CHAPTER II.

“‘Dimenovesaquelcaballeroquehacianosotrosvienesobreuncaballoruciorodadoquetraepuestoenlacabezaunyelmodeoro?’‘Loqueveoycolumbro,’respondioSancho,‘noessinounhombresobreunasnopardocomoelmio,quetraesobrelacabezaunacosaquerelumbra.’‘PueseseeselyelmodeMambrino,’dijoDonQuijote.”—CERVANTES. “‘Seestthounotyoncavalierwhocomethtowardusonadapple-graysteed,andwearethagoldenhelmet?’‘WhatIsee,’answeredSancho,‘isnothingbutamanonagrayasslikemyown,whocarriessomethingshinyonhishead.’‘Justso,’answeredDonQuixote:‘andthatresplendentobjectisthehelmetofMambrino.’” “SirHumphryDavy?”saidMr.Brooke,overthesoup,inhiseasysmilingway,takingupSirJamesChettam’sremarkthathewasstudyingDavy’sAgriculturalChemistry.“Well,now,SirHumphryDavyIdinedwithhimyearsagoatCartwright’s,andWordsworthwastheretoo—thepoetWordsworth,youknow.Nowtherewassomethingsingular.IwasatCambridgewhenWordsworthwasthere,andInevermethim—andIdinedwithhimtwentyyearsafterwardsatCartwright’s.There’sanoddityinthings,now.ButDavywasthere:hewasapoettoo.Or,asImaysay,Wordsworthwaspoetone,andDavywaspoettwo.Thatwastrueineverysense,youknow.” Dorotheafeltalittlemoreuneasythanusual.Inthebeginningofdinner,thepartybeingsmallandtheroomstill,thesemotesfromthemassofamagistrate’smindfelltoonoticeably.ShewonderedhowamanlikeMr.Casaubonwouldsupportsuchtriviality.Hismanners,shethought,wereverydignifiedthesetofhisiron-grayhairandhisdeepeye-socketsmadehimresembletheportraitofLocke.HehadthespareformandthepalecomplexionwhichbecameastudentasdifferentaspossiblefromthebloomingEnglishmanofthered-whiskeredtyperepresentedbySirJamesChettam. “IamreadingtheAgriculturalChemistry,”saidthisexcellentbaronet,“becauseIamgoingtotakeoneofthefarmsintomyownhands,andseeifsomethingcannotbedoneinsettingagoodpatternoffarmingamongmytenants.Doyouapproveofthat,MissBrooke?” “Agreatmistake,Chettam,”interposedMr.Brooke,“goingintoelectrifyingyourlandandthatkindofthing,andmakingaparlorofyourcow-house.Itwon’tdo.IwentintoscienceagreatdealmyselfatonetimebutIsawitwouldnotdo.Itleadstoeverythingyoucanletnothingalone.No,no—seethatyourtenantsdon’tselltheirstraw,andthatkindofthingandgivethemdraining-tiles,youknow.Butyourfancyfarmingwillnotdo—themostexpensivesortofwhistleyoucanbuy:youmayaswellkeepapackofhounds.” “Surely,”saidDorothea,“itisbettertospendmoneyinfindingouthowmencanmakethemostofthelandwhichsupportsthemall,thaninkeepingdogsandhorsesonlytogallopoverit.Itisnotasintomakeyourselfpoorinperformingexperimentsforthegoodofall.” Shespokewithmoreenergythanisexpectedofsoyoungalady,butSirJameshadappealedtoher.Hewasaccustomedtodoso,andshehadoftenthoughtthatshecouldurgehimtomanygoodactionswhenhewasherbrother-in-law. Mr.CasaubonturnedhiseyesverymarkedlyonDorotheawhileshewasspeaking,andseemedtoobservehe