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more sherry。
It was after dinner； however； that he completed the conquest of his
aunt。 She then discovered that； like herself； he was passionately
fond of music； and that； too； of the highest class。 He knew； and
hummed or whistled to her all sorts of pieces out of the works of
the great masters； which a boy of his age could hardly be expected
to know； and it was evident that this was purely instinctive；
inasmuch as music received no kind of encouragement at Roughborough。
There was no boy in the school as fond of music as he was。 He
picked up his knowledge； he said； from the organist of St Michael's
Church who used to practise sometimes on a week…day afternoon。
Ernest had heard the organ booming away as he was passing outside
the church and had sneaked inside and up into the organ loft。 In
the course of time the organist became accustomed to him as a
familiar visitant； and the pair became friends。
It was this which decided Alethea that the boy was worth taking
pains with。 〃He likes the best music；〃 she thought； 〃and he hates
Dr Skinner。 This is a very fair beginning。〃 When she sent him away
at night with a sovereign in his pocket （and he had only hoped to
get five shillings） she felt as though she had had a good deal more
than her money's worth for her money。
CHAPTER XXXIII
Next day Miss Pontifex returned to town； with her thoughts full of
her nephew and how she could best be of use to him。
It appeared to her that to do him any real service she must devote
herself almost entirely to him； she must in fact give up living in
London； at any rate for a long time； and live at Roughborough where
she could see him continually。 This was a serious undertaking； she
had lived in London for the last twelve years； and naturally
disliked the prospect of a small country town such as Roughborough。
Was it a prudent thing to attempt so much？ Must not people take
their chances in this world？ Can anyone do much for anyone else
unless by making a will in his favour and dying then and there？
Should not each look after his own happiness； and will not the world
be best carried on if everyone minds his own business and leaves
other people to mind theirs？ Life is not a donkey race in which
everyone is to ride his neighbour's donkey and the last is to win；
and the psalmist long since formulated a common experience when he
declared that no man may deliver his brother nor make agreement unto
God for him； for it cost more to redeem their souls； so that he must
let that alone for ever。
All these excellent reasons for letting her nephew alone occurred to
her； and many more； but against them there pleaded a woman's love
for children； and her desire to find someone among the younger
branches of her own family to whom she could become warmly attached；
and whom she could attach warmly to herself。
Over and above this she wanted someone to leave her money to； she
was not going to leave it to people about whom she knew very little；
merely because they happened to be sons and daughters of brothers
and sisters whom she had never liked。 She knew the power and value
of money exceedingly well； and how many lovable people suffer and
die yearly for the want of it； she was little likely to leave it
without being satisfied that her legatees were square； lovable； and
more or less hard up。 She wanted those to have it who would be most
likely to use it genially and sensibly； and whom it would thus be
likely to make most happy； if she could find one such among her
nephews and nieces； so much the better； it was worth taking a great
deal of pains to see whether she could or could not； but if she
failed； she must find an heir who was not related to her by blood。
〃Of course；〃 she had said to me； more than once； 〃I shall make a
mess of it。 I shall choose some nice…looking； well…dressed screw；
with gentlemanly manners which will take me in； and he will go and
paint Academy pictures； or write for the Times； or do something just
as horrid the moment the breath is out of my body。〃
As yet； however； she had made no will at all； and this was one of
the few things that troubled her。 I believe she would have left
most of her money to me if I had not stopped her。 My father left me
abundantly well off； and my mode of life has been always simple； so
that I have never known uneasiness about money； moreover I was
especially anxious that there should be no occasion given for ill…
natured talk； she knew well； therefore； that her leaving her money
to me would be of all things the most likely to weaken the ties that
existed between us； provided that I was aware of it； but I did not
mind her talking about whom she should make her heir； so long as it
was well understood that I was not to be the person。
Ernest had satisfied her as having enough in him to tempt her
strongly to take him up； but it was not till after many days'
reflection that she gravitated towards actually doing so； with all
the break in her daily ways that this would entail。 At least； she
said it took her some days； and certainly it appeared to do so； but
from the moment she had begun to broach the subject； I had guessed
how things were going to end。
It was now arranged she should take a house at Roughborough； and go
and live there for a couple of years。 As a compromise； however； to
meet some of my objections； it was also arranged that she should
keep her rooms in Gower Street； and come to town for a week once in
each month； of course； also； she would leave Roughborough for the
greater part of the holidays。 After two years； the thing was to
come to an end； unless it proved a great success。 She should by
that time； at any rate； have made up her mind what the boy's
character was； and would then act as circumstances might determine。
The pretext she put forward ostensibly was that her doctor said she
ought to be a year or two in the country after so many years of
London life； and had recommended Roughborough on account of the
purity of its air； and its easy access to and from Londonfor by
this time the railway had reached it。 She was anxious not to give
her brother and sister any right to complain； if on seeing more of
her nephew she found she could not get on with him； and she was also
anxious not to raise false hopes of any kind in the boy's own mind。
Having settled how everything was to be； she wrote to Theobald and
said she meant to take a house in Roughborough from the Michaelmas
then approaching； and mentioned； as though casually； that one of the
attractions of the place would be that her nephew was at school
there and she should hope to see more of him than she had done
hitherto。
Theobald and Christina knew how dearly Alethea loved London； and
thought it very odd that she should want to go and live at
Roughborough； but they did not suspect that she was going there
solely on her nephew's account； much less that she had thought of
making Ernest her heir。 If they had guessed this； they would have
been so jealous that I half believe they would have asked her to go
and live somewhere else。 Alethea however； was two or three years
younger than Theobald； she was still some years