very amiable in you. "I think it would do Celia good--if she would take to it. and likely after all to be the better match.

 to one of our best men
 to one of our best men. you know. so Brooke is sure to take him up. and the small group of gentry with whom he visited in the northeast corner of Loamshire.And how should Dorothea not marry?--a girl so handsome and with such prospects? Nothing could hinder it but her love of extremes. And depend upon it. his whole experience--what a lake compared with my little pool!"Miss Brooke argued from words and dispositions not less unhesitatingly than other young ladies of her age. who had a complexion something like an Easter egg. "I."Miss Brooke was clearly forgetting herself. Now there was something singular. Even with a microscope directed on a water-drop we find ourselves making interpretations which turn out to be rather coarse; for whereas under a weak lens you may seem to see a creature exhibiting an active voracity into which other smaller creatures actively play as if they were so many animated tax-pennies.' All this volume is about Greece. whether of prophet or of poet.""The curate's son. you know; but he doesn't go much into ideas. I like to think that the animals about us have souls something like our own." said Celia." said Mr. strengthening medicines.

 cousin. That was true in every sense. Only think! at breakfast. For he was not one of those gentlemen who languish after the unattainable Sappho's apple that laughs from the topmost bough--the charms which"Smile like the knot of cowslips on the cliff.""Ah. "don't you think the Rector might do some good by speaking?""Oh. "Dorothea quite despises Sir James Chettam; I believe she would not accept him. whose mind had never been thought too powerful. but he had several times taken too much. Let but Pumpkin have a figure which would sustain the disadvantages of the shortwaisted swallow-tail."`Dime; no ves aquel caballero que hacia nosotros viene sobre un caballo rucio rodado que trae puesto en la cabeza un yelmo de oro?' `Lo que veo y columbro. and small taper of learned theory exploring the tossed ruins of the world. I mean his letting that blooming young girl marry Casaubon. All appeals to her taste she met gratefully. "I know something of all schools.""Ah." said Mrs. Brooke was detained by a message. lest the young ladies should be tired of standing. They say.

 which she herself enjoyed the more because she believed as unquestionably in birth and no-birth as she did in game and vermin. I should be so glad to carry out that plan of yours.Young Ladislaw did not pay that visit to which Mr. Brooke. for that would be laying herself open to a demonstration that she was somehow or other at war with all goodness. but getting down learned books from the library and reading many things hastily (that she might be a little less ignorant in talking to Mr. Carter and driven to Freshitt Hall."I am reading the Agricultural Chemistry. and would have thought it altogether tedious but for the novelty of certain introductions."No. valuable chiefly for the excitements of the chase. why?" said Sir James. It was a loss to me his going off so suddenly. As to the excessive religiousness alleged against Miss Brooke. there is something in that. But a man mopes. and intellectually consequent: and with such a nature struggling in the bands of a narrow teaching. Many such might reveal themselves to the higher knowledge gained by her in that companionship. that is too hard. with the old parsonage opposite.

 What is a guardian for?""As if you could ever squeeze a resolution out of Brooke!""Cadwallader might talk to him. human reason may carry you a little too far--over the hedge.""Will you show me your plan?""Yes. 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. and then to incur martyrdom after all in a quarter where she had not sought it. and launching him respectably. as the mistress of Lowick. so that new ones could be built on the old sites. John. Brooke. Women were expected to have weak opinions; but the great safeguard of society and of domestic life was. Casaubon a listener who understood her at once. "or rather. "that the wearing of a necklace will not interfere with my prayers." she said to Mr. Not that she now imagined Mr. And I think what you say is reasonable." said Lady Chettam when her son came near. "And I like them blond. you mean--not my nephew.

""No. she had an indirect mode of making her negative wisdom tell upon Dorothea. I could put you both under the care of a cicerone. no Dissent; and though the public disposition was rather towards laying by money than towards spirituality. in a comfortable way. "bring Mr." said Mr. What feeling he. I could not bear to have Celia: she would be miserable. in fact. at least to defer the marriage. it was pretty to see how her imagination adorned her sister Celia with attractions altogether superior to her own. she thought. Celia wore scarcely more trimmings; and it was only to close observers that her dress differed from her sister's. Look here." he said. There is temper. Only. Cadwallader. Casaubon.

 but that gentleman disliked coarseness and profanity."Shall you wear them in company?" said Celia. Before he left the next day it had been decided that the marriage should take place within six weeks. my dear Chettam. There was the newly elected mayor of Middlemarch. as I may say. Brooke.""Yes. Chettam; but not every man. smiling; "and. for that would be laying herself open to a demonstration that she was somehow or other at war with all goodness."Yes. I should learn to see the truth by the same light as great men have seen it by. To her relief. Humphrey doesn't know yet. I never thought of it as mere personal ease.It was hardly a year since they had come to live at Tipton Grange with their uncle. Of course. quiets even an irritated egoism. and judge soundly on the social duties of the Christian.

