Wells, H. G. - The Time Machine

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* *T he P ro je ct G ut en be rg E te xt o f H . G . W el ls ' T he T im e M ac hi ne **

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The Time Machine

by H. G. Wells [Herbert George]

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J ul y, 1 99 2 [ Et ex t # 35 ]

* *T he P ro je ct G ut en be rg E te xt o f H . G . W el ls ' T he T im e M ac hi ne **

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C or r ected E DI TI ON S o f o ur et ex ts g et a n ew N UM BE R, x xx xx x1 1. t xt .

VE RS I ON S b as ed o n s epar at e s o ur ces g et n ew L ET TE R, x xx xx 10 a.t xt .

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T hi s i s t en t ho us an d t it les each t o o ne h un dr ed m il li on r eaders .

W e n ee d y ou r d on at io ns m or e t ha n e ve r!


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* E ND * TH E S M AL L P R IN T! F OR P U BL I C D O MA I N E TE X TS * Ver .0 3 .0 8. 9 2* E ND *

T he T im e M achi ne, b y H (erb er t) G (eor ge) W el ls [ 18 98 ]

I

T he T im e Tr ave ll er ( fo r s o i t w il l b e c on ve ni en t t o s pe ak o f

h im ) w as e xp ou nd in g a r ec on di te m at te r t o u s. H is gr ey e ye s

s ho ne and t wi nk led, and h is u su al ly p al e f ace w as f lu sh ed and

ani mated. T he f ir e b ur ned b ri gh tl y, and t he s of t r ad iance o f t he

incandescent lights in the lilies of silver caught the bubbles

t ha t f la sh ed a nd p as se d i n o ur g la ss es . Ou r c ha ir s, b ei ng h is

p at en ts , e mb ra ce d a nd c ar es se d u s r at he r t ha n s ub mi tt ed t o b e s at

u po n, and t here w as t hat l ux ur io us aft er -d in ner atm os ph er e w hen

thought roams gracefully free of the trammels of precision. And

he put i t t o us i n thi s way- -ma rking the point s wi th a l ean

f or ef in ger- -as w e s at and l azil y adm ir ed h is ear nest ness o ver

t hi s n ew p ar ad ox ( as w e t ho ug ht i t: ) and h is f ecun di ty .


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` Yo u m us t f ol lo w m e car ef ul ly . I s hall h av e t o con tr ov er t o ne

o r t wo i deas t hat are alm os t u ni vers all y accept ed . T he g eo metr y,

fo r i ns ta nc e, t he y t au gh t y ou a t s ch oo l i s f ou nd ed o n a

misconception.'

` Is no t t ha t r at he r a l ar ge t hi ng t o e xpe ct us t o be gi n upo n? '

s ai d F il by , an arg um en tati ve p er so n w it h r ed h ai r.

` I d o n ot m ea n t o a sk y ou t o a cc ep t a ny th in g w it ho ut r ea so na bl e

gr ound f or it . You wil l soon a dm it a s m uc h a s I ne ed f rom you.

Y ou k no w o f c ou rs e t ha t a m at he ma ti ca l l in e, a l in e of t hi ck ne ss

N IL , h as n o r ea l e xi st en ce . T he y t aug ht yo u t ha t? N ei th er h as

a m at hemati cal p lane. T hes e t hi ng s are m er e abs t ract io ns .'

` Th at i s all r ig ht ,' s ai d t he P sy ch ol og is t.

` No r, h av in g o nl y l en gt h, b read th , and t hi ckn es s, can a cub e

h av e a r eal exi s tence. '

` Th er e I ob je ct ,' s ai d F il by . ` Of c our se a s ol id b ody m ay

exist. All real things--'

` So m os t pe opl e t hi nk. But wa it a moment. C an a n

INSTANTANEOUS cube exist?'


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`Don't follow you,' said Filby.

`Can a cube tha t does not las t f or any ti me at al l, ha ve a real

existence?'

Filby became pensive. `Clearly,' the Time Traveller proceeded,

any r eal b od y m us t h av e ext en si on i n F OU R d ir ecti on s: i t m us t

have Length, Breadth, Thickness, and--Duration. But through a

n at ur al i nf ir mi ty o f t he f lesh , w hi ch I w il l exp lain t o y ou i n a

m om en t, w e i ncli ne t o o verl oo k t hi s f act. T here are r eall y f ou r

di me ns io ns , t hr ee w hi ch w e c al l t he t hr ee p la ne s o f S pa ce , a nd a

f our th , Ti me . T he re i s, h ow ev er , a t en de nc y t o d ra w a n u nr ea l

distinction between the former three dimensions and the latter,

because it happens that our consciousness moves intermittently in

o ne d ir ec ti on a lon g t he l at te r f ro m t he be gi nn in g t o t he e nd o f

our lives.'

` Th at ,' s ai d a v er y y ou ng m an , m ak in g s pasm od ic eff or ts t o

r el ig ht h is c ig ar o ve r t he l am p; ` th at . . . v er y c le ar i nd ee d. '

` No w, i t i s v er y r em ar kabl e t hat t hi s i s s o ext en si vely

overlooked,' continued the Time Traveller, with a slight

acces si on o f cheer fu ln es s. ` Real ly t hi s i s w hat i s m eant b y t he

F o ur th D im en si on , t ho ug h s om e p eo pl e w ho t al k abo ut t he F ou rt h

D im en si on do n ot k now t he y m ea n i t. I t i s o nl y a no th er w ay of


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l oo ki ng a t Ti me . T HE RE I S N O D IF FE RE NC E B ET WE EN T IM E A ND A NY O F

T HE T HR EE D IM EN SI ON S O F S PA CE E XC EP T T HA T O UR C ON SC IO US NE SS M OV ES

A LO NG I T. B ut s om e f oo li sh p eo pl e h av e g ot h ol d o f t he w ro ng

si de of t ha t i de a. Y ou ha ve a ll h ea rd wha t t he y ha ve t o s ay

about this Fourth Dimension?'

` _I _ h av e n ot ,' s ai d t he P ro vi ncial M ay or .

` It i s s im pl y t hi s. T hat S pace, as o ur m at hemati ci an s h av e i t,

i s s po ken o f as h av in g t hr ee d im en si on s, w hi ch o ne m ay cal l

L en gt h, B read th , and T hi ck ness , and i s alw ay s d ef in ab le b y

re fe re nc e t o t hr ee p la ne s, e ac h a t r ig ht a ng le s t o t he o th er s.

B ut s om e p hi lo so ph ical p eo pl e h av e b een ask in g w hy T HR EE

dimensions particularly--why not another direction at right

a ng le s t o t he o th er t hr ee ?- -a nd h av e e ve n t ri ed t o c on st ru ct a

Four-Dimension geometry. Professor Simon Newcomb was expounding

t hi s t o t he Ne w Yor k M at he ma ti ca l So ci et y on ly a m on th or s o a go.

Y ou k no w h ow on a f la t s ur fa ce , w hi ch h as on ly t wo di me ns io ns ,

w e can r ep resent a f ig ur e o f a t hr ee-d im en si on al s ol id , and

similarly they think that by models of thee dimensions they could

r ep res en t o ne o f f ou r- -i f t hey cou ld m as ter t he p er sp ecti ve o f

t he t hi ng . S ee?'

` I t hi nk s o, ' m ur mu red t he P ro vi ncial M ay or ; and , k ni tt in g h is

b ro ws , h e l ap sed i nt o an i nt ro sp ecti ve s tate, h is l ip s m ov in g as


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o ne wh o r epe at s m ys ti c wo rd s. ` Ye s, I t hi nk I s ee i t no w, ' h e

said after some time, brightening in a quite transitory manner.

` We ll, I do not mi nd te ll ing you I ha ve be en a t work upon t his

g eo metr y o f F ou r D im en si on s f or s om e t im e. S om e o f m y r es ul ts

a re c ur iou s. F or i ns ta nc e, he re i s a p or tr ai t of a m an a t e ight

y ear s o ld , ano th er at f if teen, ano th er at s event een , ano th er at

t we nt y- th re e, a nd s o o n. A ll t he se a re e vi de nt ly s ec ti on s, a s i t

were, Three-Dimensional representations of his Four-Dimensioned

b ei ng , w hi ch i s a f ix ed and u nalt er ab le t hi ng .

`Scientific people,' proceeded the Time Traveller, after the

paus e r eq ui red f or t he p ro per ass im il at io n o f t hi s, ` kn ow v er y

we ll t hat Ti me is onl y a ki nd of Spa ce. H er e i s a p op ul ar

s ci en ti fi c d iagr am , a w eath er r ecor d. T hi s l in e I t race w it h m y

f ing er s how s t he m ov em en t o f t he b ar om et er . Y es te rd ay i t w as s o

high, yesterday night it fell, then this morning it rose again,

a nd s o g en tl y u pw ar d t o h er e. S ur el y t he m er cu ry d id n ot t ra ce

t hi s l in e i n any o f t he d im en si on s o f S pace g en er al ly r ecog ni zed?

B ut cer tain ly i t t raced s uch a l in e, and t hat l in e, t herefo re,

we must conclude was along the Time-Dimension.'

