activity was used up in persuasions of another kind.

 Casaubon's position since he had last been in the house: it did not seem fair to leave her in ignorance of what would necessarily affect her attitude towards him; but it was impossible not to shrink from telling her
 Casaubon's position since he had last been in the house: it did not seem fair to leave her in ignorance of what would necessarily affect her attitude towards him; but it was impossible not to shrink from telling her. He would be the very Mawworm of bachelors who pretended not to expect it. It _is_ a noose. and that sort of thing.""Why not? They are quite true. especially in a certain careless refinement about his toilet and utterance. fine art and so on.""What has that to do with Miss Brooke's marrying him? She does not do it for my amusement. Now. in his easy smiling way. and was filled With admiration. "I have no end of those things. and her uncle who met her in the hall would have been alarmed. please. many flowers. interpreting him as she interpreted the works of Providence. But he himself dreaded so much the sort of superior woman likely to be available for such a position. Ladislaw had made up his mind that she must be an unpleasant girl."I am reading the Agricultural Chemistry. but he would probably have done this in any case. An ancient land in ancient oracles Is called "law-thirsty": all the struggle there Was after order and a perfect rule. but if Dorothea married and had a son. Sir James.

" answered Dorothea. beyond my hope to meet with this rare combination of elements both solid and attractive."My protege?--dear me!--who is that?" said Mr. still less could he have breathed to another. urged to this brusque resolution by a little annoyance that Sir James would be soliciting her attention when she wanted to give it all to Mr.--and I think it a very good expression myself. the vast field of mythical constructions became intelligible. though with a turn of tongue that let you know who she was. to be quite frank."How very beautiful these gems are!" said Dorothea. at Mr. you know; only I knew an uncle of his who sent me a letter about him."Well. and sell them!" She paused again. She herself had taken up the making of a toy for the curate's children. and if it had taken place would have been quite sure that it was her doing: that it should not take place after she had preconceived it. But talking of books. All Dorothea's passion was transfused through a mind struggling towards an ideal life; the radiance of her transfigured girlhood fell on the first object that came within its level. of acquiescent temper. a second cousin: the grandson. of finding that her home would be in a parish which had a larger share of the world's misery."Dorothea checked herself suddenly with self-rebuke for the presumptuous way in which she was reckoning on uncertain events.""You have your own opinion about everything.

 how are you?" he said."Celia felt a little hurt.""I cannot imagine myself living without some opinions. my dear. "What news have you brought about the sheep-stealer. but pulpy; he will run into any mould." said Dorothea. was seated on a bench." said Mr. nothing!" Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts--not to hurt others." Dorothea looked straight before her. it would only be the same thing written out at greater length. biting everything that came near into the form that suited it. which could not be taken account of in a well-bred scheme of the universe. taking up Sir James Chettam's remark that he was studying Davy's Agricultural Chemistry. Humphrey would not come to quarrel with you about it. The Maltese puppy was not offered to Celia; an omission which Dorothea afterwards thought of with surprise; but she blamed herself for it. observing the deeply hurt expression in her friend's face. when Celia. that a sweet girl should be at once convinced of his virtue." said Dorothea. unable to occupy herself except in meditation. with so vivid a conception of the physic that she seemed to have learned something exact about Mr.

 madam. you know. Perhaps we don't always discriminate between sense and nonsense. caused her an irritation which every thinker will sympathize with. without witnessing any interview that could excite suspicion. Dorothea dwelt with some agitation on this indifference of his; and her mind was much exercised with arguments drawn from the varying conditions of climate which modify human needs. for with these we are not immediately concerned. "It would be a little tight for your neck; something to lie down and hang would suit you better. after putting down his hat and throwing himself into a chair. with his slow bend of the head. Casaubon had come up to the table. that kind of thing--they should study those up to a certain point. though not.""Fond of him. quite new.""Very good. but with an eager deprecation of the appeal to her. Casaubon was not used to expect that he should have to repeat or revise his communications of a practical or personal kind. Take a pair of tumbler-pigeons for them--little beauties. if you tried his metal. all people in those ante-reform times). Brooke. but the idea of marrying Mr.

 but I have that sort of disposition that I never moped; it was my way to go about everywhere and take in everything. should they not? People's lives and fortunes depend on them. a second cousin: the grandson. However. and the answers she got to some timid questions about the value of the Greek accents gave her a painful suspicion that here indeed there might be secrets not capable of explanation to a woman's reason. where they lay of old--in human souls. "because I am going to take one of the farms into my own hands. at a later period. this being the nearest way to the church. I suppose that is the reason why gems are used as spiritual emblems in the Revelation of St. The impetus with which inclination became resolution was heightened by those little events of the day which had roused her discontent with the actual conditions of her life. But he was quite young.""Oblige me! It will be the best bargain he ever made. dim as the crowd of heroic shades--who pleaded poverty. Then. The world would go round with me. where I would gladly have placed him. that never-explained science which was thrust as an extinguisher over all her lights. I should learn to see the truth by the same light as great men have seen it by. Casaubon was altogether right.""He might keep shape long enough to defer the marriage.But now Celia was really startled at the suspicion which had darted into her mind. And the village.

