before the
the appointed time.
time.

Crasweller was aa popular man in

Crasweller ,vas in Britannula,
Britannula,

and the people around would not

not be
be so
so con-
con-

versant ,vith
versant with the
the fact
fact as
as ,vas
was I,
I, nor
nor would

they have the

they the same reasons
reasons to
to be
be anxious
anxious that
that

the
the law should
should be accurately
accurately followed.
followed. And
yet
yet how the accuracy
ho,v much depended upon the accuracy of
of

following the
the law!
law ! A willing
willing obedience was
'vas
especially desired in
especially the
in the first
first instance,
instance, and a
a

willing obedience II had expected

'willing from my
expected from

friend Crasweller.
friend Crasweller.
"Crasweller," II said,
"Crasweller," said, addressing
addressing \vith
him with
great solemnity
great solemnity; ; "it
" it is not so."
is not so."
" It is-it
" It is —is; II say
it is ;say it
it is."
is."
""It
It is
is not
not so.
so. books that
The books that have been
1.
VOL. I. F
82
82 THE FIXED PERIOD.

printed
printed and sworn to,
to, \vhich have had your
which have
own assent
assent ,vith
with that
that of
of others,
others, are
are all
all against
against

yon."
you."

"" It
It ,vas
was aa mistake.
mistake. II have got
got a
a letter
letter from

myoId
my old aunt in
in Hampshire, written to my
written to

mother when II ,vas

was born,
born, which proves
proves the
the

mistake."
mistake."

"I remember the

the letter well," I
letter well," I said,-for
said, for —
we had all
all gone
gone through
through such
such documents in
in

performing the
performing the inlportant
important task
task of
of settling
settling the
the

Period.
Period. "You
" You were born in
in N evv South Wales,
New Wales,

and the
the old
old lady
lady in
in England did
did not
not write till
write till

the
the following
following year."
year."

" Who says

""Vho says so?
so ? How can you prove
prove it?
it ?

She wasn't
wasn't at
at all
all the
the ,voman
woman to
to let
let a
a year
year go
go

by before
before she
she congratulated
congratulated her sister."
sister."

" We have your own signature

"We signature affirming
affirming the
the

date."
date."

How was II to
"" Ho\v to know when II ,vas
was born?
born ? All

that goes
that goes for
for nothing."
nothing."

"And unfortunately," said I,

unfortunately," said I, as
as though

clenching
clenching the
the matter,
matter, "the
" the Bible
Bible exists
exists in
in
 "

THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN. 83

83

which your father

father entered
entered the
the date
date with
with his
his

usual
usual exernplary
exemplary accuracy."
accuracy." Then he was
silent
silent for
for a
a moment as
as though having no

further
further evidence
evidence to
to offer.
offer. "Crasweller,"
" Crasweller," said
said

I,
I, "are
" are you not
not man enough to
to do
do this
this thing
thing

in
in a
a straightforward,
straightforward, manly manner?"
manner ?
"One
" One year!
year "" he exclaimed.
!
exclaimed. "I
" I only
only ask
ask for
for

one year.
year. II do
do think
think that,
that, as
as the
the first
first victim,
victim,

II have aa right
right to
to expect
expect that
that one year
year should
should

be granted me.
be granted Then Jack N everbend shall
Neverbend shall

have
have Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch, and the
the sheep,
sheep, and

the
the cattle,
cattle, and Eva also,
also, as
as his
his o,vn
own for
for ever
ever

and ever,-or
ever, —
or at
at any rate
rate till
till he too
too shall
shall be
be
led
led away to
to execution!"
execution I"

A victim;
victim and execution!
execution
; ! \Vhat
What language
language

in
in which to
to speak
speak of
of the
the great
great system!
system For
For !

myself II ,vas
myself was determined that
that though II ,vould
would
be gentle
be gentle with him II would not
not yield
yield an inch.
inch.

The law at
at any rate
rate 'vas
was with me,
me, and II did
did

not think as
not as yet
yet that
that Crasweller
Crasweller would lend
lend

himself
himself to
to those
those who spoke
spoke of
of inviting
inviting the
the

interference
interference of
of England. The law ,vas
was on my
84 THE FIXED PERIOD.

side,
side, and so
so must still
still be
be all
all those
those who in
in the
the

Assembly had voted

voted for
for the
the Fixed Period.
Period.

There had been enthusiasm then,

There then, and the
the dif-
dif-

ferent
ferent clauses
clauses had been carried
carried by large
large major-

ities.
ities. A dozen
dozen different clauses had been
different clauses

carried,
carried, each
each referring
referring to
to various
various branches of
of

the
the question.
question. Not only
only had the
the period
period been

fixed, but money had been voted for

fixed, for the
the col-
col-

lege;
lege and the
;the mode of
of life
life at the college
at the college had

been
been settled;
settled the
the very
;very amusements of
of the
the old
old

men had been sanctioned; last, but

sanctioned and last,;but not
not

least,
least, the
the very
very nlanner
manner of
of departure
departure had been
been

fixed.
fixed. There ,vas
was the
the college
college o'V, aa graceful
now,
11 graceful

building surrounded by growing shrubs

building shrubs and

broad pleasant
broad pleasant ,valks
walks for
for the
the old
old nlen,
men, endowed
,vith
with a kitchen in
a kitchen in 'v hich their
which their taste
taste should be
should be

consulted,
consulted, and with
with aa chapel
chapel for
for such
such of
of those
those

,vho
who would require to pray in
require to in public;
public and all
all ;

this
this ,vould
would be
be made a
a laughing-stock
laughing-stock to
to Britan-
Britan-

nula, if
nula, this old
if this old lnan
man Crasweller
Crasweller declined
declined to
to

enter
enter the
the gates.
gates. "It
" It must be done," II said
be done," said in
in

aa tone
tone of
of firm
firm decision.
decision.
 THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN.
BREAK-DO\VN. 85
85

" No !)'" he
" !
he exclaimed.
exclaimed.
" Crasweller, it must be
" Crasweller, it be done.
done. la\v de-
The law de-
luands it."
mands it."
"
" No, no
No, no; ; not by me.
not me. Yon and young
You
Grundle together
Grundle together are
are In a conspiracy
in a consplracy to get
to get
rid of
rid of me.
me. II am not
not going
going to
to be
be shut
shut up aa
whole year
whole year before
before my time."
time."
that he
With that he stalked
stalked into
into the
the inner
inner house,
house,
leaving
leaving me alone
alone on the
the verandah.
verandah. II had
nothing for
nothing for it but to
it but to turn
turn on
on the
the electric
electric lamp

of
of my tricycle
tricycle and steam back to
to Government
House at
at Gladstonopolis \vith aa sad
Gladstonopolis with heart.
sad heart.
 86
86

CHAPTEE
CHAPTER IV.
IV.

JACK NEVERBEND.
NEVERBEND.

passed away,
SIX months passed
Six away, which,
,vhich, II must own,
o\vn,
to
to n1e was
me was aa period
period of
of great
great doubt
donbt and nn-
un-
happiness, though
happiness, though it
it ,vas relieved by certain
was relieved certain
moments of triuluph.
of triumph. Of course,
course, as the time
as the

drew nearer,
nearer, the
the question
question of
of Crasweller's
Crasweller's de-
de-

position
position becan1e
became generally discussed by the
generally discussed

public
public of
of Gladstonopolis.
Gladstonopolis. And so
so also
also did

the
the loves
loves of Abraham Grundle and Eva Cras-
of Abrahalll

weller.
weller. There were"
There were " Evaites"
Evaites " and"
and " Abraham-
ites"
ites " in
in the
the con1munity;
community for
;for though the luatch
match
had not
not yet
yet been
been altogether broken, it
altogether broken, it ,vas
was known
that
that the
the t\VO
two young people
people differed
differed altogether

on
on the
the question
question of
of the
the old
old man's deposition.
deposition.

It
It was said
said by the
the defendents
defendents of
of Grundle, who
 JACK NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVERBEND. 87
87

were
were to
to be
be found
found for
for the
the most
most part
part among
among the
the

young
young men and
and young women, that
that Abraham

,vas
was simply anxious to
to carry
carry out
out the
the laws
laws of
of

his country. It
It happened that,
that, during
during this
this

period,
period, he was elected
elected to seat in
to a vacant seat in the
the

Assembly, so
so that,
that, when the
the matter
matter came on

for
for discussion there,
there, he was able
able to
to explain
explain

publicly his motives; and it

it lllust
must bebe owned

that he did so
so with good 'words
words and with
with a
a

certain amount of
of youthful eloquence.
eloquence. As for
for

Eva, she was simply intent

Eva, she intent on preserving
preserving the
the

lees
lees of her father's
father's life,
life, and had been heard to
been heard to
express an opinion that the
the college
college was "all
"all

that people
humbug," and that people ought
ought to
to be
be allowed
allowed
to live
to live as
as long
long as
as it pleased
it pleased God to
to let
let them.
them.
Of course
Of course she her the
she had with her the elderly
elderly ladies
ladies
of the
of the comnlunity, and among them
community, my own
'wife as
wife as the
the foremost.
foremost. l\irs iSTeverbend
Mrs N everbend had
had
never made herself
never herself prominent
prominent before
before in
in any
any
public question
public but on
question; but;on this
this she
she seemed
seemed to
to
entertain aa very
entertain very warm opinion.
warm opinion. Whether this
Whether this
arose entirely
arose entirely from her
her desire
desire to
to promote
promote Jack's
Jack's
88 THE FIXED PERIOD.

,velfare,
welfare, or
or from a
a reflection
reflection that
that her
her own period
period

of
of deposition
deposition was gradually
gradually becoming nearer,
nearer, II

never
never could
could quite
quite make up my mind.
nlind. She had,
had,

at
at any rate,
rate, ten
ten years
years to
to run,
run, and II never
never heard

from her
her any expressed fear of,
expressed fear of, - —
departure.
departure.

was, —
She was,-and
and is,-a
is, —
a brave,
brave, good
good ,vornan,
woman, at-
at-

tached to her
tached to her household duties,
duties, anxious
anxious for
for her
her

husband's comfort,
comfort, but beyond measure solic-
solic-

itous
itous for
for all
all good things
things to befall that
to befall that scape-
scape-

grace Jack Neverbend, for

grace for whom she
she thinks
thinks

that
that nothing is
is sufficiently
sufficiently rich
rich or
or sufficiently
sufficiently

grand.
grand. Jack is
is a
a handsome boy,
boy, II grant,
grant, but
but

that
that is
is about all
all that
that can be
be said
said of
of him;
him and;

in this matter
in this matter he has
has been diametrically
diametrically op-
op-

posed to
to his
his father
father from first
first to
to last.
last.

It
It will
will be
be seen
seen that,
that, in
in such circumstances,
circumstances,

none of
of these of triumph to
these moments of which II
to which

have alluded
alluded can
can have come to
to me ,vithin
within my

own home. There Mrs N everbend and Jack,

Neverbend Jack,

and after
after a
a while Eva, sat
sat together
together in
in perpetual
perpetual

council
council against me.
against me. When these
'Vhen these meetings first
first

began, Eva st.ill

began, still ackno,vledged
acknowledged herself
herself to
to be
be the
the
 JACK NEVERBEND. 89
89

promised bride
promised bride of
of Abraham Grundle.
Grundle. There
There

,vere her
were her own vows,
vows, and her
her parent's
parent's assent,
assent,
and something
and something perhaps
perhaps of
of remaining
remaining love. But
love.

presently she
presently she whispered
whispered to
to ,vife that
my wife that she
she
could not
could not but
but feel horror for
feel horror for the
the man ,vho
who was
anxious to ""murder
anxious to her father
murder her father;"" and by-and-
by-and-
;

by she
by she began
began to
to that she
own that she thought
thought Jack aa
fine fellow.
fine fellow. We
\Ve had aa wonderful
wonderful cricket
cricket club
club
in
in Gladstonopolis,
Gladstonopolis, and Britannula
Britannula had chal-
chal-

lenged the English

lenged the English cricketers to conle
cricketers to come and play
on the
on the Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch ground,
ground, 'which they
which they
declared to
declared to be
be the
the only
only cricket
cricket ground as yet
as yet

prepared
prepared on the face
on the face of
of the earth which had all
the earth all

the
the accomplishments
accomplishments possible
possible for
for the
the due pro-
pro-

secution
secution of
of the
the game. Now Jack,
Jack, though very

young,
young, ,vas
was captain
captain of
of the
the club,
club, and devoted

much more of
of his time to
his time to that
that occupation than

to
to his
his more legitimate
legitimate business
business as
as a
a merchant.

Eva, who had not

Eva, not hitherto
hitherto paid
paid much attention
attention

to
to cricket,
cricket, became on a
a sudden passionately

devoted to it;
devoted to it whereas
whereas Abraham Grundle, with
;

aa steadiness
steadiness beyond his
his years,
years, gave himself
himself up
90
90 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

more than
more than ever
ever to
to the
the business
business of
of the
the Assembly,
Assembly,
and expressed
and expressed some
some contempt
contempt for
for the game,
the game,
though he
though he was
,vas no
no mean player.
player.
It
It had become
had become necessary
necessary during
during this
this period
period
to bring
to bring forward in the
for\vard in the the whole
Assembly the
question of
question of the
the Fixed
Fixed Period,
Period, as
as it was
it \vas felt
felt that,
that,
in the
in the present
present state
state of
of public
public opinion,
opinion, it would
it

not be
not be expedient
expedient to
to carry
carry out
out the
the established
established
la\v without
law 'without the
the increased
increased sanction
sanction which
\vhich would
,vould
be given
be given to
to it by aa further
it vote in
further vote in the
the House.
House.
Public opinion
Public opinion ,vould forbidden us
would have forbidden us to
to
deposit
deposit Cras,veller without some such further
Crasweller without further

authority.
authority. Therefore it
Therefore it 'vas
was deemed necessary
that
that a
a question
question should
should be asked,
asked, in
in which Cras-
Cras-

,veller's
weller's name ,vas not mentioned, but \vhich
was not which
might
might lead
lead to
to some general debate.
debate. Young
Grundle
Grundle demanded one
one nlorning
morning ,vhet.her
whether it
it

,vas
was the
the intention
intention of
of the
the Government to
to see
see

that
that the
the different
different clauses
clauses as
as to
to the
the new law

respecting
respecting depositions were at
depositions ,vere at once carried
carried

out.
out. ((" The House is
is a~;vare,
aware, II believe,"
believe," he
he said,
said,

"" that
that the
the first
first operation
operation will
will soon
soon be
be needed."
needed."
 ;

NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVERBEND. 91
91

II as well
may as well state
state here
here that
that this
this was repeated
repeated
to Eva,
to Eva, and that she
and that she pretended
pretended to
to take
take huff
huff at
at
such aa question
such question from
from her
her lover.
lover. It
It was most
indecent, she
indecent, said;
she said ; she, after
and she, after such
such words,
,vords,
must drop
must drop him for
for ever.
ever. It
It ,vas not
was not for
for some
months after
months after that,
that, that
that she
she allowed
allo'wed Jack's
Jack's
to be
name to be mentioned
mentioned with
with her
her own; but
but II
was aware
was aware that
that it
it was partly
partly settled
settled between
bet\veen
her and
her Jack and
and Jack and 1\irs N everbend.
Mrs Neverbend. Grundle

declared his intention

declared his intention of proceeding against
of proceeding against
old
old Crasweller
Crasweller in
in reference to the
reference to the breach
breach of
of

contract,
contract, according to the
according to the laws of Britannula;
of Britannula
but that
but that Jack's
Jack's party
party disregarded
disregarded altogether.
altogether.

In
In telling
telling this,
this, ho,vever,
however, II anI
am advancing aa
little
little beyond the
the point
point in
in my story
story to
to which II

have as yet
have as yet carried
carried my reader.
reader.

Then there
there arose
arose a
a debate
debate upon the
the whole

principle of the
principle of the measure,
measure, which ,vas
was carried
carried

on with great
great 'varmth.
warmth. I,
I, as
as President,
President, of

course
course took no part
took no part in
in it;
it; but,
but, in
in accordance

with
with our constitution, II heard it
our constitution, it all
all from
from

the
the chair
chair \vhich
which II usually
usually occupied at
at the
92
92 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

Speaker's
Speaker's right
right hand.
hand. The
The arguments on
arguments on
which the
which the greatest
greatest stress
stress was
was laid
laid tended
tended to
to
sho,v that
show that the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period had
had been
been carried
carried
chiefly with
chiefly ,vith aa vie,v to
view to relieving
relieving the
the miseries
miseries of
of
the old.
the old. it was
And it ,vas conclusively
conclusively shown that,
that,
in aa very
in very great
great majority
majority of
of cases,
cases, life beyond
life

sixty -eight
sixty -eight ,vas
was all vanity
all vanity and vexation
vexation of
of
spirit.
spirit. That other
That other argument as
as to
to the
the costli-
costli-

ness of
ness of old
old men to
to the
the state ,vas for
state was for the
the present
present
dropped.
dropped. listened to
Had you listened to young Grundle,
insisting ,vith
insisting all the
with all the vehemence of
of youth on

the
the absolute
absolute \vretchedness
wretchedness to
to which the
the aged
had been
been condemned by the
the absence of
of any

such law,-had
such law, —
had you heard the
the miseries
miseries of
of

rheumatism,
rheumatism, gout,
gout, stone,
stone, and general
general debility
debility

pictured
pictured in
in the
the eloquent
eloquent ,vords
words of
of five-and-
five-and-

—
twenty,-you
twenty, you ,vould
would have felt
felt that
that all
all ,vho
who
could
could lend
lend then1selves
themselves to
to perpetuate
perpetuate such aa

state
state of
of things
things must be
be guilty
guilty of
of fiendish
fiendish

cruelty.
cruelty. He really
really rose
rose to
to a
a great
great height of
of

parliamentary
parliamentary excellence,
excellence, and
and altogether
altogether carried
carried

with him the

,vith the younger,
younger, and
and luckily
luckily the
the greater,
greater.
 JACK NEVERBEND. 93
93

part
part of
of the
the House. There was really
really nothing
to
to be said on
be said on the
the other
other side,
side, except
except a
a repetition
repetition

of
of the
the prejudices
prejudices of
of the
the Old World.
World. But,
But, alas!
alas!

so
so strong
strong are
are the
the weaknesses of
of the
the world,
world, that
that

prejudice can
prejudice can always vanquish truth
truth by the
the

mere strength
strength of
of its
its battalions.
battalions. Not till
till it
it

had been proved and re-proved

re-proved ten
ten times
times over,
over,

was it
it understood
understood that
that the
the sun could
could not
not have

stood
stood still
still upon Gideon.
Gideon. Crasweller, who 'was
Cl'asweller, was
aa member, and who took
took his
his seat
seat during
during these
these

debates
debates 'without
without venturing
venturing to
to speak,
speak, merely

whispered to
to his that the
his neighbour that the heartless
heartless

greedy fellow
fellow was unwilling
unwilling to
to wait
wait for
for the
the

wools of
wools of Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch.

Three divisions
divisions were made on the
the debate,
debate,

and thrice
thrice did
did the Fixed-Periodists
Fixed-Periodists beat
beat the
the

old party by aa nlujority

majority of
of fifteen
fifteen in
in a
a House

consisting of
of eighty-five
eighty-five members.
members. So
So strong
strong

feeling in
was the feeling in the
the enlpire,
empire, that
that only
only two

members were absent.,

absent, and the
the number re-
re-

mained the
the same during
during the
the whole
whole week of
of

the debate.
debate. This,
This, II did think, was aa triumph;
did think, triumph;
94 THE FIXED PERIOD.

and II felt
felt that
that the
the old
old country,
country, \vhich
which had
really
really nothing
nothing on earth to do
earth to do \vith
with the
the matter,
matter,

could
could not
not interfere
interfere \vith
with an opinion
opinion expressed
expressed

so
so strongly.
strongly. My heart
1\1:y heart throbbed \vith
with pleasure-
pleasure-

able as II heard that

able emotion as that old
old age,
age, \vhich
which
II ·was
was myself approaching,
approaching, depicted
depicted in terms
in terms

which made its

its impotence truly
truly conspIcuoUS,
conspicuous,

— till II felt
-till felt that,
that, had it
it been proposed to
to

deposit
deposit all
all of us ·who
of us who had reached the
the age
age of
of

fifty-eight, II really
fifty-eight, really think that II should
think that joyfully
should joyfully

given my assent
have given assent to
to such
such a
a measure,
measure, and

ha ve \valked
have walked off
off at
at once
once and deposited
deposited myself
myself

in
in the
the college.
college.

But it
it \vas
was only at
at such that II \vas
such moments that was
allowed
allowed to
to experience
experience this
this feeling
feeling of triumph.
of triumph.

II \vas
was encountered
encountered not
not only
only in
in my own house

but in
in society
society generally,
generally, and on the
the very
very

streets
streets of Gladstonopolis, by the
of Gladstonopolis, the expression
expression of
of

an opinion
opinion that
that Crasweller
Crasweller would not
not be Illade
made
to
to retire to the
retire to the college
college at his Fixed Period.
at his Period.

""\Vhat
" What on
on earth
earth is
is there
there to it ? " II said
hinder it?"
to hinder said

once
once to
to myoId
my old friend
friend Ruggles.
Euggles. Ruggles
Euggles was
 "

JACK NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVERBEND. 95
95

now
now somewhat
somewliat over
over sixty,
sixty, and
and was
was an
an agent
agent

in
in the town
town for
for country
country wool-growers.
wool-growers. He
took
took no part
part in
in politics;
politics; and
and though
though he
he had

never agreed to the principle

agreed to principle of
of the
the Fixed
Fixed
Period,
Period, had not interested
interested himself
himself in
in opposi-
opposi-

tion
tion to
to it.
it. He was aa man whom II regarded
regarded

as
as indifferent
indifferent to
to length of
of life,
life, but
but one
one who

would, upon the

the whole, rather
rather face
face such
such lot
lot as
as

Nature might intend for

for him,
him, than
than seek
seek to
to

improve it
it by any ne\v
new reform.
reform.

"Eva Cras\veller
Crasweller \vill
will hinder it,"
it," said
said Rug-
Eug-
gles.
gles.

"" Eva is
is a mere child.
child. Do you suppose that
suppose that

her opinion
her opinion will
will be
be allowed
allowed to
to interrupt
interrupt the
the
laws of
laws of the
the whole community,
community, and oppose
oppose the
the
progress of
progress of civilisation
civilisation?? "
"Her
" feelinO's
Her feelings
b will"
will,"
' said Euggles.
said RuO'O'les
bb • " Who's
" "'\Vho's
to stand
to stand aa daughter
daughter interceding
interceding for
for the
the life
life
of her
of her father?"
father?"
One man cannot,
"One
''
cannot, but
but eighty-five
eighty-five can
can do
do
so."
so.

"The eighty-five
''The eighty-five will
will be
be to
to the
the community
community
96
96 THE FIXED PERIOD.

just
just the one
what the one would
\vould be
be to
to the
the eighty-five.
eighty-five.
rI am not
not saying anything
saying anything about
about your law.
law. II
aln not
am not expressing
expressing an
an opinion
opinion whether
\v hether it
it would
be good
be good or
or bad.
bad. I should
I should like
like to
to live
live out
out my
own tilne, though II acknowledge
o\vn time, acknowledge that
that you
Assembly men
Assembly nlen have
have on your
your shoulders
shoulders the
the
responsibility of
responsibility of deciding whether II shall
deciding whether shall do
do
so or
so not.
or not. could lead
You could lead me away and de-
de-

posit
posit without any
me without any trouble, because II anl
trouble, because am
not popular.
not popular. the people
But the people are to
are beginning to

talk about
talk about Eva Cras\veller
Crasweller and Abraham Grun-

dle, and II tell

dIe, tell you that
that all the volunteers
all the volunteers you
have in
have in Britannula
Britannula will not
will not suffice to take
suffice to take the
the
old
old man to the college,
to the college, and to
to keep hinl
him there
there

till you have polished

till you polished hinl
him off.
off. He would be
deposited again at
deposited again at Little
Little Christchurch in
in

triumph,
triumph, and the
the college
college would be left
left a
a

\vreck
wreck behind hin1."
him."

This of the
This view of the case
case was peculiarly
peculiarly dis-
dis-

tressing to me.
tressing to me. As the
the chief
chief magistrate of
of

the
the community, nothing is
is so
so abhorrent to
to

me as
as rebellion.
rebellion. Of aa populace that
that are
are not
not
 JACK NEVERBEND. 97
97

law - abiding, nothing

law-abiding, nothing but
but evil
evil be pre-
can be pre-
dicted;; whereas
dicted whereas aa people
people will obey the
who will the
laws cannot
laws but be
cannot but be prosperous.
prosperous. It grieved
It grieved
greatly to
me greatly to be
be told that the
told that the inhabitants
inhabitants of
of
Gladstonopolis would rise
Gladstonopolis rise in tumult and de-
in tumult de-
stroy the
stroy the college
college merely
merely to
to favour
favour the
the views
views
of aa pretty
of pretty girl.
girl. Was there
"Was there any honour,
honour, or
or
worse again,
worse again, could
could there
there be
be any utility, in
utility, in

being the
being the President
President of
of a
a republic
republic in
in which

such things could

such things could happen? II left my friend
left lny friend

Ruggles in
Euggles the
in the street,
street, and passed
passed on to
to the
the
executive hall In
executive hall in a very painful
a very painful frame of
of

nlind.
mind.

When there,
there, tidings
tidings reached
reached me of
of a
a much

sadder
sadder nature.
nature. At the
the very
very moment at
at ,vhich
which
II had been
been talking
talking with Euggles in
with Ruggles in the street
street

on the
on the subject,
subject, a
a meeting had been held in
in

the
the nlarket-place
market-place with
with the
the express
express purpose of

putting
putting down the
the Fixed
Fixed Period;
Period and ,vho
who had
;

been the
the chief
chief orator
orator on
on the occasion but Jack
the occasion

Neverbend!
Neverbend ! My o,vn
own son
son had taken upon

himself
himself this
this new work of
of public
public speechifying

VOL. 1.
I. G
98
98 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEEIOD.

in
in direct
direct opposition
opposition to
to his
his o,vn
own father!
father ! And
II had reason
reason to
to believe
believe that
that he 'vas
was instigated
insticjated

to
to do so
so by Illy
my o\vn
own "rife!
wife ! "Your
" Your son,
son, SIr,
sir,

has been addressing

addressing the
the Inultitude
multitude about
about the
the

Fixed Period,
Period, and they say that
they say that it
it has
has been

quite beautiful to
quite beautiful to hear
hear hinl."
him." It
It was thus
thus

that
that the
the nlatter
matter ,vas
was told
told me by one
one of
of the
the

clerks
clerks in my office,
in nly office, and I
I o,vn
own that
that II did
did

recei ve SOl11e
receive some slight
slight pleasure
pleasure at
at finding
finding that
that

.Jack could
Jack could do
do sonlething
something beyond cricket.
cricket. But
it
it became ilnmediately
immediately necessary to take
necessary to take steps
steps

to stop the
to stop the evil,
evil, and I
I ,vas
was the
the n10re
more bound to
to

do so
so because
because the
the only
only delinquent
delinquent named to
to

111e
me was my o\vn
own son.
son.

"If
" If it
it be
be so,"
so," II said
said aloud
aloud in
in the
the office,
office,

""Jack
Jack N everbelld shall
Neverbend shall sleep
sleep this
this night in
in

prison."
prison." But it
it did
did not
not occur
occur to
to me at
at the
the

moment that
Inoment that it
it ,vould
would be
be necessary
necessary II should
should

have fOrInal
formal evidence
evidence that
that Jack ,vas
was conspiring
conspiring

against
against the
the la\vs
laws before
before II could
could send him to
to

jail.
jail. II had no
no nlore
more po,ver over him in
power over in that
that

respect than on
respect than on anyone
any one else.
else. Had II declared
 "

JACK NEVEKBEND.
NEVERBEND. 99
99

that he
that he should
should be
be sent
sent to
to bed
beel without
without his
his
-supper, I should
-supper, I should have expressed
expressed myself
nlyself better
better
both as
both as aa father
father and
and aa magistrate.
magistrate.
I
I went home,
went home, and
and on
on entering the house
entering the house the
the
first person
first person that
that II saw was
\vas Eva.
Eva. N O\V, as
Now, as
this matter
this nlatter \vent
went I
011, I
on, full of
became full \vrath
of wrath

with
with nly son,
my son, and
and with
with my
nly wife,
\vife, and with
with
poor old
poor old Crasweller
Crasweller; but
but II never
; never could
could bring
bring
11lyself
myself to be angry
to be angry with
\vith Eva.
Eva. There was aa
coaxing, s\veet,
coaxing, sweet, feluinine
feminine \yay with
way \vith her
her which
\vhich
overcame
overcame all
all opposition.
opposition. And II had already
already

begun to
begun to regard
regard her as my daughter-in-la\v,
her as daughter-in-law, and

to love
to love her
her dearly
dearly in that position,
in that position, although

there
there were moments in
were mon1ents in which Jack's
Jack's impudence

and ne\v
new spirit
spirit of
of opposition
opposition almost tempted

me to
to disinherit
disinherit hirn.
him.

"Eva," II said,
said, "what IS
is this
this that
that II hear

of
of a
a public meeting in
public llleeting in the
the streets
streets 1
?
"
"Oh, Mr N everbend," she
Neverbend," she said,
said, taking me

by the
the anu,
arm, "there
"there are
are only
only a
a fe\v
few boys \v
whoho
are
are talking
talking about
about papa."
papa." Through all
all the

noises
noises and tUDlults
tumults of
of these
these times
times there
there \yas
was
 " —

100
100 THE FIXED PERIOD.

an evident
an evident determination
detel'lnination to
to of Jack as
speak of as
a boy.
a boy. Everything that
Everything that he
he did
did and all that
all that
he said
he said were
,vere merely
nlerely the
the efflux of
efflux of his
his high
high

spirits as a schoolboy.
spirits as a schoolboy. of
Eva always spoke of
as aa kind
him as kind of
of younger
younger brother.
brother. And yet
yet
II soon
soon found
found that
that the one opponent whom
the one \vhom II
had most
had Illost to
to fear
fear in Britannula was my own
in Britannula

son.
son.

"But
(C why," II asked,
But why," asked, "should these
these foolish
foolish

boys discuss
boys the serious
discuss the serious question respecting
question respecting

your dear
your dear father
father in the public
in the public street?"
street ?

"
(C They don't
don't ,vant to have
want to have him —
him-deposited,"
deposited,"

she said,
she said, almost
almost sobbing
sobbing as
as she
she spoke.
spoke.

"
cc But,
But, Illy dear," II began,
my dear," began, determined to
to teach

her
her the
the whole theory
theory of
of the
the Fixed Period
Period ,vith
with

all
all its
its advantages
advantages fronl
from first
first to
to last.
last.

But she
she interrupted
interrupted me at
at once.
once. "
(C Oh,, 1\11'
Oh Mr
Neverbend, II kno,v,vhat
Neverbend, know what aa good thing
thing it
it is-
is

to
to talk
talk about.
about. II have no doubt the
the ,vorld
world 'will
will

be aa great
great deal
deal the
the better
better for
for it.
it. And if
if all
all

the
the papas
papas had been deposited
deposited for
for the
the last
last five
five
~
years, II don't
hundred years, that IT should
don't suppose that
 ;

JACK NEVERBEND. 101

101

care
care so
so much
mucli about it.
it. But to
to be the
the first
first

that ever
that ever it
it happened to
to In
in all
all the
the ,vorld!
world 1

Why should
vVhy should papa be the
the first
first ?
? You ought
to
to begin
begin with
with some weak, crotchety,
crotchety, poor old
old

cripple,
cripple, ,vho
who ,vould
would be
be a
a great
great deal better out
deal better out

of
of the
the ,yay.
way. But papa is
is in
in excellent
excellent health,
health,

and has
has all
all his
his ,vits
wits about him a
a great
great deal
deal

better
better than Mr Grundle.
Grundle. He manages every-
every-

thing at
thing at Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch, and manages it
it

very
very well."
well/'

"But, my dear--"
dear " II ,vas
was gOIng
going to
to ex-
ex-

plain
plain to
to her
her that
that in
in a
a question
question of
of such
such enor-
enor-

mous public
public interest
interest as
as this of the
this of the Fixed

Period it
Period it was impossible
impossible to
to consider
consider the
the

merits of
merits of individual
individual cases.
cases. But she
she interrup-
interrup-

ted
ted me again before II could
again before Ioget out
could'^get out a
a word.
word.

"Oh,
" Oh, Mr N everbend, they'll
N'everbend, they'll never
never be able
able

to
to do
do it,
it, and I'm afraid
afraid that
that then you'll
you'll be
be

vexed."
vexed."
" My dear, "
"My dear, if
if the
the law be--"
be

"" Oh yes,
yes, the
the la,v
law is
is a
a very beautiful thing
very beautiful thing;
but what's the
but what's the good of
of laws
laws if they cannot be
if they be
102 THE FIXED PERIOD.

carried
carried out?
out ? There's
There's Jack there
there ;-of —
of course
; course

he is
is only a boy, but
a boy, but he swears
swears that
that all
all the
the

executive,
executive, and all
all the
the Assmnbly,
Assembly, and all
all the
the

volunteers
volunteers in
in Britannula,
Britannula, shan't
shan't lead my papa
lead nly

into
into that
that beastly
beastly college."
college."

"" Beastly!
Beastly ! My dear,
l\'Iy dear, you cannot have seen
seen

the
the college.
college. It
It is
is perfectly
perfectly beautifu1."
beautiful."

"That's
"That's only
only ,vhat
what Jack says.
says. It's
It's Jack that
that

calls
calls it
it beastly.
beastly. Of course
course he's
he's not
not lnnch
much of
of

aa man as
as yet,
yet, but he is
is your o,vn
own son.
son. And
II do think, that for
think, that for an earnest
earnest spirit
spirit about a
a

thing. Jack is
thing, is a
a very
very fine
fine fello,v."
fellow."

"Abrahaln
"Abraham Grundle,
Grundle, you know, IS
is just as
just as

\varIn
warm on the
the other
other side."
side."

"I
" I hate
hate Abrahalll
Abraham Grundle.
Grundle. II don't
don't ,vant
want
ever
ever to
to hear
hear his
his nan1e
name agaIn.
again. II understand
very
very ,veIl
well what it
it is
is that
that Abrahanl
Abraham Gru11dle
Grundle is
is

after.
after. He never cared
cared astra 'v for
a straw for 111e;
me nor II ;

11luch
much for
for hiln,
him, if
if you conle to that."
come to that."

"But
" But you are
are contracted."
contracted."

"If
If you think
''
think that
that II an1
am going to
to marry a
a

n1an
man because
because our nan1es have been written
our names written do\vn
down
 NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVEEBEND. 103
103

In aa book
in book together,
together, you are
are very
very mIS-
much mis-
taken.
taken. is aa nasty
He is fellow, and II will
nasty mean fellow, 'will
never speak
never speak to
to him again
again as
as long as II
long as live.
live.

,vould deposit
He would deposit papa
papa this
this very
very moment if
if he
he
had the
had the power.
power. \Vhereas Jack is
Whereas is determined
deternlined to
to
stand for him as
stand up for as long as he
long as he has
has got
got aa tongue
tongue
to shout
to shout or
or hands to
hands to fight."
fight." These ,vere
These were terrible
terrible

words, but II had heard

\vords, but heard the
the same
sanle sentiment
sentiment
nlyself from Jack's
myself Jack's own lips.
lips. "Of
" Of course Jack
course Jack

is nothing to
is nothing to me,"
me," she
she continued,
continued, ,vith that half
with that half
sob which had become habitual
sob habitual to her when-
to her

ever
ever she \vas forced
she was to speak of
forced to her father's
of her father's

deposition.
deposition. "He is
is only a boy, but
a boy, bnt we all
all

know that he could

that he thrash Abrahanl
could thrash Abraham Grundle
at
at once.
once. And to
to my thinking he is
is much

more fit
fit to
to be
be a of the
a member of the Assernbly."
Assembly."

As she
she ,vould
would not
not hear
hear a
a \vord that II said
word that said

to
to her,
her, and \vas
was only
only intent
intent on expressing
expressing the
the

warmth of
of her feelings, II allowed her to
her own feelings, to

go
go her
her ,vay,
way, and retired
retired to
to the
the privacy
privacy of
of my

o\,yn
own library.
library. There II endeavoured to
to console
console

nlyself
myself as best II nlight
as best might by thinking of
of the
the
104 THE FIXED PERIOD.

brilliant
brilliant nature
nature of
of Jack's
Jack's prospects.
prospects. He him-
him-
self
self ,vas
was over ears in
over head and ears in love
love ,vith
with Eva,
Eva,

and it
it was clear
clear to
to me that
that Eva ,vas
was nearly
nearly as
as

fond
fond of
of him.
him. And then the
the sly
sly rogue
rogue had

found the
the certain
certain ,vay
way to
to obtain
obtain old
old Cras-
Cras-

,veller's
weller's consent.
consent. Grundle had thought
thought that
that

if
if he could once see
see his
his father-in-Ia,v
father-in-law deposited,
deposited,

he ,vould
would have nothing to
to do
do but
but to
to walk into
into

Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch as
as nlaster.
master. That ,vas
was the
the

accusation
accusation generally
generally made against
against him in
in Glad-
Glad-

stonopolis.
stonopolis. But Jack,
Jack, ,vho
who did
did not.,
not, as
as far
far as
as

II could
could see,
see, care
care a
a straw'
straw for
for hunlanity
humanity in
in the
the

matter, vehemently taken the

matter, had vehenlently the side
side of
of the
the

Anti-Fixed-Periodists
Anti-Fixed-Periodists as
as the
the safest
safest way to
to get
get

the
the father's
father's consent.
consent. There was aa contract
contract of
of

marriage,
marriage, no doubt,
doubt, and Grundle ,vould
would be
be

entitled
entitled to
to take
take a
a quarter
quarter of the father's
of the father's pos-
pos-

sessions if
sessions if he could
could prove that the
prove that the contract
contract had

been broken.
broken. Such ,vas
was the
the la,v
law of
of Britannula
Britannula

on the
the subject.
subject. But not aa shilling
shilling had as
as yet
yet

been claimed by any man under that

that la w.
law.

And Crasweller
Crasweller no doubt concluded that
that Grun-
 JACK NEVERBEND.
NEVER BEND. 105
105

dIe
die would be
would be unwilling
un\villing to
to bear
bear the
the odium
odiunl of
of
being the
being the first.
first. there were
And there were clauses
clauses in
in the
the
law which
law \vhich would
would make it very
it very difficult
difficult for
for
him to
him to prove
prove the
the validity
validity of the contract.
of the contract. It
It

had been
been already
already asserted
asserted by many
luany that
that aa girl
girl
could not
could not be
be expected
expected to
to marry the
the 'v ho
man who
had endeavoured
had endeavoured to
to destroy
destroy her
her father;
father; and
although in
although in there could
my mind there could be
be no
no doubt
that
that Abraham Grundle had only done his
his duty

as
as a
a senator, there ,vas
senator, there was no knowing what
\v hat view
vie\v
of the
of the case
case a jury might
a jury take in
take in Gladston-

opolis.
opolis. then, if
And then, the \vorst
if the worst came to
to the
the
worst,
worst, Crasweller \vould resign
Crasweller would resign aa fourth
fourth of
of

his
his property
property almost without aa pang, and
almost without

Jack would content

content himself
himself in
in making the

meanness of
of Grundle conspicuous
conspicuous to
to his
his fel-
fel-

lo\v-citizens.
low-citizens.

And now II must confess

confess that,
that, as
as II sat
sat alone
alone

in
in my library,
library, II did
did hesitate
hesitate for
for an hour as
as

to
to my future
future conduct.
conduct. Might it
it not
not be better
better

for
for me to
to abandon altogether
altogether the
the Fixed Period

and all
all its
its glories?
glories ? Even in
in Britannula the
lOG
lOG THE FIXED PERIOD.

,vorId mioht
world nlight be
be too
too stroma
strong for
for n1e.
me. Should

I not
I not take the
take the good things
good things that
that were offered,
offered,

and allow
and Jack to
allow Jack to marry his
his wife
,vife and be
be
in his
happy in his own way?
'vay? In
In my
nly very
very heart
heart
II loved
loved him
hilu quite
quite as
as well
,vell as
as did
did his
his mother,
mother,
and thought that
and thought that he
he was the
the finest
finest young
fellow that Britannula
fello\v that Britannula produced.
had produced. And if
if
this
this kind of
kind of thing
thing went on,
Oll, it might
it Iuight be
be that
that
II should be chi
should be ven to
driven to quarrel
quarrel ,vith hilU alto-
with him alto-

gether,
gether, and to
to have
have him
hinl punished
punished under the
the
la,v,
law, like
like sonle
some old ROlllan of
old Eoman of olel.
old. And II lunst
must
confess that
confess that l11Y relations with
my relations with 1\1rs N everbend
Mrs Neverbend
Iuade very unfit
made me very unfit to
to ape the Eoman
ape the pate1'-
Ronlan fater-
ja1nili as.
familias. She never
never interfered
interfered ,vith public
with public

business, but
business, but she
she had a
a ,vay
way of
of talking
talking about

household
household matters
matters in
in which she
she ,vas
was always
victorious.
victorious. Looking
Lookincj back as
as II did at
at this
this

monlent
moment on
on the past, it
the past, it seem ed to
seemed to me that
that she

and Jack,
Jack, ·who
who were the
the two persons
persons II loved

hest
best in
in the
the ,Yorld,
world, had been the
the enemies ,vho
who
had always
always successfully
successfully conspired
conspired against
against me.

"" Do have
have done
done ,yith
with your Fixed Period and
 JACK NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVERBEND. 107
107

nonsense," she
nonsense," she had
had said
said to
to me only
me only yesterday.
yesterday.
"It's all
"It's all very
very well
,veIl for
for the
the Assembly; but
Assembly; but
\vhen you
when you come
come to
to killing poor Mr
killing poor 1\lr Crasweller
Crasweller
in real
in real life, it
life, it is
is quite
quite out
out of
of the
the question."
question."
And then,
And then, when
,vhen II began
began to
to explain
explain to
to her
her at
at
length the
length the immense
immense importance
importance of
of the
the subject,
subject,
she only
she only remarked
renlarked that
that that
that would do
do very
very
'veIl for
well for the
the Assembly.
Assembly. Should
Should I
I it
abandon it

all, take
all, take the
the good
good things
things with
\vith which
,vhich God had
had
provided me,
provided me, and
and retire
retire into private
into private life?1
life I
I

had t\VO sides

had two to my
sides to nly character,
character, and cou1d
could see
see

myself
myself sitting
sitting in
in luxurious
luxurious comfort anlidst the
amidst the

furniture
furniture of
of Crasweller's
Crasweller's verandah while Eva

and
and her
her children
children \vere
were around,
around, and Jack was

standing
standing with
with aa cigar
cigar in
in his
his mouth outside lay-

ing
ing down
down the
the la\v
law for
for the
the cricketers
cricketers at
at Glad-
Glad-

stonopolis.
stonopolis. Were not
""Were not better
better done
done as
as others
others

use,"
use," II said
said to
to nl'yself
myself over
over and
and over
over again
again as
as II

sat
sat there
there wearied
wearied with
with this
this contest,
contest, and
and thinking
thinking

of the
of the much
much l110re
more frightful
frightful agony
agony II should
should be
be

called
called upon
upon to
to endure
endure ,vhen
when the
the time
time had
had ac-
ac-

tually
tually come
come for
for the
the departure
departure of
of old
old Crasweller.
Crasweller.
108
108 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

And then
then again
again if
if II should fail!
fail ! For half
half

an
an hour or
or so
so II did
did fear
fear that
that II should
should fail.
fail. II
had been always aa most popular
popular magistrate,
magistrate,

but no'w,
now, it
it seemed,
seemed, had come the
the time
time in
in

,vhich
which all my popularity
all nly popularity must be
be abandoned.
abandoned.

Jack, who ,vas

was quick enough at
at understanding
understanding

the
the aspect of
of things,
things, had already
already begun to
to ask
ask

the people ,vhether

whether they ,voulel
would see
see their
their old
old

friend Crasweller murdered in

in cold
cold blood.
blood. It
It

,vas
Avas a
a dreadful ,vord,
word, but II was assured
assured that
that

he had used it.

it. How ,vonld
Ho,v would it
it be
be when the
the

time even for

for depositing
depositing had COIne,
come, and an

attempt was made to

to lead
lead the
the old
old man up

the streets
through the streets of
of Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis ?? Should
I have strength
strength of
of character
character to
to perform the
perfonn the
task in
task in opposition
opposition to
to the
the loudly expressed
loudly expressed
,vishes of
wishes of the
the inhabitants,
inhabitants, and
and to
to march
nlarch him
hinl
along protected by aa strong
along protected strong body of
of volunteers?
volunteers?
,vould it
And how would it be
be if
if the
the volunteers
volunteers them-
them-
selves refused
selves refused to
to act
act on the
on the side
side of
of law
law and
and
order?
order? Should I
I not absolutely
not absolutely fail; and
fail; and
,vould it
would it not
not afterwards
after,vards be
be told
told of
of me
111e that.
that,
 !

JACK NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVEEBEND. 109
109

as
as President,
President, II had
had broken
broken do,vn
down in
in an
an attempt
attempt

to
to carry
carry out
out the
the project
project with
with which my name
which my name
had
had been
been so
so long
long associated
associated 1
?

As
As II sat
sat there alone II had
there alone had ahnost
almost determined
determined

to
to yield.
yield. But suddenly there
there came upon me

memory of Socrates,
a Inemory Socrates, of
of Galileo,
Galileo, of
of Hampden,

and
and of
of 'Vashington.
Washington. 'Vhat
What great
great things
things had

these men done by constancy, in

in opposition
opposition to
to

the wills and prejudices of

of the
the outside
outside 'world
world !
How triumphant they no,v
Ho,v now appeared
appeared to
to have
have
been in fighting against the
the enornlOUS
enormous odds
odds

'v hich power

which po,ver had brought against then1!
against them ! .And
And
how pleasant
pleasant now were
,vere the
the very
very sounds
sounds of
of
their
their to all
names to all who
,vho loved
loved their
their fellow-
fello,v-
creatures!
creatures 1 In some moments of
of private
private

thought, anxious
thought, anxious as
as were no,v my
now nly own,
o,vn, they
they
too
too doubted.
must have doubted. They must have
have
asked themselves
asked the question,
themselves the question, whether
,vhether they
they
,vere strong
were strong enough
enough to
to carry
carry their
their great
great re-
re-
forms against
forms the world.
against the world. But in
But in these
these very
very
moments
moments the
the necessary
necessary strength
strength had
had been
been )
given to
given to them.
them. It
It must have
must have been t~at, when
been that, ,vhen

(
110
110 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEUIOD.

ahnost despairing,
almost despairing, they
they had been
been comforted
comforted
an inner
by an inner truth,
truth, and had been all
all but
but in-
in-
spired to
spired to trust
trust with
with confidence
confidence in
in their
their cause.
cause.
They,
They, too, had been
too, been weak,
weak, and had trembled,
trembled,
and had almost
and alnlost feared.
feared. they had found
But they
in their
in their hearts that
own hearts that on 'v hich they
which they could
could
rely.
rely. they been
Had they been less
less sorely pressed than
sorely pressed than
,vas II now at
was at this
this present
present moment
monlent?? not
Had not
they believed
they believed and trusted
trusted and been
been confident?
confident ?

As II thought
thought of
of it, I became a"ware
it, I that it
aware that it ,vas
was
not only
not only necessary
necessary for
for a
a nlan to
man to iluagine ne,v
imagine new

truths,
truths, but to
but to be
be able to endure,
able to endure, and to suffer,
to suffer,

and to
to bring to 11latnrity.
bring them to maturity. And how
often
often before a truth
before a truth ,vas
was brought to
to maturity

must it
it be
be necessary
necessary that
that he ,vho
who had imagined
it,
it, and seen
seen it,
it, and planned it,
it, must give
give his
his

very
very life
life for
for it,
it, and all
all in
in vain?
vain ? But not
not

perhaps
perhaps all
all in
in vain
vain as
as far
far as
as the
the ,vorlel
world ,vas
was
concerned; but only
concerned; only in
in vain
vain in
in regard
regard to
to the
the

feelings
feelings and kno\vledge
knowledge of
of the
the lnan
man himself.
himself.

In struggling
struggling for
for the
the ,velfare
welfare of
of his
his fellow-
fellow-

creatures, a man must dare

creatures, a dare to
to endure to
to be
be
 JACK NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVERBEND. III
Ill

—
obliterated,
- must
obliterated, must be
be content
content to go go down
down to

unheard — or, worse

unheard of,- of, \vorse still, ridiculed, and
or, still,andridiculed,

perhaps abused
perhaps — in order
by all,-in
abused by order that
all, that some-
some-
thing afterwards
thing after,vards Inay remain
may remain of
of those
those changes
changes
which he
which he has
has been
been enabled
enabled to
to see, but not
see, but not to
to
carry out.
carry out. things are
How many things are requisite
requisite to
to
true greatness!
true greatness! But,
But, first of
first of all,
all, is
is required
required
that self-negation
that self-negation w^hich
,vhich is able
is able to
to plan
plan new
blessings, although
blessings, although certain that those
certain that those blessings
blessings
'v ill be
will be accounted
accounted as
as curses
curses the world
by the ,vorld at
at
large.
large.

Then II got
Then got up, as II ,valked
up, and as walked about the

room II declared
room declared to
to myself aloud my purpose.

Though II might
Though might perish
perish in
in the attempt, II ,vouid
the attempt, would
certainly
certainly endeavour
endeavour to carry out the
to carry the doctrine

of the Fixed
of the Fixed Period.
Period. Though the
the people might

be
be against
against me,
me, and regard
regard nle as their
me as their enemy,

—
-that
that people
people for
for ,vhose welfare IT had done
whose ,velfare
it
it all,
all, -—still II would
still w^ould persevere,
persevere, even
even though
though

II might
might be
be destined
destined to
to fall
fall in
in the
the attenlpt.
attempt.

Though
Though the
the wife
wife of my bosom
of my bosom and
and the
the son
son

of
of my
my loins
loins should
should turn
turn against
against 111e,
me, and
and em-
em-
112
112 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

bitter
bitter Iny last
my last moments
11loments by their
their enmity,
ennlity, still
still
,vould II persevere.
would persevere. 'Vhen they
When they came to
to speak
speak
of the
of the vices
vices and the
the virtues
virtues of
of President
President Never-
N ever-
bend, —
bend,-to
to tell of his weakness
tell of his weakness and his
his strength,
strength,
—
-it should
itshould never be
never be said
said of
of him that
that he
he had
been deterred
been fear of
deterred by fear of the
the people
people from
frorn car-
car-

rying out
rying out the
the great he had pro-
great measure which he pro-
j ected solely
jected solely for
for their
their benefit.
benefit.
Comforted by this resolve, II ,vent
this resolve, went into
into Mrs

N everbend's parlour,
Neverbend's parlour, 'v here II found her
where her son
son

Jack
Jack sitting with her.
sitting with her. They had evidently
evidently

been talking
been talking about Jack's speech in
about Jack's the mar-
in the

ket-place;
ket-place ; and II could see that the
see that the young
orator's bro,Y ,vas
orator's brow was still
still flushed
flushed ,yith
with the
the tri-
tri-

umph of
of the
the nlonlent.
moment. "Father,"
" Father," said
said he,
he, im-
im-

mediately, "you
mediately, " you will
will never be able
able to
to deposit
deposit

old
old Cras,veller.
Crasweller. won't let
People won't let you do it."
it."

"The people
people of Britannula," II said,
of Britannula," said, "will

never
never interfere
interfere to
to prevent their
their magistrate

frorn acting in
from acting in accordance
accordance with the
the la\y."
law."

"" Bother!
Bother "" said
said Mrs N
! everbend.
Neverbend. When my
,vife
wife said"
said " bother,"
bother," it was, II ,vas
it 'vas, was aware, of
of no
 JACK NEVERBEND. 113

use to
use to argue
argue with her.
her. Indeed,
Indeed, Mrs N ever-
Never-

bend is
is a
a lady whom
lady upon whonl argument is
is for
for

the
the most part
part thrown away. She forms her
her

opinion
opinion from the
the things
things around her,
her, and is,
is,

in
in regard
regard to
to domestic
domestic life,
life, and to
to her
her neigh-
neigh-

bours, to the
bours, and to the conduct of
of people
people with whom
she
she lives,
lives, almost
almost invariably
invariably right.
right. She has aa
quick
quick insight,
insight, and an
an affectionate
affectionate heart,
heart, which

together
together keep her
her from going astray.
astray. She
knows ho\v to do good,
how to good, and when to
to do
do it.
it.

But to
to abstract
abstract argument,
argument, and to
to political
political

truth,
truth, she
she is
is \vilfully
wilfully blind.
blind. II felt
felt it
it to
to be
be

necessary that
necessary that II should
should select this opportunity
select this opportunity

for making Jack understand that

for that II would not
not

fear
fear his opposition but II own that
his opposition; ; that II could
could

have wished that

tliat Mrs Neverbend had not
not

been present
present on the
the occasion.
occasion.

"Won't they?" said

said Jack.
Jack. "That's just
"That's just

\v hat II fancy
what fancy they
they \vill
will do."
do."

"Do you mean to

to say
say that
that it
it is
is what you

·wish do, — that

to do,-
wish them to that you think
think it right that
it right that
"
they
they should
should do it
it ?
? "

VOL. 1.
I. H
H
114:
114 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEKIOD.

"I
" I don't
don't think Crasweller
Crasweller ought to
to be depos-
depos-

ited, if
ited, if yon
you mean that,
that, father."
father."

"N ot though
" Not though the
the law requires
requires it?"
it " ?
This
This II

said
said in
in a
a tone
tone of
of authority.
authority. "" Have you formed
any idea
idea in
in your own 11lind
mind ofof the
the subjection
subjection

to the
to the law 'which
which is
is deluallded
demanded fronl
from all
all good

citizens?
citizens ? Have you ever
ever bethought yourself
yourself
"
that the
that the la,v
law should be in
in all
all things--"
things

"Oh,
" Oh, 1\1:r
Mr President,
President, pray
pray do
do not
not make a
a

speech
speech here," said my ,vife.
here," said wife. "I
" I shall
shall never
never

understand
understand it,
it, and I
I do not think that
that Jack

is
is luuch
much ,viser
wiser than II am."
am."

"I
" I do
do not kno\v ,vhat
not know what you nlean
mean by aa speech,
speech,

Sarah."
Sarah." My ,yife's
nfy wife's nanle
name is
is Sarah.
Sarah. "" But it
it is
is

necessary that
necessary that Jack should be instructed
instructed that
that

he,
he, at
at any rate,
rate, n1ust
must obey the
the lu,v.
law. He is
is my

son,
son, and,
and, as
as such,
such, it
it is
is essentially
essentially necessary
necessary

that
that he should be anlenable
amenable to
to it.
it. The la,v
law
"
demands--"
demands
"" You ca~'t do
can't it,
it, and there's
there's an end of
of it,"
it,"

said
said nIl's
Mrs Never bend.
Neverbend. "" You and all
all your laws

,vill
will never
never be
be able
able to
to put an end to
to poor
poor nfr
Mr
 "

NEVERBEND.
JACK NEVEKBEND. 115
115

Crasweller,-and
Crasweller, and — it would
it 'would be
be aa great
great shame
shan1e
if you
if you did.
did. don't see
You don't see it;
it; but
but the
the feeling
feeling
here in
here in the
the city
city is becoming very
is very strong.
strong. The
people won't
people won't have
have it; and II must say
it ; say that
that it
it
is only
is only rational
rational that
that Jack should
should be
be on
on the
the
same side.
side. is aa man now,
He is now, and has
has aa right
right
to his own opinion
to his opinion as
as well
'well as
as another."
another."
" Jack," said I,
" Jack," said I, with
'with much solemnity, ""do
n1uch solemnity, do

you value
you value your
your father's blessing 1
father's blessing ?
"
"" 'V ell; sir,
Well; yes," said
sir, yes," he.
said he. " A blessing,
"A blessing, II
suppose, Ineans
suppose, means something of
of an allo\vance paid
allowance paid

quarterly."
quarterly."

I turned
I turned away my
n1y face that he
face that he might not
not
see
see the
the smile
smile \vhich
which II felt
felt \vas
was involuntarily
involuntarily

creeping
creeping across
across it.
it. "Sir,"
" Sir," said
said I,
I, "a
" a father's
father's

blessing has much more than a

blessing has a pecuniary

value.
value. It
It includes
includes that
that kind of
of relation
relation be-
be-

t\veen
tween aa parent
parent and his
his son
son \vithout
without 'which
which life
life

\vould
would be
be a
a burden to
to n1e,
me, and,
and, II should
should think,
think,

very
very grievous
grievous to
to you also."
also."

"Of
" Of course
course II hope that
that you and II n1ay
may
al ways be
always be on good terms."
terms."
116
116 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

II ,vas obliged
was obliged to
to take
take this
this admission
admission for
for
,vhat it
what it was
,vas worth.
'vorth. "If
''If to remain
you wish to l'enlain
on good
on good terms
ternlS with
,vith me,"
me," said I, "you must
said I,
not oppose
not oppose in public
me in public when
,vhen II am
alll acting
acting
as aa public
as public magistrate."
magistrate."
"Is he
"Is he to
to see
see Crasweller murdered be-
Mr Crasweller be-
fore his
fore his very
very eyes,
eyes, to say
and to say nothing
nothing about
about
it ??"" said
it said 1\1:rs N everbend.
Mrs Neverbend.
all terms
Of all terms in
in the
the language
language there
there was
,vas none
so offensive to
so offensive to me
l1le as that odious
as that ,vord when
odious word ,vhen
used in
used reference to
in reference to the
the ceremony which II
had intended
had intended to be so
to be so gracious
gracious and alluring.
alluring.

"" Sarah , ;, said

Sarah," said II,
' turnin
turning
b 0' upon her
her in
in my an bO'er ,
anger,

"that
" that is
is a
a very
very improper \vord,
word, and one which

you
you should
should not
not tempt the
the boy to
to use,
use, especially
especially

in
in l1ly
my presence."
presence."

""English
English is
is English,
English, Mr President,"
President," sshe
be
said.
said. She ahvays called n1e
always called me "l\1:r
"Mr President"
\v hen she
when she intended
intended to
to oppose nle.
me.

""You
You nlight
might as
as ,veIl say that
well say that a
a lllan
man 'vas
was
lllurdered
murdered ,vhen —
is — killed in
when he is-is-killed
is in battle."
battle."

II had been
been about
about to
to say
say ccexecuted," but II
"executed,"
 JACK NEVERBEND. 117

stopped
stopped myself.
myself. l\ien
Men are
are not executed in
in

Britannula.
Britannula.

No.
""No. He is
is fighting
fighting his
his country's
country's battle
battle

and dies
dies gloriously."
gloriously."

"He
" He has
has his
his leg
leg shot
shot off,
off, or
or his
his arm, and

is
is too
too frequently
frequently left
left to
to perish
perish miserably on

the
the ground.
ground. Here every
every comfort
comfort will
will be pro-
pro-

vided
vided for him, so
for hinl, so that
that he
he may depart
depart from

this
this world \vithout
without a pang, when, in
a pang, in the
the course
course

of
of years,
years, he shall lived beyond the
shall have lived the period
period

at
at \vhich
which he can
can \vork
work and be
be useful."
useful."

"But
*'But look at
at Mr Cras,veller,
Crasweller, father.
father. Who
'Vho
"
is
is more useful
useful than he is
is ?
? "

Nothing had been more unlucky to

to me as
as

the of the
the promoter of the Fixed Period
Period than the
the

peculiar
peculiar healthiness
healthiness and general
general sanity
sanity of
of him

\v
whoho \vas
was by chance to
to be
be our
our first
first martyr.
martyr.

It
It might have been possible
possible to
to make Jack

understand that
that a
a rule
rule which had been
been found

to
to be
be applicable
applicable to
to the world at
the \vorld at large
large \vas
was not
not

fitted
fitted for
for some peculiar individual, but
peculiar individual, but it
it ,vas
was
quite impossible to
to bring
bring this to the
this home to the
118 THE FIXED PEnIOD.
PERIOD.

lllind
mind ofof IVTrs
Mrs N everbend.
Neverbend. II lllust,
must, II felt,
felt,

choose
choose sonle
some other
other opportunity
opportunity for
for expounding

that
that side
side of
of the
the argument.
arcjument. II \vould
would at
at the

present
present mOlllent take aa leaf
moment take leaf out
out of
of my wife's
wife's

book and go
go straight
straight to my purpose.
to Dly purpose. "I
" I tell
tell

you \vhat
what it
it is,
is, young man," said
said I;
I "II do
;
''

not intend
intend to
to be th\varted
thwarted by you in
in carry-
carry-

ing
ins^ Oll the great
on the sjreat reform to which II have de-
reform to de-

voted my life.
voted Iny life. If
If yon
you cannot hold your tongue
at
at the
the present nloment, and abstain
present moment, abstain froln
from mak-

ing public
public addresses
addresses in
in the market-place, you
the market-place,

shall
shall go
go out
out of
of Britannula.
Britannula. It
It is
is \vell
well that
that

you should
should travel
travel and see
see son1ething
something of
of the
the

\vorld
world before
before you conlInence
commence the
the trade
trade of
of pu b-
pub-

lic
lic orator.
orator. N O\V II think
Now think of
of it,
it, the
the Alpine

Club fro111
from Sydney are
are to
to be
be in
in N e"\v Zealand
ISTew

this
this sununer,
summer, and it
it will
will suit
suit yon
you very 'well
well

to
to go
go and clilYlb
climb up l\1:ount
Mount Earnsha\ve
Earnshawe and
see
see all
all the
the beauties
beauties of
of nature
nature instead
instead of
of talk-
talk-

ing here in
ing nonsense here in Gladstonopolis."
Gladstonopolis."

"Oh,
" Oh, father,
father, II should like
like nothing
nothing better,"
better,"

cried
cried Jack,
Jack, enthusiastically.
enthusiastically.
 "

JACK NEVERBEND. 119

"" Nonsense,"
ISTonsense," said
said Mrs N everbend; "are
ISTeverbend
;
" are you

going
going to
to send the poor boy to
to break his
his neck

among the
the glaciers?
glaciers ? Don't you remember
that
that Dick Ardwinkle 'was
was lost
lost there
there a
a year
year

or
or two ago,
ago, and came to
to his death in
his death in a
a most

frightful
frightful manner?"
manner ?
"That \vas
was before
before II \yas
was born,"
born/' said
said Jack,
Jack,

"or
" or at
at any rate
rate very shortly
shortly afterwards.
afterwards. And
they hadn't then invented the
the ne\v
new patent
patent

steel
steel climbing arms.
arms. Since
Since they came up,
up,

no one has ever

ever been lost the glaciers."
lost among the glaciers."

"You
" You had better
better prepare then to
to go,"
go," said
said

I, thinking that the idea

I, thinking idea of
of getting
getting rid
rid of
of

Jack in this
this manner was very
very happy.
happy.
"But, father,"
father," said he, "of course
said he, course II can't
can't

stir
stir a step till
till after the great
after the great cricket-match.
cricket-match.""
"You must give up
np cricket
cricket for this time.
for this time.
So good an opportunity
opportunity for
for visiting
visiting the
the N e\y
New
Zealand mountains
Zealand nlay never
may never come
conle again."
again."
the match
"Give up the V he
nlatch !" he exclaimed.
exclaimed. "Why,
"'\Vhy,
the English
the English sixteen
sixteen are
are coming
conling here
here on
on pur-
pur-
pose to
pose to play
play us,
us, and swear that
that they'll
they'll beat
beat
120
120 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

us by
ITSby means of
of the
the new catapult.
catapult. But II
But

kno\v that
know that our
our steam
steam-bowler ,vill beat
-bowler will beat their
their
catapult hollow.
catapult hollow. rate II cannot
At any rate cannot stir
stir
from here
from here t.ill after
till after the
the match
nlatch is
is over.
over. I've
I've

got to
got to arrange
arrange everything
everything myself.
myself. Besides,
Besides,

they do
they do count
count something
something on my
Illy spring-bat-
spring-bat-
ting.
ting. I
I should be
should be regarded
regarded as
as absolutely
absolutely aa
traitor to
traitor to my country if II were
country if \vere to
to leave Brit-
leave Brit-

annula ,vhile this

annula while this is
is going on.
going on. The young
Marquis of
Marquis of l\1arylebone, their
Marylebone, their leader,
leader, is
is to
to

stay
stay at
at our house; and the
our house the vessel
; vessel bringing
bringing
will be
them will due here
be due here about eleven
eleven o'clock
o'clock

next
next "\Vednesday."
Wednesday."
"Eleven o'clock
o'clock next
next "\Vednesday,'" said I,
Wednesday," said I,

in
in surprise.
surprise. II had not
not as
as yet
yet heard of
of this
this

match,
match, nor
nor of
of the
the conling
coming of
of our
our aristocratic
aristocratic

visitor.
visitor.

"They \von't
won't be above
above thirty
thirty minutes late
late

at
at the
the outside.
outside. They left
left the
the Land's
Land's End

three
three \veeks
weeks ago
ago last
last Tuesday at
at two,
two, and

London at
at half-past
half-past ten.
ten. We have had three
'Ve three

or
or four ,vater
water telegranls
telegrams fronl
from them since
since they
they
 JACK NEVERBEND. 121
121

started,
started, and they hadn't then lost
lost ten
ten minutes
minutes
on the
the journey.
journey. Of course be at
course II must be at home

to
to receive
receive the Marquis of
of Marylebone."

All this
this set
set me thinking about many things.
things.

It
It was true
true that
that at
at such a
a moment II could
could

not
not use
use my parental
parental authority to send Jack
authority to

out of
of the island.
island. To such an extent
extent had

the
the childish
childish amusen1ents
amusements of
of youth been carried,
carried,

as
as to
to give to
to them all
all the importance of
of politics
politics

and social
social science.
science. 'Vhat
What II had heard about
about

this cricket-match had gone in

this in at
at one
one ear
ear and

come out at
at the other;
other but now that
; that it
it 'was
was
brought honle
home to
to me, II was aware that
that all
all

my
n1y authority ,vould
would not serve to banish
serve to banish Jack
Jack
till it ,vas
till it was over.
over. Not only ,vould he not
would he not obey
obey
me, but he ,vould be supported in
would be in his dis-
his dis-

obedience by even the

obedience the elders
elders of
of the
the community.

perhaps the
But perhaps the worst
\vorst feature
feature of
of it
it all
all was
,vas
the arrival
the arrival just
just at Gladstonopolis
now at Gladstonopolis of
of aa
cro\vd of
crowd of educated Englishmen.
EnglisIllnen. When
'Vhen II say
say
educated II
educated prejudiced.
mean prejudiced. be
They would be
Englishmen with no ideas
\vith no ideas beyond those
those cur-
cur-
122 THE FIXED PERIOD.
TIlE

rent
rent In
in the
the last
last century,
century, and ,yould
would be
be alto-
alto-

gether
cjether deaf
deaf to
to the
tlie ,yisdol1l
wisdom of of the
the Fixed Period.
Period.

