CHAPTER VIII.

plyingthathethoughtillofaman’scharacter. “Why?whatdoyouknowagainsthim?”saidtheRectorlayingdownhisreels,andputtinghisthumbsintohisarmholeswithanairofattention. SirJamespaused.Hedidnotusuallyfinditeasytogivehisreasons:itseemedtohimstrangethatpeopleshouldnotknowthemwithoutbeingtold,sinceheonlyfeltwhatwasreasonable.Atlasthesaid— “Now,Cadwallader,hashegotanyheart?” “Well,yes.Idon’tmeanofthemeltingsort,butasoundkernel,thatyoumaybesureof.Heisverygoodtohispoorrelations:pensionsseveralofthewomen,andiseducatingayoungfellowatagooddealofexpense.Casaubonactsuptohissenseofjustice.Hismother’ssistermadeabadmatch—aPole,Ithink—lostherself—atanyratewasdisownedbyherfamily.Ifithadnotbeenforthat,Casaubonwouldnothavehadsomuchmoneybyhalf.Ibelievehewenthimselftofindouthiscousins,andseewhathecoulddoforthem.Everymanwouldnotringsowellasthat,ifyoutriedhismetal.Youwould,Chettambutnoteveryman.” “Idon’tknow,”saidSirJames,coloring.“Iamnotsosureofmyself.”Hepausedamoment,andthenadded,“ThatwasarightthingforCasaubontodo.Butamanmaywishtodowhatisright,andyetbeasortofparchmentcode.Awomanmaynotbehappywithhim.AndIthinkwhenagirlissoyoungasMissBrookeis,herfriendsoughttointerferealittletohinderherfromdoinganythingfoolish.Youlaugh,becauseyoufancyIhavesomefeelingonmyownaccount.Butuponmyhonor,itisnotthat.IshouldfeeljustthesameifIwereMissBrooke’sbrotheroruncle.” “Well,butwhatshouldyoudo?” “Ishouldsaythatthemarriagemustnotbedecidedonuntilshewasofage.Anddependuponit,inthatcase,itwouldnevercomeoff.IwishyousawitasIdo—IwishyouwouldtalktoBrookeaboutit.” SirJamesroseashewasfinishinghissentence,forhesawMrs.Cadwalladerenteringfromthestudy.Sheheldbythehandheryoungestgirl,aboutfiveyearsold,whoimmediatelyrantopapa,andwasmadecomfortableonhisknee. “Ihearwhatyouaretalkingabout,”saidthewife.“ButyouwillmakenoimpressiononHumphrey.Aslongasthefishrisetohisbait,everybodyiswhatheoughttobe.Blessyou,Casa