by H G Wells

PANTOUM IN PROSE

doubtful whether the gift was innate own part, it came to him suddenly Indeed, until thirty sceptic, and believe in miraculous powers And here, since most convenient place, mention that little man, and had eyes of hot brown, very erect red hair, moustache with ends that he twisted up, and freckles His name was George McWhirter Fotheringay--not the sort of name by any means to lead to any expectation of miracles--and clerk at Gomshott's greatly addicted to assertive argument while asserting the impossibility of miracles that he had his first intimation extraordinary powers This particular argument was being held bar Long Dragon, and Toddy Beamish was conducting the opposition by monotonous but effective "So you say," that drove Mr Fotheringay very limit patience

There were present, besides these two, very dusty cyclist, landlord Cox, and Miss Maybridge, the perfectly respectable and rather portly barmaid Dragon Miss Maybridge was standing with her back to Mr Fotheringay, washing glasses; the others were watching him, more or less amused present ineffectiveness assertive method Goaded Torres Vedras tactics of Mr Beamish, Mr Fotheringay determined an unusual rhetorical effort "Looky here, Mr Beamish," said Mr Fotheringay " clearly understand what miracle is It's something contrariwise course of nature, done by power of will, something what couldn't happen without being specially willed "

"So you say," said Mr Beamish, repulsing him

Mr Fotheringay appealed cyclist, who had hitherto been silent auditor, and received his assent--given with hesitating cough and glance at Mr Beamish The landlord would express no opinion, and Mr Fotheringay, returning to Mr Beamish, received the unexpected concession of qualified assent definition of miracle

"For instance," said Mr Fotheringay, greatly encouraged "Here miracle That lamp, natural course of nature, couldn't burn like that upsy-down, could it, Beamish ? "

"_You say it couldn't," said Beamish

"And you ? " said Fotheringay "You don't mean --eh ? "

"No," said Beamish reluctantly "No, it couldn't "

" ," said Mr Fotheringay "Then here comes someone, as it me, along here, and stands as it here, and says lamp, as do, collecting all my will--Turn upsy-down without breaking, and go on burning steady, and--Hullo ! "

enough anyone say "Hullo ! " The impossible, the incredible, was visible all The lamp hung inverted air, burning quietly with its flame pointing down as solid, as indisputable as ever lamp was, the prosaic common lamp Long Dragon bar

Mr Fotheringay stood with an extended forefinger knitted brows of one anticipating catastrophic smash The cyclist, who was sitting next the lamp, ducked and jumped across the bar Everybody jumped, more or less Miss Maybridge turned and screamed For nearly three seconds the lamp remained still faint cry of mental distress came from Mr Fotheringay " 't keep it up," , "any longer " He staggered back, inverted lamp suddenly flared, fell against the corner bar, bounced aside, smashed floor, and went out

lucky it had metal receiver, or the whole place in blaze Mr Cox first , remark, shorn of needless excrescences, was effect that Fotheringay was fool Fotheringay was beyond disputing even so fundamental proposition ! astonished beyond measure thing that had occurred The subsequent conversation threw absolutely no light matter as Fotheringay was concerned; the general opinion followed Mr Cox very closely but very vehemently Everyone accused Fotheringay of silly trick, and presented him to himself as foolish destroyer of comfort and security His mind was in tornado of perplexity, himself inclined to agree , and remarkably ineffectual opposition proposal departure

He went home flushed and heated, coat-collar crumpled, eyes smarting, and ears red He watched each ten street lamps nervously as he passed it only when himself alone little bedroom in Church Row that able to grapple seriously memories occurrence, and ask, "What on earth happened ? "

He had removed his coat and boots, and was sitting bed hands pockets repeating the text defence seventeenth time, "I didn't want the confounded thing to upset," when it occurred to him that precise moment he had said the commanding words he had inadvertently willed the thing , when he had seen the lamp air he had felt depended on him to maintain it there without being clear how He particularly complex mind, or stuck for time "inadvertently willed," embracing, as it does, the abstrusest problems of voluntary action; but as , the idea came to him with quite acceptable haziness And , following, as admit, no clear logical path, test of experiment

He pointed resolutely candle and collected his mind, though foolish thing "Be raised up," But in second that feeling vanished The candle was raised, hung air one giddy moment, and as Mr Fotheringay gasped, fell with smash toilet-table, leaving him in darkness save expiring glow wick

For time Mr Fotheringay sat darkness, perfectly still "It did happen, after all," "And 'ow I'm to explain it I _don't know " He sighed heavily, and began feeling pockets for match find none, and he rose and groped toilet-table " I had match," He resorted coat, and none there, and then it dawned upon him that miracles were possible even with matches He extended hand and scowled at it dark "Let there be match hand," some light object fall across his palm fingers closed upon match

After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered safety match He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that willed it lit , and perceived it burning midst toilet-table mat He caught it up hastily, and it went out His perception of possibilities enlarged, and for and replaced the candle in its candlestick "Here ! you be lit," said Mr Fotheringay, and forthwith the candle was flaring, and little black hole toilet-cover, with wisp of smoke rising For time he stared little flame and back, and then looked up and met his own gaze looking-glass help he communed with himself in silence for time

"How about miracles now ? " said Mr Fotheringay at last, addressing his reflection

The subsequent meditations of Mr Fotheringay were of severe but confused description , he case of pure willing The nature experiences disinclined him for any further experiments, until he had reconsidered them But he lifted sheet of paper, and turned glass of water pink and then green, and he created snail, which he miraculously annihilated, and got himself miraculous new tooth-brush Somewhere small hours he had reached the fact that his will-power of particularly rare and pungent quality, fact he had indeed had inklings before, but no certain assurance The scare and perplexity first discovery was now qualified by pride evidence of singularity and by vague intimations of advantage He became aware church clock was striking one, and as it occur to him that his daily duties at Gomshott's miraculously dispensed with, he resumed undressing, to bed without further delay As he struggled his shirt over his head, struck with brilliant idea "Let me be in bed," , and found himself so "Undressed," he stipulated; and, finding the sheets cold, added hastily, "and in my nightshirt--ho, in nice soft woollen nightshirt Ah ! " with immense enjoyment "And now let me be comfortably asleep . "

He awoke at his usual hour and was pensive all through breakfast-time, wondering whether his over-night experience particularly vivid dream his mind turned again to cautious experiments For instance, he had three eggs for breakfast; two his landlady had supplied, good, but shoppy, and one was delicious fresh goose-egg, laid, cooked, and served by his extraordinary will He hurried off to Gomshott's in state of profound but carefully concealed excitement, and only remembered the shell third egg when his landlady spoke of it that night All day do no work because astonishing new self-knowledge, but this caused him no inconvenience, because up miraculously last ten minutes