CHAPTER XLVI

AsFannycouldnotdoubtthatheranswerwasconveyingarealdisappointment,shewasratherinexpectation,fromherknowledgeofMissCrawford’stemper,ofbeingurgedagainandthoughnosecondletterarrivedforthespaceofaweek,shehadstillthesamefeelingwhenitdidcome. Onreceivingit,shecouldinstantlydecideonitscontaininglittlewriting,andwaspersuadedofitshavingtheairofaletterofhasteandbusiness.ItsobjectwasunquestionableandtwomomentswereenoughtostarttheprobabilityofitsbeingmerelytogivehernoticethattheyshouldbeinPortsmouththatveryday,andtothrowherintoalltheagitationofdoubtingwhatsheoughttodoinsuchacase.Iftwomoments,however,cansurroundwithdifficulties,athirdcandispersethemandbeforeshehadopenedtheletter,thepossibilityofMr.andMissCrawford’shavingappliedtoheruncleandobtainedhispermissionwasgivingherease.Thiswastheletter— “Amostscandalous,ill-naturedrumourhasjustreachedme,andIwrite,dearFanny,towarnyouagainstgivingtheleastcredittoit,shoulditspreadintothecountry.Dependuponit,thereissomemistake,andthatadayortwowillclearitupatanyrate,thatHenryisblameless,andinspiteofamoment’setourderie,thinksofnobodybutyou.Saynotawordofithearnothing,surmisenothing,whispernothingtillIwriteagain.Iamsureitwillbeallhushedup,andnothingprovedbutRushworth’sfolly.Iftheyaregone,IwouldlaymylifetheyareonlygonetoMansfieldPark,andJuliawiththem.Butwhywouldnotyouletuscomeforyou?Iwishyoumaynotrepentit.—Yours,etc.” Fannystoodaghast.Asnoscandalous,ill-naturedrumourhadreachedher,itwasimpossibleforhertounderstandmuchofthisstrangeletter.ShecouldonlyperceivethatitmustrelatetoWimpoleStreetandMr.Crawford,andonlyconjecturethatsomethingveryimprudenthadjustoccurredinthatquartertodrawthenoticeoftheworld,andtoexciteherjealousy,inMissCrawford’sapprehension,ifsheheardit.MissCrawfordneednotbealarmedforher.ShewasonlysorryforthepartiesconcernedandforMansfield,ifthereportshouldspreadsofarbutshehopeditmightnot.IftheRushworthsweregonethemselvestoMansfield,aswastobeinferredfromwhatMissCrawfordsaid,itwasnotlikelythatanythingunpleasantshouldhaveprecededthem,oratleastshouldmakeanyimpression. AstoMr.Crawford,shehopeditmightgivehimaknowledgeofhisowndisposition,convincehimthathewasnotcapableofbeingsteadilyattachedtoanyonewomanintheworld,andshamehimfrompersistinganylongerinaddressingherself. Itwasverystrange!Shehadbeguntothinkhereallylovedher,andtofancyhisaffectionforhersomethingmorethancommonandhissisterstillsaidthathecaredfornobodyelse.Yettheremusthavebeensomemarkeddisplayofattentionstohercousin,theremusthavebeensomestrongindiscretion,sincehercorrespondentwasnotofasorttoregardaslightone. Veryuncomfortableshewas,andmustcontinue,tillsheheardfromMissCrawfordagain.Itwasimpossibletobanishtheletterfromherthoughts,andshecouldnotrelieveherselfbyspeakingofittoanyhumanbeing.MissCrawfordneednothaveurgedsecrecywithsomuchwarmthshemighthavetrustedtohersenseofwhatwasduetohercousin. Thenextdaycameandbroughtnosecondletter.Fannywasdisappointed.Shecouldstillthinkoflittleelseallthemorningbut,whenherfathercamebackintheafternoonwiththedailynewspaperasusual,shewassofarfromexpectinganyelucidationthroughsuchachannelthatthesubjectwasforamomentoutofherhead. Shewasdeepinothermusing.Theremembranceofherfirsteveninginthatroom,ofherfatherandhisnewspaper,cameacrossher.Nocandlewasnowwanted.Thesunwasyetanhourandhalfabovethehorizon.Shefeltthatshehad,indeed,beenthreemonthsthereandthesun’sraysfallingstronglyintotheparlour,insteadofcheering,madeherstillmor