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that in each case she had been right； and that he could not
reasonably complain。 Generally it was her conscience that forbade
her to be silent； and against this there was no appeal； for we are
all bound to follow the dictates of our conscience。 Ernest used to
have to recite a hymn about conscience。 It was to the effect that
if you did not pay attention to its voice it would soon leave off
speaking。 〃My mamma's conscience has not left off speaking；〃 said
Ernest to one of his chums at Roughborough； 〃it's always jabbering。〃
When a boy has once spoken so disrespectfully as this about his
mother's conscience it is practically all over between him and her。
Ernest through sheer force of habit； of the sofa； and of the return
of the associated ideas； was still so moved by the siren's voice as
to yearn to sail towards her； and fling himself into her arms； but
it would not do； there were other associated ideas that returned
also； and the mangled bones of too many murdered confessions were
lying whitening round the skirts of his mother's dress； to allow him
by any possibility to trust her further。 So he hung his head and
looked sheepish； but kept his own counsel。
〃I see； my dearest；〃 continued his mother； 〃either that I am
mistaken； and that there is nothing on your mind； or that you will
not unburden yourself to me： but oh； Ernest； tell me at least this
much； is there nothing that you repent of； nothing which makes you
unhappy in connection with that miserable girl Ellen？〃
Ernest's heart failed him。 〃I am a dead boy now；〃 he said to
himself。 He had not the faintest conception what his mother was
driving at； and thought she suspected about the watch； but he held
his ground。
I do not believe he was much more of a coward than his neighbours；
only he did not know that all sensible people are cowards when they
are off their beat； or when they think they are going to be roughly
handled。 I believe； that if the truth were known； it would be found
that even the valiant St Michael himself tried hard to shirk his
famous combat with the dragon； he pretended not to see all sorts of
misconduct on the dragon's part； shut his eyes to the eating up of I
do not know how many hundreds of men； women and children whom he had
promised to protect； allowed himself to be publicly insulted a dozen
times over without resenting it； and in the end when even an angel
could stand it no longer he shilly…shallied and temporised an
unconscionable time before he would fix the day and hour for the
encounter。 As for the actual combat it was much such another wurra…
wurra as Mrs Allaby had had with the young man who had in the end
married her eldest daughter； till after a time behold； there was the
dragon lying dead； while he was himself alive and not very seriously
hurt after all。
〃I do not know what you mean； mamma；〃 exclaimed Ernest anxiously and
more or less hurriedly。 His mother construed his manner into
indignation at being suspected； and being rather frightened herself
she turned tail and scuttled off as fast as her tongue could carry
her。
〃Oh！〃 she said； 〃I see by your tone that you are innocent！ Oh！ oh！
how I thank my heavenly Father for this； may He for His dear Son's
sake keep you always pure。 Your father； my dear〃（here she spoke
hurriedly but gave him a searching look） 〃was as pure as a spotless
angel when he came to me。 Like him； always be self…denying； truly
truthful both in word and deed； never forgetful whose son and
grandson you are； nor of the name we gave you； of the sacred stream
in whose waters your sins were washed out of you through the blood
and blessing of Christ；〃 etc。
But Ernest cut thisI will not say shortbut a great deal shorter
than it would have been if Christina had had her say out； by
extricating himself from his mamma's embrace and showing a clean
pair of heels。 As he got near the purlieus of the kitchen （where he
was more at ease） he heard his father calling for his mother； and
again his guilty conscience rose against him。 〃He has found all out
now；〃 it cried； 〃and he is going to tell mammathis time I am done
for。〃 But there was nothing in it； his father only wanted the key
of the cellaret。 Then Ernest slunk off into a coppice or spinney
behind the Rectory paddock； and consoled himself with a pipe of
tobacco。 Here in the wood with the summer sun streaming through the
trees and a book and his pipe the boy forgot his cares and had an
interval of that rest without which I verily believe his life would
have been insupportable。
Of course； Ernest was made to look for his lost property； and a
reward was offered for it； but it seemed he had wandered a good deal
off the path； thinking to find a lark's nest； more than once； and
looking for a watch and purse on Battersby piewipes was very like
looking for a needle in a bundle of hay： besides it might have been
found and taken by some tramp； or by a magpie of which there were
many in the neighbourhood； so that after a week or ten days the
search was discontinued； and the unpleasant fact had to be faced
that Ernest must have another watch； another knife； and a small sum
of pocket money。
It was only right； however； that Ernest should pay half the cost of
the watch； this should be made easy for him； for it should be
deducted from his pocket money in half…yearly instalments extending
over two； or even it might be three years。 In Ernest's own
interests； then； as well as those of his father and mother； it would
be well that the watch should cost as little as possible； so it was
resolved to buy a second…hand one。 Nothing was to be said to
Ernest； but it was to be bought； and laid upon his plate as a
surprise just before the holidays were over。 Theobald would have to
go to the county town in a few days； and could then find some
second…hand watch which would answer sufficiently well。 In the
course of time； therefore； Theobald went； furnished with a long list
of household commissions； among which was the purchase of a watch
for Ernest。
Those； as I have said； were always happy times； when Theobald was
away for a whole day certain； the boy was beginning to feel easy in
his mind as though God had heard his prayers； and he was not going
to be found out。 Altogether the day had proved an unusually
tranquil one； but； alas！ it was not to close as it had begun； the
fickle atmosphere in which he lived was never more likely to breed a
storm than after such an interval of brilliant calm； and when
Theobald returned Ernest had only to look in his face to see that a
hurricane was approaching。
Christina saw that something had gone very wrong； and was quite
frightened lest Theobald should have heard of some serious money
loss； he did not； however； at once unbosom himself； but rang the
bell and said to the servant； 〃Tell Master Ernest I wish to speak to
him in the dining…room。〃
CHAPTER XLI
Long before Ernest reached the dining…room his ill…divining soul had
told him that his sin had found him out。 What head of a family ever
sends for any of its members into the dining…room if his intentions
are honourable？
When he reached it he found it emptyhis father having