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virtues； and rare virtues are like rare plants or animals； things
that have not been able to hold their own in the world。 A virtue to
be serviceable must； like gold； be alloyed with some commoner but
more durable metal。
People divide off vice and virtue as though they were two things；
neither of which had with it anything of the other。 This is not so。
There is no useful virtue which has not some alloy of vice； and
hardly any vice； if any； which carries not with it a little dash of
virtue； virtue and vice are like life and death； or mind and matter…
…things which cannot exist without being qualified by their
opposite。 The most absolute life contains death； and the corpse is
still in many respects living； so also it has been said； 〃If thou；
Lord； wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss；〃 which shows that
even the highest ideal we can conceive will yet admit so much
compromise with vice as shall countenance the poor abuses of the
time； if they are not too outrageous。 That vice pays homage to
virtue is notorious； we call this hypocrisy； there should be a word
found for the homage which virtue not unfrequently pays； or at any
rate would be wise in paying； to vice。
I grant that some men will find happiness in having what we all feel
to be a higher moral standard than others。 If they go in for this；
however； they must be content with virtue as her own reward； and not
grumble if they find lofty Quixotism an expensive luxury； whose
rewards belong to a kingdom that is not of this world。 They must
not wonder if they cut a poor figure in trying to make the most of
both worlds。 Disbelieve as we may the details of the accounts which
record the growth of the Christian religion； yet a great part of
Christian teaching will remain as true as though we accepted the
details。 We cannot serve God and Mammon； strait is the way and
narrow is the gate which leads to what those who live by faith hold
to be best worth having； and there is no way of saying this better
than the Bible has done。 It is well there should be some who think
thus； as it is well there should be speculators in commerce； who
will often burn their fingersbut it is not well that the majority
should leave the 〃mean〃 and beaten path。
For most men； and most circumstances； pleasuretangible material
prosperity in this worldis the safest test of virtue。 Progress
has ever been through the pleasures rather than through the extreme
sharp virtues； and the most virtuous have leaned to excess rather
than to asceticism。 To use a commercial metaphor； competition is so
keen； and the margin of profits has been cut down so closely that
virtue cannot afford to throw any bona fide chance away； and must
base her action rather on the actual moneying out of conduct than on
a flattering prospectus。 She will not therefore neglectas some do
who are prudent and economical enough in other mattersthe
important factor of our chance of escaping detection； or at any rate
of our dying first。 A reasonable virtue will give this chance its
due value； neither more nor less。
Pleasure； after all； is a safer guide than either right or duty。
For hard as it is to know what gives us pleasure； right and duty are
often still harder to distinguish and； if we go wrong with them；
will lead us into just as sorry a plight as a mistaken opinion
concerning pleasure。 When men burn their fingers through following
after pleasure they find out their mistake and get to see where they
have gone wrong more easily than when they have burnt them through
following after a fancied duty； or a fancied idea concerning right
virtue。 The devil； in fact； when he dresses himself in angel's
clothes； can only be detected by experts of exceptional skill； and
so often does he adopt this disguise that it is hardly safe to be
seen talking to an angel at all； and prudent people will follow
after pleasure as a more homely but more respectable and on the
whole much more trustworthy guide。
Returning to Mr Pontifex； over and above his having lived long and
prosperously； he left numerous offspring； to all of whom he
communicated not only his physical and mental characteristics； with
no more than the usual amount of modification； but also no small
share of characteristics which are less easily transmittedI mean
his pecuniary characteristics。 It may be said that he acquired
these by sitting still and letting money run； as it were； right up
against him； but against how many does not money run who do not take
it when it does； or who； even if they hold it for a little while；
cannot so incorporate it with themselves that it shall descend
through them to their offspring？ Mr Pontifex did this。 He kept
what he may be said to have made； and money is like a reputation for
abilitymore easily made than kept。
Take him； then； for all in all； I am not inclined to be so severe
upon him as my father was。 Judge him according to any very lofty
standard； and he is nowhere。 Judge him according to a fair average
standard； and there is not much fault to be found with him。 I have
said what I have said in the foregoing chapter once for all； and
shall not break my thread to repeat it。 It should go without saying
in modification of the verdict which the reader may be inclined to
pass too hastily； not only upon Mr George Pontifex； but also upon
Theobald and Christina。 And now I will continue my story。
CHAPTER XX
The birth of his son opened Theobald's eyes to a good deal which he
had but faintly realised hitherto。 He had had no idea how great a
nuisance a baby was。 Babies come into the world so suddenly at the
end； and upset everything so terribly when they do come： why cannot
they steal in upon us with less of a shock to the domestic system？
His wife； too； did not recover rapidly from her confinement； she
remained an invalid for months； here was another nuisance and an
expensive one； which interfered with the amount which Theobald liked
to put by out of his income against； as he said； a rainy day； or to
make provision for his family if he should have one。 Now he was
getting a family； so that it became all the more necessary to put
money by； and here was the baby hindering him。 Theorists may say
what they like about a man's children being a continuation of his
own identity； but it will generally be found that those who talk in
this way have no children of their own。 Practical family men know
better。
About twelve months after the birth of Ernest there came a second；
also a boy； who was christened Joseph； and in less than twelve
months afterwards； a girl； to whom was given the name of Charlotte。
A few months before this girl was born Christina paid a visit to the
John Pontifexes in London； and； knowing her condition； passed a good
deal of time at the Royal Academy exhibition looking at the types of
female beauty portrayed by the Academicians； for she had made up her
mind that the child this time was to be a girl。 Alethea warned her
not to do this； but she persisted； and certainly the child turned
out plain； but whether the pictures caused this or no I cannot say。
Theobald had never liked children。 He had always got away from the