CHAPTER XIX

orriswasbynomeanstobecomparedinhappinesstohersister.NotthatshewasincommodedbymanyfearsofSirThomas’sdisapprobationwhenthepresentstateofhishouseshouldbeknown,forherjudgmenthadbeensoblindedthat,exceptbytheinstinctivecautionwithwhichshehadwhiskedawayMr.Rushworth’spinksatincloakasherbrother-in-lawentered,shecouldhardlybesaidtoshewanysignofalarmbutshewasvexedbythemannerofhisreturn.Ithadlefthernothingtodo.Insteadofbeingsentforoutoftheroom,andseeinghimfirst,andhavingtospreadthehappynewsthroughthehouse,SirThomas,withaveryreasonabledependence,perhaps,onthenervesofhiswifeandchildren,hadsoughtnoconfidantbutthebutler,andhadbeenfollowinghimalmostinstantaneouslyintothedrawing-room.Mrs.Norrisfeltherselfdefraudedofanofficeonwhichshehadalwaysdepended,whetherhisarrivalorhisdeathweretobethethingunfoldedandwasnowtryingtobeinabustlewithouthavinganythingtobustleabout,andlabouringtobeimportantwherenothingwaswantedbuttranquillityandsilence.WouldSirThomashaveconsentedtoeat,shemighthavegonetothehousekeeperwithtroublesomedirections,andinsultedthefootmenwithinjunctionsofdespatchbutSirThomasresolutelydeclinedalldinner:hewouldtakenothing,nothingtillteacame—hewouldratherwaitfortea.StillMrs.NorriswasatintervalsurgingsomethingdifferentandinthemostinterestingmomentofhispassagetoEngland,whenthealarmofaFrenchprivateerwasattheheight,sheburstthroughhisrecitalwiththeproposalofsoup.“Sure,mydearSirThomas,abasinofsoupwouldbeamuchbetterthingforyouthantea.Dohaveabasinofsoup.” SirThomascouldnotbeprovoked.“Stillthesameanxietyforeverybody’scomfort,mydearMrs.Norris,”washisanswer.“ButindeedIwouldratherhavenothingbuttea.” “Well,then,LadyBertram,supposeyouspeakforteadirectlysupposeyouhurryBaddeleyalittleheseemsbehindhandto-night.”Shecarriedthispoint,andSirThomas’snarrativeproceeded. Atlengththerewasapause.Hisimmediatecommunicationswereexhausted,anditseemedenoughtobelookingjoyfullyaroundhim,nowatone,nowatanotherofthebelovedcirclebutthepausewasnotlong:intheelationofherspiritsLadyBertrambecametalkative,andwhatwerethesensationsofherchildrenuponhearinghersay,“Howdoyouthinktheyoungpeoplehavebeenamusingthemselveslately,SirThomas?Theyhavebeenacting.Wehavebeenallalivewithacting.” “Indeed!andwhathaveyoubeenacting?” “Oh!they’lltellyouallaboutit.” “Theallwillsoonbetold,”criedTomhastily,andwithaffectedunconcern“butitisnotworthwhiletoboremyfatherwithitnow.Youwillhearenoughofitto-morrow,sir.Wehavejustbeentrying,bywayofdoingsomething,andamusingmymother,justwithinthelastweek,togetupafewscenes,ameretrifle.WehavehadsuchincessantrainsalmostsinceOctoberbegan,thatwehavebeennearlyconfinedtothehousefordaystogether.Ihavehardlytakenoutagunsincethe3rd.Tolerablesportthefirstthreedays,buttherehasbeennoattemptinganythingsince.ThefirstdayIwentoverMansfieldWood,andEdmundtookthecopsesbeyondEaston,andwebroughthomesixbracebetweenus,andmighteachhavekilledsixtimesasmany,butwerespectyourpheasants,sir,Iassureyou,asmuchasyoucoulddesire.Idonotthinkyouwillfindyourwoodsbyanymeansworsestockedthantheywere.IneversawMansfieldWoodsofullofpheasantsinmylifeasthisyear.Ihopeyouwilltakeaday’ssportthereyourself,sir,soon.” Forthepresentthedangerwasover,andFanny’ssickfeelingssubsidedbutwhenteawassoonafterwardsbroughtin,andSirThomas,gettingup,saidthathefoundthathecouldnotbeanylongerinthehousewithoutjustlookingintohisowndearroom,everyagitationwasreturning.Hewasgonebeforeanythinghadbeensaidtopreparehimforthechangehemustfindthereandapauseofalarmfollowedhisdisappearance.Edmundwasthefirsttospeak— “Somethingmustbedone,”saidhe. “Itistimetothinkofourvisitors,”saidMaria,stillfeelingherhandpressedtoHenryCrawford’sheart,andcaringlittleforanythingelse.“WheredidyouleaveMissCrawford,Fanny?” Fannytoldoftheirdeparture,anddeliveredtheirmessage. “ThenpoorYatesisallalone,”criedTom.“Iwillgoandfetchhim.Hewillbenobadassistantwhenitallcomesout.” Tothetheatrehewent,andreacheditjustintimetowitnessthefirstmeetingofhisfatherandhisfriend.Sir