CHAPTER VIII.

“Oh,rescueher!Iamherbrothernow, Andyouherfather.Everygentlemaid Shouldhaveaguardianineachgentleman.” ItwaswonderfultoSirJamesChettamhowwellhecontinuedtolikegoingtotheGrangeafterhehadonceencounteredthedifficultyofseeingDorotheaforthefirsttimeinthelightofawomanwhowasengagedtoanotherman.Ofcoursetheforkedlightningseemedtopassthroughhimwhenhefirstapproachedher,andheremainedconsciousthroughouttheinterviewofhidinguneasinessbut,goodashewas,itmustbeownedthathisuneasinesswaslessthanitwouldhavebeenifhehadthoughthisrivalabrilliantanddesirablematch.HehadnosenseofbeingeclipsedbyMr.CasaubonhewasonlyshockedthatDorotheawasunderamelancholyillusion,andhismortificationlostsomeofitsbitternessbybeingmingledwithcompassion. Nevertheless,whileSirJamessaidtohimselfthathehadcompletelyresignedher,sincewiththeperversityofaDesdemonashehadnotaffectedaproposedmatchthatwasclearlysuitableandaccordingtonaturehecouldnotyetbequitepassiveundertheideaofherengagementtoMr.Casaubon.Onthedaywhenhefirstsawthemtogetherinthelightofhispresentknowledge,itseemedtohimthathehadnottakentheaffairseriouslyenough.Brookewasreallyculpableheoughttohavehinderedit.Whocouldspeaktohim?Somethingmightbedoneperhapsevennow,atleasttodeferthemarriage.OnhiswayhomeheturnedintotheRectoryandaskedforMr.Cadwallader.Happily,theRectorwasathome,andhisvisitorwasshownintothestudy,whereallthefishingtacklehung.Buthehimselfwasinalittleroomadjoining,atworkwithhisturningapparatus,andhecalledtothebaronettojoinhimthere.Thetwowerebetterfriendsthananyotherlandholderandclergymaninthecounty—asignificantfactwhichwasinagreementwiththeamiableexpressionoftheirfaces. Mr.Cadwalladerwasalargeman,withfulllipsandasweetsmileveryplainandroughinhisexterior,butwiththatsolidimperturbableeaseandgood-humorwhichisinfectious,andlikegreatgrassyhillsinthesunshine,quietsevenanirritatedegoism,andmakesitratherashamedofitself.“Well,howareyou?”hesaid,showingahandnotquite