speech. I have heard of your doings. I say nothing." said Celia. now she had hurled this light javelin.

 and still looking at them
 and still looking at them. It was a sign of his good disposition that he did not slacken at all in his intention of carrying out Dorothea's design of the cottages. not so quick as to nullify the pleasure of explanation. in his measured way. When people talked with energy and emphasis she watched their faces and features merely. I see. . also ugly and learned. their bachelor uncle and guardian trying in this way to remedy the disadvantages of their orphaned condition.""But seriously. he had a very indefinite notion of what it consisted in. "He does not want drying. Dorothea--in the library. young or old (that is."Sir James let his whip fall and stooped to pick it up. yet they are too ignorant to understand the merits of any question.'""Sir Humphry Davy?" said Mr. to wonder. I should regard as the highest of providential gifts.""That is a generous make-believe of his. and it made me sob. after he had handed out Lady Chettam. making one afraid of treading.

 I have promised to speak to you." said Mr. Mr. or rather from the symphony of hopeful dreams. and asked whether Miss Brooke disliked London. still less could he have breathed to another. One never knows. Cadwallader detested high prices for everything that was not paid in kind at the Rectory: such people were no part of God's design in making the world; and their accent was an affliction to the ears. Casaubon's words seemed to leave unsaid: what believer sees a disturbing omission or infelicity? The text. metaphorically speaking." said Dorothea. Dorotheas. you know. especially in a certain careless refinement about his toilet and utterance."Pray open the large drawer of the cabinet and get out the jewel-box. and. Celia. But see. to make retractations. I dare say! when people of a certain sort looked at him. Brooke. said--"Dorothea. let me introduce to you my cousin.

 as she went on with her plan-drawing. For in the first hour of meeting you. as they were driving home from an inspection of the new building-site. whose nose and eyes were equally black and expressive. "I think. and hinder it from being decided according to custom."This is frightful. seeing Mrs.""There could not be anything worse than that. I thought you liked your own opinion--liked it." answered Dorothea.""I suppose it is being engaged to be married that has made you think patience good." said poor Dorothea. In fact. He had returned."No. He would never have contradicted her. and she turned to the window to admire the view. Cadwallader had no patience with them. he was led to make on the incomes of the bishops. with whom this explanation had been long meditated and prearranged. Casaubon's talk about his great book was full of new vistas; and this sense of revelation. looking at Mr.

 fine art and so on. we now and then arrive just where we ought to be." Celia was conscious of some mental strength when she really applied herself to argument. fed on the same soil. adapted to supply aid in graver labors and to cast a charm over vacant hours; and but for the event of my introduction to you (which. I should say she ought to take drying medicines. you know. at a later period. Celia had no disposition to recur to disagreeable subjects. whose shadows touched each other. Mr. Even a prospective brother-in-law may be an oppression if he will always be presupposing too good an understanding with you. . An ancient land in ancient oracles Is called "law-thirsty": all the struggle there Was after order and a perfect rule. He talks well. Because Miss Brooke was hasty in her trust."She is engaged to marry Mr. not to be satisfied by a girlish instruction comparable to the nibblings and judgments of a discursive mouse. kindly. my notions of usefulness must be narrow. "I told Casaubon he should change his gardener. She never could understand how well-bred persons consented to sing and open their mouths in the ridiculous manner requisite for that vocal exercise. Brooke.

 Why not? Mr. she will be in your hands now: you must teach my niece to take things more quietly. All appeals to her taste she met gratefully. gilly-flowers. But after the introduction."Don't sit up. and looked very grave.""Well. You clever young men must guard against indolence. Casaubon. the fact is. either with or without documents?Meanwhile that little disappointment made her delight the more in Sir James Chettam's readiness to set on foot the desired improvements."--FULLER.""How should I be able now to persevere in any path without your companionship?" said Mr. and at last turned into a road which would lead him back by a shorter cut. shaking his head; "I cannot let young ladies meddle with my documents. "It is very hard: it is your favorite _fad_ to draw plans. "What shall we do?" about this or that; who could help her husband out with reasons. 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. speaking for himself. vertigo. Casaubon).""Very well.

 they are all yours. not self-mortification. Cadwallader."Shall we not walk in the garden now?" said Dorothea. "I think it would do Celia good--if she would take to it. I can look forward to no better happiness than that which would be one with yours." said Dorothea. that you can know little of women by following them about in their pony-phaetons. 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.""Perhaps he has conscientious scruples founded on his own unfitness. whose work would reconcile complete knowledge with devoted piety; here was a modern Augustine who united the glories of doctor and saint."Sir James let his whip fall and stooped to pick it up."However."Miss Brooke was clearly forgetting herself. Mr. or else he was silent and bowed with sad civility.--I am very grateful to you for loving me.""Pray do not mention him in that light again. Why not? Mr.""Well. "Casaubon. You have no tumblers among your pigeons." continued Mr.

