CHAPTER II

ingswereveryacute,andtoolittleunderstoodtobeproperlyattendedto.Nobodymeanttobeunkind,butnobodyputthemselvesoutoftheirwaytosecurehercomfort. TheholidayallowedtotheMissBertramsthenextday,onpurposetoaffordleisureforgettingacquaintedwith,andentertainingtheiryoungcousin,producedlittleunion.Theycouldnotbutholdhercheaponfindingthatshehadbuttwosashes,andhadneverlearnedFrenchandwhentheyperceivedhertobelittlestruckwiththeduettheyweresogoodastoplay,theycoulddonomorethanmakeheragenerouspresentofsomeoftheirleastvaluedtoys,andleavehertoherself,whiletheyadjournedtowhatevermightbethefavouriteholidaysportofthemoment,makingartificialflowersorwastinggoldpaper. Fanny,whethernearorfromhercousins,whetherintheschoolroom,thedrawing-room,ortheshrubbery,wasequallyforlorn,findingsomethingtofearineverypersonandplace.ShewasdisheartenedbyLadyBertram’ssilence,awedbySirThomas’sgravelooks,andquiteovercomebyMrs.Norris’sadmonitions.Hereldercousinsmortifiedherbyreflectionsonhersize,andabashedherbynoticinghershyness:MissLeewonderedatherignorance,andthemaid-servantssneeredatherclothesandwhentothesesorrowswasaddedtheideaofthebrothersandsistersamongwhomshehadalwaysbeenimportantasplayfellow,instructress,andnurse,thedespondencethatsunkherlittleheartwassevere. Thegrandeurofthehouseastonished,butcouldnotconsoleher.Theroomsweretoolargeforhertomoveinwithease:whatevershetouchedsheexpectedtoinjure,andshecreptaboutinconstantterrorofsomethingorotheroftenretreatingtowardsherownchambertocryandthelittlegirlwhowasspokenofinthedrawing-roomwhensheleftitatnightasseemingsodesirablysensibleofherpeculiargoodfortune,endedeveryday’ssorrowsbysobbingherselftosleep.Aweekhadpassedinthisway,andnosuspicionofitconveyedbyherquietpassivemanner,whenshewasfoundonemorningbyhercousinEdmund,theyoungestofthesons,sittingcryingontheatticstairs. “Mydearlittlecousin,”saidhe,withallthegentlenessofanexcellentnature,“whatcanbethematter?”Andsittingdownbyher,hewasatgreatpainstoovercomehershameinbeingsosurprised,andpersuadehertospeakopenly.Wassheill?orwasanybodyangrywithher?orhadshequarrelledwithMariaandJulia?orwasshepuzzledaboutanythinginherlessonthathecouldexplain?Didshe,inshort,wantanythinghecouldpossiblygether,ordoforher?Foralongwhilenoanswercouldbeobtainedbeyonda“no,no—notatall—no,thankyou”buthestillperseveredandnosoonerhadhebeguntoreverttoherownhome,thanherincreasedsobsexplainedtohimwherethegrievancelay.Hetriedtoconsoleher. “YouaresorrytoleaveMama,mydearlittleFanny,”saidhe,“whichshowsyoutobeaverygoodgirlbutyoumustrememberthatyouarewithrelationsandfriends,whoallloveyou,andwishtomakeyouhappy.Letuswalkoutinthepark,andyoushalltellmeallaboutyourbrothersandsisters.” Onpursuingthesubject,hefoundthat,dearasallthesebrothersandsistersgenerallywere,therewasoneamongthemwhoranmoreinherthoughtsthantherest.ItwasWilliamwhomshetalkedofmost,andwantedmosttosee.William,theeldest,ayearolderthanherself,herconstantcompanionandfriendheradvocatewithhermother(ofwhomhewasthedarling)ineverydistress.“Williamdidnotlikesheshouldcomeawayhehadtoldherheshouldmissherverymuchindeed.”“ButWilliamwillwritetoyou,Idaresay.”“Yes,hehadpromisedhewould,buthehadtoldhertowritefirst.”“Andwhenshallyoudoit?”Shehungherheadandansweredhesitatingly,“shedidnotknowshehadnotanypaper.” “Ifthatbeallyourdifficulty,Iwillfurnishyouwithpaperandeveryothermaterial,andyoumaywriteyourletterwheneveryouchoose.WoulditmakeyouhappytowritetoWilliam?” “Yes,very.” “Thenletitbedone