Page 303 (1/2)

"No, I did not," said Dorothea, after a moment's pause She was

evidently much moved "I a of what Will had no knowledge of--the conversation

between her and her husband in the darkness; and she was anew smitten

with hopelessness that she could influence Mr Casaubon's action But

the marked expression of her sorrow convinced Will that it was not all

given to him personally, and that Dorothea had not been visited by the

idea that Mr Casaubon's dislike and jealousy of him turned upon

herself He felt an odd ht

that he could dwell and be cherished in her thought as in a pure home,

without suspicion and without stint--of vexation because he was of too

little account with her, was not for benevolence which did not flatter hier than his discontent, and he began

to speak again in a tone of mere explanation

"Mr Casaubon's reason is, his displeasure ata position here

which he considers unsuited to ive way on this point It is a little too hard on me to

expect that my course in life is to be haation may be stretched till it is no better