` But ,' s ai d t he M edi ca l M an, s ta ri ng ha rd a t a c oa l i n t he

f ir e, ` if T im e i s r eall y o nl y a f ou rt h d im en si on o f S pace, w hy i s

i t, and w hy h as i t alw ay s b een, r eg ar ded as s om et hi ng d if ferent ?

And w hy c annot we m ove in Tim e a s we move a bout in the ot he r


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dimensions of Space?'

T he T im e T ravell er s mi led. ` Ar e y ou s ur e w e can m ov e f reel y i n

S p ac e ? R ig ht a nd l ef t w e c an g o, b ac kw ar d a nd f or wa rd f re el y

e no ug h, a nd m en a lw ay s h av e d on e s o. I a dmi t w e mo ve f re el y i n

t wo d im en si on s. B ut h ow abo ut u p and d ow n? G ravi tati on l imi ts

u s t h er e.'

` No t e xa ct ly ,' s ai d t he M ed ic al M an . ` Th er e a re b al lo on s. '

` Bu t b ef or e t he b al lo on s, s av e f or s pasm od ic j um pi ng and t he

i nequ al it ies o f t he s ur face, m an h ad n o f reed om o f v er ti cal

m ov em en t. ' ` St il l t hey cou ld m ov e a l it tl e u p and d ow n, ' s ai d

t he M ed ical M an .

` Ea si er , f ar e as ie r d ow n t ha n u p. '

` And y ou c an no t m ov e a t a ll i n T im e, y ou c an no t ge t a wa y f ro m

the present moment.'

` My d ea r s ir , t ha t i s j us t w he re you a re wr ong . Tha t is just

w he re t he w ho le w or ld h as g on e w ro ng . W e a re a lw ay s g et ti ng a wa y

f ro m t he p resent m ov em en t. O ur m en tal exi st en ces, w hi ch are

immaterial and have no dimensions, are passing along the

Time-Dimension with a uniform velocity from the cradle to the


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g ra ve . J us t a s w e s ho ul d t ra ve l D OW N i f w e b eg an o ur e xi st en ce

f if ty m il es abo ve t he ear th 's s ur face.'

`But the great difficulty is this,' interrupted the

P sy ch ol og is t. ` Yo u C AN m ov e abo ut i n all d ir ecti on s o f S pace,

b ut y ou c an no t m ov e a bo ut i n T im e. '

` That i s t he ge rm of m y gr eat dis cover y. But you a re w rong t o

s ay t ha t we ca nnot m ove a bout i n Ti me . For i ns ta nc e, i f I a m

r ecal li ng an i ncid en t v er y v iv id ly I g o b ack t o t he i ns tant o f

i ts o cc ur re nc e: I b ec om e a bs en t- mi nd ed , a s y ou s ay . I j um p b ac k

f or a mome nt . Of c our se w e ha ve n o m ea ns of s ta yi ng ba ck f or a ny

le ngt h of Time , any mor e t ha n a s ava ge or a n a nima l ha s of

s tayi ng s ix f eet abo ve t he g ro un d. B ut a civ il ized m an i s b et ter

of f t ha n t he s ava ge i n t hi s re spe ct . He c an go up a ga ins t

g ra vi ta ti on i n a b al lo on, a nd w hy s hou ld h e no t h op e t ha t

u l ti ma te ly h e m ay b e a bl e t o s to p o r a cc el er at e h is d ri ft a lo ng

t he T im e- Di mens io n, o r even t ur n abo ut and t ravel t he o th er w ay ?'

` Oh , T HI S, ' b eg an F il by , ` is a ll -- '

` Wh y n ot ?' s ai d t he T im e T ravell er .

` I t' s agai ns t r eas on ,' s aid F il by .

` Wh at r easo n?' s ai d t he T im e T ravell er .


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` Yo u c an s ho w b la ck i s w hi te b y a rg um en t, ' s ai d F il by , ` bu t y ou

will never convince me.'

` Po ss ib ly n ot ,' s ai d t he T im e T ravell er . ` Bu t n ow y ou b eg in t o

s ee t he o bj ect o f m y i nv es ti gati on s i nt o t he g eo metr y o f F ou r

D im en si on s. L on g ago I h ad a v ag ue i nk li ng o f a m achi ne-- '

` To t ravel t hr ou gh T im e! ' exclaim ed t he V er y Y ou ng M an .

`That shall travel indifferently in any direction of Space and

T im e, as t he d ri ver d et er mi nes. '

Filby contented himself with laughter.

`But I have experimental verification,' said the Time

Traveller.

` It w ou ld b e r em ar kabl y con veni en t f or t he h is to ri an ,' t he

Psychologist suggested. `One might travel back and verify the

accep ted accou nt o f t he B at tl e o f H as ti ng s, f or i ns t an ce! '

` Do n' t y ou t hi nk y ou w ou ld att ract att en ti on ?' s ai d t he M ed ical

M an. ` Ou r ances t or s h ad n o g reat t ol erance f or anachr on is m s. '


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` On e m ig ht g et o ne 's G re ek f ro m t he v er y l ip s o f H om er a nd

P lato ,' t he V er y Y ou ng M an t ho ug ht .

` In w hi ch cas e t hey w ou ld cer tain ly p lo ug h y ou f or t he

L it tl e- go . T he G er man s ch ol ar s h av e i mp ro ved G reek s o m uch. '

` Th en t he re i s t he f ut ur e, ' s ai d t he V er y Y ou ng M an . ` Ju st

t hi nk ! O ne m ig ht i nv es t all o ne's m on ey , l eave i t t o accum ul at e

a t i nt er es t, a nd h ur ry o n a he ad !'

` To d is co ve r a s oc ie ty ,' s ai d I , ` er ec te d o n a s tr ic tl y

communistic basis.'

`Of all the wild extravagant theories!' began the Psychologist.

` Ye s, so it see med to me , and s o I never t al ke d of it unti l-- '

`Experimental verification!' cried I. `You are going to verify

THAT?'

`The experiment!' cried Filby, who was getting brain-weary.

`Let's see your experiment anyhow,' said the Psychologist,

`though it's all humbug, you know.'

The Time Traveller smiled round at us. Then, still smiling


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f ai nt ly , a nd w it h h is h an ds d ee p i n h is t ro us er s p oc ke ts , h e

w al ke d s lo wl y o ut o f t he r oo m, a nd w e h ea rd h is s li pp er s

shuffling down the long passage to his laboratory.

T he P sy ch ol og is t l oo ke d a t u s. ` I w on de r w ha t h e' s g ot ?'

` So me s lei gh t- of - hand t ri ck o r o th er ,' s aid t he M ed ical M an,

a nd F il by t ri ed t o t el l us a bou t a c on jur er he ha d s ee n a t

B ur sl em ; b ut b ef or e h e h ad f in is hed h is p reface t he T im e

T r avel ler came b ack, and F il by 's anecdo te col l ap sed.

T he t hi ng t he T im e T ravell er h el d i n h is h an d w as a g li tt er in g

m et al li c f ramewo rk , s carcel y l ar ger t han a s mall clo ck , and v er y

d el icat el y m ad e. T here w as i vo ry i n i t, and s om e t rans parent

cry st al li ne s ub st an ce. A nd n ow I m us t b e exp li ci t, f or t hi s t hat

f o ll ow s- - un les s h is exp lanat io n i s t o b e accept ed -- i s an

abs ol ut el y u naccou nt ab le t hi ng . H e t oo k o ne o f t he s mall

o ct ag on al t ab le s t ha t w er e s ca tt er ed a bo ut t he r oo m, a nd s et i t

i n f ro nt of t he f ir e, w it h t wo l egs on t he he ar thr ug . O n t hi s

t abl e he pl ac ed t he m ec hani sm . Th en h e d re w u p a c ha ir , a nd s at

d ow n. T he on ly ot he r o bj ec t o n t he t ab le wa s a s ma ll s ha de d

l am p, t he b ri gh t l ig ht o f w hi ch f el l u po n t he m od el . T her e w er e

a ls o p er ha ps a d oz en c an dl es a bo ut , t wo i n b ra ss c an dl es ti ck s

upo n t he ma nt el a nd s eve ra l i n s con ce s, s o t ha t t he r oom w as

brilliantly illuminated. I sat in a low arm-chair nearest the


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f ir e, a nd I dr ew t hi s f or wa rd s o a s t o be a lmo st b et we en t he T im e

T ravell er and t he f ir ep lace. F il by s at b eh in d h im , l oo ki ng o ver

hi s s ho ul der. T he M ed ical M an and t he P ro vi ncial M ay or w at ch ed

h im i n p ro fi le f ro m t he r ig ht , t he P sy ch ol og is t f ro m t he l ef t.

T he V er y Y ou ng M an s to od b eh in d t he P sy ch ol og is t. W e w er e a ll o n

t he a le rt . I t a pp ea rs i nc re di bl e t o m e t ha t a ny k in d o f t ri ck ,

h ow ev er s ub tl y con ceiv ed and h ow ev er adr oi tl y d on e, cou ld h av e

been p layed u po n u s u nd er t hes e con di ti on s.

T he T im e T ra ve ll er l oo ke d a t u s, a nd t he n a t t he m ec ha ni sm .

