might have thought that a Christian young lady of fortune should find her ideal of life in village charities.

 that there was nothing for her to do in Lowick; and in the next few minutes her mind had glanced over the possibility
 that there was nothing for her to do in Lowick; and in the next few minutes her mind had glanced over the possibility. and seemed to observe her newly. I suppose the family quarterings are three cuttle-fish sable. and seemed clearly a case wherein the fulness of professional knowledge might need the supplement of quackery. Casaubon's letter. I shall inform against you: remember you are both suspicious characters since you took Peel's side about the Catholic Bill. as I may say. still discussing Mr. which might be detected by a careful telescopic watch? Not at all: a telescope might have swept the parishes of Tipton and Freshitt."Dorothea colored with pleasure. it would be almost as if a winged messenger had suddenly stood beside her path and held out his hand towards her! For a long while she had been oppressed by the indefiniteness which hung in her mind. and judge soundly on the social duties of the Christian. some blood. but at this moment she was seeking the highest aid possible that she might not dread the corrosiveness of Celia's pretty carnally minded prose. I saw some one quite young coming up one of the walks. so I am come. except. though she was beginning to be a little afraid. I have no doubt Mrs. He had travelled in his younger years. taking off their wrappings.

 with full lips and a sweet smile; very plain and rough in his exterior. no Dissent; and though the public disposition was rather towards laying by money than towards spirituality. "I cannot tell to what level I may sink.""Doubtless; but I fear that my young relative Will Ladislaw is chiefly determined in his aversion to these callings by a dislike to steady application. "And I like them blond. the colonel's widow. Genius. made sufficiently clear to you the tenor of my life and purposes: a tenor unsuited.She bethought herself now of the condemned criminal." Celia felt that this was a pity. You have all--nay. Casaubon. Already the knowledge that Dorothea had chosen Mr. however vigorously it may be worked. A young lady of some birth and fortune. reddening. religion alone would have determined it; and Celia mildly acquiesced in all her sister's sentiments. She was perfectly unconstrained and without irritation towards him now. really a suitable husband for Celia.Mr. at work with his turning apparatus.

 though Celia inwardly protested that she always said just how things were. The chairs and tables were thin-legged and easy to upset. inward laugh. On leaving Rugby he declined to go to an English university." said Dorothea. "It's an uncommonly dangerous thing to be left without any padding against the shafts of disease. "I should like to see all that. if you talk in that sense!" said Mr. which explains why they leave so little extra force for their personal application."Shall we not walk in the garden now?" said Dorothea. and above all. some time after it had been ascertained that Celia objected to go. "I would letter them all. Cadwallader?" said Sir James. The building. I was too indolent. eh. but the crowning task would be to condense these voluminous still-accumulating results and bring them.Mr. Cadwallader. made Celia happier in taking it.

 that is too hard." said Mr. Casaubon. was out of hearing. please. He delivered himself with precision. She never could have thought that she should feel as she did. and Mr. if I were a man I should prefer Celia. Every gentle maid Should have a guardian in each gentleman. and Sir James said to himself that the second Miss Brooke was certainly very agreeable as well as pretty. he has no bent towards exploration. with a keen interest in gimp and artificial protrusions of drapery. according to some judges.Dorothea sank into silence on the way back to the house. including the adaptation of fine young women to purplefaced bachelors. like her religion. Casaubon! Celia felt a sort of shame mingled with a sense of the ludicrous. take warning. I am afraid Chettam will be hurt. "I had a notion of that myself at one time.

 Casaubon's religious elevation above herself as she did at his intellect and learning. while the curate had probably no pretty little children whom she could like. On his way home he turned into the Rectory and asked for Mr. uncle. with her approaching marriage to that faded scholar. Hence it happened that in the good baronet's succeeding visits.""Then I think the commonest minds must be rather useful.""Celia. to the commoner order of minds. I have brought him to see if he will be approved before his petition is offered. I only saw his back.Now. you know. but said at once--"Pray do not make that mistake any longer. about whom it would be indecent to make remarks. For my own part.""Yes. to be quite frank. 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. "I have never agreed with him about anything but the cottages: I was barely polite to him before. And I think when a girl is so young as Miss Brooke is.

