CHAPTER XXVI

William’sdesireofseeingFannydancemademorethanamomentaryimpressiononhisuncle.Thehopeofanopportunity,whichSirThomashadthengiven,wasnotgiventobethoughtofnomore.HeremainedsteadilyinclinedtogratifysoamiableafeelingtogratifyanybodyelsewhomightwishtoseeFannydance,andtogivepleasuretotheyoungpeopleingeneralandhavingthoughtthematterover,andtakenhisresolutioninquietindependence,theresultofitappearedthenextmorningatbreakfast,when,afterrecallingandcommendingwhathisnephewhadsaid,headded,“Idonotlike,William,thatyoushouldleaveNorthamptonshirewithoutthisindulgence.Itwouldgivemepleasuretoseeyoubothdance.YouspokeoftheballsatNorthampton.Yourcousinshaveoccasionallyattendedthembuttheywouldnotaltogethersuitusnow.Thefatiguewouldbetoomuchforyouraunt.IbelievewemustnotthinkofaNorthamptonball.Adanceathomewouldbemoreeligibleandif—” “Ah,mydearSirThomas!”interruptedMrs.Norris,“Iknewwhatwascoming.Iknewwhatyouweregoingtosay.IfdearJuliawereathome,ordearestMrs.RushworthatSotherton,toaffordareason,anoccasionforsuchathing,youwouldbetemptedtogivetheyoungpeopleadanceatMansfield.Iknowyouwould.Iftheywereathometogracetheball,aballyouwouldhavethisveryChristmas.Thankyouruncle,William,thankyouruncle!” “Mydaughters,”repliedSirThomas,gravelyinterposing,“havetheirpleasuresatBrighton,andIhopeareveryhappybutthedancewhichIthinkofgivingatMansfieldwillbefortheircousins.Couldwebeallassembled,oursatisfactionwouldundoubtedlybemorecomplete,buttheabsenceofsomeisnottodebartheothersofamusement.” Mrs.Norrishadnotanotherwordtosay.Shesawdecisioninhislooks,andhersurpriseandvexationrequiredsomeminutes’silencetobesettledintocomposure.Aballatsuchatime!Hisdaughtersabsentandherselfnotconsulted!Therewascomfort,however,soonathand.Shemustbethedoerofeverything:LadyBertramwouldofcoursebesparedallthoughtandexertion,anditwouldallfalluponher.Sheshouldhavetodothehonoursoftheeveningandthisreflectionquicklyrestoredsomuchofhergood-humourasenabledhertojoininwiththeothers,beforetheirhappinessandthankswereallexpressed. Edmund,William,andFannydid,intheirdifferentways,lookandspeakasmuchgratefulpleasureinthepromisedballasSirThomascoulddesire.Edmund’sfeelingswerefortheothertwo.Hisfatherhadneverconferredafavourorshewnakindnessmoretohissatisfaction. LadyBertramwasperfectlyquiescentandcontented,andhadnoobjectionstomake.SirThomasengagedforitsgivingherverylittletroubleandsheassuredhim“thatshewasnotatallafraidofthetroubleindeed,shecouldnotimaginetherewouldbeany.” Mrs.Norriswasreadywithhersuggestionsastotheroomshewouldthinkfittesttobeused,butfounditallprearrangedandwhenshewouldhaveconjecturedandhintedabouttheday,itappearedthatthedaywassettledtoo.SirThomashadbeenamusinghimselfwithshapingaverycompleteoutlineofthebusinessandassoonasshewouldlistenquietly,couldreadhislistofthefamiliestobeinvited,fromwhomhecalculated,withallnecessaryallowancefortheshortness