Things now took a better turn. The Professor ceased to feel shy; and
proposed, when the curate had finished an enormous breakfast, that they
should go down to the cutter, and bring up the things in it to the
cottage. 'A few hours' steady progress,' he said, 'and the human race
will command all the luxuries of civilisation--the glorious fruits of
centuries of onward labour.'
The three spent a very busy morning in examining and unpacking the
luggage. The Professor found his favourite collection of modern
philosophers; Virginia found a large box of knick-knacks, with which to
adorn the cottage; and there was, too, an immense store of wine and of
choice provisions.
'It is rather sad,' sighed Virginia, as she dived into a box of French
chocolate-creams, 'to think that all the poor people are drowned that
these things belonged to.'
'They are not dead,' said the Professor: 'they still live on this holy
and stupendous earth. They live in the use we are making of all they had
got together. The owner of those chocolate-creams is immortal because
you are eating them.'
Virginia licked her lips and said, 'Nonsense!'
'It is not nonsense,' said the Professor. 'It is the religion of
Humanity.'
All day they were busy, and the time passed pleasantly enough. Wines,
provisions, books, and china ornaments were carried up to the cottage
and bestowed in proper places. Virginia filled the glasses in the
drawing-room with gorgeous leaves and flowers and declared by the
evening, as she looked round her, that she could almost fancy herself in
St. John's Wood.
'See, said the Professor, 'how rapid is the progress of material
civilisation! Humanity is now entering on the fruits of ages. Before
long it will be in a position to be unspeakably happy.'
Virginia retired to bed early. The Professor took the curate out with
him to look at the stars; and promised to lend him some writings of the
modern philosophers, which would make him more perfect in the new view
of things. They said good-night, murmuring together that there was
certainly no God, that Humanity was very important, and that everything
was very solemn.