CHAPTER XLI

AweekwasgonesinceEdmundmightbesupposedintown,andFannyhadheardnothingofhim.Therewerethreedifferentconclusionstobedrawnfromhissilence,betweenwhichhermindwasinfluctuationeachofthemattimesbeingheldthemostprobable.Eitherhisgoinghadbeenagaindelayed,orhehadyetprocurednoopportunityofseeingMissCrawfordalone,orhewastoohappyforletter-writing! Onemorning,aboutthistime,FannyhavingnowbeennearlyfourweeksfromMansfield,apointwhichsheneverfailedtothinkoverandcalculateeveryday,assheandSusanwerepreparingtoremove,asusual,upstairs,theywerestoppedbytheknockofavisitor,whomtheyfelttheycouldnotavoid,fromRebecca’salertnessingoingtothedoor,adutywhichalwaysinterestedherbeyondanyother. Itwasagentleman’svoiceitwasavoicethatFannywasjustturningpaleabout,whenMr.Crawfordwalkedintotheroom. Goodsense,likehers,willalwaysactwhenreallycalleduponandshefoundthatshehadbeenabletonamehimtohermother,andrecallherremembranceofthename,asthatof“William’sfriend,”thoughshecouldnotpreviouslyhavebelievedherselfcapableofutteringasyllableatsuchamoment.TheconsciousnessofhisbeingknownthereonlyasWilliam’sfriendwassomesupport.Havingintroducedhim,however,andbeingallreseated,theterrorsthatoccurredofwhatthisvisitmightleadtowereoverpowering,andshefanciedherselfonthepointoffaintingaway. Whiletryingtokeepherselfalive,theirvisitor,whohadatfirstapproachedherwithasanimatedacountenanceasever,waswiselyandkindlykeepinghiseyesaway,andgivinghertimetorecover,whilehedevotedhimselfentirelytohermother,addressingher,andattendingtoherwiththeutmostpolitenessandpropriety,atthesametimewithadegreeoffriendliness,ofinterestatleast,whichwasmakinghismannerperfect. Mrs.Price’smannerswerealsoattheirbest.Warmedbythesightofsuchafriendtoherson,andregulatedbythewishofappearingtoadvantagebeforehim,shewasoverflowingwithgratitude—artless,maternalgratitude—whichcouldnotbeunpleasing.Mr.Pricewasout,whichsheregrettedverymuch.Fannywasjustrecoveredenoughtofeelthatshecouldnotregretitfortohermanyothersourcesofuneasinesswasaddedthesevereoneofshameforthehomeinwhichhefoundher.Shemightscoldherselffortheweakness,buttherewasnoscoldingitaway.Shewasashamed,andshewouldhavebeenyetmoreashamedofherfatherthanofalltherest. TheytalkedofWilliam,asubjectonwhichMrs.PricecouldnevertireandMr.Crawfordwasaswarminhiscommendationasevenherheartcouldwish.Shefeltthatshehadneverseensoagreeableamaninherlifeandwasonlyastonishedtofindthat,sogreatandsoagreeableashewas,heshouldbecomedowntoPortsmouthneitheronavisittotheport-admiral,northecommissioner,noryetwiththeintentionofgoingovertotheisland,norofseeingthedockyard.Nothingofallthatshehadbeenusedtothinkofastheproofofimportance,ortheemploymentofwealth,hadbroughthimtoPortsmouth.Hehadreacheditlatethenightbefore,wascomeforadayortwo,was