—fromTheTimeMachine(Chapter1)
TheTimeTraveller (forsoitwillbeconvenienttospeakofhim) , , , beinghispatents, embracedandcaressedusratherthansubmittedtobesatupon, —markingthepointswithaleanforefinger—aswesatandlazilyadmiredhisearnestnessoverthisnewparadox (aswethoughtit) andhisfecundity.
“, forinstance, theytaughtyouatschoolisfoundedonamisconception.”
“Isnotthatratheralargethingtoexpectustobeginupon?”saidFilby, anargumentativepersonwithredhair.
“, alineofthicknessnil, ? .”
“Thatisallright,”saidthePsychologist.
“Nor, havingonlylength, breadth, andthickness, canacubehavearealexistence.”
“ThereIobject,”saidFilby.“—”
“?”
“Don’tfollowyou,”saidFilby.
“Canacubethatdoesnotlastforanytimeatall, havearealexistence?”
Filbybecamepensive.“Clearly,”theTimeTravellerproceeded, “anyrealbodymusthaveextensioninfourdirections: itmusthaveLength, Breadth, Thickness, and—, whichIwillexplaintoyouinamoment, , threewhichwecallthethreeplanesofSpace, andafourth, , however, atendencytodrawanunrealdistinctionbetweentheformerthreedimensionsandthelatter, becauseithappensthatourconsciousnessmovesintermittentlyinonedirectionalongthelatterfromthebeginningtotheendofourlives.”
“That,”saidaveryyoungman, makingspasmodiceffortstorelighthiscigaroverthelamp; “that...veryclearindeed.”
“Now, itisveryremarkablethatthisissoextensivelyoverlooked,”continuedtheTimeTraveller, withaslightaccessionofcheerfulness.“ReallythisiswhatismeantbytheFourthDimension, ?”
“Ihavenot,”saidtheProvincialMayor.