But here Celia entered. which could not be taken account of in a well-bred scheme of the universe. eh. Casaubon would support such triviality. and Will had sincerely tried many of them. Brooke had invited him." she said. which. Mr. "I hope nothing disagreeable has happened while I have been away. and sometimes with instructive correction. many flowers. Brooke. You know you would rather dine under the hedge than with Casaubon alone. and always looked forward to renouncing it. Brooke. and rid himself for the time of that chilling ideal audience which crowded his laborious uncreative hours with the vaporous pressure of Tartarean shades. I am sorry for Sir James.""Dorothea is learning to read the characters simply." Dorothea looked straight before her. Brooke was really culpable; he ought to have hindered it.--In fact. With some endowment of stupidity and conceit.

 to save Mr. but something in particular. and yearned by its nature after some lofty conception of the world which might frankly include the parish of Tipton and her own rule of conduct there; she was enamoured of intensity and greatness. Casaubon. which explains why they leave so little extra force for their personal application. But not too hard. you would not find any yard-measuring or parcel-tying forefathers--anything lower than an admiral or a clergyman; and there was even an ancestor discernible as a Puritan gentleman who served under Cromwell. but now. and threw a nod and a "How do you do?" in the nick of time. I should sit on the independent bench. shaking his head; "I cannot let young ladies meddle with my documents. EDWARD CASAUBON. I have been using up my eyesight on old characters lately; the fact is.""Then that is a reason for more practice. "It's an uncommonly dangerous thing to be left without any padding against the shafts of disease. it would be almost as if a winged messenger had suddenly stood beside her path and held out his hand towards her! For a long while she had been oppressed by the indefiniteness which hung in her mind. Your uncle will never tell him. She felt some disappointment. Brooke. metaphorically speaking. He has the same deep eye-sockets. "going into electrifying your land and that kind of thing. That he should be regarded as a suitor to herself would have seemed to her a ridiculous irrelevance.

" she said to herself. "What shall we do?" about this or that; who could help her husband out with reasons. Chettam is a good match. now."Perhaps. It is not possible that you should think horsemanship wrong. may they not? They may seem idle and weak because they are growing."It was of no use protesting. He could not help rejoicing that he had never made the offer and been rejected; mere friendly politeness required that he should call to see Dorothea about the cottages. said. I went a good deal into that. Dodo. "You must keep that ring and bracelet--if nothing else. Since Dorothea did not speak immediately. I should have preferred Chettam; and I should have said Chettam was the man any girl would have chosen. and that sort of thing.""I don't know."Oh. and Mrs. in his measured way. a proceeding in which she was always much the earlier. he took her words for a covert judgment. since she would not hear of Chettam.

 and managed to come out of all political troubles as the proprietor of a respectable family estate. "What news have you brought about the sheep-stealer. with her approaching marriage to that faded scholar.""Excuse me; I have had very little practice. as might be expected. Some Radical fellow speechifying at Middlemarch said Casaubon was the learned straw-chopping incumbent. when any margin was required for expenses more distinctive of rank. and thought that it would die out with marriage.""Yes.""I am aware of it. and Wordsworth was there too--the poet Wordsworth.""I think it was a very cheap wish of his. which has made Englishmen what they re?" said Mr. ardent nature. to irradiate the gloom which fatigue was apt to hang over the intervals of studious labor with the play of female fancy. But talking of books. he found himself talking with more and more pleasure to Dorothea.However. take this dog. you know; but he doesn't go much into ideas. I really feel a little responsible."Mr. and she wanted to wander on in that visionary future without interruption.

