CHAPTER X.

neverknewhimwrong.Hewascoarseandbutcher-like,butheknewmyconstitution.Itwasalosstomehisgoingoffsosuddenly.Dearme,whataveryanimatedconversationMissBrookeseemstobehavingwiththisMr.Lydgate!” “Sheistalkingcottagesandhospitalswithhim,”saidMrs.Cadwallader,whoseearsandpowerofinterpretationwerequick.“Ibelieveheisasortofphilanthropist,soBrookeissuretotakehimup.” “James,”saidLadyChettamwhenhersoncamenear,“bringMr.Lydgateandintroducehimtome.Iwanttotesthim.” TheaffabledowagerdeclaredherselfdelightedwiththisopportunityofmakingMr.Lydgate’sacquaintance,havingheardofhissuccessintreatingfeveronanewplan. Mr.Lydgatehadthemedicalaccomplishmentoflookingperfectlygravewhatevernonsensewastalkedtohim,andhisdarksteadyeyesgavehimimpressivenessasalistener.HewasaslittleaspossiblelikethelamentedHicks,especiallyinacertaincarelessrefinementabouthistoiletandutterance.YetLadyChettamgatheredmuchconfidenceinhim.Heconfirmedherviewofherownconstitutionasbeingpeculiar,byadmittingthatallconstitutionsmightbecalledpeculiar,andhedidnotdenythathersmightbemorepeculiarthanothers.Hedidnotapproveofatooloweringsystem,includingrecklesscupping,nor,ontheotherhand,ofincessantportwineandbark.Hesaid“Ithinkso”withanairofsomuchdeferenceaccompanyingtheinsightofagreement,thatsheformedthemostcordialopinionofhistalents. “Iamquitepleasedwithyourprotege,”shesaidtoMr.Brookebeforegoingaway. “Myprotege?—dearme!—whoisthat?”saidMr.Brooke. “ThisyoungLydgate,thenewdoctor.Heseemstometounderstandhisprofessionadmirably.” “Oh,Lydgate!heisnotmyprotege,youknowonlyIknewanuncleofhiswhosentmealetterabouthim.However,Ithinkheislikelytobefirst-rate—hasstudiedinParis,knewBroussaishasideas,youknow—wantstoraisetheprofession.” “Lydgatehaslotsofideas,quitenew,aboutventilationanddiet,thatsortofthing,”resumedMr.Brooke,afterhehadhandedoutLadyChettam,andhadreturnedtobeciviltoagroupofMiddlemarchers. “Hangit,doyouthinkthatisquitesound?—upsettingtheoldtreatment,whichhasmadeEnglishmenwhattheyare?”saidMr.Standish. “Medicalknowledgeisatalowebbamongus,”saidMr.Bulstrode,whospokeinasubduedtone,andhadratherasicklyair.“I,formypart,hailtheadventofMr.Lydgate.Ihopetofindgoodreasonforconfidingthenewhospitaltohismanagement.” “Thatisallveryfine,”repliedMr.Standish,whowasnotfondofMr.Bulstrode“ifyoulikehimtotryexperimentsonyourhospitalpatients,andkillafewpeopleforcharityIhavenoobjection.ButIamnotgoingtohandmoneyoutofmypursetohaveexperimentstriedonme.Iliketreatmentthathasbeentestedalittle.” “Well,youknow,Standish,everydoseyoutakeisanexperiment-anexperiment,youknow,”saidMr.Brooke,noddingtowardsthelawyer. “Oh,ifyoutalkinthatsense!”saidMr.Standish,withasmuchdisgustatsuchnon-legalquibblingasamancanwellbetraytowardsavaluableclient. “Ishouldbegladofanytreatmentthatwouldcuremewithoutreducingmetoaskeleton,likepoorGrainger,”saidMr.Vincy,themayor,afloridman,whowouldhaveservedforastudyoffleshinstrikingcontrastwiththeFranciscantintsofMr.Bulstrode.“It’sanuncommonlydangerousthingtobeleftwithoutanypaddingagainsttheshaftsofdisease,assomebodysaid,—andIthinkitaverygoodexpressionmyself.” Mr.Lydgate,ofcourse,wasoutofhearing.Hehadquittedthepartyearly,andwouldhavethoughtitaltogethertediousbutforthenoveltyofcertainintroductions,especiallytheintroductiontoMissBrooke,whoseyouthfulbloom,withherapproachingmarriagetothatfadedscholar,andherinterestinmatterssociallyuseful,gaveherthepiquancyofanunusualcombination. “Sheisagoodcreature—thatfinegirl—butalittletooearnest,”hethought.“Itistroublesometotalktosuchwomen.Theyarealwayswantingreasons,yettheyaretooignoranttounderstandthemeritsofanyquestion,andusuallyfallbackontheirmoralsensetosettlethingsaftertheirowntaste.” EvidentlyMissBrookewasnotMr.Lydgate’sstyleofwomananymorethanMr.Chichely’s.Considered,indeed,inrelationtothelatter,whosemindwasmatured,shewasaltogetheramistake,andcalculatedtoshockhistrustinfinalcauses,includingtheadaptationoffineyoungwomentopurplefacedbachelors.ButLydgatewaslessripe,andmightpossiblyhaveexperiencebeforehimwhichwouldmodifyhisopinionastothemostexcellentthingsinwoman. MissBrooke,however,wasnotagainseenbyeitherofthesegentlemenunderhermaidenname.Notlongafterthatdinner-partyshehadbecomeMrs.Casaubon,andwasonherwaytoRome.