CHAPTER IX.

oldCasaubonheshouldchangehisgardener.” “No,notagardener,”saidCelia“agentlemanwithasketch-book.Hehadlight-browncurls.Ionlysawhisback.Buthewasquiteyoung.” “Thecurate’sson,perhaps,”saidMr.Brooke.“Ah,thereisCasaubonagain,andTuckerwithhim.HeisgoingtointroduceTucker.Youdon’tknowTuckeryet.” Mr.Tuckerwasthemiddle-agedcurate,oneofthe“inferiorclergy,”whoareusuallynotwantinginsons.Butaftertheintroduction,theconversationdidnotleadtoanyquestionabouthisfamily,andthestartlingapparitionofyouthfulnesswasforgottenbyeveryonebutCelia.Sheinwardlydeclinedtobelievethatthelight-browncurlsandslimfigurecouldhaveanyrelationshiptoMr.Tucker,whowasjustasoldandmusty-lookingasshewouldhaveexpectedMr.Casaubon’scuratetobedoubtlessanexcellentmanwhowouldgotoheaven(forCeliawishednottobeunprincipled),butthecornersofhismouthweresounpleasant.CeliathoughtwithsomedismalnessofthetimesheshouldhavetospendasbridesmaidatLowick,whilethecuratehadprobablynoprettylittlechildrenwhomshecouldlike,irrespectiveofprinciple. Mr.TuckerwasinvaluableintheirwalkandperhapsMr.Casaubonhadnotbeenwithoutforesightonthishead,thecuratebeingabletoanswerallDorothea’squestionsaboutthevillagersandtheotherparishioners.Everybody,heassuredher,waswelloffinLowick:notacottagerinthosedoublecottagesatalowrentbutkeptapig,andthestripsofgardenatthebackwerewelltended.Thesmallboysworeexcellentcorduroy,thegirlswentoutastidyservants,ordidalittlestraw-plaitingathome:noloomshere,noDissentandthoughthepublicdispositionwasrathertowardslayingbymoneythantowardsspirituality,therewasnotmuchvice.ThespeckledfowlsweresonumerousthatMr.Brookeobserved,“Yourfarmersleavesomebarleyforthewomentoglean,Isee.Thepoorfolksheremighthaveafowlintheirpot,asthegoodFrenchkingusedtowishforallhispeople.TheFrencheatagoodmanyfowls—skinnyfowls,youknow.” “Ithinkitwasaverycheapwishofhis,”saidDorothea,indignantly.“Arekingssuchmonstersthatawishlikethatmustbereckonedaroyalvirtue?” “Andifhewishedthemaskinnyfowl,”saidCelia,“thatwouldnotbenice.Butperhapshewishedthemtohavefatfowls.” “Yes,butthewordhasdroppedoutofthetext,orperhapswassubauditumthatis,presentintheking’smind,butnotuttered,”saidMr.Casaubon,smilingandbendinghisheadtowardsCelia,whoimmediatelydroppedbackwardalittle,becauseshecouldnotbearMr.Casaubontoblinkather. Dorotheasankintosilenceonthewaybacktothehouse.Shefeltsomedisappointment,ofwhichshewasyetashamed,thattherewasnothingforhertodoinLowickandinthenextfewminuteshermindhadglancedoverthepossibility,whichshewouldhavepreferred,offindingthatherhomewouldbeinaparishwhichhadalargershareoftheworld’smisery,sothatshemighthavehadmoreactivedutiesinit.Then,recurringtothefutureactuallybeforeher,shemadeapictureofmorecompletedevotiontoMr.Casaubon’saimsinwhichshewouldawaitnewduties.Manysuchmightrevealthemselvestothehigherknowledgegainedbyherinthatcompanionship. Mr.Tuckersoonleftthem,havingsomeclericalworkwhichwouldnotallowhimtolunchattheHallandastheywerere-enteringthegardenthroughthelittlegate,Mr.Casaubonsaid— “Youseemalittlesad,Dorothea.Itrustyouarepleasedwithwhatyouhaveseen.” “Iamfeelingsomethingwhichisperhapsfoolishandwrong,”answeredDorothea,withherusualopenness—“almostwishingthatthepeoplewantedmoretobedoneforthemhere.Ihaveknownsofewwaysofmakingmylifegoodforanything.Ofcourse,mynotionsofusefulnessmustbenarrow.Imustlearnnewwaysofhelpingpeople.” “Doubtless,”saidMr.Casaubon.“Eachpositionhasitscorrespondingduties.Yours,Itrust,asthemistressofLowick,willnotleaveanyyearningunfulfilled.” “Indeed,Ibelievethat,”saidDorothea,earnestly.“DonotsupposethatIamsad.” “Thatiswell.But,ifyouarenottired,wewilltakeanotherwaytothehousethanthatbywhichwecame.” Dorotheawasnotatalltired,andalittlecircuitwasmadetowardsafineyew-tree,thechiefhereditarygloryofthegroundsonthissideofthehouse.Astheyappro