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This had the true Theobald ring and instantly brought the whole
train of ideas which in Ernest's mind were connected with his
father。 The surroundings were the old familiar ones； but the
surrounded were changed almost beyond power of recognition。 He
turned sharply on Theobald in a moment。 I will not repeat the words
he used； for they came out before he had time to consider them； and
they might strike some of my readers as disrespectful； there were
not many of them； but they were effectual。 Theobald said nothing；
but turned almost of an ashen colour； he never again spoke to his
son in such a way as to make it necessary for him to repeat what he
had said on this occasion。 Ernest quickly recovered his temper and
again asked after his mother。 Theobald was glad enough to take this
opening now； and replied at once in the tone he would have assumed
towards one he most particularly desired to conciliate； that she was
getting rapidly worse in spite of all he had been able to do for
her； and concluded by saying she had been the comfort and mainstay
of his life for more than thirty years； but that he could not wish
it prolonged。
The pair then went upstairs to Christina's room； the one in which
Ernest had been born。 His father went before him and prepared her
for her son's approach。 The poor woman raised herself in bed as he
came towards her； and weeping as she flung her arms around him；
cried： 〃Oh； I knew he would come； I knew； I knew he could come。〃
Ernest broke down and wept as he had not done for years。
〃Oh； my boy； my boy；〃 she said as soon as she could recover her
voice。 〃Have you never really been near us for all these years？
Ah； you do not know how we have loved you and mourned over you； papa
just as much as I have。 You know he shows his feelings less； but I
can never tell you how very； very deeply he has felt for you。
Sometimes at night I have thought I have heard footsteps in the
garden； and have got quietly out of bed lest I should wake him； and
gone to the window to look out； but there has been only dark or the
greyness of the morning； and I have gone crying back to bed again。
Still I think you have been near us though you were too proud to let
us knowand now at last I have you in my arms once more； my
dearest； dearest boy。〃
How cruel； how infamously unfeeling Ernest thought he had been。
〃Mother；〃 he said； 〃forgive methe fault was mine； I ought not to
have been so hard； I was wrong； very wrong〃； the poor blubbering
fellow meant what he said； and his heart yearned to his mother as he
had never thought that it could yearn again。 〃But have you never；〃
she continued； 〃come although it was in the dark and we did not know
itoh； let me think that you have not been so cruel as we have
thought you。 Tell me that you came if only to comfort me and make
me happier。〃
Ernest was ready。 〃I had no money to come with； mother； till just
lately。〃
This was an excuse Christina could understand and make allowance
for； 〃Oh； then you would have come； and I will take the will for the
deedand now that I have you safe again； say that you will never；
never leave menot tillnot tilloh； my boy； have they told you I
am dying？〃 She wept bitterly； and buried her head in her pillow。
CHAPTER LXXXIII
Joey and Charlotte were in the room。 Joey was now ordained； and was
curate to Theobald。 He and Ernest had never been sympathetic； and
Ernest saw at a glance that there was no chance of a rapprochement
between them。 He was a little startled at seeing Joey dressed as a
clergyman； and looking so like what he had looked himself a few
years earlier； for there was a good deal of family likeness between
the pair； but Joey's face was cold and was illumined with no spark
of Bohemianism； he was a clergyman and was going to do as other
clergymen did； neither better nor worse。 He greeted Ernest rather
de haut en bas； that is to say he began by trying to do so； but the
affair tailed off unsatisfactorily。
His sister presented her cheek to him to be kissed。 How he hated
it； he had been dreading it for the last three hours。 She； too； was
distant and reproachful in her manner； as such a superior person was
sure to be。 She had a grievance against him inasmuch as she was
still unmarried。 She laid the blame of this at Ernest's door； it
was his misconduct she maintained in secret； which had prevented
young men from making offers to her； and she ran him up a heavy bill
for consequential damages。 She and Joey had from the first
developed an instinct for hunting with the hounds； and now these two
had fairly identified themselves with the older generationthat is
to say as against Ernest。 On this head there was an offensive and
defensive alliance between them； but between themselves there was
subdued but internecine warfare。
This at least was what Ernest gathered； partly from his
recollections of the parties concerned； and partly from his
observation of their little ways during the first half…hour after
his arrival； while they were all together in his mother's bedroom
for as yet of course they did not know that he had money。 He could
see that they eyed him from time to time with a surprise not unmixed
with indignation； and knew very well what they were thinking。
Christina saw the change which had come over himhow much firmer
and more vigorous both in mind and body he seemed than when she had
last seen him。 She saw too how well he was dressed； and； like the
others； in spite of the return of all her affection for her first…
born； was a little alarmed about Theobald's pocket； which she
supposed would have to be mulcted for all this magnificence。
Perceiving this； Ernest relieved her mind and told her all about his
aunt's bequest； and how I had husbanded it； in the presence of his
brother and sisterwho； however； pretended not to notice； or at any
rate to notice as a matter in which they could hardly be expected to
take an interest。
His mother kicked a little at first against the money's having gone
to him as she said 〃over his papa's head。〃 〃Why； my dear；〃 she said
in a deprecating tone； 〃this is more than ever your papa has had〃；
but Ernest calmed her by suggesting that if Miss Pontifex had known
how large the sum would become she would have left the greater part
of it to Theobald。 This compromise was accepted by Christina who
forthwith； ill as she was； entered with ardour into the new
position； and taking it as a fresh point of departure； began
spending Ernest's money for him。
I may say in passing that Christina was right in saying that
Theobald had never had so much money as his son was now possessed
of。 In the first place he had not had a fourteen years' minority
with no outgoings to prevent the accumulation of the money； and in
the second he； like myself and almost everyone else； had suffered
somewhat in the 1846 timesnot enough to cripple him or even
seriously to hurt him； but enough to give him a scare and make him
stick to debentures for the rest of his life。 It was the fact of
his son's being the richer man of the two； and of his being rich so
young； which rankled with Theobald even more than the fact of his
having