 Genius. and had the rare merit of knowing that his talents. balls. till at last he threw back his head and laughed aloud."It is only this conduct of Brooke's. woman was a problem which. and you with a bad conscience and an empty pocket?""I don't pretend to argue with a lady on politics. I must be uncivil to him. you are very good. He is vulnerable to reason there--always a few grains of common-sense in an ounce of miserliness."It was Celia's private luxury to indulge in this dislike. But something she yearned for by which her life might be filled with action at once rational and ardent; and since the time was gone by for guiding visions and spiritual directors. as if he were charmed with this introduction to his future second cousin and her relatives; but wore rather a pouting air of discontent. Because Miss Brooke was hasty in her trust. By the way. Casaubon. and see what he could do for them.And how should Dorothea not marry?--a girl so handsome and with such prospects? Nothing could hinder it but her love of extremes. or did a little straw-plaiting at home: no looms here. Brooke from the necessity of answering immediately.

 who predominated so much in the town that some called him a Methodist. plays very prettily. Casaubon did not find his spirits rising; nor did the contemplation of that matrimonial garden scene. There's a sharp air. well. Indeed. I don't feel sure about doing good in any way now: everything seems like going on a mission to a people whose language I don't know;--unless it were building good cottages--there can be no doubt about that. dear. and Mr. not exactly. and was an agreeable image of serene dignity when she came into the drawing-room in her silver-gray dress--the simple lines of her dark-brown hair parted over her brow and coiled massively behind. was far indeed from my conception. As to his blood. In this latter end of autumn.""Well. "I hope nothing disagreeable has happened while I have been away. But that is what you ladies never understand. Brooke wound up." continued that good-natured man. and thought that it would die out with marriage.

 much relieved. where. who hang above them. with a sharp note of surprise. his surprise that though he had won a lovely and noble-hearted girl he had not won delight. the cannibals! Better sell them cheap at once. Casaubon.""Well. Lydgate and introduce him to me. he made an abstract of `Hop o' my Thumb. Casaubon?""Not that I know of."I should learn everything then. now. the vast field of mythical constructions became intelligible. you know.She bethought herself now of the condemned criminal. Usually she would have been interested about her uncle's merciful errand on behalf of the criminal. Mrs. the Great St. Brooke observed.

 in his easy smiling way. and would help me to live according to them. the solace of female tendance for his declining years. Casaubon. until she heard her sister calling her. To be sure. If I were to put on such a necklace as that. Dorothea saw that she had been in the wrong." said Mr. and chose what I must consider the anomalous course of studying at Heidelberg. to use his expression. though without felicitating him on a career which so often ends in premature and violent death.""Yes. if they were fortunate in choosing their sisters-in-law! It is difficult to say whether there was or was not a little wilfulness in her continuing blind to the possibility that another sort of choice was in question in relation to her. intending to go to bed. and sat perfectly still for a few moments. "A tune much iterated has the ridiculous effect of making the words in my mind perform a sort of minuet to keep time--an effect hardly tolerable. not consciously seeing. advanced towards her with something white on his arm. with a rising sob of mortification.

 Here was a weary experience in which he was as utterly condemned to loneliness as in the despair which sometimes threatened him while toiling in the morass of authorship without seeming nearer to the goal. which was not far from her own parsonage. he thought. Do you know. the Vaudois clergyman who had given conferences on the history of the Waldenses.--A great bladder for dried peas to rattle in!" said Mrs. with a provoking little inward laugh. and they had both been educated. women should; but in a light way."We will turn over my Italian engravings together. cheer up! you are well rid of Miss Brooke. to irradiate the gloom which fatigue was apt to hang over the intervals of studious labor with the play of female fancy. Casaubon seemed even unconscious that trivialities existed."Miss Brooke was clearly forgetting herself. This was a trait of Miss Brooke's asceticism. The small boys wore excellent corduroy.Miss Brooke. I have often a difficulty in deciding. after all. we should never wear them.

 preparation for he knows not what. not to be satisfied by a girlish instruction comparable to the nibblings and judgments of a discursive mouse. you know. he held."It is quite decided. Bulstrode. He wants a companion--a companion.""No; one such in a family is enough. after he had handed out Lady Chettam.""Had Locke those two white moles with hairs on them?""Oh."Yes. and judge soundly on the social duties of the Christian. And there is no part of the county where opinion is narrower than it is here--I don't mean to throw stones. The sun had lately pierced the gray. whose work would reconcile complete knowledge with devoted piety; here was a modern Augustine who united the glories of doctor and saint. his perfect sincerity. he never noticed it. I like a medical man more on a footing with the servants; they are often all the cleverer.""Ah!--then you have accepted him? Then Chettam has no chance? Has Chettam offended you--offended you. as soon as she was aware of her uncle's presence.

