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preach once only in a thousand years： but now I know not how to convince
you。 Stay； I have it。 Deeds； and not words； shall proclaim the truth。 Listen；
my friend。
I have told you I can see from my position in Space the inside of all
things that you consider closed。 For example； I see in yonder cupboard
near which you are standing； several of what you call boxes （but like
everything else in Flatland； they have no tops or bottom） full of money； I
see also two tablets of accounts。 I am about to descend into that cupboard
and to bring you one of those tablets。 I saw you lock the cupboard half an
hour ago； and I know you have the key in your possession。 But I descend
from Space； the doors； you see； remain unmoved。 Now I am in the
cupboard and am taking the tablet。 Now I have it。 Now I ascent with it。
I rushed to the closet and dashed the door open。 One of the tablets was
gone。 With a mocking laugh； the Stranger appeared in the other corner of
the room； and at the same time the tablet appeared upon the floor。 I took it
up。 There could be no doubtit was the missing tablet。
I groaned with horror； doubting whether I was not out of my sense； but
the Stranger continued： 〃Surely you must now see that my explanation；
and no other； suits the phenomena。 What you call Solid things are really
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superficial； what you call Space is really nothing but a great Plane。 I am in
Space； and look down upon the insides of the things of which you only see
the outsides。 You could leave the Plane yourself； if you could but summon
up the necessary volition。 A slight upward or downward motion would
enable you to see all that I can see。
〃The higher I mount； and the further I go from your Plane； the more I
can see； though of course I see it on a smaller scale。 For example； I am
ascending； now I can see your neighbour the Hexagon and his family in
their several apartments； now I see the inside of the Theatre； ten doors off；
from which the audience is only just departing； and on the other side a
Circle in his study； sitting at his books。 Now I shall come back to you。 And；
as a crowning proof； what do you say to my giving you a touch； just the
least touch； in your stomach？ It will not seriously injure you； and the slight
pain you may suffer cannot be compared with the mental benefit you will
receive。〃
Before I could utter a word of remonstrance； I felt a shooting pain in
my inside； and a demoniacal laugh seemed to issue from within me。 A
moment afterwards the sharp agony had ceased； leaving nothing but a dull
ache behind； and the Stranger began to reappear； saying； as he gradually
increased in size； 〃There； I have not hurt you much； have I？ If you are not
convinced now； I don't know what will convince you。 What say you？〃
My resolution was taken。 It seemed intolerable that I should endure
existence subject to the arbitrary visitations of a Magician who could thus
play tricks with one's very stomach。 If only I could in any way manage to
pin him against the wall till help came！
Once more I dashed my hardest angle against him； at the same time
alarming the whole household by my cries for aid。 I believe； at the
moment of my onset； the Stranger had sunk below our Plane； and really
found difficulty in rising。 In any case he remained motionless； while I；
hearing； as I thought； the sound of some help approaching； pressed against
him with redoubled vigor； and continued to shout for assistance。
A convulsive shudder ran through the Sphere。 〃This must not be；〃 I
thought I heard him say： 〃either he must listen to reason； or I must have
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recourse to the last resource of civilization。〃 Then； addressing me in a
louder tone； he hurriedly exclaimed； 〃Listen： no stranger must witness
what you have witnessed。 Send your Wife back at once； before she enters
the apartment。 The Gospel of Three Dimensions must not be thus
frustrated。 Not thus must the fruits of one thousand years of waiting be
thrown away。 I hear her coming。 Back！ back！ Away from me； or you must
go with mewither you know notinto the Land of Three Dimensions！〃
〃Fool！ Madman！ Irregular！〃 I exclaimed； 〃never will I release thee；
thou shalt pay the penalty of thine impostures。〃
〃Ha！ Is it come to this？〃 thundered the Stranger： 〃then meet your fate：
out of your Plane you go。 Once； twice； thrice！ ‘Tis done！〃
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SECTION 18 How I came to Spaceland； and what
I saw there
An unspeakable horror seized me。 There was a darkness； then a dizzy；
sickening sensation of sight that was not like seeing； I saw a Line that was
no Line； Space that was not Space： I was myself； and not myself。 When I
could find voice； I shrieked loud in agony； 〃Either this is madness or it is
Hell。〃 〃It is neither； calmly replied the voice of the Sphere； 〃it is
Knowledge； it is Three Dimensions： open your eye once again and try to
look steadily。〃
I looked； and； behold； a new world！ There stood before me； visibly
incorporate； all that I had before inferred； conjectured； dreamed； of perfect
Circular beauty。 What seemed the centre of the Stranger's form lay open to
my view： yet I could see no heart； lungs； nor arteries； only a beautiful
harmonious Something for which I had no words； but you； my Readers
in Spaceland； would call it the surface of the Sphere。
Prostrating myself mentally before my Guide； I cried； 〃How is it； O
divine ideal of consummate loveliness and wisdom that I see thy inside；
and yet cannot discern thy heart； thy lungs； thy arteries； thy liver？〃 〃What
you think you see； you see not；〃 he replied； 〃it is not giving to you； nor to
any other Being； to behold my internal parts。 I am of a different order of
Beings from those in Flatland。 Were I a Circle； you could discern my
intestines； but I am a Being； composed as I told you before； of many
Circles； the Many in the One； called in this country a Sphere。 And； just as
the outside of a Cube is a Square； so the outside of a Sphere represents