CHAPTER XLII

reaverydifferentcharacterandcouldhehavesuspectedhowmanyprivations,besidesthatofexercise,sheenduredinherfather’shouse,hewouldhavewonderedthatherlookswerenotmuchmoreaffectedthanhefoundthem.ShewassolittleequaltoRebecca’spuddingsandRebecca’shashes,broughttotable,astheyallwere,withsuchaccompanimentsofhalf-cleanedplates,andnothalf-cleanedknivesandforks,thatshewasveryoftenconstrainedtodeferherheartiestmealtillshecouldsendherbrothersintheeveningforbiscuitsandbuns.AfterbeingnursedupatMansfield,itwastoolateinthedaytobehardenedatPortsmouthandthoughSirThomas,hadheknownall,mighthavethoughthisnieceinthemostpromisingwayofbeingstarved,bothmindandbody,intoamuchjustervalueforMr.Crawford’sgoodcompanyandgoodfortune,hewouldprobablyhavefearedtopushhisexperimentfarther,lestshemightdieunderthecure. Fannywasoutofspiritsalltherestoftheday.ThoughtolerablysecureofnotseeingMr.Crawfordagain,shecouldnothelpbeinglow.Itwaspartingwithsomebodyofthenatureofafriendandthough,inonelight,gladtohavehimgone,itseemedasifshewasnowdesertedbyeverybodyitwasasortofrenewedseparationfromMansfieldandshecouldnotthinkofhisreturningtotown,andbeingfrequentlywithMaryandEdmund,withoutfeelingssonearakintoenvyasmadeherhateherselfforhavingthem. Herdejectionhadnoabatementfromanythingpassingaroundherafriendortwoofherfather’s,asalwayshappenedifhewasnotwiththem,spentthelong,longeveningthereandfromsixo’clocktillhalf-pastnine,therewaslittleintermissionofnoiseorgrog.Shewasverylow.ThewonderfulimprovementwhichshestillfanciedinMr.Crawfordwasthenearesttoadministeringcomfortofanythingwithinthecurrentofherthoughts.Notconsideringinhowdifferentacircleshehadbeenjustseeinghim,norhowmuchmightbeowingtocontrast,shewasquitepersuadedofhisbeingastonishinglymoregentleandregardfulofothersthanformerly.And,ifinlittlethings,mustitnotbesoingreat?Soanxiousforherhealthandcomfort,soveryfeelingashenowexpressedhimself,andreallyseemed,mightnotitbefairlysupposedthathewouldnotmuchlongerpersevereinasuitsodistressingtoher?