CHAPTER XXIV

ingsuchabrother,orhisbeinginsuchaship,buttheinterestthenexcitedhadbeenveryproperlylively,determininghimonhisreturntotowntoapplyforinformationastotheprobableperiodoftheAntwerp’sreturnfromtheMediterranean,etc.andthegoodluckwhichattendedhisearlyexaminationofshipnewsthenextmorningseemedtherewardofhisingenuityinfindingoutsuchamethodofpleasingher,aswellasofhisdutifulattentiontotheAdmiral,inhavingformanyyearstakeninthepaperesteemedtohavetheearliestnavalintelligence.Heproved,however,tobetoolate.Allthosefinefirstfeelings,ofwhichhehadhopedtobetheexciter,werealreadygiven.Buthisintention,thekindnessofhisintention,wasthankfullyacknowledged:quitethankfullyandwarmly,forshewaselevatedbeyondthecommontimidityofhermindbytheflowofherloveforWilliam. ThisdearWilliamwouldsoonbeamongstthem.Therecouldbenodoubtofhisobtainingleaveofabsenceimmediately,forhewasstillonlyamidshipmanandashisparents,fromlivingonthespot,mustalreadyhaveseenhim,andbeseeinghimperhapsdaily,hisdirectholidaysmightwithjusticebeinstantlygiventothesister,whohadbeenhisbestcorrespondentthroughaperiodofsevenyears,andtheunclewhohaddonemostforhissupportandadvancementandaccordinglythereplytoherreply,fixingaveryearlydayforhisarrival,cameassoonaspossibleandscarcelytendayshadpassedsinceFannyhadbeenintheagitationofherfirstdinner-visit,whenshefoundherselfinanagitationofahighernature,watchinginthehall,inthelobby,onthestairs,forthefirstsoundofthecarriagewhichwastobringherabrother. Itcamehappilywhileshewasthuswaitingandtherebeingneitherceremonynorfearfulnesstodelaythemomentofmeeting,shewaswithhimasheenteredthehouse,andthefirstminutesofexquisitefeelinghadnointerruptionandnowitnesses,unlesstheservantschieflyintentuponopeningtheproperdoorscouldbecalledsuch.ThiswasexactlywhatSirThomasandEdmundhadbeenseparatelyconnivingat,aseachprovedtotheotherbythesympatheticalacritywithwhichtheybothadvisedMrs.Norris’scontinuingwhereshewas,insteadofrushingoutintothehallassoonasthenoisesofthearrivalreachedthem. WilliamandFannysoonshewedthemselvesandSirThomashadthepleasureofreceiving,inhisprotégé,certainlyaverydifferentpersonfromtheonehehadequippedsevenyearsago,butayoungmanofanopen,pleasantcountenance,andfrank,unstudied,butfeelingandrespectfulmanners,andsuchasconfirmedhimhisfriend. ItwaslongbeforeFannycouldrecoverfromtheagitatinghappinessofsuchanhouraswasformedbythelastthirtyminutesofexpectation,andthefirstoffruitionitwassometimeevenbeforeherhappinesscouldbesaidtomakeherhappy,beforethedisappointmentinseparablefromthealterationofpersonhadvanished,andshecouldseeinhimthesameWilliamasbefore,andtalktohim,asherhearthadbeenyearningtodothroughmanyapastyear.Thattime,however,didgraduallycome,forwardedbyanaffectiononhissideaswarmasherown,andmuchlessencumberedbyrefinementorself-distrust.Shewasthefirstobjectofhislove,butitwasalovewhichhisstrongerspirits,andboldertemper,madeitasnaturalforhimtoexpressastofeel.Onthemorrowtheywere