the ghost's appearance was an ill omen

so far as;  so long as;  so much as

Very soon the cause of his phobanthropy becomes clear. He not only feels inferior to and ashamed before his fellow-country-men because of the failure in his studies and evades them as much as possible on account of this but he also lives in a world of perverted phantasies, which he himself feels to be filthy and painful.

The Lord is ready to change that situation of your unbehaving children only if you cast your cares unto Him.