CHAPTER VIII

wasverythankfulforanarrangementwhichrestoredhimtohisshareofthepartyandMrs.Norristhoughtitanexcellentplan,andhaditathertongue’send,andwasonthepointofproposingit,whenMrs.Grantspoke. Wednesdaywasfine,andsoonafterbreakfastthebarouchearrived,Mr.Crawforddrivinghissistersandaseverybodywasready,therewasnothingtobedonebutforMrs.Granttoalightandtheotherstotaketheirplaces.Theplaceofallplaces,theenviedseat,thepostofhonour,wasunappropriated.Towhosehappylotwasittofall?WhileeachoftheMissBertramsweremeditatinghowbest,andwiththemostappearanceofobligingtheothers,tosecureit,thematterwassettledbyMrs.Grant’ssaying,asshesteppedfromthecarriage,“Astherearefiveofyou,itwillbebetterthatoneshouldsitwithHenryandasyouweresayinglatelythatyouwishedyoucoulddrive,Julia,Ithinkthiswillbeagoodopportunityforyoutotakealesson.” HappyJulia!UnhappyMaria!Theformerwasonthebarouche-boxinamoment,thelattertookherseatwithin,ingloomandmortificationandthecarriagedroveoffamidthegoodwishesofthetworemainingladies,andthebarkingofPuginhismistress’sarms. TheirroadwasthroughapleasantcountryandFanny,whoserideshadneverbeenextensive,wassoonbeyondherknowledge,andwasveryhappyinobservingallthatwasnew,andadmiringallthatwaspretty.Shewasnotofteninvitedtojoinintheconversationoftheothers,nordidshedesireit.Herownthoughtsandreflectionswerehabituallyherbestcompanionsand,inobservingtheappearanceofthecountry,thebearingsoftheroads,thedifferenceofsoil,thestateoftheharvest,thecottages,thecattle,thechildren,shefoundentertainmentthatcouldonlyhavebeenheightenedbyhavingEdmundtospeaktoofwhatshefelt.Thatwastheonlypointofresemblancebetweenherandtheladywhosatbyher:ineverythingbutavalueforEdmund,MissCrawfordwasveryunlikeher.ShehadnoneofFanny’sdelicacyoftaste,ofmind,offeelingshesawNature,inanimateNature,withlittleobservationherattentionwasallformenandwomen,hertalentsforthelightandlively.InlookingbackafterEdmund,however,whentherewasanystretchofroadbehindthem,orwhenhegainedontheminascendingaconsiderablehill,theywereunited,anda“thereheis”brokeatthesamemomentfromthemboth,morethanonce. ForthefirstsevenmilesMissBertramhadverylittlerealcomfort:herprospectalwaysendedinMr.Crawfordandhersistersittingsidebyside,fullofconversationandmerrimentandtoseeonlyhisexpressiveprofileasheturnedwithasmiletoJulia,ortocatchthelaughoftheother,wasaperpetualsourceofirritation,whichherownsenseofproprietycouldbutjustsmoothover.WhenJulialookedback,itwaswithacountenanceofdelight,andwhenevershespoketothem,itwasinthehighestspirits:“herviewofthecountrywascharming,shewishedtheycouldallseeit,”etc.butheronlyofferofexchangewasaddressedtoMissCrawford,astheygain