CHAPTER VIII.

fittobegrasped.“SorryImissedyoubefore.Isthereanythingparticular?Youlookvexed.” SirJames’sbrowhadalittlecreaseinit,alittledepressionoftheeyebrow,whichheseemedpurposelytoexaggerateasheanswered. “ItisonlythisconductofBrooke’s.Ireallythinksomebodyshouldspeaktohim.” “What?meaningtostand?”saidMr.Cadwallader,goingonwiththearrangementofthereelswhichhehadjustbeenturning.“Ihardlythinkhemeansit.Butwhere’stheharm,ifhelikesit?AnyonewhoobjectstoWhiggeryshouldbegladwhentheWhigsdon’tputupthestrongestfellow.Theywon’toverturntheConstitutionwithourfriendBrooke’sheadforabatteringram.” “Oh,Idon’tmeanthat,”saidSirJames,who,afterputtingdownhishatandthrowinghimselfintoachair,hadbeguntonursehislegandexaminethesoleofhisbootwithmuchbitterness.“Imeanthismarriage.ImeanhislettingthatbloomingyounggirlmarryCasaubon.” “WhatisthematterwithCasaubon?Iseenoharminhim—ifthegirllikeshim.” “Sheistooyoungtoknowwhatshelikes.Herguardianoughttointerfere.Heoughtnottoallowthethingtobedoneinthisheadlongmanner.Iwonderamanlikeyou,Cadwallader—amanwithdaughters,canlookattheaffairwithindifference:andwithsuchaheartasyours!Dothinkseriouslyaboutit.” “IamnotjokingIamasseriousaspossible,”saidtheRector,withaprovokinglittleinwardlaugh.“YouareasbadasElinor.ShehasbeenwantingmetogoandlectureBrookeandIhaveremindedherthatherfriendshadaverypooropinionofthematchshemadewhenshemarriedme.” “ButlookatCasaubon,”saidSirJames,indignantly.“Hemustbefifty,andIdon’tbelievehecouldeverhavebeenmuchmorethantheshadowofaman.Lookathislegs!” “Confoundyouhandsomeyoungfellows!youthinkofhavingitallyourownwayintheworld.Youdon’tunderstandwomen.Theydon’tadmireyouhalfsomuchasyouadmireyourselves.Elinorusedtotellhersistersthatshemarriedmeformyugliness—itwassovariousandamusingthatithadquiteconqueredherprudence.” “You!itwaseasyenoughforawomantoloveyou.Butthisisnoquestionofbeauty.Idon’tlikeCasaubon.”ThiswasSirJames’sstrongestwayofim