CHAPTER XX

shouldnowlosenotimeindeclaringhimself,andshewasdisturbedthatevenadayshouldbegonebywithoutseemingtoadvancethatpoint.Shehadbeenexpectingtoseehimthewholemorning,andalltheevening,too,wasstillexpectinghim.Mr.RushworthhadsetoffearlywiththegreatnewsforSothertonandshehadfondlyhopedforsuchanimmediateeclaircissementasmightsavehimthetroubleofevercomingbackagain.ButtheyhadseennoonefromtheParsonage,notacreature,andhadheardnotidingsbeyondafriendlynoteofcongratulationandinquiryfromMrs.GranttoLadyBertram.Itwasthefirstdayformany,manyweeks,inwhichthefamilieshadbeenwhollydivided.Four-and-twentyhourshadneverpassedbefore,sinceAugustbegan,withoutbringingthemtogetherinsomewayorother.Itwasasad,anxiousdayandthemorrow,thoughdifferinginthesortofevil,didbynomeansbringless.Afewmomentsoffeverishenjoymentwerefollowedbyhoursofacutesuffering.HenryCrawfordwasagaininthehouse:hewalkedupwithDr.Grant,whowasanxioustopayhisrespectstoSirThomas,andatratheranearlyhourtheywereusheredintothebreakfast-room,whereweremostofthefamily.SirThomassoonappeared,andMariasawwithdelightandagitationtheintroductionofthemanshelovedtoherfather.Hersensationswereindefinable,andsoweretheyafewminutesafterwardsuponhearingHenryCrawford,whohadachairbetweenherselfandTom,askthelatterinanundervoicewhethertherewereanyplansforresumingtheplayafterthepresenthappyinterruption(withacourteousglanceatSirThomas),because,inthatcase,heshouldmakeapointofreturningtoMansfieldatanytimerequiredbytheparty:hewasgoingawayimmediately,beingtomeethisuncleatBathwithoutdelaybutiftherewereanyprospectofarenewalofLovers’Vows,heshouldholdhimselfpositivelyengaged,heshouldbreakthrougheveryotherclaim,heshouldabsolutelyconditionwithhisuncleforattendingthemwheneverhemightbewanted.Theplayshouldnotbelostbyhisabsence. “FromBath,Norfolk,London,York,whereverImaybe,”saidhe“IwillattendyoufromanyplaceinEngland,atanhour’snotice.” ItwaswellatthatmomentthatTomhadtospeak,andnothissister.Hecouldimmediatelysaywitheasyfluency,“Iamsorryyouaregoingbutastoourplay,thatisallover—entirelyatanend”(lookingsignificantlyathisfather).“Thepainterwassentoffyesterday,andverylittlewillremainofthetheatreto-morrow.Iknewhowthatwouldbefromthefirst.ItisearlyforBath.Youwillfindnobodythere.” “Itisaboutmyuncle’susualtime.” “Whendoyouthinkofgoing?” “Imay,perhaps,getasfarasBanburyto-day.” “WhosestablesdoyouuseatBath?”wasthenextquestionandwhilethisbranchofthesubjectwasunderdiscussion,Maria,whowantedneitherpridenorresolution,waspreparingtoencounterhershareofitwithtolerablecalmness. Toherhesoonturned,repeatingmuchofwhathehadalreadysaid,withonlyasoftenedairandstrongerexpressionsofregret.Butwhatavailedhis