his nose. and I fear his aristocratic vices would not have horrified her.

 and still looking at them
 and still looking at them. They look like fragments of heaven. The attitudes of receptivity are various." he said. Miss Brooke. Brooke. who happened to be a manufacturer; the philanthropic banker his brother-in-law." he said. Casaubon's confidence was not likely to be falsified. that. and that there should be some unknown regions preserved as hunting grounds for the poetic imagination. She piqued herself on writing a hand in which each letter was distinguishable without any large range of conjecture. Cadwallader to the phaeton. Now there was something singular. She is _not_ my daughter. Casaubon said.""Is that astonishing. I told you beforehand what he would say. I see. as the good French king used to wish for all his people."It is very kind of you to think of that. nothing more than a part of his general inaccuracy and indisposition to thoroughness of all kinds. They are always wanting reasons. intending to go to bed.

 it would not be for lack of inward fire. A woman should be able to sit down and play you or sing you a good old English tune. you know--wants to raise the profession. He really did not like it: giving up Dorothea was very painful to him; but there was something in the resolve to make this visit forthwith and conquer all show of feeling. and work at them.--and I think it a very good expression myself. without any touch of pathos. Her reverie was broken.""Is that all?" said Sir James. now. but something in particular.1st Gent. as a means of encouragement to himself: in talking to her he presented all his performance and intention with the reflected confidence of the pedagogue.""That is what I expect. I suppose. Perhaps his face had never before gathered so much concentrated disgust as when he turned to Mrs. Celia understood the action. She attributed Dorothea's abstracted manner. the new doctor." said Mr. He is very kind. that she may accompany her husband. since we refer him to the Divine regard with perfect confidence; nay. and she wanted to wander on in that visionary future without interruption.

 Now." said the wife. 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. you know. feeling some of her late irritation revive. I believe he went himself to find out his cousins. whom do you mean to say that you are going to let her marry?" Mrs. with a quiet nod. It might have been easy for ignorant observers to say. a figure. had risen high. Of course." said Lady Chettam when her son came near.""And there is a bracelet to match it. I often offend in something of the same way; I am apt to speak too strongly of those who don't please me. taking up Sir James Chettam's remark that he was studying Davy's Agricultural Chemistry." said Mr.""What has that to do with Miss Brooke's marrying him? She does not do it for my amusement."The revulsion was so strong and painful in Dorothea's mind that the tears welled up and flowed abundantly. where. to feed her eye at these little fountains of pure color. blooming from a walk in the garden. Mr. Mr.

 One of them grows more and more watery--""Ah! like this poor Mrs. Unlike Celia. However. rows of note-books."Then you will think it wicked in me to wear it. with a sharper note. and is always ready to play. We should never admire the same people."The casket was soon open before them. And I think when a girl is so young as Miss Brooke is. She was perfectly unconstrained and without irritation towards him now. the elder of the sisters."Look here--here is all about Greece. They look like fragments of heaven. Cadwallader. B.""Yes. Not to be come at by the willing hand. Dorothea." She had got nothing from him more graphic about the Lowick cottages than that they were "not bad. and I cannot endure listening to an imperfect reader."Dorothea was in the best temper now. is the accurate statement of my feelings; and I rely on your kind indulgence in venturing now to ask you how far your own are of a nature to confirm my happy presentiment."Celia felt a little hurt.

 I don't care about his Xisuthrus and Fee-fo-fum and the rest; but then he doesn't care about my fishing-tackle.Dorothea glanced quickly at her sister. but with that solid imperturbable ease and good-humor which is infectious. you know. He is pretty certain to be a bishop. In fact. after all.""I am not joking; I am as serious as possible. as soon as she and Dorothea were alone together. more clever and sensible than the elder sister. having made up his mind that it was now time for him to adorn his life with the graces of female companionship. I don't mean of the melting sort." Mr.-He seems to me to understand his profession admirably. But so far is he from having any desire for a more accurate knowledge of the earth's surface. But in the way of a career. I want a reader for my evenings; but I am fastidious in voices. he assured her. He would not like the expense. Hitherto I have known few pleasures save of the severer kind: my satisfactions have been those of the solitary student.Young Ladislaw did not pay that visit to which Mr. and I must not conceal from you." thought Celia. "Oh.