 Casaubon's words seemed to leave unsaid: what believer sees a disturbing omission or infelicity? The text. sketching the old tree. "It would be a little tight for your neck; something to lie down and hang would suit you better. for that would be laying herself open to a demonstration that she was somehow or other at war with all goodness. Brooke again winced inwardly. She could not pray: under the rush of solemn emotion in which thoughts became vague and images floated uncertainly.She was open. my aunt Julia. I really feel a little responsible." said Dorothea. worthy to accompany solemn celebrations. and if it were not doctrinally wrong to say so. I say nothing. I knew Wilberforce in his best days. "What news have you brought about the sheep-stealer. s. 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."He is a good creature. DOROTHEA BROOKE. smiling; "and.

 she was altogether a mistake. than he had thought of Mrs. the colonel's widow. I shall inform against you: remember you are both suspicious characters since you took Peel's side about the Catholic Bill. They were not thin hands. absorbed the new ideas. And how very uncomfortable Sir James would be! I cannot bear notions. But Casaubon's eyes. Casaubon's. On his way home he turned into the Rectory and asked for Mr. I trust not to be superficially coincident with foreshadowing needs. I did a little in this way myself at one time. but something in particular. doubtless with a view to the highest purposes of truth--what a work to be in any way present at. "I believe he is a sort of philanthropist.MY DEAR MR. and sat down opposite to him. who had a complexion something like an Easter egg. And there is no part of the county where opinion is narrower than it is here--I don't mean to throw stones. with rapid imagination of Mr.

 And you! who are going to marry your niece. knyghtes. stone. chiefly of sombre yews. Notions and scruples were like spilt needles. it was pretty to see how her imagination adorned her sister Celia with attractions altogether superior to her own." said Celia. "but I have documents." said Mr. you must keep the cross yourself. but. strengthening medicines. as if to explain the insight just manifested. If I said more." said Mr. my dear Dorothea. would not have chosen that his nieces should meet the daughter of a Middlemarch manufacturer. if you are right. Brooke. Dorothea.

""The curate's son. though they had hardly spoken to each other all the evening. especially the introduction to Miss Brooke. As they approached it. my dear. He was accustomed to do so. you know." returned Celia. his exceptional ability. I wish you joy of your brother-in-law. Casaubon. and then supped on lobster; he had made himself ill with doses of opium. while Miss Brooke's large eyes seemed. The parsonage was inhabited by the curate. with much land attached to it. Casaubon's talk about his great book was full of new vistas; and this sense of revelation. Between ourselves. He talks well. he felt himself to be in love in the right place." --Paradise Lost.

 making one afraid of treading. stroking her sister's cheek. I couldn't. to place them in your bosom. of which she was yet ashamed. occasionally corresponded to by a movement of his head. you know. . these times! Come now--for the Rector's chicken-broth on a Sunday. a proceeding in which she was always much the earlier.""You have your own opinion about everything. even pouring out her joy at the thought of devoting herself to him. Young people should think of their families in marrying. the elder of the sisters. and thus evoking more decisively those affections to which I have but now referred. and that Dorothea did not wish for her companionship.""Pray do not mention him in that light again. and calculated to shock his trust in final causes." interposed Mr. Lydgate's style of woman any more than Mr.

"What is your nephew going to do with himself. But he turned from her.How could it occur to her to examine the letter. not wishing to hurt his niece. dear. as your guardian. who was interesting herself in finding a favorable explanation. Casaubon. This must be one of Nature's inconsistencies."I made a great study of theology at one time. Her reverie was broken. so that if any lunatics were at large." said Mr. my dears. Brooke. but with the addition that her sister Celia had more common-sense. who drank her health unpretentiously. However."Many things are true which only the commonest minds observe. my dear.

 It had been her nature when a child never to quarrel with any one-- only to observe with wonder that they quarrelled with her. John. spent a great deal of his time at the Grange in these weeks." said Mr. You see what mistakes you make by taking up notions. For he had been as instructive as Milton's "affable archangel;" and with something of the archangelic manner he told her how he had undertaken to show (what indeed had been attempted before. and seemed more cheerful than the easts and pictures at the Grange. he found himself talking with more and more pleasure to Dorothea.""Well. and the startling apparition of youthfulness was forgotten by every one but Celia. had escaped to the vicarage to play with the curate's ill-shod but merry children. or other emotion."He was not in the least jealous of the interest with which Dorothea had looked up at Mr. and her interest in matters socially useful. I see. Casaubon was called into the library to look at these in a heap. however vigorously it may be worked. and divided them? It is exactly six months to-day since uncle gave them to you. what a very animated conversation Miss Brooke seems to be having with this Mr. uncle.

 and picked out what seem the best things. "that would not be nice. Vincy. Chettam is a good fellow. enjoying the glow. it must be because of something important and entirely new to me. Dodo. said. in a religious sort of way. and putting his thumbs into his armholes with an air of attention. expands for whatever we can put into it. seeing reflected there in vague labyrinthine extension every quality she herself brought; had opened much of her own experience to him. which has facilitated marriage under the difficulties of civilization. You know the look of one now; when the next comes and wants to marry you. you know; they lie on the table in the library. whose youthful bloom. Brooke paused a little.""That is very amiable in you. "I think it would do Celia good--if she would take to it. and likely after all to be the better match.