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agreeable。 He could do this well enough when he liked； and as
regards the outside world he generally did like。 His clerical
neighbours； and indeed all his neighbours； respected him yearly more
and more； and would have given Ernest sufficient cause to regret his
imprudence if he had dared to hint that he had anything； however
little； to complain of。 Theobald's mind worked in this way： 〃Now；
I know Ernest has told this boy what a disagreeable person I am； and
I will just show him that I am not disagreeable at all； but a good
old fellow； a jolly old boy； in fact a regular old brick； and that
it is Ernest who is in fault all through。〃
So he would behave very nicely to the boy at first； and the boy
would be delighted with him； and side with him against Ernest。 Of
course if Ernest had got the boy to come to Battersby he wanted him
to enjoy his visit； and was therefore pleased that Theobald should
behave so well； but at the same time he stood so much in need of
moral support that it was painful to him to see one of his own
familiar friends go over to the enemy's camp。 For no matter how
well we may know a thinghow clearly we may see a certain patch of
colour； for example； as red； it shakes us and knocks us about to
find another see it； or be more than half inclined to see it； as
green。
Theobald had generally begun to get a little impatient before the
end of the visit； but the impression formed during the earlier part
was the one which the visitor had carried away with him。 Theobald
never discussed any of the boys with Ernest。 It was Christina who
did this。 Theobald let them come； because Christina in a quiet；
persistent way insisted on it； when they did come he behaved； as I
have said； civilly； but he did not like it； whereas Christina did
like it very much； she would have had half Roughborough and half
Cambridge to come and stay at Battersby if she could have managed
it； and if it would not have cost so much money： she liked their
coming； so that she might make a new acquaintance； and she liked
tearing them to pieces and flinging the bits over Ernest as soon as
she had had enough of them。
The worst of it was that she had so often proved to be right。 Boys
and young men are violent in their affections； but they are seldom
very constant； it is not till they get older that they really know
the kind of friend they want； in their earlier essays young men are
simply learning to judge character。 Ernest had been no exception to
the general rule。 His swans had one after the other proved to be
more or less geese even in his own estimation； and he was beginning
almost to think that his mother was a better judge of character than
he was； but I think it may be assumed with some certainty that if
Ernest had brought her a real young swan she would have declared it
to be the ugliest and worst goose of all that she had yet seen。
At first he had not suspected that his friends were wanted with a
view to Charlotte； it was understood that Charlotte and they might
perhaps take a fancy for one another； and that would be so very
nice； would it not？ But he did not see that there was any
deliberate malice in the arrangement。 Now； however； that he had
awoke to what it all meant； he was less inclined to bring any friend
of his to Battersby。 It seemed to his silly young mind almost
dishonest to ask your friend to come and see you when all you really
meant was 〃Please； marry my sister。〃 It was like trying to obtain
money under false pretences。 If he had been fond of Charlotte it
might have been another matter； but he thought her one of the most
disagreeable young women in the whole circle of his acquaintance。
She was supposed to be very clever。 All young ladies are either
very pretty or very clever or very sweet； they may take their choice
as to which category they will go in for； but go in for one of the
three they must。 It was hopeless to try and pass Charlotte off as
either pretty or sweet。 So she became clever as the only remaining
alternative。 Ernest never knew what particular branch of study it
was in which she showed her talent； for she could neither play nor
sing nor draw； but so astute are women that his mother and Charlotte
really did persuade him into thinking that she； Charlotte； had
something more akin to true genius than any other member of the
family。 Not one； however； of all the friends whom Ernest had been
inveigled into trying to inveigle had shown the least sign of being
so far struck with Charlotte's commanding powers； as to wish to make
them his own； and this may have had something to do with the
rapidity and completeness with which Christina had dismissed them
one after another and had wanted a new one。
And now she wanted Towneley。 Ernest had seen this coming and had
tried to avoid it； for he knew how impossible it was for him to ask
Towneley； even if he had wished to do so。
Towneley belonged to one of the most exclusive sets in Cambridge；
and was perhaps the most popular man among the whole number of
undergraduates。 He was big and very handsomeas it seemed to
Ernest the handsomest man whom he ever had seen or ever could see；
for it was impossible to imagine a more lively and agreeable
countenance。 He was good at cricket and boating； very good…natured；
singularly free from conceit； not clever but very sensible； and；
lastly； his father and mother had been drowned by the overturning of
a boat when he was only two years old and had left him as their only
child and heir to one of the finest estates in the South of England。
Fortune every now and then does things handsomely by a man all
round； Towneley was one of those to whom she had taken a fancy； and
the universal verdict in this case was that she had chosen wisely。
Ernest had seen Towneley as every one else in the University
（except； of course； dons） had seen him； for he was a man of mark；
and being very susceptible he had liked Towneley even more than most
people did； but at the same time it never so much as entered his
head that he should come to know him。 He liked looking at him if he
got a chance； and was very much ashamed of himself for doing so； but
there the matter ended。
By a strange accident； however； during Ernest's last year； when the
names of the crews for the scratch fours were drawn he had found
himself coxswain of a crew； among whom was none other than his
especial hero Towneley； the three others were ordinary mortals； but
they could row fairly well； and the crew on the whole was rather a
good one。
Ernest was frightened out of his wits。 When； however； the two met；
he found Towneley no less remarkable for his entire want of anything
like 〃side；〃 and for his power of setting those whom he came across
at their ease； than he was for outward accomplishments； the only
difference he found between Towneley and other people was that he
was so very much easier to get on with。 Of course Ernest worshipped
him more and more。
The scratch fours being ended the connection between the two came to
an end； but Towneley never passed Ernest thenceforward without a nod
and a few good…natured words。 In an evil moment he had mentioned
Towneley's