CHAPTER XXXIII

beinmypower—” “Mydear,”interruptedSirThomas,“thereisnooccasionforthis.Yourfeelingsareaswellknowntomeasmywishesandregretsmustbetoyou.Thereisnothingmoretobesaidordone.Fromthishourthesubjectisnevertoberevivedbetweenus.Youwillhavenothingtofear,ortobeagitatedabout.Youcannotsupposemecapableoftryingtopersuadeyoutomarryagainstyourinclinations.YourhappinessandadvantageareallthatIhaveinview,andnothingisrequiredofyoubuttobearwithMr.Crawford’sendeavourstoconvinceyouthattheymaynotbeincompatiblewithhis.Heproceedsathisownrisk.Youareonsafeground.Ihaveengagedforyourseeinghimwheneverhecalls,asyoumighthavedonehadnothingofthissortoccurred.Youwillseehimwiththerestofus,inthesamemanner,and,asmuchasyoucan,dismissingtherecollectionofeverythingunpleasant.HeleavesNorthamptonshiresosoon,thateventhisslightsacrificecannotbeoftendemanded.Thefuturemustbeveryuncertain.Andnow,mydearFanny,thissubjectisclosedbetweenus.” ThepromiseddeparturewasallthatFannycouldthinkofwithmuchsatisfaction.Heruncle’skindexpressions,however,andforbearingmanner,weresensiblyfeltandwhensheconsideredhowmuchofthetruthwasunknowntohim,shebelievedshehadnorighttowonderatthelineofconducthepursued.He,whohadmarriedadaughtertoMr.Rushworth:romanticdelicacywascertainlynottobeexpectedfromhim.Shemustdoherduty,andtrustthattimemightmakeherdutyeasierthanitnowwas. Shecouldnot,thoughonlyeighteen,supposeMr.Crawford’sattachmentwouldholdoutforevershecouldnotbutimaginethatsteady,unceasingdiscouragementfromherselfwouldputanendtoitintime.Howmuchtimeshemight,inherownfancy,allotforitsdominion,isanotherconcern.Itwouldnotbefairtoinquireintoayounglady’sexactestimateofherownperfections. Inspiteofhisintendedsilence,SirThomasfoundhimselfoncemoreobligedtomentionthesubjecttohisniece,toprepareherbrieflyforitsbeingimpartedtoherauntsameasurewhichhewouldstillhaveavoided,ifpossible,butwhichbecamenecessaryfromthetotallyoppositefeelingsofMr.Crawfordastoanysecrecyofproceeding.Hehadnoideaofconcealment.ItwasallknownattheParsonage,wherehelovedtotalkoverthefuturewithbothhissisters,anditwouldberathergratifyingtohimtohaveenlightenedwitnessesoftheprogressofhissuccess.WhenSirThomasunderstoodthis,hefeltthenecessityofmakinghisownwifeandsister-in-lawacquaintedwiththebusinesswithoutdelaythough,onFanny’saccount,healmostdreadedtheeffectofthecommunicationtoMrs.NorrisasmuchasFannyherself.Hedeprecatedhermistakenbutwell-meaningzeal.SirThomas,indeed,was,bythistime,notveryfarfromclassingMrs.Norrisasoneofthosewell-meaningpeoplewhoarealwaysdoingmistakenandverydisagreeablethings. Mrs.Norris,however,relievedhim.Hepressedforthestrictestforbearanceandsilencetowardstheirniecesheno