CHAPTER XV

Iamnottheonlyyoungwomanyoufindwhothinksitveryfitforprivaterepresentation.” “Iamsorryforit,”washisanswer“butinthismatteritisyouwhoaretolead.Youmustsettheexample.Ifothershaveblundered,itisyourplacetoputthemright,andshewthemwhattruedelicacyis.Inallpointsofdecorumyourconductmustbelawtotherestoftheparty.” Thispictureofherconsequencehadsomeeffect,fornoonelovedbettertoleadthanMariaandwithfarmoregood-humoursheanswered,“Iammuchobligedtoyou,Edmundyoumeanverywell,Iamsure:butIstillthinkyouseethingstoostronglyandIreallycannotundertaketoharanguealltherestuponasubjectofthiskind.Therewouldbethegreatestindecorum,Ithink.” “DoyouimaginethatIcouldhavesuchanideainmyhead?Noletyourconductbetheonlyharangue.Saythat,onexaminingthepart,youfeelyourselfunequaltoitthatyoufinditrequiringmoreexertionandconfidencethanyoucanbesupposedtohave.Saythiswithfirmness,anditwillbequiteenough.Allwhocandistinguishwillunderstandyourmotive.Theplaywillbegivenup,andyourdelicacyhonouredasitought.” “Donotactanythingimproper,mydear,”saidLadyBertram.“SirThomaswouldnotlikeit.—Fanny,ringthebellImusthavemydinner.—Tobesure,Juliaisdressedbythistime.” “Iamconvinced,madam,”saidEdmund,preventingFanny,“thatSirThomaswouldnotlikeit.” “There,mydear,doyouhearwhatEdmundsays?” “IfIweretodeclinethepart,”saidMaria,withrenewedzeal,“Juliawouldcertainlytakeit.” “What!”criedEdmund,“ifsheknewyourreasons!” “Oh!shemightthinkthedifferencebetweenus—thedifferenceinoursituations—thatsheneednotbesoscrupulousasImightfeelnecessary.Iamsureshewouldargueso.NoyoumustexcusemeIcannotretractmyconsentitistoofarsettled,everybodywouldbesodisappointed,Tomwouldbequiteangryandifwearesoverynice,weshallneveractanything.” “Iwasjustgoingtosaytheverysamething,”saidMrs.Norris.“Ifeveryplayistobeobjectedto,youwillactnothing,andthepreparationswillbeallsomuchmoneythrownaway,andIamsurethatwouldbeadiscredittousall.Idonotknowtheplaybut,asMariasays,ifthereisanythingalittletoowarm(anditissowithmostofthem)itcanbeeasilyleftout.Wemustnotbeover-precise,Edmund.AsMr.Rushworthistoacttoo,therecanbenoharm.IonlywishTomhadknownhisownmindwhenthecarpentersbegan,fortherewasthelossofhalfaday’sworkaboutthoseside-doors.Thecurtainwillbeagoodjob,however.Themaidsdotheirworkverywell,andIthinkweshallbeabletosendbacksomedozensoftherings.Thereisnooccasiontoputthemsoveryclosetogether.Iamofsomeuse,Ihope,inpreventingwasteandmakingthemostofthings.Thereshouldalwaysbeonesteadyheadtosuperintendsomanyyoungones.IforgottotellTomofsomethingthathappenedtomethisveryday.Ihadbeenlookingaboutmeinthepoultry-yard,andwasjustcomingout,whenwhoshouldIseebutDickJacksonmakinguptotheservants’hall-doorwithtwobitsofdealboardinhishand,bringingthemtofather,youmaybesuremotherhadchancedtosendhimofamessagetofather,andthenfatherhadbidhimbringupthemtwobitsofboard,forhecouldnotnohowdowithoutthem.Iknewwhatallthismeant,fortheservants’dinner-bellwasringingattheverymomentoverourheadsandasIhatesuchencroachingpeople(theJacksonsareveryencroaching,Ihavealwayssaidso:justthesortofpeopletogetalltheycan),Isaidtotheboydirectly(agreatlubberlyfellowoftenyearsold,youknow,whooughttobeashamedofhimself),‘I’lltaketheboardstoyourfather,Dick,sogetyouhomeagainasfastasyoucan.’Theboylookedverysilly,andturnedawaywithoutofferingaword,forIbelieveImightspeakprettysharpandIdaresayitwillcurehimofcomingmaraudingaboutthehouseforonewhile.Ihatesuchgreediness—sogoodasyourfatheristothefamily,employingthemanalltheyearround!” NobodywasatthetroubleofananswertheotherssoonreturnedandEdmund