II sa,v
saw at
at a
a glance that II l1lust
glance that must wait
wait till
till they

should have taken

taken their
their departure,
departure, and post-
post-

pone all
all further
further discussion
discussion on the
the subject
subject as
as

far
far as
as might be possible
possible till
till Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis

should
should have been left to her natural
left to natural quiescence
quiescence

after the disturbance

after the disturbance of the cricket.
of the cricket. "" ,Tery
Very
'veIl," said I,
well," said I, leaving
leaving the
the room. "Then
" Then it
it

nlay
may come to
to pass
pass that
that you ,yill
will never be
never be

able to visit
able to visit the
the ,vonderflil
wonderful glories
glories of
of l\fount
Mount
Earnsha,ve."
Earnshawe."

"Plenty of
of time for
for that,"
that," said
said Jack, as II
Jack, as

shut the door.

shut the door.
 123
123

CHAPTER V.
V.

THE CRICKET-MATCH.
CRICKET-M A TCH.

I HAD
I been of
been of late
late so
so absorbed
absorbed in
in the
the affairs
affairs

of the
of the Fixed
Fixed Period, that II
Period, that had altogether for-
altogether for-

gotten the cricket-match

gotten the cricket-match and the
the noble
noble strangers
who 'were
were about to COlne
about to to our shores.
come to shores. Of
course
course II had
had heard of it
heard of it before,
before, and had been

informed
informed that
that Lord Mary lebone \vas
Marylebone was to
to be onr
our

guest.
guest. II had
had probably
probably also
also been told
told that
that Sir
Sir

Lords
Lords Longstop
Longstop and Sir
Sir l{ennington
Kennington Oval ,vere
were

to
to be entertained at
be entertained at Little
Little Christchurch. But
hen I 'vas
when I
\V was reminded of
of this
this by Jack a few'
few

days
days later,
later, it
it had quite
quite gone
gone out
out of my head.
of my

But
But II no,Y
now at
at once
once began
began to
to recognise
recognise the
the im-
im-

portance
portance of
of the
the occasion,
occasion, and
and to see that
to see that for
for

the
the next
next two
two months
months Cras,veller,
Crasweller, the
the college,
college,
 124:
124 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

and
and the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period must
must be
be banished,
banished, if
if not
not

from my thoughts, at
from my at any
any rate
rate from
from my
my tongue.
tongue.

Better could
could not be done in
be done in the
the matter
matter than
than

to
to have them banished from
from the
the tongue
tongue of
of all
all

the
the \vorld,
world, as
as IT certainly
certainly should
should not
not be
be anxious
anxious

to
to have the subject
subject ventilated
ventilated within
within hearing
hearing

of the cro,vd
and speaking of crowd of
of thoroughly
thoroughly old-
old-

fashioned, prej udiced, aristocratic

prejudiced, aristocratic young Eng-
Eng-
lishmen who were coming to
to us.
us. The cricket-
cricket-

match :.sprang
=;prang ttoo the
the front
front so
so suddenly,
suddenly, that
that

ack seelned
Jack
.T seemed to
to have forgotten
forgotten all
all his
his energy
energy

respecting the college,

respecting college, and to
to have transferred
transferred
his entire
his entire attention to the
attention to the various
various weapons,
weapons,
- offensive
offensive and defensive,
defensive, wherewith
,vherewith the
the London
club was,
ciub \Vas, possible, to
if possible,
if to be
be beaten.
beaten. We are
'Ve are
short of
never short of ^oney
..lJ.oney in
in Britannula
Britannula; but
but ; it
it

seeilled, as
seemed, as II watched
,vatched the
the various
various preparations
preparations
made for carrying
nlade for carrying on
on two
t·wo or
or three
three days'
days' play
play
at Little
at Little Christchurch,
Christchurch, that
that lllust be
England must be
out another
sending .out another army
arnlY to
to take
take another
another

Sebastopol.
Sebastopol. l\'Iore paraphernalia
More paraphernalia were
\vere required
required
to enable
to enable these
these thirty
thirty -two
-t,vo lads
lads to
to play
play their
their
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 125
125

with propriety
game with propriety than
than would have been
needed
needed for the depositing
for the depositing of half
of half Gladston-
Gladston-
opolis.
opolis. Every man from
Every from England had his
his
attendant to
attendant to look
look after
after his
his bats
bats and balls,
balls, and
shoes and
shoes and greaves
greaves; ; and it
and it was necessary,
necessary, of
of
course, that
course, that our
our boys
boys should
should be
be equally
equally well
well
served.
served. of them had
Each of had two
two bicycles
bicycles for
for his
his
o\vn use,
own use, and as
as they
they were
\vere all
all constructed
constructed with
\vith
the
the ne\v double-acting
new double-acting levers, they passed
levers, they passed back-
wards and forwards
wards forwards along the bicycle
along the bicycle track
track
between the
between the city
city and Cras'weller's house with
Crasweller's house \vith
astonishing rapidity.
astonishing rapidity. II used
used to
to hear
hear that
that the
the
six miles had been
six miles been done in
in fifteen minutes.
fifteen minutes.

Then there
there came a
a struggle \vith the
struggle with the English

and the
the Britannulists,
Britannulists, as to which \vould
as to w^ould get

the nearest
the nearest to
to fourteen
fourteen minutes;
minutes ; till
till it
it seenled
seemed

that
that bicycle-racing
bicycle-racing and not
not cricket
cricket had been

the
the purpose
purpose for
for w!lich
which the
the English had sent
sent

out
out the
the 4000-ton
4000-ton steam-yacht
steam-yacht at
at the
the expense

of all the
of all the cricketers
cricketers of
of the
the nation.
nation. It
It \vas
was on
this
this occasion
occasion that
that the
the track
track was first
first divided

for
for comers
comers and goers,
goers, and that
that volunteers
volunteers were
 !

126
126 FIXED PERIOD.
THE FIXED PERIOD.

set to
set to prevent
prevent stragglers
stragglers fronl crossing
from crossing except
except
by the
by the regular
regular bridges.
bridges. I found
I found that
that I, the
I, the
President of
President the Eepublic,
of the Republic, was
\vas actually
actually for-
for-
bidden to
bidden go down in
to go in my
Tny tricycle to my
tricycle to myoId
old

friend's
friend's house, unless
house, unless II would
\vould do
do so
so before
before
noon.
noon. "You'd
" be run
You'd be run over
over and made
Iuade mince-
11lince-
Ineat of,"
meat of," said
said Jack,
Jack, speaking
speaking of
of such
such aa catas-
catas-
trophe with
trophe \vith less
less horror
horror than
than II thought
thought it ought
it ought
to
to have
have engendered in
engendered in his
his youthful
youthful mind.

Poor Sir
Poor Sir Lords
Lords was
\vas run
run down by our
our Jack,
Jack,
—
-collided
collided as
as Jack called
called it.
it. "" He hadn't
hadn't quite
ilnpetus enough on to
impetus enough the turning sharp
to make the
as
as he ought," said Jack,
ought," said Jack, \vithout
without the
the slightest
slightest

apparent regret at
apparent regret at \vhat
what had occurred.
occurred. "Another

inch
inch and a
a half
half \vould
would have saved hilll.
him. If
If he

can
can touch
touch a
a ball
ball from our
our steam-bo\vler hen
when
steam-bowler \V

II send
send it,
it, I
I shall
shall think more of
of his
his arms than

II do
do of
of his
his legs,
legs, and 11lore
more ofof his
his eyes
eyes than II

do
do of
of his
his lungs.
luno-s. "\Vhat
What aa fellow
fellow to
to send out!
out

"\Vhy,
Why, he's
he's thirty,
thirty, and has
has been eating
eating soup,

they
they tell
tell me,
me, all
all through the
the journey."
journey." These
young men had brought
brought aa doctor
doctor \vith
with thenl,
them.
 THE CEICKET-MATCH.
THE CRICKET-MATCH. 127
127

Dr MacNuffery,
Dr l\iacN uffery, to
to prescribe
prescribe to
to them
thelll what
what to
to
eat
eat and drink
and at each
drink at each meal
lneal; and
and the
; the unfortun-
unfortun-
ate baronet
ate ba.r onet \v hom Jack had nearly
whom nearly slaughtered,
slaughtered,
had encountered
had encountered the
the ill-will
ill-will of
of the
the entire
entire club
club
because he
because he had called
called for
for mutton-broth
mutton-broth ,vhen
when
he was
he ,vas sea-sick.
sea-sick.

They were
They were to
to be in Britannula
be aa month in
'$
before they
before they would begin
begin the
the match,
match, so
so necessary
necessary
,vas it
was it that
that each
each man
luan should
should be
be in
in the
the best
best
possible physical
possible physical condition.
condition. They had brought
their
their Dr MacN uffery, and our
MacNuffery, our lads illlmediately
lads immediately

found
found the
the need
need of
of having a
a doctor
doctor of
of their
their o,vn.
own.

There was, II think,

There was, think, a
a little
little pretence
pretence in
in this,
this, as
as

though Dr Bobbs had b~en

though been a
a long-established

officer
officer of
of the
the Southern Cross
Cross cricket
cricket club,
club, they

had
had not
not in
in truth
truth thought
thought of
of it,
it, and Bobbs \vas
was
only appointed the
only appointed the night
night after
after IVlacNuffery's
MacNuffery's

position duties had been made known.

position and duties

Bobbs was aa young lnan

man just
just getting
getting into
into

practice
practice in
in Gladstonopolis,
Gladstonopolis, and understood

measles, II fancy,
measles, fancy, better
better than the
the training
training of
of

athletes.
athletes. l\facN uffery ,vas
MadSTuffery w^as the
the most disagree-
disagree-
128
128 THE FIXED PERIOD.

able
able nlan
man of
of the
the English party,
party, and soon began

to
to turn up his
his nose at
at Bobbs. But Bobbs, II
think,
think, got
got the
the better
better of
of him. "Do
" Do you allow
allow

coffee
coffee to club j-coffee?"
to your club —
coffee? " asked l\facN
;
uffery,
MacNuffery,

in
in a
a voice
voice nlingling
mingling ridicule
ridicule and reproof
reproof \vith
with

aa touch of
of satire, as he had begun to
satire, as to guess
guess

that
that Bo b bs had not
Bobbs not been 10llg
long attending
attending to
to his
his

present \vork.
work. "You'll
"You'll find,"
find," said
said Bobbs, "that
"that

young men in
in our air
air do not
not need the
the restraints
restraints

\v hich are
which are necessary
necessary to
to you English.
English. Their
fathers
fathers and nlothers
mothers \vere
were not
not soft
soft and flabby
flabby

before
before theIn,
them, as was the
as \vas the case
case with yours,
yours, II

think."
think." Lord l\1:arylebone
Marylebone looked
looked across the
across the

table, II
table, told, at
am told, at Sir
Sir ICenllington
Kennington Oval,
Oval, and

nothing afterwards
afterwards was said
said about
about diet.
diet.

But aa great trouble arose,

great trouble which, however,
arose, which, ho\vever,
rather assisted
rather assisted Jack in his
in his own prospects
prospects in
in

the long-run, —
the long-run,-though
though for a time
for a time it seemed to
it seemed to
another
have another effect..
effect. Sir
Sir Oval was
Kennington Oval \vas
struck by Eva's
much struck Eva's beauty,
beauty, and,
and, living
living as
as he
he
did in
did in Crasweller's
Crasweller's house,
house, soon
soon had an
an oppor-
oppor-
tunity of
tunity of so
so telling
telling her.
her. Grundle
Abraham Grundle
 THE CRICKET-MATCH.
CEICKET-MATCH. 129
129

\vas
was one of
of the
the cricketers,
cricketers, and,
and, as
as such,
sucli, \vas
was
frequently
frequently on the
the ground at
at Little
Little Christ-
Christ-

church;
church but he did
; did not
not at
at present
present go
go into
into

Crasweller's
Crasweller's house,
house, and the
the \vhole
whole fashionable
fashionable

community of
of Gladstonoplis
Gladstonoplis \vas
was beginning to
to

entertain
entertain the
the opinion
opinion that
that that
that match \vas
was off.
off.

Grundle had been heard to

to declare nlost authol'-
declare most author-

itatively
itatively that
that \vhen
when the
the day came Crasweller
Crasweller

should
should be deposited, and had given
be deposited, given it
it as
as his
his

opinion that
opinion that the
the power did
did not
not exist
exist \vhich
which
could
could withstand
withstand the
the law of
of Britanl1ula.
Britannula. \Vhether
Whether
in
in this
this he preferred the la\v
preferred the to Eva,
law to Eva, or
or acted
acted in
in

anger against
against Cras\veller
Crasweller for
for interfering
interfering \yith
with

his prospects,
his prospects, or
or had an idea that it
idea that it \vould
would not
not

he \vorth
be worth his
his \v hile to
while to marry the
the girl
girl \y hile the
while the
girl's
girl's father
father should
should be left
left alive,
alive, or
or had grad-
grad-

ually fallen
ually fallen into this bitterness
into this bitterness of
of spirit
spirit from

the
the opposition
opposition shown to
to him,
him, II could
could not
not quite
quite

tell.
tell. And he \vas
was quite
quite as
as hostile
hostile to
to Jack as
as

to
to Cras\veller.
Crasweller. But he
he seemed to
to entertain
entertain no

aversion at
aversion at all
all to
to Sir
Sir I{.ennington
Kennington Oval; nor,
Oval nor, ;

II \vas
was infornled,
informed, did
did Eva.
Eva. II had
had known that
that

VOL. 1.
I. II
130 THE FIXED PERIOD.

for
for the
the last
last llionth
moiitli Jack's
Jack's lnother
mother had been
instant
instant ,vith
with hiIn
him to
to induce
induce him to
to speak
speak out
out

to
to Eva;
Eva but
but he,
; he, who hardly
hardly allowed
allowed me, his
his

father,
father, to
to open nly
my mouth ,vithout
without contradict-
contradict-

ing
ing me,
me, and ,vho
who in
in our
our house
house ordered
ordered every-
every-

thing about
thing just as
about just though he were the
as though the master,
master,

was so
so bashful
bashful in
in the
the girl's
girl's presence
presence that
that be
he

had never as
as yet
yet asked her to be
her to be his
his wife.
wife. N o'v
]N"ow

Sir Kennington had COlne

Sir I{ennington come in
in his
his ,yay,
way, and he

by no means carried
carried his
his modesty so
so far
far as
as to
to

abstain
abstain froln
from quarrelling
quarrelling ,vith
with him.
him. Sir
Sir Ken-

nington ,vas
was aa good-looking
good-looking young aristocrat,
aristocrat,

,vith
with plenty
plenty of
of words,
words, but
but nothing
nothing special
special to
to

say for
for hilllself.
himself He ,vas
was conspicuous
conspicuous for
for his
his

cricketing
cricketing finery,
finery, and ,vhen
when got
got up to
to take
take his
his

place at
place at the
the ,vicket,
wicket, looked
looked like
like a
a diver
diver with

his
his diving-armour all on;
diving-armour all on but
but Jack said
; said that
that

he was very
he very little
little good at
at the
the game. Indeed,
Indeed,

for
for mere cricket Jack s,vore
cricket Jack swore that
that the
the English

,vould
would be
be "no,vhere
" nowhere "
" but
but for
for eight
eight professional
professional

players
players 'whonl they had brought out
whom they out with them.

It
It must be
be explained
explained that
that our
our club
club had no
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 131
131

professionals.
professionals. We not come to
\Ve had not to that
that yet,
yet,
—
-that a man should
that a should earn
earn his
his bread
bread by playing
playing
cricket.
cricket. Lord Marylebone
Lord Mary lebone and his
his friend
friend had
brought with
brought with them eight
eight professional
professional "H slaves,"
slaves,"
as' our
as our canle to
young men came to call
call them, —
them,-most
most

ungraciously.
ungraciously. each "slave"
But each "slave" required
required as
as
much looking after as
looking after as did
did the
the masters,
masters, and
they thought
they thought aa great
great deal
deal more
nlore of
of themselves
themselves
than did
than the non-professionals.
did the non-professionals.

Jack had
Jack had in truth been
in truth been attempting
attempting to pass
to pass
Sir
Sir ICennington the bicycle
Kennington on the bicycle track
track when he
upset poor
had upset poor Sir
Sir Lords Longstop
Longstop; and,
and, ac-
;ac-

cording to his
cording to his o\vn
own sho\ving,
showing, he
he had more than
once
once allowed
allowed Sir
Sir I{ennington
Kennington to
to start
start in
in ad-
ad-

vance, and had run into

vance, into Little
Little Christchurch

bicycle
bicycle quay before
before him.
him. This
This had not
not given

rise to the
rise to the best
best feeling,
feeling, and I
I feared
feared lest
lest there
there

might be an absolute
absolute quarrel
quarrel before
before the
the match

should have been played.

played. "I'll
"I'll punch that
that

fellow's
fellow's head some of
of these
these days,"
days," Jack said
said

one evening 'v hen he came back from Little

when Little

Christch urc h.
Christchurch.
132
132 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"'Vhat's the nlatter

" What's the matter now?"
now ? " II asked.
asked.

"Ilnpudellt
" Impudent puppy!
puj^py ! He thinks
thmks because
because he
he

has got
got an unmeaning handle to
to his
his name, that
that

everybody is
is to
to come to
to his
his ·whistle.
whistle. They
tell 111e
tell me that
that his
his father
father was Dlade
made what they
call
call a
a baronet
baronet because
because he
he set
set a
a broken arln
arm for
for

one of
of those
those t\venty royal dukes that
twenty royal that England

has to pay for."

has to for."

" Who has had to

"'Vho to CODle
come to
to his
his 'v now ? ""
histle now?
whistle

asked his
his mother.
mother.

((" He went over

over ,vith
with his
his steam
steam curricle,
curricle, and

sent
sent to
to ask
ask Eva 'v hether she
whether she ,vould
would not
not take
take a
a

drive
drive with
with him on the
the cliffs."
cliffs."

"She needn't
needn't have gone unless
unless she
she "Tished
wished
it,"
it/' I
I said.
said.

"But
" But she
she did
did go;
go and there
; there she
she ,vas
was "Tith
with

hilll
him for
for a
a couple
couple of
of hours.
hours. He's
He's the
the 1110St
most
ulllneaning upstart
unmeaning upstart of
of a
a puppy II ever
ever met.
met.

He has
has not
not three
three ideas
ideas in
in the
the ,vorld.
world. II shall
shall

tell
tell Eva what I
I think
think about
about him."
him."

The quarrel
quarrel went on during the ,vhole
during the whole period
period

of
of preparation,
preparation, till
till it
it seenled
seemed as
as though Glad-
 THE CRICKET-MATCH.
THE CRICKET-MATCH. 133
133

stonopolis
stonopolis had
had nothing
nothing else
else to
to talk
talk about.
about.

was in
Eva's name ,vas in everyone's
every one's mouth,
mouth, till
till my

\vife
wife ,vas
was nearly beside
beside herself
herself \vith
with anger.
anger. "A
"A
girl,"
girl," said
said she,
she, "shouldn't
"shouldn't get
get herself
herself talked
talked

aabout in that way by everyone

bout ill every one all
all round.
round. II
don't suppose the man intends to
to marry her."
her."

"" II can't
can't see
see \v
why shouldn't," II replied.
hy he shouldn't," replied.

"She's nothing more to

to him than a
a pretty
pretty

provincial lass.
lass. What ,vauld
would she
she be
be in
in Lon-
Lon-
don?
don?""
"'Vhy Mr Cras,veller's
''Why should not 1\11' Crasweller's daughter
daughter

be as
be as much admired in
in London as here ? " II
as here?"

ans,vered.
answered. " Beauty is
" the same all
is the the "'orId
all the world

over,
over, her money will
and her ,vill be
be thought
thought of
of quite
quite
as
as much there as here."
there as here."
she will
"But she \vill have such
such aa spot
spot upon her."
her."
" Spot
" Spot! ! spot?? ""
What spot
the daughter of
"As the of the
the first
first deposited
deposited of
of
the Fixed Period
the people,-if
Period people, —
ever that
if ever that comes
comes
off.
off. if it
Or if it don't,
don't, she'll
she'll be
be talked
talked about
about as
as
her
her ·who was
who \vas to
to be.
be. I don't
I don't suppose
suppose any Eng-
any Eng-
Ijshman will
lishman think of
will think of marrying
marrying her."
her."
134
134 THE FIXED PERIOD.

This made
This nlade very angry.
me very angry. """\Vhat!"
What " II said.
said.
!

"Do you, BritannuIist and my wife,

you, aa Britannulist \vife, intend
intend
to turn the
to turn the special
special glory
glory of
of Britannula
DritannuIa to
to the
the
disgrace of
disgrace of her
her people
people?? \v hich we
That which \ve should
should
be ready
be Teady to
to claim as the
cIailll as the highest
highest honour,
honour,-as
as —
being an
being an advance
advance in
in progress
progress and general
general civil-
civil-
isation never
isation never hitherto
hitherto even thought of
of anl0ng
among
other people,-to
other people, — conceived that,
to have conceived that, and to
to
have prepared
have prepared it, in every
it, in detail for
every detail for perfect
perfect
consummation, —
consulnmation,-that
that is to be
is to be accounted
accounted as
as an

opprobriunl
opprobrium to our
to our children,
children, you, the
by you, the Lady
President of
President the Republic!
of the Eepublic ! Have you no love
love

of country,
of no patriotism,
country, no no feeling
patriotislll, no feeling at
at any

rate of
rate of \vhat
what has
has been done for
for the
the \vorld's
world's

\velfare by your
welfare o\vn
own falnily?"
family ? " II own II did
did

feel
feel vexed
vexed \vhen
when she
she spoke of
of Eva as
as having

been as
been as it
it \vere
were contaminated by being a
a Brit-
Brit-

annuIist,
annulist, because
because of
of the
the la\v
law enacting
enacting the
the Fixed

Period.
Period.

"She'd
" She'd better
better face
face it
it out
out at
at hOlne
home than go
across
across the
the world
world to
to hear
hear \v hat other
what other people
people say

of
of us.
us. It
It nlay
may be
be all
all very
very \vell
well as
as far
far as
as state
state
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 135
135

wisdom goes;
goes; but
but the
the world
world isn't
isn't ripe
ripe for
for it,
it,
and we shall
and shall only
only be
be laughed
laughed at."
at."
There was
There truth in
,vas truth in this, and aa certain
this, certain amount
of concession
of concession also been
had also been made. I can
I can fancy
fancy
that an
that an easy-going
easy-going butterfly
butterfly should laugh
laugh at
at
the painful
the painful industry
industry of
of the
the ant
ant; and II should
; should
think
think much of
of the
the butterfly
butterfly who
,vho should
should own
that he
that he was
,vas only
only aa butterfly
butterfly because
because it the
it was the

age of
age butterflies.
of butterflies. "The
"The few wise,"
wise," said I,
said I,

"have ever been the

ever been the laughing-stock
laughing-stock of
of silly
silly

crowds."
crowds."

"" But Eva isn't

isn't one of the w^ise,"
of the wise," she replied,
she replied,

"and
" and ,vould be laughed
would be laughed at
at ,vithout having any
without having

of your philosophy
of your philosophy to
to support
support her.
her. However,
II don't
don't suppose
suppose the
the man is
is thinking
thinking of
of it."
it."

But the
the young man ,vas
was thinking of
of it;
it and ;

had so
so far
far made up his
his mind before
before he ,,'ent
went
as
as to ask Eva to
to ask to marry him out
out of
of hand and

return with him to

return with to England.
England. We heard of
of it
it

'v hen the

when the time
time came,
came, and heard also
also that
that Eva

had declared
declared that
that she
she could
could not
not make up her

mind so
so quickly.
quickly. That
That ,vas
was ,vhat
what was said
said
13G
136 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

,v hen the
when the tinle
time drew
drew near
near for
for the
the departure
departure

of
of the
the yacht.
yacht. But
But ,ve
we did
did not
not hear
hear it
it direct
direct

fronl
from Eva, nor yet
yet from
from Crasweller.
Crasweller. All
All these
these

tidings
tidings came to us from Jack,
to us Jack, and Jack ,vas
was in
in

this
this instance some\v hat led
somewhat led astray.
astray.

Time passed on,

on, and the
the practice
practice on the
the little
little

Christchurch ground \vas

was continued.
continued. Several
Several

accidents happened, but the

the cricketers
cricketers took
took

very little
little account of
of these.
these. Jack had his
his

cheek cut open by aa ball

ball running off
off his
his bat
bat

on to
to his
his face;
face and Eva,
; Eva, ,vho
who sa\v
saw the
the accident,
accident,

,vas
was carried
carried fainting into the
fainting into the house.
house. Sir I{eu-
Sir Ken-

ningtoll behaved admirably,

nington admirably, and
and himself
himself brought
brought
in his
him home in his curricle.
curricle. We
"\Ve were
were told
told after-
after-
,yards that
wards that this
this done at
was done at Eva's
Eva's directions,
directions,
because old
because old Crasweller
Cras\veller would
,vould have
have been
been un-
un-
the boy in
comfortable with the
comfortable in his
his house,
house, seeing
seeing
that he could
that could not
not in
in his
his present
present circumstances
circumstances
receive
receive or my wife.
me or wife. lVII's Neverbend
Mrs N everbend swore
s,vore
aa solemn
solelnn oath
oath that
that Jack should
should be
be nlade to
made to
abandon his
abandon his cricket
cricket; but
but Jack
Jack was
; was playing
playing
again the next
again the next day,
day, with
\vith his
his face
faee strapped
strapped up
up
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 137
137

ath'wart and
athwart and across
across with
with republican
republican black-silk
black-silk
adhesive.
adhesive. \Vhen II saw Bobbs at
When at work over
over
him II thought
him thought that
that one
one side
side of
of his
his face
face was
'was
gone, and
gone, and that
that his
his eye would be
eye be dreadfully
dreadfully
out of
out of place.
place. "All his
his chance
chance of
of marrying
is gone,"
Eva is gone," said to my wife.
said II to ,vife. "The
" nasty
The nasty
little selfish slut!"
little selfish slut!" said
said Mrs Neverbend.
N everbend. But
at
at two the
two the next
next day
day Jack
Jack had been
been patched
patched
up, and nothing
up, nothing could keep
could keep hinl from Little
him Little
Christchurch.
Christchurch. Bobbs 'was
Bobbs was with him the
the whole
morning, and assured
morning, his mother
assured his nlother that
that if
if he

could
could go out and take
go out take exercise his eye ,vould
exercise his would
be
be all right.
all right. His mother
His mother offered
offered to take a
to take

walk with
with hinl
him in
in the
the city park; but Bobbs
city park ;

declared
declared that
that violent
violent exercise
exercise ,voulc1
would be neces-
neces-

sary
sary to
to keep
keep the
the eye
eye in
in its
its right
right place,
place, and

Jack \vas
was at
at Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch manipulating

his steam-bowler
his steam-bowler in
in the
the afternoon.
afternoon. Afterwards
Littlebat,
Littlebat, one of the
one of the English professionals,
professionals, had

his
his leg
leg broken,
broken, and ,vas
was necessarily
necessarily laid
laid on

one side;
one side and young Grundle ,vas
; was hurt on
the
the lower
lower part
part of
of the
the back,
back, and never
never sho\ved
showed
138 THE FIXED PERIOD.

hinlself
himself again on the
the scene
scene of
of danger.
danger. ""My
IVly
life
life is
is too
too precious
precious in
in the
the Ass81l1bly
Assembly just
just at
at

present,"
present," he said
said to
to me, excusing himself.
himself. He
alluded to
to the
the Fixed Period debate,
debate, \vhich
which he
kne,v
knew ,vould be renewed as
would be as soon
soon as
as the
the crick-
crick-

eters
eters ,vere
were gone.
gone. II no doubt depended very
very

much on Abraham Grundle, and assented.

llluch assented.

The "match
^match was afterwards
afterwards carried
carried on ,vith
with

fifteen
fifteen on each side;
side for
for though each
; each party
party

had spare
spare players,
players, they could not
not agree
agree as
as to
to

the
the use
use of
of them. Our next Inan
man ,vas
was better
better

than theirs,
theirs, they said,
said, and they ,vere
were anxious

that
that we should take
take our second
second best,
best, to
to which

our 111en
men ,vouId not agree.
would not agree. Therefore the gallle
Therefore the game
,vas
was ultilnately played with thirty
ultimately played thirty combatants.
combatants.

"So
" So one of
of our lot
lot is to come back for
is to for

aa ,vife
wife alnlost
almost imnlediately,"
immediately," said
said Lord 1\fary-
IMary-

lebone at
lebone at our table
table the
the day before
before the
the match
,vas to
was to be
be played.
played. . .

" Oh,
" Oh, indeed,
indeed, my lord
lord! "" said
!said 1\1rs N everbend.
Mrs Neverbend.
"I
" I am glad to
to find
find that
that aa Britannulan
Britannulan young
lady has
lady has been so
so effective.
effective. Who
'Vho is
is the
the gen-
gen-
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 139
139

tlemall
tleman ? ""
? It
It easy to
was easy see by my
to see nly wife's
'wife's
face, and
face, and to
to know by
by her
her tone
tone of
of voice,
voice, that
that
she was
she ,vas disturbed by the
much disturbed the news.
news.
"Sir }Cennington,"
''Sir said Lord Marylebone.
Kennington," said 1V1ary lebone.
"I supposed you had all
" I supposed all heard
heard of
of it."
it." Of
course
course ,ve had all
we all heard
heard of it j but
of it; but Lord
Marylebone
Marylebone did
did not
not kno,v what
know \vhat had been
been
N everbend's wishes
Mrs Neverbend's ,vishes for
for her
her own
o\vn son.
son.

ee'Ve
"We did kno\v that
did know that Sir
Sir }{ennington
Kennington had
been very
been very attentive, but there
attentive, but there is kno,ving
is no knowing

what that nleans

\vhut that means f1'On1
from you foreign
foreign gentlemen.
gentlemen.

It's
It's a pity that
a pity that poor
poor Eva,
Eva, who
\vho is
is a
a good girl
girl

in her way,
in her \vay, should have her
should have her head turned."
turned."
This
This canle
came fron1
from my ,vife.
wife.

"It's
" It's Oval's
Oval's head that
that is
is turned,"
turned," continued
continued

his lordship "I

his lordship; " I never sa\v
; saw aa man so
so bowled

over
over in
in my life.
life. He's
He's avvrfully
awfully inin love
love with
with
her."
her."

"'Vhat
" What \vill
will his
his friends
friends say
say at
at hon1e?"
home ? " asked
nil'S
Mrs N everbend.
Neverbend.

We understand that
"" tYe that Miss Crasweller
Crasweller is
is to
to

have aa large
lar^^e fortune;
fortune eight
eicfht or
or ten
;ten thousand
140
140 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

a- year at
a-year at the
the least.
least. I should
I should imagine that
imagine that she
she
will be
will be received
received with
\vith open arms
open anns by all the
all the
Ovals; and
Ovals and as
; as for
for aa foreigner,
foreigner,-we —
don't
we don't call
call

yon foreigners."
you foreigners."
" Why
" 'Vhy not
not?"
?
said I,
" said I, rather
rather anxious
anxious to
to prove
prove
that
that \ve were
we \vere foreigners.
foreigners. "'Vhat a
" What makes a

foreigner but aa different

foreigner but allegiance?
different allegiance? \ve
Do we
not call
not call the
the Americans
Anlericans foreigners
foreigners?"
?
" Great
Great

Britain
Britain and France had been
been for years engaged
for years

in the
in the great Inaritinle contest
great maritime with the
contest with the united
united
fleets
fleets of Russia and America,
of Eussia Anlerica, and had only
just
just 11lade that glorious
made that peace by which,
glorious peace which, as
as

politicians said,
politicians said, all the
all the \vorld \vas to
world was to be
be gov-
gov-

erned
erned for the future;
for the future; and after that, it
after that, it need

not be doubted but that

not that the
the Americans were
foreign
foreign to
to the
the English ;-and
;
—
and if
if the
the Americans,

not the
why not the Britannulists?
Britannulists ? We had separated
\Ve separated

ourselves fron1
ourselves from Great Britain,
Britain, \vithout
without coming

to
to blows indeed;
indeed but still
still our o\vn
; own flag,
flag, the
the

Cross, fle\v
Southern Cross, flew as
as proudly to
to our gentle
gentle

breezes
breezes as
as ever
ever had done the jack
the Union --jack

amidst the
the inclemency of
of a
a British
British \vinter.
winter. It
It
 " "

THE CRICKET-MATCH. 141

141

was the
was the flag
flag of
of Britannula,
Britannula, with
\vith which
,vhich Great
Great
Britain
Britain had
had no
no concern.
concern. At the
the present
present

mOlnent II was
moment \vas specially
specially anxious
anxious to
to hear
hear aa
distinguished Englishman like
distinguished like Lord Maryle-
Mary le-
bone
bone acknowledge that we
acknowledge that 'we were
\vere foreigners,
foreigners.

"If be not
" If we be not foreigners, \vhat are
foreigners, what \ve, my
are we,
lord? "
lord?"

"Englishmen, of
"Englishmen, of course,"
co urse," said
said he.
he. " "\Vhat
"What
else??
else Don't you talk
Don't talk English?"
English ?

"So do
do the Americans, my
the Anlericans, nly lor'
d," said
lord," said II,,

\vith aa snlile
with that 'was
smile that was intended to
to be
be gracious.
gracious.

"Our
" Our language
language is
is spreading
spreading itself
itself over the
the
world, and
world, is
is no
no sign
sign of
of nationality."
nationality."
"
"vVhat
" What la\vs
laws do
do you obey?"
obey ?

''English, —
"English,-till
till \ve
we choose
choose to
to repeal theni.
repeal them.

You are
are aware that
that 'we
we have already
already freed
freed our-
our-

selves
selves from the
the stain
stain of
of capital
capital punishnlent."
punishment."

"" Those coins pass in

coins pass in your market-places?
market-places ? "

Then he
he brought
brought out
out a
a gold
gold piece
piece from his
his

'waistcoat-pocket, slapped it
waistcoat-pocket, and slapped it down on the
the

table.
table. It
It \vas
was one
one of
of those
those pounds \V hich
which
the
the people
people \vill
will continue
continue to
to call
call sovereIgns,
sovereigns,
 "

142
142 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

although the
although the nalne has
name has been
been made
made actually
actually
illegal for
illeo-alfor the
the rendering
rendering of
of all accounts.
all accounts.
cc ,Vhose is
"Whose is this
this image
ilnage and
and superscription?"
superscription 1"
he asked.
he (( And yet
asked. "And yet this
this was
·was paid to me
paid to me
to-day at
to-day at one
one of
of your
your banks,
banks, and the
the lady
lady
cashier asked
cashier asked \y hether II would
me whether \vould take
take sov-
sov-
erelgns.
ereigns. Ho,v will
How \vill you get
get over that, Mr
over that, 1\11'
President ?1"
President

A small —numerically small,

people,-numerically
small people, — cannot
small,-cannot
of course
of course do
do everything
everything at once. We
at once. "\V e have
have
been aa
been little
little slack perhaps in instituting a
slack perhaps

national nlillt.
national mint. In fact
fact there
there was a difficulty
difficulty

about
about the
the utensil
utensil by which \ve have
we would have
clapped
clapped a
a Southern
Southern Oross
Cross over the British

arms, and put

arms, put the
the portrait
portrait of
of the Britannulan

President of the
President of —
the day,-nline
day, mine for instance, — in
for instance,-in

the
the place
place \yhere
where the
the face
face of
of the British mon-

arch
arch has
has hitherto
hitherto held
held its
its own. II have never
pushed
pushed the
the question
question much,
much, lest
lest II should
should seem,
seem,

as
as have
have done
done some
some presidents,
presidents, over
over anxious
anxious

to
to exhibit
exhibit Dlyself.
myself II have
have ever
ever thought
thought more
more
of
of the
the glory
glory of
of our race than
our race than of
of putting
putting for-
for-
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 143
143

,yard
ward my own individual
individual self,-as
self, —
as 111ay
may bebe

seen
seen by the
the whole history
history of
of the
the college.
college. "" II
will
will not
not attempt to
to get
get over it,"
it," I
I said;
said; "but

according to
to my ideas,
ideas, a nation does not
not de-
de-

pend on the
the small
small external
external accidents
accidents of
of its
its coin
coin

or
or its
its language."

"But on the
the flag
flag ,vhich
which it
it flies.
flies. After
After all,
all,

aa bit
bit of
of bunting is
is easy."
easy."

""Nor
Nor on its
its flag, Marylebone, but on
flag, Lord l\farylebone,

the hearts
hearts of
of its
its people.
people. We separated
'Ve separated from

the
the old
old mother count.ry
country ,vith
with no quarrel,
quarrel, ,vith
with
ill-will but with the
no ill-will;; the mutual friendly
friendly wishes
wishes

of both.
both. If there be aa trace
If there trace of
of the
the feeling
feeling of
of

antagonism in the word foreigners,

in the foreigners, I
I ,vill not
will not

use
use it;
it; but British
British subjects
subjects 'we
we are
are not,
not, and

never can be
never be again."
again." This II said
said because
because II

felt that there

felt that there 'was
was creeping up, as
creeping up, as it
it ,vere
were in
in

the very
the very atmosphere,
atmosphere, aa feeling
feeling that
that England
E ngland
should be
be again
again asked
asked to
to annex us,
us, so as to
so as to
save our
save our old
old people
people from
from the
the ,vise decision to
wise decision to
'v hich our
which our own Assembly had come.
come. for
Oh for
an adamantine law
la,v to
to protect
protect the
the human race
race
144
144 THE FIXED PERIOD.

from the
from the imbecility,
in1becility, the
the weakness,
weakness, the
the discon-
discon-
tent,
tent, the extravagance
and the extravagance of
of old
old age
age 1 Lord
!

Marylebone,
Marylebone, \vho saw
who that II was
sa'w that \vas in
in earnest,
earnest,
and who was the
and the most courteous
courteous of
of gentlemen,
gentlemen,
changed the
changed the conversation.
conversation. II had already
already ob-
0 b-

served that
served that he
he never
never spoke
spoke about
about the
the Fixed
Period in
Period in our house, though,
our house, though, in
in the
the condition
condition
in
in \vhich the
which the community
comnlunity then
then was,
was, he must
lllUSt
have heard
have heard it discussed elsewhere.
it discussed elsewhere.
The day for the lllatch
for the match had conle.
come. Jack's
Jack's

face \vas so
face was nearly healed
so nearly healed that
that Mrs
lVII's Neverbend
N everbend
had been brought
brought to
to believe
believe entirely
entirely in the
in the

efficacy
efficacy of
of violent
violent exercise
exercise for
for cuts
cuts and bruises.
bruises.
Grundle's
Grundle's back ,vas
was still
still bad, the pOOl'
bad, and the poor

fello\v
fellow ,vith the broken leg
with the leg could only be

\v heeled out
wheeled out in
in front
front of
of the
the verandah to
to look
look

at
at the
the proceedings
proceedings through one
one of
of those
those ,von-
won-
derful
derful little
little glasses
glasses ,vhich
which enable
enable the
the critic
critic

to
to see
see every Inotion
motion of
of the
the players
players at
at haIf-
half-

a-
a- mile's
mile's distance.
distance. He assured
assured 111e
me that
that the
the

precision
precision ,vith
with which Jack set
set his
his steanl-
steam-

to that
bowler was equal to that of
of one
one of
of those
those
 CRICKET-MATCH.
THE CEICKET-MATCH. 145
145

Shoeburyness gunners
Shoeburyness gunners 'who can
who can hit
hit aa sparrow
sparro\v
as far
as far as they can
as they can see
see him,
him, on condition
condition only
that they
that they the precise
know the precise age
age of
of the
the bird.
bird.
I gave
I gave Jack
Jack great
great credit in my
credit in nly own
o\vn mind,
rlli nc1 ,
because II
because felt that at
felt that at the
the moment
Dlonlent he was
\vas
much down at heart.
do\vn at heart. the preceding
On the preceding day
Sir
Sir I{ennington had been
Kennington been driving
driving Eva about
about
in his
in his curricle,
curricle, and Jack
and Jack had returned
returned home
tearing his
tearing his hair.
hair. "
cc They do it
it on purpose
purpose to
to
put him
put hiln off his play,"
off his play," said his mother.
said his nlother. But
if
if so, they hadn't
so, they hadn't, known Jack.
Jack. Nor indeed
had II quite
had quite kno\vn to this
known him up to this time.
time.
II \vas nlyself to
was bound myself to see the game, because
see the because
special tent
aa special tent and a
a special
special glass
glass had been

prepared
prepared for
for the
the President.
President. Crasweller
Crasweller \valked
walked
by as
as II took
took my place,
place, but
but he only
only shook
shook his
his

head sadly
sadly and was silent.
silent. It
It DO\V
now wanted
but
but four
four months to
to his
his deposition.
deposition. Though
there
there was a
a strong
strong party
party in
in his
his favour,
favour, II do

not kno\v
know that
that he
he meddled much \vith
with it.
it. II
did
did hear frol11
from different
different sources
sources that
that he still
still

continued
continued to assert that
to assert that he was only
only nIne
nine

VOL. I.
I. K
K
146
146 TIlE FIXED PERIOD.
THE

years
years senior, by wliicli
my senior, which lie
he intended
intended to
to gain
gain
the favour
the favour of
of aa postponement
postponement of
of his
his term
ternl by
twelve poor
twelve poor months;
months; but
but II do
do not
not think
think that
that
he ever
he ever lent
lent himself
hinlself to
to the
the other
other party.
party. Under
my auspices
auspices he had always
always voted
voted for
for the
the Fixed
Period, and
Period, and he
he could
could hardly
hardly oppose
oppose it ill
it now in

theory.
theory. tossed for
They tossed for the
the first
first innings,
innings, and
the English
the English club
club it.
,von it.
won It ,vas all
It was all England
against Britann ula ! Think of
against Britannula ! the population
of the population
of the two countries.
of the countries. We had,
'Ve however, been
had, however, been
taught
taught to
to believe
believe that
that no conlllunity
community ever
ever

played cricket
played cricket as
as did the Britannulans.
did the Britannulans. The
English went in
English ,vent in first, \vith the
first, with the two
bvo baronets
baronets
at the ,vickets.
at the wickets. They looked
looked like
like two sto~t
stout

Minervas ,vith
with huge wicker helnlets.
helmets. II know
aa picture
picture of the goddess,
of the goddess, all
all hehnet,
helmet, spear,
spear, and

petticoats,
petticoats, carrying
carrying her
her spear
spear over
over her shoulder

as
as she
she flies
flies through the
the air over the
air over the cities
cities of
of

the
the earth.
earth. Sir
Sir I(ennington
Kennington did
did not
not fly,
fly, but

in
in other
other respects
respects he was very like
like the goddess,

so
so completely
completely enveloped was he in his
his india-
india-

rubber guards, and so

rubber guards, so wonderful was the
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 147
147

n1achine upon his

machine his head,
head, by
by which
\vhich his brain
his brain
and features
and features were
'were to
to be
be protected.
protected.
he took
As he took his
his place
place upon the
the ground there
there
was great
was great cheerinsr.
cheering. the steam
Then the steam -- bowler
bowler
was ridden
was ridden into
into its p1ace by the
its place the attendant
attendant
engineer,
engineer, his work.
and Jack began his work. I could
I could
see the
see the colour
colour conle go in
come and go in his
his face
face as
as he
he
carefully placed
carefully placed the
the ball
ball and peeped
peeped to
down to
get its bearing.
get its bearing. It
It seemed to
to me as though
as though

he were
he \vere taking
taking infinite
infinite care to level
care to level it straight
it straight

and even
even at
at Sir
Sir I(ennington's head.
Kennington's head. II was
told afterwards
told that
afterwards that he never
he never 'looked
looked at
at Sir
Sir

ICennington) but that,

Kennington, but that, having
having calculated his
calculated his

distance
distance by nleans
means of
of a
a q uicksilver levelling-
quicksilver levelling-

glass,' his object

glasSjhis object was to throw the
to thro\v the ball
ball on a
a

certain
certain inch
inch of turf, from which it
of turf) it might shoot
shoot

into
into the
the wicket
wicket at
at such a
a degree
degree as
as to
to make it
it

very
very difficult
difficult for
for Sir
Sir I(ennington
Kennington to
to kno\v
know \vhat
what
to do
to do with it.
it. It
It seemed to
to me to
to take
take a
a long

tirne,
time, during
during which the
the fourteen
fourteen men around

all looked as
all looked as though each
each man \vere
were intending
intending

to
to hop off
off to
to some other
other spot
spot than that
that on
 !

148 THE FIXED PERIOD.

,vhich
which he
he was standing.
standing. There used,
used, II anI
am
told, to be
told, to be only
only eleven
eleven of
of these men but now,
these 1nen; ;

III a
in a great
great match,
match, the
the long-offs,
long-offs, and the long-
ons,
ons, and the
the rest
rest of
of them, are
are all
all doubled.

The dOll ble long

double long --off
off ,vas
was at
at such a
a distance
distance

that,
that, he being
being a
a snlall
small man, II could just
could only just

se!3
see hilll
him through the
the field-glass
field-glass ,vhich
which II kept
in my ,vaistcoat
in llly waistcoat --pocket.
pocket. 'Vhen
When II had been
looking
lookinfy hard at
at theln
them for
for what seemed to
to be
be a
a

quarter
quarter of
of an hour,
hour, and the
the men were apparently
apparently

becollling
becoming tired
tired of their continual
of their continual hop,
hop, and when

fJ aek had stooped

Jack stooped and kneeled
kneeled and spra,vled,
sprawled,

,vith
with one
one eye shut, in
eye shut, in every
every conceivable
conceivable attitude,
attitude,

on aa sudden there
there canle
came aa sharp
sharp snap,
snap, a
a little
little

smoke, and 10,

sllloke, lo. Sir
Sir I{ennington
Kennington Oval
Oval was--out!
was out

There was no doubt about it.

it. II myself
myself sa,v
saw
the
the bvo
two bails
bails fly
fly a,vay
away into
into infinite
infinite space,
space, and

at
at once there
there ,vas
was aa sound of
of kettle-drums,
kettle-drums,

trulnpets,
trumpets, fifes,
fifes, and clarionets.
clarionets. It
It seemed as
as

though all
all the
the loud
loud music of
of the
the to,YU
town band
had struck
struck up at the moment
at the monlent with their
their shrill-
shrill-

est
est notes.
notes. And aa huge guu
gun \vas
was let
let off.
off.
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 149

"'• And let

let the
the kettle
kettle to
to the trumpet speak,

The trnmpet
The trumpet to
to the
the cannoneer without,
The
The cannons
cannons toto the
the heavens,
heavens, the
the heavens to
to earth.
earth.

:N
Nowow drinks
drinks the
the king to
to Hamlet."

II could
could not
not but
but fancy,
fancy, at
at these
these great
great signs
signs of
of

success,
success, that
that II was Hamlet's father.
father.

Sir I{e~l1ingtol1
Sir Kennington Oval \vas
was out,-out
out, out at
at the —
very
very first
first ball.
ball. There could
could be no doubt about

it,
it, and Jack's
Jack's triumph was complete.
complete. It
It was

melancholy to
to see
see the
the English l\linerva,
Minerva, asas he

again
again shouldered
shouldered his
his spear
spear and \valked
walked back
to
to his
his tent.
tent. In spite
spite of
of J aek's good play,
Jack's play, and

the
the success
success on the
the part
part of
of my o\vn
own countrymen,
II could
could not
not but be
be sorry
sorry to
to think
think that
that the
the young

baronet
baronet had come half
half round the
the \vorld
world to
to be

put out
out at
at the
the first
first ball.
ball. There \vas
was aa cruelty
cruelty

in —
in it,-an
it, inhospitality, —
an inhospitality,-\vhich,
which, in
in spite
spite of the
of the

exigencies of the
exigencies of the game, went against
against the
the grain.
grain.

Then, when the

the shouting,
shouting, and the
the holloaing,
holloaing,

and the
the flinging
flinging up of
of the
the ball
ball "rere
were still
still going

on,
on, II r81nembered that, after
remembered that, after it,
it, he would have

his
his consolation
consolation \vith
with Eva.
Eva. And poor
poor Jack,
Jack,

\Vhell
when his
his short
short triumph was over,
over, \vould
would have
150 THE FIXED PERIOD.

to reflect that,
to reflect that, though fortunate
fortunate in
in his
his cricket,
cricket,

was unhappy in
he \vas in his
his love.
love. As this
this occurred

to me, II looked
to looked towards the
back towards the house,
house, and

there,
there, from aa little
little lattice window at
lattice \vindo,v at the
the end

of the
of the verandah,
verandah, II sa\v
saw aa lady's
lady's handkerchief

\VavIng.
waving. Could it
it be
be that
that Eva \vas
was ,vaving
waving it
it

so
so as
as to
to conlfort
comfort her
her vanquished British
British lover?
lover ?

In the
the nleantirne
meantime l\linerva
Minerva ,vent
went to
to his
his tent,
tent, and

hid
bid hinlself
himself alllong
among sympathetic friends;
friends and II
;

\vas
was told afterwards that
told afterwards he \vas
that be was allowed half aa
allowed balf

pint
pint of
of bitter
bitter beer
beer by Dr MacN uffery.
MacNuffery.

After twenty minutes

After spent in
nlinutes spent \vhat seemed
in what

to
to me the
the very
very ostentation
ostentation of
of success,
success, another

nlan
man \vas
was got
got to
to the
the ,vickets.
wickets. This
This ,vas
was
Stunlps,
Stumps, one
one of
of the
the 'professionals,
professionals, \vho
who \vas
was
not quite so
not quite so much like
like a
a l\linerva,
Minerva, though

he,
he, too,
too, was prodigiously
prodigiously greaved.
greaved. Jack again
again

set
set his
his ball,
ball, snap
snap went the
the rnachine,
machine, and

Stumps 'vriggled
wriggled his
his bat.
bat. lIe
He touched
touched the
the

ball, and away it

ball, it flew
flew behind the
the ,vicket.
wicket.

Five
Five republican
republican l\iillervas
Minervas ran after it
ran after it as
as fast
fast

as their
as their legs
legs could
could carry
carry thelll;
them and II ,vas
;was
 ;

THE CRICKET-MATCH.
THE CRICKET-MATCH. 151
151

told
told by
by aa gentleman
gentleman who
who sat
sat next
next to
to nle
me
scoring, that
scoring, that aa dozen
dozen, runs
runs had been made.
made.
He spent
spent aa great
great deal
deal of
of time in
in explaining
explaining

ho\v,
how, in
in the old tilnes,
times, more than six
six at
at a
a

tinle
time were never scored.
scored. N O\V all
ISTow all this
this was

altered.
altered. A slight
slight tip ever so
tip counted ever so much

1110re
more than a good forward blow,
blow, because
because the
the

ball went behind the wicket.

wicket. Up fie\v
flew on
on
all
all sides
sides of
of the
the ground figures
figures to
to sho\v
show that
that

Stumps had nlade

made aa dozen,
dozen, and two British
British

clarionets were blown \vith

with aa great
great deal
deal of
of

vIgour.
vigour. Stumps \vas
was aa thick-set,
thick-set, solid,
solid, solemn-
solemn-

looking man, who

\V ho had been
been ridiculed
ridiculed by our
our

side as
side as being too old
much too old for the game
for the game;
to think
but he seemed to think very
very little of
little of Jack's
Jack's
precise machine.
precise kept chopping
He kept chopping at
at the
the
ball, which
ball, \vhich always
ahvays went behind,
behind, till
till he
he had
had
nlade aa great
made great score.
score. It was
It \vas two hours before
t\VO hours before
Jack had sorely
Jack sorely lamed him
hinl in
in the
the hip,
hip, and
the umpire
the umpire had given
gIven it leg
it leg-before-\vicket
-before -wicket..

Indeed
Indeed it was
it \vas leg-before-wicket,
leg-before-\vicket, as
as the
the poor
poor
man
luan felt "Then he
felt when he w^as
\vas assisted
assisted back
back to
to his
his
 a

152
152 THE FIXED PERIOD.

tent.
tent. However, he
However, he had scored
scored 150.
150. Sir
Sir Lords
Lords

Longstop, too,
Longstop, too, had run
run up aa good
good score
score before
before
he was
he was caught
caught out the middle
out by the nliddle long-off,-a
long-off, —
marvellous catch
marvellous catch they
they all said
all said it
it was, —
was,-and our
and our

trumpets were
trumpets \vere blown for
for fully
fully five Ininutes. But
five minutes.

the big
the big gun was
\vas only
only fired
fired when aa ball
ball was
,vas
hurled from
hurled from the
the machine directly
directly into
into the
the wicket.
wicket.
the end
At the end of
of three
three days
days the
the Britishers
Bl'itishers
were
were all
all out,
out, and the
the runs
runs were
\vere numbered
in
in four
four figures.
figures. II had my
nly doubts,
doubts, as I looked
as I

at
at the
the contest,
contest, 'v hether any of
whether \vould
of them would

be
be left to play
left to play out the lllatch.
out the match. II was
\vas infornled
informed

that II was
that \vas expected to take
expected to take the
the President's
President's seat
seat

every
every day; but 'v
day but
; hen II heard that
when that there
there were

to
to be
be two innings
innings for
for each set,
set, I
I positively
positively

declined.
declined. But Cras\veller
Crasweller took my place;
place and ;

II \vas told that

was told that a
a gleam of joy shot
of joy shot across
across

his
his \vorn,
worn, sorrowful
sorrowful face hen Sir
when
face \V Sir ICenning-
Kenning-

ton
ton began the
the second innings with ten
second innings ten runs.
runs.

Could he
he really
really \vish,
wish, in
in his
his condition,
condition, to
to send

his
his daughter
daughter a\vay
away to
to England simply that
that she
she

might be
be a
a baronet's
baronet's wife?
wife ?
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 153
153

"\Vhen
When the
the Britannulists
Britannulists went In
in for
for the
the

second time, they had 1500 runs to

second time, to get;
get; and

it
it ,vas
was said
said afterwards
afterwards that
that Grundle had bet
bet

four
four to
to one
one against
against his
his o,vn
own side.
side. This
This ,vas
was
thought to
to be
be very shabby on his
his part,
part, though

if
if such was the
the betting,
betting, II don't
don't see
see \v
whyhy he
he

should lose
lose his
his money by backing his
his friends.
friends.

Jack declared
declared in
in my hearing
hearing that
that he ,vould
would
not
not put a
a shilling
shilling on.
on. He did
did not
not ,vish
wish either
either

to
to lose
lose his
his money or
or to
to bet
bet against
against hinlself.
himself

But he ,vas
was considerably
considerably disheartened
disheartened ,vhen
when
he told
told Ine
me that
that he ,vas
was not
not going
going in
in on the
the

first
first day of
of their
their second innings.
innings. He had
not
not dOlle
done much ,vhen
when the
the Britannulists
Britannulists ,vere
were
in before, — had only
in before,-had only made some thirty
thirty or
or forty
forty

runs;
runs; and,
and, worse than that,
that, Sir
Sir ICennington
Kennington
Oval had scored
scored up to
to 300.
300. They told
told me

that his Pallas

that his Pallas helmet ,vas
was shaken ,vith
with tre-
tre-

mendous energy as he made his

as he running. And
his running.

again,
again, that
that man Stumps had seenled
seemed to
to be
be

invincible,
invincible, though still
still lanle,
lame, and had carried
carried

out his
his bat with a
a tremendous score.
score. He
154 THE FIXED PERIOD.

trudged
trudged away ,vithout
without any sign
sign of triumph;
of triumph ;

but Jack said

said that
that the
the professional
professional ,vas
was the
the

best
best lnan
man they had.
had.

On the
the second
second day of
of our
our party's
party's second

innings, —
innings,-the
the last
last day but
but one
one of
of the
the match,

—
-Jack
Jack ,vent
went in.
in. They had only made 150
runs on the
runs previous day,
the previous day, and three
three ,vickets
wickets

,vere
were do,vn.
down. Our kettle-drums had had but
but
little
little opportunity
opportunity for
for n1aking
making then1selves
themselves heard.
heard.

Jack was very despondent, and had had some

Jack
tiff
tiff with
with Eva.
Eva. He had asked Eva whether
she were not
she not going to
to England, and Eva had

said that perhaps she

said that she might do so
so if
if some

Britannulists
Britannulists did
did not
not do their
their duty.
duty. Jack
had chosen
chosen to
to take
take this
this as
as a
a bit
bit of
of genuine

impertinence, and had been very sore

impertinence, sore about
about

it.
it. was bowling from the
Stumps ,vas the British
British cata-
cata-

pult,
pult, and very nearly gave Jack his
very nearly his quietus
quietus

during the
during the first
first over.
over. He hit
hit ,vildly)
wildly, and

foul'
four balls
balls passed
passed him ,vithout
without touching his
his

,vicket.
wicket. Then came his
his turn
turn again,
again, and he
he
caught the
the first
first ball with
ball with his
his N everbend
Neverbend
 —

THE CRICKET-MATCH. 155

155

spring-bat, —
spring-bat,-for
for he
lie had invented it
it himself,-
himself,

such
such a
a swipe,
swipe, as
as he called
called it,
it, that
that nobody has

ever
ever yet
yet been
been able
able to
to find
find the
the ball.
ball. The story
story

goes that
goes that it
it went right
right up to
to the
the verandah,

and that
that Eva picked
picked it
it up,
up, and has treasured
treasured

it
it ever
ever since.
since.

Be that
that as
as it
it may, during
during the
the ,vhole
whole of
of that
that

day,
day, and the
the next,
next, nobody was able
able to
to get
get hin1
him
out.
out. There
There ,vas
w^as a
a continual
continual banging
banfrins^ of
of the
the

kettle - drum, 'which

kettle-drum, which seemed to
to give
give him re-
re-

newed spirits.
spirits. Every ball as
ball as it
it came to
to hin1
him
lvas
w^as sent
sent a,vay
away into
into infinite
infinite space.
space. All
All the
the

Englishmen ,vere
were made to
to retire
retire to
to further
further

distances
distances from the
the \vickets,
wickets, and to
to stand
stand about
about

almost at
at the
the extremity
extremity of
of the
the ground.
ground. The
11lanagement
management ofof the
the catapults
catapults ,vas
was intrusted
intrusted to
to

after another,-but
one man after another, —
but in
in vain.
vain. Then
they sent
sent the
the catapults
catapults a,vay,
away, and tried
tried the
the

old-fashioned
old-fashioned slo\v
slow bo·wling.
bowlino:. It
It ,vas
was all
all the
the

same to
to Jack.
Jack. He ,vonld
would not
not be
be tempted out
out

of
of his ground, but
his ground, but stood
stood there
there awaiting
awaiting the
the

ball,
ball, let
let it
it come ever
ever so
so slowly.
slowly. Through the
the
1!>6
156 THE FIXED PERIOD.

first of
first of the
the two
two days
days he
he stood
stood before
before his
his wicket,
wicket,
hitting to
hitting to the right
the right and the
the left, till
left, till hope
seenled to
seemed to spring
sprIng up again in the
again in the bosom of
of
the Britannulists.
the Britannulists. And II could
could see
see that
that the
the
Englishmen were
Englishmen " Tere becoming nervous
nervous and un-
un-
easy, although
easy, although the odds
the odds were
\vere still
still much in
in

their favour.
their favour.
the end
At the end of the first
of the day Jack had scored
first day scored
above
above 500;
500 - but —
but eleven
; \vickets had gone
eleven wickets

down,
down, and only three of
only three the most inferior
of the inferior

players were
players \vere left to stand
left to with him.
up with him. It
It

\vas considered
was that Jack must still
considered that still make
make,
another
another 500 before
before the
the ganle
game \vould be won.
would be \von.
This
This \vould
would allow
allow only
only t\venty
twenty each to the
to the

other
other three
three players.
players. "But,"
" But," said
said Eva to
to me

that
that evening,
evening, "they'll
" they'll never get
get the
the t\venty
tw^enty

each."
each."

"And
" And on \vhich
which side
side are
are you,
you, Eva?"
Eva ? " II
inquired
inquired \vith
with aa smile.
smile. For in
in truth
truth II did
did

believe at
believe at that
that moment that
that she
she \vas
was engaged
to
to the
the baronet.
baronet.

"How
" How dare
dare you ask,
ask, Mr N everbend ?"
Neverbend ?
" she
she
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 157
157

deluanded,
demanded, with indignation.
indignation. "Am not II aa
Britannulist
Britannulist as
as ,veIl
well as
as you?" And as
as she
she

,valked
walked away II could see that
could see that there
there ,vas
was aa
tear in
tear in her
her eye.
eye.

On the
the last
last day feelings
feelings ,vere
were carried
carried to
to a
a

pitch befitting the

pitch which was more befitting the last
last battle
battle

of
of a
a great war, — some Waterloo of
great ,var,-SOlne of other
other ages,
ages,

—
-than
than the
the finishing
finishing of
of a
a prolonged
prolonged game of
of

cricket.
cricket. Men looked,
looked, and moved, and talked
talked
as
as though their
their all
all were at
at stake.
stake. II cannot
cannot say
say

that the
that the Englishmen seemed to
to hate
hate us,
us, or
or 've
we
them;
them but that
; that the
the affair
affair ,vas
was too
too serious
serious to
to

admit of
of playful words between the
playful ,vords the parties.
parties.

And those
those unfortunates
unfortunates who had to
to stand
stand up

,vith
with Jack were so
so afraid
afraid of
of themselves
themselves · that
that

they were
they were like
like young country orators
orators about
about

to make their
to their first
first speeches.
speeches. Jack was silent,
Jack silent,

determined,
determined, and yet
yet in,vardly
inwardly proud of
of hinlself,
himself,

feeling
feeling that
that the
the ,vhole
whole future
future success
success of
of the
the

republic
republic was on his
his shoulders.
shoulders. He ordered
ordered

himself
himself to
to be
be called
called at
at a
a certain
certain hour,
hour, and

the
the assistants
assistants in
in our
our household listened
listened to
to his
his
158 THE FIXED PERIOD.

\vords
words as
as though feeling
feeling that
that everything
everything de-
de-

pended on their
their obedience.
obedience. He \vould
would not
not go
go

out
out on his
his bicycle,
bicycle, as
as fearing
fearing that
that some acci-
acci-

dent
dent n1ight
might occur.
occur, "Although, ought II not
not

to
to wish that II might be
wish that be struck
struck dead?"
dead ? " he
he

said;
said "as
" as then all
; all the
the world \vould
would kno\v
know
that
that though beaten,
beaten, it
it had been by the
the hand

of God,
of God, and not
not by our
our default."
default." It
It astonished
astonished

me to find that
to find that the
the boy was quite
quite as
as eager
eager about
about

his cricket as
his cricket as II was about
about my Fixed Period.
Period.

At eleven o'clock T
eleven o'clock T was in my seat,
in ll1Y seat, and on

looking round, II could

looking round, could see
see that
that all
all the
the rank

and fashion
fashion of
of Britannula 'werb
were at
at t.he
the ground.
ground.

But all the rank and fashion

all the fashion were
were there
there for
for

nothing, unless they had COlne

nothing, unless come armed with
glasses.
glasses. The spaces required by the
spaces required the cricketers
cricketers

were so
\vere so enormous that
that otherwise
otherwise they could
could

not
not see of the
see anything of the play.
play. my
Under illy
canopy there
there \vas
was room for
for five,
five, of
of \vhich
which II
was supposed to
to be able
able to fill the
to fill the middle

thrones.
thrones. On the t\VO others
the two others sat
sat those
those who

officially
officially scored
scored the
the game. One seat
seat had been
 —

THE CRICKET-MATCH.
CEICKET-MATCH. 159
159

demanded for
for Mrs N evel'bend.
ISTeverbend. "I
" I will
will see
see

his fate, —
his fate,-whether
whether it
it be
be his
his glory
glory or
or his
his fall,"
fall,"

—
-said
said his
his mother,
mother, with true
true Roman
Eoman feeling.
feeling.

For the other

Tor the other Eva had asked,
asked, and of
of course
course

it
it had been awarded to
to her.
her. vVhen
When the
the play
play

began, Sir
began, Kennington was at
Sir I{ennington at the
the catapult
catapult and .

Jack at
at the
the opposite
opposite wicket,
wicket, and II could
could bardly
hardly

say for
for 'v hich she
which she felt
felt the
the extreme interest
interest

,vhich
which she
she certainly
certainly did
did exhibit.
exhibit. I,
I, as
as the
the day

,vent
went on,
on, found Illyself
myself worked up to
to such ex-
ex-

citement that
citement that II could
could hardly
hardly keep my hat
hat on

my head or
or behave myself with becoming pres-
pres-

idential
idential dignity.
dignity. At one period,
period, as
as II shall
shall

have to
have to tell,
tell, I
I altogether
altogether disgraced
disgraced myself.
myself.

There
There seemed to
to be
be an opinion
opinion that
that Jack

,vould
would either
either show himself
himself at
at once unequal
unequal to
to

the
the occasion, be put out,-
occasion, and immediately be out,

,vhich
which opinion
opinion II think
think that
that all
all Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis

was inclined hold, —

to hold,-or
inclined to or else
else that
that be
he would

get
get his"
his " eye
eye in
in n" as
as he
he called
called it,
it, and go on as
as

long as the
long as the three
three others
others could
could keep their
their bats.
bats.

II know that
that his
his o,vn
own opinion
opinion ,vas
was the
the same as
as
160 THE FIXED PERIOD.

that general
that general in
in the city, and II feared
the city, feared that
that his
his

very caution
caution at
at the
the outset
outset ,vould
would be
be detrimental
detrimental

to
to hiIn.
him. The great
great object
object on our
our side
side ,vas
was that
that

Jack should,
should, as nearly as
as nearly as possible,
possible, be
be always

opposite
opposite to
to the
the bowler.
bowler. He ,vas
was ·to
to take
take the
the

four
four first
first balls, nlaking but one
balls, making one run off
off the
the last,
last,

and then beginning another

another over
over at
at the
the oppo-
oppo-

site end do the

site the saIne thing again.
same thing again. ,,~as inl-
IItt was im-

possible
possible to
to lnanage
manage this
this exactly;
exactly but
but something
;

nlight
might be
be done towards effecting
effecting it.
it. There 'vere
were
the
the three
three men ,vith
with ,vhom to ,york
whom to work during
during the
the

day.
day. The first
first unfortunately
unfortunately ,vas
was soon
soon made

to
to retire;
retire but Jack,
; Jack, ,vho
who had "ralkecl to my
walked up to DIy
chair
chair during
durino- the
the time
time allo,ved
allowed for
for fetching
fetchinf]^

do,vn
down the
the next
next luan,
man, told
told 111e that he
me that he had ((" got
got

his eye," and II could

his eye," could see
see a
a settled
settled look of
of fixed
fixed

purpose
purpose in
in his
his face.
face. He bowed 11l0st
most gracefully
gracefully

to
to Eva,
Eva, ,vho was so
who ,vas so stirred
stirred by emotion that
that she
she

could
could not
not allow herself to
allow herself to speak
speak a
a ,vord.
word. ((" Oh
Jack, II pray
Jack, pray for you II pray
for you; pray for
; for you,"
you," said
said his
his

Dlother.
mother. Jack, II fancy,
Jack, fancy, thought 1110re
more ofof Eva's

silence than of
silence than of his nlother's prayer.
his mother's prayer.
 —

THE CRICKET-MATCH.
THE CRICKET-MATCH. 161
161

Jack went
Jack ,vent back
back to
to his
his place,
place, and
and hit
hit the
the
first ball
first ball with
with such
such energy
energy that
that he
he drove
drove it
it
into the
into the other
other stumps
stumps snlashed them to
and smashed to
pIeces.
pieces. Every body declared
Everybody declared that
that such
such aa thing
thing
had never
had never been
been before
before achieved
achieved at
at cricket,
cricket,-
and the
and the ball
ball passed
passed on,
on, and
and eight
eight or
or ten
ten runs
runs
were scored.
were scored. After that Jack
After that Jack seemed to
to be
be
with cricketing
mad with cricketing power.
po,ver. took off
He took off his
his
greaves, declaring
greaves, that they
declaring that they ilnpeded his
impeded his run-
run-
llIng,
ning, and threw
and threw away altogether his helmet.
altogether his helmet.
h, Eva,
"" 0Oh, Eva, is he not
is he handsome?"
not handsome ?
" said his
said his

mother,
mother, in
in ecstasy, hanging across
ecstasy, hanging across my chair.
chair.

