CHAPTER XXII

itstated,thathedidnotbyanymeansconsiderFannyastheonly,orevenasthegreatergainerbysuchafriendship. “Well,”saidMissCrawford,“anddoyounotscoldusforourimprudence?Whatdoyouthinkwehavebeensittingdownforbuttobetalkedtoaboutit,andentreatedandsupplicatednevertodosoagain?” “PerhapsImighthavescolded,”saidEdmund,“ifeitherofyouhadbeensittingdownalonebutwhileyoudowrongtogether,Icanoverlookagreatdeal.” “Theycannothavebeensittinglong,”criedMrs.Grant,“forwhenIwentupformyshawlIsawthemfromthestaircasewindow,andthentheywerewalking.” “Andreally,”addedEdmund,“thedayissomild,thatyoursittingdownforafewminutescanbehardlythoughtimprudent.Ourweathermustnotalwaysbejudgedbythecalendar.WemaysometimestakegreaterlibertiesinNovemberthaninMay.” “Uponmyword,”criedMissCrawford,“youaretwoofthemostdisappointingandunfeelingkindfriendsIevermetwith!Thereisnogivingyouamoment’suneasiness.Youdonotknowhowmuchwehavebeensuffering,norwhatchillswehavefelt!ButIhavelongthoughtMr.Bertramoneoftheworstsubjectstoworkon,inanylittlemanoeuvreagainstcommonsense,thatawomancouldbeplaguedwith.Ihadverylittlehopeofhimfromthefirstbutyou,Mrs.Grant,mysister,myownsister,IthinkIhadarighttoalarmyoualittle.” “Donotflatteryourself,mydearestMary.Youhavenotthesmallestchanceofmovingme.Ihavemyalarms,buttheyarequiteinadifferentquarterandifIcouldhavealteredtheweather,youwouldhavehadagoodsharpeastwindblowingonyouthewholetime—forherearesomeofmyplantswhichRobertwillleaveoutbecausethenightsaresomild,andIknowtheendofitwillbe,thatweshallhaveasuddenchangeofweather,ahardfrostsettinginallatonce,takingeverybody(atleastRobert)bysurprise,andIshallloseeveryoneandwhatisworse,cookhasjustbeentellingmethattheturkey,whichIparticularlywishednottobedressedtillSunday,becauseIknowhowmuchmoreDr.GrantwouldenjoyitonSundayafterthefatiguesoftheday,willnotkeepbeyondto-morrow.Thesearesomethinglikegrievances,andmakemethinktheweathermostunseasonablyclose.” “Thesweetsofhousekeepinginacountryvillage!”saidMissCrawfordarchly.“Commendmetothenurserymanandthepoulterer.” “Mydearchild,commendDr.GranttothedeaneryofWestminsterorSt.Paul’s,andIshouldbeasgladofyournurserymanandpoultererasyoucouldbe.ButwehavenosuchpeopleinMansfield.Whatwouldyouhavemedo?” “Oh!youcandonothingbutwhatyoudoalready:beplaguedveryoften,andneverloseyourtemper.” “Thankyoubutthereisnoescapingtheselittlevexations,Mary,livewherewemayandwhenyouaresettledintownandIcometoseeyou,IdaresayIshallfindyouwithyours,inspiteofthenurserymanandthepoulterer,perhapsontheirveryaccount.Theirremotenessandunpunctuality,ortheirexorbitantchargesandfrauds,willbedrawingforthbitterlamentations.” “Imeantobetoorichtolamentortofeelanythingofthesort.AlargeincomeisthebestrecipeforhappinessIeverheardof.Itcertainlymaysecureallthemyrtleandturkeypartofit.” “Youintendtobeveryrich?”saidEdmund,withalookwhich,toFanny’seye,hadagreatdealofseriousmeaning. “Tobesure.Donotyou?Donotweall?” “Icannotintendanythingwhichitmustbesocompletelybeyondmypowertocommand.MissCrawfordmaychuseherdegreeofwealth.Shehasonlytofixonhernumberofthousandsayear,andtherecanbenodoubtoftheircoming.Myintentionsareonlynottobepoor.” “Bymoderationandeconomy,andbringingdownyourwantstoyourincome,andallthat.Iunderstandyou—andaveryproperplanitisforapersonatyourtimeoflife,withsuchlimitedmeansandindifferentconnexions.Whatcanyouwantbutadecentmaintenance?Youhavenotmuchtimebeforeyouandyourrelationsareinnosituationtodoanythingforyou,ortomortifyyoubythecontrastoftheirownwealthandconsequence.Behonestandpoor,byallmeans—butIshallnotenvyyouIdonotmuchthinkIshallevenrespectyou.Ihaveamuchgreaterrespectforthosethatarehonestandrich.” “Yourdegreeofrespectforhonesty,richorpoor,ispreciselywhatIhavenomannerofconcernwit