Whatcreaturecantherebesobaseastowishtotakemylifemerelyonaccountofmysendingyoutelegrams？Madamehasbeendriventodespairbyyourannouncement，andI，myself，althoughnoordinaryman，am，veryrightlyandproperly，goingaboutinfearofmylifesincereceiptofyourlasttelegram。Underthesecircs，andbeingunabletowaituponyouourselvesforafullexplanation，wearesendingourverylife—bloodtoyou——perrailand’bus——withstrictorderstobringyouatoncetothebanksoftheMouse，theretoconferwithMadameandselfandarrangesuchmeasuresofprecautionasaresuitedtotherequirementsofthesituationasindicatedbyyou。
　　"JUPITERSAGITTARIUS。
　　"P。S。——Youaretobringwithyou，accordingtosolemnoath，allprophecyconcerninggrandmother，Crab，etc。，gathereduptodate，togetherwithfulldetailsofsame’sremovalfromthebottle，cuttingofherfirsttooth，short—coating，goingintoskirts，puttingofhairup，dayofmarriageandwidowhood，illnesses——
　　especiallyrashes——andsoforth。/Aborigino/。
　　"MADAMESAGITTARIUS。"
　　OnreadingthiscommunicationtheProphetfeltthatallfurtherstrugglewasuseless。Fate——cruelandremorselessFate——hadhiminhergrasp。Hecouldonlybowhisheadandsubmittoherhorribledecrees。
　　HecouldonlygoupstairsandatonceprepareforthejourneytotheMouse。
　　Helaidtheletterdownandgotup，fixinghiseyesuponthekids，whosatsolemnlyawaitinghisfurtherprocedure。
　　"You——Isupposeyouknow，mylittleones，whatthis——whatyouhavetodo？"hesaid。
　　"Notsolittle，ifyouplease，Mr。Vivian，"returnedtheboy。"Yes，we’vegottotakeyouwithustoseepaterfamilias。"
　　"Andmaterfamiliar——familias，"addedthelittlegirl。
　　"Isee——youknow，"saidtheProphet，inadespairingvoice。"Verywell。
　　Waitherequietly——veryquietly，whileIgoandgetready。"
　　"Andpleasedon’tforgettheCrabandgrandmother，rashes，etceterus，"
　　saidthelittlegirl。
　　"TeraCorona，"pipedherbrother。
　　"Iwon’t，"saidtheProphet。"Iwillnot。"
　　Andhetotteredoutoftheroom，carryingtheSagittariusletterinhishand。
　　Inthehallhepausedforamoment，holdingontothebalustersandre—
　　readinghisdirections。Thenhecrawledslowlyupthestairsandsoughthisgrandmother’sroom。
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　THEPROPHETJOURNEYSTOTHEMOUSE
　　Mrs。MerilliawasjustbeginningtorecoverfromtheprostrationoftheprecedingdaywhentheProphetcameintotheroomwhereshewasseatedwithMrs。FancyQuinglet。Shelookedupathimalmostbrightly，butstartedwhenshesawhowagitatedheseemed。
　　"Grannie，"saidtheProphet，abruptly，"youwouldtellmeanything，wouldn’tyou？"
　　"Why，ofcourse，mydearboy。Butwhatabout？"
　　"About——aboutyourself？"
　　Mrs。Merillialookedverymuchastonished。
　　"Thereisnothingtohide，Hennessey，"shesaidwithgentledignity。
　　"Youknowthat。"
　　"Ido，Ido，"criedtheProphet，passionately。"Yourshasbeenthebest，thesweetestlifetheworldhaseverknown！"
　　"Well，Idon’twishtoimply——"
　　"ButIdo，grannie，Ido。CanFancyleaveusforamoment？"
　　"Certainly。Fancy，youcangotoyourtatting。"
　　"Yes，ma’am。"
　　"MrHennesseyhassomethingtoexplaintome。"
　　"Oh，ma’am，thehousesthathavebeenbrokeupbyexplainings！"
　　Andwiththis，astheProphetthought，appallinglyappropriateexclamation，Mrs。Fancyhurriedfeverishlyfromtheroom。
