CHAPTER IV.

“Gorgibus.—***Jetedisquelemariageestunechosesainteetsacrée:etquec’estfaireenhonnêtesgens,quededébuterparlà. “Madelon.—MonDieu!quesitoutlemondevousressemblait,unromanseraitbient?tfini!Labellechosequeceserait,sid’abordCyrusépousaitMandane,etqu’Aroncedeplain-piedf?tmariéàClélie!***Laissez-nousfaireàloisirletissudenotreroman,etn’enpressezpastantlaconclusion.” MOLIèRE.LesPrécieusesRidicules. ItwouldbealittlehardtoblametherectorofPennicotethatinthecourseoflookingatthingsfromeverypointofview,helookedatGwendolenasagirllikelytomakeabrilliantmarriage.Whyshouldhebeexpectedtodifferfromhiscontemporariesinthismatter,andwishhisnieceaworseendofhercharmingmaidenhoodthantheywouldapproveasthebestpossible?Itisrathertobesetdowntohiscreditthathisfeelingsonthesubjectwereentirelygood-natured.Andinconsideringtherelationofmeanstoends,itwouldhavebeenmerefollytohavebeenguidedbytheexceptionalandidyllic—tohaverecommendedthatGwendolenshouldwearagownasshabbyasGriselda’sinorderthatamarquismightfallinlovewithher,ortohaveinsistedthatsinceafairmaidenwastobesought,sheshouldkeepherselfoutoftheway.Mr.Gascoigne’scalculationswereofthekindcalledrational,andhedidnoteventhinkofgettingatoofriskyhorseinorderthatGwendolenmightbethreatenedwithanaccidentandberescuedbyamanofproperty.Hewishedhisniecewell,andhemeanthertobeseentoadvantageinthebestsocietyoftheneighborhood. Heruncle’sintentionfellinperfectlywithGwendolen’sownwishes.Butletnoonesupposethatshealsocontemplatedabrilliantmarriageasthedirectendofherwitchingtheworldwithhergraceonhorseback,orwithanyotheraccomplishment.Thatshewastobemarriedsometimeorothershewouldhavefeltobligedtoadmitandthathermarriagewouldnotbeofami