CHAPTER XIX

Howistheconsternationofthepartytobedescribed?Tothegreaternumberitwasamomentofabsolutehorror.SirThomasinthehouse!Allfelttheinstantaneousconviction.Notahopeofimpositionormistakewasharbouredanywhere.Julia’slookswereanevidenceofthefactthatmadeitindisputableandafterthefirststartsandexclamations,notawordwasspokenforhalfaminute:eachwithanalteredcountenancewaslookingatsomeother,andalmosteachwasfeelingitastrokethemostunwelcome,mostill-timed,mostappalling!Mr.Yatesmightconsideritonlyasavexatiousinterruptionfortheevening,andMr.Rushworthmightimagineitablessingbuteveryotherheartwassinkingundersomedegreeofself-condemnationorundefinedalarm,everyotherheartwassuggesting,“Whatwillbecomeofus?whatistobedonenow?”Itwasaterriblepauseandterribletoeveryearwerethecorroboratingsoundsofopeningdoorsandpassingfootsteps. Juliawasthefirsttomoveandspeakagain.Jealousyandbitternesshadbeensuspended:selfishnesswaslostinthecommoncausebutatthemomentofherappearance,FrederickwaslisteningwithlooksofdevotiontoAgatha’snarrative,andpressingherhandtohisheartandassoonasshecouldnoticethis,andseethat,inspiteoftheshockofherwords,hestillkepthisstationandretainedhersister’shand,herwoundedheartswelledagainwithinjury,andlookingasredasshehadbeenwhitebefore,sheturnedoutoftheroom,saying,“Ineednotbeafraidofappearingbeforehim.” Hergoingrousedtherestandatthesamemomentthetwobrotherssteppedforward,feelingthenecessityofdoingsomething.Averyfewwordsbetweenthemweresufficient.Thecaseadmittednodifferenceofopinion:theymustgotothedrawing-roomdirectly.Mariajoinedthemwiththesameintent,justthenthestoutestofthethreefortheverycircumstancewhichhaddrivenJuliaawaywastoherthesweetestsupport.HenryCrawford’sretainingherhandatsuchamoment,amomentofsuchpeculiarproofandimportance,wasworthagesofdoubtandanxiety.Shehaileditasanearnestofthemostseriousdetermination,andwasequaleventoencounterherfather.Theywalkedoff,utterlyheedlessofMr.Rushworth’srepeatedquestionof,“ShallIgotoo?HadnotIbettergotoo?Willnotitberightformetogotoo?”buttheywerenosoonerthroughthedoorthanHenryCrawfordundertooktoanswertheanxiousinquiry,and,encouraginghimbyallmeanstopayhisrespectstoSirThomaswithoutdelay,senthimaftertheotherswithdelightedhaste. FannywasleftwithonlytheCrawfordsandMr.Yates.ShehadbeenquiteoverlookedbyhercousinsandasherownopinionofherclaimsonSirThomas’saffectionwasmuchtoohumbletogiveheranyideaofclassingherselfwithhischildren,shewasgladtoremainbehindandgainalittlebreathing-time.Heragitationandalarmexceededallthatwasenduredbytherest,bytherightofadispositionwhichnoteveninnocencecouldkeepfromsuffering.Shewasnearlyfainting:allherformerhabitualdreadofherunclewasreturning,andwithitcompassionforhimandforalmosteveryoneofthepartyonthedevelopmentbeforehim,withsolicitudeonEdmund’saccountindescribable.Shehadfoundaseat,whereinexcessivetremblingshewasenduringallthesefearfulthoughts,whiletheotherthree,nolongerunderanyrestraint,weregivingventtotheirfeelingsofvexation,lamentingoversuchanunlooked-forprematurearrivalasamostuntowardevent,andwithoutmercywishingpoorSirThomashadbeentwiceaslongonhispassage,orwerestillinAntigua. TheCrawfordsweremorewarmonthesubjectthanMr.Yates,frombetterunderstandingthefamily,andjudgingmoreclearlyofthemischiefthatmustensue.Theruinoftheplaywastothemacertainty:theyfeltthetotaldestructionoftheschemetobeinevitablyathandwhileMr.Yatesconsidereditonlyasatemporaryinterruption,adisasterfortheevening,andcouldevensuggestthepossibilityoftherehearsalbeingrenewedaftertea,whenthebustleofreceivingSirThomaswereover,andhemightbeatleisuretobeamusedbyit.TheCrawfordslaughedattheideaandhavingsoonagreedontheproprietyoftheirwalkingquietlyhomeandleavingthefamilytothemselves,proposedMr.Yates’saccompanyingthemandspendingtheeveningattheParsonage.ButMr.Yates,havingneverbeenwiththosewhothoughtmuchofparentalclaims,orfamilyconfidence,couldnotperceivethatanythingofthekindwasnecessaryandtherefore,thankingthem,said,“hepreferredremainingwherehewas,thathemightpayhisrespectstotheoldgentl