CHAPTER XXI

ainlywithouttheprejudice,theblindnessoflove,sheoughttobebelieved.Herfeelings,probably,werenotacutehehadneversupposedthemtobesobuthercomfortsmightnotbelessonthataccountandifshecoulddispensewithseeingherhusbandaleading,shiningcharacter,therewouldcertainlybeeverythingelseinherfavour.Awell-disposedyoungwoman,whodidnotmarryforlove,wasingeneralbutthemoreattachedtoherownfamilyandthenearnessofSothertontoMansfieldmustnaturallyholdoutthegreatesttemptation,andwould,inallprobability,beacontinualsupplyofthemostamiableandinnocentenjoyments.Suchandsuch-likewerethereasoningsofSirThomas,happytoescapetheembarrassingevilsofarupture,thewonder,thereflections,thereproachthatmustattendithappytosecureamarriagewhichwouldbringhimsuchanadditionofrespectabilityandinfluence,andveryhappytothinkanythingofhisdaughter’sdispositionthatwasmostfavourableforthepurpose. Tohertheconferenceclosedassatisfactorilyastohim.Shewasinastateofmindtobegladthatshehadsecuredherfatebeyondrecall:thatshehadpledgedherselfanewtoSothertonthatshewassafefromthepossibilityofgivingCrawfordthetriumphofgoverningheractions,anddestroyingherprospectsandretiredinproudresolve,determinedonlytobehavemorecautiouslytoMr.Rushworthinfuture,thatherfathermightnotbeagainsuspectingher. HadSirThomasappliedtohisdaughterwithinthefirstthreeorfourdaysafterHenryCrawford’sleavingMansfield,beforeherfeelingswereatalltranquillised,beforeshehadgivenupeveryhopeofhim,orabsolutelyresolvedonenduringhisrival,heranswermighthavebeendifferentbutafteranotherthreeorfourdays,whentherewasnoreturn,noletter,nomessage,nosymptomofasoftenedheart,nohopeofadvantagefromseparation,hermindbecamecoolenoughtoseekallthecomfortthatprideandselfrevengecouldgive. HenryCrawfordhaddestroyedherhappiness,butheshouldnotknowthathehaddoneitheshouldnotdestroyhercredit,herappearance,herprosperity,too.HeshouldnothavetothinkofheraspiningintheretirementofMansfieldforhim,rejectingSothertonandLondon,independenceandsplendour,forhissake.IndependencewasmoreneedfulthaneverthewantofitatMansfieldmoresensiblyfelt.Shewaslessandlessabletoenduretherestraintwhichherfatherimposed.Thelibertywhichhisabsencehadgivenwasnowbecomeabsolutelynecessary.ShemustescapefromhimandMansfieldassoonaspossible,andfindconsolationinfortuneandconsequence,bustleandtheworld,forawoundedspirit.Hermindwasquitedetermined,andvariednot. Tosuchfeelingsdelay,eventhedelayofmuchpreparation,wouldhavebeenanevil,andMr.Rushworthcouldhardlybemoreimpatientforthemarriagethanherself.Inalltheimportantpreparationsofthemindshewascomplete:beingpreparedformatrimonybyanhatredofhome,restraint,andtranquillitybythemiseryofdisappointedaffection,andcontemptofthemanshewastomarry.Therestmightwait.ThepreparationsofnewcarriagesandfurnituremightwaitforLondonandspring,whenherowntastecouldhavefairerpla