( noticing miss bennet's deliberate and constant glances at mr cartwight, mr hickinbottom hides his frown behind his teacup. if he was indeed correct in his belief that mr cartwright enjoys some inheritance of sort, miss bennet might find him the more attractive prospect. so, to alleviate his doubt, mr hickinbottom asks, "are you married, mr cartwright?"
atticus's jaw clenches. ) I am not. ( his head turns to miss bennet's direction but, as his gaze is down, he does not look at her. ) Matrimony is of no interest to me. ( the former statement is spoken entirely for the benefit of mr and mrs gardiner. whatever friendship (however one-sided) remains between their niece and mr cartwright is nothing more than platonic. nothing more than two strangers who spend an hour together in the dusty, sunlit aisles of a bookstore before forever parting. neither needs to concern that his intentions are anything but proper and ordinary.
matrimony is an indulgence not for atticus. but, in moments of escape, he has considered the characteristics his ideal mate must possess. independence, for one. not merely independent of pursuits but of mind and judgement. she would not dictate her life around others' opinions, even his. secondly and naturally, they must share similar interests and views on morality. he could not spend his life with someone who does not love music and literature as he does. lastly, she must carry within her a vagabond spirit equal to his own. he would no longer travel alone but with a companion who would partake in the same joy and misery as he.
alas, none of this will come to pass. a woman of intelligence and education would not have him as he is without money or title, and any woman willing to have him without money or title would possess the intelligence and education he desires. and so atticus does not submit himself to the agony of this fanciful notion. it would be more pragmatic to imagine himself flying.
mr hickinbottom's mind eases from mr cartwright's declaration. although the challenge of securing miss bennet persists, at least now he needs not worry that mr cartwright is also a participant for her affection. as far as he has gathered, miss bennet has no additional attachments or prospects. )
no subject
atticus's jaw clenches. ) I am not. ( his head turns to miss bennet's direction but, as his gaze is down, he does not look at her. ) Matrimony is of no interest to me. ( the former statement is spoken entirely for the benefit of mr and mrs gardiner. whatever friendship (however one-sided) remains between their niece and mr cartwright is nothing more than platonic. nothing more than two strangers who spend an hour together in the dusty, sunlit aisles of a bookstore before forever parting. neither needs to concern that his intentions are anything but proper and ordinary.
matrimony is an indulgence not for atticus. but, in moments of escape, he has considered the characteristics his ideal mate must possess. independence, for one. not merely independent of pursuits but of mind and judgement. she would not dictate her life around others' opinions, even his. secondly and naturally, they must share similar interests and views on morality. he could not spend his life with someone who does not love music and literature as he does. lastly, she must carry within her a vagabond spirit equal to his own. he would no longer travel alone but with a companion who would partake in the same joy and misery as he.
alas, none of this will come to pass. a woman of intelligence and education would not have him as he is without money or title, and any woman willing to have him without money or title would possess the intelligence and education he desires. and so atticus does not submit himself to the agony of this fanciful notion. it would be more pragmatic to imagine himself flying.
mr hickinbottom's mind eases from mr cartwright's declaration. although the challenge of securing miss bennet persists, at least now he needs not worry that mr cartwright is also a participant for her affection. as far as he has gathered, miss bennet has no additional attachments or prospects. )