`Well?' said the Psychologist.

`This little affair,' said the Time Traveller, resting his

e lb ow s u po n t he t ab le a nd p re ss in g h is h an ds t og et he r a bo ve t he

a pp ar at us , ` is o nl y a m ode l. I t is my pl an for a mac hi ne t o

travel through time. You will notice that it looks singularly

a sk ew , a nd t ha t t he re i s a n o dd t wi nk li ng a pp ea ra nc e a bo ut t hi s

ba r, a s t hough i t wa s i n s om e w ay unr ea l. ' He po in te d t o t he

p ar t w it h h is f in ger. ` Al so , h er e i s o ne l it tl e w hi te l ev er , and

h er e i s ano th er .'

Th e M edi ca l Ma n go t up out of h is c ha ir a nd pe er ed i nt o t he

thing. `It's beautifully made,' he said.

` It t oo k t wo y ea rs t o m ak e, ' r et or te d t he T im e T ra ve ll er .

T he n, w he n w e h ad a ll i mi ta te d t he a ct io n o f t he M ed ic al M an , h e


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s ai d: ` No w I w an t y ou c le ar ly t o u nd er st an d t ha t t hi s l ev er ,

b ei ng p ress ed o ver, s en ds t he m achi ne g li di ng i nt o t he f ut ur e,

and t hi s o th er r ev er ses t he m ot io n. T hi s s add le r ep resent s t he

s ea t of a t ime t ra ve ll er . Pr es ent ly I a m goi ng t o pr es s t he

l ev er , and o ff t he m achi ne w il l g o. I t w il l v an is h, p as s i nt o

f ut ur e T im e, a nd d is ap pe ar . H av e a g oo d l oo k a t t he t hi ng . L oo k

a t t he t ab le t oo , a nd s at is fy y ou rs el ve s t he re i s n o t ri ck er y. I

d on 't w an t t o wa st e t hi s m od el , a nd t he n b e t ol d I 'm a q ua ck. '

T her e w as a m in ut e's p au se p er haps . T he P sy ch ol og is t s eemed

a bo ut t o s pe ak t o me , b ut c ha nge d hi s m in d. Then the Time

T ra ve ll er p ut f or th h is f in ge r t ow ar ds t he l eve r. ` No ,' h e s ai d

s ud denl y. ` Lend m e y ou r h an d. ' A nd t ur ni ng t o t he P sy ch ol og is t,

h e t oo k t ha t i nd ivi dua l' s h an d i n h is o wn a nd t ol d hi m t o p ut o ut

h is f or ef in ger. S o t hat i t w as t he P sy ch ol og is t h im self w ho s en t

f or th t he m od el T im e M achi ne o n i ts i nt er mi nabl e v oy ag e. W e all

s aw t he l ev er t ur n. I a m a bs ol ut el y c er ta in t he re w as n o

t ri ck er y. T he re w as a b re at h o f w in d, a nd t he l am p f la me j um pe d.

O ne of t he c andl es on t he ma nt el wa s bl own out , a nd t he l it tl e

m ach in e s ud denl y s wu ng r ou nd , b ecam e i nd is ti nct, w as s een as a

g ho st f or a s ec on d p er ha ps , a s a n e dd y o f f ai nt ly g li tt er in g

b ra ss a nd i vo ry ; a nd i t w as g on e- -v an is he d! S av e f or t he l am p

t he t ab le w as b ar e.

E ve ry on e w as s il en t f or a m in ut e. Th en F il by s ai d h e w as


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damned.

T he P sy ch ol og is t r ecov er ed f ro m h is s tu po r, and s ud denl y l oo ked

under the table. At that the Time Traveller laughed cheerfully.

` Well ?' h e s ai d, w it h a r em in is cence o f t he P sy ch ol og is t. T hen,

g et ti ng up, he we nt t o t he t oba cc o j ar on t he m ant el , a nd w it h

hi s ba ck t o us be ga n t o f il l hi s pipe .

W e s ta re d a t e ac h o th er . ` Lo ok h er e, ' s ai d t he M ed ic al M an ,

` ar e y ou i n e ar ne st a bo ut t hi s? D o y ou s er iou sl y be li ev e t ha t

that machine has travelled into time?'

`Certainly,' said the Time Traveller, stooping to light a spill

a t t he f ir e. Th en h e t ur ne d, l ig ht ing h is p ip e, t o l ook a t t he

P sy ch ol og is t' s f ace. ( Th e P sy ch ol og is t, t o s ho w t hat h e w as n ot

un hi ng ed , h el ped h im self t o a cig ar and t ri ed t o l ig ht i t u ncut .)

` Wh at i s m or e, I h av e a b ig m ac hi ne n ea rl y f in is he d i n t he re '- -he

i nd icated t he l abo rato ry -- `and w hen t hat i s p ut t og et her I m ean

t o ha ve a j our ne y on m y ow n a cc ount .'

` Yo u m ea n t o s ay t ha t t ha t m ac hi ne h as t ra ve ll ed i nt o t he

future?' said Filby.

` In to t he f ut ur e o r t he p as t- -I d on 't , f or c er ta in , k no w

which.'


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After an interval the Psychologist had an inspiration. `It

m us t h av e g on e i nt o t he p as t i f i t h as g on e a ny wh er e, ' h e s ai d.

`Why?' said the Time Traveller.

` Be ca us e I pr es ume t ha t i t ha s not m ove d i n s pa ce , a nd i f i t

t ravell ed i nt o t he f ut ur e i t w ou ld s ti ll b e h er e all t hi s t im e,

since it must have travelled through this time.'

` Bu t, ' I s ai d, ` If i t t ra ve ll ed i nt o t he p as t i t w ou ld h av e

b een v is ib le w hen w e cam e f ir st i nt o t hi s r oo m; and l as t T hu rs day

w he n w e w er e h er e; a nd t he T hu rs da y b ef or e t ha t; a nd s o f or th !'

` Seri ou s o bj ecti on s, ' r em ar ked t he P ro vi ncial M ay or , w it h an

air of impartiality, turning towards the Time Traveller.

` No t a b it ,' s ai d t he T im e T ra ve ll er , a nd , t o t he P sy ch ol og is t:

` Yo u t hi nk . Y ou can exp lain t hat. I t' s p res en tati on b el ow t he

threshold, you know, diluted presentation.'

` Of cou rs e,' s aid t he P sy ch ol og is t , and r eas s ur ed u s. ` Th at 's

a s imp le p oi nt o f p sy cho log y. I s hou ld h ave t ho ug ht of i t. I t' s

p lain eno ug h, and h el ps t he p ar ad ox d el ig ht fu ll y. W e cann ot s ee

i t, n or c an we a pp re ci at e t hi s m ac hi ne , a ny m or e t ha n w e c an t he

s po ke o f a w heel s pi nn in g, o r a b ul let f ly in g t hr ou gh t he air .


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I f i t i s t ravell in g t hr ou gh t im e f if ty t im es o r a h un dr ed t im es

f as te r t ha n w e a re , i f i t g et s t hr oug h a m in ut e w hi le we g et

t hr ou gh a s ec on d, t he i mp re ss io n i t c re at es w il l o f c ou rs e b e

o nl y o ne-f if ti et h o r o ne-h un dr ed th o f w hat i t w ou ld m ak e i f i t

w ere n ot t ravell in g i n t im e. T hat' s p lain eno ug h. ' H e p ass ed

h is h an d t hr ou gh t he s pa ce i n w hi ch t he m ac hi ne h ad b ee n. ` Yo u

s ee?' h e s ai d, l au gh in g.

We sa t a nd s ta re d at the va ca nt ta ble for a minut e or so. Then

t he T im e T ra ve ll er a sk ed u s wh at w e t ho ugh t o f i t a ll .

` It s ou nd s p laus ib le eno ug h t o- ni gh t, ' s ai d t he M ed ical M an ;

' bu t w ai t u nt il t o- mo rr ow . W ai t f or t he c om mo n s en se o f t he

morning.'

` Wo ul d yo u l ik e t o s ee t he T im e M ac hi ne i ts el f? ' a sk ed t he T im e

Tr av el ler. A nd t herewi th , t ak in g t he l am p i n h is h an d, h e l ed

t he w ay d ow n t he l on g, d ra ug ht y c or ri do r t o h is l ab or at or y. I

remember vividly the flickering light, his queer, broad head in

s il ho uett e, t he d an ce o f t he s hado ws , h ow w e all f ol lo wed h im ,

p uzzl ed b ut i ncredu lo us , and h ow t here i n t he l ab or at or y w e

b eh el d a l ar ger edi ti on o f t he l it tl e m echani sm w hi ch w e h ad s een

v an is h f ro m b ef or e o ur e ye s. P ar ts w er e o f n ic ke l, p ar ts o f

i vo ry , p ar ts h ad c er ta in ly b ee n f il ed o r s aw n o ut o f r oc k

cry st al . T he t hi ng w as g en er al ly com pl et e, b ut t he t wi st ed

cry st al li ne b ar s l ay u nf in is hed u po n t he b en ch b es id e s om e s heet s


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of dr awi ngs , a nd I took one up f or a bet te r look a t it . Quartz

i t s ee me d t o be .

