Do you know, I envy you that,« Sir James said, as they continued walking at
the rather brisk pace set by Dorothea.
    »I don't quite understand what you mean.«
    »Your power of forming an opinion. I can form an opinion of persons. I know
when I like people. But about other matters, do you know, I have often a
difficulty in deciding. One hears very sensible things said on opposite sides.«
    »Or that seem sensible. Perhaps we don't always discriminate between sense
and nonsense.«
    Dorothea felt that she was rather rude.
    »Exactly,« said Sir James. »But you seem to have the power of
discrimination.«
    »On the contrary, I am often unable to decide. But that is from ignorance.
The right conclusion is there all the same, though I am unable to see it.«
    »I think there are few who would see it more readily. Do you know, Lovegood
was telling me yesterday that you had the best notion in the world of a plan for
cottages - quite wonderful for a young lady, he thought. You had a real genus,
to use his expression. He said you wanted Mr. Brooke to build a new set of
cottages, but he seemed to think it hardly probable that your uncle would
consent. Do you know, that is one of the things I wish to do - I mean, on my own
estate. I should be so glad to carry out that plan of yours, if you would let me
see it. Of course, it is sinking money; that is why people object to it.
Labourers can never pay rent to make it answer. But, after all, it is worth
doing.«
    »Worth doing! yes, indeed,« said Dorothea, energetically, forgetting her
previous small vexations. »I think we deserve to be beaten out of our beautiful
houses with a scourge of small cords - all of us who let tenants live in such
sties as we see round us. Life in cottages might be happier than ours, if they
were real houses fit for human beings from whom we expect duties and
affections.«
    »Will you show me your plan?«
    »Yes, certainly. I daresay it is very faulty. But I have been examining all
the plans for cottages in London's book, and picked out what seem the best
things. Oh what a happiness it would be to set the pattern about here! I think,
instead of Lazarus at the gate, we should put the pig-
