CHAPTER XXX
關燈
小
中
大
lywhatyoudeserve.Whatanamazingmatchforher!Mrs.Norrisoftentalksofherluckwhatwillshesaynow?Thedelightofallthefamily,indeed!Andshehassometruefriendsinit!Howtheywillrejoice!Buttellmeallaboutit!Talktomeforever.Whendidyoubegintothinkseriouslyabouther?”
Nothingcouldbemoreimpossiblethantoanswersuchaquestion,thoughnothingcouldbemoreagreeablethantohaveitasked.“Howthepleasingplaguehadstolenonhim”hecouldnotsayandbeforehehadexpressedthesamesentimentwithalittlevariationofwordsthreetimesover,hissistereagerlyinterruptedhimwith,“Ah,mydearHenry,andthisiswhattookyoutoLondon!Thiswasyourbusiness!YouchosetoconsulttheAdmiralbeforeyoumadeupyourmind.”
Butthishestoutlydenied.Heknewhisuncletoowelltoconsulthimonanymatrimonialscheme.TheAdmiralhatedmarriage,andthoughtitneverpardonableinayoungmanofindependentfortune.
“WhenFannyisknowntohim,”continuedHenry,“hewilldoatonher.SheisexactlythewomantodoawayeveryprejudiceofsuchamanastheAdmiral,forsheisexactlysuchawomanashethinksdoesnotexistintheworld.Sheistheveryimpossibilityhewoulddescribe,ifindeedhehasnowdelicacyoflanguageenoughtoembodyhisownideas.Buttillitisabsolutelysettled—settledbeyondallinterference,heshallknownothingofthematter.No,Mary,youarequitemistaken.Youhavenotdiscoveredmybusinessyet.”
“Well,well,Iamsatisfied.Iknownowtowhomitmustrelate,andaminnohurryfortherest.FannyPrice!wonderful,quitewonderful!ThatMansfieldshouldhavedonesomuchfor—thatyoushouldhavefoundyourfateinMansfield!Butyouarequiterightyoucouldnothavechosenbetter.Thereisnotabettergirlintheworld,andyoudonotwantforfortuneandastoherconnexions,theyaremorethangood.TheBertramsareundoubtedlysomeofthefirstpeopleinthiscountry.SheisniecetoSirThomasBertramthatwillbeenoughfortheworld.Butgoon,goon.Tellmemore.Whatareyourplans?Doessheknowherownhappiness?”
“No.”
“Whatareyouwaitingfor?”
“For—forverylittlemorethanopportunity.Mary,sheisnotlikehercousinsbutIthinkIshallnotaskinvain.”
“Ohno!youcannot.Wereyouevenlesspleasing—supposinghernottoloveyoualready(ofwhich,however,Icanhavelittledoubt)—youwouldbesafe.Thegentlenessandgratitudeofherdispositionwouldsecureherallyourownimmediately.FrommysoulIdonotthinkshewouldmarryyouwithoutlovethatis,ifthereisagirlintheworldcapableofbeingu
