CHAPTER XXIX

ndeightincrib.Youaretodeal,ma’amshallIdealforyou?”Fannythoughtandthoughtagainofthedifferencewhichtwenty-fourhourshadmadeinthatroom,andallthatpartofthehouse.Lastnightithadbeenhopeandsmiles,bustleandmotion,noiseandbrilliancy,inthedrawing-room,andoutofthedrawing-room,andeverywhere.Nowitwaslanguor,andallbutsolitude. Agoodnight’srestimprovedherspirits.ShecouldthinkofWilliamthenextdaymorecheerfullyandasthemorningaffordedheranopportunityoftalkingoverThursdaynightwithMrs.GrantandMissCrawford,inaveryhandsomestyle,withalltheheighteningsofimagination,andallthelaughsofplayfulnesswhicharesoessentialtotheshadeofadepartedball,shecouldafterwardsbringhermindwithoutmucheffortintoitseverydaystate,andeasilyconformtothetranquillityofthepresentquietweek. Theywereindeedasmallerpartythanshehadeverknownthereforawholedaytogether,andhewasgoneonwhomthecomfortandcheerfulnessofeveryfamilymeetingandeverymealchieflydepended.Butthismustbelearnedtobeendured.Hewouldsoonbealwaysgoneandshewasthankfulthatshecouldnowsitinthesameroomwithheruncle,hearhisvoice,receivehisquestions,andevenanswerthem,withoutsuchwretchedfeelingsasshehadformerlyknown. “Wemissourtwoyoungmen,”wasSirThomas’sobservationonboththefirstandsecondday,astheyformedtheirveryreducedcircleafterdinnerandinconsiderationofFanny’sswimmingeyes,nothingmorewassaidonthefirstdaythantodrinktheirgoodhealthbutontheseconditledtosomethingfarther.Williamwaskindlycommendedandhispromotionhopedfor.“Andthereisnoreasontosuppose,”addedSirThomas,“butthathisvisitstousmaynowbetolerablyfrequent.AstoEdmund,wemustlearntodowithouthim.Thiswillbethelastwinterofhisbelongingtous,ashehasdone.” “Yes,”saidLadyBertram,“butIwishhewasnotgoingaway.Theyareallgoingaway,Ithink.Iwishtheywouldstayathome.” ThiswishwaslevelledprincipallyatJulia,whohadjustappliedforpermissiontogototownwithMariaandasSirThomasthoughtitbestforeachdaughterthatthepermissionshouldbegranted,LadyBertram,thoughinherowngood-natureshewouldnothavepreventedit,waslamentingthechangeitmadeintheprospectofJulia’sreturn,whichwouldotherwisehavetakenplaceaboutthistime.AgreatdealofgoodsensefollowedonSirThomas’sside,tendingtoreconcilehiswifetothearrangement.Everythingthataconsiderateparentoughttofeelwasadvancedforheruseandeverythingthatanaffectionatemothermustfeelinpromotingherchildren’senjoymentwasattributedtohernature.LadyBertramagreedtoitallwithacalm“Yes”andattheendofaquarterofanhour’ssilentconsiderationspontaneouslyobserved,“SirThomas,Ihavebeenthinking—andIamverygladwetookFannyaswedid,fornowtheothersareawaywefeelthegoodofit.” SirThomasimmediatelyimprovedthiscomplimentbyadding,“Verytrue.WeshewFannywhatagoodgirlw