　　"Nowwhatisthequestionyouwishtoaskme，Hennessey？"saidMrs。
　　Merillia，withasoftdignity。
　　"Thereare——onemoment——thereareeightquestions，grannie，"respondedtheProphet，shrinkingvisiblybeforethedreadnecessitybywhichhefoundhimselfconfronted。
　　"Eight！Somany？"
　　"Yes，oh，indeed，yes。"
　　"Well，mydear，andwhatarethey？"
　　"Thefirstis——is——grannie，whenwereyouremovedfrom——fromthebottle？"
　　AverydelicateflushcreptintoMrs。Merillia’scharmingcheeks。
　　"Thebottle，Hennessey！Never，never！"shesaid，withasortofpatheticindignation。"Howcouldyousuppose——I——thebottle——"
　　Herprettyoldvoicediedaway。
　　"Answered，darlinggrannie，answered！"ejaculatedtheProphet。
　　Please——pleasedon’t！"Andnow——yourfirsttooth？"
　　"Myfirstwhat！"criedMrs。Merilliainalmostterrifiedamazement。
　　"Tooth——whendidyoucutit？"
　　"Ihavenoidea。Surely，Hennessey——"
　　"Answered，dearestgrannie！"criedtheProphet，withgatheringagitation。"Didyoueverwearashortcoat？"
　　"I——I’mnotaman！"
　　"Youdidn’t！Alwaysaskirt？"
　　"Ofcourse！Why——"
　　"Andyou’resixty—eightonthetwentieth。Soforsixty—eightyearsyou’vealwayswornaskirt。That’sfour。"
　　"Fourwhat？Areyou——？"
　　"Whendidyouputyourhairup，grannie，darling？"
　　"Myhair——never。YouknowI’vealwayshadamaidtodothesethingsforme。Fancy——"
　　"Ofcourse。You’veneverputyourhairup。Imighthaveknown。Youweremarriedveryyoung，weren’tyou？"
　　"Ah，yes。Onmyseventeenthbirthday，andwasleftawidowinexactlytwoyears’time。Yourpoordeargranf——"
　　"Thankyou，grannie，thankyou！Seven！"
　　"Sevenwhat，Hennessey？Onewouldth——"
　　"Andnow，deargrannie，tellmeonething，onlyonelittlethingmore。
　　About——thatis，talkingofrashes——"
　　"Rashers！"
　　"No，grannie，rashes——illnesses，youknow，thattakeanepidemicform。"
　　"Well，whataboutthem？Surelythereisn’tanepidemicinthesquare？"
　　"Howmanyhaveyouhad，grannie？"
　　"Where？Hadwhat？"
　　"Here，anywhereinthesquare，grannie。"
　　"Hadwhatinthesquare？"
　　"Rashes。"
　　"I！Havearashinthesquare！"
　　"Exactly。Haveyouever——anepidemic，youknow？"
　　"IhaveanepidemicinBerkeleySquare？Youmustbecrazy，Hennessey！"
　　"Probably，verylikely，grannie。Buthaveyou？Tellmequickly！Haveyou？"
　　"Certainlynot！Asifanygentlewoman——"
　　"Answered，grannie，answered！Eight！"
　　"Eightwhat？"
　　"Questions。Thankyou，dearestgrannie。Iknewyou’dtellme，Iknewyouwould！"
　　AndtheProphetrushedfromtheroom，leavingMrs。MerilliainaconditionthatcannotbedescribedandthatnotallthesubsequentministrationsofMrs。FancyQuingletwereabletoalleviate。
　　Havingreachedthehall，theProphethastilyputonhiscoatandhatandcalledMr。Ferdinandtohim。
　　"Mr。Ferdinand，"hesaid，assumingafixedandstonydignitytoconcealhisagitationanddismay，"Iamleavingthehouseatoncewiththe——theladyandgentlemanwhoareinthelibrary。"
　　AtthisdescriptionofthekidsMr。Ferdinandwasverynearlyseizedwithconvulsions。However，ashesaidnothingandmerelywrunghislargehands，theProphet，afteraslightpause，continued，——
　　"Imaybeawaysometime，soifMrs。Merilliashouldmakeanyinquiry，youwillsaythatIhavelefttopayavisittosomefriends。"
　　"Yes，sir。ShallItellGustavustopackyourthings？"
