CHAPTER XXI

thatMrs.GrantisveryanxiousforhernotfindingMansfielddullaswintercomeson.” Fannycouldhavesaidagreatdeal,butitwassafertosaynothing,andleaveuntouchedallMissCrawford’sresources—heraccomplishments,herspirits,herimportance,herfriends,lestitshouldbetrayherintoanyobservationsseeminglyunhandsome.MissCrawford’skindopinionofherselfdeservedatleastagratefulforbearance,andshebegantotalkofsomethingelse. “To-morrow,Ithink,myuncledinesatSotherton,andyouandMr.Bertramtoo.Weshallbequiteasmallpartyathome.IhopemyunclemaycontinuetolikeMr.Rushworth.” “Thatisimpossible,Fanny.Hemustlikehimlessafterto-morrow’svisit,forweshallbefivehoursinhiscompany.Ishoulddreadthestupidityoftheday,iftherewerenotamuchgreatereviltofollow—theimpressionitmustleaveonSirThomas.Hecannotmuchlongerdeceivehimself.Iamsorryforthemall,andwouldgivesomethingthatRushworthandMariahadnevermet.” Inthisquarter,indeed,disappointmentwasimpendingoverSirThomas.Notallhisgood-willforMr.Rushworth,notallMr.Rushworth’sdeferenceforhim,couldpreventhimfromsoondiscerningsomepartofthetruth—thatMr.Rushworthwasaninferioryoungman,asignorantinbusinessasinbooks,withopinionsingeneralunfixed,andwithoutseemingmuchawareofithimself. Hehadexpectedaverydifferentson-in-lawandbeginningtofeelgraveonMaria’saccount,triedtounderstandherfeelings.Littleobservationtherewasnecessarytotellhimthatindifferencewasthemostfavourablestatetheycouldbein.HerbehaviourtoMr.Rushworthwascarelessandcold.Shecouldnot,didnotlikehim.SirThomasresolvedtospeakseriouslytoher.Advantageousaswouldbethealliance,andlongstandingandpublicaswastheengagement,herhappinessmustnotbesacrificedtoit.Mr.Rushworthhad,perhaps,beenacceptedontooshortanacquaintance,and,onknowinghimbetter,shewasrepenting. WithsolemnkindnessSirThomasaddressedher:toldherhisfears,inquiredintoherwishes,entreatedhertobeopenandsincere,andassuredherthateveryinconvenienceshouldbebraved,andtheconnexionentirelygivenup,ifshefeltherselfunhappyintheprospectofit.Hewouldactforherandreleaseher.Mariahadamoment’sstruggleasshelistened,andonlyamoment’s:whenherfatherceased,shewasabletogiveheranswerimmediately,decidedly,andwithnoapparentagitation.Shethankedhimforhisgreatattention,hispaternalkindness,buthewasquitemistakeninsupposingshehadthesmallestdesireofbreakingthroughherengagement,orwassensibleofanychangeofopinionorinclinationsinceherformingit.ShehadthehighestesteemforMr.Rushworth’scharacteranddisposition,andcouldnothaveadoubtofherhappinesswithhim. SirThomaswassatisfiedtoogladtobesatisfied,perhaps,tourgethematterquitesofarashisjudgmentmighthavedictatedtoothers.Itwasanalliancewhichhecouldnothaverelinquishedwithoutpainandthushereasoned.Mr.Rushworthwasyoungenoughtoimprove.Mr.RushworthmustandwouldimproveingoodsocietyandifMariacouldnowspeaksosecurelyofherhappinesswithhim,speakingcert