Reading Help The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
manner, running across the sunlit space behind me. It blundered `
` against a block of granite, staggered aside, and in a moment was `
` hidden in a black shadow beneath another pile of ruined masonry. `
` `
` 'My impression of it is, of course, imperfect; but I know it was a `
` dull white, and had strange large greyish-red eyes; also that there `
` was flaxen hair on its head and down its back. But, as I say, it `
` went too fast for me to see distinctly. I cannot even say whether it `
` ran on all-fours, or only with its forearms held very low. After an `
` instant's pause I followed it into the second heap of ruins. I could `
` not find it at first; but, after a time in the profound obscurity, I `
` came upon one of those round well-like openings of which I have told `
` you, half closed by a fallen pillar. A sudden thought came to me. `
` Could this Thing have vanished down the shaft? I lit a match, and, `
` looking down, I saw a small, white, moving creature, with large `
` bright eyes which regarded me steadfastly as it retreated. It made `
` me shudder. It was so like a human spider! It was clambering down `
` the wall, and now I saw for the first time a number of metal foot `
` and hand rests forming a kind of ladder down the shaft. Then the `
` light burned my fingers and fell out of my hand, going out as it `
` dropped, and when I had lit another the little monster had `
` disappeared. `
` `
` 'I do not know how long I sat peering down that well. It was not for `
` some time that I could succeed in persuading myself that the thing I `
` had seen was human. But, gradually, the truth dawned on me: that `
` Man had not remained one species, but had differentiated into two `
` distinct animals: that my graceful children of the Upper-world were `
` not the sole descendants of our generation, but that this bleached, `
` obscene, nocturnal Thing, which had flashed before me, was also heir `
` to all the ages. `
` `
` 'I thought of the flickering pillars and of my theory of an `
` underground ventilation. I began to suspect their true import. And `
` what, I wondered, was this Lemur doing in my scheme of a perfectly `
` balanced organization? How was it related to the indolent serenity `
` of the beautiful Upper-worlders? And what was hidden down there, `
` at the foot of that shaft? I sat upon the edge of the well telling `
` myself that, at any rate, there was nothing to fear, and that there `
` I must descend for the solution of my difficulties. And withal I `
` was absolutely afraid to go! As I hesitated, two of the beautiful `
` Upper-world people came running in their amorous sport across the `
` daylight in the shadow. The male pursued the female, flinging `
` flowers at her as he ran. `
` `
` 'They seemed distressed to find me, my arm against the overturned `
` pillar, peering down the well. Apparently it was considered bad form `
` to remark these apertures; for when I pointed to this one, and tried `
` to frame a question about it in their tongue, they were still more `
` visibly distressed and turned away. But they were interested by my `
` matches, and I struck some to amuse them. I tried them again about `
` the well, and again I failed. So presently I left them, meaning to `
` go back to Weena, and see what I could get from her. But my mind was `
` already in revolution; my guesses and impressions were slipping and `
` sliding to a new adjustment. I had now a clue to the import of these `
` wells, to the ventilating towers, to the mystery of the ghosts; to `
` say nothing of a hint at the meaning of the bronze gates and the `
` fate of the Time Machine! And very vaguely there came a suggestion `
` towards the solution of the economic problem that had puzzled me. `
` `
` 'Here was the new view. Plainly, this second species of Man was `
` subterranean. There were three circumstances in particular which `
` made me think that its rare emergence above ground was the outcome `
` of a long-continued underground habit. In the first place, there was `
` the bleached look common in most animals that live largely in the `
` dark--the white fish of the Kentucky caves, for instance. Then, `
` those large eyes, with that capacity for reflecting light, are `
` common features of nocturnal things--witness the owl and the cat. `
` And last of all, that evident confusion in the sunshine, that hasty `
` yet fumbling awkward flight towards dark shadow, and that peculiar `
` carriage of the head while in the light--all reinforced the theory `
` of an extreme sensitiveness of the retina. `
` `
` 'Beneath my feet, then, the earth must be tunnelled enormously, and `
` these tunnellings were the habitat of the new race. The presence of `
` ventilating shafts and wells along the hill slopes--everywhere, in `
` fact, except along the river valley--showed how universal were its `
` ramifications. What so natural, then, as to assume that it was in `
