CHAPTER XXIII

k,which,suggestedbyDr.Grant,advisedbyEdmund,andwarmlyurgedbythetwosisters,wassooninpossessionofhismind,andwhichheseemedtowanttobeencouragedevenbyhertoresolveon.Heropinionwassoughtastotheprobablecontinuanceoftheopenweather,butheranswerswereasshortandindifferentascivilityallowed.Shecouldnotwishhimtostay,andwouldmuchrathernothavehimspeaktoher. Hertwoabsentcousins,especiallyMaria,weremuchinherthoughtsonseeinghimbutnoembarrassingremembranceaffectedhisspirits.Herehewasagainonthesamegroundwhereallhadpassedbefore,andapparentlyaswillingtostayandbehappywithouttheMissBertrams,asifhehadneverknownMansfieldinanyotherstate.Sheheardthemspokenofbyhimonlyinageneralway,tilltheywereallre-assembledinthedrawing-room,whenEdmund,beingengagedapartinsomematterofbusinesswithDr.Grant,whichseemedentirelytoengrossthem,andMrs.Grantoccupiedatthetea-table,hebegantalkingofthemwithmoreparticularitytohisothersister.Withasignificantsmile,whichmadeFannyquitehatehim,hesaid,“So!RushworthandhisfairbrideareatBrighton,Iunderstandhappyman!” “Yes,theyhavebeenthereaboutafortnight,MissPrice,havetheynot?AndJuliaiswiththem.” “AndMr.Yates,Ipresume,isnotfaroff.” “Mr.Yates!Oh!wehearnothingofMr.Yates.IdonotimaginehefiguresmuchintheletterstoMansfieldParkdoyou,MissPrice?IthinkmyfriendJuliaknowsbetterthantoentertainherfatherwithMr.Yates.” “PoorRushworthandhistwo-and-fortyspeeches!”continuedCrawford.“Nobodycaneverforgetthem.Poorfellow!Iseehimnow—histoilandhisdespair.Well,IammuchmistakenifhislovelyMariawilleverwanthimtomaketwo-and-fortyspeechestoher”adding,withamomentaryseriousness,“Sheistoogoodforhim—muchtoogood.”Andthenchanginghistoneagaintooneofgentlegallantry,andaddressingFanny,hesaid,“YouwereMr.Rushworth’sbestfriend.Yourkindnessandpatiencecanneverbeforgotten,yourindefatigablepatienceintryingtomakeitpossibleforhimtolearnhispart—intryingtogivehimabrainwhichnaturehaddenied—tomixupanunderstandingforhimoutofthesuperfluityofyourown!Hemightnothavesenseenoughhimselftoestimateyourkindness,butImayventuretosaythatithadhonourfromalltherestoftheparty.” Fannycoloured,andsaidnothing. “Itisasadream,apleasantdream!”heexclaimed,breakingforthagain,afterafewminutes’musing.“Ishallalwayslookbackonourtheatricalswithexquisitepleasure.Therewassuchaninterest,suchananimation,suchaspiritdiffused.Everybodyfeltit.Wewereallalive.Therewasemployment,hope,solicitude,bustle,foreveryhouroftheday.Alwayssomelittleobjection,somelittledoubt,somelittleanxietytobegotover.Ineverwashappier.” WithsilentindignationFannyrepeatedtoherself,“Neverhappier!—neverhappierthanwhendoingwhatyoumustknowwasnotjustifiable!—neverhappierthanwhenbehavingsodishonourablyandunfeelingly!Oh!whatacorruptedmind!” “Wewereunlucky,MissPrice,”hecontinued,inalowertone,toavoidthepossibilityofbeingheardbyEdmund,andnotatallawareofherfeelings,“wecertainlywereveryunlucky.Anotherweek,onlyoneotherweek,wouldhavebeenenoughforus.Ithinkifwehadhadthedisposalofevents—ifMansfieldParkhadhadthegovernmentofthewindsjustforaweekortwo,abouttheequinox,therewouldhavebeenadifference.Notthatwewouldhaveendangeredhissafetybyanytremendousweather—butonlybyasteadycontrarywind,oracalm.Ithink,MissPrice,wewouldhaveindulgedourselveswithaweek’scalmintheAtlanticatthatseason.” HeseemeddeterminedtobeansweredandFanny,avertingherface,said,withafirmertonethanusual,“AsfarasIamconcerned,sir,Iwouldnothavedelayedhisreturnforaday.Myuncledisapproveditallsoentirelywhenhedidarrive,thatinmyopinioneverythinghadgonequitefarenough.” Shehadneverspokensomuchatoncetohiminherlifebefore,andneversoangrilytoanyoneandwhenherspeechwasover,shetrembledandblushedatherowndaring.Hewassurprisedbutafterafewmoments’silentconsiderati