 a relation of Mr.
Casaubon's: would she see him?
    »Yes,« said Dorothea, without pause; »show him into the salon.« Her chief
impressions about young Ladislaw were that when she had seen him at Lowick she
had been made aware of Mr. Casaubon's generosity towards him, and also that she
had been interested in his own hesitation about his career. She was alive to
anything that gave her an opportunity for active sympathy, and at this moment it
seemed as if the visit had come to shake her out of her self-absorbed discontent
- to remind her of her husband's goodness, and make her feel that she had now
the right to be his helpmate in all kind deeds. She waited a minute or two, but
when she passed into the next room there were just signs enough that she had
been crying to make her open face look more youthful and appealing than usual.
She met Ladislaw with that exquisite smile of goodwill which is unmixed with
vanity, and held out her hand to him. He was the elder by several years, but at
that moment he looked much the younger, for his transparent complexion flushed
suddenly, and he spoke with a shyness extremely unlike the ready indifference of
his manner with his male companion, while Dorothea became all the calmer with a
wondering desire to put him at ease.
    »I was not aware that you and Mr. Casaubon were in Rome, until this morning,
when I saw you in the Vatican Museum,« he said. »I knew you at once - but - I
mean, that I concluded Mr. Casaubon's address would be found at the Poste
Restante, and I was anxious to pay my respects to him and you as early as
possible.«
    »Pray sit down. He is not here now, but he will be glad to hear of you, I am
sure,« said Dorothea, seating herself unthinkingly between the fire and the
light of the tall window, and pointing to a chair opposite, with the quietude of
a benignant matron. The signs of girlish sorrow in her face were only the more
striking. »Mr. Casaubon is much engaged; but you will leave your address - will
you not? - and he will write to you.«
    »You are very good,« said Ladislaw, beginning to lose his diffidence in the
interest with which he was observing the signs of weeping which had altered her
face. »My address is on my card. But if you will allow me, I will call again,
to-morrow at
