CHAPTER XXVII

everreceiveanotheritwasimpossiblethatsheevershouldreceiveanothersoperfectlygratifyingintheoccasionandthestyle.Twolinesmoreprizedhadneverfallenfromthepenofthemostdistinguishedauthor—nevermorecompletelyblessedtheresearchesofthefondestbiographer.Theenthusiasmofawoman’sloveisevenbeyondthebiographer’s.Toher,thehandwritingitself,independentofanythingitmayconvey,isablessedness.NeverweresuchcharacterscutbyanyotherhumanbeingasEdmund’scommonesthandwritinggave!Thisspecimen,writteninhasteasitwas,hadnotafaultandtherewasafelicityintheflowofthefirstfourwords,inthearrangementof“MyverydearFanny,”whichshecouldhavelookedatforever. Havingregulatedherthoughtsandcomfortedherfeelingsbythishappymixtureofreasonandweakness,shewasableinduetimetogodownandresumeherusualemploymentsnearherauntBertram,andpayhertheusualobservanceswithoutanyapparentwantofspirits. Thursday,predestinedtohopeandenjoyment,cameandopenedwithmorekindnesstoFannythansuchself-willed,unmanageabledaysoftenvolunteer,forsoonafterbreakfastaveryfriendlynotewasbroughtfromMr.CrawfordtoWilliam,statingthatashefoundhimselfobligedtogotoLondononthemorrowforafewdays,hecouldnothelptryingtoprocureacompanionandthereforehopedthatifWilliamcouldmakeuphismindtoleaveMansfieldhalfadayearlierthanhadbeenproposed,hewouldacceptaplaceinhiscarriage.Mr.Crawfordmeanttobeintownbyhisuncle’saccustomarylatedinner-hour,andWilliamwasinvitedtodinewithhimattheAdmiral’s.TheproposalwasaverypleasantonetoWilliamhimself,whoenjoyedtheideaoftravellingpostwithfourhorses,andsuchagood-humoured,agreeablefriendand,inlikeningittogoingupwithdespatches,wassayingatonceeverythinginfavourofitshappinessanddignitywhichhisimaginationcouldsuggestandFanny,fromadifferentmotive,wasexceedinglypleasedfortheoriginalplanwasthatWilliamshouldgoupbythemailfromNorthamptonthefollowingnight,whichwouldnothaveallowedhimanhour’srestbeforehemusthavegotintoaPortsmouthcoachandthoughthisofferofMr.Crawford’swouldrobherofmanyhoursofhiscompany,shewastoohappyinhavingWilliamsparedfromthefatigueofsuchajourney,tothinkofanythingelse.SirThomasapprovedofitforanotherreason.Hisnephew’sintroductiontoAdmiralCrawfordmightbeofservice.TheAdmiral,hebelieved,hadinterest.Uponthewhole,itwasaveryjoyousnote.Fanny’sspiritslivedonithalfthemorning,derivingsomeaccessionofpleasurefromitswriterbeinghimselftogoaway. Asfortheball,sonearathand,shehadtoomanyagitationsandfearstohavehalftheenjoymentinanticipationwhichsheoughttohavehad,ormusthavebeensupposedtohavebythemanyyoungladieslookingforwardtothesameeventinsituationsmoreatease,butundercircumstancesoflessnovelty,lessinterest,lesspeculiargratification,thanwouldbeattributedtoher.MissPrice,knownonlybynametohalfthepeopleinvited,wasnowtomakeherfirstappearance,andmustberegardedasthequeenoftheevening.WhocouldbehappierthanMissPrice?ButMissPricehadnotbeenbroughtuptothetradeofcomingoutandhadsheknowninwhatlightthisballwas,ingeneral,consideredrespectingher,itwouldverymuchhavelessenedhercomfortbyincreasingthefearsshealreadyhadofdoingwrongandbeinglookedat.Todancewithoutmuchobservationoranyextraordinaryfatigue,tohavestrengthandpartnersforabouthalftheevening,todancealittlewithEdmund,andnotagreatdealwithMr.Crawford,toseeWilliamenjoyhimself,andbeabletokeepawayfromherauntNorris,wastheheightofherambition,andseemedtocomprehendhergreatestpossibilityofhappiness.Asthesewerethebestofherhopes,theycouldnotalwaysprevailandinthecourseofalongmorning,spentprincipallywithhertwoaunts,shewasoftenundertheinfluenceofmuchlesssanguineviews.William,determinedtomakethislastdayadayofthoroughenjoyment,wasout