CHAPTER XXVII

rbrother’spresent,isnotitfairtosupposethatshewouldrathernotpartwithit,whenitisnotwanted?” “Shemustnotsupposeitnotwanted,notacceptable,atleast:anditshavingbeenoriginallyherbrother’sgiftmakesnodifferenceforasshewasnotpreventedfromoffering,noryoufromtakingitonthataccount,itoughtnottopreventyoufromkeepingit.Nodoubtitishandsomerthanmine,andfitterforaballroom.” “No,itisnothandsomer,notatallhandsomerinitsway,and,formypurpose,nothalfsofit.ThechainwillagreewithWilliam’scrossbeyondallcomparisonbetterthanthenecklace.” “Foronenight,Fanny,foronlyonenight,ifitbeasacrificeIamsureyouwill,uponconsideration,makethatsacrificeratherthangivepaintoonewhohasbeensostudiousofyourcomfort.MissCrawford’sattentionstoyouhavebeen—notmorethanyouwerejustlyentitledto—Iamthelastpersontothinkthatcouldbe,buttheyhavebeeninvariableandtobereturningthemwithwhatmusthavesomethingtheairofingratitude,thoughIknowitcouldneverhavethemeaning,isnotinyournature,Iamsure.Wearthenecklace,asyouareengagedtodo,to-morrowevening,andletthechain,whichwasnotorderedwithanyreferencetotheball,bekeptforcommoneroccasions.Thisismyadvice.IwouldnothavetheshadowofacoolnessbetweenthetwowhoseintimacyIhavebeenobservingwiththegreatestpleasure,andinwhosecharactersthereissomuchgeneralresemblanceintruegenerosityandnaturaldelicacyastomakethefewslightdifferences,resultingprincipallyfromsituation,noreasonablehindrancetoaperfectfriendship.Iwouldnothavetheshadowofacoolnessarise,”herepeated,hisvoicesinkingalittle,“betweenthetwodearestobjectsIhaveonearth.” HewasgoneashespokeandFannyremainedtotranquilliseherselfasshecould.Shewasoneofhistwodearest—thatmustsupporther.Buttheother:thefirst!Shehadneverheardhimspeaksoopenlybefore,andthoughittoldhernomorethanwhatshehadlongperceived,itwasastab,forittoldofhisownconvictionsandviews.Theyweredecided.HewouldmarryMissCrawford.Itwasastab,inspiteofeverylong-standingexpectationandshewasobligedtorepeatagainandagain,thatshewasoneofhistwodearest,beforethewordsgaveheranysensation.CouldshebelieveMissCrawfordtodeservehim,itwouldbe—oh,howdifferentwoulditbe—howfarmoretolerable!Buthewasdeceivedinher:hegavehermeritswhichshehadnotherfaultswerewhattheyhadeverbeen,buthesawthemnolonger.Tillshehadshedmanytearsoverthisdeception,Fannycouldnotsubdueheragitationandthedejectionwhichfollowedcouldonlyberelievedbytheinfluenceofferventprayersforhishappiness. Itwasherintention,asshefeltittobeherduty,totrytoovercomeallthatwasexcessive,allthatborderedonselfishness,inheraffectionforEdmund.Tocallortofancyitaloss,adisappointment,wouldbeapresumptionforwhichshehadnotwordsstrongenoughtosatisfyherownhumility.TothinkofhimasMissCrawfordmightbejustifiedinthinking,wouldinherbeinsanity.Toherhecouldbenothingunderanycircumstancesnothingdearerthanafriend.Whydidsuchanideaoccurtoherevenenoughtobereprobatedandforbidden?Itoughtnottohavetouchedontheconfinesofherimagination.Shewouldendeavourtoberational,andtodeservetherightofjudgingofMissCrawford’scharacter,andtheprivilegeoftruesolicitudeforhimbyasoundintellectandanhonestheart. Shehadalltheheroismofprinciple,andwasdeterminedtodoherdutybuthavingalsomanyofthefeelingsofyouthandnature,lethernotbemuchwonderedat,if,aftermakingallthesegoodresolutionsonthesideofself-government,sheseizedthescrapofpaperonwhichEdmundhadbegunwritingtoher,asatreasurebeyondallherhopes,andreadingwiththetenderestemotionthesewords,“MyverydearFanny,youmustdomethefavourtoaccept”lockeditupwiththechain,asthedearestpartofthegift.Itwastheonlythingapproachingtoaletterwhichshehadeverreceivedfromhimshemightn