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confidence; but had we told them all, they would not have
believed us, and I was determined that no one should hear
of Erewhon, or have the chance of getting there before me,
as long as I could prevent it. Indeed, the recollection of the
many falsehoods which I was then obliged to tell, would
render my life miserable were I not sustained by the con-
solations of my religion. Among the passengers there was a
most estimable clergyman, by whom Arowhena and I were
married within a very few days of our coming on board.
After a prosperous voyage of about two months, we sight-
ed the Land’s End, and in another week we were landed at
London. A liberal subscription was made for us on board
the ship, so that we found ourselves in no immediate diffi-
culty about money. I accordingly took Arowhena down into
Somersetshire, where my mother and sisters had resided
when I last heard of them. To my great sorrow I found that
my mother was dead, and that her death had been acceler-
ated by the report of my having been killed, which had been
brought to my employer’s station by Chowbok. It appeared
that he must have waited for a few days to see whether I
returned, that he then considered it safe to assume that I
should never do so, and had accordingly made up a story
about my having fallen into a whirlpool of seething waters
while coming down the gorge homeward. Search was made
for my body, but the rascal had chosen to drown me in a
place where there would be no chance of its ever being re-
covered.
My sisters were both married, but neither of their hus-
bands was rich. No one seemed overjoyed on my return;

Erewhon