CHAPTER XI

ThedayatSotherton,withallitsimperfections,affordedtheMissBertramsmuchmoreagreeablefeelingsthanwerederivedfromthelettersfromAntigua,whichsoonafterwardsreachedMansfield.ItwasmuchpleasantertothinkofHenryCrawfordthanoftheirfatherandtothinkoftheirfatherinEnglandagainwithinacertainperiod,whichtheselettersobligedthemtodo,wasamostunwelcomeexercise. Novemberwastheblackmonthfixedforhisreturn.SirThomaswroteofitwithasmuchdecisionasexperienceandanxietycouldauthorise.HisbusinesswassonearlyconcludedastojustifyhiminproposingtotakehispassageintheSeptemberpacket,andheconsequentlylookedforwardwiththehopeofbeingwithhisbelovedfamilyagainearlyinNovember. MariawasmoretobepitiedthanJuliafortoherthefatherbroughtahusband,andthereturnofthefriendmostsolicitousforherhappinesswouldunitehertothelover,onwhomshehadchosenthathappinessshoulddepend.Itwasagloomyprospect,andallshecoulddowastothrowamistoverit,andhopewhenthemistclearedawaysheshouldseesomethingelse.ItwouldhardlybeearlyinNovember,thereweregenerallydelays,abadpassageorsomethingthatfavouringsomethingwhicheverybodywhoshutstheireyeswhiletheylook,ortheirunderstandingswhiletheyreason,feelsthecomfortof.ItwouldprobablybethemiddleofNovemberatleastthemiddleofNovemberwasthreemonthsoff.Threemonthscomprisedthirteenweeks.Muchmighthappeninthirteenweeks. SirThomaswouldhavebeendeeplymortifiedbyasuspicionofhalfthathisdaughtersfeltonthesubjectofhisreturn,andwouldhardlyhavefoundconsolationinaknowledgeoftheinterestitexcitedinthebreastofanotheryounglady.MissCrawford,onwalkingupwithherbrothertospendtheeveningatMansfieldPark,heardthegoodnewsandthoughseemingtohavenoconcernintheaffairbeyondpoliteness,andtohaveventedallherfeelingsinaquietcongratulation,hearditwithanattentionnotsoeasilysatisfied.Mrs.Norrisgavetheparticularsoftheletters,andthesubjectwasdroptbutaftertea,asMissCrawfordwasstandingatanopenwindowwithEdmundandFannylookingoutonatwilightscene,whiletheMissBertrams,Mr.Rushworth,andHenryCrawfordwereallbusywithcandlesatthepianoforte,shesuddenlyreviveditbyturningroundtowardsthegroup,andsaying,“HowhappyMr.Rushworthlooks!HeisthinkingofNovember.” EdmundlookedroundatMr.Rushworthtoo,buthadnothingtosay. “Yourfather’sreturnwillbeaveryinterestingevent.”