CHAPTER XLI

delindressbut(asFannyinstantly,andtohergreatrelief,discerned)herfatherwasaverydifferentman,averydifferentMr.Priceinhisbehaviourtothismosthighlyrespectedstranger,fromwhathewasinhisownfamilyathome.Hismannersnow,thoughnotpolished,weremorethanpassable:theyweregrateful,animated,manlyhisexpressionswerethoseofanattachedfather,andasensiblemanhisloudtonesdidverywellintheopenair,andtherewasnotasingleoathtobeheard.SuchwashisinstinctivecomplimenttothegoodmannersofMr.Crawfordand,betheconsequencewhatitmight,Fanny’simmediatefeelingswereinfinitelysoothed. Theconclusionofthetwogentlemen’scivilitieswasanofferofMr.Price’stotakeMr.Crawfordintothedockyard,whichMr.Crawford,desirousofacceptingasafavourwhatwasintendedassuch,thoughhehadseenthedockyardagainandagain,andhopingtobesomuchthelongerwithFanny,wasverygratefullydisposedtoavailhimselfof,iftheMissPriceswerenotafraidofthefatigueandasitwassomehoworotherascertained,orinferred,oratleastactedupon,thattheywerenotatallafraid,tothedockyardtheywerealltogoandbutforMr.Crawford,Mr.Pricewouldhaveturnedthitherdirectly,withoutthesmallestconsiderationforhisdaughters’errandsintheHighStreet.Hetookcare,however,thattheyshouldbeallowedtogototheshopstheycameoutexpresslytovisitanditdidnotdelaythemlong,forFannycouldsolittlebeartoexciteimpatience,orbewaitedfor,thatbeforethegentlemen,astheystoodatthedoor,coulddomorethanbeginuponthelastnavalregulations,orsettlethenumberofthree-deckersnowincommission,theircompanionswerereadytoproceed. Theywerethentosetforwardforthedockyardatonce,andthewalkwouldhavebeenconducted—accordingtoMr.Crawford’sopinion—inasingularmanner,hadMr.Pricebeenallowedtheentireregulationofit,asthetwogirls,hefound,wouldhavebeenlefttofollow,andkeepupwiththemornot,astheycould,whiletheywalkedontogetherattheirownhastypace.Hewasabletointroducesomeimprovementoccasionally,thoughbynomeanstotheextenthewishedheabsolutelywouldnotwalkawayfromthemandatanycrossingoranycrowd,whenMr.Pricewasonlycallingout,“Come,girlscome,Fancome,Sue,takecareofyourselveskeepasharplookout!”hewouldgivethemhisparticularattendance. Oncefairlyinthedockyard,hebegantoreckonuponsomehappyintercoursewithFanny,astheywereverysoonjoinedbyabrotherloungerofMr.Price’s,whowascometotakehisdailysurveyofhowthingswenton,andwhomustproveafarmoreworthycompanionthanhimselfandafteratimethetwoofficersseemedverywellsatisfiedgoingabouttogether,anddiscussingmattersofequalandnever-failinginterest,whiletheyoungpeoplesatdownuponsometimbersintheyard,orfoundaseatonboardavesselinthestockswhichtheyallwenttolookat.Fannywasmostconvenientlyinwantofrest.Crawfordcouldnothavewishedhermorefatiguedormorereadytositdownbuthecouldhavewishedhersisteraway.Aquick-lookinggirlofSusan’sagewastheveryworstthirdintheworld:totallydiffer