CHAPTER IV.

hehasahandsomepropertyindependentoftheChurch—hisincomeisgood.Stillheisnotyoung,andImustnotconcealfromyou,mydear,thatIthinkhishealthisnotover-strong.Iknownothingelseagainsthim.” “Ishouldnotwishtohaveahusbandverynearmyownage,”saidDorothea,withgravedecision.“Ishouldwishtohaveahusbandwhowasabovemeinjudgmentandinallknowledge.” Mr.Brookerepeatedhissubdued,“Ah?—Ithoughtyouhadmoreofyourownopinionthanmostgirls.Ithoughtyoulikedyourownopinion—likedit,youknow.” “Icannotimaginemyselflivingwithoutsomeopinions,butIshouldwishtohavegoodreasonsforthem,andawisemancouldhelpmetoseewhichopinionshadthebestfoundation,andwouldhelpmetoliveaccordingtothem.” “Verytrue.Youcouldn’tputthethingbetter—couldn’tputitbetter,beforehand,youknow.Butthereareodditiesinthings,”continuedMr.Brooke,whoseconsciencewasreallyrousedtodothebesthecouldforhisnieceonthisoccasion.“Lifeisn’tcastinamould—notcutoutbyruleandline,andthatsortofthing.Inevermarriedmyself,anditwillbethebetterforyouandyours.Thefactis,Ineverlovedanyonewellenoughtoputmyselfintoanooseforthem.Itisanoose,youknow.Temper,now.Thereistemper.Andahusbandlikestobemaster.” “IknowthatImustexpecttrials,uncle.Marriageisastateofhigherduties.Ineverthoughtofitasmerepersonalease,”saidpoorDorothea. “Well,youarenotfondofshow,agreatestablishment,balls,dinners,thatkindofthing.IcanseethatCasaubon’swaysmightsuityoubetterthanChettam’s.Andyoushalldoasyoulike,mydear.IwouldnothinderCasaubonIsaidsoatonceforthereisnoknowinghowanythingmayturnout.Youhavenotthesametastesaseveryyoungladyandaclergymanandscholar—whomaybeabishop—thatkindofthing—maysuityoubetterthanChettam.Chettamisagoodfellow,agoodsound-heartedfellow,youknowbuthedoesn’tgomuchintoideas.Idid,whenIwashisage.ButCasaubon’seyes,now.Ithinkhehashurtthemalittlewithtoomuchreading.” “Ishouldbeallthehappier,uncle,themoreroomtherewasformetohelphim,”saidDorothea,ardently. “Youhavequitemadeupyourmind,Isee.Well,mydear,thefactis,Ihavealetterforyouinmypocket.”Mr.BrookehandedthelettertoDorothea,butassherosetogoaway,headded,“Thereisnottoomuchhurry,mydear.Thinkaboutit,youknow.” WhenDorotheahadlefthim,hereflectedthathehadcertainlyspokenstrongly:hehadputtherisksofmarriagebeforeherinastrikingmanner.Itwashisdutytodoso.Butastopretendingtobewiseforyoungpeople,—nouncle,howevermuchhehadtravelledinhisyouth,absorbedthenewideas,anddinedwithcelebritiesnowdeceased,couldpretendtojudgewhatsortofmarriagewouldturnoutwellforayounggirlwhopreferredCasaubontoChettam.Inshort,womanwasaproblemwhich,sinceMr.Brooke’smindfeltblankbeforeit,couldbehardlylesscomplicatedthantherevolutionsofanirregularsolid.