CHAPTER VI.

eiraccentwasanafflictiontotheears.Atownwheresuchmonstersaboundedwashardlymorethanasortoflowcomedy,whichcouldnotbetakenaccountofinawell-bredschemeoftheuniverse.LetanyladywhoisinclinedtobehardonMrs.Cadwalladerinquireintothecomprehensivenessofherownbeautifulviews,andbequitesurethattheyaffordaccommodationforalltheliveswhichhavethehonortocoexistwithhers. Withsuchamind,activeasphosphorus,bitingeverythingthatcamenearintotheformthatsuitedit,howcouldMrs.CadwalladerfeelthattheMissBrookesandtheirmatrimonialprospectswerealientoher?especiallyasithadbeenthehabitofyearsforhertoscoldMr.Brookewiththefriendliestfrankness,andlethimknowinconfidencethatshethoughthimapoorcreature.FromthefirstarrivaloftheyoungladiesinTiptonshehadprearrangedDorothea’smarriagewithSirJames,andifithadtakenplacewouldhavebeenquitesurethatitwasherdoing:thatitshouldnottakeplaceaftershehadpreconceivedit,causedheranirritationwhicheverythinkerwillsympathizewith.ShewasthediplomatistofTiptonandFreshitt,andforanythingtohappeninspiteofherwasanoffensiveirregularity.AstofreakslikethisofMissBrooke’s,Mrs.Cadwalladerhadnopatiencewiththem,andnowsawthatheropinionofthisgirlhadbeeninfectedwithsomeofherhusband’sweakcharitableness:thoseMethodisticalwhims,thatairofbeingmorereligiousthantherectorandcuratetogether,camefromadeeperandmoreconstitutionaldiseasethanshehadbeenwillingtobelieve. “However,”saidMrs.Cadwallader,firsttoherselfandafterwardstoherhusband,“Ithrowherover:therewasachance,ifshehadmarriedSirJames,ofherbecomingasane,sensiblewoman.Hewouldneverhavecontradictedher,andwhenawomanisnotcontradicted,shehasnomotiveforobstinacyinherabsurdities.ButnowIwishherjoyofherhairshirt.” ItfollowedthatMrs.CadwalladermustdecideonanothermatchforSirJames,andhavingmadeuphermindthatitwastobetheyoungerMissBrooke,therecouldnothavebeenamoreskilfulmovetowardsthesuccessofherplanthanherhinttothebaronetthathehadmadeanimpressiononCelia’sheart.ForhewasnotoneofthosegentlemenwholanguishaftertheunattainableSappho’sapplethatlaughsfromthetopmostbough—thecharmswhich “Smileliketheknotofcowslipsonthecliff, Nottobecomeatbythewillinghand.” Hehadnosonnetstowrite,anditcouldnotstrikehimagreeablythathewasnotanobjectofpreferencetothewomanwhomhehadpreferred.AlreadytheknowledgethatDorotheahadchosenMr.Casaubonhadbruisedhisattachmentandrelaxeditshold.AlthoughSirJameswasasportsman,hehadsomeotherfeelingstowardswomenthantowardsgrouseandfoxes,anddidnotregardhisfuturewifeinthelightofprey,valuablechieflyfortheexcitementsofthechase.Neitherwashesowellacquaintedwiththehabitsofprimitiveracesastofeelthatanidealcombatforher,tomahawkinhand,sotospeak,wasnecessarytothehistoricalcontinuityofthemarriage-tie.Onthecontrary,havingtheamiablevanitywhichknitsustothosewhoarefondofus,anddisinclinesustothosewhoareindifferent,andalsoagoodgratefulnature,themereideathatawomanhadakindnesstowardshimspunlittlethreadsoftendernessfromouthishearttowardshers. Thusithappened,thatafterSirJameshadriddenratherfastforhalfanhourinadirectionawayfromTiptonGrange,heslackenedhispace,andatlastturnedintoaroadwhichwouldleadhimbackbyashortercut.VariousfeelingswroughtinhimthedeterminationafteralltogototheGrangeto-dayasifnothingnewhadhappened.HecouldnothelprejoicingthathehadnevermadetheofferandbeenrejectedmerefriendlypolitenessrequiredthatheshouldcalltoseeDorotheaaboutthecottages,andnowhappilyMrs.Cadwalladerhadpreparedhimtoofferhiscongratulations,ifnecessary,withoutshowingtoomuchawkwardness.Hereallydidnotlikeit:givingupDorotheawasverypainfultohimbuttherewassomethingintheresolvetomakethisvisitforthwithandconquerallshowoffeeling,whichwasasortoffile-bitingandcounter-irritant.Andwithouthisdistinctlyrecognizingtheimpulse,therecertainlywaspresentinhimthesensethatCeliawouldbethere,andthatheshouldpayhermoreattentionthanhehaddonebefore. Wemortals,menandwomen,devourmanyadisappointmentbetweenbreakfastanddinner-timekeepbackthetearsandlookalittlepaleaboutthelips,andinanswertoinquiriessay,“Oh,nothing!”Pridehelpsusandprideisnotabadthingwhenitonlyurgesustohideourownhurts—nottohurtothers.