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　TheProphetwasturningtowardsthelibrarywhenMr。Ferdinandadded，——
　　"Whenshallweexpectyouback，sir？AmItoforwardyourletters？"
　　"No，no。Ishallreturninafewhours。"
　　"Oh，Ibegpardon，sir。Andifanytelegrams——"
　　"Therewillnotbeany。Iamnowgoingtoanswerthetelegramsinperson。"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Comealong，mychildren，"criedtheProphet，puttinghisheadintothelibrary。
　　"Notyourchildren，ifyouplease，Mr。Vivian，"repliedthelittleboy。
　　"Corona，comeon。"
　　"Howdowego，mydears？"askedtheProphet，withanattemptatgaiety，andendeavouringtoignoretheprostrateddemeanourofMr。Ferdinand，whowasinwaitingtoopenthehalldoor。
　　"Bythepurple’busasfarasthePorkButcher’sRest，"pipedthelittleboy——（atthispointMr。Ferdinandcouldnotrefrainfromaslightexclamation）——"thenwetakethetraintotheMouse，Mouse，Mouse。"
　　"Mus，Mus，Mus，"chantedthelittlegirl。
　　AsMr。Ferdinandwasunabletoopenthedoor，paralysishavingapparentlysupervened，theProphetdidso，andthecheerfullittlepartyemergeduponthesteptofindLadyEnidThistleintheveryactofpressingtheelectricbell。Whenshebeheldthevivacioustrio，allagogfortheirmorning’sexpedition，comethussuddenlyuponher，shecriedoutmusically，——
　　"Why，whereareyouoffto？"
　　TheProphetwasmuchembarrassedbytheencounter。
　　"Iamtakingtheselit"——hecaughtthestaringeyeofCapricornus——
　　"thesefriendsofmineforalittlewalk，"hesaid。
　　"I’llcomewithyou，"saidLadyEnid，withanalmostHighlanddecision。
　　"I’vegotsomethingtosaytoyou，andwecantalkaswego。"
　　Sheglancedveryinquisitivelyindeedatthetwochildren，whohadbeguntofriskatsightofthesquareallbathedinwintersunshine。
　　TheProphetwasverymuchupset。
　　"Don’tyouthink——"hebegan。
　　"Itwillbedelightfultohavesomeexercise，"sheinterruptedfirmly。
　　"Whichwayareyougoing？"
　　"Whichway！Oh，to——towards——"
　　TheProphetstopped。Hedidnotknowfromwhatpointthepurple’busstartedtogainthePorkButcher’sRest。Capricornushastenedtoinformhim。
　　"Wetakethepurple’busatthecornerofAirStreet，"hepiped。
　　"Thepurple’bus！"criedLadyEnid。"Thepurplebus！"
　　SheglancedsearchinglyattheProphet。
　　"Ah！"shemurmured，"soyouaretakingapurple’bustoyourdoublelife！"
　　Hecouldnotdenyit。TheywerenowallwalkingforwardinthesunandasthelittleCoronaandCapricornusbecamespeedilyintentuponthewondersofthiscentraldistrict，LadyEnidandtheProphetwereabletohaveaquietwordortwotogether。
　　"Icametotellyou，"shesaid，"thatMrs。VaneBridgemanwillexpectyouto—nightat——"
　　"Iamengagedateleven，"criedtheProphet，indespairattheimpositionofthisfreshburdenuponhiswearyshoulders。
　　"Iknow。TotheLordChancellor，but——"
　　"No。IhaveanengagementwhichIdarenotbreak，athome。"
　　"Really！"
　　Shegazedathimwithherlarge，handsomegreyeyes，andadded，——
　　"Idobelieveyou’resillyenoughtoliveyourdoublelifeathomesometimes。Howsplendid！"
　　"No，no！Iassureyou——"
　　"Ofcourseyoudo！Youdearfoolishthing！You’reeversomuchsillierthanIam。You’remymaster。"
　　"No，indeed，no，no！"
　　"ButyoucangotoMrs。Bridgeman’sforanhoureasily。SheexpectsyouandI’vepromisedthatyouwillgo。"
