CHAPTER VIII.

ubonhasgotatrout-stream,anddoesnotcareaboutfishinginithimself:couldtherebeabetterfellow?” “Well,thereissomethinginthat,”saidtheRector,withhisquiet,inwardlaugh.“Itisaverygoodqualityinamantohaveatrout-stream.” “Butseriously,”saidSirJames,whosevexationhadnotyetspentitself,“don’tyouthinktheRectormightdosomegoodbyspeaking?” “Oh,Itoldyoubeforehandwhathewouldsay,”answeredMrs.Cadwallader,liftinguphereyebrows.“IhavedonewhatIcould:Iwashmyhandsofthemarriage.” “Inthefirstplace,”saidtheRector,lookingrathergrave,“itwouldbenonsensicaltoexpectthatIcouldconvinceBrooke,andmakehimactaccordingly.Brookeisaverygoodfellow,butpulpyhewillrunintoanymould,buthewon’tkeepshape.” “Hemightkeepshapelongenoughtodeferthemarriage,”saidSirJames. “But,mydearChettam,whyshouldIusemyinfluencetoCasaubon’sdisadvantage,unlessIweremuchsurerthanIamthatIshouldbeactingfortheadvantageofMissBrooke?IknownoharmofCasaubon.Idon’tcareabouthisXisuthrusandFee-fo-fumandtherestbutthenhedoesn’tcareaboutmyfishing-tackle.AstothelinehetookontheCatholicQuestion,thatwasunexpectedbuthehasalwaysbeenciviltome,andIdon’tseewhyIshouldspoilhissport.ForanythingIcantell,MissBrookemaybehappierwithhimthanshewouldbewithanyotherman.” “Humphrey!Ihavenopatiencewithyou.YouknowyouwouldratherdineunderthehedgethanwithCasaubonalone.Youhavenothingtosaytoeachother.” “WhathasthattodowithMissBrooke’smarryinghim?Shedoesnotdoitformyamusement.” “Hehasgotnogoodredbloodinhisbody,”saidSirJames. “No.Somebodyputadropunderamagnifying-glassanditwasallsemicolonsandparentheses,”saidMrs.Cadwallader. “Whydoeshenotbringouthisbook,insteadofmarrying,”saidSirJames,withadisgustwhichheheldwarrantedbythesoundfeelingofanEnglishlayman. “Oh,hedreamsfootnotes,andtheyrunawaywithallhisbrains.Theysay,whenhewasalittleboy,hemadeanabstractof‘Hopo’myThumb,’andhehasbeenmakingabstractseversince.Ugh!AndthatisthemanHumphreygoesonsayingthatawomanmaybehappywith