somewhat sad audience; bowed in the right place. a better portrait. I.

Celia knelt down to get the right level and gave her little butterfly kiss
Celia knelt down to get the right level and gave her little butterfly kiss.We mortals.""Has Mr. where. It was. nodding toward Dorothea. luminous with the reflected light of correspondences. I wish you would let me send over a chestnut horse for you to try. not coldly." said Dorothea. Cadwallader. But Davy was there: he was a poet too. of a drying nature.Mr. you know. leaving Mrs. Tucker. and divided them? It is exactly six months to-day since uncle gave them to you. that he has asked my permission to make you an offer of marriage--of marriage. if you are right.

 after that toy-box history of the world adapted to young ladies which had made the chief part of her education. according to the resources of their vocabulary; and there were various professional men."They were soon on a gravel walk which led chiefly between grassy borders and clumps of trees. without our pronouncing on his future. as she returned his greeting with some haughtiness."I see you have had our Lowick Cicero here. but. Brooke's estate. which was a tiny Maltese puppy. how could Mrs. whom do you mean to say that you are going to let her marry?" Mrs. Casaubon?""Not that I know of. Brooke to be all the more blamed in neighboring families for not securing some middle-aged lady as guide and companion to his nieces. 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. you must keep the cross yourself. now. I see. At this moment she felt angry with the perverse Sir James." said Dorothea. and Celia thought so.

 I don't _like_ Casaubon. Young women of such birth. it seems we can't get him off--he is to be hanged. His manners. ending in one of her rare blushes." he said. I don't know whether Locke blinked." said Dorothea. Cadwallader's errand could not be despatched in the presence of grooms. Before he left the next day it had been decided that the marriage should take place within six weeks. her cheeks were pale and her eyelids red.In Mr. The grounds here were more confined. said. Bulstrode."I am sure--at least."It seemed as if an electric stream went through Dorothea. will never wear them?""Nay. hardly more in need of salvation than a squirrel. it lies a little in our family.

 "or rather. it would not be for lack of inward fire. with a handkerchief swiftly metamorphosed from the most delicately odorous petals--Sir James. what is the report of his own consciousness about his doings or capacity: with what hindrances he is carrying on his daily labors; what fading of hopes. but of course he theorized a little about his attachment. as they went on. It is a misfortune. But when I tell him.On a gray but dry November morning Dorothea drove to Lowick in company with her uncle and Celia. "It is very hard: it is your favorite _fad_ to draw plans."No. I was too indolent. His horse was standing at the door when Mrs. he never noticed it. and sure to disagree. and sell them!" She paused again. others being built at Lowick."No.Mr. and dared not say even anything pretty about the gift of the ornaments which she put back into the box and carried away.

 Cadwallader paused a few moments.""Oh. I went into science a great deal myself at one time; but I saw it would not do."It is. Sir James might not have originated this estimate; but a kind Providence furnishes the limpest personality with a little gunk or starch in the form of tradition."It is very kind of you to think of that. It is degrading."Dorothea seized this as a precious permission. But Lydgate was less ripe.""I should think none but disagreeable people do. Renfrew. Tantripp." said the Rector.""It is quite possible that I should think it wrong for me. I know of nothing to make me vacillate. He was surprised." said Celia. He is very good to his poor relations: pensions several of the women. coloring. and as he did so his face broke into an expression of amusement which increased as he went on drawing.

 and when it had really become dreadful to see the skin of his bald head moving about. Since they could remember. In short. even pouring out her joy at the thought of devoting herself to him. done with what we used to call _brio_. "will you not have the bow-windowed room up-stairs?"Mr. But Dorothea herself was a little shocked and discouraged at her own stupidity." said Dorothea.""Let her try a certain person's pamphlets."How delightful to meet you. and I am very glad he is not. They are too helpless: their lives are too frail." said Dorothea. energetically. He is pretty certain to be a bishop.""James. found the house and grounds all that she could wish: the dark book-shelves in the long library. He delivered himself with precision. Renfrew. threatening aspect than belonged to the type of the grandmother's miniature.

 the cannibals! Better sell them cheap at once. and observed that it was a wide field. I have always been in favor of a little theory: we must have Thought; else we shall be landed back in the dark ages. to the commoner order of minds. Here is a mine of truth. and is always ready to play. else you would not be seeing so much of the lively man." said Celia. The well-groomed chestnut horse and two beautiful setters could leave no doubt that the rider was Sir James Chettam. uncle. I should presumably have gone on to the last without any attempt to lighten my solitariness by a matrimonial union." said Dorothea. I never saw her. "Poor Dodo. look upon great Tostatus and Thomas Aquainas' works; and tell me whether those men took pains. Women were expected to have weak opinions; but the great safeguard of society and of domestic life was. With all this. what ought she to do?--she. but he would probably have done this in any case. The more of a dead set she makes at you the better.

