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diff --git a/31100-0.txt b/31100-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..58e5192 --- /dev/null +++ b/31100-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,80118 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 31100 *** + + + + +THE WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN + + + +Edited by David Widger + +Project Gutenberg Editions + + + + DEDICATION + + This Jane Austen collection + is dedicated to + Alice Goodson [Hart] Woodby + + + +[Note: The accompanying HTML file has active links to all the volumes +and chapters in this set.] + + + +CONTENTS: + + PERSUASION + + NORTHANGER ABBEY + + MANSFIELD PARK + + EMMA + + LADY SUSAN + + LOVE AND FREINDSHIP AND OTHER EARLY WORKS + + PRIDE AND PREJUDICE + + SENSE AND SENSIBILITY + + + + + + + +PERSUASION + + +by Jane Austen + +(1818) + + + + +Chapter 1 + + +Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, +for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there +he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed +one; there his faculties were roused into admiration and respect, by +contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any +unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs changed naturally +into pity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations +of the last century; and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he +could read his own history with an interest which never failed. This +was the page at which the favourite volume always opened: + + "ELLIOT OF KELLYNCH HALL. + +"Walter Elliot, born March 1, 1760, married, July 15, 1784, Elizabeth, +daughter of James Stevenson, Esq. of South Park, in the county of +Gloucester, by which lady (who died 1800) he has issue Elizabeth, born +June 1, 1785; Anne, born August 9, 1787; a still-born son, November 5, +1789; Mary, born November 20, 1791." + +Precisely such had the paragraph originally stood from the printer's +hands; but Sir Walter had improved it by adding, for the information of +himself and his family, these words, after the date of Mary's birth-- +"Married, December 16, 1810, Charles, son and heir of Charles Musgrove, +Esq. of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset," and by inserting most +accurately the day of the month on which he had lost his wife. + +Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable +family, in the usual terms; how it had been first settled in Cheshire; +how mentioned in Dugdale, serving the office of high sheriff, +representing a borough in three successive parliaments, exertions of +loyalty, and dignity of baronet, in the first year of Charles II, with +all the Marys and Elizabeths they had married; forming altogether two +handsome duodecimo pages, and concluding with the arms and +motto:--"Principal seat, Kellynch Hall, in the county of Somerset," and +Sir Walter's handwriting again in this finale:-- + +"Heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq., great grandson of the +second Sir Walter." + +Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; +vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in +his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women +could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could +the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held +in society. He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to +the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united +these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and +devotion. + +His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment; since +to them he must have owed a wife of very superior character to any +thing deserved by his own. Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, +sensible and amiable; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be +pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never +required indulgence afterwards.--She had humoured, or softened, or +concealed his failings, and promoted his real respectability for +seventeen years; and though not the very happiest being in the world +herself, had found enough in her duties, her friends, and her children, +to attach her to life, and make it no matter of indifference to her +when she was called on to quit them.--Three girls, the two eldest +sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy for a mother to bequeath, an +awful charge rather, to confide to the authority and guidance of a +conceited, silly father. She had, however, one very intimate friend, a +sensible, deserving woman, who had been brought, by strong attachment +to herself, to settle close by her, in the village of Kellynch; and on +her kindness and advice, Lady Elliot mainly relied for the best help +and maintenance of the good principles and instruction which she had +been anxiously giving her daughters. + +This friend, and Sir Walter, did not marry, whatever might have been +anticipated on that head by their acquaintance. Thirteen years had +passed away since Lady Elliot's death, and they were still near +neighbours and intimate friends, and one remained a widower, the other +a widow. + +That Lady Russell, of steady age and character, and extremely well +provided for, should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no +apology to the public, which is rather apt to be unreasonably +discontented when a woman does marry again, than when she does not; but +Sir Walter's continuing in singleness requires explanation. Be it +known then, that Sir Walter, like a good father, (having met with one +or two private disappointments in very unreasonable applications), +prided himself on remaining single for his dear daughters' sake. For +one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up any thing, +which he had not been very much tempted to do. Elizabeth had +succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights +and consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her +influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most +happily. His two other children were of very inferior value. Mary had +acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs Charles +Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of +character, which must have placed her high with any people of real +understanding, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no +weight, her convenience was always to give way--she was only Anne. + +To Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly valued +god-daughter, favourite, and friend. Lady Russell loved them all; but +it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again. + +A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her +bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had +found little to admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate +features and mild dark eyes from his own), there could be nothing in +them, now that she was faded and thin, to excite his esteem. He had +never indulged much hope, he had now none, of ever reading her name in +any other page of his favourite work. All equality of alliance must +rest with Elizabeth, for Mary had merely connected herself with an old +country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore +given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth would, one day or +other, marry suitably. + +It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she +was ten years before; and, generally speaking, if there has been +neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely +any charm is lost. It was so with Elizabeth, still the same handsome +Miss Elliot that she had begun to be thirteen years ago, and Sir Walter +might be excused, therefore, in forgetting her age, or, at least, be +deemed only half a fool, for thinking himself and Elizabeth as blooming +as ever, amidst the wreck of the good looks of everybody else; for he +could plainly see how old all the rest of his family and acquaintance +were growing. Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the +neighbourhood worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow's foot about +Lady Russell's temples had long been a distress to him. + +Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal contentment. +Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Kellynch Hall, presiding and +directing with a self-possession and decision which could never have +given the idea of her being younger than she was. For thirteen years +had she been doing the honours, and laying down the domestic law at +home, and leading the way to the chaise and four, and walking +immediately after Lady Russell out of all the drawing-rooms and +dining-rooms in the country. Thirteen winters' revolving frosts had +seen her opening every ball of credit which a scanty neighbourhood +afforded, and thirteen springs shewn their blossoms, as she travelled +up to London with her father, for a few weeks' annual enjoyment of the +great world. She had the remembrance of all this, she had the +consciousness of being nine-and-twenty to give her some regrets and +some apprehensions; she was fully satisfied of being still quite as +handsome as ever, but she felt her approach to the years of danger, and +would have rejoiced to be certain of being properly solicited by +baronet-blood within the next twelvemonth or two. Then might she again +take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as in her early youth, +but now she liked it not. Always to be presented with the date of her +own birth and see no marriage follow but that of a youngest sister, +made the book an evil; and more than once, when her father had left it +open on the table near her, had she closed it, with averted eyes, and +pushed it away. + +She had had a disappointment, moreover, which that book, and especially +the history of her own family, must ever present the remembrance of. +The heir presumptive, the very William Walter Elliot, Esq., whose +rights had been so generously supported by her father, had disappointed +her. + +She had, while a very young girl, as soon as she had known him to be, +in the event of her having no brother, the future baronet, meant to +marry him, and her father had always meant that she should. He had not +been known to them as a boy; but soon after Lady Elliot's death, Sir +Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures had not +been met with any warmth, he had persevered in seeking it, making +allowance for the modest drawing-back of youth; and, in one of their +spring excursions to London, when Elizabeth was in her first bloom, Mr +Elliot had been forced into the introduction. + +He was at that time a very young man, just engaged in the study of the +law; and Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and every plan in his +favour was confirmed. He was invited to Kellynch Hall; he was talked +of and expected all the rest of the year; but he never came. The +following spring he was seen again in town, found equally agreeable, +again encouraged, invited, and expected, and again he did not come; and +the next tidings were that he was married. Instead of pushing his +fortune in the line marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he +had purchased independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of +inferior birth. + +Sir Walter has resented it. As the head of the house, he felt that he +ought to have been consulted, especially after taking the young man so +publicly by the hand; "For they must have been seen together," he +observed, "once at Tattersall's, and twice in the lobby of the House of +Commons." His disapprobation was expressed, but apparently very little +regarded. Mr Elliot had attempted no apology, and shewn himself as +unsolicitous of being longer noticed by the family, as Sir Walter +considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance between them had +ceased. + +This very awkward history of Mr Elliot was still, after an interval of +several years, felt with anger by Elizabeth, who had liked the man for +himself, and still more for being her father's heir, and whose strong +family pride could see only in him a proper match for Sir Walter +Elliot's eldest daughter. There was not a baronet from A to Z whom her +feelings could have so willingly acknowledged as an equal. Yet so +miserably had he conducted himself, that though she was at this present +time (the summer of 1814) wearing black ribbons for his wife, she could +not admit him to be worth thinking of again. The disgrace of his first +marriage might, perhaps, as there was no reason to suppose it +perpetuated by offspring, have been got over, had he not done worse; +but he had, as by the accustomary intervention of kind friends, they +had been informed, spoken most disrespectfully of them all, most +slightingly and contemptuously of the very blood he belonged to, and +the honours which were hereafter to be his own. This could not be +pardoned. + +Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiments and sensations; such the cares +to alloy, the agitations to vary, the sameness and the elegance, the +prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life; such the feelings +to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in one country circle, +to fill the vacancies which there were no habits of utility abroad, no +talents or accomplishments for home, to occupy. + +But now, another occupation and solicitude of mind was beginning to be +added to these. Her father was growing distressed for money. She +knew, that when he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the +heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr +Shepherd, his agent, from his thoughts. The Kellynch property was +good, but not equal to Sir Walter's apprehension of the state required +in its possessor. While Lady Elliot lived, there had been method, +moderation, and economy, which had just kept him within his income; but +with her had died all such right-mindedness, and from that period he +had been constantly exceeding it. It had not been possible for him to +spend less; he had done nothing but what Sir Walter Elliot was +imperiously called on to do; but blameless as he was, he was not only +growing dreadfully in debt, but was hearing of it so often, that it +became vain to attempt concealing it longer, even partially, from his +daughter. He had given her some hints of it the last spring in town; +he had gone so far even as to say, "Can we retrench? Does it occur to +you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?" and +Elizabeth, to do her justice, had, in the first ardour of female alarm, +set seriously to think what could be done, and had finally proposed +these two branches of economy, to cut off some unnecessary charities, +and to refrain from new furnishing the drawing-room; to which +expedients she afterwards added the happy thought of their taking no +present down to Anne, as had been the usual yearly custom. But these +measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real +extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged +to confess to her soon afterwards. Elizabeth had nothing to propose of +deeper efficacy. She felt herself ill-used and unfortunate, as did her +father; and they were neither of them able to devise any means of +lessening their expenses without compromising their dignity, or +relinquishing their comforts in a way not to be borne. + +There was only a small part of his estate that Sir Walter could dispose +of; but had every acre been alienable, it would have made no +difference. He had condescended to mortgage as far as he had the +power, but he would never condescend to sell. No; he would never +disgrace his name so far. The Kellynch estate should be transmitted +whole and entire, as he had received it. + +Their two confidential friends, Mr Shepherd, who lived in the +neighbouring market town, and Lady Russell, were called to advise them; +and both father and daughter seemed to expect that something should be +struck out by one or the other to remove their embarrassments and +reduce their expenditure, without involving the loss of any indulgence +of taste or pride. + + + +Chapter 2 + + +Mr Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be his hold +or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable prompted +by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint, and +only begged leave to recommend an implicit reference to the excellent +judgement of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully +expected to have just such resolute measures advised as he meant to see +finally adopted. + +Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous on the subject, and gave it +much serious consideration. She was a woman rather of sound than of +quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this +instance were great, from the opposition of two leading principles. +She was of strict integrity herself, with a delicate sense of honour; +but she was as desirous of saving Sir Walter's feelings, as solicitous +for the credit of the family, as aristocratic in her ideas of what was +due to them, as anybody of sense and honesty could well be. She was a +benevolent, charitable, good woman, and capable of strong attachments, +most correct in her conduct, strict in her notions of decorum, and with +manners that were held a standard of good-breeding. She had a +cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational and consistent; +but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry; she had a value for +rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of those +who possessed them. Herself the widow of only a knight, she gave the +dignity of a baronet all its due; and Sir Walter, independent of his +claims as an old acquaintance, an attentive neighbour, an obliging +landlord, the husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and +her sisters, was, as being Sir Walter, in her apprehension, entitled to +a great deal of compassion and consideration under his present +difficulties. + +They must retrench; that did not admit of a doubt. But she was very +anxious to have it done with the least possible pain to him and +Elizabeth. She drew up plans of economy, she made exact calculations, +and she did what nobody else thought of doing: she consulted Anne, who +never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the +question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced by her in +marking out the scheme of retrenchment which was at last submitted to +Sir Walter. Every emendation of Anne's had been on the side of honesty +against importance. She wanted more vigorous measures, a more complete +reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of +indifference for everything but justice and equity. + +"If we can persuade your father to all this," said Lady Russell, +looking over her paper, "much may be done. If he will adopt these +regulations, in seven years he will be clear; and I hope we may be able +to convince him and Elizabeth, that Kellynch Hall has a respectability +in itself which cannot be affected by these reductions; and that the +true dignity of Sir Walter Elliot will be very far from lessened in the +eyes of sensible people, by acting like a man of principle. What will +he be doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have +done, or ought to do? There will be nothing singular in his case; and +it is singularity which often makes the worst part of our suffering, as +it always does of our conduct. I have great hope of prevailing. We +must be serious and decided; for after all, the person who has +contracted debts must pay them; and though a great deal is due to the +feelings of the gentleman, and the head of a house, like your father, +there is still more due to the character of an honest man." + +This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be +proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She considered it as an act +of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors with all +the expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure, +and saw no dignity in anything short of it. She wanted it to be +prescribed, and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence +highly; and as to the severe degree of self-denial which her own +conscience prompted, she believed there might be little more difficulty +in persuading them to a complete, than to half a reformation. Her +knowledge of her father and Elizabeth inclined her to think that the +sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of +both, and so on, through the whole list of Lady Russell's too gentle +reductions. + +How Anne's more rigid requisitions might have been taken is of little +consequence. Lady Russell's had no success at all: could not be put up +with, were not to be borne. "What! every comfort of life knocked off! +Journeys, London, servants, horses, table--contractions and +restrictions every where! To live no longer with the decencies even of +a private gentleman! No, he would sooner quit Kellynch Hall at once, +than remain in it on such disgraceful terms." + +"Quit Kellynch Hall." The hint was immediately taken up by Mr +Shepherd, whose interest was involved in the reality of Sir Walter's +retrenching, and who was perfectly persuaded that nothing would be done +without a change of abode. "Since the idea had been started in the +very quarter which ought to dictate, he had no scruple," he said, "in +confessing his judgement to be entirely on that side. It did not +appear to him that Sir Walter could materially alter his style of +living in a house which had such a character of hospitality and ancient +dignity to support. In any other place Sir Walter might judge for +himself; and would be looked up to, as regulating the modes of life in +whatever way he might choose to model his household." + +Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall; and after a very few days more of +doubt and indecision, the great question of whither he should go was +settled, and the first outline of this important change made out. + +There had been three alternatives, London, Bath, or another house in +the country. All Anne's