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it； for he does not like children； I must see how I can manage it；
for it would be so nice to have young Figginsor stay！ Ernest
shall go and stay with Figgins and meet the future Lord Lonsford；
who I should think must be about Ernest's age； and then if he and
Ernest were to become friends Ernest might ask him to Battersby； and
he might fall in love with Charlotte。 I think we have done MOST
WISELY in sending Ernest to Dr Skinner's。 Dr Skinner's piety is no
less remarkable than his genius。 One can tell these things at a
glance； and he must have felt it about me no less strongly than I
about him。 I think he seemed much struck with Theobald and myself
indeed； Theobald's intellectual power must impress any one； and I
was showing； I do believe； to my best advantage。 When I smiled at
him and said I left my boy in his hands with the most entire
confidence that he would be as well cared for as if he were at my
own house； I am sure he was greatly pleased。 I should not think
many of the mothers who bring him boys can impress him so
favourably； or say such nice things to him as I did。 My smile is
sweet when I desire to make it so。 I never was perhaps exactly
pretty； but I was always admitted to be fascinating。 Dr Skinner is
a very handsome mantoo good on the whole I should say for Mrs
Skinner。 Theobald says he is not handsome； but men are no judges；
and he has such a pleasant bright face。 I think my bonnet became
me。 As soon as I get home I will tell Chambers to trim my blue and
yellow merino with〃 etc。； etc。
All this time the letter which has been given above was lying in
Christina's private little Japanese cabinet； read and re…read and
approved of many times over； not to say； if the truth were known；
rewritten more than once； though dated as in the first instanceand
this； too； though Christina was fond enough of a joke in a small
way。
Ernest； still in Mrs Jay's room mused onward。 〃Grown…up people；〃 he
said to himself； 〃when they were ladies and gentlemen； never did
naughty things； but he was always doing them。 He had heard that
some grown…up people were worldly； which of course was wrong； still
this was quite distinct from being naughty； and did not get them
punished or scolded。 His own Papa and Mamma were not even worldly；
they had often explained to him that they were exceptionally
unworldly； he well knew that they had never done anything naughty
since they had been children； and that even as children they had
been nearly faultless。 Oh！ how different from himself！ When should
he learn to love his Papa and Mamma as they had loved theirs？ How
could he hope ever to grow up to be as good and wise as they； or
even tolerably good and wise？ Alas！ never。 It could not be。 He
did not love his Papa and Mamma； in spite of all their goodness both
in themselves and to him。 He hated Papa； and did not like Mamma；
and this was what none but a bad and ungrateful boy would do after
all that had been done for him。 Besides he did not like Sunday； he
did not like anything that was really good； his tastes were low and
such as he was ashamed of。 He liked people best if they sometimes
swore a little； so long as it was not at him。 As for his Catechism
and Bible readings he had no heart in them。 He had never attended
to a sermon in his life。 Even when he had been taken to hear Mr
Vaughan at Brighton； who； as everyone knew； preached such beautiful
sermons for children； he had been very glad when it was all over；
nor did he believe he could get through church at all if it was not
for the voluntary upon the organ and the hymns and chanting。 The
Catechism was awful。 He had never been able to understand what it
was that he desired of his Lord God and Heavenly Father； nor had he
yet got hold of a single idea in connection with the word Sacrament。
His duty towards his neighbour was another bugbear。 It seemed to
him that he had duties towards everybody； lying in wait for him upon
every side； but that nobody had any duties towards him。 Then there
was that awful and mysterious word 'business。' What did it all
mean？ What was 'business'？ His Papa was a wonderfully good man of
business； his Mamma had often told him sobut he should never be
one。 It was hopeless； and very awful； for people were continually
telling him that he would have to earn his own living。 No doubt；
but howconsidering how stupid； idle； ignorant； self…indulgent； and
physically puny he was？ All grown…up people were clever； except
servantsand even these were cleverer than ever he should be。 Oh；
why； why； why； could not people be born into the world as grown…up
persons？ Then he thought of Casabianca。 He had been examined in
that poem by his father not long before。 'When only would he leave
his position？ To whom did he call？ Did he get an answer？ Why？
How many times did he call upon his father？ What happened to him？
What was the noblest life that perished there？ Do you think so？
Why do you think so？' And all the rest of it。 Of course he thought
Casabianca's was the noblest life that perished there； there could
be no two opinions about that； it never occurred to him that the
moral of the poem was that young people cannot begin too soon to
exercise discretion in the obedience they pay to their Papa and
Mamma。 Oh； no！ the only thought in his mind was that he should
never； never have been like Casabianca； and that Casabianca would
have despised him so much； if he could have known him； that he would
not have condescended to speak to him。 There was nobody else in the
ship worth reckoning at all： it did not matter how much they were
blown up。 Mrs Hemans knew them all and they were a very indifferent
lot。 Besides Casabianca was so good…looking and came of such a good
family。〃
And thus his small mind kept wandering on till he could follow it no
longer； and again went off into a doze。
CHAPTER XXX
Next morning Theobald and Christina arose feeling a little tired
from their journey； but happy in that best of all happiness； the
approbation of their consciences。 It would be their boy's fault
henceforth if he were not good； and as prosperous as it was at all
desirable that he should be。 What more could parents do than they
had done？ The answer 〃Nothing〃 will rise as readily to the lips of
the reader as to those of Theobald and Christina themselves。
A few days later the parents were gratified at receiving the
following letter from their son …
〃My Dear Mamma；I am very well。 Dr Skinner made me do about the
horse free and exulting roaming in the wide fields in Latin verse；
but as I had done it with Papa I knew how to do it； and it was
nearly all right； and he put me in the fourth form under Mr Templer；
and I have to begin a new Latin grammar not like the old； but much
harder。 I know you wish me to work； and I will try very hard。 With
best love to Joey and Charlotte； and to Papa； I remain； your
affectionate son； ERNEST。〃
Nothing could be nicer or more proper。 It really did seem as though
he were inclined to turn over a new leaf。 The boys had all come
back； the examinations were over； and the routine of the half year
began； Ernest found