Miss Marjoribanks

‘I should not wish to have a husband very near my own age,’ said Dorothea, with grave decision. ‘I should wish to have a husband who was above me in judgment and in all knowledge.’ Mr Brooke repeated his subdued, ‘Ah? – I thought you had more of your own opinion than most girls. I thought you liked your own opinion – liked it, you know.’ ‘I cannot

Here was a man who could understand the higher inward life, and with whom there could be some spiritual communion; nay, who could illuminate principle with the widest knowledge: a man whose learning almost amounted to a proof of whatever he believed! Dorothea’s inferences may seem large; but really life could never have gone on at any period but fo

For anything I can tell, Miss Brooke may be happier with him than she would be with any other man.’ ‘Humphrey! I have no patience with you. You know you would rather dine under the hedge than with Casaubon alone. You have nothing to say to each other.’ ‘What has that to do with Miss Brooke’s marrying him? She does not do it for my amusement.’ ‘He h

was too intolerable that Dorothea should be worshipping this husband: such weakness in a woman is pleasant to no man but the husband in question. Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbour’s buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.