CHAPTER XXVIII

Heruncleandbothherauntswereinthedrawing-roomwhenFannywentdown.Totheformershewasaninterestingobject,andhesawwithpleasurethegeneraleleganceofherappearance,andherbeinginremarkablygoodlooks.Theneatnessandproprietyofherdresswasallthathewouldallowhimselftocommendinherpresence,butuponherleavingtheroomagainsoonafterwards,hespokeofherbeautywithverydecidedpraise. “Yes,”saidLadyBertram,“shelooksverywell.IsentChapmantoher.” “Lookwell!Oh,yes!”criedMrs.Norris,“shehasgoodreasontolookwellwithallheradvantages:broughtupinthisfamilyasshehasbeen,withallthebenefitofhercousins’mannersbeforeher.Onlythink,mydearSirThomas,whatextraordinaryadvantagesyouandIhavebeenthemeansofgivingher.TheverygownyouhavebeentakingnoticeofisyourowngenerouspresenttoherwhendearMrs.Rushworthmarried.Whatwouldshehavebeenifwehadnottakenherbythehand?” SirThomassaidnomorebutwhentheysatdowntotabletheeyesofthetwoyoungmenassuredhimthatthesubjectmightbegentlytouchedagain,whentheladieswithdrew,withmoresuccess.Fannysawthatshewasapprovedandtheconsciousnessoflookingwellmadeherlookstillbetter.Fromavarietyofcausesshewashappy,andshewassoonmadestillhappierforinfollowingherauntsoutoftheroom,Edmund,whowasholdingopenthedoor,said,asshepassedhim,“Youmustdancewithme,Fannyyoumustkeeptwodancesformeanytwothatyoulike,exceptthefirst.”Shehadnothingmoretowishfor.Shehadhardlyeverbeeninastatesonearlyapproachinghighspiritsinherlife.Hercousins’formergaietyonthedayofaballwasnolongersurprisingtohershefeltittobeindeedverycharming,andwasactuallypractisingherstepsaboutthedrawing-roomaslongasshecouldbesafefromthenoticeofherauntNorris,whowasentirelytakenupatfirstinfresharrangingandinjuringthenoblefirewhichthebutlerhadprepared. Halfanhourfollowedthatwouldhavebeenatleastlanguidunderanyothercircumstances,butFanny’shappinessstillprevailed.ItwasbuttothinkofherconversationwithEdmund,andwhatwastherestlessnessofMrs.Norris?WhatweretheyawnsofLadyBertram? Thegentlemenjoinedthemandsoonafterbeganthesweetexpectationofacarriage,whenageneralspiritofeaseandenjoymentseemeddiffused,andtheyallstoodaboutandtalkedandlaughed,andeverymomenthaditspleasureanditshope.FannyfeltthattheremustbeastruggleinEdmund’scheerfulness,butitwasdelightfultoseetheeffortsosuccessfullymade. Whenthecarriageswerereallyheard,whentheguestsbeganreallytoassemble,herowngaietyofheartwasmuchsubdued:thesightofsomanystrangersthrewherbackintoherselfandbesidesthegravityandformalityofthefirstgreatcircle,whichthemannersofneitherSirThomasnorLadyBertramwereofakindtodoaway,shefoundherselfoccasionallycalledontoenduresomethingworse.Shewasintroducedhereandtherebyheruncle,andforcedtobespokento,andtocurtsey,andspeakagain.Thiswasahardduty,andshewasneversummonedtoitwithoutlookingatWilliam,ashewalkedaboutathiseaseinthebackgroundofthescene,andlongingtobewithhim. TheentranceoftheGrantsandCrawfordswasafavourableepoch.Thestiffnessofthemeetingsoongavewaybeforetheirpopularmannersandmorediffusedintimacies:littlegroupswereformed,andeverybodygrewcomfortable.Fannyfelttheadvantageand,drawingbackfromthetoilsofcivility,wouldhavebeenagainmosthappy,couldsheh