CHAPTER VIII

Fanny’sridesrecommencedtheverynextdayandasitwasapleasantfresh-feelingmorning,lesshotthantheweatherhadlatelybeen,Edmundtrustedthatherlosses,bothofhealthandpleasure,wouldbesoonmadegood.WhileshewasgoneMr.Rushwortharrived,escortinghismother,whocametobecivilandtoshewhercivilityespecially,inurgingtheexecutionoftheplanforvisitingSotherton,whichhadbeenstartedafortnightbefore,andwhich,inconsequenceofhersubsequentabsencefromhome,hadsincelaindormant.Mrs.Norrisandhernieceswereallwellpleasedwithitsrevival,andanearlydaywasnamedandagreedto,providedMr.Crawfordshouldbedisengaged:theyoungladiesdidnotforgetthatstipulation,andthoughMrs.Norriswouldwillinglyhaveansweredforhisbeingso,theywouldneitherauthorisethelibertynorruntheriskandatlast,onahintfromMissBertram,Mr.RushworthdiscoveredthattheproperestthingtobedonewasforhimtowalkdowntotheParsonagedirectly,andcallonMr.Crawford,andinquirewhetherWednesdaywouldsuithimornot. BeforehisreturnMrs.GrantandMissCrawfordcamein.Havingbeenoutsometime,andtakenadifferentroutetothehouse,theyhadnotmethim.Comfortablehopes,however,weregiventhathewouldfindMr.Crawfordathome.TheSothertonschemewasmentionedofcourse.Itwashardlypossible,indeed,thatanythingelseshouldbetalkedof,forMrs.NorriswasinhighspiritsaboutitandMrs.Rushworth,awell-meaning,civil,prosing,pompouswoman,whothoughtnothingofconsequence,butasitrelatedtoherownandherson’sconcerns,hadnotyetgivenoverpressingLadyBertramtobeoftheparty.LadyBertramconstantlydeclineditbutherplacidmannerofrefusalmadeMrs.Rushworthstillthinkshewishedtocome,tillMrs.Norris’smorenumerouswordsandloudertoneconvincedherofthetruth. “Thefatiguewouldbetoomuchformysister,agreatdealtoomuch,Iassureyou,mydearMrs.Rushworth.Tenmilesthere,andtenback,youknow.Youmustexcusemysisteronthisoccasion,andacceptofourtwodeargirlsandmyselfwithouther.Sothertonistheonlyplacethatcouldgiveherawishtogosofar,butitcannotbe,indeed.ShewillhaveacompanioninFannyPrice,youknow,soitwillalldoverywellandasforEdmund,asheisnotheretospeakforhimself,Iwillanswerforhisbeingmosthappytojointheparty.Hecangoonhorseback,youknow.” Mrs.RushworthbeingobligedtoyieldtoLadyBertram’sstayingathome,couldonlybesorry.“Thelossofherladyship’scompanywouldbeagreatdrawback,andsheshouldhavebeenextremelyhappytohaveseentheyoungladytoo,MissPrice,whohadneverbeenatSothertonyet,anditwasapitysheshouldnotseetheplace.” “Youareverykind,youareallkindness,mydearmadam,”criedMrs.Norris“butastoFanny,shewillhaveopportunitiesinplentyofseeingSotherton.Shehastimeenoughbeforeherandhergoingnowisquiteoutofthequestion.LadyBertramcouldnotpossiblyspareher.” “Ohno!IcannotdowithoutFanny.”