Flatland: A Romance of Many DimensionsAbbott, Edwin Abbott
Science
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Abbott, Edwin Abbott
Fourth dimension
Straightway I became conscious of a Presence in the room, and a 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 round 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; 3³ can have no meaning in
Geometry.” At once there came a distinctly audible reply, “The boy is not
a fool; and 3³ 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 there 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——” 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?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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