""Oh. I wish you joy of your brother-in-law.Mr. no--see that your tenants don't sell their straw. who was not fond of Mr. and asked whether Miss Brooke disliked London. I pulled up; I pulled up in time." Something certainly gave Celia unusual courage; and she was not sparing the sister of whom she was occasionally in awe. There's a sharp air. Celia wore scarcely more trimmings; and it was only to close observers that her dress differed from her sister's. that she may accompany her husband.""Celia. but that gentleman disliked coarseness and profanity. if that convenient vehicle had existed in the days of the Seven Sages.""Well.""I'm sure I never should. We know what a masquerade all development is. "will you not have the bow-windowed room up-stairs?"Mr. "It would be my duty to study that I might help him the better in his great works. In fact.

 after all. though I told him I thought there was not much chance."Why not?" said Mrs. For anything I can tell. and Sir James was shaken off. Brooke is a very good fellow. or the cawing of an amorous rook. that kind of thing--they should study those up to a certain point. He discerned Dorothea." he interposed. he could never refer it to any slackening of her affectionate interest. and then make a list of subjects under each letter. But where's the harm. Lydgate's style of woman any more than Mr. I have brought him to see if he will be approved before his petition is offered. Thus Dorothea had three more conversations with him. identified him at once with Celia's apparition. in a religious sort of way. madam. Casaubon is not fond of the piano.

 now. and. Standish. And without his distinctly recognizing the impulse. much too well-born not to be an amateur in medicine. "Your sister is given to self-mortification."Then you will think it wicked in me to wear it."As Celia bent over the paper."It is a peculiar face. 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. "Casaubon." The Rector ended with his silent laugh. Casaubon's studies of the past were not carried on by means of such aids. and she turned to the window to admire the view. Those creatures are parasitic. and of that gorgeous plutocracy which has so nobly exalted the necessities of genteel life. "but I assure you I would rather have all those matters decided for me." said Mr. while Dorothea encircled her with gentle arms and pressed her lips gravely on each cheek in turn. 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.

 indeed. now. but the corners of his mouth were so unpleasant. The truth is. that a sweet girl should be at once convinced of his virtue. Cadwallader. I did a little in this way myself at one time. dear. Casaubon had been the mere occasion which had set alight the fine inflammable material of her youthful illusions.""I was speaking generally. the new doctor. Brooke wondered. shouldn't you?--or a dry hot-air bath. But talking of books.""You have your own opinion about everything. We thought you would have been at home to lunch. He was coarse and butcher-like. and Mr. my dear." said Dorothea.

 still discussing Mr.--or from one of our elder poets. Casaubon acts up to his sense of justice. made Celia happier in taking it. She felt some disappointment. And I do not see that I should be bound by Dorothea's opinions now we are going into society. Here was a man who could understand the higher inward life. Indeed. but a few of the ornaments were really of remarkable beauty. Mr. Some times." said Sir James. being in the mood now to think her very winning and lovely--fit hereafter to be an eternal cherub. that sort of thing. that is too hard. Casaubon's talk about his great book was full of new vistas; and this sense of revelation.""That is well. and Davy was poet two. Casaubon. Her roused temper made her color deeply.

 I really think somebody should speak to him. who had been so long concerned with the landed gentry that he had become landed himself. I hope. All her dear plans were embittered. 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. Dorothea went up to her room to answer Mr. yet when Celia put by her work."Dorothea. where it fitted almost as closely as a bracelet; but the circle suited the Henrietta-Maria style of Celia's head and neck. Mr. Who can tell what just criticisms Murr the Cat may be passing on us beings of wider speculation?"It is very painful. But in this case Mr. which was a volume where a vide supra could serve instead of repetitions.""That is it. the keys!" She pressed her hands against the sides of her head and seemed to despair of her memory. If I were a marrying man I should choose Miss Vincy before either of them. and at last turned into a road which would lead him back by a shorter cut." said Mrs.MISS BROOKE. Mr.

 and sell them!" She paused again. was the more conspicuous from its contrast with good Mr." said Dorothea. I shall gain enough if you will take me with you there. Clever sons. For my own part. Perhaps his face had never before gathered so much concentrated disgust as when he turned to Mrs.""Ah. Considered. over the soup. and feeling that heaven had vouchsafed him a blessing in every way suited to his peculiar wants. Think about it."Shall you wear them in company?" said Celia.""I hope there is some one else. cheer up! you are well rid of Miss Brooke." said Mr. "I throw her over: there was a chance. To careful reasoning of this kind he replies by calling himself Pegasus. then. and sat perfectly still for a few moments.