 and it made me sob. Cadwallader.Nevertheless. but the word has dropped out of the text. who predominated so much in the town that some called him a Methodist. can't you hear how he scrapes his spoon? And he always blinks before he speaks. without understanding. Celia talked quite easily.""Well. Already the knowledge that Dorothea had chosen Mr. A woman may not be happy with him. pressing her hand between his hands. not hawk it about." Celia was inwardly frightened.""Not he! Humphrey finds everybody charming. according to the resources of their vocabulary; and there were various professional men. I can see that Casaubon's ways might suit you better than Chettam's." said Dorothea. but the crowning task would be to condense these voluminous still-accumulating results and bring them. This accomplished man condescended to think of a young girl. I shall accept him. "However.

 smiling; "and. without our pronouncing on his future. the elder of the sisters. tomahawk in hand. why?" said Sir James. It was doubtful whether the recognition had been mutual. it seems we can't get him off--he is to be hanged. Cadwallader said and did: a lady of immeasurably high birth. let us have them out. and a little circuit was made towards a fine yew-tree. 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. "He says there is only an old harpsichord at Lowick. and his mortification lost some of its bitterness by being mingled with compassion."Oh. now. which was a tiny Maltese puppy. Among all forms of mistake. "of the lady whose portrait you have been noticing. You know you would rather dine under the hedge than with Casaubon alone. I may say. while Dorothea encircled her with gentle arms and pressed her lips gravely on each cheek in turn. Casaubon seemed to be the officiating clergyman.

 Between ourselves. Poor Dorothea! compared with her. nothing more than a part of his general inaccuracy and indisposition to thoroughness of all kinds. as I may say. But she felt it necessary to explain. A young lady of some birth and fortune. Casaubon. Cadwallader always made the worst of things.""Well. Tucker was the middle-aged curate. CASAUBON. The poor folks here might have a fowl in their pot. And I have brought a couple of pamphlets for you. Lovegood was telling me yesterday that you had the best notion in the world of a plan for cottages--quite wonderful for a young lady. and small taper of learned theory exploring the tossed ruins of the world. he may turn out a Byron. I always told you Miss Brooke would be such a fine match. there certainly was present in him the sense that Celia would be there. what lamp was there but knowledge? Surely learned men kept the only oil; and who more learned than Mr. I have promised to speak to you. I don't think it can be nice to marry a man with a great soul. kept in abeyance for the time her usual eagerness for a binding theory which could bring her own life and doctrine into strict connection with that amazing past.

 with a handkerchief swiftly metamorphosed from the most delicately odorous petals--Sir James. Casaubon was not used to expect that he should have to repeat or revise his communications of a practical or personal kind. Wordsworth was poet one. not ugly. Altogether it seems to me peculiar rather than pretty.""It is so painful in you. and now saw that her opinion of this girl had been infected with some of her husband's weak charitableness: those Methodistical whims. and would have thought it altogether tedious but for the novelty of certain introductions. after that toy-box history of the world adapted to young ladies which had made the chief part of her education. Cadwallader's way of putting things. in a religious sort of way.""Brooke ought not to allow it: he should insist on its being put off till she is of age. and having views of his own which were to be more clearly ascertained on the publication of his book. was out of hearing. as I may say. and sell them!" She paused again. "Those deep gray eyes rather near together--and the delicate irregular nose with a sort of ripple in it--and all the powdered curls hanging backward. while he whipped his boot; but she soon added. Casaubon."She spoke with more energy than is expected of so young a lady. interpreting him as she interpreted the works of Providence. and was charmingly docile.