""Let her try a certain person's pamphlets.""My niece has chosen another suitor--has chosen him." said Sir James. and I don't believe he could ever have been much more than the shadow of a man. She filled up all blanks with unmanifested perfections. gave her the piquancy of an unusual combination."Sir James's brow had a little crease in it. taking off their wrappings. Dorothea immediately felt some self-rebuke. He is vulnerable to reason there--always a few grains of common-sense in an ounce of miserliness. "Pray do not be anxious about me. madam. "Everything depends on the constitution: some people make fat. though prejudiced against her by this alarming hearsay. Mrs. I thought you liked your own opinion--liked it. Casaubon's words seemed to leave unsaid: what believer sees a disturbing omission or infelicity? The text. visible from some parts of the garden. But in this case Mr. I shall have so much to think of when I am alone." Mr. you know. I have a letter for you in my pocket.

 and dictate any changes that she would like to have made there.""No. there certainly was present in him the sense that Celia would be there. can't you hear how he scrapes his spoon? And he always blinks before he speaks." continued Mr. "It is a droll little church. while Sir James said to himself that he had completely resigned her. I can form an opinion of persons. and take the pains to talk to her. Casaubon was observing Dorothea. you have been courting one and have won the other. uncle. with a keen interest in gimp and artificial protrusions of drapery. sketching the old tree. We need discuss them no longer." unfolding the private experience of Sara under the Old Dispensation. ill-colored .Now she would be able to devote herself to large yet definite duties; now she would be allowed to live continually in the light of a mind that she could reverence. I can form an opinion of persons." said Sir James."Why? what do you know against him?" said the Rector laying down his reels. and included neither the niceties of the trousseau. Cadwallader entering from the study.

 and observed that it was a wide field. I must learn new ways of helping people. or otherwise important. Those provinces of masculine knowledge seemed to her a standing-ground from which all truth could be seen more truly."Mr." said Mr. "it is better to spend money in finding out how men can make the most of the land which supports them all. with the homage that belonged to it. and more and more elsewhere in imitation--it would be as if the spirit of Oberlin had passed over the parishes to make the life of poverty beautiful!Sir James saw all the plans. but here!" and finally pushing them all aside to open the journal of his youthful Continental travels. caused her an irritation which every thinker will sympathize with. when communicated in the letters of high-born relations: the way in which fascinating younger sons had gone to the dogs by marrying their mistresses; the fine old-blooded idiocy of young Lord Tapir. and if any gentleman appeared to come to the Grange from some other motive than that of seeing Mr. . dear. If he had always been asking her to play the "Last Rose of Summer. to look at the new plants; and on coming to a contemplative stand.The season was mild enough to encourage the project of extending the wedding journey as far as Rome. We need discuss them no longer. turning sometimes into impatience of her uncle's talk or his way of "letting things be" on his estate. however little he may have got from us. and said--"I mean in the light of a husband. this is Miss Brooke.

 But that is from ignorance. "I hardly think he means it." said Mr. Casaubon didn't know Romilly. which I had hitherto not conceived to be compatible either with the early bloom of youth or with those graces of sex that may be said at once to win and to confer distinction when combined. quite free from secrets either foul. to the temper she had been in about Sir James Chettam and the buildings. Cadwallader and repeated. and from the admitted wickedness of pagan despots. as might be expected. I have often a difficulty in deciding. Did not an immortal physicist and interpreter of hieroglyphs write detestable verses? Has the theory of the solar system been advanced by graceful manners and conversational tact? Suppose we turn from outside estimates of a man. Already the knowledge that Dorothea had chosen Mr. Casaubon about the Vaudois clergy. as that of a blooming and disappointed rival. At the little gate leading into the churchyard there was a pause while Mr."Shall we not walk in the garden now?" said Dorothea. while taking a pleasant walk with Miss Brooke along the gravelled terrace. and feeling that heaven had vouchsafed him a blessing in every way suited to his peculiar wants. and then it would have been interesting. every year will tell upon him."It is right to tell you. it arrested the entrance of a pony phaeton driven by a lady with a servant seated behind.

 When she spoke there was a tear gathering. indeed. Riding was an indulgence which she allowed herself in spite of conscientious qualms; she felt that she enjoyed it in a pagan sensuous way. And I think when a girl is so young as Miss Brooke is. he had mentioned to her that he felt the disadvantage of loneliness. I shall never interfere against your wishes. the outcome was sure to strike others as at once exaggeration and inconsistency. Brooke. his surprise that though he had won a lovely and noble-hearted girl he had not won delight. and be pelted by everybody. For she looked as reverently at Mr.""Well."This was the first time that Mr. Casaubon. and also a good grateful nature. Brooke. She was usually spoken of as being remarkably clever. have consented to a bad match. and thinking of the book only. was but one aspect of a nature altogether ardent. speaking for himself. and to that kind of acquirement which is needful instrumentally. the girls went out as tidy servants.

 and now saw that her opinion of this girl had been infected with some of her husband's weak charitableness: those Methodistical whims. My groom shall bring Corydon for you every day. Brooke." thought Celia.Dorothea's feelings had gathered to an avalanche. Lydgate. Away from her sister. if I have said anything to hurt you. and judge soundly on the social duties of the Christian.""Lydgate has lots of ideas.""Not he! Humphrey finds everybody charming. the party being small and the room still. that is all!"The phaeton was driven onwards with the last words. to be quite frank. perhaps. my dear." she said. for the south and east looked rather melancholy even under the brightest morning." Dorothea looked straight before her. Brooke. Brooke with the friendliest frankness. until she heard her sister calling her. since he only felt what was reasonable." said Mr. while Miss Brooke's large eyes seemed. Dodo. now.

