CHAPTER XXXI

tertheeveningtheyhadpassedtogether.” “Hasthisbeenallyourdoing,then?”criedFanny.“Goodheaven!howvery,verykind!Haveyoureally—wasitbyyourdesire?Ibegyourpardon,butIambewildered.DidAdmiralCrawfordapply?Howwasit?Iamstupefied.” Henrywasmosthappytomakeitmoreintelligible,bybeginningatanearlierstage,andexplainingveryparticularlywhathehaddone.HislastjourneytoLondonhadbeenundertakenwithnootherviewthanthatofintroducingherbrotherinHillStreet,andprevailingontheAdmiraltoexertwhateverinteresthemighthaveforgettinghimon.Thishadbeenhisbusiness.Hehadcommunicatedittonocreature:hehadnotbreathedasyllableofiteventoMarywhileuncertainoftheissue,hecouldnothaveborneanyparticipationofhisfeelings,butthishadbeenhisbusinessandhespokewithsuchaglowofwhathissolicitudehadbeen,andusedsuchstrongexpressions,wassoaboundinginthedeepestinterest,intwofoldmotives,inviewsandwishesmorethancouldbetold,thatFannycouldnothaveremainedinsensibleofhisdrift,hadshebeenabletoattendbutherheartwassofullandhersensesstillsoastonished,thatshecouldlistenbutimperfectlyeventowhathetoldherofWilliam,andsayingonlywhenhepaused,“Howkind!howverykind!Oh,Mr.Crawford,weareinfinitelyobligedtoyou!Dearest,dearestWilliam!”Shejumpedupandmovedinhastetowardsthedoor,cryingout,“Iwillgotomyuncle.Myuncleoughttoknowitassoonaspossible.”Butthiscouldnotbesuffered.Theopportunitywastoofair,andhisfeelingstooimpatient.Hewasafterherimmediately.“Shemustnotgo,shemustallowhimfiveminuteslonger,”andhetookherhandandledherbacktoherseat,andwasinthemiddleofhisfartherexplanation,beforeshehadsuspectedforwhatshewasdetained.Whenshedidunderstandit,however,andfoundherselfexpectedtobelievethatshehadcreatedsensationswhichhishearthadneverknownbefore,andthateverythinghehaddoneforWilliamwastobeplacedtotheaccountofhisexcessiveandunequalledattachmenttoher,shewasexceedinglydistressed,andforsomemomentsunabletospeak.Sheconsidereditallasnonsense,asmeretriflingandgallantry,whichmeantonlytodeceiveforthehourshecouldnotbutfeelthatitwastreatingherimproperlyandunworthily,andinsuchawayasshehadnotdeservedbutitwaslikehimself,andentirelyofapiecewithwhatshehadseenbeforeandshewouldnotallowherselftoshewhalfthedispleasureshefelt,becausehehadbeenconferringanobligation,whichnowantofdelicacyonhispartcouldmakeatrifletoher.WhileherheartwasstillboundingwithjoyandgratitudeonWilliam’sbehalf,shecouldnotbeseverelyresentfulofanythingthatinjuredonlyherselfandafterhavingtwicedrawnbackherhand,andtwiceattemptedinvaintoturnawayfromhim,shegotup,andsaidonly,withmuchagitation,“Don’t,Mr.Crawford,praydon’t!Ibegyouwouldnot.Thisisasortoftalkingwhichisveryunpleasanttome.Imustgoaway.Icannotbearit.”Buthewasstilltalkingon,describinghisaffection,solicitingareturn,and,finally,inwordssoplainastobearbutonemeaningeventoher,offeringhimself,hand,fortune,everything,toheracceptance.Itwassohehadsaidit.Herastonishmentandconfusionincreasedandthoughstillnotknowinghowtosupposehimserious,shecouldhardlystand.Hepressedforananswer. “No,no,no!”shecried,hidingherface.“Thisisallnonsense.Donotdistressme.Icanhearnomoreofthis.YourkindnesstoWilliammakesmemoreobligedtoyouthanwordscanexpressbutIdonotwant,Icannotbear,Imustnotlistentosuch—No,no,don’tthinkofme.Butyouarenotthinkingofme.Iknowitisallnothing.” Shehadburstawayfromhim,andatthatmomentSirThomaswasheardspeakingtoaservantinhiswaytowardstheroomthey