 and her interest in matters socially useful. religion alone would have determined it; and Celia mildly acquiesced in all her sister's sentiments. when Raphael. but the idea of marrying Mr. Brooke. as if he had nothing particular to say. Brooke reflected in time that he had not had the personal acquaintance of the Augustan poet--"I was going to say. if they were real houses fit for human beings from whom we expect duties and affections. a middle-aged bachelor and coursing celebrity. and she only cares about her plans. They won't overturn the Constitution with our friend Brooke's head for a battering ram. and the furious gouty humors of old Lord Megatherium; the exact crossing of genealogies which had brought a coronet into a new branch and widened the relations of scandal. What delightful companionship! Mr. Then. Considered. I hope you will be happy. It is true that he knew all the classical passages implying the contrary; but knowing classical passages.Mr. I think he is likely to be first-rate--has studied in Paris. kissing her candid brow. but a considerable mansion. and not the ordinary long-used blotting-book which only tells of forgotten writing.

 good as he was. Cadwallader said that Brooke was beginning to treat the Middlemarchers." Celia felt that this was a pity. if you would let me see it. by admitting that all constitutions might be called peculiar.""Oblige me! It will be the best bargain he ever made.""Please don't be angry with Dodo; she does not see things. She had a tiny terrier once. However. and then jumped on his horse. ill-colored .""Well. Brooke. there you are behind Celia. and an avenue of limes towards the southwest front.When Miss Brooke was at the tea-table. smiling towards Mr. I had it myself--that love of knowledge." said Dorothea. P. that is all!"The phaeton was driven onwards with the last words. if you wished it.

 throwing back her wraps. They want arranging. was not only unexceptionable in point of breeding. and dictate any changes that she would like to have made there. and rising."Could I not be preparing myself now to be more useful?" said Dorothea to him.""Will you show me your plan?""Yes. And without his distinctly recognizing the impulse. Brooke. But upon my honor. let me again say. and looked up gratefully to the speaker. to the commoner order of minds. Casaubon's home was the manor-house. then?" said Celia.-He seems to me to understand his profession admirably. yes. the fine arts. The sun had lately pierced the gray. "I suspect you and he are brewing some bad polities. Let him start for the Continent. as other women expected to occupy themselves with their dress and embroidery--would not forbid it when--Dorothea felt rather ashamed as she detected herself in these speculations.

 This accomplished man condescended to think of a young girl. hot. I assure you I found poor Hicks's judgment unfailing; I never knew him wrong. who spoke in a subdued tone.""It was. Chichely's ideal was of course not present; for Mr. and expressed himself with his usual strength upon it one day that he came into the library while the reading was going forward."But how can I wear ornaments if you. perhaps. I shall never interfere against your wishes.""Very true. why?" said Sir James. Brooke. It made me unhappy. Carter and driven to Freshitt Hall. in an awed under tone. but she was spared any inward effort to change the direction of her thoughts by the appearance of a cantering horseman round a turning of the road. Casaubon found that sprinkling was the utmost approach to a plunge which his stream would afford him; and he concluded that the poets had much exaggerated the force of masculine passion. a little depression of the eyebrow. for my part. In the beginning of dinner." Celia was inwardly frightened.

 please. and above all. 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. Should she not urge these arguments on Mr. Brooke's mind felt blank before it. and a little circuit was made towards a fine yew-tree. opportunity was found for some interjectional "asides""A fine woman. and she could see that it did. I should be so glad to carry out that plan of yours. to use his expression. Why should she defer the answer? She wrote it over three times. That is not my line of action. But Dorothea is not always consistent. with much land attached to it. They are too helpless: their lives are too frail. James will hear nothing against Miss Brooke. my dear Dorothea. . which might be detected by a careful telescopic watch? Not at all: a telescope might have swept the parishes of Tipton and Freshitt. and as he did so his face broke into an expression of amusement which increased as he went on drawing. and from the admitted wickedness of pagan despots."Oh.

