eligion of the country. The far-reaching changes in Erewhonian
institutions with which the reader is already acquainted followed as a
matter of course.

"I know the difficulty," said my father presently, "with which the King
was persuaded to allow the way in which the Sunchild's dress should be
worn to be a matter of opinion, not dogma. I see we have adopted
different fashions. Have you any decided opinions upon the subject?"

"I have; but I will ask you not to press me for them. Let this matter
remain as the King has left it."

My father thought that he might now venture on a shot. So he said, "I
have always understood, too, that the King forced the repeal of the laws
against machinery on the Bridgeford committee, as another condition of
his assent?"

"Certainly. He insisted on this, partly to gratify the Queen, who had
not yet forgiven him, and who had set her heart on having a watch, and
partly because he expected that a development of the country's resources,
in consequence of a freer use of machinery, would bring more money into
his exchequer. Bridgeford fought hard and wisely here, but they had
gained so much by the Musical Bank Managers being recognised as the
authorised exponents of Sunchildism, that they thought it wise to
yield--apparently with a good grace--and thus gild the pill which his
Majesty was about to swallow. But even then they feared the consequences
that are already beginning to appear, all which, if I mistake not, will
assume far more serious proportions in the future."

"See," said my father suddenly, "we are coming to another procession, and
they have got some banners, let us walk a little quicker and overtake
it."

"Horrible!" replied Mr. Balmy fiercely. "You must be short-sighted, or
you could never have called my attention to it. Let us get it behind us
as fast as possible, and not so much as look at it."

"Oh yes, yes," said my father, "it is indeed horrible, I had not seen
what it was."

He had not the faintest idea what the matter was, but he let Mr. Balmy
walk a little ahead of him, so that he could see the banners, the most
important of which he found to display a balloon pure and simple, with
one figure in the car. True, at the top of the banner there was a smudge
which might be taken for a little chariot, and some very little horses,
but the balloon was the only thing insisted on. As for the procession,
it consisted entirely of men, whom a smaller banner announced