CHAPTER XXXVI

EdmundnowbelievedhimselfperfectlyacquaintedwithallthatFannycouldtell,orcouldleavetobeconjecturedofhersentiments,andhewassatisfied.Ithadbeen,ashebeforepresumed,toohastyameasureonCrawford’sside,andtimemustbegiventomaketheideafirstfamiliar,andthenagreeabletoher.Shemustbeusedtotheconsiderationofhisbeinginlovewithher,andthenareturnofaffectionmightnotbeverydistant. Hegavethisopinionastheresultoftheconversationtohisfatherandrecommendedtherebeingnothingmoresaidtoher:nofartherattemptstoinfluenceorpersuadebutthateverythingshouldbelefttoCrawford’sassiduities,andthenaturalworkingsofherownmind. SirThomaspromisedthatitshouldbeso.Edmund’saccountofFanny’sdispositionhecouldbelievetobejusthesupposedshehadallthosefeelings,buthemustconsideritasveryunfortunatethatshehadfor,lesswillingthanhissontotrusttothefuture,hecouldnothelpfearingthatifsuchverylongallowancesoftimeandhabitwerenecessaryforher,shemightnothavepersuadedherselfintoreceivinghisaddressesproperlybeforetheyoungman’sinclinationforpayingthemwereover.Therewasnothingtobedone,however,buttosubmitquietlyandhopethebest. Thepromisedvisitfrom“herfriend,”asEdmundcalledMissCrawford,wasaformidablethreattoFanny,andshelivedincontinualterrorofit.Asasister,sopartialandsoangry,andsolittlescrupulousofwhatshesaid,andinanotherlightsotriumphantandsecure,shewasineverywayanobjectofpainfulalarm.Herdispleasure,herpenetration,andherhappinesswereallfearfultoencounterandthedependenceofhavingotherspresentwhentheymetwasFanny’sonlysupportinlookingforwardtoit.SheabsentedherselfaslittleaspossiblefromLadyBertram,keptawayfromtheEastroom,andtooknosolitarywalkintheshrubbery,inhercautiontoavoidanysuddenattack. Shesucceeded.Shewassafeinthebreakfast-room,withheraunt,whenMissCrawforddidcomeandthefirstmiseryover,andMissCrawfordlookingandspeakingwithmuchlessparticularityofexpressionthanshehadanticipated,Fannybegantohopetherewouldbenothingworsetobeenduredthanahalf-hourofmoderateagitation.ButhereshehopedtoomuchMissCrawfordwasnottheslaveofopportunity.ShewasdeterminedtoseeFannyalone,andthereforesaidtohertolerablysoon,inalowvoice,“Imustspeaktoyouforafewminutessomewhere”wordsthatFannyfeltalloverher,inallherpulsesandallhernerves.Denialwasimpossible.Herhabitsofreadysubmission,onthecontrary,madeheralmostinstantlyriseandleadthewayoutoftheroom.Shediditwithwretchedfeelings,butitwasinevitable. TheywerenosoonerinthehallthanallrestraintofcountenancewasoveronMissCrawford’sside.SheimmediatelyshookherheadatFannywitharch,yetaffectionatereproach,andtakingherhand,seemedhardlyabletohelpbeginningdirectly.Shesaidnothing,however,but,“Sad,sadgirl!IdonotknowwhenIshallhavedonescoldingyou,”andhaddiscretionenoughtoreservetheresttilltheymightbesecureofhavingfourwallstothemselves.Fannynaturallyturnedupstairs,andtookherguesttotheapartmentwhichwasnowalwaysfitforcomfortableuseopeningthedoor,however,withamostachingheart,andfeelingthatshehadamoredistressingscenebeforeherthaneverthatspothadyetwitnessed.ButtheevilreadytoburstonherwasatleastdelayedbythesuddenchangeinMissCrawford’sideasbythestrongeffectonhermindwhichthefindingherselfintheEastroomagainproduced. “Ha!”shecried,withinstantanimatio