Eva sat
sat quiet
quiet ,vithout
without aa sign.
sign. It
It did
did not

become
become me to
to say
say a word, but II did
a ,vord, did think

that
that he
he ,vas
was very
very handsonle
handsome ;-and
; —
and II ' thought
also ulicommonly hard it
also how uncommonly it ,vould
would be t.
o hold
to

him if
hiln if he
he should
should chance
chance to
to win the
the game. Let
him nlake
make 'v hat orations
what orations he might against
against the
the

Fixed
Fixed Period,
Period, all
all Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis ,vould
would follo,v
follow

him if
hinl if he
he ,von
won this
this game of
of cricket
cricket for
for them.

II cannot
cannot pretend
pretend to
to describe
describe all
all the
the scenes
scenes

of that
of that day,
day, nor
nor the
the gro,ving
growing anxiety
anxiety of
of the
the

VOL. 1.
VOL. I. LL
 "

162
162 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Englisluuen
Englishmen as Jack went on ,vith
as Jack with one hundred

after
after another.
another. He had already
already scored
scored nearly

1000 ,vhen
when young Grabbe was caught out.
out.

Young Grabbe was very popular,

popular, because he

was so
so altogether
altogether unlike
unlike his
his partner
partner Grundle.

He ,vas
was aa fine
fine frank
frank fellow,
fellow, and was Jack's
Jack's
great
great friend.
friend. "II don't
''
don't lllean
mean toto say
say that
that he

can really
really play cricket/' Jack had said
play cricket," said that
that

morning, speaking with great

great authority;
authority "but
" but ;

he is
is the
the best
best fellow
fellow in
in the
the ,vodd,
world, and ,viti
will do

exactly
exactly ,vb
whatat you ask
ask hilll."
him." But he was out
out

now;
now and Jack,
;Jack, 'with
with over
over 200 still
still to
to make,

declared that
declared that he gave up the
the battle
battle abnost
almost

as
as lost.
lost.

"Don't
" Don't say
say that,
that, 1\1r
Mr N everbend," whispered
Neverbend,"

Eva.
Eva.

"Ah yes;
yes; ,ve're
we're gone coons.
coons. Even your
sympathy cannot bring
bring us
us round no,v.
now. If
If

anything could
could do
do it
it that
that ,vould!"
would
!

my opinion,"
"In Illy opinion," continued
continued Eva,
Eva, "Britan-
''Britan-

nula will
will never be beaten
beaten as
as long
long as
as 1\1r
Mr N ever-
Never-

bend is
is at
at the
the ,vicket."
wicket."
 ;

THE CRICKET-MATCH. 163

163

" Sir Kennington

" Sir Kennington has
has been
been too
too much for
for us,
us,
I fear,"
I fear," said
said Jack,
Jack, ,vith aa forced
with forced smile, as he
snlile, as
retired.
retired.

There was
There was now
no'v but
but the
the one
one hope left.
left. ~Ir
Mr
Brittlereed
Brittlereed remained, but
remained, but he was
he all.
all. Mr
Brittlereed
Brittlereed ,vas aa gentleman
was ,vho had advanced
gentleman who
nearer to
nearer to his
his Fixed
Fixed Period than any other
Period than other
of the
of the cricketers.
cricketers. nearly thirty
He was nearly thirty-five
-five

years of
years of age,
age, and ,vas
was regarded
regarded thenl all
by them all

as quite
as quite an old man.
old 111 an. He ,vas
was supposed to
to
kno,v all
know the rules
all the rules of the game, and to
of the to be
be
rather quick
rather in keeping the
in keeping the ,vicket.
wicket. But
Jack had declared
Jack that morning that
declared that he could
that he

not hit
not hit a
a ball
ball in
in a
a ·week
week of
of Sundays.
Sundays. "" He
oughtn't
oughtn't to
to be
be here,"
here," Jack had whispered;
whispered

"but
" but you kno,Y
know ho,v
how those
those things
things are
are man-

aged."
aged." II did
did not
not know ho,v
how those
those things
things

were
were managed, but II was sorry
sorry that
that he

should
should be there, as
be there, as Jack did
did not
not seem to
to

want him.
him.

:1\1:r
Mr Brittlereed
Brittlereed no·w
now ,vent
went to
to his
his ,vicket,
wicket,

and was bound to

to receive
receive the
the first
first ball.
ball. This
164
164 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

he did
he did; made
made one
; one run,
run, whereas
\vhereas he
he might
nlight have
have
nlade two,
made two, and then had
and then had to
to begin
begin the
the war
war over.
over.
It certainly
It certainly seemed
seemed as
as though he
though he had
had done
it on
it on purpose.
purpose. in his
Jack in his passion
passion broke
broke the
the
handle of
handle of his
his spring
spring -bat, haIf-
-ba t, and then had half-
a-dozen brought
a-dozen brought to
to in order
him in order that
tha.t he might
Inight
choose another.
choose another. "It was his
" It his favourite
favourite bat,"
bat,"
said his
said his mother,
Inother, and buried her face
buried her face in
in her
her
handkerchief.
handkerchief.

I
I never understood
never understood ho\v it
how it was that Mr
\vas that 1\1"1'
Brittlereed lived
Brittlereed through
lived through that over;
that over; but he
but he
did
did live,
live, although he never once touched the
although he the

ball.
ball. Then it
it canle
came to
to be Jack's turn, and

he at
he at once
once scored
scored thirty-nine
thirty-nine during the over,
over,

leaving himself at
leaving himself at the
the proper wicket for
for re-
re-

comlnencing
commencing the
the operation.
operation. II think that this
gave
gave hiln
him ne\v
new life.
life. It
It added,
added, at
at any ra~e,
rate,

lle\V
new fire
fire to
to every
every Britannulist
Britannulist on the ground,
ground,

and say that

and II must say that after
after that Mr Brittle-

reed
reed managed the
the matter altogether
altogether to
to Jack's

satisfaction.
satisfaction. Over
Over after over Jack
after over Jack \vent
went on,

and
and received
received every
every ball
ball that
that ,vas
was bo\vled.
bowled.
 THE CRICKET-MATCH. 165
165

They tried
tried their
their catapult
catapult with single,
single, double,
double,

and even treble

treble action.
action. Sir
Sir I{ennington
Kennington did
did

his
his best, flinging the
best, flinging the ball
ball with his
his nlost
most tre-
tre-

mendous impetus,
impetus, and then just rolling
then just rolling it
it up

,vith
with what seemed to
to me the
the most provoking

languor.
languor. It
It was all
all the
the same to
to Jack.
Jack. He
had in
in truth
truth got
got his
his "eye
" eye in,"
in," and as
as surely
surely

as
as the
the ball
ball came to him, it
to him, it was sent
sent away

to
to some most distant
distant part
part of the ground.
of the ground. The
Britishers
Britishers ,vere
were mad ,vith
with dismay as Jack
as Jack

worked his
his way on through
through the
the last
last hundred.
hundred.

It
It ,vas
was piteous
piteous to
to see
see the
the exertions
exertions ,vhich
which poor
poor

Mr Brittlereed
Brittlereed made in
in running backwards

and forwards
forwards across
across the
the ground.
ground. They tried,
tried,

II think,
think, to bustle him by the
to bustle the rapid
rapid succes-
succes-

sion
sion of their bowling.
of their bowling. But the
the only
only result
result

was that
that the
the ball
ball ,vas
was sent
sent still
still further
further off
off

when it
it reached
reached Jack's
Jack's ,vicket.
wicket. At last, just
last, just

as
as every
every clock
clock upon the
the ground struck six
six

with that
,vith that wonderful
wonderful unanimity which our

clocks
clocks have attained
attained since
since they
they ,vere
were all
all reg-
reg-

ulated
ulated by wires Greenwich, Jack sent
wires from Green,vich, sent
IGG
166 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

aa ball
ball flying
flying up into
up into the
the air,
air, perfectly
perfectly regard-
regard-
less
less \vhether
whether it might
it 11light be
be caught
caught or
or not,
not, know-
know-
ing well
ing \vell that
that the
the one
one now needed would be
llO\V needed be
scored before
scored before it could
it could come
conle down from
from the
the
heavens into
heavens into the
the hands of
of any Englishman.
Englishman.
It did
It did come down,
come dO\Vll, and was caught by Stumps,
Stulnps,
but by
but by that
that time
time Britannula
Britannula had her
won her
victory.
victory. Jack's total
Jack's total score
score during that
that innings
innings
was 1275.
was 1275. I doubt
I doubt whether in the annals
in the annals of
of
cricket
cricket any record
any record is
is made of
of aa better
better innings
innings
than
than that.
that. Then it \vas that,
it was that, with
\vith an absence
of that
of that presence
presence of
of mind which the President

of
of a
a republic
republic should always ren1en1ber,
remember, II took
took
off
off nly
my hat
hat and flung
flung it
it into
into the air.
air.

Jack's
Jack's triumph \voulc1
would have been cOlnplete,
complete,

only
only that
that it
it \vas
was ludicrous
ludicrous to
to those who could

not but
not but think,
think, as
as II diu,
did, of
of the very little
little

nlatter
matter as
as to hich the contest had been
which
to \V

raised
raised ;-just
;
—
just a
a ganle
game of
of cricket
cricket which two

sets
sets of
of boys had been playing,
playing, and \vhich
which

should
should have been
been regarded
regarded as
as no l110re
more than

an
an amusement,-as
amusement, as a —
a pastilne,
pastime, by
by \vhich
which to
to
 THE CRICKET-MATCH.
THE CEICKET-MATCH. 167
167

refresh themselves between their

their work.
work But
But
they regarded it
it as
as though a
a great
great national
national

combat had been fought,

fought, and the
the Britannu-
Britannu-

lists
lists looked upon themselves as
as though they
they

had been victorious

victorious against
against England. It
It was

absurd
absurd to
to see
see Jack as
as he was carried
carried back
back
to
to Gladstonopolis as
as the
the hero
hero of
of the
the occasion,
occasion,

aud
and to
to hear him, as
as he made his
his speeches
speeches at
at

the dinner which was given on the

the day,
day, and

at
at which be
he was called
called upon to
to take
take the
the chair.
chair.

II ""vas
was glad
glad to
to see,
see, hO'wever,
however, that
that he
he was not
not

quite
quite so
so glib
glib with his tongue as
his tongue as he had been

when addressing the

the people.
people. He hesitated
hesitated aa
good deal,
deal, nay, broke dO'wn,
nay, almost broke down, when he
he

the health
gave the health of Sir Kennington Oval
of Sir Oval and
and
the British
the British sixteen;
sixteen and II was
; 'vas quite
quite pleased
pleased
to hear
to declare
Lord Marylebone declare to his
to his mother
mother
that he was
that H a wonderfully
"a '\vonderfully nice
nice boy."
boy." I
I

think the
think the English
English did
did try
try to
to turn
turn it off
it off aa
little, as
little, as though they
they had only
only come out
out there
there
just for
just for the
the of the
amusement of the voyage.
voyage. But
Grundle,
Grundle, quite proud
who had now become quite proud
168 THE FIXED PERIOD.

of
of his
his country,
country, and 'who
who lamented loudly that
that

he
he should
should have received
received so
so severe
severe an injury
injury

in
in preparing
preparing for
for the
the game, 'would
would not
not let
let this
this

pass.
pass. "My lord,"
lord," he said,
said, "'what
"what is
is your

population 1"
population?" Lord l\larylebone
Marylebone named sixty
sixty

million.
million. " We are
"'Ve are but byo
two hundred and fifty
fifty

thousand," said Grundle, "and see

thousand," said see \v hat we
what \ve
have
have done."
done." "We are
"'Ve are cocks
cocks fighting
fighting on our

own dunghill,"
dunghill," said
said Jack,
Jack, "and that
that does
does

Inake
make aa deal
deal of
of difference."
difference."

But II was told

told that
that Jack had spoken a
a

word to
to Eva in
in quite
quite a
a different
different spirit
spirit before
before

he
he had left
left Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch. "After all,
all,

Eva,
Eva, Sir
Sir I{ennington
Kennington has
has not
not quite
quite trampled
trampled

us
us under his
his feet,"
feet," he said.
said.

"'Vho thought that

"AVho thought that he \vould
would?"1" said
said Eva.
Eva.
" My heart
"l\iy has never fainted,
heart has \vhatever some
fainted, whatever

others
others may have done."
done."
 169
169

CHAPTER VI.
VI.

THE COLLEGE.

II \V
WASAS surprised
surprised to
to see
see that
that Jack, \v ho was so
Jack, who so

bold in
in playing his
his match, and who had been

so
so well
well able
able to
to hold his
his own against
against the
the Eng-

—
lishmen,-who
lishmen, who had been made a hero, and had
a hero,

carried
carried off his heroism so
off his —
so \vell,-should
well, should have

been so
so shamefaced and bashful
bashful in
in regard to
regard to

Eva.
Eva. He was like
like a
a silly boy, hardly
silly boy, hardly daring
daring

to look her
to her in the face,
in the face, instead
instead of the gallant
of the gallant

captain of the band ·who

of the who had triumphed over
over

all obstacles. But II perceived,

all obstacles. perceived, though
though it
it seemed
that he did
that not, that
did not, that she
she was quite
quite prepared
prepared to
to
give herself
give herself to
to him, that there
him, and that there was no
no real
real
obstacle between
obstacle and all
him and all the
the flocks
flocks and
herds of
herds of Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch. Not much had
170
170 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEInOD.

been seen
been seen or
or heard
heard of
of Grundle during
during the
the
Inatch, and
match, and as
as far
far as
as Eva was
,vas concerned,
concerned, he
had succumbed as
had as soon
soon as
as Sir
Sir Kennington
ICennington
Oval had appeared
Oval appeared upon the
the scene.
scene. He had
thought so
thought so of the
much of the English
English baronet
baronet as
as to
to
have been
have been cowed
co,ved and quenched by his
his gran-
gran-
deur.
deur. And Sir
Sir Kennington
J(ennington himself
himself had,
had, II
think, been
think, been in
in earnest
earnest before
before the
the days
days of
of the
the
cricket-Illatch.
cricket-match. But II could
could see that Eva
see now that

had merely
had merely played
played him off
off against Jack, think-
against Jack, think-
ing there by to
ing thereby to ind nee the
induce the younger s'wain to
swain to

speak his mind.

speak his mind. This
This had made Jack more

than ever
than ever intent
intent on beating
beating Sir
Sir Kennington,

but
but had not
not as
as yet
yet had the
the effect
effect which Eva

had intended.
intended. "" It
It will
will all
all come right,"
right," II said
said

to
to myself,
myself, "as
"as soon
soon as
as these
these Englishmen have

left the island."

left the island." But then
then Iny n1iud reverted
my mind reverted

to
to tlle
the Fixed Period,
Period, and to
to the
the fast-approach-
fast- approach-

ing
ing time for
for Cras\veller's
Crasweller's deposition.
deposition. We were
'Ve
now nearly March, and the
nearly through l\larch, the thirtieth
thirtieth

of
of June was the
the day on which he ought

to
to be
be led
led to
to the
the college.
college. It
It ,vas my first
was nly first
 THE COLLEGE.
THE COLLEGE. 171
171

anxiety to
anxiety to get
get rid
rid of
of these
these Englishmen before
before
the subject
the subject should
should be again
be again ventilated.
ventilated. I
I

own II was
was anxious
anxious that they
that they should
should not
not

return to
return to their
their country
country with
\vith their
their prejudices
prejudices
strengthened \vhat they
strengthened by what they might hear
hear at
at Glad-
Glad-
stonopolis.
stonopolis. If II could
If could only
only get
get to go
them to go
before the
before the matter
matter \vas again
was again debated,
debated, it
it might
be that
be that no
no strong public feeling
strong public feeling would
,vouId be
be ex-
cited in
cited in England till
England till it ,vas too
it was too late.
late. That

,vas my first
was first desire;
desire ; but then
but then II ,vas
was also
also

anxious to get
anxious to rid of
get rid of Jack for
for a
a short
short tinle.
time.

The more II thought

thought of
of Eva and the
the flocks, the
flocks, the

nlore
more determined
determined was II not
not to
to allow
allow the
the per-
per-

sonal
sonal interests of my boy,-and
interests of boy, —
and therefore
therefore my

—
own,-to
own, to clash
clash in
in any ,vay
way with the
the perform-

ance
ance of
of my public
public duties.
duties.

heard that
II heard that the
the Englishmen ,vere
were not to
to go

till
till another
another week had elapsed.
elapsed. A 'veek
week was
necessary
necessary to
to recruit
recruit their
their strength
strength and to
to en-
en-

able
able them to
to pack up their
their bats
bats and bicycles.
bicycles.

Neither, however, were packed up till

Neither, however, till the day

before
before they
they started;
started for
for the
; the track down to
track dO'Yll to
172
172 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Little
Little Christchurch
Christcliurcli \vas crowded
was crowded with
'with tliem,
theIn,
and they
and they were
\vere still practising
still practising as
as though an-
an-
other match were
other \vere contemplated.
contemplated. II was very
very
glad to
glad to have
have Lord Marylebone
l\1arylebone as
as an
an inmate
inmate
in our
in our house,
house, but II acknowledge
but that II was
acknowledge that
anxious for
anxious for him to
to say
say something
something as
as to
to his
his
departure.
departure. " We have
" have been
been very
very proud
proud to
to have
you here, lord," II remarked.
here, my lord," remarked.
"I
" I cannot
cannot say
say that
that we are very proud,"
are very proud," he
he
replied,
replied, "because we
\ve have
have been
been so
so a\vfully
awfully

licked.
licked. Barring that, II never
Barring that, never spent a pleas-
spent a pleas-
anter t\VO montlis
anter two months in
in Iny
my life,
life, and should not
not
be at
be at all un\villing to
all unwilling to stay
stay for
for another.
another. Your
mode of
of life
life here
here seems
seems to
to me to
to be quite
quite de-
de-

lightful,
lightful, and \ve
we have been thinking so
so much

of
of our that II have hardly as
cricket, that
our cricket, as yet had

aa moment to
to look
look at
at your institutions.
institutions. "\Vhat
What
is
is all
all this
this about the
the Fixed Period?
Period?"" Jack,
Jack,

who \vas present, put on a

was present, a serious
serious face,
face, and

assumed that
that air
air of
of determination hich II ,vas
which
determination \y was
beginning
beginning to
to fear.
fear. Mrs N everbend pursed up
Neverbend
her
her lips,
lips, and said
said nothing; but II knew \vhat
nothing but ; what
 THE COLLEGE. 173
173

was passing through her mind. II managed to

to

turn the conversation, but II was aware that

that II

did it
it very lanlely.
lamely.

Jack," II said to
""Jack," my son,
to Illy son, "I got
got a
a post-
post-

card
card from N e\v Zealand yesterday."
ISTew yesterday." The boats
boats

had just
just begun to
to run bet,veen
between the
the two islands
islands

six days a-\veek,

a-week, and as
as their
their regular
regular contract
contract

was twenty --five

pace \vas five miles
miles an hour,
hour, it
it was
was
just an easy day's
just journey.
day's journey.

"'Vhat
"What said
said the post-card?"

"There's
" There's plenty
plenty of
of time
time for
for Mount Earn-
Earn-

shawe yet.
yet. all say the autumn is
They all is the
the

best.
best. The snow is
is no\v disappearing in
now disappearing in great
great

quantities."
quantities."

But an old bird is

old bird not to
is not to be
be caught with
with chaff.
chaff.

Jack ,vas not

was determined not to go
to go to the Eastern
to the Eastern
Alps this year;;
this year and indeed, as II found,
indeed, as not to
found, not to
go
go till this
till this question
question of
of the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period should
should
be
be settled.
settled. II told
told him
hiln that
that he
he was aa fool.
fool.

he ,vould
Although he have been
would have been wrong
\vrong to assist
to assist

in depositing
in depositing his
his father-in-law
father-in-law for the sake
for the sake of
of
getting the
getting the herd
herd and flocks
flocks himself,
himself, as
as Grundle
174
174 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEIUOD.

,,'ould have
woiild have done,
done, nevertheless
nevertheless he was
\vas hardly
hardly
feelings of
bound by any feelings of honour or
or conscience
conscience
to
to keep old
keep old Crasweller at Little
Crasweller at Little Christchurch
Christchurch
ill direct
in direct opposition
opposition to
to the
the laws
la\vs of
of the
the land.
land.
all this
But all this II could
could not
not explain
explain to
to him,
him, and
'vas obliged
was obHged simply
sin1ply to
to take
take it
it as
as aa fact
fact that
that he
,vonld not
would JOIn an Alpine
not join Alpine party
party for
for Mount
l\fount
this year.
Earnshawe this year. As II thought of
of all
all
this, I almost
this, I almost feared Jack's presence
feared Jack's in Glad-
presence in Glad-
stonopolis that of
stonopolis more than that the young Eng-
of the

lishmen.
lishmen.

It
It was clear, however, that
clear, however, that nothing
nothing could be
be
till the
done till the Englishmen
Englishnlen were
were gone, as II
gone, and as

had aa day at
at my disposal
disposal II determined to
to ,valk
walk
up to
to ~he
the college
college and meditate there
there on the
the

conduct which it
it would be
be my duty to
to follow
follow

during the
the next t,vo
two months. The college
college was

about five
five miles
miles from the town, at
at the
the side
side

opposite
opposite to
to you as
as you enter
enter the to\vn
town from
Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch, and II had son1e
some time since
since

made up my Blind
Inade mind ho\v,
how, in
in the
the bright
bright genial
genial

days of
of our
our pleasant
pleasant ,vinter,
winter, II \vould
would myself
 THE COLLEGE.
THE 175
175

accompany Mr Cras,veller
accompany 1\11' Crasweller through the
the city
city in
in

an open barouche as
as II took hilll
him toto be depos-
depos-

ited,
ited, through admiring cro,vds
crowds of
of his
his fello\y-
fellow-

citizens.
citizens. II had not then thought that
that he
he
\vould
would be a recreant,
recreant, or
or that
that he ,vould
would be
be de-
de-

terred
terred by the fear
fear of
of departure from enjoy-
enjoy-

ing the
ing the honours \v hich 'would
which would be paid
paid to
to hinl.
him.

But ho\v
how different
different now was his
his frame of
of mind

from that
that glorious
glorious condition to
to \vhich
which II had
looked forward in
in my sanguine hopes!
hopes ! Had
it
it been I,
I, I
I myself,
myself, ho\v
how proud should II have
have
of my country and its
been of its wisdonl,
wisdom, had II

been led
led along
along as
as a
a first hero, to
first hero, to anticipate
anticipate the
the
euthanasia prepared for me!
for me ! As it 'vas, II
it was,

hired an inside
hired inside cab,
cab, and hiding
hiding myself
myself in the
in the

corner,
corner, ,vas carried away
was carried avvay to
to the
the college
college unseen
unseen
any.
by any.
place was called
The place called Necropolis.
Necropolis. The name
distasteful to
had always been distasteful to me,
me, as
as II had
to join
never wished to join with
\vith it the
it the feeling
feeling of
of
death.
death. nalnes had been
Various names been proposed
proposed for
for
the
the site. Young Grundle had suggested
site. suggested Ore-
Ore-
176
176 THE FIXED PERIOD.

nlation Hall,
mation Hall, because
because such
such was
,vas the
the ultimate
ultilnate
end to
to which
,vhich the
the mere
111ere husks and hulls
hulls of
of
the citizens
the citizens were
,vere destined.
destined. there was
But there ,vas
something
something undignified
undignified in
in the
the sound,
sound, —
- as
as

though we
though 've were
,vere talking
talking of
of aa dancing
dancing saloon
saloon
or aa
or mUSIC
music hall, —
hall, - and II would
,vould have none
of
of it.
it. My idea ,vas to
idea was to give to the
give to the mind
Inind
SOlne notion
some notion of
of an approach
approach to
to good things
things
to
to come, and II proposed
come, proposed to
to call the place
call the place
"" Aditus."
Aditus." But men said that it
said that it was un-

meanIng,
meaning, and declared
declared that
that Britannulists
Britannulists

should never be
should never to o,vn
be ashamed to the truth.
own the truth.
Necropolis sounded "Yell,
Necropolis they said,
well, they said, aud
and ar-
ar-

gued that
that though no actual
actual ren1aills
remains ofof the
the

body 11light
might be left
left there,
there, still
still the
the tablets
tablets

,vould
would relnain.
remain. Therefore Necropolis it
Therefore Necropolis it ,vas
was
called.
called. II had hoped that
that a
a sIniling
smiling hamlet

lllight grow up at
might gro\v at the
the gate,
gate, inhabited
inhabited by those
those

,vho
who ,vould
would administer to the
administer to the ,vants
wants of
of the
the de-
de-

posited;
posited but II had forgot
; forgot that
that the
the deposited
deposited

must COlne
come first.
first. The han1let
hamlet had not yet
yet

built
built itself,
itself, and round the
the handsolue
handsome gates
gates
 THE COLLEGE. 177
177

there
there was nothing at
at present
present but a
a desert.
desert.

While land in
in Britannula 'was
was plenty,
plenty, no one
one

had cared
cared to
to select
select ground so
so near
near to
to those
those

awful furnaces
furnaces by ,vhich
which the
the mortal clay
clay

should be transported
transported into
into the
the air.
air. From
the
the gates
gates up to
to the temple 'which
which stood
stood In
in

the of the grounds,-that

the middle of grounds, —
temple
that temple In
in

which the
the last
last scene
scene of-life
of life was to
to be
be encoun-
encoun-

tered, —
tered,-there
there ran a
a broad gravel
gravel path,
path, ,vhich
which
,vas
was intended to
to become a
a beautiful
beautiful avenue.'
avenue.

It
It ,vas
was at
at present planted alternately
alternately 'Nith
with

eucalypti
eucalypti and ilexes
ilexes - the—
the gum-trees for
for the
the

present generation,
generation, and the
the green -- oaks for
for

those to
those to come;
come ; but even the
but the gum-trees
gum-trees had

not as
not as yet
yet done to give
much to give a
a furnished
furnished ap-
ap-

pearance to the
pearance to the place.
place. Some had demanded
that cedars
that cedars and yew - trees
yew-trees should be
be placed
placed
there,
there, at great
and II had been at great pains
pains to
to explain
explain
to
to that our object
them that object should be
be to
to make
the spot
the spot cheerful,
cheerful, rather than sad.
rather than sad. Round the
Eound the
temple, at the
temple, at the back
back of
of it, were
it, ,vere the
the sets of
sets of

chambers in
chambers were to
in which were to live the
live the deposited
deposited
I.
VOL. I. M
178 THE FIXED PERIOD.

during their
their year
year of
of probation.
probation. Some of
of these
these

\vere
were very
very handsome, and ,vere
were made so,
so, no

doubt,
doubt, 'with
with aa vie'w
view of
of alluring
alluring the
the first
first comers.
comers.

In preparing
preparing \visdom
wisdom for
for babes,
babes, it
it is
is necessary
necessary

to wrap up its
to ,vrap its precepts
precepts in
in candied
candied s'weets.
sweets.

But, though handsome, they \vere

But, though were at
at present
present

anything but pleasant

pleasant abodes.
abodes. Not one
one of
of

thenl as yet
them had as yet been inhabited.
inhabited. As II looked
looked

at them, kno,ving
at them, knowing Cras\veller
Crasweller as
as well
well as
as II did,
did,

II almost
almost ceased
ceased to
to ,vonder
wonder at
at his
his timidity.
timidity. A
hero was wanted;
hero wanted but
but Crasweller
; Crasweller ,vas
was no hero.
hero.

further off,
Then further off, but still
still in
in the
the circle
circle round

the
the temple,
temple, there
there \vere
were smaller
smaller abodes,
abodes, less
less

luxurious, but still

luxurious, still comfortable,
comfortable, all
all of
of \vhich
which
would in
\vould in a
a few short
short years
years be
be inhabited,-if
inhabited, if —
the
the Fixed Period
Period could
could be
be carried
carried out
out in
in ac-
ac-

cordance
cordance \vith
with lny
my project.
project. And foundations
foundations

had been nlade

made for
for others
others still
still smaller,-for
smaller, for—
aa \vhole
whole to\vnship
township of
of old
old lllen
men and \vornen,
women, asas

in
in the
the course
course of
of the
the next thirty years
next thirty years they
they

Inight
might come hurrying on to
to find
find their
their last
last

abode in
in the
the college.
college. IT had already
already selected
selected
 THE COLLEGE. 179
179

one, not
one, not Ineans the
by any means the finest
finest or
or the
the largest,
largest,
tor
lor myself and
myself and my wife,
,,,ife, in
in which we might
lnight
prepare
prepare ourselves
ourselves for
for the
the grand departure.
departure.

But as
as for
for Mrs N everbend, nothing
Neverbend, nothing would
bring her
bring her to
to set
set foot
foot within
,vi thin the
the precincts
precincts of
of
the college
the college ground.
ground. "Before those
"Before those next
next ten
ten
years are
years are gone,"
gone," she
she would
\vould say,
say, "" common-sense
comnlon-sense
will
will have interfered
have interfered to let folks
to let folks live
live out
out their
their
lives
lives properly."
properly." It been quite
It had been quite useless
useless
for
for me to attempt to
to attempt to Inake her understand
make her understand how
ho\v
unfitting
unfitting ,vas
was such
such a
a speech
speech for the wife
for the wife of the
of the

President of
President the Ptcpublic.
of the Republic. My
niy wife's
wife's oppo-
oppo-
sition
sition had been
been an annoyance to
to me from
from the
the
first, but II had consoled
first, but consoled nlyself
myself by thinking
thinking
how impossible
impossible it
it always is
is to
to imbue a
a \vo-
wo-
nlan's
man's mind with
with aa logical
logical idea.
idea. And though,
though,

in
in all
all respects
respects of
of dOl1lestic life, n1
domestic life, Mrsrs N everbend
Neverbend
is
is the
the best
best of
of wonlen,
women, even
even anlong
among ,vomen
women she
she

is the
is the n10st
most illogical.
illogical.

II no,v
now inspected
inspected the
the buildings
buildings in
in a
a sad
sad frame

of
of mind, asking
asking luyself
myself whether it
it \vould.
would, ever
ever

come to
to pass
pass that
that they
they should
should be inhabited
inhabited for
for
180
180 THE FIXED PERIOD.

their intended
tlieirintended purpose.
purpose. When
' Vhen the
the Assembly,
A.ssenlbly,
in compliance
in compliance with
,vith my advice,
advice, had first
first en-
en-
acted the
acted the law
la,v of
of the
the Fixed
Fixed Period,
Period, aa large
large
had been
sum had been voted
voted for
for these
these buildings.
buildings. A.s
As
the enthusiasm
the enthusiasm had worn
,vorn off, men had asked
off, asked
themselves whether
themselves whether the
the not been
money had not been
wasted, and had said
wasted, said that
that for
for so
so small aa com-
com-
In unity the
munity the college
college had been
been planned
planned on
on an
an
absurdly
absurdly grand scale.
scale. Still I had gone on,
Still I on,

and had ,vatched

and thenl as
watched them they gre,v
as they grew from day
to day,
to day, and had allowed no shilling to be
shilling to be spared
spared

in perfecting them.
in perfecting them. In my
nly earlier years II had
earlier years

been very
been successful in
very successful the wool trade,
in the trade, and
had amassed ,vhat
what men called
called a
a large
large fortune.
fortune.

During the
the last
last t,vo
two or three years
or three years II had

devoted
devoted a
a great portion of
great portion of this
this to
to the
the external
external

adornment of
of the
the college,
college, not without many
not without

,vords the matter froln

words on the from lVIrs
Mrs N everbend.
Neverbend.

"" Jack is to be
is to be ruined,"
ruined," she
she had said,
said, "in
" in order
order

that
that all
all the
the old
old men and ,vomen
women may be
be killed
killed

artistically."
artistically." This
This and other
other renlarks
remarks of
of the
the

kind
kind II was doomed to
to bear.
bear. It
It ,vas
was aa part
part of
of
 THE COLLEGE. 181
181

the
the difficulty
difficulty which, as
as a
a great reformer, II
great reformer,

must endure.
endure. as II walked mourn-
But now, as
fully
fully among the
the disconsolate
disconsolate and half-finished
half-finished

buildings, II could
buildings, could not
not but ask myself as
as to the
to the

purpose to
purpose to \v hich
which my money had been devoted.
devoted.

And II could
could not
not but
but tell
tell myself that
that if
if in
in

coming years
years these
these tenements should
should be
be left
left

tenantless,
tenantless, my country
country would look
look back upon

nle as
me as one
one ,vho
who had ,vasted
wasted the
the produce
produce of
of her
her

young energIes.
energies. again II bethought me
But again
of
of Colunlbus
Columbus and Galileo,
Galileo, and swore that II
swore t.hat

,vould
would go
go on or
or perish
perish in
in the
the attempt.
attempt.

As these
these painful
painful thoughts were agitating
agitating

my mind, aa slo\v
slow decrepit
decrepit old
old gentleman came

up to
to me and greeted
greeted me as
as Mr President.
President. He
linked
linked his
his arm familiarly
familiarly through nline,
mine, and

remarked that
reIllarked that the
the time seemed to
to be
be very

long
long before
before the
the college
collec^e received
received any
anv of
of its
its

inhabitants.
inhabitants. This
This ,vas
was Mr Gray body, the
Graybody, the

curator, who had been specially

curator, ,vho specially appointed

to
to occupy a
a certain
certain residence,
residence, to
to look after
after

the
the grounds,
grounds, and to
to keep the
the books of
of the
182
182 THE FIXED PERIOD.
TIlE

establishment.
establisliment. Gray body and II had
Graybody liad come as
as

young men to
to Britannula together,
together, and where-

as
as II had succeeded
succeeded in
in all my o\vn
all n1y own individual
individual

attempts,
attempts, he had unfortunately
unfortunately failed.
failed. He ,,"as
was
exactly
exactly of
of 1ny
my age,
age, as
as was also
also his
his ·wife.
wife. But
under the
under the stress
stress of
of Inisfortune
misfortune they
they had both

become unnaturally
unnaturally old,
old, and had at
at last
last been

left
left ruined
ruined and hopeless,
hopeless, \vithout
without aa shilling
shilling on

\vhich to
which to depend.
depend. II had ahvay's been aa sincere
always been sincere

friend to Graybody, though he 'vas,

friend to was, indeed,
indeed, a
a

man very difficult

difficult to
to befriend.
befriend. On most sub-
sub-

jects
jects he thought as
as II did,
did, if
if he can
can be
be said
said to
to

have thought at
at all.
all. At any rate
rate he had agreed
agreed

with me as
as to
to the
the Fixed Period,
Period, saying
saying ho,v
how
good it
it would be
be if
if he
he could
could be
be deposited
deposited at
at

fifty-eight,
fifty-eight, and had ahvays
always declared
declared how bless-
bless-

be the
ed must be the time \vhen
when it
it should
should have come

for himself and his

for himself his old
old \vife.
wife. II do not think
not think

that he ever
that ever looked Inuch to the
much to the principle
principle

which II had in
in view.
view. lIe
He had no great
great ideas
ideas

as
as to
to the
the imbecility
imbecility and \yeakness
weakness of
of human

life
life when protracted
protracted beyond its
its fitting
fitting limits.
limits.
 THE COLLEGE. 183
183

only felt
He only felt that
that it
it would be
be good to
to give
give up ; ;

and that
and that if
if he
he did
did so,
so, others
others might be
be made to
to
do so
do so too. As soon
too. soon as
as aa residence
residence at
at the
the college
college
was completed,
was completed, II asked hin1 to
asked him to fill
fill it
it; and now
;

he had been
he been living
living there,
there, he
he and his
his wife
wife
together, with
together, with an attendant,
an drawing his
attendant, and drawing his
salary as
salary as curator
curator for the last
for the last three
three years.
years. I
I

thought that
thought that it would be
it be the
the very
very place
place for
for
hiln.
him. usually melancholy,
He was usually melancholy, disheart-
disheart-

ened, impoverished; but

ened, and impoverished; he was always
but he always
glad to see
glad to me, and II was accustomed to
see me, to go
frequently to the
frequently to the college,
college, in
in order to find
order to find a
a

sympathetic
sympathetic soul \vith ,vhom
soul with to converse
whom to converse about
the
the future
future of
of the
the establishment.
establishment. "'V ell, Gray-
" Well,

body,"
body," II said,
said, "I
" I snppose
suppose 'we
we are nearly ready
are nearly

for
for the
the first
first comer."
comer."

"Oh
" Oh yes;
yes we're
we're always ready;
; ready but then the
;the

first
first comer is
is not."
not." II had not
not said
said nluch
much to
to

him during the

the latter
latter months as
as to
to Crasweller,
Crasweller,

in
in particular.
particular. His name used
used formerly
formerly to
to be
be

very
very ready
ready in
in all
all my conversations
conversations with
with Gray-

body,
body, but of
of late
late II had talked
talked to
to him in
in a
a
184 THE FIXED PERIOD.

more general
general tone.
tone. "You
" You can't
can't tell
tell me yet
yet

,vhen
when it's
it's to
to be,
be, 1\11'
Mr President?
President ? We do
'Ve do find
find

it
it a
a little
little dull
dull here."
here."

Now he knew as
as well
well as
as II did the day and
did the

the
the year
year of
of Orasweller's
Crasweller's birth.
birth. II had intended
intended

to speak
to speak to
to him about Crasweller, but
about Orasweller, but II ,vished
wished

our friend's
friend's name to
to come first
first from hinl.
him. "I
" I

suppose it
it will
will be some tinle
time about
about Inid-
mid-

,vinter,"
winter," II said.
said.

"Oh,
" Oh, I
I didn't
didn't kno,v
know ,vhether
whether it
it might not
not

have been postponed."

postponed."

How can it
"" Hovv it be postponed?
postponed ? As years
years creep
creep

on,
on, you cannot postpone
postpone their
their step.
step. If
If there
there

nlight be
might postponement such as
be postponmnent as that,
that, II doubt

,vhether
whether ,ve
we should
should ever
ever find
find the
the tinle
time for
for our
our

inhabitants
inhabitants to
to come.
come. No, Graybody;
Graybody there
there can
; can

be
be no postponement for
for the
the Fixed Period."
Period."

"It
" It might have been nlade
made sixty-nine
sixty-nine or
or

seventy,"
seventy," said
said he.
he.

"Originally,
" Originally, no doubt.
doubt. But the
the wisdom of
of

the
the Assembly has
has settled
settled all
all that.
that. The Assem-
bly has
bly declared that
has declared that they
they in
in Britannula
Britannula ,,'ho
who
 THE COLLEGE. 185
185

are
are left
left alive
alive at
at sixty-seven
sixty-seven shall
shall on that
that day
day-

be brought
be brought into
into the
the college.
college. You yourself
Yon yourself
have,
have, II think,
think, ten
ten years
years to
to run,
run, and you will
will

not
not be
be much longer
longer left
left to
to pass
pass them in
in soli-
soli-

tude."
tude."

"It
" It is
is ,yeary
weary being
being here
here all
all alone,
alone, II must

confess.
confess. Mrs G.
G. says
says that
that she
she could
could not
not bear
bear

it
it for
for another
another twelve
twelve months. The girl
girl we

have has
have has given
given us
us notice,
notice, and she
she is the ninth
is the ninth

,vithin
within aa year.
year. No follo,vers
followers ·will
will come after
after

them here, because they say

here, because say they'll
they'll smell the
smell the

dead bodies."
bodies."

"" Rubbish!"
Eubbish " II exclailned,
exclaimed, angrily;
!
angrily "positive
" positive
;

rubbish!
rubbish ! The actual
actual clay
clay will
will evaporate
evaporate into
into

the
the air,
air, without
without leaving
leaving a
a trace
trace either
either for
for the
the

eye
eye to
to see
see or
or the
the nose to sTIlel!."
nose to smell."

"They
" They all
all say
say that
that when you tried
tried the
the fur-
fur-

naces
naces there
there ,vas
was aa savour of burnt pork."
savour of pork."

N o~v great
Now great trouble
trouble ·was
was taken in
in that nlatter of
that matter of

cremation;
cremation and having obtained
; obtained fronl
from Europe

and the
the States all the
States all the best
best machinery for
for the
the

purpose, II had supplied

purpose, supplied four
four imnlense
immense hogs,
hogs, in
in
186
186 THE FIXED PERIOD.

order
order that
that the
the system might be fairly
fairly tested,
tested,

and II had fattened

and fattened then1
them for
for the
the purpose,
purpose, as
as

old
old men are
are not
not unusually very
very stout.
stout. These
,ve
we consumed in
in the
the furnaces all at
furnaces all at the sanle
same
time, and the
time, the four bodies
four bodies had been dissolved
dissolved

into
into their
their original
original atonlS
atoms without leaving
leaving a
a

trace behind
trace them by ,vhich their former
which their former con-
con-

dition
dition of
of life
life might be
be recognised.
recognised. But aa trap-
trap-

door
door in
in certain
certain of
of the
the chinlneys
chimneys had been left
left

accident, —
open by accident,-either
either that
that or
or by an enemy

on purpose, —
purpose, - and undoubtedly some slight
slight

flavour of the
flavour of the pig
pig had been allowed
allowed to
to escape.
escape.

II had been
been there
there on the
the spot,
spot, kno,ving that II
knowing that
could
could trust
trust only my own senses,
only nly senses, and ,vas
was able
able

to declare
to declare that
that the
the scent
scent ,vhich
which had escaped
very slight,
was very slight, and by no Ineans
means disagreeable.
disagreeable.

And II was able to sho,v

able to show that
that the
the trap-door
trap-door had

been left
left open either
either by chance
chance or
or by design;
design,

— the very
-the very trap-door
trap-door which ,vas
was intended
intended to
to

prevent any such escape

escape during
during the
the moments

of cremation, —
full cremation,-so
of full so that
that there
there need be
be no

fear
fear of
of a
a repetition
repetition of the accident.
of the accident. II ought,
ought,
 THE COLLEGE. 187

indeed,
indeed, to
to have
Lave supplied
supplied four
four other
other hogs,
hogs, and

to
to have tried
tried the
the experiment again.
again. But the
the

theme ,vas disagreeable, and II thought that

was disagreeable, that

the
the trial
trial had been so
so far
far successful
successful as
as to
to make

it
it unnecessary
unnecessary that
that the
the expense should be

again incurred. "They

again incurred. ''They say
say that
that men and ,vomen
women
would not
not have quite
quite the
the sanle
same sIn ell," said
smell/' said he.
he.

do they know that?" II exclaimed,

"How do exclaimed, in
in

Iny
my anger.
anger. "How
" How do they kno\v
know what men
and women ,vill
will smell
smell like?
like ? They haven't
haven't
tried.
tried. There ,von't be any srnell
won't be smell at —
at all-not
all not

the least;
the least ; and the
the smoke will
will all
all consunle
consume
itself,
itself, so
so that
that even you,
you, living just where you
living just

are,
are, ,yill
will not
not kno,v
know 'v hen cremation is
when is going on.
on.

We might consume all

all Gladstonopolis, as II
Gladstonopolis, as

hope we shall
shall some day,
day, and not
not a
a living
living soul
soul

,vould
would know'
know anything about
about it.
it. But the
the pre-
pre-

judices of
judices of the
the citizens
citizens are
are ever
ever the
the stumbling-
stumbling-

blocks
blocks of
of civilisation."
civilisation."

"At
" At any rate,
rate, Mrs G.
G. tells that J
tells me that emimn.
Jemima
is
is going,
going, because
because none of
of the
the young men will
will

come up and see

see her."
her."
188 THE FIXED PERIOD.

This
This ,yas
was another
another difficulty,
difficulty, but
but a
a small
small one,
one,

and
and II made up my mind that
that it
it should be over-
over-

come.
come. "The
" The shrubs
shrubs seem to
to grow very 'well,"
well,"

II said,
said, resolved
resolved to
to appear
appear as
as cheerful
cheerful as
as pos-
pos-

sible.
sible.

"They're pretty nearly

" They're pretty nearly all
all alive,"
alive," said
said Gray-

body;
body "and they do give
" and they
; give the
the place just an
place just

appearance
appearance like
like the
the cemetery at
at Old Christ-
Christ-

church."
church." He meant the
the capital
capital in
in the
the prov-

ince
ince of
of Canterbury.
Canterbury.

"In
" In the
the course
course of
of a
a fe'v
few years
years you ,vill
will be
be

quite — cheerful here."

quite-cheerful here."

"IT don't
''
don't kno,v
know much about that,
that, nIr
Mr Presi-
Presi-

dent.
dent. I'm not
1'111 not sure that for
sure that for myself II ,vant
myself want to
to

be
be cheerful
cheerful any,vhere.
anywhere. If
If I've
I've only got
got some-

body just
just to
to speak to
to s01l1etilnes,
sometimes, that
that ,vill
will be

quite
quite enough for
for l11e.
me. II suppose
suppose old
old Cras,veller
Crasweller

,vill
will be
be the
the first 1"
first?''

((" II suppose
suppose so."
so."

"It
"It ,vill
will be
be a
a gruesome time
time ,vhen
when II have
have
to
to go to bed early,
to bed early, so
so as
as not
not to
to see
see the
the smoke

come out
out of
of his
his chinu1ey."
chimney."
 "

THE COLLEGE.
THE COLLEGE. 189
189

" I tell you

" I tell you there
there will
will be
be nothing
nothing of
of the
the kind.
kind.
I
I don't suppose
don't suppose ,vill even
you will even know when
,vhen
they're going
they're going to
to cremate
cremate him."
him."
" He will
" ,vill be
be the
the first,
first, Mr President
President; and no ;

doubt he
doubt he will
will be
be looked
looked closely
closely after.
after. Old

Barnes will
Barnes 'will be
be here
here by that
that time,
time, won't
'von't he,
he,
sir?? "
sir

"Barnes
" is the
Barnes is the second,
second, he will
and he will come
COlne just
just
three months
three months before
before Crasweller's
Crasweller's departure.
But Tallowax,
But Tallowax, the grocer in
the grocer in High Street,
Street, 'v ill
will

be up here
be up by that
here by that time.
tinle. then they
And then they ,vill
will

COlne
come so
so quickly,
quickly, that
that ,ve
we must soon see to get
see to get

other
other lodgings
lodgings finished.
finished. Exors,
Exors, the
the la,vyer,
lawyer,

'v ill be
will be the
the fourth;
fourth but
but he will
; will not come in till
till

aa day
day or
or two after
after Cras\veller's
Crasweller's departure."
departure."

"" They all

all will
will come;
come ,von't
won't they,
; they, sir?
sir ? "
" asked

Graybody.
Graybody.
"Will
" Will come!
come ! vVhy,
Why, they
they nll.lst.
must. It
It is
is the

law."
law."

"Tallo,vax
" Tallowax swears
swears he'll
he'll have hinlself
himself strapped

to
to his
his own kitchen
kitchen table,
table, and defend
defend hilnself
himself to
to

the
the last
last gasp
gasp ,vith
with aa carving-knife.
carving-knife. Exors says
says
 "

190
190 THE FIXED PERIOD.

that the
that the law
la'\v is had,
is bad, and
and you can't
can't touch
touch him.
him.
for Barnes,
As for Barnes, he
he has
has gone
gone out
out of
of what little
little
'\vits he
wits he ever
ever had with
with the
the fright
fright of
of it, and
it,

people seem to
people think that
to think that you couldn't
couldn't touch
touch
a lunatic."
a lunatic."
"
" Barnes
Barnes is no more aa lunatic
is no than II am."
lunatic than an1."
(( I only
" I only tell
tell you what
'\vhat folk
folk tell
tell me.
Ine. II sup-
sup-
pose you'll
pose try
you'll try it on
it on by force,
force, if
if necessary.
necessary.
never expected
You never that people
expected that people would come
and deposit themselve8 of
deposit themselves of their
their own accord."
accord."

(("The
The National
National Assembly
Assen1bly expects
expects that
that the
the
citizens
citizens of Britannula 'will
of Britannula will obey the
the la\v."
law."

"" But there

there ,\vas
was one question
question II ,vas
was going to
to
ask, ~rr
ask, Mr President.
President. Of course
course II am altogether
altogether

on side, and do not

on your side, not wish to
to raise
raise difficul-
difficul-

ties.
ties. But \\yhat
what shall
shall II do suppose they
they take
to
to running a\vay
away after
after they have been de-
de-

posited?
posited? If
If old
old Crasweller
Crasweller goes
goes off
off in
in his
his

steam carriage, ho'\v

steam --carriage, how am II to
to go after
after him,

and \v hOIll am II to
whom to ask to
to help to
to bring hin1
him
back again?"
again ?

II ,\yas
was puzzled,
puzzled, but II did
did not
not care to show it.
care to it.
 THE COLLEGE. 191
191

No doubt
doubt a
a hundred little
little arrangements would

be
be necessary
necessary before
before the
the affairs
affairs of
of the
the institution
institution

could
could be
be got
got into a groove so
into a so as
as to
to run steadily.
steadily.

But our
our first
first object
object must be to
to deposit
deposit Cras-
Cras-

weller Tallowax, so
weller and Barnes and Tallowax, so that
that the
the

citizens
citizens should be accustomed to
to the
the fashion
fashion

of
of depositing
depositing the
the aged.
aged. There were,
were, as
as II knew,

two or
or three
three old
old \vomen living in
women living in various
various parts
parts

of
of the
the island,
island, who \vould,
would, in
in due course,
course, come

in
in towards
towards the
the end of
of Crasweller's
Crasweller's year.
year. But
it
it had been rumoured that
that they
they bad
had already
already

begun to
to invent
invent falsehoods
falsehoods as
as to
to their
their age,
age, and

II was aware that

that we might be
be led
led astray
astray by

them.
them. This
This II had been prepared to accept
prepared to accept as
as

being unavoidable;
being unavoidable ; but now, as
as the
the tillle
time gre\v
grew
nearer,
nearer, II could
could not
not but
but see
see how difficult
difficult it
it

,vould
would be
be to
to enforce
enforce the
the la\v
law against
against \vell-known
well-known

men, and how easy

easy to
to allow
allow the
the women to
to

escape by the
escape the help
help of
of falsehood.
falsehood. Exors,
Exors, the
the

lawyer, say at
lawyer, would say at once
once that
that we did
did not
not even

attempt to
to carry
carry out
out the
the la\v;
law; and Barnes,

lunatic
lunatic as
as he pretended to
to be,
be, would be
be very
192
192 THE FIXED PERIOD.

hard to
to ma.nage.
manage. My mind
]\iy nlind misgave TIle
me asas II

thought of
of all
all these
these obstructions,
obstructions, and II felt
felt

that
that II could
could so
so \villingly
willingly deposit
deposit myself at
at

once,
once, and then
then depart
depart \vithout
without waiting for
for my

year of
year of probation.
probation. But it
it \vas
was necessary
necessary that
that

II should
should show a
a determined front to old
front to old Gray-

body,
body, and n1ake feel that
make him feel that II at
at any rate
rate

was determined to
to remain firm
firm to
to my purpose.
purpose.

"" ]\tIr
Mr Cras\veller
Crasweller \vill
will give
give you no such
such trouble
trouble

as
as you suggest,"
suggest," said
said I.
I.

"
cc Perhaps
Perhaps he
he ' has
has COBle
come round."
round."

"He is
is a
a gentleman
cjentleman 'whom
whom \ve
we have both
kno\vn
known intimately
intimately for
for luany
many years,
years, and he has
has

always been aa friend to the

friend to the Fixed Period.
Period. II
believe that
believe that he is
is so
so still,
still, although
although there
there IS
is

some little
little hitch
hitch as
as to
to the
the exact
exact time
time at
at \v hich
which
he should be
be deposited.."
deposited."

"" Just
Just twelve
bvelve months, he
he says."
says."

"" Of course,"
course," II replied,
replied, "the
" the difference
difference would

be
be sure
sure to
to be that of
be that of one
one year.
year. He see~
see' lS
iS to
to

think that
that there
there are
are only
only nine
nine years
years behveen
between
him and me."
me."
 THE COLLEGE. 193
193

Ten, Mr President;
"" Ten, President ten.
ten.
; II kno'
w the
know the tinle
time

,veIl."
well."

"I
" I had a] ways thought so;
always so but II should
but.
; should be
be

willing
willing to
to abandon a if II could make
a year if

things
things run smooth by doing so.
so. But all
all that
that

is
is a
a detail with "7hich
detail with which up here
here ,ve
we need not,
not,

perhaps,
perhaps, concern
concern ourselves."
ourselves."

"Only
" Only the
the time is
is getting
getting very short,
short, lVlr
Mr
President,
President, and illy
my old
old ,voman
woman will
will break down

altogether if
altogether if she's
she's told
told that
that she's
she's to
to live
live an-
an-

other
other year
year all
all alone.
alone. Cras'weller
Crasweller ,von't
won't be a
a

bit
bit readier
readier next year
year than he is
is this;
this and of
of ;

course
course if
if he is
is let
let off,
off, you must let
let off
off Barnes

and Tallowax.
Tallowax. And t.here
there are
are a
a lot
lot of
of old
old

women about ,vho

who are to tell
are beginning to tell terrible
terrible

lies
lies about their
their ages.
ages. Do think of
of it
it all,
all, Mr

President."
President."

II never thought of
of anything else,
else, so
so full
full

was my mind of
of the
the subject.
subject. When II ,yoke
woke
in
in tIw
tl[f3 lllorning, before II could
morning, before could face
face the
the light
light

of
of day,
day, it
it ,vas
was necessary that II should fortify
necessary that fortify

myself ,vith
with Columbus and Galileo.
Galileo. II began
VOL. I.
I. N
 —
;

194:
194 THE FIXED PERIOD.

to
to fancy, as
fancy, as the danger
the danger became
becalue nearer
nearer and
still nearer,
still nearer, that
that neither
neither of
of those
those great
great men
nlen
surrounded by obstructions
had been surrounded obstructions such
such as
as
encolupassed me.
encompassed me. plough on across
To plough across the
the
'waves, and either
waves, either to
to be
be drowned or
or succeed
succeed;
to tell
to tell aa 11e,v truth about
new truth about the
the lieavens,
heavens, and
either to
either to perish
perish or
or beconle great
become great for
for ever
ever!- !

either
either ,vas within
was within the
the compass
compass of
of aa man who
,vho
had only
had only his
his own life
life to risk.
to risk. l\ly life, — how
My life,-ho,v
,villingly could
willingly could II run any risk,
risk, did but the
did but the
question arise of
question arise risking it
of risking it ! How
Ho,v often
! often II felt,
felt,

in these days,
in these that there
days, that there is
is a
a fortitude
fortitude needed

by luan
man much greater than that
greater than that of jeopardising
of jeopardising

his
his life!
life ! Life!
Life ,vhat
! is it?
what is it ? Here ,vas
was that
that

poor
poor Cras,veller,
Crasweller, belying
belying hinlself
himself and all
all his
his

convictions just to
convictions just to gain of it,
gain one year more of it,

and then \vhen

when the
the year
year \vas
was gone he ,vould
would
still
still have his
his deposition
deposition before
before him!
him ! Is
Is it
it

not
not so
so with
with us
us all?
all? For me II feel,
feel, - have —
felt
felt for years, —
for years,-tempted
tempted to
to rush on,
on, and pass

through the
through the gates
gates of
of death.
death. That man should
shudder at
at the
the thought of it does
of it does not appear
 THE COLLEGE. 195
195

amiss to
to me. The unknown future
future is always
IS always

awful; and the

the unknown future
future of
of another
another

,vorld, to be approached by so
world, to so great
great a
a change

of —
of circumstances, - by the
the loss
loss of
of our
our very
very

flesh
flesh and blood and body itself,-has
itself, has in—
in it
it

something so
so fearful
fearful to
to the
the imagination
imagination that
that

the man who thinks of

of it
it cannot but be
be struck
struck

with horror as
as he acknowledges that
that by him-

self too it
self too it has to
to be encountered.
encountered. But it
it has
has

to
to be encountered;
encountered and though the
; the change be

awful,
awful, it
it should not therefore;
therefore, by the
the sane
sane

judgment, be taken as
as a
a change necessarily
necessarily

for
for the
the worst.
worst. I(nowing
Knowing the
the great
great goodness

of the Almighty, should ,ve

of the not be
we not be prepared
prepared
to
to accept
accept it
it as
as a
a change probably
probably for the
for the

better; as
better; as an alteration
alteration of
of our
our circumstances,
circumstances,

by ,vhich our condition

which our be itumeasurably
condition may be immeasurably
improved? one is
Then one driven back to
is driven to con-
con-
sider the circumstances
sider the circumstances by,vhich
by such change
which such change
Dlay be
may be eftected.
effected. To me it rational to
it seems rational to
suppose that
suppose that as
as leave this
we leave this body so
so shall
shall
,ve enter
we enter that ne'v phase
that new phase of
of life
life in
in which we
196
196 THE FIXED PERIOD.

are
are destined
destined to
to live
live ;-but —
but \vith
:
with all
all our
our higher

resolves
resolves somewhat sharpened,
sharpened, and \vith
with our

lower
lower passions,
passions, alas!
alas ! l1lade
made stronger
stronger also.
also.

That theory
theory by 'which
which aa human being
being shall
shall

jump at
at once
once to
to a
a perfection
perfection of
of bliss,
bliss, or
or fall
fall

to an eternity
to eternity of
of evil
evil and nlisery,
misery, has
has never

found credence
credence \vith
with me.
me. For myself,
myself, II have

to
to say
say that,
that, while acknow lec1ging my many
acknowledging

drawbacks, II have so
dra\vbacks, so lived
lived as
as to
to endeavour

to
to do
do good to
to others,
others, rather
rather than evil,
evil, and that
that
therefore
therefore II look
look to
to my departure
departure from this
this

\vorld
world \vith
with a\ve indeed, but
awe indeed, but still
still \vith
with satisfac-
satisfac-

tion.
tion. But II cannot look
look \vith
with satisfaction
satisfaction to
to

aa condition
condition of
of life
life in
in \vhich, my o\vn
which, from nly own
inlbecility,
imbecility, II must necessarily
necessarily retrograde
retrograde into
into

selfishness.
selfishness. It
It may be
be that
that He who judges
judges
of
of us
us \vith
with aa wisdonl
wisdom \V hich II cannot approach,
which approach,

shall take
shall take all
all this
this into
into account,
account, and that
that He

shall
shall so
so mould my future
future being as
as to
to fit
fit it
it

to
to the best
the best at
at which II had arrived
arrived in
in this
this

\vorld;
world ; still
still I
I cannot
cannot but
but fear
fear that
that a
a taint
taint of
of

that
that selfishness
selfishness \vhich
which II have hitherto
hitherto avoided,
avoided.
 THE COLLEGE. 197
197

but which
but ·which will
will come if I allow
if I allow myself
myself to
to be-
be-
COl1le old,
come old, may
rnay remain,
remain, and that
that it
it will
,vill be
better for
better for that II should
me that should go
go hence while
,vhile
as yet
as yet my own
o,vn poor 'v ants are
poor wants are not
not altogether
altogether
uppermost in
uppermost in my mind. But then,then, in
in arrang-
arrang-

ing matter, II am arranging

this matter,
ing this arranging it for my
it for
fello·w-citizens,
fellow -citizens, and not
not for
for myself.
myself. II have
to
to endeavour to
endeavour to think
think how
ho,v Crasweller's
Crasweller's mind
Inay be
may be affected than my own.
rather '"*than
affected rather He
dreads his departure
dreads his with aa trembling,
departure with trembling, currish
currish

fear and II should

fear; ; hardly be
should hardly be doing good to
to
were II to
him ,vere to force to depart
force him to depart in
in a
a frame

of
of mind so poor and piteous.
so poor piteous. But then,
then, again,
again,

neither
neither is it
is it altogether
altogether of
of Crasweller that II
Crasweller that

think, —
must think,-not
not of
of Cras,Yeller
Crasweller or
or of
of myself.
myself.

Ho,v will the

How ,vill the coming ages
ages of
of men be
be affected
affected

as II propose,
by such aa change as propose, should such

aa change become the

the normal condition
condition of
of

Death ~? Can it
it not
not be
be brought about that
that

n1en
men should arrange
arrange for
for their
their o\vn
own departure,
departure,

so
so as
as to
to fall
fall into
into no senile
senile ,veakness,
weakness, no

slippered
slippered selfishness,
selfishness, no ugly
ugly ,vhinings
winnings of
of un-
Ull-
198
198 THE FIXED PERIOD.
TIlE

defined "want,
rant, before
before they shall
shall go
go hence,
hence, and

be no more thought
thouc^ht of
of 1
? These are
are the
the

ideas that have actuated

actuated nle,
me, and to
to them

II have been brought by seeing

seeing the
the conduct

of those around nle.

me. Not
l^ot for
for Cras\veller,
Crasweller,

or
or Barnes, or
or Tallo\vax,
Tallowax, \vill this thing
will this thing be

good, -— nor for

good, for those
tliose old
old wonlen ,vho
women wlio are
are

already lying about

about their
their ages
ages in
in their
their cot-
cot-

tages, —
tages,-nor
nor for
for nlyself,
myself, \vho
wlio am,
am, II know, too
too

apt to
to boast
boast of
of myself,
myself, that
that even though

old
old age
age should come upon me, II may be

able to
to avoid the
the \vorst
worst of
of its
its effects;
effects but ;

for those untold generations

for those generations to
to come,
come, \vhose
whose
lives be modelled
lives may be nl0delled for the
for them under the

knowledge that
that at
at a
a certain
certain Fixed Period

they shall
shall depart hence with
depart hence \vith all
all circumstances
circumstances

of honour and glory.

of glory.

II \vas, however, quite

was, however, quite aware that it
a\vare that it ,vould
would
be useless
be useless to
to spend
spend my energy
energy in
in dilating
dilating on

this to
this to Mr
l\ir Graybody.
Graybody. simply was willing
He simply willing
to shuffle
to shuffle off
off his
his mortal
mortal coil,
coil, because
because he found
he found
it uncomfortable
it uncomfortable in
in the
the weariDc^.
\vearing. In all likeli- .,
all likeli-
 THE COLLEGE. 199
199

hood,
hood, had his
his tilne
time come as
as nigh as that of
as that of

Crasweller,
Crasweller, he too,
too, like
like Crasweller,
Crasweller, ·would
would im-
potently
potently implore the
the grace
grace of
of another year.
year.

He 'would
would ape madness like
like Barnes,
Barnes, or
or arm

hin1self
himself with a
a carving - knife like
carving-knife like Tallowax,
Tallowax,

or
or swear that
that there
there 'was
was aa fla\v
flaw in
in the
the la\v,
law,

as
as Exors \vas
was disposed to do.
disposed to do. He too
too \vould
would
clamorously swear that
that he was much younger,
younger,

as did the
as did the old
old ,vomen.
women. 'Vas
Was not the
the ,vorld
world
peopled by Craswellers,
peopled Craswellers, Tallo\vaxes,
Tallowaxes, Exorses,
Exorses,

and old
old women
women?1 Had II aa right
right to
to hope to
to

alter the feelings

alter feelings 'v hich nature herself
which herself had

implanted in
in the
the minds of
of men
men?1 But still
still it
it

practice, -— by
might be done by practice, by practice;
practice; if
if

only ,ve
we could
could arrive
arrive at
at the
the time
time in
in ,vhich
which
practice
practice should have become practice.
practice. Then,
Then, as
as

II ,vas to depart from the

was about to the door
door of
of Gray-
Gray-

body's house,
house, II whispered to again the
to myself again the

names of
of Galileo
Galileo and Col urn bus.
Columbus.

"" You think that

that he \vill
will come on the
the thir-
thir-

tieth 1" said

tieth?" said Graybody, as
as he took
took my hand at
at

-. parting.
parting.
200 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"" II think,"
think," replied
replied I,
I, "
" that
that you and I,
I, as
as loyal
loyal

citizens
citizens of
of the
the Republic,
Eepublic, are
are bound to
to suppose
suppose

that
that he \vill
will do his
his duty as
as a
a citizen."
citizen." Then II
\vent,
went, leaving
leaving hiln
him standing in
in doubt at
at his
his

door.
door.

END
E ND OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

PRINTED
PRI~'l'ED BY WILLIA5I BLACKW OOD AND SONS.
W ILLI A:\I BLACKWOOD S ONS,
 . T ,
\

THE FIXED PEEIOD

PERIOD
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED LV
IN 'ELACKWOOD'S
'BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE'
THE FIXED PEEIOD
THE FIXED PERIOD

AA NOVEL
lVOVEL

BY
BY

TROLLOPE
ANTHONY TEOLLOPE

TWO VOLUMES
IN T\VO

VOL. II.
11.

WILLIAM BLACK\YOOD
\YILLIA1\I AND SONS
BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND
EDINBURGH LONDON
AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXII
MD C CCLXXXII

All
All Rights
Rights reserved
reserved
 I

VOL. II.
CONTENTS OF ·TOL. II.

CHAP.
CHA P. PAGE

VII. COLUllIBUS AND GALILEO, 1

VIII. THE "JOHN BRIGHT," 32
IX. THE NEW GOVERNOR, 69
X. THE TOWN-HALL, 106
XI. FAREWELL! . 137
XII. OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND, 171
 THE FIXED PERIOD.

CHAPTEE ·VII.
CHAPTER VII.

COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.

