CHAPTER XXII

Fanny’sconsequenceincreasedonthedepartureofhercousins.Becoming,asshethendid,theonlyyoungwomaninthedrawing-room,theonlyoccupierofthatinterestingdivisionofafamilyinwhichshehadhithertoheldsohumbleathird,itwasimpossibleforhernottobemorelookedat,morethoughtofandattendedto,thanshehadeverbeenbeforeand“WhereisFanny?”becamenouncommonquestion,evenwithoutherbeingwantedforanyone’sconvenience. Notonlyathomedidhervalueincrease,butattheParsonagetoo.Inthathouse,whichshehadhardlyenteredtwiceayearsinceMr.Norris’sdeath,shebecameawelcome,aninvitedguest,andinthegloomanddirtofaNovemberday,mostacceptabletoMaryCrawford.Hervisitsthere,beginningbychance,werecontinuedbysolicitation.Mrs.Grant,reallyeagertogetanychangeforhersister,could,bytheeasiestself-deceit,persuadeherselfthatshewasdoingthekindestthingbyFanny,andgivingherthemostimportantopportunitiesofimprovementinpressingherfrequentcalls. Fanny,havingbeensentintothevillageonsomeerrandbyherauntNorris,wasovertakenbyaheavyshowerclosetotheParsonageandbeingdescriedfromoneofthewindowsendeavouringtofindshelterunderthebranchesandlingeringleavesofanoakjustbeyondtheirpremises,wasforced,thoughnotwithoutsomemodestreluctanceonherpart,tocomein.AcivilservantshehadwithstoodbutwhenDr.Granthimselfwentoutwithanumbrella,therewasnothingtobedonebuttobeverymuchashamed,andtogetintothehouseasfastaspossibleandtopoorMissCrawford,whohadjustbeencontemplatingthedismalraininaverydespondingstateofmind,sighingovertheruinofallherplanofexerciseforthatmorning,andofeverychanceofseeingasinglecreaturebeyondthemselvesforthenexttwenty-fourhours,thesoundofalittlebustleatthefrontdoor,andthesightofMissPricedrippingwithwetinthevestibule,wasdelightful.Thevalueofaneventonawetdayinthecountrywasmostforciblybroughtbeforeher.Shewasallaliveagaindirectly,andamongthemostactiveinbeingusefultoFanny,indetectinghertobewetterthanshewouldatfirstallow,andprovidingherwithdryclothesandFanny,afterbeingobligedtosubmittoallthisattention,andtobeingassistedandwaitedonbymistressesandmaids,beingalsoobliged,onreturningdownstairs,tobefixedintheirdrawing-roomforanhourwhiletheraincontinued,theblessingofsomethingfreshtoseeandthinkofwasthusextendedtoMissCrawford,andmightcarryonherspiritstotheperiodofdressinganddinner. Thetwosistersweresokindtoher,andsopleasant,thatFannymighthaveenjoyedhervisitcouldshehavebelievedherselfnotintheway,andcouldshehaveforeseenthattheweatherwouldcertainlyclearattheendofthehour,andsaveherfromtheshameofhavingDr.Grant’scarriageandhorsesouttotakeherhome,withwhichshewasthreatened.Astoanxietyforanyalarmthatherabsenceinsuchweathermightoccasionathome,shehadnothingtosufferonthatscoreforasherbeingoutwasknownonlytohertwoaunts,shewasperfectlyawarethatnonewouldbefelt,andthatinwhatevercottageauntNorrismightchusetoestablishherduringtherain,herbeinginsuchcottagewouldbeindubitabletoauntBertram. Itwasbeginningtolookbrighter,whenFanny,observingaharpintheroom,askedsomequestionsaboutit,whichsoonledtoanacknowledgmentofherwishingverymuchtohearit,andaconfession,whichcouldhardlybebelieved,ofherhavingneveryethearditsinceitsbeinginMansfield.ToFannyherselfitappearedaverysimpleandnaturalcircumstance.ShehadscarcelyeverbeenattheParsonagesincetheinstrument’sarrival,therehadbeennoreasonthatsheshouldbutMissCrawford,callingtomindanearlyexpressedwishonthesubject,wasconcernedatherownneglectand“ShallIplaytoyounow?”and“Whatwillyouhave?”werequestionsimmediatelyfollowingwiththereadiestgood-humour. Sheplayedaccordinglyhappytohaveanewlistener,andalistenerwhoseemedsomuchobliged,sofullofwonderattheperformance,andwhoshewedherselfnotwantingintaste.SheplayedtillFanny’seyes,strayingtothewindowontheweather’sbeingevidentlyfair,spokewhatshefeltmustbedone. “Anotherquarterofanhour,”saidMissCrawf