CHAPTER X

ousstoriesofanoldIrishgroomofmyuncle’s.Yoursisterlovestolaugh.” “Youthinkhermorelight-heartedthanIam?” “Moreeasilyamused,”hereplied“consequently,youknow,”smiling,“bettercompany.IcouldnothavehopedtoentertainyouwithIrishanecdotesduringatenmiles’drive.” “Naturally,Ibelieve,IamaslivelyasJulia,butIhavemoretothinkofnow.” “Youhave,undoubtedlyandtherearesituationsinwhichveryhighspiritswoulddenoteinsensibility.Yourprospects,however,aretoofairtojustifywantofspirits.Youhaveaverysmilingscenebeforeyou.” “Doyoumeanliterallyorfiguratively?Literally,Iconclude.Yes,certainly,thesunshines,andtheparklooksverycheerful.Butunluckilythatirongate,thatha-ha,givemeafeelingofrestraintandhardship.‘Icannotgetout,’asthestarlingsaid.”Asshespoke,anditwaswithexpression,shewalkedtothegate:hefollowedher.“Mr.Rushworthissolongfetchingthiskey!” “AndfortheworldyouwouldnotgetoutwithoutthekeyandwithoutMr.Rushworth’sauthorityandprotection,orIthinkyoumightwithlittledifficultypassroundtheedgeofthegate,here,withmyassistanceIthinkitmightbedone,ifyoureallywishedtobemoreatlarge,andcouldallowyourselftothinkitnotprohibited.” “Prohibited!nonsense!Icertainlycangetoutthatway,andIwill.Mr.Rushworthwillbehereinamoment,youknowweshallnotbeoutofsight.” “Orifweare,MissPricewillbesogoodastotellhimthathewillfindusnearthatknoll:thegroveofoakontheknoll.” Fanny,feelingallthistobewrong,couldnothelpmakinganefforttopreventit.“Youwillhurtyourself,MissBertram,”shecried“youwillcertainlyhurtyourselfagainstthosespikesyouwilltearyourgownyouwillbeindangerofslippingintotheha-ha.Youhadbetternotgo.” Hercousinwassafeontheothersidewhilethesewordswerespoken,and,smilingwithallthegood-humourofsuccess,shesaid,“Thankyou,mydearFanny,butIandmygownarealiveandwell,andsogood-bye.” Fannywasagainlefttohersolitude,andwithnoincreaseofpleasantfeelings,forshewassorryforalmostallthatshehadseenandheard,astonishedatMissBertram,andangrywithMr.Crawford.Bytakingacircuitous,and,asitappearedtoher,veryunreasonabledirectiontotheknoll,theyweresoonbeyondhereyeandforsomeminuteslongersheremainedwithoutsightorsoundofanycompanion.Sheseemedtohavethelittlewoodalltoherself.ShecouldalmosthavethoughtthatEdmundandMissCrawfordhadleftit,butthatitwasimpossibleforEdmundtoforgethersoentirely. Shewasagainrousedfromdisagreeablemusingsbysuddenfootsteps:somebodywascomingataquickpacedowntheprincipalwalk.SheexpectedMr.Rushworth,butitwasJulia,who,hotandoutofbreath,andwithalookofdisappointment,criedoutonseeingher,“Heyday!Wherearetheothers?IthoughtMariaandMr.Crawfordwerewithyou.” Fannyexplained. “Aprettytrick,uponmyword!Icannotseethemanywhere,”lookingeagerlyintothepark.“Buttheycannotbeveryfaroff,andIthinkIamequaltoasmuchasMaria,evenwithouthelp.” “But,Julia,Mr.Rushworthwillbehereinamomentwiththekey.DowaitforMr.Rushworth.” “NotI,indeed.Ihavehadenoughofthefamilyforonemorning.Why,child,Ihavebutthismomentescapedfromhishorriblemother.SuchapenanceasIhavebeenenduring,whileyouweresittingheresocomposedandsohappy!Itmighthavebeenaswell,perha