CHAPTER XX

idersitasmydoing.‘Uponmyword,Mrs.Norris,’saidMrs.Granttheotherday,‘ifMr.Rushworthwereasonofyourown,hecouldnotholdSirThomasingreaterrespect.’” SirThomasgaveupthepoint,foiledbyherevasions,disarmedbyherflatteryandwasobligedtorestsatisfiedwiththeconvictionthatwherethepresentpleasureofthoseshelovedwasatstake,herkindnessdidsometimesoverpowerherjudgment. Itwasabusymorningwithhim.Conversationwithanyofthemoccupiedbutasmallpartofit.HehadtoreinstatehimselfinallthewontedconcernsofhisMansfieldlife:toseehisstewardandhisbailifftoexamineandcompute,and,intheintervalsofbusiness,towalkintohisstablesandhisgardens,andnearestplantationsbutactiveandmethodical,hehadnotonlydoneallthisbeforeheresumedhisseatasmasterofthehouseatdinner,hehadalsosetthecarpentertoworkinpullingdownwhathadbeensolatelyputupinthebilliard-room,andgiventhescene-painterhisdismissallongenoughtojustifythepleasingbeliefofhisbeingthenatleastasfaroffasNorthampton.Thescene-painterwasgone,havingspoiltonlythefloorofoneroom,ruinedallthecoachman’ssponges,andmadefiveoftheunder-servantsidleanddissatisfiedandSirThomaswasinhopesthatanotherdayortwowouldsufficetowipeawayeveryoutwardmementoofwhathadbeen,eventothedestructionofeveryunboundcopyofLovers’Vowsinthehouse,forhewasburningallthatmethiseye. Mr.YateswasbeginningnowtounderstandSirThomas’sintentions,thoughasfaraseverfromunderstandingtheirsource.Heandhisfriendhadbeenoutwiththeirgunsthechiefofthemorning,andTomhadtakentheopportunityofexplaining,withproperapologiesforhisfather’sparticularity,whatwastobeexpected.Mr.Yatesfeltitasacutelyasmightbesupposed.Tobeasecondtimedisappointedinthesamewaywasaninstanceofverysevereill-luckandhisindignationwassuch,thathaditnotbeenfordelicacytowardshisfriend,andhisfriend’syoungestsister,hebelievedheshouldcertainlyattackthebaronetontheabsurdityofhisproceedings,andarguehimintoalittlemorerationality.HebelievedthisverystoutlywhilehewasinMansfieldWood,andallthewayhomebuttherewasasomethinginSirThomas,whentheysatroundthesametable,whichmadeMr.Yatesthinkitwisertolethimpursuehisownway,andfeelthefollyofitwithoutopposition.Hehadknownmanydisagreeablefathersbefore,andoftenbeenstruckwiththeinconveniencestheyoccasioned,butnever,inthewholecourseofhislife,hadheseenoneofthatclasssounintelligiblymoral,soinfamouslytyrannicalasSirThomas.Hewasnotamantobeenduredbutforhischildren’ssake,andhemightbethankfultohisfairdaughterJuliathatMr.Yatesdidyetmeantostayafewdayslongerunderhisroof. Theeveningpassedwithexternalsmoothness,thoughalmosteverymindwasruffledandthemusicwhichSirThomascalledforfromhisdaughtershelpedtoconcealthewantofrealharmony.Mariawasinagooddealofagitation.ItwasoftheutmostconsequencetoherthatCrawford