JustasIhaddecidedontheplanofmyoperations,Iheardthesoundofmanyvoicesinthestreetcommandingsilence.Thenfollowedaloudervoice.Itwasaherald'sproclamation.
Listeningattentively,IrecognizedthewordsoftheResolutionoftheCouncil,enjoiningthearrest,imprisonment,orexecutionofanyonewhoshouldpervertthemindsofpeoplebydelusions,andbyprofessingtohavereceivedrevelationsfromanotherWorld.
ItwouldbebettertoavoiditbyomittingallmentionofmyRevelation,andbyproceedingonthepathofDemonstration—whichafterall,seemedsosimpleandsoconclusivethatnothingwouldbelostbydiscardingtheformermeans.
IthadseemedtomefairlyclearbeforeIfellasleep;andwhenIfirstawoke,freshfrommydream,ithadappearedaspatentasArithmetic;butsomehowitdidnotseemtomequitesoobviousnow.
ThoughmyWifeenteredtheroomopportunelyatjustthatmoment,Idecided,afterwehadexchangedafewwordsofcommonplaceconversation,nottobeginwithher.
MyPentagonalSonsweremenofcharacterandstanding,andphysiciansofnomeanreputation,butnotgreatinmathematics,and,inthatrespect,unfitformypurpose.
WhythereforenotmakemyfirstexperimentwithmylittleprecociousGrandson,whosecasualremarksonthemeaningofthree-to-the-thirdhadmetwiththeapprovaloftheSphere?
Discussingthematterwithhim,amereboy,Ishouldbeinperfectsafety;forhewouldknownothingoftheProclamationoftheCouncil;whereasIcouldnotfeelsurethatmySons—sogreatlydidtheirpatriotismandreverencefortheCirclespredominateovermereblindaffection—mightnotfeelcompelledtohandmeovertothePrefect,iftheyfoundmeseriouslymaintainingtheseditiousheresyoftheThirdDimension.
ButthefirstthingtobedonewastosatisfyinsomewaythecuriosityofmyWife,whonaturallywishedtoknowsomethingofthereasonsforwhichtheCirclehaddesiredthatmysteriousinterview,andofthemeansbywhichhehadenteredthehouse.
WithoutenteringintothedetailsoftheelaborateaccountIgaveher,—anaccount,Ifear,notquitesoconsistentwithtruthasmyReadersinSpacelandmightdesire,—ImustbecontentwithsayingthatIsucceededatlastinpersuadinghertoreturnquitelytoherhouseholddutieswithoutelicitingfrommeanyreferencetotheWorldofThreeDimensions.
Thisdone,IimmediatelysentformyGrandson;for,toconfessthetruth,IfeltthatallthatIhadseenandheardwasinsomestrangewayslippingawayfromme,liketheimageofahalf-grasped,tantalizingdream,andIlongedtoessaymyskillinmakingafirstdisciple.
Then,sittingdownbyhissideandtakingourmathematicaltablets,—or,asyouwouldcallthem,Lines—Itoldhimwewouldresumethelessonofyesterday.
ItaughthimoncemorehowaPointbymotioninOneDimensionproducesaLine,andhowastraightLineinTwoDimensionsproducesaSquare.
Afterthis,forcingalaugh,Isaid,"Andnow,youscamp,youwantedtomakebelievethataSquaremayinthesamewaybymotion'Upward,notNorthward'produceanotherfigure,asortofextrasquareinThreeDimensions.Saythatagainn,youyoungrascal."
Youngthoughhewas,myGrandson—whowasunusuallyintelligentforhisage,andbredupinperfectreverencefortheauthorityoftheCircles—tookinthesituationwithanacutenessforwhichIwasquiteunprepared.
HeremainedsilenttillthelastwordsoftheProclamationhaddiedaway,andthen,burstingintotears,"DearGrandpapa,"hesaid,"thatwasonlymyfun,andofcourseImeantnothingatallbyit;andwedidnotknowanythingthenaboutthenewLaw;andIdon'tthinkIsaidanythingabouttheThirdDimension;andIamsureIdidnotsayonewordabout'Upward,notNorthward,'forthatwouldbesuchnonsense,youknow.
"Notatallsilly,"saidI,losingmytemper;"hereforexample,ItakethisSquare,"and,attheword,IgraspedamoveableSquare,whichwaslyingathand—"andImoveit,yousee,notNorthwardbut—yes,ImoveitUpward—thatistosay,NorthwardbutImoveitsomewhere—notexactlylikethis,butsomehow—"HereIbroughtmysentencetoaninaneconclusion,shakingtheSquareaboutinapurposelessmanner,muchtotheamusementofmyGrandson,whoburstoutlaughinglouderthanever,anddeclaredthatIwasnotteachinghim,butjokingwithhim;andsosayingheunlockedthedoorandranoutoftheroom.
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