CHAPTER XXIII

,shecouldnothelpfeeling,“AndyetwhyshouldIbeglad?foramInotcertainofseeingorhearingsomethingtheretopainme?” Inspiteofthisconviction,however,shewasglad.Simpleassuchanengagementmightappearinothereyes,ithadnoveltyandimportanceinhers,forexceptingthedayatSotherton,shehadscarcelyeverdinedoutbeforeandthoughnowgoingonlyhalfamile,andonlytothreepeople,stillitwasdiningout,andallthelittleinterestsofpreparationwereenjoymentsinthemselves.ShehadneithersympathynorassistancefromthosewhooughttohaveenteredintoherfeelingsanddirectedhertasteforLadyBertramneverthoughtofbeingusefultoanybody,andMrs.Norris,whenshecameonthemorrow,inconsequenceofanearlycallandinvitationfromSirThomas,wasinaveryillhumour,andseemedintentonlyonlesseningherniece’spleasure,bothpresentandfuture,asmuchaspossible. “Uponmyword,Fanny,youareinhighlucktomeetwithsuchattentionandindulgence!YououghttobeverymuchobligedtoMrs.Grantforthinkingofyou,andtoyourauntforlettingyougo,andyououghttolookuponitassomethingextraordinaryforIhopeyouareawarethatthereisnorealoccasionforyourgoingintocompanyinthissortofway,oreverdiningoutatallanditiswhatyoumustnotdependuponeverbeingrepeated.Normustyoubefancyingthattheinvitationismeantasanyparticularcomplimenttoyouthecomplimentisintendedtoyouruncleandauntandme.Mrs.Grantthinksitacivilityduetoustotakealittlenoticeofyou,orelseitwouldneverhavecomeintoherhead,andyoumaybeverycertainthat,ifyourcousinJuliahadbeenathome,youwouldnothavebeenaskedatall.” Mrs.NorrishadnowsoingeniouslydoneawayallMrs.Grant’spartofthefavour,thatFanny,whofoundherselfexpectedtospeak,couldonlysaythatshewasverymuchobligedtoherauntBertramforsparingher,andthatshewasendeavouringtoputheraunt’seveningworkinsuchastateastopreventherbeingmissed. “Oh!dependuponit,yourauntcandoverywellwithoutyou,oryouwouldnotbeallowedtogo.Ishallbehere,soyoumaybequiteeasyaboutyouraunt.AndIhopeyouwillhaveaveryagreeableday,andfinditallmightydelightful.ButImustobservethatfiveistheveryawkwardestofallpossiblenumberstositdowntotableandIcannotbutbesurprisedthatsuchanelegantladyasMrs.Grantshouldnotcontrivebetter!Androundtheirenormousgreatwidetable,too,whichfillsuptheroomsodreadfully!Hadthedoctorbeencontentedtotakemydining-tablewhenIcameaway,asanybodyintheirsenseswouldhavedone,insteadofhavingthatabsurdnewoneofhisown,whichiswider,literallywiderthanthedinner-tablehere,howinfinitelybetteritwouldhavebeen!andhowmuchmorehewouldhavebeenrespected!forpeopleareneverrespectedwhentheystepoutoftheirpropersphere.Rememberthat,Fanny.Five—onlyfivetobesittingroundthattable.However,youwillhavedinnerenoughonitforten,Idaresay.” Mrs.Norrisfetchedbreath,andwentonagain. “Thenonsenseandfollyofpeople’ssteppingoutoftheirrankandtryingtoappearabovethemselves,makesmethinkitrighttogiveyouahint,Fanny,nowthatyouaregoingintocompanywithoutanyofusandIdobeseechandentreatyounottobeputtingyourselfforward,andtalkingandgivingyouropinionasifyouwereoneofyourcousins—asifyouweredearMrs.RushworthorJulia.Thatwillneverdo,believeme.Remember,whereveryouare,youmustbethelowestandlastandthoughMissCrawfordisinamannerathomeattheParsonage,youarenottobetakingplaceofher.Andastocomingawayatnight,youaretostayjustaslongasEdmundchuses.Leavehimtosettlethat.” “Yes,ma’am,Ishouldnotthinkofanythingelse.” “Andifitshouldrain,whichIthinkexceedinglylikely,forIneversawitmorethreateningforaweteveninginmylife,youmustmanageaswellasyoucan,andnotbeexpectingthecarriagetobesentforyou.Icertainlydonotgohometo-night,and,therefore,thecarriagewillnotbeoutonmyaccountsoyoumustmakeupyourmindtowhatmayhappen,andtakeyourthingsaccordingly.” Herniecethoughtitperfectlyreasonable.Sheratedherownclaimstoc