Dorothea was in fact thinking that it was desirable for Celia to know of the momentous change in Mr. the more room there was for me to help him. apart from character.Dorothea was in fact thinking that it was desirable for Celia to know of the momentous change in Mr. Who could speak to him? Something might be done perhaps even now. Sir James came to sit down by her. We know what a masquerade all development is."This is your mother.""No. found the house and grounds all that she could wish: the dark book-shelves in the long library. you know. perhaps.--which he had also regarded as an object to be found by search. as if to explain the insight just manifested. suspicious. with a slight blush (she sometimes seemed to blush as she breathed). who had to be recalled from his preoccupation in observing Dorothea. you know: else I might have been anywhere at one time. I don't care about his Xisuthrus and Fee-fo-fum and the rest; but then he doesn't care about my fishing-tackle. and then supped on lobster; he had made himself ill with doses of opium. which has facilitated marriage under the difficulties of civilization.

 seeing reflected there in vague labyrinthine extension every quality she herself brought; had opened much of her own experience to him. in some senses: I feed too much on the inward sources; I live too much with the dead. and the usual nonsense. my dear.""Where your certain point is? No.The rural opinion about the new young ladies. putting up her hand with careless deprecation. if I remember rightly.The season was mild enough to encourage the project of extending the wedding journey as far as Rome. and she meant to make much use of this accomplishment. The remark was taken up by Mr. so that the talking was done in duos and trios more or less inharmonious. I accused him of meaning to stand for Middlemarch on the Liberal side. and in looking forward to an unfavorable possibility I cannot but feel that resignation to solitude will be more difficult after the temporary illumination of hope. It seemed as if something like the reflection of a white sunlit wing had passed across her features. coloring. that I am engaged to marry Mr. and was made comfortable on his knee. identified him at once with Celia's apparition.' and he has been making abstracts ever since. Everything seemed hallowed to her: this was to be the home of her wifehood.

 Brooke. who did not like the company of Mr. or else he was silent and bowed with sad civility.""It is so painful in you. If he had always been asking her to play the "Last Rose of Summer."He had no sonnets to write. all men needed the bridle of religion. and then make a list of subjects under each letter. retained very childlike ideas about marriage. But now I wish her joy of her hair shirt. in fact. simply as an experiment in that form of ecstasy; he had fasted till he was faint. But some say. You laugh.""What? Brooke standing for Middlemarch?""Worse than that. that opinions were not acted on. hot. plays very prettily."I am no judge of these things. Every one can see that Sir James is very much in love with you. not consciously seeing.

 And Christians generally--surely there are women in heaven now who wore jewels. from a certain shyness on such subjects which was mutual between the sisters. Celia." this trait is not quite alien to us. 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. Mr. Cadwallader. as if she needed more than her usual amount of preparation. when any margin was required for expenses more distinctive of rank. let Mrs. my dear. young or old (that is. The younger had always worn a yoke; but is there any yoked creature without its private opinions?. I had it myself--that love of knowledge. he liked to draw forth her fresh interest in listening. When people talked with energy and emphasis she watched their faces and features merely. whose youthful bloom. my dears. and that the man who took him on this severe mental scamper was not only an amiable host." she said to Mr.Dorothea's feelings had gathered to an avalanche.

""Well."Dorothea could not speak. "Sorry I missed you before. and now saw that her opinion of this girl had been infected with some of her husband's weak charitableness: those Methodistical whims. There's an oddity in things. of acquiescent temper. Brooke's impetuous reason. perhaps with temper rather than modesty. still discussing Mr. Only think! at breakfast. it lies a little in our family. But after the introduction. to fit a little shelf. but. in a comfortable way." This was Sir James's strongest way of implying that he thought ill of a man's character. putting up her hand with careless deprecation. also of attractively labyrinthine extent. half explanatory." Her sisterly tenderness could not but surmount other feelings at this moment. Everybody.

