CHAPTER XLV

Atabouttheweek’sendfromhisreturntoMansfield,Tom’simmediatedangerwasover,andhewassofarpronouncedsafeastomakehismotherperfectlyeasyforbeingnowusedtothesightofhiminhissuffering,helplessstate,andhearingonlythebest,andneverthinkingbeyondwhatsheheard,withnodispositionforalarmandnoaptitudeatahint,LadyBertramwasthehappiestsubjectintheworldforalittlemedicalimposition.Thefeverwassubduedthefeverhadbeenhiscomplaintofcoursehewouldsoonbewellagain.LadyBertramcouldthinknothingless,andFannysharedheraunt’ssecurity,tillshereceivedafewlinesfromEdmund,writtenpurposelytogiveheraclearerideaofhisbrother’ssituation,andacquaintherwiththeapprehensionswhichheandhisfatherhadimbibedfromthephysicianwithrespecttosomestronghecticsymptoms,whichseemedtoseizetheframeonthedepartureofthefever.TheyjudgeditbestthatLadyBertramshouldnotbeharassedbyalarmswhich,itwastobehoped,wouldproveunfoundedbuttherewasnoreasonwhyFannyshouldnotknowthetruth.Theywereapprehensiveforhislungs. AveryfewlinesfromEdmundshewedherthepatientandthesickroominajusterandstrongerlightthanallLadyBertram’ssheetsofpapercoulddo.Therewashardlyanyoneinthehousewhomightnothavedescribed,frompersonalobservation,betterthanherselfnotonewhowasnotmoreusefulattimestoherson.Shecoulddonothingbutglideinquietlyandlookathimbutwhenabletotalkorbetalkedto,orreadto,Edmundwasthecompanionhepreferred.Hisauntworriedhimbyhercares,andSirThomasknewnothowtobringdownhisconversationorhisvoicetothelevelofirritationandfeebleness.Edmundwasallinall.Fannywouldcertainlybelievehimsoatleast,andmustfindthatherestimationofhimwashigherthaneverwhenheappearedastheattendant,supporter,cheererofasufferingbrother.Therewasnotonlythedebilityofrecentillnesstoassist:therewasalso,asshenowlearnt,nervesmuchaffected,spiritsmuchdepressedtocalmandraise,andherownimaginationaddedthattheremustbeamindtobeproperlyguided. Thefamilywerenotconsumptive,andshewasmoreinclinedtohopethanfearforhercousin,exceptwhenshethoughtofMissCrawfordbutMissCrawfordgavehertheideaofbeingthechildofgoodluck,andtoherselfishnessandvanityitwouldbegoodlucktohaveEdmundtheonlyson. EveninthesickchamberthefortunateMarywasnotforgotten.Edmund’sletterhadthispostscript.“Onthesubjectofmylast,IhadactuallybegunaletterwhencalledawaybyTom’sillness,butIhavenowchangedmymind,andfeartotrusttheinfluenceoffriends.WhenTomisbetter,Ishallgo.” SuchwasthestateofMansfield,andsoitcontinued,withscarcelyanychange,tillEaster.AlineoccasionallyaddedbyEdmundtohismother’sletterwasenoughforFanny’sinformation.Tom’samendmentwasalarminglyslow. Eastercameparticularlylatethisyear,asFannyhadmostsorrowfullyconsidered,onfirstlearningthatshehadnochanceofle