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household accounts； and I could pour out to her all little worries；
and now that Joey is married too； I don't know what I should do if
one or other of them did not come sometimes and take care of me。 My
only comfort is that Charlotte will make her husband happy； and that
he is as nearly worthy of her as a husband can well be。Believe me；
Your affectionate father；
〃THEOBALD PONTIFEX。〃
I may say in passing that though Theobald speaks of Charlotte's
marriage as though it were recent； it had really taken place some
six years previously； she being then about thirty…eight years old；
and her husband about seven years younger。
There was no doubt that Theobald passed peacefully away during his
sleep。 Can a man who died thus be said to have died at all？ He has
presented the phenomena of death to other people； but in respect of
himself he has not only not died； but has not even thought that he
was going to die。 This is not more than half dying； but then
neither was his life more than half living。 He presented so many of
the phenomena of living that I suppose on the whole it would be less
trouble to think of him as having been alive than as never having
been born at all； but this is only possible because association does
not stick to the strict letter of its bond。
This； however； was not the general verdict concerning him； and the
general verdict is often the truest。
Ernest was overwhelmed with expressions of condolence and respect
for his father's memory。 〃He never；〃 said Dr Martin； the old doctor
who brought Ernest into the world； 〃spoke an ill word against
anyone。 He was not only liked； he was beloved by all who had
anything to do with him。〃
〃A more perfectly just and righteously dealing man；〃 said the family
solicitor； 〃I have never had anything to do withnor one more
punctual in the discharge of every business obligation。〃
〃We shall miss him sadly；〃 the bishop wrote to Joey in the very
warmest terms。 The poor were in consternation。 〃The well's never
missed；〃 said one old woman； 〃till it's dry；〃 and she only said what
everyone else felt。 Ernest knew that the general regret was
unaffected as for a loss which could not be easily repaired。 He
felt that there were only three people in the world who joined
insincerely in the tribute of applause； and these were the very
three who could least show their want of sympathy。 I mean Joey；
Charlotte； and himself。 He felt bitter against himself for being of
a mind with either Joey or Charlotte upon any subject； and thankful
that he must conceal his being so as far as possible； not because of
anything his father had done to himthese grievances were too old
to be remembered nowbut because he would never allow him to feel
towards him as he was always trying to feel。 As long as
communication was confined to the merest commonplace all went well；
but if these were departed from ever such a little he invariably
felt that his father's instincts showed themselves in immediate
opposition to his own。 When he was attacked his father laid
whatever stress was possible on everything which his opponents said。
If he met with any check his father was clearly pleased。 What the
old doctor had said about Theobald's speaking ill of no man was
perfectly true as regards others than himself； but he knew very well
that no one had injured his reputation in a quiet way； so far as he
dared to do； more than his own father。 This is a very common case
and a very natural one。 It often happens that if the son is right；
the father is wrong； and the father is not going to have this if he
can help it。
It was very hard； however； to say what was the true root of the
mischief in the present case。 It was not Ernest's having been
imprisoned。 Theobald forgot all about that much sooner than nine
fathers out of ten would have done。 Partly； no doubt； it was due to
incompatibility of temperament； but I believe the main ground of
complaint lay in the fact that he had been so independent and so
rich while still very young； and that thus the old gentleman had
been robbed of his power to tease and scratch in the way which he
felt he was entitled to do。 The love of teasing in a small way when
he felt safe in doing so had remained part of his nature from the
days when he told his nurse that he would keep her on purpose to
torment her。 I suppose it is so with all of us。 At any rate I am
sure that most fathers； especially if they are clergymen； are like
Theobald。
He did not in reality； I am convinced； like Joey or Charlotte one
whit better than he liked Ernest。 He did not like anyone or
anything； or if he liked anyone at all it was his butler； who looked
after him when he was not well； and took great care of him and
believed him to be the best and ablest man in the whole world。
Whether this faithful and attached servant continued to think this
after Theobald's will was opened and it was found what kind of
legacy had been left him I know not。 Of his children； the baby who
had died at a day old was the only one whom he held to have treated
him quite filially。 As for Christina he hardly ever pretended to
miss her and never mentioned her name； but this was taken as a proof
that he felt her loss too keenly to be able ever to speak of her。
It may have been so； but I do not think it。
Theobald's effects were sold by auction； and among them the Harmony
of the Old and New Testaments which he had compiled during many
years with such exquisite neatness and a huge collection of MS。
sermonsbeing all in fact that he had ever written。 These and the
Harmony fetched ninepence a barrow load。 I was surprised to hear
that Joey had not given the three or four shillings which would have
bought the whole lot； but Ernest tells me that Joey was far fiercer
in his dislike of his father than ever he had been himself； and
wished to get rid of everything that reminded him of him。
It has already appeared that both Joey and Charlotte are married。
Joey has a family； but he and Ernest very rarely have any
intercourse。 Of course； Ernest took nothing under his father's
will； this had long been understood； so that the other two are both
well provided for。
Charlotte is as clever as ever； and sometimes asks Ernest to come
and stay with her and her husband near Dover； I suppose because she
knows that the invitation will not be agreeable to him。 There is a
de haut en bas tone in all her letters； it is rather hard to lay
one's finger upon it but Ernest never gets a letter from her without
feeling that he is being written to by one who has had direct
communication with an angel。 〃What an awful creature；〃 he once said
to me； 〃that angel must have been if it had anything to do with
making Charlotte what she is。〃
〃Could you like；〃 she wrote to him not long ago； 〃the thoughts of a
little sea change here？ The top of the cliffs will soon be bright
with heather： the gorse must be out already； and the heather I
should think begun； to judge by the state of the hill at Ewell； and
heather or no heatherthe cliffs are always beautiful； and if you
come your room shall be cosy so that you may have a resting corner
to yourself。 Nineteen and s