CHAPTER XLI

entfromLadyBertram,alleyesandearsandtherewasnointroducingthemainpointbeforeher.Hemustcontenthimselfwithbeingonlygenerallyagreeable,andlettingSusanhavehershareofentertainment,withtheindulgence,nowandthen,ofalookorhintforthebetter-informedandconsciousFanny.Norfolkwaswhathehadmostlytotalkof:therehehadbeensometime,andeverythingtherewasrisinginimportancefromhispresentschemes.Suchamancouldcomefromnoplace,nosociety,withoutimportingsomethingtoamusehisjourneysandhisacquaintancewereallofuse,andSusanwasentertainedinawayquitenewtoher.ForFanny,somewhatmorewasrelatedthantheaccidentalagreeablenessofthepartieshehadbeenin.Forherapprobation,theparticularreasonofhisgoingintoNorfolkatall,atthisunusualtimeofyear,wasgiven.Ithadbeenrealbusiness,relativetotherenewalofaleaseinwhichthewelfareofalargeand—hebelieved—industriousfamilywasatstake.Hehadsuspectedhisagentofsomeunderhanddealingofmeaningtobiashimagainstthedeservingandhehaddeterminedtogohimself,andthoroughlyinvestigatethemeritsofthecase.Hehadgone,haddoneevenmoregoodthanhehadforeseen,hadbeenusefultomorethanhisfirstplanhadcomprehended,andwasnowabletocongratulatehimselfuponit,andtofeelthatinperformingaduty,hehadsecuredagreeablerecollectionsforhisownmind.Hehadintroducedhimselftosometenantswhomhehadneverseenbeforehehadbegunmakingacquaintancewithcottageswhoseveryexistence,thoughonhisownestate,hadbeenhithertounknowntohim.Thiswasaimed,andwellaimed,atFanny.Itwaspleasingtohearhimspeaksoproperlyherehehadbeenactingasheoughttodo.Tobethefriendofthepoorandtheoppressed!Nothingcouldbemoregratefultoherandshewasonthepointofgivinghimanapprovinglook,whenitwasallfrightenedoffbyhisaddingasomethingtoopointedofhishopingsoontohaveanassistant,afriend,aguideineveryplanofutilityorcharityforEveringham:asomebodythatwouldmakeEveringhamandallaboutitadearerobjectthanithadeverbeenyet. Sheturnedaway,andwishedhewouldnotsaysuchthings.Shewaswillingtoallowhemighthavemoregoodqualitiesthanshehadbeenwonttosuppose.Shebegantofeelthepossibilityofhisturningoutwellatlastbuthewasandmusteverbecompletelyunsuitedtoher,andoughtnottothinkofher. HeperceivedthatenoughhadbeensaidofEveringham,andthatitwouldbeaswelltotalkofsomethingelse,andturnedtoMansfield.Hecouldnothavechosenbetterthatwasatopictobringbackherattentionandherlooksalmostinstantly.ItwasarealindulgencetohertohearortospeakofMansfield.Nowsolongdividedfromeverybodywhoknewtheplace,shefeltitquitethevoiceofafriendwhenhementionedit,andledthewaytoherfondexclamationsinpraiseofitsbeautiesandcomforts,andbyhishonourabletributetoitsinhabitantsallowedhertogratifyherownheartinthewarmesteulogium,inspeakingofheruncleasallthatwascleverandgood,andherauntashavingthesweetestofallsweettempers. HehadagreatattachmenttoMansfieldhimselfhesaidsohelooked