“I should learn everything then,” she said to herself, still walking quickly along the bridle road through the wood.  “It would be my duty to study that I might help him the better in his great works.  There would be nothing trivial about our lives.  Every-day things with us would mean the greatest things.  It would be like marrying Pascal.  I should learn to see the truth by the same light as great men have seen it by.  And then I should know what to do, when I got older:  I should see how it was possible to lead a grand life here—­now—­in England.  I don’t feel sure about doing good in any way now:  everything seems like going on a mission to a people whose language I don’t know;—­unless it were building good cottages—­there can be no doubt about that.  Oh, I hope I should be able to get the people well housed in Lowick!  I will draw plenty of plans while I have time.”

Dorothea checked herself suddenly with self-rebuke for the presumptuous way in which she was reckoning on uncertain events, but she was spared any inward effort to change the direction of her thoughts by the appearance of a cantering horseman round a turning of the road.  The well-groomed chestnut horse and two beautiful setters could leave no doubt that the rider was Sir James Chettam.  He discerned Dorothea, jumped off his horse at once, and, having delivered it to his groom, advanced towards her with something white on his arm, at which the two setters were barking in an excited manner.

“How delightful to meet you, Miss Brooke,” he said, raising his hat and showing his sleekly waving blond hair.  “It has hastened the pleasure I was looking forward to.”

Miss Brooke was annoyed at the interruption.  This amiable baronet, really a suitable husband for Celia, exaggerated the necessity of making himself agreeable to the elder sister.  Even a prospective brother-in-law may be an oppression if he will always be presupposing too good an understanding with you, and agreeing with you even when you contradict him.  The thought that he had made the mistake of paying his addresses to herself could not take shape:  all her mental activity was used up in persuasions of another kind.  But he was positively obtrusive at this moment, and his dimpled hands were quite disagreeable.  Her roused temper made her color deeply, as she returned his greeting with some haughtiness.

Sir James interpreted the heightened color in the way most gratifying to himself, and thought he never saw Miss Brooke looking so handsome.

“I have brought a little petitioner,” he said, “or rather, I have brought him to see if he will be approved before his petition is offered.”  He showed the white object under his arm, which was a tiny Maltese puppy, one of nature’s most naive toys.

“It is painful to me to see these creatures that are bred merely as pets,” said Dorothea, whose opinion was forming itself that very moment (as opinions will) under the heat of irritation.