CHAPTER XXV

Theintercourseofthetwofamilieswasatthisperiodmorenearlyrestoredtowhatithadbeenintheautumn,thananymemberoftheoldintimacyhadthoughteverlikelytobeagain.ThereturnofHenryCrawford,andthearrivalofWilliamPrice,hadmuchtodowithit,butmuchwasstillowingtoSirThomas’smorethantolerationoftheneighbourlyattemptsattheParsonage.Hismind,nowdisengagedfromthecareswhichhadpressedonhimatfirst,wasatleisuretofindtheGrantsandtheiryounginmatesreallyworthvisitingandthoughinfinitelyaboveschemingorcontrivingforanythemostadvantageousmatrimonialestablishmentthatcouldbeamongtheapparentpossibilitiesofanyonemostdeartohim,anddisdainingevenasalittlenessthebeingquick-sightedonsuchpoints,hecouldnotavoidperceiving,inagrandandcarelessway,thatMr.Crawfordwassomewhatdistinguishinghisniece—norperhapsrefrain(thoughunconsciously)fromgivingamorewillingassenttoinvitationsonthataccount. Hisreadiness,however,inagreeingtodineattheParsonage,whenthegeneralinvitationwasatlasthazarded,aftermanydebatesandmanydoubtsastowhetheritwereworthwhile,“becauseSirThomasseemedsoillinclined,andLadyBertramwassoindolent!”proceededfromgood-breedingandgoodwillalone,andhadnothingtodowithMr.Crawford,butasbeingoneinanagreeablegroup:foritwasinthecourseofthatveryvisitthathefirstbegantothinkthatanyoneinthehabitofsuchidleobservationswouldhavethoughtthatMr.CrawfordwastheadmirerofFannyPrice. Themeetingwasgenerallyfelttobeapleasantone,beingcomposedinagoodproportionofthosewhowouldtalkandthosewhowouldlistenandthedinneritselfwaselegantandplentiful,accordingtotheusualstyleoftheGrants,andtoomuchaccordingtotheusualhabitsofalltoraiseanyemotionexceptinMrs.Norris,whocouldneverbeholdeitherthewidetableorthenumberofdishesonitwithpatience,andwhodidalwayscontrivetoexperiencesomeevilfromthepassingoftheservantsbehindherchair,andtobringawaysomefreshconvictionofitsbeingimpossibleamongsomanydishesbutthatsomemustbecold. Intheeveningitwasfound,accordingtothepredeterminationofMrs.Grantandhersister,thataftermakingupthewhist-tabletherewouldremainsufficientforaroundgame,andeverybodybeingasperfectlycomplyingandwithoutachoiceasonsuchoccasionstheyalwaysare,speculationwasdecidedonalmostassoonaswhistandLadyBertramsoonfoundherselfinthecriticalsituationofbeingappliedtoforherownchoicebetweenthegames,andbeingrequiredeithertodrawacardforwhistornot.Shehesitated.LuckilySirThomaswasathand. “WhatshallIdo,SirThomas?Whistandspeculationwhichwillamusememost?” SirThomas,afteramoment’sthought,recommendedspeculation.Hewasawhistplayerhimself,andperhapsmightfeelthatitwouldnotmuchamusehimtohaveherforapartner. “Verywell,”washerladyship’scontentedanswer“thenspeculation,ifyouplease,Mrs.Grant.Iknownothingaboutit,butFannymustteachme.” HereFannyinterposed,however,withanxiousprotestationsofherownequalignoranceshehadneverplayedthegamenorseenitplayedinherlifeandLadyBertramfeltamoment’sindecisionagainbutuponeverybody’sassuringherthatnothingcouldbesoeasy,thatitwastheeasiestgameonthecards,andHenryCrawford’ssteppingforwardwithamostearnestrequesttobeallowedtositbetweenherladyshipandMissPrice,andteachthemboth,itwassosettledandSirThomas,Mrs.Norris,andDr.andMrs.Grantbeingseatedatthetableofprimeintellectualstateanddignity,theremainingsix,underMissCrawford’sdirection,werearrangedroundtheother.ItwasafinearrangementforHenryCrawford,whowasclosetoFanny,andwithhishandsfullofbusiness,havingtwopersons’cardstomanageaswellashisownforthoughitwasimpossibleforFannynottofeelherselfmistressoftherulesofthegameinthreeminutes,hehadyettoinspiritherplay,sharpenheravarice,andhardenherheart,which,especiallyinanycompetitionwithWilliam,wasaworkofsomedifficultyandasforLadyBertram,hemustcontinueinchargeofallherfameandfortunethroughthewholeeveningandifquickenoughtokeepherfromlookingathercardswhenthedealbegan,mustdirectherinwhateverwastobedonewiththemtotheendofit. Hewasinhighspirits,doingeverythingwithhappyease,andpreeminentinallthelivelyturns,quickresources,andplayfulimpudencethatcoulddohonourtothegameandtheroundtablewasaltogetheraverycomfortablecontrasttothesteadysobrietyandorderlysilenceoftheother. TwicehadSirThomasinquiredintotheenjoymentandsuccessofhislady,butinvainnopausewaslongenoughforthetimehismeasuredmannerneededandverylittleofherstatecouldbeknowntillMrs.Grantwasable,attheendofthefirstrubber,togotoherandpayhercompliments. “Ihopeyourladyshipispleasedwiththegame.” “Ohdear,yes!veryentertainingindeed.Averyoddgame.Idonotknowwhatitisallabout.IamnevertoseemycardsandMr.Crawforddoes