’Isyourplacetheretobeleftalone？’askedClennam。
’Youexactlyhitit，’returnedFerdinand。’Itistherewiththeexpressintentionthateverythingshallbeleftalone。Thatiswhatitmeans。Thatiswhatit’sfor。Nodoubtthere’sacertainformtobekeptupthatit’sforsomethingelse，butit’sonlyaform。Why，goodHeaven，wearenothingbutforms!Thinkwhatalotofourformsyouhavegonethrough。Andyouhavenevergotanynearertoanend？’
’Never，’saidClennam。
’Lookatitfromtherightpointofview，andthereyouhaveus——
officialandeffectual。It’slikealimitedgameofcricket。A