Now [1893] when I am abroad, being older and taking less exercise, I do
not want any breakfast beyond coffee and bread and butter, but when this
note was written [1880] I liked a modest rasher of bacon in addition, and
used to notice the jealous indignation with which heads of families who
enjoyed the privilege of Cephas and the brethren of our Lord regarded it.
There were they with three or four elderly unmarried daughters as well as
old mamma—how could they afford bacon? And there was I, a selfish
bachelor—. The appetising, savoury smell of my rasher seemed to drive
them mad. I used to feel very uncomfortable, very small and quite aware
how low it was of me to have bacon for breakfast and no daughters instead
of daughters and no bacon. But when I consulted the oracles of heaven
about it, I was always told to stick to my bacon and not to make a fool
of myself. I despised myself but have not withered under my own contempt
so completely as I ought to have done.