I HAD left
I left \vith aa lie
Graybody with lie on
on my
illy tongue.
tongue.
I said
I that II
said that was bound to
was to suppose
suppose that
that Cras-
Cras-
\veller
weller his duty
would do his duty as
as aa citizen,
citizen,-by
by —
\vhich I had meant
which I meant Graybody
Graybody to
to understand
understand
that II expected
that expected my
Illy old
old friend
friend to
to submit
submit to
to
deposition.
deposition. Now
Now II expected
expected nothing
nothing of
of the
the
kind, and
kind, and it grieved
it grieved me
me to
to think that II should
think that should
be driven
be driven to
to such
such false
false excuses.
excuses. II began
began to
to
doubt whether my
doubt whether my mind
mind would
\vould hold
hold its proper
its proper
bent under
bent under the
the strain
strain thus
thus laid
laid upon
upon it,
it, and
and to
to
VOL.
VOL. IL
II. AA
2
2 THE FIXED PERIOD.

ask
ask myself
myself 'whether
whether II ,vas
was in
in all respects sane
all respects sane

in entertaining
in the ideas
entertaining the ideas 'v
which filled mv
hich filled my mind.
mind.
Galileo and
Galileo —
and Columbus,-Galileo
Columbus, Galileo Colulubus!
and Columbus!
II endeavoured to comfort
endeavoured to myself with these
comfort myself these
names, — but in
names,-but in a
a vain,
vain, delusive lllanner; and
delusive manner ;

used them constantly,

though II used constantly, II was begin-
begin-
ning
ning absolutely to hate
absolutely to hate tliem.
them. Why could
\Vhy could II
not return
not to
return to wool-shed, and be
my wool-shed, be contented
contented
among my
nly bales,
bales, and nly ships, and my credits,
my ships, credits,
as II
as was of yore, before
of j'ore, before this
this theory
theory took
took total
total
possession of
possession of me 1? II ,vas
was doing good
good then.
then. I
I

no one.
robbed no one. II assisted
assisted very
very many in
in their
their
,valks
walks of
of life.
life. II ,vas
was happy in the praises
in the praises of
of
all
all my fellow-citizens.
fellow -citizens. My health
health was good,
good,
and II had ample scope for my energies
scope for then,
energies then,

even as now.
as now. But there
there came on me aa day
day of
of
success, —
success, - a
a day,
day, shall
shall II say,
say, of
of glory or of
glory or of
\vretchedness?
wretchedness ? or
or shall
shall II not truly say
not most truly say

of
of both ? —
both 1-and persuaded my
and II persuaded nly fello'w-citizens
fellow-citizens

to undertake this
to undertake this sad
sad work of the Fixed
of the Fixed Period.
Period.

From that
that moment all
all quiet
quiet had left me, and
left me,

all
all happiness.
happiness. Still, it
Still, it is
is not necessary that
not necessary that
 COLUMBUS AND
A,ND GALILEO. 3
3

aa man should be happy.

should be happy. II doubt
doubt whether

Coosar
Caesar was happy with all those enemies
all those enemies around
him, —
him,-Gauls,
Gauls, and Britons,
Britons, and Romans.
Eomans. If
If a
a

man be
be doing
doing his duty, let
his duty, not think
let him not think too
too
of that
much of that condition
condition of
of mind which he
he calls
calls

happiness.
happiness. Let him despise happiness and do
despise happiness do
his duty,
his duty, and he
he will
will in
in one sense
sense be
be happy.

But if
if there
there creep
creep upon him a
a doubt as to his
as to his
duty, if
duty, if he once begin to
once begin to feel that he
feel that he per-
may per-
haps be
be 'vrong, then fare'well
wrong, then farewell all peace of
all peace of mind,
mind,
—
-then
then ,vill
will come that
that condition
condition in a
in which a

man is
is tempted to
to ask himself
himself whether
whether he
he be
in truth of
in truth of sane mind.
mind.
What should II do next?
"What next? The cricketing
cricketing

Englishmen, II knew, were gOIng.

knew, ,vere going. Two or
or
three
three days more would see their gallant
see their gallant ship
ship

steam out
out of the harbour.
of the harbour. returned in
As II returned in

my cab
cab to
to the
the city,
city, I
I could
could see
see the
the English
English

colours
colours fluttering
fluttering froln her topmast,
from her the
topmast, and the
flag
flag of the English cricket-club
of the cricket-club waving from
her stern.
stern. But II knew ,veIl
well that
that they had

discussed the
discussed the question
question of the Fixed Period
of the Period
 —

4 THE FIXED PERIOD.

:llnong them, and that

among them, that there
there was
\vas still tiule for
still time for
th81l1
them toto go home and send back some English
English
luandate which
mandate \vhich ought to
to be
be inoperative,
inoperative, but
but
\vhich we
which \ve should be
be unable
unable to
to disobey.
disobey. And
letters
letters Inight written before
might have been written before this,
this,-
treacherous letters,
letters, calling
calling for the assistance
for the assistance

of another country in
of in opposition to the
opposition to the coun-
conn-
cils of
cils of their
their own.

But what should II do next?

next 1 II could
could not
not
enforce the la\v m ctet ar1nis
law vi armis against
against Cras\veller.
Crasweller.

II had sadly but surely

surely ackno\vledged
acknowledged so
so much

as that to
as to myself
myself. But II thought that II had
thought that
seen signs
signs of relenting about the
of relenting the man,
man,-some—
some
sylnptonls
symptoms ofof sadness \vhich seemed to
sadness which to bespeak
bespeak
a yielding spirit.
spirit. He only asked for a year.
for a year.
He was
\vas still
still in theory aa supporter of
in theory the Fixed
of the

Period, —
Period,-pleading his o\vn
pleading his own little
little cause, ho\vever,
cause, however,

by a direct falsehood.
a direct falsehood. not talk
Could II not talk him
hilU
into
into a generous assent
assent 1
? There would still be
still be

aa year for him.

for him. And in old days there
in old there had
been aa spice
spice of manliness in
of manliness his bosom, to
in his to
which it
it Blight be possible
might be that II should
possible that
 COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO. 55

bring
bring him
him back.
back. Though
Though the
the hope
hope ,vas
was
poor, it
poor, it seemed
seemed at
at present
present to
to be
be my
my only
only-

hope.
hope.

As II returned,
returned, II came round by the
the quays,
quays,

dropping my cab at
dropping at the
the corner
corner of
of the
the street.
street.

There ,vas
was the cro'wd
crowd of
of Englishmen,
Enc^lishmen, all
all going
goinix

off to the vessel

off vessel to
to see
see their
their bats
bats and bicycles
bicycles

disposed of,
of, and among them ,vas
was Jack the
the hero.
hero.

They were standing at

at the
the water's-edge,
water's-edge, 'v hile
while

three
three long-boats
long-boats were being prepared
prepared to
to take
take
them off.
off. "Here's the
the President,"
President," said
said Sir
Sir

J{ennington Oval; "he

Kennington Oval has not
" he has
; not seen
seen our
our yacht
yacht
yet: let
yet: let board with
him come on board ,vith us."
us," They
They
were very
were very gracious so
gracious; so ; I got
I got into
into one boat,
one boat, and
and
Jack into
Jack into another,
another, and old
old Crasweller,
Crasweller, who had
had
come with
come with his
his guests
guests from Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch,
into the
into third;
the third ; were pulled
and we were pulled off
off to
to the
the
yacht.
yacht. Jack, II perceived,
Jack, perceived, was
was quite at
quite at home
home
there.
there. He
He had
had dined
dined there
there frequently,
frequently, and
and had
had
slept
slept on board;
on board; but
but to
to me and
me and Crasweller
Crasweller it
it
was altogether
was altogether new.
new. " Yes,"
" Yes," said
said Lord
Lord Maryle-
l\1ary le-
bone; ""if
bone if aa fellow
; fellow is to
is to make
n1ake his
his home
home for
for aa
6
6 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

nlonth upon
month upon the
the seas,
seas, it
it is
is as
as well
\vell to
to make it
it as
as
comfortable as
comfortable as possible.
possible. of us
Each of us has
has his
his
crib, with
own crib, bath to
\vith aa bath to himself,
himself, and all
all the
the
et-ceteras.
et-ceteras. This
This is \ve feed.
is where we feed. I t is
It is not
not
altogether aa
altogether bad ' shop
bad shop for
for grubbing."
grubbing." As II
looked round
looked round II thought that II had never
thought that never seen
seen
anything more palatial
anything palatial and beautiful.
beautiful. " This
"This

is where
is \vhere we
\ve pretend
pretend to
to sit,"
sit," continued
continued the
the lord;
lord;
"" where we are supposed to
are supposed to write
\vrite our
our letters
letters
and read
and read our
our books.
books. this," he
And this," he said,
said, open-
open-
ing another
ing door,"" is
another door, \vhere
is where really sit,
we really sit, and
s"
moke our
smoke our pipes,
pipes, and drink
drink our
our brandy-and-
brandy-and-
water.
water. We came out
out under
under the
the rule
rule of that
of that
tyrant
tyrant ICing
King MacNuffery. We
'Ve mean
Inean to
to go
go
back as
back as a
a republic.
republic. And I,
I, as being the
as being the only
only

lord,
lord, mean to
to elect myself president.
elect myself president. You
couldn't give
couldn't give me any wrinkles
wrinkles as to aa pleasant
as to pleasant

mode of
of governing?
governing ? Everybody is
is to
to be allowed

to do
to do exactly
exactly what he pleases,
pleases, and nobody is
is

to
to be
be interfered
interfered with unless
unless he interferes
interferes \vith
with

somebody else.
else. We mean to
to take a
a wrinkle

from you fellows

fellows in
in ~ritallnula,
Britannula, \vhere
where every-
 COLUMBUS AND GALILEO. 7
7

body seems,
body seems, under
under your
your presidency,
presidency, to
to be
be as
as
happy as
as the
the day
day is
is long."
lang."
have no
"We have no Upper House with us, my lord,"
with us, lord,"
said
said I.
I.

"You
" have got
You have got rid,
rid, at
at any rate,
rate, of
of one
one ter-
ter-
rible bother.
rible bother. I daresay
I daresay 'we shall
we shall drop
drop it
it before
before
long in England.
long in England. ~ don't
I don't see
see wby we should
why
continue to
continue to sit merely
sit merely to
to register
register the
the edicts
edicts
of the
of the of Commons,
House of COlnmons, and be
be told that
told that
we're aa pack
we're pack of
of fools
fools V\re hesitate."
when we hesitate." I
I

told
told that it
him that it was the
the unfortunate
unfortunate destiny
destiny
of aa
of of Lords to
House of to be
be made to
to see
see her
her
unfitness for
own unfitness for legislative
legislative work.
'vork.
(( But if
"But if we were
were abolished,"
abolished," continued he,
he,

"then
" then I
I might get
get into the other
into the place and do
other place do
something.
something. You have
have to
to be
be elected
elected a Peer of
a Peer of
Parliament,
Parliament, or can sit
or you can nowhere.
sit nowhere. A ship
ship

can only be
be a
a ship,
ship, after
after all;
all but if
if 'we
; we must
live in
live in a
a ship,
ship, 'we
we are not so
are not so bad here.
here. Come
and take
take some tiffin."
tiffin." An Englishman, when
he
he comes to
to our
our side of the
side of the globe,
globe, always calls
calls

his
his lunch tiffin.
tiffin.
8
8 PERIOD.
THE FIXED PERIOD.

I
I ,vent back
went back to
to the
the other
other room
roonl with
with Lord
~Iarylebone; and as
jMarylebone and as II took
; took place at
my place at the
the
table, II heard
table, that the
heard that the assembled
asselnbled cricketers
cricketers
,vere
were all discussing
all discussing the
the Fixed
Fixed Period.
Period.
"I'd be
" I'dbe shot,"
shot," said
said 1\fr Puddlebrane, "" if
Mr Puddlebrane, if they
they
should deposit
should deposit me,
me, and bleed
bleed Ine to
me to death,
death, and
cremate
cremate like aa big
me like big pig."
pig." he per-
Then he per-
ceived that II had entered
ceived that entered the
the saloon,
saloon, and there
there
came aa sudden silence
silence across
across the
the table.
table.
"'Vhat sort of
"What sort of wind
,vind will
,vill be
be blowing
blowing next
next
Friday at
Friday at two
t,vo o'clock
o'clock 1"
?
asked Sir
" asked Sir Lords
Lords Long-
Long-
stop.
stop.

It
It was evident that
evident that Sir
Sir Lords
Lords had only
only
endeavoured to
endeavoured to change the
the conversation be-
conversation be-

cause of my presence;
cause of presence and it did not
it did
; not suit
suit me

to
to allow
allow theln
them to think that
to think that II ,vas
was afraid to
afraid to

talk
talk of the Fixed Period.
of the Period. Why should
"" 'Vhy should you
object
object to cremated, :1\fr
to be cremated, Mr Puddlebrane/'
Puddlebrane," said
said

I,
I, ",vhether
" whether like
like a big pig
a big pig or
or otherwise?
otherwise ? It
It

has
has not
not been suggested that
that anyone
any one shall
shall cre-
cre-

mate you while

while alive."
alive."

"" Because my father

father and mother were buried.
buried.
 COLUMBUS AND GALILEO. 9

And all
all the
the Puddlebranes were always buried.
buried.

There are
are they,
they, all
all to
to be seen
seen in
in Puddlebrane

Church, and II should like

like to
to appear among

them."
them."

"I
" I suppose it's
it's only their
their names that
that ap-
ap-

pear,
pear, and not
not their
their bodies,
bodies, Mr Puddlebrane.

And aa cremated man may have as

as big
big a
a tonl
tomb-b-
stone as
as though he had been allowed
allowed to
to become

rotten
rotten in
in the
the orthodox fashion."
fashion."

"" What
vVha t Puddle brane means is,"
Puddlebrane is," said
said another,
another,

that he'd like

""that to have the
like to the same chance of
chance of

living as his ancestors."

as his ancestors."

"" If he will
will look back to
to his
his family
family records
records
will find
he will that they
find that they very
very generally
generally died
died
before sixty -- eight.
before sixty eight. have no
But we have no idea
idea
of invading
of invading your Parliament and forcing
and our
forcing our

laws upon you."

laws you."
"Take a glass
" Take a glass of
of wine,
'wine, Mr President,"
President," said
said
leave Puddlebrane
Lord Marylebone, "and leave Puddlebrane to
to

his ancestors.
his ancestors. He's aa very
He's very good Slip,
Slip, though
thongh
didn't catch
he didn't he got
catch Jack when he got aa chance.
chance.
Allow me to bit of
to recommend you aa bit of ice-
ice-
10 THE FIXED PERIOD.

pudding.
pudding. The mangoes came from Jamaica,
Jamaica,
and are
and are as
as fresh
fresh as the day they
as the they were
were picked."
picked."
II ate but II did
ate my mango-pudding, but did not enjoy
enjoy

it, for
it, for II ,vas
was sure that the
sure that the ,yhole crew 'v
whole cre,Y ere
were

returning to
returning to England laden with prejudices
prejudices
against the
against the Fixed Period.
Period. As soon
soon as
as II could
could
escape, II got
escape, got back to
back to the
the shore, leaving Jack
shore, leaving

anlong my enemIes.
among enemies. It
It was impossible not
impossible not

to feel that
to feel were my enemies,
they were
that they enemies, as I was
as I

sure that
sure they ,vere
that they were about to
to oppose the
the cher-
cher-
ished conviction
ished conviction of
of my very
very heart
heart and soul.
soul.

Crasweller had sat

Crasweller there perfectly
sat there perfectly silent while
silent while

l\fr
Mr Puddlebrane had spoken of
of his
his own pos-
pos-
sible
sible cremation.
cremation. yet Crasweller
And yet Crasweller ,vas
was aa
declared
declared Fixed-Periodist.
Fixed-Periodist.

On the
the Friday,
Friday, at t,yO o'clock,
at two the vessel
o'clock, the vessel
sailed
sailed amidst all the
amidst all plaudits which could
the plaudits could be
be
given by mingled
mingled kettle-drums
kettle-drunls and trumpets,
trumpets,
and by a
a salvo
salvo of
of artillery.
artillery. They were as
as
a
good a set of
set of fello,Ys
fellows as
as ever
ever wore pink-flannel
wore pink-flannel
clothing,
clothing, and as
as generous
generous as that there
as any that there
are born to
are born to live
live upon pate and
jpdte champagne. I
I
 "

COLUMBUS AND
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
GALILEO. 11
11

doubt whether
doubt whether there
there was
\vas one
one among
among them
them who
who
could have
could have earned
earned his
his bread
bread in
in aa counting-
counting-
house, unless
house, unless it was
it 'was Stumps
Stunlps the
the professional.
professional.
When we
When we had
had paid
paid all
all honour
honour to
to the
the departing
departing
vessel, II went
vessel, went at
at once
once to
to Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch,
and there
and there II found
found my friend
my friend in
in the
the verandah
verandah
\vith Eva.
with Eva. During the
During the last month or
last or two
t,vo he
he
seemed
seemed to be
to be older than
much older than II had ever
ever
before
before him, and
known him, and was now seated
seated with
with
his daughter's
his daughter's hand within
hand within his
his own.
own. I
I not
had not

seen
seen him since
since the
the day on
on board
board the
the yacht,
yacht,
and
and he
he now seemed to
to be greyer and more
more
haggard
haggard than
than he
he \vas
was then.
then. "Crasweller,"
" Crasweller," said
said

I,
I, taking
taking him by
by the
the hand,
hand, "it
" it is
is a
a sad thing

that
that you
you and
and II should
should quarrel
quarrel after
after so
so many

years
years of
of perfect
perfect friendship."
friendship."

" So
*'
So it
it is;
is so
so it
; it is.
is. II don't
don't want to
to quarrel,
quarrel,

Mr
Mr President."
President."

"There
"There shall
shall be
be no
no quarrel.
quarrel. Well,
Well, Eva,
Eva,

how do
how do you
you bear
bear the
the loss
loss of
of all
all your
your English
English

friends?
friends ? "

"The
"The loss
loss of
of my
my English
English fri ends won't
friends won't hurt
hurt
12
12 THE FIXED PERIOD.

me if
if I
I can
can only
only keep those ,vhich
keep those which II used
used to
to
have in
in Britannula."
Britannula." II doubted whether she
doubted whether she
alluded to
alluded to me or to Jack.
or to Jack. It might be
It might be only to
to
me, but II thought
me, but thought she
she looked
looked as
as if
if she were
she were

thinking of Jack.
thinking of Jack.

"Eva,
" Eva, my dear,"
dear," said
said 1\11' Crasweller, "you
Mr Crasweller, " you

better leave
had better us.
leave us. The President, I think,
President, I think,
,vishes
wishes to
to speak to me on
speak to on business."
business." Then
she
she came up and looked
looked me in the face,
in the face, and

pressed
pressed my
n1y hand,
hand, and II knew that
that she
she ,vas
was
asking
asking for
for mercy for her father.
for her father. The feeling
feeling

'vas
was not pleasant, seeing
not pleasant, that II ,vas
seeing that was bound by
the strongest
the strongest oath
oath ,vhich the
which the can con-
mind can con-
ceive
ceive not to show him luercy.
not to mercy.

II sat
sat for
for a
a fe,v
few minutes in
in silence,
silence, thinking
thinking

that as
that as 1\11'
Mr Crasweller
Crasweller had banished Eva, he
Eva, he

,vould
would begin.
begin. But he
he said nothing, and ,vould
said nothing, would
remained
have remained silent had II allo,ved
silent had to do
allowed him to do
so.
so. "C1'asweller,"
" Crasweller," I
I said,
said, "it
" it is
is certainly not
certainly not

,veIl that you and II should quarrel

well that quarrel on this
this
matter.
matter. In your company II first
first learned to
learned to

entertain this project,

entertain this project, and for
for years
years ,ve have
we have
 COLUMBUS AND
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
GALILEO. 13
13

agreed that
agreed that in
in it is to
it is to be
be found
found the
the best
best means
means
for
for remedying the
remedying the condition
condition of
of mankind."
mankind."
"II
" had not
had not felt
felt then
then what
'what it
it is
is to
to be
be treated
treated
as one
as one was already
who was already dead."
dead."
"
"Does
" Does Eva treat so ??"
treat you so
(( Yes; with
"Yes; with all
all her
her tenderness
tenderness and all
all her
her
s\yeet love,
sweet feels that
love, Eva feels that my days
days are
are num-
nun1-
bered
bered unless
unless I
I will
will boldly
boldly declare
declare myself
myself

opposed to
opposed to your
your theory.
theory. already regards
She already regards
as though
me as though II were
\vere aa visitant
visitant from the
the other
other
,,~orld.
world. very gentleness
Her very is intolerable."
gentleness is intolerable."
"But,
"But, Crasweller, the convictions
Crasweller, the convictions of
of your

mind cannot be changed."

cannot be changed."

"I
" I do
do not
not know. II \vill not say that any
will not

change
change has
has taken
taken place.
place. But it
it is
is certain
certain that

convictions
convictions bec0r.ne
become vague when they operate
against
against one's
one's self.
self. The desire
desire to
to live
live is
is human,

and
and therefore
therefore God-like.
God-like. vVhen
When the
the hand of
of

God is
is felt
felt to
to have struck
struck one with coming

death,
death, the
the sufferer,
sufferer, knowing the
the blo\y
blow to
to be

inevitable,
inevitable, can
can reconcile
reconcile himself; but it
it is
is

very
very hard
hard to
to walk a\vay
away to
to one's
one's long rest
rest
 ;

U
14: THE FIXED PERIOD.

",hile
while health,
health, and work,
work, and means of happi-
of happi-

ness yet
ness yet remain."
remain."

There ,,'as
was something In this 'which
in this which seemed
to
to me to that he
to imply that he had abandoned the
the
'weak
weak assertion
assertion as to his
as to his age, no longer
age, and no longer
intended
intended to
to ask
ask for
for a year of
a year of grace the use
grace by the use
of that
of that falsehood.
falsehood. But it
it was necessary that II
necessary that

should be
be sure of this.
sure of this. "As to your exact
" As to exact age,
age,

I've
I've been looking
looking at the records/'
at the records," II began.
began.
"The
" The records
records are
are right
right enough," he said;
enough," he said

"you need trouble

trouble yourself
yourself no longer
longer about
about

the records.
records. Eva and II have discussed
discussed all
all

that."
that." From this
this I
I became a\vare that Eva had
aware that

convinced him of the baseness

of the baseness of the falsehood.
of the falsehood.
"Then there is
" Then there the la\v,"
is the law," said I; with,
said T, with, as
as II
felt,
felt, unflinching
unflinching hardness.
hardness.

"Yes,
" Yes, there
there is
is the law,—
the la\v,-if
if it be aa law.
it be law. l\fr
Mr
Exors is
is prepared to it, and says
to dispute it, that
says that

he will
will ask permission to
to argue the
the case out
case out

\vi
withth th
thee execu ti ve."
executive."

"He would argue about anything.

anything. You
know what Exors is."
is."
 COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO. 15
15

"And
"And there
there is
is that
that poor
poor man
man Barnes
Barnes has
has

gone
gone altogether
altogether out
out of
of his
his mind,
mind, and
and has
has be-
be-

come
come aa drivelling
drivelling idiot"
idiot."

"They
"They told me yesterday that
that he
he was aa
raging lunatic;
lunatic but II learn
; learn from really
really good
good
authority that whether he takes
takes one
one part
part or
or

the other,
other, he is
is only acting."
acting."

"And Tallowax is
is prepared to
to run amuck

against those ,vho

who come to
to fetch
fetch him.
him. He
swears that no one shall
shall lead
lead him up to
to the
the

college."
college."

"
cc And you
you?"
?
" Then there
there was
,vas aa pause,
pause, and
and
Crasweller sat
Crasweller sat silent
silent with
with his
his face
face buried
buried in
in
his hands.
his hands. 'vas, at
He was, at any rate,
rate, in
in aa far
far better
better
condition of
condition of for persuasion
mind for persuasion than
than that
that in
in
which II had last
which last found
found him.
him. had given
He had given
the fictitious
up the fictitious year,
year, and had
had acknowledged
acknowledged
that he
that he had
had assented
assented to the
to the doctrine with
doctrine ·with
which he
which he was
was now
now asked
asked to
to comply.
comply. But
But it
it

was aa hard
was hard task
task that
that of
of having
having to
to press
press him
him
under such
under such circumstances.
circunlstances. II thought
thought of
of Eva
Eva
and her
and her despair,
despair, and
and of
of himself
himself with
,vith all
all that
that
 ;

16
16 PERIOD.
THE FIXED PERIOD.

natural desire
natural desire for
for life eager
life eager at
at his
his heart.
heart. II
looked round
looked round and
and saw the
the beauty
beauty of
of the
the scen-
scen-
ery,
ery, and thought
and thought how much worse
worse to
to such
such aa
,vould be
man would be the
the melancholy
melancholy shades
shades of
of the
the
college than even
college than even departure
departure itself.
itself. Aud II am
And alll
not nature hard-hearted.
not by nature hard-hearted. I
I have none of
have of
that steel
that steel and
and fibre
fibre which will
,vill enable
enable aa really
really
strong
strong to stand
man to stand firm
firm by convictions
convictions even
even
,vhen opposed
when his affections.
opposed by his affections. have lib-
To have lib-
erated Crasweller
erated at this
Crasweller at this moment, II would
,vould
have walked
have ,valked off myself, oh, so ,villingly, to the
off myself, oh, so willingly, to the

college
college 1 II was
! tearing my own heart
,vas tearing heart to
to pieces
pieces;
— but
- but I
I Colun1bus and Galileo.
remembered Columbus Galileo.
Neither of
Neither of thenl
them ,vas
was surely
surely ever tried as
ever tried I
as I

was at
,vas this lnoment.
at this moment. But it to be
it had to be done,
done,
or II
or IlluSt yield, and for
must yield, for ever.
ever. If II could
If not
could not

be strong
be to prevail
strong to prevail ,vith
with my o,vn
Iny own friend
friend and

fellow-labourer, —
fello,v-Iabourer,-\vith
with Crasweller,
Crasweller, who 'was
,vho was the
the

first
first to
to come,
come, and ,vho
who should have
have entered
entered the

college
college ,vith
with an heroic grandeur, — how could II
heroic grandeur,-ho,v

even
even desire
desire any other
other to
to immure himself
himself?? ho,v
how
persuade
persuade such
such Illen
men asas Barnes,
Barnes, or
or Tallowax, or
or
 "

COLUMBUS
COLUM BUS AND GALIL EO.
GALILEO. 17
I7

that
that pettifo gger Exors
pettifogger Exors,, to
to be
be led
led quietl
quietlyy up
up
throu gh the
through the street s of
streets of the
the city?
city ? "And
And you?
'^
you ? "
II asked again.
again.

"It
"It is
is for
for you to
to decide."
decide."

The agony ofof that

that mome
moment nt! ! But II think
think
that
that II did
did right.
right. Thoug
Though h my very
very heart was
heart was
bleedi ng, II know that
bleeding, that II did
did right.
right. "For the
the
sake
sake of
of the
the benef its which
benefits which are to accrue
are to to
accrue to
unkno
unknownwn thous ands of
thousands your fellow
of your -creatures,
fellow-creatures,
it
it is your duty to
is your to obey the
the law."
law." This
This II said
said
in
in aa low voice,
voice, still
still holdin
holdingg him by thethe hand.
hand.
II felt
felt at
at the
the mome
moment nt aa great
great love
love for
for him,
him, -
and in
in a
a certai n sense
certain sense admir ation, becau
admiration, se he
because he
had so
so far
far conqu ered his
conquered his fear
fear of
of an unkno wn
unknown
future
future as
as to promise to
to promise to do this
this thing
thing simpl
simplyy
becau se he
because he had said
said that
that he 'would
w^ould do it.
it. There
was no high feelin g as
feeling to future
as to future gener ations of
generations of
his
his fellow -creatures, no
fellow-creatures, no grand
grand idea that he
idea that he was
about
about to perform aa great
to perform great duty for the benefit
for the benefit
of
of mank ind in
mankind in genera l, but
general, but simpl
simplyy the
the notion
notion
that
that as
as he had always
always advoc ated my theory
advocated theory as
as
my friend,
friend, he ,vould not now depar
would not departt from it,
it,

VOL. II.
n. B
 " ;

18
18 THE FIXED PEEIOD.
PERIOD.

let
let the
the cost to himself
cost to himself be
be 'what
what it might.
it might. He
answered me only drawing away his
only by drawing his hand.
hand.
But II felt that in
felt that his heart
in his heart he
he accused of
accused me of

cruelty,
cruelty, and of
of mad adherence to aa theory.
adherence to theory.
"" Should it not be
it not be so,
so, Cras\veller?"
Crasweller ?

"As you please,

please, President."
President."

"But
" But should it not be
it not be so?"
so ? " Then, at great
at great

length, II ,vent
length, went over
over once
once again
again all
all my favourite
favourite

arguments,
arguments, and endeavoured with the whole
with the whole
strength
strength of
of my eloquence to reach
eloquence to reach his
his mind.
mind.
But II knew, as
as II was doing so, that that
so, that that was
all
all in
in vain.
vain. succeeded, — or perhaps Eva
II had succeeded,-or
had done so, — in
done so,- in inducing to repudiate
inducing him to repudiate

the
the falsehood he had endeavoured
falsehood by which he

to
to escape.
escape. But II had not
not in the least
in the least suc-
suc-

ceeded In
in making him see the good which
see the

would come from his

his deposition.
deposition. He was
ready to beconle aa martyr,
to become martyr, because
because in
In years
years
back he
back said that
he had said he ,vould
that he would do so.
so. He
had now left
left it
it for to decide
for me to he
decide whether he

should be
be called to perform his
called upon to his promise
promise;
and I, with an unfeeling
I, with unfeeling pertinacity,
pertinacity, had given
given
 —

COLUMBUS AND GALILEO. 19

19

the case
the case against
against him.
him. That was the
That the light
light in
in
which
which Crasweller looked
Mr Crasweller looked at
at it.
it. "You do
do
not think
not think that
that II cruel 1" II asked.
am cruel?" asked.
"I
"I do,"
do," said
said Cras\veller.
Crasweller. " You ask
"You ask the
the
question,
question, and II answer
and answer you.
you. I do
I do think
think that
that
you are
you are cruel.
cruel. It concerns
It concerns life
life death,-
and death,
that
that is aa matter
is matter of
of course,
course,-and —
it is
and it is the
the life
life
and death
and death of
of your
your most intimate
intimate friend,
friend, of
of

Eva's father, of
Eva's father, of him who years
years since
since came
hither "with
hither with you from
you from another
another country,
country, and
has lived
has with you through
lived with through all the
all the struggles
struggles
and
and all the
all the successes
successes of
of aa long
long career.
career. But you
have
have word, and II will
my word, will not
not depart
depart from
from it, even
it, even

to
to save
save my life.
life. In aa moment ofof 'weakness
weakness II was

tempted to
to aa weak lie.
lie. II will not lie.
will not lie. II will
will not
not
demean myself to claim
myself to a poor
claim a poor year
year of
of life
life by

such means, though II do not lack

do not lack evidence to
evidence to

support
support the
the statement.
statement. II am ready
ready to
to go with

you;"
you " and he rose
; rose up from his
his seat
seat as
as though

intending
intending to
to walk away and be deposited at
be deposited at once.
once.

"" Not now, Crasweller."

Crasweller."

"I
" I shall
shall be
be ready
ready when you may come for
for
20
20 THE FIXED PERIOD.

n1e.
me. II shall
shall not
not again
again leave
leave Illy till II
my home till
have to
to leave
leave it
it for the last
for the time.
last time. Days and
,veeks
weeks mean nothinc^
nothing ,vith no,v. The bitter-
with me now. bitter-
ness of
ness of death has fallen
death has fallen upon me."
me."
Crasweller, II ,vill
"" Crasweller, will come and live with you,
live with you,
and be
be aa brother
brother to
to you,
you, during the
the entire
entire

t'velve months."
twelve

"" No
No; it
it will
; not be
will not be needed.
needed. \vill be
Eva will be
''lith perhaps Jack may come and see
with me, and perhaps see

me, —
though II IllUst
me,-though not allo\v
must not allow Jack to express
to express

the
the \varmth of
warmth of his indignation in
his indignation Eva's hearing.
in Eva's hearing.
perhaps better
Jack had perhaps better leave Britannula for
leave Britannula for
a time,
a tinle, and not COlne back
not come till all shall
till all be over.
shall be over.
Then he may enjoy
enj oy the
the lawns of
of Little
Little Christ-
Christ-
church in
church in peace, —
peace,-unless, perchance, an idea
unless, perchance, idea
should disturb
should disturb him, that he
him, that he has
has been
been put
put into
into
their
their immediate possession
possession by his
his father's
father's act."
act."

Then he got
got up from his
his chair
chair and went
\vent fronl
from

the verandah back into

the the house.
into the house.
As II rose
A.s rose and returned
returned to
to the city, II almost
the city, almost
repented n1yself
repented of what II had done.
myself of II had
it
it in
in my heart
heart to
to go
go back and yield,
yield, and to
to
 ;

COLUMBUS AND
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
GALILEO. 21
21

tell him that

tell that II would
\vould assent
assent to
to the
the abandon-
abandon-
of my whole
ment of whole project.
project. It
It not for
was not for me
to say
to say that
that II would spare my own
\vould spare o\vn friend,
friend, and
and
execute the
execute the law
la\v against
against Barnes
Barnes and Tallowax
Tallowax;
nor was
nor was it for
it for me to
to declare
declare that
that the
the victims
victims
of the
of the first year
first year should
should be
be forgiven.
forgiven. I could
I could
easily let the
easily let the la\v die
law die away,
a\vay, but
but it was
it ,vas not
not in
in
power to
my power to decide
decide that
that it
it should
should fall
fall into
into
partial
partial abeyance.
abeyance. This II almost
This almost did.
did. But

when II had
had turned on my road
turned on road to
to Little
Little
Christchurch, and
Christchurch, and ,vas prepared to
was prepared to throw
thro\v my-
self into Crasweller's
self into Crasweller's arms, the idea
arms, the idea of Galileo
of Galileo

and
and Columbus,
Columbus, and their
their ultimate
ultimate success,
success, again

filled
filled my bosom.
bosom. The moment had now come
in
in which II luight
might succeed.
succeed. The first
first man was

ready to go
ready to go to
to the
the stake,
stake, and II had felt
felt all
all

along that
along that the
the great
great difficulty
difficulty would be in
in ob-
ob-

taining
taining the
the willing
willing assent of the
assent of the first
first martyr.
martyr.

It
It might \vell
well be
be that
that these
these accusations
accusations of
of

cruelty were aa part

cruelty \vere part of
of the
the suffering
suffering without

\vhich
which my great
great reform
reform could
could not
not be carried
carried

to
to success.
success. Though II should
should live
live to
to be ac-
ac-
 ;

22 THE FIXED PERIOD.

counted as
counted as cruel
cruel as
as Coosar,
Caesar, ,vbat
what ,vould that be
would that be
if
if I
I too
too could reduce my Gaul to
could reduce to civilisation
civilisation??
"
cc Dear Crasweller,"
Crasweller," II murmured to
to myself
myself as
as
II turned
turned again towards Gladstonopolis,
again towards Gladstonopolis, and

hurrying back,
back, buried myself in
buried myself the obscurity
in the obscurity

. of
of the
the executive
executive chanlbers.
chambers.

The follo,ving
following day occurred
occurred a
a 1110st disagree-
most disagree-
scene in
able scene in my o,Yn house at
own house at dinner.
dinner. Jack
came in
in and took
took his
his chair
chair at the table
at the table in
in grim
grim
silence.
silence. It might be
It might be that
that he
he ,vas lanlenting
was lamenting
for his English friends
for his friends 'v
whoho were
were gone,
gone, and
therefore
therefore would not
not speak.
speak. J\irs N everbend,
Mrs Neverbend,
too,
too, ate
ate her dinner without
her dinner without a
a ,vord.
word. I began
I began
to
to fear that presently
fear that presently there
there ,vould be some-
would be some-

thing to
thing be said,-some
to be said, —cause for
some cause for a quarrel;
a quarrel

and as
as is
is customary on such occasions, I en-
occasions, I en-

deavoured to
to become specially
specially gracious
gracious and

communicative. II talked
talked about the
the ship that
ship that

had started
started on its
its homeward
home,vard journey,
journey, and
praised at
praised Lord Marylebone, and laughed at Mr
Puddlebralle; but it
Puddlebrane but; it ,vas to no
was to no effect.
effect. Neither
Neither

\vould Jack nor

would nor Mrs ISTeverbend
N everbend say anything,
say anything,
 " "

COLUMBUS AND
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
GALILEO. 23
23

and they
and they ate their
ate their dinner
dinner gloomily
gloomily till the
till the at-
at-
tendant
tendant left the
left the room.
rOOln. Then Jack
Then Jack began.
began. "I
"I

think
think it right
it right to
to tell
tell you,
you, sir,
sir, that
that there's
there's going
going
to
to be aa public
be public meeting
meeting on
on the
the Town Flags
Town Flags the
the
day
day after to-morrow."
after to-morrow." Flags was
The Town Flags was
an open
an open unenclosed
unenclosed place,
place, over
over which,
which, sup-
sup-
ported by
ported by arches,
arches, was
was erected
erected the
the Hall.
Town Hall.
It was
It was here
here that
that the
the people
people were
were accustomed
to
to hold those
hold those outside
outside assemblies
assemblies which too
too
often guided
often guided the
the responsible
responsible in the
Assembly in the
Senate-ho use.
Senate-house.

"" And 'v hat are

what are you all
all going to
to talk
talk about
about
there?
there ? "

"There IS
is only
only one
one subject,"
subject," said
said Jack,

"which
" which at
at present
present occupies
occupies the
the mind of
of Glad-

stonopolis.
stonopolis. The people
people don't
don't in tend to
intend to allo,Y
allow

you to
to deposit
deposit Mr Crasweller."
Crasweller."

"" Considering
Considering your
your age
age and experien ce, Jack,
experience, Jack,

don't
don't you think
think that
that you're
you're taking
taking too
too much

upon yourself
yourself to
to say
say whether people will allo,Y
whether people allow

or
or will
will not
not allow
allow the
the executive
executive of
of the
the country
country

to
to perform
perform their
their duty?"
duty?
24 THE FIXED PERIOD.

""If
If Jack isn't
isn't old,"
old," said
said n.!rs
Mrs N everbend,
Neverbend,

"I,
" I, at
at any
auy rate,
rate, am older,
older, and II say
say the
the same

thing."
thing."

"" Of course
course II only said
said what II thought,"
thought," COll-
con-

tinued Jack.
Jack. "\Vhat
" What I
I 'want
want to
to explain
explain is,
is, that
that

II shall
shall be there
there myself,
myself, and shall
shall do
do all
all that
that II

can to
to support the
the meeting."
meeting."

"" In opposition
opposition to
to your father?"
father ? " said
said 1.
I.

"" 'V
Well ;
—yes, II am afraid
ell ;-yes, afraid so.
so. You see it's
see it's

a public
public subject
subject on a
a public
public matter, I don't
matter, and I don't
see
see that father
father and son have anything to
to do
do
'with
with it.
it. If
If II \vere
were in the Assembly,
in the Assembly, II don't
don't
suppose
suppose II should be bound to
should be to support
support my

father."
father."

you're not
"But you're not in the Assembly."
in the Assembly."
" I have my own convictions
"I convictions all
all the
the same,
same,
and II find
find myself
myself called
called upon to
to take
take aa part."
part."
"Good gracious-yes!
" Good gracious
—
to save
yes and to save poor
! poor old
old
Mr Crasweller's
Crasweller's life
life from
frolll this
this most
Inost inhuman
law.
law. He's just
He's just as
as fit to
fit to live
live as
as are I."
are you and I."
"The
" only question
The only question is,
is, whether he be
be fit
fit to
to
— or rather
die,-or
die, rather to
to be
be deposited,
deposited, II mean. But
 COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
COLUMBUS GALILEO. 25
25

I'm not going to

to argue the subject
subject here.
here. It
It

has been decided

decided by the
the la,v;
law and that
that should
; should

be enough for
for you two,
two, as
as it
it is
is enough for
for me.
me.
As for
for Jack,
Jack, II will
will not
not have him attend
attend any

such meeting. vVere

Were he to
to do so,
so, he would

incur my grave displeasure,-and

displeasure, —
and consequent
consequent

punishment."

.""What
What do you mean to
to do to
to the
the boy?"

asked Mrs N everbend.

Neverbend.

"If
" If he ceases to behave to
ceases to to me like
like a
a son,
son, II

shall cease
cease to treat him like
to treat like a
a father.
father. If he
If he

attends this
this meeting he must leave
leave my house,
house,
and II shall
shall see more."
see him no more."
"Leave the house
" Leave the house!"" shrieked
!
shrieked Mrs ISTever-
N ever-
bend.
bend.

" Jack,"
" Jack," said
said I,
I, with the
the kindest
kindest voice
voice which
,vhich
I
I was· able
was able to
to assume,
assume, ''"you ,vill pack up your
you will your
portmanteau go to
portmanteau and go to New
N e,v Zealand
Zealand the
the day
day
after to-morrow.
after to-morro·w. I have business
I business for
for you to
you to
transact with
transact Bro\vn of
Macmurdo and Brown of some
sonle
importance.
importance. I will
I will give
give the particulars
you the particulars
,vhen II see
when see you in
in the
the office."
office."
-·26
26 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"Of
" Of course he won't
course he won't go, Mr Neverbend,"
go, 1\1r

cried
cried my ,vife.
wife. But, the words were
But, though the

determined, there ,vas

determined, there was aa certain vacillation in
certain vacillation in
the
the tone
tone of
of her
her voice
voice which did not escape me.
did not me.
"We shall
""\Ve shall see.
see. If
If Jack intends to remain
intends to

as
as my son, he must obey his
son, he his fat.her.
father. II have
been kind,
been perhaps too
kind, and perhaps too indulgent, to him.
indulgent, to

II now require that he

require that he shall to New
proceed to
shall proceed Ne\v
the day after
Zealand the to-mOlTO\V.
after to-morrow. boat
The boat
sails
sails at
at eight.
eight. II shall
shall be happy to
to go
go down
\vith him and see
with see him on board."
board."
Jack only shook his
his head,
head,-by —
by which II un-
un-
derstood that
derstood he llleant
that he rebellion.
meant rebellion. I
I been
had been
aa most generous father to him,
father to him, and loved
loved him
as the
as the very apple of
of my eye;
Iny eye but II was deter-
; deter-
mined that
that II would be
be stern.
stern. "Y ou have
"You
my order,"
heard illy order," II said,
said, "and
" and you can have

to-morro\""
to-morrow to think about it.
to think it. II advise not
advise you not

to
to throw over,
over, and for
for ever, the affection,
ever, the the
affection, the

fostering
fostering care,
care, and all the comforts,
all the pecuniary
comforts, pecuniary

as
as well
well as
as others, \vhich you have hitherto
others, which hitherto had

from an indulgent
indulgent father."
father."
 COLUMBUS AND
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
GALILEO. 27
27

" You
" You do
do not
not mean
mean to
to say
say that
that you
you will
will dis-
dis-
inherit the
inherit the boy?? "" said
boy said Mrs
Mrs Neverbend.
N everbend.
II knew that it
knew that it was
was utterly
utterly out of my
out of my power
power
to do
to do so.
so. II could
could not
not disinherit
disinherit him.
him. II could
could
not even
not even rob
rob him of
him of aa single luxury without
single luxury without
an amount
an amount of
of suffering
suffering greater than
much greater than he
he
would feel.
would feel. Was II not
not thinking
thinking of
of him day
and night
and night as
as II arranged
arranged my worldly
worldly affairs
affairs? ?

That moment when he

That he knocked down Sir
Sir Ken-
nington Oval's
nington wicket, had II not
Oval's wicket, not been as
as proud
as he
as he was??
was the trumpet sounded,
When the sounded, did
did
not
not II feel
feel the he? When
honour more than be?
the honour

he
he made his
his last
last triumphant run,
run, and II threw

my hat
hat in
in the
the air,
air, was it
it not to
to me sweeter

than if
than if II had done it
it myself?
myself ? Did II not even
love
love him the
the better
better for
for s,vearing
swearing that
that he ,vould
would

make this
this fight
fight for
for Cras\veller?
Crasweller ? But yet it
it was

necessary that
necessary that II should
should comlnand
command obedience,
and, if
and, if possible,
possible, frighten
frighten him into
into subservience.

vVe
We talk
talk of
of aa father's
father's power,
power, and
and kno,v
know that the
the

old
old Ronlans
Komans could
could punish
punish filial disobedience by
filial disobedience by
death;
death but
but aa Britannulan
; Britannulan father
father has
has aa heart
heart in
in
28 THE FIXED PERIOD.
THE

his
his bosom \vhich
which is
is more powerful than law or
or

even custom, and II believe

believe that
that the
the Roman
Eoman was
nluch
much the
the same.
same. "lvIy
''My dear,
dear, II \vill
will not
not discuss
discuss

my future intentions
intentions before
before the
the boy.
boy. It
It \vould
would
be unseemly. II command hill1
him toto start
start for
for N e\v
New
Zealand the
the day after
after to-morro\v,
to-morrow, and II shall
shall

see
see whether he will
will obey me. II strongly
strongly advise
advise

hinl
him to
to be
be governed
governed in this matter by his
in this his

father."
father." Jack only shook his
his head,
head, and left
left

the room. II becalne

became aaware
\vare afterwards
afterwards that
that he
he

slept
slept that night at
at Little Christchurch.
Little Christchurch.

That night
night II received
received such
such a lecture from
a lecture from
l\Irs Neverbend
Mrs N everbend in
in our
our bedroom
bedroonl as
as might
nlight have
that Mrs Caudle
shamed that Caudle of
of whom we read
read in
in
English history.
English history. I hate
I hate these
these lectures,
lectures, not
not as
as
thinking them
thinking thell1 unbecoming, but
but as
as being
being pecu-
pecu-
liarly disagreeable.
liarly disagreeable. I always
I always find
find myself
myself ab-
ab-
solutely impotent during
solutely during their
their progress.
progress. I
I anl
am
that
aware that it is
it is quite
quite useless
useless to
to speak
speak aa word,
word,
that II can
and that can only
only allow
allo\v the
the clock
clock to
to run
run
itself down.
itself 'Vhat Mrs
What l\lts Neverbend
N everbend says
says at
at
such moments
such llloments has
has always
ahvays in
in it aa great
it great deal
deal
 COLUMBUS AND GALILEO. 29
29

of
of good sense;
sense but it
it is
; is altogether
altogether wasted,
wasted,

because II knew it
it all
all beforehand,
beforehand, and 'with
with

pen and ink could have written

written down the
the

lecture
lecture which she delivered at
she delivered at that
that peculiar
peculiar

moment. And II fear

fear no evil
evil results
results from
from her
her

for the future,

anger for future, because her
her conduct
conduct to
to

will, II kno\v
me will, know by experience,
experience, be
be as
as careful
careful

and as
as kind as
as ever.
ever. 'Vere
Were another to
to use
use

harsh language to me, she

to me, rise in
she would rise wrath
in wrath

to
to defend me. And she
she does
does not,
not, in truth,
in truth,

Inean aa tenth of
mean of what she
she says.
says. But II am for
for

as though II were
the time as \vere within
\vithin the
the clapper
clapper

of aa mill;
of mill ; and her
her passion
passion goes
goes on increasing
increasing

because she
because can never
she can never get
get aa word
'word from
from me.
me.
"Mr Neverbend,
N everbend, II tell this, —
tell you this, - you are
are

going to
going to fool of
make aa fool of yourself.
yourself. II think it my
think it
to
duty to tell you so,
tell so, as wife.
as your wife. Everybody
else will
else \vill think
think it.
it. Who are
are you,
you, to
to liken
liken your-
your-
self to Galileo — an old
self to Galileo ??-an old fellow
fellow of
of that
that kind
lived aa thousand years
who lived years ago,
ago, before
before Chris-
Chris-
tianity
tianity ever been
had ever been invented.
invented. got
You have got
nasty murderous thoughts
nasty thoughts in
in your mind,
mind, and
30 THE FIXED PERIOD.

,vant
want to
to kill
kill poor
poor 1\f1'
Mr Crasweller, just out
Crasweller, just out of
of

pride, because
pride, you have said
said you would. Now,
Jack is
is determined that
that you shan't,
shan't, and II say
say

that he is
is right.
right. There is
is no reason
reason why Jack

shouldn't obey me as
as well
well as
as you.
you. You will
will
never be able
able to
to deposit Mr Crasweller,-not
deposit 1\11' Crasweller, not —
if
if you try
try it
it for
for a
a hundred years.
years. The city
city

"ron't
won't let
let you do it;
it and if
; if you have a
a grain
grain of
of

left in
sense left in your head,
head, you won't attempt it.
it.
Jack is
is determined to
to meet the
the lllen the
men on the
Towrn
Town :Flags the day after
Flags the to-morro'w, and II say
after to-morrow, say

that he is right.
is right. .As
As for
for your disinheriting
disinheriting

him, and spending all your money on machinery

all your

to roast
to —
pigs,-II say
roast pigs, can't do
you can't do it.
it. There
There

,viil be aa commission
will comlnission to
to inquire
inquire into
into if you
you if
not mind yourself,
do not yourself, and then you will
will re-
re-
member what II told
told you. Mr Crasweller,
you. Poor 1\1r Crasweller,
whom you have known
knO\Vll for
for forty years!
forty years ! I
I

,vander how you can

wonder bring yourself
can bring yourself to
to think
think
of killing
of killing the
the poor
poor man, whose
,vhose bread
bread you have
so often
so often eaten!
eaten! if you think
And if think you are
are
going to
going to frighten
frighten Jack,
Jack, you are
are very
very mis-
much mis-
 COLUMBUS AND
COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.
GALILEO. 31
31

taken.
taken. Jack would
Jack \vould do
do twice
twice more
more for
for Eva
Eva
Crasweller than for
Crasweller than for you
you or
or me,
me, and
and it's
it's natural
natural
he should.
he should. You may
You may be
be sure
sure he
he will
will not
not give
give
up; and
up ;and the
the end
end will
will be,
be, that
that he
he will
\vill get
get Eva
Eva
for his
for his own.
o\vn. II do
do believe
believe he
he has
has gone
gone to
to
sleep."
sleep." Then II gave
Then gave myself
myself infinite
infinite credit
credit for
for
the pertinacity
the pertinacity of
of my silence,
silence, and
and for
for the
the man-
man-
ner in
ner in which
which II had
had put
put on
on an appearance
appearance of
of
somnolency without
somnolency without overacting
overacting the
the part.
part. Mrs
N everbend did
Neverbend in truth
did in truth go
go to
to sleep,
sleep, but II lay
lay
awake during
awake during the
the whole
whole night
night thinking
thinking of
of the
the
troubles before me.
troubles before me.
 32
32

CHAPTEE
CHAPTER VIII.
YIII.

THE "JOHN
"JOHN BEIGHT."
BRIGHT."

JACK, of
Jack, of course,
course, did
did not
not go
go to
to New
N e,v Zealand,
Zealand,
and II was
and ,vas bound
bouud to
to quarrel
quarrel with
,vi th him, —
him,-telll-
tem-

porarily.
porarily. held the
They held the meeting on the
the Town
Towll
Flags,
Flags, and Inany
many eloquent ,vords
words \vere,
were, no

doubt,
doubt, spoken.
spoken. II did not go,
did not go, of
of course, nor
course, nor

did II think
did think it
it ,yell
well to
to read the reports.
read the reports. lVII's
Mrs
N everbend took
jSTeverbend took it
it into
into her head at
at this
this till1e
time

to
to speak
speak to only respecting the nlaterial
to me only material

,vants
wants of
of life.
life. "'Vill
" Will you have another
another lump

of sugar in
of sugar in your
your tea,
tea, }\{r
Mr President?
President ? "" Or,"
Or, " If

you
you ,vant
want aa second
second blanket on your bed, Mr

N everbend, and
Neverbend, and \vill
will say
say the ,vord,
word, it
it shall
shall be

supplied." II took
supplied." took her in
in the
the same
same mood,
mood, and
and

,vas
was dignified,
dignified, cautious,
cautious, and
and silent.
silent. 'Vith
With Jack
Jack
 THE "JOHN
THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 33
33

II ,vas supposed
was supposed to
to have
have quarrelled
quarrelled altogether,
altogether,
and very
and grievous itit was
very grievous ,vas to
to me
nle not
not to
to be
be able
able
to speak
to speak to
to the
the lad
lad of
of aa morning
morning or an evening.
or an evening.
But he
But he did
did not
not seem
seelll to
to be
be much
nluch the
the worse
worse for
for
it. As
it. As for
for turning him out
turning him out of
of the
the house
house or
or
stopping his
stopping his pocket-money,
pocket - money, that
that would
would be
be
carrying the
carrying the joke
joke further
further than
than II could
could do
do it.
it.

Indeed
Indeed it seemed
it seemed to
to me that
that he
he was
was peculiarly
peculiarly
happy at
happy at this
this time,
time, for
for he
he did
did not
not go to
to his
his
office.
office. spent his
He spent his mornings in
in making
making
speeches, and
speeches, and then
then went down
went do,vn in
in the
the afternoon
afternoon
on
on his bicycle to
his bicycle to Little Christchurch.
Little Christchurch.

So
So the
the time
time passed
passed Oll,
on, and the day ab-
ab-

solutely
solutely came
came on
on which Crasweller 'was
was to
to be
be

deposited.
deposited. II had seen
seen him constantly during
during

the last fe,v

the last few weeks,
weeks, but
but he
he had not spoken
spoken to
to

me
me on
on the
the subject.
subject. He
He had
had said
said that
that he would
he would

not
not leave
leave Little
Little Christchurch,
Christchurch, and
and he
he did
did not
not

do
do so.
so. II do
do not
not think
think that
that he
he had
had been
been out-
out-

side
side his
his o,vn
own grounds
grounds once
once during
during these
these six
six

weeks. He
weeks. He was
was always
always courteous
courteous to
to Ine, and
me, and

would
would offer
offer me
me tea
tea and
and toast
toast when
when II came,
came,

VOL.
VOL. II.
II. cc
34
34 THE FIXED PERIOD.

with aa stately
with stately civility, as though there
civility, as there had
been no
been no subject
subject of
of burning
burning discord
discord between
us.
us. Eva II rarely
rarely saw.
saw. That she
That she was there
there II
aware,-but
was aware, but she —
she never into my pres-
never came into pres-
ence
ence till the
till the evening
evening before
before the
the appointed
appointed day,
day,
as II shall
as shall presently
presently have
have to
to tell.
tell. or
Once or
twice II did
twice did endeavour
endeavour to
to lead
lead to the
him on to the
subject; but
subject but he
he showed aa disinclination
; disinclination to
to
discuss
discuss it so
it so invincible,
invincible, that
that II was
\vas silenced.
silenced.
As II left
left him on
on the
the day before
before that
that on which
\vhich
he was
he to
to be deposited,
be deposited, II assured that II
assured him that
call for
would call on the
for him on the morrow.
morro\v.
"Do
*'
not trouble
Do not trouble yourself,"
yourself," he
he said,
said, repeating
repeating
the \vords twice
the words twice over.
over. "It \vill be
" It will be just
just the
the
same \v hether you are
whether are here
here or not."
or not." Then II
shook my head
head by way
\vay of
of sho\ving that
showing him that

II would come,
come, and II took my leave.
took ll1y leave.

II must explain that during

explain that these last
during these last fe\v
few

weeks things
things had not gone quietly in Glad-

stonopolis, but there

stonopolis, there had been nothing like a

serious
serious riot.
riot. II \vas
was glad to
to find
find that, in spite
that, in spite

of
of Jack's
Jack's speechifying,
speechifying, the
the younger purt
part of
of the
the
 THE "JOHN BKIGHT."
BRIGHT." 35
35

population ,vas
population was still true to
still true me, and II did
to me, not
did not

doubt that II should

doubt that should still
still have got the majority
got the majority
of
of votes
votes in
in the Assembly.
the Assembly. A rum our 'was
rumour was
spread
spread abroad
abroad that the twelve
that the twelve months of
of Cras-
Cras-

weller's period of
weller's period probation were
of probation were to
to be
be devoted
devoted

to discussing the
to discussing the question,
question, and II ,vas told that
was told that

my theory as to
theory as to the
the Fixed Period
Period would not
not
in truth have been
in truth been carried
carried out merely because
out merely because
1\1r
Mr Cras,veller
Crasweller had changed his
his residence
residence from
Little Christchurch to
Little Christchurch to the
the college.
college. II had
ordered
ordered an open barouche
barouche to
to be
be prepared
prepared for
for

the
the occasion,
occasion, and had got
got a
a pair
pair of
of splendid
splendid

horses
horses fit
fit for
for a
a triumphal march.
march. 'Vith
With these
these

II intended to
to call
call at
at Little Christchurch at
Little Christchurch at

noon,
noon, and to accompany 1\11'
to acconlpany Mr Crasweller to
Crasweller up to

the
the college,
collecre, sitting
sitting on his
his left hand.
left hand. On all
all

other
other occasions, the President
occasions, the President of the Eepublic
of the Republic
sat in
sat in his
his carriage
carriage on the
the right side, and II had
right side,
ever stood up for
ever stood for the
the dignities
dignities of my position.
of Iny position.
But this
this occasion
occasion ,vas to be
was to be an exception
exception to
to all
all

rule.
rule.

On the before, as
the evening before, as II was sitting In
sitting in
 " "

36
36 THE FIXED PERIOD.
TIlE

my library
illy library at
at honle
home mournfully thinking
thinking of
of

the
the occasion,
occasion, telling
telling myself that
that after
after all
all I
I

could not devote my friend

not devote friend to
to what SOlne
some might
think aa premature death,
death, the
the door
door ,vas
was opened,
opened,

and Eva Cras\veller

Crasweller was announced. She had
on 011e
one of
of those
those round,
round, close-fitting
close-fitting nlen's
men's hats
hats

'which ladies now ,Year,

which ladies wear, but under it
it \vas
was aa veil
veil

which quite hid her

quite hid her face.
face. I anl
" I
« am taking
taking a
a

liberty, 1\11'
liberty, N everbend," she
Mr JSTeverbend," said, "in
she said, troubling
" in troubling

you at
at the present moment."
the present nlonlent."
my dear,
"Eva, Illy dear, how can
can anything do
anything you do

be called
be called a
a liberty?
liberty ? ""
"I do not
not know, 1\11' Neverbend.
Mr Neverbend. II have
have
conle to
come to you because
because II am
anl very
very unhappy."
unhappy."
"" II thought you had shunned 111e
me ofof late."
late."
"So II have.
have. How
Ho,Y could
could II help
help it,
it, when
\vhen
so anxious
you have been so anxious to
to deposit
deposit poor
poor papa
in that
in that horrid
horrid place
place?? "
" " He was equally
equally anxious
anxious aa few
fe,Y years
years since.
since."
" Never
" Never! ! agreed to
He agreed it because
to it because you told
told
hi1n, and because
him, because you were
,,,ere aa able to
man able to per-
per-
suade.
suade. It
It \vas not
was not that
that he
he ever
ever had his
his heart
heart
 "

"JOHN BRIGHT."
THE "JOHN
THE 37
37

In
in it,
it, even \y hen it
when it was not near enough to
to

alarm himself.
himself. And he is
is not a
a man fearful
fearful

of death in
in the ordinary \yay.
way. Papa is
is a
a brave
brave

man."
"My darling
"l\1y darling child,
child, it
it is beautiful
IS beautiful to
to hear
hear

you say so
so of hiln."
him."

""He
He 'is
is going with you to-morro'w
I to-morrow sinlply
simply

because he has made you aa pronlise,

promise, and does
does

not choose to
to have it
it said
said of
of hiln
him that
that he broke
broke

his
his \vord
word even to
to save his own life.
save his life. Is
Is not
not

that
that courage? It
It is not with
is not \yith him as
as it is
it is

with you, who

\vho have your heart
heart in the lllatter,
in the matter,

of some great
because you think of great thing
thing that
that
\vill do,
you will do, so
so that
that your name may
nlay be
be re-
re-
membered to future generations."
to future generations."
"It
" is
It is for that,
not for that, Eva.
Eva. I care
I care not
not at
at all
all
\vhether
whether my name
narne be remembered.
renlenlbered. It is
It is for
for
the good of
the of that II act."
many that act."
"He believes
believes in
in no good,
good, but
but IS
is willing to
willing to
of his
go because of his promise.
pronlise. Is it
Is it fair
fair to
to keep

to such aa promise under such

him to such circum-
circum-
stances??
stances "
 "

38 THE FIXED PERIOD.

" But the

the la,v--"
law
"I will
,vill hear
hear nothing
nothing of the law.
of the law. la,v
The law
rneans you and your
means you your influences.
influences. Papa is to
is to

be sacrificed
be to the
sacrificed to to suit
the law to pleasure.
suit your pleasure.

Papa is to be
is to be destroyed: not because
destroyed, not because the
the law
la,v
,vishes
wishes it, but to
it, but to suit the taste
suit the taste of N everbend."
of Mr Neverbend."

Eva ""
"" Oh, Eva!!

" It
''
It is true."
is true."

"To suit my taste

" To suit taste?? "
**
—
"'Vell-,vhat
Well what else?
else ? You have got
got the
the idea
idea
into your head,
into your head, and you ,vill not drop it.
will not it. And
you have
have persuaded
persuaded him because
because he
he is
is your
your
friend.
friend. Oh,
Oh, a
a most fatal
fatal friendship!
friendship ! is
He is
to be sacrificed
to be because, ,vhen
sacrificed because, thinking of
when thinking of other
other
things, he did
things, he not care
did not to differ
care to differ ,vith
with you."
you."

Then she
she paused,
paused, as to see
as though to 'v hether
see whether

II might not
not yield
yield to
to her
her ,vords.
words. if the
And if the
,vords
words of
of anyone ,vould have
any one would have availed to make
availed to

me yield,
yield, I think it
I think it ,vould have been
would have been hers
hers as
as
no,v
now spoken.
spoken. "Do
" Do you know ,vhat people will
what people will
say of
of you,
you, Mr Neverbend
N everbend ?? "" she
she continued.
continued.
"
"'Vhat will they
" What will they say?
say ? "
 !

THE "JOHN BRIGHT." 39

39

"" If
If II only
only kne,v ho,v best
knew how best II could tell you
could tell you!
!

Your son
son has
has asked me-to —
be his
me to be his wife."
wife."
"" II have long known that has loved
that he has you
loved you

'veIl."
well."

"But it
it can never
never be,"
be," she
she said,
said, "if
"if my

father
father is
is to
to be carried
carried away to
to this
this fearful
fearful

place.
place. People would say that
that you had hurried
hurried
off in
him off in order ack--""
that JJack
order that

"vVould
" Would you believe
believe it,
it, Eva?"
Eva ? " said I, ,vith
said I, with
indignation.
indignation.

"It does not matter ,vhat

what II would believe.
believe.

Mr Grundle is
is saying it
it already,
already, and is
is accus-
accus-
ing
ing me too.
too. Mr Exors,
And l\ir the lawyer,
Exors, the lawyer, is
is

spreading it
it about.
about. It has become quite
It has the
quite the

common report
report in
in Gladstonopolis that Jack
Gladstonopolis that Jack is
is
to become at
to at once the
the o,vner
owner of Little Christ-
of Little Christ-
church."
church."

"Perish
" Perish Little
Little Christchurch!"
Christchurch " II exclaimed.
!
exclaimed.

"" My son would marry no man's daughter for

for

his money."
his

"" II do
do not believe
believe it
it of
of Jack," she said,
said, "
" for
for

II know that he is
that he is generous and good.
good. There!
There
 " !

40
40 THE FIXED PERIOD.

II do
do love hinl better
love him better than
than any
anyone in the
one in the world.
world.
Rut
But as are, II can , never
things are,
as things never marry him if
if
papa is
is to
to be
be shut
shut up in that wretched
in that \vretched City of
City of

the
the Dead."

""Not
Not City
City of Dead, my dear."
the Dead,
of the dear."

"'Ob,
"Oh, II cannot
cannot bear
bear to
to think
think of
of it
it I-all —
alone
all alone
!

\vith no
with no one but
one but with him to
me with to watch
\vatch him
hinl
as
as day after
after day passes
passes away, as the ghastly
as the ghastly
hour
hour comes nearer
nearer and still nearer, wdien
still nearer, when he
is
is to
to be burned in
be burned those fearful
in those fearful furnaces!"
furnaces !

"The
" The cremation, my dear,
cremation, Iny dear, has
has nothing
nothing in
In
truth to
truth to do \vith the
do with the Fixed Period."
Period."
"" To wait
\vait till
till the
the fatal
fatal day shall have arrived,
shall have arrived,

and then to
to know that
that at
at a
a fixed hour he
fixed hour he will
\vill
be destroyed
be just because
destroyed just because you have
have said
said so!
so

\vhat my
Can you imagine what Iny feelings \vill be
feelings will be
"
\vhen that
when nlOlnent shall
that moment shall have con16?"
come ?
II had not
not in truth thought
in truth thought of it.
of it. But now,
\vhen the
when the idea
idea was to my
\vas represented to Iny mind's
mind's
eye, II acknowledged to
eye, nlyself that
to myself that it
it would
\vould
be impossible
be that she should be
impossible that be left there for
left there for

the occasion.
the occasion. How or
or when she
she should be
be
 THE "JOHN
THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 41
41

taken away,
taken a\vay, or
or whither,
'whither, II could
could not
not at
at the
the
moment think.
moment think. These would
These ,vonld form
form questions
questions
which it would
,vhich it ,vould be
be very
very hard
hard to
to answer.
answer. After
After

SOlne score
some score of
of years,
years, say,
say, when
,vhen the
the commun-
COlnlllun-
ity
ity would be
would be used
used to
to the
the Fixed
Fixed Period,
Period, II could
could
understand that aa daughter
understand that daughter or
or aa wife ~ight
wife might
leave the
leave the college,
college, and go
go a\vay into
away into such
such soli-
soli-
tudes as
tudes as the
the occasion
occasion required,
required, aa ,veek perhaps
week perhaps
before the
before the hour
hour arranged
arranged for
for departure
departure had

conlee
come. Custom would make
lnake it
it comparatively
cOlnparatively
easy; as
easy; as custom
custom has
has arranged
arranged such
such aa period
period
of
of mourning for
for a
a ,vido\v,
widow, and such another
for
for a
a widower,
widower, a
a son,
son, or
or a
a daughter.
daughter. But here,
here,

with
with Eva,
Eva, there
there ,vould
would be no custom. She
would
would have
have nothing
nothing to
to guide her,
her, and might

remain
remain there
there till
till the
the last
last fatal
fatal moment. II had
had

hoped that
that she
she nlight
might have nlarriec1
married Jack,
Jack, or
or

perhaps
perhaps Grundle,
Grundle, during
during the interval, — not
the interval,-not

having
having foreseen
foreseen that
that the
the year,
year, ,vhich
which ,vas
was in-
in-

tended
tended to
to be
be one
one of
of honour
honour and
and glory,
glory, should
should

become
become aa time
time of mourning and
of mourning and tribulation.
tribulation.

"Yes,
"Yes, my
my dear,
dear, it
it is
is very
very sad."
sad."
 "

42
42 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"" Sad!
Sad ! "Vas there ever
Was there ever a position in
a position In life
life
so
so melancholy,
melanclioly, so mournful, so
so mournful, unutterably
so unutterably

miserable 1"
miserable?" II remained
remained there
there opposite, gaz-
opposite, gaz-

ing
ing into
into ,:acancy, but II could
vacancy, but could say nothing.
say nothing.

"'Vhat
" What do you intend to
to do,
do, 1\1:r N everbend 1? "
Mr !N'everbend
she
she asked.
asked. "It
" It is altogether in
is altogether In your
your bosom.
bosom.
My father's
l\fy father's life
life or death is
or death is In your hands.
in your hands.
'Vhat
AMiat is your decision?"
is your decision ? " I could only remain
I

steadfast; but it
steadfast but it seelned to be
seemed to
; be impossible to say
impossible to say
so.
so. ""Well, ~fr N
'V ell, Mr everben d, ,vill
Neverbend, will you speak?"

""It
It is not for
is not for me to
to decide.
decide. IItt is
is for the
for the

country."
country."

