CHAPTER XXXII

owell,soopenly,soliberally,soproperly,thatSirThomas,feeling,moreover,hisownreplies,andhisownremarkstohavebeenverymuchtothepurpose,wasexceedinglyhappytogivetheparticularsoftheirconversationandlittleawareofwhatwaspassinginhisniece’smind,conceivedthatbysuchdetailshemustbegratifyingherfarmorethanhimself.Hetalked,therefore,forseveralminuteswithoutFanny’sdaringtointerrupthim.Shehadhardlyevenattainedthewishtodoit.Hermindwasintoomuchconfusion.Shehadchangedherpositionand,withhereyesfixedintentlyononeofthewindows,waslisteningtoheruncleintheutmostperturbationanddismay.Foramomentheceased,butshehadbarelybecomeconsciousofit,when,risingfromhischair,hesaid,“Andnow,Fanny,havingperformedonepartofmycommission,andshewnyoueverythingplacedonabasisthemostassuredandsatisfactory,Imayexecutetheremainderbyprevailingonyoutoaccompanymedownstairs,where,thoughIcannotbutpresumeonhavingbeennounacceptablecompanionmyself,Imustsubmittoyourfindingonestillbetterworthlisteningto.Mr.Crawford,asyouhaveperhapsforeseen,isyetinthehouse.Heisinmyroom,andhopingtoseeyouthere.” Therewasalook,astart,anexclamationonhearingthis,whichastonishedSirThomasbutwhatwashisincreaseofastonishmentonhearingherexclaim—“Oh!no,sir,Icannot,indeedIcannotgodowntohim.Mr.Crawfordoughttoknow—hemustknowthat:Itoldhimenoughyesterdaytoconvincehimhespoketomeonthissubjectyesterday,andItoldhimwithoutdisguisethatitwasverydisagreeabletome,andquiteoutofmypowertoreturnhisgoodopinion.” “Idonotcatchyourmeaning,”saidSirThomas,sittingdownagain.“Outofyourpowertoreturnhisgoodopinion?Whatisallthis?Iknowhespoketoyouyesterday,and(asfarasIunderstand)receivedasmuchencouragementtoproceedasawell-judgingyoungwomancouldpermitherselftogive.IwasverymuchpleasedwithwhatIcollectedtohavebeenyourbehaviourontheoccasionitshewedadiscretionhighlytobecommended.Butnow,whenhehasmadehisoverturessoproperly,andhonourably—whatareyourscruplesnow?” “Youaremistaken,sir,”criedFanny,forcedbytheanxietyofthemomenteventotellherunclethathewaswrong“youarequitemistaken.HowcouldMr.Crawfordsaysuchathing?Igavehimnoencouragementyesterday.Onthecontrary,Itoldhim,Icannotrecollectmyexactwords,butIamsureItoldhimthatIwouldnotlistentohim,thatitwasveryunpleasanttomeineveryrespect,andthatIbeggedhimnevertotalktomeinthatmanneragain.IamsureIsaidasmuchasthatandmoreandIshouldhavesaidstillmore,ifIhadbeenquitecertainofhismeaninganythingseriouslybutIdidnotliketobe,Icouldnotbeartobe,imputingmorethanmightbeintended.Ithoughtitmightallpassfornothingwithhim.” Shecouldsaynomoreherbreathwasalmostgone. “AmItounderstand,”saidSirThomas,afterafewmoments’silence,“thatyoumeantorefuseMr.Crawford?” “Yes,sir.” “Refusehim?” “Yes,sir.” “RefuseMr.Crawford!Uponwhatplea?Forwhatreason?” “I—Icannotlikehim,sir,wellenoughtomarryhim.” “Thisisverystrange!”saidSirThomas,inavoiceofcalmdispleasure.“Thereissomethinginthiswhichmycomprehensiondoesnotreach.Hereisayoungmanwishingtopayhisaddressestoyou,witheverythingtorecommendhim:notmerelysituationinlife,fortune,andcharacter,butwithmorethancommonagreeableness,withaddressandconversationpleasingtoeverybody.Andheisnotanacquaintanceofto-dayyouhavenowknownhimsometime.Hissister,moreover,isyourintimatefriend,andhehasbeendoingthatforyourbrother,whichIshouldsupposewouldhavebeenalmostsufficientrecommendationtoyou,hadtherebeennoother.ItisveryuncertainwhenmyinterestmighthavegotWilliamon.Hehasdoneitalready.” “Yes,”saidFanny,inafaintvoice,andlookingdownwithfreshshameandshedidfeelalmostashamedofherself,aftersuchapictureasherunclehaddrawn,fornotlikingMr.Crawford. “Youmusthavebeenaware,”continuedSirThomaspresently,“youmusthavebeensometimeawareofaparticularityinMr.Crawford’smannerstoyou.Thiscannothavetakenyoubysurprise.Youmusthaveobservedhisattentionsandthoughyoualwaysreceivedthemveryproperly(Ihavenoaccusationtomakeonthathead),Ineverperceivedthemtobeunpleasanttoyou.Iamhalfinclinedtothink,Fanny,thatyoudonotquiteknowyourownfeelings.” “Ohyes,sir!indeedIdo.Hisattentionswerealways—whatIdidnotlike.” SirThomaslookedatherwithdeepersurprise.“Thisisbeyondme,”saidhe.“Thisrequiresexplanation.Youngasyouare,andhavingseenscarcelyanyone,itishardlypossiblethatyouraffections—” Hepausedandeyedherfixedly.Hesawherlipsformedintoano,thoughthesoundwasinarticulate,butherfacewaslikescarlet.That,however,insomodestagirl,mightbeverycompatiblewithinnocenceandchusingatleasttoappearsatisfied,hequicklyadded,“No,no,Iknowthatisquiteoutofthequestionquiteimpossible.Well,thereisnothingmoretobesaid.” Andforafewminuteshedidsaynothing.Hewasdeepinthought.Hisniecewasdeepinthoughtlikewise,tryingtohardenandprepareherselfagainstfartherquestioning.Shewouldratherdiethanownthetruthandshehoped,byalittlereflection,to