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ring the bell。〃
When the bell had been answered； Theobald desired that John should
be sent for； and when John came Theobald calculated the wages due to
him and desired him at once to leave the house。
John's manner was quiet and respectful。 He took his dismissal as a
matter of course； for Theobald had hinted enough to make him
understand why he was being discharged； but when he saw Ernest
sitting pale and awe…struck on the edge of his chair against the
dining…room wall； a sudden thought seemed to strike him； and turning
to Theobald he said in a broad northern accent which I will not
attempt to reproduce：
〃Look here； master； I can guess what all this is aboutnow before I
goes I want to have a word with you。〃
〃Ernest；〃 said Theobald； 〃leave the room。〃
〃No； Master Ernest； you shan't；〃 said John； planting himself against
the door。 〃Now； master；〃 he continued； 〃you may do as you please
about me。 I've been a good servant to you； and I don't mean to say
as you've been a bad master to me； but I do say that if you bear
hardly on Master Ernest here I have those in the village as 'll hear
on't and let me know； and if I do hear on't I'll come back and break
every bone in your skin； so there！〃
John's breath came and went quickly； as though he would have been
well enough pleased to begin the bone…breaking business at once。
Theobald turned of an ashen colournot； as he explained afterwards；
at the idle threats of a detected and angry ruffian； but at such
atrocious insolence from one of his own servants。
〃I shall leave Master Ernest； John；〃 he rejoined proudly； 〃to the
reproaches of his own conscience。〃 （〃Thank God and thank John；〃
thought Ernest。） 〃As for yourself； I admit that you have been an
excellent servant until this unfortunate business came on； and I
shall have much pleasure in giving you a character if you want one。
Have you anything more to say？〃
〃No more nor what I have said；〃 said John sullenly； 〃but what I've
said I means and I'll stick tocharacter or no character。〃
〃Oh； you need not be afraid about your character； John；〃 said
Theobald kindly； 〃and as it is getting late； there can be no
occasion for you to leave the house before to…morrow morning。〃
To this there was no reply from John； who retired； packed up his
things； and left the house at once。
When Christina heard what had happened she said she could condone
all except that Theobald should have been subjected to such
insolence from one of his own servants through the misconduct of his
son。 Theobald was the bravest man in the whole world； and could
easily have collared the wretch and turned him out of the room； but
how far more dignified； how far nobler had been his reply！ How it
would tell in a novel or upon the stage； for though the stage as a
whole was immoral； yet there were doubtless some plays which were
improving spectacles。 She could fancy the whole house hushed with
excitement at hearing John's menace； and hardly breathing by reason
of their interest and expectation of the coming answer。 Then the
actorprobably the great and good Mr Macreadywould say； 〃I shall
leave Master Ernest； John； to the reproaches of his own conscience。〃
Oh； it was sublime！ What a roar of applause must follow！ Then she
should enter herself； and fling her arms about her husband's neck；
and call him her lion…hearted husband。 When the curtain dropped； it
would be buzzed about the house that the scene just witnessed had
been drawn from real life； and had actually occurred in the
household of the Rev。 Theobald Pontifex； who had married a Miss
Allaby； etc。； etc。
As regards Ernest the suspicions which had already crossed her mind
were deepened； but she thought it better to leave the matter where
it was。 At present she was in a very strong position。 Ernest's
official purity was firmly established； but at the same time he had
shown himself so susceptible that she was able to fuse two
contradictory impressions concerning him into a single idea； and
consider him as a kind of Joseph and Don Juan in one。 This was what
she had wanted all along； but her vanity being gratified by the
possession of such a son； there was an end of it； the son himself
was naught。
No doubt if John had not interfered； Ernest would have had to
expiate his offence with ache； penury and imprisonment。 As it was
the boy was 〃to consider himself〃 as undergoing these punishments；
and as suffering pangs of unavailing remorse inflicted on him by his
conscience into the bargain； but beyond the fact that Theobald kept
him more closely to his holiday task； and the continued coldness of
his parents； no ostensible punishment was meted out to him。 Ernest；
however； tells me that he looks back upon this as the time when he
began to know that he had a cordial and active dislike for both his
parents； which I suppose means that he was now beginning to be aware
that he was reaching man's estate。
CHAPTER XLII
About a week before he went back to school his father again sent for
him into the dining…room； and told him that he should restore him
his watch； but that he should deduct the sum he had paid for itfor
he had thought it better to pay a few shillings rather than dispute
the ownership of the watch； seeing that Ernest had undoubtedly given
it to Ellenfrom his pocket money； in payments which should extend
over two half years。 He would therefore have to go back to
Roughborough this half year with only five shillings' pocket money。
If he wanted more he must earn more merit money。
Ernest was not so careful about money as a pattern boy should be。
He did not say to himself； 〃Now I have got a sovereign which must
last me fifteen weeks； therefore I may spend exactly one shilling
and fourpence in each week〃and spend exactly one and fourpence in
each week accordingly。 He ran through his money at about the same
rate as other boys did； being pretty well cleaned out a few days
after he had got back to school。 When he had no more money； he got
a little into debt； and when as far in debt as he could see his way
to repaying； he went without luxuries。 Immediately he got any money
he would pay his debts； if there was any over he would spend it； if
there was notand there seldom washe would begin to go on tick
again。
His finance was always based upon the supposition that he should go
back to school with 1 pounds in his pocketof which he owed say a
matter of fifteen shillings。 There would be five shillings for
sundry school subscriptionsbut when these were paid the weekly
allowance of sixpence given to each boy in hall； his merit money
（which this half he was resolved should come to a good sum） and
renewed credit； would carry him through the half。
The sudden failure of 15/… was disastrous to my hero's scheme of
finance。 His face betrayed his emotions so clearly that Theobald
said he was determined 〃to learn the truth at once； and THIS TIME
without days and days of falsehood〃 before he reached it。 The
melancholy fact was not long in coming out； namely； that the
wretched Ernest added debt to the vices of idleness； falsehood and
possiblyfor it was not impossibleimmorality。
How had he come to get in