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head to say or do； what a tower of strength to him was her exactness
in money matters！ As years went by he became as fond of his wife as
it was in his nature to be of any living thing； and applauded
himself for having stuck to his engagementa piece of virtue of
which he was now reaping the reward。 Even when Christina did outrun
her quarterly stipend by some thirty shillings or a couple of
pounds； it was always made perfectly clear to Theobald how the
deficiency had arisenthere had been an unusually costly evening
dress bought which was to last a long time； or somebody's unexpected
wedding had necessitated a more handsome present than the quarter's
balance would quite allow： the excess of expenditure was always
repaid in the following quarter or quarters even though it were only
ten shillings at a time。
I believe； however； that after they had been married some twenty
years； Christina had somewhat fallen from her original perfection as
regards money。 She had got gradually in arrear during many
successive quarters； till she had contracted a chronic loan a sort
of domestic national debt； amounting to between seven and eight
pounds。 Theobald at length felt that a remonstrance had become
imperative； and took advantage of his silver wedding day to inform
Christina that her indebtedness was cancelled； and at the same time
to beg that she would endeavour henceforth to equalise her
expenditure and her income。 She burst into tears of love and
gratitude； assured him that he was the best and most generous of
men； and never during the remainder of her married life was she a
single shilling behind hand。
Christina hated change of all sorts no less cordially than her
husband。 She and Theobald had nearly everything in this world that
they could wish for； why； then； should people desire to introduce
all sorts of changes of which no one could foresee the end？
Religion； she was deeply convinced； had long since attained its
final development； nor could it enter into the heart of reasonable
man to conceive any faith more perfect than was inculcated by the
Church of England。 She could imagine no position more honourable
than that of a clergyman's wife unless indeed it were a bishop's。
Considering his father's influence it was not at all impossible that
Theobald might be a bishop some dayand thenthen would occur to
her that one little flaw in the practice of the Church of Englanda
flaw not indeed in its doctrine； but in its policy； which she
believed on the whole to be a mistaken one in this respect。 I mean
the fact that a bishop's wife does not take the rank of her husband。
This had been the doing of Elizabeth； who had been a bad woman； of
exceeding doubtful moral character； and at heart a Papist to the
last。 Perhaps people ought to have been above mere considerations
of worldly dignity； but the world was as it was； and such things
carried weight with them； whether they ought to do so or no。 Her
influence as plain Mrs Pontifex； wife； we will say； of the Bishop of
Winchester； would no doubt be considerable。 Such a character as
hers could not fail to carry weight if she were ever in a
sufficiently conspicuous sphere for its influence to be widely felt；
but as Lady Winchesteror the Bishopesswhich would sound quite
nicelywho could doubt that her power for good would be enhanced？
And it would be all the nicer because if she had a daughter the
daughter would not be a Bishopess unless indeed she were to marry a
Bishop too； which would not be likely。
These were her thoughts upon her good days； at other times she
would； to do her justice； have doubts whether she was in all
respects as spiritually minded as she ought to be。 She must press
on； press on； till every enemy to her salvation was surmounted and
Satan himself lay bruised under her feet。 It occurred to her on one
of these occasions that she might steal a march over some of her
contemporaries if she were to leave off eating black puddings； of
which whenever they had killed a pig she had hitherto partaken
freely； and if she were also careful that no fowls were served at
her table which had had their necks wrung； but only such as had had
their throats cut and been allowed to bleed。 St Paul and the Church
of Jerusalem had insisted upon it as necessary that even Gentile
converts should abstain from things strangled and from blood； and
they had joined this prohibition with that of a vice about the
abominable nature of which there could be no question； it would be
well therefore to abstain in future and see whether any noteworthy
spiritual result ensued。 She did abstain； and was certain that from
the day of her resolve she had felt stronger； purer in heart； and in
all respects more spiritually minded than she had ever felt
hitherto。 Theobald did not lay so much stress on this as she did；
but as she settled what he should have at dinner she could take care
that he got no strangled fowls； as for black puddings； happily； he
had seen them made when he was a boy； and had never got over his
aversion for them。 She wished the matter were one of more general
observance than it was； this was just a case in which as Lady
Winchester she might have been able to do what as plain Mrs Pontifex
it was hopeless even to attempt。
And thus this worthy couple jogged on from month to month and from
year to year。 The reader； if he has passed middle life and has a
clerical connection； will probably remember scores and scores of
rectors and rectors' wives who differed in no material respect from
Theobald and Christina。 Speaking from a recollection and experience
extending over nearly eighty years from the time when I was myself a
child in the nursery of a vicarage； I should say I had drawn the
better rather than the worse side of the life of an English country
parson of some fifty years ago。 I admit； however； that there are no
such people to be found nowadays。 A more united or； on the whole；
happier； couple could not have been found in England。 One grief
only overshadowed the early years of their married life： I mean the
fact that no living children were born to them。
CHAPTER XVII
In the course of time this sorrow was removed。 At the beginning of
the fifth year of her married life Christina was safely delivered of
a boy。 This was on the sixth of September 1835。
Word was immediately sent to old Mr Pontifex； who received the news
with real pleasure。 His son John's wife had borne daughters only；
and he was seriously uneasy lest there should be a failure in the
male line of his descendants。 The good news； therefore； was doubly
welcome； and caused as much delight at Elmhurst as dismay in Woburn
Square； where the John Pontifexes were then living。
Here； indeed； this freak of fortune was felt to be all the more
cruel on account of the impossibility of resenting it openly； but
the delighted grandfather cared nothing for what the John Pontifexes
might feel or not feel； he had wanted a grandson and he had got a
grandson； and this should be enough for everybody； and； now that Mrs
Theobald had taken to good ways； she might bring him more grandsons；
which would be desirable； for he should n