CHAPTER XII

m,onlylookatherfaceatthismomenthowdifferentfromwhatitwasthetwolastdances!” MissBertramdidindeedlookhappy,hereyesweresparklingwithpleasure,andshewasspeakingwithgreatanimation,forJuliaandherpartner,Mr.Crawford,wereclosetohertheywereallinaclustertogether.Howshehadlookedbefore,Fannycouldnotrecollect,forshehadbeendancingwithEdmundherself,andhadnotthoughtabouther. Mrs.Norriscontinued,“Itisquitedelightful,ma’am,toseeyoungpeoplesoproperlyhappy,sowellsuited,andsomuchthething!IcannotbutthinkofdearSirThomas’sdelight.Andwhatdoyousay,ma’am,tothechanceofanothermatch?Mr.Rushworthhassetagoodexample,andsuchthingsareverycatching.” Mrs.Rushworth,whosawnothingbutherson,wasquiteataloss. “Thecoupleabove,ma’am.Doyouseenosymptomsthere?” “Ohdear!MissJuliaandMr.Crawford.Yes,indeed,averyprettymatch.Whatishisproperty?” “Fourthousandayear.” “Verywell.Thosewhohavenotmoremustbesatisfiedwithwhattheyhave.Fourthousandayearisaprettyestate,andheseemsaverygenteel,steadyyoungman,soIhopeMissJuliawillbeveryhappy.” “Itisnotasettledthing,ma’am,yet.Weonlyspeakofitamongfriends.ButIhaveverylittledoubtitwillbe.Heisgrowingextremelyparticularinhisattentions.” Fannycouldlistennofarther.Listeningandwonderingwereallsuspendedforatime,forMr.Bertramwasintheroomagainandthoughfeelingitwouldbeagreathonourtobeaskedbyhim,shethoughtitmusthappen.Hecametowardstheirlittlecirclebutinsteadofaskinghertodance,drewachairnearher,andgaveheranaccountofthepresentstateofasickhorse,andtheopinionofthegroom,fromwhomhehadjustparted.Fannyfoundthatitwasnottobe,andinthemodestyofhernatureimmediatelyfeltthatshehadbeenunreasonableinexpectingit.Whenhehadtoldofhishorse,hetookanewspaperfromthetable,andlookingoverit,saidinalanguidway,“Ifyouwanttodance,Fanny,Iwillstandupwithyou.”Withmorethanequalcivilitytheofferwasdeclinedshedidnotwishtodance.“Iamgladofit,”saidhe,inamuchbriskertone,andthrowingdownthenewspaperagain,“forIamtiredtodeath.Ionlywonderhowthegoodpeoplecankeepitupsolong.Theyhadneedbeallinlove,tofindanyamusementinsuchfollyandsotheyare,