"The country!"
country!" she
she exclaimed, rising up;
exclaimed, rising up; "it
"it

is
is your own pride,
pride,-your —
vanity and cruelty
your vanity cruelty

combined. You will

will not
not yield
yield in this matter
in this matter to
to
me,
me, your friend's
friend's daughter, because your
daughter, because your vanity
vanity
tells that when you have
tells you that have once said a thing,
said a thing,
that
that thing
thing shall
shall come to
to pass."
pass." Then she put .the
she put the

veil do,vn over

veil down over her
her face,
face, and 'vent
went out of the
out of roon1.
the room.
II sat
sat for time motionless,
for some time motionless, trying
trying to
to
turn over in my mind all
over in that she
all that she had said
said

to
to me; but it
me but ; as though my faculties
it seemed as faculties
 THE "JOHN
THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 43
43

were utterly
were utterly obliterated
obliterated in
in despair.
despair. Eva had
Eva had
been to
been to me almost
me almost as
as aa daughter,
daughter, and
and yet
yet II
was compelled
was compelled to
to refuse
refuse her
her request for her
request for her
father's life.
father's life. And 'v hen she
And when she had tqld me
had told me that
that
it was
it was my
my pride
pride and
and vanity
vanity which
which had
had made
made
me do so,
me do so, II could
could not
not explain
explain to
to her
her that
that they
they
were not
were not the
the cause.
cause. And, indeed,
indeed, was
,vas II sure
sure
of myself
of myself that
that it was
it ,vas not
not so
so?? I
I flattered
had flattered

myself that II did

myself that did it for
it for the
the public
public good
good; but
but
;

,vas II sure
was sure that
that obduracy
obduracy did
did not
not come from
from
anxiety to
my anxiety to be
be counted
counted with Columbus and
and
Galileo?
Galileo? or
or if not that,
if not that, ,vas there not
was there not son1e-
some-

thing
thing personal
personal to
to myself in
in my desire
desire that II

should
should be
be known as who had benefited
as one ,vho benefited

my species?
species ? In
In considering
considering such matters, it
it

is
is so
so hard
hard to
to separate
separate the
the motives,-to
motives, to say
say —
how much springs
springs from
from some glorious longing
to
to assist others in
assist others in their
their struggle
struggle upwards in hu-
hu-

mani ty, and

manity, and how
how much
much again
again froln
from mean
mean per-
per-

sonal
sonal ambition.
ambition. II had
had thought
thought that
that II had
had done
done

it all
it all in
in order
order that
that the
the failing
failing strength
strength of
of old
old

age
ao-e might
micfht be
be relieved,
relieved, and
and that
that the
the race
race might
might
4,1
41 THE FIXED PERIOD.

fron1 age
from age to
to age be inl
age be proved.
improved. But II now
no,v
doubted myself,
doubted Inyself, and feared
feared lest that
lest that vanity
vanity
of
of which Eva had spoken to
to me had overcome
overcon1e
Ine.
me. 'Vith
With illy wife and son II could
my ,vife could still be
still be

brave, —
brave,-even
even with Crasweller II could be
with Crasweller be con-
con-
stant
stant and hard
hard; but to be
but to
; be obdurate
obdurate ,vith
with Eva

,vas
was indeed a
a struggle.
struggle. And 'v hen she
when told
she told

11le that II did

me that did so pride, II found it
through pride,
so through it

very bard to
very hard to bear.
bear. yet it
And yet it ,vas not that
was not that
II was angry with
,vith the
the child.
child. II became more
and more attached to her
attached to the more loudly
her the loudly she
she

spoke on behalf
behalf of her father.
of her father. Her very
very in-
in-

dignation
dignation endeared me to
to her,
her, and made me
feel
feel 11o,v
how excellent
excellent she was, how
she was, bo,,, noble
noble aa wife
wife
she would
w·ould be
be for
for DIy
my SOll.
son. ,vas II to
But was to give
gIve
,yay
way after
after all?
all ? Having brought
brought the
the matter
matter
to
to such a
a pitch, was II to
pitch, ,vas to give
give up everything
everything

to the
to prayers
the prayers of
of a
a girl?
girl? II ,vas
was ,veIl
well aware

even then that

even that my
n1y theory
theory ,vas true. The old
was true. old
and effete
effete should go,
go, in
in order that the
order that the strong
strong

and manlike 111ight rise in

might rise their places
in their places and do
do
the
the ,york
work of the ,vorld
of the world ,vith the ,vealth
with the of the
wealth of the
 BRIGH T."
THE "JOHN BRIGHT." 45
45

world
world their
at their
at COlnmand.
command. Take the average
the average
of
of mankind all round,
Dlankind all there would
round, and there be
'would be
. but
,
the lessening
bnt the of aa year or
lessening of the
or two from the
life of
life thenl all.
of them \V ho
those men who
all. Even taking those
arrive d at
had arrived
had twent y-five
at twenty to how
-five,, to are
ho\v few are
allotte d more
allotted than forty
nlore than years of
forty years life! But
of life!
yet
yet how large aa proportion
ho\v large the wealth
of the
propo rtion of of
wealt h of
the world
the remai ns in
\vorld remains the hands of
in the those who
of those
have passed
have that age,
passe d that are unable
age, and are froBl
unabl e from
senile imbecility
senile to
illl becili ty to employ 'wealth as
that w^ealth
employ that it
as it

shoul
should used!
be used
d be !
this, II said
of this,
thoug ht of
As II thought said

to
to myself that Eva's
nlysel f that praye rs might not
Eva's prayers avail,
avail,

and II did
did take some comfo
take SOllle comfort to myself
rt to In
mysel f in
that all
think ing that
thinking \vas done for
all was the sake
for the of
sake of

posterity.
posterity. And then, thoug ht
again, when II thought
then, again,

of prayers, and of
her prayers,
of her those stern words
of those \vhich
\vards which
had follo\v
followed praye rs,-of
her prayers,—
ed her that charg
of that charge of
e of
vanity,, -— II did tell
pride and vanity that
myselff that
tell mysel
pride and vanity were Dot not absen t.
absent.

that she D1USt

felt that
now, and II felt
She was gone llO\V, must

say and think evil of me throug

evil things of throughh all my
all llly

future life.
life. The time might perha ps come,
perhaps
 a

46
46 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

,vhen
when II too
too should
should have
have been taken
taken away,
away, and
and
,vhen
when her father
father should long
long since
since have been
been
at
at rest,
rest, that
that softer
softer thoughts would come across
across

her nlind.
mind. If
If it
it ,vere
were only
only possible
possible that
that II

lllight
might go,
go, so
so that
that Jack nlight
might be
be nlarried
married to
to

the girl loved, that

girl he loved, that 11light
might bebe well.
well. Then
II ,viped my eyes,
wiped llly eyes, and went forth
forth to
to make

arrangements for
for the morro\v.
morrow.

The morning calne,-the

came,— the 30th of J une,-a
of June, —
bright,
bright, clear,
clear, ,vinter
winter 11l0rning,
morning, cold
cold but
but still
still

genial and pleasant

pleasant as
as I
I got
got into the barouche
into the barouche
and had myself driven
driven to
to Little Christchurch.
Little Christchurch.

To say that my
say that nly heart
heart was
,vas sad
sad within
,vithin me would
would
give no fair
give fair record
record of
of my condition.
condition. II was
,vas so
so
crushed by
crushed grief, so obliterated by the
grief, so obliterated the agony
agony
of the
of the hour, that II hardly
hour, that hardly passed
saw what passed
before
before my eyes.
eyes. I only
I kne\v that
knew that the
the day
day
had come,
had come, the
the terrible
terrible day for
for which
which in
in my
ignorance II had yearned,
ignorance that II was
yearned, and that ,vas totally
totally
unable to
unable to go
go through
through its ceremonies
its ceremonies with
,vith
dignity, or
dignity, or even
even with
,vith composure.
composure. But II ob-
But 0b-
served as
served as II was
was driven
driven down the
down the street,
street, lying
lying
 !

THE "JOHN BRIGHT." 47

out
out at
at sea
sea many miles
miles to
to the
the left,
left, a
a small
small spot
spot

of
of smoke on the h0rizon, as
the horizon, as though it
it might

be of some passing
be of passing vessel.
vessel. It
It did not in
did not the
in the

least
least awaken my attention;
attention but there
but
; there it was,
it was,

and II remembered to
to have
have thought
thought as
as II passed
passed
on how blessed were they
blessed were they ,vho
who steamed by
unconscious
unconscious of that terrible
of that terrible ordeal
ordeal of the Fixed
of the

Period
Period which II ,vas to encounter.
was bound to encounter.

II went to
to Little Christchurch, and there
Little Christchurch, there II
found 1\1:r
Mr Crasweller
Crasweller ,vaiting
waiting for
for me in the
in the

hall.
hall. II came in
in and took
took his
his limp hand in
in

mIne,
mine, and congratulated
congratulated him.
him. Oh how
ho\v vain,
vain,

wretched, sounded that

how wretched, that congratulation in
congratulation in

my own ears!
ears

A.nd
And it
it was spoken,
spoken, II was a\vare,
aware, in a piteous
in a piteous
tone
tone of
of voice,
voice, and ,vith
with Ineagre, bated breath.
meagre, bated breath.
He merely shook his
his head,
head, and attempted
attempted to
to
"
pass on.
pass on. "Will not take
" Will you not take your greatcoat?
greatcoat " ?

said
said I,
I, seeing that he
seeing that he 'was
was going out into the
into the

open air
air without protection.
protection.
((" No ; 'vhy
; why should
should I?
I ? It
It ,vill
will not be ,vanted
not be wanted

up there."
there."
48
48 PERIOD.
THE FIXED PERIOD.

" You do
"You do not
not know the
the place,"
place," II replied.
replied.
"There
" are twenty
There are twenty acres
acres of
of pleasure
pleasure -- ground
for
for you to
you to wander over."
over." Then he turned
upon me
upon Ine aa look, —
1001\:,-oh, such aa look
oh, such look !-and —
,vent
and went
!

on and
on and took
took his
his place
place in
in the
the carriage.
carriage. But
followed him,
Eva followed hinl, and spread
spread aa rug
rug across
across his
his
knees, and
knees, and threw
threw aa cloak
cloak over
over his
his shoulders.
shoulders.
",Vill
" not Eva come with
Will not us ??"" II said.
with us said.
" No; my
" No Iny daughter
; daughter will
will hide
hide her
her face
face on
such aa day
such day as
as this.
this. It is for
It is for you and me to
to be
be
carried through
carried through the
the city,
city,-YOll —
because
you because yon are
you are
proud of
proud the pageant,
of the pageant, and nle because
me because II do not
not
fear it."
fear it." This, too,
This, too, sOlnething
added something to
to my
sorrow.
sorrow. Then II looked and saw that
that Eva got
got
into
into a
a small
small closed
closed carriage
carriage in the rear,
in the rear, and

,vas driven off

was driven off by a
a circuitous route, to
circuitous route, to meet
us, no doubt,
us, doubt, at the college.
at the college.

As ,ve
we were driven —
driven a,vay,-Cras,veller
away, Crasweller and

—
II,,- II had not
not a
a word to
to say to
to him.
him. And he
seemed to
to collect
collect himself in
in his
his fierceness,
fierceness, and

to silent in
to remain obdurately silent in his
his anger.
anger. In
this
this ,vay
way we drove
drove on,
on, till,
till, cOlning
coming to
to a
a turn of
 THE (("JOHN
JOHN BRIGHT.
BRIGHT." . 49
49

the
the road,
road, the
the expanse of the sea
of the appeared before
sea appeared before
us.
us. Here again
again II observed a
a small cloud of
cloud of

slnoke which had gro,vn

smoke ,vhich grown out of the
out of the spot
spot II had

before
before seen,
seen, and II was a"rare
aware that
that some large
large

ship
ship ,vas its 'way
was making its way into the harbour
into the harbour of
of

Gladstonopolis.
Gladstonopolis. turned my face
II turned to,vards it
face towards it

and gazed,
gazed, and then a
a sudden thought
thought struck
struck

me.
me. How ,vould
would it be ,vith
it be with l1)e
me if this ,vere
if this were

some great
great English vessel
vessel cOIning
coming into our
into our

harbour on the
harbour on the very day of
of Crasweller's
Crasweller's deposi-
deposi-

tion?
tion? A year
year since
since II ,vonId
would have rejoiced
rejoiced on

such an occasion,
occasion, and ,vould have assured
would have assured my-

self that
self that II would show to the strangers
to the the
strangers the

grandeur of
of this which must have
this ceremony, ,vhich have
been ne,v
new to
to them. But now aa creeping terror
creeping terror

took possession of Ine,

possession of felt my heart
me, and II felt heart give
give
,yay within me.
way "yithin me. II wanted
wanted no
no Englishman,
Englishman,
nor American, to
to come and see the first
see the first day of
of

our Fixed Period.

our Period.

It
It was evident that Cras,veller
evident that Crasweller did not see
did not see

smoke but to
the smoke; to my eyes,
; eyes, as
as ,ve progressed,
we progressed,
it
it becalue
became nearer, till at
nearer, till last the
at last the hull of the
hull of the
VOL. II.
II. D
 !

50
50 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

vast vessel
vast vessel became
became manifest.
manifest. Then as
Then as the
the car-
car-
riage passed
riage passed on into
on into the
the street
street of
of Gladstonopolis
Gladstonopolis
at the
at the spot
spot where one
where one side
side of the
of the street
street forms
forms
the quay,
the quay, the
the vessel
vessel with
with extreme
extreme rapidity
rapidity
steamed
steamed in, and
in, and II could
could see
see across
across the
the harbour
harbour
that she
that she was aa ship
was ship of
of war.
,var. A certain
certain sense
sense
of relief
of relief just then,
came upon my mind just then, because
because
I felt
I felt sure that she
sure that she to interfere
had come to interfere with
,vith
the work
the work which
which II had in
in hand
hand; but
but ; base
how base
must be
must be my condition
condition when
,vhen II could
could take
take de-
de-
light in
light in thinking
thinking that
that it had been
it been interrupted
interrupted!
By this
this time
time we had been joined
joined by some
eight or
eight ten carriages,
or ten carriages, which formed,
formed, as it were,
as it were,
funeral cortege
aa funeral cortege behind us.
us. But II could per-
per-
ceive
ceive that
that these
these carriages
carriages ,vere
were filled
filled for
for the

most part by young men, and that

most part that there was

no
no contemporary of
of Cras,veller
Crasweller to
to be seen at
at

all.
all. As we ,vent
went up the
the to,vn
town hill,
hill, I
I could
could

espy gibbering on the doorstep of

espy Barnes gibbering of his
his

house,
house, and Tallowax brandishing a
a large
large knife

in
in his
his hand,
hand, and Exors ,vaving
waving aa paper over
his
his head,
head, \vhich
which II \vell
well kne,v
knew to
to be a copy
 ;

THE "JOHN
THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 51
51

of the
of the Act of
Act of our
our Assembly; but II could
Assembly; but could
only pretend
only pretend not
not to
to see
see them
them as
as our
our carriage
carriage
passed on.
passed on.
The chief
The chief street
street of
of Gladstonopolis,
Gladstonopolis, running
runnIng
through the
through the centre
centre of the
of the city, descends
city, descends aa hill
hill
to the
to the level
level of
of the
the harbour.
harbour. the vessel
As the vessel
came in
came in we began
began to
to ascend
ascend the
the hill,
hill, but
but the
the
horses progressed
horses progressed very
very slowly.
slowly. Crasweller sat
Crasvveller sat
perfectly speechless
perfectly speechless by my side.
side. I
I went on
,vith aa forced
with forced smile
smile upon face, speaking
my face, speaking
occasionally to
occasionally this or
to this or the
the other
other neighbour
neighbour as
as

've
w^e met
met them.
them. II ,vas
was forced to be
forced to be in
in a
a certain
certain

degree cheerful,
degree but grave
cheerful, but grave and solemn in
in my
cheerfulness.
cheerfulness. II ,vas
was taking
taking this
this man home

for
for that
that last
last glorious
glorious year
year ,vhich
which he \vas
was about
to
to pass
pass in
in joyful
joyful anticipation
anticipation of
of a
a happier life;
life

and therefore II must be

and therefore be cheerful.
cheerful. But this
this

,vas
was only
only the
the thing
thing to
to be
be acted,
acted, the play to
to be

played,
played, by me the
the player.
player. II ITIUst
must be SOlenll1
solemn

too, —
too,-silent
silent as
as the
the churchyard,
churchyard, mournful as
as the

grave, —
grave,-because
because of
of the
the truth.
truth. Why ,vas
"\Vhy was II thus
driven
driven to
to act a part
act a part that
that was false?
false? On the
52
52 THE FIXED PERIOD.

brow' of
brow the hill
of the hill we met a
a concourse of
of people
people
both young and
both old,
old, and I
I ,vas
was glad to see
glad to that
see that

the
the latter
latter had conle
come out to greet
out to us.
greet us. But by
degrees the
degrees the crowd became so that
so numerous that

the
the carriage
carriage ,vas
was stopped
stopped in
in its progress; and
its progress ;

rising up,
rising up, II motioned to
motioned to those
those around us
us to
to

let us
let us pass.
pass. We became,
'Ve became, however,
however, more firmly
firmly

enveloped in the masses,

in the masses, and at last II had to
at last to
ask that they
ask aloud that they ,vould
would open and let
let us
us go
go
011.
on. "Mr President,"
"1\:1:1' President," said
said one
one old gentleman
old gentleman

to
to 1ne,
me, a tanner in
a tanner the city,
in the city, "there's
" there's an English
English
ship
ship of
of ,val'
war come into the harbour.
into the harbour. I think
I think
they've got
they've got something to
to say
say to you."
to you."

"Something to say
" Something to to me
say to nle! ! "\Vhat can they
What can they
have to
to say to me
say to me?"
?
" I
I replied,
replied, ,yith all the
with all the
dignity
dignity II could conunand.
command.
""\Ve'll just stay
"We'll just stay and see —
see;;-,Ye'll just wait
well just ,vait aa
few minutes,"
minutes," said
said another elder.
elder. He was
was aa
bar-keeper ,vith
bar-keeper with aa red nose, and as
red nose, he spoke
as he he
spoke he

took a place
took up a place in front of
in front the horses.
of the horses. It
It ,vas
was
in vain for
in for 111e
me toto press
press the
the coachman. It
It

,vould
would have been
been indecent to
to do so
so at
at such a
a
 —

THE "JOHN BRIGHT.

BRIGHT." 53

monlent, and something at

moment, and at any rate
rate \vas due
was due

to the
to position of
the position Cras\veller.
of Crasweller. He remained
speechless in
speechless in the
the carriage;
carriage but II thought
but
; thought that
that
II could
could see, as II glanced at
see, as his face,
at his that he
face, that

,took
took a
a strong
strong interest
interest In the proceedings.
in the proceedings.
"They're
" They're going to
to begin to come up the
begin to the hill,
hill,
Mr Bunnit,"
Bunnit," said the bar-keeper
said the bar-keeper to
to the
the tanner,
tanner,
""as
as soon
soon as
as ever they're out
ever they're of their
out of boats."
their boats."
"
"God bless the
" God bless the old
old flag
fla^^ for
for ever
ever and ever
ever 1" !

said
said Mr Bunnit.
Bunnit. "I
" I kne\v they wouldn't
knew they \vouldn't let
let

us deposit
us deposit any
anyone."
one."

Thus their
their secret
secret was declared.
declared. These old
old

—
nlen,-the
men, the tanner
tanner and whisky-dealer,
\vhisky-dealer, and the
the
—had
like,-had
like, sent to England to
seot home to to get
get assist-
assist-

ance against their

ance against their own Government 1 There !

had always been

been aa SCUIn
scum of the population,
of the population,-
the dirty,
the dirty, frothy, meaningless foam at
frothy, meaningless the top,
at the top,
—
-men
men like
like the
the drunken old bar-keeper, who
old bar-keeper, \vho
had still
still clung subnlissive to the
submissive to the old
old country,
country,

—
-men \vho knew
men who kne\v nothing
nothing of progress anu
of progress and civil-
civil-

isation,—
isation,-\vho
who \vere content with
were content with what
\vhat they
they ate
ate
and drank,
drank, and chiefly with the
chiefly with the latter.
latter. "" Here
54
54 THE FIXED PERIOD.

they come.
they come. God bless
bless their
their gold bands!"" said
gold bands said !

of the
he of red nose.
the red nose. Yes i-UP
; — the hill
up the they
hill they

came,
came, three
three gilded British naval
gilded British naval officers
officers sur-
sur-

rounded by aa crowd of
of Britannulans.
Britannulans.

Crasweller heard
Crasweller it
it all,
all, but did
did not
not move

fronl his
from his place.
place. But he
he leaned
leaned forward, he
forward, and he

bit
bit his lip, and II sa'\v
his lip, that his
saw that his right
right hand shook
as it
as it grasped the arm of
grasped the the carriage.
of the carriage. There
There

,vas
was nothing for but to
for me but to throw
throw myself
Inyself back
back
remain tranquil.
and remain tranquil. II was,
was, ho\vever, \vell
however, well

aware that
aware that an hour
hour of
of despair
despair and opposition,
opposition,
and of
of defeat, \vas coming upon me.
defeat, was me. they
Up they
came,
came, and were
\vere received
received with
\vith three
three deafening
deafening
cheers the crowd imlnediately
cheers by the round the
immediately round the
carnage.
carriage. "" II beg
beg your
your pardon,
pardon, sir,"
sir," said one of
said one of
the
the three, \vhom II afterwards
three, whom afterwards learned to be
learned to be the
the
second lieutenant;
lieutenant "are the President
" are you the
; President of
of
this Eepublic ? ""
this Republic?

"" II am," replied

repli ed I;
I; "and \v hat may you
" and what you be?"
be?"
"" II am the
the second lieutenant
lieutenant on board
board H.~f.'s
H.M.'s

gunboat, the JJohn

gunboat, the o11n Bright."
Bright." II had heard
heard of
of
this
this vessel, been named from aa
vessel, which had been
 "

THE "JOHN BRIGHT."

BRIGHT." 55
55

gallant officer,
gallant officer, who,
who, in
in the
the beginning
beginning of
of the
the
century, had
century, had seated
seated himself
himself on aa barrel
barrel of
of gun-
gun-
powder, and
powder, and had, single-handed,
had, single - handed, 4^elled
quelled aa
mutiny.
mutiny. He had
had been
been made Earl
Earl Bright
Bright for
for
what he
what he had
had done
done on
on that
that occasion,
occasion, but
but the
the
vessel
vessel was still
was still called J. B.
called J. B. throughout
throughout the
the
servlce.
service.

"And
" And be your
what may be your business
business with
with me,
me,
Mr Second Lieutenant?"
Second Lieutenant ?

"Our captain,
captain, Captain
Captain Battleax's
Battleax's compli-
compli-
ments, and
ments, and he
he hopes
hopes you won't
won't object
0 bj ect to
to post-
post-
pone
pone this interesting
this interesting ceremony for aa
for or
day or

till he may come and

two till and see.
see. is sure
He is sure that
that
Mr Crasweller won't mind."
Crasweller won't mind." Then he
he took
took off
off
his
his hat
hat to
to myoId
my old friend.
friend. "The
" The captain
captain would

have come up himself,

himself, but
but he
he can't
can't leave the
leave the

ship before he sees

ship before his big
sees his big gun laid
laid on and

made safe.
safe. He is very sorry
is very sorry to
to be
be so
so uncere-
uncere-

monious, but the

the 250-ton
250-ton steam-swiveller
steam-swiveller re-
re-

quires
quires a
a great
great deal
deal of
of care."
care."

"Laid
" Laid on
on ? " I
? " I suggested.
suggested.

"Well-yes.
"Well yes.— It
It is
is always
always necessary,
necessary, when
5G
56 THE FIXED PERIOD.

the
the ship
ship lets
lets go her anchor,
go her to point
anchor, to point the
the gun in
in
the
the nl0st
most effective
effective manner."

"" She won't go off,

won't go off, ,vill
will she?"
she ? " asked Bunnit.
Bunnit.
without provocation,
"" Not without provocation, II think.
think. The
captain has the
captain has the exploding
exploding 'wire under double
wire under double
lock
lock and key in
in his
his own state-rooul.
state-room. If he
If he
only touched the
only touched the spring,
spring, we about the
the locality
locality

here be knocked into

here would be into little
little bits in less
bits in less
time than it
time it ,vill take you to
will take to think
think about it.
it.
Indeed the
the ,vhole
whole of this side
of this side of the hill
of the hill would
become an instantaneous ruin without
instantaneous ruin without the
the sign
sign

of
of a being any'v
a human being here."
anywhere."

There 'vas
was a threat in
a threat this ,vhich
in this which II could
could not
not
endure. A.nd indeed,
endure. And indeed, for myself, II did
for myself, did not
not care
care
ho,v soon II might
how soon might be
be annihilated.
annihilated. England, ,vith
with

unsurpassed tyranny,
unsurpassed tyranny, had sent
sent out
out one of
of her
her
brutal
brutal modern inventions, threatened us
inventions, and threatened us
all
all with blood and gore
with blood if ,ve
gore and murder if did
we did
not
not give
give up our beneficent modern theory.
our beneficent theory. It
It

\vas the
was the malevolent
malevolent infl uence of
influence of the
the intellect
intellect
applied
applied to brute force,
to brute its benevol-
force, dominating its

ent influence as
ent influence as applied What
to philanthropy. 'Vhat
applied to
 THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 57
57

\vas the
was the John Bright to me that
Bright to that it
it should
should conle
come
there prepared to
there prepared to send me into
into eternity
eternity by its
its

bloodthirsty
bloodthirsty mechanism?
mechanism ? It
It is evil sign
is an evil sign of
of

the times,—
the times,-of
of the times that
the times that are
are in
in so
so many
respects
respects hopeful,-that
hopeful, —the greatest
that the greatest inventions
inventions

of the
of the day should
should ahvays take the
always take the shape of
of
engines of
engines of destruction
destruction ! But what eould
! I do
could I

in
in the
the agony of
of the
the moment
n10n1ent ?? II could but sho\v
could but show
the
the coolness
coolness of
of my courage
courage by desiring the
desiring the

coachman to drive 011.

to drive on.

"For
" For God's
God's sake,
sake, don't!"
don't " said
said Cras\veller,
Crasweller,
1

JumpIng up.
jumping up.
"He
" He shan't
shan't stir
stir a
a step,"
step," said to the
said Bunnit to the
bar-keeper.
bar-keeper.

"" He can't
can't move an inch," replied the
inch," replied the other.
other.
"" We know what
\vhat our precious
precious lives
lives are \vorth ;
are worth ;

"
"" don't
don't we, Mr Bunnit?
we, nIr Bunnit ? "

vVhat
What could T do
could T do ?
? "Mr
" Mr Second Lieutenant,
Lieutenant,
II must hold you responsible
responsible for this interrup-
for this interrup-

tion," said
tion," said 1.
I.

"Exactly so.
so. II am responsible, — as far
responsible,-as far as
as

stopping
stopping this
this carnage
carriage goes.
goes. Had all the town
all the
 —

58
58 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

turned
turned out
out in
in your favour,
favour, and
and had this
this gen-
gen-

tleman
tleman insisted
insisted on
on being
being carried
carried away to
to be
be
"
buried--"
buried
"
(C Nothing of
of that
that kind,"
kind," said
said Crasweller.
Crasweller.

"Then
" Then II think Inlay
I may assunle
assume that
that Captain
Captain

Battleax
Battleax ,yill
will not
not fire
fire his
his gun.
gun. But if
if you
you ,yill
will

allow me, II will

will ask him a
a question."
question." Then
he put a
a minute ,yhistle
whistle up to
to his
his mouth,
mouth, and
and
could see,
II could see, for
for the
the first
first time,
time, that
that there
there hung

from this
this the thinnest possible metal
thinnest possible metal wire,-
wire,

a thread of
of silk,
silk, I
I ,vould have said,
would have said, only
only that
that
it was much less
it less palpable, —which had
palpable,-,vhich had been
been
the whistle
dropped from the ,vhistle as
as the
the lieutenant
lieutenant
along, and which
had come along, ,vhich now communicated
communicated
,vith the
with the vessel.
vessel. I
I had, of
had, of course,
course, heard
heard of
of
this
this hair telephone,
hair telephone, but
but II never before
had never before
seen
seen it used
it used in
in such
such perfection.
perfection. I
I ,vas assured
was assured
afterwards that
afterwards that one
one of
of the
the ship's
ship's officers
officers could
could
go ten
go ten miles
Iniles inland
inland and
and still hold
still hold communica-
tion with
tion 'with his
his captain.
captain. put the
He put the instrument
instrument
alternately to
alternately to his
his mouth and
mouth and to
to his
his ear,
ear, and
and
then informed
then informed me that
me that Captain
Captain Battleax
Battleax was
,vas
 THE "JOHN BRIGHT.
BRIGHT." 59
59

desirous
desirous that
tliat ,,"e
we should
should all
all go to our
go home to our
own houses.
houses.

"I decline
decline to
to go to my own house,"
go to I
house," I

said.
said. The lieutenant
lieutenant shrugged his
his shoulders.
shoulders.

Coachman, as
"Coachman,
cc· as soon
soon as the crowd has
as the has dis-
dis-

persed
persed itself, will drive
itself, you will drive on."
on." The coach-
coach-

man,
man, who ,vas
was an old
old assistant
assistant in estab-
in my estab-

lishment,
lishment, turned round and looked
looked at llle
at me

aghast.
aghast. But he
he was soon
soon put
put out
out of his
of his

trouble.
trouble. Bunnit and the
the bar-keeper
bar-keeper took
took out
out

the
the horses
horses and proceeded to lead
proceeded to lead them down

the
the hill.
hill. Cras","eller,
Crasweller, asas soon
soon as he saw this,
as he this,
said
said that
that he he might go back,
he presumed he back, as he
as he

could
could not
not possibly
possibly go
go on.
on. "It
" It is but three
is but three
miles
miles for us to
for us to ,valk,"
walk," II said.
said.

"I
" I aln
am forbidden to
to permit
permit this
this gentlenlan
gentleman

to proceed either
to proceed either on foot
foot or
or ,vith
with the
the carriage,"
carriage,"

said the lieutenant.

said the lieutenant. "I
" I am to
to ask
ask if he will
if he will
do Captain Battleax the honour
Battleax the honour to
to come on
board
board and take tiffin ,vith
take tiffin him.
with him. If
If II could
could

only prevail
prevail on you,
you, 1\11'
Mr President."
President." On this
this
II shook head in
shook my head eager denial.
in eager denial. ""Exactly
Exactly
60 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEraoD.

so;
so but he will
; will hope to
to see
see you on another
another

occasion
occasion soon."
sood." II little
little thought then,
then, ho\v
how
many long days II should have to
to pass
pass 'with
with

Captain Battleax and his

his officers,
officers, or
or ho\v
how pleas-
pleas-

ant cOlnpanions
companions II should find
find thenl
them \vhen
when the
the

renlembrance
remembrance of
of the present
present indignity
indignity had been
been
some\vhat
somewhat softened
softened by tinle.
time.

Crasweller
Grasweller turned upon his
his heel
lieel and walked
walked
c1o\vn the
down hill with
the hill \vith the officers, —
the officers,-all the crowd
all the crowd
accompanying them; while
acconlpanying them while Bunnit and the
; the
bar-keeper had gone off
bar-keeper with the
off with the horses.
horses. I
I

not descended from the

had not the carriage;;
carriage but
but

there II was,
there \vas, planted alone, —
planted alone,-the President of
the President of
the J~epublic left
the Eepublic the top
left on the top of
of the
the hill
hill in
in his
his
carriage
carriage \vithout 111eans
without means ofof locomotion
locomotion! ! On
looking round II saw
looking sa \v Jack,
Jack, and with
with Jack II
saw also
also aa lady,
lady, shrouded
shrouded from head to
to foot
foot
in black
in black garments,
garnlents, with
\vith aa veil
veil over
over her
her face,
face,
\vhom II knew, from
vv^hom fronl the
the little round hat
little hat upon
her head,
her head, to
to be
be Eva.
Eva. Jack came
Jack caDle up to
to me,
me,

,vent II could
but where Eva went could not
not see.
see. " Shall
''
Shall
\ve ,valk
we to the
walk down to the house
house?"
?
he said.
" he said. I felt
I felt
 "

THE "JOHN
THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 61
61

that his
that his coming
coming to
to me at
me at such
such aa moment
nloment was
was
kind, because
kind, because II had been,
had been, as
as it
it were,
were, deserted
deserted
by all
by all the
the world.
world. Then he
Then he opened
opened the
the door
door of
of
the carriage,
the carriage, and
and II came
came out.
out. "It was
"It was very
very
odd that
odd that those
those fellows
fellows should
should have
have turned
turned up
just at
just at this
this moment," said
moment," said Jack.
Jack.
"When things
''When things happen very
very oddly,
oddly, as
as you
call it,
call it, they
they seem
seem to
to have
have been
been premeditated."
premeditated."
" Not their
"Not their coming
coming to-day.
to-day. has not
That has not
been premeditated
been at least
premeditated; at least not
; not to
to my know-
ledge.
ledge. Indeed II did
did not in the
not in the least
least know
kno\v
\vhat
what the
the English \vere likely
English were to do."
likely to do."

"Do you think

think it right to
it right to send to
to the
the
enemies
enemies of
of your country
country for
for aid
aid against
against your
your

country?
country ? "" This
This II asked with much indigna-

tion,
tion, and II had refused
refused as
as yet
yet to
to take his
his

ann.
arm.

"Oh
" Oh but,
but, sir,
sir, England isn't
isn't our enemy."

""Not
Not ·when
when she
she comes and interrupts
interrupts the

quiet
quiet execution
execution of
of our
our la\vs
laws by threats
threats of
of blo\v-
blow-

ing
ing us
us and our
our city
city and our
our citizens
citizens to
to instant
instant

destruction!
destruction " !
62
62 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"She
" She ,vould never have
would never have done it.
it. II don't
don't
suppose that big
suppose that big gun is
is even loaded."
loaded."

"The
" The more contemptible IS her
contemptible is her position.
position.
She threatens
threatens us
us ,vith
with aa lie In her
lie in her mouth."
mouth."
"I
" I kno\v
know nothing about it,
it, sir.
sir. The gun
be there
may be there all
all right,
right, and the
the gunpowder,
gunpowder,

the twenty tons

and the tons of
of iron
iron shot.
shot. But I'nl
I'm

sure
sure she'll
she'll not
not fire
fire it
it off
off in
in our harbour.
our harbour. They
say that
that each shot
shot costs
costs t\VO thousand five
two thousand five

hundred pounds,
pounds, and that the
and that the wear
wear and tear
tear
to
to the
the vessel
vessel is thousand more.
is two thousand more. There
are
are things
things so terrible, that
so terrible, that if
if you will
will only
only
create aa belief
create belief in them, that
in them, that will
\vill suffice with-
suffice with-

out anything
out anything else.
else. II suppose we may walk
do\vn.
down. Cras\veller
Crasweller has
has gone,
gone, and you can
can do
do
nothing without
nothing \vithout him."
hinl."
true, and II therefore
This was true, therefore prepared
prepared to
to
descend the
descend the hill.
hill. My position
~fy position as President of
as President of
the Republic
the did
Eepublic did delnand
demand aa certain
certain amount of
of
personal dignity;
personal dignity; and how \vas II to
ho\v was to uphold
uphold
that in
that in my
nly present
present circumstances 1 "" Jack,"
Jack,"
?

said I,
said I, "it
" it is the sign
is the sign of
of a noble mind to
a noble to bear
bear
 "

THE "JOHN BRIGHT." 63

63

contumely ,vithout
without petulance.
petulance. Since our horses
horses

have gone before

before us,
us, and Crasweller
Crasweller and the
the

crowd have gone,

gone, ,ve
we will
will follow
follow them."
them." Then
II put my arm within his,
his, and as
as II ,valked
walked
down the
the hill,
hill, I
I almost took joy
joy in
in thinking
thinking

that
that Crasweller
Crasweller had been spared.
spared.

"" Sir,"
Sir," said
said Jack,
Jack, as
as we walked on,
on, "I
" I ,vant
want
to
to tell
tell you something."

""What
What is
is it?"
it?"

"" Something of
of most extreme importance to
to
me ! I never thought that
! that II should have been
been
so
so fortunate
fortunate as
as to
to announce to
to you 'v hat I've
what I've

now got
got to
to say.
say. II hardly
hardly know "rhether
whether II am

or my heels.
standing on my head or heels. Cras-
Eva Cras-
weller has
weller has promised
pro111ised to
to be
be my wife."
wife."
"" Indeed
Indeed! "!

"" If
If you ~vill
will us happy by giving
make us giving us
us
permission."
your permission."

"I should
" Ishould not
not have
have thought
thought that
that she
she would
,vould
have asked
have asked for that."
for that."

"She
" has to
She has to ask
ask her
her father,
father, and he's
he's all
all right.
right.
did say,
He did say, when II spoke
spoke to
to him this
this morning,
morning}
64 THE FIXED ~ERIOD.
PERIOD.

that
that his
his permission would go
go for
for nothing,
nothing, as
as

he was about to
to be led
led a\vay
away and deposited.
deposited.

Of course told hin1

course II told him that
that all
all that
that would amount

to
to nothing."
nothinc^."

"To
" To nothing!
nothing ! What .right
Wliat right had you to
to say
say

so?
so?""
Well, sir,-you
"" ,Yell, —
sir, you see
see tba
thatt a
a party
party of
of us were

quite determined. Eva had said

said that
that she
she would

never let
let me even speak to
to her
her as
as long as her
long as her

father's
father's life
life ,vas
was in
in danger.
danger. She altogether
altogether

hated that
that wretch
\vretch Grundle for
for 'vanting to get
wanting to get
rid
rid of him.
of him. II s\vore to her
swore to that II would
her that \vould do
do
the best
best II could,
could, and she
she said that if
said that if II could
could
succeed, then
succeed, then-she —thought she
she thought she could
could love
love me.
me.
,Yhat was
What ,vas aa fellow do ?? ""
to do
fellow to

",Vhat did
"What did you do?"
do ? "
"" II had it
it all
all out
out with
,vith Sir
Sir Kennington
l{ennington Oval,
Oval,
,vho is
who is the
the prince
prince of
of good fellows
fellows j
; and he
and he tele-
tele-

to his
graphed to his uncle,
uncle, who
\v ho is Secretary
is Secretary for
for
Benevolence, or
Benevolence, or some
sonle such
such thing,
thing, at
at home."
home."
"England
" is not
England is not your home,"
home," said
said I.
1.
" It's the
" It's the way
,yay we
,ve all
all speak
speak of
of it."
it."
 "

THE "JOHN
THE "JOHN BRIGHT."
BRIGHT." 65
65

" And
" And what
what did
did he
he say
say?"
?

Well, he
:c Well,
•' he went
went to
to work,
work, and
and the
the John
John Bright
Bright
'vas sent
was sent out
out here.
here. But it
But it was
,vas only
only an
an accident
accident
that
that it should
it should come
come on
on this
this very
very day."
day."
this was
And this was the
the way in
in which
'v hich things
things are
are to
to
be managed
be managed in
in Britannula
Britannula! ! Because aa young
Because

boy had
boy had fallen in love
fallen in love ,vith aa pretty
with pretty girl, the
girl, the
'v hole wealth
whole wealth of
of England was to
to be
be used for aa
for

1110st nefarious purpose,

most nefarious purpose, and aa great
great nation
nation was
'vas
to
to exercise its
exercise its tyranny over
tyranny over aa small
small one,
one, in
in
,vhich her own language
which her language was
,vas spoken and her
her
own custonlS
customs followed!
followed ! In every
every ,vay
way England
had
had had
had reason
reason to
to be
be proud of her youngest
of her

child.
child. We Britannulans
Britannulans had become noted for
for

intellect,
intellect, morals,
morals, health,
health, and prosperity.
prosperity. We
,\Ve
had advanced
advanced aa step
step upwards,
upwards, and had adopted

the
the Fixed
Eixed Period.
Period. Then, at
Then, at the
the instance
instance of
of this
this

lad,
lad, a
a leviathan
leviathan of
of war was to
to be
be sent
sent out
out to
to

crush
crush us
us unless
unless 've
we would consent to put do\yn
consent to down
the
the cherished
cherished conviction
conviction of
of our
our hearts!
hearts ! As
As II
thought
thought of
of all,
all, ,valking
w^alking do,vn
down the
the street
street hanging
hanging

on
on Jack's
Jack's arn1,
arm, II had
had to
to ask
ask nlyself
myself whether
whether the
the

VOL.
VOL. II.
II. EE
 —

66
6Q THE FIXED PERIOD.

Fixed Period was the

the cherished
cherished conviction
conviction of
of

our hearts.
hearts. It
It ,vas
was so
so of
of some,
some, no
no doubt;
doubt and
and
;

II had been able,

able, by the
the intensity
intensity of
of l11y
my 'vill,-
will,

and something, too,

too, by the
the covetousness
covetousness and
and
hurry of
of the men, — to cause
the younger men,-to cause my wishes
wishes

to prevail in
to prevail in the
the cOlllmunity.
community. II did
did not
not find
find

that II had reconciled

reconciled myself to
to the
the use
use of
of this
this

covetousness ,vith
with the
the object
object of
of achieving a
achieving a

purpose which II believed

believed to
to be
be thoroughly
thoroughly good.
good.

But the heartfelt

heartfelt conviction
conviction had not
not been
been strong
stronij

,vith the people.

with the people. II ,vas
was forced to confess
forced to as
confess as

nluch.
much. Had it
it indeed been really
indeed been really strong with
strong with

myself??
any but myself 'Vas II not
Was not in
in the
the position
position of
of
a shepherd
a shepherd driving
driving sheep
sheep into
into aa pasture
pasture which
'vas distasteful
was distasteful to
to them
them?? Eat,
Eat, 0 sheep,
sheep, and
and
,vill love
you Avill love the
the food in good
food in good time,
time,-you —
or
you or
the that are
the lambs that are coming after
after you
you! ! 'Vhat
What
sheep will
sheep ,vill go
go into
into unsavoury pastures,
pastures, with
with no
no
hopes but such
hopes but such as
as these
these held
held out
out to
to them
theln?? And
yet II had been
yet been right.
right. pasture had been
The pasture been
the best
the best which the
the ingenuity
ingenuity of
of n1an had
man had found
found
for the
for the maintenance of
maintenance of sheep.
sheep.
 "

THE
TPIE "JOHN BRIGHT."
"JOHN BRIGHT." 67
67

" Jack,"
" Jack," said I, ""'what
said I, what aa poor,
poor, stupid,
stupid, love-
love-
lorn boy
lorn boy you are
you are! " !

"I daresay I am,"

" I daresay IaID," said
said Jack,
Jack, meekly.
meekly.
"You put
put the
the kisses
kisses of
of aa pretty
pretty girl,
girl, who
\v ho
perhaps make you aa good
may perhaps good wife,
wife, - and,
and, —
again,
again, you aa bad one,
may make you — against all
one,-against all
the world
the in arms."
world in arms."
" II
" quite sure
am quite sure about
about that,"
that," said
said Jack.
Jack.
" Sure
ee Sure about what
about what?? ""
"" That
That there
there is not aa. fellow
is not fellow in all Britannula
in all Britannula
,vill have such
will have such aa wife
wife as
as Eva."
Eva."

That meallS
"That
C( that you are
means that in love.
are In love. And
because
because you
you are
are in
in love,
love, you are
are to
to throw over

—
-not
not merely
merely your father,
father, because
because in
in such an
"
affair that
affair that goes
goes for
for nothing--"
nothing

"" Oh,
Oh, but
but it does II have thought
it does; thought so
;so much

about
about it."
it."

"I'm
" I'm nluch
much obliged
obliged to
to you.
you. But you are
to put
to put yourself
yourself in
in opposition
opposition to
to the
the greatest

nlovement
movement made on
on behalf of the
behalf of the human race
race

for
for centuries;
centuries you are
are to
;
to set
set yourself up
"
aaainst--"
against
w
(is
C8 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED TEEIOD.
PERIOD.

" Galileo and

" Galileo and Columbus,"
Colulnbus," he
he suggested,
suggested, quot-
qnot-
ing
ing nly words
my ,vords with
,vith great
great cruelty.
cruelty.
" The modern Galileo,
" Galileo, sir
sir; the
the Columbus
;COIUlllbus of
of
this age.
this age. are to
And you are to conquer
conquer them
thenl! ! I,
I,

the father,
the father, have
have to
to submit
subnlit to
to you the son; II
the son;
the President
the President of
of fifty-seven,
fifty-seven, to
to you the
the school-
school-
boy of
boy twenty-one; II the
of twenty-one; the thoughtful
thoughtful man, to
to

you the
you the thoughtless
thoughtless boy
boy! ! I congratulate
I congratulate you;
you ;

but II do
but do not
not congratulate
congratulate the
the world
,vorld on
Oll the
the
extreme
extreme folly
folly still guides
which still guides its
its actions."
actions."
Then II left
left him,
hinl, and going
going into
into the
the executive
executive
chalnbers, sat
chambers, D\yself
sat myself do,vn
down and cried
cried in the
the
very
very agony
agony of
of u
a broken heart.
heart.

.j;
M
 69
69

CHAPTER
OHAPTER IX.
IX.

THE NEW GOVERNOE.

NE"\V GOVERNOR.

So," said
"" SO," said II to
to myself,
myself, "because
" because of Jack and
of Jack

his
his love, all the
love, all the aspirations of my life
aspirations of life are
are to
to

be crushed!
crushed !The 'v
whole of my existence,
hole dream of existence,

,vhich
which has COlne
come so near to
so near to the
the fruition
fruition of
of a
a

'vaking
waking moment, is to
IS be violently
to be violently dispelled
dispelled

because
because my o,vn
own son
son and Sir
Sir ICennington
Kennington Oval
have settled that aa pretty
bet,veen them that
settled between pretty girl
girl

is
is to
to have her
her own ,vay."
way." As II thought
thought of
of it,
it,

there
there seemed to
to be
be a monstrous cruelty
a monstrous cruelty and

potency in
in Fortune,
Fortune, ,vhich
which she
she never
never could
could

have been
been allowed
allowed to exercise in
to exercise in a
a ,vorld
world which

,vas
was not
not altogether
altogether given
given over to injustice.
over to injustice. It
It

,vas
was for
for that
that that
that II 'vept.
wept. II ,,~ept
wept toto think
think
that
that a
a spirit
spirit of honesty should as
of honesty yet have
as yet
70
70 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

prevailed so
so little
little in
in the
the ·world.
world. Here,
Here, in
in our
our

,vaters,
waters, ,vas
was lying
lying aa terrible
terrible engine
engine of
of British
British

po\ver,
power, sent out by a
sent out a British
British Cabinet
Cabinet lVlinister,
Minister,

—
-the
the so - called 1\1inister
so-called Minister ofof Benevolence,
Benevolence, by
by
a bitter
bitter chance,-at
chance, —
at the
the instance
instance of
of that
that Min-
Min-
ister's
ister's nephe,v,
nephew, to
to put down by brute
brute force
force the
the

lnost
most absolutely
absolutely benevolent
benevolent project
project for
for the
the

governance of
of the
the ,vorld
world \vhich
which the
the mind of
of

man had ever

ever projected.
projected. It
It was in
in that that
that that

lay the agony of

of the blow.
the blow.

I remained there
I there alone
alone for
for hours, but
many hours, but
II nlust ackno,vledge that
must acknowledge that before
before II left
left the
the
chambers II had gradually
gradually brought
brought myself
myself to
to

look at
look the matter
at the lnatter in
in another
another light.
light. Had
Crasweller not
Eva Crasweller not been
been good-looking,
good-looking, had
Jack been still at
still at college,
college, had Sir
Sir Kenning-
ICenning-
ton Oval remained
ton remained in
in England,
England, had
had 1\1r Bunnit
Mr Bunnit
the bar-keeper
and the bar-keeper not
not succeeded
succeeded in
in stopping
stopping
my
lny carriage
carriage on
on the — should II have
hill,-should
the hill, have suc-
suc-
ceeded in
ceeded in arranging
arranging for the final departure
for the final departure of
of
my
lny old
old friend
friend?? That was
That was the
the question
question which
which
II ought to
ought to ask 111yself.
ask myself. And even
And even had
had II
 NEW GOVERNOR.
THE NE'V GOVERNOE. 71
71

succeeded
succeeded in carrying my success
in carrying success so
so far as
far as

that,
that, should
should II not have appeared aa murderer
not have murderer
to
to llly
my fellovv-citizens not his
fellow -citizens had not his departure
departure

been followed in
been follovved regular sequence by that
in regular that of
of

all
all others till it
others till to my turn
it had come to turn 1 Had1

Cras'weller
Crasweller departed,
departed, and had the
the system then
then
been
been stopped,
stopped, should II not have appeared a
a

Inurderer
murderer even to
to myself?
myself? \vhat hope
And what hope
had there been, what reasonable
there been, reasonable expectation,
expectation,

that
that the
the systenl
system should have
have been
been allowed
fair-play?
fair-play ?

It
It lllust
must be understood that
be understood that I,
I, I myself, have
I myself,

never for
for a
a monlent
moment swerved.
swerved. But though II
have been strong
strong enough to
to originate the idea,
originate the idea,

II have not been strong

not been strong enough to
to bear
bear the
the
terrible
terrible harshness
harshness of the opinions
of the opinions of those
of those

around 111e
me when II should have exercised
should have exercised

against those dear

against those to me the
dear to the Inandates
mandates of the
of the

new la\v.
law. If
If II could,
could, in the spirit,
in the have leaped
spirit, have leaped

over aa space
space of thirty years
of thirty years and been myself
myself
deposited in
in due order,
order, II could
could see my
that 111y
see that

lllelliory \vonld have

memory would have been
been embalmed with
\vith those
those
 ;

72 THE FIXED PERIOD.

,vho
who had done great
great things
things for
for their
their fellow-
fellow-

citizens.
citizens. Columbus, and Galileo,
Galileo, and Newton,

and Irarvey,
Harvey, and "\Vilberforce,
Wilberforce, and Cobden,
Cobden,

and that great

great Banting who has
has preserved
preserved

all so
us all so completely from the
the horrors
horrors of
of

obesity, would not

obesity, not have been named \vith
with

resplendent than that

honour more resplendent that paid
paid to
to

the nanle
name of
of N everbend.
Neverbend. Such had been my
alnbition,
ambition, such had been my hope.
hope. But it is
it is

necessary that aa 'v

necessary that hole age
whole age should be
be carried
carried
up to
to S0111e proximity to
some proximity to the
the reformer before-
reformer before

there is aa space sufficiently

there is sufficiently large
large for his opera-
for his opera-
tions.
tions. Had the
the telegraph
telegraph been invented in
in

the days
the days of
of ancient
ancient Eome,
Rome, would the
the Romans
Komans
have accepted
have accepted it, or
it, or have stoned
stoned Wheatstone
'Vheatstone??
So thinking, II resolved that II was
resolved that before my
\vas before 111y
age,
age, that II must
and that 111 ust pay the
the allotted
allotted penalty.
penalty.
arriving at
On arriving at my own residence,
at home at residence, II
found that
found that our
our salon
salon was filled with
filled \vith aa brilliant
brilliant
company. We
'Ve did
did not usually
usually use
use the
the room
room;
but on entering
but the house II heard
entering the heard the
the clat-
clat-

ter of
ter of conversation,
conversation) and went in.
in. There was
There ,vas
 THE NEW GOYERNOE.
NE"\V GOVERNOR. 73
73

Captain
Captain Battleax
Battleax seated there, beautiful
seated there, beautiful with
with

aa cocked-hat,
cocked-hat, and an epaulet,
epaulet, and gold braid.
gold braid.

He rose
rose to
to meet me,
me, and II saw that
that he
he ,vas
was aa

handsome tall
tall man about
about forty, with aa deter-
forty, with deter-

mined face
face and a winning smile.
a winning smile. "Mr Presi-
" Mr Presi-

dent,"
dent," said
said he,
he, "I am in
*'I aID in command of her
of her

l\1ajesty's
Majesty's gunboat, J'Ohl~ Bright,
the John
gunboat, the Bright, and II
to pay my respects
have come to respects to
to the
the ladies."
ladies."

"" II am sure
sure the
the ladies have great
ladies have pleasure in
great pleasure in

seeing
seeing you."
you." II looked round
round the
the room,
room, and
there,
there, 'with
wdth other
other of
of our fair
fair citizens,
citizens, I
I sa\v
saw
Eva.
Eva. As II spoke II made him aa gracious
gracious bow,

and II think II showed him by lny

my mode of
of

address
address that
that II did not bear
did not bear any grudge as to
as to

my individual
nly individual self.
self.

"" II have come to

to your
your shores, President,
shores, Mr President,

,vith
with the purpose
purpose of
of seeing things are
seeing how things are

progressing
progressing in this distant
in this distant quarter
quarter of the
of the

,vorld."
world."

"" Things were progressing,

progressing, Captain
Captain Battleax,
Battleax,

pretty
pretty ,veIl before this
well before morning.
this morning. We have our
,\Ve
little
little struggles here as
struggles here as elsewhere,
elsewhere, and all
all things
things
74 THE FIXED PERIOD.

cannot be
be done by rose-water.
rose-\vater. But, on the
But, on the
\v hole, we
whole, \ve are
are aa prosperous
prosperous and well-satisfied
well-satisfied
people."
people."

" We
"'Ve are
are quite
quite satisfied
satisfied no\v,
now. Captain
Captain

Battleax," said my \vife.

Battleax," said wife.

"Quite
" Quite satisfied,"
satisfied," said Eva.
said Eva.

"" II anl
am sure
sure \ve
we are
are all
all delighted to hear
delighted to hear the
the
ladies speak in
ladies in so pleasant aa manner,"
so pleasant manner," said
said

First
First -- Lieutenant Crosstrees,
Crosstrees, an officer \vith
officer with

\vhom II have
whom have since particularly in-
since become particularly in-
tin1ate.
timate.

Then there
there \vas
was aa little pause in
little pause in the
the con-
con-
versation, and II felt
versation, myself bound to
felt myself to say
say some-

thing as
thing as to
to the
the violent
violent interruption which II
to \vhich
interruption to

had this been subjected.

this morning been subjected. yet
And yet
that sOlnething
that something be playful
must be playful in its nature.
in its nature. II
must by no
no means show in
in such company as \vas
as was

no\v present the

now present the strong
strong feeling pervaded
feeling which pervaded

my own
n1y o\vn mind. "" You will
\vill perceive,
perceive, Captain
Battleax, that there
Battleax, that there is
is a
a little
little difference of
difference of

opinion between
bet'ween us
us all here as
all here to the
as to the cere-
cere-
Inony to have
mony which was to have been
been acconlplished
accomplished
 THE NEW
NEvV GOVERNOR. 75
75

this morning.
this nlornlng. The ladies,
The ladies, in
in compliance
conlpliance with
,vith
that softness
that softness of
of heart
heart which is their
is their charac-
charac-
teristic, are
teristic, are on
on one
one side;
side; and the
the men, by
"\vholn the
whom the world
,vorld has
has to
to be
be managed, are
are on
on
the other.
the other. No doubt,
N"o doubt, in
in process
process of
of time
tinle the
the
"
ladies will
ladies ,vill follow
follow--"
"Their masters,"
"Their masters," said
said Mrs Neverbend.
N everbend. " No
"No
doubt 'we shall
doubt we shall do
do so
so when
,vhen it is only
it is only ourselves
ourselves
that
that have to
we have sacrifice, but
to sacrifice, but never
never when
,vhen the
the
question concerns
question concerns our
our husbands,
husbands, our
our fathers,
fathers,
and our
our sons."
sons."
This pretty
This was aa pretty little speech
little speech enough,
enough, and
received the
received the eager
eager compliments of the officers
of the officers

of
of the
the John Bright.
Bright. "I
" I did not lTIean,"
did not mean," said
said

Captain Battleax, "to

Captain Battleax, touch upon public
" to touch public sub-
sub-

jects at
jects at such
such a
a lTIOment
moment as this.
as this. I
I anl here
am here
only ' to respects as
to pay my respects as a messenger froln
a messenger from

Great Britain
Britain to
to Britannula, to congratulate
Britannula, to congratulate

you all
all on your late victory at
late victory at cricket,
cricket, and to
to

say ho'w
say how loud
loud are
are the
the praises
praises bestowed Mr
bestowed on 1\11'

John N everbend, junior,

Neverbend, junior, for
for his
his skill
skill and gal-
gal-

lantry.
lantry. The pO'wer
power of
of his
his arm is
is already the
76
76 THE FIXED PERIOD.

subject discussed
subject discussed at
at all clubs
all clubs and drawing-
drawing-
rooms at home.
at home. We had received
'Ve received details of
details of

the \vhole affair

the whole \vater-telegram before
affair by water-telegram before the
the
John Bright
Bright started.
started. Mrs Neverbend,
N everbend, you
you
must indeed be
be proud
proud of your son."
of your son."

been standing
Jack had been standing in the far
in the corner of
far corner of
the room talking
the talking to
to Eva,
Eva, and was
\vas reduced
now reduced
to
to silence his praises.
silence by his praises.

"" Sir
Sir I{ennington
Kennington Oval is
is a very fine
a very player,"
fine player,"

said
said my wife.
\vife.
"" And my Lord l\fary Ie bone behaves
Marylebone behaves himself
himself
quite
quite like
like a
a British peer," said
British peer," the wife
said the \vife of
of the
the
l\1ayor
Mayor ofof Gladstonopolis,-
Gladstonopolis, —
aa lady w honl he
lady whom he
n1arried in
had married in England, and who
\vho had not
not
there in
moved there in quite the highest
quite the highest circles.
circles.

Then we
\ve began
began to
to think
think of the hospitality
of the hospitality of
of
the
the island,
island, and the
the officers
officers of the John Bright
of the Bright

\vere asked to
were asked to dine with
\vith us the follo\ving
us on the following

day.
day. II and my wife
\vife and son,
son, and the
the two
bvo
Craswellers, and three
Craswellers, three or
or four
four others, agreed
others, agreed

to
to dine
dine on board
board the
the ship the next.
ship on the next. To me
personally
personally an extreme of
of courtesy
courtesy \vas
was sho\vn.
shown.
 THE NEW
THE NE'V GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. 77
77

It
It seemed as
seemed as though
though II were
were treated
treated with
with

alnlost royal
almost royal honour.
honour. This, II
This, felt, was paid
felt, paid
to
to as being
me as being President
President of
of the
the republic,
republic, and
and
I
I endeavoured to
endeavoured to behave
behave myself
myself with
·with such
such
mingled humility
mingled humility and
and dignity as might
dignity as might befit
befit

the occasion;
the occasion; but
but II could
could not but feel
not but feel that
that
sOlllething was
something was wanting
\vanting to
to the simplicity
the simplicity of
of
Illy ordinary
my ordinary life.
life. My
JVLy wife,
\vife, on
on the
the spur
spur of
of
the moment,
the moment, nlanaged to
managed to give
give the
the gentlemen
gentlemen
a very
a very good
good dinner.
dinner. Including the
Including the chaplain
chaplain
and the
and the surgeon,
surgeon, there
there were
\vere twelve
t\velve of
of them,
them,
and
and she asked twelve
she asked t·welve of the prettiest
of the prettiest girls in
girls in

Gladstonopolis to
Gladstonopolis to llleet thenl.
meet them. This,
This, she said,
said,

was
was true hospitality and II am not sure that
true hospitality; ;

II did
did not
not agree
ac^ree with
with her.
her. Then there
there ·were
were

three
three or
or four
four leading
leading men of
of the
the community,

with
with their
their \vives,
wives, \vho
who were for
for the most part

the
the fathers
fathers and rnothers
mothers of
of the
the YOUllg
young ladies.
ladies.

We sat
"\Ve sat down thirty-six
thirty-six to
to dinner;
dinner and II think
; think

that
that \ve
we showed aa great
great divergence
divergence from those

usual
usual colonial
colonial banquets,
banquets, at
at \vhich
which the elders
are
are only
only invited
invited to
to llleet
meet distinguished guests.
guests.
78
78 THE FIXED PERIOD.

The officers \vere chiefly

officers were a
cliiefly young men; and a

greater babel
greater babel of voices \vas,
of voices was, I'll undertake
I'll undertake to
to
say, never lieard
say, never heard froln
from a banqueting-hall
a banqueting than
-hall than

came fro
fromIn our
our dinner-table.
dinner-table. Eva Crasweller
Crasweller

\vas the
was the queen of the evening,
of the evening, and was
\vas as
as
joyous, as
joyous, beautiful, and as
as beautiful, high-spirited as
as high-spirited as aa
queen should
queen should ever be.
ever be. II did
did once or
or twice
twice
during
during the
the festivity glance round at
festivity glance old Cras-
at old Cras-
weller.
weller. He was
\vas quiet, I might almost
quiet, and I

say
say silent,
silent, during the
the whole evening;
evening but II
but;

could see
could the testimony
see from the testilnony of his altered
of his altered
countenance how
ho\v strong
strong is the passion
is the passion for life
for life

that
that d\vells
dwells in the human breast.
in the breast.

""Your
Your promised
prolnised bride
bride seems to it all
to have it all
her
her own way,"
\vay," said
said Captain Battleax
Battleax to Jack,
to Jack,
when at
at last the ladies
last the \vithdra\vn.
ladies had withdrawn.

"Oh yes," said

" Oh yes," said Jack,
Jack, "and I'm nowhere.
" and I'm nowhere.
But II mean to have my innings before
to have before long."
long."

\v hat l\{rs
Of what N everbend had gone
Mrs Neverbend gone through
through
in providing birds,
in providing birds, beasts,
beasts, and fishes, not to
fishes, not to
talk
talk of tarts and jellies,
of tarts jellies, for the dinner of
for the of that
that
day,
day, no one but
but myself
myself can
can have idea;
have any idea;
 ;

THE NEW GOVERNOR. 79

79

but
but it
it must be
be admitted that she
admitted that she accomplished
accomplished

her
her task
task ,vith thorough success.
with thorough success. II was
w'as told,
told,
too, that
too, that after
after the
the invitations been written,
invitations had been written,
milliner in
no lllilliner in Britannula
Britannula was allo,ved to sleep
allowed to sleep

aa single
sinoie moment till half an hour before
till half before the
the
ladies were assembled in
ladies ,vere in our
our drawing-room;
drawing-room

but their
their efforts, too, ,vere
efforts, too, were conspicuously
conspicuously suc-
suc-

cessful.
cessful.

On the
the next
next day some of us went on
of us on board
board
the
the John B.right
Bright for
for a return dinner;
a return dinner and very
; very
pleasant
pleasant the
the officers
of&cers made it.
it. The living
living on
on
board the
board the John Bright
Bright is
is exceedingly
exceedingly good,
good,

as II
as have had occasion to learn
occasion to from many
learn from

dinners eaten
dinners there since
eaten there that day.
since that day. II little
little

when II sat
thought ,vhen sat down at the right
at the right hand of
of

Captain Battleax
Battleax as being the
as being the President
President of the
of the

republic, with my wife

republic, with wife on his left, II should
his left, should

ever
ever spend more than a
a month on board the
the
ship,
ship, or
or write board it
write on board this account
it this account of
of all
all

all my troubles
my thoughts and all
Iny troubles in regard
in regard

to
to the
the Fixed Period.
Period. After dinner Captain
After

Battleax proposed my
Battleax simply proposed nly health,
health, paying
payIng
80
80 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

to
to me unlneanlng
many unmeaning compliments,
compliments, In
in

which, ho,vever, II observed

,vhich, however, observed that
that no reference
reference
,vas made to
was the special
to the special doings of my presi-
doings of presi-
dency; and he
dency ;he ended
ended by saying,
saying, that
that though
he had,
he had, as
as aa matter
matter of
of courtesy,
courtesy, and with the
the
greatest possible
greatest possible alacrity,
alacrity, proposed
proposed my
nly health,
health,
he would
he ,vould not
not call upon me for
call reply.
for any reply.
immediately on his
And immediately his sitting
sitting down,
do,vn, there
there
got
got up aa gentleman
gentlelnan to ,vhom II had not
to whom not been
been
introduced before
introduced before this
this day,
day, and gave
gave the
the health
health
of
of 1\frs N everbend and the
Mrs Neverbend the ladies
ladies of
of Britannula.
Britannula.
Now in
in spite of ,vhat
spite of the captain
what the said, II un-
captain said, un-
doubtedly had intended
doubtedly intended to
to make aa speech.
speech.
'Vhen the President of
When the the republic
of the republic has
has his
his
health drunk, it
health drunk, is, II conceive,
it is, his duty to
conceive, his to do
do
so.
so. But here
here the
the gentlenlan
gentleman rose
rose ,vith
with aa
rapidity
rapidity ,vhich
which did
did at the moment
at the nloment seem to
to
have been prenleditated.
premeditated. At any rate,
rate, my

eloquence
eloquence was altogether
altogether stopped.
stopped. The gentle-
gentle-

Ulan
man ,,'as
was named Sir
Sir Ferdinando Bro,vn.
Brown. He
,vas
was dressed
dressed in
in sinlple
simple black,
black, and was clearly
clearly

not
not one of
of the
the ship's
ship's officers;
officers but II could not
;
 THE NEW
NE'V GOVERNOR. 81
81

but suspect
but suspect at
at the
the that he was in
moment that in some
sonle
special
special nleasure concerned
measure in the
concerned in the mission
mISSIon on
011
,vhich the
which the gunboat
gunboat had been sent.
sent. He sat
sat on
1\1rs N everbend's left
Mrs Neverbend's left hand,
hand, and did
did seem in
In
S0111e respect
some respect to
to be
be the
the chief
chief man on that
th-at
occaSIon.
occasion. he proposed
However, he proposed Mrs ISTever-
N ever-
bend's health
bend's health and the
the ladies,
ladies, and the
the captain
captain
instantly called
instantly called the band to
upon the to play
play some
sonle
favourite tune.
favourite tune. After that
After that there
there was
,vas no at-
at-

tenlpt at
tempt at speaking.
speaking. We sat ,vith the
sat with the officers
officers
sonle little time
some little time after
after dinner,
dinner, and then
then went
,vent
ashore.
ashore. a Sir
" Sir I," said
Ferdinando and I," the
said the

captain,
captain, as
as we shook hands with him,
him, ""will
will

do ourselves
do ourselves the
the honour of
of calling
calling on you at
at

the executive
the executive chambers to-morrow morning."