` this artificial Underworld that such work as was necessary to the `
` comfort of the daylight race was done? The notion was so plausible `
` that I at once accepted it, and went on to assume the _how_ of this `
` splitting of the human species. I dare say you will anticipate the `
` shape of my theory; though, for myself, I very soon felt that it `
` fell far short of the truth. `
` `
` 'At first, proceeding from the problems of our own age, it seemed `
` clear as daylight to me that the gradual widening of the present `
` merely temporary and social difference between the Capitalist and `
` the Labourer, was the key to the whole position. No doubt it will `
` seem grotesque enough to you--and wildly incredible!--and yet even `
` now there are existing circumstances to point that way. There is `
` a tendency to utilize underground space for the less ornamental `
` purposes of civilization; there is the Metropolitan Railway in `
` London, for instance, there are new electric railways, there are `
` subways, there are underground workrooms and restaurants, and they `
` increase and multiply. Evidently, I thought, this tendency had `
` increased till Industry had gradually lost its birthright in the `
` sky. I mean that it had gone deeper and deeper into larger and ever `
` larger underground factories, spending a still-increasing amount of `
` its time therein, till, in the end--! Even now, does not an East-end `
` worker live in such artificial conditions as practically to be cut `
` off from the natural surface of the earth? `
` `
` 'Again, the exclusive tendency of richer people--due, no doubt, to `
` the increasing refinement of their education, and the widening gulf `
` between them and the rude violence of the poor--is already leading `
` to the closing, in their interest, of considerable portions of the `
` surface of the land. About London, for instance, perhaps half the `
` prettier country is shut in against intrusion. And this same `
` widening gulf--which is due to the length and expense of the higher `
` educational process and the increased facilities for and temptations `
` towards refined habits on the part of the rich--will make that `
` exchange between class and class, that promotion by intermarriage `
` which at present retards the splitting of our species along lines `
` of social stratification, less and less frequent. So, in the end, `
` above ground you must have the Haves, pursuing pleasure and comfort `
` and beauty, and below ground the Have-nots, the Workers getting `
` continually adapted to the conditions of their labour. Once they `
` were there, they would no doubt have to pay rent, and not a little `
` of it, for the ventilation of their caverns; and if they refused, `
` they would starve or be suffocated for arrears. Such of them as were `
` so constituted as to be miserable and rebellious would die; and, in `
` the end, the balance being permanent, the survivors would become as `
` well adapted to the conditions of underground life, and as happy in `
` their way, as the Upper-world people were to theirs. As it seemed to `
` me, the refined beauty and the etiolated pallor followed naturally `
` enough. `
` `
` 'The great triumph of Humanity I had dreamed of took a different `
` shape in my mind. It had been no such triumph of moral education and `
` general co-operation as I had imagined. Instead, I saw a real `
` aristocracy, armed with a perfected science and working to a logical `
` conclusion the industrial system of to-day. Its triumph had not been `
` simply a triumph over Nature, but a triumph over Nature and the `
` fellow-man. This, I must warn you, was my theory at the time. I had `
` no convenient cicerone in the pattern of the Utopian books. My `
` explanation may be absolutely wrong. I still think it is the `
` most plausible one. But even on this supposition the balanced `
` civilization that was at last attained must have long since passed `
` its zenith, and was now far fallen into decay. The too-perfect `
` security of the Upper-worlders had led them to a slow movement of `
` degeneration, to a general dwindling in size, strength, and `
` intelligence. That I could see clearly enough already. What had `
` happened to the Under-grounders I did not yet suspect; but from what `
` I had seen of the Morlocks--that, by the by, was the name by which `
` these creatures were called--I could imagine that the modification `
` of the human type was even far more profound than among the "Eloi," `
` the beautiful race that I already knew. `
` `
` 'Then came troublesome doubts. Why had the Morlocks taken my Time `
` Machine? For I felt sure it was they who had taken it. Why, too, if `
` the Eloi were masters, could they not restore the machine to me? And `
` why were they so terribly afraid of the dark? I proceeded, as I have `
` said, to question Weena about this Under-world, but here again I was `
` disappointed. At first she would not understand my questions, and `
