CHAPTER IV

ssBertramsregularlywantedtheirhorseseveryfineday,andhadnoideaofcarryingtheirobligingmannerstothesacrificeofanyrealpleasure,thattime,ofcourse,nevercame.TheytooktheircheerfulridesinthefinemorningsofAprilandMayandFannyeithersatathomethewholedaywithoneaunt,orwalkedbeyondherstrengthattheinstigationoftheother:LadyBertramholdingexercisetobeasunnecessaryforeverybodyasitwasunpleasanttoherselfandMrs.Norris,whowaswalkingallday,thinkingeverybodyoughttowalkasmuch.Edmundwasabsentatthistime,ortheevilwouldhavebeenearlierremedied.Whenhereturned,tounderstandhowFannywassituated,andperceiveditsilleffects,thereseemedwithhimbutonethingtobedoneandthat“Fannymusthaveahorse”wastheresolutedeclarationwithwhichheopposedwhatevercouldbeurgedbythesupinenessofhismother,ortheeconomyofhisaunt,tomakeitappearunimportant.Mrs.NorriscouldnothelpthinkingthatsomesteadyoldthingmightbefoundamongthenumbersbelongingtotheParkthatwoulddovastlywellorthatonemightbeborrowedofthestewardorthatperhapsDr.Grantmightnowandthenlendthemtheponyhesenttothepost.Shecouldnotbutconsideritasabsolutelyunnecessary,andevenimproper,thatFannyshouldhavearegularlady’shorseofherown,inthestyleofhercousins.ShewassureSirThomashadneverintendedit:andshemustsaythat,tobemakingsuchapurchaseinhisabsence,andaddingtothegreatexpensesofhisstable,atatimewhenalargepartofhisincomewasunsettled,seemedtoherveryunjustifiable.“Fannymusthaveahorse,”wasEdmund’sonlyreply.Mrs.Norriscouldnotseeitinthesamelight.LadyBertramdid:sheentirelyagreedwithhersonastothenecessityofit,andastoitsbeingconsiderednecessarybyhisfathersheonlypleadedagainsttherebeinganyhurrysheonlywantedhimtowaittillSirThomas’sreturn,andthenSirThomasmightsettleitallhimself.HewouldbeathomeinSeptember,andwherewouldbetheharmofonlywaitingtillSeptember? ThoughEdmundwasmuchmoredispleasedwithhisauntthanwithhismother,asevincingleastregardforherniece,hecouldnothelppayingmoreattentiontowhatshesaidandatlengthdeterminedonamethodofproceedingwhichwouldobviatetheriskofhisfather’sthinkinghehaddonetoomuch,andatthesametimeprocureforFannytheimmediatemeansofexercise,whichhecouldnotbearsheshouldbewithout.Hehadthreehorsesofhisown,butnotonethatwouldcarryawoman.Twoofthemwerehuntersthethird,ausefulroad-horse:thisthirdheresolvedtoexchangeforonethathiscousinmightrideheknewwheresuchaonewastobemetwithandhavingoncemadeuphismind,thewholebusinesswassooncompleted.Thenewmareprovedatreasurewithaverylittletroubleshebecameexactlycalculatedforthepurpose,andFannywasthenputinalmostfullpossessionofher.ShehadnotsupposedbeforethatanythingcouldeversuitherliketheoldgreyponybutherdelightinEdmund’smarewasfarbeyondanyformerpleasureofthesortandtheadditionitwaseverreceivingintheconsiderationofthatkindnessfromwhichherpleasuresprung,wasbeyondallherwordstoexpress.Sheregardedhercousinasanexampleofeverythinggoodandgreat,aspossessingworthwhichnoonebutherselfcouldeverappreciate,andasentitledtosuchgratitudefromherasnofeelingscouldbestrongenoughtopay.Hersentimentstowardshimwerecompoundedofallthatwasrespectful,grateful,confiding,andtender. Asthehorsecontinuedinname,aswellasfact,thepropertyofEdmund,Mrs.NorriscouldtolerateitsbeingforFanny’suseandhadLadyBertrameverthoughtaboutherownobjectionagain,hemighthavebeenexcusedinhereyesfornotwaitingtillSirThomas