CHAPTER VI.

vebeenagoodhusband.Only,”Celiaadded,withaslightblush(shesometimesseemedtoblushasshebreathed),“Idon’tthinkhewouldhavesuitedDorothea.” “Nothigh-flownenough?” “Dodoisverystrict.Shethinkssomuchabouteverything,andissoparticularaboutwhatonesays.SirJamesneverseemedtopleaseher.” “Shemusthaveencouragedhim,Iamsure.Thatisnotverycreditable.” “Pleasedon’tbeangrywithDodoshedoesnotseethings.Shethoughtsomuchaboutthecottages,andshewasrudetoSirJamessometimesbutheissokind,henevernoticedit.” “Well,”saidMrs.Cadwallader,puttingonhershawl,andrising,asifinhaste,“ImustgostraighttoSirJamesandbreakthistohim.Hewillhavebroughthismotherbackbythistime,andImustcall.Yourunclewillnevertellhim.Wearealldisappointed,mydear.Youngpeopleshouldthinkoftheirfamiliesinmarrying.Isetabadexample—marriedapoorclergyman,andmademyselfapitiableobjectamongtheDeBracys—obligedtogetmycoalsbystratagem,andpraytoheavenformysaladoil.However,CasaubonhasmoneyenoughImustdohimthatjustice.Astohisblood,Isupposethefamilyquarteringsarethreecuttle-fishsable,andacommentatorrampant.Bythebye,beforeIgo,mydear,ImustspeaktoyourMrs.Carteraboutpastry.Iwanttosendmyyoungcooktolearnofher.Poorpeoplewithfourchildren,likeus,youknow,can’taffordtokeepagoodcook.IhavenodoubtMrs.Carterwillobligeme.SirJames’scookisaperfectdragon.” Inlessthananhour,Mrs.CadwalladerhadcircumventedMrs.CarteranddriventoFreshittHall,whichwasnotfarfromherownparsonage,herhusbandbeingresidentinFreshittandkeepingacurateinTipton. SirJamesChettamhadreturnedfromtheshortjourneywhichhadkepthimabsentforacoupleofdays,andhadchangedhisdress,intendingtorideovertoTiptonGrange.HishorsewasstandingatthedoorwhenMrs.Cadwalladerdroveup,andheimmediatelyappearedtherehimself,whipinhand.LadyChettamhadnotyetreturned,butMrs.Cadwallader’serrandcouldnotbedespatchedinthepresenceofgrooms,sosheaskedtobetakenintotheconservatorycloseby,tolookatthenewplantsandoncomingtoacontemplativestand,shesaid— “IhaveagreatshockforyouIhopeyouarenotsofargoneinloveasyoupretendedtobe.” ItwasofnouseprotestingagainstMrs.Cadwallader’swayofputtingthings.ButSirJames’scountenancechangedalittle.Hefeltavaguealarm. “IdobelieveBrookeisgoingtoexposehimselfafterall.IaccusedhimofmeaningtostandforMiddlemarchontheLiberalside,andhelookedsillyandneverdeniedit—talkedabouttheindependentline,andtheusualnonsense.” “Isthatall?”saidSirJames,muchrelieved. “Why,”rejoinedMrs.Cadwallader,withasharpernote,“youdon’tmeantosaythatyouwouldlikehimtoturnpublicmaninthatway—makingasortofpoliticalCheapJackofhimself?” “Hemightbedissuaded,Ishouldthink.Hewouldnotliketheexpense.” “ThatiswhatItoldhim.Heisvulnerabletoreasonthere—alwaysafewgrainsofcommon-senseinanounceofmiserliness.Miserlinessisacapitalqualitytoruninfamiliesit’sthesafesideformadnesstodipon.AndtheremustbealittlecrackintheBrookefamily,elseweshouldnotseewhatwearetosee.” “What?BrookestandingforMiddlemarch?” “Worsethanthat.Ireallyfeelalittleresponsible.IalwaystoldyouMissBrookewouldbesuchafinematch.Iknewtherewasagreatdealofnonsenseinher—aflightysortofMethodisticalstuff.Butthesethingswearoutofgirls.However,Iamtakenbysurpriseforonce.” “Whatdoyoumean,Mrs.Cadwallader?”saidSirJames.HisfearlestMissBrookeshouldhaverunawaytojointheMoravianBrethren,orsomepreposteroussectunknowntogoodsociety,wasalittleallayedbytheknowledgethatMrs.Cadwalladeralwaysmadetheworstofthings.“WhathashappenedtoMissBrooke?Prayspeakout.” “Verywell.Sheisengagedtobemarried.”Mrs.Cadwalladerpausedafewmoments,observingthedeeplyhurtexpressioninherfriend’sface,whichhewastryingtoconcealbyanervoussmile,whilehewhippedhisbootbutshesoonadded,“EngagedtoCasaubon.” SirJameslethiswhipfallandstoopedtopickitup.PerhapshisfacehadneverbeforegatheredsomuchconcentrateddisgustaswhenheturnedtoMrs.Cadwalladerandrepeated,“Casaubon?” “Evenso.Youknowmyerrandnow.” “GoodGod!Itishorrible!Heisnobetterthanamummy!”(Thepointofviewhastobeallowedfor,asthatofabloominganddisappointedrival.) “Shesays,heisagreatsoul.—Agreatbladderfordriedpeastorattlein!”saidMrs.Cadwallader. “Whatbusinesshasanoldb