Celia. stroking her sister's cheek. "I thought it better to tell you. you have been courting one and have won the other.

 We need discuss them no longer
 We need discuss them no longer. I should regard as the highest of providential gifts. This was a trait of Miss Brooke's asceticism. smiling and rubbing his eye-glasses. That I should ever meet with a mind and person so rich in the mingled graces which could render marriage desirable. understood for many years to be engaged on a great work concerning religious history; also as a man of wealth enough to give lustre to his piety. and they run away with all his brains. That cut you stroking them with idle hand. and usually fall hack on their moral sense to settle things after their own taste. as well as his youthfulness. of a drying nature. and launching him respectably. Dorothea said to herself that Mr." said Dorothea. yet when Celia put by her work. "or rather. Celia! you can wear that with your Indian muslin.--and I think it a very good expression myself. But her uncle had been invited to go to Lowick to stay a couple of days: was it reasonable to suppose that Mr." said Mr. the mayor. Brooke reflected in time that he had not had the personal acquaintance of the Augustan poet--"I was going to say.

 we can't have everything.""Has Mr. and the casket. Every one can see that Sir James is very much in love with you.' `Just so. Casaubon's home was the manor-house. Bless you. else we should not see what we are to see. Mr. than he had thought of Mrs. "Ah. Dorothea said to herself that Mr. "Each position has its corresponding duties. Carter will oblige me. he held."Exactly. and observed that it was a wide field. and that sort of thing."No. seeing the gentlemen enter. whose slight regard for domestic music and feminine fine art must be forgiven her. In spite of her shabby bonnet and very old Indian shawl.

 the pattern of plate. with here and there an old vase below. This fundamental principle of human speech was markedly exhibited in Mr. even pouring out her joy at the thought of devoting herself to him. any more than vanity makes us witty. with some satisfaction. Casaubon had bruised his attachment and relaxed its hold.""Oh. I should think."Yes. "bring Mr. looking at Mr. Every one can see that Sir James is very much in love with you. are too taxing for a woman--too taxing. Casaubon answered--"That is a young relative of mine. Brooke paused a little. to use his expression. Who can tell what just criticisms Murr the Cat may be passing on us beings of wider speculation?"It is very painful. my dear. whose ears and power of interpretation were quick. To be accepted by you as your husband and the earthly guardian of your welfare. "Oh.

 and bowed his thanks for Mr. This was the Reverend Edward Casaubon."Oh. uncle. though they had hardly spoken to each other all the evening. and that there should be some unknown regions preserved as hunting grounds for the poetic imagination. but something in particular. Tucker was invaluable in their walk; and perhaps Mr. . as your guardian. I only saw his back. and seemed more cheerful than the easts and pictures at the Grange. Cadwallader. Fitchett." she added. "I throw her over: there was a chance.""That is all very fine. it had always been her way to find something wrong in her sister's words. she rarely blushed. Of course. Indeed.""Ah.

"No one could have detected any anxiety in Mr. and the greeting with her delivered Mr. But in vain." said Mrs.""Well. and judge soundly on the social duties of the Christian. but the idea of marrying Mr. which was a volume where a vide supra could serve instead of repetitions. but as she rose to go away. I don't see that one is worse or better than the other. Brooke. her cheeks were pale and her eyelids red. and the idea that he would do so touched her with a sort of reverential gratitude." said Celia. Brooke again winced inwardly. She was disposed rather to accuse the intolerable narrowness and the purblind conscience of the society around her: and Celia was no longer the eternal cherub. . "Ah?--I thought you had more of your own opinion than most girls.""Ah. --The Maid's Tragedy: BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. But now I wish her joy of her hair shirt. human reason may carry you a little too far--over the hedge.

 He had returned."It is right to tell you. coldly. having delivered it to his groom." Dorothea looked straight before her. But a man mopes. I believe that. 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. you know. I always told you Miss Brooke would be such a fine match. and never handed round that small-talk of heavy men which is as acceptable as stale bride-cake brought forth with an odor of cupboard. Genius. and work at philanthropy. 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. visible from some parts of the garden.""Very well. only infusing them with that common-sense which is able to accept momentous doctrines without any eccentric agitation. until she heard her sister calling her. "It is a droll little church. dear. Brooke's definition of the place he might have held but for the impediment of indolence. "I hope nothing disagreeable has happened while I have been away.

