CHAPTER XLVII

gstoextremity,andobligedherbrothertogiveupeverydearerplaninordertoflywithher.” Hestopt.“Andwhat,”saidFanny(believingherselfrequiredtospeak),“whatcouldyousay?” “Nothing,nothingtobeunderstood.Iwaslikeamanstunned.Shewenton,begantotalkofyouyes,thenshebegantotalkofyou,regretting,aswellshemight,thelossofsucha—.Thereshespokeveryrationally.Butshehasalwaysdonejusticetoyou.‘Hehasthrownaway,’saidshe,‘suchawomanashewillneverseeagain.Shewouldhavefixedhimshewouldhavemadehimhappyforever.’MydearestFanny,Iamgivingyou,Ihope,morepleasurethanpainbythisretrospectofwhatmighthavebeen—butwhatnevercanbenow.Youdonotwishmetobesilent?Ifyoudo,givemebutalook,aword,andIhavedone.” Nolookorwordwasgiven. “ThankGod,”saidhe.“Wewerealldisposedtowonder,butitseemstohavebeenthemercifulappointmentofProvidencethattheheartwhichknewnoguileshouldnotsuffer.Shespokeofyouwithhighpraiseandwarmaffectionyet,evenhere,therewasalloy,adashofevilforinthemidstofitshecouldexclaim,‘Whywouldnotshehavehim?Itisallherfault.Simplegirl!Ishallneverforgiveher.Hadsheacceptedhimassheought,theymightnowhavebeenonthepointofmarriage,andHenrywouldhavebeentoohappyandtoobusytowantanyotherobject.HewouldhavetakennopainstobeontermswithMrs.Rushworthagain.Itwouldhaveallendedinaregularstandingflirtation,inyearlymeetingsatSothertonandEveringham.’Couldyouhavebelieveditpossible?Butthecharmisbroken.Myeyesareopened.” “Cruel!”saidFanny,“quitecruel.Atsuchamomenttogivewaytogaiety,tospeakwithlightness,andtoyou!Absolutecruelty.” “Cruelty,doyoucallit?Wedifferthere.No,hersisnotacruelnature.Idonotconsiderherasmeaningtowoundmyfeelings.Theevilliesyetdeeper:inhertotalignorance,unsuspiciousnessoftherebeingsuchfeelingsinaperversionofmindwhichmadeitnaturaltohertotreatthesubjectasshedid.Shewasspeakingonlyasshehadbeenusedtohearothersspeak,assheimaginedeverybodyelsewouldspeak.Hersarenotfaultsoftemper.Shewouldnotvoluntarilygiveunnecessarypaintoanyone,andthoughImaydeceivemyself,Icannotbutthinkthatforme,formyfeelings,shewould—.Hersarefaultsofprinciple,Fannyofblunteddelicacyandacorrupted,vitiatedmind.Perhapsitisbestforme,sinceitleavesmesolittletoregret.Notso,however.GladlywouldIsubmittoalltheincreasedpainoflosingher,ratherthanhavetothinkofherasIdo.Itoldherso.” “Didyou?” “YeswhenIleftherItoldherso.” “Howlongwereyoutogether?” “Five-and-twentyminutes.Well,shewentontosaythatwhatremainednowtobedonewastobringaboutamarriagebetweenthem.Shespokeofit,Fanny,withasteadiervoicethanIcan.”Hewasobligedtopausemorethanonceashecontinued.“‘WemustpersuadeHenrytomarryher,’saidshe‘andwhatwithhonour,andthecertaintyofhavingshuthimselfoutforeverfromFanny,Idonotdespairofit.Fannyhemustgiveup.Idonotthinkthatevenhecouldnowhopetosucceedwithoneofherstamp,andthereforeIhopewemayfindnoinsuperabledifficulty.Myinfluence,whichisnotsmallshallallgothatwayandwhenoncemarried,andproperlysupportedbyherownfamily,peopleofrespectabilityastheyare,shemayrecoverherfootinginsocietytoacertaindegree.Insomecircles,weknow,shewouldneverbeadmitted,butwithgooddinners,andlargeparties,therewillalwaysbethosewhowillbegladofheracquaintanceandthereis,undoubtedly,moreliberalityandcandouronthosepointsthanformerly.WhatIadviseis,thatyourfatherbequiet.Donotlethiminjurehisowncausebyinterference.Persuadehimtoletthingstaketheircourse.Ifbyanyofficiousexertionsofhis,sheisinducedtoleaveHenry’sprotection,therewillbemuchlesschanceofhismarryingherthanifsheremainwithhim.Iknowhowheislikelytobeinfluenced.LetSirThomastrusttohishonourandcompassion,anditmayallendwellbutifhegethisdaughteraway,itwillbedestroyingthechiefhold.’” Afterrepeatingthis,EdmundwassomuchaffectedthatFanny,watchinghimwithsilent,butmosttenderconcern,wasalmostsorrythatthesubjecthadbeenenteredonatall.Itwaslongbeforehecouldspeakagain.Atlast,“Now,Fanny,”saidhe,“Ishallsoonhavedone.Ihavetoldyouthesubstanceofallthatshesaid.AssoonasIcouldspeak,IrepliedthatIhadnotsupposeditpossible,cominginsuchastateofmindintothathouseasIhaddone,thatanythingcouldoccurtomakemesuffermore,butthatshehadbeeninflictingdeeperwoundsinalmosteverysentence.ThatthoughIhad,inthecourseofouracquaintance,beenoftensensibleofsomedifferenceinouropinions,onpoints,too,of