CHAPTER IV.

orGwendolenontheheightsofheryoungself-exultation.Otherpeopleallowedthemselvestobemadeslavesof,andtohavetheirlivesblownhitherandthitherlikeemptyshipsinwhichnowillwaspresent.Itwasnottobesowithhershewouldnolongerbesacrificedtocreaturesworthlessthanherself,butwouldmaketheverybestofthechancesthatlifeofferedher,andconquercircumstancesbyherexceptionalcleverness.Certainly,tobesettledatOffendene,withthenoticeofLadyBrackenshaw,thearcheryclub,andinvitationstodinewiththeArrowpoints,asthehighestlightsinherscenery,wasnotapositionthatseemedtoofferremarkablechancesbutGwendolen’sconfidencelaychieflyinherself.Shefeltwellequippedforthemasteryoflife.Withregardtomuchinherlothitherto,sheheldherselfratherhardlydealtwith,butastoher“education,”shewouldhaveadmittedthatithadleftherundernodisadvantages.Intheschool-roomherquickmindhadtakenreadilythatstrongstarchofunexplainedrulesanddisconnectedfactswhichsavesignorancefromanypainfulsenseoflimpnessandwhatremainedofallthingsknowable,shewasconsciousofbeingsufficientlyacquaintedwiththroughnovels,playsandpoems.AboutherFrenchandmusic,thetwojustifyingaccomplishmentsofayounglady,shefeltnogroundforuneasinessandwhentoallthesequalifications,negativeandpositive,weaddthespontaneoussenseofcapabilitysomehappypersonsarebornwith,sothatanysubjecttheyturntheirattentiontoimpressesthemwiththeirownpowerofformingacorrectjudgmentonit,whocanwonderifGwendolenfeltreadytomanageherowndestiny? Thereweremanysubjectsintheworld—perhapsthemajority—inwhichshefeltnointerest,becausetheywerestupidforsubjectsareapttoappearstupidtotheyoungaslightseemsdulltotheoldbutshewouldnothavefeltatallhelplessinrelationtothemiftheyhadturnedupinconversation.Itmustberememberedthatno