CHAPTER XXXI

ationeveryway.ShewasdistressedwheneverMr.Crawfordspoketoher,andhespoketohermuchtoooftenandshewasafraidtherewasasomethinginhisvoiceandmannerinaddressingherverydifferentfromwhattheywerewhenhetalkedtotheothers.Hercomfortinthatday’sdinnerwasquitedestroyed:shecouldhardlyeatanythingandwhenSirThomasgood-humouredlyobservedthatjoyhadtakenawayherappetite,shewasreadytosinkwithshame,fromthedreadofMr.Crawford’sinterpretationforthoughnothingcouldhavetemptedhertoturnhereyestotherighthand,wherehesat,shefeltthathiswereimmediatelydirectedtowardsher. Shewasmoresilentthanever.ShewouldhardlyjoinevenwhenWilliamwasthesubject,forhiscommissioncameallfromtherighthandtoo,andtherewaspainintheconnexion. ShethoughtLadyBertramsatlongerthanever,andbegantobeindespairofevergettingawaybutatlasttheywereinthedrawing-room,andshewasabletothinkasshewould,whileherauntsfinishedthesubjectofWilliam’sappointmentintheirownstyle. Mrs.NorrisseemedasmuchdelightedwiththesavingitwouldbetoSirThomasaswithanypartofit.“NowWilliamwouldbeabletokeephimself,whichwouldmakeavastdifferencetohisuncle,foritwasunknownhowmuchhehadcosthisuncleand,indeed,itwouldmakesomedifferenceinherpresentstoo.ShewasverygladthatshehadgivenWilliamwhatshedidatparting,veryglad,indeed,thatithadbeeninherpower,withoutmaterialinconvenience,justatthattimetogivehimsomethingratherconsiderablethatis,forher,withherlimitedmeans,fornowitwouldallbeusefulinhelpingtofituphiscabin.Sheknewhemustbeatsomeexpense,thathewouldhavemanythingstobuy,thoughtobesurehisfatherandmotherwouldbeabletoputhiminthewayofgettingeverythingverycheapbutshewasverygladshehadcontributedhermitetowardsit.” “Iamgladyougavehimsomethingconsiderable,”saidLadyBertram,withmostunsuspiciouscalmness,“forIgavehimonly￡10.” “Indeed!”criedMrs.Norris,reddening.“Uponmyword,hemusthavegoneoffwithhispocketswelllined,andatnoexpenseforhisjourneytoLondoneither!” “SirThomastoldme￡10wouldbeenough.” Mrs.Norris,beingnotatallinclinedtoquestionitssufficiency,begantotakethematterinanotherpoint. “Itisamazing,”saidshe,“howmuchyoungpeoplecosttheirfriends,whatwithbringingthemupandputtingthemoutintheworld!Theylittlethinkhowmuchitcomesto,orwhattheirparents,ortheirunclesandaunts,payfortheminthecourseoftheyear.Now,herearemysisterPrice’schildrentakethemalltogether,IdaresaynobodywouldbelievewhatasumtheycostSirThomaseveryyear,tosaynothingofwhatIdoforthem.” “Verytrue,sister,asyousay.But,poorthings!theycannothelpitandyouknowitmakesverylittledifferencetoSirThomas.Fanny,WilliammustnotforgetmyshawlifhegoestotheEastIndiesandIshallgivehimacommissionforanythingelsethatisworthhaving.IwishhemaygototheEastIndies,thatImayhavemyshawl.IthinkIwillhavetwoshawls,Fanny.” Fanny,meanwhile,speakingonlywhenshecouldnothelpit,wasveryearnestlytryingtounderstandwhatMr.andMissCrawfordwereat.Therewaseverythingintheworldagainsttheirbeingseriousbuthiswordsandmanner.Everythingnatural,probable,reasonable,wasagainstitalltheirhabitsandwaysofthinking,andallherowndemerits.Howcouldshehaveexcitedseriousattachmentinamanwhohadseensomany,andbeenadmiredbysomany,andflirtedwithsomany,infinitelyhersuperiorswhoseemedsolittleopentoseriousimpressions,evenwherepainshadbeentakentopleasehimwhothoughtsoslightly,socarelessly,sounfeelinglyonallsuchpointswhowaseverythingtoeverybody,andseemedtofindnooneessentialtohim?Andfarther,howcoulditbesupposedthathissister