CHAPTER IV

TomBertramhadoflatespentsolittleofhistimeathomethathecouldbeonlynominallymissedandLadyBertramwassoonastonishedtofindhowverywelltheydidevenwithouthisfather,howwellEdmundcouldsupplyhisplaceincarving,talkingtothesteward,writingtotheattorney,settlingwiththeservants,andequallysavingherfromallpossiblefatigueorexertionineveryparticularbutthatofdirectingherletters. Theearliestintelligenceofthetravellers’safearrivalatAntigua,afterafavourablevoyage,wasreceivedthoughnotbeforeMrs.Norrishadbeenindulginginverydreadfulfears,andtryingtomakeEdmundparticipatethemwhenevershecouldgethimaloneandasshedependedonbeingthefirstpersonmadeacquaintedwithanyfatalcatastrophe,shehadalreadyarrangedthemannerofbreakingittoalltheothers,whenSirThomas’sassurancesoftheirbothbeingaliveandwellmadeitnecessarytolaybyheragitationandaffectionatepreparatoryspeechesforawhile. ThewintercameandpassedwithouttheirbeingcalledfortheaccountscontinuedperfectlygoodandMrs.Norris,inpromotinggaietiesforhernieces,assistingtheirtoilets,displayingtheiraccomplishments,andlookingaboutfortheirfuturehusbands,hadsomuchtodoas,inadditiontoallherownhouseholdcares,someinterferenceinthoseofhersister,andMrs.Grant’swastefuldoingstooverlook,leftherverylittleoccasiontobeoccupiedinfearsfortheabsent. TheMissBertramswerenowfullyestablishedamongthebellesoftheneighbourhoodandastheyjoinedtobeautyandbrilliantacquirementsamannernaturallyeasy,andcarefullyformedtogeneralcivilityandobligingness,theypossesseditsfavouraswellasitsadmiration.Theirvanitywasinsuchgoodorderthattheyseemedtobequitefreefromit,andgavethemselvesnoairswhilethepraisesattendingsuchbehaviour,securedandbroughtroundbytheiraunt,servedtostrengthentheminbelievingtheyhadnofaults. LadyBertramdidnotgointopublicwithherdaughters.Shewastooindolenteventoacceptamother’sgratificationinwitnessingtheirsuccessandenjoymentattheexpenseofanypersonaltrouble,andthechargewasmadeovertohersister,whodesirednothingbetterthanapostofsuchhonourablerepresentation,andverythoroughlyrelishedthemeansitaffordedherofmixinginsocietywithouthavinghorsestohire. Fannyhadnoshareinthefestivitiesoftheseasonbutsheenjoyedbeingavowedlyusefulasheraunt’scompanionwhentheycalledawaytherestofthefamilyand,asMissLeehadleftMansfield,shenaturallybecameeverythingtoLadyBertramduringthenightofaballoraparty.Shetalkedtoher,listenedtoher,readtoherandthetranquillityofsuchevenings,herperfectsecurityinsuchatête-à-têtefromanysoundofunkindness,wasunspeakablywelcometoamindwhichhadseldomknownapauseinitsalarmsorembarrassments.Astohercousins’gaieties,shelovedtohearanaccountofthem,especiallyoftheballs,andwhomEdmundhaddancedwithbutthoughttoolowlyofherownsituationtoimaginesheshouldeverbeadmittedtothesame,andlistened,therefore,withoutanideaofanynearerconcerninthem.Uponthewhole,itwasacomfortablewintertoherforthoughitbroughtnoWilliamtoEngland,thenever-failinghopeofhisarrivalwasworthmuch. Theensuingspringdeprivedherofhervaluedfriend,theoldgreyponyandforsometimeshewasindangeroffeelingthelossinherhealthaswellasinheraffectionsforinspiteoftheacknowledgedimportanceofherridingonhorse-back,nomeasuresweretakenformountingheragain,“because,”asitwasobservedbyheraunts,“shemightrideoneofhercousin’shorsesatanytimewhentheydidnotwantthem,”andastheMi