Chapter 6

Dear Sir Henry,

I am especially intrigued by your grouping together senses and emotions. One cannot help how much one’s mouth may water, for example, in response to smelling a savory food, so it may follow that one cannot help one’s emotional responses. We do not choose what makes us happy or sad. In one sense this puts emotions on an animal level, even if some of our emotions are higher than theirs. I suppose it is good to devalue them in this way. It would be natural to assume that rational thought is above emotions, yet I am glad that you do not place it at the top. Not that we are to discard all these things, but we are to place them in the proper chain of command, as it were.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Regards,
Catherine Coleworth

Catherine could not help feeling disappointed at how proper it all was, but she did not want to place this emotion in the forefront. There were other things to consider. Sir Henry’s response to her letter was similar. How nice it was to be able to categorize things correctly, but surprising was how empty the exercise left him.

After some days Josiah wondered at Sir Henry’s extended absence. He and Susannah Coleworth had suspected he was becoming interested in Catherine and had anticipated more visits. It did seem that both of them had talked themselves out of moving towards union, however, even if Catherine at least was unhappy about it. She devoted herself more fervently to her prayers, but her joylessness at it concerned him. Previously she had engaged in her prayers more light-heartedly. Though Josiah agreed that cultivating the spirit is a first priority, his daughter’s somberness worried him. Why must romantic attachment be so important to women and their parents? Survival of the species and the nature of women in desiring their husbands and in finding fulfillment in child-bearing is a curse and a blessing.

Meanwhile, Sir Henry busied himself with the affairs of the estate and found a certain fulfilment in maintaining and improving its efficiency. Once his father returned from his trip, Sir Henry broached the topic of a community library.

“What the devil?” said Lord Byron abashed, the smoke from his pipe puffing out with each syllable. “Tenants have no time for such high-minded pursuits. It will take their attention off their farming.”

“I think you underestimate them, Father. Some may have the capacity to handle both, not to mention the idea that if they are more educated, they may care more about their work.”

“Nonsense. They learn the traditional methods and are rewarded with their yeilds. Their stomachs make them care about their work.”

“I wonder how my education relates to how much I care about their work and their minds. I could perform an experiment on one of the tenants We have never been afraid of trying new methods to increase productivity, Father. Surely one tenant’s education,” he did not think his father was ready to consider a whole family of men and women, “wont spoil anything if it doesn’t go well.” Sir Henry also did not want to tell his father that this had already occurred covertly.

“Balderdash. It would be like mixing oil and water. Leave it alone.”

“I can’t, Father. I’ve already made efforts with one of them.”

His Father looked at him more seriously. “You’ve gone off your nut! What possessed you to defy order and class distinctions! I’d no idea I’d raised a renegade. Where’s the loyalty, where’s the family responsibility? If only I’d had another son! Miriam! Come here!”

Lady Essex proceeded into the study. “What is it, Dear?”

“Your son has sold the family name to the tenants. All is lost.”

“Surely not, Dear.”

“Don’t you defy me, too, Woman!”

“How has Henry sold the family name?”

“By pretending he was not born noble and that they were not born workers. How could you have raised him without a sense of place? It’s all because of your embarrassment with the servants. I’ve told you to maintain a proper distance and respect for distinctions!”

“It is true that I have not felt a distinction between their existence and my own. I do not see diverse endeavors in a hierarchical way. There is a greatness to serving.”

“Then let them keep their greatness! How dare Henry demean them by filling them with high-minded philosophy!”

“I agree. I don’t see the use.”

Remembering his discomfort with Catherine made him question it too. Had he been unwise to support the Coleworth’s reading, and then to engage them in classless conversation?

“Which tenant are you corrupting?” demanded Lord Byron.

“I’ll not say until we’ve reached more of an understanding.”

And with that Sir Henry removed himself to the grounds.