 she had reflected that Dodo would perhaps not make a husband happy who had not her way of looking at things; and stifled in the depths of her heart was the feeling that her sister was too religious for family comfort. which she would have preferred. that I should wear trinkets to keep you in countenance. and in answer to inquiries say.She was naturally the subject of many observations this evening. she had an indirect mode of making her negative wisdom tell upon Dorothea. a middle-aged bachelor and coursing celebrity. and give the remotest sources of knowledge some bearing on her actions. you know. 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. Cadwallader; and Sir James felt with some sadness that she was to have perfect liberty of misjudgment. It is degrading. she said in another tone--"Yet what miserable men find such things. You clever young men must guard against indolence. really a suitable husband for Celia." he said. Perhaps his face had never before gathered so much concentrated disgust as when he turned to Mrs. Brooke." said Dorothea. for he would have had no chance with Celia. as they walked forward. that he came of a family who had all been young in their time--the ladies wearing necklaces.

 and also a good grateful nature. but a thorn in her spirit. I was bound to tell him that. That is not my line of action. Mr." he interposed. Casaubon. but in a power to make or do. it may confidently await those messages from the universe which summon it to its peculiar work. Why do you catechise me about Sir James? It is not the object of his life to please me. so that new ones could be built on the old sites. But he himself dreaded so much the sort of superior woman likely to be available for such a position. I would not hinder Casaubon; I said so at once; for there is no knowing how anything may turn out. and Will had sincerely tried many of them. He is going to introduce Tucker.' `Just so. or Sir James Chettam's poor opinion of his rival's legs. Brooke's failure to elicit a companion's ideas. but small-windowed and melancholy-looking: the sort of house that must have children. She herself had taken up the making of a toy for the curate's children. John. and that large drafts on his affections would not fail to be honored; for we all of us.

 and launching him respectably. "She likes giving up. like wine without a seal? Certainly a man can only be cosmopolitan up to a certain point. valuable chiefly for the excitements of the chase. "I hardly think he means it. Across all her imaginative adornment of those whom she loved. seeming by this cold vagueness to waive inquiry. That is not very creditable. and his visitor was shown into the study." He paused a moment. 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. we now and then arrive just where we ought to be.""You did not mention her to me." said Mr. whose mind had never been thought too powerful." said Mr. there seemed to be as complete an air of repose about her as if she had been a picture of Santa Barbara looking out from her tower into the clear air; but these intervals of quietude made the energy of her speech and emotion the more remarked when some outward appeal had touched her. She was an image of sorrow. a few hairs carefully arranged. Cadwallader; and Sir James felt with some sadness that she was to have perfect liberty of misjudgment. And. Lydgate.

""Well. said. he liked to draw forth her fresh interest in listening. feminine."The next day. is the accurate statement of my feelings; and I rely on your kind indulgence in venturing now to ask you how far your own are of a nature to confirm my happy presentiment. But that is what you ladies never understand. He said you wanted Mr. while taking a pleasant walk with Miss Brooke along the gravelled terrace. "However.As Mr. with the musical intonation which in moments of deep but quiet feeling made her speech like a fine bit of recitative--"Celia. and cut jokes in the most companionable manner.' respondio Sancho.""He talks very little. Casaubon's confidence was not likely to be falsified. pared down prices. which he seemed purposely to exaggerate as he answered. found the house and grounds all that she could wish: the dark book-shelves in the long library.""The curate's son. because I was afraid of treading on it. "I can have no more to do with the cottages.

 much too well-born not to be an amateur in medicine. "I think. he held. turned his head. and merely bowed. Casaubon's religious elevation above herself as she did at his intellect and learning. was a little allayed by the knowledge that Mrs. an air of astonished discovery animating her whole person with a dramatic action which she had caught from that very Madame Poincon who wore the ornaments. P. "You must have asked her questions. I am-therefore bound to fulfil the expectation so raised. descended. Mrs. Here is a mine of truth. confess!""Nothing of the sort. not anything in general."It is only this conduct of Brooke's."Mr. in his measured way. There should be a little filigree about a woman--something of the coquette. Her mind was theoretic. for when Dorothea was impelled to open her mind on certain themes which she could speak of to no one whom she had before seen at Tipton.

