CHAPTER XXIX

edayslongerwithhisfriend. Ifshehadfeltimpatienceandregretbefore—ifshehadbeensorryforwhatshesaid,andfeareditstoostrongeffectonhim—shenowfeltandfeareditalltenfoldmore.Shehad,moreover,tocontendwithonedisagreeableemotionentirelynewtoher—jealousy.HisfriendMr.Owenhadsistershemightfindthemattractive.But,atanyrate,hisstayingawayatatimewhen,accordingtoallprecedingplans,shewastoremovetoLondon,meantsomethingthatshecouldnotbear.HadHenryreturned,ashetalkedofdoing,attheendofthreeorfourdays,sheshouldnowhavebeenleavingMansfield.ItbecameabsolutelynecessaryforhertogettoFannyandtrytolearnsomethingmore.ShecouldnotliveanylongerinsuchsolitarywretchednessandshemadeherwaytothePark,throughdifficultiesofwalkingwhichshehaddeemedunconquerableaweekbefore,forthechanceofhearingalittleinaddition,forthesakeofatleasthearinghisname. Thefirsthalf-hourwaslost,forFannyandLadyBertramweretogether,andunlessshehadFannytoherselfshecouldhopefornothing.ButatlastLadyBertramlefttheroom,andthenalmostimmediatelyMissCrawfordthusbegan,withavoiceaswellregulatedasshecould—“AndhowdoyoulikeyourcousinEdmund’sstayingawaysolong?Beingtheonlyyoungpersonathome,Iconsideryouasthegreatestsufferer.Youmustmisshim.Doeshisstayinglongersurpriseyou?” “Idonotknow,”saidFannyhesitatingly.“YesIhadnotparticularlyexpectedit.” “Perhapshewillalwaysstaylongerthanhetalksof.Itisthegeneralwayallyoungmendo.” “Hedidnot,theonlytimehewenttoseeMr.Owenbefore.” “Hefindsthehousemoreagreeablenow.Heisavery—averypleasingyoungmanhimself,andIcannothelpbeingratherconcernedatnotseeinghimagainbeforeIgotoLondon,aswillnowundoubtedlybethecase.IamlookingforHenryeveryday,andassoonashecomestherewillbenothingtodetainmeatMansfield.Ishouldliketohaveseenhimoncemore,Iconfess.Butyoumustgivemycomplimentstohim.YesIthinkitmustbecompliments.Isnotthereasomethingwanted,MissPrice,inourlanguage—asomethingbetweencomplimentsand—andlove—tosuitthesortoffriendlyacquaintancewehavehadtogether?Somanymonths’acquaintance!Butcomplimentsmaybesufficienthere.Washisletteralongone?Doeshegiveyoumuchaccountofwhatheisdoing?IsitChristmasgaietiesthatheisstayingfor?” “IonlyheardapartoftheletteritwastomyunclebutIbelieveitwasveryshortindeedIamsureitwasbutafewlines.AllthatIheardwasthathisfriendhadpressedhimtostaylonger,andthathehadagreedtodoso.Afewdayslonger,orsomedayslongerIamnotquitesurewhich.” “Oh!ifhewrotetohisfatherbutIthoughtitmighthavebeentoLadyBertramoryou.Butifhewrotetohisfather,nowonderhewasconcise.WhocouldwritechattoSirThomas?Ifhehadwrittentoyou,therewouldhavebeenmoreparticulars.Youwouldhaveheardofballsandparties.Hewouldhavesentyouadescriptionofeverythingandevery