wishes had been for the latter. A small house +in their own neighbourhood, where they might still have Lady Russell's +society, still be near Mary, and still have the pleasure of sometimes +seeing the lawns and groves of Kellynch, was the object of her +ambition. But the usual fate of Anne attended her, in having something +very opposite from her inclination fixed on. She disliked Bath, and +did not think it agreed with her; and Bath was to be her home. + +Sir Walter had at first thought more of London; but Mr Shepherd felt +that he could not be trusted in London, and had been skilful enough to +dissuade him from it, and make Bath preferred. It was a much safer +place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important +at comparatively little expense. Two material advantages of Bath over +London had of course been given all their weight: its more convenient +distance from Kellynch, only fifty miles, and Lady Russell's spending +some part of every winter there; and to the very great satisfaction of +Lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for +Bath, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should +lose neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there. + +Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes. It +would be too much to expect Sir Walter to descend into a small house in +his own neighbourhood. Anne herself would have found the +mortifications of it more than she foresaw, and to Sir Walter's +feelings they must have been dreadful. And with regard to Anne's +dislike of Bath, she considered it as a prejudice and mistake arising, +first, from the circumstance of her having been three years at school +there, after her mother's death; and secondly, from her happening to be +not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards +spent there with herself. + +Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it must +suit them all; and as to her young friend's health, by passing all the +warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger would be avoided; +and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits +good. Anne had been too little from home, too little seen. Her spirits +were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted her to +be more known. + +The undesirableness of any other house in the same neighbourhood for +Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part, and a very +material part of the scheme, which had been happily engrafted on the +beginning. He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the +hands of others; a trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir +Walter's have found too much. Kellynch Hall was to be let. This, +however, was a profound secret, not to be breathed beyond their own +circle. + +Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation of being known to +design letting his house. Mr Shepherd had once mentioned the word +"advertise," but never dared approach it again. Sir Walter spurned the +idea of its being offered in any manner; forbad the slightest hint +being dropped of his having such an intention; and it was only on the +supposition of his being spontaneously solicited by some most +unexceptionable applicant, on his own terms, and as a great favour, +that he would let it at all. + +How quick come the reasons for approving what we like! Lady Russell +had another excellent one at hand, for being extremely glad that Sir +Walter and his family were to remove from the country. Elizabeth had +been lately forming an intimacy, which she wished to see interrupted. +It was with the daughter of Mr Shepherd, who had returned, after an +unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the additional +burden of two children. She was a clever young woman, who understood +the art of pleasing--the art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall; +and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as to have been +already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady +Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of +caution and reserve. + +Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with Elizabeth, and +seemed to love her, rather because she would love her, than because +Elizabeth deserved it. She had never received from her more than +outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complaisance; had +never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry, against +previous inclination. She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying +to get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly open to all the +injustice and all the discredit of the selfish arrangements which shut +her out, and on many lesser occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth +the advantage of her own better judgement and experience; but always in +vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and never had she pursued it in +more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs +Clay; turning from the society of so deserving a sister, to bestow her +affection and confidence on one who ought to have been nothing to her +but the object of distant civility. + +From situation, Mrs Clay was, in Lady Russell's estimate, a very +unequal, and in her character she believed a very dangerous companion; +and a removal that would leave Mrs Clay behind, and bring a choice of +more suitable intimates within Miss Elliot's reach, was therefore an +object of first-rate importance. + + + +Chapter 3 + + +"I must take leave to observe, Sir Walter," said Mr Shepherd one +morning at Kellynch Hall, as he laid down the newspaper, "that the +present juncture is much in our favour. This peace will be turning all +our rich naval officers ashore. They will be all wanting a home. +Could not be a better time, Sir Walter, for having a choice of tenants, +very responsible tenants. Many a noble fortune has been made during +the war. If a rich admiral were to come in our way, Sir Walter--" + +"He would be a very lucky man, Shepherd," replied Sir Walter; "that's +all I have to remark. A prize indeed would Kellynch Hall be to him; +rather the greatest prize of all, let him have taken ever so many +before; hey, Shepherd?" + +Mr Shepherd laughed, as he knew he must, at this wit, and then added-- + +"I presume to observe, Sir Walter, that, in the way of business, +gentlemen of the navy are well to deal with. I have had a little +knowledge of their methods of doing business; and I am free to confess +that they have very liberal notions, and are as likely to make +desirable tenants as any set of people one should meet with. +Therefore, Sir Walter, what I would take leave to suggest is, that if +in consequence of any rumours getting abroad of your intention; which +must be contemplated as a possible thing, because we know how difficult +it is to keep the actions and designs of one part of the world from the +notice and curiosity of the other; consequence has its tax; I, John +Shepherd, might conceal any family-matters that I chose, for nobody +would think it worth their while to observe me; but Sir Walter Elliot +has eyes upon him which it may be very difficult to elude; and +therefore, thus much I venture upon, that it will not greatly surprise +me if, with all our caution, some rumour of the truth should get +abroad; in the supposition of which, as I was going to observe, since +applications will unquestionably follow, I should think any from our +wealthy naval commanders particularly worth attending to; and beg leave +to add, that two hours will bring me over at any time, to save you the +trouble of replying." + +Sir Walter only nodded. But soon afterwards, rising and pacing the +room, he observed sarcastically-- + +"There are few among the gentlemen of the navy, I imagine, who would +not be surprised to find themselves in a house of this description." + +"They would look around them, no doubt, and bless their good fortune," +said Mrs Clay, for Mrs Clay was present: her father had driven her +over, nothing being of so much use to Mrs Clay's health as a drive to +Kellynch: "but I quite agree with my father in thinking a sailor might +be a very desirable tenant. I have known a good deal of the +profession; and besides their liberality, they are so neat and careful +in all their ways! These valuable pictures of yours, Sir Walter, if +you chose to leave them, would be perfectly safe. Everything in and +about the house would be taken such excellent care of! The gardens and +shrubberies would be kept in almost as high order as they are now. You +need not be afraid, Miss Elliot, of your own sweet flower gardens being +neglected." + +"As to all that," rejoined Sir Walter coolly, "supposing I were induced +to let my house, I have by no means made up my mind as to the +privileges to be annexed to it. I am not particularly disposed to +favour a tenant. The park would be open to him of course, and few navy +officers, or men of any other description, can have had such a range; +but what restrictions I might impose on the use of the +pleasure-grounds, is another thing. I am not fond of the idea of my +shrubberies being always approachable; and I should recommend Miss +Elliot to be on her guard with respect to her flower garden. I am very +little disposed to grant a tenant of Kellynch Hall any extraordinary +favour, I assure you, be he sailor or soldier." + +After a short pause, Mr Shepherd presumed to say-- + +"In all these cases, there are established usages which make everything +plain and easy between landlord and tenant. Your interest, Sir Walter, +is in pretty safe hands. Depend upon me for taking care that no tenant +has more than his just rights. I venture to hint, that Sir Walter +Elliot cannot be half so jealous for his own, as John Shepherd will be +for him." + +Here Anne spoke-- + +"The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an +equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the +privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for their +comforts, we must all allow." + +"Very true, very true. What Miss Anne says, is very true," was Mr +Shepherd's rejoinder, and "Oh! certainly," was his daughter's; but Sir +Walter's remark was, soon afterwards-- + +"The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any +friend of mine belonging to it." + +"Indeed!" was the reply, and with a look of surprise. + +"Yes; it is in two points offensive to me; I have two strong grounds of +objection to it. First, as being the means of bringing persons of +obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which +their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it +cuts up a man's youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old +sooner than any other man. I have observed it all my life. A man is +in greater danger in the navy of being insulted by the rise of one +whose father, his father might have disdained to speak to, and of +becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any other +line. One day last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, +striking instances of what I am talking of; Lord St Ives, whose father +we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat; I was +to give place to Lord St Ives, and a certain Admiral Baldwin, the most +deplorable-looking personage you can imagine; his face the colour of +mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree; all lines and wrinkles, +nine grey hairs of a side, and nothing but a dab of powder at top. 'In +the name of heaven, who is that old fellow?' said I to a friend of mine +who was standing near, (Sir Basil Morley). 'Old fellow!' cried Sir +Basil, 'it is Admiral Baldwin. What do you take his age to be?' +'Sixty,' said I, 'or perhaps sixty-two.' 'Forty,' replied Sir Basil, +'forty, and no more.' Picture to yourselves my amazement; I shall not +easily forget Admiral Baldwin. I never saw quite so wretched an +example of what a sea-faring life can do; but to a degree, I know it is +the same with them all: they are all knocked about, and exposed to +every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen. It +is a pity they are not knocked on the head at once, before they reach +Admiral Baldwin's age." + +"Nay, Sir Walter," cried Mrs Clay, "this is being severe indeed. Have +a little mercy on the poor men. We are not all born to be handsome. +The sea is no beautifier, certainly; sailors do grow old betimes; I +have observed it; they soon lose the look of youth. But then, is not +it the same with many other professions, perhaps most other? Soldiers, +in active service, are not at all better off: and even in the quieter +professions, there is a toil and a labour of the mind, if not of the +body, which seldom leaves a man's looks to the natural effect of time. +The lawyer plods, quite care-worn; the physician is up at all hours, +and travelling in all weather; and even the clergyman--" she stopt a +moment to consider what might do for the clergyman;--"and even the +clergyman, you know is obliged to go into infected rooms, and expose +his health and looks to all the injury of a poisonous atmosphere. In +fact, as I have long been convinced, though every profession is +necessary and honourable in its turn, it is only the lot of those who +are not obliged to follow any, who can live in a regular way, in the +country, choosing their own hours, following their own pursuits, and +living on their own property, without the torment of trying for more; +it is only their lot, I say, to hold the blessings of health and a good +appearance to the utmost: I know no other set of men but what lose +something of their personableness when they cease to be quite young." + +It seemed as if Mr Shepherd, in this anxiety to bespeak Sir Walter's +good will towards a naval officer as tenant, had been gifted with +foresight; for the very first application for the house was from an +Admiral Croft, with whom he shortly afterwards fell into company in +attending the quarter sessions at Taunton; and indeed, he had received +a hint of the Admiral from a London correspondent. By the report which +he hastened over to Kellynch to make, Admiral Croft was a native of +Somersetshire, who having acquired a very handsome fortune, was wishing +to settle in his own country, and had come down to Taunton in order to +look at some advertised places in that immediate neighbourhood, which, +however, had not suited him; that accidentally hearing--(it was just as +he had foretold, Mr Shepherd observed, Sir Walter's concerns could not +be kept a secret,)--accidentally hearing of the possibility of +Kellynch Hall being to let, and understanding his (Mr Shepherd's) +connection with the owner, he had introduced himself to him in order to +make particular inquiries, and had, in the course of a pretty long +conference, expressed as strong an inclination for the place as a man +who knew it only by description could feel; and given Mr Shepherd, in +his explicit account of himself, every proof of his being a most +responsible, eligible tenant. + +"And who is Admiral Croft?" was Sir Walter's cold suspicious inquiry. + +Mr Shepherd answered for his being of a gentleman's family, and +mentioned a place; and Anne, after the little pause which followed, +added-- + +"He is a rear admiral of the white. He was in the Trafalgar action, +and has been in the East Indies since; he was stationed there, I +believe, several years." + +"Then I take it for granted," observed Sir Walter, "that his face is +about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery." + +Mr Shepherd hastened to assure him, that Admiral Croft was a very hale, +hearty, well-looking man, a little weather-beaten, to be sure, but not +much, and quite the gentleman in all his notions and behaviour; not +likely to make the smallest difficulty about terms, only wanted a +comfortable home, and to get into it as soon as possible; knew he must +pay for his convenience; knew what rent a ready-furnished house of that +consequence might fetch; should not have been surprised if Sir Walter +had asked more; had inquired about the manor; would be glad of the +deputation, certainly, but made no great point of it; said he sometimes +took out a gun, but never killed; quite the gentleman. + +Mr Shepherd was eloquent on the subject; pointing out all the +circumstances of the Admiral's family, which made him peculiarly +desirable as a tenant. He was a married man, and without children; the +very state to be wished for. A house was never taken good care of, Mr +Shepherd observed, without a lady: he did not know, whether furniture +might not be in danger of suffering as much where there was no lady, as +where there were many children. A lady, without a family, was the very +best preserver of furniture in the world. He had seen Mrs Croft, too; +she was at Taunton with the admiral, and had been present almost all +the time they were talking the matter over. + +"And a very well-spoken, genteel, shrewd lady, she seemed to be," +continued he; "asked more questions about the house, and terms, and +taxes, than the Admiral himself, and seemed more conversant with +business; and moreover, Sir Walter, I found she was not quite +unconnected in this country, any more than her husband; that is to say, +she is sister to a gentleman who did live amongst us once; she told me +so herself: sister to the gentleman who lived a few years back at +Monkford. Bless me! what was his name? At this moment I cannot +recollect his name, though I have heard it so lately. Penelope, my +dear, can you help me to the name of the gentleman who lived at +Monkford: Mrs Croft's brother?" + +But Mrs Clay was talking so eagerly with Miss Elliot, that she did not +hear the appeal. + +"I have no conception whom you can mean, Shepherd; I remember no +gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of old Governor Trent." + +"Bless me! how very odd! I shall forget my own name soon, I suppose. +A name that I am so very well acquainted with; knew the gentleman so +well by sight; seen him a hundred times; came to consult me once, I +remember, about a trespass of one of his neighbours; farmer's man +breaking into his orchard; wall torn down; apples stolen; caught in the +fact; and afterwards, contrary to my judgement, submitted to an +amicable compromise. Very odd indeed!" + +After waiting another moment-- + +"You mean Mr Wentworth, I suppose?" said Anne. + +Mr Shepherd was all gratitude. + +"Wentworth was the very name! Mr Wentworth was the very man. He had +the curacy of Monkford, you know, Sir Walter, some time back, for two +or three years. Came there about the year ---5, I take it. You +remember him, I am sure." + +"Wentworth? Oh! ay,--Mr Wentworth, the curate of Monkford. You misled +me by the term gentleman. I thought you were speaking of some man of +property: Mr Wentworth was nobody, I remember; quite unconnected; +nothing to do with the Strafford family. One wonders how the names of +many of our nobility become so common." + +As Mr Shepherd perceived that this connexion of the Crofts did them no +service with Sir Walter, he mentioned it no more; returning, with all +his zeal, to dwell on the circumstances more indisputably in their +favour; their age, and number, and fortune; the high idea they had +formed of Kellynch Hall, and extreme solicitude for the advantage of +renting it; making it appear as if they ranked nothing beyond the +happiness of being the tenants of Sir Walter Elliot: an extraordinary +taste, certainly, could they have been supposed in the secret of Sir +Walter's estimate of the dues of a tenant. + +It succeeded, however; and though Sir Walter must ever look with an +evil eye on anyone intending to inhabit that house, and think them +infinitely too well off in being permitted to rent it on the highest +terms, he was talked into allowing Mr Shepherd to proceed in the +treaty, and authorising him to wait on Admiral Croft, who still +remained at Taunton, and fix a day for the house being seen. + +Sir Walter was not very wise; but still he had experience enough of the +world to feel, that a more unobjectionable tenant, in all essentials, +than Admiral Croft bid fair to be, could hardly offer. So far went his +understanding; and his vanity supplied a little additional soothing, in +the Admiral's situation in life, which was just high enough, and not +too high. "I have let my house to Admiral Croft," would sound +extremely well; very much better than to any mere Mr--; a Mr (save, +perhaps, some half dozen in the nation,) always needs a note of +explanation. An admiral speaks his own consequence, and, at the same +time, can never make a baronet look small. In all their dealings and +intercourse, Sir Walter Elliot must ever have the precedence. + +Nothing could be done without a reference to Elizabeth: but her +inclination was growing so strong for a removal, that she was happy to +have it fixed and expedited by a tenant at hand; and not a word to +suspend decision was uttered by her. + +Mr Shepherd was completely empowered to act; and no sooner had such an +end been reached, than Anne, who had been a most attentive listener to +the whole, left the room, to seek the comfort of cool air for her +flushed cheeks; and as she walked along a favourite grove, said, with a +gentle sigh, "A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here." + + + +Chapter 4 + + +He was not Mr Wentworth, the former curate of Monkford, however +suspicious appearances may be, but a Captain Frederick Wentworth, his +brother, who being made commander in consequence of the action off St +Domingo, and not immediately employed, had come into Somersetshire, in +the summer of 1806; and having no parent living, found a home for half +a year at Monkford. He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man, +with a great deal of intelligence, spirit, and brilliancy; and Anne an +extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste, and feeling. +Half the sum of attraction, on either side, might have been enough, for +he had nothing to do, and she had hardly anybody to love; but the +encounter of such lavish recommendations could not fail. They were +gradually acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly