CHAPTER XXVI

ofthenotice,tocollectyoungpeopleenoughtoformtwelveorfourteencouple:andcoulddetailtheconsiderationswhichhadinducedhimtofixonthe22ndasthemosteligibleday.WilliamwasrequiredtobeatPortsmouthonthe24ththe22ndwouldthereforebethelastdayofhisvisitbutwherethedaysweresofewitwouldbeunwisetofixonanyearlier.Mrs.Norriswasobligedtobesatisfiedwiththinkingjustthesame,andwithhavingbeenonthepointofproposingthe22ndherself,asbyfarthebestdayforthepurpose. Theballwasnowasettledthing,andbeforetheeveningaproclaimedthingtoallwhomitconcerned.Invitationsweresentwithdespatch,andmanyayoungladywenttobedthatnightwithherheadfullofhappycaresaswellasFanny.Toherthecaresweresometimesalmostbeyondthehappinessforyoungandinexperienced,withsmallmeansofchoiceandnoconfidenceinherowntaste,the“howsheshouldbedressed”wasapointofpainfulsolicitudeandthealmostsolitaryornamentinherpossession,averyprettyambercrosswhichWilliamhadbroughtherfromSicily,wasthegreatestdistressofall,forshehadnothingbutabitofribbontofastenittoandthoughshehadwornitinthatmanneronce,woulditbeallowableatsuchatimeinthemidstofalltherichornamentswhichshesupposedalltheotheryoungladieswouldappearin?Andyetnottowearit!Williamhadwantedtobuyheragoldchaintoo,butthepurchasehadbeenbeyondhismeans,andthereforenottowearthecrossmightbemortifyinghim.Thesewereanxiousconsiderationsenoughtosoberherspiritsevenundertheprospectofaballgivenprincipallyforhergratification. Thepreparationsmeanwhilewenton,andLadyBertramcontinuedtositonhersofawithoutanyinconveniencefromthem.Shehadsomeextravisitsfromthehousekeeper,andhermaidwasratherhurriedinmakingupanewdressforher:SirThomasgaveorders,andMrs.Norrisranaboutbutallthisgavehernotrouble,andasshehadforeseen,“therewas,infact,notroubleinthebusiness.” Edmundwasatthistimeparticularlyfullofcares:hismindbeingdeeplyoccupiedintheconsiderationoftwoimportanteventsnowathand,whichweretofixhisfateinlife—ordinationandmatrimony—eventsofsuchaseriouscharacterastomaketheball,whichwouldbeveryquicklyfollowedbyoneofthem,appearoflessmomentinhiseyesthaninthoseofanyotherpersoninthehouse.Onthe23rdhewasgoingtoafriendnearPeterborough,inthesamesituationashimself,andtheyweretoreceiveordinationinthecourseoftheChristmasweek.Halfhisdestinywouldthenbedetermined,buttheotherhalfmightnotbesoverysmoothlywooed.Hisdutieswouldbeestablished,butthewifewhowastoshare,andanimate,andrewardthoseduties,mightyetbeunattainable.Heknewhisownmind,buthewasnotalwaysperfectlyassuredofknowingMissCrawford’s.Therewerepointsonwhichtheydidnotquiteagreethereweremomentsinwhichshedidnotseempropitiousandthoughtrustingaltogethertoheraffection,sofarastoberesolved—almostresolved—onbringingittoadecisionwithinaveryshorttime,assoonasthevarietyofbusinessbeforehimwerearranged,andheknewwhathehadtoofferher,hehadmanyanxiousfeelings,manydoubtinghoursastotheresult.Hisconvictionofherregardforhimwassometimesverystronghecouldlo