CHAPTER VIII

Mrs.Rushworthproceedednext,undertheconvictionthateverybodymustbewantingtoseeSotherton,toincludeMissCrawfordintheinvitationandthoughMrs.Grant,whohadnotbeenatthetroubleofvisitingMrs.Rushworth,onhercomingintotheneighbourhood,civillydeclineditonherownaccount,shewasgladtosecureanypleasureforhersisterandMary,properlypressedandpersuaded,wasnotlonginacceptinghershareofthecivility.Mr.RushworthcamebackfromtheParsonagesuccessfulandEdmundmadehisappearancejustintimetolearnwhathadbeensettledforWednesday,toattendMrs.Rushworthtohercarriage,andwalkhalf-waydowntheparkwiththetwootherladies. Onhisreturntothebreakfast-room,hefoundMrs.NorristryingtomakeuphermindastowhetherMissCrawford’sbeingofthepartyweredesirableornot,orwhetherherbrother’sbarouchewouldnotbefullwithouther.TheMissBertramslaughedattheidea,assuringherthatthebarouchewouldholdfourperfectlywell,independentofthebox,onwhichonemightgowithhim. “Butwhyisitnecessary,”saidEdmund,“thatCrawford’scarriage,orhisonly,shouldbeemployed?Whyisnousetobemadeofmymother’schaise?Icouldnot,whentheschemewasfirstmentionedtheotherday,understandwhyavisitfromthefamilywerenottobemadeinthecarriageofthefamily.” “What!”criedJulia:“goboxedupthreeinapostchaiseinthisweather,whenwemayhaveseatsinabarouche!No,mydearEdmund,thatwillnotquitedo.” “Besides,”saidMaria,“IknowthatMr.Crawforddependsupontakingus.Afterwhatpassedatfirst,hewouldclaimitasapromise.” “And,mydearEdmund,”addedMrs.Norris,“takingouttwocarriageswhenonewilldo,wouldbetroublefornothingand,betweenourselves,coachmanisnotveryfondoftheroadsbetweenthisandSotherton:healwayscomplainsbitterlyofthenarrowlanesscratchinghiscarriage,andyouknowoneshouldnotliketohavedearSirThomas,whenhecomeshome,findallthevarnishscratchedoff.” “ThatwouldnotbeaveryhandsomereasonforusingMr.Crawford’s,”saidMaria“butthetruthis,thatWilcoxisastupidoldfellow,anddoesnotknowhowtodrive.IwillanswerforitthatweshallfindnoinconveniencefromnarrowroadsonWednesday.” “Thereisnohardship,Isuppose,nothingunpleasant,”saidEdmund,“ingoingonthebarouchebox.” “Unpleasant!”criedMaria:“ohdear!Ibelieveitwouldbegenerallythoughtthefavouriteseat.Therecanbenocomparisonastoone’sviewofthecountry.ProbablyMissCrawfordwillchoosethebarouche-boxherself.” “Therecanbenoobjection,then,toFanny’sgoingwithyoutherecanbenodoubtofyourhavingroomforher.” “Fanny!”repeatedMrs.Norris“mydearEdmund,thereisnoideaofhergoingwithus.Shestayswithheraunt.ItoldMrs.Rushworthso.Sheisnotexpected.” “Youcanhavenoreason,Iimagine,madam,”saidhe,addressinghismother,“forwishingFannynottobeoftheparty,butasitrelatestoyours