If it rise four minutes earlier every day when will it be an hour earlier?
In half-a-month; and twenty-four hours earlier in twelve months. But that is the time when it will be visiting at night again.
So you have ascertained that the stars go an apparent journey round the earth in a year; like as the sun takes a year to go his apparent course among the stars.
Then both must have the same cause. As I found the daily motion of the stars was owing to the real daily motion of the earth, I suppose this yearly motion of the stars must be caused by some yearly motion of the earth.
Either the sun turns round the earth once a year, or the earth does round the sun.
Well, father, the sun appeared also to turn round the earth once a day. I do not think I could run round the deck in two minutes while I am two hours doing it. Then, as I am satisfied it did not have a daily motion, I am the more disposed not to trust to this apparent yearly motion. It is more likely, too, that the little world should run round the great sun, than that the great sun should revolve round the earth.
I perceive you are as settled upon the annual or yearly motion as you were upon the diurnal or daily revolution.”
THE SEASONS.
“James, my boy,” said Mr. Marple “do you know why there should be winter and summer?