` presently she refused to answer them. She shivered as though the `
` topic was unendurable. And when I pressed her, perhaps a little `
` harshly, she burst into tears. They were the only tears, except my `
` own, I ever saw in that Golden Age. When I saw them I ceased `
` abruptly to trouble about the Morlocks, and was only concerned in `
` banishing these signs of the human inheritance from Weena's eyes. `
` And very soon she was smiling and clapping her hands, while I `
` solemnly burned a match. `
` `
` `
` `
` VI `
` `
` `
` 'It may seem odd to you, but it was two days before I could follow `
` up the new-found clue in what was manifestly the proper way. I felt `
` a peculiar shrinking from those pallid bodies. They were just the `
` half-bleached colour of the worms and things one sees preserved in `
` spirit in a zoological museum. And they were filthily cold to the `
` touch. Probably my shrinking was largely due to the sympathetic `
` influence of the Eloi, whose disgust of the Morlocks I now began `
` to appreciate. `
` `
` 'The next night I did not sleep well. Probably my health was a `
` little disordered. I was oppressed with perplexity and doubt. Once `
` or twice I had a feeling of intense fear for which I could perceive `
` no definite reason. I remember creeping noiselessly into the great `
` hall where the little people were sleeping in the moonlight--that `
` night Weena was among them--and feeling reassured by their presence. `
` It occurred to me even then, that in the course of a few days the `
` moon must pass through its last quarter, and the nights grow dark, `
` when the appearances of these unpleasant creatures from below, these `
` whitened Lemurs, this new vermin that had replaced the old, might be `
` more abundant. And on both these days I had the restless feeling of `
` one who shirks an inevitable duty. I felt assured that the Time `
` Machine was only to be recovered by boldly penetrating these `
` underground mysteries. Yet I could not face the mystery. If only I `
` had had a companion it would have been different. But I was so `
` horribly alone, and even to clamber down into the darkness of the `
` well appalled me. I don't know if you will understand my feeling, `
` but I never felt quite safe at my back. `
` `
` 'It was this restlessness, this insecurity, perhaps, that drove me `
` further and further afield in my exploring expeditions. Going to the `
` south-westward towards the rising country that is now called Combe `
` Wood, I observed far off, in the direction of nineteenth-century `
`
` against a block of granite, staggered aside, and in a moment was `
` hidden in a black shadow beneath another pile of ruined masonry. `
` `
` 'My impression of it is, of course, imperfect; but I know it was a `
` dull white, and had strange large greyish-red eyes; also that there `
` was flaxen hair on its head and down its back. But, as I say, it `
` went too fast for me to see distinctly. I cannot even say whether it `
` ran on all-fours, or only with its forearms held very low. After an `
` instant's pause I followed it into the second heap of ruins. I could `
` not find it at first; but, after a time in the profound obscurity, I `
` came upon one of those round well-like openings of which I have told `
` you, half closed by a fallen pillar. A sudden thought came to me. `
` Could this Thing have vanished down the shaft? I lit a match, and, `
` looking down, I saw a small, white, moving creature, with large `
` bright eyes which regarded me steadfastly as it retreated. It made `
` me shudder. It was so like a human spider! It was clambering down `
` the wall, and now I saw for the first time a number of metal foot `
` and hand rests forming a kind of ladder down the shaft. Then the `
` light burned my fingers and fell out of my hand, going out as it `
` dropped, and when I had lit another the little monster had `
` disappeared. `
` `
` 'I do not know how long I sat peering down that well. It was not for `
` some time that I could succeed in persuading myself that the thing I `
` had seen was human. But, gradually, the truth dawned on me: that `
` Man had not remained one species, but had differentiated into two `
` distinct animals: that my graceful children of the Upper-world were `
` not the sole descendants of our generation, but that this bleached, `
` obscene, nocturnal Thing, which had flashed before me, was also heir `
` to all the ages. `
` `
` 'I thought of the flickering pillars and of my theory of an `
` underground ventilation. I began to suspect their true import. And `
` what, I wondered, was this Lemur doing in my scheme of a perfectly `
` balanced organization? How was it related to the indolent serenity `
` of the beautiful Upper-worlders? And what was hidden down there, `
` at the foot of that shaft? I sat upon the edge of the well telling `
` myself that, at any rate, there was nothing to fear, and that there `
` I must descend for the solution of my difficulties. And withal I `
