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ago； the aim of which shall be at once to outbid Rome on the one
hand； and scepticism on the other。 For this purpose I see nothing
better than the foundation of an institution or college for placing
the nature and treatment of sin on a more scientific basis than it
rests at present。 We wantto borrow a useful term of Pryer'sa
College of Spiritual Pathology where young men〃 （I suppose Ernest
thought he was no longer young by this time） 〃may study the nature
and treatment of the sins of the soul as medical students study
those of the bodies of their patients。 Such a college； as you will
probably admit； will approach both Rome on the one hand； and science
on the otherRome； as giving the priesthood more skill； and
therefore as paving the way for their obtaining greater power； and
science； by recognising that even free thought has a certain kind of
value in spiritual enquiries。 To this purpose Pryer and I have
resolved to devote ourselves henceforth heart and soul。
〃Of course； my ideas are still unshaped； and all will depend upon
the men by whom the college is first worked。 I am not yet a priest；
but Pryer is； and if I were to start the College； Pryer might take
charge of it for a time and I work under him nominally as his
subordinate。 Pryer himself suggested this。 Is it not generous of
him？
〃The worst of it is that we have not enough money； I have； it is
true； 5000 pounds； but we want at least 10；000 pounds； so Pryer
says； before we can start； when we are fairly under weigh I might
live at the college and draw a salary from the foundation； so that
it is all one； or nearly so； whether I invest my money in this way
or in buying a living； besides I want very little； it is certain
that I shall never marry； no clergyman should think of this； and an
unmarried man can live on next to nothing。 Still I do not see my
way to as much money as I want； and Pryer suggests that as we can
hardly earn more now we must get it by a judicious series of
investments。 Pryer knows several people who make quite a handsome
income out of very little or； indeed； I may say； nothing at all； by
buying things at a place they call the Stock Exchange； I don't know
much about it yet； but Pryer says I should soon learn； he thinks；
indeed； that I have shown rather a talent in this direction； and
under proper auspices should make a very good man of business。
Others； of course； and not I； must decide this； but a man can do
anything if he gives his mind to it； and though I should not care
about having more money for my own sake； I care about it very much
when I think of the good I could do with it by saving souls from
such horrible torture hereafter。 Why； if the thing succeeds； and I
really cannot see what is to hinder it； it is hardly possible to
exaggerate its importance； nor the proportions which it may
ultimately assume；〃 etc。； etc。
Again I asked Ernest whether he minded my printing this。 He winced；
but said 〃No； not if it helps you to tell your story： but don't you
think it is too long？〃
I said it would let the reader see for himself how things were going
in half the time that it would take me to explain them to him。
〃Very well then； keep it by all means。〃
I continue turning over my file of Ernest's letters and find as
follows …
〃Thanks for your last； in answer to which I send you a rough copy of
a letter I sent to the Times a day or two back。 They did not insert
it； but it embodies pretty fully my ideas on the parochial
visitation question； and Pryer fully approves of the letter。 Think
it carefully over and send it back to me when read； for it is so
exactly my present creed that I cannot afford to lose it。
〃I should very much like to have a viva voce discussion on these
matters： I can only see for certain that we have suffered a
dreadful loss in being no longer able to excommunicate。 We should
excommunicate rich and poor alike； and pretty freely too。 If this
power were restored to us we could； I think； soon put a stop to by
far the greater part of the sin and misery with which we are
surrounded。〃
These letters were written only a few weeks after Ernest had been
ordained； but they are nothing to others that he wrote a little
later on。
In his eagerness to regenerate the Church of England （and through
this the universe） by the means which Pryer had suggested to him； it
occurred to him to try to familiarise himself with the habits and
thoughts of the poor by going and living among them。 I think he got
this notion from Kingsley's 〃Alton Locke；〃 which； High Churchman
though he for the nonce was； he had devoured as he had devoured
Stanley's Life of Arnold； Dickens's novels； and whatever other
literary garbage of the day was most likely to do him harm； at any
rate he actually put his scheme into practice； and took lodgings in
Ashpit Place； a small street in the neighbourhood of Drury Lane
Theatre； in a house of which the landlady was the widow of a cabman。
This lady occupied the whole ground floor。 In the front kitchen
there was a tinker。 The back kitchen was let to a bellows…mender。
On the first floor came Ernest； with his two rooms which he
furnished comfortably； for one must draw the line somewhere。 The
two upper floors were parcelled out among four different sets of
lodgers： there was a tailor named Holt； a drunken fellow who used
to beat his wife at night till her screams woke the house； above him
there was another tailor with a wife but no children； these people
were Wesleyans； given to drink but not noisy。 The two back rooms
were held by single ladies； who it seemed to Ernest must be
respectably connected； for well…dressed gentlemanly…looking young
men used to go up and down stairs past Ernest's rooms to call at any
rate on Miss SnowErnest had heard her door slam after they had
passed。 He thought； too； that some of them went up to Miss
Maitland's。 Mrs Jupp； the landlady； told Ernest that these were
brothers and cousins of Miss Snow's； and that she was herself
looking out for a situation as a governess； but at present had an
engagement as an actress at the Drury Lane Theatre。 Ernest asked
whether Miss Maitland in the top back was also looking out for a
situation； and was told she was wanting an engagement as a milliner。
He believed whatever Mrs Jupp told him。
CHAPTER LIV
This move on Ernest's part was variously commented upon by his
friends； the general opinion being that it was just like Pontifex；
who was sure to do something unusual wherever he went； but that on
the whole the idea was commendable。 Christina could not restrain
herself when on sounding her clerical neighbours she found them
inclined to applaud her son for conduct which they idealised into
something much more self…denying than it really was。 She did not
quite like his living in such an unaristocratic neighbourhood； but
what he was doing would probably get into the newspapers； and then
great people would take notice of him。 Besides； it would be very
cheap； down among these poor people he could live for next to
nothing； and might put by a great deal of his income。 As for
temptations； there could be few or none in such a place as