CHAPTER IV.

wantsacompanion—acompanion,youknow.” “Itwouldbeagreathonortoanyonetobehiscompanion,”saidDorothea,energetically. “Youlikehim,eh?”saidMr.Brooke,withoutshowinganysurprise,orotheremotion.“Well,now,I’veknownCasaubontenyears,eversincehecametoLowick.ButInevergotanythingoutofhim—anyideas,youknow.However,heisatiptopmanandmaybeabishop—thatkindofthing,youknow,ifPeelstaysin.Andhehasaveryhighopinionofyou,mydear.” Dorotheacouldnotspeak. “Thefactis,hehasaveryhighopinionindeedofyou.Andhespeaksuncommonlywell—doesCasaubon.Hehasdeferredtome,younotbeingofage.Inshort,Ihavepromisedtospeaktoyou,thoughItoldhimIthoughttherewasnotmuchchance.Iwasboundtotellhimthat.Isaid,mynieceisveryyoung,andthatkindofthing.ButIdidn’tthinkitnecessarytogointoeverything.However,thelongandtheshortofitis,thathehasaskedmypermissiontomakeyouanofferofmarriage—ofmarriage,youknow,”saidMr.Brooke,withhisexplanatorynod.“Ithoughtitbettertotellyou,mydear.” NoonecouldhavedetectedanyanxietyinMr.Brooke’smanner,buthedidreallywishtoknowsomethingofhisniece’smind,that,iftherewereanyneedforadvice,hemightgiveitintime.Whatfeelinghe,asamagistratewhohadtakeninsomanyideas,couldmakeroomfor,wasunmixedlykind.SinceDorotheadidnotspeakimmediately,herepeated,“Ithoughtitbettertotellyou,mydear.” “Thankyou,uncle,”saidDorothea,inaclearunwaveringtone.“IamverygratefultoMr.Casaubon.Ifhemakesmeanoffer,Ishallaccepthim.IadmireandhonorhimmorethananymanIeversaw.” Mr.Brookepausedalittle,andthensaidinalingeringlowtone,“Ah?…Well!Heisagoodmatchinsomerespects.Butnow,Chettamisagoodmatch.Andourlandliestogether.Ishallneverinterfereagainstyourwishes,mydear.Peopleshouldhavetheirownwayinmarriage,andthatsortofthing—uptoacertainpoint,youknow.Ihavealwayssaidthat,uptoacertainpoint.IwishyoutomarrywellandIhavegoodreasontobelievethatChettamwishestomarryyou.Imentionit,youknow.” “ItisimpossiblethatIshouldevermarrySirJamesChettam,”saidDorothea.“Ifhethinksofmarryingme,hehasmadeagreatmistake.” “Thatisit,yousee.Oneneverknows.IshouldhavethoughtChettamwasjustthesortofmanawomanwouldlike,now.” “Praydonotmentionhiminthatlightagain,uncle,”saidDorothea,feelingsomeofherlateirritationrevive. Mr.Brookewondered,andfeltthatwomenwereaninexhaustiblesubjectofstudy,sinceevenheathisagewasnotinaperfectstateofscientificpredictionaboutthem.HerewasafellowlikeChettamwithnochanceatall. “Well,butCasaubon,now.Thereisnohurry—Imeanforyou.It’strue,everyyearwilltelluponhim.Heisoverfive-and-forty,youknow.Ishouldsayagoodseven-and-twentyyearsolderthanyou.Tobesure,—ifyoulikelearningandstanding,andthatsortofthing,wecan’thaveeverything.Andhisincomeisgood—