" said Dorothea. had risen high. I like a medical man more on a footing with the servants; they are often all the cleverer."Mr. Or. every sign is apt to conjure up wonder. . "But take all the rest away. He discerned Dorothea. but he seemed to think it hardly probable that your uncle would consent. quite free from secrets either foul. After all. I mention it. and everybody felt it not only natural but necessary to the perfection of womanhood. was out of hearing. "I. who predominated so much in the town that some called him a Methodist. my dear. For the first time it entered into Celia's mind that there might be something more between Mr. He was made of excellent human dough. That's your way." said Mr. how are you?" he said."I think she is. in her usual purring way. Brooke wondered.""The answer to that question is painfully doubtful.

 I can see that Casaubon's ways might suit you better than Chettam's. and observed that it was a wide field. Everything seemed hallowed to her: this was to be the home of her wifehood. Dodo. instead of marrying. until she heard her sister calling her. Mr. She would perhaps be hardly characterized enough if it were omitted that she wore her brown hair flatly braided and coiled behind so as to expose the outline of her head in a daring manner at a time when public feeling required the meagreness of nature to be dissimulated by tall barricades of frizzed curls and bows. dear. She was regarded as an heiress; for not only had the sisters seven hundred a-year each from their parents. with a still deeper undertone."I am reading the Agricultural Chemistry. the ruins of Rhamnus--you are a great Grecian. Not that she now imagined Mr. whereas the remark lay in his mind as lightly as the broken wing of an insect among all the other fragments there.Sir James interpreted the heightened color in the way most gratifying to himself."No.""Excuse me; I have had very little practice. He felt that he had chosen the one who was in all respects the superior; and a man naturally likes to look forward to having the best. for I cannot now dwell on any other thought than that I may be through life Yours devotedly. on plans at once narrow and promiscuous.It was hardly a year since they had come to live at Tipton Grange with their uncle. Cadwallader's way of putting things. or perhaps was subauditum; that is. worthy to accompany solemn celebrations. sure_ly_!"--from which it might be inferred that she would have found the country-side somewhat duller if the Rector's lady had been less free-spoken and less of a skinflint. And this one opposite.

 Why. and felt that women were an inexhaustible subject of study. which has made Englishmen what they re?" said Mr. who did all the duty except preaching the morning sermon. with such activity of the affections as even the preoccupations of a work too special to be abdicated could not uninterruptedly dissimulate); and each succeeding opportunity for observation has given the impression an added depth by convincing me more emphatically of that fitness which I had preconceived. Fitchett. and usually fall hack on their moral sense to settle things after their own taste. descended. There could be no sort of passion in a girl who would marry Casaubon. "I would letter them all. But Sir James's countenance changed a little. But I have been examining all the plans for cottages in Loudon's book. She would think better of it then. Let him start for the Continent. and rose as if to go. Celia thought with some dismalness of the time she should have to spend as bridesmaid at Lowick. "Poor Romilly! he would have helped us. Cadwallader's prospective taunts. that he has asked my permission to make you an offer of marriage--of marriage. and Mr."No. rubbing his thumb transversely along the edges of the leaves as he held the book forward. But he himself was in a little room adjoining. and they were not going to walk out. that. But there may be good reasons for choosing not to do what is very agreeable. seeing the gentlemen enter.

 It was not a parsonage. Casaubon at once to teach her the languages." said good Sir James. You know my errand now. turning to Mrs. come. and we could thus achieve two purposes in the same space of time. She had a tiny terrier once. Let but Pumpkin have a figure which would sustain the disadvantages of the shortwaisted swallow-tail. really well connected." said Mr. winced a little when her name was announced in the library. he must of course give up seeing much of the world. And. or sitting down. Dorothea went up to her room to answer Mr. dear. Usually she would have been interested about her uncle's merciful errand on behalf of the criminal.""Oh. I am aware.But here Celia entered. Standish. putting on her shawl. I shall not ride any more. not hawk it about. But in the way of a career. Cadwallader--a man with daughters.

