CHAPTER XXXVIII

fseamanshipinheratthisverytime. AnothermomentandFannywasinthenarrowentrance-passageofthehouse,andinhermother’sarms,whomethertherewithlooksoftruekindness,andwithfeatureswhichFannylovedthemore,becausetheybroughtherauntBertram’sbeforeher,andtherewerehertwosisters:Susan,awell-grownfinegirloffourteen,andBetsey,theyoungestofthefamily,aboutfive—bothgladtoseeherintheirway,thoughwithnoadvantageofmannerinreceivingher.ButmannerFannydidnotwant.Wouldtheybutloveher,sheshouldbesatisfied. Shewasthentakenintoaparlour,sosmallthatherfirstconvictionwasofitsbeingonlyapassage-roomtosomethingbetter,andshestoodforamomentexpectingtobeinvitedonbutwhenshesawtherewasnootherdoor,andthatthereweresignsofhabitationbeforeher,shecalledbackherthoughts,reprovedherself,andgrievedlesttheyshouldhavebeensuspected.Hermother,however,couldnotstaylongenoughtosuspectanything.Shewasgoneagaintothestreet-door,towelcomeWilliam.“Oh!mydearWilliam,howgladIamtoseeyou.ButhaveyouheardabouttheThrush?SheisgoneoutofharbouralreadythreedaysbeforewehadanythoughtofitandIdonotknowwhatIamtodoaboutSam’sthings,theywillneverbereadyintimeforshemayhaveherordersto-morrow,perhaps.Ittakesmequiteunawares.AndnowyoumustbeoffforSpitheadtoo.Campbellhasbeenhere,quiteinaworryaboutyouandnowwhatshallwedo?Ithoughttohavehadsuchacomfortableeveningwithyou,andhereeverythingcomesuponmeatonce.” Hersonansweredcheerfully,tellingherthateverythingwasalwaysforthebestandmakinglightofhisowninconvenienceinbeingobligedtohurryawaysosoon. “Tobesure,Ihadmuchrathershehadstayedinharbour,thatImighthavesatafewhourswithyouincomfortbutasthereisaboatashore,Ihadbettergooffatonce,andthereisnohelpforit.WhereaboutsdoestheThrushlayatSpithead?NeartheCanopus?Butnomatterhere’sFannyintheparlour,andwhyshouldwestayinthepassage?Come,mother,youhavehardlylookedatyourowndearFannyyet.” Intheybothcame,andMrs.Pricehavingkindlykissedherdaughteragain,andcommentedalittleonhergrowth,beganwithverynaturalsolicitudetofeelfortheirfatiguesandwantsastravellers. “Poordears!howtiredyoumustbothbe!andnow,whatwillyouhave?Ibegantothinkyouwouldnevercome.BetseyandIhavebeenwatchingforyouthishalf-hour.Andwhendidyougetanythingtoeat?Andwhatwouldyouliketohavenow?Icouldnottellwhetheryouwouldbeforsomemeat,oronlyadishoftea,afteryourjourney,orelseIwouldhavegotsomethingready.AndnowIamafraidCampbellwillbeherebeforethereistimetodressasteak,andwehavenobutcherathand.Itisveryinconvenienttohavenobutcherinthestreet.Wewerebetteroffinourlasthouse.Perhapsyouwouldlikesometeaassoonasitcanbegot.” Theybothdeclaredtheyshouldpreferittoanything.“Then,Betsey,mydear,runintothekitchenandseeifRebeccahasputthewateronandtellhertobringinthetea-thingsassoonasshecan.IwishwecouldgetthebellmendedbutBetseyisaveryhandylittlemessenger.” Betseywentwithalacrity,proudtoshewherabilitiesbeforeherfinenewsister. “Dearme!”continuedtheanxiousmother,“whatasadfirewehavegot,andIdaresayyouarebothstarvedwithcold.Drawyourchairnearer,mydear.IcannotthinkwhatRebeccahasbeenabout.IamsureItoldhertobringsomecoalshalfanhourago.Susan,youshouldhavetakencareofthefire.” “Iwasupstairs,mama,movingmythings,”saidSusan,inafearless,self-defendingtone,whichstartledFanny.“YouknowyouhadbutjustsettledthatmysisterFannyandIshouldhavetheotherroomandIcouldnotgetRebeccatogivemeanyhelp.” Fartherdiscussionwaspreventedbyvariousbustles:first,thedrivercametobepaidthentherewasasquabblebetweenSamandRebeccaaboutthemannerofcarryinguphissister’strunk,whichhewouldmanageallhisownwayandlastly,inwalkedMr.Pricehimself,hisownloudvoiceprecedinghim,aswithsomethingoftheoathkindhekickedawayhisson’sportmanteauandhisdaughter’sbandboxinthepassage,andcalledoutforacandlenocandlewasbrought,however,andhewalkedintotheroom. Fannywithdoubtingfeelingshadrisentomeethim,butsankdownagainonfindingherselfundistinguishedinthedusk,andunthoughtof.Withafriendlyshakeofhisson’shand,andaneagervoice,heinstantlybegan—“Ha!welcomeback,myboy.Gladtoseeyou.Haveyouheardthenews?TheThrushwentoutofharbourthismorning.Sharpistheword,yousee!ByG—,youarejustintime!Thedoctorhasbeenhereinquiringforyou:hehasgotoneoftheboats,andistobeoffforSpitheadbysix,soyouhadbettergowithhim.IhavebeentoTurner’saboutyourmessitisallinawaytobedone.Ishouldnotwonderifyouhadyourordersto-morrow:butyoucannotsailwiththiswind,ifyouaretocruisetothewestwardandCaptainWalshthinksyouwillcertainlyhavea