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This was more than I as a young man was prepared to stand。 〃My dear
father；〃 I answered； 〃what did he do？ He could draw a little； but
could he to save his life have got a picture into the Royal Academy
exhibition？ He built two organs and could play the Minuet in Samson
on one and the March in Scipio on the other； he was a good carpenter
and a bit of a wag； he was a good old fellow enough； but why make
him out so much abler than he was？〃
〃My boy；〃 returned my father； 〃you must not judge by the work； but
by the work in connection with the surroundings。 Could Giotto or
Filippo Lippi； think you； have got a picture into the Exhibition？
Would a single one of those frescoes we went to see when we were at
Padua have the remotest chance of being hung； if it were sent in for
exhibition now？ Why； the Academy people would be so outraged that
they would not even write to poor Giotto to tell him to come and
take his fresco away。 Phew！〃 continued he； waxing warm； 〃if old
Pontifex had had Cromwell's chances he would have done all that
Cromwell did； and have done it better； if he had had Giotto's
chances he would have done all that Giotto did； and done it no
worse； as it was； he was a village carpenter； and I will undertake
to say he never scamped a job in the whole course of his life。〃
〃But；〃 said I； 〃we cannot judge people with so many 'ifs。' If old
Pontifex had lived in Giotto's time he might have been another
Giotto； but he did not live in Giotto's time。〃
〃I tell you； Edward；〃 said my father with some severity； 〃we must
judge men not so much by what they do； as by what they make us feel
that they have it in them to do。 If a man has done enough either in
painting； music or the affairs of life； to make me feel that I might
trust him in an emergency he has done enough。 It is not by what a
man has actually put upon his canvas； nor yet by the acts which he
has set down； so to speak； upon the canvas of his life that I will
judge him； but by what he makes me feel that he felt and aimed at。
If he has made me feel that he felt those things to be loveable
which I hold loveable myself I ask no more； his grammar may have
been imperfect； but still I have understood him； he and I are en
rapport； and I say again； Edward； that old Pontifex was not only an
able man； but one of the very ablest men I ever knew。
Against this there was no more to be said； and my sisters eyed me to
silence。 Somehow or other my sisters always did eye me to silence
when I differed from my father。
〃Talk of his successful son；〃 snorted my father； whom I had fairly
roused。 〃He is not fit to black his father's boots。 He has his
thousands of pounds a year； while his father had perhaps three
thousand shillings a year towards the end of his life。 He IS a
successful man； but his father； hobbling about Paleham Street in his
grey worsted stockings； broad brimmed hat and brown swallow…tailed
coat was worth a hundred of George Pontifexes； for all his carriages
and horses and the airs he gives himself。〃
〃But yet；〃 he added； 〃George Pontifex is no fool either。〃 And this
brings us to the second generation of the Pontifex family with whom
we need concern ourselves。
CHAPTER II
Old Mr Pontifex had married in the year 1750； but for fifteen years
his wife bore no children。 At the end of that time Mrs Pontifex
astonished the whole village by showing unmistakable signs of a
disposition to present her husband with an heir or heiress。 Hers
had long ago been considered a hopeless case； and when on consulting
the doctor concerning the meaning of certain symptoms she was
informed of their significance； she became very angry and abused the
doctor roundly for talking nonsense。 She refused to put so much as
a piece of thread into a needle in anticipation of her confinement
and would have been absolutely unprepared； if her neighbours had not
been better judges of her condition than she was； and got things
ready without telling her anything about it。 Perhaps she feared
Nemesis； though assuredly she knew not who or what Nemesis was；
perhaps she feared the doctor had made a mistake and she should be
laughed at； from whatever cause； however； her refusal to recognise
the obvious arose； she certainly refused to recognise it； until one
snowy night in January the doctor was sent for with all urgent speed
across the rough country roads。 When he arrived he found two
patients； not one； in need of his assistance； for a boy had been
born who was in due time christened George； in honour of his then
reigning majesty。
To the best of my belief George Pontifex got the greater part of his
nature from this obstinate old lady； his mothera mother who though
she loved no one else in the world except her husband （and him only
after a fashion） was most tenderly attached to the unexpected child
of her old age； nevertheless she showed it little。
The boy grew up into a sturdy bright…eyed little fellow； with plenty
of intelligence； and perhaps a trifle too great readiness at book
learning。 Being kindly treated at home； he was as fond of his
father and mother as it was in his nature to be of anyone； but he
was fond of no one else。 He had a good healthy sense of meum； and
as little of tuum as he could help。 Brought up much in the open air
in one of the best situated and healthiest villages in England； his
little limbs had fair play； and in those days children's brains were
not overtasked as they now are； perhaps it was for this very reason
that the boy showed an avidity to learn。 At seven or eight years
old he could read； write and sum better than any other boy of his
age in the village。 My father was not yet rector of Paleham； and
did not remember George Pontifex's childhood； but I have heard
neighbours tell him that the boy was looked upon as unusually quick
and forward。 His father and mother were naturally proud of their
offspring； and his mother was determined that he should one day
become one of the kings and councillors of the earth。
It is one thing however to resolve that one's son shall win some of
life's larger prizes； and another to square matters with fortune in
this respect。 George Pontifex might have been brought up as a
carpenter and succeeded in no other way than as succeeding his
father as one of the minor magnates of Paleham； and yet have been a
more truly successful man than he actually wasfor I take it there
is not much more solid success in this world than what fell to the
lot of old Mr and Mrs Pontifex； it happened； however； that about the
year 1780； when George was a boy of fifteen； a sister of Mrs
Pontifex's； who had married a Mr Fairlie； came to pay a few days'
visit at Paleham。 Mr Fairlie was a publisher； chiefly of religious
works； and had an establishment in Paternoster Row； he had risen in
life； and his wife had risen with him。 No very close relations had
been maintained between the sisters for some years； and I forget
exactly how it came about that Mr and Mrs Fairlie were guests in the
quiet but exceedingly comfortable house of their sister and brother…
in…law； but for some reason or other the visit was paid； and little
George soon succeeded in mak