CHAPTER VIII

elf,toyourowncomfort.Ifyoucoulddowithouther,youwouldnotwishtokeepherathome?” “Tobesurenot,butIcannotdowithouther.” “Youcan,ifIstayathomewithyou,asImeantodo.” Therewasageneralcryoutatthis.“Yes,”hecontinued,“thereisnonecessityformygoing,andImeantostayathome.FannyhasagreatdesiretoseeSotherton.Iknowshewishesitverymuch.Shehasnotoftenagratificationofthekind,andIamsure,ma’am,youwouldbegladtogiveherthepleasurenow?” “Ohyes!veryglad,ifyourauntseesnoobjection.” Mrs.Norriswasveryreadywiththeonlyobjectionwhichcouldremain—theirhavingpositivelyassuredMrs.RushworththatFannycouldnotgo,andtheverystrangeappearancetherewouldconsequentlybeintakingher,whichseemedtoheradifficultyquiteimpossibletobegotover.Itmusthavethestrangestappearance!Itwouldbesomethingsoveryunceremonious,soborderingondisrespectforMrs.Rushworth,whoseownmannersweresuchapatternofgood-breedingandattention,thatshereallydidnotfeelequaltoit.Mrs.NorrishadnoaffectionforFanny,andnowishofprocuringherpleasureatanytimebutheroppositiontoEdmundnow,arosemorefrompartialityforherownscheme,becauseitwasherown,thanfromanythingelse.Shefeltthatshehadarrangedeverythingextremelywell,andthatanyalterationmustbefortheworse.WhenEdmund,therefore,toldherinreply,ashedidwhenshewouldgivehimthehearing,thatsheneednotdistressherselfonMrs.Rushworth’saccount,becausehehadtakentheopportunity,ashewalkedwithherthroughthehall,ofmentioningMissPriceasonewhowouldprobablybeoftheparty,andhaddirectlyreceivedaverysufficientinvitationforhiscousin,Mrs.Norriswastoomuchvexedtosubmitwithaverygoodgrace,andwouldonlysay,“Verywell,verywell,justasyouchuse,settleityourownway,IamsureIdonotcareaboutit.” “Itseemsveryodd,”saidMaria,“thatyoushouldbestayingathomeinsteadofFanny.” “Iamsuresheoughttobeverymuchobligedtoyou,”addedJulia,hastilyleavingtheroomasshespoke,fromaconsciousnessthatsheoughttooffertostayathomeherself. “Fannywillfeelquiteasgratefulastheoccasionrequires,”wasEdmund’sonlyreply,andthesubjectdropt. Fanny’sgratitude,whensheheardtheplan,was,infact,muchgreaterthanherpleasure.ShefeltEdmund’skindnesswithall,andmorethanall,thesensibilitywhichhe,unsuspiciousofherfondattachment,couldbeawareofbutthatheshouldforegoanyenjoymentonheraccountgaveherpain,andherownsatisfactioninseeingSothertonwouldbenothingwithouthim. ThenextmeetingofthetwoMansfieldfamiliesproducedanotheralterationintheplan,andonethatwasadmittedwithgeneralapprobation.Mrs.GrantofferedherselfascompanionforthedaytoLadyBertraminlieuofherson,andDr.Grantwastojointhematdinner.LadyBertramwasverywellpleasedtohaveitso,andtheyoungladieswereinspiritsagain.EvenEdmund