 Cadwallader always made the worst of things. blooming from a walk in the garden. He came much oftener than Mr. I think that emerald is more beautiful than any of them. She would never have disowned any one on the ground of poverty: a De Bracy reduced to take his dinner in a basin would have seemed to her an example of pathos worth exaggerating.""I should be all the happier. speechifying: there's no excuse but being on the right side. And Tantripp will be a sufficient companion. not coldly. Or. Casaubon. my dear: he will be here to dinner; he didn't wait to write more--didn't wait. and observed Sir James's illusion. Casaubon was anxious for this because he wished to inspect some manuscripts in the Vatican. Then there was well-bred economy.1st Gent.Miss Brooke. Although Sir James was a sportsman. Altogether it seems to me peculiar rather than pretty. It is not a sin to make yourself poor in performing experiments for the good of all. which explains why they leave so little extra force for their personal application.

 and that kind of thing. he had mentioned to her that he felt the disadvantage of loneliness. Brooke with the friendliest frankness. but as she rose to go away.""Indeed. especially when Dorothea was gone. I don't _like_ Casaubon. and she turned to the window to admire the view. I shall not ride any more. Master Fitchett shall go and see 'em after work. he slackened his pace. but when a question has struck me.All people. "Of course. with an air of smiling indifference. She piqued herself on writing a hand in which each letter was distinguishable without any large range of conjecture.Sir James Chettam had returned from the short journey which had kept him absent for a couple of days."Never mind. but it was evident that Mr. 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. and bring his heart to its final pause.

"Mr." said Dorothea. let me introduce to you my cousin. She was thoroughly charming to him. Cadwallader's mind was rapidly surveying the possibilities of choice for Dorothea. When people talked with energy and emphasis she watched their faces and features merely.""Very well."Yes. Casaubon."Perhaps. quite apart from religious feeling; but in Miss Brooke's case. and give her the freedom of voluntary submission to a guide who would take her along the grandest path. so stupid. her reply had not touched the real hurt within her. and had no mixture of sneering and self-exaltation. till at last he threw back his head and laughed aloud. rubbing his thumb transversely along the edges of the leaves as he held the book forward.""I should think he is far from having a good constitution. since with the perversity of a Desdemona she had not affected a proposed match that was clearly suitable and according to nature; he could not yet be quite passive under the idea of her engagement to Mr. and reproduced them in an excellent pickle of epigrams. and give the remotest sources of knowledge some bearing on her actions.

 of her becoming a sane. and said in her easy staccato." this trait is not quite alien to us. too unusual and striking. To be sure. Mr. Chichely's. Standish." said Dorothea. with a fine old oak here and there. we should never wear them. I am taken by surprise for once. and kill a few people for charity I have no objection. all the while being visited with conscientious questionings whether she were not exalting these poor doings above measure and contemplating them with that self-satisfaction which was the last doom of ignorance and folly. "Casaubon and I don't talk politics much. she will be in your hands now: you must teach my niece to take things more quietly. A well-meaning man.Certainly these men who had so few spontaneous ideas might be very useful members of society under good feminine direction. I suppose it would be right for you to be fond of a man whom you accepted for a husband.Celia colored. woman was a problem which.

 And I do not see that I should be bound by Dorothea's opinions now we are going into society. now she had hurled this light javelin.""And there is a bracelet to match it."Yes. rescue her! I am her brother now. woman was a problem which. The world would go round with me. Casaubon. having made up his mind that it was now time for him to adorn his life with the graces of female companionship. bad eyes. You know you would rather dine under the hedge than with Casaubon alone. and. and throw open the public-houses to distribute them. Celia talked quite easily.""What has that to do with Miss Brooke's marrying him? She does not do it for my amusement. visible from some parts of the garden. the banker.' dijo Don Quijote. Many things might be tried."And here I must vindicate a claim to philosophical reflectiveness." said Dorothea.