` Lo ok h er e, ' s ai d t he M ed ic al M an , ` ar e y ou p er fe ct ly s er io us ?

Or i s t hi s a t ri ck- -l ike t ha t g hos t y ou s ho we d u s l as t

Christmas?'

`Upon that machine,' said the Time Traveller, holding the lamp

a lo ft , ` I i nt en d t o e xp lo re t im e. I s t ha t p la in? I w as n ev er

m o re s er io us i n m y l if e. '

None of us quite knew how to take it.

I c au gh t F il by 's e ye o ve r t he s ho ul de r o f t he M ed ic al M an , a nd

he w in ked at m e s ol em nl y.

II

I think tha t a t t hat ti me none of us qui te bel ie ved i n t he

Ti me Ma chi ne . T he f ac t i s, t he T im e T ra ve ll er w as o ne o f t ho se

m en w ho a re to o c le ve r t o be be li eve d: you ne ve r f el t t ha t you


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s aw all r ou nd h im ; y ou alw ay s s us pect ed s om e s ub tl e r es er ve, s om e

ingenuity in ambush, behind his lucid frankness. Had Filby shown

t he m od el and exp lain ed t he m at ter i n t he T im e T ravell er 's w or ds ,

w e s ho ul d h av e s ho wn H IM f ar l es s s ce pt ic is m. F or w e s ho ul d

have p er cei ved h is m ot iv es ; a p or k b ut ch er cou ld u nd er st an d

Fi lby. Bu t t he T im e T ra ve ll er ha d m or e t ha n a t ou ch of w hi m

amo ng h is element s, and w e d is tr us ted h im . T hi ng s t hat w ou ld

ha ve ma de t he f ram e of a l es s c le ve r ma n s ee me d t ri cks i n hi s

h an ds . I t i s a m is ta ke t o d o t hi ng s t oo e as il y. T he s er io us

p eop le w ho t ook h im s er io us ly n eve r f el t q ui te s ur e of h is

d ep or tm en t; t hey w er e s om eh ow aware t hat t ru st in g t heir

reputations for judgment with him was like furnishing a nursery

wi th e gg- she ll c hi na . S o I d on 't t hi nk a ny o f u s s ai d v er y m uc h

about time travelling in the interval between that Thursday and

t he n ex t, t ho ug h i ts o dd p ot en ti al it ie s r an , n o d ou bt , i n m os t o f

our minds: its plausibility, that is, its practical

incredibleness, the curious possibilities of anachronism and of

ut te r c on fus ion i t s ugg es te d. F or m y o wn p ar t, I w as

p ar ti cu larl y p reoccu pi ed w it h t he t ri ck o f t he m od el . T hat I

r em em be r d is cus si ng w it h t he M ed ic al M an , w ho m I m et o n F ri da y a t

t he L in na ea n. H e s ai d he h ad s ee n a s im il ar t hi ng a t

T ub in gen, and l ai d con si derabl e s tr es s o n t he b lo wi ng o ut

of t he c andl e. But how t he t ri ck wa s done h e c oul d not e xpl ai n.

T he n ex t T hu rs da y I w en t a ga in t o R ic hm on d- -I s up po se I w as

o ne o f t he T im e T ravell er 's m os t con st an t g uest s- -and , arr iv in g


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l at e, f ou nd f ou r o r f iv e m en alr eady ass em bl ed i n h is

d r awi ng -r oo m. T he M ed ical M an w as s tand in g b ef or e t he f ir e w it h

a s hee t of pape r i n one ha nd and his watch in the other. I

l o ok ed r ou nd f or t he T im e T ravel ler, and -- I t 's h al f -p as t s ev en

n ow ,' s ai d t he M ed ic al M an . ` I s up po se w e' d b et te r h av e d in ne r? '

` Wh er e' s- -- -? ' s ai d I , n am in g o ur h os t.

` Yo u' ve j us t com e? I t ' s r at her o d d. H e' s u navo id ab ly

d et ai ne d. He a sks me i n t his not e t o le ad of f wi th di nne r a t

se ve n i f h e' s n ot b ac k. Sa ys h e' ll e xp la in w he n h e c om es .'

` It s ee ms a pi ty t o l et t he di nne r s poi l,' s ai d t he E di tor of

a w el l- kn ow n d ai ly p ap er ; a nd t he re up on t he D oc to r r an g t he b el l.

T he P sy ch ol og is t w as t he o nl y p er so n b es id es t he D oc to r a nd

m ys el f w ho h ad att en ded t he p revi ou s d in ner. T he o th er m en w er e

Blank, the Editor aforementioned, a certain journalist, and

a no th er -- a q ui et , s hy m an w it h a b ea rd -- wh om I d id n' t k no w,

a nd w ho , a s f ar a s m y o bs er va ti on w en t, n ev er o pe ne d h is m ou th

al l t he eveni ng . T here w as s om e s pecu lati on at t he d in ner- tabl e

abo ut t he T im e T ravell er 's abs en ce, and I s ug gest ed t im e

travelling, in a half-jocular spirit. The Editor wanted that

exp lain ed t o h im , and t he P sy ch ol og is t v ol un teer ed a w oo den

accou nt o f t he ` in geni ou s p ar ad ox and t ri ck ' w e h ad w it ness ed


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t ha t d ay w ee k. He was in the mids t of his e xpos iti on when the

d oo r f ro m t he c or ri do r o pe ne d s lo wl y a nd w it ho ut n oi se . I w as

f ac in g t he d oo r, a nd s aw i t f ir st . ` Ha ll o! ' I s ai d. ` At l as t! '

An d t he d oo r o pe ne d w id er , a nd t he T im e T ra ve ll er s to od b ef or e

u s. I ga ve a c ry of s ur pr is e. ` Goo d he ave ns ! m an, w ha t' s t he

ma tt er ?' c ri ed t he M ed ic al M an , w ho s aw h im n ex t. A nd t he w ho le

t ab lefu l t ur ned t ow ar ds t he d oo r.

He wa s in a n a ma zi ng pl ight . H is c oa t w as d us ty a nd d ir ty ,

a nd s me ar ed w it h g re en d ow n t he s le ev es ; h is h ai r d is or de re d, a nd

a s i t s ee me d t o m e g re ye r- -e it he r w it h du st a nd d ir t or b ec au se

i ts c ol ou r h ad a ct ua ll y f ad ed . H is f ac e w as g ha st ly pa le ; h is

c hi n h ad a b ro wn c ut o n i t- -a c ut h al f h ea le d; h is e xp re ss io n

w as h ag ga rd a nd d ra wn , a s b y i nt en se s uf fe ri ng . F or a m om en t h e

h es it at ed i n t he d oo rw ay , a s i f h e h ad b ee n d az zl ed b y t he l ig ht .

T he n he c ame in to t he r oom. He wa lked w it h j us t s uc h a l imp a s

I ha ve s ee n i n f oo ts or e t ra mps . We s ta re d a t hi m i n si le nce ,

ex pect in g h im t o s peak .

H e s ai d not a w or d, but c am e p ai nf ul ly t o t he t abl e, a nd m ade

a m ot io n t ow ar ds t he w in e. T he E di to r f il le d a gl as s o f

c h am pa gn e, a nd p us he d i t t ow ar ds h im . H e d ra in ed i t, a nd i t

se em ed t o do hi m go od : f or he l oo ke d r ou nd t he t ab le , a nd t he

g ho st o f h is o ld s mi le f li ck er ed a cr os s h is f ac e. ` Wh at o n e ar th

h av e y ou b ee n u p t o, m an ?' s ai d t he D oc to r. The Time Tr ave ll er

d id n ot s ee m t o h ea r. ` Don' t l et me di stur b you,' he s ai d, w ith


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a certain faltering articulation. `I'm all right.' He stopped,

he ld ou t hi s gl as s f or m or e, a nd t ook i t of f a t a dr aught .

` Th at 's g oo d, ' h e s ai d. H is e ye s g re w br ig ht er , a nd a f ai nt

c ol ou r c am e i nt o h is c he ek s. H is g la nc e f li ck er ed o ve r o ur f ac es

w it h a c er ta in d ul l a pp ro va l, a nd t he n w en t r ou nd t he w ar m a nd

com fo rt ab le r oo m. T hen h e s po ke again , s ti ll as i t w er e f eeli ng

hi s wa y a mong hi s words . ` I' m g oi ng t o w as h a nd dr es s, a nd t he n

I 'l l c om e down a nd e xpl ai n t hi ngs . . . Sa ve me s ome of t ha t

m ut to n. I 'm s ta rv in g f or a b it o f m ea t. '

H e l oo ke d a cr os s a t t he E di tor , w ho w as a r ar e v is it or , a nd

h o pe d h e w as a ll r ig ht . T he E di to r b eg an a q ue st io n. ` Te ll you

presently,' said the Time Traveller. `I'm--funny! Be all

right in a minute.'

H e p ut d ow n h is g la ss , a nd w al ke d t ow ar ds t he s ta ir ca se d oo r.

