.D.G., for that this is bad Latin and that the doctor really
harmonised the letters thus: »Ave Maria Dei Genetrix.« No doubt the Doctor did
what was right in the matter of Latinity - I have forgotten the little Latin I
ever knew, and am not going to look the matter up, but I believe the Doctor said
»Ad Mariam Dei Genetricem,« and if so we may be sure that »Ad Mariam Dei
Genetricem« is good enough Latin, at any rate for ecclesiastical purposes.
    The reply of the local priest had not yet appeared, and Dr. Skinner was
jubilant, but when the answer appeared and it was solemnly declared that
A.M.D.G. stood for nothing more dangerous than »Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,« it was
felt that though this subterfuge would not succeed with any intelligent
Englishman, still it was a pity Dr. Skinner had selected this particular point
for his attack, for he had to leave his enemy in possession of the field, and
when people are left in possession of the field spectators have an awkward habit
of thinking that their adversary does not dare to come to the scratch.
    Dr. Skinner was telling Theobald all about his pamphlet and I doubt whether
this gentleman was much more comfortable than Ernest himself. He was bored, for
in his heart he hated Liberalism, though he was ashamed to say so, and as I have
said professed to be on the Whig side. He did not want to be reconciled to the
Church of Rome; he wanted to make all Roman Catholics turn protestants, and
could never understand why they would not do so; but the Doctor talked in such a
truly Liberal spirit, and shut him up so sharply when he tried to edge in a word
or two, that he had to let him have it all his own way, and this was not what he
was accustomed to. He was wondering how he could bring it to an end, when a
diversion was created by the discovery that Ernest had begun to cry - doubtless
through an intense but inarticulate sense of a boredom greater than he could
bear. He was evidently in a highly nervous state and a good deal upset by the
excitement of the morning. Mrs. Skinner, therefore, who came in with Christina
at this juncture, proposed that he should spend the afternoon with Mrs. Jay the
matron, and not be introduced to his young companions until the following
morning. His father and mother now bade him an affectionate farewell, and the
lad was handed over to Mrs. Jay.
    Oh schoolmasters - if any
