where others
think her fortune ought to go. Nature, however, not only accommodates herself
ill to our favourite practices by making »only children« daughters, but also now
and then endows the misplaced daughter with a clear head and a strong will. The
Arrowpoints had already felt some anxiety owing to these endowments of their
Catherine. She would not accept the view of her social duty which required her
to marry a needy nobleman or a commoner on the ladder towards nobility; and they
were not without uneasiness concerning her persistence in declining suitable
offers. As to the possibility of her being in love with Klesmer they were not at
all uneasy - a very common sort of blindness. For in general mortals have a
great power of being astonished at the presence of an effect towards which they
have done everything, and at the absence of an effect towards which they have
done nothing but desire it. Parents are astonished at the ignorance of their
sons, though they have used the most time-honoured and expensive means of
securing it; husbands and wives are mutually astonished at the loss of affection
which they have taken no pains to keep; and all of us in our turn are apt to be
astonished that our neighbours do not admire us. In this way it happens that the
truth seems highly improbable. The truth is something different from the
habitual lazy combinations begotten by our wishes. The Arrowpoints' hour of
astonishment was come.
    When there is a passion between an heiress and a proud independent-spirited
man, it is difficult for them to come to an understanding; but the difficulties
are likely to be overcome unless the proud man secures himself by a constant
alibi. Brief meetings after studied absence are potent in disclosure: but more
potent still is frequent companionship, with full sympathy in taste, and
admirable qualities on both sides; especially where the one is in the position
of teacher, and the other is delightedly conscious of receptive ability which
also gives the teacher delight. The situation is famous in history, and has no
less charm now than it had in the days of Abelard.
    But this kind of comparison had not occurred to the Arrowpoints when they
first engaged Klesmer to come down to Quetcham. To have a first-rate musician in
your house is a privilege of wealth; Catherine's musical talent demanded every
advantage; and she particularly desired to use her quieter time in the country
for more thorough study. Klesmer was not yet a Liszt, understood to be adored by
ladies of all European countries with the exception of Lapland: and even with
that understanding it did not follow that he would make proposals to