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Theobald had taken to good ways； she might bring him more grandsons；
which would be desirable； for he should not feel safe with fewer
than three。
He rang the bell for the butler。
〃Gelstrap；〃 he said solemnly； 〃I want to go down into the cellar。〃
Then Gelstrap preceded him with a candle； and he went into the inner
vault where he kept his choicest wines。
He passed many bins： there was 1803 Port； 1792 Imperial Tokay； 1800
Claret； 1812 Sherry； these and many others were passed； but it was
not for them that the head of the Pontifex family had gone down into
his inner cellar。 A bin； which had appeared empty until the full
light of the candle had been brought to bear upon it； was now found
to contain a single pint bottle。 This was the object of Mr
Pontifex's search。
Gelstrap had often pondered over this bottle。 It had been placed
there by Mr Pontifex himself about a dozen years previously； on his
return from a visit to his friend the celebrated traveller Dr Jones…
…but there was no tablet above the bin which might give a clue to
the nature of its contents。 On more than one occasion when his
master had gone out and left his keys accidentally behind him； as he
sometimes did； Gelstrap had submitted the bottle to all the tests he
could venture upon； but it was so carefully sealed that wisdom
remained quite shut out from that entrance at which he would have
welcomed her most gladlyand indeed from all other entrances； for
he could make out nothing at all。
And now the mystery was to be solved。 But alas！ it seemed as though
the last chance of securing even a sip of the contents was to be
removed for ever； for Mr Pontifex took the bottle into his own hands
and held it up to the light after carefully examining the seal。 He
smiled and left the bin with the bottle in his hands。
Then came a catastrophe。 He stumbled over an empty hamper； there
was the sound of a falla smash of broken glass； and in an instant
the cellar floor was covered with the liquid that had been preserved
so carefully for so many years。
With his usual presence of mind Mr Pontifex gasped out a month's
warning to Gelstrap。 Then he got up； and stamped as Theobald had
done when Christina had wanted not to order his dinner。
〃It's water from the Jordan；〃 he exclaimed furiously； 〃which I have
been saving for the baptism of my eldest grandson。 Damn you；
Gelstrap； how dare you be so infernally careless as to leave that
hamper littering about the cellar？〃
I wonder the water of the sacred stream did not stand upright as an
heap upon the cellar floor and rebuke him。 Gelstrap told the other
servants afterwards that his master's language had made his backbone
curdle。
The moment； however； that he heard the word 〃water；〃 he saw his way
again； and flew to the pantry。 Before his master had well noted his
absence he returned with a little sponge and a basin； and had begun
sopping up the waters of the Jordan as though they had been a common
slop。
〃I'll filter it； Sir；〃 said Gelstrap meekly。 〃It'll come quite
clean。〃
Mr Pontifex saw hope in this suggestion； which was shortly carried
out by the help of a piece of blotting paper and a funnel； under his
own eyes。 Eventually it was found that half a pint was saved； and
this was held to be sufficient。
Then he made preparations for a visit to Battersby。 He ordered
goodly hampers of the choicest eatables； he selected a goodly hamper
of choice drinkables。 I say choice and not choicest； for although
in his first exaltation he had selected some of his very best wine；
yet on reflection he had felt that there was moderation in all
things； and as he was parting with his best water from the Jordan；
he would only send some of his second best wine。
Before he went to Battersby he stayed a day or two in London； which
he now seldom did； being over seventy years old； and having
practically retired from business。 The John Pontifexes； who kept a
sharp eye on him； discovered to their dismay that he had had an
interview with his solicitors。
CHAPTER XVIII
For the first time in his life Theobald felt that he had done
something right； and could look forward to meeting his father
without alarm。 The old gentleman； indeed； had written him a most
cordial letter； announcing his intention of standing godfather to
the boynay； I may as well give it in full； as it shows the writer
at his best。 It runs：
〃Dear Theobald；Your letter gave me very sincere pleasure； the more
so because I had made up my mind for the worst； pray accept my most
hearty congratulations for my daughter…in…law and for yourself。
〃I have long preserved a phial of water from the Jordan for the
christening of my first grandson； should it please God to grant me
one。 It was given me by my old friend Dr Jones。 You will agree
with me that though the efficacy of the sacrament does not depend
upon the source of the baptismal waters； yet； ceteris paribus； there
is a sentiment attaching to the waters of the Jordan which should
not be despised。 Small matters like this sometimes influence a
child's whole future career。
〃I shall bring my own cook； and have told him to get everything
ready for the christening dinner。 Ask as many of your best
neighbours as your table will hold。 By the way； I have told Lesueur
NOT TO GET A LOBSTERyou had better drive over yourself and get one
from Saltness （for Battersby was only fourteen or fifteen miles from
the sea coast）； they are better there； at least I think so； than
anywhere else in England。
〃I have put your boy down for something in the event of his
attaining the age of twenty…one years。 If your brother John
continues to have nothing but girls I may do more later on； but I
have many claims upon me； and am not as well off as you may
imagine。Your affectionate father；
〃G。 PONTIFEX。〃
A few days afterwards the writer of the above letter made his
appearance in a fly which had brought him from Gildenham to
Battersby； a distance of fourteen miles。 There was Lesueur； the
cook； on the box with the driver； and as many hampers as the fly
could carry were disposed upon the roof and elsewhere。 Next day the
John Pontifexes had to come； and Eliza and Maria； as well as
Alethea； who； by her own special request； was godmother to the boy；
for Mr Pontifex had decided that they were to form a happy family
party； so come they all must； and be happy they all must； or it
would be the worse for them。 Next day the author of all this hubbub
was actually christened。 Theobald had proposed to call him George
after old Mr Pontifex； but strange to say； Mr Pontifex over…ruled
him in favour of the name Ernest。 The word 〃earnest〃 was just
beginning to come into fashion； and he thought the possession of
such a name might； like his having been baptised in water from the
Jordan； have a permanent effect upon the boy's character； and
influence him for good during the more critical periods of his life。
I was asked to be his second godfather； and was rejoiced to have an
opportunity of meeting Alethea； whom I had not seen for some few
years； but with whom I had been in constant correspondence。 She and
I had always been friends f