CHAPTER XVI
關燈
小
中
大
,doubtingspirit,toseeifbylookingatEdmund’sprofileshecouldcatchanyofhiscounsel,orbygivingairtohergeraniumsshemightinhaleabreezeofmentalstrengthherself.Butshehadmorethanfearsofherownperseverancetoremove:shehadbeguntofeelundecidedastowhatsheoughttodoandasshewalkedroundtheroomherdoubtswereincreasing.Wassherightinrefusingwhatwassowarmlyasked,sostronglywishedfor—whatmightbesoessentialtoaschemeonwhichsomeofthosetowhomsheowedthegreatestcomplaisancehadsettheirhearts?Wasitnotill-nature,selfishness,andafearofexposingherself?AndwouldEdmund’sjudgment,wouldhispersuasionofSirThomas’sdisapprobationofthewhole,beenoughtojustifyherinadetermineddenialinspiteofalltherest?Itwouldbesohorribletohertoactthatshewasinclinedtosuspectthetruthandpurityofherownscruplesandasshelookedaroundher,theclaimsofhercousinstobeingobligedwerestrengthenedbythesightofpresentuponpresentthatshehadreceivedfromthem.Thetablebetweenthewindowswascoveredwithwork-boxesandnetting-boxeswhichhadbeengivenheratdifferenttimes,principallybyTomandshegrewbewilderedastotheamountofthedebtwhichallthesekindremembrancesproduced.Atapatthedoorrousedherinthemidstofthisattempttofindherwaytoherduty,andhergentle“Comein”wasansweredbytheappearanceofone,beforewhomallherdoubtswerewonttobelaid.HereyesbrightenedatthesightofEdmund.
“CanIspeakwithyou,Fanny,forafewminutes?”saidhe.
“Yes,certainly.”
“Iwanttoconsult.Iwantyouropinion.”
“Myopinion!”shecried,shrinkingfromsuchacompliment,highlyasitgratifiedher.
“Yes,youradviceandopinion.Idonotknowwhattodo.Thisactingschemegetsworseandworse,yousee.Theyhavechosenalmostasbadaplayastheycould,andnow,tocompletethebusiness,aregoingtoaskthehelpofayoungmanveryslightlyknowntoanyofus.Thisistheendofalltheprivacyandproprietywhichwastalkedaboutatfirst.IknownoharmofCharlesMaddoxbuttheexcessiveintimacywhichmustspringfromhisbeingadmittedamongusinthismannerishighlyobjectionable,themorethanintimacy—thefamiliarity.Icannotthinkofitwithanypatienceanditdoesappeartomeanevilofsuchmagnitudeasmust,ifpossible,beprevented.Donotyouseeitinthesamelight?”
“Yesbutwhatcanbedone?Yourbrotherissodetermined.”
“Thereisbutonethingtobedone,Fanny.ImusttakeAnhaltmyself.IamwellawarethatnothingelsewillquietTom.”
Fannycouldnota