and deeply in love. +It would be difficult to say which had seen highest perfection in the +other, or which had been the happiest: she, in receiving his +declarations and proposals, or he in having them accepted. + +A short period of exquisite felicity followed, and but a short one. +Troubles soon arose. Sir Walter, on being applied to, without actually +withholding his consent, or saying it should never be, gave it all the +negative of great astonishment, great coldness, great silence, and a +professed resolution of doing nothing for his daughter. He thought it +a very degrading alliance; and Lady Russell, though with more tempered +and pardonable pride, received it as a most unfortunate one. + +Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty, and mind, to throw +herself away at nineteen; involve herself at nineteen in an engagement +with a young man, who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no +hopes of attaining affluence, but in the chances of a most uncertain +profession, and no connexions to secure even his farther rise in the +profession, would be, indeed, a throwing away, which she grieved to +think of! Anne Elliot, so young; known to so few, to be snatched off +by a stranger without alliance or fortune; or rather sunk by him into a +state of most wearing, anxious, youth-killing dependence! It must not +be, if by any fair interference of friendship, any representations from +one who had almost a mother's love, and mother's rights, it would be +prevented. + +Captain Wentworth had no fortune. He had been lucky in his profession; +but spending freely, what had come freely, had realized nothing. But +he was confident that he should soon be rich: full of life and ardour, +he knew that he should soon have a ship, and soon be on a station that +would lead to everything he wanted. He had always been lucky; he knew +he should be so still. Such confidence, powerful in its own warmth, +and bewitching in the wit which often expressed it, must have been +enough for Anne; but Lady Russell saw it very differently. His +sanguine temper, and fearlessness of mind, operated very differently on +her. She saw in it but an aggravation of the evil. It only added a +dangerous character to himself. He was brilliant, he was headstrong. +Lady Russell had little taste for wit, and of anything approaching to +imprudence a horror. She deprecated the connexion in every light. + +Such opposition, as these feelings produced, was more than Anne could +combat. Young and gentle as she was, it might yet have been possible +to withstand her father's ill-will, though unsoftened by one kind word +or look on the part of her sister; but Lady Russell, whom she had +always loved and relied on, could not, with such steadiness of opinion, +and such tenderness of manner, be continually advising her in vain. +She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing: indiscreet, +improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it. But it was +not a merely selfish caution, under which she acted, in putting an end +to it. Had she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more +than her own, she could hardly have given him up. The belief of being +prudent, and self-denying, principally for his advantage, was her chief +consolation, under the misery of a parting, a final parting; and every +consolation was required, for she had to encounter all the additional +pain of opinions, on his side, totally unconvinced and unbending, and +of his feeling himself ill used by so forced a relinquishment. He had +left the country in consequence. + +A few months had seen the beginning and the end of their acquaintance; +but not with a few months ended Anne's share of suffering from it. Her +attachment and regrets had, for a long time, clouded every enjoyment of +youth, and an early loss of bloom and spirits had been their lasting +effect. + +More than seven years were gone since this little history of sorrowful +interest had reached its close; and time had softened down much, +perhaps nearly all of peculiar attachment to him, but she had been too +dependent on time alone; no aid had been given in change of place +(except in one visit to Bath soon after the rupture), or in any novelty +or enlargement of society. No one had ever come within the Kellynch +circle, who could bear a comparison with Frederick Wentworth, as he +stood in her memory. No second attachment, the only thoroughly +natural, happy, and sufficient cure, at her time of life, had been +possible to the nice tone of her mind, the fastidiousness of her taste, +in the small limits of the society around them. She had been +solicited, when about two-and-twenty, to change her name, by the young +man, who not long afterwards found a more willing mind in her younger +sister; and Lady Russell had lamented her refusal; for Charles Musgrove +was the eldest son of a man, whose landed property and general +importance were second in that country, only to Sir Walter's, and of +good character and appearance; and however Lady Russell might have +asked yet for something more, while Anne was nineteen, she would have +rejoiced to see her at twenty-two so respectably removed from the +partialities and injustice of her father's house, and settled so +permanently near herself. But in this case, Anne had left nothing for +advice to do; and though Lady Russell, as satisfied as ever with her +own discretion, never wished the past undone, she began now to have the +anxiety which borders on hopelessness for Anne's being tempted, by some +man of talents and independence, to enter a state for which she held +her to be peculiarly fitted by her warm affections and domestic habits. + +They knew not each other's opinion, either its constancy or its change, +on the one leading point of Anne's conduct, for the subject was never +alluded to; but Anne, at seven-and-twenty, thought very differently +from what she had been made to think at nineteen. She did not blame +Lady Russell, she did not blame herself for having been guided by her; +but she felt that were any young person, in similar circumstances, to +apply to her for counsel, they would never receive any of such certain +immediate wretchedness, such uncertain future good. She was persuaded +that under every disadvantage of disapprobation at home, and every +anxiety attending his profession, all their probable fears, delays, and +disappointments, she should yet have been a happier woman in +maintaining the engagement, than she had been in the sacrifice of it; +and this, she fully believed, had the usual share, had even more than +the usual share of all such solicitudes and suspense been theirs, +without reference to the actual results of their case, which, as it +happened, would have bestowed earlier prosperity than could be +reasonably calculated on. All his sanguine expectations, all his +confidence had been justified. His genius and ardour had seemed to +foresee and to command his prosperous path. He had, very soon after +their engagement ceased, got employ: and all that he had told her would +follow, had taken place. He had distinguished himself, and early +gained the other step in rank, and must now, by successive captures, +have made a handsome fortune. She had only navy lists and newspapers +for her authority, but she could not doubt his being rich; and, in +favour of his constancy, she had no reason to believe him married. + +How eloquent could Anne Elliot have been! how eloquent, at least, were +her wishes on the side of early warm attachment, and a cheerful +confidence in futurity, against that over-anxious caution which seems +to insult exertion and distrust Providence! She had been forced into +prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the +natural sequel of an unnatural beginning. + +With all these circumstances, recollections and feelings, she could not +hear that Captain Wentworth's sister was likely to live at Kellynch +without a revival of former pain; and many a stroll, and many a sigh, +were necessary to dispel the agitation of the idea. She often told +herself it was folly, before she could harden her nerves sufficiently +to feel the continual discussion of the Crofts and their business no +evil. She was assisted, however, by that perfect indifference and +apparent unconsciousness, among the only three of her own friends in +the secret of the past, which seemed almost to deny any recollection of +it. She could do justice to the superiority of Lady Russell's motives +in this, over those of her father and Elizabeth; she could honour all +the better feelings of her calmness; but the general air of oblivion +among them was highly important from whatever it sprung; and in the +event of Admiral Croft's really taking Kellynch Hall, she rejoiced anew +over the conviction which had always been most grateful to her, of the +past being known to those three only among her connexions, by whom no +syllable, she believed, would ever be whispered, and in the trust that +among his, the brother only with whom he had been residing, had +received any information of their short-lived engagement. That brother +had been long removed from the country and being a sensible man, and, +moreover, a single man at the time, she had a fond dependence on no +human creature's having heard of it from him. + +The sister, Mrs Croft, had then been out of England, accompanying her +husband on a foreign station, and her own sister, Mary, had been at +school while it all occurred; and never admitted by the pride of some, +and the delicacy of others, to the smallest knowledge of it afterwards. + +With these supports, she hoped that the acquaintance between herself +and the Crofts, which, with Lady Russell, still resident in Kellynch, +and Mary fixed only three miles off, must be anticipated, need not +involve any particular awkwardness. + + + +Chapter 5 + + +On the morning appointed for Admiral and Mrs Croft's seeing Kellynch +Hall, Anne found it most natural to take her almost daily walk to Lady +Russell's, and keep out of the way till all was over; when she found it +most natural to be sorry that she had missed the opportunity of seeing +them. + +This meeting of the two parties proved highly satisfactory, and decided +the whole business at once. Each lady was previously well disposed for +an agreement, and saw nothing, therefore, but good manners in the +other; and with regard to the gentlemen, there was such an hearty good +humour, such an open, trusting liberality on the Admiral's side, as +could not but influence Sir Walter, who had besides been flattered into +his very best and most polished behaviour by Mr Shepherd's assurances +of his being known, by report, to the Admiral, as a model of good +breeding. + +The house and grounds, and furniture, were approved, the Crofts were +approved, terms, time, every thing, and every body, was right; and Mr +Shepherd's clerks were set to work, without there having been a single +preliminary difference to modify of all that "This indenture sheweth." + +Sir Walter, without hesitation, declared the Admiral to be the +best-looking sailor he had ever met with, and went so far as to say, +that if his own man might have had the arranging of his hair, he should +not be ashamed of being seen with him any where; and the Admiral, with +sympathetic cordiality, observed to his wife as they drove back through +the park, "I thought we should soon come to a deal, my dear, in spite +of what they told us at Taunton. The Baronet will never set the Thames +on fire, but there seems to be no harm in him."--reciprocal +compliments, which would have been esteemed about equal. + +The Crofts were to have possession at Michaelmas; and as Sir Walter +proposed removing to Bath in the course of the preceding month, there +was no time to be lost in making every dependent arrangement. + +Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any +use, or any importance, in the choice of the house which they were +going to secure, was very unwilling to have her hurried away so soon, +and wanted to make it possible for her to stay behind till she might +convey her to Bath herself after Christmas; but having engagements of +her own which must take her from Kellynch for several weeks, she was +unable to give the full invitation she wished, and Anne though dreading +the possible heats of September in all the white glare of Bath, and +grieving to forego all the influence so sweet and so sad of the +autumnal months in the country, did not think that, everything +considered, she wished to remain. It would be most right, and most +wise, and, therefore must involve least suffering to go with the others. + +Something occurred, however, to give her a different duty. Mary, often +a little unwell, and always thinking a great deal of her own +complaints, and always in the habit of claiming Anne when anything was +the matter, was indisposed; and foreseeing that she should not have a +day's health all the autumn, entreated, or rather required her, for it +was hardly entreaty, to come to Uppercross Cottage, and bear her +company as long as she should want her, instead of going to Bath. + +"I cannot possibly do without Anne," was Mary's reasoning; and +Elizabeth's reply was, "Then I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody +will want her in Bath." + +To be claimed as a good, though in an improper style, is at least +better than being rejected as no good at all; and Anne, glad to be +thought of some use, glad to have anything marked out as a duty, and +certainly not sorry to have the scene of it in the country, and her own +dear country, readily agreed to stay. + +This invitation of Mary's removed all Lady Russell's difficulties, and +it was consequently soon settled that Anne should not go to Bath till +Lady Russell took her, and that all the intervening time should be +divided between Uppercross Cottage and Kellynch Lodge. + +So far all was perfectly right; but Lady Russell was almost startled by +the wrong of one part of the Kellynch Hall plan, when it burst on her, +which was, Mrs Clay's being engaged to go to Bath with Sir Walter and +Elizabeth, as a most important and valuable assistant to the latter in +all the business before her. Lady Russell was extremely sorry that +such a measure should have been resorted to at all, wondered, grieved, +and feared; and the affront it contained to Anne, in Mrs Clay's being +of so much use, while Anne could be of none, was a very sore +aggravation. + +Anne herself was become hardened to such affronts; but she felt the +imprudence of the arrangement quite as keenly as Lady Russell. With a +great deal of quiet observation, and a knowledge, which she often +wished less, of her father's character, she was sensible that results +the most serious to his family from the intimacy were more than +possible. She did not imagine that her father had at present an idea +of the kind. Mrs Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a +clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in +her absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking, +and possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, +infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might +have been. Anne was so impressed by the degree of their danger, that +she could not excuse herself from trying to make it perceptible to her +sister. She had little hope of success; but Elizabeth, who in the +event of such a reverse would be so much more to be pitied than +herself, should never, she thought, have reason to reproach her for +giving no warning. + +She spoke, and seemed only to offend. Elizabeth could not conceive how +such an absurd suspicion should occur to her, and indignantly answered +for each party's perfectly knowing their situation. + +"Mrs Clay," said she, warmly, "never forgets who she is; and as I am +rather better acquainted with her sentiments than you can be, I can +assure you, that upon the subject of marriage they are particularly +nice, and that she reprobates all inequality of condition and rank more +strongly than most people. And as to my father, I really should not +have thought that he, who has kept himself single so long for our +sakes, need be suspected now. If Mrs Clay were a very beautiful woman, +I grant you, it might be wrong to have her so much with me; not that +anything in the world, I am sure, would induce my father to make a +degrading match, but he might be rendered unhappy. But poor Mrs Clay +who, with all her merits, can never have been reckoned tolerably +pretty, I really think poor Mrs Clay may be staying here in perfect +safety. One would imagine you had never heard my father speak of her +personal misfortunes, though I know you must fifty times. That tooth +of her's and those freckles. Freckles do not disgust me so very much +as they do him. I have known a face not materially disfigured by a +few, but he abominates them. You must have heard him notice Mrs Clay's +freckles." + +"There is hardly any personal defect," replied Anne, "which an +agreeable manner might not gradually reconcile one to." + +"I think very differently," answered Elizabeth, shortly; "an agreeable +manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones. +However, at any rate, as I have a great deal more at stake on this +point than anybody else can have, I think it rather unnecessary in you +to be advising me." + +Anne had done; glad that it was over, and not absolutely hopeless of +doing good. Elizabeth, though resenting the suspicion, might yet be +made observant by it. + +The last office of the four carriage-horses was to draw Sir Walter, +Miss Elliot, and Mrs Clay to Bath. The party drove off in very good +spirits; Sir Walter prepared with condescending bows for all the +afflicted tenantry and cottagers who might have had a hint to show +themselves, and Anne walked up at the same time, in a sort of desolate +tranquillity, to the Lodge, where she was to spend the first week. + +Her friend was not in better spirits than herself. Lady Russell felt +this break-up of the family exceedingly. Their respectability was as +dear to her as her own, and a daily intercourse had become precious by +habit. It was painful to look upon their deserted grounds, and still +worse to anticipate the new hands they were to fall into; and to escape +the solitariness and the melancholy of so altered a village, and be out +of the way when Admiral and Mrs Croft first arrived, she had determined +to make her own absence from home begin when she must give up Anne. +Accordingly their removal was made together, and Anne was set down at +Uppercross Cottage, in the first stage of Lady Russell's journey. + +Uppercross was a moderate-sized village, which a few years back had +been completely in the old English style, containing only two houses +superior in appearance to those of the yeomen and labourers; the +mansion of the squire, with its high walls, great gates, and old trees, +substantial and unmodernized, and the compact, tight parsonage, +enclosed in its own neat garden, with a vine and a pear-tree trained +round its casements; but upon the marriage of the young 'squire, it had +received the improvement of a farm-house elevated into a cottage, for +his residence, and Uppercross Cottage, with its veranda, French +windows, and other prettiness, was quite as likely to catch the +traveller's eye as the more consistent and considerable aspect and +premises of the Great House, about a quarter of a mile farther on. + +Here Anne had often been staying. She knew the ways of Uppercross as +well as those of Kellynch. The two families were so continually +meeting, so much in the habit of running in and out of each other's +house at all hours, that it was rather a surprise to her to find Mary +alone; but being alone, her being unwell and out of spirits was almost +a matter of course. Though better endowed than the elder sister, Mary +had not Anne's understanding nor temper. While well, and happy, and +properly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; +but any indisposition sunk her completely. She had no resources for +solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot +self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of +fancying herself neglected and ill-used. In person, she was inferior to +both sisters, and had, even in her bloom, only reached the dignity of +being "a fine girl." She was now lying on the faded sofa of the pretty +little drawing-room, the once elegant furniture of which had been +gradually growing shabby, under the influence of four summers and two +children; and, on Anne's appearing, greeted her with-- + +"So, you are come at last! I began to think I should never see you. I +am so ill I can hardly speak. I have not seen a creature the whole +morning!" + +"I am sorry to find you unwell," replied Anne. "You sent me such a +good account of yourself on Thursday!" + +"Yes, I made the best of it; I always do: but I was very far from well +at the time; and I do not think I ever was so ill in my life as I have +been all this morning: very unfit to be left alone, I am sure. +Suppose I were to be seized of a sudden in some dreadful way, and not +able to ring the bell! So, Lady Russell would not get out. I do not +think she has been in this house three times this summer." + +Anne said what was proper, and enquired after her husband. "Oh! +Charles is out shooting. I have not seen him since seven o'clock. He +would go, though I told him how ill I was. He said he should not stay +out long; but he has never come back, and now it is almost one. I +assure you, I have not seen a soul this whole long morning." + +"You have had your little boys with you?" + +"Yes, as long as I could bear their noise; but they are so unmanageable +that they do me more harm than good. Little Charles does not mind a +word I say, and Walter is growing quite as bad." + +"Well, you will soon be better now," replied Anne, cheerfully. "You +know I always cure you when I come. How are your neighbours at the +Great House?" + +"I can give you no account of them. I have not seen one of them +to-day, except Mr Musgrove, who just stopped and spoke through the +window, but without getting off his horse; and