CHAPTER X

Aquarterofanhour,twentyminutes,passedaway,andFannywasstillthinkingofEdmund,MissCrawford,andherself,withoutinterruptionfromanyone.Shebegantobesurprisedatbeingleftsolong,andtolistenwithananxiousdesireofhearingtheirstepsandtheirvoicesagain.Shelistened,andatlengthsheheardsheheardvoicesandfeetapproachingbutshehadjustsatisfiedherselfthatitwasnotthoseshewanted,whenMissBertram,Mr.Rushworth,andMr.Crawfordissuedfromthesamepathwhichshehadtrodherself,andwerebeforeher. “MissPriceallalone”and“MydearFanny,howcomesthis?”werethefirstsalutations.Shetoldherstory.“PoordearFanny,”criedhercousin,“howillyouhavebeenusedbythem!Youhadbetterhavestaidwithus.” Thenseatingherselfwithagentlemanoneachside,sheresumedtheconversationwhichhadengagedthembefore,anddiscussedthepossibilityofimprovementswithmuchanimation.NothingwasfixedonbutHenryCrawfordwasfullofideasandprojects,and,generallyspeaking,whateverheproposedwasimmediatelyapproved,firstbyher,andthenbyMr.Rushworth,whoseprincipalbusinessseemedtobetoheartheothers,andwhoscarcelyriskedanoriginalthoughtofhisownbeyondawishthattheyhadseenhisfriendSmith’splace. Aftersomeminutesspentinthisway,MissBertram,observingtheirongate,expressedawishofpassingthroughitintothepark,thattheirviewsandtheirplansmightbemorecomprehensive.Itwastheverythingofallotherstobewished,itwasthebest,itwastheonlywayofproceedingwithanyadvantage,inHenryCrawford’sopinionandhedirectlysawaknollnothalfamileoff,whichwouldgivethemexactlytherequisitecommandofthehouse.Gothereforetheymusttothatknoll,andthroughthatgatebutthegatewaslocked.Mr.Rushworthwishedhehadbroughtthekeyhehadbeenverynearthinkingwhetherheshouldnotbringthekeyhewasdeterminedhewouldnevercomewithoutthekeyagainbutstillthisdidnotremovethepresentevil.TheycouldnotgetthroughandasMissBertram’sinclinationforsodoingdidbynomeanslessen,itendedinMr.Rushworth’sdeclaringoutrightthathewouldgoandfetchthekey.Hesetoffaccordingly. “Itisundoubtedlythebestthingwecandonow,aswearesofarfromthehousealready,”saidMr.Crawford,whenhewasgone. “Yes,thereisnothingelsetobedone.Butnow,sincerely,donotyoufindtheplacealtogetherworsethanyouexpected?” “No,indeed,farotherwise.Ifinditbetter,grander,morecompleteinitsstyle,thoughthatstylemaynotbethebest.Andtotellyouthetruth,”speakingratherlower,“IdonotthinkthatIshalleverseeSothertonagainwithsomuchpleasureasIdonow.Anothersummerwillhardlyimproveittome.” Afteramoment’sembarrassmenttheladyreplied,“Youaretoomuchamanoftheworldnottoseewiththeeyesoftheworld.IfotherpeoplethinkSothertonimproved,Ihavenodoubtthatyouwill.” “IamafraidIamnotquitesomuchthemanoftheworldasmightbegoodformeinsomepoints.Myfeelingsarenotquitesoevanescent,normymemoryofthepastundersucheasydominionasonefindstobethecasewithmenoftheworld.” Thiswasfollowedbyashortsilence.MissBertrambeganagain.“Youseemedtoenjoyyourdrivehereverymuchthismorning.Iwasgladtoseeyousowellentertained.YouandJuliawerelaughingthewholeway.” “Werewe?Yes,IbelievewewerebutIhavenottheleastrecollectionatwhat.Oh!IbelieveIwasrelatingtohersomeridicul