CHAPTER XXIV

hisitis,hernotcaringaboutyou,whichgiveshersuchasoftskin,andmakeshersomuchtaller,andproducesallthesecharmsandgraces!Idodesirethatyouwillnotbemakingherreallyunhappyalittlelove,perhaps,mayanimateanddohergood,butIwillnothaveyouplungeherdeep,forsheisasgoodalittlecreatureaseverlived,andhasagreatdealoffeeling.” “Itcanbebutforafortnight,”saidHenry“andifafortnightcankillher,shemusthaveaconstitutionwhichnothingcouldsave.No,Iwillnotdoheranyharm,dearlittlesoul!Ionlywanthertolookkindlyonme,togivemesmilesaswellasblushes,tokeepachairformebyherselfwhereverweare,andbeallanimationwhenItakeitandtalktohertothinkasIthink,beinterestedinallmypossessionsandpleasures,trytokeepmelongeratMansfield,andfeelwhenIgoawaythatsheshallbeneverhappyagain.Iwantnothingmore.” “Moderationitself!”saidMary.“Icanhavenoscruplesnow.Well,youwillhaveopportunitiesenoughofendeavouringtorecommendyourself,forweareagreatdealtogether.” Andwithoutattemptinganyfartherremonstrance,sheleftFannytoherfate,afatewhich,hadnotFanny’sheartbeenguardedinawayunsuspectedbyMissCrawford,mighthavebeenalittleharderthanshedeservedforalthoughtheredoubtlessaresuchunconquerableyoungladiesofeighteen(oroneshouldnotreadaboutthem)asarenevertobepersuadedintoloveagainsttheirjudgmentbyallthattalent,manner,attention,andflatterycando,IhavenoinclinationtobelieveFannyoneofthem,ortothinkthatwithsomuchtendernessofdisposition,andsomuchtasteasbelongedtoher,shecouldhaveescapedheart-wholefromthecourtship(thoughthecourtshiponlyofafortnight)ofsuchamanasCrawford,inspiteoftherebeingsomepreviousillopinionofhimtobeovercome,hadnotheraffectionbeenengagedelsewhere.Withallthesecuritywhichloveofanotheranddisesteemofhimcouldgivetothepeaceofmindhewasattacking,hiscontinuedattentions—continued,butnotobtrusive,andadaptingthemselvesmoreandmoretothegentlenessanddelicacyofhercharacter—obligedherverysoontodislikehimlessthanformerly.Shehadbynomeansforgottenthepast,andshethoughtasillofhimaseverbutshefelthispowers:hewasentertainingandhismannersweresoimproved,sopolite,soseriouslyandblamelesslypolite,thatitwasimpossiblenottobeciviltohiminreturn. Averyfewdayswereenoughtoeffectthisandattheendofthosefewdays,circumstancesarosewhichhadatendencyrathertoforwardhisviewsofpleasingher,inasmuchastheygaveheradegreeofhappinesswhichmustdisposehertobepleasedwitheverybody.William,herbrother,thesolongabsentanddearlylovedbrother,wasinEnglandagain.Shehadaletterfromhimherself,afewhurriedhappylines,writtenastheshipcameupChannel,andsentintoPortsmouthwiththefirstboatthatlefttheAntwerpatanchorinSpitheadandwhenCrawfordwalkedupwiththenewspaperinhishand,whichhehadhopedwouldbringthefirsttidings,hefoundhertremblingwithjoyoverthisletter,andlisteningwithaglowing,gratefulcountenancetothekindinvitationwhichherunclewasmostcollectedlydictatinginreply. ItwasbutthedaybeforethatCrawfordhadmadehimselfthoroughlymasterofthesubject,orhadinfactbecomeatallawareofherhav