Ifhewastogetthebitbetweenhisteethafterhehadgotordainedandboughthisliving，hewouldplaymorepranksthaneverhe，Theobald，haddone。Thefact，doubtless，ofhisbeingordainedandhavingboughtalivingwouldgoalongwaytosteadyhim，andifhemarried，hiswifemustseetotherest；thiswashisonlychanceand，todojusticetohissagacity，Theobaldinhisheartdidnotthinkveryhighlyofit。
WhenErnestcamedowntoBattersbyinJune，heimprudentlytriedtoopenupamoreunreservedcommunicationwithhisfatherthanwashiswont。ThefirstofErnest’ssnipe-likeflightsonbeingflushedbyMrHawke’ssermonwasinthedirectionofultra-evangelicalism。
TheobaldhimselfhadbeenmuchmoreLowthanHighChurch。Thiswasthenormaldevelopmentofthecountryclergymanduringthefirstyearsofhisclericallife，between，wewillsay，theyears1825to1850；buthewasnotpreparedforthealmostcontemptwithwhichErnestnowregardedthedoctrinesofbaptismalregenerationandpriestlyabsolutionHoitytoity，indeed，whatbusinesshadhewithsuchquestions？，norforhisdesiretofindsomemeansofreconcilingMethodismandtheChurch。TheobaldhatedtheChurchofRome，buthehateddissenterstoo，forhefoundthemasageneralruletroublesomepeopletodealwith；healwaysfoundpeoplewhodidnotagreewithhimtroublesometodealwith：besides，theysetupforknowingasmuchashedid；neverthelessifhehadbeenletalonehewouldhaveleanedtowardsthemratherthantowardstheHighChurchparty。Theneighbouringclergy，however，wouldnotlethimalone。Onebyonetheyhadcomeundertheinfluence，directlyorindirectly，oftheOxfordmovementwhichhadbeguntwentyyearsearlier。ItwassurprisinghowmanypracticeshenowtoleratedwhichinhisyouthhewouldhaveconsideredPopish；heknewverywellthereforewhichwaythingsweregoinginChurchmatters，andsawthatasusualErnestwassettinghimselftheotherway。Theopportunityfortellinghissonthathewasafoolwastoofavourablenottobeembraced，andTheobaldwasnotslowtoembraceit。Ernestwasannoyedandsurprised，forhadnothisfatherandmotherbeenwantinghimtobemorereligiousallhislife？Nowthathehadbecomesotheywerestillnotsatisfied。Hesaidtohimselfthataprophetwasnotwithouthonoursaveinhisowncountry，buthehadbeenlately——orratheruntillately——gettingintoanodioushabitofturningproverbsupsidedown，anditoccurredtohimthatacountryissometimesnotwithouthonoursaveforitsownprophet。
Thenhelaughed，andfortherestofthedayfeltmoreasheusedtofeelbeforehehadheardMrHawke’ssermon。
HereturnedtoCambridgefortheLongVacationof1858——nonetoosoon，forhehadtogoinfortheVoluntaryTheologicalExamination，whichbishopswerenowbeginningtoinsistupon。Heimaginedallthetimehewasreadingthathewasstoringhimselfwiththeknowledgethatwouldbestfithimfortheworkhehadtakeninhand。