though I told him how +ill I was, not one of them have been near me. It did not happen to +suit the Miss Musgroves, I suppose, and they never put themselves out +of their way." + +"You will see them yet, perhaps, before the morning is gone. It is +early." + +"I never want them, I assure you. They talk and laugh a great deal too +much for me. Oh! Anne, I am so very unwell! It was quite unkind of +you not to come on Thursday." + +"My dear Mary, recollect what a comfortable account you sent me of +yourself! You wrote in the cheerfullest manner, and said you were +perfectly well, and in no hurry for me; and that being the case, you +must be aware that my wish would be to remain with Lady Russell to the +last: and besides what I felt on her account, I have really been so +busy, have had so much to do, that I could not very conveniently have +left Kellynch sooner." + +"Dear me! what can you possibly have to do?" + +"A great many things, I assure you. More than I can recollect in a +moment; but I can tell you some. I have been making a duplicate of the +catalogue of my father's books and pictures. I have been several times +in the garden with Mackenzie, trying to understand, and make him +understand, which of Elizabeth's plants are for Lady Russell. I have +had all my own little concerns to arrange, books and music to divide, +and all my trunks to repack, from not having understood in time what +was intended as to the waggons: and one thing I have had to do, Mary, +of a more trying nature: going to almost every house in the parish, as +a sort of take-leave. I was told that they wished it. But all these +things took up a great deal of time." + +"Oh! well!" and after a moment's pause, "but you have never asked me +one word about our dinner at the Pooles yesterday." + +"Did you go then? I have made no enquiries, because I concluded you +must have been obliged to give up the party." + +"Oh yes! I went. I was very well yesterday; nothing at all the matter +with me till this morning. It would have been strange if I had not +gone." + +"I am very glad you were well enough, and I hope you had a pleasant +party." + +"Nothing remarkable. One always knows beforehand what the dinner will +be, and who will be there; and it is so very uncomfortable not having a +carriage of one's own. Mr and Mrs Musgrove took me, and we were so +crowded! They are both so very large, and take up so much room; and Mr +Musgrove always sits forward. So, there was I, crowded into the back +seat with Henrietta and Louise; and I think it very likely that my +illness to-day may be owing to it." + +A little further perseverance in patience and forced cheerfulness on +Anne's side produced nearly a cure on Mary's. She could soon sit +upright on the sofa, and began to hope she might be able to leave it by +dinner-time. Then, forgetting to think of it, she was at the other end +of the room, beautifying a nosegay; then, she ate her cold meat; and +then she was well enough to propose a little walk. + +"Where shall we go?" said she, when they were ready. "I suppose you +will not like to call at the Great House before they have been to see +you?" + +"I have not the smallest objection on that account," replied Anne. "I +should never think of standing on such ceremony with people I know so +well as Mrs and the Miss Musgroves." + +"Oh! but they ought to call upon you as soon as possible. They ought +to feel what is due to you as my sister. However, we may as well go +and sit with them a little while, and when we have that over, we can +enjoy our walk." + +Anne had always thought such a style of intercourse highly imprudent; +but she had ceased to endeavour to check it, from believing that, +though there were on each side continual subjects of offence, neither +family could now do without it. To the Great House accordingly they +went, to sit the full half hour in the old-fashioned square parlour, +with a small carpet and shining floor, to which the present daughters +of the house were gradually giving the proper air of confusion by a +grand piano-forte and a harp, flower-stands and little tables placed in +every direction. Oh! could the originals of the portraits against the +wainscot, could the gentlemen in brown velvet and the ladies in blue +satin have seen what was going on, have been conscious of such an +overthrow of all order and neatness! The portraits themselves seemed +to be staring in astonishment. + +The Musgroves, like their houses, were in a state of alteration, +perhaps of improvement. The father and mother were in the old English +style, and the young people in the new. Mr and Mrs Musgrove were a +very good sort of people; friendly and hospitable, not much educated, +and not at all elegant. Their children had more modern minds and +manners. There was a numerous family; but the only two grown up, +excepting Charles, were Henrietta and Louisa, young ladies of nineteen +and twenty, who had brought from school at Exeter all the usual stock +of accomplishments, and were now like thousands of other young ladies, +living to be fashionable, happy, and merry. Their dress had every +advantage, their faces were rather pretty, their spirits extremely +good, their manner unembarrassed and pleasant; they were of consequence +at home, and favourites abroad. Anne always contemplated them as some +of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance; but still, saved as we +all are, by some comfortable feeling of superiority from wishing for +the possibility of exchange, she would not have given up her own more +elegant and cultivated mind for all their enjoyments; and envied them +nothing but that seemingly perfect good understanding and agreement +together, that good-humoured mutual affection, of which she had known +so little herself with either of her sisters. + +They were received with great cordiality. Nothing seemed amiss on the +side of the Great House family, which was generally, as Anne very well +knew, the least to blame. The half hour was chatted away pleasantly +enough; and she was not at all surprised at the end of it, to have +their walking party joined by both the Miss Musgroves, at Mary's +particular invitation. + + + +Chapter 6 + + +Anne had not wanted this visit to Uppercross, to learn that a removal +from one set of people to another, though at a distance of only three +miles, will often include a total change of conversation, opinion, and +idea. She had never been staying there before, without being struck by +it, or without wishing that other Elliots could have her advantage in +seeing how unknown, or unconsidered there, were the affairs which at +Kellynch Hall were treated as of such general publicity and pervading +interest; yet, with all this experience, she believed she must now +submit to feel that another lesson, in the art of knowing our own +nothingness beyond our own circle, was become necessary for her; for +certainly, coming as she did, with a heart full of the subject which +had been completely occupying both houses in Kellynch for many weeks, +she had expected rather more curiosity and sympathy than she found in +the separate but very similar remark of Mr and Mrs Musgrove: "So, Miss +Anne, Sir Walter and your sister are gone; and what part of Bath do you +think they will settle in?" and this, without much waiting for an +answer; or in the young ladies' addition of, "I hope we shall be in +Bath in the winter; but remember, papa, if we do go, we must be in a +good situation: none of your Queen Squares for us!" or in the anxious +supplement from Mary, of--"Upon my word, I shall be pretty well off, +when you are all gone away to be happy at Bath!" + +She could only resolve to avoid such self-delusion in future, and think +with heightened gratitude of the extraordinary blessing of having one +such truly sympathising friend as Lady Russell. + +The Mr Musgroves had their own game to guard, and to destroy, their own +horses, dogs, and newspapers to engage them, and the females were fully +occupied in all the other common subjects of housekeeping, neighbours, +dress, dancing, and music. She acknowledged it to be very fitting, +that every little social commonwealth should dictate its own matters of +discourse; and hoped, ere long, to become a not unworthy member of the +one she was now transplanted into. With the prospect of spending at +least two months at Uppercross, it was highly incumbent on her to +clothe her imagination, her memory, and all her ideas in as much of +Uppercross as possible. + +She had no dread of these two months. Mary was not so repulsive and +unsisterly as Elizabeth, nor so inaccessible to all influence of hers; +neither was there anything among the other component parts of the +cottage inimical to comfort. She was always on friendly terms with her +brother-in-law; and in the children, who loved her nearly as well, and +respected her a great deal more than their mother, she had an object of +interest, amusement, and wholesome exertion. + +Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable; in sense and temper he was +undoubtedly superior to his wife, but not of powers, or conversation, +or grace, to make the past, as they were connected together, at all a +dangerous contemplation; though, at the same time, Anne could believe, +with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might have greatly improved +him; and that a woman of real understanding might have given more +consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and +elegance to his habits and pursuits. As it was, he did nothing with +much zeal, but sport; and his time was otherwise trifled away, without +benefit from books or anything else. He had very good spirits, which +never seemed much affected by his wife's occasional lowness, bore with +her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne's admiration, and upon the +whole, though there was very often a little disagreement (in which she +had sometimes more share than she wished, being appealed to by both +parties), they might pass for a happy couple. They were always +perfectly agreed in the want of more money, and a strong inclination +for a handsome present from his father; but here, as on most topics, he +had the superiority, for while Mary thought it a great shame that such +a present was not made, he always contended for his father's having +many other uses for his money, and a right to spend it as he liked. + +As to the management of their children, his theory was much better than +his wife's, and his practice not so bad. "I could manage them very +well, if it were not for Mary's interference," was what Anne often +heard him say, and had a good deal of faith in; but when listening in +turn to Mary's reproach of "Charles spoils the children so that I +cannot get them into any order," she never had the smallest temptation +to say, "Very true." + +One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there was her +being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too +much in the secret of the complaints of each house. Known to have some +influence with her sister, she was continually requested, or at least +receiving hints to exert it, beyond what was practicable. "I wish you +could persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill," was +Charles's language; and, in an unhappy mood, thus spoke Mary: "I do +believe if Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was +anything the matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might +persuade him that I really am very ill--a great deal worse than I ever +own." + +Mary's declaration was, "I hate sending the children to the Great +House, though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she +humours and indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much +trash and sweet things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross +for the rest of the day." And Mrs Musgrove took the first opportunity +of being alone with Anne, to say, "Oh! Miss Anne, I cannot help wishing +Mrs Charles had a little of your method with those children. They are +quite different creatures with you! But to be sure, in general they +are so spoilt! It is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of +managing them. They are as fine healthy children as ever were seen, +poor little dears! without partiality; but Mrs Charles knows no more +how they should be treated--! Bless me! how troublesome they are +sometimes. I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them +at our house so often as I otherwise should. I believe Mrs Charles is +not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener; but you know it is +very bad to have children with one that one is obligated to be checking +every moment; "don't do this," and "don't do that;" or that one can +only keep in tolerable order by more cake than is good for them." + +She had this communication, moreover, from Mary. "Mrs Musgrove thinks +all her servants so steady, that it would be high treason to call it in +question; but I am sure, without exaggeration, that her upper +house-maid and laundry-maid, instead of being in their business, are +gadding about the village, all day long. I meet them wherever I go; +and I declare, I never go twice into my nursery without seeing +something of them. If Jemima were not the trustiest, steadiest +creature in the world, it would be enough to spoil her; for she tells +me, they are always tempting her to take a walk with them." And on Mrs +Musgrove's side, it was, "I make a rule of never interfering in any of +my daughter-in-law's concerns, for I know it would not do; but I shall +tell you, Miss Anne, because you may be able to set things to rights, +that I have no very good opinion of Mrs Charles's nursery-maid: I hear +strange stories of her; she is always upon the gad; and from my own +knowledge, I can declare, she is such a fine-dressing lady, that she is +enough to ruin any servants she comes near. Mrs Charles quite swears +by her, I know; but I just give you this hint, that you may be upon the +watch; because, if you see anything amiss, you need not be afraid of +mentioning it." + +Again, it was Mary's complaint, that Mrs Musgrove was very apt not to +give her the precedence that was her due, when they dined at the Great +House with other families; and she did not see any reason why she was +to be considered so much at home as to lose her place. And one day +when Anne was walking with only the Musgroves, one of them after +talking of rank, people of rank, and jealousy of rank, said, "I have no +scruple of observing to you, how nonsensical some persons are about +their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you +are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would +be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if +she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma. +Nobody doubts her right to have precedence of mamma, but it would be +more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it. It is not that +mamma cares about it the least in the world, but I know it is taken +notice of by many persons." + +How was Anne to set all these matters to rights? She could do little +more than listen patiently, soften every grievance, and excuse each to +the other; give them all hints of the forbearance necessary between +such near neighbours, and make those hints broadest which were meant +for her sister's benefit. + +In all other respects, her visit began and proceeded very well. Her +own spirits improved by change of place and subject, by being removed +three miles from Kellynch; Mary's ailments lessened by having a +constant companion, and their daily intercourse with the other family, +since there was neither superior affection, confidence, nor employment +in the cottage, to be interrupted by it, was rather an advantage. It +was certainly carried nearly as far as possible, for they met every +morning, and hardly ever spent an evening asunder; but she believed +they should not have done so well without the sight of Mr and Mrs +Musgrove's respectable forms in the usual places, or without the +talking, laughing, and singing of their daughters. + +She played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves, but +having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents, to sit +by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought +of, only out of civility, or to refresh the others, as she was well +aware. She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to +herself; but this was no new sensation. Excepting one short period of +her life, she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the +loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to, or +encouraged by any just appreciation or real taste. In music she had +been always used to feel alone in the world; and Mr and Mrs Musgrove's +fond partiality for their own daughters' performance, and total +indifference to any other person's, gave her much more pleasure for +their sakes, than mortification for her own. + +The party at the Great House was sometimes increased by other company. +The neighbourhood was not large, but the Musgroves were visited by +everybody, and had more dinner-parties, and more callers, more visitors +by invitation and by chance, than any other family. There were more +completely popular. + +The girls were wild for dancing; and the evenings ended, occasionally, +in an unpremeditated little ball. There was a family of cousins within +a walk of Uppercross, in less affluent circumstances, who depended on +the Musgroves for all their pleasures: they would come at any time, +and help play at anything, or dance anywhere; and Anne, very much +preferring the office of musician to a more active post, played country +dances to them by the hour together; a kindness which always +recommended her musical powers to the notice of Mr and Mrs Musgrove +more than anything else, and often drew this compliment;--"Well done, +Miss Anne! very well done indeed! Lord bless me! how those little +fingers of yours fly about!" + +So passed the first three weeks. Michaelmas came; and now Anne's heart +must be in Kellynch again. A beloved home made over to others; all the +precious rooms and furniture, groves, and prospects, beginning to own +other eyes and other limbs! She could not think of much else on the +29th of September; and she had this sympathetic touch in the evening +from Mary, who, on having occasion to note down the day of the month, +exclaimed, "Dear me, is not this the day the Crofts were to come to +Kellynch? I am glad I did not think of it before. How low it makes +me!" + +The Crofts took possession with true naval alertness, and were to be +visited. Mary deplored the necessity for herself. "Nobody knew how +much she should suffer. She should put it off as long as she could;" +but was not easy till she had talked Charles into driving her over on +an early day, and was in a very animated, comfortable state of +imaginary agitation, when she came back. Anne had very sincerely +rejoiced in there being no means of her going. She wished, however to +see the Crofts, and was glad to be within when the visit was returned. +They came: the master of the house was not at home, but the two +sisters were together; and as it chanced that Mrs Croft fell to the +share of Anne, while the Admiral sat by Mary, and made himself very +agreeable by his good-humoured notice of her little boys, she was well +able to watch for a likeness, and if it failed her in the features, to +catch it in the voice, or in the turn of sentiment and expression. + +Mrs Croft, though neither tall nor fat, had a squareness, uprightness, +and vigour of form, which gave importance to her person. She had +bright dark eyes, good teeth, and altogether an agreeable face; though +her reddened and weather-beaten complexion, the consequence of her +having been almost as much at sea as her husband, made her seem to have +lived some years longer in the world than her real eight-and-thirty. +Her manners were open, easy, and decided, like one who had no distrust +of herself, and no doubts of what to do; without any approach to +coarseness, however, or any want of good humour. Anne gave her credit, +indeed, for feelings of great consideration towards herself, in all +that related to Kellynch, and it pleased her: especially, as she had +satisfied herself in the very first half minute, in the instant even of +introduction, that there was not the smallest symptom of any knowledge +or suspicion on Mrs Croft's side, to give a bias of any sort. She was +quite easy on that head, and consequently full of strength and courage, +till for a moment electrified by Mrs Croft's suddenly saying,-- + +"It was you, and not your sister, I find, that my brother had the +pleasure of being acquainted with, when he was in this country." + +Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion +she certainly had not. + +"Perhaps you may not have heard that he is married?" added Mrs Croft. + +She could now answer as she ought; and was happy to feel, when Mrs +Croft's next words explained it to be Mr Wentworth of whom she spoke, +that she had said nothing which might not do for either brother. She +immediately felt how reasonable it was, that Mrs Croft should be +thinking and speaking of Edward, and not of Frederick; and with shame +at her own forgetfulness applied herself to the knowledge of their +former neighbour's present state with proper interest. + +The rest was all tranquillity; till, just as they were moving, she +heard the Admiral say to Mary-- + +"We are expecting a brother of Mrs Croft's here soon; I dare say you +know him by name." + +He was cut short by the eager attacks of the little boys, clinging to +him like an old friend, and declaring he should not go; and being too +much engrossed by proposals of carrying them away in his coat pockets, +&c., to have another moment for finishing or recollecting what he had +begun, Anne was left to persuade herself, as well as she could, that +the same brother must still be in question. She could not, however, +reach such a degree of certainty, as not to be anxious to hear whether +anything had been said on the subject at the other house, where