按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Theobald had never liked children。 He had always got away from them
as soon as he could； and so had they from him； oh； why； he was
inclined to ask himself； could not children be born into the world
grown up？ If Christina could have given birth to a few full…grown
clergymen in priest's ordersof moderate views； but inclining
rather to Evangelicalism； with comfortable livings and in all
respects facsimiles of Theobald himselfwhy； there might have been
more sense in it； or if people could buy ready…made children at a
shop of whatever age and sex they liked； instead of always having to
make them at home and to begin at the beginning with themthat
might do better； but as it was he did not like it。 He felt as he
had felt when he had been required to come and be married to
Christinathat he had been going on for a long time quite nicely；
and would much rather continue things on their present footing。 In
the matter of getting married he had been obliged to pretend he
liked it； but times were changed； and if he did not like a thing
now； he could find a hundred unexceptionable ways of making his
dislike apparent。
It might have been better if Theobald in his younger days had kicked
more against his father： the fact that he had not done so
encouraged him to expect the most implicit obedience from his own
children。 He could trust himself； he said （and so did Christina）；
to be more lenient than perhaps his father had been to himself； his
danger； he said （and so again did Christina）； would be rather in the
direction of being too indulgent； he must be on his guard against
this； for no duty could be more important than that of teaching a
child to obey its parents in all things。
He had read not long since of an Eastern traveller； who； while
exploring somewhere in the more remote parts of Arabia and Asia
Minor； had come upon a remarkably hardy； sober； industrious little
Christian communityall of them in the best of healthwho had
turned out to be the actual living descendants of Jonadab； the son
of Rechab； and two men in European costume； indeed； but speaking
English with a broken accent； and by their colour evidently
Oriental； had come begging to Battersby soon afterwards； and
represented themselves as belonging to this people； they had said
they were collecting funds to promote the conversion of their fellow
tribesmen to the English branch of the Christian religion。 True；
they turned out to be impostors； for when he gave them a pound and
Christina five shillings from her private purse； they went and got
drunk with it in the next village but one to Battersby； still； this
did not invalidate the story of the Eastern traveller。 Then there
were the Romanswhose greatness was probably due to the wholesome
authority exercised by the head of a family over all its members。
Some Romans had even killed their children； this was going too far；
but then the Romans were not Christians； and knew no better。
The practical outcome of the foregoing was a conviction in
Theobald's mind； and if in his； then in Christina's； that it was
their duty to begin training up their children in the way they
should go； even from their earliest infancy。 The first signs of
self…will must be carefully looked for； and plucked up by the roots
at once before they had time to grow。 Theobald picked up this numb
serpent of a metaphor and cherished it in his bosom。
Before Ernest could well crawl he was taught to kneel； before he
could well speak he was taught to lisp the Lord's prayer； and the
general confession。 How was it possible that these things could be
taught too early？ If his attention flagged or his memory failed
him； here was an ill weed which would grow apace； unless it were
plucked out immediately； and the only way to pluck it out was to
whip him； or shut him up in a cupboard； or dock him of some of the
small pleasures of childhood。 Before he was three years old he
could read and； after a fashion； write。 Before he was four he was
learning Latin； and could do rule of three sums。
As for the child himself； he was naturally of an even temper； he
doted upon his nurse； on kittens and puppies； and on all things that
would do him the kindness of allowing him to be fond of them。 He
was fond of his mother； too； but as regards his father； he has told
me in later life he could remember no feeling but fear and
shrinking。 Christina did not remonstrate with Theobald concerning
the severity of the tasks imposed upon their boy； nor yet as to the
continual whippings that were found necessary at lesson times。
Indeed； when during any absence of Theobald's the lessons were
entrusted to her； she found to her sorrow that it was the only thing
to do； and she did it no less effectually than Theobald himself；
nevertheless she was fond of her boy； which Theobald never was； and
it was long before she could destroy all affection for herself in
the mind of her first…born。 But she persevered。
CHAPTER XXI
Strange！ for she believed she doted upon him； and certainly she
loved him better than either of her other children。 Her version of
the matter was that there had never yet been two parents so self…
denying and devoted to the highest welfare of their children as
Theobald and herself。 For Ernest； a very great futureshe was
certain of itwas in store。 This made severity all the more
necessary； so that from the first he might have been kept pure from
every taint of evil。 She could not allow herself the scope for
castle building which； we read； was indulged in by every Jewish
matron before the appearance of the Messiah； for the Messiah had now
come； but there was to be a millennium shortly； certainly not later
than 1866； when Ernest would be just about the right age for it； and
a modern Elias would be wanted to herald its approach。 Heaven would
bear her witness that she had never shrunk from the idea of
martyrdom for herself and Theobald； nor would she avoid it for her
boy； if his life was required of her in her Redeemer's service。 Oh；
no！ If God told her to offer up her first…born； as He had told
Abraham； she would take him up to Pigbury Beacon and plunge theno；
that she could not do； but it would be unnecessarysome one else
might do that。 It was not for nothing that Ernest had been baptised
in water from the Jordan。 It had not been her doing； nor yet
Theobald's。 They had not sought it。 When water from the sacred
stream was wanted for a sacred infant； the channel had been found
through which it was to flow from far Palestine over land and sea to
the door of the house where the child was lying。 Why； it was a
miracle！ It was！ It was！ She saw it all now。 The Jordan had left
its bed and flowed into her own house。 It was idle to say that this
was not a miracle。 No miracle was effected without means of some
kind； the difference between the faithful and the unbeliever
consisted in the very fact that the former could see a miracle where
the latter could not。 The Jews could see no miracle even in the
raising of Lazarus and the feeding of the five thousand。 The John
Pontifexes would see no miracle in this matter of the water from the
Jordan。 The essence of a m