CHAPTER IX

wfordandEdmund,Fanny,andMissCrawfordremainedinaclustertogether. “Itisapity,”criedFanny,“thatthecustomshouldhavebeendiscontinued.Itwasavaluablepartofformertimes.Thereissomethinginachapelandchaplainsomuchincharacterwithagreathouse,withone’sideasofwhatsuchahouseholdshouldbe!Awholefamilyassemblingregularlyforthepurposeofprayerisfine!” “Veryfineindeed,”saidMissCrawford,laughing.“Itmustdotheheadsofthefamilyagreatdealofgoodtoforceallthepoorhousemaidsandfootmentoleavebusinessandpleasure,andsaytheirprayersheretwiceaday,whiletheyareinventingexcusesthemselvesforstayingaway.” “ThatishardlyFanny’sideaofafamilyassembling,”saidEdmund.“Ifthemasterandmistressdonotattendthemselves,theremustbemoreharmthangoodinthecustom.” “Atanyrate,itissafertoleavepeopletotheirowndevicesonsuchsubjects.Everybodylikestogotheirownway—tochusetheirowntimeandmannerofdevotion.Theobligationofattendance,theformality,therestraint,thelengthoftime—altogetheritisaformidablething,andwhatnobodylikesandifthegoodpeoplewhousedtokneelandgapeinthatgallerycouldhaveforeseenthatthetimewouldevercomewhenmenandwomenmightlieanothertenminutesinbed,whentheywokewithaheadache,withoutdangerofreprobation,becausechapelwasmissed,theywouldhavejumpedwithjoyandenvy.CannotyouimaginewithwhatunwillingfeelingstheformerbellesofthehouseofRushworthdidmanyatimerepairtothischapel?TheyoungMrs.EleanorsandMrs.Bridgets—starchedupintoseemingpiety,butwithheadsfullofsomethingverydifferent—especiallyifthepoorchaplainwerenotworthlookingat—and,inthosedays,Ifancyparsonswereveryinferioreventowhattheyarenow.” Forafewmomentsshewasunanswered.FannycolouredandlookedatEdmund,butfelttooangryforspeechandheneededalittlerecollectionbeforehecouldsay,“Yourlivelymindcanhardlybeseriousevenonserioussubjects.Youhavegivenusanamusingsketch,andhumannaturecannotsayitwasnotso.Wemustallfeelattimesthedifficultyoffixingourthoughtsaswecouldwishbutifyouaresupposingitafrequentthing,thatistosay,aweaknessgrownintoahabitfromneglect,whatcouldbeexpectedfromtheprivatedevotionsofsuchpersons?Doyouthinkthemindswhicharesuffered,whichareindulgedinwanderingsinachapel,wouldbemorecollectedinacloset?” “Yes,verylikely.Theywouldhavetwochancesatleastintheirfavour.Therewouldbelesstodistracttheattentionfromwithout,anditwouldnotbetriedsolong.” “Themindwhichdoesnotstruggleagainstitselfunderonecircumstance,wouldfindobjectstodistractitintheother,Ibelieveandtheinfluenceoftheplaceandofexamplemayoftenrousebetterfeelingsthanarebegunwith.Thegreaterlengthoftheservice,however,Iadmittobesometimestoohardastretchuponthemind.OnewishesitwerenotsobutIhavenotyetleftOxfordlongenoughtoforgetwhatchapelprayersare.” Whilethiswaspassing,therestofthepartybeingscatteredaboutthechapel,JuliacalledMr.Crawford’sattentiontohersister,bysaying,“DolookatMr.RushworthandMaria,standingsidebyside,exactlyasiftheceremonyweregoingtobeperformed.Havenottheycompletelytheairofit?” Mr.Crawfordsmiledhisacquiescence,andsteppingforwardtoMaria,said,inavoicewhichsheonlycouldhear,“IdonotliketoseeMissBertramsonearthealtar.” Starting,theladyinstinctivelymovedasteportwo,butrecoveringherselfinamoment,affectedtolaugh,andaskedhim,inatonenotmuchlouder,“Ifhewouldgiveheraway?” “IamafraidIshoulddoitveryawkwardly,”washisreply,withalookofmeaning. Julia,joiningthematthemoment,carriedonthejoke. “Uponmyword,itisreallyapitythatitshouldnottakeplacedirectly,ifwehadbutaproperlicence,forherewearealtogether,andnothingintheworldcouldbemoresnugandpleasant.”AndshetalkedandlaughedaboutitwithsolittlecautionastocatchthecomprehensionofMr.Rushworthandhismother,andexposehersistertothewhisperedgallantriesofherlover,whileMrs.Rushworthspokewithpropersmilesanddignityofitsbeingamosthappyeventtoherwheneverittookplace. “IfEdmundwerebutinorders!”criedJulia,andrunningtowherehestoodwithMissCrawfordandFanny:“MydearEdmund,ifyouwerebutinordersnow,youmightperformtheceremonydirectly.HowunluckythatyouarenotordainedMr.RushworthandMariaarequiteready.” MissCrawford’scountenance,asJuliaspoke,mighthaveamusedadisinterestedobserver.Shelookedalmostaghastunderthenewideashewasreceiving.Fannypitiedher.“Howdistress