CHAPTER IV.

1stGent.Ourdeedsarefettersthatweforgeourselves. 2dGent.Ay,truly:butIthinkitistheworld Thatbringstheiron. “SirJamesseemsdeterminedtodoeverythingyouwish,”saidCelia,astheyweredrivinghomefromaninspectionofthenewbuilding-site. “Heisagoodcreature,andmoresensiblethananyonewouldimagine,”saidDorothea,inconsiderately. “Youmeanthatheappearssilly.” “No,no,”saidDorothea,recollectingherself,andlayingherhandonhersister’samoment,“buthedoesnottalkequallywellonallsubjects.” “Ishouldthinknonebutdisagreeablepeopledo,”saidCelia,inherusualpurringway.“Theymustbeverydreadfultolivewith.Onlythink!atbreakfast,andalways.” Dorothealaughed.“OKitty,youareawonderfulcreature!”ShepinchedCelia’schin,beinginthemoodnowtothinkherverywinningandlovely—fithereaftertobeaneternalcherub,andifitwerenotdoctrinallywrongtosayso,hardlymoreinneedofsalvationthanasquirrel.“Ofcoursepeopleneednotbealwaystalkingwell.Onlyonetellsthequalityoftheirmindswhentheytrytotalkwell.” “YoumeanthatSirJamestriesandfails.” “Iwasspeakinggenerally.WhydoyoucatechisemeaboutSirJames?Itisnottheobjectofhislifetopleaseme.” “Now,Dodo,canyoureallybelievethat?” “Certainly.Hethinksofmeasafuturesister—thatisall.”Dorotheahadneverhintedthisbefore,waiting,fromacertainshynessonsuchsubjectswhichwasmutualbetweenthesisters,untilitshouldbeintroducedbysomedecisiveevent.Celiablushed,butsaidatonce— “Praydonotmakethatmistakeanylonger,Dodo.WhenTantrippwasbrushingmyhairtheotherday,shesaidthatSirJames’smanknewfromMrs.Cadwallader’smaidthatSirJameswastomarrytheeldestMissBrooke.” “HowcanyouletTantripptalksuchgossiptoyou,Celia?”saidDorothea,indignantly,notthelessangrybecausedetailsasleepinhermemorywerenowawakenedtoconfirmtheunwelcomerevelation.“Youmusthaveaskedherquestions.Itisdegrading.” “IseenoharmatallinTantripp’stalkingtome.Itisbettertohearwhatpeoplesay.Youseewhatmistakesyoumakebytakingupnotions.IamquitesurethatSirJamesmeanstomakeyouanofferandhebelievesthatyouwillaccepthim,especiallysinceyouhavebeensopleasedwithhimabouttheplans.Anduncletoo—Iknowheexpectsit.EveryonecanseethatSirJamesisverymuchinlovewithyou.” TherevulsionwassostrongandpainfulinDorothea’smindthatthetearswelledupandflowedabundantly.Allherdearplanswereembittered,andshethoughtwithdisgustofSirJames’sconceivingthatsherecognizedhimasherlover.TherewasvexationtooonaccountofCelia. “Howcouldheexpectit?”sheburstforthinhermostimpetuousmanner.“Ihaveneveragreedwithhimaboutanythingbutthecottages:Iwasbarelypolitetohimbefore.” “Butyouhavebeensopleasedwithhimsincethenhehasbeguntofeelquitesurethatyouarefondofhim.” “Fondofhim,