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trying to lead a quiet； unobtrusive life of self…devotion； whereas
Towneley was not； so far as he could see； trying to do anything of
the kind； he was only trying to get on comfortably in the world； and
to look and be as nice as possible。 And he was nice； and Ernest
knew that such men as himself and Pryer were not nice； and his old
dejection came over him。
Then came an even worse reflection； how if he had fallen among
material thieves as well as spiritual ones？ He knew very little of
how his money was going on； he had put it all now into Pryer's
hands； and though Pryer gave him cash to spend whenever he wanted
it； he seemed impatient of being questioned as to what was being
done with the principal。 It was part of the understanding； he said；
that that was to be left to him； and Ernest had better stick to
this； or he； Pryer； would throw up the College of Spiritual
Pathology altogether； and so Ernest was cowed into acquiescence； or
cajoled； according to the humour in which Pryer saw him to be。
Ernest thought that further questions would look as if he doubted
Pryer's word； and also that he had gone too far to be able to recede
in decency or honour。 This； however； he felt was riding out to meet
trouble unnecessarily。 Pryer had been a little impatient； but he
was a gentleman and an admirable man of business； so his money would
doubtless come back to him all right some day。
Ernest comforted himself as regards this last source of anxiety； but
as regards the other； he began to feel as though； if he was to be
saved； a good Samaritan must hurry up from somewherehe knew not
whence。
CHAPTER LVIII
Next day he felt stronger again。 He had been listening to the voice
of the evil one on the night before； and would parley no more with
such thoughts。 He had chosen his profession； and his duty was to
persevere with it。 If he was unhappy it was probably because he was
not giving up all for Christ。 Let him see whether he could not do
more than he was doing now； and then perhaps a light would be shed
upon his path。
It was all very well to have made the discovery that he didn't very
much like poor people； but he had got to put up with them； for it
was among them that his work must lie。 Such men as Towneley were
very kind and considerate； but he knew well enough it was only on
condition that he did not preach to them。 He could manage the poor
better； and； let Pryer sneer as he liked； he was resolved to go more
among them； and try the effect of bringing Christ to them if they
would not come and seek Christ of themselves。 He would begin with
his own house。
Who then should he take first？ Surely he could not do better than
begin with the tailor who lived immediately over his head。 This
would be desirable； not only because he was the one who seemed to
stand most in need of conversion； but also because； if he were once
converted； he would no longer beat his wife at two o'clock in the
morning； and the house would be much pleasanter in consequence。 He
would therefore go upstairs at once； and have a quiet talk with this
man。
Before doing so； he thought it would be well if he were to draw up
something like a plan of a campaign； he therefore reflected over
some pretty conversations which would do very nicely if Mr Holt
would be kind enough to make the answers proposed for him in their
proper places。 But the man was a great hulking fellow； of a savage
temper； and Ernest was forced to admit that unforeseen developments
might arise to disconcert him。 They say it takes nine tailors to
make a man； but Ernest felt that it would take at least nine Ernests
to make a Mr Holt。 How if； as soon as Ernest came in； the tailor
were to become violent and abusive？ What could he do？ Mr Holt was
in his own lodgings； and had a right to be undisturbed。 A legal
right； yes； but had he a moral right？ Ernest thought not；
considering his mode of life。 But put this on one side； if the man
were to be violent； what should he do？ Paul had fought with wild
beasts at Ephesusthat must indeed have been awfulbut perhaps
they were not very wild wild beasts； a rabbit and a canary are wild
beasts； but； formidable or not as wild beasts go； they would；
nevertheless stand no chance against St Paul； for he was inspired；
the miracle would have been if the wild beasts escaped； not that St
Paul should have done so； but； however all this might be； Ernest
felt that he dared not begin to convert Mr Holt by fighting him。
Why； when he had heard Mrs Holt screaming 〃murder；〃 he had cowered
under the bed clothes and waited； expecting to hear the blood
dripping through the ceiling on to his own floor。 His imagination
translated every sound into a pat； pat； pat； and once or twice he
thought he had felt it dropping on to his counterpane； but he had
never gone upstairs to try and rescue poor Mrs Holt。 Happily it had
proved next morning that Mrs Holt was in her usual health。
Ernest was in despair about hitting on any good way of opening up
spiritual communication with his neighbour； when it occurred to him
that he had better perhaps begin by going upstairs； and knocking
very gently at Mr Holt's door。 He would then resign himself to the
guidance of the Holy Spirit； and act as the occasion； which； I
suppose； was another name for the Holy Spirit； suggested。 Triply
armed with this reflection； he mounted the stairs quite jauntily；
and was about to knock when he heard Holt's voice inside swearing
savagely at his wife。 This made him pause to think whether after
all the moment was an auspicious one； and while he was thus pausing；
Mr Holt； who had heard that someone was on the stairs； opened the
door and put his head out。 When he saw Ernest； he made an
unpleasant； not to say offensive movement； which might or might not
have been directed at Ernest and looked altogether so ugly that my
hero had an instantaneous and unequivocal revelation from the Holy
Spirit to the effect that he should continue his journey upstairs at
once； as though he had never intended arresting it at Mr Holt's
room； and begin by converting Mr and Mrs Baxter； the Methodists in
the top floor front。 So this was what he did。
These good people received him with open arms； and were quite ready
to talk。 He was beginning to convert them from Methodism to the
Church of England； when all at once he found himself embarrassed by
discovering that he did not know what he was to convert them from。
He knew the Church of England； or thought he did； but he knew
nothing of Methodism beyond its name。 When he found that； according
to Mr Baxter； the Wesleyans had a vigorous system of Church
discipline （which worked admirably in practice） it appeared to him
that John Wesley had anticipated the spiritual engine which he and
Pryer were preparing； and when he left the room he was aware that he
had caught more of a spiritual Tartar than he had expected。 But he
must certainly explain to Pryer that the Wesleyans had a system of
Church discipline。 This was very important。
Mr Baxter advised Ernest on no account to meddle with Mr Holt； and
Ernest was much relieved at the advice。 If an opportunity arose of
touching the m