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eternity of torture with more indifference。 He does not feel that
he is in his element。 The farmers look as if they were in their
element。 They are full…bodied； healthy and contented； but between
him and them there is a great gulf fixed。 A hard and drawn look
begins to settle about the corners of his mouth； so that even if he
were not in a black coat and white tie a child might know him for a
parson。
He knows that he is doing his duty。 Every day convinces him of this
more firmly； but then there is not much duty for him to do。 He is
sadly in want of occupation。 He has no taste for any of those field
sports which were not considered unbecoming for a clergyman forty
years ago。 He does not ride； nor shoot； nor fish； nor course； nor
play cricket。 Study； to do him justice； he had never really liked；
and what inducement was there for him to study at Battersby？ He
reads neither old books nor new ones。 He does not interest himself
in art or science or politics； but he sets his back up with some
promptness if any of them show any development unfamiliar to
himself。 True； he writes his own sermons； but even his wife
considers that his forte lies rather in the example of his life
（which is one long act of self…devotion） than in his utterances from
the pulpit。 After breakfast he retires to his study； he cuts little
bits out of the Bible and gums them with exquisite neatness by the
side of other little bits； this he calls making a Harmony of the Old
and New Testaments。 Alongside the extracts he copies in the very
perfection of hand…writing extracts from Mede （the only man；
according to Theobald； who really understood the Book of
Revelation）； Patrick； and other old divines。 He works steadily at
this for half an hour every morning during many years； and the
result is doubtless valuable。 After some years have gone by he
hears his children their lessons； and the daily oft…repeated screams
that issue from the study during the lesson hours tell their own
horrible story over the house。 He has also taken to collecting a
hortus siccus； and through the interest of his father was once
mentioned in the Saturday Magazine as having been the first to find
a plant； whose name I have forgotten； in the neighbourhood of
Battersby。 This number of the Saturday Magazine has been bound in
red morocco； and is kept upon the drawing…room table。 He potters
about his garden； if he hears a hen cackling he runs and tells
Christina； and straightway goes hunting for the egg。
When the two Miss Allabys came； as they sometimes did； to stay with
Christina； they said the life led by their sister and brother…in…law
was an idyll。 Happy indeed was Christina in her choice； for that
she had had a choice was a fiction which soon took root among them
and happy Theobald in his Christina。 Somehow or other Christina was
always a little shy of cards when her sisters were staying with her；
though at other times she enjoyed a game of cribbage or a rubber of
whist heartily enough； but her sisters knew they would never be
asked to Battersby again if they were to refer to that little
matter； and on the whole it was worth their while to be asked to
Battersby。 If Theobald's temper was rather irritable he did not
vent it upon them。
By nature reserved； if he could have found someone to cook his
dinner for him； he would rather have lived in a desert island than
not。 In his heart of hearts he held with Pope that 〃the greatest
nuisance to mankind is man〃 or words to that effectonly that
women； with the exception perhaps of Christina； were worse。 Yet for
all this when visitors called he put a better face on it than anyone
who was behind the scenes would have expected。
He was quick too at introducing the names of any literary
celebrities whom he had met at his father's house； and soon
established an all…round reputation which satisfied even Christina
herself。
Who so integer vitae scelerisque purus； it was asked； as Mr Pontifex
of Battersby？ Who so fit to be consulted if any difficulty about
parish management should arise？ Who such a happy mixture of the
sincere uninquiring Christian and of the man of the world？ For so
people actually called him。 They said he was such an admirable man
of business。 Certainly if he had said he would pay a sum of money
at a certain time； the money would be forthcoming on the appointed
day； and this is saying a good deal for any man。 His constitutional
timidity rendered him incapable of an attempt to overreach when
there was the remotest chance of opposition or publicity； and his
correct bearing and somewhat stern expression were a great
protection to him against being overreached。 He never talked of
money； and invariably changed the subject whenever money was
introduced。 His expression of unutterable horror at all kinds of
meanness was a sufficient guarantee that he was not mean himself。
Besides he had no business transactions save of the most ordinary
butcher's book and baker's book description。 His tastesif he had
anywere； as we have seen； simple； he had 900 pounds a year and a
house； the neighbourhood was cheap； and for some time he had no
children to be a drag upon him。 Who was not to be envied； and if
envied why then respected； if Theobald was not enviable？
Yet I imagine that Christina was on the whole happier than her
husband。 She had not to go and visit sick parishioners； and the
management of her house and the keeping of her accounts afforded as
much occupation as she desired。 Her principal duty was； as she well
said； to her husbandto love him； honour him； and keep him in a
good temper。 To do her justice she fulfilled this duty to the
uttermost of her power。 It would have been better perhaps if she
had not so frequently assured her husband that he was the best and
wisest of mankind； for no one in his little world ever dreamed of
telling him anything else； and it was not long before he ceased to
have any doubt upon the matter。 As for his temper； which had become
very violent at times； she took care to humour it on the slightest
sign of an approaching outbreak。 She had early found that this was
much the easiest plan。 The thunder was seldom for herself。 Long
before her marriage even she had studied his little ways； and knew
how to add fuel to the fire as long as the fire seemed to want it；
and then to damp it judiciously down； making as little smoke as
possible。
In money matters she was scrupulousness itself。 Theobald made her a
quarterly allowance for her dress； pocket money and little charities
and presents。 In these last items she was liberal in proportion to
her income； indeed she dressed with great economy and gave away
whatever was over in presents or charity。 Oh； what a comfort it was
to Theobald to reflect that he had a wife on whom he could rely
never to cost him a sixpence of unauthorised expenditure！ Letting
alone her absolute submission； the perfect coincidence of her
opinion with his own upon every subject and her constant assurances
to him that he was right in everything which he took it into his
head to say or do； what a tower of strength to him was her exactness
in money matters！ As yea