CHAPTER XVII

Itwas,indeed,atriumphantdaytoMr.BertramandMaria.SuchavictoryoverEdmund’sdiscretionhadbeenbeyondtheirhopes,andwasmostdelightful.Therewasnolongeranythingtodisturbthemintheirdarlingproject,andtheycongratulatedeachotherinprivateonthejealousweaknesstowhichtheyattributedthechange,withallthegleeoffeelingsgratifiedineveryway.Edmundmightstilllookgrave,andsayhedidnotliketheschemeingeneral,andmustdisapprovetheplayinparticulartheirpointwasgained:hewastoact,andhewasdriventoitbytheforceofselfishinclinationsonly.Edmundhaddescendedfromthatmoralelevationwhichhehadmaintainedbefore,andtheywerebothasmuchthebetterasthehappierforthedescent. Theybehavedverywell,however,tohimontheoccasion,betrayingnoexultationbeyondthelinesaboutthecornersofthemouth,andseemedtothinkitasgreatanescapetobequitoftheintrusionofCharlesMaddox,asiftheyhadbeenforcedintoadmittinghimagainsttheirinclination.“Tohaveitquiteintheirownfamilycirclewaswhattheyhadparticularlywished.Astrangeramongthemwouldhavebeenthedestructionofalltheircomfort”andwhenEdmund,pursuingthatidea,gaveahintofhishopeastothelimitationoftheaudience,theywereready,inthecomplaisanceofthemoment,topromiseanything.Itwasallgood-humourandencouragement.Mrs.Norrisofferedtocontrivehisdress,Mr.YatesassuredhimthatAnhalt’slastscenewiththeBaronadmittedagooddealofactionandemphasis,andMr.Rushworthundertooktocounthisspeeches. “Perhaps,”saidTom,“Fannymaybemoredisposedtoobligeusnow.Perhapsyoumaypersuadeher.” “No,sheisquitedetermined.Shecertainlywillnotact.” “Oh!verywell.”AndnotanotherwordwassaidbutFannyfeltherselfagainindanger,andherindifferencetothedangerwasbeginningtofailheralready. TherewerenotfewersmilesattheParsonagethanattheParkonthischangeinEdmundMissCrawfordlookedverylovelyinhers,andenteredwithsuchaninstantaneousrenewalofcheerfulnessintothewholeaffairascouldhavebutone