` was absolutely afraid to go! As I hesitated, two of the beautiful `
` Upper-world people came running in their amorous sport across the `
` daylight in the shadow. The male pursued the female, flinging `
` flowers at her as he ran. `
` `
` 'They seemed distressed to find me, my arm against the overturned `
` pillar, peering down the well. Apparently it was considered bad form `
` to remark these apertures; for when I pointed to this one, and tried `
` to frame a question about it in their tongue, they were still more `
` visibly distressed and turned away. But they were interested by my `
` matches, and I struck some to amuse them. I tried them again about `
` the well, and again I failed. So presently I left them, meaning to `
` go back to Weena, and see what I could get from her. But my mind was `
` already in revolution; my guesses and impressions were slipping and `
` sliding to a new adjustment. I had now a clue to the import of these `
` wells, to the ventilating towers, to the mystery of the ghosts; to `
` say nothing of a hint at the meaning of the bronze gates and the `
` fate of the Time Machine! And very vaguely there came a suggestion `
` towards the solution of the economic problem that had puzzled me. `
` `
` 'Here was the new view. Plainly, this second species of Man was `
` subterranean. There were three circumstances in particular which `
` made me think that its rare emergence above ground was the outcome `
` of a long-continued underground habit. In the first place, there was `
` the bleached look common in most animals that live largely in the `
` dark--the white fish of the Kentucky caves, for instance. Then, `
` those large eyes, with that capacity for reflecting light, are `
` common features of nocturnal things--witness the owl and the cat. `
` And last of all, that evident confusion in the sunshine, that hasty `
` yet fumbling awkward flight towards dark shadow, and that peculiar `
` carriage of the head while in the light--all reinforced the theory `
` of an extreme sensitiveness of the retina. `
` `
` 'Beneath my feet, then, the earth must be tunnelled enormously, and `
` these tunnellings were the habitat of the new race. The presence of `
` ventilating shafts and wells along the hill slopes--everywhere, in `
` fact, except along the river valley--showed how universal were its `
` ramifications. What so natural, then, as to assume that it was in `
` this artificial Underworld that such work as was necessary to the `
` comfort of the daylight race was done? The notion was so plausible `
` that I at once accepted it, and went on to assume the _how_ of this `
` splitting of the human species. I dare say you will anticipate the `
` shape of my theory; though, for myself, I very soon felt that it `
` fell far short of the truth. `
` `
` 'At first, proceeding from the problems of our own age, it seemed `
` clear as daylight to me that the gradual widening of the present `
` merely temporary and social difference between the Capitalist and `
` the Labourer, was the key to the whole position. No doubt it will `
` seem grotesque enough to you--and wildly incredible!--and yet even `
` now there are existing circumstances to point that way. There is `
` a tendency to utilize underground space for the less ornamental `
` purposes of civilization; there is the Metropolitan Railway in `
` London, for instance, there are new electric railways, there are `
` subways, there are underground workrooms and restaurants, and they `
` increase and multiply. Evidently, I thought, this tendency had `
` increased till Industry had gradually lost its birthright in the `
` sky. I mean that it had gone deeper and deeper into larger and ever `
` larger underground factories, spending a still-increasing amount of `
` its time therein, till, in the end--! Even now, does not an East-end `
` worker live in such artificial conditions as practically to be cut `
` off from the natural surface of the earth? `
` `
` 'Again, the exclusive tendency of richer people--due, no doubt, to `
` the increasing refinement of their education, and the widening gulf `
` between them and the rude violence of the poor--is already leading `
` to the closing, in their interest, of considerable portions of the `
` surface of the land. About London, for instance, perhaps half the `
` prettier country is shut in against intrusion. And this same `
` widening gulf--which is due to the length and expense of the higher `
` educational process and the increased facilities for and temptations `
` towards refined habits on the part of the rich--will make that `
` exchange between class and class, that promotion by intermarriage `
` which at present retards the splitting of our species along lines `
` of social stratification, less and less frequent. So, in the end, `
` above ground you must have the Haves, pursuing pleasure and comfort `
` and beauty, and below ground the Have-nots, the Workers getting `
