按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Ernest was much relieved at the advice。 If an opportunity arose of
touching the man's heart； he would take it； he would pat the
children on the head when he saw them on the stairs； and ingratiate
himself with them as far as he dared； they were sturdy youngsters；
and Ernest was afraid even of them； for they were ready with their
tongues； and knew much for their ages。 Ernest felt that it would
indeed be almost better for him that a millstone should be hanged
about his neck； and he cast into the sea； than that he should offend
one of the little Holts。 However； he would try not to offend them；
perhaps an occasional penny or two might square them。 This was as
much as he could do； for he saw that the attempt to be instant out
of season； as well as in season； would； St Paul's injunction
notwithstanding； end in failure。
Mrs Baxter gave a very bad account of Miss Emily Snow； who lodged in
the second floor back next to Mr Holt。 Her story was quite
different from that of Mrs Jupp the landlady。 She would doubtless
be only too glad to receive Ernest's ministrations or those of any
other gentleman； but she was no governess； she was in the ballet at
Drury Lane； and besides this； she was a very bad young woman； and if
Mrs Baxter was landlady would not be allowed to stay in the house a
single hour； not she indeed。
Miss Maitland in the next room to Mrs Baxter's own was a quiet and
respectable young woman to all appearance； Mrs Baxter had never
known of any goings on in that quarter； but； bless you； still waters
run deep； and these girls were all alike； one as bad as the other。
She was out at all kinds of hours； and when you knew that you knew
all。
Ernest did not pay much heed to these aspersions of Mrs Baxter's。
Mrs Jupp had got round the greater number of his many blind sides；
and had warned him not to believe Mrs Baxter； whose lip she said was
something awful。
Ernest had heard that women were always jealous of one another； and
certainly these young women were more attractive than Mrs Baxter
was； so jealousy was probably at the bottom of it。 If they were
maligned there could be no objection to his making their
acquaintance； if not maligned they had all the more need of his
ministrations。 He would reclaim them at once。
He told Mrs Jupp of his intention。 Mrs Jupp at first tried to
dissuade him； but seeing him resolute； suggested that she should
herself see Miss Snow first； so as to prepare her and prevent her
from being alarmed by his visit。 She was not at home now； but in
the course of the next day； it should be arranged。 In the meantime
he had better try Mr Shaw； the tinker； in the front kitchen。 Mrs
Baxter had told Ernest that Mr Shaw was from the North Country； and
an avowed freethinker； he would probably； she said； rather like a
visit； but she did not think Ernest would stand much chance of
making a convert of him。
CHAPTER LIX
Before going down into the kitchen to convert the tinker Ernest ran
hurriedly over his analysis of Paley's evidences； and put into his
pocket a copy of Archbishop Whateley's 〃Historic Doubts。〃 Then he
descended the dark rotten old stairs and knocked at the tinker's
door。 Mr Shaw was very civil； he said he was rather throng just
now； but if Ernest did not mind the sound of hammering he should be
very glad of a talk with him。 Our hero； assenting to this； ere long
led the conversation to Whateley's 〃Historic Doubts〃a work which；
as the reader may know； pretends to show that there never was any
such person as Napoleon Buonaparte； and thus satirises the arguments
of those who have attacked the Christian miracles。
Mr Shaw said he knew 〃Historic Doubts〃 very well。
〃And what you think of it？〃 said Ernest； who regarded the pamphlet
as a masterpiece of wit and cogency。
〃If you really want to know；〃 said Mr Shaw； with a sly twinkle； 〃I
think that he who was so willing and able to prove that what was was
not； would be equally able and willing to make a case for thinking
that what was not was； if it suited his purpose。〃 Ernest was very
much taken aback。 How was it that all the clever people of
Cambridge had never put him up to this simple rejoinder？ The answer
is easy： they did not develop it for the same reason that a hen had
never developed webbed feetthat is to say； because they did not
want to do so； but this was before the days of Evolution； and Ernest
could not as yet know anything of the great principle that underlies
it。
〃You see；〃 continued Mr Shaw； 〃these writers all get their living by
writing in a certain way； and the more they write in that way； the
more they are likely to get on。 You should not call them dishonest
for this any more than a judge should call a barrister dishonest for
earning his living by defending one in whose innocence he does not
seriously believe； but you should hear the barrister on the other
side before you decide upon the case。〃
This was another facer。 Ernest could only stammer that he had
endeavoured to examine these questions as carefully as he could。
〃You think you have；〃 said Mr Shaw； 〃you Oxford and Cambridge
gentlemen think you have examined everything。 I have examined very
little myself except the bottoms of old kettles and saucepans； but
if you will answer me a few questions； I will tell you whether or no
you have examined much more than I have。〃
Ernest expressed his readiness to be questioned。
〃Then；〃 said the tinker； 〃give me the story of the Resurrection of
Jesus Christ as told in St John's gospel。〃
I am sorry to say that Ernest mixed up the four accounts in a
deplorable manner； he even made the angel come down and roll away
the stone and sit upon it。 He was covered with confusion when the
tinker first told him without the book of some of his many
inaccuracies； and then verified his criticisms by referring to the
New Testament itself。
〃Now；〃 said Mr Shaw good naturedly； 〃I am an old man and you are a
young one； so perhaps you'll not mind my giving you a piece of
advice。 I like you； for I believe you mean well； but you've been
real bad brought up； and I don't think you have ever had so much as
a chance yet。 You know nothing of our side of the question； and I
have just shown you that you do not know much more of your own； but
I think you will make a kind of Carlyle sort of a man some day。 Now
go upstairs and read the accounts of the Resurrection correctly
without mixing them up； and have a clear idea of what it is that
each writer tells us； then if you feel inclined to pay me another
visit I shall be glad to see you； for I shall know you have made a
good beginning and mean business。 Till then； Sir； I must wish you a
very good morning。〃
Ernest retreated abashed。 An hour sufficed him to perform the task
enjoined upon him by Mr Shaw； and at the end of that hour the 〃No；
no； no；〃 which still sounded in his ears as he heard it from
Towneley； came ringing up more loudly still from the very pages of
the Bible itself； and in respect of the most important of all the
events which are recorded in it。 Surely Ernest's first day's
attempt at more promiscuous visiting； and at carrying out his
principles more thoroughly；