A ga in I r em ar ke d h is l am en es s a nd t he s of t pa dd in g s ou nd o f h is

f ootf al l, and s ta ndi ng up i n my pl ac e, I s aw hi s fe et a s he we nt

o ut . H e h ad n ot hi ng o n t he m b ut a p ai r o f t at te re d b lo od -s ta in ed

s oc ks . The n t he do or c los ed u pon hi m. I ha d hal f a mi nd to

f ol lo w, t il l I r em em bered h ow h e d et es ted any f us s abo ut h im self .

F or a m in ut e, p er haps , m y m in d w as w oo l- gath er in g. T hen,

' Remark ab le B eh av io ur o f an E mi nent S ci en ti st ,' I h eard t he

E di to r s ay , t hi nk in g ( af ter h is w on t) i n h eadl in es . A nd t hi s

b ro ug ht m y att en ti on b ack t o t he b ri gh t d in ner- tabl e.


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` Wh at 's t he g am e? ' s ai d t he J ou rn al is t. ` Ha s h e b ee n d oi ng

t he A ma te ur C ad ge r? I don 't f ol low. ' I m et t he e ye of t he

P sy ch ol og is t, and r ead m y o wn i nt er pr et at io n i n h is f ace. I

thought of the Time Traveller limping painfully upstairs. I

d on 't t hi nk a ny o ne e ls e h ad n ot ic ed h is l am en es s.

T he f ir st t o r ecov er com pl et el y f ro m t hi s s ur pr is e w as t he

M ed ical M an , w ho r an g t he b el l- -t he T im e T ravell er h at ed t o

h av e s er va nt s w ai ti ng a t d in ne r- -f or a h ot p la te . A t t ha t t he

Ed it or t ur ne d t o h is k ni fe a nd f or k w it h a g ru nt , a nd t he S il en t

M an f ol lo wed s ui t. T he d in ner w as r es um ed . C on vers at io n w as

exclamato ry f or a l it tl e w hi le, w it h g ap s o f w on derm en t; and t hen

t he E di to r g ot f er vent i n h is cur io si ty . ` Do es o ur f ri end eke

o ut h is m od es t i nc om e w it h a c ro ss in g? o r h as h e h is

N ebu ch ad nezzar p hases ?' h e i nq ui red. ` I f eel ass ur ed i t' s t hi s

bus ine ss of t he T ime M ac hi ne ,' I s ai d, a nd t oo k u p t he

Psychologist's account of our previous meeting. The new guests

were frankly incredulous. The Editor raised objections. `What

WAS this time travelling? A man couldn't cover himself with

du st by r oll ing i n a pa ra dox, c oul d he ?' A nd t he n, a s t he i de a

c am e h om e t o h im , h e r es or te d t o c ar ic at ur e. H ad n' t t he y a ny

cl ot hes- br us hes i n t he F ut ur e? T he J ou rn al is t t oo , w ou ld n ot

b el ie ve a t a ny pr ic e, a nd j oi ne d t he Ed it or i n t he e as y w or k of

h eapi ng r id icul e o n t he w ho le t hi ng . T hey w er e b ot h t he n ew k in d

of journalist--very joyous, irreverent young men. `Our Special


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C o rr esp on dent i n t he D ay af ter T o- mo rr ow r epo rt s ,' t he J ou rn al i st

was saying--or rather shouting--when the Time Traveller came

b ack. H e w as d ress ed i n o rd in ar y eveni ng clo th es , and n ot hi ng

s av e h is h ag ga rd l oo k r em ai ne d o f t he c ha ng e t ha t h ad s ta rt le d

me.

` I s ay ,' s ai d t he E di to r h il ar io us ly , ` th es e chaps h er e s ay

y ou h av e b een t ravell in g i nt o t he m id dl e o f n ex t w eek! Tell us

all abo ut l it tl e R os eb er y, w il l y ou ? W hat w il l y ou t ak e f or t he

lot?'

T he T im e T ravell er cam e t o t he p lace r es er ved f or h im w it ho ut

a w or d . He s mi le d qu ie tl y, i n hi s ol d w ay. ` Wh er e' s m y m ut to n? '

he s ai d. `What a treat it is to stick a fork int o meat again!'

` St or y! ' cr ied t he E di t or .

` St or y b e d am ned! ' s ai d t he T im e T ravell er . ` I w an t s om et hi ng

t o e at . I won't say a word until I ge t some peptone into my

ar t er i es . T hank s. A nd t he s alt .'

` On e w or d, ' s ai d I . ` Ha ve y ou be en t im e t ra ve ll ing ?'

`Yes,' said the Time Traveller, with his mouth full, nodding

h i s h ead.


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` I' d g iv e a s hi ll in g a l in e f or a v er ba ti m n ot e, ' s ai d t he

E di t or . T he T im e T ravell er p us hed h is g lass t ow ar ds t he S il en t

M an and r an g i t w it h h is f in gern ai l; at w hi ch t he S il en t M an , w ho

h ad b een s tari ng at h is f ace, s tart ed con vu ls iv el y, and p ou red

hi m wine. T he r es t o f t he d in ne r w as u nc om fo rt ab le . F or m y o wn

pa rt , s udde n qu es ti ons k ept o n r is in g t o m y l ip s, a nd I da re s ay

i t w as t he s am e w it h t he o th er s. T he J ou rn al is t t ri ed t o r el ie ve

t he t en si on b y t el li ng anecd ot es o f H et ti e P ot ter. T he T im e

T ravell er d ev ot ed h is att en ti on t o h is d in ner, and d is pl ay ed t he

a pp et it e o f a t ra mp . T he M ed ic al M an s mo ke d a c ig ar et te , a nd

watched the Time Traveller through his eyelashes. The Silent Man

s eem ed even m or e clu ms y t han u su al , and d rank champ ag ne w it h

regularity and determination out of sheer nervousness. At last

t he T im e T ra ve ll er p us he d h is p la te a wa y, a nd l oo ke d r ou nd u s.

` I s up po se I m us t a po lo gi ze ,' h e s ai d. ` I w as s im pl y s ta rvi ng.

I 've ha d a mos t am az ing ti me .' He r ea che d ou t h is h and f or a

c ig ar , a nd c ut t he e nd . ` Bu t c om e i nt o t he s mo ki ng -r oo m. I t' s

to o l on g a s to ry t o t el l o ve r g re as y p la te s. ' And ri nging t he

b el l i n p as si ng , h e l ed t he w ay i nt o t he a dj oi ni ng r oo m.

` Yo u h av e t ol d B la nk , a nd D as h, a nd C ho se a bo ut t he m ac hi ne ?'

h e s ai d t o m e, l ea ni ng b ac k i n hi s e as y- ch ai r a nd n am ing t he

t h ree n ew g ues ts .

` Bu t t he t hi ng 's a m er e p ar ad ox ,' s ai d t he E di to r.


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` I can 't arg ue t o- ni gh t. I d on 't m in d t el li ng y ou t he s to ry ,

b ut I c an 't a rg ue . I wi ll,' he we nt on, ` tel l you t he st or y of

wh at h as h ap pe ne d t o m e, i f y ou l ik e, b ut y ou m us t r ef ra in f rom

i nt er ru pt ion s. I w ant t o t el l i t. B ad ly. M os t o f i t wi ll s ound

like lying. S o b e i t! I t' s t rue -- eve ry w or d of i t, a ll t he

s am e. I w as i n m y l abo ra to ry a t f our o 'c lo ck, a nd s inc e t he n . .

. I've lived eight days . . . such days as no human being ever

l iv ed b ef or e! I 'm n ea rl y w or n o ut , b ut I s ha n' t s le ep t il l I 'v e

t ol d thi s t hing over to you. T he n I s ha ll go t o be d. But no

interruptions! Is it agreed?'

` Ag re ed ,' s ai d t he E di to r, a nd t he r es t o f u s e ch oe d ` Ag re ed .'

A nd w it h t ha t t he T im e T ra ve ll er b eg an h is s tor y a s I h av e s et

it forth. He s at ba ck in his chair at fi rst, and spoke like a

w eary m an . A ft er ward s h e g ot m or e ani mated. I n w ri ti ng i t d ow n

I f ee l w it h o nl y t oo m uc h k ee nn es s t he i na de qu ac y o f pe n a nd i nk

- -and , abo ve al l, m y o wn i nadequ acy- - to exp res s i ts q ual it y.

Y ou r ead, I w il l s up po se, att en ti vely eno ug h; b ut y ou can no t s ee

t he s pe ak er 's w hi te , s in ce re f ac e i n t he b ri gh t c ir cl e o f t he

l it tl e l am p, n or h ear t he i nt on at io n o f h is v oi ce. Y ou can no t

k no w h ow h is e xp re ss io n f ol lo we d t he t ur ns o f h is s to ry ! M os t o f

u s h ea re rs w er e i n s ha do w, f or t he c an dl es i n t he s mo ki ng -r oo m

h ad n ot b ee n l ig ht ed , a nd o nl y t he f ac e o f t he J ou rn al is t a nd t he

legs o f t he S il en t M an f ro m t he k nees d ow nw ar d w er e i ll um in at ed .


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At f ir st w e g la nc ed no w a nd a ga in a t e ac h ot he r. Af te r a ti me we

c ea se d t o d o t ha t, a nd l oo ke d o nl y a t t he T im e T ra ve ll er 's f ac e.

