CHAPTER XLII

ThePriceswerejustsettingoffforchurchthenextdaywhenMr.Crawfordappearedagain.Hecame,nottostop,buttojointhemhewasaskedtogowiththemtotheGarrisonchapel,whichwasexactlywhathehadintended,andtheyallwalkedthithertogether. Thefamilywerenowseentoadvantage.Naturehadgiventhemnoinconsiderableshareofbeauty,andeverySundaydressedthemintheircleanestskinsandbestattire.SundayalwaysbroughtthiscomforttoFanny,andonthisSundayshefeltitmorethanever.HerpoormothernowdidnotlooksoveryunworthyofbeingLadyBertram’ssisterasshewasbuttooapttolook.Itoftengrievedhertothehearttothinkofthecontrastbetweenthemtothinkthatwherenaturehadmadesolittledifference,circumstancesshouldhavemadesomuch,andthathermother,ashandsomeasLadyBertram,andsomeyearsherjunior,shouldhaveanappearancesomuchmorewornandfaded,socomfortless,soslatternly,soshabby.ButSundaymadeheraverycreditableandtolerablycheerful-lookingMrs.Price,comingabroadwithafinefamilyofchildren,feelingalittlerespiteofherweeklycares,andonlydiscomposedifshesawherboysrunintodanger,orRebeccapassbywithaflowerinherhat. Inchapeltheywereobligedtodivide,butMr.Crawfordtookcarenottobedividedfromthefemalebranchandafterchapelhestillcontinuedwiththem,andmadeoneinthefamilypartyontheramparts. Mrs.PricetookherweeklywalkontherampartseveryfineSundaythroughouttheyear,alwaysgoingdirectlyaftermorningserviceandstayingtilldinner-time.Itwasherpublicplace:thereshemetheracquaintance,heardalittlenews,talkedoverthebadnessofthePortsmouthservants,andwoundupherspiritsforthesixdaysensuing. ThithertheynowwentMr.CrawfordmosthappytoconsidertheMissPricesashispeculiarchargeandbeforetheyhadbeentherelong,somehoworother,therewasnosayinghow,Fannycouldnothavebelievedit,buthewaswalkingbetweenthemwithanarmofeachunderhis,andshedidnotknowhowtopreventorputanendtoit.Itmadeheruncomfortableforatime,butyettherewereenjoymentsinthedayandintheviewwhichwouldbefelt. Thedaywasuncommonlylovely.ItwasreallyMarchbutitwasAprilinitsmildair,brisksoftwind,andbrightsun,occasionallycloud