the +Crofts had previously been calling. + +The folks of the Great House were to spend the evening of this day at +the Cottage; and it being now too late in the year for such visits to +be made on foot, the coach was beginning to be listened for, when the +youngest Miss Musgrove walked in. That she was coming to apologize, +and that they should have to spend the evening by themselves, was the +first black idea; and Mary was quite ready to be affronted, when Louisa +made all right by saying, that she only came on foot, to leave more +room for the harp, which was bringing in the carriage. + +"And I will tell you our reason," she added, "and all about it. I am +come on to give you notice, that papa and mamma are out of spirits this +evening, especially mamma; she is thinking so much of poor Richard! +And we agreed it would be best to have the harp, for it seems to amuse +her more than the piano-forte. I will tell you why she is out of +spirits. When the Crofts called this morning, (they called here +afterwards, did not they?), they happened to say, that her brother, +Captain Wentworth, is just returned to England, or paid off, or +something, and is coming to see them almost directly; and most +unluckily it came into mamma's head, when they were gone, that +Wentworth, or something very like it, was the name of poor Richard's +captain at one time; I do not know when or where, but a great while +before he died, poor fellow! And upon looking over his letters and +things, she found it was so, and is perfectly sure that this must be +the very man, and her head is quite full of it, and of poor Richard! +So we must be as merry as we can, that she may not be dwelling upon +such gloomy things." + +The real circumstances of this pathetic piece of family history were, +that the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, +hopeless son; and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his +twentieth year; that he had been sent to sea because he was stupid and +unmanageable on shore; that he had been very little cared for at any +time by his family, though quite as much as he deserved; seldom heard +of, and scarcely at all regretted, when the intelligence of his death +abroad had worked its way to Uppercross, two years before. + +He had, in fact, though his sisters were now doing all they could for +him, by calling him "poor Richard," been nothing better than a +thick-headed, unfeeling, unprofitable Dick Musgrove, who had never done +anything to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name, +living or dead. + +He had been several years at sea, and had, in the course of those +removals to which all midshipmen are liable, and especially such +midshipmen as every captain wishes to get rid of, been six months on +board Captain Frederick Wentworth's frigate, the Laconia; and from the +Laconia he had, under the influence of his captain, written the only +two letters which his father and mother had ever received from him +during the whole of his absence; that is to say, the only two +disinterested letters; all the rest had been mere applications for +money. + +In each letter he had spoken well of his captain; but yet, so little +were they in the habit of attending to such matters, so unobservant and +incurious were they as to the names of men or ships, that it had made +scarcely any impression at the time; and that Mrs Musgrove should have +been suddenly struck, this very day, with a recollection of the name of +Wentworth, as connected with her son, seemed one of those extraordinary +bursts of mind which do sometimes occur. + +She had gone to her letters, and found it all as she supposed; and the +re-perusal of these letters, after so long an interval, her poor son +gone for ever, and all the strength of his faults forgotten, had +affected her spirits exceedingly, and thrown her into greater grief for +him than she had known on first hearing of his death. Mr Musgrove was, +in a lesser degree, affected likewise; and when they reached the +cottage, they were evidently in want, first, of being listened to anew +on this subject, and afterwards, of all the relief which cheerful +companions could give them. + +To hear them talking so much of Captain Wentworth, repeating his name +so often, puzzling over past years, and at last ascertaining that it +might, that it probably would, turn out to be the very same Captain +Wentworth whom they recollected meeting, once or twice, after their +coming back from Clifton--a very fine young man--but they could not say +whether it was seven or eight years ago, was a new sort of trial to +Anne's nerves. She found, however, that it was one to which she must +inure herself. Since he actually was expected in the country, she must +teach herself to be insensible on such points. And not only did it +appear that he was expected, and speedily, but the Musgroves, in their +warm gratitude for the kindness he had shewn poor Dick, and very high +respect for his character, stamped as it was by poor Dick's having been +six months under his care, and mentioning him in strong, though not +perfectly well-spelt praise, as "a fine dashing felow, only two +perticular about the schoolmaster," were bent on introducing +themselves, and seeking his acquaintance, as soon as they could hear of +his arrival. + +The resolution of doing so helped to form the comfort of their evening. + + + +Chapter 7 + + +A very few days more, and Captain Wentworth was known to be at +Kellynch, and Mr Musgrove had called on him, and come back warm in his +praise, and he was engaged with the Crofts to dine at Uppercross, by +the end of another week. It had been a great disappointment to Mr +Musgrove to find that no earlier day could be fixed, so impatient was +he to shew his gratitude, by seeing Captain Wentworth under his own +roof, and welcoming him to all that was strongest and best in his +cellars. But a week must pass; only a week, in Anne's reckoning, and +then, she supposed, they must meet; and soon she began to wish that she +could feel secure even for a week. + +Captain Wentworth made a very early return to Mr Musgrove's civility, +and she was all but calling there in the same half hour. She and Mary +were actually setting forward for the Great House, where, as she +afterwards learnt, they must inevitably have found him, when they were +stopped by the eldest boy's being at that moment brought home in +consequence of a bad fall. The child's situation put the visit +entirely aside; but she could not hear of her escape with indifference, +even in the midst of the serious anxiety which they afterwards felt on +his account. + +His collar-bone was found to be dislocated, and such injury received in +the back, as roused the most alarming ideas. It was an afternoon of +distress, and Anne had every thing to do at once; the apothecary to +send for, the father to have pursued and informed, the mother to +support and keep from hysterics, the servants to control, the youngest +child to banish, and the poor suffering one to attend and soothe; +besides sending, as soon as she recollected it, proper notice to the +other house, which brought her an accession rather of frightened, +enquiring companions, than of very useful assistants. + +Her brother's return was the first comfort; he could take best care of +his wife; and the second blessing was the arrival of the apothecary. +Till he came and had examined the child, their apprehensions were the +worse for being vague; they suspected great injury, but knew not where; +but now the collar-bone was soon replaced, and though Mr Robinson felt +and felt, and rubbed, and looked grave, and spoke low words both to the +father and the aunt, still they were all to hope the best, and to be +able to part and eat their dinner in tolerable ease of mind; and then +it was, just before they parted, that the two young aunts were able so +far to digress from their nephew's state, as to give the information of +Captain Wentworth's visit; staying five minutes behind their father and +mother, to endeavour to express how perfectly delighted they were with +him, how much handsomer, how infinitely more agreeable they thought him +than any individual among their male acquaintance, who had been at all +a favourite before. How glad they had been to hear papa invite him to +stay dinner, how sorry when he said it was quite out of his power, and +how glad again when he had promised in reply to papa and mamma's +farther pressing invitations to come and dine with them on the +morrow--actually on the morrow; and he had promised it in so pleasant a +manner, as if he felt all the motive of their attention just as he +ought. And in short, he had looked and said everything with such +exquisite grace, that they could assure them all, their heads were both +turned by him; and off they ran, quite as full of glee as of love, and +apparently more full of Captain Wentworth than of little Charles. + +The same story and the same raptures were repeated, when the two girls +came with their father, through the gloom of the evening, to make +enquiries; and Mr Musgrove, no longer under the first uneasiness about +his heir, could add his confirmation and praise, and hope there would +be now no occasion for putting Captain Wentworth off, and only be sorry +to think that the cottage party, probably, would not like to leave the +little boy, to give him the meeting. "Oh no; as to leaving the little +boy," both father and mother were in much too strong and recent alarm +to bear the thought; and Anne, in the joy of the escape, could not help +adding her warm protestations to theirs. + +Charles Musgrove, indeed, afterwards, shewed more of inclination; "the +child was going on so well, and he wished so much to be introduced to +Captain Wentworth, that, perhaps, he might join them in the evening; he +would not dine from home, but he might walk in for half an hour." But +in this he was eagerly opposed by his wife, with "Oh! no, indeed, +Charles, I cannot bear to have you go away. Only think if anything +should happen?" + +The child had a good night, and was going on well the next day. It +must be a work of time to ascertain that no injury had been done to the +spine; but Mr Robinson found nothing to increase alarm, and Charles +Musgrove began, consequently, to feel no necessity for longer +confinement. The child was to be kept in bed and amused as quietly as +possible; but what was there for a father to do? This was quite a +female case, and it would be highly absurd in him, who could be of no +use at home, to shut himself up. His father very much wished him to +meet Captain Wentworth, and there being no sufficient reason against +it, he ought to go; and it ended in his making a bold, public +declaration, when he came in from shooting, of his meaning to dress +directly, and dine at the other house. + +"Nothing can be going on better than the child," said he; "so I told my +father, just now, that I would come, and he thought me quite right. +Your sister being with you, my love, I have no scruple at all. You +would not like to leave him yourself, but you see I can be of no use. +Anne will send for me if anything is the matter." + +Husbands and wives generally understand when opposition will be vain. +Mary knew, from Charles's manner of speaking, that he was quite +determined on going, and that it would be of no use to teaze him. She +said nothing, therefore, till he was out of the room, but as soon as +there was only Anne to hear-- + +"So you and I are to be left to shift by ourselves, with this poor sick +child; and not a creature coming near us all the evening! I knew how +it would be. This is always my luck. If there is anything +disagreeable going on men are always sure to get out of it, and Charles +is as bad as any of them. Very unfeeling! I must say it is very +unfeeling of him to be running away from his poor little boy. Talks of +his being going on so well! How does he know that he is going on well, +or that there may not be a sudden change half an hour hence? I did not +think Charles would have been so unfeeling. So here he is to go away +and enjoy himself, and because I am the poor mother, I am not to be +allowed to stir; and yet, I am sure, I am more unfit than anybody else +to be about the child. My being the mother is the very reason why my +feelings should not be tried. I am not at all equal to it. You saw +how hysterical I was yesterday." + +"But that was only the effect of the suddenness of your alarm--of the +shock. You will not be hysterical again. I dare say we shall have +nothing to distress us. I perfectly understand Mr Robinson's +directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mary, I cannot wonder at +your husband. Nursing does not belong to a man; it is not his +province. A sick child is always the mother's property: her own +feelings generally make it so." + +"I hope I am as fond of my child as any mother, but I do not know that +I am of any more use in the sick-room than Charles, for I cannot be +always scolding and teazing the poor child when it is ill; and you saw, +this morning, that if I told him to keep quiet, he was sure to begin +kicking about. I have not nerves for the sort of thing." + +"But, could you be comfortable yourself, to be spending the whole +evening away from the poor boy?" + +"Yes; you see his papa can, and why should not I? Jemima is so +careful; and she could send us word every hour how he was. I really +think Charles might as well have told his father we would all come. I +am not more alarmed about little Charles now than he is. I was +dreadfully alarmed yesterday, but the case is very different to-day." + +"Well, if you do not think it too late to give notice for yourself, +suppose you were to go, as well as your husband. Leave little Charles +to my care. Mr and Mrs Musgrove cannot think it wrong while I remain +with him." + +"Are you serious?" cried Mary, her eyes brightening. "Dear me! that's +a very good thought, very good, indeed. To be sure, I may just as well +go as not, for I am of no use at home--am I? and it only harasses me. +You, who have not a mother's feelings, are a great deal the properest +person. You can make little Charles do anything; he always minds you +at a word. It will be a great deal better than leaving him only with +Jemima. Oh! I shall certainly go; I am sure I ought if I can, quite as +much as Charles, for they want me excessively to be acquainted with +Captain Wentworth, and I know you do not mind being left alone. An +excellent thought of yours, indeed, Anne. I will go and tell Charles, +and get ready directly. You can send for us, you know, at a moment's +notice, if anything is the matter; but I dare say there will be nothing +to alarm you. I should not go, you may be sure, if I did not feel +quite at ease about my dear child." + +The next moment she was tapping at her husband's dressing-room door, +and as Anne followed her up stairs, she was in time for the whole +conversation, which began with Mary's saying, in a tone of great +exultation-- + +"I mean to go with you, Charles, for I am of no more use at home than +you are. If I were to shut myself up for ever with the child, I should +not be able to persuade him to do anything he did not like. Anne will +stay; Anne undertakes to stay at home and take care of him. It is +Anne's own proposal, and so I shall go with you, which will be a great +deal better, for I have not dined at the other house since Tuesday." + +"This is very kind of Anne," was her husband's answer, "and I should be +very glad to have you go; but it seems rather hard that she should be +left at home by herself, to nurse our sick child." + +Anne was now at hand to take up her own cause, and the sincerity of her +manner being soon sufficient to convince him, where conviction was at +least very agreeable, he had no farther scruples as to her being left +to dine alone, though he still wanted her to join them in the evening, +when the child might be at rest for the night, and kindly urged her to +let him come and fetch her, but she was quite unpersuadable; and this +being the case, she had ere long the pleasure of seeing them set off +together in high spirits. They were gone, she hoped, to be happy, +however oddly constructed such happiness might seem; as for herself, +she was left with as many sensations of comfort, as were, perhaps, ever +likely to be hers. She knew herself to be of the first utility to the +child; and what was it to her if Frederick Wentworth were only half a +mile distant, making himself agreeable to others? + +She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting. Perhaps +indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances. He +must be either indifferent or unwilling. Had he wished ever to see her +again, he need not have waited till this time; he would have done what +she could not but believe that in his place she should have done long +ago, when events had been early giving him the independence which alone +had been wanting. + +Her brother and sister came back delighted with their new acquaintance, +and their visit in general. There had been music, singing, talking, +laughing, all that was most agreeable; charming manners in Captain +Wentworth, no shyness or reserve; they seemed all to know each other +perfectly, and he was coming the very next morning to shoot with +Charles. He was to come to breakfast, but not at the Cottage, though +that had been proposed at first; but then he had been pressed to come +to the Great House instead, and he seemed afraid of being in Mrs +Charles Musgrove's way, on account of the child, and therefore, +somehow, they hardly knew how, it ended in Charles's being to meet him +to breakfast at his father's. + +Anne understood it. He wished to avoid seeing her. He had inquired +after her, she found, slightly, as might suit a former slight +acquaintance, seeming to acknowledge such as she had acknowledged, +actuated, perhaps, by the same view of escaping introduction when they +were to meet. + +The morning hours of the Cottage were always later than those of the +other house, and on the morrow the difference was so great that Mary +and Anne were not more than beginning breakfast when Charles came in to +say that they were just setting off, that he was come for his dogs, +that his sisters were following with Captain Wentworth; his sisters +meaning to visit Mary and the child, and Captain Wentworth proposing +also to wait on her for a few minutes if not inconvenient; and though +Charles had answered for the child's being in no such state as could +make it inconvenient, Captain Wentworth would not be satisfied without +his running on to give notice. + +Mary, very much gratified by this attention, was delighted to receive +him, while a thousand feelings rushed on Anne, of which this was the +most consoling, that it would soon be over. And it was soon over. In +two minutes after Charles's preparation, the others appeared; they were +in the drawing-room. Her eye half met Captain Wentworth's, a bow, a +curtsey passed; she heard his voice; he talked to Mary, said all that +was right, said something to the Miss Musgroves, enough to mark an easy +footing; the room seemed full, full of persons and voices, but a few +minutes ended it. Charles shewed himself at the window, all was ready, +their visitor had bowed and was gone, the Miss Musgroves were gone too, +suddenly resolving to walk to the end of the village with the +sportsmen: the room was cleared, and Anne might finish her breakfast +as she could. + +"It is over! it is over!" she repeated to herself again and again, in +nervous gratitude. "The worst is over!" + +Mary talked, but she could not attend. She had seen him. They had +met. They had been once more in the same room. + +Soon, however, she began to reason with herself, and try to be feeling +less. Eight years, almost eight years had passed, since all had been +given up. How absurd to be resuming the agitation which such an +interval had banished into distance and indistinctness! What might not +eight years do? Events of every description, changes, alienations, +removals--all, all must be comprised in it, and oblivion of the past-- +how natural, how certain too! It included nearly a third part of her +own life. + +Alas! with all her reasoning, she found, that to retentive feelings +eight years may be little more than nothing. + +Now, how were his sentiments to be read? Was this like wishing to +avoid her? And the next moment she was hating herself for the folly +which asked the question. + +On one other question which perhaps her utmost wisdom might not have +prevented, she was soon spared all suspense; for, after the Miss +Musgroves had returned and finished their visit at the Cottage she had +this spontaneous information from Mary:-- + +"Captain Wentworth is not very gallant by you, Anne, though he was so +attentive to me. Henrietta asked him what he thought of you, when they +went away, and he said, 'You were so altered he should not have known +you again.'" + +Mary had no feelings to make her respect her sister's in a common way, +but she was perfectly unsuspicious of being inflicting any peculiar +wound. + +"Altered beyond his knowledge." Anne fully submitted, in silent, deep +mortification. Doubtless it was so, and she could take no revenge, for +he was not altered, or not for the worse. She had already acknowledged +it to herself, and she could not think differently, let him think of +her as he would. No: the years which had destroyed her youth and +bloom had only given him a more glowing, manly, open look, in no +respect lessening his personal advantages. She had seen the same +Frederick Wentworth. + +"So altered that he should not have known her again!" These were words +which could not but dwell with her. Yet she soon began to rejoice that +she had heard them. They were of sobering tendency; they allayed +agitation; they composed, and consequently must make her happier. + +Frederick Wentworth had used such words, or something like them, but +without an idea that they would be carried round to her. He had +thought her wretchedly altered, and in the first moment of appeal, had +spoken as he felt. He had not forgiven Anne Elliot. She