Chapter 34

           1stGent.Suchmenasthisarefeathers,chips,andstraws.Carrynoweight,noforce.2dGent.ButlevityIscausaltoo,andmakesthesumofweight.Forpowerfindsitsplaceinlackofpower;Advanceiscession,andthedrivenshipMayrunagroundbecausethehelmsman’sthoughtLackedforcetobalanceopposites."

           ItwasonamorningofMaythatPeterFeatherstonewasburied.IntheprosaicneighborhoodofMiddlemarch,Maywasnotalwayswarmandsunny,andonthisparticularmorningachillwindwasblowingtheblossomsfromthesurroundinggardensontothegreenmoundsofLowickchurchyard.Swiftlymovingcloudsonlynowandthenallowedagleamtolightupanyobject,whetheruglyorbeautiful,thathappenedtostandwithinitsgoldenshower.Inthechurchyardtheobjectswereremarkablyvarious,fortherewasalittlecountrycrowdwaitingtoseethefuneral.Thenewshadspreadthatitwastobea"bigburying;"theoldgentlemanhadleftwrittendirectionsabouteverythingandmeanttohaveafuneral"beyondhisbetters."Thiswastrue;foroldFeatherstonehadnotbeenaHarpagonwhosepassionshadallbeendevouredbytheever-leanandever-hungrypassionofsaving,andwhowoulddriveabargainwithhisundertakerbeforehand.Helovedmoney,buthealsolovedtospenditingratifyinghispeculiartastes,andperhapsheloveditbestofallasameansofmakingothersfeelhispowermoreorlessuncomfortably.