* * * * *

The rest of the letter was filled with all sorts of news which interested
me, but would require chapters of explanation before they could become
interesting to the reader.

The letter wound up:-

"You may publish now whatever you like, whenever you like.

"Write to me by way of Erewhemos, care of the Right Reverend the Lord
Bishop, and say which way you will come. If you prefer the old road,
we are bound to be in the neighbourhood of the statues by the
beginning of March. My next brother is now Ranger, and could meet you
at the statues with permit and luncheon, and more of that white wine
than ever you will be able to drink. Only let me know what you will
do.

"I should tell you that the old railway which used to run from
Clearwater to the capital, and which, as you know, was allowed to go
to ruin, has been reconstructed at an outlay far less than might have
been expected--for the bridges had been maintained for ordinary
carriage traffic. The journey, therefore, from Sunch'ston to the
capital can now be done in less than forty hours. On the whole,
however, I recommend you to come by way of Erewhemos. If you start,
as I think possible, without writing from England, Bishop Kahabuka's
palace is only eight miles from the port, and he will give you every
information about your further journey--a distance of less than a
couple of hundred miles. But I should prefer to meet you myself.

"My dearest brother, I charge you by the memory of our common father,
and even more by that of those three hours that linked you to me for
ever, and which I would fain hope linked me also to yourself--come
over, if by any means you can do so--come over and help us.

"GEORGE STRONG."

"My dear," said I to my wife who was at the other end of the breakfast
table, "I shall have to translate this letter to you, and then you will
have to help me to begin packing; for I have none too much time. I must
see Alfred, and give him a power of attorney. He will arrange with some
publisher about my book, and you can correct the press. Break the news
gently to the children; and get along without me, my dear, for six months
as well as you can."

* * * * *

I write this at Southampton, from which port I sail to-morrow--i.e.
November 15, 1900--for Erewhemos.

Footnotes

{1} See Chapter X.

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