CHAPTER X

gparticularpains,duringdinner,todoawayanylittleresentmentoftheothertwo,andrestoregeneralgood-humour. Dinnerwassoonfollowedbyteaandcoffee,atenmiles’drivehomeallowednowasteofhoursandfromthetimeoftheirsittingdowntotable,itwasaquicksuccessionofbusynothingstillthecarriagecametothedoor,andMrs.Norris,havingfidgetedabout,andobtainedafewpheasants’eggsandacreamcheesefromthehousekeeper,andmadeabundanceofcivilspeechestoMrs.Rushworth,wasreadytoleadtheway.AtthesamemomentMr.Crawford,approachingJulia,said,“IhopeIamnottolosemycompanion,unlesssheisafraidoftheeveningairinsoexposedaseat.”Therequesthadnotbeenforeseen,butwasverygraciouslyreceived,andJulia’sdaywaslikelytoendalmostaswellasitbegan.MissBertramhadmadeuphermindtosomethingdifferent,andwasalittledisappointedbutherconvictionofbeingreallytheonepreferredcomfortedherunderit,andenabledhertoreceiveMr.Rushworth’spartingattentionsassheought.Hewascertainlybetterpleasedtohandherintothebarouchethantoassistherinascendingthebox,andhiscomplacencyseemedconfirmedbythearrangement. “Well,Fanny,thishasbeenafinedayforyou,uponmyword,”saidMrs.Norris,astheydrovethroughthepark.“Nothingbutpleasurefrombeginningtoend!IamsureyououghttobeverymuchobligedtoyourauntBertramandmeforcontrivingtoletyougo.Aprettygoodday’samusementyouhavehad!” Mariawasjustdiscontentedenoughtosaydirectly,“Ithinkyouhavedoneprettywellyourself,ma’am.Yourlapseemsfullofgoodthings,andhereisabasketofsomethingbetweenuswhichhasbeenknockingmyelbowunmercifully.” “Mydear,itisonlyabeautifullittleheath,whichthatniceoldgardenerwouldmakemetakebutifitisinyourway,Iwillhaveitinmylapdirectly.There,Fanny,youshallcarrythatparcelformetakegreatcareofit:donotletitfallitisacreamcheese,justliketheexcellentonewehadatdinner.NothingwouldsatisfythatgoodoldMrs.Whitaker,butmytakingoneofthecheeses.IstoodoutaslongasIcould,tillthetearsalmostcameintohereyes,andIknewitwasjustthesortthatmysisterwouldbedelightedwith.ThatMrs.Whitakerisatreasure!ShewasquiteshockedwhenIaskedherwhetherwinewasallowedatthesecondtable,andshehasturnedawaytwohousemaidsforwearingwhitegowns.Takecareofthecheese,Fanny.NowIcanmanagetheotherparcelandthebasketverywell.” “Whatelsehaveyoubeenspunging?”saidMaria,half-pleasedthatSothertonshouldbesocomplimented. “Spunging,mydear!Itisnothingbutfourofthosebeautifulpheasants’eggs,whichMrs.Whitakerwouldquiteforceuponme:shewouldnottakeadenial.Shesaiditmustbesuchanamusementtome,assheunderstoodIlivedquitealone,tohaveafewlivingcreaturesofthatsortandsotobesureitwill.Ishallgetthedairymaidtosetthemunderthefirstsparehen,andiftheycometogoodIcanhavethemmovedtomyownhouseandborrowacoopanditwillbeagreatdelighttomeinmylonelyhourstoattendtothem.AndifIhavegoodluck,yourmothershallhavesome.” Itwasabeautifulevening,mildandstill,andthedrivewasaspleasantastheserenityofNaturecouldmakeitbutwhenMrs.Norrisceasedspeaking,itwasaltogetherasilentdrivetothosewithin.Theirspiritswereingeneralexhaustedandtodeterminewhetherthedayhadaffordedmostpleasureorpain,mightoccupythemeditationsofalmostall.