CHAPTER X.

ehithertoshowntheirdisapprovalofit,andinthepresentstageofthingsIfeelmoretenderlytowardshisexperienceofsuccessthantowardsthedisappointmentoftheamiableSirJames.Forintruth,asthedayfixedforhismarriagecamenearer,Mr.Casaubondidnotfindhisspiritsrisingnordidthecontemplationofthatmatrimonialgardenscene,where,asallexperienceshowed,thepathwastobeborderedwithflowers,provepersistentlymoreenchantingtohimthantheaccustomedvaultswherehewalkedtaperinhand.Hedidnotconfesstohimself,stilllesscouldhehavebreathedtoanother,hissurprisethatthoughhehadwonalovelyandnoble-heartedgirlhehadnotwondelight,—whichhehadalsoregardedasanobjecttobefoundbysearch.Itistruethatheknewalltheclassicalpassagesimplyingthecontrarybutknowingclassicalpassages,wefind,isamodeofmotion,whichexplainswhytheyleavesolittleextraforcefortheirpersonalapplication. PoorMr.Casaubonhadimaginedthathislongstudiousbachelorhoodhadstoredupforhimacompoundinterestofenjoyment,andthatlargedraftsonhisaffectionswouldnotfailtobehonoredforweallofus,graveorlight,getourthoughtsentangledinmetaphors,andactfatallyonthestrengthofthem.Andnowhewasindangerofbeingsaddenedbytheveryconvictionthathiscircumstanceswereunusuallyhappy:therewasnothingexternalbywhichhecouldaccountforacertainblanknessofsensibilitywhichcameoverhimjustwhenhisexpectantgladnessshouldhavebeenmostlively,justwhenheexchangedtheaccustomeddulnessofhisLowicklibraryforhisvisitstotheGrange.Herewasawearyexperienceinwhichhewasasutterlycondemnedtolonelinessasinthedespairwhichsometimesthreatenedhimwhiletoilinginthemorassofauthorshipwithoutseemingnearertothegoal.Andhiswasthatworstlonelinesswhichwouldshrinkfromsympathy.HecouldnotbutwishthatDorotheashouldthinkhimnotlesshappythantheworldwouldexpecthersuccessfulsuitortobeandinrelationtohisauthorshipheleanedonheryoungtrustandveneration,helikedtodrawforthherfreshinterestinlistening,asameansofencouragementtohimself:intalkingtoherhepresentedallhisperformanceandintentionwiththereflectedconfidenceofthepedagogue,andridhimselfforthetimeofthatchillingidealaudiencewhichcrowdedhislaboriousuncreativehourswiththevaporouspressureofTartareanshades. FortoDorothea,afterthattoy-boxhistoryoftheworldadaptedtoyoungladieswhichhadmadethechiefpartofhereducation,Mr.Casaubon’stalkabouthisgreatbookwasfullofnewvistasandthissenseofrevelation,thissurpriseofanearerintroductiontoStoicsandAlexandrians,aspeoplewhohadideasnottotallyunlikeherown,keptinabeyanceforthetimeherusualeagernessforabindingtheorywhichcouldbringherownlifeanddoctrineintostrictconnectionwiththatamazingpast,andgivetheremotestsourcesofknowledgesomebearingonheractions.Thatmorecompleteteachingwouldcome—Mr.Casaubonwouldtellherallthat:shewaslookingforwardtohigherinitiationinideas,asshewaslookingforwardtomarriage,andblendingherdimconceptionsofboth.ItwouldbeagreatmistaketosupposethatDorotheawouldhavecaredaboutanyshareinMr.Casaubon’slearningasmereaccomplishmentforthoughopinionintheneighborhoodofFreshittandTiptonhadpronouncedherclever,thatepithetwouldnothavedescribedhertocirclesinwhosemoreprecisevocabularyclevernessimpliesmereaptitudeforknowinganddoing,apartfromcharacter.Allhereagernessforacquirementlaywithinthatfullcurrentofsympatheticmotiveinwhichherideasandimpulseswerehabituallysweptalong.Shedidnotwanttodeckherselfwithknowledge—towearitloosefromthenervesandbloodthatfedheractionandifshehadwrittenabookshemusthavedoneitasSaintTheresadid,underthecommandofanauthoritythatconstrainedherconscience.Butsomethingsheyearnedforbywhichherlifemightbefilledwithactionatoncerationalandardentandsincethetimewasgonebyforguidingvisionsandspiritualdirectors,sinceprayerheightenedyearningbutnotinstruction,whatlampwastherebutknowledge?SurelylearnedmenkepttheonlyoilandwhomorelearnedthanMr.Casaubon? ThusinthesebriefweeksDorothea’sjoyousgratefulexpectationwasunbroken,andhoweverherlovermightoccasionallybeconsciousofflatness,hecouldneverreferittoanyslackeningofheraffectionateinterest. TheseasonwasmildenoughtoencouragetheprojectofextendingtheweddingjourneyasfarasRome,andMr.CasaubonwasanxiousforthisbecausehewishedtoinspectsomemanuscriptsintheVatican. “Istillregretthatyoursisterisnottoaccompanyus,”hesaidonemorning,sometimeafterithadbeenascertainedthatCeliaobjectedtogo,andthatDorothe