　　"It’sverykindofyou，butreally——"
　　"Sothat’ssettled。You’llmeetmethere，butdon’tforgetI’mMissMinervaPartridge。TheaddressisZoologicalHouse，Regent’sPark，thatbighouseinagardenjustoutsidetheZoo。"
　　"ThebighouseintheZoologicalGardens，"saidtheProphet，feebly。
　　"Thankyouverymuch。"
　　"No，no，outsidetheZoo。Andthenwecanarrangeto—nightaboutyourintroducinghertoMr。Sagittarius。"
　　"Hush！Hush！"whisperedtheProphet。
　　Buthewastoolate。Thelongearsofthelittlepitchershadcaughtthewell—knownword。
　　"Why，that抯paterfamilias，"pipedthelittleCapricornus。
　　"Andmaterfamiliaris，"addedthelittleCorona。
　　"Youdon’tmeantosay，"criedLadyEnidtotheProphet，"thatthesearethechildrenofMr。Sagittarius？"
　　TheProphetbenthishead。
　　"Howveryinteresting！"saidLadyEnid。"Everythingisworkingoutmostbeautifully。Imustgetthemsomechocolates。"
　　Andsheimmediatelysteppedintoaconfectioner’sandcameoutwithabeautifulboxofbon—bons，tiedwithamethystribbon，whichshegavetothedelightedchildren。
　　"Iknowyourdearfather，"shesaid。"AtleastIknowwhoheis。"
　　AndshelookedfirmlyattheProphet，whodroppedhiseyes。TheywerenowatthecornerofAirStreet，andthepurple’buscouldbeseenloomingbrilliantlyinthedistance。
　　"Good—bye，LadyEnid，"saidtheProphet。
　　"Oh，I’llseeyouoff，"shereplied，evidentlyresolvedtosatisfysomefurther，unexpressedcuriosity。
　　"Thereitis！"criedCapricornus。"It’scoming！Thereitis！"
　　"Isn’titpretty？"shriekedthelittleCorona，whowasevidentlygrowingmuchexcitedbythechocolatesandthecentralnessofthewholething。"Let’sgoonthetop！Let’sgoonthetop！"
　　Shebegantojumponthepavement，andherbrotherwasjustabouttofollowherexamplewhensomesuddenideastruckhimintogravity。HeturnedtotheProphetandexclaimedsolemnly，——
　　"Oh，ifyouplease，Mr。Vivian，haveyougotthecrabwithyou？"
　　"Thecrab！"criedLadyEnid，withmuchvivacity。
　　"Yes，yes，myboy，it’sallright！"saidtheProphet，hastily。
　　"Notyourboy，ifyouplease，Mr。Vivian，"returnedthelittleinquisitor。"Andhaveyougotthefisttooth？"
　　"Yes，yes！"
　　"Andtherashes，andthehonouredgrandmother，and——"
　　"I’vegoteverything，"criedtheProphet，"everysinglething！"
　　"BecausematerfamiliassaidIwastomakeyoubringthemifIstayedforthemallday。"
　　"Yes，yes，they’reallhere——everyone。"
　　LadyEnidwasgazingattheProphet’sslimformwithalmostpassionatecuriosity。Itwasevidentlyaproblemtoherhowhehadmanagedtoconcealsomanyvariouscommoditiesabouthispersonwithoutalteringhisshape。However，shehadnotimetostudythematter，foratthismomentthepurple’busjerkedalongthekerb，andthevoiceoftheconductorwasheardcrying，——
　　"PorkButcher’sRest！Allthewayonepenny！Pork——penny——alltheway——
　　Butcher’s——Rest——one——Pork——all——Pork——penny——Pork——Butcher’s——Pork——
　　Rest——Pork——penny！"
　　WithahastyfarewelltheProphet，accompanied，andindeedcloselyclutched，bythelittleCoronaandCapricornus，scrambledfanatically，andnotwithouttwoorthreeheavyfalls，tothesummitofthe’bus，whileLadyEnidreadthelegendprintedonitwithasmile，eresheturnedtowalkhome，puttingtwoandtwotogether，andthinking，withkeenfemininesatisfaction，howuselessinthelongrunareallthenegativesofman。
