Chapter 11

           "Butdeedsandlanguagesuchasmendouse,Andpersonssuchascomedywouldchoose,Whenshewouldshowanimageofthetimes,Andsportwithhumanfollies,notwithcrimes."—BENJONSON.

           Lydgate,infact,wasalreadyconsciousofbeingfascinatedbyawomanstrikinglydifferentfromMissBrooke:hedidnotintheleastsupposethathehadlosthisbalanceandfalleninlove,buthehadsaidofthatparticularwoman,"Sheisgraceitself;sheisperfectlylovelyandaccomplished.Thatiswhatawomanoughttobe:sheoughttoproducetheeffectofexquisitemusic."Plainwomenheregardedashedidtheotherseverefactsoflife,tobefacedwithphilosophyandinvestigatedbyscience.ButRosamondVincyseemedtohavethetruemelodiccharm;andwhenamanhasseenthewomanwhomhewouldhavechosenifhehadintendedtomarryspeedily,hisremainingabachelorwillusuallydependonherresolutionratherthanonhis.Lydgatebelievedthatheshouldnotmarryforseveralyears:notmarryuntilhehadtroddenoutagoodclearpathforhimselfawayfromthebroadroadwhichwasquitereadymade.HehadseenMissVincyabovehishorizonalmostaslongasithadtakenMr.Casaubontobecomeengagedandmarried:butthislearnedgentlemanwaspossessedofafortune;hehadassembledhisvoluminousnotes,andhadmadethatsortofreputationwhichprecedesperformance—oftenthelargerpartofaman’sfame.