had used him +ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a +feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident +temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others. It +had been the effect of over-persuasion. It had been weakness and +timidity. + +He had been most warmly attached to her, and had never seen a woman +since whom he thought her equal; but, except from some natural +sensation of curiosity, he had no desire of meeting her again. Her +power with him was gone for ever. + +It was now his object to marry. He was rich, and being turned on +shore, fully intended to settle as soon as he could be properly +tempted; actually looking round, ready to fall in love with all the +speed which a clear head and a quick taste could allow. He had a heart +for either of the Miss Musgroves, if they could catch it; a heart, in +short, for any pleasing young woman who came in his way, excepting Anne +Elliot. This was his only secret exception, when he said to his +sister, in answer to her suppositions:-- + +"Yes, here I am, Sophia, quite ready to make a foolish match. Anybody +between fifteen and thirty may have me for asking. A little beauty, +and a few smiles, and a few compliments to the navy, and I am a lost +man. Should not this be enough for a sailor, who has had no society +among women to make him nice?" + +He said it, she knew, to be contradicted. His bright proud eye spoke +the conviction that he was nice; and Anne Elliot was not out of his +thoughts, when he more seriously described the woman he should wish to +meet with. "A strong mind, with sweetness of manner," made the first +and the last of the description. + +"That is the woman I want," said he. "Something a little inferior I +shall of course put up with, but it must not be much. If I am a fool, +I shall be a fool indeed, for I have thought on the subject more than +most men." + + + +Chapter 8 + + +From this time Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot were repeatedly in the +same circle. They were soon dining in company together at Mr +Musgrove's, for the little boy's state could no longer supply his aunt +with a pretence for absenting herself; and this was but the beginning +of other dinings and other meetings. + +Whether former feelings were to be renewed must be brought to the +proof; former times must undoubtedly be brought to the recollection of +each; they could not but be reverted to; the year of their engagement +could not but be named by him, in the little narratives or descriptions +which conversation called forth. His profession qualified him, his +disposition lead him, to talk; and "That was in the year six;" "That +happened before I went to sea in the year six," occurred in the course +of the first evening they spent together: and though his voice did not +falter, and though she had no reason to suppose his eye wandering +towards her while he spoke, Anne felt the utter impossibility, from her +knowledge of his mind, that he could be unvisited by remembrance any +more than herself. There must be the same immediate association of +thought, though she was very far from conceiving it to be of equal pain. + +They had no conversation together, no intercourse but what the +commonest civility required. Once so much to each other! Now nothing! +There had been a time, when of all the large party now filling the +drawing-room at Uppercross, they would have found it most difficult to +cease to speak to one another. With the exception, perhaps, of Admiral +and Mrs Croft, who seemed particularly attached and happy, (Anne could +allow no other exceptions even among the married couples), there could +have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so +in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; +nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It +was a perpetual estrangement. + +When he talked, she heard the same voice, and discerned the same mind. +There was a very general ignorance of all naval matters throughout the +party; and he was very much questioned, and especially by the two Miss +Musgroves, who seemed hardly to have any eyes but for him, as to the +manner of living on board, daily regulations, food, hours, &c., and +their surprise at his accounts, at learning the degree of accommodation +and arrangement which was practicable, drew from him some pleasant +ridicule, which reminded Anne of the early days when she too had been +ignorant, and she too had been accused of supposing sailors to be +living on board without anything to eat, or any cook to dress it if +there were, or any servant to wait, or any knife and fork to use. + +From thus listening and thinking, she was roused by a whisper of Mrs +Musgrove's who, overcome by fond regrets, could not help saying-- + +"Ah! Miss Anne, if it had pleased Heaven to spare my poor son, I dare +say he would have been just such another by this time." + +Anne suppressed a smile, and listened kindly, while Mrs Musgrove +relieved her heart a little more; and for a few minutes, therefore, +could not keep pace with the conversation of the others. + +When she could let her attention take its natural course again, she +found the Miss Musgroves just fetching the Navy List (their own navy +list, the first that had ever been at Uppercross), and sitting down +together to pore over it, with the professed view of finding out the +ships that Captain Wentworth had commanded. + +"Your first was the Asp, I remember; we will look for the Asp." + +"You will not find her there. Quite worn out and broken up. I was the +last man who commanded her. Hardly fit for service then. Reported fit +for home service for a year or two, and so I was sent off to the West +Indies." + +The girls looked all amazement. + +"The Admiralty," he continued, "entertain themselves now and then, with +sending a few hundred men to sea, in a ship not fit to be employed. +But they have a great many to provide for; and among the thousands that +may just as well go to the bottom as not, it is impossible for them to +distinguish the very set who may be least missed." + +"Phoo! phoo!" cried the Admiral, "what stuff these young fellows talk! +Never was a better sloop than the Asp in her day. For an old built +sloop, you would not see her equal. Lucky fellow to get her! He knows +there must have been twenty better men than himself applying for her at +the same time. Lucky fellow to get anything so soon, with no more +interest than his." + +"I felt my luck, Admiral, I assure you;" replied Captain Wentworth, +seriously. "I was as well satisfied with my appointment as you can +desire. It was a great object with me at that time to be at sea; a +very great object, I wanted to be doing something." + +"To be sure you did. What should a young fellow like you do ashore for +half a year together? If a man had not a wife, he soon wants to be +afloat again." + +"But, Captain Wentworth," cried Louisa, "how vexed you must have been +when you came to the Asp, to see what an old thing they had given you." + +"I knew pretty well what she was before that day;" said he, smiling. +"I had no more discoveries to make than you would have as to the +fashion and strength of any old pelisse, which you had seen lent about +among half your acquaintance ever since you could remember, and which +at last, on some very wet day, is lent to yourself. Ah! she was a dear +old Asp to me. She did all that I wanted. I knew she would. I knew +that we should either go to the bottom together, or that she would be +the making of me; and I never had two days of foul weather all the time +I was at sea in her; and after taking privateers enough to be very +entertaining, I had the good luck in my passage home the next autumn, +to fall in with the very French frigate I wanted. I brought her into +Plymouth; and here another instance of luck. We had not been six hours +in the Sound, when a gale came on, which lasted four days and nights, +and which would have done for poor old Asp in half the time; our touch +with the Great Nation not having much improved our condition. +Four-and-twenty hours later, and I should only have been a gallant +Captain Wentworth, in a small paragraph at one corner of the +newspapers; and being lost in only a sloop, nobody would have thought +about me." Anne's shudderings were to herself alone; but the Miss +Musgroves could be as open as they were sincere, in their exclamations +of pity and horror. + +"And so then, I suppose," said Mrs Musgrove, in a low voice, as if +thinking aloud, "so then he went away to the Laconia, and there he met +with our poor boy. Charles, my dear," (beckoning him to her), "do ask +Captain Wentworth where it was he first met with your poor brother. I +always forgot." + +"It was at Gibraltar, mother, I know. Dick had been left ill at +Gibraltar, with a recommendation from his former captain to Captain +Wentworth." + +"Oh! but, Charles, tell Captain Wentworth, he need not be afraid of +mentioning poor Dick before me, for it would be rather a pleasure to +hear him talked of by such a good friend." + +Charles, being somewhat more mindful of the probabilities of the case, +only nodded in reply, and walked away. + +The girls were now hunting for the Laconia; and Captain Wentworth could +not deny himself the pleasure of taking the precious volume into his +own hands to save them the trouble, and once more read aloud the little +statement of her name and rate, and present non-commissioned class, +observing over it that she too had been one of the best friends man +ever had. + +"Ah! those were pleasant days when I had the Laconia! How fast I made +money in her. A friend of mine and I had such a lovely cruise together +off the Western Islands. Poor Harville, sister! You know how much he +wanted money: worse than myself. He had a wife. Excellent fellow. I +shall never forget his happiness. He felt it all, so much for her +sake. I wished for him again the next summer, when I had still the +same luck in the Mediterranean." + +"And I am sure, Sir," said Mrs Musgrove, "it was a lucky day for us, +when you were put captain into that ship. We shall never forget what +you did." + +Her feelings made her speak low; and Captain Wentworth, hearing only in +part, and probably not having Dick Musgrove at all near his thoughts, +looked rather in suspense, and as if waiting for more. + +"My brother," whispered one of the girls; "mamma is thinking of poor +Richard." + +"Poor dear fellow!" continued Mrs Musgrove; "he was grown so steady, +and such an excellent correspondent, while he was under your care! Ah! +it would have been a happy thing, if he had never left you. I assure +you, Captain Wentworth, we are very sorry he ever left you." + +There was a momentary expression in Captain Wentworth's face at this +speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome +mouth, which convinced Anne, that instead of sharing in Mrs Musgrove's +kind wishes, as to her son, he had probably been at some pains to get +rid of him; but it was too transient an indulgence of self-amusement to +be detected by any who understood him less than herself; in another +moment he was perfectly collected and serious, and almost instantly +afterwards coming up to the sofa, on which she and Mrs Musgrove were +sitting, took a place by the latter, and entered into conversation with +her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and +natural grace, as shewed the kindest consideration for all that was +real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings. + +They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily +made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove. It was no +insignificant barrier, indeed. Mrs Musgrove was of a comfortable, +substantial size, infinitely more fitted by nature to express good +cheer and good humour, than tenderness and sentiment; and while the +agitations of Anne's slender form, and pensive face, may be considered +as very completely screened, Captain Wentworth should be allowed some +credit for the self-command with which he attended to her large fat +sighings over the destiny of a son, whom alive nobody had cared for. + +Personal size and mental sorrow have certainly no necessary +proportions. A large bulky figure has as good a right to be in deep +affliction, as the most graceful set of limbs in the world. But, fair +or not fair, there are unbecoming conjunctions, which reason will +patronize in vain--which taste cannot tolerate--which ridicule will +seize. + +The Admiral, after taking two or three refreshing turns about the room +with his hands behind him, being called to order by his wife, now came +up to Captain Wentworth, and without any observation of what he might +be interrupting, thinking only of his own thoughts, began with-- + +"If you had been a week later at Lisbon, last spring, Frederick, you +would have been asked to give a passage to Lady Mary Grierson and her +daughters." + +"Should I? I am glad I was not a week later then." + +The Admiral abused him for his want of gallantry. He defended himself; +though professing that he would never willingly admit any ladies on +board a ship of his, excepting for a ball, or a visit, which a few +hours might comprehend. + +"But, if I know myself," said he, "this is from no want of gallantry +towards them. It is rather from feeling how impossible it is, with all +one's efforts, and all one's sacrifices, to make the accommodations on +board such as women ought to have. There can be no want of gallantry, +Admiral, in rating the claims of women to every personal comfort high, +and this is what I do. I hate to hear of women on board, or to see +them on board; and no ship under my command shall ever convey a family +of ladies anywhere, if I can help it." + +This brought his sister upon him. + +"Oh! Frederick! But I cannot believe it of you.--All idle +refinement!--Women may be as comfortable on board, as in the best house +in England. I believe I have lived as much on board as most women, and +I know nothing superior to the accommodations of a man-of-war. I +declare I have not a comfort or an indulgence about me, even at +Kellynch Hall," (with a kind bow to Anne), "beyond what I always had in +most of the ships I have lived in; and they have been five altogether." + +"Nothing to the purpose," replied her brother. "You were living with +your husband, and were the only woman on board." + +"But you, yourself, brought Mrs Harville, her sister, her cousin, and +three children, round from Portsmouth to Plymouth. Where was this +superfine, extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then?" + +"All merged in my friendship, Sophia. I would assist any brother +officer's wife that I could, and I would bring anything of Harville's +from the world's end, if he wanted it. But do not imagine that I did +not feel it an evil in itself." + +"Depend upon it, they were all perfectly comfortable." + +"I might not like them the better for that perhaps. Such a number of +women and children have no right to be comfortable on board." + +"My dear Frederick, you are talking quite idly. Pray, what would +become of us poor sailors' wives, who often want to be conveyed to one +port or another, after our husbands, if everybody had your feelings?" + +"My feelings, you see, did not prevent my taking Mrs Harville and all +her family to Plymouth." + +"But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if +women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of +us expect to be in smooth water all our days." + +"Ah! my dear," said the Admiral, "when he had got a wife, he will sing +a different tune. When he is married, if we have the good luck to live +to another war, we shall see him do as you and I, and a great many +others, have done. We shall have him very thankful to anybody that +will bring him his wife." + +"Ay, that we shall." + +"Now I have done," cried Captain Wentworth. "When once married people +begin to attack me with,--'Oh! you will think very differently, when +you are married.' I can only say, 'No, I shall not;' and then they say +again, 'Yes, you will,' and there is an end of it." + +He got up and moved away. + +"What a great traveller you must have been, ma'am!" said Mrs Musgrove +to Mrs Croft. + +"Pretty well, ma'am in the fifteen years of my marriage; though many +women have done more. I have crossed the Atlantic four times, and have +been once to the East Indies, and back again, and only once; besides +being in different places about home: Cork, and Lisbon, and Gibraltar. +But I never went beyond the Streights, and never was in the West +Indies. We do not call Bermuda or Bahama, you know, the West Indies." + +Mrs Musgrove had not a word to say in dissent; she could not accuse +herself of having ever called them anything in the whole course of her +life. + +"And I do assure you, ma'am," pursued Mrs Croft, "that nothing can +exceed the accommodations of a man-of-war; I speak, you know, of the +higher rates. When you come to a frigate, of course, you are more +confined; though any reasonable woman may be perfectly happy in one of +them; and I can safely say, that the happiest part of my life has been +spent on board a ship. While we were together, you know, there was +nothing to be feared. Thank God! I have always been blessed with +excellent health, and no climate disagrees with me. A little +disordered always the first twenty-four hours of going to sea, but +never knew what sickness was afterwards. The only time I ever really +suffered in body or mind, the only time that I ever fancied myself +unwell, or had any ideas of danger, was the winter that I passed by +myself at Deal, when the Admiral (Captain Croft then) was in the North +Seas. I lived in perpetual fright at that time, and had all manner of +imaginary complaints from not knowing what to do with myself, or when I +should hear from him next; but as long as we could be together, nothing +ever ailed me, and I never met with the smallest inconvenience." + +"Aye, to be sure. Yes, indeed, oh yes! I am quite of your opinion, +Mrs Croft," was Mrs Musgrove's hearty answer. "There is nothing so bad +as a separation. I am quite of your opinion. I know what it is, for +Mr Musgrove always attends the assizes, and I am so glad when they are +over, and he is safe back again." + +The evening ended with dancing. On its being proposed, Anne offered +her services, as usual; and though her eyes would sometimes fill with +tears as she sat at the instrument, she was extremely glad to be +employed, and desired nothing in return but to be unobserved. + +It was a merry, joyous party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than +Captain Wentworth. She felt that he had every thing to elevate him +which general attention and deference, and especially the attention of +all the young women, could do. The Miss Hayters, the females of the +family of cousins already mentioned, were apparently admitted to the +honour of being in love with him; and as for Henrietta and Louisa, they +both seemed so entirely occupied by him, that nothing but the continued +appearance of the most perfect good-will between themselves could have +made it credible that they were not decided rivals. If he were a +little spoilt by such universal, such eager admiration, who could +wonder? + +These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne, while her fingers +were mechanically at work, proceeding for half an hour together, +equally without error, and without consciousness. Once she felt that +he was looking at herself, observing her altered features, perhaps, +trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed +him; and once she knew that he must have spoken of her; she was hardly +aware of it, till she heard the answer; but then she was sure of his +having asked his partner whether Miss Elliot never danced? The answer +was, "Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing. She had rather +play. She is never tired of playing." Once, too, he spoke to her. +She had left the instrument on the dancing being over, and he had sat +down to try to make out an air which he wished to give the Miss +Musgroves an idea of. Unintentionally she returned to that part of the +room; he saw her, and, instantly rising, said, with studied politeness-- + +"I beg your pardon, madam, this is your seat;" and though she +immediately drew back with a decided negative, he was not to be induced +to sit down again. + +Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches. His cold +politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything. + + + +Chapter 9 + + +Captain Wentworth was come to Kellynch as to a home, to stay as long as +he liked, being as thoroughly the object of the Admiral's fraternal +kindness as of his wife's. He had intended, on first arriving, to +proceed very soon into Shropshire, and visit the brother settled in +that country, but the attractions of Uppercross induced him to put this +off. There was so much of friendliness, and of flattery, and of +everything most bewitching in his reception there; the old were so +hospitable, the young so agreeable, that he could not but resolve to +remain where he was, and take all the charms and perfections of +Edward's wife upon credit a little longer. + +It was soon Uppercross with him almost every day. The Musgroves could +hardly be more ready to invite than he to come, particularly in the +morning, when he had no companion at home, for the Admiral and Mrs +Croft were generally out of doors together, interesting themselves in +their new possessions, their grass, and their sheep, and dawdling about +in a way not endurable to a third person, or driving out in a gig, +lately added to their establishment. + +Hitherto there had been but one opinion of Captain Wentworth among the +Musgroves and their dependencies. It was unvarying, warm admiration +everywhere; but this intimate footing was not more than established, +when a certain Charles Hayter returned among them, to be a good deal +disturbed by it, and to think Captain Wentworth very much in the way. + +Charles Hayter was the eldest of all the cousins, and a very amiable, +pleasing young man, between whom and Henrietta there had been a +considerable appearance of