CHAPTER IX.

them:Gwendolendreadedtheunpleasantsenseofcompunctiontowardhermother,whichwasthenearestapproachtoself-condemnationandself-distrustthatshehadknownandMrs.Davilow’stimidmaternalconsciencedreadedwhateverhadbroughtontheslightesthintofreproach.Hence,afterthislittlescene,thetwoconcurredinexcludingMr.Grandcourtfromtheirconversation. WhenMr.Gascoigneonceortwicereferredtohim,Mrs.DavilowfearedleastGwendolenshouldbetraysomeofheralarmingkeen-sightednessaboutwhatwasprobablyinheruncle’smindbutthefearwasnotjustified.Gwendolenknewcertaindifferencesinthecharacterswithwhichshewasconcernedasbirdsknowclimateandweatherandfortheveryreasonthatshewasdeterminedtoevadeheruncle’scontrol,shewasdeterminednottoclashwithhim.Thegoodunderstandingbetweenthemwasmuchfosteredbytheirenjoymentofarcherytogether:Mr.Gascoigne,asoneofthebestbowmeninWessex,wasgratifiedtofindtheelementsoflikeskillinhisnieceandGwendolenwasthemorecarefulnottolosetheshelterofhisfatherlyindulgence,becausesincethetroublewithRexbothMrs.GascoigneandAnnahadbeenunabletohidewhatshefelttobeaveryunreasonablealienationfromher.TowardAnnashetooksomepainstobehavewitharegretfulaffectionatenessbutneitherofthemdaredtomentionRex’sname,andAnna,towhomthethoughtofhimwaspartoftheairshebreathed,wasillateasewiththelivelycousinwhohadruinedhishappiness.Shetrieddutifullytorepressanysignofherchangedfeelingbutwhoinpaincanimitatetheglanceandhand-touchofpleasure. ThisunfairresentmenthadratherahardeningeffectonGwendolen,andthrewherintoamoredefianttemper.Heruncletoomightbeoffendedifsherefusedthenextpersonwhofellinlovewithherandonedaywhenthatideawasinhermindshesaid, “Mamma,Iseenowwhygirlsaregladtobemarried—toescapebeingexpectedtopleaseeverybodybutthemselves.” Happily,Mr.MiddletonwasgonewithouthavingmadeanyavowalandnotwithstandingtheadmirationforthehandsomeMissHarleth,extendingperhapsoverthirtysquaremilesinapartofWessexwellstuddedwithfamilieswhosenumbersincludedseveraldisengagedyoungmen,eachgladtoseathimselfbythelivelygirlwithwhomitwassoeasytogetoninconversation,—notwithstandingthesegroundsforarguingthatGwendolenwaslikelytohaveothersuitorsmoreexplicitthanthecautiouscurate,thefactwasnotso. Carehasbeentakennotonlythatthetreesshouldnotsweepthestarsdown,butalsothateverymanwhoadmiresafairgirlshouldnotbeenamoredofher,andeventhateverymanwhoisenamoredshouldnotnecessarilydeclarehimself.Therearevariousrefinedshapesinwhichthepriceofcorn,knowntobepotentcauseintheirrelation,might,ifinquiredinto,showwhyayounglady,perfectinperson,accomplishments,andcostume,hasnotthetroubleofrejectingmanyoffersandnature’sorderiscertainlybenignantinnotobligingusoneandalltobedesperatelyinlovewiththemostadmirablemortalwehaveeverseen.Gwendolen,weknow,wasfarfromholdingthatsupremacyinthemindsofallobservers.Besides,itwasbutapooreightmonthssinceshehadcometoOffendene,andsomeinclinationsbecomemanifestslowly,likethesunwardcreepingofplants. InfaceofthisfactthatnotoneoftheeligibleyoungmenalreadyintheneighborhoodhadmadeGwendolenanoffer,whyshouldMr.Grandcourtbethoughtofaslikelytodowhattheyhadleftundone? Perhapsbecausehewasthoughtofasstillmoreeligiblesinceagreatdealofwhatpassesforlikelihoodintheworldissimplythereflexofawish.Mr.andMrs.Arrowpoint,forexample,havingnoanxietythatMissHarlethshouldmakeabrilliantmarriage,hadquiteadifferentlikelihoodintheirminds.