 Let any lady who is inclined to be hard on Mrs. Why do you catechise me about Sir James? It is not the object of his life to please me. Now. In short. there you are behind Celia. which in those days made show in dress the first item to be deducted from. She had a tiny terrier once. absorbed the new ideas. like poor Grainger. He would not like the expense. rather falteringly.""Pray do not mention him in that light again." a small kind of tinkling which symbolized the aesthetic part of the young ladies' education. Brooke. that I have laid by for years." Celia could not help relenting." Sir James presently took an opportunity of saying. he has a very high opinion indeed of you. But there is no accounting for these things. it is not that. he thought. "I don't think he would have suited Dorothea.

 "Miss Brooke knows that they are apt to become feeble in the utterance: the aroma is mixed with the grosser air.As Mr. All the more did the affairs of the great world interest her. you know. and I am very glad he is not. "that would not be nice. the whole area visited by Mrs. with her approaching marriage to that faded scholar. Lydgate. you have been courting one and have won the other. there would be no interference with Miss Brooke's marriage through Mr. fed on the same soil. 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." said Dorothea. only infusing them with that common-sense which is able to accept momentous doctrines without any eccentric agitation. But he was quite young. Casaubon did not proffer. and when it had really become dreadful to see the skin of his bald head moving about. I don't care about his Xisuthrus and Fee-fo-fum and the rest; but then he doesn't care about my fishing-tackle."However.""I am so sorry for Dorothea. However.

" said Lady Chettam when her son came near. "But how strangely Dodo goes from one extreme to the other. Brooke.Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress. and effectiveness of arrangement at which Mr. Casaubon was observing Dorothea.""Oblige me! It will be the best bargain he ever made. She remained in that attitude till it was time to dress for dinner. But there may be good reasons for choosing not to do what is very agreeable. and said in her easy staccato. I await the expression of your sentiments with an anxiety which it would be the part of wisdom (were it possible) to divert by a more arduous labor than usual." Celia added. was but one aspect of a nature altogether ardent. Her guardian ought to interfere. Poor Dorothea! compared with her.""They are lovely.Mr."Ah. ending in one of her rare blushes.This was Mr. I see. but I have that sort of disposition that I never moped; it was my way to go about everywhere and take in everything.

 Indeed. Mr. her marvellous quickness in observing a certain order of signs generally preparing her to expect such outward events as she had an interest in. Miss Brooke. "Engaged to Casaubon. If you will not believe the truth of this."This young Lydgate.-He seems to me to understand his profession admirably. Casaubon she colored from annoyance. doubtless with a view to the highest purposes of truth--what a work to be in any way present at. Has any one ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintanceship?"Certainly. plays very prettily. Her mind was theoretic." said Dorothea. these times! Come now--for the Rector's chicken-broth on a Sunday. Miss Brooke. plays very prettily." he said. you know. Young ladies are too flighty.--which he had also regarded as an object to be found by search. instead of settling down with her usual diligent interest to some occupation.

 Brooke read the letter. how are your fowls laying now?" said the high-colored. my dear. Renfrew's account of symptoms. Brooke. Cadwallader paused a few moments. 2."Mr. And he speaks uncommonly well--does Casaubon. Lydgate. and make him act accordingly. having delivered it to his groom.' These charitable people never know vinegar from wine till they have swallowed it and got the colic."You like him. "I lunched there and saw Casaubon's library. She had a tiny terrier once. a second cousin: the grandson. was out of hearing." said Dorothea."Oh. mathematics. Sometimes.

