按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the coming year； the coming century； the coming Millennium。
My four Sons and two orphan Grandchildren had retired to their
several apartments； and my wife alone remained with me to see the old
Millennium out and the new one in。
I was rapt in thought； pondering in my mind some words that had
casually issued from the mouth of my youngest Grandson； a most
promising young Hexagon of unusual brilliancy and perfect angularity。
His uncles and I had been giving him his usual practical lesson in Sight
Recognition； turning ourselves upon our centres； now rapidly； now more
slowly； and questioning him as to our positions； and his answers had been
so satisfactory that I had been induced to reward him by giving him a few
hints on Arithmetic； as applied to Geometry。
Taking nine Squares； each an inch every way； I had put them together
so as to make one large Square； with a side of three inches； and I had
hence proved to my little Grandson thatthough it was impossible for us
54
… Page 55…
Flatland
to SEE the inside of the Square yet we might ascertain the number of
square inches in a Square by simply squaring the number of inches in the
side： 〃and thus；〃 said I； 〃we know that three…to…the…second； or nine；
represents the number of square inches in a Square whose side is three
inches long。〃
The little Hexagon meditated on this a while and then said to me； 〃But
you have been teaching me to raise numbers to the third power： I suppose
three…to…the…third must mean something in Geometry； what does it mean？〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 replied I； 〃not at least in Geometry； for Geometry has
only Two Dimensions。〃 And then I began to shew the boy how a Point by
moving through a length of three inches makes a Line of three inches；
which may be represented by three； and how a Line of three inches；
moving parallel to itself through a length of three inches； makes a Square
of three inches every way； which may be represented by three…to…the…
second。 xxx Upon this； my Grandson； again returning to his former
suggestion； took me up rather suddenly and exclaimed； 〃Well； then； if a
Point by moving three inches； makes a Line of three inches represented by
three； and if a straight Line of three inches； moving parallel to itself；
makes a Square of three inches every way； represented by three…to…the…
second； it must be that a Square of three inches every way； moving
somehow parallel to itself （but I don't see how） must make Something else
（but I don't see what） of three inches every wayand this must be
represented by three…to…the…third。〃
〃Go to bed；〃 said I； a little ruffled by this interruption： 〃if you would
talk less nonsense； you would remember more sense。〃
So my Grandson had disappeared in disgrace； and there I sat by my
Wife's side； endeavouring to form a retrospect of the year 1999 and of the
possibilities of the year 2000； but not quite able to shake of the thoughts
suggested by the prattle of my bright little Hexagon。 Only a few sands
now remained in the half…hour glass。 Rousing myself from my reverie I
turned the glass Northward for the last time in the old Millennium； and in
the act； I exclaimed aloud； 〃The boy is a fool。〃
Straightway I became conscious of a Presence in the room； and a
55
… Page 56…
Flatland
chilling breath thrilled through my very being。 〃He is no such thing；〃 cried
my Wife； 〃and you are breaking the Commandments in thus dishonouring
your own Grandson。〃 But I took no notice of her。 Looking around in every
direction I could see nothing； yet still I FELT a Presence； and shivered as
the cold whisper came again。 I started up。 〃What is the matter？〃 said my
Wife； 〃there is no draught； what are you looking for？ There is nothing。〃
There was nothing； and I resumed my seat； again exclaiming； 〃The boy is
a fool； I say； three… to…the…third can have no meaning in Geometry。〃 At
once there came a distinctly audible reply； 〃The boy is not a fool； and
three…to…the…third has an obvious Geometrical meaning。〃
My Wife as well as myself heard the words； although she did not
understand their meaning； and both of us sprang forward in the direction
of the sound。 What was our horror when we saw before us a Figure！ At the
first glance it appeared to be a Woman； seen sideways； but a moment's
observation shewed me that the extremities passed into dimness too
rapidly to represent one of the Female Sex； and I should have thought it a
Circle； only that it seemed to change its size in a manner impossible for a
Circle or for any regular Figure of which I had had experience。
But my Wife had not my experience； nor the coolness necessary to
note these characteristics。 With the usual hastiness and unreasoning
jealousy of her Sex； she flew at once to the conclusion that a Woman had
entered the house through some small aperture。 〃How comes this person
here？〃 she exclaimed； 〃you promised me； my dear； that there should be no
ventilators in our new house。〃 〃Nor are they any；〃 said I； 〃but what makes
you think that the stranger is a Woman？ I see by my power of Sight
Recognition 〃
〃Oh； I have no patience with your Sight Recognition；〃 replied she；
〃‘Feeling is believing' and ‘A Straight Line to the touch is worth a Circle
to the sight'〃two Proverbs； very common with the Frailer Sex in
Flatland。
〃Well；〃 said I； for I was afraid of irritating her； 〃if it must be so；
demand an introduction。〃 Assuming her most gracious manner； my Wife
advanced towards the Stranger； 〃Permit me； Madam to feel and be felt by…
56
… Page 57…
Flatland
…〃 then； suddenly recoiling； 〃Oh！ it is not a Woman； and there are no
angles either； not a trace of one。 Can it be that I have so misbehaved to a
perfect Circle？〃
〃I am indeed； in a certain sense a Circle