CHAPTER XXIII

omfortaslowevenasMrs.NorriscouldandwhenSirThomassoonafterwards,justopeningthedoor,said,“Fanny,atwhattimewouldyouhavethecarriagecomeround?”shefeltadegreeofastonishmentwhichmadeitimpossibleforhertospeak. “MydearSirThomas!”criedMrs.Norris,redwithanger,“Fannycanwalk.” “Walk!”repeatedSirThomas,inatoneofmostunanswerabledignity,andcomingfartherintotheroom.“Myniecewalktoadinnerengagementatthistimeoftheyear!Willtwentyminutesafterfoursuityou?” “Yes,sir,”wasFanny’shumbleanswer,givenwiththefeelingsalmostofacriminaltowardsMrs.Norrisandnotbearingtoremainwithherinwhatmightseemastateoftriumph,shefollowedheruncleoutoftheroom,havingstaidbehindhimonlylongenoughtohearthesewordsspokeninangryagitation— “Quiteunnecessary!agreatdealtookind!ButEdmundgoestrue,itisuponEdmund’saccount.IobservedhewashoarseonThursdaynight.” ButthiscouldnotimposeonFanny.Shefeltthatthecarriagewasforherself,andherselfalone:andheruncle’sconsiderationofher,comingimmediatelyaftersuchrepresentationsfromheraunt,costhersometearsofgratitudewhenshewasalone. Thecoachmandroveroundtoaminuteanotherminutebroughtdownthegentlemanandastheladyhad,withamostscrupulousfearofbeinglate,beenmanyminutesseatedinthedrawing-room,SirThomassawthemoffinasgoodtimeashisowncorrectlypunctualhabitsrequired. “NowImustlookatyou,Fanny,”saidEdmund,withthekindsmileofanaffectionatebrother,“andtellyouhowIlikeyouandaswellasIcanjudgebythislight,youlookverynicelyindeed.Whathaveyougoton?” “Thenewdressthatmyunclewassogoodastogivemeonmycousin’smarriage.IhopeitisnottoofinebutIthoughtIoughttowearitassoonasIcould,andthatImightnothavesuchanotheropportunityallthewinter.Ihopeyoudonotthinkmetoofine.” “Awomancanneverbetoofinewhilesheisallinwhite.No,Iseenofineryaboutyounothingbutwhatisperfectlyproper.Yourgownseemsverypretty.Iliketheseglossyspots.HasnotMissCrawfordagownsomethingthesame?” InapproachingtheParsonagetheypassedclosebythestable-yardandcoach-house. “Heyday!”saidEdmund,“here’scompany,here’sacarriage!whohavetheygottomeetus?”Andlettingdowntheside-glasstodistinguish,“’TisCrawford’s,Crawford’sbarouche,Iprotest!Therearehisowntwomenpushingitbackintoitsoldquarters.Heishere,ofcourse.Thisisquiteasurprise,Fanny.Ishallbeverygladtoseehim.” Therewasnooccasion,therewasnotimeforFannytosayhowverydifferentlyshefeltbuttheideaofhavingsuchanothertoobserveherwasagreatincreaseofthetrepidationwithwhichsheperformedtheveryawfulceremonyofwalkingintothedrawing-room. Inthedrawing-roomMr.Crawfordcertainlywas,havingbeenjustlongenougharrivedtobereadyfordinnerandthesmilesandpleasedlooksofthethreeothersstandingroundhim,shewedhowwelcomewashissuddenresolutionofcomingtothemforafewdaysonleavingBath.AverycordialmeetingpassedbetweenhimandEdmundandwiththeexceptionofFanny,thepleasurewasgeneralandeventohertheremightbesomeadvantageinhispresence,sinceeveryadditiontothepartymustratherforwardherfavouriteindulgenceofbeingsufferedtositsilentandunattendedto.Shewassoonawareofthisherselfforthoughshemustsubmit,asherownproprietyofminddirected,inspiteofherauntNorris’sopinion,tobeingtheprincipalladyincompany,andtoallthelittledistinctionsconsequentthereon,shefound,whiletheywereattable,suchahappyflowofconversationprevailing,inwhichshewasnotrequiredtotakeanypart—therewassomuchtobesaidbetweenthebrotherandsisteraboutBath,somuchbetweenthetwoyoungmenabouthunting,somuchofpoliticsbetweenMr.CrawfordandDr.Grant,andofeverythingandalltogetherbetweenMr.CrawfordandMrs.Grant,astoleaveherthefairestprospectofhavingonlytolisteninquiet,andofpassingaveryagreeableday.Shecouldnotcomplimentthenewlyarrivedgentleman,however,withanyappearanceofinterest,inaschemeforextendinghisstayatMansfield,andsendingforhishuntersfromNorfol