“Verywell，Ernest。”saidhisfather，catchinghimangrilybytheshoulder。“Ihavedonemybesttosaveyou，butifyouwillhaveitso，youwill。”andheluggedthelittlewretch，cryingbyanticipation，outoftheroom。Afewminutesmoreandwecouldhearscreamscomingfromthedining-room，acrossthehallwhichseparatedthedrawing-roomfromthedining-room，andknewthatpoorErnestwasbeingbeaten。
“Ihavesenthimuptobed。”saidTheobald，ashereturnedtothedrawing-room，“andnow，Christina，Ithinkwewillhavetheservantsintoprayers。”andherangthebellforthem，red-handedashewas。
Theman-servantWilliamcameandsetthechairsforthemaids，andpresentlytheyfiledin。FirstChristina’smaid，thenthecook，thenthehousemaid，thenWilliam，andthenthecoachman。Isatoppositethem，andwatchedtheirfacesasTheobaldreadachapterfromtheBible。Theywerenicepeople，butmoreabsolutevacancyI
neversawuponthecountenancesofhumanbeings。
TheobaldbeganbyreadingafewversesfromtheOldTestament，accordingtosomesystemofhisown。OnthisoccasionthepassagecamefromthefifteenthchapterofNumbers：ithadnoparticularbearingthatIcouldseeuponanythingwhichwasgoingonjustthen，butthespiritwhichbreathedthroughoutthewholeseemedtometobesolikethatofTheobaldhimself，thatIcouldunderstandbetterafterhearingit，howhecametothinkashethought，andactasheacted。