attachment previous to Captain Wentworth's +introduction. He was in orders; and having a curacy in the +neighbourhood, where residence was not required, lived at his father's +house, only two miles from Uppercross. A short absence from home had +left his fair one unguarded by his attentions at this critical period, +and when he came back he had the pain of finding very altered manners, +and of seeing Captain Wentworth. + +Mrs Musgrove and Mrs Hayter were sisters. They had each had money, but +their marriages had made a material difference in their degree of +consequence. Mr Hayter had some property of his own, but it was +insignificant compared with Mr Musgrove's; and while the Musgroves were +in the first class of society in the country, the young Hayters would, +from their parents' inferior, retired, and unpolished way of living, +and their own defective education, have been hardly in any class at +all, but for their connexion with Uppercross, this eldest son of course +excepted, who had chosen to be a scholar and a gentleman, and who was +very superior in cultivation and manners to all the rest. + +The two families had always been on excellent terms, there being no +pride on one side, and no envy on the other, and only such a +consciousness of superiority in the Miss Musgroves, as made them +pleased to improve their cousins. Charles's attentions to Henrietta +had been observed by her father and mother without any disapprobation. +"It would not be a great match for her; but if Henrietta liked him,"-- +and Henrietta did seem to like him. + +Henrietta fully thought so herself, before Captain Wentworth came; but +from that time Cousin Charles had been very much forgotten. + +Which of the two sisters was preferred by Captain Wentworth was as yet +quite doubtful, as far as Anne's observation reached. Henrietta was +perhaps the prettiest, Louisa had the higher spirits; and she knew not +now, whether the more gentle or the more lively character were most +likely to attract him. + +Mr and Mrs Musgrove, either from seeing little, or from an entire +confidence in the discretion of both their daughters, and of all the +young men who came near them, seemed to leave everything to take its +chance. There was not the smallest appearance of solicitude or remark +about them in the Mansion-house; but it was different at the Cottage: +the young couple there were more disposed to speculate and wonder; and +Captain Wentworth had not been above four or five times in the Miss +Musgroves' company, and Charles Hayter had but just reappeared, when +Anne had to listen to the opinions of her brother and sister, as to +which was the one liked best. Charles gave it for Louisa, Mary for +Henrietta, but quite agreeing that to have him marry either could be +extremely delightful. + +Charles "had never seen a pleasanter man in his life; and from what he +had once heard Captain Wentworth himself say, was very sure that he had +not made less than twenty thousand pounds by the war. Here was a +fortune at once; besides which, there would be the chance of what might +be done in any future war; and he was sure Captain Wentworth was as +likely a man to distinguish himself as any officer in the navy. Oh! it +would be a capital match for either of his sisters." + +"Upon my word it would," replied Mary. "Dear me! If he should rise to +any very great honours! If he should ever be made a baronet! 'Lady +Wentworth' sounds very well. That would be a noble thing, indeed, for +Henrietta! She would take place of me then, and Henrietta would not +dislike that. Sir Frederick and Lady Wentworth! It would be but a new +creation, however, and I never think much of your new creations." + +It suited Mary best to think Henrietta the one preferred on the very +account of Charles Hayter, whose pretensions she wished to see put an +end to. She looked down very decidedly upon the Hayters, and thought +it would be quite a misfortune to have the existing connection between +the families renewed--very sad for herself and her children. + +"You know," said she, "I cannot think him at all a fit match for +Henrietta; and considering the alliances which the Musgroves have made, +she has no right to throw herself away. I do not think any young woman +has a right to make a choice that may be disagreeable and inconvenient +to the principal part of her family, and be giving bad connections to +those who have not been used to them. And, pray, who is Charles +Hayter? Nothing but a country curate. A most improper match for Miss +Musgrove of Uppercross." + +Her husband, however, would not agree with her here; for besides having +a regard for his cousin, Charles Hayter was an eldest son, and he saw +things as an eldest son himself. + +"Now you are talking nonsense, Mary," was therefore his answer. "It +would not be a great match for Henrietta, but Charles has a very fair +chance, through the Spicers, of getting something from the Bishop in +the course of a year or two; and you will please to remember, that he +is the eldest son; whenever my uncle dies, he steps into very pretty +property. The estate at Winthrop is not less than two hundred and +fifty acres, besides the farm near Taunton, which is some of the best +land in the country. I grant you, that any of them but Charles would +be a very shocking match for Henrietta, and indeed it could not be; he +is the only one that could be possible; but he is a very good-natured, +good sort of a fellow; and whenever Winthrop comes into his hands, he +will make a different sort of place of it, and live in a very different +sort of way; and with that property, he will never be a contemptible +man--good, freehold property. No, no; Henrietta might do worse than +marry Charles Hayter; and if she has him, and Louisa can get Captain +Wentworth, I shall be very well satisfied." + +"Charles may say what he pleases," cried Mary to Anne, as soon as he +was out of the room, "but it would be shocking to have Henrietta marry +Charles Hayter; a very bad thing for her, and still worse for me; and +therefore it is very much to be wished that Captain Wentworth may soon +put him quite out of her head, and I have very little doubt that he +has. She took hardly any notice of Charles Hayter yesterday. I wish +you had been there to see her behaviour. And as to Captain Wentworth's +liking Louisa as well as Henrietta, it is nonsense to say so; for he +certainly does like Henrietta a great deal the best. But Charles is so +positive! I wish you had been with us yesterday, for then you might +have decided between us; and I am sure you would have thought as I did, +unless you had been determined to give it against me." + +A dinner at Mr Musgrove's had been the occasion when all these things +should have been seen by Anne; but she had staid at home, under the +mixed plea of a headache of her own, and some return of indisposition +in little Charles. She had thought only of avoiding Captain Wentworth; +but an escape from being appealed to as umpire was now added to the +advantages of a quiet evening. + +As to Captain Wentworth's views, she deemed it of more consequence that +he should know his own mind early enough not to be endangering the +happiness of either sister, or impeaching his own honour, than that he +should prefer Henrietta to Louisa, or Louisa to Henrietta. Either of +them would, in all probability, make him an affectionate, good-humoured +wife. With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be +pained by any lightness of conduct in a well-meaning young woman, and a +heart to sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned; but if +Henrietta found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings, the +alternation could not be understood too soon. + +Charles Hayter had met with much to disquiet and mortify him in his +cousin's behaviour. She had too old a regard for him to be so wholly +estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past hope, and +leave him nothing to do but to keep away from Uppercross: but there +was such a change as became very alarming, when such a man as Captain +Wentworth was to be regarded as the probable cause. He had been absent +only two Sundays, and when they parted, had left her interested, even +to the height of his wishes, in his prospect of soon quitting his +present curacy, and obtaining that of Uppercross instead. It had then +seemed the object nearest her heart, that Dr Shirley, the rector, who +for more than forty years had been zealously discharging all the duties +of his office, but was now growing too infirm for many of them, should +be quite fixed on engaging a curate; should make his curacy quite as +good as he could afford, and should give Charles Hayter the promise of +it. The advantage of his having to come only to Uppercross, instead of +going six miles another way; of his having, in every respect, a better +curacy; of his belonging to their dear Dr Shirley, and of dear, good Dr +Shirley's being relieved from the duty which he could no longer get +through without most injurious fatigue, had been a great deal, even to +Louisa, but had been almost everything to Henrietta. When he came +back, alas! the zeal of the business was gone by. Louisa could not +listen at all to his account of a conversation which he had just held +with Dr Shirley: she was at a window, looking out for Captain +Wentworth; and even Henrietta had at best only a divided attention to +give, and seemed to have forgotten all the former doubt and solicitude +of the negotiation. + +"Well, I am very glad indeed: but I always thought you would have it; +I always thought you sure. It did not appear to me that--in short, you +know, Dr Shirley must have a curate, and you had secured his promise. +Is he coming, Louisa?" + +One morning, very soon after the dinner at the Musgroves, at which Anne +had not been present, Captain Wentworth walked into the drawing-room at +the Cottage, where were only herself and the little invalid Charles, +who was lying on the sofa. + +The surprise of finding himself almost alone with Anne Elliot, deprived +his manners of their usual composure: he started, and could only say, +"I thought the Miss Musgroves had been here: Mrs Musgrove told me I +should find them here," before he walked to the window to recollect +himself, and feel how he ought to behave. + +"They are up stairs with my sister: they will be down in a few +moments, I dare say," had been Anne's reply, in all the confusion that +was natural; and if the child had not called her to come and do +something for him, she would have been out of the room the next moment, +and released Captain Wentworth as well as herself. + +He continued at the window; and after calmly and politely saying, "I +hope the little boy is better," was silent. + +She was obliged to kneel down by the sofa, and remain there to satisfy +her patient; and thus they continued a few minutes, when, to her very +great satisfaction, she heard some other person crossing the little +vestibule. She hoped, on turning her head, to see the master of the +house; but it proved to be one much less calculated for making matters +easy--Charles Hayter, probably not at all better pleased by the sight +of Captain Wentworth than Captain Wentworth had been by the sight of +Anne. + +She only attempted to say, "How do you do? Will you not sit down? The +others will be here presently." + +Captain Wentworth, however, came from his window, apparently not +ill-disposed for conversation; but Charles Hayter soon put an end to +his attempts by seating himself near the table, and taking up the +newspaper; and Captain Wentworth returned to his window. + +Another minute brought another addition. The younger boy, a remarkable +stout, forward child, of two years old, having got the door opened for +him by some one without, made his determined appearance among them, and +went straight to the sofa to see what was going on, and put in his +claim to anything good that might be giving away. + +There being nothing to eat, he could only have some play; and as his +aunt would not let him tease his sick brother, he began to fasten +himself upon her, as she knelt, in such a way that, busy as she was +about Charles, she could not shake him off. She spoke to him, ordered, +entreated, and insisted in vain. Once she did contrive to push him +away, but the boy had the greater pleasure in getting upon her back +again directly. + +"Walter," said she, "get down this moment. You are extremely +troublesome. I am very angry with you." + +"Walter," cried Charles Hayter, "why do you not do as you are bid? Do +not you hear your aunt speak? Come to me, Walter, come to cousin +Charles." + +But not a bit did Walter stir. + +In another moment, however, she found herself in the state of being +released from him; some one was taking him from her, though he had bent +down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened +from around her neck, and he was resolutely borne away, before she knew +that Captain Wentworth had done it. + +Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless. She +could not even thank him. She could only hang over little Charles, +with most disordered feelings. His kindness in stepping forward to her +relief, the manner, the silence in which it had passed, the little +particulars of the circumstance, with the conviction soon forced on her +by the noise he was studiously making with the child, that he meant to +avoid hearing her thanks, and rather sought to testify that her +conversation was the last of his wants, produced such a confusion of +varying, but very painful agitation, as she could not recover from, +till enabled by the entrance of Mary and the Miss Musgroves to make +over her little patient to their cares, and leave the room. She could +not stay. It might have been an opportunity of watching the loves and +jealousies of the four--they were now altogether; but she could stay +for none of it. It was evident that Charles Hayter was not well +inclined towards Captain Wentworth. She had a strong impression of his +having said, in a vext tone of voice, after Captain Wentworth's +interference, "You ought to have minded me, Walter; I told you not to +teaze your aunt;" and could comprehend his regretting that Captain +Wentworth should do what he ought to have done himself. But neither +Charles Hayter's feelings, nor anybody's feelings, could interest her, +till she had a little better arranged her own. She was ashamed of +herself, quite ashamed of being so nervous, so overcome by such a +trifle; but so it was, and it required a long application of solitude +and reflection to recover her. + + + +Chapter 10 + + +Other opportunities of making her observations could not fail to occur. +Anne had soon been in company with all the four together often enough +to have an opinion, though too wise to acknowledge as much at home, +where she knew it would have satisfied neither husband nor wife; for +while she considered Louisa to be rather the favourite, she could not +but think, as far as she might dare to judge from memory and +experience, that Captain Wentworth was not in love with either. They +were more in love with him; yet there it was not love. It was a little +fever of admiration; but it might, probably must, end in love with +some. Charles Hayter seemed aware of being slighted, and yet Henrietta +had sometimes the air of being divided between them. Anne longed for +the power of representing to them all what they were about, and of +pointing out some of the evils they were exposing themselves to. She +did not attribute guile to any. It was the highest satisfaction to her +to believe Captain Wentworth not in the least aware of the pain he was +occasioning. There was no triumph, no pitiful triumph in his manner. +He had, probably, never heard, and never thought of any claims of +Charles Hayter. He was only wrong in accepting the attentions (for +accepting must be the word) of two young women at once. + +After a short struggle, however, Charles Hayter seemed to quit the +field. Three days had passed without his coming once to Uppercross; a +most decided change. He had even refused one regular invitation to +dinner; and having been found on the occasion by Mr Musgrove with some +large books before him, Mr and Mrs Musgrove were sure all could not be +right, and talked, with grave faces, of his studying himself to death. +It was Mary's hope and belief that he had received a positive dismissal +from Henrietta, and her husband lived under the constant dependence of +seeing him to-morrow. Anne could only feel that Charles Hayter was +wise. + +One morning, about this time Charles Musgrove and Captain Wentworth +being gone a-shooting together, as the sisters in the Cottage were +sitting quietly at work, they were visited at the window by the sisters +from the Mansion-house. + +It was a very fine November day, and the Miss Musgroves came through +the little grounds, and stopped for no other purpose than to say, that +they were going to take a long walk, and therefore concluded Mary could +not like to go with them; and when Mary immediately replied, with some +jealousy at not being supposed a good walker, "Oh, yes, I should like +to join you very much, I am very fond of a long walk;" Anne felt +persuaded, by the looks of the two girls, that it was precisely what +they did not wish, and admired again the sort of necessity which the +family habits seemed to produce, of everything being to be +communicated, and everything being to be done together, however +undesired and inconvenient. She tried to dissuade Mary from going, but +in vain; and that being the case, thought it best to accept the Miss +Musgroves' much more cordial invitation to herself to go likewise, as +she might be useful in turning back with her sister, and lessening the +interference in any plan of their own. + +"I cannot imagine why they should suppose I should not like a long +walk," said Mary, as she went up stairs. "Everybody is always +supposing that I am not a good walker; and yet they would not have been +pleased, if we had refused to join them. When people come in this +manner on purpose to ask us, how can one say no?" + +Just as they were setting off, the gentlemen returned. They had taken +out a young dog, who had spoilt their sport, and sent them back early. +Their time and strength, and spirits, were, therefore, exactly ready +for this walk, and they entered into it with pleasure. Could Anne have +foreseen such a junction, she would have staid at home; but, from some +feelings of interest and curiosity, she fancied now that it was too +late to retract, and the whole six set forward together in the +direction chosen by the Miss Musgroves, who evidently considered the +walk as under their guidance. + +Anne's object was, not to be in the way of anybody; and where the +narrow paths across the fields made many separations necessary, to keep +with her brother and sister. Her pleasure in the walk must arise from +the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year +upon the tawny leaves, and withered hedges, and from repeating to +herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of +autumn, that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind +of taste and tenderness, that season which had drawn from every poet, +worthy of being read, some attempt at description, or some lines of +feeling. She occupied her mind as much as possible in such like +musings and quotations; but it was not possible, that when within reach +of Captain Wentworth's conversation with either of the Miss Musgroves, +she should not try to hear it; yet she caught little very remarkable. +It was mere lively chat, such as any young persons, on an intimate +footing, might fall into. He was more engaged with Louisa than with +Henrietta. Louisa certainly put more forward for his notice than her +sister. This distinction appeared to increase, and there was one +speech of Louisa's which struck her. After one of the many praises of +the day, which were continually bursting forth, Captain Wentworth +added:-- + +"What glorious weather for the Admiral and my sister! They meant to +take a long drive this morning; perhaps we may hail them from some of +these hills. They talked of coming into this side of the country. I +wonder whereabouts they will upset to-day. Oh! it does happen very +often, I assure you; but my sister makes nothing of it; she would as +lieve be tossed out as not." + +"Ah! You make the most of it, I know," cried Louisa, "but if it were +really so, I should do just the same in her place. If I loved a man, +as she loves the Admiral, I would always be with him, nothing should +ever separate us, and I would rather be overturned by him, than driven +safely by anybody else." + +It was spoken with enthusiasm. + +"Had you?" cried he, catching the same tone; "I honour you!" And there +was silence between them for a little while. + +Anne could not immediately fall into a quotation again. The sweet +scenes of autumn were for a while put by, unless some tender sonnet, +fraught with the apt analogy of the declining year, with declining +happiness, and the images of youth and hope, and spring, all gone +together, blessed her memory. She roused herself to say, as they +struck by order into another path, "Is not this one of the ways to +Winthrop?" But nobody heard, or, at least, nobody answered her. + +Winthrop, however, or its environs--for young men are, sometimes to be +met with, strolling about near home--was their destination; and after +another half mile of gradual ascent through large enclosures, where the +ploughs at work, and the fresh made path spoke the farmer counteracting +the sweets of poetical despondence, and meaning to have spring again, +they gained the summit of the most considerable hill, which parted +Uppercross and Winthrop, and soon commanded a full view of the latter, +at the foot of the hill on the other side. + +Winthrop, without beauty and without dignity, was stretched before them +an indifferent house, standing low, and hemmed in by the barns and +buildings of a farm-yard. + +Mary exclaimed, "Bless me! here is Winthrop. I declare I had no idea! +Well now, I think we had better turn back; I am