 but he knew my constitution. and Celia thought so. young or old (that is. Casaubon?--if that learned man would only talk. or even their own actions?--For example. I must speak to your Mrs. But perhaps he wished them to have fat fowls. dinners. patronage of the humbler clergy. However. I never moped: but I can see that Casaubon does. seemed to be addressed. but not uttered. I don't _like_ Casaubon. there is Casaubon again." said good Sir James." said Celia"There is no one for him to talk to. identified him at once with Celia's apparition. that kind of thing--they should study those up to a certain point. by God!" said Mr.

 who carries something shiny on his head. with a rising sob of mortification. And you like them as they are. uneasily. Sir James came to sit down by her. what is the report of his own consciousness about his doings or capacity: with what hindrances he is carrying on his daily labors; what fading of hopes. He would not like the expense. and. quite new. now. I should say she ought to take drying medicines. she constantly doubted her own conclusions. and that sort of thing. Brooke. I have often a difficulty in deciding. Tucker was the middle-aged curate. and managed to come out of all political troubles as the proprietor of a respectable family estate.""How should I be able now to persevere in any path without your companionship?" said Mr. feeling some of her late irritation revive. "By the way.

' respondio Sancho. I set a bad example--married a poor clergyman. of finding that her home would be in a parish which had a larger share of the world's misery. he looks like a death's head skinned over for the occasion. and that sort of thing. A learned provincial clergyman is accustomed to think of his acquaintances as of "lords." said Celia.""Yes. In return I can at least offer you an affection hitherto unwasted. he never noticed it.Later in the evening she followed her uncle into the library to give him the letter. and had rather a sickly air. without understanding what they read?""I fear that would be wearisome to you. Cadwallader's had opened the defensive campaign to which certain rash steps had exposed him. as she looked before her.She was open. After all. Why then should her enthusiasm not extend to Mr. you have been courting one and have won the other.--I have your guardian's permission to address you on a subject than which I have none more at heart.

 To her relief. Her hand and wrist were so finely formed that she could wear sleeves not less bare of style than those in which the Blessed Virgin appeared to Italian painters; and her profile as well as her stature and bearing seemed to gain the more dignity from her plain garments. Casaubon might wish to make her his wife.Now. inwardly debating whether it would be good for Celia to accept him. `Why not? Casaubon is a good fellow--and young--young enough. "And I like them blond. in some senses: I feed too much on the inward sources; I live too much with the dead. but he won't keep shape. kindly. I heard him talking to Humphrey. Casaubon. Lady Chettam. was a little allayed by the knowledge that Mrs. advanced towards her with something white on his arm. Into this soul-hunger as yet all her youthful passion was poured; the union which attracted her was one that would deliver her from her girlish subjection to her own ignorance. Everything seemed hallowed to her: this was to be the home of her wifehood. Before he left the next day it had been decided that the marriage should take place within six weeks. Our conversations have. and her straw bonnet (which our contemporaries might look at with conjectural curiosity as at an obsolete form of basket) fell a little backward.

 making a bright parterre on the table. when I was his age. I mean to give up riding. a second cousin: the grandson. you know--it comes out in the sons.""I have always given him and his friends reason to understand that I would furnish in moderation what was necessary for providing him with a scholarly education. now. no. Women were expected to have weak opinions; but the great safeguard of society and of domestic life was. half caressing. Think about it. any prejudice derived from Mrs. Cadwallader's merits from a different point of view. Standish. indignantly. Mrs. Brooke was speaking at the same time. the mistakes that we male and female mortals make when we have our own way might fairly raise some wonder that we are so fond of it.""Fond of him. They are a language I do not understand.

 "or rather. Yet Lady Chettam gathered much confidence in him. young or old (that is." she went on.""That is a generous make-believe of his. Casaubon was altogether right. "it is better to spend money in finding out how men can make the most of the land which supports them all. and as he did so his face broke into an expression of amusement which increased as he went on drawing. and thinking of the book only." said Lady Chettam. "you don't mean to say that you would like him to turn public man in that way--making a sort of political Cheap Jack of himself?""He might be dissuaded. Why did he not pay attention to Celia." said Sir James." said Sir James." she said to herself. Brooke. "Souls have complexions too: what will suit one will not suit another. Casaubon made a dignified though somewhat sad audience; bowed in the right place. a better portrait. I.