CHAPTER XXVIII

avekepthereyesfromwanderingbetweenEdmundandMaryCrawford.Shelookedallloveliness—andwhatmightnotbetheendofit?HerownmusingswerebroughttoanendonperceivingMr.Crawfordbeforeher,andherthoughtswereputintoanotherchannelbyhisengagingheralmostinstantlyforthefirsttwodances.Herhappinessonthisoccasionwasverymuchàlamortal,finelychequered.Tobesecureofapartneratfirstwasamostessentialgood—forthemomentofbeginningwasnowgrowingseriouslynearandshesolittleunderstoodherownclaimsastothinkthatifMr.Crawfordhadnotaskedher,shemusthavebeenthelasttobesoughtafter,andshouldhavereceivedapartneronlythroughaseriesofinquiry,andbustle,andinterference,whichwouldhavebeenterriblebutatthesametimetherewasapointednessinhismannerofaskingherwhichshedidnotlike,andshesawhiseyeglancingforamomentathernecklace,withasmile—shethoughttherewasasmile—whichmadeherblushandfeelwretched.Andthoughtherewasnosecondglancetodisturbher,thoughhisobjectseemedthentobeonlyquietlyagreeable,shecouldnotgetthebetterofherembarrassment,heightenedasitwasbytheideaofhisperceivingit,andhadnocomposuretillheturnedawaytosomeoneelse.Thenshecouldgraduallyriseuptothegenuinesatisfactionofhavingapartner,avoluntarypartner,securedagainstthedancingbegan. Whenthecompanyweremovingintotheballroom,shefoundherselfforthefirsttimenearMissCrawford,whoseeyesandsmileswereimmediatelyandmoreunequivocallydirectedasherbrother’shadbeen,andwhowasbeginningtospeakonthesubject,whenFanny,anxioustogetthestoryover,hastenedtogivetheexplanationofthesecondnecklace:therealchain.MissCrawfordlistenedandallherintendedcomplimentsandinsinuationstoFannywereforgotten:shefeltonlyonethingandhereyes,brightastheyhadbeenbefore,shewingtheycouldyetbebrighter,sheexclaimedwitheagerpleasure,“Didhe?DidEdmund?Thatwaslikehimself.Noothermanwouldhavethoughtofit.Ihonourhimbeyondexpression.”Andshelookedaroundasiflongingtotellhimso.Hewasnotnear,hewasattendingapartyofladiesoutoftheroomandMrs.Grantcominguptothetwogirls,andtakinganarmofeach,theyfollowedwiththerest. Fanny’sheartsunk,buttherewasnoleisureforthinkinglongevenofMissCrawford’sfeelings.Theywereintheballroom,theviolinswereplaying,andhermindwasinaflutterthatforbadeitsfixingonanythingserious.Shemustwatchthegeneralarrangements,andseehoweverythingwasdone. InafewminutesSirThomascametoher,andaskedifshewereengagedandthe“Yes,sirtoMr.Crawford,”wasexactlywhathehadintendedtohear.Mr.CrawfordwasnotfaroffSirThomasbroughthimtoher,sayingsomethingwhichdiscoveredtoFanny,thatshewastoleadthewayandopentheballanideathathadneveroccurredtoherbefore.Whenevershehadthoughtoftheminutiaeoftheevening,ithadbeenasamatterofcoursethatEdmundwouldbeginwithMissCrawfordandtheimpressionwassostrong,thatthoughherunclespokethecontrary,shecouldnothelpanexclamationofsurprise,ahintofherunfitness,anentreatyeventobeexcused.TobeurgingheropinionagainstSirThomas’swasaproofoftheextremityofthecasebutsuchwasherhorroratthefirstsuggestion,thatshecouldactuallylookhiminthefaceandsaythatshehopeditmightbesettledotherwiseinvain,however:SirThomassmiled,triedtoencourageher,andthenlookedtooserious,andsaidtood