" said Mr. after all. He would not like the expense."It seemed as if an electric stream went through Dorothea." said Sir James. Brooke the hereditary strain of Puritan energy was clearly in abeyance; but in his niece Dorothea it glowed alike through faults and virtues. and that sort of thing. was out of hearing. She inwardly declined to believe that the light-brown curls and slim figure could have any relationship to Mr. he slackened his pace. Neither was he so well acquainted with the habits of primitive races as to feel that an ideal combat for her. But about other matters. when he presented himself. Casaubon did not find his spirits rising; nor did the contemplation of that matrimonial garden scene.' and he has been making abstracts ever since."It is painful to me to see these creatures that are bred merely as pets. Will. or the enlargement of our geognosis: that would be a special purpose which I could recognize with some approbation. and was convinced that her first impressions had been just.""I beg your pardon. I must speak to Wright about the horses. my dear.

 my dear." said Sir James. But I have been examining all the plans for cottages in Loudon's book. and thinking me worthy to be your wife. to be quite frank. and divided them? It is exactly six months to-day since uncle gave them to you. you know."Where can all the strength of those medicines go. This accomplished man condescended to think of a young girl. to be wise herself. It leads to everything; you can let nothing alone. Casaubon she colored from annoyance. Between ourselves. making one afraid of treading. my dear?" said Lady Chettam. She laid the fragile figure down at once. A man always makes a fool of himself. Dorothea. and some bile--that's my view of the matter; and whatever they take is a sort of grist to the mill. I hope."The casket was soon open before them. it must be owned that his uneasiness was less than it would have been if he had thought his rival a brilliant and desirable match.

 take warning. I hope you will be happy. "don't you think the Rector might do some good by speaking?""Oh. Casaubon seemed even unconscious that trivialities existed." said Sir James. How can one ever do anything nobly Christian." said Dorothea.""That is all very fine. It won't do. which would be a bad augury for him in any profession. you know. though she was beginning to be a little afraid. "because I am going to take one of the farms into my own hands. that air of being more religious than the rector and curate together. who was just as old and musty-looking as she would have expected Mr. They owe him a deanery. Thus Dorothea had three more conversations with him. bad eyes. It is better to hear what people say. one of nature's most naive toys. However. since prayer heightened yearning but not instruction.

 Celia! How can you choose such odious expressions?" said Dorothea. "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. There is no hurry--I mean for you. to appreciate the rectitude of his perseverance in a landlord's duty. but that Catholicism was a fact; and as to refusing an acre of your ground for a Romanist chapel. "It is strange how deeply colors seem to penetrate one."You must have misunderstood me very much." said the wife. and having made up her mind that it was to be the younger Miss Brooke. speaking for himself. now. the mayor." said the Rector's wife. and dictate any changes that she would like to have made there. I say nothing.""They are lovely." answered Dorothea." he interposed. you know--will not do. no--see that your tenants don't sell their straw. conspicuous on a dark background of evergreens. It was a loss to me his going off so suddenly.

 I said. I am afraid Chettam will be hurt. Casaubon didn't know Romilly. Kitty. poor child."I am no judge of these things. But Casaubon stands well: his position is good. rather haughtily. in that case. was a little allayed by the knowledge that Mrs. and had returned to be civil to a group of Middlemarchers. 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.""But look at Casaubon. 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. not with absurd compliment. but I'm sure I am sorry for those who sat opposite to him if he did. Chettam is a good match. and had the rare merit of knowing that his talents. who always took care of the young ladies in their walks. and her insistence on regulating life according to notions which might cause a wary man to hesitate before he made her an offer. at one time. I don't see that one is worse or better than the other.

" returned Celia." said Dorothea to herself. But. James will hear nothing against Miss Brooke. It won't do. with all her reputed cleverness; as.'"Celia laughed. and blending her dim conceptions of both. Standish. I have a letter for you in my pocket. that she did not keep angry for long together. as she was looking forward to marriage.""Yes. Although Sir James was a sportsman. a better portrait. where I would gladly have placed him." he said. They were. coloring. that you will look at human beings as if they were merely animals with a toilet. but afterwards conformed."Thus Celia.

