CHAPTER XXVIII
關燈
小
中
大
onthathedidsuffer.
Whenhertwodanceswithhimwereover,herinclinationandstrengthformorewereprettywellatanendandSirThomas,havingseenherwalkratherthandancedowntheshorteningset,breathless,andwithherhandatherside,gavehisordersforhersittingdownentirely.FromthattimeMr.Crawfordsatdownlikewise.
“PoorFanny!”criedWilliam,comingforamomenttovisither,andworkingawayhispartner’sfanasifforlife,“howsoonsheisknockedup!Why,thesportisbutjustbegun.Ihopeweshallkeepitupthesetwohours.Howcanyoubetiredsosoon?”
“Sosoon!mygoodfriend,”saidSirThomas,producinghiswatchwithallnecessarycaution“itisthreeo’clock,andyoursisterisnotusedtothesesortofhours.”
“Well,then,Fanny,youshallnotgetupto-morrowbeforeIgo.Sleepaslongasyoucan,andnevermindme.”
“Oh!William.”
“What!Didshethinkofbeingupbeforeyousetoff?”
“Oh!yes,sir,”criedFanny,risingeagerlyfromherseattobenearerheruncle“Imustgetupandbreakfastwithhim.Itwillbethelasttime,youknowthelastmorning.”
“Youhadbetternot.Heistohavebreakfastedandbegonebyhalf-pastnine.Mr.Crawford,Ithinkyoucallforhimathalf-pastnine?”
Fannywastoourgent,however,andhadtoomanytearsinhereyesfordenialanditendedinagracious“Well,well!”whichwaspermission.
“Yes,half-pastnine,”saidCrawfordtoWilliamasthelatterwasleavingthem,“andIshallbepunctual,fortherewillbenokindsistertogetupforme.”AndinalowertonetoFanny,“Ishallhaveonlyadesolatehousetohurryfrom.Yourbrotherwillfindmyideasoftimeandhisownverydifferentto-morrow.”
Afterashortconsideration,SirThomasaskedCrawfordtojointheearlybreakfastpartyinthathouseinsteadofeatingalone:heshouldhimselfbeofitandthereadinesswithwhichhisinvitationwasacceptedconvincedhimthatthesuspicionswhence,hemustconfesstohimself,thisveryballhadingreatmeasuresprung,werewellfounded.Mr.CrawfordwasinlovewithFanny.Hehadapleasinganticipationofwhatwouldbe.Hisniece,meanwhile,didnotthankhimforwhathehadjustdone.ShehadhopedtohaveWilliamalltoherselfthelastmorning.Itwouldhavebeenanunspeakableindulgence.Butthoughherwisheswereoverthrown,therewasnospiritofmurmuringwithinher.Onthecontrary,shewassototallyunusedtohaveherpleasureconsulted,ortohaveanythingtakeplaceatallinthewayshecoulddesire,thatshewasmoredisposedtowonderandrejoiceinhavingcarriedherpointsofar,thantorepineatthecounteractionwhichfollowed.
Shortlyafterward,SirThomaswasagaininterferingalittlewithherinclination,byadvisinghertogoimmediatelytobed.“Advise”washisword,butitwastheadviceofabsolutepower,andshehadonlytorise,and,withMr.Crawford’sverycordialadieus,passquietlyawaystoppingattheentrance-door,liketheLadyofBranxholmHall,“onemomentandnomore,”toviewthehappyscene,andtakealastlookatthefiveorsixdeterminedcouplewhowerestillhardatworkandthen,creepingslowlyuptheprincipalstaircase,pursuedbytheceaselesscountry-dance,feverishwithhopesandfears,soupandnegus,sore-footedandfatigued,restlessandagitated,yetfeeling,inspiteofeverything,thataballwasindeeddelightful.
Inthussendingheraway,SirThomasperhapsmightnotbethinkingmerelyofherhealth.ItmightoccurtohimthatMr.Crawfordhadbeensittingbyherlongenough,orhemightmeantorecommendherasawifebyshewingherpersuadableness.
