CHAPTER II.

rnewly. “Youngladiesdon’tunderstandpoliticaleconomy,youknow,”saidMr.Brooke,smilingtowardsMr.Casaubon.“IrememberwhenwewereallreadingAdamSmith.Thereisabook,now.Itookinallthenewideasatonetime—humanperfectibility,now.Butsomesay,historymovesincirclesandthatmaybeverywellarguedIhaveargueditmyself.Thefactis,humanreasonmaycarryyoualittletoofar—overthehedge,infact.ItcarriedmeagoodwayatonetimebutIsawitwouldnotdo.IpulledupIpulledupintime.Butnottoohard.Ihavealwaysbeeninfavorofalittletheory:wemusthaveThoughtelseweshallbelandedbackinthedarkages.Buttalkingofbooks,thereisSouthey’s‘PeninsularWar.’Iamreadingthatofamorning.YouknowSouthey?” “No,”saidMr.Casaubon,notkeepingpacewithMr.Brooke’simpetuousreason,andthinkingofthebookonly.“Ihavelittleleisureforsuchliteraturejustnow.Ihavebeenusingupmyeyesightonoldcharacterslatelythefactis,IwantareaderformyeveningsbutIamfastidiousinvoices,andIcannotendurelisteningtoanimperfectreader.Itisamisfortune,insomesenses:IfeedtoomuchontheinwardsourcesIlivetoomuchwiththedead.Mymindissomethingliketheghostofanancient,wanderingabouttheworldandtryingmentallytoconstructitasitusedtobe,inspiteofruinandconfusingchanges.ButIfinditnecessarytousetheutmostcautionaboutmyeyesight.” ThiswasthefirsttimethatMr.Casaubonhadspokenatanylength.Hedeliveredhimselfwithprecision,asifhehadbeencalledupontomakeapublicstatementandthebalancedsing-songneatnessofhisspeech,occasionallycorrespondedtobyamovementofhishead,wasthemoreconspicuousfromitscontrastwithgoodMr.Brooke’sscrappyslovenliness.DorotheasaidtoherselfthatMr.Casaubonwasthemostinterestingmanshehadeverseen,notexceptingevenMonsieurLiret,theVaudoisclergymanwhohadgivenconferencesonthehistoryoftheWaldenses.Toreconstructapastworld,doubtlesswithaviewtothehighestpurposesoftruth—whataworktobeinanywaypresentat,toassistin,thoughonlyasalamp-holder!Thiselevatingthoughtliftedheraboveherannoyanceatbeingtwittedwithherignoranceofpoliticaleconomy,thatnever-explainedsciencewhichwasthrustasanextinguisheroverallherlights. “Butyouarefondofriding,MissBrooke,”SirJamespresentlytookanopportunityofsaying.“Ishouldhavethoughtyouwouldenteralittleintothepleasuresofhunting.Iwishyouwouldletmesendoverachestnuthorseforyoutotry.Ithasbeentrainedforalady.IsawyouonSaturdaycanteringoverthehillonanagnotworthyofyou.MygroomshallbringCorydonforyoueveryday,ifyouwillonlymentionthetime.” “Thankyou,youareverygood.Imeantogiveupriding.Ishallnotrideanymore,”saidDorothea,urgedtothisbrusqueresolutionbyalittleannoyancethatSirJameswouldbesolicitingherattentionwhenshewantedtogiveitalltoMr.Casaubon. “No,thatistoohard,”saidSirJames,inatoneofreproachthatshowedstronginterest.“Yoursisterisgiventoself-mortification,isshenot?”hecontinued,turningtoCelia,whosatathisrighthand. “Ithink