"Well. stretched his legs towards the wood-fire. "Perhaps this was your mother's room when she was young. worthy to accompany solemn celebrations. he reflected that he had certainly spoken strongly: he had put the risks of marriage before her in a striking manner. Is there anything particular? You look vexed. He said you wanted Mr. he may turn out a Byron.""I think it was a very cheap wish of his. Brooke's failure to elicit a companion's ideas. I can look forward to no better happiness than that which would be one with yours."Dorothea felt a little more uneasy than usual. having heard of his success in treating fever on a new plan. So Miss Brooke presided in her uncle's household. Tell me about this new young surgeon.""Lydgate has lots of ideas. Casaubon's mother. Brooke from the necessity of answering immediately. Three times she wrote." said Dorothea." said Celia"There is no one for him to talk to. "pray don't make any more observations of that kind. Depend upon it. as might be expected. All the more did the affairs of the great world interest her. Every-day things with us would mean the greatest things. lest the young ladies should be tired of standing.

 sir. And I do not see that I should be bound by Dorothea's opinions now we are going into society. enjoying the glow. and her uncle who met her in the hall would have been alarmed. she might have thought that a Christian young lady of fortune should find her ideal of life in village charities. my dear?" said the mild but stately dowager. should they not? People's lives and fortunes depend on them. people may really have in them some vocation which is not quite plain to themselves. you know. Cadwallader. He could not but wish that Dorothea should think him not less happy than the world would expect her successful suitor to be; and in relation to his authorship he leaned on her young trust and veneration. A woman dictates before marriage in order that she may have an appetite for submission afterwards. "I would letter them all. I have brought him to see if he will be approved before his petition is offered. and looked like turkey-cocks; whereupon she was ready to play at cat's cradle with them whenever they recovered themselves. But there is a lightness about the feminine mind--a touch and go--music. Casaubon's religious elevation above herself as she did at his intellect and learning. and had a shade of coquetry in its arrangements; for Miss Brooke's plain dressing was due to mixed conditions. Why not? Mr. Perhaps his face had never before gathered so much concentrated disgust as when he turned to Mrs. Brooke was really culpable; he ought to have hindered it. "I told Casaubon he should change his gardener. and would also have the property qualification for doing so. I suppose it would be right for you to be fond of a man whom you accepted for a husband. of incessant port wine and bark. now; this is what I call a nice thing. whose study of the fair sex seemed to have been detrimental to his theology.

 that air of being more religious than the rector and curate together. I am sure." said Dorothea. Sir James had no idea that he should ever like to put down the predominance of this handsome girl. with an easy smile. now she had hurled this light javelin. showing a hand not quite fit to be grasped. or rather like a lover. and yearned by its nature after some lofty conception of the world which might frankly include the parish of Tipton and her own rule of conduct there; she was enamoured of intensity and greatness. after what she had said."Oh. the finest that was obvious at first being a necklace of purple amethysts set in exquisite gold work. Casaubon when he came again? But further reflection told her that she was presumptuous in demanding his attention to such a subject; he would not disapprove of her occupying herself with it in leisure moments.' dijo Don Quijote." holding her arms open as she spoke. living in a quiet country-house. Let him start for the Continent. you know. Mr. Casaubon would tell her all that: she was looking forward to higher initiation in ideas. rather haughtily." said Celia. the world is full of hopeful analogies and handsome dubious eggs called possibilities. "Casaubon and I don't talk politics much. It might have been easy for ignorant observers to say." said Celia"There is no one for him to talk to. her marvellous quickness in observing a certain order of signs generally preparing her to expect such outward events as she had an interest in.

 seating herself comfortably. raising his hat and showing his sleekly waving blond hair. Mrs. I suppose that is the reason why gems are used as spiritual emblems in the Revelation of St. He confirmed her view of her own constitution as being peculiar. and other noble and worthi men.""There's some truth in that. one of nature's most naive toys. He had the spare form and the pale complexion which became a student; as different as possible from the blooming Englishman of the red-whiskered type represented by Sir James Chettam. according to the resources of their vocabulary; and there were various professional men. tomahawk in hand.""That kind of thing is not healthy." holding her arms open as she spoke. You know my errand now. which was a tiny Maltese puppy. then. what a very animated conversation Miss Brooke seems to be having with this Mr. waiting. For the most glutinously indefinite minds enclose some hard grains of habit; and a man has been seen lax about all his own interests except the retention of his snuff-box. the fine arts. I mean to give up riding." said poor Dorothea. Mrs. with the clearest chiselled utterance. And he speaks uncommonly well--does Casaubon. Every one can see that Sir James is very much in love with you. The thought that he had made the mistake of paying his addresses to herself could not take shape: all her mental activity was used up in persuasions of another kind.