II ,vent
went home to
to bed
bed with
with aa presentiment
presentiluent of
of

evil running across

evil across my heart.
heart. A presentiment
presentinlent
indeed!
indeed ! How much of
of evil,-of
evil, —
of real
real acconl-
accom-

plished
plished —
evil,-had
evil, had there
there not occurred
occurred to
to llle
me
during the
the last
last fe\v
few days!
days ! Every hope for
for

which II had lived,

,vhich as II then told
lived, as told 111)'self,
myself, had

been brought to
to sudden extinction
extinction by the com-
the COlll-

VOL. II.
II. F
82
82 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEHIOD.

lng of
ing of these
these men to whom
men to 'v hom II had
had been
been so
so plea-
plea-
sant,
sant, and who,
and ,vho, in
in their
their turn,
turn, had
had been
been so
so
pleasant to
pleasant to me! What
me \Vhat could
! could II do
do now
now but
but
just lay
just lay myself
myself and die
down and die?? And the
the death
death
of
of ,vhich II dreamt could
which could not,
not, alas
alas! be
! that true
be that true
benlun bing death
benumbing death which
,vhich we think may put
,ve think put an
end, or
end, or at
at any
any rate give
rate give aa change,
change, to
to all
all our
our
thoughts.
thoughts. die would
To die ,vould be
be as
as nothing;
nothing; but
but
to live
to live as
as the
the late
late President
President of
of the
the republic
republic
who fixed his
,vho had fixed his aspirations
aspirations so
so high,
high, would
w'ould
indeed be
indeed be very
very melancholy.
melancholy. President II
As President
had
had still two years
still two years to
to run,
run, but it occurred to
it occurred to
me now
no'Y that
that II could not
not possibly endure those
those
t,yO
two years
years of
of prolonged nominal power. II
should
should be the
the laughing-stock of
of the people;
people ;

and
and as such, it
as such, it ,vonld
would become TIle
me to my
to hide nly

head.
head. vVhen
When this
this captain
captain should have taken

hilnself
himself and his
his vessel
vessel back to
to England, II

,vould
would retire
retire to
to a
a small farln
farm 'v hich II possessed
which
at
at the
the farthest
farthest side
side of
of the island,
island, and there in

seclusion
seclusion would II end my days.
days. Mrs N ever-
Never-

bend should COlne

bend should come ,vith
with me, or
or stay,
stay, if
if it
it so
so
 THE NEW GOVERNOR.
THE GOVEHNOR. 83
83

pleased her,
pleased her, in
in Gladstonopolis.
Gladstonopolis. Jack would
Jack would
become Eva's
become Eva's happy husband,
husband, and would re-
re-
11lain amidst
main amidst the
the hurried
hurried duties
duties of
of the
the eager
eager
\vorld.
world. Cras\veller, the
Crasweller, the triumphant,
triumphant, live,
would live,

and at last
and at last die,
die, amidst
amidst the
the flocks
flocks and herds
herds
of Little
of Little Christchurch.
Christchurch. I, too,
I, too, would
\vould have aa
snlall herd,
small herel, aa of my own, surrounded
little flock of
little flock surrounded
by no
by no such
such glories
glories as
as those
those of
of Little
Little Christ-
Christ-
church, —
church,-o\ving nothing to
owing nothing to wealth,
\vealth, or
or scenery,
scenery,
or neighbourhood,
or neighbourhood,-and —
there,
and there, till God should
till should
take me-,
take nle, II would
\vould spend
spend the
the evening of
of my
nly day.
day.
Thinking
Thinking of
of all
all this,
this, I \vent to
I went to sleep.
sleep.

On the
the next
next morning Sir
Sir Ferdinando Brown
Bro\vn
and Captain
Captain Battleax were announced at
Battleax \vere the
at the

executive
executive chambers.
chambers. II had already
already been there
there
at
at nly
my work for
for a
a couple
couple of
of hours;
hours but Sir
Sir ;

:Ferc1inando
Ferdinando apologised for the
apologised for the earliness
earliness of
of his
his

visit.
visit. It
It seemed to
to me as
as he entered
entered the
the roonl
room
and took
took the
the chair
chair that
that ,vas
was offered
offered to
to hin1,
him,

that
that he \vas
was the
the greater
greater man of
of the
the two on the
the

occasion, —
occasion,-or
or perhaps II should
should say
say of
of the
the three.
three.

And yet
yet he had not
not before
before come on shore to
to
84
84 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PEIUOD.

visit me,
visit me, nor
nor had
had he
he made one
one at
at our
our little
little
dinner-party.
dinner-party. "Mr N everbend," began the
"1\'[1' Neverbend," the
captain,-and
captain, —
and II observed
observed that
that to that
up to that mo-
1110-
he had generally
ment he addressed me
generally addressed 1ue as
as Presi-
Presi-
dent,
—
dent,-"''it
it cannot be
cannot be denied
denied that
that we have
come here
come here on
on an
an unpleasant 1111SS10n.
unpleasant mission. You
have received
have received us
us with
\vith all that courtesy
all that courtesy and
hospitality for
hospitality for your character
which your character in
in Eng-
land stands
land stands so
so high.
high. n1ust be
But you must be aware
a\vare
that
that it has
it has been
been our
our intention
intention to
to interfere
interfere with
\vith
that which
that \vhich you regard as
must regard as the
the perform-
perfornl-
ance of
ance of aa duty."
duty."
"It is aa duty,"
" It is said 1.
duty," said I. "But your power
" But your po\ver is
is
so
so superior to any that
superior to that II can
can advance, as to
advance, as to
1nake us here
make us here feel' that there
feel that there is no disgrace
is no disgrace III
in

yielding to it.
yielding to it. Therefore \ve can
Therefore we call be
be courteous
courteous
\vhile
while \ve submit.
we submit. Not aa doubt but
but had your
your
force
force been only double or treble our own, II
or treble

should
should have found it my duty to
it Illy to struggle
struggle \vith
with

you.
you. But how can aa little
little State,
State, but a
a few

years
years old,
old, situated
situated on a
a snlall
small island,
island, far
far re-
re-

11loved
moved fro III all
from all the
the centres
centres of
of civilisation,
civilisation,
 "

-
NEW GOVERNOR.
THE NE\V GOVEENOE. 85
85

contend
contend on any point
point ,vith
with the
the owner of
of the
the

great
great 250-ton
250-ton s,viveller-gun
swiveller-gun ??
"
"That
" That is
is all
all quite true, ~1:r
quite true, Mr N everbend," said
Neverbend," said

Sir
Sir Ferdinando Brown.

"I can
can afford
afford to
to smile,
smile, because II anl
am absol-
absol-

utely
utely po,verless before you;
powerless before you but II do not the
;

less
less feel
feel that,
that, in
in a
a matter in 'v hich the pro-
w^hich

gress
gress of
of the
the world is
is concerned, I,
I, or
or rather
rather

we,
we, have been put dO'Vll
down by brute
brute force.
force. You
have come to us threatening
to us threatening us
us ,vith absolute
with absolute

destruction.
destruction. "\Vhether
Whether your gun be loaded
loaded or
or

not matters little.:'

not matters little.'*'

"It is
is certainly
certainly loaded,"
loaded," said
said Captain Bat-
Bat-

tleax.
tleax.

"" Then you have wasted

,vas ted your powder and shot.
shot.
a highwayman,
Like a it ,vould
it have sufficed
would have sufficed
for
for to tell
you merely to tell the
the weak
,veak and cowardly
co,vardly
that your pistol
that pistol would
,vould be
be to go
made to go off
off when
'vhen
,vanted.
wanted. speak the
To speak the truth.
truth, Captain
Captain Battleax,
Battleax,
I
I not think
do not think that
that you excel
excel us
us more in
in cour-
cour-
age do in
age than you do in thought
thought and practical
practical wisdom.
,visdom.
Therefore, II feel
Therefore, feel myself
myself quite
quite able,
able, as
as President
President
 "

86
86 THE FIXED PERIOD.

of this
of this republic,
republic, to
to receive
receive with aa courtesy
you with courtesy
due
due to the
to the servants
servants of
of aa friendly
friendly ally."
ally."
" \T ery well
"Very ,yell put,"
put," said
said Sir
Sir Ferdinando.
Ferdinando. I
I

simply bowed to
simply to him.
him. now," he
"And now/' he COll-
con-

tinued, "will
tinued, "will you answer
you answer me one
one question?"
question?"
" A dozen
" dozen if it suits
if it suits you
you to
to ask
ask them."
them."
" Captain
" Captain Battleax
Battleax cannot
cannot remain here
remain here long
long
,yith that
with that expensive
expensive toy
toy which
,yhich he
he keeps
keeps locked
locked
sonlewhere among
up somewhere his
his cocked -hats
cocked - hats and
,yhite gloves.
white gloves. II can
can assure
assure you he
he has
has not
not
even allowed
even allowed nle to
me to see
see the
the trigger since II
trigger since
have been
have been on
on board.
board. 250-ton swivellers
But 250-ton swivellers
do
do cost money, and the
cost money, the John Bright
Bright must
steam a,vay,
steam away, and play
play its part in
its part in other quarters
other quarters

of
of the
the globe.
globe. \Vhat do you intend to
What do ,yhen
to do when
he shall have taken
shall have taken his
his pocket-pistol
pocket-pistol away
a\vay ?? "
II thought
thought for
for a
a little
little ,vhat
what answer it
it w^ould
\vould
best
best become Ine to give
me to to this
give to this question, but II
question, but

paused only
paused only for
for a
a moment or
or two.
two. "I
" I shall
shall

proceed
proceed at
at once
once to
to carry
carry out
out the
the Fixed Period."
Period."

II felt
felt that my honour demanded that
that illy that to
to such

question I1 should Inake

aa question make no other reply.
reply.
 "

THE NEW
NE'V GOVERNOR. 87
87

"" And that

that in
in opposition
opposition to the wishes,
to the wishes, as
as II
understand,
understand, of
of a
a large proportion of
large proportion of your fellow-
fellow-

citizens?
citizens ? "

"The ,vishes
wishes of
of our
our fellow-citizens have
fellow-citizens have

been declared by repeated

been declared repeated majorities
maj ori ties in the
in the

Assembly."
Assembly."

"You
" You have only one House in your Consti-
in your Consti-

tution,"
tution," said
said Sir
Sir Ferdinando.
Ferdinando.

"One House II hold

hold to
to be
be quite
quite sufficient."
sufficient."

II was proceeding to
to explain the theory
explain the theory on
w'hich
which the
the Britannulan Constitution been
Constitution had been

formed,
formed, ,vhen
when Sir interrupted 111e.
Sir Ferdinando interrupted me.

"At any rate,

rate, you ,vill
will admit that
that aa second
second

Challlber
Chamber isis not
not there to guard against
there to the sud-
against the sud-

den action of the

action of the first.
first. But ,ve need not
we need not dis-
dis-

cuss all this

cuss all this no,v.
now. It
It is your purpose
is your purpose to
to carry
carry

out your Fixed Period

Period as soon as
as soon as the
the John

Bright shall have departed?"

shall have departed?"
"" Certainly."
Certainly."
" And you are,
"And are, I
I am aware,
aware, sufficiently
sufficiently pop-
pop-

ular ,vith
with the
the people here to
people here to enable to
enable you to

do so?"
ss
88 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

"" II think
think II am,"
am," II said,
said, \vith
with aa modest
modest acqui-
acqui-

escence in
in an assertion
assertion which II felt
felt to
to be
be so
so

much to
rnuch my credit.
to n1y credit. But II blushed
blushed for
for its
its

untruth.
"" Then," said
said Sir
Sir Ferdinando,
Ferdinando, "there
" there is
is noth-
noth-

ing for it
ing for it but that
that he must take
take you \vith
with hiln."
him."

There came upon me aa sudden shock

shock \vhen
when
II heard these
these \yords,
words, \vhich
which exceeded
exceeded anything
anything
\vhich
which II had yet
yet felt.
felt. 1\ie, the President
Me, the President of
of a
a

foreign nation,
nation, the
the first
first officer
officer of
of aa people \vith
people with
whom
\vhom Great Britain was at
Britain ,yas —
peace,-the
at peace, the captain
captain

of one
of one of her gunboats
of her gunboats must carry
carry me off,
off, hurry
hurry
me away
a\vay aa prisoner,
prisoner, whither
whither II knew not,
not, and
and
leave the
leave the country
country ungoverned,
ungoverned, with
\yith no
no Presi-
Presi-
dent as
dent yet elected
as yet elected to
to supply
supply place! And
my place !

I, looking
I, looking at
at the
the matter
matter from
from my own
o,vn point
point of
of
vie\y,
view, \vas aa husband,
was the head
husband, the head of
of aa family,
family, aa
man largely
largely concerned
concerned in
in business, — I was
business,-I was to
to
be carried
be in bondage
carried away in bondage-I,
I, — who had
had done
done
no wrong,
no \yrong, had
had disobeyed
disobeyed no
no law,
law, who
who had
had in-
in-

deed been
deed been conspicuous
conspicuous for
for my
Illy adherence to my
adherence to my
duties
duties ! No opposition
! No opposition ever
ever shown
shown to
to Colum-
Colum-
 THE NEW
THE NEvV GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. 89
89

bus and
bus and Galileo
Galileo had
had come
come near
near to
to this
this in
in auda-
auda-
city and
city and oppression.
oppression. I, the
I, the President
President of
of aa free
free
republic, the
republic, the elected
elected of
of all
all its
its people,
people, the
the chosen
chosen
depository of
depository of its officiallife,-I
its official was to
life,— I was to be
be kid-
kid-
napped and
napped and carried
carried off in aa ship
off in ship of
of war,
war, be-
be-
cause, forsooth,
cause, forsooth, II was deemed
was deenled too
too popular
popular to
to
rule the
rule the country
country! 1 this was
And this was told to me
told to nle in
in
lny own
my own room
room in
in the
the executive
executive chambers,
chambers, in
in the
the
very sanctum
very sanctum of
of public
pn blic life, by aa stout
life, stout florid
florid
gentleman in aa black
gentleman in black coat, of whom II hither-
coat, of hither-
to
to knew nothing
knew nothing except
except that
that his
his name
nanle was
'was
Bro\vn!
Brown !

"Sir,"
" Sir," II said,
said, after
after a
a pause,
pause, and turning to
to

Captain
Captain Battleax
Battleax and addressing him,
him, "" II can-
can-

not believe that

not believe that you,
you, as
as an officer
officer in the British
British

navy,
navy, \vill
will commit any act
act of
of tyranny so op-

pressive,
pressive, and
and of
of injustice
injustice so
so gross,
gross, as
as that \vhich
which

this
this gentleman
gentleman has
has named."
named."

"You
" You hear
hear what
what Sir
Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando Brown
Brown has
has

said,"
said," replied
replied Captain
Captain Battleax.
Battleax.

"I
" I do
do not
not kno\v
know the gentleman, — except as
the gentleman,-except as

having
having been
been introduced
introduced to him at
to him at your
your hos-
hos-
90
90 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

pitable table.
pitable tu ble. Sir
Sir Ferdinando Brown
Ferdinando Brown is
is to
to 111e
me
—
-sinlply
simply Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando Brown."
Sir Brown."
""Sir ~"'erdinando has
Sir Ferdinando has lately
lately been our
been our British
British
Governor in Ashantee,
Governor in Ashantee, where
\vhere he
he has, as II
has, as may
may
truly say,
truly say, 'bought
'bought golden
golden opinions
opinions from
fronl all
all
sorts of
sorts of people.'
people.' has now been sent
He has sent here
here on
this delicate
this delicate mission,
nlission, to no one
and to one could
could it
it be
intrusted
intrusted by whom it
it would
\vould be
be performed with
vvith
1nore scrupulous honour."
more scrupulous honour." This
This was simply the
the
opinion of
opinion of Captain
Captain Battleax,
Battleax, and expressed in
expressed in
the presence
the presence of
of the
the gentleman
gentlen1an himself
hin1self whom
\vhom he
he
so lauded.
so lauded.
"But \v hat IS
" But what is the delicate
the mission ? " II
delicate Inission?"

asked.
asked.

Then Sir
Sir Ferdinando told
told his
his \vhole
whole story,
story,

which II think
think should have been declared be-

fore II had been asked to

fore to sit
sit do\vn
down to
to dinner

\vith
with him ill
in cOlupany with the captain on
company \vith
board
board the
the ship.
ship. II was to
to be taken a\vay
away and
carried
carried to
to England or
or elsew — or drowned
here,-or
elsewhere,

upon the voyage, it

the voyage, it mattered
mattered not
not which.
which. That
That

\vas
was the
the first
first step
step to
to be taken
taken towards carrying
carrying
 THE NEW
THE NK\V GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. 91
91

out the
out the tyrannical,
tyrannical, illegal, and
illegal, and altogether
altogether 111-
in-

jurious intention
jurious intention of
of the
the British
British Government.
Governnlent.
Then the
Then the republic
republic of
of Britannula
Britannula was
,vas to
to be
be
declared as non-existent,
declared as non-existent, and
and the
the British
British flag
flag
,vas to
was to be
be exalted,
exalted, and
and aa British
British Governor
Governor
installed in
installed in the
the executive
executive chambers!
chambers! That
That

Governor was
Governor ,vas to
to be Sir
be Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando Brown.
Brown.
I
I ,,'as
was lost in a maze
lost in a Inaze of
of wonderment
wonderment as
as II
attenlpted to
attempted to look at the
look at the proceeding
proceeding all round.
all round.
Now, at the
Now, at the close
close of
of the
the twentieth
t,ventieth century,
century,
could oppression
could oppression be
be carried
carried to
to such aa height
height
as
as this?
this? "Gentlemen,"
"Gentlemen," II said,
said, "you are
are

powerful.
powerful. That
That little
little instrulllent
instrument ,vhich
which you

have hidden in
have hidden in your cabin
cabin makes you the
the

lllaster
master ofof us
us all.
all. It
It has
has been prepared by

the
the ingenuity
ingenuity of
of men,
men, able
able to
to dominate matter

though
though altogether
altogether powerless
powerless over
over rnind.
raind. On
Ou
lllyself,
myself, II need
need hardly
hardly say
say that
that it
it ,yould
would be
be

inoperative.
inoperative. Though
Though you
you should
should reduce me to
reduce llle to

atonls,
atoms, fronl
from them
them would
would spring
spring those
those opinions
opinions

,yhich
which ,vould
would serve
serve altogether
altogether to
to silence
silence your
your

artillery.
artillery. But
But the
the dread
dread of
of it
it is
is to
to the
the gener-
gener-
 "

92 THE FIXED PERIOD.

ality
ality much more powerful
powerful than
than the
the fact of its
fact of its
possession. "
possession."

"You
" You may be
be quite
quite sure
sure it's there," said
it's there," said

Captain Battleax, "and that

Captain Battleax, that II can so use
so use it
it

as to
as to half
half obliterate your town
obliterate your to,vn ,vithin two
within two

minutes of my return
minutes of return on board."
board."
"You propose to
" You propose to kidnap me,"
me," II said.
said. " \Vhat
" What

,vould
would become of
of your gun \vere
were II to
to kidnap
kidnap
you?
you ? "
""Lieutenant
Lieutenant Crosstrees has sealed
Crosstrees has sealed orders, and
orders, and

is practically acquainted with the

is practically the mechanism
mechanisn1
of
of the
the gun.
gun. Lieutenant Crosstrees
Crosstrees is a very
is a very
gallant officer.
gallant officer. One of us always remains
of us remains on
on
board while the
board the other
other is
is on shore.
shore. He would
\vonld
think nothing
nothing of blowing me
of blowing n1e up,
up, so
so long as he
long as he

obeyed orders."
orders."
"I was
\vas going on to
to observe," I continued,
observe," I continued,

"that this power is

" that though this is in your hands,
in your hands,
and in that of
in that of your country, the exercise
country, the exercise of
of
it betrays not only tyranny of
it betrays of disposition, but
disposition, but

poorness
poorness and meanness of
of spirit."
spirit." I here
I here
bo,ved first
bowed to the
first to the one gentleman, and then to
to
 THE NEW
THE NEvV GOVERNOR.
GOVER NOR. 93
93

the other.
t.he other. "It
"It is simpl y aa contest
is simply between
contest between
streng th and
brute strength
brute energy."
menta l energy."
and mental
you will
"If you
" If look at
,vill look the contests
at the throughout
contests throughout
the world,"
the said Sir
,vorld," said Ferdinando, "you
Sir Ferdinando, ,vill
"you will
find that
generally find
generally the highest
that the respect is
highe st respect paid
is paid
the greatest
to the
to battalions."
greatest battalions."
world-wide iniquity
""\Vhat world-wide
"What speech
such aa speech
iniqu ity such
that discloses!"
as that
as said I,
disclo ses!" said still turning
I, still n1yself
turnin g myself
to the
to capta in; for
the captain; thoug h II would
for though have
'would have
both by
crushed them both
crushed it been
my words had it
possible,
possible, dislike centred
my dislike itself on Sir
centred itself Fer-
Sir Fer-

dinand
dinando. nlan who looked
o. He was aa man thoug h
as though
looked as
every were to
thing 'were
everything to yield his meagr
to his
yield to meagre phil-
e phil-
osoph y; and it
osophy; it seeme
seemed to me as
d to as thoug
thoughh he
enjoye
enjoyed the exerci
d the exercise the tyran
of the
se of tyrannyny ,vhich
which

chanc
chancee had put into power..
his power
into his

allow me to
will allo,v
You ,vill
"''You to sugge
suggest," said he,
st," said he,

that is
that that
(("that of opinio
matterr of
a matte
is a opinion.n. In thethe

n1ean
meantime, friend Capta
time, my friend in Battle
Captain ax has
Battleax

below aa guard of
belo,Y fifty marin
of fifty es, 'v
marines, ho ,vill
who will pay

the respec
you the respect of escort
t of ing you on board ,vith
escorting with

of the
two of
two ship's cutter
the ship's s. Every
cutters. thing that can
Everything
 —

94 THE FIXED PERIOD.

be there
there done for
for your accomlnodation
accommodation and
and
comfort, —
comfort,-every
every luxury 'v hich can be provided
which provided

to
to solace
solace the
the President
President of
of this
this late
late republic,-
republic,

shall
shall be afforded.
afforded. But, Mr N
But, N[r everbend, it
Neverbend, it is
is

that you should

necessary that should go to England;
go to England and ;

allow me to
allo,v to assure
assure you,
you, that
that your departure
departure

can neither
neither be prevented delayed by un-
prevented nor delayed

civil
civil ,vords
words spoken to
to the
the future
future Governor of
of

this
this prosperous colony."
colony."

My ,vords
"" :illy words are,
are, at
at any rate,
rate, less uncivil than
less uncivil than
Captain Battleax's
Captain marines; and they
Battleax's marines; they have,
have, I
I

submit, been
been 111ade necessary by the
made necessary the conduct
conduct of
of
in this
your country in this matter.
matter. 'Vere
Were II to
to com-
ply with
ply ,vith your orders
orders without
without expressing
expressing my
o,vn opinion,
own opinion, II should
should seem to
to have
have done
done so
so
,villingly hereafter.
willingly hereafter. I say
I that
say that the English
the English
is aa tyrant,
Government is tyrant, and that
that you are
are the
the
of
instruments of its tyranny.
its tyranny. Now you can
can pro-
pro-
ceed to
ceed to do
do your
your work."
,vork."
"That
" all been pleasantly
That having all pleasantly settled,"
settled,"
said Sir
said Sir Ferdinando,
Ferdinando, with slnile, ""II will
'with aa smile, ,vill ask
ask
to read
you to read the
the document by which
,vhich this duty
this duty
 —

THE NEW
THE NE'V GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. 95
95

has been
has been placed
placed in
in hands." He then
my hands." then took
took
out of
out of his
his pocket
pocket aa letter
letter addressed
addressed to
to him
him by
by
the
the of Hatfield,
Duke of Hatfield, as
as Minister
Minister for
for the
the Crown
Colonies,
Colonies, and gave
and gave it to
it to me to
to read.
read. The letter
letter
ran as
ran as follows
follo\vs :-
:

"Colonial OFFICE, Crown

" COLONIAL Office, CROWN Colonies,
COLONIES,
15th May
15th ltlay 1980.
1980.

" Sir, —
" SIR,-II have
have it
it in
in command
cOlnmand to
to inform
inform your
Excellency that
Excellency that you have
have been
been appointed
appointed Gov-
ernor of
ernor the
of the Cro\vn colony
Crown colony which
\v hich is
is called
called Bri-
Bri-
tannula.
tannula. peculiar circumstances of
The peculiar the
of the

colony
colony are \vithin your
are within your Excellency's
Excellency's knowledge.

Some years
years since,
since, after
after the separation of New
the separation N e\v
Zealand,
Zealand, the
the inhabitants
inhabitants of
of Britannula re-
re-

quested
quested to
to be
be allowed
allowed to
to lnanage
manage their
their own

affairs,
affairs, and H.M. Minister of the
Minister of the day thought

it
it expedient
expedient to
to grant
grant their
their request.
request. The coun-
try
try has
has since
since undoubtedly prospered,
prospered, and in

aa Inaterial
material point
point of
of Vle\V
view has
has given
given us
us no

-grounds
•grounds for
for regret.
regret. But in
in their
their selection
selection

of
of a
a Constitution
Constitution the
the Britannulists
Britannulists have un-
Ull-
96 THE FIXED PERIOD.

fortunately allowed themselves

fortunately allowed then1selves but
but one
one de-
de-
liberative
liberative asseinbly,
assembly, and hence have sprung

their present difficulties.

their present difficulties. It be, that
It must be, that in
in
such circumstances
circUlnstances crude
crude councils
councils should be
be
passed as
passed as la"ws \vithout the
laws without the safeguard comIng
safeguard coming

from further
further discussion
discussion and thought.
thought. the
At the
present
present moment aa law has
has been
been passed which,
passed which,

if
if carried
carried into
into action, v{ould become abhorrent
action, would abhorrent

to
to mankind at
at large.
large. It
It is
is contemplated to
contemplated to

destroy
destroy all those \v
all those whoho shall have reached
shall have reached aa
certain
certain fixed
fixed age.
age. put for\vard
The arguments put forward

to justify so
to justify so strange a measure
strange a measure II need
need not here
not here

explain at
at length.
length. It
It is
is founded on the ac-
on the ac-
knowledged weakness
\veakness of those who
of those \vho surVIve
survive

that period of
that period of life
life at
at ,vhich
wdiich 111en cease to
men cease to
'York.
work. This terrible
terrible doctrine
doctrine has been adopted

at
at the advice
advice of an eloquent
of an eloquent citizen of the
citizen of the re-
re-
public,
public, ,vho is at
who is present its
at present its President,
President, and

'" hose general popularity

wdiose popularity seen1S to be
seems to be so great,
so great,

that,
that, in
in con1pliance with his
compliance with views, even this
his views, this
111easure will be
measure will be carried
carried out unless Great
out unless Great
Britain
Britain shall
shall interfere.
interfere.
 THE NEW
NE'V GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOH. 97
97

"You
" are desired
You are desired to
to proceed
proceed at
at once
once to
to
Britannula, to
Britannula, to reannex
reannex the
the island,
island, and to
to as-
as-
the duties
sume the duties of
of the
the Governor of
of aa Crown
colony.
colony. It is
It is understood that
understood that aa year
year of
of pro-
pro-
bation
bation is to
is to be
be allowed
allowed to
to those
those victims
victilllS w^ho
,yho
have agreed
have agreed to
to their
their own immolation.
immolation. You
will therefore
will therefore arrive
arrive there
there in
in to
ample time to
prevent the
prevent the first bloodshed.
first it is
bloodshed. But it is surmised
surmised
that
that you will
you will find
find difficulties
difficulties in
in the
the way of
of
your entering
your entering at
at once upon your
once your government.
government.
So great
great is
is the
the popularity
popularity of
of their
their President,
President,
Mr Neverbend,
N everbend, that,
that, if
if he be
be left
left on
on the
the island,
island,
your
your Excellency will find
Excellency will find a
a dangerous rival. It
rival. It
is therefore desired
is therefore that you should endeavour
desired that

to
to obtain
obtain information
information as
as to his intentions;
to his intentions and ;

that, if
that, if the
the Fixed
Fixed Period be not
Period be not abandoned

altogether,
altogether, ,vith
with aa clear
clear conviction
conviction as to its
as to its
cruelty
cruelty on the
the part
part of
of the
the inhabitants
inhabitants gener-
gener-

ally,
ally, you should cause him to
should cause to be
be carried
carried a,vay
away
and brought to
to England.

"To
" To enable
enable you to
to effect
effect this,
this. Captain

Battleax,
Battleax, of the John Bright,
of H.M. gunboat the

VOL. II.
II. G
98
98 THE FIXED PERIOD.

has been instructed to carry

instructed to out.
carry you out. The
John Bright
Bright is
is arlned
armed ,vith
with a
a ,veapon of great
weapon of great
power, against
power, against ,vhich
which it
it is
is impossible that the
impossible that the
people of
people of Britannula
Britannula should prevail.
should prevail. You ,vill
will

carry out
carry out 'with
with you 100
100 men of the !N"orth-
of the N orth-
north-west
north-west Birnlingham
Birmingham regilnent,
regiment, which 'will
will

probably
probably suffice
suffice for your o,vn
for your own security, as it
security, as it
is
is thought that
that if
if 1\1:1' N everbend be
Mr Neverbend be 'vith-
with-

drawn, the
the people
people will
will revert
revert easily to their
easily to their
old
old habits
habits of
of obedience.
obedience.

"In regard to
" In regard to Mr Neverbend
N everbend himself,
himself, it
it is
is
the especial
the wish of
especial wish H.1\f. Government that
of H.M. that
he shaH be treated
shall be treated with
with all respect, and that
all respect, that
those honours shall
those honours be paid
shall be to him 'which
paid to are
which are
due to the President
to the President of
of a
a friendly republic.
friendly republic

It
It is to be
is to be expected that he
expected that he should not
not allow
allow
himself to
to make an enforced visit to
enforced visit to England
,vithout opposition but it
without some opposition; is considered
it is
; considered
in
in the interests
interests of to be
of humanity to be so
so essential
essential

that
that this
this schelne
scheme of the Fixed
of the Fixed Period
Period shall
shall not

be carried
be carried out, that H.M.
out, that I-I.1\f. Government con-
con-
sider that his
sider that his absence
absence from Britannula shall
shall
 " "

THE NEW GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOK. 99
99

be
be for
for a
a time
time insured.
insured. will therefore
You will therefore
insure
insure it; but 'will
it; but take care
will take that, as
care that, as far
far as
as

lies
lies in
in your
your Excellency's pO'wer, he
Excellency's power, he be
be treated
treated
,vith all that
with all respect and hospitality
that respect hospitality ,vhich
which
,vould
would 'be
be due
due to
to him were he still
were he the Presi-
still the Presi-

dent of
dent an allied
of an republic.
allied republic.

"Captain
" Captain Battleax,
Battleax, of the John Bright,
of the Bright, ,vill
will

have received
have received a
a letter to the
letter to the same effect
effect from

the First
the First Lord of the Admiralty,
of the Admiralty, and you
you ,vill
will

find
find him ready
ready to
to co-operate
co-operate ,vith your Ex-
with your

cellency
cellency in
in every respect. — I have the
respect.-I the honour
to be, sir,
to be, sir, your Excellency's most obedient
Excellency's most obedient

servant,
servant, HATFIELD."
Hatfield."

This II read with great

read with great attention,
attention, ,vhile they
while they

sat
sat silent.
silent. "I understand it;
" I understand it and that
; that is
is all,
all,

II suppose,
suppose, that
that II need
need say
say upon the
the subject.
subject.

When do you intend

'Vhen that the
intend that the John Bright
Bright
shall start?"
shall start ?

" We have already

"'Ve already lighted
lighted our
our fires, our
fires, and our

sailors
sailors are weighing the
are weighing the anchors.
anchors. 'Vill t,velve
Will twelve

0' clock suit

o'clock suit you?
you ? "
100 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"" To-day!"
To-day " II shouted.
!

rather think
"" II rather think ,ve
we must Inove
move to-day,"
to-day," said
said

the
the captain.
captain.

" If
If so,
**
so, you must be content to
to take my dead

body.
body. It
It is
is now nearly eleven."
eleven."

"" Half-past ten," said the

ten," said the captain,
captain, looking at
at

his
his ,vatch.
watch.

"And
" And II have no one ready to
to whom II can
can
give
give up the
the archives
archives of the Government."
of the Governnlent."
"I
" I shall be happy to
shall be to take
take charge of them,"
charge of theIn,"
said
said Sir
Sir Ferdinando.

"" No doubt, —
dOll bt,-knowing nothing of
knowinfy nothin2[ of the
the forms
fornl s
"
of
of our government,
O'overnnlent,
I:> 01'--"
or

"" They,
They, of
of course, all be
course, must all be altered."
altered."
"" Or of
of the
the habits
habits of
of our
our people.
people. It is
It is quite
quite
ilnpossible.
impossible. I, too, have
I, too, have the
the complicated
complicated affairs
affairs
of
of my
Illy entire
entire life
life to arrange, and my
to arrange, nly wife
wife and
son to
son to leave
leave ;
—though II would
;-though ,vould not
not for
for aa mo-
be supposed to
ment be to put
put these
these private
private matters
matters
forward the public
when the public service
service is
is concerned.
concerned.
the time
But the time you name is
is so
so unreasonable
unreasonable as
as
to create
to create aa feeling
feeling of
of horror
horror at
at your tyranny."
your tyranny."
 THE NEW GOVERNOR.
THE NE'V GOVERNOR. . 101
Id
"A feeling
"A feeling of
of horror
horror 'would
would be
be created
created on
on
the
the other
other side
side of
of the
the \vater,"
water," said
said Sir
Sir Ferdi-
Ferdi-

nando,
nando, "" at
at the
the idea
idea of
of what
what you
you may
may do
do if
if you
you
escape
escape us.
us. should not
II should not consider
consider my
my head
head to
to

be
be safe my own shoulders were it
safe on nly it to
to come

to
to pass that while II am on the
the island
island an
an old
old

were executed in
man \vere in compliance with
with your
your
system."
system."

Alas!
Alas II could
could not
! not but feel
feel how little
little he
he
knew of
of the
the sentiment which prevailed
prevailed in
in

Britannula; how
ho\v false \vas his
false was his idea
idea of
of my

power; and
power; and how
ho\v potent
potent was
\vas that
that love
love of
of life
life

which had
which had been
been evinced
evinced in
in the
the city
city \vhen the
when the
hour
hour for
for deposition had become nigh.
deposition nigh. All
All

this II could
this could hardly
hardly explain
explain to
to him,
him, as
as II should
should
thus be
thus be giving
giving to
to him
him the
the strongest
strongest evidence
evidence
against
against my own
own philosophy.
philosophy. And yet it was
yet it \vas
necessary that
necessary that II should
should say
say something
something to
to make
make
him
him understand that this
understand that this sudden
sudden deportation
deportation
\vas not
was not necessary.
necessary. And then
And then during
during that
that
moment
moment there
there came
came to
to me
me suddenly
suddenly an
an idea
idea
that
that it might
it might be
be well
\vell that
that II should
should take
take this
this
 "

102
102 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

Journey to
journey to England,
England, and
and there
there begin
begin again
again
my career, —
Iny career, - as
as Columbus,
Columbus, after
after various
various ob-
ob-
structions,
structions, had recommenced
had recomnlenced his, —
his, - and
and that
that
I
I should endeavour
should endeavour to carry
to carry with
\vith the
me the
people of
people of Great Britain,
Great as II
Britain, as already
had already
carried the
carried the quickly intelligent
more quickly intelligent inhabi-
inhabi-
tants
tants of
of Britannula.
Britannula. in order
And in that II
order that
Inay do
may so, II have
do so, have now
no\v prepared
prepared these
these pages,
pages,
writing
writing on board
them on board H.M. gunboat, the
H.1\1:. gunboat, the John
Bright.
Bright.

"
" pow'er is
Your power is sufficient,"
sufficient," II said.
said.
((" We
'Ve are not sure
are not sure of that," said
of that," said Sir Ferdi-
Sir Ferdi-

nando.
nando. "It
" It is
is always ,veIl
well to be on the
to be the safe
safe

side."
side."

"" Are you so

so afraid
afraid of
of what a
a single
single old man

can do,
can do, - —
you ,vith
with your 250-ton
250 -ton swivellers,
swivellers,

and
and your guard of
of marines, and your N orth-
North-

north-west
north-west Birmingham soldiery?"
soldiery ?

«" That
That depends on \vho
who and \vhat
what the
the old
old

man may be."

be." was the first
This ,vas first complilnen-
complimen-

tary
tary speech Sir Ferdinando had nlade,
speech which Sir made.
 NEW GOVERNOR.
THE NEW GOVERNOE. 103
103

and II must confess

confess that
that it
it was efficacious.
efficacious. II
did not
not after
after that
that feel
feel so
so strong
strong a
a dislike
dislike to
to

the man as
as II had done before.
before. "" We do not
not

,vish
wish to
to make ourselves
ourselves disagreeable
disagreeable to
to you,
you,

Mr N everbend."
ISTeverbend." II shrugged my shoulders.
shoulders.

"" Unnecessarily disagreeable,

disagreeable, II should have

said.
said. You are
are a
a man of
of your ·word."
word." Here I1
bowed to
to him. If you \vill
" If
c' will give
give us
us your pro-
pro-

Inise
mise to
to meet Captain Battleax
Battleax here
here at this
at this

time to-morro\v, \ve will

to-morrow, we will stretch
stretch a
a point
point and

delay the departure of the John Bright

of the Bright for
for

twenty-four hours."
twenty-four hours." To this
this again
again II objected
objected

violently;
violently; and at
at last,
last, as
as an
an extreme
extreme favour,
favour,

two entire
entire days
days were
\vere allowed for my depar-
allowed for depar-
ture.
ture.

craft of
The craft versed in
of men versed the affairs
in the affairs of
of the
the
old Eastern
old Eastern world
,vorld is
is notorious.
notorious. II afterwards
afterwards
learned that
learned that the
the stokers
stokers on board
board the
the ship
ship
\vere only
were only pretending
pretending to get
to get their fires,
up their fires, and
the sailors
the pretending to
sailors pretending to weigh
weigh their
their anchors,
anchors,
in order
in orde'r that
that their
their operations
operations be
might be visible,
visible,
104 THE FIXED PERIOD.

that II Inight
and that miglit suppose that II had received
suppose that received

aa great
great favour
favour from my enemies' hands.
enemies' hands. And
this plan was
this plan ,vas adopted, too, in
adopted, too, in order to extract
order to extract
fronl
from Ine
me aa promise that II ,vould
pronlise that would depart in
depart in

peace.
peace. rate, II did
At any rate, the promise,
did make the promise,
and gave
gave these t\VO gentlemen my ,vord
these two that
word that
II ,vould be present
would be present there
there in
in my o\vn in
own room in
the executive
the executive chambers at
at the
the same hour on
the
the day but
but one follo\ving.
following.

no,\v," said
"" And now," said Sir
Sir Ferdinando, "that
Ferdinando, " this
that this

Inatter
matter is
is settled bet\veen us,
settled between us, allo\v n1e most
allow me

cordially
cordially to
to shake you by the
the hand,
hand, and to
to
express
express my great
great adnliration
admiration for
for your char-
char-
acter.
acter. II cannot
cannot say that II agree
say that agree ,vith
with you

in theory
in theory as to the
as to the :Fixed
Fixed Period,-my
Period, —
my ,vife
wife

and children
children could not, II am
could not, aln sure,
sure, endure to
endure to

see rne led

see me led away ,vhen
when aa certain daY ,-should
certain day should

come,-but
come, —
but II can
can understand
understand that
that much may
be said
be point, and II admire
the point,
said on the admire greatly
greatly the
the
eloquence and energy which you have devoted
eloquence devoted
to the
to matter.
the matter. II shall be happy to
shall be to meet you
 —

THE NEW
THE NEW GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. 105
105

here at
here at any
any hour
hour to-morrow,
to -morrow, and
and to
to receive
receIve
the Britannulan
the Britannulan archives
archives from
from your
your hands.
hands.
You,
You, Mr Neverbend,
Mr Neverbend, will
,vill always
always be
be regarded
regarded
as the
as the father
father of
of your country
your country-
'Roma
'
patrem patriae
Roma patrem patrire Ciceronem
Ciceronem libera dixit.' ""
lib era dixit. '

\Vith this
With this the
the two
two gentlemen left
left the
the room.
room.
 lOG
lOG

CHAPTEK
CHAPTER x.
X.

THE TOWN-HALL.

When
'YHEN II ,vent hon1e and told
went liome told them what was
to
to be done,
be done, they 'vere
were of
of course
course surprised, but
surprised, but

apparently not
apparently not very
very unhappy.
unhappy. Mrs Neverbend
N everbend
suggested that
suggested that she
she should
should accompany me,
me, so as
so as

to
to look
look after
after my linen
linen and other personal com-
other personal

forts.
forts. But II told
told her,
her, whether
whether traly
truly or not II
or not

hardly then kne,v,

hardly that there
knew, that there would be
be no
no room
rOOln
for her on board
for her board aa ship
ship of
of war such as
as the
the
John Bright.
Bright. Since II have lived
Since on board
lived on board her,
her,
II have become a,vare that they
aware that they ,vould willing-
would willing-
ly have accommodated, at
ly at my request,
request, aa very
very
much larger
larger fan1ily than my o,vn.
family than own. 1\1:rs
Mrs Never-
bend at
at once
once ,vent
went toto ,york to provide
work to provide for
for Iny
my
enforced absence,
enforced absence, and in the course
in the of the
course of the day
 THE TOWN-HALL.
THE TOWN-HALL. 107
107

Eva Crasweller
Crasweller came in
in to
to help
help her.
her. Eva's
Eva's

to myself
manner to myself had become
become perfectly
perfectly altered
altered
since the
since the previous
previous morning.
morning. Nothing could
Nothing could be
be
more affectionate,
more affectionate, more gracious,
gracious, or
or more win-
win-
ning, than
ning, than she
she was now
was now; and II envied
; envied Jack
the short
the short of
moments of tete-a-tete retreat which
tete-a-tete retreat ,vhich
seemed from
seemed from time
time to
to time
time to
to be
be necessary
necessary for
for
carrying out
carrying out the
the arrangements
arrangements of
of the
the day.
day.
I
I as well
may as well state
state here, that from this
here, that this time
Grundle showed
Abraham Grundle sho,ved himself
himself to
to be
be aa de-
de-

clared enemy,
clared enemy, and
and that
that the
the partnership was
partnership

dis sol ved between

dissolved bebveen Crasweller hinIself.
Crasweller and himself. He
at
at once brought an action
once brought against my
action against myoId
old

friend
friend for
for the
the recovery
recovery of that proportion of
of that

his
his property
property to
to 'which
which he 'was
was held to
to be en-

titled under our

titled under our marriage
marriage la,vs.
laws. This Mr Cras-
,veller
weller immediately offered
offered to
to pay him;
him but ;

some of
of our
our more respectable
respectable lawyers inter-
inter-

fered,
fered, and persuaded hinl
him not
not to
to nlake
make the
sacrifice.
sacrifice. There then came on aa long action,
action,

with an
,vith appeal, — all which ,vas
an appeal,-all was given against
Grundle,
Grundle, and nearly
nearly ruined
ruined the
the Grundles. It
It
108 THE FIXED PERIOD.

seemed to
to nie,
n1e, as
as far
far as I could
as I go into
could go into the
the
matter, that Grundle had all
matter, that the law
all the la,v on
on his
his
side.
side. But there
there arose
arose certain
certain quibbles
quibbles and

questions,
questions, all of which Jack had at
all of his fingers'-
at his fingers'-
ends,
ends, by the
the strength
strength of
of ,vhich the unfortunate
which the unfortunate
young man ,vas trounced.
was trounced. As II learned the
learned by the

letters
letters ,vhich
which Eva ,vrote to me,
wrote to n1e, Cras'weller
Crasweller ,vas
was
all
all through most
nlost anxious to pay him
anxious to him; but
but the
; the
lawyers
lawyers ,vould not have it
would not it so,
so, and therefore
therefore so
so

much of the property

of the property of
of Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch

,vas
was saved
saved for the ultimate
for the ultimate benefit
benefit of
of that
that
happy fello\v
fellow Jack N everbend.
Neverbend.

the afternoon
On the of the
afternoon of the one day which,
\vhich, as
as aa
matter of
of grace, been allo,ved
grace, had been to me,
allowed to me, Sir
Sir

Ferdinando declared
declared his
his intention of making aa
intention of

speech to the
speech to the people
people of
of G lads ton opolis.
Gladstonopolis. "He
" He

\vas desirous,"
was he said,
desirous," he said, "of
" of explaining to
to the
the
con1munityat
community at large the objects
large the objects of
of H.M. Gov-

ernment in
in sending hinl to
sending him to Britannula,
Britannula, and in
in
requesting the inhabitants
requesting the to revert
inhabitants to revert to
to their
their
old
old form
form of
of government." "Request indeed,"
" Eequest indeed,"

II said to Crasweller,
said to thro,ving all
Crasweller, throwing possible
all possible
 THE TOWN-HALL.
THE TOWN-HALL. 109
109

scorn into
scorn into the
the tone
tone of
of my
my voice, — "request!
voice,-" request!
\vith the
with the North-north-west
N orth-north-west Birmingham
Birmingham regi-
regi-
ment, and
ment, and his
his 250-ton
250-ton steam-swiveller in the
steam-swiveller in the
harbour!
harbour !
That Ferdinando
That Ferdinando Brown
Bro\vn knows
knows how
ho,v
to conceal
to conceal his
his cla,vs beneath
claws beneath aa velvet
velvet glove.
glove.
'Ve are
We are to
to be
be slaves,—
slaves,-slaves because England
slaves because England
so wills it. We
so wills it. 'Ve are
are robbed
robbed of
of our
our constitution,
constitution,
our freedom
our freedom of
of action
action is taken
is taken from
fronl us,
us, and we
,ve
are reduced
are reduced to
to the
the lamentable
lamentable condition
condition of
of aa
British
British Crown colony
Crown colony! ! all this
And all this is
is to
to be
done because
done because ,ve had striven
we had to
striven to rise above the
rise the
prejudices
prejudices of
of the
the day."
day." Crasweller smiled, and

said
said not
not a
a word to
to oppose
oppose me, and accepted all
all

my indignation
indignation with
with assent;
assent but he certainly
certainly
;

did
did not
not sho,v
show any
any enthusiasm.
enthusiasm. A happier old
A old

gentleman,
gentleman, or
or one
one more
more active
active for
for his years,
years, II

had
had never known. It
never known. It was
was but
but yesterday
yesterday that
that

II had
had seen
seen him
him so
so absolutely
absolutely cowed
cowed as
as to
to be
be

hardly
hardly able
able to
to speak
speak aa ,vord. And all
word. And all this
this

change
change had
had occurred
occurred simply
simply because
because he
he ,vas
was to
to

be
be allowed
allowed to
to die out in
die out in the
the open
open ,vorld,
world, instead
instead

of
of enjoying
enjoying the
the honour
honour of
of having
having been
been the
the first
first
110 THE FIXED PERIOD.

to
to depart
depart In conformity 'with
in conformity the new theory.
with the theory.
He and I, however, spent
I, however, thus one
spent thus day longer
one day longer
in
in sweet friendship; and II do not
sweet friendship; not doubt but
but that,
that,
\vhen II return
when return to Britannula, II shall
to Britannula, shall find
find him

living
living in
in great
great comfort
comfort at Little Christchurch.
at Little Christchurch.

At three o'clock we
three o'clock \ve all \vent into
all went into our great
great
to\vn-hall to hear
town-hall to hear what Sir to
Sir Ferdinando had to

say to us.
to us. The cham bel' is
chamber is a very spacious
a very spacious
one,
one, fitted \vith aa large
fitted up with organ, and all
large organ, all the
the

arrangements necessary
necessary for
for a
a luusic-hall; but
music-hall but ;

II had never
never seen
seen a
a greater
greater crowd than
than was
collected there on this
collected there this occasion.
occasion. There was
There \vas
not aa vacant
vacant corner to be
corner to found and II heard
be found; ; heard
that
that very many of the inhabitants
of the \vent away
inhabitants went

greatly displeased in
greatly displeased that they
in that they could not be
could not be
acconlmodated.
accommodated. Sir Ferdinando had been
Sir Ferdinando been very
very
particular in
particular in asking the
the attendance of Captain
attendance of

Battleax,
Battleax, and as lnany of
as many the ship's
of the officers as
ship's officers as
could be
be spared.
spared. This, II was told,
This, told, he
he did
did in
in
order that something of
order that the eclat
of the eclcd of his oration
of his oration

might be
be taken
taken back to
to England. Sir Ferdi-
Sir Ferdi-

'was aa man who thought

nando was thought much of
of his
his
 THE TOWN-HALL. ' '
III
111

o\vn eloquence,
own — and mucli
eloquence,-and much also
also of
of the
the advan-
advan-
tage which
tage \vhich he
he might
might reap
reap from
from it in
it in the
the opinion
opinion
of his
of his fellow-countrymen
fellow -countrymen generally.
generally. I found
I found
that aa place
that place of
of honour
honour had
had been
been reserved
reserved for
for
me too at his
too at his right
right hand,
hand, and also
also one for my
one for
\vife at
wife at his
his left.
left. I
I confess that
must confess that in
in these
these
last moments of
last of my sojourn
sojourn among the
the people
people
over
over \vhom II had
whom had ruled,
ruled, II was
,vas treated
treated with
with the
the
most distinguished
most distinguished courtesy.
courtesy. But, as
But, as II con-
con-
tinued to
tinued to say
say to
to myself,
myself, II was to
to be
be banished
banished
in aa few
in hours as
few hours as one
one whose intended
whose intended cruelties
cruelties
\vere too
were too abominable
abominable to
to allow
allo,v of
of remaining
my remaining
in
in o,vn country.
my own country. the first
On the seat behind
first seat

the
the chair
chair sat
sat Captain
Captain Battleax, with four
Battleax, with four or
or

five
five of
of his
his officers behind him.
officers behind him. "So
" So you have

left
left Lieutenant
Lieutenant Crosstrees
Crosstrees In
in charge
charge of your
of your

little
little toy,"
toy," II ,vhispered to Captain
whispered to Battleax.
Captain Battleax.

"" "\Vith
With aa glass,"
glass," he
he replied,
replied, "by
" by \vhich
which he ,vill
will

be able
able to
to see
see \vhether
whether you leave
leave the
the building.
building.

In that
that case, he will
case, he will blow us
us all
all into
into atoms."
atoms."

Then Sir
Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando rose
rose to
to his
his legs,
legs, and

began his
his speech.
speech. II had never
never before
before heard
112
112 PERIOD.
THE FIXED PERIOD.

a specimen
a specinlen of
of that
that special
special oratory
oratory to
to which the
the
epithet flowery
epithet fio\very be most
may be Ill0St appropriately
appropriately
applied.
applied. It has
It has all
all the
the finished
finished polish
polish of
of Eng-
land, joined
land, joined to
to the
the fervid
fervid imagination
iInagination of
of Ire-
Ire-
land.
land. It
It strealns on
streams on without
\vithout aa pause,
pause, and
,vithont any
without any necessary
necessary end but
but that
that which
,vhich the
the
convenIence of
convenience of time
tinle nlay dictate.
may dictate. It
It comes
,vithout the
without the slightest
slightest effort, and it
effort, it goes
goes with-
with-
out producing
out producing any great
great effect.
effect. It is
It is s,veet at
sweet at

the moment.
the It pleases many, and can
It pleases can offend
offend
none.
none. But it
But it is
is hardly
hardly afterwards
afterwards much
nluch 1'e-
re-

meInbered, and
membered, and is
is ef&cacious
efficacious only
only in
in smoothing
SI1100thing
somew hat the
somewhat the rough
rough ways
,vays of
of this
this harsh
harsh world.
'vorld.
But II have observed that
that in I have read
in what I read
of British
of British debates, those
debates, those ,vho e10-
who have been elo-
q uent
quent after this fashion
after this fashion are
are generally firnl to
firm to

SOlne purpose of
some purpose of self-interest.
self-interest. Sir
Sir Ferdinando

had on this
this occasion
occasion dressed himself,vith
dressed himself with nlin-
min-

ute
ute care;
care and though he
; he had for the hour be-
for the be-
fore
fore been very sedulous
sedulous in
in lllanipulating
manipulating certain
certain

notes,
notes, he no\v
now 'vas
was careful
careful to
to show not a
a scrap

of
of paper;
paper and II must do him the
; justice to
the justice to
 —

THE TOWN-HALL. 113

113

declare that
declare that he
he spun
spun out
out the
the words
words from
from the
the
reel of
reel of his
his as though
memory as though they
they all
all came
callle
spontaneous and
spontaneous pat to
and pat to his
his tongue.
tongue.
"
" N everbend," he
Mr ISTeverbend/' he said,
said, ""ladies gentle-
ladies and gentle-

men, —
men,-II have
have to-day
to-day for the
for the first
first time the
time the great
great
pleasure of
pleasure of addressing an intelligent
addressing an intelligent concourse
concourse
of citizens
of in Britannula.
citizens in Britannula. I trust
I trust that
that before
before
acquaintance with
my acquaintance with this
this prosperous
prosperous com-
nlunity may be
munity be brought
brought to
to an
an end,
end, II may have
have
another opportunity
many another opportunity afforded
afforded me of
of ad-
ad-
dressing you.
dressing you. It has
It has been
been lot in
my lot in life to
life to

serve my Sovereign
serve in various
Sovereign in various parts
parts of
of the
the
world, and
world, to represent
humbly to represent the
the throne
throne of
of

England in
in every
every quarter
quarter of the globe.
of the globe. But
by the
the admitted testimony of
admitted testimony of all people,-
all people, — my
my
fellow - countrylnen at
fellow-countrymen honle in
at home in England, and

those
those who are equally my fellow-countrymen
are equally

in
in the
the colonies
colonies to
to ,vhich
which II have been sent,-
sent,

it
it is
is ackno,vledged
acknowledged that
that in
in prosperity,
prosperity, intelli-
intelli-

gence,
gence, and civilisation,
civilisation, you are excelled by no
are excelled

English-speaking
English-speaking section
section of
of the
the ,vorld.
world. And
if
if by none ,,,ho
who speak
speak English,
English, who shall
shall then

VOL. II.
II. H
H
 ]14
114 THE FIXED PERIOD.

aspne
aspire to excel you 1
to excel ? Such, as II have learned,
Such, as learned,

has been the

the common verdict
verdict given; as II
given and as ;

look round this

this vast
vast room,
rOOll, on aa spot
spot which

fifty years ago

fifty years ago the
the marsupial races
races had under

their
their own dominion, see the
dominion, and see the feminine

beauty and manly grace

grace which greet
greet me on

side, II can ·well

every side, well believe
believe that
that some pe-
pe-

culiarly kind freak

culiarly freak of
of nature
nature has
has been at
at work,

and has
has tended
tended to
to produce
produce aa people
people as
as strong
strong

as it
as it is beautiful, and as
is beautiful, as clever
clever in its wit
in its wit as
as it
it
is
is graceful
graceful in
in its
its actions."
actions." Here the
the speaker
speaker

paused, and the

paused, the audience all
all clapped their
their
hands and stamped their
their feet, \vhich seemed
feet, which

to
to to be
me to be aa very
very improper
improper mode of
of testi-
testi-
fying their
fying their assent
assent to th~ir
to their o\vn praises.
own praIses. But
Sir
Sir Ferdinando took
took it all in
it all in good part,
part, and
1vent his speech.
went on with his speech.
"I have been sent
" I sent here,
here, ladies
ladies and gentle-
gentle-
nlen, on aa peculiar
men, peculiar mission,
mission,-on —
on aa duty
duty as
as to
to
which, though II
which, desirous of
am desirous of explaining
explaining it
it
to all
to all of
of in every
you in detail, II feel
every detail, feel aa difficulty
difficulty
of saying
of saying aa single word."
single ,vord." «
" Fixed ,
Fixed Period,"
Period"
 TOWN -HALL.
THE TO"\VN-HALL. 115

was shouted
sliouted from one of
of the
the balconies
balconies In
in a
a

voice as that
voice which II recognised as that of
of Mr Tallo-
Tallo-

,vax.
wax. " My friend
"l\Iy friend in
in the gallery,"
gallery," continued
continued

Sir
Sir Ferdinando, "reminds
" reminds me of
of the very word

for
for which II shoJllcl
should inin vain
vain have cudgelled my
cudgelled nly

brain.
brain. is the
The Fixed Period is the subject
subject on
on
,vhich
which II am called
called upon to
to say to
to you a
a few
few

words ;-the
,vords —
the Fixed Period,
;
Period, and the
the man who

has,
has, II believe,
believe, been among you the
the chief
chief author
author

of that
of that system of living, — and if
of living,-and if I
I may be
be

permitted to
to say so, of dying also."
so, of also." Here
the
the orator
orator allowed his
his voice
voice to
to fade
fade away in
in
a melancholy cadence,
a cadence, while
,vhile turned his
he turned his
face
face towards me, and with
towards ,vith aa gentle
gentle motion
motion
laid his
laid his right
right hand upon my shoulder.
shoulder. "Oh,
"Oh,

my
nly friends, it is,
friends, it is, to
to say
say the
the least
least of
of it, a start-
it, a start-
ling project."
ling project." "
cc if it
Uncommon, if it was your
your
turn
turn next,"
next," said
said in
Tallowax in the
the gallery.
gallery.

indeed," continued Sir

"Yes, indeed," Sir Ferdinando, "if
Ferdinando, "if
it were my turn
it turn next
next! ! I
I own, that
must own, t.hat
though II should
should consider
consider myself
myself to
to be
be af-
af-

fronted
fronted if I were told
if I told that
that II were
,vere faint-hearted.
faint-hearted:
 ;

116
116 THE FIXED PEnrOD.
PERIOD.

— though II should kno\y

-though know 1nyself
myself to
to be
be l11alignecl
maligned

if
if it
it \vere
were said
said of
of 111e that II have a
me that a coward's
coward's

fear of death,-still
fear of death, —
still II should
should feel
feel far
far from

c0111fortable
comfortable ifif that
that age
age caIne
came upon nle
me \vhich
which
this
this system has
has defined, were II to
defined, and \vere to live
live in
in

aa country in
in \vhich
which it
it has
has prevailed.
prevailed. Though
II trust that II may be
trust that be able
able to
to meet death like
death like

a brave man when it

it may COBle, still II should
come, still

\vish that
wish that it
it 111ight
might come by God's hand, and
God's hand,

not the wisdom

not by the \visdonl of
of a man.
a man.

a" II have nothing to

to say ag~inst the
say against the wisdom
\visdom
of
of that
that man," continued he,
he, turning
turning to
to 111e
me
agaIn.
again. " II know all
''
all the
the arguments
arguments with
\vith which
has
he has fortified hil11self.
fortified himself. have travelled
They have travelled
as
even as far as my
far as nly ears but II venture
ears; but ; venture to
to use
use
the experience
the \vhich II have gathered
experience which gathered in
in nlany
many
countries,
countries, and to tell
to tell hinl that
him that in
in accordance
accordance
with God's
with God's purposes the world
purposes the world is not
is not as
as yet
yet
ri pe for
ripe for his
his wisdom."
\visdoln." I could
I could not
not help
help think-
think-
ing as he spoke thus,
ing as thus, that
that he
he was
\vas not
not perhaps
perhaps
\yith
acquainted with all the
all the arguments
arguments on
on which
\vhich
my
nly system of the Fixed Period
of the Period was
\vas founded
founded;
 — '

THE TOvVN
THE TOWN-HALL.
-HALL. 117
117

and that
that if
if he
lie would do
do me the
the honour to
to

listen to
to a
a few
few words 'W hich II proposed
which proposed to
to

speak
speak to
to the
the people
people of
of Britannula
Britannula before
before II

left
left them, he 'would
would have clearer
clearer ideas
ideas about
about

it
it than had ever
ever yet
yet entered
entered into
into his
his mind.
mind.

"" Oh, my friends,"

friends," said
said he,
he, rising
rising to
to the
the alti-
alti-

tudes of
of his eloquence, "it
his eloquence, "it is
is fitting
fitting for
for us
us

that 'we
we should leave
leave these
these things
things in
in the
the hands

of
of the
the Almighty.
Almighty. It
It is
is fitting
fitting for
for us,
us, at
at any

rate, that "\ve

rate, that we should do so
so till
till we have been
been
brought by
brought Him to
to aa state of god-like
state of kno'w-
god-like know-

ledge infinitely
ledge infinitely superior
superior to that which
to that 'which ,ve at
we at
present possess."
present possess." Here II could
could perceive
perceive that
that
Sir
Sir revelling in
Ferdinando was revelling in the
the sounds
sounds
of his
of his ovvn words,
own ,vords, and that
that he
he had
had prepared
prepared
and learnt
and learnt by heart
heart the
the tones
tones of
of his
his voice,
voice, and
and
even the
even the motion
motion of
of his
his hands.
l1ands. We all
"'Ve
" all know
kno'w
that
that it is not
it is not allowed
allovyed to
to us
us to
to rush
rush into
into His
His
presence by any
presence by any deed
deed of
of our
our own.
o,vn. Yon all
You all
remember what
remember 'what the
the poet says,-
poet says,

, Or
'
Or that
that the
the Everlasting
Everlasting hadhad not
not fixed
fixed
His canon
His canon 'gainst
'gainst self-
self-slaughter!
slaughter '
!
 —

118 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Is not
Is this self-slaughter,
not this this theory
self-slaughter, this theory In ac-
in ac-

cordance with ,vhich

cordance with which aa man shall devote him-
shall devote hinl-
self to death
self to at aa certain
death at period?
certain period? if aa
And if
nlan may not
man not slay
slay himself,
himself, how
ho,v shall
shall he then,
then,
in the
in the exercise
exercise of his poor
of his poor hUlllan wit,
human wit, devote
devote
a fellow
a fello,v-creature to certain
-creature to certain death?" ""And
And
he as well as
as well as ever he ,vas
ever he was in his life,"
in his life," said
said

Tallo'wax
Tallowax in the gallery.
in the gallery.

"" My
nfy friend
friend does ,veIl to
does well to remind
remind me.
n1e. Though
1\1r N everbend has
Mr Neverbend has named aa Fixed
Fixed Period for
Period for

IUlnlan
human life,
life, and has
has perhaps
perhaps chosen that at
chosen that at
,vhich
which its
its energies
energies l11ay usually be
may usually be found to
to
diminish,
diminish, who can say that he
say that he has
has even ap-
ap-
proached the
proached the certainty
certainty of that death
of that death ,vhich the
which the
Lord sends
sends upon us
us all
all at His own period
at His period?? The
poor fello,Y
poor to
fellow to ,vhom nature has
whom nature has been
been unkind,
u.nkind,
departs
departs from us decrepit and ,vorn
us decrepit worn out
out at
at forty;
forty ;

whereas another at
,vhereas seventy is
at seventy is still hale and
still hale

strong
strong in
in perfornling the daily
performing the daily ,vork of his
work of his
life."
life."

"I
" I anl
am strong
strong enough to
to do a'1110st
a'most anything

for
for myself,
myself, and II ,vas to be
was to the next
be the next to
to go,-
go,
 THE TOWN-HALL. 119
119

the very next."

the very next." . This
This in
in a treble voice
a treble VOIce came
from that
from poor fellow
that poor fellow Barnes, who had suffered

nearly the
nearly pangs of
the pangs of death itself
itself from the
the Fixed
Period.
Period.

"Yes,
" Yes, indeed;
indeed in
in answer to
; to such an appeal
as that, who shall
as that, venture to
shall venture to say that the
say that the Fixed
Period
Period shall be carried
shall be carried out with all
out with all its
its startling
startling

audacity??
audacity The tenacity
tenacity of purpose which dis-
of purpose dis-

tinguishes our
tinguishes our friend here is
friend here is known to
to us all.
all.

The fame of
of his
his character
character in that respect
in that respect had
reached
reached my ears
ears even anlong the thick-lipped
among the thick-lipped
inhabitants
inhabitants of
of Central A.frica."
Central Africa." II own II did
did

wonder whether this

this could be true.
could be true. J ustum
'"" Justum
*

et
et tenaceIll propositi virum
tenacem propositi virunl ! ' Nothing can
!
' can turn
turn
him from his purpose, or
his purpose, or induce him to
to change '
his inflexible
his will.
inflexible will. him, and II know
kno'w him,
You know
hiln, and he
him, is
is ,veIl throughout England.
well known throughout

Persuasion can never touch him; fear

touch him has no
fear has
;

power over him.

him. He, as
as one unit,
unit, is
is strong
strong

against
against a
a million.
million. He is
is invincible, Imper-
invincible, imper-

turbable, and ever self-assured."

turbable, self-assured."

I, as II sat
I, as sat there
there listening to this
listening to this character of
of
120 THE FIXED PERIOD.

myself, heroic
heroic somewhat, but utterly
utterly unlike
unlike

the person for

for whom it
it \vas
was intended,
intended, felt
felt that
that

England knew very

very little
little about
about me,
me, and cared
cared

less; not but be

less; and II could not be angry that
that my

name should be
be used in this way to
in this to adorn the
the

sentences of
of Sir
Sir Ferdinando's speech.
speech. Here
in
in G ladstonopolis II was well
Gladstonopolis known, — and well
well known,-and well

known to be neither
to be neither imperturbable
imperturbable nor
nor .self-
self-

assured.
assured. But all the people
all the people seemed to
to accept
accept

\v hat he said,
what said, and I could not
I could not very
very well
\vell inter-
inter-
rupt him.
him. He had his
his opportunity now,
no\v, and II
perhaps might have
perhaps have mine by-and-by.
by-and-by.
" My friends,"
"1\{y friends," continued
continued Sir Ferdinando,
Sir Ferdinando,

"at in England, where,

" at home in \v here, though
though we
\ve are
are
powerful reason of
po\verful by reason of our
our wealth
\vealth and num-
nunl-
bers--""
bers "" Just
Just so," said 1.
so," said I. "'Vhere
" \ve are
Where we are
po\verful, II repeat,
powerful, repeat, reason of
by reason of our
our wealth
\vealth and
perhaps less
numbers, though perhaps less advanced
advanced than
are in
you are in the
the philosophical
philosophical arrangements
arrangements of
of life,
life,
it has
it has seemed to
to us
us to
to be
be impossible
impossible that
that the
the
theory should
theory should be
be allowed
allowed to
to be
be carried
carried to
to its
its

legitimate end.
legitimate end. country would be
The whole country be
 —

THE TOWN-HALL. 121

121

horrified were one life

life sacrificed
sacrificed to
to this
this theory."
theory."

that, —
"" We knew that,-we
we knew that,"
that," said
said the
the voice
voice

of
of Tallowax. ".And
"And yet
yet your .Assembly
Assembly had
had
gone so
so far
far as
as to
to give
give to
to the
the system all
all the
the sta-
sta-

bility of la"w.
bility of law. Had not
not the
the John Bright steamed

into
into your harbour yesterday,
yesterday, one of
of your most

citizens would have been already-

valued citizens already

deposited." When he had so

deposited." vVhen so spoken,
spoken, he turned
turned

to Mr Crasweller,
round to Crasweller, ,y
whoho was sitting on
sitting on

my right
right hand, and bowed
bo,Yed to
to him.
him. Cras"weller
Crasweller

looked straight
looked before him,
straight before him, and took
took no :notice
notice

of Sir
of Sir Ferdinando. He was at the present
at the present
rather on my side
moment rather side of
of. the
the question,
question, and
his freedom secured
having had his secured to hilTI, did
to him, did not
not
care for
care for Sir Ferdinando.
Sir Ferdinando.

