CHAPTER XXXI

HenryCrawfordwasatMansfieldParkagainthenextmorning,andatanearlierhourthancommonvisitingwarrants.Thetwoladiesweretogetherinthebreakfast-room,and,fortunatelyforhim,LadyBertramwasontheverypointofquittingitasheentered.Shewasalmostatthedoor,andnotchusingbyanymeanstotakesomuchtroubleinvain,shestillwenton,afteracivilreception,ashortsentenceaboutbeingwaitedfor,anda“LetSirThomasknow”totheservant. Henry,overjoyedtohavehergo,bowedandwatchedheroff,andwithoutlosinganothermoment,turnedinstantlytoFanny,and,takingoutsomeletters,said,withamostanimatedlook,“Imustacknowledgemyselfinfinitelyobligedtoanycreaturewhogivesmesuchanopportunityofseeingyoualone:Ihavebeenwishingitmorethanyoucanhaveanyidea.KnowingasIdowhatyourfeelingsasasisterare,IcouldhardlyhavebornethatanyoneinthehouseshouldsharewithyouinthefirstknowledgeofthenewsInowbring.Heismade.Yourbrotherisalieutenant.Ihavetheinfinitesatisfactionofcongratulatingyouonyourbrother’spromotion.Herearetheletterswhichannounceit,thismomentcometohand.Youwill,perhaps,liketoseethem.” Fannycouldnotspeak,buthedidnotwanthertospeak.Toseetheexpressionofhereyes,thechangeofhercomplexion,theprogressofherfeelings,theirdoubt,confusion,andfelicity,wasenough.Shetookthelettersashegavethem.ThefirstwasfromtheAdmiraltoinformhisnephew,inafewwords,ofhishavingsucceededintheobjecthehadundertaken,thepromotionofyoungPrice,andenclosingtwomore,onefromtheSecretaryoftheFirstLordtoafriend,whomtheAdmiralhadsettoworkinthebusiness,theotherfromthatfriendtohimself,bywhichitappearedthathislordshiphadtheverygreathappinessofattendingtotherecommendationofSirCharlesthatSirCharleswasmuchdelightedinhavingsuchanopportunityofprovinghisregardforAdmiralCrawford,andthatthecircumstanceofMr.WilliamPrice’scommissionasSecondLieutenantofH.M.SloopThrushbeingmadeoutwasspreadinggeneraljoythroughawidecircleofgreatpeople. Whileherhandwastremblingundertheseletters,hereyerunningfromonetotheother,andherheartswellingwithemotion,Crawfordthuscontinued,withunfeignedeagerness,toexpresshisinterestintheevent— “Iwillnottalkofmyownhappiness,”saidhe,“greatasitis,forIthinkonlyofyours.Comparedwithyou,whohasarighttobehappy?Ihavealmostgrudgedmyselfmyownpriorknowledgeofwhatyououghttohaveknownbeforealltheworld.Ihavenotlostamoment,however.Thepostwaslatethismorning,buttherehasnotbeensinceamoment’sdelay.Howimpatient,howanxious,howwildIhavebeenonthesubject,Iwillnotattempttodescribehowseverelymortified,howcruellydisappointed,innothavingitfinishedwhileIwasinLondon!Iwaskepttherefromdaytodayinthehopeofit,fornothinglessdeartomethansuchanobjectwouldhavedetainedmehalfthetimefromMansfield.ButthoughmyuncleenteredintomywisheswithallthewarmthIcoulddesire,andexertedhimselfimmediately,thereweredifficultiesfromtheabsenceofonefriend,andtheengagementsofanother,whichatlastIcouldnolongerbeartostaytheendof,andknowinginwhatgoodhandsIleftthecause,IcameawayonMonday,trustingthatmanypostswouldnotpassbeforeIshouldbefollowedbysuchverylettersasthese.Myuncle,whoistheverybestmanintheworld,hasexertedhimself,asIknewhewould,afterseeingyourbrother.Hewasdelightedwithhim.Iwouldnotallowmyselfyesterdaytosayhowdelighted,ortorepeathalfthattheAdmiralsaidinhispraise.Ideferreditalltillhispraiseshouldbeprovedthepraiseofafriend,asthisdaydoesproveit.NowImaysaythatevenIcouldnotrequireWilliamPricetoexciteagreaterinterest,orbefollowedbywarmerwishesandhighercommendation,thanweremostvoluntarilybestowedbymyuncleaf