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subject of geologythen coming to the fore as a theological
bugbear。 He showed that so far as geology was worth anything at
alland he was too liberal entirely to pooh…pooh itit confirmed
the absolutely historical character of the Mosaic account of the
Creation as given in Genesis。 Any phenomena which at first sight
appeared to make against this view were only partial phenomena and
broke down upon investigation。 Nothing could be in more excellent
taste； and when Theobald adjourned to the rectory； where he was to
dine between the services； Mr Allaby complimented him warmly upon
his debut； while the ladies of the family could hardly find words
with which to express their admiration。
Theobald knew nothing about women。 The only women he had been
thrown in contact with were his sisters； two of whom were always
correcting him； and a few school friends whom these had got their
father to ask to Elmhurst。 These young ladies had either been so
shy that they and Theobald had never amalgamated； or they had been
supposed to be clever and had said smart things to him。 He did not
say smart things himself and did not want other people to say them。
Besides； they talked about musicand he hated musicor pictures
and he hated picturesor booksand except the classics he hated
books。 And then sometimes he was wanted to dance with them； and he
did not know how to dance； and did not want to know。
At Mrs Cowey's parties again he had seen some young ladies and had
been introduced to them。 He had tried to make himself agreeable；
but was always left with the impression that he had not been
successful。 The young ladies of Mrs Cowey's set were by no means
the most attractive that might have been found in the University；
and Theobald may be excused for not losing his heart to the greater
number of them； while if for a minute or two he was thrown in with
one of the prettier and more agreeable girls he was almost
immediately cut out by someone less bashful than himself； and
sneaked off； feeling as far as the fair sex was concerned； like the
impotent man at the pool of Bethesda。
What a really nice girl might have done with him I cannot tell； but
fate had thrown none such in his way except his youngest sister
Alethea； whom he might perhaps have liked if she had not been his
sister。 The result of his experience was that women had never done
him any good and he was not accustomed to associate them with any
pleasure； if there was a part of Hamlet in connection with them it
had been so completely cut out in the edition of the play in which
he was required to act that he had come to disbelieve in its
existence。 As for kissing； he had never kissed a woman in his life
except his sisterand my own sisters when we were all small
children together。 Over and above these kisses； he had until quite
lately been required to imprint a solemn flabby kiss night and
morning upon his father's cheek； and this； to the best of my belief；
was the extent of Theobald's knowledge in the matter of kissing； at
the time of which I am now writing。 The result of the foregoing was
that he had come to dislike women； as mysterious beings whose ways
were not as his ways； nor their thoughts as his thoughts。
With these antecedents Theobald naturally felt rather bashful on
finding himself the admired of five strange young ladies。 I
remember when I was a boy myself I was once asked to take tea at a
girls' school where one of my sisters was boarding。 I was then
about twelve years old。 Everything went off well during tea…time；
for the Lady Principal of the establishment was present。 But there
came a time when she went away and I was left alone with the girls。
The moment the mistress's back was turned the head girl； who was
about my own age； came up； pointed her finger at me； made a face and
said solemnly； 〃A na…a…sty bo…o…y！〃 All the girls followed her in
rotation making the same gesture and the same reproach upon my being
a boy。 It gave me a great scare。 I believe I cried； and I know it
was a long time before I could again face a girl without a strong
desire to run away。
Theobald felt at first much as I had myself done at the girls'
school； but the Miss Allabys did not tell him he was a nasty bo…o…
oy。 Their papa and mamma were so cordial and they themselves lifted
him so deftly over conversational stiles that before dinner was over
Theobald thought the family to be a really very charming one； and
felt as though he were being appreciated in a way to which he had
not hitherto been accustomed。
With dinner his shyness wore off。 He was by no means plain； his
academic prestige was very fair。 There was nothing about him to lay
hold of as unconventional or ridiculous； the impression he created
upon the young ladies was quite as favourable as that which they had
created upon himself； for they knew not much more about men than he
about women。
As soon as he was gone； the harmony of the establishment was broken
by a storm which arose upon the question which of them it should be
who should become Mrs Pontifex。 〃My dears；〃 said their father； when
he saw that they did not seem likely to settle the matter among
themselves； 〃Wait till to…morrow； and then play at cards for him。〃
Having said which he retired to his study； where he took a nightly
glass of whisky and a pipe of tobacco。
CHAPTER XI
The next morning saw Theobald in his rooms coaching a pupil； and the
Miss Allabys in the eldest Miss Allaby's bedroom playing at cards
with Theobald for the stakes。
The winner was Christina； the second unmarried daughter； then just
twenty…seven years old and therefore four years older than Theobald。
The younger sisters complained that it was throwing a husband away
to let Christina try and catch him； for she was so much older that
she had no chance； but Christina showed fight in a way not usual
with her； for she was by nature yielding and good tempered。 Her
mother thought it better to back her up； so the two dangerous ones
were packed off then and there on visits to friends some way off；
and those alone allowed to remain at home whose loyalty could be
depended upon。 The brothers did not even suspect what was going on
and believed their father's getting assistance was because he really
wanted it。
The sisters who remained at home kept their words and gave Christina
all the help they could； for over and above their sense of fair play
they reflected that the sooner Theobald was landed； the sooner
another deacon might be sent for who might be won by themselves。 So
quickly was all managed that the two unreliable sisters were
actually out of the house before Theobald's next visitwhich was on
the Sunday following his first。
This time Theobald felt quite at home in the house of his new
friendsfor so Mrs Allaby insisted that he should call them。 She
took； she said； such a motherly interest in young men； especially in
clergymen。 Theobald believed every word she said； as he had
believed his father and all his elders from his youth up。 Christina
sat next him at dinner and played her cards no less judiciously than
she had played them in her sister's bed…room。 She smiled （and her