CHAPTER XXVII

you.” “Onethingmore.Excusethelibertybuttakecarehowyoutalktome.Donottellmeanythingnow,whichhereafteryoumaybesorryfor.Thetimemaycome—” Thecolourrushedintohercheeksasshespoke. “DearestFanny!”criedEdmund,pressingherhandtohislipswithalmostasmuchwarmthasifithadbeenMissCrawford’s,“youareallconsideratethought!Butitisunnecessaryhere.Thetimewillnevercome.Nosuchtimeasyoualludetowillevercome.Ibegintothinkitmostimprobable:thechancesgrowlessandlessandevenifitshould,therewillbenothingtoberememberedbyeitheryouormethatweneedbeafraidof,forIcanneverbeashamedofmyownscruplesandiftheyareremoved,itmustbebychangesthatwillonlyraisehercharacterthemorebytherecollectionofthefaultssheoncehad.YouaretheonlybeinguponearthtowhomIshouldsaywhatIhavesaidbutyouhavealwaysknownmyopinionofheryoucanbearmewitness,Fanny,thatIhaveneverbeenblinded.Howmanyatimehavewetalkedoverherlittleerrors!YouneednotfearmeIhavealmostgivenupeveryseriousideaofherbutImustbeablockheadindeed,if,whateverbefellme,Icouldthinkofyourkindnessandsympathywithoutthesincerestgratitude.” Hehadsaidenoughtoshaketheexperienceofeighteen.HehadsaidenoughtogiveFannysomehappierfeelingsthanshehadlatelyknown,andwithabrighterlook,sheanswered,“Yes,cousin,Iamconvincedthatyouwouldbeincapableofanythingelse,thoughperhapssomemightnot.Icannotbeafraidofhearinganythingyouwishtosay.Donotcheckyourself.Tellmewhateveryoulike.” Theywerenowonthesecondfloor,andtheappearanceofahousemaidpreventedanyfartherconversation.ForFanny’spresentcomfortitwasconcluded,perhaps,atthehappiestmoment:hadhebeenabletotalkanotherfiveminutes,thereisnosayingthathemightnothavetalkedawayallMissCrawford’sfaultsandhisowndespondence.Butasitwas,theypartedwithlooksonhissideofgratefulaffection,andwithsomeveryprecioussensationsonhers.Shehadfeltnothinglikeitforhours.SincethefirstjoyfromMr.Crawford’snotetoWilliamhadwornaway,shehadbeeninastateabsolutelythereversetherehadbeennocomfortaround,nohopewithinher.Noweverythingwassmiling.William’sgoodfortunereturnedagainuponhermind,andseemedofgreatervaluethanatfirst.Theball,too—suchaneveningofpleasurebeforeher!Itwasnowarealanimationandshebegantodressforitwithmuchofthehappyflutterwhichbelongstoaball.Allwentwell:shedidnotdislikeherownlooksandwhenshecametothenecklacesagain,hergoodfortuneseemedcomplete,forupontrialtheonegivenherbyMissCrawfordwouldbynomeansgothroughtheringofthecross.Shehad,toobligeEdmund,resolvedtowearitbutitwastoolargeforthepurpose.His,therefore,mustbewornandhaving,withdelightfulfeelings,joinedthechainandthecross—thosememorialsofthetwomostbelovedofherheart,thosedearesttokenssoformedforeachotherbyeverythingrealandimaginary—andputthemroundherneck,andseenandfelthowfullofWilliamandEdmundtheywere,shewasable,withoutaneffort,toresolveonwearingMissCrawford’snecklacetoo.Sheacknowledgedittoberight.MissCrawfordhadaclaimandwhenitwasnolongertoencroachon,tointerferewiththestrongerclaims,thetruerkindnessofanother,shecoulddoherjusticeevenwithpleasuretoherself.ThenecklacereallylookedverywellandFannyleftherroomatlast,comfortablysatisfiedwithherselfandallabouther. HerauntBertramhadrecollectedheronthisoccasionwithanunusualdegreeofwakefulness.Ithadreallyoccurredtoher,unprompted,thatFanny,preparingforaball,mightbegladofbetterhelpthantheupperhousemaid’s,andwhendressedherself,sheactuallysentherownmaidtoassisthertoolate,ofcourse,tobeofanyuse.Mrs.Chapmanhadjustreachedtheatticfloor,whenMissPricecameoutofherroomcompletelydressed,andonlycivilitieswerenecessarybutFannyfeltheraunt’sattentionalmostasmuchasLadyBertramorMrs.Chapmancoulddothemselves.