It was about this time--that is to say some three years
after his ascent--that "Higgsism," as it had been hitherto called, became
"Sunchildism," and "Higgs" the "Sunchild."
My father also learned the King's fury at his escape (for he would call
it nothing else) with my mother. This was so great that though he had
hitherto been, and had ever since proved himself to be, a humane ruler,
he ordered the instant execution of all who had been concerned in making
either the gas or the balloon; and his cruel orders were carried out
within a couple of hours. At the same time he ordered the destruction by
fire of the Queen's workshops, and of all remnants of any materials used
in making the balloon. It is said the Queen was so much grieved and
outraged (for it was her doing that the material ground-work, so to
speak, had been provided for the miracle) that she wept night and day
without ceasing three whole months, and never again allowed her husband
to embrace her, till he had also embraced Sunchildism.
When the rain came, public indignation at the King's action was raised
almost to revolution pitch, and the King was frightened at once by the
arrival of the promised downfall and the displeasure of his subjects. But
he still held out, and it was only after concessions on the part of the
Bridgeford committee, that he at last consented to the absorption of
Sunchildism into the Musical Bank system, and to its establishment as the
religion of the country.
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