Pattimore had lived in Mockery some twenty-five years, with Mrs. Topple, who afterwards became the schoolmistress, as his housekeeper. All that twenty-five years Mr. Pattimore had studied carefully the philosophy of names. And wishing to make this same study a practical help and use to the world, he had, by the simple means of becoming godfather to them all, named the babies of Mockery Gap. Mr. Pattimore believed in Bible names, ‘that cast,’ he would say, ‘a fine odour of sanctity over the bearers; and, though sinners as we all are, what Peter, Paul, or Simon ever died in his sins?’ Amongst all whom he had stood godfather to, Mr. Pattimore was the most interested in Simon Cheney. He had watched the young man’s behaviour from a child. In his study, when Mr. Pattimore wasn’t looking at the Dean, and thinking of himself as one, he would look out of either of the two large windows, that showed different views. He would watch for Simon, and he would sometimes see him; he would watch too for Rebecca, for Dinah, and for Mary.
