CHAPTER IX.

points,forexample,intheirbeautifulplaceatQuetcham:noonecouldattributesordidviewsinrelationtotheirdaughter’smarriagetoparentswhocouldleaveheratleasthalfamillionbuthavingaffectionateanxietiesabouttheirCatherine’sposition(shehavingresolutelyrefusedLordSlogan,anunexceptionableIrishpeer,whoseestatewantednothingbutdrainageandpopulation),theywondered,perhapsfromsomethingmorethanacharitableimpulse,whetherMr.Grandcourtwasgood-looking,ofsoundconstitution,virtuous,oratleastreformed,andifliberal-conservative,nottooliberal-conservativeandwithoutwishinganybodytodie,thoughthissuccessiontothetitleaneventtobedesired. IftheArrowpointshadsuchruminations,itisthelesssurprisingthattheywerestimulatedinMr.Gascoigne,whoforbeingaclergymanwasnotthelesssubjecttotheanxietiesofaparentandguardianandwehaveseenhowbothheandMrs.Gascoignemightbythistimehavecometofeelthathewasoverchargedwiththemanagementofyoungcreatureswhowerehardlytobeheldinwithbitorbridle,oranysortofmetaphorthatwouldstandforjudiciousadvice. Naturally,peopledidnottelleachotheralltheyfeltandthoughtaboutyoungGrandcourt’sadvent:onnosubjectisthisopennessfoundprudentlypracticable—notevenonthegenerationofacids,orthedestinationofthefixedstars:foreitheryourcontemporarywithamindturnedtowardthesamesubjectsmayfindyourideasingeniousandforestallyouinapplyingthem,orhemayhaveotherviewsonacidsandfixedstars,andthinkillofyouinconsequence.Mr.GascoignedidnotaskMr.ArrowpointifhehadanytrustworthysourceofinformationaboutGrandcourtconsideredasahusbandforacharminggirlnordidMrs.ArrowpointobservetoMrs.DavilowthatifthepossiblepeersoughtawifeintheneighborhoodofDiplow,theonlyreasonableexpectationwasthathewouldofferhishandtoCatherine,who,however,wouldnotaccepthimunlesshewereinallrespectsfittedtosecureherhappiness.Indeed,eventohiswifetherectorwassilentastothecontemplationofanymatrimonialresult,fromtheprobabilitythatMr.GrandcourtwouldseeGwendolenatthenextArcheryMeetingthoughMrs.Gascoigne’smindwasverylikelystillmoreactiveinthesamedirection.Shehadsaidinterjectionallytohersister,“Itwouldbeamercy,Fanny,ifthatgirlwerewellmarried!”towhichMrs.Davilowdiscerningsomecriticismofherdarlinginthefervorofthatwish,hadnotchosentomakeanyaudiblereply,thoughshehadsaidinwardly,“Youwillnotgethertomarryforyourpleasure”themildmotherbecomingrathersaucywhensheidentifiedherselfwithherdaughter. ToherhusbandMrs.Gascoignesaid,“IhearMr.Grandcourthasgottwoplacesofhisown,buthecomestoDiplowforthehunting.Itistobehopedhewillsetagoodexampleintheneighborhood.Haveyouheardwhatsortofayoungmanheis,Henry?” Mr.Gascoignehadnotheardatleast,ifhismaleacquaintanceshadgossipedinhishearing,hewasnotdisposedtorepeattheirgossip,ortogiveitanyemphasisinhisownmind.Hehelditfutile,evenifithadbeenbecoming,toshowanycuriosityastothepastofayoungmanwhosebirth,wealth,andconsequentleisuremademanyhabitsvenialwhichunderothercircumstanceswouldhavebeeninexcusable.WhateverGrandcourthaddone,hehadnotruinedhimselfanditiswell-knownthatingambling,forexample,whetherofthebusinessorholidaysort,amanwhohasthestrengthofmindtoleaveoffwhenhehasonlyruinedothers,isareformedcharacter.Thisisanillustrationmerely:Mr.GascoignehadnotheardthatGrandcourthadbeenagamblerandwecanhardlypronouncehimsingularinfeelingthatalandedproprietorwithamixtureofnoblebloodinhisveinswasnottobeanobjectofsuspiciousinquirylikeareforme