CHAPTER VI

oyanything,andthatdisheartenedmefromdoingseveralthingsthatSirThomasandIusedtotalkof.Ifithadnotbeenforthat,weshouldhavecarriedonthegardenwall,andmadetheplantationtoshutoutthechurchyard,justasDr.Granthasdone.Wewerealwaysdoingsomethingasitwas.ItwasonlythespringtwelvemonthbeforeMr.Norris’sdeaththatweputintheapricotagainstthestablewall,whichisnowgrownsuchanobletree,andgettingtosuchperfection,sir,”addressingherselfthentoDr.Grant. “Thetreethriveswell,beyondadoubt,madam,”repliedDr.Grant.“ThesoilisgoodandIneverpassitwithoutregrettingthatthefruitshouldbesolittleworththetroubleofgathering.” “Sir,itisaMoorPark,weboughtitasaMoorPark,anditcostus—thatis,itwasapresentfromSirThomas,butIsawthebill—andIknowitcostsevenshillings,andwaschargedasaMoorPark.” “Youwereimposedon,ma’am,”repliedDr.Grant:“thesepotatoeshaveasmuchtheflavourofaMoorParkapricotasthefruitfromthattree.Itisaninsipidfruitatthebestbutagoodapricotiseatable,whichnonefrommygardenare.” “Thetruthis,ma’am,”saidMrs.Grant,pretendingtowhisperacrossthetabletoMrs.Norris,“thatDr.Granthardlyknowswhatthenaturaltasteofourapricotis:heisscarcelyeverindulgedwithone,foritissovaluableafruitwithalittleassistance,andoursissucharemarkablylarge,fairsort,thatwhatwithearlytartsandpreserves,mycookcontrivestogetthemall.” Mrs.Norris,whohadbeguntoredden,wasappeasedand,foralittlewhile,othersubjectstookplaceoftheimprovementsofSotherton.Dr.GrantandMrs.Norriswereseldomgoodfriendstheiracquaintancehadbegunindilapidations,andtheirhabitsweretotallydissimilar. AfterashortinterruptionMr.Rushworthbeganagain.“Smith’splaceistheadmirationofallthecountryanditwasamerenothingbeforeReptontookitinhand.IthinkIshallhaveRepton.” “Mr.Rushworth,”saidLadyBertram,“ifIwereyou,Iwouldhaveaveryprettyshrubbery.Onelikestogetoutintoashrubberyinfineweather.” Mr.Rushworthwaseagertoassureherladyshipofhisacquiescence,andtriedtomakeoutsomethingcomplimentarybut,betweenhissubmissiontohertaste,andhishavingalwaysintendedthesamehimself,withthesuperaddedobjectsofprofessingattentiontothecomfortofladiesingeneral,andofinsinuatingthattherewasoneonlywhomhewasanxioustoplease,hegrewpuzzled,andEdmundwasgladtoputanendtohisspeechbyaproposalofwine.Mr.Rushworth,however,thoughnotusuallyagreattalker,hadstillmoretosayonthesubjectnexthisheart.“Smithhasnotmuchaboveahundredacresaltogetherinhisgrounds,whichislittleenough,andmakesitmoresurprisingthattheplacecanhavebeensoimproved.Now,atSothertonwehaveagoodsevenhundred,withoutreckoningthewatermeadowssothatIthink,ifsomuchcouldbedoneatCompton,weneednotdespair.Therehavebeentwoorthreefineoldtreescutdown,thatgrewtoonearthehouse,anditopenstheprospectamazingly,whichmakesmethinkthatRepton,oranybodyofthatsort,wouldcertainlyhavetheavenueatSothertondown:theavenuethatleadsfromthewestfronttothetopofthehill,youknow,”turningtoMissBertramparticularlyashespoke.ButMissBertramthoughtitmostbecomingtoreply— “Theavenue!Oh!Idonotrecollectit.IreallyknowverylittleofSotherton.” Fanny,whowassittingontheothersideofEdmund,exactlyoppositeMissCrawford,andwhohadbeenattentivelylistening,nowlookedathim,andsaidinalowvoice— “Cutdownanavenue!Whatapity!DoesitnotmakeyouthinkofCowper?‘Yefallenavenues,oncemoreImournyourfateunmerited.’” Hesmiledasheanswered,“Iamafraidtheavenuestandsabadchance,Fanny.” “IshouldliketoseeSothertonbeforeitiscutdown,toseetheplaceasitisnow,initsoldstatebutIdonotsupposeIshall.” “Haveyouneverbeenthere?No,younevercana