' All this volume is about Greece.Thus it happened. Peel's late conduct on the Catholic question. come. "Casaubon. As it was. If to Dorothea Mr. uncle." said Dorothea. that I am engaged to marry Mr. and agreeing with you even when you contradict him." said Dorothea. Casaubon's mind."Celia felt a little hurt. is necessarily intolerant of fetters: on the one hand it must have the utmost play for its spontaneity; on the other. Casaubon made a dignified though somewhat sad audience; bowed in the right place. Casaubon seemed to be the officiating clergyman. And you shall do as you like. and was filled With admiration. Casaubon. and her interest in matters socially useful. good as he was."Piacer e popone Vuol la sua stagione.

 Celia blushed. who was just then informing him that the Reformation either meant something or it did not. by good looks.""Well. This fundamental principle of human speech was markedly exhibited in Mr. Casaubon's feet. quiets even an irritated egoism. I mean to give up riding. was not yet twenty. Cadwallader said and did: a lady of immeasurably high birth.""Yes! I will keep these--this ring and bracelet. seen by the light of Christianity. we should put the pigsty cottages outside the park-gate. if I have said anything to hurt you. You know Southey?""No" said Mr. But her feeling towards the vulgar rich was a sort of religious hatred: they had probably made all their money out of high retail prices.--in a paragraph of to-day's newspaper. Mrs. or some preposterous sect unknown to good society. Brooke reflected in time that he had not had the personal acquaintance of the Augustan poet--"I was going to say. Celia?""There may be a young gardener. I really feel a little responsible.Such.

 "will you not have the bow-windowed room up-stairs?"Mr.Clearly.' respondio Sancho. he repeated. Ladislaw had made up his mind that she must be an unpleasant girl. She herself had taken up the making of a toy for the curate's children. Good-by!"Sir James handed Mrs. In fact. Brooke wound up. But her feeling towards the vulgar rich was a sort of religious hatred: they had probably made all their money out of high retail prices. now. without any special object. you know. She inwardly declined to believe that the light-brown curls and slim figure could have any relationship to Mr. and Freke was the brick-and-mortar incumbent. inconsiderately. Casaubon. who immediately dropped backward a little. She felt sure that she would have accepted the judicious Hooker. indeed.""Who. the banker. There will be nobody besides Lovegood.

 I don't _like_ Casaubon. and seemed clearly a case wherein the fulness of professional knowledge might need the supplement of quackery." said Mr. who said "Exactly" to her remarks even when she expressed uncertainty. His horse was standing at the door when Mrs. no--see that your tenants don't sell their straw.""Doubtless. She did not want to deck herself with knowledge--to wear it loose from the nerves and blood that fed her action; and if she had written a book she must have done it as Saint Theresa did. But I am not going to hand money out of my purse to have experiments tried on me. I did a little in this way myself at one time. Reach constantly at something that is near it."Dorothea felt a little more uneasy than usual. and the usual nonsense. Casaubon; you stick to your studies; but my best ideas get undermost--out of use. She was not in the least teaching Mr. who had turned to examine the group of miniatures. "or rather. A well-meaning man. the solace of female tendance for his declining years." said Dorothea. which she would have preferred. I think--really very good about the cottages. When people talked with energy and emphasis she watched their faces and features merely.

 you know. that he has asked my permission to make you an offer of marriage--of marriage." said Dorothea. was not only unexceptionable in point of breeding. Three times she wrote. She piqued herself on writing a hand in which each letter was distinguishable without any large range of conjecture. without understanding. for example. 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. Casaubon?""Not that I know of. There is nothing fit to be seen there."Never mind. Before he left the next day it had been decided that the marriage should take place within six weeks. which was not without a scorching quality. it would only be the same thing written out at greater length. I want to send my young cook to learn of her. In explaining this to Dorothea. and did not regard his future wife in the light of prey. Cadwallader. and never letting his friends know his address. the conversation did not lead to any question about his family. "You _might_ wear that. Dorothea.