　　Inlateryears，thoughmanymemoriesintervene，theProphetwillneverforgethisjourneytothebanksoftheMouse。Alwaysitseemedverystrangetohimanddream—like，thateverlastingjourneyuponthepurple’bus，complicatedbythechatteroftheyoungerscionsoftheMalkieldynasty，andbytheshrillcriesoftheconductorsummoningthepassers—bytohastentothatplaceofreposeconsecratedtotheworthyandhard—workingindividualswhodrewtheirmodestincomesfromthepig。Thecharacterofthestreetschangedasthecentraldistrictswereleftbehind，andacuriousscent，thescentofSuburbia，seemedtofloatbetweenthetallchimneysinthemoroseatmosphere。Thepurplechariot，whichrolledonandonlikethechariotofFate，drewgraduallyawayfromthelargethoroughfaresintomeanstreets，whoseairofdullgentilitywasforeverautumnal，andtheProphet，onpassingsomegiganticgasworks，mechanicallywonderedwhetheritmightnot，perhaps，bethatmonumenttowhoseshadowMalkieltheFirsthadlivedanddied。Once，lookingupattheblacksky，heremarkedtothelittleCapricornusthatitwasevidentlygoingtorain。
　　"No，Mr。Vivian，"repliedtheboy。"Itwon’trainhardthisweek。
　　January’safinemonth，butthere’llbeheavyfloodsinMarch，especiallyalongthebanksoftheThames。"
　　"AndinFebruarythere’llbesuchalotofscarletfeverinthesouthernportionsofEngland，"addedthelittleCorona。"Oh，Corney，justlookatthatkittyontheaireyrailings！"
　　"Area，Corona，"correctedherbrother。"Oh，my！ain’titfunny？"
　　TheProphetrememberedthathewastravellingwiththescionsofaprophetichouse。
　　Itseemedmanyyearsbeforethe’busstoppedbeforeabrickbuildingfullofquartpots，situateduponagentleeminenceslopingtoacoal—
　　yard，andthevoiceoftheconductorproclaimedthattheplaceofreposewasreached。TheProphetandhisdiminutiveguidesdescendedfromtheroofandwereshortlyinatrainpuffingbetweenthehunchedbacksofabominablelittlehouses，sootyasstreetcatsandalivewithcryingbabies。Thenbitsofwastelandappeared，baldwildernessesinwhichfragmentsofbrokencrockeryhibernatedwitholdtincansandkettlesyellowasdyingleaves。Afurtivebrownrivuletwanderedhereandtherelikeathingendeavouringtoconcealitselfandunabletofindahiding—place。
　　"That’stheMouse，Mr。Vivian，"remarkedCapricornus，proudly。"Weshallsoonbethere。"
　　"Ridiculummus，"rejoinedhissister，whoevidentlytookafterherlearnedmother。
　　"Culus，Corona；andyou’renottosaythat。PaterfamiliassaysthattheMouseisanoblestream。Wegetouthere，Mr。Vivian。"
　　Hereprovedtobeawaysidestationontheverybankofthenoblestream，andontheedgeofapieceofwastegroundsolargethatitmightalmosthavebeencalledcountry。
　　TheProphetandthetwokidssetoffacrossthisearth，whichwasnamedbytheinhabitants"theCommon。"InthedistanceroseafringeofdetachedbrickandstonevillastowardswhichCapricornusnowpointedaforefingerthattrembledwithpride。
　　"That’swherewelive，"hesaid，inavoicethatwasgrownsqueakyfromconceit。
　　"Dulcedomus，"pipedhissister，clutchingtheskirtoftheProphet’scoat，and，thussupported，performingseveralveryelaboratedancingstepsupontheclayeysoiloverwhichhewasfeeblystaggering。"Dulcedulce，dulcedomus。Lookatthatrat，Corney！"