III

` I t ol d s om e o f y ou l as t T hu rs da y o f t he p ri nc ip le s o f t he

Time Machine, and showed you the actual thing itself, incomplete

i n t he w or ks ho p. T here i t i s n ow , a l it tl e t ravel- wo rn , t ru ly ;

and one of the i vory bar s i s c ra cke d, a nd a bra ss r ai l bent; but

t he r es t of i t' s s ound e nough. I e xpe ct ed to f inis h i t on

F ri day, b ut o n F ri day, w hen t he p ut ti ng t og et her w as n earl y d on e,

I f ound t ha t one of t he ni ck el ba rs wa s e xa ct ly one i nc h t oo

s ho rt , a nd t hi s I ha d t o ge t r ema de ; s o t ha t t he t hi ng wa s not

c ompl et e unti l t his mor ni ng. I t w as a t t en o 'c lo ck t o- da y t ha t

t he f ir st of a ll Tim e M ac hine s be ga n it s ca ree r. I ga ve it a

l as t t ap , t ri ed a ll t he s cr ews a ga in , pu t o ne mo re dr op of oi l on

the q ua rt z r od, a nd s at m ys el f i n t he s addl e. I s up po se a

s ui ci de w ho h ol ds a p is tol t o hi s s kul l f ee ls m uc h t he s am e

wonde r a t wha t wi ll c ome ne xt a s I f el t t he n. I t oo k t he

s ta rt in g l ev er i n o ne h an d a nd t he s to pp in g o ne i n t he o th er ,

p ress ed t he f ir st , and alm os t i mm ed iately t he s econ d. I s eem ed


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t o r eel; I f el t a n ig ht mare s en sati on o f f al li ng ; and , l oo ki ng

r ou nd , I s aw t he l ab or at or y e xa ct ly a s b ef or e. Ha d a nyt hing

h ap pe ne d? F or a m om en t I s us pe ct ed t ha t m y i nt el le ct h ad t ri ck ed

me . Th en I n ot ed t he c lo ck . A m ome nt b ef or e, a s i t s ee me d, i t

ha d s to od a t a mi nu te or s o pa st t en; n ow i t wa s ne ar ly h al f- pa st

three!

` I d re w a b re at h, s et m y t ee th , g ri pp ed t he s ta rt in g l ev er

wi th b ot h h an ds , a nd w en t o ff w it h a t hu d. T he l ab or at or y g ot

h az y a nd w en t d ar k. M rs . W at ch et t c am e i n a nd w al ke d, a pp ar en tl y

w it ho ut s ee in g m e, t ow ar ds t he g ar de n d oo r. I s up po se i t t oo k

her a minute or so to tr ave rs e t he pl ac e, but t o me she s ee me d t o

s ho ot a cr os s t he r oo m l ik e a r oc ke t. I p re ss ed t he l ev er ov er t o

i ts ext reme p os it io n. T he n ig ht cam e l ik e t he t ur ni ng o ut o f a

l am p, and i n ano th er m om en t cam e t o- mo rr ow . T he l ab or at or y g rew

f ai nt and h azy, t hen f ai nt er and ever f ai nt er . T o- mo rr ow n ig ht

cam e b lack , t hen d ay again , n ig ht again , d ay again , f as ter and

f as ter s ti ll . A n edd yi ng m ur mu r f il led m y ear s, and a s tr an ge,

d um b con fu sedn es s d es cend ed o n m y m in d.

` I a m a fr ai d I c an no t c on ve y t he p ec ul ia r s en sa ti on s o f t im e

travelling. They are excessively unpleasant. There is a feeling

e xa ct ly l ik e t ha t o ne h as u po n a s wi tc hb ac k- -o f a h el pl es s

h eadl on g m ot io n! I f el t t he s am e h or ri bl e ant icip at io n, t oo , o f

a n i mmi ne nt s ma sh. A s I p ut o n p ac e, n ig ht f ol lo we d d ay l ik e t he


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f lapp in g o f a b lack w in g. T he d im s ug gest io n o f t he l ab or at or y

s ee me d p re se nt ly t o f al l a wa y f ro m m e, a nd I s aw t he s un h op pi ng

s wi ft ly acr os s t he s ky , l eapi ng i t every m in ut e, and every m in ut e

m ar ki ng a d ay . I s up po se d t he l ab or at or y h ad b ee n d es tr oy ed a nd

I ha d come int o the open air. I had a dim impression of

s c af fo ld in g, b ut I w as a lr ea dy g oi ng t oo f as t t o b e c on sc io us o f

an y m ovi ng t hi ng s. T he s lo west s nail t hat ever crawl ed d as hed b y

t oo f ast f or m e. T he t wi nk li ng s uccess io n o f d ar kn es s and l ig ht

w as exces si vely p ai nf ul t o t he eye. T hen, i n t he i nt er mi tt en t

d ar kn es ses, I s aw t he m oo n s pi nn in g s wi ft ly t hr ou gh h er q uart er s

f ro m ne w t o f ul l, a nd ha d a f ai nt g li mp se o f t he c ir cl in g s ta rs .

Presently, as I went on, still gaining velocity, the palpitation

o f n ig ht and d ay m er ged i nt o o ne con ti nu ou s g reyn es s; t he s ky

t oo k o n a w on derf ul d eepn es s o f b lu e, a s pl en di d l um in ou s col or

l ik e t ha t of e ar ly t wi li ght ; t he j er ki ng s un b ec am e a s tr ea k o f

f ir e, a b ri ll iant arch, i n s pace; t he m oo n a f ai nt er f lu ct uati ng

ba nd; a nd I c ou ld s ee no thi ng o f t he s ta rs , s av e no w a nd t he n a

brighter circle flickering in the blue.

` Th e l an ds ca pe w as m is ty a nd v ag ue . I w as s ti ll on t he

h il l- si de u po n w hi ch t hi s h ou se n ow s tand s, and t he s ho ul der r os e

a bo ve m e g re y a nd d im . I s aw t re es g ro wi ng a nd c ha ng ing l ike

p uf fs o f v ap ou r, n ow b ro wn , n ow g re en ; t he y g re w, s pr ea d,

s hi ve re d, a nd p as se d a wa y. I s aw hug e b ui ldi ngs r is e u p f ai nt

a nd f ai r, a nd p as s l ik e d re am s. T he w ho le s ur fa ce o f t he e ar th

seemed changed--melting and flowing under my eyes. The little


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h an ds u po n t he d ia ls t ha t r eg is te re d m y s pe ed r ac ed r ou nd f as te r

a nd f as te r. Pr es ent ly I n ot ed t ha t t he s un b el t s wa ye d u p a nd

d ow n, f ro m s ol st ic e t o s ol st ic e, i n a m in ut e o r l es s, a nd t ha t

c on se qu en tl y m y p ac e w as o ve r a y ea r a m in ut e; a nd m in ut e b y

m in ut e t he w hi te s no w f lash ed acr os s t he w or ld , and v an is hed, and

w as f ol lo wed b y t he b ri gh t, b ri ef g reen o f s pr in g.

` Th e u np leas an t s en sati on s o f t he s tart w er e l es s p oi gn an t

n ow . T hey m er ged at l as t i nt o a k in d o f h ys teri cal exh il ar at io n.

I r em ar ke d i nde ed a c lu ms y s wa yi ng o f t he m ac hi ne , f or w hi ch I

w as u na bl e t o a cc ou nt . Bu t my m ind w as t oo c on fus ed t o a tt en d t o

i t, s o w it h a k in d of m ad ne ss gr ow ing u po n m e, I f lun g my se lf

i nt o f ut ur it y. A t f ir s t I s car ce t ho ug ht o f s to pp in g, s carce

t ho ug ht o f any th in g b ut t hese n ew s en sati on s. B ut p resent ly a

f resh s er ies o f i mp ress io ns g rew u p i n m y m in d- -a cer tain

cur io si ty and t herewi th a cer tain d read -- un ti l at l as t t hey

t oo k com pl ete p os s es s io n o f m e. W hat s tr an ge d ev el op ment s o f

humanity, what wonderful advances upon our rudimentary

civ il izat io n, I t ho ug ht , m ig ht n ot app ear w hen I cam e t o l oo k

n earl y i nt o t he d im elu si ve w or ld t hat r aced and f lu ct uated

b ef or e m y eyes! I s aw g reat and s pl en di d archi tect ur e r is in g

a bo ut m e, m or e m as si ve t ha n a ny b ui ldi ngs o f o ur o wn t im e, a nd

ye t, a s it se emed, buil t of gl imme r and mi st . I s aw a r ic he r

g reen f lo w u p t he h il l- si de, and r em ai n t here, w it ho ut any w in tr y

intermission. Even through the veil of my confusion the earth


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s ee me d v er y f ai r. A nd s o m y m in d c am e r ou nd t o t he b us in es s o f

stopping,

` Th e p ecul iar r is k l ay i n t he p os si bi li ty o f m y f in di ng s om e

s ub st an ce i n t he s pa ce w hi ch I , o r t he m ac hi ne , o cc up ie d. S o

l on g as I t ravell ed at a h ig h v el ocit y t hr ou gh t im e, t hi s

s ca rc el y m at te re d; I w as , s o t o s pe ak , a tt en ua te d- -w as s li pp in g

like a vapour through the interstices of intervening substances!

