CHAPTER V.

twasallverywellnottoacceptSirJamesChettam,buttheideaofmarryingMr.Casaubon!Celiafeltasortofshamemingledwithasenseoftheludicrous.ButperhapsDodo,ifshewerereallyborderingonsuchanextravagance,mightbeturnedawayfromit:experiencehadoftenshownthatherimpressibilitymightbecalculatedon.Thedaywasdamp,andtheywerenotgoingtowalkout,sotheybothwentuptotheirsitting-roomandthereCeliaobservedthatDorothea,insteadofsettlingdownwithherusualdiligentinteresttosomeoccupation,simplyleanedherelbowonanopenbookandlookedoutofthewindowatthegreatcedarsilveredwiththedamp.Sheherselfhadtakenupthemakingofatoyforthecurate’schildren,andwasnotgoingtoenteronanysubjecttooprecipitately. DorotheawasinfactthinkingthatitwasdesirableforCeliatoknowofthemomentouschangeinMr.Casaubon’spositionsincehehadlastbeeninthehouse:itdidnotseemfairtoleaveherinignoranceofwhatwouldnecessarilyaffectherattitudetowardshimbutitwasimpossiblenottoshrinkfromtellingher.Dorotheaaccusedherselfofsomemeannessinthistimidity:itwasalwaysodioustohertohaveanysmallfearsorcontrivancesaboutheractions,butatthismomentshewasseekingthehighestaidpossiblethatshemightnotdreadthecorrosivenessofCelia’sprettycarnallymindedprose.Herreveriewasbroken,andthedifficultyofdecisionbanished,byCelia’ssmallandrathergutturalvoicespeakinginitsusualtone,ofaremarkasideora“bythebye.” “IsanyoneelsecomingtodinebesidesMr.Casaubon?” “NotthatIknowof.” “Ihopethereissomeoneelse.ThenIshallnothearhimeathissoupso.” “Whatisthereremarkableabouthissoup-eating?” “Really,Dodo,can’tyouhearhowhescrapeshisspoon?Andhealwaysblinksbeforehespeaks.Idon’tknowwhetherLockeblinked,butI’msureIamsorryforthosewhosatoppositetohimifhedid.” “Celia,”saidDorothea,withemphaticgravity,“praydon’tmakeanymoreobservationsofthatkind.” “Whynot?Theyarequitetrue,”returnedCelia,whohadherreasonsforpersevering,thoughshewasbeginningtobealittleafraid. “Manythingsaretruewhichonlythecommonestmindsobserve.” “ThenIthinkthecommonestmindsmustberatheruseful.IthinkitisapityMr.Casaubon’smotherhadnotacommonermind:shemighthavetaughthimbetter.”Celiawasinwardlyfrightened,andreadytorunaway,nowshehadhurledthislightjavelin. Dorothea’sfeelingshadgatheredtoanavalanche,andtherecouldbenofurtherpreparation. “Itisrighttotellyou,Celia,thatIamengagedtomarryMr.Casaubon.” PerhapsCeliahadneverturnedsopalebefore.Thepapermanshewasmakingwouldhavehadhisleginjured,butforherhabitualcareofwhateversheheldinherhands.Shelaidthefragilefiguredownatonce,andsatperfectlystillforafewmoments.Whenshespoketherewasateargathering. “Oh,Dodo,Ihopeyouwillbehappy.”Hersisterlytendernesscouldnotbutsurmountotherfeelingsatthismoment,andherfearswerethefearsofaffection. Dorotheawasstillhurtandagitated. “Itisquitedecided,then?”saidCelia,inanawedundertone.“Anduncleknows?” “IhaveacceptedMr.Casaubon’soffer.Myunclebroughtmetheletterthatcontaineditheknewaboutitbeforehand.” “Ibegyourpardon,ifIhavesaidanythingtohurtyou,Dodo,”saidCelia,withaslightsob.Shenevercouldhavethoughtthatsheshouldfeelasshedid.Therewassomethingfunerealinthewholeaffair,andMr.Casaubonseemedtobetheofficiatingclergyman,aboutwhomitwouldbeindecenttomakeremarks. “Nevermind,Kitty,donotgrieve.Weshouldneveradmirethesamepeople.IoftenoffendinsomethingofthesamewayIamapttospeaktoostronglyofthosewhodon’tpleaseme.”