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“ I don’t know that , ” said Sir James . “ It would have been less indelicate . ” “ One of poor Casaubon’s freaks ! That attack upset his brain a little . It all goes for nothing . She doesn’t want to marry Ladislaw . ” “ But this codicil is framed so as to make everybody believe that she did . I don’t believe anything of the sort about Dorothea , ” said Sir James — then frowningly , “ but I suspect Ladislaw . I tell you frankly , I suspect Ladislaw . ” “ I couldn’t take any immediate action on that ground , Chettam . In fact , if it were possible to pack him off — send him to Norfolk Island — that sort of thing — it would look all the worse for Dorothea to those who knew about it . It would seem as if we distrusted her — distrusted her , you know . ” That Mr . Brooke had hit on an undeniable argument , did not tend to soothe Sir James . He put out his hand to reach his hat , implying that he did not mean to contend further , and said , still with some heat — “ Well , I can only say that I think Dorothea was sacrificed once , because her friends were too careless . I shall do what I can , as her brother , to protect her now . ” “ You can’t do better than get her to Freshitt as soon as possible , Chettam . I approve that plan altogether , ” said Mr . Brooke , well pleased that he had won the argument . It would have been highly inconvenient to him to part with Ladislaw at that time , when a dissolution might happen any day , and electors were to be convinced of the course by which the interests of the country would be best served . Mr . Brooke sincerely believed that this end could be secured by his own return to Parliament : he offered the forces of his mind honestly to the nation . CHAPTER L . “ This Loller here wol precilen us somewhat . ” “ Nay by my father’s soule ! that schal he nat , ” Sayde the Schipman , ‘ here schal he not preche , We schal no gospel glosen here ne teche . We leven all in the gret God , ’ quod he . He wolden sowen some diffcultee . ” — Canterbury Tales . Dorothea had been safe at Freshitt Hall nearly a week before she had asked any dangerous questions . Every morning now she sat with Celia in the prettiest of up - stairs sitting - rooms , opening into a small conservatory — Celia all in white and lavender like a bunch of mixed violets , watching the remarkable acts of the baby , which were so dubious to her inexperienced mind that all conversation was interrupted by appeals for their interpretation made to the oracular nurse . Dorothea sat by in her widow’s dress , with an expression which rather provoked Celia , as being much too sad ; for not only was baby quite well , but really when a husband had been so dull and troublesome while he lived , and besides that had — well , well ! Sir James , of course , had told Celia everything , with a strong representation how important it was that Dorothea should not know it sooner than was inevitable .
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