"" But that

that has
has been prevented,
prevented, thanks
thanks to
to the
the
extraordinary rapidity
extraordinary yyith which
rapidity with excel-
my excel-
lent friend
lent friend Captain
Captain Battleax
Battleax has
has his way
made his
across the ocean.
across the ocean. .And
And II must
luust say
say that
that every
every
of these
one of these excellent
excellent fellows,
fellows, his
his officers, has
officers, has
his best
done his best to
to place
place H.M.
H.l\1. ship
ship the
the John
Bright in
Bright in her
her commanding position
position with the
the
122
122 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PEIUOD.
PERIOD.

least
least possible
possible delay."
delay." Here he
he turned
turned round
round
and bo,ved
bowed to
to the
the officers,
officers, and by keen
keen eyes
eyes

might have been observed

observed to
to bo,v
bow through
through the
the

\vindows
windows also to the
also to the vessel,
vessel, \vhich
which lay
lay a
a mile
mile

off
off in the harbour.
harbour. "There
" There \vill
will not,
not, at
at any
any
rate'
rate- for
for the
the present,
present, be
be any lfixed
Fixed Period
Period for
for

hunlan life in
human life in Britannula.
Britannula. That dream has
has been
been

dreamed,-at—
dreamed, at any rate
rate for
for the
the present.
present. 'Vhether
Whether
in future ages snch
such a
a philosophy Dlay
may prevail,
prevail,

who shall say?

say ? At present
present \ve
we must all a\vait
all await

the hands
our death from the hands of the Almighty.
of the

'Sufficient
'
for the
Sufficient for the day is the evil
is the evil thereof
thereof.'
"And now,
novv, gentlemen,
gentlemen, II have
have to
to request
request
attention for
your attention for aa few
few moments
monlents to
to another
another
matter, and one
matter, one which is very
is very different
different from
frolll
this which
this \V hich \ve have
we have discussed.
discussed. I
I anl to
am to say
say
a fe\v words
a few ,vords of
of the
the past
past and the
the present,
present,-of
of —
your past
your past constitution,
constitution, and of
of that
that which
\vhich it is
it is

my
lily purpose
purpose to
to inaugurate."
inaugurate." Here
Here there
there arose
arose
aa murmur
l1lurmur through
through the
the room
room very
very audible,
audible, and
and
threatening
threatening by its
by its sounds
sounds to
to disturb
disturb the
the orator.
orator.
" I will ask
" I will ask your
your favour
favour for
for aa few
fe\v minutes
minutes; and
and
;
 THE TOWN-HALL.
THE TOWN-HALL. 123
123

,vhen
when you
you shall
shall have
have heard
heard me to-day,
to-day, II will
will

in
in my turn hear you to-morro\v.
to-morrow. Great
Great Britain
Britain

at
at your request surrendered to
to you the
the po\ver
power
of self-government. To so
so small an English-
English-

speaking community has this

this never before
before

been granted. And II am bound to

to say
say that
that

you have in
in many respects
respects shown yourselves
yourselves

fit
fit for
for the responsibility
responsibility imposed upon you.
you. You

have been intelligent,

intelligent, industrious,
industrious, and prudent.
prudent.

Ignorance has been expelled from your

your shores,
shores,

and poverty
poverty has been forced to hide
forced to her dimin-
hide her dimin-

ished head."
ished head." the orator
Here the to receive
orator paused to receive
that applause
that applause which
\vhich he conceived
conceived to
to be
be richly
richly
his
his due; but the
due ; the occupants
occupants of
of the
the benches
benches
before
before sat sternly
him sat sternly silent.
silent. There
There were
\vere many
there
there glad to
who had been glad to see
see aa ship
ship of
of war
,val'
in to
come in to stop
stop the
the Fixed Period,
Period, but
but hardly
hardly
one
one ,vas pleased
who was pleased to
to lose
lose his
his own indepen-
indepen-
dence.
dence. "" But though
But though that
that is
is so/'
so," said
said Sir
Sir Ter-
Fer-
dinando, aa
dinando, little nettled
little nettled at
at the
the want
,vant of
of admira-
admira-
tion with
tion with which his
which his words had been
,vords had been received,
received,
"H.M.
" Government is
H.M. Government is under
under the
the necessity
necessity of
of
12.t
124 THE FIXED PERIOD.

putting an end to
putting the constitution
to the under which
constitution under

the Fixed Period

the Period can be allo,ved
can be to prevail.
allowed to prevail.
'Vhile have made laws for
While you have yourselves, any
for yourselves,

laws
laws so
so made must have all
all the
the force of law."
force of law."
"That's
" That's not
not so
so certain,"
certain," said
said a
a voice
voice frorn
from aa
distance,
distance, which II shre\vdly
shrewdly suspect to have
suspect to

been that
been that of
of lily hopeful son,
my hopeful Jack N
son, Jack everbend.
Neverbend.

"" As Great
Great Brit.ain
Britain cannot will not
cannot and will not permit

the Fixed Period

the to be
Period to be carried
carried out
out alllong
among any
English -speaking race
English-speaking race of people--""
of people

" How about

"Ho,v about the
the United States?"
States ? " said
said a
a

VOIce.
voice.

"The United States

" The United have made no such at-
States have at-
tempt but II ,yill
tempt; ; proceed.
will proceed. It
It has therefore
has therefore

sent
sent me out to assume the
out to the reins,
reins, and to
to under-
under-
take
take the power, and to
the power, to bear
bear the
the responsibility
responsibility
of being your governor during aa short
of being term
short term

of
of years.
years. Who shall
'Vho shall say what the
the future
future

may disclose
disclose?? For the present II shall
the present rule
shall rule

here.
here. But II shall rule by the
shall rule the aid of your
aid of your
la,vs."
laws."

"" Not the Period la,Y,"

the Fixed Period law," said Exors,
said Exors,
 THE TOWN-HALL.
THE TOWN-HALL. 125
125

who was
who was seated
seated on
on the
the floor
floor of
of the
the chamber
chamber
immediately under
inimediately the orator.
under the orator.
" No; that
"No; that law
la\v will
will be
be specially
specially wiped
wiped out
out
from your
from your statute-book.
statute - book. In other
In other respects,
respects,
your laws
your laws and
and those
those of
of Great
Great Britain
Britain are
are
nearly the same.
nearly the same. There
There may be
may be divergences,
divergences,
as in
as in reference
reference to
to the
the non-infliction
non-infliction of
of capital
capital
punishment.
punishment. In such
In such matters
matters II shall
shall endea-
endea-
vour to
vour to follow
follow your
your wishes,
wishes, and so
so to
to govern
govern
you that
you that you
you may still
still feel
feel that
that you are
are living
living
under the rule
under the rule of
of aa president of your own
president of selec-
selec-

tion."
tion." Here
Here II cannot but think
cannot but think that
that Sir
Sir Fer-
Fer-

dinanda
dinando was
was aa little
little rash.
rash. He did not quite
quite

kno\v
know the
the extent
extent of
of my popularity,
popularity, nor had he
he

gauged
saucred the
the dislike
dislike which he hilnself
himself \vould
would cer-
cer-

tainly
tainly encounter.
encounter. He
He had
had heard
heard aa few
few voices
voices

in
in the
the hall,
hall, which,
which, under
under' fear
fear of
of death,
death, had
had

expressed
expressed their
their dislike
dislike to
to the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period;;

but
but he
he bad
had no
no idea
idea of
of the
the love
love \v hich the
which the people
people

felt
felt for
for their
their own
own independence,
independence, 01',-1
or,— I believe
believe

may say,-for
II may say, —
for their
their o\vn
own president.
president. There
There

arose
arose in
in the
the hall
hall aa certain
certain amount
amount of
of clamour,
clamour.
126
126 THE FIXED PERIOD.

in the lnidst
midst of
of \vhich
which Sir
Sir Ferdinando sat
sat

down.

Then there
there \vas
was aa shuffling
shuffling of
of feet
feet as
as of
of a
a

crowd going away. Sir

Sir Ferdinando having
having sat
sat

do\vll,
down, got up again and shook llle
me \vanuly
warmly by
the hand. II returned his
his greeting
greeting \vith
with llly
my
pleasantest smile;
pleasantest smile and then,
; then, \vhile
while the
the people
people

\vere ll1oving,
were moving, II spoke to
to them t\VO
two or
or three
three

\vords.
words. II told that II should
told them that should start to-
start to-

lllOrrO\V
morrow at at noon for England, under
for England, under aa promise
promise
made by lne to their
me to their new governor, that II
governor, and that

to explain to
purposed to thelU, before
to them, before II went,
\vent,
\V hat circumstances I
under what I had given
given that
that
promise, and what
promise, \vhat it was
it ,vas that
that II intended
intended to
to
do when
do 'v hen II should
should reach
reach England. 'Vould they
Would
rne there,
meet me there, in that hall,
in that hall, at
at eight
eight o'clock
o'clock
that evening,
that an~ hear
evening, and hear the
the last
last words
,vords which
'which II
should have to
should to address
address to
to them 1? the
Then the
hall
hall filled with
was filled \vith aa mighty shout,
shout, and there
there
arose aa great
arose great fury
fury of
of exclamation.
exclanlation. There was
There \vas
a waving of
a of handkerchiefs,
handkerchiefs, and aa holding
holding up of
of
hats,
hats, all those
and all those signs
signs of
of enthusiasm
enthusiasln which
 THE TOWN-HALL.
THE TOWN-HALL. 127
127

are
are 'w ont to
wont to greet
greet the
the popular
popular man
man of
of the
the hour.
hour.

And in
And in the
the midst
midst of
of them,
them, Sir
Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando
Brown
Brown stood
stood up
up upon
upon his
his legs,
legs, and
and continued
continued

to
to bow
bow without
without cessation.
cessation.

A.
Att eight,
eight, the
the hall
hall was agaln
again full
full to
to over-
over-

flowing.
flowing. II had
had been
been busy,
busy, and came do\vn
down aa
little
little late,
late, and found a difficulty in
a difficulty in making

my way to
to the chair 'which
which Sir
Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando
had occupied in the morning. II had had no
no
time
time to
to prepare my words, though the
the thoughts
thoughts
had rushed quickly,-too
had quickly, —
too quickly,-into
quickly, into my —
mind.
mind. It
It as though they
was as they would
would tumble
tumble
out from
out from my own mouth in
in precipitate
precipitate energy.
energy.
On my right
On sat the
right hand sat the governor,
governor, as
as II must
must
now
no\v call him; and in
call him ;in the
the chair
chair on
on my left
left was
'was
placed
placed my wife.
wife. The
The officers
officers of
of the
the gunboat
gunboat
were not
were not present,
present, having
having occupied
occupied themselves,
themselves,
no doubt,
no in banking
doubt, in banking up
up their
their fires.
fires.

"My
"My fellow-citizens,"
fello\v-citizens," II said,
said, "a
"a sudden
sudden end
end
has been
has been brought
brought to that self-government
to that self-government of
of
which we
which we have
have been
been proud,
proud, and by which
and by \vbich Sir
Sir
Ferdinando has
Ferdinando bas told
told you that 'ignorance
you that (ignorance has
has
 —

128
128 TilE FIXED PERIOD.
THE PEnrOD.

been expelled
been expelled from
from your
your shores,
shores, and poverty
poverty
has been
has been forced
forced to
to hide
hide her
her diminished
diminished head.'
head.'
I trust
I trust that,
that, under
under his experience,
his experience, \y hich he
which he
tells us
tells us as
as aa governor
governor has
has been
been very
very extensive,
extensive,
those evils
those evils lllUY not
may not now
no\v fall
fall upon you.
you. We
'Ve
are, however,
are, however, painfully
painfully aware
aware that
that they
they do
do pre-
pre-
vail
vail \vherever the
wherever the concrete
concrete power of
of Great
Great Bri-
Bri-
tain
tain is found
is found to
to be
be in
in full
full force.
force. A man ruling
ruling
uS,-us
us, — nlany other
us and many other millions
nlillions of
of subjects,
subjects,-
from the
from the other
other side
side of
of the
the globe,
globe, cannot
cannot see
see our
our
wants and watch
wants \vatch our
our progress
progress as
as we
\ve can
can do
do our-
our-
selves.
selves. even Sir
And even Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando coming
conling upon
us with
us with all his experience,
all his experience, can
can hardly
hardly be
be able
able
to ascertain
to ascertain ho,y be made happy and
how we may be
prosperous.
prosperous. He has
has with
\yith him,
hilll, however,
ho\vever, aa com-
pany of
of a
a celebrated
celebrated English regiment,
regiment, with
\yith its
its

attendant
attendant officers, who, by their
officers, who, their red
red coats
coats and
long
long swords,
swords, \vill no doubt add to
will no to the
the cheerful-
cheerful-

ness
ness of
of your social
social gatherings.
gatherings. II hope that you
may not find that
not find that they shall
shall ever
ever interfere
interfere \vith
with

you after
after a
a rougher fashion.
fashion.

"" But upon me, my fellow-citizens,

fellow-citizens, has fallen
fallen
 TO\VN-HALL.
THE TOWN-HALL. 129
129

the great
the great disgrace
disgrace of
of having
having robbed
robbed you of
of your
independence."
independence." Here aa murmur ran
ran through
through
the hall,
the hall, declaring
declaring that
that this
this was not
not so.
so. " So
"So
your new Governor
your Governor has
has told
told you,
you, but
but he
he has
has not
not
told
told you the
you the exact
exact truth.
truth. the doc-
With whom the doc-
trine of
trine of the
the Fixed Period
Fixed Period first originated,
first originated, II will
will
not
not inquire.
now inquire. All the
All the responsibility
responsibility II will
will
take upon myself,
take luyself, though the
the honour
honour and glory
glory
I
I lllust share
must with my fellow-countrymen.
share with fellow-countryrnen.
"Your Governor has
" Your Governor has told
told you
you that
that he
he is
is aware
of all
of all the
the arguments
arguments which the
by which the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period
is maintained;
is but II think
maintained; but think that
that he
he must be
Inistaken
mistaken here,
here, as he has
as he has not
not ventured
ventured to
to attack
one
one of them.
of them. He has
has told
told us
us that
that it
it is
is fitting
fitting

that
that we should
should leave the question
leave the question of
of life
life and

death
death in
in the hands of
the hands of the
the Ahnighty.
Almighty. If
If so,
so,

'vhy
why is
is all
all Europe bristling
bristling at this moment 'with
at this with

arms, —
arms,-prepared,
prepared, as
as we must suppose,
suppose, for
for short-
short-

ening life, — and 'vhy

ening life,-and why is
is there
there a
a hangman at-'
at-

tacbed
tached to
to the
the throne
throne of
of Great
Great Britain
Britain as
as one of

its
its necessary
necessary executive
executive officers?
officers ? Why in
in the
the

Old Testament
Testament was Joshua commanded to
to slay

VOL. II.
IL II
130 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Inighty kings??
mighty kings And 'vhy
why ,vas
was Pharaoh and
his hosts
his hosts drowned in the Red
in the Eed Sea? Because the
Sea ? Because the
Almighty so willed it,
so willed it, our Goyernor will
our Governor will say,
say,
taking it for
taking it for granted that He willed
granted that willed everything
everything

of
of which a record is
a record is given in the
ariven in the Old
Olel Testa-
Testa-

111ent.
ment. In those
those battles
battles which have
have ravished
ravished
the
the North-west of India during
jSTorth-west of the last
durinc^ the last half-
half-
c~ntury,
century, did the Almighty
did the Alnlighty ,vish that 111en
wish that men
should perish miserably
should perish miserably by ten thousands and
ten thousands

twenty thousands?
thousands ? Till
Till any of
of us
us can learn
can learn

than we know at
more than present of
at present of the
the ,viII of
will of

the Almighty, II ,yould,

the Almighty, would, if he will
if he will allo,v nle,
allow me,

advise our Governor to

to be
be silent that head.
silent on that head.
"Ladies
" Ladies and gentlemen,
gentlemen, it
it ,vould be aa long
would be long
task, not to
task, and one not to be
be accomplished before
before
your bedtime,
bedtime, were
were II to
to recount
recount to
to you,
you, for
for his
his

advantage, aa fe,v
few of the arguments ,vhich
of the have
which have
used in
been used in favour
favour of the Fixed
of the Fixed Period,
Period,-and
and—
it
it ,vould be useless,
would be useless, as
as you are
are all
all acquainted
acquainted

\vith them.
with But Sir
Sir Ferdinando is
is evidently
evidently

not aware that

that the
the general prolongation of
general prolongation life
of life

on an average,
average, is
is one of the effect.s
of the to be
effects to be gained,
gained,
 TOWN-HALL.
THE TO"\VN - HALL. 131
131

and that,
that, though
though he
he himself
himself might not
not therefore
therefore
live
live the
the longer
longer if
if doomed to
to remain here
here in
in
Britannula,
Britannula, yet
yet ,vould his descendants do so,
would his so,

and.
and ,vould
would live
live a
a life healthy, 111
life more healthy, moreore useful,
useful,
and more sufficient
sufficient for
for human purposes.
purposes.
""As
As far
far as
as II can
can read the will
read the will of the Almighty,
of the

or rather the
or rather progress of
the progress of the
the ,vays
ways of
of human

nature, it is
nature, it is for to endeavour
for man to endeavour to
to improve
the
the conditions
conditions of mankind.
of mankind. It
It ,vould be as
would be as

,yell
well to
to say
say that
that 've
we would adlnit no fires
admit no fires into
into

our establishlnents because aa life

establishments because no\v and
life had now

again been lost

again been lost by fire,
fire, as to use
as to use such an argu-
argu-

as that
ment as that now put
put for\vard
forward against the
against the

Fixed Period.
Period. If will think of
If you will the line
of the line of
of

reasoning used
used by Sir
Sir Ferdinando, you
yon will
will
renlember
remember that he has,
that he has, after
after all,
all, only
only thrown

you back upon the

the old prejudices of
old prejudices mankind.
of mankind.

If he will tell
tell me that
that he
he is not as
is not yet prepared
as yet prepared
to
to discard them, and that
that II am in
in error
error in
in

thinking
thinking that
that the
the ,vorld
world is so prepared,
is so prepared, II may
perhaps agree with
\vith him. The John Bright
Bright in
in

our harbour
our is
is the strongest possible proof
strongest possible proof that
that
 —

132
132 THE FIXED PERIOD.

such prejudices
prej udices still
still exist.
exist. Sir Ferdinando
Sir Ferdinando

Bro"rn is
Brown no,Y your Governor,
is now Governor, aa fact
fact "Thich in
which in
itself
itself is
is strong
strong evidence.
evidence. In opposition
opposition to
to
these witnesses II have
these witnesses have nothing
nothing to
to say.
say. The
ignorance
ignorance ,vhich
which we are told that
are told that we had ex-
ex-
pelled fronl
pelled from our
our shores, has
shores, has come back to
to us
us ; ;

and the poverty is

the poverty is about,
about, II fear, to sho,Y
fear, to its
show its
head."
head." Sir
Sir Ferdinando here
here arose
arose and ex-
ex-

postulated.
postulated. But the
the people hardly heard
people hardly heard him,
hiln,
and at
at my request
lny request he
he again
again sat
sat do,vn.
down.

"I
" I do think
think that
that II have
have endeavoured
endeavoured in
in this
this
to advance too
matter to too quickly,
quickly, and that
that Sir
Sir

Ferdinando has
has been
been sent here as
sent here the necessary
as the necessary
reprilnand
reprimand for
for that
that folly.
folly. has required
He has required that
that
II shall
shall be
be banished
banished to
to England; and as
as his
his

order
order is
is backed double file
backed by aa double file of
of red-coats,-
red-coats,

instrunlent ,vhich
an instrument which in Britannula we do
in Britannula do not
not
possess, —
possess,-II purpose to
to obey hinl.
obe}^ him. II shall
shall go

to
to England, and II shall there use
shall there use ,vhat little
what little
strength
strength renlains to 1ne
remains to in my endeavour
me in endeavour to
to
put forward those
put those arguluents
arguments for
for conquering

the prejudices
prejudices of the people
of the people which have pre-
pre-
 TOWX-HALL.
THE TO\VN - HALL. 133
133

vailed
vailed here,
here, but
but ,vhich
which II am very
very sure
sure ,vould
would
have no effect
effect upon Sir
Sir Ferdinando Bro,vD.
Brown.
"I
" I cannot but think that
that Sir
Sir Ferdinando gave
gave

himself unnecessary trouble

trouble in
in endeavouring to
to

prove to
to us that
that the
the Fixed Period is
is a
a wicked
wicked
arrangement. He was not likely
likely to
to succeed
succeed in
in

that
that attenlpt.
attempt. But he
he was sure to succeed
sure to succeed in
in

telling
telling us that he would make it
it impossible
impossible by

means of
of the double file
file of
of armed men by

whom he is
,vhonl is accompanied, and the
the 250 --ton
ton
steam-swiveller
steam-swiveller ,vith which, as
with which, as he infornled me,
informed me,

he is
is able to blow
able to blo\v us
us all into atcnns,
all into unless II
atoms, unless

,vould
would be to start
be ready to ,vith Captain Battleax
start with Battleax
to-morro\v.
to-morrow. It
It is not his
is not his religion
religion but
but his
his
strength that
that has
has prevailed.
prevailed. That Great
Great

Britain
Britain is much stronger
is than Britannula
stronger than Britannula none
none
of us
of us can doubt.
doubt. Till yesterday
Till yesterday II did
did doubt
doubt
'w hether she
whether she would
,vonld use
use her
her strength
strength to per-
to per-
petuate her
petuate her prejudices and to
own prejudices to put
put down
the progress
the progress lllade by another
made another people.
people.
" But, fellow-citizens, we
" But, fellow-citizens, ,ve must look the
lllUSt look the truth
truth
in the
in the face.
face. this generation
In this generation probably,
probably, the
the
134 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Fixed Period must

nlust be
be allowed to
to be
be in
in abey-
abey-
ance."
ance." 'Vhen
When II had uttered
uttered these
these ,vords there
words there

crune
came llluch
much cheering
cheerinsj and a
a loud sound of
of
triu1nph,
triumph, "'hich
wliich ,vas
was indorsed probably by the
indorsed probably the
postpone1nent of
postponement the systmn,
of the ,vhich had
system, which its
its

terrors;
terrors but II ,vas
but
; was enabled to accept
enabled to these
accept these

friendly noises as
friendly noises having been
as having been aawarded
warded to
to the
the
syste1n
system itself.
itself. "'V ell, as
" Well, as you all love the
all love the Fixed
Period,
Period, it
it 11lUst
must bebe delayed till Sir
delayed till Ferdinando
Sir Ferdinando

and the
the English have
have-been —
been converted."
converted."

"" Never,
Never, never
never 1"" shouted Sir
!

Sir Ferdinando;
Ferdinando ;

"" so
so godless
godless an idea
idea shall never find
shall never find a harbour
a harbour

in
in this bosonl," and he
this bosom," he struck his chest
struck his vio-
chest vio-

leiltly.
lently.

"Sir
" Sir Ferdinando is probably not
is probably a,vare to
not aware to
,vhat
what ideas that bosom
ideas that bOSOl11 may sonle give aa
some day give
shelter.
shelter. If he ,vill
If he will look thirty years,
look back thirty years, he
he
,vill
will find that he
find that he had hardly
hardly contenlplated
contemplated

even the
the ,veather- ,vatch ,vhich
weather -Avatch he 1l0'V
which he now ,vears
wears

constantly in
constantly his waistcoat
in his waistcoat - pocket.
pocket.
- the
At the
cOlnmand of his
command of his Soyereign he may
Sovereign he Inay still liYe to
still live to
 "

TOWN-HALL.
THE TO'VN-HALL. 135
135

carry
carry out the ~-'ixed
out the Fixed Period
Period somewhere in the
in the

centre
centre of
of Africa."
Africa."

"" Never
Never!" I

"In \vhat college

" In what college arHong
among the negroes
negroes he
he may
Inay
be deposited,
be deposited, it be too
it may be too curious to inquire.
curious to inquire.
I,
I, Illy
my friends,
friends, shall
shall leave these shores
leave these to-
shores to-

1110lTO\V;
morrow and you 11lay
; may be sure
sure of this, that
of this, that
,vhile
while the
the power of
of labour remains
remains to me, II
to nle,

shall never desist

shall never to ,york
desist to work for the purpose
for the purpose that
that
II have at
at heart.
heart. II trust that II may yet
trust that yet live
live

to return
to return alllong you, and to
among you, to render
render you an
account
account of what II have
of ,vhat have done for
for you and for
for

the cause
the cause in
in Europe."
Europe." Here II sat
sat dowll,
down, and

\vas
was greeted the deafening applause of
greeted by the the
of the

audience; and II did feel

audience; feel at the
at the nloment that
moment that
II had somewhat got the better
got the better of
of Sir Ferdi-
Sir Ferdi-

nanda.
nando.

II have been able to gIve

able to the exact
give the \vords of
exact words of

these two speeches,

these speeches, as they were both
as they both taken
taken
down by the
the reporting telephone -- apparatus,
reporting telephone apparatus,

\vhich on the
which the occasion
occasion ·was
was found
found to \vork \yith
to work with
136 THE FIXED PEKIOD.
PERIOD.

great
great accuracy.
accuracy. The words
\vords as they fell
as they fell from
from

the
the mouth of
of the
the speakers were com
speakers were posed by
composed
machinery, and my speech appeared
appeared in
in the
the
London morning newspapers within
\vithin an hour
of
of the time of
the time of its utterance.
its utterance.
 137
137

CHAPTER XL

FAREWELL
FARE'VELL !!

. II WENT to my
'VENT home to n1y house
house in
in triumph but II
trinn1ph ; but
;

had much to
had to do
do before
before noon on the
the following
following
day, but very
day, but very little
little time
time in
in to do
which to do it,
it.
I
I had spent the morning of
spent the of that day in
that day prepar-
in prepar-

ing for
ing for my departure,
departure, and in in so
so arranging

matters with my clerks

matters with that the
clerks that the entrance of Sir

Ferdinando
Ferdinando on his
his new
ne\v duties
duties might be easy.
easy.

II had said
said nothing, to
nothing, and had endeavoured to

think as
as little
little as
as possible,
possible, of
of the
the Fixed Period.
Period.
An old
old secretary
secretary of
of mine, —
mine, - old
old in
in years
years of

\vork,
work, though not
not as yet in
as yet in age —
age.1-had
had endeav-
oured to
to comfort me by saying
saying that
that the
the college
college

np
up the
the hill
hill might still
still be
be used before
before long.
long. But

II had told
told hinl
him frankly
frankly that
that \ve
we in
in Britannula
138 THE FIXED I)EUrOD.
PERIOD.

had all
all been too
too llluch
much inin a
a hurry,
hurry, and had

foolishly
foolishly endeavoured to
to carry
carry out
out a
a systeul
system

in opposition
opposition to
to the
the world's
world's pl'ej udices, which
prejudices,

systelll,
system, "Then
when successful,
successful, lllUSt
must pervade the
the

entire \vorld.
entire world. "And
" And is
is nothing
nothins; to
to be done

,vith
with those
those beautiful
beautiful buildings?"
buildinos ? " said
said the
the sec-

retary,
retary, putting
putting in
in the
the ,vord
word beautiful
beautiful by way
.
sec-

of
of flattery to Inyself.
flattery to myself. "
cc The chimneys and the
the
furnaces Inay perhaps be
may perhaps used," II replied.
be used," replied.

"Cremation
" Cremation is part of
is no part the Fixed
of the Fixed Period.
Period.

But as
as for the residences,
for the residences, the
the less
less ,ve
we think
about them
about thell1 the
the better."
better." so II deterlllined
And so determined

to trouble
to trouble my thoughts
thoughts no further
further ,vith the
with the

college.
coUesje. And II felt
felt that
that there
there mii>ht
Blight be
be some
sonle
consolation to
consolation to me in going away
in going a way to
to England,
England,
so that II might
so that Iuight escape
escape from
froll1 the
the great
great vexation
vexation
eyesore which
and eyesore ,vhich the
the empty
enlpty college
college would
,vouId
produce~.
have produced.
have
But II had to
to bid
bid farewell to my
farewell to Illy wife
,vife and
and
my
Illy son,
son, and to
to Eva and Crasweller.
Crasweller. first
The first
task would
task ,vouId be
be the
the easier,
easier, because
because there
there would
,yould
necessity
be no necessity for
for painful allusion
any painful allusion to
to my
1l1y
 faeewell!
FARKWELL! 139

own ,Yant
want of
of success.
success. In w^iat
\vhat little
little I nlight
I might

say to lVII's
say to Neverbend on the
Mrs Neverbend the subject, I could
subject, I

continue that
continue that tone
tone of
of sarcastic
sarcastic triumph in \vhich
in which

II had replied
replied to
to Sir
Sir Ferdinando. 'V hat 'vas
What w^as

pathetic in
pathetic in the
the Inatter
matter II might
nlight altogether
altogether

Ignore.
ignore. And Jack was himself
hinlself so
so happy in his
in his

nature, and so
nature, so little
little likely to look
likely to look at
at anything

on its
its sOlTo\vful
sorrowful side, that all
side, that all 'would
would surely go
surely go

,veIl
well ,vith
with him.
him. But ,vith
with Eva,
Eva, and with
,vith Eva's
Eva's
father,
father, things
things ,vould be different.
would be different. 'Vords
Words must
be
be spoken ,vhich
which ,vould be painful
would be painful in the
in the

speaking,
speaking, and regrets
regrets lllUSt
must bebe uttered
uttered by me
nle
hich could
which
\y could not
not certainly
certainly be
be shared
shared by hiln.
him.

"" II anl broken down and trampled

am broken tranlpled iipon,
upon, and
all
all the
the glory
glory is
is departed from my
departed fronl nly name,
name, and
II have become
becollle aa byword and aa reproach
reproach rather
rather
than aa term of
of honour in
in 'v hich future
which future ages
aires

lllay
may reJOIce, because II have been unable to
rejoice, because to
carry
carry out my long-cherished purpose by
out Illy by-de-
de- —
positing
positing you,
you, and insuring at
at least de-
least your de-

partul~e
parture ! ""
!
And then
then Orasweller
Crasweller ,voulc1
would answer
1ne
me ,,~ith his
with his general kindly feeling,
general kindly feeling, and I
I
 !

140 THE FIXED PERIOD.

should feel
feel at
at the
the moment of my leaving
of Iny leaving hiln
him
the
the hollo\vness
hollowness of
of his
his \vords.
words. loved hin1
II had loved him
the
the better
better because
because II had endeavoured to
to conl-
com-
mence my experilnent
experiment on his
his body.
body. II had felt
felt

a vicarious
vicarious regard
regard for the honour \v
for the hich would
which
have been
been done him,
him, almost
almost regarding
regarding it
it as
as

though II n1yself to go
myself were to go in
in his
his place.
place. All
this
this had received
received a
a check when
Vv hen he in
in his
his

weakness had pleaded for

for another year.
year. But
he had yielded
yielded; and though he
; he had yielded
yielded
without fortitude, he had done so
fortitude, he so to
to con1ply
comply
\vith
with my wishes,
\vishes, and II could
could not but feel
not but for
feel for

the man an extraordinary

extraordinary affection.
affection. I
I \vas
was
going to
going to England, and might
nlight probably
probably never
never
see
see again; and II was
him again ; \vas going
going with
\vith aspira-
aspira-
tions in
tions in my heart
lUY heart so very different
so very different from
froll1 those
those
\vhich he
which he entertained
entertained!
Froln the
From the hours
hours intended
intended for
for slumber,
slulnber, aa few
few
could be
minutes could be taken
taken for
for saying
saying adieu
adieu to
to my
\vife.
wife. "My
"~Iy dear,"
dear," said
said I,
I, "this
"this is
is all
all very
very
sudden.
sudden. But aa man
Bat luan engaged
engaged in
in public
public life
life has
has
to
to fit himself
fit hinlself to
to the
the public
public demands. Had II
 FAREWELL
FAREWELL! ! 141
141

not promised
not promised to
to go
go to-day,
to-day, II might
nlight have
have been
been
taken away yesterday
taken yesterday or
or the
the day
day before."
before."
" Oh,
" Oh, John,"
John," said
said she,
she, ""II think that
think that every-
every-
thing has
thing has been
been put
put up to
t.o cOlufort-
make you comfort-
able."
able."

" Thanks; yes,

"Thanks; yes, I'm sure of
I'ln sure of it.
it. vVhen you
When
hear
hear nanle mentioned
my name mentioned after
after II am gone,
gone, II
hope that
hope that they'll
they'll say
say of
of me that did my
that II did nly duty
as President
as President of
of the
the republic."
republic."
"
H Of course
course they
they will.
will. have
Every day you have
been
been at these
at these nasty
nasty executive
executive chambers fronl
from

nine
nine till five,
till five, unless
unless when you've
you've been
been sitting
sitting
in that
in that ,vretched Assembly."
wretched Assembly."

"I shall have aa holiday

shall have holiday now,
no\v, at
at any rate,"
rate,"
said
said I,
I, laughing
laughing gently under the
gently under the bedclothes.
bedclothes.
"Yes;
" Yes and II anI
; am sure
sure it will do you good,
it will good,

if
if you only take your meals regular.
take your regular. I some-
I

times think that

tilnes that you have been encouraged to
to

d,vell
dwell upon this
this horrid
horrid Fixed Period
Period by the
the

luelancholy
melancholy of
of an enlpty
empty stomach."
stomach."

It
It ,vas
was sad
sad to
to hear
hear such
such ,vords
words from her
her lips
lips

after
after the
the two speeches
speeches to
to ,vhich
which she
she had lis-
lis-
142
142 THE FIXED PERIOD.

ten ed, and to

tened, to feel
feel that
that no
no trace
trace been left
had been left
on her
on her mind
nlind of
of the
the triumph ,vhich II had
triulnph which
achieved over
achieved over Sir
Sir Ferdinando but II put
Ferdinando; but put up
;

,vith
with that,
that, and determined
and deternlined to
to answer
ans'wer her
her after
after
her
her heart:
own heart. "You
" ahvays provided
You have always provided
a sandwich
a sandwich for
for to take
me to take to
to the
the chambers."
chanlbers."
"Sandwiches
" are nothinc^.
Sandwiches are nothing. Do remember
that.
that. your time
At your time of
of life
life you should
should always
ahvays
have something warm,
have —
'varm,-aa frizzle
frizzle or
or aa cutlet,
cutlet,
and you shouldn't
and shouldn't eat
eat it
it without
,vithout thinking
thinking of
of
it.
it. 'Vhat has
What has made me hate
hate the
the Fixed
Fixed. Period
Period
,vorse than anything
worse than anything is,
is, that
that you have
have never
never
thought of
thought victuals.
of your victuals. gave more
You gave
attention to
attention to the
the burning of these pigs
of these pigs than
than to
to
the
the cooking
cooking of
of any food
food in
in your own kitchen."
kitchen."
" Well, my dear,
"'VeIl, dear, I'm going to
to England now,"
now,"
said I,
said beginning to
I, beginning to feel
feel weary of her reminis-
of her reminis-
cences.
cences.

dear, II kno'
Yes, my dear,
""Yes, w you are;
know are; and do

remeInber
remember that
that as
as you get
get nearer
nearer and nearer

to
to that
that chilly
chilly country the weather will
will always

be colder
be colder and colder.
colder. II have put you up four
 FAREWELL
FARE\YELL! ! 143

pairs of
pairs of flannel
flannel drawers,
drawers, and aa little bag which
little bag

you must \vear

wear upon your chest.
chest. II observed
observed

that Sir
that Sir Ferdinando,
Ferdinando, \yhen he was preparing
when preparing
himself for his
himself for his speech,
speech, sho\ved that he
showed that he had just
just
such aa little bag on.
little bac^ on. And all the time
all the time II
endeavoured to
endeavoured to spy
spy ho\v
how it \vas that
it was that he
he wore
\vore
it.
it. "\Vhen
When II came home II immediately went
to \vork,
to work, and II shall
shall insist
insist on your putting it
your putting it

on the
on the first
first thing
thing in the morning, in
in the in order that
order that

II may see
see that
that it
it sits
sits fiat.
flat. Sir Ferdinando's
Sir Ferdinando's

did
did not
not sit
sit fiat,
flat, and it
it looked bulgy.
bulgy. I thought
I thought
to myself that
to that Lady Brown did not do her
did not her duty
properly by him. If
If you would allo\v
allow n1e to
me to
conle
come \vith
with you,
you, II could see that you ahvays
see that always

put it
it on rightly.
rightly. As it
it is,
is, I that people
I know that people
\vill say that
will that it
it is
is ~ll
all my fault
fault when it hangs
it hangs

out and sho\vs

out shows itself."
itself." Then I1 \vent to sleep,
went to sleep,

and the parting words

the parting \vords between
bet\veen me and my
w'ife
wife had been
been spoken.
spoken.

Early on the following morning II had .J

the following ack
Jack
into
into my dressing-room,
li1y dressing-room, and said
said good-bye to
to
him.
him. ""Jack,"
Jack," said
said I,
I, "in this
this little
little contest
contest
l-i4
14i THE FIXED PERIOD.

,yhich there has

which there has been
been between
between us,
us, you have
have
got
got the better in
the better in everything."
everything."

thought so
"" Nobody thought so ,y hen they
when they heard
heard your
your
ans,ver to
answer to Sir
Sir Ferdinando last night."
last night."

"\Vell, yes; II think

" Well, yes think II managed
; Inanaged to
to answer
answer
hilU.
him. But II haven't
haven't got the better
got the of you."
better of you."
"1I didn't
cc didn't mean anything,"
anything," said Jack, in
said Jack, in aa
Inelancholy tone
melancholy tone of
of voice.
voice. "It
" It ,vas
was all Eva's
all Eva's

doing.
doing. II never
never cared whether the
cared twopence whether the
old fellows
old fellows 'v ere deposited or
were or not, but II do
not, but do
think that
think that if your
if your own time
tinle had come
conle near,
near, II
shouldn't liked it
shouldn't have liked much."
it much."

" Why not

"'Yhy not?? 'vhy
why not?
not ? If
If you ,vill only
will only

think
think of the Inatter
of the matter all
all round, will find
round, you will find

that
that it
it is
is all
all a
a false
false sentin1ent."
sentiment."

"I
" I should not like
should not like it,"
it," said Jack, ,vith
said Jack, deter-
with deter-

lllination.
mination.

Yes, you ,yould,

" Yes,
(C would, after got used
after you had got used to
to
it."
it." Here he
he looked very
very incredulous.
incredulous. "'Vhat
"What
II mean
Inean is,
is, Jack, that when sons
Jack, that sons ,vere accus-
were accus-

tOlned
tomed to
to see their fathers
see their fathers deposited
deposited at a cer-
at a cer-
tain age,
tain and ,vere
age, and a,\yare that
were aware that they
they ,vere treated
were treated
 "

FAEEWELL !
FARE\YELL ! 145
145

\vith
with every
every respect,
respect, that
that kind of
of feeling
feeling which

you describe
describe would wear off.
off. You would have
tthe
he idea
idea that
that a
a kind of
of honour ,vas
was done to
to

your parents."
parents."

" When II knew that somebody was going to

"'''"hen to

kill him on the

kill hinl the next day,
day, ho,v
how would it
it be
be

then ~? "
"" You might retire
retire for
for a fe\v hours to
few hours to your

thoughts, —
going into
thoughts,-going as it
into mourning, as it were.
were.""
Jack shook his head.
his head. "But,
"But, at rate, in
at any rate, in
this
this matter of
of Mr Crasweller you have
have got the
got the

better
better of
of me."

"" That ,vas

was for
for Eva's sake."
sake."
" II suppose so.
" so. But II wish to
to make
nlake you un-
un-
derstand,
derstand, that II am going
now that to England,
going to England, and
may possibly
possibly never
never return
return to
to these
these shores
shores
aaain--"
ag[ain-
i'::)

" Don't say

" say that,
that, father."
father."
*'
'Vell, yes
" Well, yes; II shall
;shall have much to
to do
do there,
there,
of course
and of course it
it may be
be that
that II shall
shall not
not come
conle
back, and II wish
back, ,vish you to
to understand
understand that
that II do
do
not part
not part from you in
in the
the least
least in
in anger.
anger. 'Vhat
What
II.
VOL. II. K
146
146 THE FIXED PERIOD.

you have
have done shows aa high
high spirit,
spirit, and great
great
devotion to the
devotion to the girl."
girl."

"It \vas not

" It was not quite
quite altogether
altogether for
for Eva either."
either."

"\Vhat then 1" II demanded.

"What then?''
"\Vell,
" Well, I
I don't
don't know. The two things
things went
together, as
together, as it \vere.
it were. If there had been no
If there

question
question about the Fixed Period,
about the Period, II do
do think
think II .
could have
have cut
cut out
out .Abraham
.t\..braham Grundle. as
Grundle. And as

for Sir
for Sir Kennington Oval,
Oval, II am beginning to
to
believe that that
believe that that \vas all
was all Eva's pretence.
Eva's pretence. I like
I like
Sir Kennington, but
Sir ICennington, but Eva never
never cared a button
cared a button
for him.
for him. taken to
She had taken to me because
because II had

sho\vn
shown myself an anti-Fixed-Period
anti- Fixed -Period man. I
I

did it
did it at
at first
first silnply because II hated
simply because hated Grundle.
Grundle.
Grundle wanted
Grundle \vallted to fix-period
to fix-period old
old Crasweller

for the sake

for the sake of the property;
of the property; and therefore
therefore II
belonged naturally
belonged to the
naturally to the other
other side.
side. It wasn't
It wasn't

that
that II liked
liked opposing you.
you. If it had been
If it been
Tallowax that
Tallow'ax \vere to
that you were to begin
begin with,
with, or
or
Exors, burnt 'em
Exors, you might have burnt \vithout
'em up without

aa ,vord
word from me."
me."
"I
" I am gratified at hearing
gratified at hearing that."
that."
 "

FAKE WELL ! 147

147

" Thouoli
" Though the
the Fixed Period
Fixed Period does
does seem to
to be
be
horrible, II
horrible, ,vould have
would have swallowed
swallowed all
all that
that at
at
your bidding.
your bidding. you can
But you can see
see how II tumbled
into
into it, and
it, and how Eva egged
egged me on,
on, and
aud how the
the
nearer the
nearer the thing
thing came
can1e the
the more II was bound to
to
fight.
light. Will you believe
Will believe it ? —
it ?-Eva swore aa most
Eva swore
solemn oath,
solemn oath, that
that if her
if her father
father was put
put into
into
that college
that college she
she would
,vould never
never marry aa human
being.
being. to that
And up to that moment when
\vhen the
the lieu-
lieu-
tenant met us
tenant us at
at the
the top
top of
of the
the hill, she
hill, she was
,vas
ahvays as
always as cold
cold as
as snow."
snow."
"" And now the
the snow is
is melted
n1elted ? " ?

"Yes, —
cc Yes,-that
that is to say,
is to say, it
it is beginning to
is beginning to
tha,v
thaw !""
!
As he said this II remembered the
said this the
kiss behind the
kiss behind the parlour-door
parlour-door which had
bad been
been
given
given to
to her another suitor
her by another before these
suitor before these

troubles
troubles began,
began, and my inlpression that Jack
impression that

had seen
seen it
it also;
also but on that
but ; that subject
subject II said
said

nothing.
nothing. "Of
" Of course
course it
it has
has all
all been very

happy for
for me," Jack continued;
continued "but
" but I
I wish;

to
to say
say to
to you before go, how unhappy it
before you go, it

makes me to
to think that
that II have opposed you."
 "

148
148 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"All
" rio-ht
All right,
b' Jack·, all
Jack all right.
; rio-ht
b· I will
I will not
not say
sav
.J

that II should
that should not
not have
have done the
the sanle at
same at your
your
age, if
age, if had asked
Eva had asked me.
me. I
I ,vish you always
wish ahvays
to
to relnem ber that
remember that w^e
,ve parted
parted as
as friends.
friends. It
It

,vill not
will not be
be long
long before
before are married
you are nlarried now\"
110'V."

"Three
" months," said
Three months," said Jack,
Jack, in
in aa melancholy
tone.
tone.

"
" In an
In affair of importance
affair of importance of
of this
this kind,
kind, that
that
is the
is the same
sanle as
as to-mori'ow.
to-morro·w. I shall
I not be
shall not be here
here
to
to wish joy at
,vish you joy at your
your wedding."
,vedding."
" Why are
"'Vhy are you to
to go
go if
if you don't
don't wish it
it?? "
"I promised that
" I promised that II would go
go when
'v hen Captain
Battleax talked of
Battleax talked of carrying
carrying llle off the
me off the day
before
before yesterday.
yesterday. 'Vith
With aa hundred soldiers,
soldiers,

no doubt he
he could
could get nle on board."
get me board."
"There
" There are
are a
a great nlore than
great many more than aa hun-
hun-
dred nlen in
dred men in Britannula as
as good as their sol-
as their sol-

diers.
diers. To take
take aa luan
man a,vay
away by force}
force, and he

the
the President
President of
of the
the republic!
republic ! Such aa thing
,vas
was never
never heard
heard of.
of. II ,vould not stir
would not stir if
if I
I were

you.
you. Say the
the ,vord
word to
to llle,
me, and II ,vill
will undertake

that
that not
not one of
of these
these lHen
men shall
shall touch you."
you."
 FAREWELL
FARE\VELL!
!
UO
149

II thought
thought of
of his
his proposition
proposition; ; and the
and the more
more
II thought of
thought of it, the more
it, the more unreasonable
unreasonable itit did
did
appear that
appear that I, who
I, \vho had
had committed
committed no
no offence
offence
against
against any law,
any law, should
should be
be forced
forced on
on board
board the
the
.John Bright.
John Bright. And II had
And had no
no doubt
doubt that
that Jack
Jack
\vould be
would be as
as good
good as
as his
his word.
word. But there
But there were
\vere
two causes
two causes which
which persuaded
persuaded me
nle that
that II had
had bet-
bet-
ter go.
ter go. I
I had pledged my word.
had pledged \vord. When
"\Vhen it
it had
had
been suggested
been suggested that
that II should
should at the
at the be
moment be
carried
carried on —
board,-\vhich
on board, then
which might no doubt then
have been done
have been by the
done by the soldiers,-I
soldiers, I had said —
that
that if
if a
a certain
certain time
time ,vere
were allo,ved
allowed me II ,vould
would

again
again be
be found
found in
in the
the same place.
place. If
If II were
were

sinlply
simply there,
there, and were surrounded by a cro,vcl
crowd

of
of Britannulans
Britannulans ready
ready to
to fight
fight for
for me, II should

hardly
hardly have
have kept
kept my promise.
promise. But a stronger
reason than
reason than this
this perhaps
perhaps actuated
actuated me. It
It

,vonld
would be
be better
better for
for me for
for a
a while to
to be
be In
in

England
England than
than in
in Britannula.
Britannula. Here
Here in
in Bri-
Bri-

tannula
tannula II should
should be
be the
the ex-President of an
ex -President of an

abolished
abolished republic,
republic, and
and as
as such
such subject
subject to
to the
the

notice
notice of
of all
all men;
men whereas
whereas in
in England
; England II
150 THE FIXED PERIOD.

should be
should be nobody,
nobody, and should
should escape the con-
escape the con-
stant mortification of
stant mortification of seeing
seeing Sir
Sir Ferdinando
"V

Bro\vn.
Brown. And then in England II could
then in could do
do
more for the Fixed Period
for the Period than
than at
at honle in
home in
Britannula.
Britannula. Here the
the battle
battle was over, and II
was over,
had been
been beaten.
beaten. II began
began to
to perceive
perceive that
that
the place \vas
the place too small
was too small for the pri-
for making the pri-
mary efforts
efforts in
in so
so great
great a
a cause.
cause. very
The very
facility
facility \vhich
which had existed
existed for the passing
for the passing of
of
the
the la\v
law through the Asselubly had made it
the Assembly it

impossible
impossible for us to
for us to carry
carry out the law;
out the la\v; and
therefore, \vith the
therefore, with the sense
sense of
of failure
failure strong
strong upon

me, II should
111e, be better
should be better elsewhere than at
elsewhere than honle.
at home.

And the
the desire
desire of publishing aa book in
of publishing \vhich
in which

II should declare my theory,

should declare —
theory,-this very book
this very

\v hich II have
which have so nearly brought
so nearly brought to
to aa close,
close,
—
-nlade
made me desire to go.
desire to go. What could II do
'Vhat do
publishing anything in
by publishing Britannula??
in Britannula And
though the manuscript Inight
the manuscript have been
might have been sent
sent

home, who would see

see it through the
it through the press
press with
\vith
any chance of
of success?
success ? Now have my
N o\V II have nly hopes,
hopes,
which II o\vn
own seeln high, and II shall
seem high, be able
shall be able
 FAREWELL ! ! 151
151

to
to watch from day to
to day the
the way In
in which

my arguments in
nly in favour
favour of
of the
the Fixed Period
Period

are
are received
received by the
the British
British public.
public. Therefore
it
it was that rejected .J
that II rejected ack's kind offer.
Jack's offer. "" No,
my boy,"
boy," said
said I,
I, after
after a
a pause,
pause, "
" I
I do not
not kno,v
know
but that
that on the
the whole II shall
shall prefer
prefer to
to go."
go."

"Of
" Of course
course if
if you wish it."
it."

I shall be taken there

" I shall
cc there at
at the
the expense
expense of
of the
the

British
British public, is in
public, which is in itself
itself a triumph, and
a triumph,

shall, I preSUlue,
shall, I presume, be sent
sent back in the same 'vay.
in the way.

If
If not,
not, I
I shall
shall have a
a grievance
grievance in their parsi-
in their parsi-

mony, which in
in itself will be
itself will be aa comfort to
to me;
me ;

and II am sure
sure that
that II shall
shall be
be treated
treated 'well
well on

board.
board. Sir
Sir Ferdinando with
with his
his eloquence
eloquence will
will
not be
not be there,
there, and the
the officers
officers are, all of them,
are, all of them,
good fellows.
fellows. I have
I made up my mind,
mind, and II
,yill go.
will go. The next
next that
that you will
will hear
hear of
of your
your
father will
father will be
be the
the publication
publication of
of aa little
little book
book
that II shall
that shall write
,vrite on the
the journey,
journey, advocating
advocating
the Fixed Period.
the Period. matter has
The matter has never
never been
explained to
explained in England,
to them in England, and perhaps
perhaps my
words prevail." Jack,
may prevail." Jack, by shaking
shaking his
his head
152 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.

mournfully, seemed to
to indicate
indicate his
his idea
idea that
that

this would not be the

this the case;
case but Jack is
; is reso-
reso-

lute,
lute, and \vill
will never
never yield
yield on
on any point.
point. Had
he been in
in my place,
place, and had entertained
entertained n1y
my
convictions,
convictions, II believe
believe that
that he ,vould
would have
have de-
de-

Crasweller in
posited Cras\veller in spite
spite of
of Sir
Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando

Bro\vn
Brown and Captain Battleax.
Battleax. "
" You \vill
will come

and see
see me on board,
board, Jack,
Jack, when II start."
start."
"
"They \von't
won't take
take me off,
off, will
will they?
they ? "

"I
" I should have thought
thought you ,vould
would have
have

liked to
liked to have seen
seen England."

"And leave Eva!

" And leave Eva ! They'd have
have to
to look
look very
very
sharp before
sharp they could
before they could do
do that.
that. of course
But of course
I'll come."
I'll come." Then II gave
gave him my blessing,
blessing, told
told
hinl what
him \vhat arrangements
arrangements II had made for
for his
his in-
in-
come, and went
come, ,vent down to
to my breakfast,
breakfast, which
\vhich
was to be my last
to be in Britannula.
last meal in Britannula.
When
'Vhen that
that was over,
over, II was
\vas told
told that
that Eva
was in my study
\vas in study waiting
\vaiting to
to see
see me.
nle. I
I had
had
intended to
intended to have gone
gone out
out to
to Little
Little Christ-
Christ-
church, and should
church, should still do so,
still do so, to
to bid
bid farewell
fare\vell
to her
to ber father.
father. But II was
But ,vas not
not sorry
sorry to
to have
have
 FAKE WELL !
FARE\VELL ! 153
153

Eva here in
in my own house,
house, as
as she
she 'was
was about
about to
to

become my daughter-in-law.
daughter-in-law. "Eva
" Eva has
has come

to
to bid you good-bye,"
good-bye," said
said Jack,
Jack, ,vho
who ,vas
was
already in
already in the as II entered
the room, as entered it.
it.

my dear,"
"Eva, nly dear," said
said I.
I.

"I'll
" I'll leave
leave you,"
you," said
said J ac k.
Jack. "" But I've
I've told
told

her
her that
that she
she must be very fond of
of you.
you. By-
gones have to
to be bygones, - particularly —
particularly as
as

no harm has been done."

done." Then he
he left the
left the

room.
She still
still had on the little hat, but
little round hat, but as
as

Jack ,vent
Jack went she
she laid
laid it
it aside.
aside. "Oh,
" Oh, l\1r
Mr Never-
bend," said, "I
bend," she said, do not
" I hope you do not think
think that
that
I
I been unkind."
have been unkind."
"It is I,
" It is I, my dear,
dear, who should
should express
express that
that
hope."
hope."

"I
" I have always known
kno,vn how well
well you have
have
loved
loved my dear
dear father.
father. I
I have been quite
have quite sure
sure
of
of it.
it. And he has
has always said
said so.
so. But--""
But
" Well,
" Well, Eva, it
it is
is all
all over
over now."
now."
"Oh
" yes, and II am so
Oh yes, so happy
happy! ! I
I have got
have got
to tell
to tell you how happy II am."
am."
154
154 THE FIXED PERIOD.

" II
" hope you love
hope love Jack."
Jack."
" Oh !"" she
" !she exclaimed,
exclaiIlled, and in
in aa moment she
she
,vas in
was in my
Illy arms and II was
arms and ,vas kissing
kissing her.
her. " If you
" If

knew ho\v II hate

kne,v how hate that
that Mr
1\1r Grundle
Grundle; and Jack
Jack ;

is all,
is all,-all —
that he ought to
all that to be.
be. of the
One of the
things that makes
things that like him best
me like best is
is his
his great
great
affection for
affection for you.
you. There
There is nothing
is nothing that
that he
he
,vould not
would do for
not do for you."
you."
"He is aa ' very
" He is very good
good young man,"
man," said
said I,
I,
thinking of
thinking of the
the manner in
in which
'v hich he
he had spoken
spoken
against
against TIle the Town Flags.
me on the Flags.
"" Nothing
Nothing!"" said
said Eva.
!
Eva.
"A.nd nothing that
" And nothing that he
he would
,vould not
not do for
for you,
you,
nly dear.
my dear. But that
that is
is all
all as
as it
it should be.
be. He
is
is a high-spirited, good boy
a high-spirited, boy; and if
if he 'will
will
;

think
think a
a little
little more of the business
of the business and aa little
little
less of cricket,
less of he ,vill
cricket, he nlake an excellent
will make excellent

husband."
husband."

"Of
" Of course
course he had to
to think a
a little
little of
of the
the

lnatch the Englishmen 'were

match when the were here;
here and he ;

did play 'w

did play ell , did
well, did he not?
not ? He beat
beat them all
all

there."
there." II could perceive that
could perceive that Eva \vas
was quite
quite as
as
 " " "

FAREWELL I 155
155

intent
intent upon cricket
cricket as ,vas her
as was her lover,
lover, and
and prob-
prob-
ably
ably thought just as
thought just as little
little about the business.
about the business.
"" But, Mr N
But, 1\1:1' everbend, must you really
Neverbend, really go
go 1
? "

"II think
cc think so.
so. It
It is
is not
not only that they
only that they are
aTe
detennined
determined to
to take me, but that
take me, that II am myself
myself
anxious to
anxious be in
to be in England."

''You wish to-to

"You to — preach the
to preach the Fixed PeTiod 1"
Period?"

"'V ell, my dear,

" Well, dear, I have got
I have my o,vn
got nly notions,
own notions,
which at
,vhich at my time of
of life
life I
I cannot
cannot lay
lay aside.
aside. II
shall
shall endeavour to
to ventilate
ventilate them in
in England,
England,

and see
see what the people there
the people there may say
say about
about

thenl."
them."

"" You are not angry ,vith

are not nle 1? "
with me
" My child,
"11y child, how could
could II be
be angry ,vith you??
with you

'Vhat you did,

What did, you did
did for your father's
for your father's sake."
sake."

"And papa?
papa 1 You 'v ill not
will be angry ,vith
not be with

pa pa because
papa because he
he didn't
didn't ,vant
want to give
to give up Little
Little

Christchurch, and to
to leave the pretty
leave the pretty place
place
,vhich
which he has made himself, to go
himself, and to go into the
into the

college, —
college,-and be killed
and be killed ! "!

II could not
not quite
quite answer
answer her
her at the llloment,
at the moment,
because in
in truth
truth II ,vas
was SOlnew hat angry
somewhat angry ,vith
with
 ;

156
156 THE FIXED PERIOD.

him. II thought
thought that
that he
he should have under-
should have under-
stood that
stood there was something higher
that there higher to
to be
be
achieved than an extra
achieved than year or
extra year t,vo
or two anlong the
among the
prettinesses
prettinesses of
of Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch. I could
I could
not but be
not but be grieved because he
grieved because he had proved
proved hinl-
him-

self to be
self to be less
less of
of a than II had expected.
a man than expected.
But as
as II remained
remained silent
silent for
for a
a fe,v
few moments,

held my hand in
Eva held hers, and looked
in hers, looked up into
into
my face ,vith beseeching
face with beseeching eyes.
eyes. nly anger
Then my anger
went, that II had no
\vent, and II remembered that no reason
reason
to
to expect heroislll from Crasweller,
expect heroism Crasweller, simply be-
be-
cause
cause he been my friend.
he had been friend. No, dear,
"" No, dear, no ;
all
all feeling
feeling of
of anger is at
anger is at an end.
end. It
It ,vas
was
natural that
natural that he should wish
wish to
to remain
relllain at Little
at Little

Christchurch;
Christchurch and it
;it ,vas better than
was better than natural,
natural,
it
it was beautiful,
beautiful, that
that you should
should ,vish to save
wish to save

the use
him by the use of the only feminine
of the feminine ,veapon at
weapon at
your command."

"" Oh, but

but II did
did love Jack," she
love Jack," she said.
said.

"I
" I have still
still an hour or t\VO before
or two before II depart,
depart,
and II shall to Little
shall run down to Little Christchurch to
Christchurch to

take your father the hand once

father by the once nlore.
more. You

\
 FAREWELL 1
FARE\VELL ! 157
157

may be
be sure
sure that·w hat II shall
that what shall say
say to
to hiln
him will
will

not be
be ill-natured.
ill-natured. And now good-bye,
good-bye, my

darling
darling child.
child. ~fy time here in
My in Britannula is
is

but
but short,
short, and II cannot give
give up more of
of it
it even

to
to nly
my chosen
chosen daughter."
daughter." Then again she kissed

n1e, and putting

me, putting on her little
little hat,
hat, went away to
to

Mrs N — or toto Jack.

everbend,-or
Neverbend, Jack.

It
It 'was
was no,v
now nearly ten o'clock,
nearly ten o'clock, and II had

out my tricycle
out tricycle in
in order to
to go do,vn
down as quickly
as quickly

as
as possible
possible to
to Little
Little Christchurch. the
At the
door of
of my house II found aa dozen of
of the
the Eng-
,lish
lish soldiers
soldiers with a
a sergeant.
sergeant. touched his
He touched his

hat,
hat, asked me very
and asked very civilly
civilly where II was

gOIng.
going. When II told that it
told him that it ,vas but five
was but five
or six
or miles out
six miles out of
of town,
town, he requested
requested my per-
per-
ll1ission to
mission ~ne.
to accompany me. II told
told him that
that he
he
certainly if he
certainly might if had aa vehicle
vehicle ready,
ready, and
and
to use
was ready to use it.
it. as at
But as at that
that moment
my
nly luggage
luggage was brought out
out of
of the
the house
house
,vith the
with the view of
of being
being taken
taken on board
board ship,
ship,
the
the nlan thought that
man that it
it would be
be as
as well
,yell and
and
lnnch easier
much easier to
to follow
follo,v the
the luo^^ragre
luggage; and the
; the
158
158 THE
THE FIXED
:F IXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

twelve soldiers
twelve soldiers marched
Inarched off to see my portman-
off to see portnlan-
teaus put safely
teaus put safely on
on board
board the
the Bright.
John Bright.
And II was again, —
and II could
again,-and could not
not but
but say
say
to myself,
to myself, probably
probably for
for the
the last tilne,-once
last time, once —
again on
aofainon the
the road
road to
to Little
Little Christchurch.
Christchurch.
During the
the twenty minutes
nlinutes which
,vhich were
were taken
taken
in going
in going down there, II could
do,vn there, could not
not but
but think
think of
of
the ,valks II had
the w^alks had had
bad up and do,vn with
down with Cras-
Cras-
weller in old
,veller in old times,.
times,. talking
talking as
as ,ve went
we ,vent of
of the
the
glories of
glories of aa Fixed Period,
Fixed Period, and of
of the
the absolute
absolute
need which
need the human race
,vhich the race had for
for a step
such a step
in
in civilisation.
civilisation. Probably on such occasions
Probably occasions
the majority of
the majority the words spoken had come
of the conle
from
from my o,vn
own mouth; but it
mouth but
; it had seemed to
to me
nle
then
then that
that Crasweller
Crasweller had been as
as energetic as
as

myself.
myself The period
period 'v hich ,ve
which we had then con-
templated
templated at
at a
a distance
distance had conle
come round, and
Crasweller
Crasweller had seceded 'v 0 fully.
woefully. II could not
but
but feel
feel that
that had he been stanch to
to nle,
me, and

allowed
allowed hilllself
himself toto be deposited
deposited not on]y
only will-
will-

ingly
ingly but
but joyfully,
joyfully, he ,vould
would have set
set an ex-
ex-

anlple
ample ,vhich
which could
could not
not but have been effica-
efifica-
 "

FAREWELL
FARE\VELL! ! 159
159

CIOUS.
cious. Barnes and Tallowax would probably
probably
have followed
followed as
as a
a matter
matter of
of course,
course, and the
the
thing
thing would have
have been
been done.
done. My name 'would
would
have gone down to
to posterity
posterity ,vith those of
with those of
Columbus and Galileo,
Galileo, and Britannula
Britannula would
have been
have noted as
been noted the most
as the most prominent among
the
the nations of the
nations of the earth,
earth, instead
instead of having be-
of having be-

by-"word among countries

come aa by-word countries as
as a
a deprived
deprived

republic
republic and reannexed
reannexed Crown colony.
colony. But
all
all that
that on the present occasion
the present to be
occasion had to be for-
for-

gotten, and II was to

gotten, to greet
greet myoId
my old friend
friend ,vith
with

true
true affection, as though II had
affection, as had received
received from
his
his hands no such ruthless
ruthless ruin
ruin of all my
of all

hopes.
hopes.

"" Oh, Mr President," he said,

President," he said, as
as he met me

coming up the
the drive towards the
drive towards the house,
house, "this
" this

is
is kind of
of you.
you. And you ,vho
who must be so
so busy

just before
just before your departure!"
departure 1

"" II could
could not
not go
go ,vithout
without aa word of fare,vell to
of farewell to
you." II had not
. you." not spoken with
with him since
since we had

parted on
parted on the
the top
top of the hill
of the hill on our
our ,yay
way out to
to
the
the college,
college, 'v hen the
when the horses
horses had been
been taken
taken
160
160 THE FIXED
FIX ED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

from the
from the carriage,
carriage, and he
and he had walked
walked back to
to

life and
life and Little
Little Christchurch
Christchurch instead
instead of
of making
his
his to his
way to his last
last home,
honle, and to
to find
find deposition
deposition
,vith
with all the glory
all the glory of
of aa great
great name.
name.
"It is very
" It isvery kind
kind of
of you.
you. Conle in.
Come In. is
Eva is
not at home."
not at home."
have just
"I have just parted
parted with
,vith her
her at
at my own
house.
house. So she
So she and Jack
Jack are
are to
to Inake aa match
make
of
of it.
it. I
I need not
need not tell you how
tell ho\v more than
than con-
con-
tented II shall
tented shall be that
be that my son
son should
should have
have such
such
a ,vife.
a wife. Eva to
to me has
has been
been always
always dear,
dear, almost
almost
as aa daughter.
as daughter. N o,v she
Now she is like my own
is like o,vn child."
child."
"I
" I am sure that II can
sure that can say the same of
say the of Jack."
Jack."
"" Yes ; Jack is
; is a
a good lad too.
lad too. II hope he
,vill
will stick to the
stick to the business."
business."
"He
" He need not trouble
need not hiInself about that.
trouble himself that.
\vill have
He will have Little
Little Christchurch and all that
all that

belongs
belongs to
to it
it as
as soon
soon as
as II aln
am gone.
gone. II had made

up nly
my mind only ttoo allo,v
allow Eva an incorne
income out

of
of it
it ,vhile
while she
she ,vas
was thinking of
of that
that fellow
fellow

Grundle.
Grundle. That man
nlan is
is a
a knave."

II could not but relllenlber

could not that Grundle had
remember that
 FAEEWELL
FAREWELL! ! 161
161

been aa Fixed-Periodist,
been Fixed-Periodist, and
and that
that it would not
it not
become me to
become to abuse
abuse him; and II was aware
that though
that though Crasweller
Crasweller was my sincere
sincere friend,
friend,
he had
he had come to
to entertain
entertain of
of late
late an absolute
absolute
hatred of
hatred of all those, beyond myself,
all those, myself, who had
advocated his
advocated his deposition.
own deposition.
" Jack,
" Jack, at
at any rate,
any rate, is
is happy,"
happy," said
said I, ""and
I, and
Eva.
Eva. and I,
You and I, Crasweller
Crasweller have
have had our
our
little troubles
little troubles to
to imbitter
imbitter the
the evenings
evenings of
of our
our
life."
life."

"You are yet

" You are yet in
in the
the full
full daylight."
daylight."
"My ambition
ambition has
has been
been disappointed.
disappointed. I
1

cannot conceal
cannot conceal the
the fact
fact from
from myself,
myself,-nor —
nor from

you.
you. It
It has
has come to
to pass
pass that
that during the
the last
last

year
year or
or two we have lived with different
have lived hopes.
different hopes.

And these
these hopes have been founded altogether
altogether

on the
the position
position which you might occupy."
occupy."

"I
" I should have gone mad up in
in that
that college,
college,

N everbend."
Neverbend."

"" II ,vould
would have been
been 'with
with you."
you."

"I
" I should
should have gone mad all
all the
the same.
same. II
should
should have comnlitted
committed suicide."
suicide."

VOL. II.
II. L
L
 "

16 2
162 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

"To
" save yourself
To save yourself from
from an honourable — de-
honourable-de-
position! "
position !

"The fixed
"The fixed day,
day, coming
coming at
at aa certain
certain known
kno\vn
hour; the
hour the feeling
feeling that
;
that it must come,
it come, though
it came
it came at
at the
the same time
time so
so slowly
slo\vly and yet
yet so
so
fast; every
fast; every day growing
day growing shorter
shorter day by day,
day,
and every
and every season
season month by month;
nlonth; the
the sight
sight
"
of these
of these chimneys-"
chimneys
"
" That was
That \vas aa mistake,
mistake, Crasweller
Cras\veller; that
that was
; \vas
a mistake.
a mistake. cremation should
The cremation should have been
elsewhere."
elsewhere."

"A man should

"A should have been an angel
angel to
to en-
en-
dure it, — or so
dure it,-or so much less than aa man.
less than I strug-
I strug-

gled,-for
gled, —
for your sake.
sake. Who else
'Vho \vould have
else would

struggled
struggled as
as II did
did to
to oblige
oblige a
a friend
friend in such

aa matter?"
matter?"

