第23章

Hisanxietyonherbehalfdidnot，however，seemtoextenditselfinthatquarter，where，accordingtothegeneralopinion，itismostefficientlydisplayed；inlabouring，namely，toestablishherinlife，eitherbyalargedowryorawealthymarriage。Byanoldsettlement，almostallthelandedestatesoftheBaronwent，afterhisdeath，toadistantrelation；anditwassupposedthatMissBradwardinewouldremainbutslenderlyprovidedfor，asthegoodgentleman’scashmattershadbeentoolongundertheexclusivechargeofBailieMacwheeble，toadmitofanygreatexpectationsfromhispersonalsuccession。Itistrue，thesaidBailielovedhispatronandhispatron’sdaughternext(althoughatanincomparabledistance)tohimself。Hethoughtitwaspossibletosetasidethesettlementonthemaleline，andhadactuallyprocuredanopiniontothateffect(and，asheboasted，withoutafee)fromaneminentScottishcounsel，underwhosenoticehecontrivedtobringthepointwhileconsultinghimregularlyonsomeotherbusiness。ButtheBaronwouldnotlistentosuchaproposalforaninstant。Onthecontrary，heusedtohaveaperversepleasureinboastingthatthebaronyofBradwardinewasamalefief，thefirstcharterhavingbeengivenatthatearlyperiodwhenwomenwerenotdeemedcapabletoholdafeudalgrant；because，accordingto_LescoustusmesdeNormandie，c’estl’hommekisebastetkiconseille；_or，asisyetmoreungallantlyexpressedbyotherauthorities，allofwhosebarbarousnameshedelightedtoquoteatfulllength，becauseawomancouldnotservethesuperior，orfeudallord，inwar，onaccountofthedecorumofhersex，norassisthimwithadvice，becauseofherlimitedintellect，norkeephiscounsel，owingtotheinfirmityofherdisposition。Hewouldtriumphantlyask，howitwouldbecomeafemale，andthatfemaleaBradwardine，tobeseenemployed_inservitioexuendi，seudetrahendi，caligasregispostbattaliam？_thatisinpullingofftheking’sbootsafteranengagement，whichwasthefeudalservicebywhichheheldthebaronyofBradwardine。No，’’hesaid，beyondhesitation，_proculdubio，_manyfemales，asworthyasRose，hadbeenexcluded，inordertomakewayformyownsuccession，andHeavenforbidthatIshoulddoaughtthatmightcontravenethedestinationofmyforefathers，orimpingeupontherightofmykinsman，MalcolmBradwardineofInchgrabbit，anhonourablethoughdecayedbranchofmyownfamily。’’

TheBailie，asprimeminister，havingreceivedthisdecisivecommunicationfromhissovereign，durstnotpresshisownopinionanyfarther，butcontentedhimselfwithdeploring，onallsuitableoccasions，toSaunderson，theministeroftheinterior，theLaird’sself-willedness，andwithlayingplansforunitingRosewiththeyounglairdofBalmawhapple，whohadafineestate，onlymoderatelyburdened，andwasafaultlessyounggentleman，beingassoberasasaint-ifyoukeepbrandyfromhim，andhimfrombrandy-andwho，inbrief，hadnoimperfectionbutthatofkeepinglightcompanyatatime；suchasJinker，thehorse-couper，andGibbyGaethroughwi’t，thepipero’Cupar；o’whilkfollies，Mr。Saunderson，he’llmend，he’llmend，’’-pronouncedtheBailie。

Likesouraleinsimmer，’’addedDavieGellatley，whohappenedtobenearertheconclavethantheywereawareof。

MissBradwardine，suchaswehavedescribedher，withallthesimplicityandcuriosityofarecluse，attachedherselftotheopportunitiesofincreasingherstoreofliteraturewhichEdward’svisitaffordedher。Hesentforsomeofhisbooksfromhisquarters，andtheyopenedtohersourcesofdelightofwhichshehadhithertohadnoidea。ThebestEnglishpoets，ofeverydescription，andotherworksonbelleslettres，madeapartofthispreciouscargo。Hermusic，evenherflowers，wereneglected，andSaundersnotonlymournedover，butbegantomutinyagainst，thelabourforwhichhenowscarcereceivedthanks。

Thesenewpleasuresbecamegraduallyenhancedbysharingthemwithoneofakindredtaste。Edward’sreadinesstocomment，torecite，toexplaindifficultpassages，renderedhisassistanceinvaluable；andthewildromanceofhisspiritdelightedacharactertooyoungandinexperiencedtoobserveitsdeficiencies。Uponsubjectswhichinterestedhim，andwhenquiteatease，hepossessedthatflowofnatural，andsomewhatflorideloquence，whichhasbeensupposedaspowerfulevenasfigure，fashion，fame，orfortune，inwinningthefemaleheart。

Therewas，therefore，anincreasingdangerinthisconstantintercourse，topoorRose’speaceofmind，whichwasthemoreimminent，asherfatherwasgreatlytoomuchabstractedinhisstudies，andwrappedupinhisowndignity，todreamofhisdaughter’sincurri