Мидлмарч

           Garthwasnotattheoffice,andFredrodeontohishouse,whichwasalittlewayoutsidethetown—ahomelyplacewithanorchardinfrontofit,arambling,old-fashioned,half-timberedbuilding,whichbeforethetownhadspreadhadbeenafarm-house,butwasnowsurroundedwiththeprivategardensofthetownsmen.Wegetthefonderofourhousesiftheyhaveaphysiognomyoftheirown,asourfriendshave.TheGarthfamily,whichwasratheralargeone,forMaryhadfourbrothersandonesister,wereveryfondoftheiroldhouse,fromwhichallthebestfurniturehadlongbeensold.Fredlikedittoo,knowingitbyhearteventotheatticwhichsmeltdeliciouslyofapplesandquinces,anduntilto-dayhehadnevercometoitwithoutpleasantexpectations;buthisheartbeatuneasilynowwiththesensethatheshouldprobablyhavetomakehisconfessionbeforeMrs.Garth,ofwhomhewasrathermoreinawethanofherhusband.Notthatshewasinclinedtosarcasmandtoimpulsivesallies,asMarywas.Inherpresentmatronlyageatleast,Mrs.Garthnevercommittedherselfbyover-hastyspeech;having,asshesaid,bornetheyokeinheryouth,andlearnedself-control.Shehadthatraresensewhichdiscernswhatisunalterable,andsubmitstoitwithoutmurmuring.Adoringherhusband’svirtues,shehadveryearlymadeuphermindtohisincapacityofmindinghisowninterests,andhadmettheconsequencescheerfully.