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CHAPTER LVI . “ How happy is he born and taught That serveth not another’s will ; Whose armor is his honest thought , And simple truth his only skill ! . . . . . . . This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall ; Lord of himself though not of lands ; And having nothing yet hath all . ” — SIR HENRY WOTTON . Dorothea’s confidence in Caleb Garth’s knowledge , which had begun on her hearing that he approved of her cottages , had grown fast during her stay at Freshitt , Sir James having induced her to take rides over the two estates in company with himself and Caleb , who quite returned her admiration , and told his wife that Mrs . Casaubon had a head for business most uncommon in a woman . It must be remembered that by “ business ” Caleb never meant money transactions , but the skilful application of labor . “ Most uncommon ! ” repeated Caleb . “ She said a thing I often used to think myself when I was a lad : — ‘ Mr . Garth , I should like to feel , if I lived to be old , that I had improved a great piece of land and built a great many good cottages , because the work is of a healthy kind while it is being done , and after it is done , men are the better for it . ’ Those were the very words : she sees into things in that way . ” “ But womanly , I hope , ” said Mrs . Garth , half suspecting that Mrs . Casaubon might not hold the true principle of subordination . “ Oh , you can’t think ! ” said Caleb , shaking his head . “ You would like to hear her speak , Susan . She speaks in such plain words , and a voice like music . Bless me ! it reminds me of bits in the ‘ Messiah ’ — ‘ and straightway there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host , praising God and saying ; ’ it has a tone with it that satisfies your ear . ” Caleb was very fond of music , and when he could afford it went to hear an oratorio that came within his reach , returning from it with a profound reverence for this mighty structure of tones , which made him sit meditatively , looking on the floor and throwing much unutterable language into his outstretched hands . With this good understanding between them , it was natural that Dorothea asked Mr . Garth to undertake any business connected with the three farms and the numerous tenements attached to Lowick Manor ; indeed , his expectation of getting work for two was being fast fulfilled . As he said , “ Business breeds . ” And one form of business which was beginning to breed just then was the construction of railways . A projected line was to run through Lowick parish where the cattle had hitherto grazed in a peace unbroken by astonishment ; and thus it happened that the infant struggles of the railway system entered into the affairs of Caleb Garth , and determined the course of this history with regard to two persons who were dear to him .
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