CHAPTER XLIV

rulyforthemall.Tomdangerouslyill,Edmundgonetoattendhim,andthesadlysmallpartyremainingatMansfield,werecarestoshutouteveryothercare,oralmosteveryother.ShecouldjustfindselfishnessenoughtowonderwhetherEdmundhadwrittentoMissCrawfordbeforethissummonscame,butnosentimentdweltlongwithherthatwasnotpurelyaffectionateanddisinterestedlyanxious.Herauntdidnotneglecther:shewroteagainandagaintheywerereceivingfrequentaccountsfromEdmund,andtheseaccountswereasregularlytransmittedtoFanny,inthesamediffusestyle,andthesamemedleyoftrusts,hopes,andfears,allfollowingandproducingeachotherathaphazard.Itwasasortofplayingatbeingfrightened.ThesufferingswhichLadyBertramdidnotseehadlittlepoweroverherfancyandshewroteverycomfortablyaboutagitation,andanxiety,andpoorinvalids,tillTomwasactuallyconveyedtoMansfield,andherowneyeshadbeheldhisalteredappearance.ThenaletterwhichshehadbeenpreviouslypreparingforFannywasfinishedinadifferentstyle,inthelanguageofrealfeelingandalarmthenshewroteasshemighthavespoken.“Heisjustcome,mydearFanny,andistakenupstairsandIamsoshockedtoseehim,thatIdonotknowwhattodo.Iamsurehehasbeenveryill.PoorTom!Iamquitegrievedforhim,andverymuchfrightened,andsoisSirThomasandhowgladIshouldbeifyouwereheretocomfortme.ButSirThomashopeshewillbebetterto-morrow,andsayswemustconsiderhisjourney.” Therealsolicitudenowawakenedinthematernalbosomwasnotsoonover.Tom’sextremeimpatiencetoberemovedtoMansfield,andexperiencethosecomfortsofhomeandfamilywhichhadbeenlittlethoughtofinuninterruptedhealth,hadprobablyinducedhisbeingconveyedthithertooearly,asareturnoffevercameon,andforaweekhewasinamorealarmingstatethanever.Theywereallveryseriouslyfrightened.LadyBertramwroteherdailyterrorstoherniece,whomightnowbesaidtoliveuponletters,andpassallhertimebetweensufferingfromthatofto-dayandlookingforwardtoto-morrow’s.Withoutanyparticularaffectionforhereldestcousin,hertendernessofheartmadeherfeelthatshecouldnotsparehim,andthepurityofherprinciplesaddedyetakeenersolicitude,whensheconsideredhowlittleuseful,howlittleself-denyinghislifehad(apparently)been. Susanwasheronlycompanionandlisteneronthis,asonmorecommonoccasions.Susanwasalwaysreadytohearandtosympathise.NobodyelsecouldbeinterestedinsoremoteanevilasillnessinafamilyaboveanhundredmilesoffnotevenMrs.Price,beyondabriefquestionortwo,ifshesawherdaughterwithaletterinherhand,andnowandthenthequietobservationof,“MypoorsisterBertrammustbeinagreatdealoftrouble.” Solongdividedandsodifferentlysituated,thetiesofbloodwerelittlemorethannothing.Anattachment,originallyastranquilastheirtempers,wasnowbecomeamerename.Mrs.PricedidquiteasmuchforLadyBertramasLadyBertramwouldhavedoneforMrs.Price.ThreeorfourPricesmighthavebeensweptaway,anyorallexceptFannyandWilliam,andLadyBertramwouldhavethoughtlittleaboutitorperhapsmighthavecaughtfromMrs.Norris’slipsthecantofitsbeingaveryhappythingandagreatblessingtotheirpoordearsisterPricetohavethemsowellprovidedfor.