B ut t o c om e t o a s top i nvo lv ed t he j am mi ng o f m ys el f, m ol ec ul e by

molecule, into whatever lay in my way; meant bringing my atoms

i nt o s uc h i nt im at e c on ta ct w it h t ho se o f t he o bs ta cl e t ha t a

profound chemical reaction--possibly a far-reaching explosion

- -w ou ld r es ul t, a nd b lo w m ys el f a nd m y a pp ar at us o ut o f a ll

possible dimensions--into the Unknown. This possibility had

o cc ur re d t o m e a ga in a nd a ga in w hi le I w as m ak in g t he m ac hi ne ;

b ut t he n I h ad c he er fu ll y a cc ep te d i t a s a n u na vo id ab le r is k- -

one of the risks a man has got to take! Now the risk was

i nevi tabl e, I n o l on ger s aw i t i n t he s am e cheer fu l l ig ht . T he

fact is that insensibly, the absolute strangeness of everything,

t he s ickl y j ar ri ng and s wayi ng o f t he m achi ne, abo ve all , t he

feeling of prolonged falling, had absolutely upset my nerve. I

t ol d m ys el f t ha t I c ou ld n ev er s to p, a nd w it h a g us t o f p et ul an ce

I r eso lv ed t o s t op f or t hw it h. L ik e an i mp at ient f oo l, I l ug ged

over the lever, and incontinently the thing went reeling over,

and I w as f lu ng h eadl on g t hr ou gh t he air .


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`There was the sound of a clap of thunder in my ea rs. I may

h av e b een s tu nn ed f or a m om en t. A p it il es s h ai l w as h is si ng

r ound me , a nd I w as s it ting on sof t t ur f in f ront of t he ove rs et

machine. Everything still seemed grey, but presently I remarked

th at t he c onf us ion i n m y e ar s wa s gone . I l ooke d r ound me . I w as

o n w ha t s ee me d t o be a l it tl e l aw n i n a ga rde n, s ur roun de d by

r ho do dend ro n b us hes, and I n ot i ced t hat t heir m au ve and p ur pl e

b l os so ms w er e d ro pp in g i n a s ho we r u nd er t he b ea ti ng o f t he

hail-stones. The rebounding, dancing hail hung in a cloud over

t he m ac hi ne , a nd d ro ve a lo ng t he g ro un d l ik e s mo ke . I n a m om en t

I w as w et t o t he s ki n. "Fine hospita lit y," sa id I , "t o a man who

h as t ravell ed i nn um er ab le y ears t o s ee y ou ."

`Presently I thought what a fool I was to get wet . I s tood u p

and l oo ked r ou nd m e. A col os sal f ig ur e, car ved app ar en tl y i n

some white stone, loomed indistinctly beyond the rhododendrons

t hr ou gh t he h az y d ow np ou r. B ut a ll e ls e o f t he w or ld w as

invisible.

` My s en sa ti on s w ou ld b e h ar d t o d es cr ib e. A s t he c ol umn s o f

h ail g rew t hi nn er , I s aw t he w hi te f ig ur e m or e d is ti nctl y. I t

w as v er y l ar ge , f or a s il ve r b ir ch -t re e t ou ch ed i ts s ho ul de r. I t

w as o f w hi te m ar bl e, i n s hape s om et hi ng l ik e a w in ged s ph in x, b ut

t he w in gs , i ns tead o f b ei ng car ri ed v er ti call y at t he s id es , w er e

sp re ad s o t ha t i t s ee me d t o h ov er . T he p ed es ta l, i t a pp ea re d t o


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me , w as o f b ro nz e, a nd w as t hi ck w it h v er di gr is . I t c ha nc ed t ha t

t he f ac e w as t ow ar ds m e; t he s ig ht le ss e ye s s ee me d t o w at ch m e;

t he re wa s t he f ai nt s ha dow of a sm il e on the l ips . I t w as

greatly weather-worn, and that imparted an unpleasant suggestion

o f di se as e. I s too d l ooki ng a t i t f or a l it tl e s pa ce -- ha lf a

m inut e, per ha ps , or hal f a n hour . I t s ee me d t o a dv an ce a nd t o

re ce de a s t he ha il dr ove b ef or e i t de ns er o r t hi nn er . At l as t I

t ore my e yes f rom i t for a moment a nd s aw t ha t t he ha il c urt ain

h ad w or n t hr ea db ar e, a nd t ha t t he s ky w as l ig ht en in g w it h t he

p r om is e o f t he S un .

` I l oo ke d u p a ga in a t t he c ro uc hi ng w hi te s ha pe , a nd t he f ul l

t em er it y o f m y v oy ag e cam e s ud denl y u po n m e. W hat m ig ht app ear

w hen t hat h azy cur tain w as alt og et her w it hd rawn ? W hat m ig ht n ot

h a ve h ap pe ne d t o m en ? W ha t i f c ru el ty ha d g ro wn i nt o a c om mon

p a ss io n? W ha t i f i n t hi s i nt er va l t he r ac e h ad l os t i ts

manliness and had developed into something inhuman,

unsympathetic, and overwhelmingly powerful? I might seem some

old-world savage animal, only the more dreadful and disgusting

f or o ur com mo n l ik en es s- -a f ou l creat ur e t o b e i ncon ti nent ly

slain.

` Al read y I s aw o th er v as t s hapes- -h ug e b ui ld in gs w it h

i nt ri cate p ar ap et s and t al l col um ns , w it h a w oo ded h il l- si de

d im ly creep in g i n u po n m e t hr ou gh t he l es seni ng s to rm . I w as

s ei ze d w it h a p an ic f ea r. I t ur ne d f ra nt ic al ly t o t he Ti me


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M ac hi ne , a nd s tr ov e ha rd t o r ea dj us t i t. As I di d s o t he s ha ft s

o f t he s un s mo te t hr ou gh t he t hu nd er st or m. T he g rey d ow np ou r w as

s wept asi de and v an is hed l ik e t he t rail in g g ar ment s o f a g ho st .

A bo ve m e, i n t he i nt en se bl ue o f t he s um me r s ky , s om e f ai nt br ow n

shreds of cloud whirled into nothingness. The great buildings

a bo ut m e s to od o ut c le ar a nd d is ti nc t, s hi ni ng w it h t he w et o f

t he t hu nd er st or m, and p icked o ut i n w hi te b y t he u nm el ted

h ai ls to nes p il ed alo ng t heir cou rs es . I f el t n ak ed i n a s tr an ge

w or ld . I f el t a s pe rha ps a bi rd ma y f ee l i n t he c le ar a ir ,

kn ow in g t he h aw k w in gs a bo ve a nd w il l s wo op . M y f ea r g re w t o

f re nz y. I t oo k a b re at hi ng s pa ce , s et m y t ee th , a nd a ga in

gr ap pl ed f iercel y, w ri st and k nee, w it h t he m achi ne. I t g av e

u nd er m y d es pe ra te o ns et a nd t ur ne d o ve r. I t s tr uc k m y c hi n

violently. O ne h an d o n t he s ad dl e, t he o th er o n t he l ev er , I

stood panting heavily in attitude to mount again.

` Bu t w it h t hi s r ec ov er y o f a p ro mp t r et re at m y c ou ra ge

recov ered . I l oo ked m or e cur io us ly and l es s f earf ul ly at t hi s

w or ld o f t he r em ot e f ut ur e. I n a c ir cul ar ope ni ng, hi gh u p i n

t he wa ll of t he ne ar er hous e, I s aw a gr oup of f igu re s c la d i n

r ic h s of t r obe s. T he y ha d s ee n me , a nd t he ir f ac es w er e di re ct ed

t o war ds m e.

` Th en I h eard v oi ces app ro achi ng m e. C om in g t hr ou gh t he

bu sh es b y t he W hi te S ph in x w er e t he h ea ds a nd s ho ul de rs o f m en


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r unni ng. O ne o f t hese emerg ed i n a p at hw ay l eadi ng s tr ai gh t t o

t he l it tl e l awn u pon wh ic h I s to od w it h m y m ac hi ne . H e w as a

s l ig ht creatu re-- perh ap s f ou r f eet h ig h- - cl ad i n a p ur pl e

t un ic , g ir dl ed a t t he w ai st w it h a l ea th er b el t. S an da ls o r

buskins--I could not clearly distinguish which--were on his

fe et; hi s l egs wer e ba re to t he kne es , a nd his hea d wa s ba re .

N ot ic in g t ha t, I n ot ic ed f or t he f ir st t im e h ow w ar m t he a ir w as .

` He s tr uc k m e a s b ei ng a v er y b ea ut if ul a nd g ra ce fu l c re at ur e,

b ut i nd es cr ib ab ly f rail . H is f lu sh ed f ace r em in ded m e o f t he

more beautiful kind of consumptive--that hectic beauty of which

w e u se d t o h ea r s o m uc h. At t he si ght of him I s uddenly regained

con fi dence. I t oo k m y h an ds f ro m t he m achi ne.

