CHAPTER VII.

“Piacerepopone Vuollasuastagione.” —ItalianProverb. Mr.Casaubon,asmightbeexpected,spentagreatdealofhistimeattheGrangeintheseweeks,andthehindrancewhichcourtshipoccasionedtotheprogressofhisgreatwork—theKeytoallMythologies—naturallymadehimlookforwardthemoreeagerlytothehappyterminationofcourtship.Buthehaddeliberatelyincurredthehindrance,havingmadeuphismindthatitwasnowtimeforhimtoadornhislifewiththegracesoffemalecompanionship,toirradiatethegloomwhichfatiguewasapttohangovertheintervalsofstudiouslaborwiththeplayoffemalefancy,andtosecureinthis,hisculminatingage,thesolaceoffemaletendanceforhisdecliningyears.Hencehedeterminedtoabandonhimselftothestreamoffeeling,andperhapswassurprisedtofindwhatanexceedinglyshallowrillitwas.Asindroughtyregionsbaptismbyimmersioncouldonlybeperformedsymbolically,Mr.Casaubonfoundthatsprinklingwastheutmostapproachtoaplungewhichhisstreamwouldaffordhimandheconcludedthatthepoetshadmuchexaggeratedtheforceofmasculinepassion.Nevertheless,heobservedwithpleasurethatMissBrookeshowedanardentsubmissiveaffectionwhichpromisedtofulfilhismostagreeableprevisionsofmarriage.IthadonceortwicecrossedhismindthatpossiblytherewassomedeficiencyinDorotheatoaccountforthemoderationofhisabandonmentbuthewasunabletodiscernthedeficiency,ortofiguretohimselfawomanwhowouldhavepleasedhimbettersothattherewasclearlynoreasontofallbackuponbuttheexaggerationsofhumantradition. “CouldInotbepreparingmyselfnowtobemoreuseful?”saidDorotheatohim,onemorning,earlyinthetimeofcourtship“couldInotlearntoreadLatinandGreekaloudtoyou,asMilton’sdaughtersdidtotheirfather,withoutunderstandingwhattheyread?” “Ifearthatwouldbewearisometoyou,”saidMr.Casaubon,smiling“and,indeed,ifIrememberrightly,theyoungwomenyouhavementionedregardedthatexerciseinunknowntonguesasagroundforrebellionagainstthepoet.” “Yesbutinthefirstplacetheywereverynaughtygirls,elsetheywouldhavebeenproudtoministertosuchafathe