CHAPTER XXII

h.Idonotmeantobepoor.PovertyisexactlywhatIhavedeterminedagainst.Honesty,inthesomethingbetween,inthemiddlestateofworldlycircumstances,isallthatIamanxiousforyournotlookingdownon.” “ButIdolookdownuponit,ifitmighthavebeenhigher.Imustlookdownuponanythingcontentedwithobscuritywhenitmightrisetodistinction.” “Buthowmayitrise?Howmaymyhonestyatleastrisetoanydistinction?” Thiswasnotsoveryeasyaquestiontoanswer,andoccasionedan“Oh!”ofsomelengthfromthefairladybeforeshecouldadd,“Yououghttobeinparliament,oryoushouldhavegoneintothearmytenyearsago.” “Thatisnotmuchtothepurposenowandastomybeinginparliament,IbelieveImustwaittillthereisanespecialassemblyfortherepresentationofyoungersonswhohavelittletoliveon.No,MissCrawford,”headded,inamoreserioustone,“therearedistinctionswhichIshouldbemiserableifIthoughtmyselfwithoutanychance—absolutelywithoutchanceorpossibilityofobtaining—buttheyareofadifferentcharacter.” Alookofconsciousnessashespoke,andwhatseemedaconsciousnessofmanneronMissCrawford’ssideasshemadesomelaughinganswer,wassorrowfullfoodforFanny’sobservationandfindingherselfquiteunabletoattendassheoughttoMrs.Grant,bywhosesideshewasnowfollowingtheothers,shehadnearlyresolvedongoinghomeimmediately,andonlywaitedforcouragetosayso,whenthesoundofthegreatclockatMansfieldPark,strikingthree,madeherfeelthatshehadreallybeenmuchlongerabsentthanusual,andbroughtthepreviousself-inquiryofwhethersheshouldtakeleaveornotjustthen,andhow,toaveryspeedyissue.WithundoubtingdecisionshedirectlybeganheradieusandEdmundbeganatthesametimetorecollectthathismotherhadbeeninquiringforher,andthathehadwalkeddowntotheParsonageonpurposetobringherback. Fanny’shurryincreasedandwithoutintheleastexpectingEdmund’sattendance,shewouldhavehastenedawayalonebutthegeneralpacewasquickened,andtheyallaccompaniedherintothehouse,throughwhichitwasnecessarytopass.Dr.Grantwasinthevestibule,andastheystopttospeaktohimshefound,fromEdmund’smanner,thathedidmeantogowithher.Hetoowastakingleave.Shecouldnotbutbethankful.Inthemomentofparting,EdmundwasinvitedbyDr.GranttoeathismuttonwithhimthenextdayandFannyhadbarelytimeforanunpleasantfeelingontheoccasion,whenMrs.Grant,withsuddenrecollection,turnedtoherandaskedforthepleasureofhercompanytoo.Thiswassonewanattention,soperfectlynewacircumstanceintheeventsofFanny’slife,thatshewasallsurpriseandembarrassmentandwhilestammeringouthergreatobligation,andher“butshedidnotsupposeitwouldbeinherpower,”waslookingatEdmundforhisopinionandhelp.ButEdmund,delightedwithherhavingsuchanhappinessoffered,andascertainingwithhalfalook,andhalfasentence,thatshehadnoobjectionbutonheraunt’saccount,couldnotimaginethathismotherwouldmakeanydifficultyofsparingher,andthereforegavehisdecidedopenadvicethattheinvitationshouldbeacceptedandthoughFannywouldnotventure,evenonhisencouragement,tosuchaflightofaudaciousindependence,itwassoonsettled,thatifnothingwereheardtothecontrary,Mrs.Grantmightexpecther. “Andyouknowwhatyourdinnerwillbe,”saidMrs.Grant,smiling—“theturkey,andIassureyouaveryfineonefor,mydear,”turningtoherhusband,“cookinsistsupontheturkey’sbeingdressedto-morrow.” “Verywell,verywell,”criedDr.Grant,“allthebetterIamgladtohearyouhaveanythingsogoodinthehouse.ButMissPriceandMr.EdmundBertram,Idaresay,wouldtaketheirchance.Wenoneofuswanttohearthebilloffare.Afriendlymeeting,andnotafinedinner,isallwehaveinview.Aturkey,oragoose,oralegofmutton,orwhateveryouandyourcookchusetogiveus.” Thetwocousinswalkedhometogetherand,exceptintheimmediatediscussionofthisengagement,whichEdmundspokeofwiththewarmestsatisfaction,assoparticularlydesirableforherintheintimacywhichhesawwithsomuchpleasureestablished,itwasasilentwalkforhavingfinishedthatsubject,hegrewthoughtfulandindisposedforanyother.