CHAPTER X.

deadsetshemakesatyouthebetter.” “There’ssometruthinthat,”saidMr.Standish,disposedtobegenial.“And,byGod,it’susuallythewaywiththem.Isupposeitanswerssomewiseends:Providencemadethemso,eh,Bulstrode?” “Ishouldbedisposedtorefercoquetrytoanothersource,”saidMr.Bulstrode.“Ishouldratherreferittothedevil.” “Ay,tobesure,thereshouldbealittledevilinawoman,”saidMr.Chichely,whosestudyofthefairsexseemedtohavebeendetrimentaltohistheology.“AndIlikethemblond,withacertaingait,andaswanneck.Betweenourselves,themayor’sdaughterismoretomytastethanMissBrookeorMissCeliaeither.IfIwereamarryingmanIshouldchooseMissVincybeforeeitherofthem.” “Well,makeup,makeup,”saidMr.Standish,jocosely“youseethemiddle-agedfellowscarrytheday.” Mr.Chichelyshookhisheadwithmuchmeaning:hewasnotgoingtoincurthecertaintyofbeingacceptedbythewomanhewouldchoose. TheMissVincywhohadthehonorofbeingMr.Chichely’sidealwasofcoursenotpresentforMr.Brooke,alwaysobjectingtogotoofar,wouldnothavechosenthathisniecesshouldmeetthedaughterofaMiddlemarchmanufacturer,unlessitwereonapublicoccasion.ThefemininepartofthecompanyincludednonewhomLadyChettamorMrs.CadwalladercouldobjecttoforMrs.Renfrew,thecolonel’swidow,wasnotonlyunexceptionableinpointofbreeding,butalsointerestingonthegroundofhercomplaint,whichpuzzledthedoctors,andseemedclearlyacasewhereinthefulnessofprofessionalknowledgemightneedthesupplementofquackery.LadyChettam,whoattributedherownremarkablehealthtohome-madebittersunitedwithconstantmedicalattendance,enteredwithmuchexerciseoftheimaginationintoMrs.Renfrew’saccountofsymptoms,andintotheamazingfutilityinhercaseofallstrengtheningmedicines. “Wherecanallthestrengthofthosemedicinesgo,mydear?”saidthemildbutstatelydowager,turningtoMrs.Cadwalladerreflectively,whenMrs.Renfrew’sattentionwascalledaway. “Itstrengthensthedisease,”saidtheRector’swife,muchtoowell-bornnottobeanamateurinmedicine.“Everythingdependsontheconstitution:somepeoplemakefat,someblood,andsomebile—that’smyviewofthematterandwhatevertheytakeisasortofgristtothemill.” “Thensheoughttotakemedicinesthatwouldreduce—reducethedisease,youknow,ifyouareright,mydear.AndIthinkwhatyousayisreasonable.” “Certainlyitisreasonable.Youhavetwosortsofpotatoes,fedonthesamesoil.Oneofthemgrowsmoreandmorewatery—” “Ah!likethispoorMrs.Renfrew—thatiswhatIthink.Dropsy!Thereisnoswellingyet—itisinward.Ishouldsaysheoughttotakedryingmedicines,shouldn’tyou?—oradryhot-airbath.Manythingsmightbetried,ofadryingnature.” “Lethertryacertainperson’spamphlets,”saidMrs.Cadwalladerinanundertone,seeingthegentlemenenter.“Hedoesnotwantdrying.” “Who,mydear?”saidLadyChettam,acharmingwoman,notsoquickastonullifythepleasureofexplanation. “Thebridegroom—Casaubon.Hehascertainlybeendryingupfastersincetheengagement:theflameofpassion,Isuppose.” “Ishouldthinkheisfarfromhavingagoodconstitution,”saidLadyChettam,withastilldeeperundertone.“Andthenhisstudies—soverydry,asyousay.” “Really,bythesideofSirJames,helookslikeadeath’sheadskinnedoverfortheoccasion.Markmywords:inayearfromthistimethatgirlwillhatehim.Shelooksuptohimasanoraclenow,andby-and-byshewillbeattheotherextreme.Allflightiness!” “Howveryshocking!Ifearsheisheadstrong.Buttellme—youknowallabouthim—isthereanythingverybad?Whatisthetruth?” “Thetruth?heisasbadasthewrongphysic—nastytotake,andsuretodisagree.” “Therecouldnotbeanythingworsethanthat,”saidLadyChettam,withsovividaconceptionofthephysicthatsheseemedtohavelearnedsomethingexactaboutMr.Casaubon’sdisadvantages.“However,JameswillhearnothingagainstMissBrooke.Hesayssheisthemirrorofwomenstill.” “Thatisagenerousmake-believeofhis.Dependuponit,helikeslittleCeliabetter,andsheappreciateshim.IhopeyoulikemylittleCelia?” “Certainlysheisfonderofgeraniums,andseemsmoredocile,thoughnotsofineafigure.Butweweretalkingofphysic.Tellmeaboutthisnewyoungsurgeon,Mr.Lydgate.Iamtoldheiswonderfullyclever:hecertainlylooksit—afinebrowindeed.” “Heisagentleman.IheardhimtalkingtoHumphrey.Hetalkswell.” “Yes.Mr.BrookesaysheisoneoftheLydgatesofNorthumberland,reallywellconnected.Onedoesnotexpectitinapractitionerofthatkind.Formyownpart,Ilikeamedicalmanmoreonafootingwiththeservantstheyareoftenallthecleverer.IassureyouIfoundpoorHicks’sjudgmentunfailingI