CHAPTER XXIII

“ButwhyshouldMrs.GrantaskFanny?”saidLadyBertram.“HowcameshetothinkofaskingFanny?Fannyneverdinesthere,youknow,inthissortofway.Icannotspareher,andIamsureshedoesnotwanttogo.Fanny,youdonotwanttogo,doyou?” “Ifyouputsuchaquestiontoher,”criedEdmund,preventinghiscousin’sspeaking,“FannywillimmediatelysayNobutIamsure,mydearmother,shewouldliketogoandIcanseenoreasonwhysheshouldnot.” “IcannotimaginewhyMrs.Grantshouldthinkofaskingher?Sheneverdidbefore.Sheusedtoaskyoursistersnowandthen,butsheneveraskedFanny.” “Ifyoucannotdowithoutme,ma’am—”saidFanny,inaself-denyingtone. “Butmymotherwillhavemyfatherwithheralltheevening.” “Tobesure,soIshall.” “Supposeyoutakemyfather’sopinion,ma’am.” “That’swellthoughtof.SoIwill,Edmund.IwillaskSirThomas,assoonashecomesin,whetherIcandowithouther.” “Asyouplease,ma’am,onthatheadbutImeantmyfather’sopinionastotheproprietyoftheinvitation’sbeingacceptedornotandIthinkhewillconsideritarightthingbyMrs.Grant,aswellasbyFanny,thatbeingthefirstinvitationitshouldbeaccepted.” “Idonotknow.Wewillaskhim.ButhewillbeverymuchsurprisedthatMrs.GrantshouldaskFannyatall.” Therewasnothingmoretobesaid,orthatcouldbesaidtoanypurpose,tillSirThomaswerepresentbutthesubjectinvolving,asitdid,herownevening’scomfortforthemorrow,wassomuchuppermostinLadyBertram’smind,thathalfanhourafterwards,onhislookinginforaminuteinhiswayfromhisplantationtohisdressing-room,shecalledhimbackagain,whenhehadalmostclosedthedoor,with“SirThomas,stopamoment—Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou.” Hertoneofcalmlanguor,forshenevertookthetroubleofraisinghervoice,wasalwaysheardandattendedtoandSirThomascameback.HerstorybeganandFannyimmediatelyslippedoutoftheroomfortohearherselfthesubjectofanydiscussionwithherunclewasmorethanhernervescouldbear.Shewasanxious,sheknew—moreanxiousperhapsthansheoughttobe—forwhatwasitafterallwhethershewentorstaid?butifheruncleweretobeagreatwhileconsideringanddeciding,andwithverygravelooks,andthosegravelooksdirectedtoher,andatlastdecideagainsther,shemightnotbeabletoappearproperlysubmissiveandindifferent.Hercause,meanwhile,wentonwell.Itbegan,onLadyBertram’spart,with—“Ihavesomethingtotellyouthatwillsurpriseyou.Mrs.GranthasaskedFannytodinner.” “Well,”saidSirThomas,asifwaitingmoretoaccomplishthesurprise. “Edmundwantshertogo.ButhowcanIspareher?” “Shewillbelate,”saidSirThomas,takingouthiswatch“butwhatisyourdifficulty?” Edmundfoundhimselfobligedtospeakandfilluptheblanksinhismother’sstory.Hetoldthewholeandshehadonlytoadd,“Sostrange!forMrs.Grantneverusedtoaskher.” “Butisitnotverynatural,”observedEdmund,“thatMrs.Grantshouldwishtoprocuresoagreeableavisitorforhersister?” “Nothingcanbemorenatural,”saidSirThomas,afterashortdeliberation“nor,weretherenosisterinthecase,couldanything,inmyopinion,bemorenatural.Mrs.Grant’sshewingcivilitytoMissPrice,toLadyBertram’sniece,couldneverwantexplanation.TheonlysurpriseIcanfeelis,thatthisshouldbethefirsttimeofitsbeingpaid.Fannywasperfectlyrightingivingonlyaconditionalanswer.Sheappearstofeelassheought.ButasIconcludethatshemustwishtogo,sinceallyoungpeopleliketobetogether,Icanseenoreasonwhysheshouldbedeniedtheindulgence.” “ButcanIdowithouther,SirThomas?” “IndeedIthinkyoumay.” “Shealwaysmakestea,youknow,whenmysisterisnothere.” “Yoursister,perhaps,maybeprevailedontospendthedaywithus,andIshallcertainlybeathome.” “Verywell,then,Fannymaygo,Edmund.” Thegoodnewssoonfollowedher.Edmundknockedatherdoorinhiswaytohisown. “Well,Fanny,itisallhappilysettled,andwithoutthesmallesthesitationonyouruncle’sside.Hehadbutoneopinion.Youaretogo.” “Thankyou,Iamsoglad,”wasFanny’sinstinctivereplythoughwhenshehadturnedfromhimandshutthedoor