CHAPTER XXVIII

ecidedly,“Itmustbeso,mydear,”forhertohazardanotherwordandshefoundherselfthenextmomentconductedbyMr.Crawfordtothetopoftheroom,andstandingtheretobejoinedbytherestofthedancers,coupleaftercouple,astheywereformed. Shecouldhardlybelieveit.Tobeplacedabovesomanyelegantyoungwomen!Thedistinctionwastoogreat.Itwastreatingherlikehercousins!Andherthoughtsflewtothoseabsentcousinswithmostunfeignedandtrulytenderregret,thattheywerenotathometotaketheirownplaceintheroom,andhavetheirshareofapleasurewhichwouldhavebeensoverydelightfultothem.Sooftenasshehadheardthemwishforaballathomeasthegreatestofallfelicities!Andtohavethemawaywhenitwasgiven—andforhertobeopeningtheball—andwithMr.Crawfordtoo!Shehopedtheywouldnotenvyherthatdistinctionnowbutwhenshelookedbacktothestateofthingsintheautumn,towhattheyhadallbeentoeachotherwhenoncedancinginthathousebefore,thepresentarrangementwasalmostmorethanshecouldunderstandherself. Theballbegan.ItwasratherhonourthanhappinesstoFanny,forthefirstdanceatleast:herpartnerwasinexcellentspirits,andtriedtoimpartthemtoherbutshewasagreatdealtoomuchfrightenedtohaveanyenjoymenttillshecouldsupposeherselfnolongerlookedat.Young,pretty,andgentle,however,shehadnoawkwardnessesthatwerenotasgoodasgraces,andtherewerefewpersonspresentthatwerenotdisposedtopraiseher.Shewasattractive,shewasmodest,shewasSirThomas’sniece,andshewassoonsaidtobeadmiredbyMr.Crawford.Itwasenoughtogivehergeneralfavour.SirThomashimselfwaswatchingherprogressdownthedancewithmuchcomplacencyhewasproudofhisnieceandwithoutattributingallherpersonalbeauty,asMrs.Norrisseemedtodo,tohertransplantationtoMansfield,hewaspleasedwithhimselfforhavingsuppliedeverythingelse:educationandmannerssheowedtohim. MissCrawfordsawmuchofSirThomas’sthoughtsashestood,andhaving,inspiteofallhiswrongstowardsher,ageneralprevailingdesireofrecommendingherselftohim,tookanopportunityofsteppingasidetosaysomethingagreeableofFanny.Herpraisewaswarm,andhereceiveditasshecouldwish,joininginitasfarasdiscretion,andpoliteness,andslownessofspeechwouldallow,andcertainlyappearingtogreateradvantageonthesubjectthanhisladydidsoonafterwards,whenMary,perceivingheronasofaverynear,turnedroundbeforeshebegantodance,tocomplimentheronMissPrice’slooks. “Yes,shedoeslookverywell,”wasLadyBertram’splacidreply.“Chapmanhelpedhertodress.IsentChapmantoher.”NotbutthatshewasreallypleasedtohaveFannyadmiredbutshewassomuchmorestruckwithherownkindnessinsendingChapmantoher,thatshecouldnotgetitoutofherhead. MissCrawfordknewMrs.NorristoowelltothinkofgratifyingherbycommendationofFannytoher,itwasastheoccasionoffered—“Ah!ma’am,howmuchwewantdearMrs.RushworthandJuliato-night!”andMrs.Norrispaidherwithasmanysmilesandcourteouswordsasshehadtimefor,amidsomuchoccupationasshefoundforherselfinmakingupcard-tables,givinghintstoSirThomas,andtryingtomoveallthechaperonstoabetterpartoftheroom. MissCrawfordblunderedmosttowardsFannyherselfinherintentionstoplease.Shemeanttobegivingherlittleheartahappyflutter,andfillingherwithsensationsofdelightfulself-consequenceand,misinterpretingFanny’sblushes,stillthoughtshemus