 But your fancy farming will not do--the most expensive sort of whistle you can buy: you may as well keep a pack of hounds. if you choose to turn them. yes. Casaubon than to his young cousin.""But you might like to keep it for mamma's sake. when Raphael. Casaubon at once to teach her the languages."Well. one of them would doubtless have remarked. Dorothea; for the cottages are like a row of alms-houses--little gardens. that she formed the most cordial opinion of his talents. Partly it was the reception of his own artistic production that tickled him; partly the notion of his grave cousin as the lover of that girl; and partly Mr. The feminine part of the company included none whom Lady Chettam or Mrs. no. The intensity of her religious disposition. but the crowning task would be to condense these voluminous still-accumulating results and bring them. I don't care about his Xisuthrus and Fee-fo-fum and the rest; but then he doesn't care about my fishing-tackle. They want arranging. she thought. uncle. Of course the forked lightning seemed to pass through him when he first approached her. Brooke was speaking at the same time.

 Bernard dog. a Chatterton. There's a sharp air." said Sir James."Why? what do you know against him?" said the Rector laying down his reels. to the simplest statement of fact. you know--it comes out in the sons. He has consumed all ours that I can spare. I fear. if ever that solitary superlative existed. you know. I should have thought Chettam was just the sort of man a woman would like.""He might keep shape long enough to defer the marriage. but is not charming or immediately inviting to self-indulgent taste. Celia blushed. while Dorothea encircled her with gentle arms and pressed her lips gravely on each cheek in turn. "Pray do not speak of altering anything." said Celia. Cadwallader;" but where is a country gentleman to go who quarrels with his oldest neighbors? Who could taste the fine flavor in the name of Brooke if it were delivered casually. People of standing should consume their independent nonsense at home. Brooke was the uncle of Dorothea?Certainly he seemed more and more bent on making her talk to him. but what should you do?""I should say that the marriage must not be decided on until she was of age.

 Various feelings wrought in him the determination after all to go to the Grange to-day as if nothing new had happened. just to take care of me. But he was quite young. teacup in hand. He did not usually find it easy to give his reasons: it seemed to him strange that people should not know them without being told. I thought you liked your own opinion--liked it. you know. who drank her health unpretentiously. She was not in the least teaching Mr.1st Gent.""What do you mean."I see you have had our Lowick Cicero here."Mr. can look at the affair with indifference: and with such a heart as yours! Do think seriously about it. which always seemed to contradict the suspicion of any malicious intent--"Do you know. now. Brooke paused a little. Cadwallader inquire into the comprehensiveness of her own beautiful views. Brooke."I hear what you are talking about. Casaubon's mind."`Seest thou not yon cavalier who cometh toward us on a dapple-gray steed.

 and was careful not to give further offence: having once said what she wanted to say. that he came of a family who had all been young in their time--the ladies wearing necklaces. Celia. James will hear nothing against Miss Brooke. my dear. who would have served for a study of flesh in striking contrast with the Franciscan tints of Mr. feeling some of her late irritation revive. it is not that. "will you not have the bow-windowed room up-stairs?"Mr. for the south and east looked rather melancholy even under the brightest morning. which. does it follow that he was fairly represented in the minds of those less impassioned personages who have hitherto delivered their judgments concerning him? I protest against any absolute conclusion. I am often unable to decide. whose conscience was really roused to do the best he could for his niece on this occasion. and he did not deny that hers might be more peculiar than others. was a little allayed by the knowledge that Mrs. or wherever else he wants to go?""Yes; I have agreed to furnish him with moderate supplies for a year or so; he asks no more. And Tantripp will be a sufficient companion. Moreover. Celia. He was coarse and butcher-like. what is this?--this about your sister's engagement?" said Mrs.

 there certainly was present in him the sense that Celia would be there. Casaubon. indeed." Dorothea looked straight before her. and he called to the baronet to join him there. whose vexation had not yet spent itself. pared down prices. energetically. at work with his turning apparatus. Casaubon. uncle. Mr."She is engaged to marry Mr.""Now. since she would not hear of Chettam. Casaubon apparently did not care about building cottages. first to herself and afterwards to her husband. I know nothing else against him. Brooke. But some say. his glasses on his nose. and I fear his aristocratic vices would not have horrified her.