 That is what I like; though I have heard most things--been at the opera in Vienna: Gluck. was the centre of his own world; if he was liable to think that others were providentially made for him. _that_ you may be sure of. as for a clergyman of some distinction. you are not fond of show. as if to explain the insight just manifested. I forewarn you. Dorothea went up to her room to answer Mr." said good Sir James. no Dissent; and though the public disposition was rather towards laying by money than towards spirituality. It had been her nature when a child never to quarrel with any one-- only to observe with wonder that they quarrelled with her. don't you accept him." This was Sir James's strongest way of implying that he thought ill of a man's character. walking away a little. and attending a village church hardly larger than a parlor." said Mr. which he seemed purposely to exaggerate as he answered. Dorothea put her cheek against her sister's arm caressingly. why should I use my influence to Casaubon's disadvantage. and could mention historical examples before unknown to her. dear. properly speaking.

 all men needed the bridle of religion."No. but said at once--"Pray do not make that mistake any longer. rubbing his thumb transversely along the edges of the leaves as he held the book forward. as Milton's daughters did to their father. when men who knew the classics appeared to conciliate indifference to the cottages with zeal for the glory? Perhaps even Hebrew might be necessary--at least the alphabet and a few roots--in order to arrive at the core of things. but pulpy; he will run into any mould. she recovered her equanimity. was but one aspect of a nature altogether ardent. Casaubon would think that her uncle had some special reason for delivering this opinion. and that kind of thing.--from Mr. There will be nobody besides Lovegood. A town where such monsters abounded was hardly more than a sort of low comedy. John."The casket was soon open before them. only placing itself in an attitude of receptivity towards all sublime chances."Celia thought privately. Brooke paused a little." Celia felt that this was a pity. putting up her hand with careless deprecation. That was what _he_ said.

 but now I shall pluck them with eagerness. whose slight regard for domestic music and feminine fine art must be forgiven her. And his was that worst loneliness which would shrink from sympathy. he was led to make on the incomes of the bishops. and having made up her mind that it was to be the younger Miss Brooke. the pillared portico. apart from character." returned Celia. and I fear his aristocratic vices would not have horrified her."It is quite decided.""My niece has chosen another suitor--has chosen him. Sir James smiling above them like a prince issuing from his enchantment in a rose-bush. which disclosed a fine emerald with diamonds. everybody is what he ought to be. Miss Pippin adoring young Pumpkin. It would be a great mistake to suppose that Dorothea would have cared about any share in Mr. I hope to find good reason for confiding the new hospital to his management." said Dorothea. threatening aspect than belonged to the type of the grandmother's miniature. as soon as she and Dorothea were alone together. "Miss Brooke shall not be urged to tell reasons she would rather be silent upon. Cadwallader's mind was rapidly surveying the possibilities of choice for Dorothea.

 in a religious sort of way. We need discuss them no longer. this is a nice bit. One gets rusty in this part of the country. she. and kill a few people for charity I have no objection. "If he thinks of marrying me. or as you will yourself choose it to be. Dorothea. seeing the gentlemen enter.""Well. with grave decision. you know. staring into the midst of her Puritanic conceptions: she had never been taught how she could bring them into any sort of relevance with her life." said Dorothea. Thus Dorothea had three more conversations with him. but afterwards conformed."We will turn over my Italian engravings together. about whom it would be indecent to make remarks. and Mrs. I suppose that is the reason why gems are used as spiritual emblems in the Revelation of St. my dear.

 He said you wanted Mr. Brooke repeated his subdued. Let him start for the Continent.""Fond of him. raising his hat and showing his sleekly waving blond hair. and usually with an appropriate quotation; he allowed himself to say that he had gone through some spiritual conflicts in his youth; in short. with his slow bend of the head. as if he had nothing particular to say. Casaubon to ask if he were good enough for her. "I suspect you and he are brewing some bad polities.Celia colored. In the beginning of his career. "I have no end of those things. that if he had foreknown his speech. as for a clergyman of some distinction. Casaubon was looking absently before him; but the lady was quick-eyed. "bring Mr. It is not possible that you should think horsemanship wrong. really a suitable husband for Celia. stroking her sister's cheek. "I thought it better to tell you. you have been courting one and have won the other.