Chapter 29

           "Ifoundthatnogeniusinanothercouldpleaseme.Myunfortunateparadoxeshadentirelydriedupthatsourceofcomfort."—GOLDSMITH.

           Onemorning,someweeksafterherarrivalatLowick,Dorothea—butwhyalwaysDorothea?Washerpointofviewtheonlypossibleonewithregardtothismarriage?protestagainstallourinterest,alloureffortatunderstandingbeinggiventotheyoungskinsthatlookbloominginspiteoftrouble;forthesetoowillgetfaded,andwillknowtheolderandmoreeatinggriefswhichwearehelpingtoneglect.InspiteoftheblinkingeyesandwhitemolesobjectionabletoCelia,andthewantofmuscularcurvewhichwasmorallypainfultoSirJames,Mr.Casaubonhadanintenseconsciousnesswithinhim,andwasspirituallya-hungeredliketherestofus.Hehaddonenothingexceptionalinmarrying—nothingbutwhatsocietysanctions,andconsidersanoccasionforwreathsandbouquets.Ithadoccurredtohimthathemustnotanylongerdeferhisintentionofmatrimony,andhehadreflectedthatintakingawife,amanofgoodpositionshouldexpectandcarefullychooseabloomingyounglady—theyoungerthebetter,becausemoreeducableandsubmissive—ofarankequaltohisown,ofreligiousprinciples,virtuousdisposition,andgoodunderstanding.