CHAPTER VII

“Well,Fanny,andhowdoyoulikeMissCrawfordnow?”saidEdmundthenextday,afterthinkingsometimeonthesubjecthimself.“Howdidyoulikeheryesterday?” “Verywell—verymuch.Iliketohearhertalk.Sheentertainsmeandsheissoextremelypretty,thatIhavegreatpleasureinlookingather.” “Itishercountenancethatissoattractive.Shehasawonderfulplayoffeature!Butwastherenothinginherconversationthatstruckyou,Fanny,asnotquiteright?” “Ohyes!sheoughtnottohavespokenofheruncleasshedid.Iwasquiteastonished.Anunclewithwhomshehasbeenlivingsomanyyears,andwho,whateverhisfaultsmaybe,issoveryfondofherbrother,treatinghim,theysay,quitelikeason.Icouldnothavebelievedit!” “Ithoughtyouwouldbestruck.Itwasverywrongveryindecorous.” “Andveryungrateful,Ithink.” “Ungratefulisastrongword.Idonotknowthatherunclehasanyclaimtohergratitudehiswifecertainlyhadanditisthewarmthofherrespectforheraunt’smemorywhichmisleadsherhere.Sheisawkwardlycircumstanced.WithsuchwarmfeelingsandlivelyspiritsitmustbedifficulttodojusticetoheraffectionforMrs.Crawford,withoutthrowingashadeontheAdmiral.Idonotpretendtoknowwhichwasmosttoblameintheirdisagreements,thoughtheAdmiral’spresentconductmightinclineonetothesideofhiswifebutitisnaturalandamiablethatMissCrawfordshouldacquitherauntentirely.Idonotcensureheropinionsbuttherecertainlyisimproprietyinmakingthempublic.” “Donotyouthink,”saidFanny,afteralittleconsideration,“thatthisimproprietyisareflectionitselfuponMrs.Crawford,asherniecehasbeenentirelybroughtupbyher?ShecannothavegivenherrightnotionsofwhatwasduetotheAdmiral.” “Thatisafairremark.Yes,wemustsupposethefaultsoftheniecetohavebeenthoseoftheauntanditmakesonemoresensibleofthedisadvantagesshehasbeenunder.ButIthinkherpresenthomemustdohergood.Mrs.Grant’smannersarejustwhattheyoughttobe.Shespeaksofherbrotherwithaverypleasingaffection.” “Yes,exceptastohiswritinghersuchshortletters.ShemademealmostlaughbutIcannotratesoveryhighlytheloveorgood-natureofabrotherwhowillnotgivehimselfthetroubleofwritinganythingworthreadingtohissisters,whentheyareseparated.IamsureWilliamwouldneverhaveusedmeso,underanycircumstances.Andwhatrighthadshetosupposethatyouwouldnotwritelongletterswhenyouwereabsent?” “Therightofalivelymind,Fanny,seizingwhatevermaycontributetoitsownamusementorthatofothersperfectlyallowable,whenuntincturedbyill-humourorroughnessandthereisnotashadowofeitherinthecountenanceormannerofMissCrawford:nothingsharp,orloud,orcoarse.Sheisperfectlyfeminine,exceptintheinstanceswehavebeenspeakingof.Thereshecannotbejustified.IamgladyousawitallasIdid.” Havingformedhermindandgainedheraffections,hehadagoodchanceofherthinkinglikehimthoughatthisperiod,andonthissubject,therebegannowtobesomedangerofdissimilarity,forhewasinalineofadmirationofMissCrawford,whichmightleadhimwhereFannycouldnotfollow.MissCrawford’sattractionsdidnotlessen.Theharparrived,andratheraddedtoherbeauty,wit,andgood-humourforsheplayedwiththegreatestobligingness,withanexpressionandtastewhichwerepeculiarlybecoming,andtherewassomethingclevertobesaidatthecloseofeveryair.EdmundwasattheParsonageeveryday,tobeindulgedwithhisfavouriteinstrument:onemorningsecuredaninvitationforthenextfortheladycouldnotbeunwillingtohavealistener,andeverythingwassooninafairtrain. Ayoungwoman,pretty,lively,withaharpaselegantasherself,andbothplacednearawindow,cutdowntotheground,andopeningonalittlelawn,surroundedbyshrubsintherichfoliageofsummer,wasenoughtocatchanyman’sheart.Theseason,thescene,theair,wereallfavourabletotendernessandsentiment.Mrs.Grantandhertambourframewerenotwithouttheiruse:itwasallinharmonyandaseverythingwillturntoaccountwhenloveisoncesetgoing,eventhesandwichtray,andDr.Grantdoingthehonoursofit,wereworthlookingat.Withoutstudyingthebusiness,however,orknowingwhathewasabout,Edmundwasbeginning,attheendofaweekofsuchintercourse,tobe