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lives？ The U。P。 may be patriotic and estimable； and 'ave the best
intentions and all that； but its outside the Constitooshion； and what's
more； I'm not goin' to spend my last blood an' my last money in a
democratic country to suit the tastes of any single man； or triumpherate；
or wotever it may be made of。 If the Government's uncertain wot the
country wants they can always ask it in the proper way； but they never
ought to take it on 'earsay from the papers。 That's wot I think。〃
While he was speaking Mr。 Lavender had become excited to the point of
fever； for； without intending it； Joe had laid bare to him a yawning
chasm between his worship of public men and his devotion to the Press。
And no sooner had his chauffeur finished than he cried： 〃Leave me； Joe；
for I must think this out。〃
〃Right； sir；〃 answered Joe with his smile； and taking the tea…tray from
off his master； he set it where it must infallibly be knocked over； and
went out。
〃Can it be possible；〃 thought Mr。 Lavender； when he was alone； 〃that I am
serving God and Mammon？ And which is God and which is Mammon？〃 he added；
letting his thoughts play over the countless speeches and leading
articles which had formed his spiritual diet since the war began。 〃Or；
indeed； are they not both God or both Mammon？ If what Joe says is true；
and nothing is recorded save what seems good to this Unseen Power； have I
not been listening to ghosts and shadows； and am I； indeed； myself
anything but the unsubstantial image of a public man？ For it is true
that I have no knowledge of anything save what is recorded in the
papers。〃 And perceiving that the very basis of his faith was endangered；
he threw off the bedclothes； and began to pace the room。 〃Are we； then；
all；〃 he thought； 〃being bounded like india…rubber balls by an unseen
hand； and is there no one of us strong enough to bounce into the eye of
our bounder and overthrow him？ My God； I am unhappy； for it is a
terrible thing not to know which my God is； and whether I am a public man
or an india…rubber ball。 〃And the more he thought the more dreadful it
seemed to him； now that he perceived that all those journals； pamphlets；
and reports with which his study walls were lined might not be the truth；
but merely authorized versions of it。
〃This；〃 he said aloud； 〃is a nightmare from which I must awaken or lose
all my power of action and my ability to help my country in its peril。〃
And sudden sweat broke out on his brow； for he perceived that he had now
no means of telling even whether there was a peril； so strangely had
Joe's words affected his powers of credulity。
〃But surely；〃 he thought； steadying himself by gripping his washstand；
〃there was； at least； a peril once。 And yet； how do I know even that；
for I have only been told so ； and the tellers themselves were only told
so by this Unseen Power ； and suppose it has made a mistake or has some
private ends to serve！ Oh！ it is terrible； and there is no end to it。
〃And he shook the crockery in the spasms which followed the first
awakenings of these religious doubts。 〃Where； then； am I to go；〃 he
cried； 〃for knowledge of the truth？ For even books would seem dependent
on the good opinion of this Unseen Power； and would not reach my eyes
unless they were well spoken of by it。〃
And the more he thought the more it seemed to him that nothing could help
him but to look into the eyes of this Unseen Power； so that he might see
for himself whether it was the Angel of Truth or some Demon jumping on
the earth。 No sooner had this conviction entered his brain than he
perceived how in carrying out such an enterprise he would not only be
setting his own mind at rest； and re…establishing or abolishing his
faith； but would be doing the greatest service which he could render to
his country and to all public men。 〃Thus；〃 he thought； 〃shall I
cannonize my tourney； and serve Aurora； who is the dawn of truth and
beauty in the world。 I am not yet worthy； however； of this adventure；
which will； indeed； be far more arduous and distressing to accomplish
than any which I have yet undertaken。 What can I do to brighten and
equip my mind and divest it of all those prejudices in which it may
unconsciously have become steeped ？ If I could 1eave e earth a short
space and commune with the clouds it might be best。 I will go to Hendon
and see if someone will take me up for a consideration； for on earth I
can no longer be sure of anything。
And having rounded off his purpose with this lofty design； he went back
to bed with his head lighter than a puff…ball。
XVII
ADDRESSES THE CLOUDS
On the morning following his resurrection Mr。 Lavender set out very early
for the celebrated flying ground without speaking of his intention to
anyone。 At the bottom of the hill he found to his annoyance that Blink
had divined his purpose and was following。 This； which compelled him to
walk； greatly delayed his arrival。 But chance now favoured him； for he
found he was expected； and at once conducted to a machine which was about
to rise。 A taciturn young man； with a long jaw； and wings on his breast；
was standing there gazing at it with an introspective eye。
〃Ready； sir？〃 he said。
〃Yes；〃 replied Mr。 Lavender； enveloped to the eyes in a garment of fur
and leather。 〃Will you kindly hold my dog？〃 he added； stroking Blink
with the feeling that he was parting for ever with all that was most dear
to him。
An attendant having taken hold of her by the collar； Mr。 Lavender was
heaved into the machine； where the young airman was already seated in
front of him。
〃Shall I feel sick？〃 asked Mr。 Lavender。
〃Probably；〃 said the young airman。
〃That will not deter me； for the less material I become the better it
will be。〃
The young airman turned his head； and Mr。 Lavender caught the surprised
yellow of his eye。
〃Hold on；〃 said the airman； 〃I'm going to touch her off。〃
Mr。 Lavender held on； and the machine moved but at this moment Blink；
uttering a dismal howl； leapt forward； and； breaking from the attendant's
grasp； landed in the machine against Mr。 Lavender's chest。
〃Stop！ stop he cried！〃 my dog。
〃Stuff her down；〃 said the unmoved airman； 〃between your legs。 She's not
the first to go up and won't be the last to come down。〃
Mr。 Lavender stuffed her down as best he could。 〃If we are to be
killed；〃 he thought； 〃it will be together。 Blink！〃 The faithful
creature； who bitterly regretted her position now that the motion had
begun； looked up with a darkened eye at Mr。 Lavender； who was stopping
his ears against the horrible noises which had now begun。 He ；too； had
become aware of the pit of his stomach； but this sensation soon passed
away in the excitement he felt at getting away from the earth； for they
were already at the height of a house； and rising rapidly。
〃It is not at all like a little bird；〃 he thought； but rather resemble