CHAPTER XII

SirThomaswastoreturninNovember,andhiseldestsonhaddutiestocallhimearlierhome.TheapproachofSeptemberbroughttidingsofMr.Bertram,firstinalettertothegamekeeperandtheninalettertoEdmundandbytheendofAugusthearrivedhimself,tobegay,agreeable,andgallantagainasoccasionserved,orMissCrawforddemandedtotellofracesandWeymouth,andpartiesandfriends,towhichshemighthavelistenedsixweeksbeforewithsomeinterest,andaltogethertogiveherthefullestconviction,bythepowerofactualcomparison,ofherpreferringhisyoungerbrother. Itwasveryvexatious,andshewasheartilysorryforitbutsoitwasandsofarfromnowmeaningtomarrytheelder,shedidnotevenwanttoattracthimbeyondwhatthesimplestclaimsofconsciousbeautyrequired:hislengthenedabsencefromMansfield,withoutanythingbutpleasureinview,andhisownwilltoconsult,madeitperfectlyclearthathedidnotcareaboutherandhisindifferencewassomuchmorethanequalledbyherown,thatwerehenowtostepforththeownerofMansfieldPark,theSirThomascomplete,whichhewastobeintime,shedidnotbelieveshecouldaccepthim. TheseasonanddutieswhichbroughtMr.BertrambacktoMansfieldtookMr.CrawfordintoNorfolk.EveringhamcouldnotdowithouthiminthebeginningofSeptember.Hewentforafortnight—afortnightofsuchdullnesstotheMissBertramsasoughttohaveputthembothontheirguard,andmadeevenJuliaadmit,inherjealousyofhersister,theabsolutenecessityofdistrustinghisattentions,andwishinghimnottoreturnandafortnightofsufficientleisure,intheintervalsofshootingandsleeping,tohaveconvincedthegentlemanthatheoughttokeeplongeraway,hadhebeenmoreinthehabitofexamininghisownmotives,andofreflectingtowhattheindulgenceofhisidlevanitywastendingbut,thoughtlessandselfishfromprosperityandbadexample,hewouldnotlookbeyondthepresentmoment.Thesisters,handsome,clever,andencouraging,wereanamusementtohissatedmindandfindingnothinginNorfolktoequalthesocialpleasuresofMansfield,hegladlyreturnedtoitatthetimeappointed,andwaswelcomedthitherquiteasgladlybythosewhomhecametotriflewithfurther. Maria,withonlyMr.Rushworthtoattendtoher,anddoomedtotherepeateddetailsofhisday’ssport,goodorbad,hisboastofhisdogs,hisjea