CHAPTER XIX

emanhandsomelysincehewascomeandbesides,hedidnotthinkitwouldbefairbytheotherstohaveeverybodyrunaway.” Fannywasjustbeginningtocollectherself,andtofeelthatifshestaidlongerbehinditmightseemdisrespectful,whenthispointwassettled,andbeingcommissionedwiththebrotherandsister’sapology,sawthempreparingtogoasshequittedtheroomherselftoperformthedreadfuldutyofappearingbeforeheruncle. Toosoondidshefindherselfatthedrawing-roomdoorandafterpausingamomentforwhatsheknewwouldnotcome,foracouragewhichtheoutsideofnodoorhadeversuppliedtoher,sheturnedthelockindesperation,andthelightsofthedrawing-room,andallthecollectedfamily,werebeforeher.Assheentered,herownnamecaughtherear.SirThomaswasatthatmomentlookingroundhim,andsaying,“ButwhereisFanny?WhydonotIseemylittleFanny?”—andonperceivingher,cameforwardwithakindnesswhichastonishedandpenetratedher,callingherhisdearFanny,kissingheraffectionately,andobservingwithdecidedpleasurehowmuchshewasgrown!Fannyknewnothowtofeel,norwheretolook.Shewasquiteoppressed.Hehadneverbeensokind,soverykindtoherinhislife.Hismannerseemedchanged,hisvoicewasquickfromtheagitationofjoyandallthathadbeenawfulinhisdignityseemedlostintenderness.Heledhernearerthelightandlookedatheragain—inquiredparticularlyafterherhealth,andthen,correctinghimself,observedthatheneednotinquire,forherappearancespokesufficientlyonthatpoint.Afineblushhavingsucceededthepreviouspalenessofherface,hewasjustifiedinhisbeliefofherequalimprovementinhealthandbeauty.Heinquirednextafterherfamily,especiallyWilliam:andhiskindnessaltogetherwassuchasmadeherreproachherselfforlovinghimsolittle,andthinkinghisreturnamisfortuneandwhen,onhavingcouragetolifthereyestohisface,shesawthathewasgrownthinner,andhadtheburnt,fagged,wornlookoffatigueandahotclimate,everytenderfeelingwasincreased,andshewasmiserableinconsideringhowmuchunsuspectedvexationwasprobablyreadytoburstonhim. SirThomaswasindeedthelifeoftheparty,whoathissuggestionnowseatedthemselvesroundthefire.Hehadthebestrighttobethetalkerandthedelightofhissensationsinbeingagaininhisownhouse,inthecentreofhisfamily,aftersuchaseparation,madehimcommunicativeandchattyinaveryunusualdegreeandhewasreadytogiveeveryinformationastohisvoyage,andanswereveryquestionofhistwosonsalmostbeforeitwasput.HisbusinessinAntiguahadlatterlybeenprosperouslyrapid,andhecamedirectlyfromLiverpool,havinghadanopportunityofmakinghispassagethitherinaprivatevessel,insteadofwaitingforthepacketandallthelittleparticularsofhisproceedingsandevents,hisarrivalsanddepartures,weremostpromptlydelivered,ashesatbyLadyBertramandlookedwithheartfeltsatisfactiononthefacesaroundhim—interruptinghimselfmorethanonce,however,toremarkonhisgoodfortuneinfindingthemallathome—comingunexpectedlyashedid—allcollectedtogetherexactlyashecouldhavewished,butdarednotdependon.Mr.Rushworthwasnotforgotten:amostfriendlyreceptionandwarmthofhand-shakinghadalreadymethim,andwithpointedattentionhewasnowincludedintheobjectsmostintimatelyconnectedwithMansfield.TherewasnothingdisagreeableinMr.Rushworth’sappearance,andSirThomaswaslikinghimalready. Bynotoneofthecirclewashelistenedtowithsuchunbroken,unalloyedenjoymentasbyhiswife,whowasreallyextremelyhappytoseehim,andwhosefeelingsweresowarmedbyhissuddenarrivalastoplaceherneareragitationthanshehadbeenforthelasttwentyyears.Shehadbeenalmostflutteredforafewminutes,andstillremainedsosensiblyanimatedastoputawayherwork,movePugfromherside,andgiveallherattentionandalltherestofhersofatoherhusband.Shehadnoanxietiesforanybodytocloudherpleasure:herowntimehadbeenirreproachablyspentduringhisabsence:shehaddoneagreatdealofcarpet-work,andmademanyyardsoffringeandshewouldhaveansweredasfreelyforthegoodconductandusefulpursuitsofalltheyoungpeopleasforherown.Itwassoagreeabletohertoseehimagain,andhearhimtalk,tohaveherearamusedandherwholecomprehensionfilledbyhisnarratives,thatshebeganparticularlytofeelhowdreadfullyshemusthavemissedhim,andhowimpossibleitwouldhavebeenforhertobearalengthenedabsence. Mrs.N