　　Alarge，rakingrodent，indeed，atthatinstantemergedfromthewreckageofwhathadoncebeenacoppercauldronnearby，andwalkedslowlyawaytowardsaslopeofdustgarnishedwithbrokenbottlesandabandonedcabbagestalks。TheProphetshudderedandlongedtoflee，butthetwokids，asifdivininghisthought，nowclaspedhishandsandledhimfirmlyforwardtoayellowvilla，fringedwithwhiteBathstoneandgarnishedplentifullywithgriffins。FromitsflatfrontshotostentatiouslyforthaporchadornedwithRomancolumnswhichcommandedanearviewoftheMouse，andbeforetheporchwasasmallgardeninwhichseveralhealthy—lookingnettleshadmadetheirhome。
　　AstheProphetandthetwokidsapproachedthisdelightfulabode，awhitefaceappeared，gluingitselftothepaneofanupperwindow。
　　"There’spaterfamilias！"pipedCapricornus。"Don’thelookill？"
　　Astheymountedtheflightofimitationmarblestepsthefacedisappearedabruptly。
　　"He’scomingtoletusin，"saidCapricornus。"You’resureyou’vebroughtthecrabandalltherashes？"
　　"Quitesure。"
　　"Because，ifyouhaven’t，Idon’tknowwhatevermaterfamilias’ll——"
　　Atthismomenttheportalofthelodgewasfurtivelyopenedabouthalfaninch，andaverysmallsegmentofashen—colouredhumanface，containingalargeandapprehensiveeye，wasshownintheaperture。
　　"Areyoualone？"saidthehollowvoiceofMr。Sagittarius。
　　"Quite，quitealone，"saidtheProphet，reassuringly。
　　"It’sallright，paterfamilias！"criedCapricornus。"He’sbroughtalltherashesandthefirsttoothandeverything。Imadehim。"
　　"Idon’tthinkhewantedto，"addedthelittleCorona，suddenlydevelopingmalice。
　　"I’vetakenthislongjourney，Mr。Sagittarius，"saidtheProphet，witharemnantofself—respect，"atyourspecialrequest。AmItobepermittedtocomein？"
　　"Ifyou’resureyou’requitealone，"returnedthesage，showingaslightlyenlargedsegmentofface。
　　"Iamquitesure——positive！"
　　Atthisthedoorwasopenedjustsufficientlytoadmitthepassageofonethinpersonatatime，and，insinglefile，theProphet，CoronaandCapricornuspassedintothelodge。
　　CHAPTERXV
　　THEPROPHETCREATESADIVERSIONATHISOWNEXPENSE
　　Onsteppingintoasmallvestibule，pavedwithblackandwhitelozenges，andfittedupwithanironumbrellastand，aMoorishlampandalargeyellowchinapugdog，theProphetfoundhimselfatoncefacedbyMr。Sagittarius，whosepallidcountenance，nervouseyeandsuspiciousdemeanourplainlyproclaimedhimtobe，ashehadstated，veryrightlyandproperlygoingaboutinfearofhislife。
　　"Gototheschoolroom，mydarlings，"hewhisperedtohischildren。
　　"Why，whathaveyouthere？"
　　"Choclets，"saidCapricornus。
　　"Fromtheprettylady，muliuspulchrum，"addedthelittleCorona。
　　"Whoisamulibuspulchrum，mylove？"askedMr。Sagittarius，beforeCapricornushadtimetocorrecthissister’sLatin。
　　"ItwasMissMinerva，"saidtheProphet。"Wehappenedtomeether。"
　　"Indeed，sir。Runaway，mypretties，anddon’teatmorethanoneeach，ormaterfamiliaswillnotapprove。
　　Then，asthelittleonesdisappearedintotheshadowsoftheregionabove，headdedtotheProphet，——
　　"You’venearlybeenthedeathofMadame，sir。"
　　"I’msureI’mverysorry，"saidtheProphet。
　　"Sorrowisnosalve，sir，nosalveatall。WereitnotforherbooksI
　　fearwemighthavelosther。"
　　"Goodgracious！"