Мидлмарч

           HewasmuchobligedtoCasauboninthepast,butreallytheactofmarryingthiswifewasaset-offagainsttheobligationItwasaquestionwhethergratitudewhichreferstowhatisdoneforone’sselfoughtnottogivewaytoindignationatwhatisdoneagainstanother.AndCasaubonhaddoneawrongtoDorotheainmarryingher.Amanwasboundtoknowhimselfbetterthanthat,andifhechosetogrowgraycrunchingbonesinacavern,hehadnobusinesstobeluringagirlintohiscompanionship."Itisthemosthorribleofvirgin-sacrifices,"saidWill;andhepaintedtohimselfwhatwereDorothea’sinwardsorrowsasifhehadbeenwritingachoricwail.Buthewouldneverlosesightofher:hewouldwatchoverher—ifhegaveupeverythingelseinlifehewouldwatchoverher,andsheshouldknowthatshehadoneslaveintheworld,Willhad—touseSirThomasBrowne’sphrase—a"passionateprodigality"ofstatementbothtohimselfandothers.ThesimpletruthwasthatnothingtheninvitedhimsostronglyasthepresenceofDorothea.

           Invitationsoftheformalkindhadbeenwanting,however,forWillhadneverbeenaskedtogotoLowick.Mr.Brooke,indeed,confidentofdoingeverythingagreeablewhichCasaubon,poorfellow,wastoomuchabsorbedtothinkof,hadarrangedtobringLadislawtoLowickseveraltimes(notneglectingmeanwhiletointroducehimelsewhereoneveryopportunityas"ayoungrelativeofCasaubon’s").