MIDDLEMARCH (Completed)

Chapter 65

"One of us two must bowen douteless,

And, sith a man is more reasonable

Than woman is, ye [men] moste be suffrable.

--CHAUCER: Canterbury Tales.

The bias of human nature to be slow in correspondence triumphs

even over the present quickening in the general pace of things:

what wonder then that in 1832 old Sir Godwin Lydgate was slow

to write a letter which was of consequence to others rather

than to himself? Nearly three weeks of the new year were gone,

and Rosamond, awaiting an answer to her winning appeal, was every

day disappointed. Lydgate, in total ignorance of her expectations,

was seeing the bills come in, and feeling that Dover's use of

his advantage over other creditors was imminent. He had never

mentioned to Rosamond his brooding purpose of going to Quallingham:

he did not want to admit what would appear to her a concession

to her wishes after indignant refusal, until the last moment;

but he was really expecting to set off soon. A slice of the railway

would enable him to manage the whole journey and back in four days.

But one morning after Lydgate had gone out, a letter came addressed

to him, which Rosamond saw clearly to be from Sir Godwin. She was full

of hope. Perhaps there might be a particular note to her enclosed;

but Lydgate was naturally addressed on the question of money or other aid,

and the fact that he was written to, nay, the very delay in writing

at all, seemed to certify that the answer was thoroughly compliant.

She was too much excited by these thoughts to do anything but light

stitching in a warm corner of the dining-room, with the outside

of this momentous letter lying on the table before her. About twelve

she heard her husband's step in the passage, and tripping to open

the door, she said in her lightest tones, "Tertius, come in here--

here is a letter for you."

"Ah?" he said, not taking off his hat, but just turning her round

within his arm to walk towards the spot where the letter lay.

"My uncle Godwin!" he exclaimed, while Rosamond reseated herself,

and watched him as he opened the letter. She had expected him to

be surprised.

While Lydgate's eyes glanced rapidly over the brief letter, she saw

his face, usually of a pale brown, taking on a dry whiteness;

with nostrils and lips quivering he tossed down the letter before her,

and said violently--

"It will be impossible to endure life with you, if you will always

be acting secretly--acting in opposition to me and hiding your actions."