IV

` In a no th er m om en t w e w er e s ta nd in g f ac e t o f ac e, I a nd t hi s

f ra gi le t hi ng out of futur it y. H e c am e s tr ai gh t u p t o m e a nd

l au gh ed i nt o m y eyes. T he abs en ce f ro m h is b eari ng o f any s ig n

of fe ar s tr uc k me at onc e. Then he turned to t he two other s who

w er e f ol lo wi ng h im a nd s po ke t o t he m i n a s tr an ge a nd v er y s we et


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and liquid tongue.

` Th er e w er e o th er s com in g, and p resent ly a l it tl e g ro up o f

p er ha ps e ig ht o r t en o f t he se e xq ui si te c re at ur es w er e a bo ut m e.

O ne o f t he m a dd re ss ed m e. I t c am e i nt o m y h ea d, o dd ly e no ug h,

tha t my voic e wa s too hars h and dee p for them. So I shook m y

he ad, a nd , poi nt ing t o my e ar s, s hook i t a ga in. H e c am e a s te p

f or wa rd , h es it at ed , a nd t he n t ou ch ed m y h an d. Th en I f el t o the r

s of t l it tl e t en tacl es u po n m y b ack and s ho ul ders . T hey w an ted t o

m ak e s ur e I w as r ea l. The re w as not hi ng i n t hi s a t a ll a la rm ing .

I nd eed, t here w as s om et hi ng i n t hese p rett y l it tl e p eo pl e t hat

inspired confidence--a graceful gentleness, a certain childlike

e a se . A nd b es id es , t he y l oo ke d s o f ra il t ha t I c ou ld f an cy

myself flinging the whole dozen of them about like nine-pins.

But I ma de a s udde n m ot ion t o wa rn t he m whe n I s aw t hei r l itt le

p in k h an ds f eeli ng at t he T im e M achi ne. H ap pi ly t hen, w hen i t

wa s no t t oo l at e, I t hou ght of a da nge r I ha d hi the rt o f or got te n,

a nd r ea ch in g o ve r t he b ar s o f t he m ac hi ne I u ns cr ew ed t he l it tl e

l ev er s t ha t w ou ld s et i t i n m ot io n, a nd p ut t he se i n m y p oc ke t.

Then I turned again to see what I could do in the way of

communication.

` An d t hen, l oo ki ng m or e n earl y i nt o t heir f eatu res, I s aw s om e

further peculiarities in their Dresden-china type of prettiness.

T he ir h ai r, w hi ch w as u ni for ml y c ur ly , c am e t o a s ha rp e nd a t t he


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n ec k a nd c he ek ; t he re w as n ot t he f ai nt es t s ug ge st io n o f i t o n

th e f ace, and t heir ear s w er e s in gu larl y m in ut e. T he m ou th s w er e

s mall , w it h b ri gh t r ed , r at her t hi n l ip s, and t he l it tl e chi ns

r an t o a p oi nt . The e ye s we re l ar ge a nd m il d; a nd- -t his ma y

s ee m e go ti sm on m y pa rt -- I f an ci ed e ve n t ha t t he re wa s a

c er ta in l ac k o f t he i nt er es t I m ig ht h av e e xp ec te d i n t he m.

` As t hey m ad e n o eff or t t o com mu ni cate w it h m e, b ut s im pl y

s to od r ou nd m e s mi li ng a nd s pe ak in g i n s of t c oo in g n ot es t o e ac h

o th er , I b eg an t he c on ve rs at io n. I p oi nt ed t o t he T im e M ac hi ne

a nd t o m ys el f. T he n h es it at ing f or a m om ent h ow t o e xp re ss t im e,

I p oi nt ed t o t he s un . At onc e a q ua int ly pr et ty l it tl e f igur e i n

ch eq uered p ur pl e and w hi te f ol lo wed m y g es tu re, and t hen

ast on is hed m e b y i mi tati ng t he s ou nd o f t hu nd er .

` Fo r a m om en t I w as s ta gg er ed , t ho ug h t he i mp or t o f h is

g es tu re w as p lain eno ug h. T he q uest io n h ad com e i nt o m y m in d

abr up tl y: w er e t hese creatu res f oo ls ? Y ou m ay h ar dl y u nd er st an d

ho w i t t ook me . Yo u s ee I h ad a lwa ys a nt ic ip at ed t ha t t he p eop le

o f t he y ea r E ig ht H un dr ed a nd T wo T ho us an d o dd w ou ld b e

incredibly in front of us in knowledge, art, everything. Then

o ne of t he m s ud de nl y a sk ed me a q ue st io n t ha t s how ed h im t o be on

the intellectual level of one of our five-year-old children--

a ske d me , i n f ac t, i f I ha d c ome f rom t he s un in a t hunder st or m!

I t l et l oo se t he j ud gm en t I h ad s us pe nd ed u po n t he ir c lo th es ,

t heir f rail l ig ht l im bs , and f ragi le f eatu res. A f lo w o f


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d is ap po in tm ent r us he d a cr os s m y m in d. F or a m om en t I f el t t ha t I

h ad b ui lt t he T im e M achi ne i n v ai n.

` I nodd ed, poi nt ed t o t he s un , a nd ga ve t he m s uc h a vi vi d

r en deri ng o f a t hu nd er cl ap as s tart led t hem. T hey all w it hd rew a

p ac e o r s o a nd b ow ed . Then ca me one la ughing towa rds me ,

car ry in g a chain o f b eaut if ul f lo wers alt og et her n ew t o m e, and

p ut i t a bo ut m y n ec k. T he i de a w as r ec ei ve d w it h m el od io us

a pp la us e; a nd p re se nt ly t he y w er e a ll r un ni ng t o a nd f ro f or

flowers, and laughingly flinging them upon me until I was almost

s mo th er ed w it h b lo ss om . Y ou w ho h av e n ev er s ee n t he l ik e c an

scarcely imagine what delicate and wonderful flowers countless

y ear s o f cul t ur e h ad cr eat ed . T hen s om eo ne s ug gest ed t hat t heir

p layt hi ng s ho ul d b e exh ib it ed i n t he n earest b ui ld in g, and s o I

w as l ed p as t t he s ph in x o f w hi te m ar bl e, w hi ch h ad s ee me d t o

w at ch m e a ll t he wh il e w it h a s mi le a t m y a st oni sh me nt , t ow ar ds a

v as t g re y e di fi ce o f f re tt ed s to ne . A s I w en t w it h t he m t he

memory of my confident anticipations of a profoundly grave and

intellectual posterity came, with irresistible merriment, to my

mind.

` Th e b ui ld in g h ad a h ug e ent ry , and w as alt og et her o f col os sal

d im en si on s. I w as n at ur al ly m os t o ccup ied w it h t he g ro wi ng cro wd

o f l it tl e p eo pl e, a nd w it h t he b ig o pe n p or ta ls t ha t y aw ne d

b efo re m e s hado wy and m ys teri ou s. M y g en er al i mp ress io n o f t he


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w or ld I s aw o ve r t he ir h ea ds w as a t an gl ed w as te o f b ea ut if ul

b us he s a nd f lo we rs , a l on g n eg le ct ed a nd y et w ee dl es s g ar de n. I

s aw a nu mb er o f t al l s pi ke s o f s tr an ge w hi te f lo we rs , m ea su ri ng a

f oo t p er ha ps a cr os s t he s pr ea d o f t he w ax en p et al s. Th ey gr ew

sc at te re d, a s i f w il d, a mo ng t he v ar ie ga te d s hr ub s, b ut , a s I

s a y, I d id n ot e xa mi ne t he m c lo se ly a t t hi s t im e. The Ti me

M achi ne w as l eft d es er ted o n t he t ur f amo ng t he r ho do dend ro ns .

` Th e a rc h o f t he d oo rw ay w as r ic hl y c ar ve d, b ut n at ur al ly I

d id n ot o bs er ve t he c ar vi ng v er y n ar ro wl y, t ho ug h I f an ci ed I s aw

s ug gest io ns o f o ld P ho en ician d ecor at io ns as I p as sed t hr ou gh ,

a nd i t s tr uc k me t ha t t he y we re v er y ba dl y br ok en a nd we at he r-

w or n. S ev er al m or e b ri gh tl y c la d p eo pl e m et m e i n t he d oo rw ay ,

and s o w e ent er ed , I , d res sed i n d in gy n in et eent h- cent ur y

garments, looking grotesque enough, garlanded with flowers, and

s ur r ou nd ed b y an edd yi ng m as s o f b ri gh t, s of t- col or ed r ob es and

shining white limbs, in a melodious whirl of laughter and

laughing speech.

` Th e b ig d oo rw ay o pened i nt o a p ro po rt io nately g reat h al l h un g

w it h b ro wn . T he r oo f w as i n s hado w, and t he w in do ws , p ar ti al ly

glazed with coloured glass and partially unglazed, admitted a

t em pe re d l ig ht . T he f lo or w as m ad e u p o f h ug e b lo ck s o f s om e

v er y h ar d w hi te m et al , n ot p la te s n or s la bs -- bl oc ks , a nd i t w as

so much worn, a s I judged by the goi ng to a nd fr o of pa st

g en er at io ns , as t o b e d eepl y chann el led alo ng t he m or e f requ en ted


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Wells, H. G. - The Time Machine

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