CHAPTER XLIII

elyhalfayear!Fannywasashamedofher.ThosepartsoftheletterwhichrelatedonlytoMr.Crawfordandherself,touchedher,incomparison,slightly.WhetherMr.CrawfordwentintoNorfolkbeforeorafterthe14thwascertainlynoconcernofhers,though,everythingconsidered,shethoughthewouldgowithoutdelay.ThatMissCrawfordshouldendeavourtosecureameetingbetweenhimandMrs.Rushworth,wasallinherworstlineofconduct,andgrosslyunkindandill-judgedbutshehopedhewouldnotbeactuatedbyanysuchdegradingcuriosity.Heacknowledgednosuchinducement,andhissisteroughttohavegivenhimcreditforbetterfeelingsthanherown. Shewasyetmoreimpatientforanotherletterfromtownafterreceivingthisthanshehadbeenbeforeandforafewdayswassounsettledbyitaltogether,bywhathadcome,andwhatmightcome,thatherusualreadingsandconversationwithSusanweremuchsuspended.Shecouldnotcommandherattentionasshewished.IfMr.Crawfordrememberedhermessagetohercousin,shethoughtitverylikely,mostlikely,thathewouldwritetoheratalleventsitwouldbemostconsistentwithhisusualkindnessandtillshegotridofthisidea,tillitgraduallyworeoff,bynolettersappearinginthecourseofthreeorfourdaysmore,shewasinamostrestless,anxiousstate. Atlength,asomethinglikecomposuresucceeded.Suspensemustbesubmittedto,andmustnotbeallowedtowearherout,andmakeheruseless.Timedidsomething,herownexertionssomethingmore,andsheresumedherattentionstoSusan,andagainawakenedthesameinterestinthem. Susanwasgrowingveryfondofher,andthoughwithoutanyoftheearlydelightinbookswhichhadbeensostronginFanny,withadispositionmuchlessinclinedtosedentarypursuits,ortoinformationforinformation’ssake,shehadsostrongadesireofnotappearingignora