‘You’re an aristocrat, Godwin,’ remarked Oliver, simply; for the elder brother had of late been telling him fearful stories from the French Revolution, with something of an anti-popular bias.

’I hope I am.  I mean to be, that’s certain.  There’s nothing I hate like vulgarity.  That’s why I can’t stand Roper.  When he beat me in mathematics last midsummer, I felt so ashamed I could hardly bear myself.  I’m working like a nigger at algebra and Euclid this half, just because I think it would almost kill me to be beaten again by a low cad.’

This was perhaps the first time that Godwin found expression for the prejudice which affected all his thoughts and feelings.  It relieved him to have spoken thus; henceforth he had become clear as to his point of view.  By dubbing him aristocrat, Oliver had flattered him in the subtlest way.  If indeed the title were justly his, as he instantly felt it was, the inference was plain that he must be an aristocrat of nature’s own making—­one of the few highly favoured beings who, in despite of circumstance, are pinnacled above mankind.  In his ignorance of life, the boy visioned a triumphant career; an aristocrat de jure might possibly become one even in the common sense did he but pursue that end with sufficient zeal.  And in his power of persistent endeavour he had no lack of faith.

The next day he walked with exalted head.  Encountering the objectionable Roper, he smiled upon him contemptuously tolerant.

There being no hope of effective assistance from relatives, Mrs. Peak turned for counsel to a man of business, with whom her husband had made acquaintance in his farming days, and who held a position of influence at Twybridge.  This was Mr. Moxey, manufacturing chemist, famous in the Midlands for his ‘sheep and cattle dressings’, and sundry other products of agricultural enterprise.  His ill-scented, but lucrative, works were situated a mile out of the town; and within sight of the reeking chimneys stood a large, plain house, uncomfortably like an ‘institution’ of some kind, in which he dwelt with his five daughters.  Thither, one evening, Mrs. Peak betook herself, having learnt that Mr. Moxey dined at five o’clock, and that he was generally to be found digging in his garden until sunset.  Her reception was civil.  The manufacturer—­sparing of words, but with no unkindly face—­requested that Godwin should be sent to see him, and promised to do his best to be of use.  A talk with the boy strengthened his interest.  He was surprised at Godwin’s knowledge of chemistry, pleased with his general intelligence, and in the end offered to make a place for him at the works, where, though for a year or two his earnings must be small, he would gain experience likely to be of substantial use to him.  Godwin did not find the proposal distasteful; it brought a change into his life, and the excitement of novelty; it flattered him with the show of release from pupilage.  To Mr. Moxey’s he went.