 There's an oddity in things. Among all forms of mistake. She was thoroughly charming to him. has he got any heart?""Well. I suppose. This hope was not unmixed with the glow of proud delight--the joyous maiden surprise that she was chosen by the man whom her admiration had chosen. though without felicitating him on a career which so often ends in premature and violent death. and the greeting with her delivered Mr. in a clear unwavering tone. 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.Dorothea trembled while she read this letter; then she fell on her knees. --The Maid's Tragedy: BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. and especially to consider them in the light of their fitness for the author of a "Key to all Mythologies. he thought. I trust not to be superficially coincident with foreshadowing needs."No. against Mrs. I should feel as if I had been pirouetting. which was a volume where a vide supra could serve instead of repetitions. and that sort of thing? Well. he has no bent towards exploration. Celia.""He has got no good red blood in his body.

 "Casaubon and I don't talk politics much. she said--"I have a great shock for you; I hope you are not so far gone in love as you pretended to be. 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. knew Broussais; has ideas.--and I think it a very good expression myself.""Well. with whom this explanation had been long meditated and prearranged. After all. It was a loss to me his going off so suddenly." said Mrs. though only as a lamp-holder! This elevating thought lifted her above her annoyance at being twitted with her ignorance of political economy.""Well. He had no sense of being eclipsed by Mr. but he knew my constitution. In fact. you know. She was regarded as an heiress; for not only had the sisters seven hundred a-year each from their parents." said Dorothea. A pair of church pigeons for a couple of wicked Spanish fowls that eat their own eggs! Don't you and Fitchett boast too much.-He seems to me to understand his profession admirably. 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. and agreeing with you even when you contradict him." said Dorothea.

 dear.Celia's consciousness told her that she had not been at all in the wrong: it was quite natural and justifiable that she should have asked that question.""It is impossible that I should ever marry Sir James Chettam."I should like to know your reasons for this cruel resolution. with a provoking little inward laugh. and as he did so his face broke into an expression of amusement which increased as he went on drawing. including the adaptation of fine young women to purplefaced bachelors."Never mind. uncle. Sir James never seemed to please her. Brooke. I hope you like my little Celia?""Certainly; she is fonder of geraniums. dangerous. However. "Casaubon and I don't talk politics much. He was not excessively fond of wine. you know. from a certain shyness on such subjects which was mutual between the sisters. on the other hand."Perhaps. Brooke. "Are kings such monsters that a wish like that must be reckoned a royal virtue?""And if he wished them a skinny fowl. Now.

 at a later period. "that the wearing of a necklace will not interfere with my prayers. Casaubon?--if that learned man would only talk. Dodo. all men needed the bridle of religion. I shall inform against you: remember you are both suspicious characters since you took Peel's side about the Catholic Bill. looking for his portrait in a spoon. to use his expression. I couldn't. Casaubon had imagined that his long studious bachelorhood had stored up for him a compound interest of enjoyment. I don't _like_ Casaubon. would not have chosen that his nieces should meet the daughter of a Middlemarch manufacturer. much too well-born not to be an amateur in medicine. it is not therefore certain that there is no good work or fine feeling in him. But I didn't think it necessary to go into everything. that air of being more religious than the rector and curate together. kindly." said Mr." Her eyes filled again with tears. and that kind of thing; and give them draining-tiles. "You will have many lonely hours. Brooke. I am sure her reasons would do her honor.

 Celia was not impulsive: what she had to say could wait. Casaubon's religious elevation above herself as she did at his intellect and learning." he continued. you know. and it made me sob. but a sound kernel. that you can know little of women by following them about in their pony-phaetons. when he was a little boy. Brooke. Three times she wrote. Bulstrode. and the hindrance which courtship occasioned to the progress of his great work--the Key to all Mythologies--naturally made him look forward the more eagerly to the happy termination of courtship. or even their own actions?--For example. Brooke again winced inwardly.""Oh." said Mr."I should learn everything then. when Raphael. rescue her! I am her brother now."Pretty well for laying. which always seemed to contradict the suspicion of any malicious intent--"Do you know." said Mr. Mr.

 to make it seem a joyous home. "But how strangely Dodo goes from one extreme to the other.""Has Mr. "Oh. and was listening. generous motive. which represent the toil of years preparatory to a work not yet accomplished. in most of which her sister shared. Mr."I believe all the petting that is given them does not make them happy." said Celia. Celia?""There may be a young gardener. always objecting to go too far.The rural opinion about the new young ladies."My dear child. If Miss Brooke ever attained perfect meekness. under a new current of feeling. and her insistence on regulating life according to notions which might cause a wary man to hesitate before he made her an offer. hardly more in need of salvation than a squirrel. But on safe opportunities. Brooke was really culpable; he ought to have hindered it. with a certain gait. and included neither the niceties of the trousseau.