` continually adapted to the conditions of their labour. Once they `
` were there, they would no doubt have to pay rent, and not a little `
` of it, for the ventilation of their caverns; and if they refused, `
` they would starve or be suffocated for arrears. Such of them as were `
` so constituted as to be miserable and rebellious would die; and, in `
` the end, the balance being permanent, the survivors would become as `
` well adapted to the conditions of underground life, and as happy in `
` their way, as the Upper-world people were to theirs. As it seemed to `
` me, the refined beauty and the etiolated pallor followed naturally `
` enough. `
` `
` 'The great triumph of Humanity I had dreamed of took a different `
` shape in my mind. It had been no such triumph of moral education and `
` general co-operation as I had imagined. Instead, I saw a real `
` aristocracy, armed with a perfected science and working to a logical `
` conclusion the industrial system of to-day. Its triumph had not been `
` simply a triumph over Nature, but a triumph over Nature and the `
` fellow-man. This, I must warn you, was my theory at the time. I had `
` no convenient cicerone in the pattern of the Utopian books. My `
` explanation may be absolutely wrong. I still think it is the `
` most plausible one. But even on this supposition the balanced `
` civilization that was at last attained must have long since passed `
` its zenith, and was now far fallen into decay. The too-perfect `
` security of the Upper-worlders had led them to a slow movement of `
` degeneration, to a general dwindling in size, strength, and `
` intelligence. That I could see clearly enough already. What had `
` happened to the Under-grounders I did not yet suspect; but from what `
` I had seen of the Morlocks--that, by the by, was the name by which `
` these creatures were called--I could imagine that the modification `
` of the human type was even far more profound than among the "Eloi," `
` the beautiful race that I already knew. `
` `
` 'Then came troublesome doubts. Why had the Morlocks taken my Time `
` Machine? For I felt sure it was they who had taken it. Why, too, if `
` the Eloi were masters, could they not restore the machine to me? And `
` why were they so terribly afraid of the dark? I proceeded, as I have `
` said, to question Weena about this Under-world, but here again I was `
` disappointed. At first she would not understand my questions, and `
` presently she refused to answer them. She shivered as though the `
` topic was unendurable. And when I pressed her, perhaps a little `
` harshly, she burst into tears. They were the only tears, except my `
` own, I ever saw in that Golden Age. When I saw them I ceased `
` abruptly to trouble about the Morlocks, and was only concerned in `
` banishing these signs of the human inheritance from Weena's eyes. `
` And very soon she was smiling and clapping her hands, while I `
` solemnly burned a match. `
` `
` `
` `
` VI `
` `
` `
` 'It may seem odd to you, but it was two days before I could follow `
` up the new-found clue in what was manifestly the proper way. I felt `
` a peculiar shrinking from those pallid bodies. They were just the `
` half-bleached colour of the worms and things one sees preserved in `
` spirit in a zoological museum. And they were filthily cold to the `
` touch. Probably my shrinking was largely due to the sympathetic `
` influence of the Eloi, whose disgust of the Morlocks I now began `
` to appreciate. `
` `
` 'The next night I did not sleep well. Probably my health was a `
` little disordered. I was oppressed with perplexity and doubt. Once `
` or twice I had a feeling of intense fear for which I could perceive `
` no definite reason. I remember creeping noiselessly into the great `
` hall where the little people were sleeping in the moonlight--that `
` night Weena was among them--and feeling reassured by their presence. `
` It occurred to me even then, that in the course of a few days the `
` moon must pass through its last quarter, and the nights grow dark, `
` when the appearances of these unpleasant creatures from below, these `
` whitened Lemurs, this new vermin that had replaced the old, might be `
` more abundant. And on both these days I had the restless feeling of `
` one who shirks an inevitable duty. I felt assured that the Time `
` Machine was only to be recovered by boldly penetrating these `
` underground mysteries. Yet I could not face the mystery. If only I `
` had had a companion it would have been different. But I was so `
` horribly alone, and even to clamber down into the darkness of the `
` well appalled me. I don't know if you will understand my feeling, `
` but I never felt quite safe at my back. `
` `
` 'It was this restlessness, this insecurity, perhaps, that drove me `
` further and further afield in my exploring expeditions. Going to the `
` south-westward towards the rising country that is now called Combe `
` Wood, I observed far off, in the direction of nineteenth-century `
`