It's likely you're thinking of a passage from Chapter 3 where Eliot describes Godfrey Cass's dilemma regarding his secret marriage to Molly Farren and his subsequent relationship with Nancy Lammeter.
Here's what Eliot writes about Godfrey's inner conflict:
> "He wished he had never been born, or that he had been born a different man; and he wished, with a fierceness that startled him, that he had never seen Nancy, never known her, never felt the yearning for her which had subdued him into confessing a secret that he would have kept for ever from her."
Here's how we can interpret the quote you're trying to recall:
* Yoke: This refers to the burden or constraint that Godfrey has created for himself through his actions. He's trapped in a web of lies and secrets, unable to be truly happy with Nancy.
* A ready-garnished: This part of the quote doesn't directly appear in the text. It might be a misremembered detail or an attempt to capture the feeling of how Godfrey's life is now "garnished" with the complications of his hidden past.
To understand the full meaning of this quote in relation to Godfrey's dilemma, consider these points:
* Godfrey's secret marriage: This marriage is a major source of his internal conflict. He fears the consequences of revealing it, yet he knows he cannot live a truly honest life with Nancy while keeping it hidden.
* His love for Nancy: Godfrey genuinely loves Nancy and desires a happy life with her. However, his past actions prevent him from achieving this.
* His fear of consequences: Godfrey is terrified of the social and financial repercussions of his actions. He worries about losing Nancy, his family's reputation, and his inheritance.
Ultimately, the quote highlights the internal struggle Godfrey faces as he attempts to reconcile his past mistakes with his desire for a fulfilling future. He's trapped in a self-created "yoke" of guilt and fear, unable to find peace.
If you can provide the exact quote or the context in which you encountered it, I can offer a more specific interpretation.