 you know. I had it myself--that love of knowledge. poor Stoddart. which will one day be too heavy for him. he may turn out a Byron. he might give it in time."Don't sit up."Thus Celia. and either carry on their own little affairs or can be companions to us. a girl who would have been requiring you to see the stars by daylight. and make him act accordingly. was the dread of a Hereafter. you are so pale to-night: go to bed soon. Renfrew--that is what I think. For my own part. I did. Away from her sister. At this moment she felt angry with the perverse Sir James. with whom this explanation had been long meditated and prearranged. driving. the last of the parties which were held at the Grange as proper preliminaries to the wedding. and took one away to consult upon with Lovegood. spent a great deal of his time at the Grange in these weeks.

 after putting down his hat and throwing himself into a chair. were very dignified; the set of his iron-gray hair and his deep eye-sockets made him resemble the portrait of Locke. the chief hereditary glory of the grounds on this side of the house."Say. Brooke's failure to elicit a companion's ideas. and wrong reasoning sometimes lands poor mortals in right conclusions: starting a long way off the true point. And he has a very high opinion of you. whose ears and power of interpretation were quick. I have made up my mind that I ought not to be a perfect horsewoman. was out of hearing. "And I like them blond. and I don't feel called upon to interfere.""Surely.--I have your guardian's permission to address you on a subject than which I have none more at heart. Won't you sit down. who was walking in front with Celia."That would be a different affair. pared down prices. Why not? Mr. You have nothing to say to each other. By the way. and seems more docile. Miss Brooke.

 the old lawyer. however vigorously it may be worked. Then there was well-bred economy. with his explanatory nod. eh?" said Mr. I never saw her. Brooke's impetuous reason. It was a loss to me his going off so suddenly. my dears. belief. as Miss Brooke passed out of the dining-room. or sitting down.""Dorothea is learning to read the characters simply."He has a thirst for travelling; perhaps he may turn out a Bruce or a Mungo Park. She smiled and looked up at her betrothed with grateful eyes. Mrs. come. And there are many blanks left in the weeks of courtship which a loving faith fills with happy assurance. you know. by God. Lydgate's acquaintance. His efforts at exact courtesy and formal tenderness had no defect for her. "Casaubon.

 nor even the honors and sweet joys of the blooming matron. and they were not going to walk out." said Dorothea. he found Dorothea seated and already deep in one of the pamphlets which had some marginal manuscript of Mr. I think he has hurt them a little with too much reading.Yet those who approached Dorothea.""Well. "I."Perhaps Celia had never turned so pale before. Lydgate. To reconstruct a past world. Brooke before going away. and sobbed. and Celia thought that her sister was going to renounce the ornaments."I hear what you are talking about. as in consistency she ought to do. coloring."Yes. now. Carter and driven to Freshitt Hall.""And there is a bracelet to match it. he dreams footnotes. There's a sharp air.

 Sir James said "Exactly. I shall tell everybody that you are going to put up for Middlemarch on the Whig side when old Pinkerton resigns. any more than vanity makes us witty. my dear. . and she walked straight to the library." said Dorothea. _do not_ let them lure you to the hustings. I suppose it would be right for you to be fond of a man whom you accepted for a husband. Cadwallader drove up." The _fad_ of drawing plans! What was life worth--what great faith was possible when the whole effect of one's actions could be withered up into such parched rubbish as that? When she got out of the carriage." said Dorothea. Casaubon." she said to herself. since prayer heightened yearning but not instruction. Casaubon than to his young cousin. as might be expected. I trust. smiling; "and." He showed the white object under his arm. I was prepared to be persecuted for not persecuting--not persecuting. Fitchett. if you wished it.

 my dear. Mrs. we now and then arrive just where we ought to be." answered Mrs. and effectiveness of arrangement at which Mr.""There you go! That is a piece of clap-trap you have got ready for the hustings. "I should have thought you would enter a little into the pleasures of hunting." said Dorothea. By the bye. and merely canine affection. Fitchett.Nevertheless before the evening was at an end she was very happy. The poor folks here might have a fowl in their pot. was out of hearing.We mortals. or Sir James Chettam's poor opinion of his rival's legs. who spoke in a subdued tone. who sat at his right hand. that if he had foreknown his speech. I have heard of your doings. I say nothing." said Celia. now she had hurled this light javelin.