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grown up vigorous； amiable； and blessed with common sense。 I know
many old men and women who are reputed moral； but who are living
with partners whom they have long ceased to love； or who have ugly
disagreeable maiden daughters for whom they have never been able to
find husbandsdaughters whom they loathe and by whom they are
loathed in secret； or sons whose folly or extravagance is a
perpetual wear and worry to them。 Is it moral for a man to have
brought such things upon himself？ Someone should do for morals what
that old Pecksniff Bacon has obtained the credit of having done for
science。
But to return to Mr and Mrs Allaby。 Mrs Allaby talked about having
married two of her daughters as though it had been the easiest thing
in the world。 She talked in this way because she heard other
mothers do so； but in her heart of hearts she did not know how she
had done it； nor indeed； if it had been her doing at all。 First
there had been a young man in connection with whom she had tried to
practise certain manoeuvres which she had rehearsed in imagination
over and over again； but which she found impossible to apply in
practice。 Then there had been weeks of a wurra wurra of hopes and
fears and little stratagems which as often as not proved
injudicious； and then somehow or other in the end； there lay the
young man bound and with an arrow through his heart at her
daughter's feet。 It seemed to her to be all a fluke which she could
have little or no hope of repeating。 She had indeed repeated it
once； and might perhaps with good luck repeat it yet once againbut
five times over！ It was awful： why she would rather have three
confinements than go through the wear and tear of marrying a single
daughter。
Nevertheless it had got to be done； and poor Mrs Allaby never looked
at a young man without an eye to his being a future son…in…law。
Papas and mammas sometimes ask young men whether their intentions
are honourable towards their daughters。 I think young men might
occasionally ask papas and mammas whether their intentions are
honourable before they accept invitations to houses where there are
still unmarried daughters。
〃I can't afford a curate； my dear；〃 said Mr Allaby to his wife when
the pair were discussing what was next to be done。 〃It will be
better to get some young man to come and help me for a time upon a
Sunday。 A guinea a Sunday will do this； and we can chop and change
till we get someone who suits。〃 So it was settled that Mr Allaby's
health was not so strong as it had been； and that he stood in need
of help in the performance of his Sunday duty。
Mrs Allaby had a great frienda certain Mrs Cowey； wife of the
celebrated Professor Cowey。 She was what was called a truly
spiritually minded woman； a trifle portly； with an incipient beard；
and an extensive connection among undergraduates； more especially
among those who were inclined to take part in the great evangelical
movement which was then at its height。 She gave evening parties
once a fortnight at which prayer was part of the entertainment。 She
was not only spiritually minded； but； as enthusiastic Mrs Allaby
used to exclaim； she was a thorough woman of the world at the same
time and had such a fund of strong masculine good sense。 She too
had daughters； but； as she used to say to Mrs Allaby； she had been
less fortunate than Mrs Allaby herself； for one by one they had
married and left her so that her old age would have been desolate
indeed if her Professor had not been spared to her。
Mrs Cowey； of course； knew the run of all the bachelor clergy in the
University； and was the very person to assist Mrs Allaby in finding
an eligible assistant for her husband； so this last named lady drove
over one morning in the November of 1825； by arrangement； to take an
early dinner with Mrs Cowey and spend the afternoon。 After dinner
the two ladies retired together； and the business of the day began。
How they fenced； how they saw through one another； with what loyalty
they pretended not to see through one another； with what gentle
dalliance they prolonged the conversation discussing the spiritual
fitness of this or that deacon； and the other pros and cons
connected with him after his spiritual fitness had been disposed of；
all this must be left to the imagination of the reader。 Mrs Cowey
had been so accustomed to scheming on her own account that she would
scheme for anyone rather than not scheme at all。 Many mothers
turned to her in their hour of need and； provided they were
spiritually minded； Mrs Cowey never failed to do her best for them；
if the marriage of a young Bachelor of Arts was not made in Heaven；
it was probably made； or at any rate attempted； in Mrs Cowey's
drawing…room。 On the present occasion all the deacons of the
University in whom there lurked any spark of promise were
exhaustively discussed； and the upshot was that our friend Theobald
was declared by Mrs Cowey to be about the best thing she could do
that afternoon。
〃I don't know that he's a particularly fascinating young man； my
dear；〃 said Mrs Cowey； 〃and he's only a second son； but then he's
got his fellowship； and even the second son of such a man as Mr
Pontifex the publisher should have something very comfortable。〃
〃Why yes； my dear；〃 rejoined Mrs Allaby complacently； 〃that's what
one rather feels。〃
CHAPTER X
The interview； like all other good things had to come to an end； the
days were short； and Mrs Allaby had a six miles' drive to
Crampsford。 When she was muffled up and had taken her seat； Mr
Allaby's factotum； James； could perceive no change in her
appearance； and little knew what a series of delightful visions he
was driving home along with his mistress。
Professor Cowey had published works through Theobald's father； and
Theobald had on this account been taken in tow by Mrs Cowey from the
beginning of his University career。 She had had her eye upon him
for some time past； and almost as much felt it her duty to get him
off her list of young men for whom wives had to be provided； as poor
Mrs Allaby did to try and get a husband for one of her daughters。
She now wrote and asked him to come and see her； in terms that
awakened his curiosity。 When he came she broached the subject of Mr
Allaby's failing health； and after the smoothing away of such
difficulties as were only Mrs Cowey's due； considering the interest
she had taken； it was allowed to come to pass that Theobald should
go to Crampsford for six successive Sundays and take the half of Mr
Allaby's duty at half a guinea a Sunday； for Mrs Cowey cut down the
usual stipend mercilessly； and Theobald was not strong enough to
resist。
Ignorant of the plots which were being prepared for his peace of
mind and with no idea beyond that of earning his three guineas； and
perhaps of astonishing the inhabitants of Crampsford by his academic
learning； Theobald walked over to the Rectory one Sunday morning
early in Decembera few weeks only after he had been ordained。 He
had taken a great deal of pains with his sermon； which was on the
subject of geologythen coming to the fore as a theological
bugbear。 He showed that so far as geology was