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it comes out； but becomes 〃excellent reading〃 as soon as it has been
followed by a later work which may in its turn be condemned。
He never asked a reviewer to dinner in his life。 I have told him
over and over again that this is madness； and find that this is the
only thing I can say to him which makes him angry with me。
〃What can it matter to me；〃 he says； 〃whether people read my books
or not？ It may matter to thembut I have too much money to want
more； and if the books have any stuff in them it will work by…and…
by。 I do not know nor greatly care whether they are good or not。
What opinion can any sane man form about his own work？ Some people
must write stupid books just as there must be junior ops and third
class poll men。 Why should I complain of being among the
mediocrities？ If a man is not absolutely below mediocrity let him
be thankfulbesides； the books will have to stand by themselves
some day； so the sooner they begin the better。〃
I spoke to his publisher about him not long since。 〃Mr Pontifex；〃
he said； 〃is a homo unius libri； but it doesn't do to tell him so。〃
I could see the publisher； who ought to know； had lost all faith in
Ernest's literary position； and looked upon him as a man whose
failure was all the more hopeless for the fact of his having once
made a coup。 〃He is in a very solitary position； Mr Overton；〃
continued the publisher。 〃He has formed no alliances； and has made
enemies not only of the religious world but of the literary and
scientific brotherhood as well。 This will not do nowadays。 If a
man wishes to get on he must belong to a set； and Mr Pontifex
belongs to no setnot even to a club。〃
I replied； 〃Mr Pontifex is the exact likeness of Othello； but with a
differencehe hates not wisely but too well。 He would dislike the
literary and scientific swells if he were to come to know them and
they him； there is no natural solidarity between him and them； and
if he were brought into contact with them his last state would be
worse than his first。 His instinct tells him this； so he keeps
clear of them； and attacks them whenever he thinks they deserve it
in the hope； perhaps； that a younger generation will listen to him
more willingly than the present。〃
〃Can anything；〃' said the publisher； 〃be conceived more
impracticable and imprudent？〃
To all this Ernest replies with one word only〃Wait。〃
Such is my friend's latest development。 He would not； it is true；
run much chance at present of trying to found a College of Spiritual
Pathology； but I must leave the reader to determine whether there is
not a strong family likeness between the Ernest of the College of
Spiritual Pathology and the Ernest who will insist on addressing the
next generation rather than his own。 He says he trusts that there
is not； and takes the sacrament duly once a year as a sop to Nemesis
lest he should again feel strongly upon any subject。 It rather
fatigues him； but 〃no man's opinions；〃 he sometimes says； 〃can be
worth holding unless he knows how to deny them easily and gracefully
upon occasion in the cause of charity。〃 In politics he is a
Conservative so far as his vote and interest are concerned。
In all other respects he is an advanced Radical。 His father and
grandfather could probably no more understand his state of mind than
they could understand Chinese； but those who know him intimately do
not know that they wish him greatly different from what he actually is。
End