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liked Ernest； and was vexed at his being a clergyman； and at a
clergyman having so much money coming to him。
I talked a little with Mrs Jupp on my way out。 She and I had
reckoned one another up at first sight as being neither of us 〃very
regular church…goers；〃 and the strings of her tongue had been
loosened。 She said Ernest would die。 He was much too good for the
world and he looked so sad 〃just like young Watkins of the 'Crown'
over the way who died a month ago； and his poor dear skin was white
as alablaster； least…ways they say he shot hisself。 They took him
from the Mortimer； I met them just as I was going with my Rose to
get a pint o' four ale； and she had her arm in splints。 She told
her sister she wanted to go to Perry's to get some wool； instead o'
which it was only a stall to get me a pint o' ale； bless her heart；
there's nobody else would do that much for poor old Jupp； and it's a
horrid lie to say she is gay； not but what I like a gay woman； I do：
I'd rather give a gay woman half…a…crown than stand a modest woman a
pot o' beer； but I don't want to go associating with bad girls for
all that。 So they took him from the Mortimer； they wouldn't let him
go home no more； and he done it that artful you know。 His wife was
in the country living with her mother； and she always spoke
respectful o' my Rose。 Poor dear； I hope his soul is in Heaven。
Well Sir； would you believe it； there's that in Mr Pontifex's face
which is just like young Watkins； he looks that worrited and
scrunched up at times； but it's never for the same reason； for he
don't know nothing at all； no more than a unborn babe； no he don't；
why there's not a monkey going about London with an Italian organ
grinder but knows more than Mr Pontifex do。 He don't knowwell I
suppose〃
Here a child came in on an errand from some neighbour and
interrupted her； or I can form no idea where or when she would have
ended her discourse。 I seized the opportunity to run away； but not
before I had given her five shillings and made her write down my
address； for I was a little frightened by what she said。 I told her
if she thought her lodger grew worse； she was to come and let me
know。
Weeks went by and I did not see her again。 Having done as much as I
had； I felt absolved from doing more； and let Ernest alone as
thinking that he and I should only bore one another。
He had now been ordained a little over four months； but these months
had not brought happiness or satisfaction with them。 He had lived
in a clergyman's house all his life； and might have been expected
perhaps to have known pretty much what being a clergyman was like；
and so he dida country clergyman； he had formed an ideal； however；
as regards what a town clergyman could do； and was trying in a
feeble tentative way to realise it； but somehow or other it always
managed to escape him。
He lived among the poor； but he did not find that he got to know
them。 The idea that they would come to him proved to be a mistaken
one。 He did indeed visit a few tame pets whom his rector desired
him to look after。 There was an old man and his wife who lived next
door but one to Ernest himself； then there was a plumber of the name
of Chesterfield； an aged lady of the name of Gover； blind and bed…
ridden； who munched and munched her feeble old toothless jaws as
Ernest spoke or read to her； but who could do little more； a Mr
Brookes； a rag and bottle merchant in Birdsey's Rents in the last
stage of dropsy； and perhaps half a dozen or so others。 What did it
all come to； when he did go to see them？ The plumber wanted to be
flattered； and liked fooling a gentleman into wasting his time by
scratching his ears for him。 Mrs Gover； poor old woman； wanted
money； she was very good and meek； and when Ernest got her a
shilling from Lady Anne Jones's bequest； she said it was 〃small but
seasonable；〃 and munched and munched in gratitude。 Ernest sometimes
gave her a little money himself； but not； as he says now； half what
he ought to have given。
What could he do else that would have been of the smallest use to
her？ Nothing indeed； but giving occasional half…crowns to Mrs Gover
was not regenerating the universe； and Ernest wanted nothing short
of this。 The world was all out of joint； and instead of feeling it
to be a cursed spite that he was born to set it right； he thought he
was just the kind of person that was wanted for the job； and was
eager to set to work； only he did not exactly know how to begin； for
the beginning he had made with Mr Chesterfield and Mrs Gover did not
promise great developments。
Then poor Mr Brookeshe suffered very much； terribly indeed； he was
not in want of money； he wanted to die and couldn't； just as we
sometimes want to go to sleep and cannot。 He had been a serious…
minded man； and death frightened him as it must frighten anyone who
believes that all his most secret thoughts will be shortly exposed
in public。 When I read Ernest the description of how his father
used to visit Mrs Thompson at Battersby； he coloured and said
〃that's just what I used to say to Mr Brookes。〃 Ernest felt that
his visits； so far from comforting Mr Brookes； made him fear death
more and more； but how could he help it？
Even Pryer； who had been curate a couple of years； did not know
personally more than a couple of hundred people in the parish at the
outside； and it was only at the houses of very few of these that he
ever visited； but then Pryer had such a strong objection on
principle to house visitations。 What a drop in the sea were those
with whom he and Pryer were brought into direct communication in
comparison with those whom he must reach and move if he were to
produce much effect of any kind； one way or the other。 Why there
were between fifteen and twenty thousand poor in the parish； of whom
but the merest fraction ever attended a place of worship。 Some few
went to dissenting chapels； a few were Roman Catholics； by far the
greater number； however； were practically infidels； if not actively
hostile； at any rate indifferent to religion； while many were avowed
Atheistsadmirers of Tom Paine； of whom he now heard for the first
time； but he never met and conversed with any of these。
Was he really doing everything that could be expected of him？ It
was all very well to say that he was doing as much as other young
clergymen did； that was not the kind of answer which Jesus Christ
was likely to accept； why； the Pharisees themselves in all
probability did as much as the other Pharisees did。 What he should
do was to go into the highways and byways； and compel people to come
in。 Was he doing this？ Or were not they rather compelling him to
keep outoutside their doors at any rate？ He began to have an
uneasy feeling as though ere long； unless he kept a sharp look out；
he should drift into being a sham。
True； all would be changed as soon as he could endow the College for
Spiritual Pathology； matters； however； had not gone too well with
〃the things that people bought in the place that was called the
Stock Exchange。〃 In order to get on faster； it had been arranged
that Ernest should buy more of these things than he