Машина времени

           Goingtothesouth-westwardtowardstherisingcountrythatisnowcalledCombeWood,Iobservedfaroff,inthedirectionofnineteenth-centuryBanstead,avastgreenstructure,differentincharacterfromanyIhadhithertoseen. ItwaslargerthanthelargestofthepalacesorruinsIknew,andthefacadehadanOrientallook: thefaceofithavingthelustre,aswellasthepale-greentint,akindofbluish-green,ofacertaintypeofChineseporcelain. Thisdifferenceinaspectsuggestedadifferenceinuse,andIwasmindedtopushonandexplore. Butthedaywasgrowinglate,andIhadcomeuponthesightoftheplaceafteralongandtiringcircuit; soIresolvedtoholdovertheadventureforthefollowingday,andIreturnedtothewelcomeandthecaressesoflittleWeena. ButnextmorningIperceivedclearlyenoughthatmycuriosityregardingthePalaceofGreenPorcelainwasapieceofself-deception,toenablemetoshirk,byanotherday,anexperienceIdreaded. IresolvedIwouldmakethedescentwithoutfurtherwasteoftime,andstartedoutintheearlymorningtowardsawellneartheruinsofgraniteandaluminium. 

           ‘LittleWeenaranwithme. Shedancedbesidemetothewell,butwhenshesawmeleanoverthemouthandlookdownward,sheseemedstrangelydisconcerted. "Good-bye,LittleWeena,"Isaid,kissingher; andthenputtingherdown,Ibegantofeelovertheparapetfortheclimbinghooks. Ratherhastily,Imayaswellconfess,forIfearedmycouragemightleakaway! Atfirstshewatchedmeinamazement. Thenshegaveamostpiteouscry,andrunningtome,shebegantopullatmewithherlittlehands. Ithinkheroppositionnervedmerathertoproceed. Ishookheroff,perhapsalittleroughly,andinanothermomentIwasinthethroatofthewell. Isawheragonizedfaceovertheparapet,andsmiledtoreassureher. ThenIhadtolookdownattheunstablehookstowhichIclung.