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when he was a child doing lessons with his father。
After their early dinner； when Joey and Ernest and their father were
left alone； Theobald rose and stood in the middle of the hearthrug
under the Elijah picture； and began to whistle in his old absent
way。 He had two tunes only； one was 〃In my Cottage near a Wood；〃
and the other was the Easter Hymn； he had been trying to whistle
them all his life； but had never succeeded； he whistled them as a
clever bullfinch might whistle themhe had got them； but he had not
got them right； he would be a semitone out in every third note as
though reverting to some remote musical progenitor； who had known
none but the Lydian or the Phrygian mode； or whatever would enable
him to go most wrong while still keeping the tune near enough to be
recognised。 Theobald stood before the middle of the fire and
whistled his two tunes softly in his own old way till Ernest left
the room； the unchangedness of the external and changedness of the
internal he felt were likely to throw him completely off his
balance。
He strolled out of doors into the sodden spinney behind the house；
and solaced himself with a pipe。 Ere long he found himself at the
door of the cottage of his father's coachman； who had married an old
lady's maid of his mother's； to whom Ernest had been always much
attached as she also to him； for she had known him ever since he had
been five or six years old。 Her name was Susan。 He sat down in the
rocking…chair before her fire； and Susan went on ironing at the
table in front of the window； and a smell of hot flannel pervaded
the kitchen。
Susan had been retained too securely by Christina to be likely to
side with Ernest all in a moment。 He knew this very well； and did
not call on her for the sake of support； moral or otherwise。 He had
called because he liked her； and also because he knew that he should
gather much in a chat with her that he should not be able to arrive
at in any other way。
〃Oh； Master Ernest；〃 said Susan； 〃why did you not come back when
your poor papa and mamma wanted you？ I'm sure your ma has said to
me a hundred times over if she has said it once that all should be
exactly as it had been before。〃
Ernest smiled to himself。 It was no use explaining to Susan why he
smiled； so he said nothing。
〃For the first day or two I thought she never would get over it； she
said it was a judgement upon her； and went on about things as she
had said and done many years ago； before your pa knew her； and I
don't know what she didn't say or wouldn't have said only I stopped
her； she seemed out of her mind like； and said that none of the
neighbours would ever speak to her again； but the next day Mrs
Bushby （her that was Miss Cowey； you know） called； and your ma
always was so fond of her； and it seemed to do her a power o' good；
for the next day she went through all her dresses； and we settled
how she should have them altered； and then all the neighbours called
for miles and miles round； and your ma came in here； and said she
had been going through the waters of misery； and the Lord had turned
them to a well。
〃'Oh yes； Susan；' said she； 'be sure it is so。 Whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth； Susan；' and here she began to cry again。 'As for
him；' she went on； 'he has made his bed； and he must lie on it； when
he comes out of prison his pa will know what is best to be done； and
Master Ernest may be thankful that he has a pa so good and so long…
suffering。'
〃Then when you would not see them； that was a cruel blow to your ma。
Your pa did not say anything； you know your pa never does say very
much unless he's downright waxy for the time； but your ma took on
dreadful for a few days； and I never saw the master look so black；
but； bless you； it all went off in a few days； and I don't know that
there's been much difference in either of them since then； not till
your ma was took ill。〃
On the night of his arrival he had behaved well at family prayers；
as also on the following morning； his father read about David's
dying injunctions to Solomon in the matter of Shimei； but he did not
mind it。 In the course of the day； however； his corns had been
trodden on so many times that he was in a misbehaving humour； on
this the second night after his arrival。 He knelt next Charlotte
and said the responses perfunctorily； not so perfunctorily that she
should know for certain that he was doing it maliciously； but so
perfunctorily as to make her uncertain whether he might be malicious
or not； and when he had to pray to be made truly honest and
conscientious he emphasised the 〃truly。〃 I do not know whether
Charlotte noticed anything； but she knelt at some distance from him
during the rest of his stay。 He assures me that this was the only
spiteful thing he did during the whole time he was at Battersby。
When he went up to his bedroom； in which； to do them justice； they
had given him a fire； he noticed what indeed he had noticed as soon
as he was shown into it on his arrival； that there was an
illuminated card framed and glazed over his bed with the words； 〃Be
the day weary or be the day long； at last it ringeth to evensong。〃
He wondered to himself how such people could leave such a card in a
room in which their visitors would have to spend the last hours of
their evening； but he let it alone。 〃There's not enough difference
between 'weary' and 'long' to warrant an 'or；'〃 he said； 〃but I
suppose it is all right。〃 I believe Christina had bought the card
at a bazaar in aid of the restoration of a neighbouring church； and
having been bought it had got to be usedbesides； the sentiment was
so touching and the illumination was really lovely。 Anyhow； no
irony could be more complete than leaving it in my hero's bedroom；
though assuredly no irony had been intended。
On the third day after Ernest's arrival Christina relapsed again。
For the last two days she had been in no pain and had slept a good
deal； her son's presence still seemed to cheer her； and she often
said how thankful she was to be surrounded on her death…bed by a
family so happy； so God…fearing； so united； but now she began to
wander； and； being more sensible of the approach of death； seemed
also more alarmed at the thoughts of the Day of Judgment。
She ventured more than once or twice to return to the subject of her
sins； and implored Theobald to make quite sure that they were
forgiven her。 She hinted that she considered his professional
reputation was at stake； it would never do for his own wife to fail
in securing at any rate a pass。 This was touching Theobald on a
tender spot； he winced and rejoined with an impatient toss of the
head； 〃But； Christina； they ARE forgiven you〃； and then he
entrenched himself in a firm but dignified manner behind the Lord's
prayer。 When he rose he left the room； but called Ernest out to say
that he could not wish it prolonged。
Joey was no more use in quieting his mother's anxiety than Theobald
had beenindeed he was only Theobald and water； at last Ernest； who
had not liked interfering； took the matter in hand； and； sitting
beside her； let her pour out her grief to him without let or
hindrance。
She