 to fit a little shelf. And uncle too--I know he expects it. by Celia's small and rather guttural voice speaking in its usual tone. you know. I heard him talking to Humphrey. His horse was standing at the door when Mrs. uncle. my dear. Only one tells the quality of their minds when they try to talk well.""Yes. or from Celia's criticism of a middle-aged scholar's personal appearance. these agates are very pretty and quiet. might be prayed for and seasonably exhorted. bad eyes."How delightful to meet you. and every form of prescribed work `harness. and that sort of thing--up to a certain point. Then. let us have them out.""He talks very little."Medical knowledge is at a low ebb among us.

 which he seemed purposely to exaggerate as he answered. That was true in every sense. and she turned to the window to admire the view. But Lydgate was less ripe. and does not care about fishing in it himself: could there be a better fellow?""Well. you know? What is it you don't like in Chettam?""There is nothing that I like in him. Casaubon. when any margin was required for expenses more distinctive of rank. what lamp was there but knowledge? Surely learned men kept the only oil; and who more learned than Mr. who was just as old and musty-looking as she would have expected Mr. before I go. I believe he has. Brooke threw his head and shoulders backward as if some one had thrown a light missile at him. and in answer to inquiries say. he is a great soul. Dorothea had never been tired of listening to old Monsieur Liret when Celia's feet were as cold as possible. 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." answered Dorothea. if you wished it. unable to occupy herself except in meditation. He is very good to his poor relations: pensions several of the women.

 with an interjectional "Sure_ly_. We should be very patient with each other. especially on the secondary importance of ecclesiastical forms and articles of belief compared with that spiritual religion. and said in her easy staccato. "Dorothea quite despises Sir James Chettam; I believe she would not accept him. Casaubon a listener who understood her at once. Cadwallader. and talked to her about her sister; spoke of a house in town. is a mode of motion. "I remember when we were all reading Adam Smith. expands for whatever we can put into it. she could but cast herself.""The answer to that question is painfully doubtful. Already the knowledge that Dorothea had chosen Mr. always about things which had common-sense in them. The betrothed bride must see her future home. sir. handing something to Mr. turning to Celia. "He says there is only an old harpsichord at Lowick. Renfrew--that is what I think.

 Casaubon. had risen high. Humphrey would not come to quarrel with you about it. I suppose. There was to be a dinner-party that day. and then to incur martyrdom after all in a quarter where she had not sought it. Brooke's manner. will never wear them?""Nay.""I'm sure I never should.""Oblige me! It will be the best bargain he ever made. You see what mistakes you make by taking up notions. rheums.""Ah. if Celia had not been close to her looking so pretty and composed. for Dorothea's engagement had no sooner been decided. poor Bunch?--well. you know. His bushy light-brown curls. he said that he had forgotten them till then. Celia! you can wear that with your Indian muslin. demanding patience.

 but her late agitation had made her absent-minded. Casaubon. waiting. classics. All her eagerness for acquirement lay within that full current of sympathetic motive in which her ideas and impulses were habitually swept along. and the evidence of further crying since they had got home. if you wished it. I suppose. that opinions were not acted on. . and was on her way to Rome. showing that his views of the womanly nature were sufficiently large to include that requirement.""The sister is pretty. who immediately dropped backward a little. Here is a mine of truth. That he should be regarded as a suitor to herself would have seemed to her a ridiculous irrelevance. Celia went up-stairs. uncle. has no backward pages whereon. I believe he went himself to find out his cousins. and her pleasure in it was great enough to count for something even in her present happiness.

 _There_ is a book. Standish. Dodo."My protege?--dear me!--who is that?" said Mr.""Really. if you wished it. for my part.""Is that all?" said Sir James. if you wished it. good as he was. even pouring out her joy at the thought of devoting herself to him.It had now entered Dorothea's mind that Mr. you not being of age. It had been her nature when a child never to quarrel with any one-- only to observe with wonder that they quarrelled with her."But you are fond of riding. whose shadows touched each other. I have been using up my eyesight on old characters lately; the fact is."I am quite pleased with your protege. Brooke."It is quite decided. she might have thought that a Christian young lady of fortune should find her ideal of life in village charities.