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but I got rid of them； and poor Ernest came out again； looking
white； frightened and upset。 He had heard voices； but no more； and
did not feel sure that the enemy might not be gaining over me。 We
sported the oak now； and before long he began to recover。
After breakfast； we discussed the situation。 I had taken away his
wardrobe and books from Mrs Jupp's； but had left his furniture；
pictures and piano； giving Mrs Jupp the use of these； so that she
might let her room furnished； in lieu of charge for taking care of
the furniture。 As soon as Ernest heard that his wardrobe was at
hand； he got out a suit of clothes he had had before he had been
ordained； and put it on at once； much； as I thought； to the
improvement of his personal appearance。
Then we went into the subject of his finances。 He had had ten
pounds from Pryer only a day or two before he was apprehended； of
which between seven and eight were in his purse when he entered the
prison。 This money was restored to him on leaving。 He had always
paid cash for whatever he bought； so that there was nothing to be
deducted for debts。 Besides this； he had his clothes； books and
furniture。 He could； as I have said； have had 100 pounds from his
father if he had chosen to emigrate； but this both Ernest and I （for
he brought me round to his opinion） agreed it would be better to
decline。 This was all he knew of as belonging to him。
He said he proposed at once taking an unfurnished top back attic in
as quiet a house as he could find； say at three or four shillings a
week； and looking out for work as a tailor。 I did not think it much
mattered what he began with； for I felt pretty sure he would ere
long find his way to something that suited him； if he could get a
start with anything at all。 The difficulty was how to get him
started。 It was not enough that he should be able to cut out and
make clothesthat he should have the organs； so to speak； of a
tailor； he must be put into a tailor's shop and guided for a little
while by someone who knew how and where to help him。
The rest of the day he spent in looking for a room； which he soon
found； and in familiarising himself with liberty。 In the evening I
took him to the Olympic； where Robson was then acting in a burlesque
on Macbeth； Mrs Keeley； if I remember rightly； taking the part of
Lady Macbeth。 In the scene before the murder； Macbeth had said he
could not kill Duncan when he saw his boots upon the landing。 Lady
Macbeth put a stop to her husband's hesitation by whipping him up
under her arm； and carrying him off the stage； kicking and
screaming。 Ernest laughed till he cried。 〃What rot Shakespeare is
after this；〃 he exclaimed； involuntarily。 I remembered his essay on
the Greek tragedians； and was more I epris with him than ever。
Next day he set about looking for employment； and I did not see him
till about five o'clock； when he came and said that he had had no
success。 The same thing happened the next day and the day after
that。 Wherever he went he was invariably refused and often ordered
point blank out of the shop； I could see by the expression of his
face； though he said nothing； that he was getting frightened； and
began to think I should have to come to the rescue。 He said he had
made a great many enquiries and had always been told the same story。
He found that it was easy to keep on in an old line； but very hard
to strike out into a new one。
He talked to the fishmonger in Leather Lane； where he went to buy a
bloater for his tea； casually as though from curiosity and without
any interested motive。 〃Sell；〃 said the master of the shop； 〃Why
nobody wouldn't believe what can be sold by penn'orths and
twopenn'orths if you go the right way to work。 Look at whelks； for
instance。 Last Saturday night me and my little Emma here； we sold 7
pounds worth of whelks between eight and half past eleven o'clock
and almost all in penn'orths and twopenn'orthsa few； hap'orths；
but not many。 It was the steam that did it。 We kept a…boiling of
'em hot and hot； and whenever the steam came strong up from the
cellar on to the pavement； the people bought； but whenever the steam
went down they left off buying； so we boiled them over and over
again till they was all sold。 That's just where it is； if you know
your business you can sell； if you don't you'll soon make a mess of
it。 Why； but for the steam； I should not have sold 10s。 worth of
whelks all the night through。〃
This； and many another yarn of kindred substance which he heard from
other people determined Ernest more than ever to stake on tailoring
as the one trade about which he knew anything at all； nevertheless；
here were three or four days gone by and employment seemed as far
off as ever。
I now did what I ought to have done before； that is to say； I called
on my own tailor whom I had dealt with for over a quarter of a
century and asked his advice。 He declared Ernest's plan to be
hopeless。 〃If；〃 said Mr Larkins； for this was my tailor's name； 〃he
had begun at fourteen； it might have done； but no man of twenty…four
could stand being turned to work into a workshop full of tailors； he
would not get on with the men； nor the men with him； you could not
expect him to be 'hail fellow； well met' with them； and you could
not expect his fellow…workmen to like him if he was not。 A man must
have sunk low through drink or natural taste for low company； before
he could get on with those who have had such a different training
from his own。〃
Mr Larkins said a great deal more and wound up by taking me to see
the place where his own men worked。 〃This is a paradise；〃 he said；
〃compared to most workshops。 What gentleman could stand this air；
think you； for a fortnight？〃
I was glad enough to get out of the hot； fetid atmosphere in five
minutes； and saw that there was no brick of Ernest's prison to be
loosened by going and working among tailors in a workshop。
Mr Larkins wound up by saying that even if my protege were a much
better workman than he probably was； no master would give him
employment； for fear of creating a bother among the men。
I left； feeling that I ought to have thought of all this myself； and
was more than ever perplexed as to whether I had not better let my
young friend have a few thousand pounds and send him out to the
colonies； when； on my return home at about five o'clock； I found him
waiting for me； radiant； and declaring that he had found all he
wanted。
CHAPTER LXXI
It seems he had been patrolling the streets for the last three or
four nightsI suppose in search of something to doat any rate
knowing better what he wanted to get than how to get it。
Nevertheless； what he wanted was in reality so easily to be found
that it took a highly educated scholar like himself to be unable to
find it。 But； however this may be； he had been scared； and now saw
lions where there were none； and was shocked and frightened； and
night after night his courage had failed him and he had returned to
his lodgings in Laystall Street without accomplishing his errand。
He had not taken me into his confidence upon this matter； and I had
not enquired what he did with hi