Chapter 77

           "Andthusthyfallhathleftakindofblot,Tomarkthefull-fraughtmanandbestinduedWithsomesuspicion."—HenryV.

           ThenextdayLydgatehadtogotoBrassing,andtoldRosamondthatheshouldbeawayuntiltheevening.Oflateshehadnevergonebeyondherownhouseandgarden,excepttochurch,andoncetoseeherpapa,towhomshesaid,"IfTertiusgoesaway,youwillhelpustomove,willyounot,papa?Isupposeweshallhaveverylittlemoney.IamsureIhopesomeonewillhelpus."AndMr.Vincyhadsaid,"Yes,child,Idon’tmindahundredortwo.Icanseetheendofthat."Withtheseexceptionsshehadsatathomeinlanguidmelancholyandsuspense,fixinghermindonWillLadislaw’scomingastheonepointofhopeandinterest,andassociatingthiswithsomenewurgencyonLydgatetomakeimmediatearrangementsforleavingMiddlemarchandgoingtoLondon,tillshefeltassuredthatthecomingwouldbeapotentcauseofthegoing,withoutatallseeinghow.ThiswayofestablishingsequencesistoocommontobefairlyregardedasapeculiarfollyinRosamond.Anditispreciselythissortofsequencewhichcausesthegreatestshockwhenitissundered:fortoseehowaneffectmaybeproducedisoftentoseepossiblemissingsandchecks;buttoseenothingexceptthedesirablecause,andcloseuponitthedesirableeffect,ridsusofdoubtandmakesourmindsstronglyintuitive.