CHAPTER XLVIII

eofcontrast,toplaceayethighervalueonthesweetnessofhertemper,thepurityofhermind,andtheexcellenceofherprinciples. Thatpunishment,thepublicpunishmentofdisgrace,shouldinajustmeasureattendhisshareoftheoffenceis,weknow,notoneofthebarrierswhichsocietygivestovirtue.Inthisworldthepenaltyislessequalthancouldbewishedbutwithoutpresumingtolookforwardtoajusterappointmenthereafter,wemayfairlyconsideramanofsense,likeHenryCrawford,tobeprovidingforhimselfnosmallportionofvexationandregret:vexationthatmustrisesometimestoself-reproach,andregrettowretchedness,inhavingsorequitedhospitality,soinjuredfamilypeace,soforfeitedhisbest,mostestimable,andendearedacquaintance,andsolostthewomanwhomhehadrationallyaswellaspassionatelyloved. Afterwhathadpassedtowoundandalienatethetwofamilies,thecontinuanceoftheBertramsandGrantsinsuchcloseneighbourhoodwouldhavebeenmostdistressingbuttheabsenceofthelatter,forsomemonthspurposelylengthened,endedveryfortunatelyinthenecessity,oratleastthepracticability,ofapermanentremoval.Dr.Grant,throughaninterestonwhichhehadalmostceasedtoformhopes,succeededtoastallinWestminster,which,asaffordinganoccasionforleavingMansfield,anexcuseforresidenceinLondon,andanincreaseofincometoanswertheexpensesofthechange,washighlyacceptabletothosewhowentandthosewhostaid. Mrs.Grant,withatempertoloveandbeloved,musthavegonewithsomeregretfromthescenesandpeopleshehadbeenusedtobutthesamehappinessofdispositionmustinanyplace,andanysociety,secureheragreatdealtoenjoy,andshehadagainahometoofferMaryandMaryhadhadenoughofherownfriends,enoughofvanity,ambition,love,anddisappointmentinthecourseofthelasthalf-year,tobeinneedofthetruekindnessofhersister’sheart,andtherationaltranquillityofherways.TheylivedtogetherandwhenDr.Granthadbroughtonapoplexyanddeath,bythreegreatinstitutionarydinnersinoneweek,theystilllivedtogetherforMary,thoughperfectlyresolvedagainsteverattachingherselftoayoungerbrotheragain,waslonginfindingamongthedashingrepresentatives,oridleheir-apparents,whowereatthecommandofherbeauty,andher￡20,000,anyonewhocouldsatisfythebettertasteshehadacquiredatMansfield,whosecharacterandmannerscouldauthoriseahopeofthedomestichappinessshehadtherelearnedtoestimate,orputEdmundBertramsufficientlyoutofherhead. Edmundhadgreatlytheadvantageofherinthisrespect.Hehadnottowaitandwishwithvacantaffectionsforanobjectworthytosucceedherinthem.ScarcelyhadhedoneregrettingMaryCrawford,andobservingtoFannyhowimpossibleitwasthatheshouldevermeetwithsuchanotherwoman,beforeitbegantostrikehimwhetheraverydifferentkindofwomanmightnotdojustaswell,oragreatdealbetter:whetherFannyherselfwerenotgrowingasdear,asimportanttohiminallhersmilesandallherways,asMaryCrawfordhadeverbeenandwhetheritmightnotbeapossible,ahopefulundertakingtopersuadeherthatherwarmandsisterlyregardforhimwouldbefoundationenoughforweddedlove. Ipurposelyabstainfromdatesonthisoccasion,thateveryonemaybeatlibertytofixtheirown,awarethatthecureofunconquerablepassions,andthetransferofunchangingattachments,mustvarymuchastotimeindifferentpeople.Ionlyentreateverybodytobelievethatexactlyatthetimewhenitwasquitenaturalthatitshouldbeso,andnotaweekearlier,EdmunddidceasetocareaboutMissCrawford,andbecameasanxioustomarryFannyasFannyherselfcoulddesire. Withsucharegardforher,indeed,ashishadlongbeen,aregardfoundedonthemostendearingclaimsofinnocenceandhelplessness,andcompletedbyeveryrecommendationofgrowingworth,whatcouldbemorenaturalthanthechange?Loving,guiding,protectingher,ashehadbeendoingeversinceherbeingtenyearsold,hermindinsogreatadegreeformedbyhiscare,andhercomfortdependingonhiskindness,anobjecttohimofsuchcloseandpeculiarinterest,dearerbyallhisownimportancewithherthananyoneelseatMansfield,whatwastherenowtoadd,butthatheshouldlearntoprefersoftlighteyestosparklingdarkones.Andbeingalwayswithher,andalwaystalkingconfidentially,andhisfeelingsexactlyinthatfavourablestatewhicharecentdisappointmentgives,thosesoftlighteyescouldnotbeverylonginobtainingthepre-eminence. Havingoncesetout,andfeltthathehaddonesoonthisroadtohappiness,therewasnothingonthesideofprudencetostophimormakehisprogressslownodoubtsofherdeserving,nofearsofoppositionoftaste,noneedofdrawingnewhopesofhappinessfromdissimilarityoftemper.Hermind,disposition,opinions,andhabitswantednohalf-concealment,noself-deceptiononthepresent,norelianceonfutureimprovement.Eveninthemid