CHAPTER IV

ain,athalfanhour’snotice,whenevershewerewearyoftheplace. Themeetingwasverysatisfactoryoneachside.MissCrawfordfoundasisterwithoutprecisenessorrusticity,asister’shusbandwholookedthegentleman,andahousecommodiousandwellfittedupandMrs.Grantreceivedinthosewhomshehopedtolovebetterthaneverayoungmanandwomanofveryprepossessingappearance.MaryCrawfordwasremarkablyprettyHenry,thoughnothandsome,hadairandcountenancethemannersofbothwerelivelyandpleasant,andMrs.Grantimmediatelygavethemcreditforeverythingelse.Shewasdelightedwitheach,butMarywasherdearestobjectandhavingneverbeenabletogloryinbeautyofherown,shethoroughlyenjoyedthepowerofbeingproudofhersister’s.Shehadnotwaitedherarrivaltolookoutforasuitablematchforher:shehadfixedonTomBertramtheeldestsonofabaronetwasnottoogoodforagirloftwentythousandpounds,withalltheeleganceandaccomplishmentswhichMrs.Grantforesawinherandbeingawarm-hearted,unreservedwoman,Maryhadnotbeenthreehoursinthehousebeforeshetoldherwhatshehadplanned. MissCrawfordwasgladtofindafamilyofsuchconsequencesoverynearthem,andnotatalldispleasedeitherathersister’searlycare,orthechoiceithadfallenon.Matrimonywasherobject,providedshecouldmarrywell:andhavingseenMr.Bertramintown,sheknewthatobjectioncouldnomorebemadetohispersonthantohissituationinlife.Whileshetreateditasajoke,therefore,shedidnotforgettothinkofitseriously.TheschemewassoonrepeatedtoHenry. “Andnow,”addedMrs.Grant,“Ihavethoughtofsomethingtomakeitcomplete.Ishoulddearlylovetosettleyoubothinthiscountryandtherefore,Henry,youshallmarrytheyoungestMissBertram,anice,handsome,good-humoured,accomplishedgirl,whowillmakeyouveryhappy.” Henrybowedandthankedher. “Mydearsister,”saidMary,“ifyoucanpersuadehimintoanythingofthesort,itwillbeafreshmatterofdelighttometofindmyselfalliedtoanybodysoclever,andIshallonlyregretthatyouhavenothalfadozendaughterstodisposeof.IfyoucanpersuadeHenrytomarry,youmusthavetheaddressofaFrenchwoman.AllthatEnglishabilitiescandohasbeentriedalready.Ihavethreeveryparticularfriendswhohavebeenalldyingforhimintheirturnandthepainswhichthey,theirmothers(verycleverwomen),aswellasmydearauntandmyself,havetakentoreason,coax,ortrickhimintomarrying,isinconceivable!Heisthemosthorribleflirtthatcanbeimagined.IfyourMissBertramsdonotliketohavetheirheartsbroke,letthemavoidHenry.” “Mydearbrother,Iwillnotbelievethisofyou.” “No,Iamsureyouaretoogood.YouwillbekinderthanMary.Youwillallowforthedoubtsofyouthandinexperience.Iamofacautioustemper,andunwillingtoriskmyhappinessinahurry.Nobodycanthinkmorehighlyofthematrimonialstatethanmyself.Iconsidertheblessingofawifeasmostjustlydescribedinthosediscreetlinesofthepoet—‘Heaven’slastbestgift.’” “There,Mrs.Grant,youseehowhedwellsononeword,andonlylookathissmile.IassureyouheisverydetestabletheAdmiral’slessonshavequitespoiledhim.” “Ipayverylittleregard,”saidMrs.Grant,“towhatanyyoungpersonsaysonthesubjectofmarriage.Iftheyprofessadisinclinationforit,Ionlysetitdownthattheyhavenotyetseentherightperson.” Dr.GrantlaughinglycongratulatedMissCrawfordonfeelingnodisinclinationtothestateherself. “Ohyes!Iamnotatallashamedofit.Iwouldhaveeverybodymarryiftheycandoitproperly:Idonotliketohavepeoplethrowthemselvesawaybuteverybodyshouldmarryassoonastheycandoittoadvantage.”