CHAPTER XXIII

onofher,repliedinacalmer,gravertone,andasifthecandidresultofconviction,“Ibelieveyouareright.Itwasmorepleasantthanprudent.Weweregettingtoonoisy.”Andthenturningtheconversation,hewouldhaveengagedheronsomeothersubject,butheranswersweresoshyandreluctantthathecouldnotadvanceinany. MissCrawford,whohadbeenrepeatedlyeyeingDr.GrantandEdmund,nowobserved,“Thosegentlemenmusthavesomeveryinterestingpointtodiscuss.” “Themostinterestingintheworld,”repliedherbrother—“howtomakemoneyhowtoturnagoodincomeintoabetter.Dr.GrantisgivingBertraminstructionsaboutthelivingheistostepintososoon.Ifindhetakesordersinafewweeks.Theywereatitinthedining-parlour.IamgladtohearBertramwillbesowelloff.Hewillhaveaveryprettyincometomakeducksanddrakeswith,andearnedwithoutmuchtrouble.Iapprehendhewillnothavelessthansevenhundredayear.Sevenhundredayearisafinethingforayoungerbrotherandasofcoursehewillstillliveathome,itwillbeallforhismenusplaisirsandasermonatChristmasandEaster,Isuppose,willbethesumtotalofsacrifice.” Hissistertriedtolaughoffherfeelingsbysaying,“Nothingamusesmemorethantheeasymannerwithwhicheverybodysettlestheabundanceofthosewhohaveagreatdeallessthanthemselves.Youwouldlookratherblank,Henry,ifyourmenusplaisirsweretobelimitedtosevenhundredayear.” “PerhapsImightbutallthatyouknowisentirelycomparative.Birthrightandhabitmustsettlethebusiness.Bertramiscertainlywelloffforacadetofevenabaronet’sfamily.Bythetimeheisfourorfiveandtwentyhewillhavesevenhundredayear,andnothingtodoforit.” MissCrawfordcouldhavesaidthattherewouldbeasomethingtodoandtosufferforit,whichshecouldnotthinklightlyofbutshecheckedherselfandletitpassandtriedtolookcalmandunconcernedwhenthetwogentlemenshortlyafterwardsjoinedthem. “Bertram,”saidHenryCrawford,“IshallmakeapointofcomingtoMansfieldtohearyoupreachyourfirstsermon.Ishallcomeonpurposetoencourageayoungbeginner.Whenisittobe?MissPrice,willnotyoujoinmeinencouragingyourcousin?Willnotyouengagetoattendwithyoureyessteadilyfixedonhimthewholetime—asIshalldo—nottoloseawordoronlylookingoffjusttonotedownanysentencepreeminentlybeautiful?Wewillprovideourselveswithtabletsandapencil.Whenwillitbe?YoumustpreachatMansfield,youknow,thatSirThomasandLadyBertrammayhearyou.” “Ishallkeepclearofyou,Crawford,aslongasIcan,”saidEdmund“foryouwouldbemorelikelytodisconcertme,andIshouldbemoresorrytoseeyoutryingatitthanalmostanyotherman.” “Willhenotfeelthis?”thoughtFanny.“No,hecanfeelnothingasheought.” Thepartybeingnowallunited,andthechieftalkersattractingeachother,sheremainedintranquillityandasawhist-tablewasformedaftertea—formedreallyfortheamusementofDr.Grant,byhisattentivewife,thoughitwasnottobesupposedso—andMissCrawfordtookherharp,shehadnothingtodobuttolistenandhertranquillityremainedundisturbedtherestoftheevening,exceptwhenMr.Crawfordnowandthenaddressedtoheraquestionorobservation,whichshecouldnotavoidanswering.MissCrawfordwastoomuchvexedbywhathadpassedtobeinahumourforanythingbutmusic.Withthatshesoothedherselfandamusedherfriend. TheassuranceofEdmund’sbeingsosoontotakeorders,cominguponherlikeablowthathadbeensuspended,andstillhopeduncertainandatadistance,wasfeltwithresentmentandmortification.Shewasveryangrywithhim.Shehadthoughtherinfluencemore.Shehadbeguntothinkofhimshefeltthatshehad,withgreatregard,withalmostdecidedintentionsbutshewouldnowmeethimwithhisowncoolfeelings.Itwasplainthathecouldhavenoseriousviews,notrueattachment,byfixinghimselfinasituationwhichhemustknowshewouldneverstoopto.Shewouldlearntomatchhiminhisindifference.Shewouldhenceforthadmithisattentionswithoutanyideabeyondimmediateamusement.Ifhecouldsocommandhisaffections,hersshoulddohernoharm.