CHAPTER IX.

adislaw’ssenseoftheludicrouslituphisfeaturesveryagreeably:itwasthepureenjoymentofcomicality,andhadnomixtureofsneeringandself-exaltation. “Whatisyournephewgoingtodowithhimself,Casaubon?”saidMr.Brooke,astheywenton. “Mycousin,youmean—notmynephew.” “Yes,yes,cousin.Butinthewayofacareer,youknow.” “Theanswertothatquestionispainfullydoubtful.OnleavingRugbyhedeclinedtogotoanEnglishuniversity,whereIwouldgladlyhaveplacedhim,andchosewhatImustconsidertheanomalouscourseofstudyingatHeidelberg.Andnowhewantstogoabroadagain,withoutanyspecialobject,savethevaguepurposeofwhathecallsculture,preparationforheknowsnotwhat.Hedeclinestochooseaprofession.” “Hehasnomeansbutwhatyoufurnish,Isuppose.” “IhavealwaysgivenhimandhisfriendsreasontounderstandthatIwouldfurnishinmoderationwhatwasnecessaryforprovidinghimwithascholarlyeducation,andlaunchinghimrespectably.Iamthereforeboundtofulfiltheexpectationsoraised,”saidMr.Casaubon,puttinghisconductinthelightofmererectitude:atraitofdelicacywhichDorotheanoticedwithadmiration. “HehasathirstfortravellingperhapshemayturnoutaBruceoraMungoPark,”saidMr.Brooke.“Ihadanotionofthatmyselfatonetime.” “No,hehasnobenttowardsexploration,ortheenlargementofourgeognosis:thatwouldbeaspecialpurposewhichIcouldrecognizewithsomeapprobation,thoughwithoutfelicitatinghimonacareerwhichsooftenendsinprematureandviolentdeath.Butsofarishefromhavinganydesireforamoreaccurateknowledgeoftheearth’ssurface,thathesaidheshouldprefernottoknowthesourcesoftheNile,andthatthereshouldbesomeunknownregionspreservedashuntinggroundsforthepoeticimagination.” “Well,thereissomethinginthat,youknow,”saidMr.Brooke,whohadcertainlyanimpartialmind. “Itis,Ifear,nothingmorethanapartofhisgeneralinaccuracyandindispositiontothoroughnessofallkinds,whichwouldbeabadauguryforhiminanyprofession,civilorsacred,evenwerehesofarsubmissivetoordinaryruleastochooseone.” “Perhapshehasconscientiousscruplesfoundedonhisownunfitness,”saidDorothea,whowasinterestingherselfinfindingafavorableexplanation.“Becausethelawandmedicineshouldbeveryseriousprofessionstoundertake,shouldtheynot?People’slivesandfortunesdependonthem.” “DoubtlessbutIfearthatmyyoungrelativeWillLadislawischieflydeterminedinhisaversiontothesecallingsbyadisliketosteadyapplication,andtothatkindofacquirementwhichisneedfulinstrumentally,butisnotcharmingorimmediatelyinvitingtoself-indulgenttaste.IhaveinsistedtohimonwhatAristotlehasstatedwithadmirablebrevity,thatfortheachievementofanyworkregardedasanendtheremustbeapriorexerciseofmanyenergiesoracquiredfacilitiesofasecondaryorder,demandingpatience.Ihavepointedtomyownmanuscriptvolumes,whichrepresentthetoilofyearspreparatorytoaworknotyetaccomplished.Butinvain.TocarefulreasoningofthiskindherepliesbycallinghimselfPegasus,andeveryformofprescribedwork‘harness.’” Celialaughed.ShewassurprisedtofindthatMr.Casauboncouldsaysomethingquiteamusing. “Well,youknow,hemayturnoutaByron,aChatterton,aChurchill—thatsortofthing—there’snotelling,”saidMr.Brooke.“ShallyoulethimgotoItaly,orwhereverelsehewantstogo?” “YesIhaveagreedtofurnishhimwithmoderatesuppliesforayearorsoheasksnomore.Ishalllethimbetriedbythetestoffreedom.” “Thatisverykindofyou,”saidDorothea,lookingupatMr.Casaubonwithdelight.“Itisnoble.Afterall,peoplemayreallyhaveinthemsomevocationwhichisnotquiteplaintothemselves,maytheynot?Theymayseemidleandweakbecausetheyaregrowing.Weshouldbeverypatientwitheachother,Ithink.” “Isupposeitisbeingengagedtobemarriedthathasmadeyouthinkpatiencegood,”saidCelia,assoonassheandDorotheawerealonetogether,takingofftheirwrappings. “YoumeanthatIamveryimpatient,Celia.” “Yeswhenpeopledon’tdoandsayjustwhatyoulike.”Celiahadbecomelessafraidof“sayingthings”toDorotheasincethisengagement:clevernessseemedtohermorepitiablethanever.