The breeze was a kiss from Heaven, the sky a vaulted sapphire, the sea a
million dimples of liquid, lucid gold.
CHAPTER VIII
AMONGST the curiosities of human reasoning is this: one forms a judgment
on certain statements; they turn out incorrect, yet the judgment sound.
This occurs oftenest when, to divine what any known person will do in a
case stated, we go boldly by his character, his habits, or his interest:
for these are great forces, towards which men gravitate through various
and even contrary circumstances.
Now women, sitting at home out of detail's way, are somewhat forced, as
well as naturally inclined, to rely on their insight into character; and,
by this broad clue, often pass through false or discoloured data to a
sound calculation.
Thus it was Mrs. Dodd applied her native sagacity to divine why Richard
Hardie declined Julia for his son's wife, and how to make him withdraw
that dissent: and the fair diviner was much mistaken in detail but right
in her conclusion; for Richard Hardie _was_ at that moment the
unlikeliest man in Barkington to decline Julia Dodd--with Hard Cash in
five figures--for his daughter-in-law.
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