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to see the house which had been my home for so many years of my life
in the hands of strangers； to ring ceremoniously at a bell which I
had never yet pulled except as a boy in jest； to feel that I had
nothing to do with a garden in which I had in childhood gathered so
many a nosegay； and which had seemed my own for many years after I
had reached man's estate； to see the rooms bereft of every familiar
feature； and made so unfamiliar in spite of their familiarity。 Had
there been any sufficient reason； I should have taken these things
as a matter of course； and should no doubt have found them much
worse in anticipation than in reality； but as there had been no
special reason why I should go to Paleham I had hitherto avoided
doing so。 Now； however； my going was a necessity； and I confess I
never felt more subdued than I did on arriving there with the dead
playmate of my childhood。
I found the village more changed than I had expected。 The railway
had come there； and a brand new yellow brick station was on the site
of old Mr and Mrs Pontifex's cottage。 Nothing but the carpenter's
shop was now standing。 I saw many faces I knew； but even in six
years they seemed to have grown wonderfully older。 Some of the very
old were dead； and the old were getting very old in their stead。 I
felt like the changeling in the fairy story who came back after a
seven years' sleep。 Everyone seemed glad to see me； though I had
never given them particular cause to be so； and everyone who
remembered old Mr and Mrs Pontifex spoke warmly of them and were
pleased at their granddaughter's wishing to be laid near them。
Entering the churchyard and standing in the twilight of a gusty
cloudy evening on the spot close beside old Mrs Pontifex's grave
which I had chosen for Alethea's； I thought of the many times that
she； who would lie there henceforth； and I； who must surely lie one
day in some such another place though when and where I knew not； had
romped over this very spot as childish lovers together。 Next
morning I followed her to the grave； and in due course set up a
plain upright slab to her memory as like as might be to those over
the graves of her grandmother and grandfather。 I gave the dates and
places of her birth and death； but added nothing except that this
stone was set up by one who had known and loved her。 Knowing how
fond she had been of music I had been half inclined at one time to
inscribe a few bars of music； if I could find any which seemed
suitable to her character； but I knew how much she would have
disliked anything singular in connection with her tombstone and did
not do it。
Before； however； I had come to this conclusion； I had thought that
Ernest might be able to help me to the right thing； and had written
to him upon the subject。 The following is the answer I received …
〃Dear Godpapa；I send you the best bit I can think of； it is the
subject of the last of Handel's six grand fugues and goes thus：…
＇Music score＇
It would do better for a man； especially for an old man who was very
sorry for things； than for a woman； but I cannot think of anything
better； if you do not like it for Aunt Alethea I shall keep it for
myself。Your affectionate Godson； ERNEST PONTIFEX。〃
Was this the little lad who could get sweeties for two…pence but not
for two…pence…halfpenny？ Dear； dear me； I thought to myself； how
these babes and sucklings do give us the go…by surely。 Choosing his
own epitaph at fifteen as for a man who 〃had been very sorry for
things；〃 and such a strain as thatwhy it might have done for
Leonardo da Vinci himself。 Then I set the boy down as a conceited
young jackanapes； which no doubt he was；but so are a great many
other young people of Ernest's age。
CHAPTER XXXVII
If Theobald and Christina had not been too well pleased when Miss
Pontifex first took Ernest in hand； they were still less so when the
connection between the two was interrupted so prematurely。 They
said they had made sure from what their sister had said that she was
going to make Ernest her heir。 I do not think she had given them so
much as a hint to this effect。 Theobald indeed gave Ernest to
understand that she had done so in a letter which will be given
shortly； but if Theobald wanted to make himself disagreeable； a
trifle light as air would forthwith assume in his imagination
whatever form was most convenient to him。 I do not think they had
even made up their minds what Alethea was to do with her money
before they knew of her being at the point of death； and as I have
said already； if they had thought it likely that Ernest would be
made heir over their own heads without their having at any rate a
life interest in the bequest； they would have soon thrown obstacles
in the way of further intimacy between aunt and nephew。
This； however； did not bar their right to feeling aggrieved now that
neither they nor Ernest had taken anything at all； and they could
profess disappointment on their boy's behalf which they would have
been too proud to admit upon their own。 In fact； it was only
amiable of them to be disappointed under these circumstances。
Christina said that the will was simply fraudulent； and was
convinced that it could be upset if she and Theobald went the right
way to work。 Theobald； she said； should go before the Lord
Chancellor； not in full court but in chambers； where he could
explain the whole matter； or； perhaps it would be even better if she
were to go herselfand I dare not trust myself to describe the
reverie to which this last idea gave rise。 I believe in the end
Theobald died； and the Lord Chancellor （who had become a widower a
few weeks earlier） made her an offer； which； however； she firmly but
not ungratefully declined； she should ever； she said； continue to
think of him as a friendat this point the cook came in； saying the
butcher had called； and what would she please to order。
I think Theobald must have had an idea that there was something
behind the bequest to me； but he said nothing about it to Christina。
He was angry and felt wronged； because he could not get at Alethea
to give her a piece of his mind any more than he had been able to
get at his father。 〃It is so mean of people；〃 he exclaimed to
himself； 〃to inflict an injury of this sort； and then shirk facing
those whom they have injured； let us hope that； at any rate； they
and I may meet in Heaven。〃 But of this he was doubtful； for when
people had done so great a wrong as this； it was hardly to be
supposed that they would go to Heaven at alland as for his meeting
them in another place； the idea never so much as entered his mind。
One so angry and； of late； so little used to contradiction might be
trusted； however； to avenge himself upon someone； and Theobald had
long since developed the organ； by means of which he might vent
spleen with least risk and greatest satisfaction to himself。 This
organ； it may be guessed； was nothing else than Ernest； to Ernest
therefore he proceeded to unburden himself； not personally； but by
letter。
〃You ought to know；〃 he wrote； 〃that your Aunt Alethea had given
your mother and me to understand that it was her wish