MIDDLEMARCH (Completed)

Chapter 21

" Hire facounde eke full womanly and plain,

No contrefeted termes had she

To semen wise."

--CHAUCER.

It was in that way Dorothea came to be sobbing as soon as she was

securely alone. But she was presently roused by a knock at the door,

which made her hastily dry her eyes before saying, "Come in."

Tantripp had brought a card, and said that there was a gentleman

waiting in the lobby. The courier had told him that only Mrs. Casaubon

was at home, but he said he was a relation of Mr. Casaubon's: would

she see him?

"Yes," said Dorothea, without pause; "show him into the salon."

Her chief impressions about young Ladislaw were that when she

had seen him at Lowick she had been made aware of Mr. Casaubon's

generosity towards him, and also that she had been interested

in his own hesitation about his career. She was alive to anything

that gave her an opportunity for active sympathy, and at this

moment it seemed as if the visit had come to shake her out of her

self-absorbed discontent--to remind her of her husband's goodness,

and make her feel that she had now the right to be his helpmate

in all kind deeds. She waited a minute or two, but when she passed

into the next room there were just signs enough that she had been

crying to make her open face look more youthful and appealing

than usual. She met Ladislaw with that exquisite smile of good-will

which is unmixed with vanity, and held out her hand to him.

He was the elder by several years, but at that moment he looked

much the younger, for his transparent complexion flushed suddenly,

and he spoke with a shyness extremely unlike the ready indifference

of his manner with his male companion, while Dorothea became all

the calmer with a wondering desire to put him at ease.

"I was not aware that you and Mr. Casaubon were in Rome,

until this morning, when I saw you in the Vatican Museum," he said.

"I knew you at once--but--I mean, that I concluded Mr. Casaubon's

address would be found at the Poste Restante, and I was anxious

to pay my respects to him and you as early as possible."

"Pray sit down. He is not here now, but he will be glad to hear

of you, I am sure," said Dorothea, seating herself unthinkingly

between the fire and the light of the tall window, and pointing

to a chair opposite, with the quietude of a benignant matron.

The signs of girlish sorrow in her face were only the more striking.

"Mr. Casaubon is much engaged; but you will leave your address--