Chapter 22

           "Nouscausameslongtemps;elleetaitsimpleetbonne.Nesachantpaslemal,ellefaisaitlebien;Desrichessesducoeurellemefitl’aumone,Ettoutenecoutantcommelecoeursedonne,Sansoserypenserjeluidonnailemien;Elleemportamavie,etn’ensutjamaisrien."—ALFREDDEMUSSET.

           WillLadislawwasdelightfullyagreeableatdinnerthenextday,andgavenoopportunityforMr.Casaubontoshowdisapprobation.OnthecontraryitseemedtoDorotheathatWillhadahappierwayofdrawingherhusbandintoconversationandofdeferentiallylisteningtohimthanshehadeverobservedinanyonebefore.Tobesure,thelistenersaboutTiptonwerenothighlygifted!Willtalkedagooddealhimself,butwhathesaidwasthrowninwithsuchrapidity,andwithsuchanunimportantairofsayingsomethingbytheway,thatitseemedagaylittlechimeafterthegreatbell.IfWillwasnotalwaysperfect,thiswascertainlyoneofhisgooddays.HedescribedtouchesofincidentamongthepoorpeopleinRome,onlytobeseenbyonewhocouldmoveaboutfreely;hefoundhimselfinagreementwithMr.CasaubonastotheunsoundopinionsofMiddletonconcerningtherelationsofJudaismandCatholicism;andpassedeasilytoahalf-enthusiastichalf-playfulpictureoftheenjoymenthegotoutoftheverymiscellaneousnessofRome,whichmadethemindflexiblewithconstantcomparison,andsavedyoufromseeingtheworld’sagesasasetofbox-likepartitionswithoutvitalconnection.Mr.