CHAPTER IV

’sreturninSeptember,forwhenSeptembercameSirThomaswasstillabroad,andwithoutanynearprospectoffinishinghisbusiness.UnfavourablecircumstanceshadsuddenlyarisenatamomentwhenhewasbeginningtoturnallhisthoughtstowardsEnglandandtheverygreatuncertaintyinwhicheverythingwastheninvolveddeterminedhimonsendinghomehisson,andwaitingthefinalarrangementbyhimself.Tomarrivedsafely,bringinganexcellentaccountofhisfather’shealthbuttoverylittlepurpose,asfarasMrs.Norriswasconcerned.SirThomas’ssendingawayhissonseemedtohersolikeaparent’scare,undertheinfluenceofaforebodingofeviltohimself,thatshecouldnothelpfeelingdreadfulpresentimentsandasthelongeveningsofautumncameon,wassoterriblyhauntedbytheseideas,inthesadsolitarinessofhercottage,astobeobligedtotakedailyrefugeinthedining-roomofthePark.Thereturnofwinterengagements,however,wasnotwithoutitseffectandinthecourseoftheirprogress,hermindbecamesopleasantlyoccupiedinsuperintendingthefortunesofhereldestniece,astolerablytoquiethernerves.“IfpoorSirThomaswerefatednevertoreturn,itwouldbepeculiarlyconsolingtoseetheirdearMariawellmarried,”sheveryoftenthoughtalwayswhentheywereinthecompanyofmenoffortune,andparticularlyontheintroductionofayoungmanwhohadrecentlysucceededtooneofthelargestestatesandfinestplacesinthecountry. Mr.RushworthwasfromthefirststruckwiththebeautyofMissBertram,and,beinginclinedtomarry,soonfanciedhimselfinlove.Hewasaheavyyoungman,withnotmorethancommonsensebutastherewasnothingdisagreeableinhisfigureoraddress,theyoungladywaswellpleasedwithherconquest.Beingnowinhertwenty-firstyear,MariaBertramwasbeginningtothinkmatrimonyadutyandasamarriagewithMr.Rushworthwouldgivehertheenjoymentofalargerincomethanherfather’s,aswellasensureherthehouseintown,whichwasnowaprimeobject,itbecame,bythesameruleofmoralobligation,herevidentdutytomarryMr.Rushworthifshecould.Mrs.Norriswasmostzealousinpromotingthematch,byeverysuggestionandcontrivancelikelytoenhanceitsdesirablenesstoeitherpartyand,amongothermeans,byseekinganintimacywiththegentleman’smother,whoatpresentlivedwithhim,andtowhomsheevenforcedLadyBertramtogothroughtenmilesofindifferentroadtopayamorningvisit.Itwasnotlongbeforeagoodunderstandingtookplacebetweenthisladyandherself.Mrs.Rushworthacknowledgedherselfverydesirousthathersonshouldmarry,anddeclaredthatofalltheyoungladiesshehadeverseen,MissBertramseemed,byheramiablequalitiesandaccomplishments,thebestadaptedtomakehimhappy.Mrs.Norrisacceptedthecompliment,andadmiredthenicediscernmentofcharacterwhichcouldsowelldistinguishmerit.Mariawasindeedtheprideanddelightofthemall—perfectlyfaultless—anangeland,ofcourse,sosurroundedbyadmirers,mustbedifficultinherchoice:butyet,asfarasMrs.Norriscouldallowherselftodecideonsoshortanacquaintance,Mr.Rushworthappearedpreciselytheyoungmantodeserveandattachher. Afterdancingwitheachotheratapropernumberofballs,theyoungpeoplejustifiedtheseopinions,andanengagement,withaduereferencetotheabsentSirThomas,wasenteredinto,muchtothesatisfactionoftheirrespectivefamilies,andofthegenerallookers-onoftheneighbourhood,whohad,formanyweekspast,felttheexpediencyofMr.Rushworth’smarryingMissBertram. ItwassomemonthsbeforeSirThomas’sconsentcouldbereceivedbut,inthemeanwhile,asnoonefeltadoubtofhismostcordialpleasureintheconnexion,theintercourseofthetwofa