CHAPTER XXI

quiteembarrassedher. “Yourunclethinksyouverypretty,dearFanny—andthatisthelongandtheshortofthematter.Anybodybutmyselfwouldhavemadesomethingmoreofit,andanybodybutyouwouldresentthatyouhadnotbeenthoughtveryprettybeforebutthetruthis,thatyouruncleneverdidadmireyoutillnow—andnowhedoes.Yourcomplexionissoimproved!—andyouhavegainedsomuchcountenance!—andyourfigure—nay,Fanny,donotturnawayaboutit—itisbutanuncle.Ifyoucannotbearanuncle’sadmiration,whatistobecomeofyou?Youmustreallybegintohardenyourselftotheideaofbeingworthlookingat.Youmusttrynottomindgrowingupintoaprettywoman.” “Oh!don’ttalkso,don’ttalkso,”criedFanny,distressedbymorefeelingsthanhewasawareofbutseeingthatshewasdistressed,hehaddonewiththesubject,andonlyaddedmoreseriously— “YouruncleisdisposedtobepleasedwithyouineveryrespectandIonlywishyouwouldtalktohimmore.Youareoneofthosewhoaretoosilentintheeveningcircle.” “ButIdotalktohimmorethanIused.IamsureIdo.Didnotyouhearmeaskhimabouttheslave-tradelastnight?” “Idid—andwasinhopesthequestionwouldbefollowedupbyothers.Itwouldhavepleasedyouruncletobeinquiredoffarther.” “AndIlongedtodoit—buttherewassuchadeadsilence!Andwhilemycousinsweresittingbywithoutspeakingaword,orseemingatallinterestedinthesubject,Ididnotlike—IthoughtitwouldappearasifIwantedtosetmyselfoffattheirexpense,byshewingacuriosityandpleasureinhisinformationwhichhemustwishhisowndaughterstofeel.” “MissCrawfordwasveryrightinwhatshesaidofyoutheotherday:thatyouseemedalmostasfearfulofnoticeandpraiseasotherwomenwereofneglect.WeweretalkingofyouattheParsonage,andthosewereherwords.Shehasgreatdiscernment.Iknownobodywhodistinguishescharactersbetter.Forsoyoungawomanitisremarkable!Shecertainlyunderstandsyoubetterthanyouareunderstoodbythegreaterpartofthosewhohaveknownyousolongandwithregardtosomeothers,Icanperceive,fromoccasionallivelyhints,theunguardedexpressionsofthemoment,thatshecoulddefinemanyasaccurately,didnotdelicacyforbidit.Iwonderwhatshethinksofmyfather!Shemustadmirehimasafine-lookingman,withmostgentlemanlike,dignified,consistentmannersbutperhaps,havingseenhimsoseldom,hisreservemaybealittlerepulsive.Couldtheybemuchtogether,Ifeelsureoftheirlikingeachother.Hewouldenjoyherlivelinessandshehastalentstovaluehispowers.Iwishtheymetmorefrequently!Ihopeshedoesnotsupposethereisanydislikeonhisside.” “Shemustknowherselftoosecureoftheregardofalltherestofyou,”saidFanny,withhalfasigh,“tohaveanysuchapprehension.AndSirThomas’swishingjustatfirsttobeonlywithhisfamily,issoverynatural,thatshecanarguenothingfromthat.Afteralittlewhile,Idaresay,weshallbemeetingagaininthesamesortofway,allowingforthedifferenceofthetimeofyear.” “ThisisthefirstOctoberthatshehaspassedinthecountrysinceherinfancy.IdonotcallTunbridgeorCheltenhamthecountryandNovemberisastillmoreseriousmonth,andIcansee