"I it — I know it."

" I know it-I it."

"But
" But life
life under such a
a \veight
weight became im-

possible
possible to
to me.
me. You do not know \vhat
what II
endured
endured even for
for the last
last year.
year. Believe me
that
that man is
is not
not so
so constituted
constituted as
as to
to be able to
to

make such
such efforts."
efforts."
 FAEEWELL ! 163

"He
" He 'would
would get
get used to
to it.
it. Mankind ,vould
would
get
get used to
to it."
it."

"The first
first man 'v ill never get
will get used to
to it.
it.

That college
college will
will become a
a madhouse. You
must think of
of some other
other mode of
of letting
letting them

pass
pass their
their last
last year.
year. Make them drunk, so
so

that
that they shall
shall not
not know ,vhat
what they
they are
are doing.
doing.

Drug them and make them senseless;

senseless or,
or, better
better
;

still,
still, come down upon them ,vith
with absolute
absolute

power,
power, and carry
carry them away to
to instant
instant death.
death.

Let the
the veil
veil of
of annihilation
annihilation fall
fall upon them

before they
before kno,v
know 'v here they
where they are.
are. The Fixed
Period, with
Period, with all
all its
its certainty, is
damnable certainty, is aa
mistake.
mistake. I
I tried
have tried it and II know it.
it it. When
'Vhen
. II look
look back
back at
at the
the last
last year,
year, which
,vhich was
,vas to
to be
be
the
the last, not of
last, not of my absolute
absolute life
life but
but of
of my true
true
existence, II shudder as
existence, as II think
think what II went
through.
through. I
I am astonished
astonished at
at the
the strength
strength of
of
my own in that
o,vn mind in that II did
did not
not go
go mad.
mad. No
,vould have made such
one would such an
an effort for you
effort for you as
as
I made.
I other
Those other determined to
men had determined to
rebel since
rebel since the
the feeling
feeling of
of the
the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period came
164
164 THE FIXED PERIOD.

near to them.
near to then1. It
It is
is impossible that human
impossible that hun1an
nature
nature should
should endure such a struggle
such a not
strus^ole and not

rebel.
rebel. II have
have been
been saved these English-
saved now by these English-
n1en, who have
men, %Yho have come here
here in their horror,
in their horror, and
have used
used their
their strength
strength to
to prevent the
the bar-
bar-
barity of
barity your benevolence.
of your benevolence. But II can hardly
hardly
keep myself quiet
quiet as
as I think of
I think the sufferings
of the sufferings

which II have
have endured during the last
during the last month."
month."
"But,
" But, Crasweller, assented."
Crasweller, you had assented."

"" True;
True II did
; did assent.
assent. But it
it ,vas
was before the
before the

feeling of
feeling of my fate
Illy fate had come near to me.
near to me. You
n1ay be strong
may be strong enough to
to bear
bear it.
it. There is
is

nothing so
so hard but
but that
that enthusiasnl will make
enthusiasm will Blake
it
it tolerable.
tolerable. But you
you ,vill hardly find
will hardly another
find another

,vho
who ,vill
will not
not succulnb.
succumb. Who would do
'Vho do more
n10re
for you than
for 3^ou than II have done?
done ? Who ,vould
'Vho l11ake
would make
a greater struggle?
struggle ? 'Vhat honester man
What honester IS
is

there whon1 you know in

there whom this conullunity
in this community ofof
ours?
ours ? And yet
yet even me you drove to
to be
be aa
liar.
liar. Think ho'\v
how strong
stronc^ must have
have been the
the
facts
facts against
against you ,vhen they have
when they have had this
this
effect.
effect. To have died
died at your behest
at your behest at the in-
at the in-
 ;

FAEEWELL
FAREWELL! ! 165
165

stant \vould have

stant would have been
been as nothing. Any danger,
as nothing. danger,

—
-any certainty, — would have
any immediate certainty,-would have been
been
child's-play; but to
child's-play; but to have
have gone up into that
into that

frightful
frightful college, and there
college, and there to
to have remained
through that
through year, \vhich
that year, which would have wasted
\vasted
itself so
itself so slowly,
slowly, and yet
yet so fast, — that would
so fast,-that

have
have required
required a heroism which, as
a heroism as II think,
think, no
Greek, no
Greek, no Roman, no Englishman ever pos-
Eoman, no pos-
5essed."
sessed."

Then he paused, and II ,vas

he paused, was a,vare that II had
aware that

overstayed
overstayed my tilne.
time. "Think
" Think of
of it," he con-
it," he con-

tinued;
tinued "think
" think of
; of it
it on board
board that
that vessel,
vessel, and
try
try to bring home to
to bring to yourself
yourself what
\vhat such aa
phase
phase of
of living
living ,vould mean." Then he
would mean." he grasped
grasped

me by the
the hand,
hand, and taking
taking me out,
out, put me
me'
upon my tricycle,
tricycle, and returned
returned into the house.
into the house.
As II went back to
to Gladstonopolis,
Gladstonopolis, II did
did

think of
of it,
it, and for
for a
a moment or t,vo my mind
or two

wavered. He had convinced me that

\vavered. that there
there was
w'as
something wrong
\vrong in the details
in the of my system;
details of system

but not, — when II came to

but not,-when to argue the
the matter
matter
\vith myself,—
with myself,-that
that the
the system itself
itself ,vas
was at
at
166
166 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

fault.
fault. But now at
But at the
the present
present moment II had
had
hardly time
hardly time for
for meditation.
meditation. II been sur-
had been sur-
prised at Crasweller's
prised at Crasweller's earnestness,
earnestness, and also
also at
at
his eloquence,
his eloquence, and II was
and ,vas in
in truth
truth more full of
full of

his
his words than
words than of
of his
his reasons.
reasons. But the
But the time
would soon
soon come when II should
should be
be able
able to
to de-
de-
vote tranquil
vote tranquil hours
hours to
to the
the consideration
consideration of
of the
the
points \v hich he
points which he raised.
had raised. long hours
The long hours
01 enforced idleness
of enforced idleness on
on board
board ship
ship suf-
would suf-
fice to enable
fice to enable me to
to sift
sift his
his objections,
objections, which
,vhich
seemed at
seemed at the
the spur
spur of
of the
the moment to
to resolve
resolve
themselves into
themselves the impatience
into the necessary to
impatience necessary to
aa year's
year's quiescence.
quiescence. Crasweller had declared
declared
that nature could not
that human nature not endure it.
it. Was
it
it not
not the
the case
case that
that hunlan
human nature had never
endeavoured
endeavoured to
to train
train itself?
itself? As II got back to
to

G ladstonopolis, II had already

Gladstonopolis, already a
a glimnlering
glimmering of
of

an
an idea
idea that
that \ve
we must begin \vith
with human nature

some\vbat earlier, and teach men from their

somewhat earlier, their

very
very infancy
infancy to
to prepare
prepare themselves for
for the un-

doubted
doubted blessings
blessings of the Fixed Period. But
of the

certain
certain aids
aids must be given,
given, and the cremating
 FAREWELL!
farewell! 167
167

furnace must be
furnace be removed,
removed, so
so as to be
as to be seen
seen by
no
no eye
eye and smelt
smelt by no nose.
nose.

As II rode up to
rode up house there
to my house there was that
that
eternal guard
eternal guard of
of soldiers,-a
soldiers, —
a dozen men, with

abominable guns
abominable guns and ungainly military
military hats
hats or
or
helmets on
helmets on their heads.
their heads. II was so
so angered by

their
their watchfulness,
watchfulness, that
that II ,vas
was half to
half minded to

turn
turn my tricycle,
tricycle, and allow to pursue
allow them to pursue
me about
about the
the island.
island. They could never have
could never

caught
caught me had II chosen to
to avoid
avoid them; but

such an escape have been

escape would have below my
been below
dignity.
dignity. And moreover,
moreover, II certainly
certainly did wish
did wish

to
to go.
go. II therefore took no
therefore took no notice
notice of
of them

,vhen
when they
they shouldered
shouldered their
their arms, but went
arms, but went
into
into the
the house to
to give wife her
give my wife her last kiss.
last kiss.

"
ee Now, Neverbend, wear the
Neverbend, remember you wear the
flannel drawers
flannel drawers II put up for you, as
for you, as soon as
as
ever
ever you get out of
get out the opposite
of the opposite tropics.
tropics. Re-
Ee-

member it becomes frightfully

it becomes frightfully cold
cold almost
almost at
at

once; and whatever you do,

once ; do, don't
don't forget the
forget the

little bag."
little bag." These ,vere N everbend's last
were Mrs Neverbend's last
words to
to me. II there
there found Jack waiting for
for
168 THE FIXED PERIOD.

nle,
me, and we together
together \valked
walked do\vn
down to
to the
the quay.
quay.

"l\fother
" Mother 'would
would like
like to
to have gone too,"
too," said
said

Jack.
Jack.

"It
" It would not have suited.
suited. There are
are so
so

many things
things here that \vill
here that will \vant
want her
her eye."
eye."

"All the same,

" All the same, she
she ,vould
w^ould like
like to
to have

gone."
gone." felt that
II had felt that it
it \vas
was so,
so, but yet
yet she
she

had never pressed her request.

request.

On board
board II found Sir Ferdinando, and all
Sir Ferdinando, all
the
the ship's
ship's officers him, in
officers with him, in full
full dress.
dress. He
had come, as
as II supposed, to
to see that II really
see that really
went; but he
went but; he assured me,
me, taking
taking off
off his hat as
his hat as
addressed me,
he addressed me, that
that his
his object
0 bj ect had been
been to
to

his last
pay his last respects
respects to
to the
the late President of
late President of
the republic.
the republic. could now be
Nothing could be more
courteous his conduct,
courteous than his conduct, or
or less like the
less like the
bully that
bully that he had appeared
appeared to
to be
be \vhen he
when he had
first claimed
first claimed to
to represent the British
represent the British sovereign
sovereign
in Britannula.
in Britannula. And II must
lnust confess
confess that
that there
there
\vas absent
was absent all that tone
all that tone of
of domineering
domineering ascen-
ascen-
his speech
dancy which had marked his speech as
as to
to the
the
Period.
Fixed Period. Fixed Period
The Fixed Period was not
not again
again
 FAREWELL!
FAREWELL ! 169
169

mentioned while
mentioned 'v hile he
he was
was on
on board
board; but
but he
;he de-
de-
voted himself
voted himself to
to assuring
assuring that II should
me that
me should be
be
received in England
received in England with
with every
every distinction,
distinction, and
and
that II should
that should certainly
certainly be
be invited
invited to
to vVindsor
Windsor
Castle.
Castle. I did
I did not
not myself
myself care
care very
very about
much about
Windsor Castle;
Windsor but to
Castle; but to such
such civil speeches II
civil speeches
could do
could do no
no other
other than
than civil replies
make civil replies; and
;

there II stood
there stood for
for half
half an
an hour grimacing
grimacing and
paying compliments,
paying compliments, anxious
anxious for
for the
the moment
when Sir Ferdinando would
Sir Ferdinando ,vould get into the
get into the six-
six-
oared gig
oared gig which
which was waiting
waiting for him, and re-
for him, re-
turn to
turn the shore.
to the shore. To me it
it was of
of all
all half-
half-

hours
hours the
the weariest, but to
weariest, but to him it
it seemed as
as

though to
to grimace
grimace and to
to pay compliments

were
were his
his second
second nature.
nature. At last
last the moment

came 'v hen one

when one of
of the
the junior officers
officers can1e
came up
to
to Captain
Captain Battleax told him that the
Battleax and told

vessel
vessel was ready
ready to
to start.
start. "" Now, Sir
Sir Ferdi-

nando,"
nando," said
said the captain, "" II am afraid
the captain, afraid that
that the
the

John Bright
Bright must leave
leave you to
to the
the kindness of
of

the
the Britannulists."
Britannulists."

I
" I
cc could
could not
not be
be left
left In
in more generous
generous
 ;

170 THE FIXED PEEIOD.

PERIOD.

hands,"
hands," said
said Sir
Sir Ferdinando,
Ferdinando, "nor
" nor in those of
in those of
\Varlner friends.
warmer friends. The Britannulists
Britannulists speak
speak Eng-

lish
lish as well as
as well as II do, and will,
do, and 'will, II am sure, admit
sure, admit

that
that \ve boast of
we boast of a
a common country."
country."

"But
''But not
not a
a common Government," said I,
said I,

determined to
to fire
fire a parting shot.
a parting shot. "But Sir
Sir

Ferdinando
Ferdinando is
is quite right in
quite right in expecting that he
expecting that he
personally ,viII
personally receive every
will receive every courtesy
courtesy from the
the
Britannulists.
Britannulists. will his
Nor will his rule
rule be
be in
in any

respect disobeyed
respect until the
disobeyed until the island
island shall, \vith
shall, with

the agreement of
the of England, again have resumed
again have

its own republican

its position."
republican position." Here II bowed,
bo\ved,
and he bowed, \ve all
bo\ved, and we bo\ved.
all bowed. he
Then he
departed, taking Jack with
departed, taking \vith him,
him, leaning
leaning on
on
\vhose arm he
whose he stepped
stepped do\vn
down into the boat
into the boat;
and as the men put
as the put their
their oars into the
oars into the water,
water,
I
I with aa sudden start
jumped with start at the sudden
at the

explosion of
explosion of a
a subsidiary
subsidiary cannon,
cannon, \vbich
which went
on firing
firing some dozens of
of times till the
times till the proper
proper
number had been completed supposed to
to be
be
due to
to an officer
officer of
of such magnitude.
magnitude.
 171
171

CHAPTER XII.
XII.

OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND.

THE boat had gone ashore

The boat ashore and returned
returned before
before
the John Bright had steamed out
the out of the har-
of the har-
bour.
bour. Then everything seemed to
to change,
change,

and Ca:ptain
Captain Battleax
Battleax bade me make myself
myself
quite
quite at
at home. "He , he said
trusted"
" He trusted," said,, " that
" that

1I should
should always
always dine with him during the
dine with the
voyage, but that
voyage, but that II should be
be left undisturbed
left undisturbed

during all
all other periods of
other periods the day.
of the day. He dined
at
at seven o'clock, but II could
o'clock, but give my own
could give

orders
orders as
as to
to breakfast
breakfast and tiffin.
tiffin. He ,vas
was sure
sure

that
that Lieutenant Crosstrees have pleasure
Crosstrees would have pleasure
in showing me my cabins,
in sho,ving that if
cabins, and that there
if there

,vas
was anything on board
board which II did not feel
did not feel

to
to be comfortable,
be comfortable, it
it should be
be at
at once
once altered.
altered.
 —

li2
172 THE FIXED PERIOD.

Lieutenant Crosstrees
Lieutenant Crosstrees would
\vould tell my servant
tell servant
to wait
to \vait upon n1e, and
upon me, and would
\vould show
sho\v me all
all the
the
comforts, —
cOlnforts,-and discomforts,-of
and discomforts, —
the vessel."
of the vessel."
'Vith that
With that II left
left him,
hinl, and was taken below
below
under the
under the guidance
guidance of
of the
the lieutenant.
lieutenant. As Mr
Crosstrees
Crosstrees becalne my personal
became personal friend
friend during
the voyage,
the —
voyage,-n10re peculiarly than
more peculiarly than any of
of the
the
other of&cers,
other officers, all
all of
of \vere my friends,
whom were friends,-
I will
I \vill give
give SOine short
some short description
description of
of him.
him. He
a young man, perhaps
was a perhaps eight-and-twenty
ejght-and-twenty
years old,
years old, whose great
great gift in the
gift in the eyes
eyes of
of all
all
those
those on board was
board his
his personal
personal courage.
courage.

Stories
Stories \vere
were told to me by the
told to the junior
junior officers
officers
of
of marvellous things
things which
\vhich he had done,
done,
\v hich, though never
which, never mentioned
mentioned in
in his
his o\vn
own
presence,
presence, either
either hin1self or
by himself others,
or by others,

seen1ed to constitute
seemed to constitute for
for him a
a special char-
special char-

acter,
acter, -—so
so that.
that had it
it been necessary
necessary that
that

anyone
any one should jump
jU111p overboard to
to attack
attack a
a

shark, all on board would have thought that

shark, all

the
the duty as
as a
a matter of
of course
course belonged to
to
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Crosstrees.
Crosstrees. Indeed,
Indeed, as
as II learnt
learnt
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 173
173

afterwards,
afterwards, he had quite
quite a
a peculiar
peculiar nanle
name In
in

the British
British navy. He was a
a small fair-haired
fair-haired

man, with aa pallid

pallid face
face and a
a bright
bright eye,
eye,

whose idiosyncrasy
idiosyncrasy it
it ,vas
was to
to conceIve
conceive that
that

life
life afloat
afloat was infinitely
infinitely superior
superior in
in all
all its
its

attributes
attributes to
to life
life on shore.
shore. If
If there
there ever
ever

\vas
was aa man entirely
entirely devoted to
to his
his profession,
profession,

it
it 'was
was Lieutenant Crosstrees.
Crosstrees. For 'women he
women he
seemed to
to care nothing, nor
care nothing, nor for bishops, nor
for bishops, nor

for judges, nor

for judges, nor for melnbers of
for members Parliament.
of Parliament.

They were all as

\vere all as children skipping about the
about the

\vorld in
world in their
their foolish playful ignorance,
foolish playful ignorance, whonl
whom
it
it was the
the sailor's to protect.
sailor's duty to protect. N ext to
Next to
the
the sailor
sailor the soldier,
came the soldier, as
as having
having some
some
but at
kindred employment; but at aa very
very long
long
interval.
interval. Among sailors the British
sailors the British sailor,
sailor,
—
-that is, the
that is, the British
British fighting
fighting sailor,
sailor, - was
was—
the only
the only one really
really worthy of
of honour;
honour; and
and
anlong British
among British sailors
sailors the
the officers
officers on
on board
board
H.1\1. gunboat the
H.M. the John Bright
Bright were
\vere the
the hajDpy
happy
fe\v who
few \v ho had climbed
clinl bed to
to the
the top
top of
of the
the tree.
tree.

Battleax he regarded
Captain Battleax as the
regarded as the sultan
sultan
174
174 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

of the
of the world;
\vorld; but he
but he was
'was the
the sultan's
sultan's vizier,
vizier,

and having
and baving the
the discipline
discipline of
of the
the ship
ship al-
al-

togeth~r in
together in his
his hands, was,
own hands, to my think-
\vas, to think-
ing,
ing, its very
its very master.
master. I should
I should have said
said
beforehand that
beforehand that aa of such
man of such sentiments
sentiments
and feelings
feelings \vas not
was not at
at to my taste.
all to
all taste.
Everything that
Everything that he
he loved
loved I have always
I always hated,
hated,
and
and all that
all that he
he despised
despised II have revered.
revered.
Nevertheless II became very
Nevertheless very fond
fond of
of him,
him, and
found in
found in him an
an opponent
opponent to
to the
the Fixed Period
Period
that has
that has done
done more to
to shake
shake my opinion than
Cras\veller with all
Crasweller with his feelings,
all his feelings, or
or Sir Fer-
Sir Fer-

dinando \vith
dinando with all
all his
his arguments.
arguments. this he
And this
effected
effected by aa fe\v
by few curt \vhich II have
curt words which

found
found alnl0st
almost impossible
impossible to
to resist.
resist. ""Come
Come
this
this way,
way, Mr President,"
President," he said.
said. "Here is
is

\v here you are

where are to
to sleep;
sleep and considering that
; that

it
it is
is only
only a
a ship,
ship, II think you'll
you'll find
find it
it fairly
fairly

comfortable."
comfortable." Anything more luxurious
luxurious than

the
the place
place assigned
assigned to
to llle,
me, II could not have

imagined on board ship.

ship. II afterwards
afterwards learned

that
that the
the cabins
cabins had been designed for
for the use
 "

OUR VOYAGE
OUR VOYAGE TO
TO ENGLAND.
ENGLAND. 175
175

of
of aa travelling
travelling admiral,
admiral, and
and II gathered
gathered from
from
the fact that
the fact that they
they were
were allotted
allotted to
to me
me an
an idea
idea

that
that England
England intended
intended to
to atone
atone for
for the
the injury
injury

done
done to
to the
the country
country by
by personal
personal respect
respect shown
shown
to
to the
the late
late President
President of
of the
the republic.
republic.

I, at any
" I, at
cc any rate,
rate, shall
shall be
be comfortable
comfortable 'while
while II

am here. That in itself

itself is
is something.
something. N ever-
Never-

theless II have to
to feel
feel that
that II am a
a prisoner."
prisoner."

"" Not more so

so than anybody else
else on
on board,"
board,"

said
said the
the lieutenant.
lieutenant.

" A guard of
"A of soldiers
soldiers came up this
this morning
morning
to look
to look after
after me.
me. vVhat would
What 'would that
that guard
guard of
of
soldiers
soldiers have done supposing
have supposing that
that I
I had run
had run
away ?1"
away
" We
"\Ve should
should to wait
have had to ,vait till they
till they had
had
caught you.
caught you. But nobody
But nobody conceived
conceived that
that to
to be
be
possible.
possible. Th~ President
The President of
of aa republic
republic never
never
runs away
runs away in
in his
his own person.
own person. There
There will
"will be
be
aa cup
cup of
of tea
tea in
in the
the officers' mess-room
officers' mess-room at
at five
five
o'clock.
o'clock. II will
will leave
leave you till
you till then,
then, as
as you
you may
may
wish to
wish to employ
employ yourself."
yourself." II \vent up
went up imme-
imme-
diately afterwards
diately afterwards on
on deck,
deck, and
and looking
looking back
back
176
176 THE FIXED PERIOD.

over the
over the tafferel, could
tafferel, could only
only just
just see
see tlie
the glit-
glit-
tering spires
tering spires of
of Gladstonopolis in the
Gladstonopolis in the distance.
distance.
N o,v was
Now ,vas the
the time
tinle for
for thought.
thought. I found
I found an
an
easy seat
easy seat on
on the
the stern
stern of
of the
the vessel,
vessel, and sat
sat
myself down
myself do,vn to
to consider
consider all that
all that Crasweller
Cras,veller
said to
had said me.
to me. He and II had parted, —
parted,-per-
per-

haps for
haps for ever.
ever. I
I not been
had not been in
in England
since II
since ,vas aa little
was child, and II could
little child, could not
not but
but
feel that II might be
feel now that be detained
detained there
there by
circulnstances, or
circumstances, or die
die there,
there, or
or that
that Crasweller,
Crasweller,
was ten
who was years my senior,
ten years senior, might
Inight be
be dead
dead
before II should
before should have
have back.
come back. yet no
And yet no
ordinary farewell had been
ordinary farewell been spoken between
bet,veen us.
us.
In
In those
those last
last ,vords
words of his he
of his he had confined him-
confined him-

self
self to
to the
the Fixed Period,
Period, so full had his
so full his heart
heart
been of
been the subject,
of the subject, a"
nd so
and so intent he
intent had he felt
felt

himself
himself to be on convincing me.
to be me. And what
,vas
was the upshot of
the upshot of ,vhat
what he had said
said ?
? Not
that
that the
the doctrine
doctrine of the Fixed Period ,vas
of the was in
in

itself
itself wrong,
wrong, but that
that it
it ,vas
was impracticable
impracticable be-
be-

cause.of
cause of the
the horrors
horrors attending its
its last
last nloments.
moments.

These ,vere
were the solitude in
the solitude in 'v hich should
which should be
be
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 177
177

passed the
passed the one
one last
last year
year; the
the sight
sight of
; of things
things
\v hich would
which would remind
remind the
the old
old man of
of coming
death; and
death ;and the
the general
general feeling
feeling that
that the
the busi-
busi-
ness and
ness and pleasures
pleasures of
of life were
life were over,
over, and that
that
the stillness
the stillness of
of the
the grave
grave had been commenced.
To this
To this was
was to
to be
be added
added aa certainty
certainty that
that death
death
would on some prearranged
\vould come on prearranged day.
day. These
These

all referred manifestly

all referred manifestly to
to the
the condition
condition of
of him
\vho was
who was to
to go,
go, and in
in no degree
degree affected
affected the
the
welfare of
welfare of those
those to remain.
who were to remain. He had
not attempted
not attempted to
to say
say that
that for
for the
the benefit
benefit of
of the
the
world at large
world at large the
the system
system was aa bad system.
system.

That these
That these evils have befallen
evils would have befallen Crasweller
Cras\veller
himself, there
himself, there could be no
could be no doubt.
doubt. Though aa
dozen
dozen companions might have
have visited
visited him
daily,
daily, he would have felt
felt the
the college to be
college to be aa
solitude,
solitude, because he would not
not have
have been
been al-
al-

lowed to
to chose
chose his
his promiscuous connades
comrades as
as

in
in the
the outer
outer world.
world. But custom would no
doubt produce aa cure for that
cure for that evil.
evil. When aa
man kne\v
knew that
that it
it ,,"as
was toto be
be so,
so, the
the dozen
dozen

visitors
visitors \vould
would suffice
suffice for
for him. The young
VOL.
VOL. II.
TI. M
178
178 THE FIXED PERIOD.

of thirty
man of thirty travels
travels over
over all
all the
the world,
world, but
uut
the old
the old of seventy
man of seventy is
is contented
contented with
with the
the
comparative confinement
comparative confinement of
of his
his o\vn town,
own to,vn, or
or
perhaps of
perhaps of his
his o,vn house.
own house. As to the ghast-
to the ghast-
liness
liness of things
of things to
to be seen,
be seen, they
they could
could no
no
doubt be
doubt be removed out
out of
of sight
sight; but
but even
even that
that
;

,vould be
would be cured
cured by custom.
custom. business and
The business
pleasures of
pleasures of life at the
life at the prescribed
prescribed time
time were
,vere in
in
general but
general but aa pretence
pretence at
at business
business and aa rem-
reln-
iniscence of pleasure.
iniscence of pleasure. The man would
,vould know
that the
that the fated
fated day
day conling, and would
was coming, ,vould pre-
pre-
pare for
pare for it with infinitely
it with infinitely less
less of the anxious
of the anxious
pain of
pain of uncertainty than in
uncertainty than in the
the outer
outer world.
\vorld.
The fact that death
fact that death must come at the settled
at the settled

day,
day, would no
no doubt have its horror as
have its long as
as long as
the nlan ,vere
the man were able habitually to
able habitually to contrast
contrast his
his

position
position with that of
with that the fe\v
of the few favoured ones
ones
,vho had, \vithin
who had, within his
his own memory, lived hap-
lived hap-

pily
pily to a more advanced age;
to a age but ,vhen the
when the
;

time
time should
should come that
that no such old
old man had so
so

existed,
existed, II could
could not
not but think that
that a
a frame of
of

mind would be
be created
created not
not indisposed to
to con-
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 179
179

tentment.
tentment. Sitting there, and turning
Sitting there, turning it
it all
all over
over

in
in my mind, while my eyes
mind, while rested on the
eyes rested the bright
bright
expanse
expanse of
of the
the glass-clear
glass-clear sea,
sea, I
I did perceive
did perceive

that
that the
the Fixed Period, with all
Period, with all its
its advantages,
advantages,

,vas
was of
of such
such a nature that
a nature that it necessarily
it must necessarily

be postponed to
be postponed to an age prepared for
age prepared for it.
it. Cras-
Cras-

'v eller's eloquence

weller's that effect
eloquence had had that effect upon me.
me.
I did
I did see
see that
that it be impossible to
it would be to induce,
induce,

in
in the present generation,
the present generation, a
a feeling of satisfac-
feeling of satisfac-

tion in
tion in the
the system.
system. II should
should have declared
declared

that
that it
it would not
not commence but
but with those
those

who were at
,vho present unborn
at present unborn; or,
or, indeed, to
indeed, to
;

allay
allay the natural fears
the natural fears of
of mothers, not with
mothers, not with
those
those 'v
whoho should be
be born
born for the next
for the next dozen
years.
years. It
It might have
have been
been ,yell
well to postpone
to postpone

it for another
it for another century.
century. II admitted so
so much

to
to myself,
myself, with the
the full
full understanding that
that aa
theory delayed so
theory delayed so long must be
be endangered by
by
its
its own postponement.
postponement. How 'was
Ho,v was II to
to answer
for
for the
the zeal
zeal of those who were to
of those to come so long
so long

after
after me 1
? II sometimes thought
thought of
of a
a more

date in
immediate date in which II myself might be
be
180
180 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

the
the first to
first to be
be deposited,
deposited, and that
that II might
might thus
thus
be allowed
be allowed to
to set
set an example of
of aa happy final
final

year passed
year passed within
,vithin the
the college.
college. then, how
But then,
far
far would the
would the Tallo
Tallowaxes, Barneses, and
waxes, and Barneses, and
:Exors of the
Exors of the day
day be led by my example ?1
be led
I must on
I on my arrival
arrival in
in England remodel
remodel
altogether the
altogether the Fixed
Fixed Period,
Period, and name aa day
day
so far
so far that even
removed that even Jack's
Jack's children
children would
I

not be
not be able
able to
to see
see it.
it. It was
It ,vas with
,vith sad
sad grief
grief of
of
heart that
heart that II so
so determined.
determined. All
All my dreams
of aa personal
of personal ambition
ambition were
'were at
at once
once shivered
shivered

to the
to the ground.
ground. ,vould remain
Nothing would ren1ain of
of me
but the
but the name of the
of the nlan who had caused
man caused the
the

republic of
republic of Britannula to
to be
be destroyed,
destroyed, and her
her
government to
to be
be resumed
resunled by her
her old
old mistress.
mistress.
must go
II must to work,
go to work, and ,vith pen, ink,
with pen, ink, and .

paper, with
paper, with long ,vritten arguments
long written and studied
logic,
logic, endeavour to
to prove to
to mankind that the
world
world should
should not
not allo,v
allow itself
itself to
to endure the

indignities,
indignities, and ,veakness,
weakness, and selfish
selfish misery
misery

of
of extreme old age.
extreme old age. II confess
confess that my belief

in
in the
the efficacy
efficacy of
of spoken ,vords,
words, of
of words run-
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 181
181

ning like
like an electric
electric spark from the
the lips
lips of
of the
the

speaker right
right into
into the
the heart
heart of
of him who heard
heard

them, was stronger

stronger far my trust
far than nly trust in
in written
written

arguments.
arguments. They must lack
lack a
a \varmth
warmth which
the others
others possess;
possess and they enter
; enter only on the
the

of the
minds of the studious,
studious, \vhereas
whereas the
the others
others

touch
touch the
the feelings
feelings of
of the world at
the world at large.
large. II
had already overcome in
in the breasts
breasts of
of many

listeners
listeners the
the difficulties \v hich II now myself
difficulties which myself
experienced. II would again attempt to
to do
do so
so

with aa British
British audience.
audience. II would
\vould again
again enlarge
enlarge

on the meanness of the man who could

of the not
could not

make so
so small
small a
a sacrifice
sacrifice of his latter
of his years
latter years

for the
for the benefit
benefit of
of the
the rising
rising generation.
generation. But
cold to
even spoken words would come cold to me,
me,
fall unnoticed
and would fall unnoticed on the
the hearts
hearts of
of
others,
others, it was
when it \vas felt
felt that
that the
the doctrine
doctrine
advocated could
advocated could not
not possibly
possibly affect
affect any living
living
lnan.
man. of
Thinking of all this, I was very
all this, I very melan-
melan-
choly
choly \vhen II was summoned down
when do\vn to
to tea
tea by
one of
one of the
the stewards
stewards attended the
who attended the officers'
officers'
mess.
mess.
182
182 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"nIr
"Mr President, \vill you take
President, will take tea,
tea, coffee,
coffee,
cocoa,
cocoa, chocolate,
chocolate, or preserved dates
or preserved dates 1
? There
There

are muffins and crulnpets,

are muffins crumpets, dry toast,
toast, buttered
buttered

toast,
toast, plum - cake,
cake, seed
- seed - cake,
- peach -- fritters,
cake, peach fritters,

apple-marmalade, and bread

bread and butter.
butter. There
There

are put-up fruits

are put-up fruits of
of all kinds, of
all kinds, \vhich you
of which

really wouldn't
really wouldn't kno\v that they
know that hadn't come
they hadn't

this nloment from graperies

this moment graperies and orchard-
orchard-
houses; but we
houses but ;\ve don't put them on the
don't put the table,
table,
because
because think that
we think that we
\ve can't
can't eat quite so
eat quite so

much dinner
dinner after them."
after them." This
This was the
the in-
in-
vitation
vitation which came fronl
from a naval lad
a young naval lad
who seemed to
to be
be about fifteen years old.
fifteen years old.
"Hold your tongue,
" Hold your tongue, Percy,"
Percy," said
said an elder
elder

officer.
officer. "The
" The fruits
fruits are
are not here because Lord
not here Lord
himself so
Alfred gorged himself so ' tremendously
trenlendously that
that
\ve were
we \vere afraid his mother,
afraid his mother, the
the duchess, 'would
duchess, would

\vithdra\v him
withdraw hinl from the
the service \vhen she
service when she

heard that he
heard that he had made
n1ade himself
hiluself sick."
sick."

"There
" There are
are cura<;oa,
cura^oa, chartreuse, pepperwick,
chartreuse, pepperwick,

mangostino, and Eussian

Russian brandy on the
the side-
side-

board," suggested
board," suggested a third.
a third.
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 183
183

"I shall
shall have a
a glass
glass of madeira—^just
of madeira-j ust aa
thimbleful,"
thimbleful/' said
said another,
another, who seemed to
to be
be

aa few years
years older
older than Lord Alfred Percy.
Percy.

of the stewards
Then one of stewards brought the
the madeira,
madeira,

,vhich
which the young man drank with great
great satis-
satis-

faction.
faction. "This
" This wine has been seven
seven times
times

round the
the world," said, "and
world," he said, " and the
the only
only time
time

for drinking it
for it is
is five-a' —
clock tea,-that
five-o'clock tea, that is,
is, if
if

you understand what good living means."

living means." I
I

asked simply for

asked for a cup of
of tea, ,vhich
tea, which II found
found

to be peculiarly
to be peculiarly good, partly because
good, partly because of
of the
the
cream which accompanied it.
it. then ,vent
II then up-
went up-
stairs
stairs to
to take a
a constitutional ,valk with
constitutional walk with Mr
Crosstrees on the
Crosstrees the deck.
deck. "I saw
sa'w you
yon sitting
sitting
there for
there a couple of
for a of hours
hours very
very thoughtful,"
thoughtful,"
said he, "and
said he, I wouldn't
" and I wouldn't disturb
disturb you.
you. I
I hope
hope

it doesn't
it doesn't make you unhappy that
that you are
are
"
carried
carried to England
away to England?"
?

it done so,
"Had it so, II don't
don't know whether
,vhether II
should have gone
should —
gone-alive."
alive."

"They
" said that
They said that when it
it was
,vas suggested,
suggested, you
you
to be
promised to be ready
ready in
in two days."
days."
184
184 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"I
" I did
did say so —because it
say so-because it suited me.
suited me. But II
can hardly imagine that
cau hardly that they
they ,vonld have car-
would have car-
ried
ried me on board
board ,vith violence, or
with violence, or that they
that they

would have
have put
put all Gladstonopolis to
all Gladstonopolis to the
the sword
sword
because
because II declined to go
declined to board."
go on board."

"Bro'wn had told

" Brown had told us that we ,vere
us that to bring
were to bring
you off
off dead or
or alive;
alive; and dead
dead or
or alive, I
alive, I

think we should have had you.

should have you. If the
If the soldiers
soldiers

had not
not succeeded, the sailors
succeeded, the ,vould have
sailors would have taken
taken
you in hand."
in hand." ,,\Vhen
When II asked there
asked him why there

was this
this great necessity for
great necessity for kidnapping me,
me,
he assured
assured me that feeling
nle that feeling in had
in England had

run very high

high on the
the matter,
matter, and. that sundry
and. that sundry
bishops had declared
bishops that anything so
declared that barbar-
so barbar-

ous
ous could not be
could not permitted in
be permitted the twentieth
in the twentieth
century.
century. "It
"It ,vould be as
would be bad, they
as bad, they said, as
said, as

the
the cannibals
cannibals of N e,v Zealand."
of New Zealand."
"That
" That sho\\"s the absolute
shows the Ignorance of
absolute ignorance of the
the
bishops on the
bishops the subject."
subject."

"I
" I daresay; but there
daresay but
; there is
is a prejudice about
a prejudice about
killing
killing an old
old lllan,
man, oror a
a ,voman.
woman. Young men
don't matter."
don't matter."
 — '

OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 185

185

"Allo,v
"Allow me to
to assure you, 1\1r
assure you, Mr Crosstrees,"
Crosstrees,"

said I, "that
said I, your sentiment is
" that your is carrying
carrying you

far
far away from reason.
reason. To the
the State the life
State the life of
of
aa woman should be just
should be just the
the saIne as that
same as that of
of a
a

man. The State

State cannot
cannot allow
allow itself to indulge
itself to indulge

in
in romance."

"" You get

get a
a sailor,
sailor, and tell
tell him to
to strike a
strike a

,voman,
woman, and see
see \vhat he'll say."
what he'll say."

"The
" The sailor
sailor is
is irrational.
irrational. Of course,
course, \ve
we are
are

supposing that
that it
it is
is for the public
for the public benefit that
benefit that

the
the woman should
should be
be struck.
struck. It
It is the same
is the

with an old
old man. The good of the common-
of the

wealth, —
wealth,-and his own,-requires
and his —that, beyond
own, requires that,

aa certain
certain age, he shall
age, he shall not be
be allowed to
to exist.
exist.

He does not ,york,

does not work, and he
he cannot enjoy
enjoy living.
living.

He wastes nlore than

wastes more than his
his share
share of the neces-
of the neces-
saries
saries of
of life,
life, and becomes,
becomes, on the
the aggregate,
aggregate, an
intolerable burden.
intolerable burden. Read
Eead Shakespeare's de-
Shakespeare's de-

scription of man in
scription of his last
in his last stage-
stage

'Second
'
Second childishness,
childishness, and mere oblivion,
oblivion,

Sans
Sans teeth,
teeth, sans
sans eyes,
eyes, sans
sans taste, sans everything;
taste, sans everything ,
;

and the
the stage
stage before
before is merely that
is merely that of the
the
 "

186 THE FIXED PERIOD.

'lean
'lean and slippered pantaloon.'
slippered pantaloon.' For his
For his own
sake, not save
sake, would you not from haying
save mankind from having

to encounter
to encounter such miseries as
such miseries these 1? "
as these

"You
" You can't
can't do
do it, President."
it, Mr President."

"I very
very nearly
nearly did
did do
do it.
it. Britannulist
The Britannulist
Assembly, in
Assembly, the majesty
in the majesty of
of its
its ,visdom, passed
wisdom, passed

aa la,v to that
law to that effect."
effect." II ,vas
was sorry
sorry after,vards
afterwards

that
that II had spoken of the majesty
of the majesty of
of the
the As-
As-
sembly's
sembly's ,visdom, because it
wisdom, because it savoured of bun-
savoured of bun-
combe. Our Assembly's ,visdom not par-
wisdom was not par-
ticularly
ticularly majestic ;but II had intended
majestic; but to allude
intended to allude

to the
to majesty attached
the presumed majesty to the
attached to the high-
high-
est council in
est council the State.·
in the State.'

"Your
" Your Assembly in the majesty
in the majesty of its
of its WIS-
wis-

dom could
could do nothing
nothing of
of the
the kind.
kind. It
It might
might
pass aa la,v,
pass but the
law, but the law could be
be carried out
carried out

only by men. The Parliament in

in England,
England,
,vhich
which is,
is, I take it,
I take it, quite as majestic
quite as as the
majestic as the
"
in Britannula--"
Assembly in Britannula

"I apologise
apologise for the word, }\1"r
for the Mr Crosstrees,
Crosstrees,

,vhich
which savours
savours of the ridiculous.
of the ridiculous. II did
did not
not
quite explain my idea
quite idea at the 1110ment."
at the moment."
 "

OUR
OUE VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 187
187

"It
" It is
is forgotten," he said;
forgotten," he said and II must ac-
; ac-

knowledge that he never

that he never used
used the
the word
\vord against
against

me again.
agaIn. "The
" The Parliament in
in England might
might
order
order a
a three-months-old to be
three-months-old baby to be slain, but
slain, but

could not
could not possibly
possibly get the deed
get the deed done."
done."

"Not if
if it were for
it were the welfare
for the \velfare of
of Great
Great

Britain?
Britain ? "

"" Not to
to save
save Great Britain
Britain from destruction.
destruction.

Strength
Strength is
is very
very strong, but it
strong, but it is not half
is not half so
so

powerful as
powerful as ","eakness.
weakness. II could, with the
could, with the great-
great-
est alacrity in
est alacrity in the
the world,
world, fire that big
fire that big gun in
in
among battalions
battalions of
of armed men, so
so as to scat-
as to scat-

ter
ter them all
all to the winds,
to the winds, but II could not point
could not point
it
it in
in the
the direction
direction of
of a
a single
single girl."
girl." We went
on discussing
discussing the nlatter at
the matter at considerable length,
considerable length,

and his
his convictions
convictions were quite as
\vere quite as strong as
strong as

Dnne.
mine. He was sure that under no circum-
sure that circum-

stances
stances would an old
old man ever
ever be
be deprived
deprived

of
of his
his life the Fixed Period.
life under the Period. I
I \vas
was as
as

confident
confident as
as he on the
the other side, — or, at
other side,-or, at any

rate, pretended to
rate, pretended to be so, —
be so,-and
and told that he
told him that he
made no allowance for the progressive
for the progressive wisdom
188
188 THE FIXED
THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

of mankind.
of Inankind. Bu t we
But ,\ve parted
parted as
a.s friends,
friends, and
and
soon after
soon after went
\vent to
to dinner.
dinner.
I
I \vas astonished
was astonished to
to find
find how
ho\v very
very little
little the
the
captain had to
captain to do
do with
'\vith his
his officers.
officers. On board
ship he lived
ship he lived nearly
nearly alone,
alone, having his
his first
first

lieutenant with
lieutenant \vith for aa quarter
him for quarter of
of an hour
every morning.
every mornIng. the occasion
On the occa.sion of this my
of this
first day
first day on
on board,
board, he
he had aa dinner-party
dinner-party in
in
honour of
honour of my coming among them; and two
or three
or three days
days before
before \ve reached
we reached England, he
another.
had another. II dined
dined with
with him regularly
regularly
every
every day except twice, when II was invited
except twice, invited
to the
to the officers' mess.
officers' mess. II breakfasted
breakfasted alone in
in

Inyown
my own cabin,
cabin, where everything was
\vas provided
provided
for me that
for that II could
could desire,
desire, and always lunched

and took
took five-o'clock
five-o'clock tea
tea \vith
with the
the officers.
officers. II
renlained
remained alone
alone till
till one o'clock,
o'clock, and spent four
four

hours every morning dluing

hours every during our entire journey
entire journey

in
in composing this
this volume as
as it
it is
is now printed.
printed.

II have put it
it into
into the
the shape of
of a
a story,
story, because

II think that II may so

think that so best
best depict
depict the
the feelings
feelings

of the
of the people as II made my great
people around me as great
 ENGLAND.
VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 189
189
OUR VOYAGE

carry out
to carry the Fixed
out the in
Period in
Fixed Period
endeavour to
endeavour
because II may so
may describe the
so describe the
Britannula, and because
Britannula,
which was shown by the
'was shown the
kin d of
kind opposition which
of opposition
sentiments on which
those sentiments
of those Lieu-
'which Lieu-
expression of
expression
depended. II do not not at thi s
at this
Crosstrees depended.
ten ant Crosstrees
tenant
Crasweller would
tha t Crasweller
bu t that have
,vould have
min ute doubt
minute doubt but
not the Joh n Bright
the John ap-
Bri ght ap-
deposited had not
been deposited
been
Barnes and Tallowax
'Vh eth er Barnes would
Tallo,yax would
peared. Whether
peared.

peaceably, may
owed peaceably, may be doubted.doubted.
have foll
have followed
not men mell ofof great weight
gre at weight
however, are
They, however,
They, are not

officers of
the officers of the mi ght
la\v might
the law
Britannula, and the
in Britannula,
in
constrained them them to to have fol-
have fol-
possibly have
possibly have constrained
which Cra
mple which sweller had set.
Crasweller set.
lowed the
lowed the exa
example
whether II sho
doubt whether
tha t II doubt
fess that uld
should
Bu t II do
But do con
confess

e to proceed to to carry out the

car ry out the
hav
have been abl
e been able to proceed

departure of
final departure
the final Cras-
of Cras-
arr angements for
arrangements for the

forward, II could
oking forward, could see Ev a
see Eva
we ller. Lo
weller. Looking

at my fee t, and cou ld ack

could no\vledge
acknowledge
kne eling at
kneeling feet,

ngt h of t.hat ,ve akness to

weakness to
the inv
the incible stre
invincible strength of that

sstrees had allu ded. A god

alluded. like
godlike
wh
whichich CroCrosstrees

e bee n c1e ma nde d,- aa her

demanded,— hero-o-
her oism wo
heroism uld hav
would have been

st hav e sub mitted to

submitted to hav
have been
e been
is
ismIn wh ich mu
which must have
190
190 THE FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

called brutal, —
called brutal,-and
and of
of such II kne,v
knew myself
myself not
not

to be the o·wner.
to owner. Had the
the British
British Parliament
Parliament

ordered
ordered the
the three
three -- l1lonths
months - old
old baby to
- to be
be

slaughtered,
slaughtered, T
T was not
not the
the man to
to slaughter
slaughter

it,
it, even though I
I ,vere
were the
the sworn servant
servant of
of

the British
British Parliament.
Parliament. Upon the
the whole,
whole, II

was glad that the John Bright

Bright had come into
into

our \vaters, and had taken

our waters, taken me a,vay
away on its
its

return to
to England. It
It ,vas
was aa ,vay
way out
out of
of my

immediate trouble
trouble against
against which I
I was
\vas able
able to
to
expostulate,
expostulate, and to
to sho\v with sonle
show with truth on
some truth on
my side that II was an
side that an injured
injured man. All this
All this
I
I ,villing to
am willing admit in
to admit the form of
in the of aa tale,
tale,
,vhich
which II have adopted for my present
adopted for present work,
work,
for which
and for \vhich II may hope to
to obtain
obtain some
popularity in England.
popularity in England. on shore
Once on shore there,
there,
I shall
I go to
shall go to ,york on
work on aa volume of
of altogether
altogether
a different
a different nature,
nature, and endeavour
endeavour to
to be
be argu-
argu-
mentative and statistical, as I have here
statistical, as I here been
fanciful,
fanciful, true
though true to details.
to details.
During the
During the whole
,vhole course
course of
of journey to
my journey to
England, Captain
England, Captain Battleax
Battleax never
never said
said aa word
 OUR
OUK VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 191
191

to
to me about the
the Fixed Period.
Period. He ,vas
was no
no
doubt aa gallant
gallant officer,
officer, and possessed
possessed of
of all
all

necessary gifts
gifts for
for the
the management of
of a
a 250-

swivel-gun but he seemed to

ton steam swivel-gun; ; to me to
to

be somewhat heavy.
heavy. He never even in
in COll-
con-

versation
versation alluded
alluded to
to Britannula,
Britannula, and spoke
spoke

al
always of the dockyard at
ways of at Devonport as
as though

II had been familiar with its

familiar with its every
every corner.
corner. He
was very particular
particular about his
his clothes,
clothes, and I
I

told by Lieutenant Crosstrees

was told Crosstrees on the
the first
first

day that
that he would resent
resent it
it as
as a bitter offence
a bitter offence

had II come down to

to dinner without
without aa hite
white
'W

cravat.
cravat. "He's rio'ht
" He's right,
o know', those
, you know ; those things
thinO's
0

do tell," Crosstrees
tell," Crosstrees had said
said to
to me when II had
to be
attempted to be jocose
jocose about
about these
these punctilios.
punctilios.
I took
I took care,
care, however,
however, al \vays to
always to put
put on
on aa white
white
cravat both
cravat both with the captain
with the captain and with
with the
the
officers.
officers. After dinner
After dinner with
with the
the captain,
captain, aa cup
of coffee
of coffee brought in
was always brought in on aa silver
silver
tray, in aa silver
tray, in silver coffee-pot.
coffee-pot. This was leisurely
This leisurely
consumed; and then,
consumed then, as
; as II soon
soon understood,
understood,
the captain
the captain expected
expected that
that II should
should depart.
depart. I
I
 "

192
192 THE
THE FIXED
FIXED PERIOD.
PERIOD.

learnt afterwards
learnt afterwards that
that he
he immediately
inlmediately put
put his
his
feet
feet on the
up on the sofa
sofa and slept
slept for
for the
the remainder
remainder
of the
of the evening.
evening. I retired to the lieutenant's
I retired to the lieutenant's
cabin,
cabin, there discussed
and there discussed the his~ory of
the whole history of
Britannula over
Britannula over many aa prolonged
prolonged cigar.
cigar.
really mean
"Did you really 111ean to
to kill
kill the
the old men 1""
old men?
said Lord
said Lord Alfred
Alfred Percy
Percy to
to one day
me one day; ""regu-
; regu-

larly to
larly to cut
cut their
their throats,
throats, kno'w, and carry
you know, carry
them out burn them."
out and burn them."
"I did not
" I did not mean it,
it, but
but the
the law did."
did."
" Every poor
" poor old
old fellow
fellow would
,vould have been put
been put
an end
end to
to without
\vithout the
the slightest mercy?"
slightest mercy ?

"" Not 'without mercy," II rejoined.

without mercy," rejoined.
""Now, there's my governor's
N o'v, there's governor's father,"
father," said
said

Lord Alfred; "you

Lord Alfred; ''you kno,v
know \vho
who he is 1"
is?"

"The
" The Duke of
of N orthulnberland, I'm In-
Northumberland, in-

formed."
formed."

"He's
"He's aa terrible
terrible s'vell.
swell. He o,vns
owns three
castles,
castles, and half
half a
a county,
county, and has half a

million
million a-year.
a -year. II can hardly tell
tell you what

sort
sort of
of an old
old fello,v
fellow he is
is at
at home. There
There

isn't
isn't any 011e
one ,vho
who doesn't
doesn't pay him the most
 " "

OUR
OUK VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 193
193

profound respect,
respect, and he's
he's always doing
doing good
good
to
to everybody. to say that
Do you mean to that some

constable or
or cremator,-some
cremator, —
some sort
sort of
of first
first hang-

man, — would have come to

man,-would to him and taken him

by the nape of
of his
his neck,
neck, and cut
cut his
his throat,
throat,

just
just because he was sixty-eight
sixty-eight years
years old?
old ? II
can't believe that
can't believe that anybody 'would
would have done
it."
it."

"" But the duke is

is a
a man."

"Yes, he's
he's a
a man, no doubt."
doubt."

"If he committed murder,

murder, he
he 'would be
would be
in spite
hanged in of his
spite of his dukedom."
"I don't
don't know
kno,v how that
that would
,vould be,"
be," said
said
Alfred, hesitating.
Lord Alfred, hesitating. "I cannot
cannot imagine
imagine
that
that my grandfather
grandfather should
should commit aa murder."
murder."
,vould be
"But he would be hanged;
hanged; II can
can tell
tell you
you
that.
that. it be very
Though it very improbable,
improbable, - im-
inl- —
possible, as
possible, as think it,
you and II may think it,-the —la\v
the law

is the same for

is the for him as
as for others. Why
for others. "\Vhy should
should
not all other
all la,vs be
other laws be the
the same also
also?"
?

" But
" But it
it be murder."
would be murder."
"vVhat
" is your idea
What is idea of
of murder
murder ?1"
VOL. IL
VOL. II. N
194
194 THE FIXED PERIOD.

"" I{illing people."

Killing people."

"Then
" Then you are
are murderers ,vho go about
who go with
about with

this great
this great gun of yours for
of yours the sake
for the of killing
sake of killing
ll1any people."
many people."
"We've never
never killed
killed anybody ,vith it yet."
with it yet."
"You
You are
''
are not the less
not the less 111urderers
murderers ifif you have
have
the intent
the to murder.
intent to murder. Are soldiers murderers
soldiers murderers

who kill
kill other soldiers in
other soldiers battle 1 The mur-
in battle?

derer
derer is
is the
the man who illegally kills.
illegally kills. in
Now, in
accordance
accordance with us,
us, everything
everything ,vould
would have
been done legally;
been legally; and I'm
I'm afraid that if
afraid that if
your grandfather were living
grandfather were living among us,
us, he
he
would have to
to be
be deposited
deposited like the rest."
like the rest."
"" Not if
if Sir
Sir Ferdinando were
were there,"
there," said
said

the boy.
the boy. II could
could not
not go on to
to explain
explain to
to him
hilll
that he
that he thus
thus ran
ran away froln his old
from his old argument

about the
about the duke.
duke. But II did
did feel that aa new
feel that

difficulty
difficulty would arise the extreme vener-
arise from the vener-
ation
ation paid to certain
paid to certain characters.
characters. In
In England

would it
how would it be 'with
with the Royal Fanlily?
the Eoyal Family ?

"\Vould
Would it be necessary
it be necessary to
to exenlpt do\vn
exempt them down
to the
to the extremest
extremest cousins;
cousins and if
; if so, large
so, how large
 —

OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 195

195

aa body
body of
of cousins
cousins ,vonld be generated!
would be generated ! II
feared
feared that
that the
the Fixed Period
Period could
could only be
only be

good for
for a republic in
a republic there were
in which there were no
no
classes violently
classes violently distinguished
distinguished from their
their in-
In-
ferior
ferior brethren.
brethren. If
If so,
so, it be well
it might be well that
that
II should go
go to the United
to the United States,
States, and there
there
begin to teach my doctrine.
to teach doctrine. No other
ISTo republic
other republic

would be
be strong
strong enough to
to stand against those
stand against those
hydra-headed prejudices
prejudices ,vith
with ,vhich the igno-
which the igno-
rance
rance of
of the world at
the world at large
large is
is fortified.
fortified. ""II
don't believe," continued
don't believe," the boy,
continued the bringing the
boy, bringing the
conversation to an end,
conversation to end, "that
" that all the men in
all the in
this
this ship take my grandfather
ship could take kill
grandfather and kill

him in
in cold blood."
cold blood."

was somewhat annoyed, on my way to

II ,vas to
England, by finding
finding that the men on board,
that the board,-
the
the sailors,
sailors, the
the stokers,
stokers, and stewards, —
stewards, - re-
re-
garded nle
me as
as a
a most cruel
cruel person.
person. The pre-
pre-
judices of
judices people of
of people this class
of this class are
are so
so strong
strong as
as

to
to be absolutely invincible.
invincible. It
It is necessary
is necessary

that aa new race

race should come up before
before the
the

prejudices
prejudices are
are eradicated.
eradicated. They were civil
civil
196
196 THE FIXED PERIOD.

enough in
enough In their
their demeanour
denleanour to
to personally,
me personally,
but they
but they had all been
all been taught
taught that
that II was de-
de-
voted to
voted to the
the slaughter
slaughter of
of old
old they
men; and they
regarded
regarded with all
me with all that
that horror
horror which
,vhich the
the
nations have
modern nations have entertained for cannibal-
entertained for cannibal-
Ism.
ism. I heard
I heard aa whisper
,vhisper one
one between two
day between
of the
of the stewards.
ste\vards. "He'd
" have killed
He'd have killed that
that old
old
fellow that
fellow that on board
came on board as
as sure
sure as
as eggs
eggs if
if we
hadn't got
hadn't got there
there just
just in
in time
tin1e to
to prevent
prevent him."
him."
"" Not with
with his
his own
o\vn hands,"
hands," said
said aa listening
listening
JunIor.
junior.

""Yes;
Yes; with
with his
his own hands.
hands. just
That was just

the thing.
the thing. He wouldn't
wouldn't allow it to
allow it to be
be done
done by
anybody else."
else." It
It ,vas thus that
was thus that they
they regarded
regarded
the
the sacrifice that II had thought
sacrifice that thought to
to make of
of
my own feelings
feelings in
in regard to
to Crasweller.
Crasweller. I
I

had no
no doubt suggested that II myself
suggested that myself ,vould
would
use
use the
the lancet
lancet in
in order
order to
to save
save him from any

less
less friendly
friendly touch.
touch. II believed
believed afterwards,
afterwards,

that
that when the
the time had come II should
should have

found
found myself incapacitated
incapacitated for
for the operation.
operation.

The natural
natural weakness incidental
incidental to
to my feelings
feelings
 "

OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 197

197

would have prevailed.

prevailed. But now that
that promise,
promise,
—
-once
once so painfully made,
so painfully made, and since that, as
since that, I
as I

had thought, forgotten by all

thought, forgotten but myself,
all but myself,-\vas
was—
remembered against
against me as
as a proof of
a proof the dia-
of the dia·
bolical
bolical inhumanity of
of my disposition.
disposition.

" II believe
''
believe that they think
that they think that
that 'we to
we mean to
eat them,"
eat them," II said
said one
one day to
to Crosstrees.
Crosstrees. He
gradually become my confidential
had gradually confidential friend,
friend,

and to
to him I
I made known all the sorrows
all the sorrows 'v hich
which
fell
fell upon me during
during the
the voyage from the
the ignor.
ignor-

ance
ance of
of the
the men around me.
me. II cannot boast
cannot boast

that II had in
that in the
the least
least affected
affected his
his opinion
opinion by
my arguments; but he
arguments but ;he at
at any rate
rate had sense
sense

enough to perceive that

to perceive that II was
\vas not
not aa bloody-
bloody-
minded cannibal, but one actuated
cannibal, but actuated by a true
a true

feeling
feeling of philanthropy.
of philanthropy. that my
He knew that
object
object ,vas
was to
to do good,
good, though he did not
he did not believe
believe
in the
in the good to
to be done.
done.

"" You've
You've got
got to
to endure that," said
endure that," he.
said he.

"Do
" Do you mean to
to say,
say, that
that when II get to
get to

England II shall
shall be regarded
regarded with
\vith personal
personal
feelings
feelings of
of the
the same kind ?
? "
198
198 THE FIXED PERIOD.

" Yes
" Yes; so
so II imagine."
; in1agine." There was an
There an honesty
honesty
about Crosstrees
about Crosstrees which
,vhich would
,vould never
never allow
allow him
hinl
to soften
to soften anything.
anything.
will be
"That will be hard
hard to
to bear."
bear."
"The
" first reformers
The first refonners had
had to
to bear
bear such
such hard-
hard-
ships.
ships. I don't
I don't exactly
exactly it was
remember what it 'was
that Socrates
that Socrates wanted
,vallted to
to do
do for
for his
his ungrateful
ungrateful
fellow-mortals; but they
fellow-mortals; but they thought
thought so
so badly
badly of
of
him) that
him, that they
they made him
hinl swallow
swallow poison.
poison. Your
Galileo
Galileo had aa hard
hard time
time when he
he said
said that
that the
the
sun stood
sun stood still.
still. Why should
should we
,ve go
go further
further
than Jesus
than Jesus Christ
Christ for an example
for exalnple ?? If
If you are
are
not able
not to bear
able to bear the
the incidents,
incidents) you should not
not
undertake the
undertake the business."
business."
But in
in England II should not
not have aa single
single

disciple!
disciple ! There would not
not be one
one to
to solace or
solace or

to encourage
to encourage n1e! Would
me \Vould it
! not be
it not be well
well that
that II
should
should throw myself
myself into
into the
the ocean)
ocean, and have

done
done ,vith
with aa ,vorld
world so
so ungrateful?
ungrateful ? In Britan-
Britan-

nula they had known my true

true disposition.
disposition.

There II had received

received the
the credit due to
credit due to a tender
a tender

heart
heart and loving
loving feelings.
feelings. No
'No one thought
 OUR
OUE VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 199
199

there
there that
that II wanted to
to eat victims, or
eat up my victims, or
that
that II would take
take aa pleasure
pleasure in
in spilling
spilling their
their

blood with
blood with my own hands.
hands. tidings so
And tidings so

misrepresenting
misrepresenting me would have
have reached
reached Eng-
land before
land before me,
me, and II should there have no
should there

friend.
friend. Even Lieutenant
Lieutenant Crosstrees be
Crosstrees would be

seen
seen no more after
after I
I had gone ashore.
ashore. Then
came upon me for the first
for the time an idea
first time that II
idea that

was not
not wanted in
in England at —
at all,-that
all, I ,vas
that I was
simply to
to be brought a,vay
be brought away frOlll
from my own home
honle
to avoid
to avoid the supposed mischief
the rnischief II might do
there,
there, and that
that for
for all
all British
British purposes
purposes it
it ,vonld
would
be well
well that
that II should be
be dropped into the sea,
into the sea,

or
or left
left ashore
ashore on some desert
desert island.
island. I
I had
been taken from the place where,
the place \vhere, as
as governing

officer, II had undoubtedly

officer, undoubtedly been
been of nse,-and
of use, and —
now could be
be of use no
of use no longer.
longer. Nobody in
in

England would
\vould want me or
or ,vould
would care
care for
for me,

and II should be utterly

should be utterly friendless there, and
friendless there,

alone.
alone. For
Eor aught II kne,v, they might put me
knew, they

in prison and keep me there,

in prison there, so
so as to be
as to be sure
sure

that II should
that should not return to
not return to Illy
my o\vn people.
own people. If
If
200
200 THE FIXED PERIOD.

I
I asked for
asked for liberty, II might be
my liberty, be told
told that
that
because of
because of my bloodthirstiness
bloodthirstiness it
it would be
be for
for
the general
the general welfare that II should
welfare that should be
be deprived
deprived
of
of it.
it. \Vhen Sir
When Sir Ferdinando
Ferdinando Brown had told
told
me that II should
Ine that should certainly
certainly be
be asked
asked down to
to
'Vindsor, II had taken
Windsor, taken his
his flowery
fio\yery promises
promises as
as
being worth
being ,yorth nothing.
nothing. I
I no wish
had no wish to
to go
go to
to
\Vindsor.
Windsor. should II do
But what should do with
with myself
myself
immediately on
immediately on arrival 1 Would
my arrival vVouId it
? it not
not be
be
best to
best to return
return at
at once to my own country,
once to — if
country,-if
only II might
only might be
be allowed
allo,Yed to
to do
do so.
so. All this
All this
nlade me very
made very melancholy,
melancholy, but
but especially
especially the
the
feeling that II should
feeling that be regarded
should be regarded by all
all around

as aa monster of
as of cruelty.
cruelty. II could not but
could not but think
think
of the
of the ,yords ,yhich Lieutenant
words which Lieutenant Crosstrees
Crosstrees had
spoken to
to me.
me. The Saviour
Saviour of the ,yorld
of the world had

His disciples \y ho believed

disciples who believed in
in Him, and the
the one
one
dear
dear youth who loved
loved Him so
so ,veIl.
well. II almost
almost

doubted my own energy as

as a
a teacher
teacher of
of pro-
pro-

gress
gress to
to carry
carry nle
me through the
the misery \v hich II
which
sa,y
saw in
in store
store for
for 1ne.
me.
'•'
c: I I shall
shall not
not have
have a
a very
very bright
bright time
time ,,,hen
when
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 201
201

II arrive
arrive in
in England,"
England," II said to my
said to nly friend
friend Cross-
Oross-
trees,
trees, two days before our
days before our expected arrival.
arrival.
"" It
It ,vill be all
will be all new,
new, and there
there will
will be
be plenty
plenty
for
for you to
to see."
see."

"You
" You ,vill
will go
go upon some other voyage?"
other voyage ?"

"" Yes;
Yes we shall be ,vanted
shall be
; wanted up in the Baltic
in the Baltic

at
at once.
once. We are
are very
very good
good friends
friends ,vith Russia;
with Eussia ;

but
but no dog is
is really
really respected
respected in this world
in this

unless
unless he shows that he can
that he bite as
can bite as ,veIl
well as
as

bark."
bark."

"I
" I shall not be
shall not be respected, because II can
respected, because

neither bark nor

neither bark nor bite.
bite. \Vhat ,vill
What they do
will they do \vith
with

Ine
me?"?"
""We
We shall put you on shore
shall put shore at
at Plymouth,

and send you up to London — with a

to London-with of
a guard of

honour."
honour."

"" And what

,vhat will
,vill the
the guard
guard of honour do ,vith
of honour with

nler'
me ?"
Ah for
"" Ah! that II cannot
for that
! cannot ans,ver.
answer. will
He will
treat
treat you with all kind of
all kind of respect,
respect, no doubt."
doubt."

"" It
It has not occurred
has not to you to
occurred to to think,"
think," said
said

I,
I, "
" where he
he will
will deposit me??
deposit me Why
\Vhy should it
it
 "

202
202 THE FIXED PERIOD.

do SO
do so?? to me the
But to the question
question is
is one
one of
of some
mon1ent.
moment. one there
No one there will
\vill want me
me; nobody
nobody
;

kno,vs me.
knows me. They to 'whom II must be
to whom be the
the cause
cause
of
of some little
little trouble
trouble will
'will ..simply
simply wish
",ish me out
out
of the
of the way; and
way ;and the
the world
,vorId at
at large,
large, if
if it
it hears
hears
of
of Ine at
me at all,
all, will
will simply
simply have
have been
been informed
informed of
of
cruelty and
my cruelty malignity. II do
and malignity. do not
not mean
nlean
to destroy
to destroy myself."
myself."
"Don't do that,"
" Don't do that," said
said the
the lieutenant,
lieutenant, in
In aa
piteous tone.
piteous tone.
"But it
it would
\vould be
be best,
best, were
\vere it
it not
not that
that
certain scruples prevent
certain scruples prevent one.
one. What would
\vould you
advise n1e to
advise me to do \vith myself,
do with myself, to
to begin
begin with
\vith ?? "
He paused
paused before
before he
he replied,
replied, and looked
looked pain-
pain-
fully into
fully into my face.
face. "You will excuse my
" You ,vill Illy
asking you,
asking you, because,
because, little as my acquaintance
little as acquaintance
is \vith you,
is with you, it
it is \vith you
is with you alone
alone of
of all
all English-

that II have any acquaintance."

men that acquaintance."

"" II thought that

that you \vere
were intent
intent about your

book."
book."

"'Vhat shall II do \vith

"What shall with my book? Who
,vill
will publish
publish it
it ? Ho\v shall II create
How shall
? create an interest
interest
 OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 203
203

for it
for it?? Is there
Ts there one
one ,vill believe,
who will believe, at
at any
any
rate, that I believe in the
rate, that I believe in the Fixed
Fixed Period
Period ?"
?"
" I do," said the
cc I do," said the lieutenant.
lieutenant.
"That
" is because
That is because you first
first knew
kne,v me in
in
Britannula, and
Britannula, and have
have since
since passed
passed aa ,vith
month with
me at
at sea.
sea. You are
are my one
one and only
only friend,
friend,
and you are
and are about
about to
to leave
leave me,
me,-and —
also
and you also
disbelieve in
disbelieve in me.
me. acknowledge to
You must acknowledge to
yourself that
yourself that you
you have
have never
never one whose
known one
position in
position in the
the world was more piteous,
world piteous, or
or
whose difficulties
whose difficulties were more trying."
trying." Then
I
I left him,
left him, and
and went
went down to
to complete
complete my
manuscript.
manuscript.

THE END.

AND SONS.
PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.