the way of all flesh-第93章
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of it is； and finds out how easily it is lost by those who venture
out of the middle of the most beaten path。 Ernest had had his
facer； as he had had his attack of poverty； young； and sufficiently
badly for a sensible man to be little likely to forget it。 I can
fancy few pieces of good fortune greater than this as happening to
any man； provided； of course； that he is not damaged irretrievably。
So strongly do I feel on this subject that if I had my way I would
have a speculation master attached to every school。 The boys would
be encouraged to read the Money Market Review； the Railway News； and
all the best financial papers； and should establish a stock exchange
amongst themselves in which pence should stand as pounds。 Then let
them see how this making haste to get rich moneys out in actual
practice。 There might be a prize awarded by the head…master to the
most prudent dealer； and the boys who lost their money time after
time should be dismissed。 Of course if any boy proved to have a
genius for speculation and made moneywell and good； let him
speculate by all means。
If Universities were not the worst teachers in the world I should
like to see professorships of speculation established at Oxford and
Cambridge。 When I reflect； however； that the only things worth
doing which Oxford and Cambridge can do well are cooking； cricket；
rowing and games； of which there is no professorship； I fear that
the establishment of a professorial chair would end in teaching
young men neither how to speculate； nor how not to speculate； but
would simply turn them out as bad speculators。
I heard of one case in which a father actually carried my idea into
practice。 He wanted his son to learn how little confidence was to
be placed in glowing prospectuses and flaming articles； and found
him five hundred pounds which he was to invest according to his
lights。 The father expected he would lose the money； but it did not
turn out so in practice； for the boy took so much pains and played
so cautiously that the money kept growing and growing till the
father took it away again； increment and allas he was pleased to
say； in self defence。
I had made my own mistakes with money about the year 1846； when
everyone else was making them。 For a few years I had been so scared
and had suffered so severely； that when （owing to the good advice of
the broker who had advised my father and grandfather before me） I
came out in the end a winner and not a loser； I played no more
pranks； but kept henceforward as nearly in the middle of the middle
rut as I could。 I tried in fact to keep my money rather than to
make more of it。 I had done with Ernest's money as with my own
that is to say I had let it alone after investing it in Midland
ordinary stock according to Miss Pontifex's instructions。 No amount
of trouble would have been likely to have increased my godson's
estate one half so much as it had increased without my taking any
trouble at all。
Midland stock at the end of August 1850； when I sold out Miss
Pontifex's debentures； stood at 32 pounds per 100 pounds。 I
invested the whole of Ernest's 15；000 pounds at this price； and did
not change the investment till a few months before the time of which
I have been writing latelythat is to say until September 1861。 I
then sold at 129 pounds per share and invested in London and North…
Western ordinary stock； which I was advised was more likely to rise
than Midlands now were。 I bought the London and North…Western stock
at 93 pounds per 100 pounds； and my godson now in 1882 still holds
it。
The original 15；000 pounds had increased in eleven years to over
60；000 pounds； the accumulated interest； which； of course； I had re…
invested； had come to about 10；000 pounds more； so that Ernest was
then worth over 70；000 pounds。 At present he is worth nearly double
that sum； and all as the result of leaving well alone。
Large as his property now was； it ought to be increased still
further during the year and a half that remained of his minority； so
that on coming of age he ought to have an income of at least 3500
pounds a year。
I wished him to understand book…keeping by double entry。 I had
myself as a young man been compelled to master this not very
difficult art； having acquired it； I have become enamoured of it；
and consider it the most necessary branch of any young man's
education after reading and writing。 I was determined； therefore；
that Ernest should master it； and proposed that he should become my
steward； book…keeper； and the manager of my hoardings； for so I
called the sum which my ledger showed to have accumulated from
15；000 pounds to 70；000 pounds。 I told him I was going to begin to
spend the income as soon as it had amounted up to 80；000 pounds。
A few days after Ernest's discovery that he was still a bachelor；
while he was still at the very beginning of the honeymoon； as it
were； of his renewed unmarried life； I broached my scheme； desired
him to give up his shop； and offered him 300 pounds a year for
managing （so far indeed as it required any managing） his own
property。 This 300 pounds a year； I need hardly say； I made him
charge to the estate。
If anything had been wanting to complete his happiness it was this。
Here； within three or four days he found himself freed from one of
the most hideous； hopeless liaisons imaginable； and at the same time
raised from a life of almost squalor to the enjoyment of what would
to him be a handsome income。
〃A pound a week；〃 he thought； 〃for Ellen； and the rest for myself。〃
〃No；〃 said I； 〃we will charge Ellen's pound a week to the estate
also。 You must have a clear 300 pounds for yourself。〃
I fixed upon this sum； because it was the one which Mr Disraeli gave
Coningsby when Coningsby was at the lowest ebb of his fortunes。 Mr
Disraeli evidently thought 300 pounds a year the smallest sum on
which Coningsby could be expected to live； and make the two ends
meet； with this； however； he thought his hero could manage to get
along for a year or two。 In 1862； of which I am now writing； prices
had risen； though not so much as they have since done； on the other
hand Ernest had had less expensive antecedents than Coningsby； so on
the whole I thought 300 pounds a year would be about the right thing
for him。
CHAPTER LXXIX
The question now arose what was to be done with the children。 I
explained to Ernest that their expenses must be charged to the
estate； and showed him how small a hole all the various items I
proposed to charge would make in the income at my disposal。 He was
beginning to make difficulties； when I quieted him by pointing out
that the money had all come to me from his aunt； over his own head；
and reminded him there had been an understanding between her and me
that I should do much as I was doing； if occasion should arise。
He wanted his children to be brought up in the fresh pure air； and
among other children who were happy and contented； but being still
ignorant of the fortune that awaited him； he insisted that they
should pass their earlier years among the poor rather than the rich。
I remonstrated； but he was very decided about it； and when I
reflected that they were illegitimate； I was not sure but that what
Ernest proposed might be as well for everyone in the end。 They were
still so young that it did not much matter where they were； so long
as they were with kindly decent people； and in a healthy
neighbourhood。
〃I shall be just as unkind to my children；〃 he said； 〃as my
grandfather was to my father； or my father to me。 If they did not
succeed in making their children love them； neither shall I。 I say
to myself that I should like to do so； but so did they。 I can make
sure that they shall not know how much they would have hated me if
they had had much to do with me； but this is all I can do。 If I
must ruin their prospects； let me do so at a reasonable time before
they are old enough to feel it。〃
He mused a little and added with a laugh：…
〃A man first quarrels with his father about three…quarters of a year
before he is born。 It is then he insists on setting up a separate
establishment； when this has been once a
