MeanwhiletheboyhimselfwasstillsittingmoodilybeforethefireinMrsJay’sroom。“PapaandMamma。”hewassayingtohimself，“aremuchbetterandclevererthananyoneelse，but，I，alas！shallneverbeeithergoodorclever。”
MrsPontifexcontinued-
“PerhapsitwouldbebesttogetyoungFigginsonavisittoourselvesfirst。Thatwouldbecharming。Theobaldwouldnotlikeit，forhedoesnotlikechildren；ImustseehowIcanmanageit，foritwouldbesonicetohaveyoungFiggins——orstay！ErnestshallgoandstaywithFigginsandmeetthefutureLordLonsford，whoIshouldthinkmustbeaboutErnest’sage，andthenifheandErnestweretobecomefriendsErnestmightaskhimtoBattersby，andhemightfallinlovewithCharlotte。IthinkwehavedoneMOST
WISELYinsendingErnesttoDrSkinner’s。DrSkinner’spietyisnolessremarkablethanhisgenius。Onecantellthesethingsataglance，andhemusthavefeltitaboutmenolessstronglythanI
abouthim。IthinkheseemedmuchstruckwithTheobaldandmyself——