excessively tired." + +Henrietta, conscious and ashamed, and seeing no cousin Charles walking +along any path, or leaning against any gate, was ready to do as Mary +wished; but "No!" said Charles Musgrove, and "No, no!" cried Louisa +more eagerly, and taking her sister aside, seemed to be arguing the +matter warmly. + +Charles, in the meanwhile, was very decidedly declaring his resolution +of calling on his aunt, now that he was so near; and very evidently, +though more fearfully, trying to induce his wife to go too. But this +was one of the points on which the lady shewed her strength; and when +he recommended the advantage of resting herself a quarter of an hour at +Winthrop, as she felt so tired, she resolutely answered, "Oh! no, +indeed! walking up that hill again would do her more harm than any +sitting down could do her good;" and, in short, her look and manner +declared, that go she would not. + +After a little succession of these sort of debates and consultations, +it was settled between Charles and his two sisters, that he and +Henrietta should just run down for a few minutes, to see their aunt and +cousins, while the rest of the party waited for them at the top of the +hill. Louisa seemed the principal arranger of the plan; and, as she +went a little way with them, down the hill, still talking to Henrietta, +Mary took the opportunity of looking scornfully around her, and saying +to Captain Wentworth-- + +"It is very unpleasant, having such connexions! But, I assure you, I +have never been in the house above twice in my life." + +She received no other answer, than an artificial, assenting smile, +followed by a contemptuous glance, as he turned away, which Anne +perfectly knew the meaning of. + +The brow of the hill, where they remained, was a cheerful spot: Louisa +returned; and Mary, finding a comfortable seat for herself on the step +of a stile, was very well satisfied so long as the others all stood +about her; but when Louisa drew Captain Wentworth away, to try for a +gleaning of nuts in an adjoining hedge-row, and they were gone by +degrees quite out of sight and sound, Mary was happy no longer; she +quarrelled with her own seat, was sure Louisa had got a much better +somewhere, and nothing could prevent her from going to look for a +better also. She turned through the same gate, but could not see them. +Anne found a nice seat for her, on a dry sunny bank, under the +hedge-row, in which she had no doubt of their still being, in some spot +or other. Mary sat down for a moment, but it would not do; she was +sure Louisa had found a better seat somewhere else, and she would go on +till she overtook her. + +Anne, really tired herself, was glad to sit down; and she very soon +heard Captain Wentworth and Louisa in the hedge-row, behind her, as if +making their way back along the rough, wild sort of channel, down the +centre. They were speaking as they drew near. Louisa's voice was the +first distinguished. She seemed to be in the middle of some eager +speech. What Anne first heard was-- + +"And so, I made her go. I could not bear that she should be frightened +from the visit by such nonsense. What! would I be turned back from +doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, +by the airs and interference of such a person, or of any person I may +say? No, I have no idea of being so easily persuaded. When I have +made up my mind, I have made it; and Henrietta seemed entirely to have +made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day; and yet, she was as near +giving it up, out of nonsensical complaisance!" + +"She would have turned back then, but for you?" + +"She would indeed. I am almost ashamed to say it." + +"Happy for her, to have such a mind as yours at hand! After the hints +you gave just now, which did but confirm my own observations, the last +time I was in company with him, I need not affect to have no +comprehension of what is going on. I see that more than a mere dutiful +morning visit to your aunt was in question; and woe betide him, and her +too, when it comes to things of consequence, when they are placed in +circumstances requiring fortitude and strength of mind, if she have not +resolution enough to resist idle interference in such a trifle as this. +Your sister is an amiable creature; but yours is the character of +decision and firmness, I see. If you value her conduct or happiness, +infuse as much of your own spirit into her as you can. But this, no +doubt, you have been always doing. It is the worst evil of too +yielding and indecisive a character, that no influence over it can be +depended on. You are never sure of a good impression being durable; +everybody may sway it. Let those who would be happy be firm. Here is +a nut," said he, catching one down from an upper bough, "to exemplify: +a beautiful glossy nut, which, blessed with original strength, has +outlived all the storms of autumn. Not a puncture, not a weak spot +anywhere. This nut," he continued, with playful solemnity, "while so +many of his brethren have fallen and been trodden under foot, is still +in possession of all the happiness that a hazel nut can be supposed +capable of." Then returning to his former earnest tone--"My first +wish for all whom I am interested in, is that they should be firm. If +Louisa Musgrove would be beautiful and happy in her November of life, +she will cherish all her present powers of mind." + +He had done, and was unanswered. It would have surprised Anne if +Louisa could have readily answered such a speech: words of such +interest, spoken with such serious warmth! She could imagine what +Louisa was feeling. For herself, she feared to move, lest she should +be seen. While she remained, a bush of low rambling holly protected +her, and they were moving on. Before they were beyond her hearing, +however, Louisa spoke again. + +"Mary is good-natured enough in many respects," said she; "but she does +sometimes provoke me excessively, by her nonsense and pride--the Elliot +pride. She has a great deal too much of the Elliot pride. We do so +wish that Charles had married Anne instead. I suppose you know he +wanted to marry Anne?" + +After a moment's pause, Captain Wentworth said-- + +"Do you mean that she refused him?" + +"Oh! yes; certainly." + +"When did that happen?" + +"I do not exactly know, for Henrietta and I were at school at the time; +but I believe about a year before he married Mary. I wish she had +accepted him. We should all have liked her a great deal better; and +papa and mamma always think it was her great friend Lady Russell's +doing, that she did not. They think Charles might not be learned and +bookish enough to please Lady Russell, and that therefore, she +persuaded Anne to refuse him." + +The sounds were retreating, and Anne distinguished no more. Her own +emotions still kept her fixed. She had much to recover from, before +she could move. The listener's proverbial fate was not absolutely +hers; she had heard no evil of herself, but she had heard a great deal +of very painful import. She saw how her own character was considered +by Captain Wentworth, and there had been just that degree of feeling +and curiosity about her in his manner which must give her extreme +agitation. + +As soon as she could, she went after Mary, and having found, and walked +back with her to their former station, by the stile, felt some comfort +in their whole party being immediately afterwards collected, and once +more in motion together. Her spirits wanted the solitude and silence +which only numbers could give. + +Charles and Henrietta returned, bringing, as may be conjectured, +Charles Hayter with them. The minutiae of the business Anne could not +attempt to understand; even Captain Wentworth did not seem admitted to +perfect confidence here; but that there had been a withdrawing on the +gentleman's side, and a relenting on the lady's, and that they were now +very glad to be together again, did not admit a doubt. Henrietta +looked a little ashamed, but very well pleased;--Charles Hayter +exceedingly happy: and they were devoted to each other almost from the +first instant of their all setting forward for Uppercross. + +Everything now marked out Louisa for Captain Wentworth; nothing could +be plainer; and where many divisions were necessary, or even where they +were not, they walked side by side nearly as much as the other two. In +a long strip of meadow land, where there was ample space for all, they +were thus divided, forming three distinct parties; and to that party of +the three which boasted least animation, and least complaisance, Anne +necessarily belonged. She joined Charles and Mary, and was tired +enough to be very glad of Charles's other arm; but Charles, though in +very good humour with her, was out of temper with his wife. Mary had +shewn herself disobliging to him, and was now to reap the consequence, +which consequence was his dropping her arm almost every moment to cut +off the heads of some nettles in the hedge with his switch; and when +Mary began to complain of it, and lament her being ill-used, according +to custom, in being on the hedge side, while Anne was never incommoded +on the other, he dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which +he had a momentary glance of, and they could hardly get him along at +all. + +This long meadow bordered a lane, which their footpath, at the end of +it was to cross, and when the party had all reached the gate of exit, +the carriage advancing in the same direction, which had been some time +heard, was just coming up, and proved to be Admiral Croft's gig. He +and his wife had taken their intended drive, and were returning home. +Upon hearing how long a walk the young people had engaged in, they +kindly offered a seat to any lady who might be particularly tired; it +would save her a full mile, and they were going through Uppercross. +The invitation was general, and generally declined. The Miss Musgroves +were not at all tired, and Mary was either offended, by not being asked +before any of the others, or what Louisa called the Elliot pride could +not endure to make a third in a one horse chaise. + +The walking party had crossed the lane, and were surmounting an +opposite stile, and the Admiral was putting his horse in motion again, +when Captain Wentworth cleared the hedge in a moment to say something +to his sister. The something might be guessed by its effects. + +"Miss Elliot, I am sure you are tired," cried Mrs Croft. "Do let us +have the pleasure of taking you home. Here is excellent room for +three, I assure you. If we were all like you, I believe we might sit +four. You must, indeed, you must." + +Anne was still in the lane; and though instinctively beginning to +decline, she was not allowed to proceed. The Admiral's kind urgency +came in support of his wife's; they would not be refused; they +compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to leave her a +corner, and Captain Wentworth, without saying a word, turned to her, +and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the carriage. + +Yes; he had done it. She was in the carriage, and felt that he had +placed her there, that his will and his hands had done it, that she +owed it to his perception of her fatigue, and his resolution to give +her rest. She was very much affected by the view of his disposition +towards her, which all these things made apparent. This little +circumstance seemed the completion of all that had gone before. She +understood him. He could not forgive her, but he could not be +unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with +high and unjust resentment, though perfectly careless of her, and +though becoming attached to another, still he could not see her suffer, +without the desire of giving her relief. It was a remainder of former +sentiment; it was an impulse of pure, though unacknowledged friendship; +it was a proof of his own warm and amiable heart, which she could not +contemplate without emotions so compounded of pleasure and pain, that +she knew not which prevailed. + +Her answers to the kindness and the remarks of her companions were at +first unconsciously given. They had travelled half their way along the +rough lane, before she was quite awake to what they said. She then +found them talking of "Frederick." + +"He certainly means to have one or other of those two girls, Sophy," +said the Admiral; "but there is no saying which. He has been running +after them, too, long enough, one would think, to make up his mind. +Ay, this comes of the peace. If it were war now, he would have settled +it long ago. We sailors, Miss Elliot, cannot afford to make long +courtships in time of war. How many days was it, my dear, between the +first time of my seeing you and our sitting down together in our +lodgings at North Yarmouth?" + +"We had better not talk about it, my dear," replied Mrs Croft, +pleasantly; "for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an +understanding, she would never be persuaded that we could be happy +together. I had known you by character, however, long before." + +"Well, and I had heard of you as a very pretty girl, and what were we +to wait for besides? I do not like having such things so long in hand. +I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass, and bring us home +one of these young ladies to Kellynch. Then there would always be +company for them. And very nice young ladies they both are; I hardly +know one from the other." + +"Very good humoured, unaffected girls, indeed," said Mrs Croft, in a +tone of calmer praise, such as made Anne suspect that her keener powers +might not consider either of them as quite worthy of her brother; "and +a very respectable family. One could not be connected with better +people. My dear Admiral, that post! we shall certainly take that +post." + +But by coolly giving the reins a better direction herself they happily +passed the danger; and by once afterwards judiciously putting out her +hand they neither fell into a rut, nor ran foul of a dung-cart; and +Anne, with some amusement at their style of driving, which she imagined +no bad representation of the general guidance of their affairs, found +herself safely deposited by them at the Cottage. + + + +Chapter 11 + + +The time now approached for Lady Russell's return: the day was even +fixed; and Anne, being engaged to join her as soon as she was +resettled, was looking forward to an early removal to Kellynch, and +beginning to think how her own comfort was likely to be affected by it. + +It would place her in the same village with Captain Wentworth, within +half a mile of him; they would have to frequent the same church, and +there must be intercourse between the two families. This was against +her; but on the other hand, he spent so much of his time at Uppercross, +that in removing thence she might be considered rather as leaving him +behind, than as going towards him; and, upon the whole, she believed +she must, on this interesting question, be the gainer, almost as +certainly as in her change of domestic society, in leaving poor Mary +for Lady Russell. + +She wished it might be possible for her to avoid ever seeing Captain +Wentworth at the Hall: those rooms had witnessed former meetings which +would be brought too painfully before her; but she was yet more anxious +for the possibility of Lady Russell and Captain Wentworth never meeting +anywhere. They did not like each other, and no renewal of acquaintance +now could do any good; and were Lady Russell to see them together, she +might think that he had too much self-possession, and she too little. + +These points formed her chief solicitude in anticipating her removal +from Uppercross, where she felt she had been stationed quite long +enough. Her usefulness to little Charles would always give some +sweetness to the memory of her two months' visit there, but he was +gaining strength apace, and she had nothing else to stay for. + +The conclusion of her visit, however, was diversified in a way which +she had not at all imagined. Captain Wentworth, after being unseen and +unheard of at Uppercross for two whole days, appeared again among them +to justify himself by a relation of what had kept him away. + +A letter from his friend, Captain Harville, having found him out at +last, had brought intelligence of Captain Harville's being settled with +his family at Lyme for the winter; of their being therefore, quite +unknowingly, within twenty miles of each other. Captain Harville had +never been in good health since a severe wound which he received two +years before, and Captain Wentworth's anxiety to see him had determined +him to go immediately to Lyme. He had been there for four-and-twenty +hours. His acquittal was complete, his friendship warmly honoured, a +lively interest excited for his friend, and his description of the fine +country about Lyme so feelingly attended to by the party, that an +earnest desire to see Lyme themselves, and a project for going thither +was the consequence. + +The young people were all wild to see Lyme. Captain Wentworth talked +of going there again himself, it was only seventeen miles from +Uppercross; though November, the weather was by no means bad; and, in +short, Louisa, who was the most eager of the eager, having formed the +resolution to go, and besides the pleasure of doing as she liked, being +now armed with the idea of merit in maintaining her own way, bore down +all the wishes of her father and mother for putting it off till summer; +and to Lyme they were to go--Charles, Mary, Anne, Henrietta, Louisa, +and Captain Wentworth. + +The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and return at +night; but to this Mr Musgrove, for the sake of his horses, would not +consent; and when it came to be rationally considered, a day in the +middle of November would not leave much time for seeing a new place, +after deducting seven hours, as the nature of the country required, for +going and returning. They were, consequently, to stay the night there, +and not to be expected back till the next day's dinner. This was felt +to be a considerable amendment; and though they all met at the Great +House at rather an early breakfast hour, and set off very punctually, +it was so much past noon before the two carriages, Mr Musgrove's coach +containing the four ladies, and Charles's curricle, in which he drove +Captain Wentworth, were descending the long hill into Lyme, and +entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself, that it was +very evident they would not have more than time for looking about them, +before the light and warmth of the day were gone. + +After securing accommodations, and ordering a dinner at one of the +inns, the next thing to be done was unquestionably to walk directly +down to the sea. They were come too late in the year for any amusement +or variety which Lyme, as a public place, might offer. The rooms were +shut up, the lodgers almost all gone, scarcely any family but of the +residents left; and, as there is nothing to admire in the buildings +themselves, the remarkable situation of the town, the principal street +almost hurrying into the water, the walk to the Cobb, skirting round +the pleasant little bay, which, in the season, is animated with bathing +machines and company; the Cobb itself, its old wonders and new +improvements, with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to +the east of the town, are what the stranger's eye will seek; and a very +strange stranger it must be, who does not see charms in the immediate +environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better. The scenes in +its neighbourhood, Charmouth, with its high grounds and extensive +sweeps of country, and still more, its sweet, retired bay, backed by +dark cliffs, where fragments of low rock among the sands, make it the +happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide, for sitting in +unwearied contemplation; the woody varieties of the cheerful village of +Up Lyme; and, above all, Pinny, with its green chasms between romantic +rocks, where the scattered forest trees and orchards of luxuriant +growth, declare that many a generation must have passed away since the +first partial falling of the cliff prepared the ground for such a +state, where a scene so wonderful and so lovely is exhibited, as may +more than equal any of the resembling scenes of the far-famed Isle of +Wight: these places must be visited, and visited again, to make the +worth of Lyme understood. + +The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted and +melancholy looking rooms, and still descending, soon found themselves +on the sea-shore; and lingering only, as all must linger and gaze on a +first return to the sea, who ever deserved to look on it at all, +proceeded towards the Cobb, equally their object in itself and on +Captain Wentworth's account: for in a small house, near the foot of an +old pier of unknown date, were the Harvilles settled. Captain +Wentworth turned in to call on his friend; the others walked on, and he +was to join them on the Cobb. + +They were by no means tired of wondering and admiring; and not even +Louisa seemed to feel that they had parted with Captain Wentworth long, +when they saw him coming after them, with three companions, all well +known already, by description, to be Captain and Mrs Harville, and a +Captain Benwick, who was staying with them. + +Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the Laconia; +and the account which Captain Wentworth had given of him, on his return +from Lyme before, his warm praise of him as an excellent young man and +an officer, whom he had always valued highly, which must have stamped +him well in the esteem of every listener, had been followed by a little +history of his private life, which rendered him perfectly interesting +in the eyes of all the ladies. He had been engaged to Captain +Harville's sister, and was now mourning her loss. They had been a year +or two waiting for fortune and promotion. Fortune came, his +prize-money as lieutenant being great; promotion, too, came at last; +but Fanny Harville did not live to know it. She had died the preceding +summer while he was at sea. Captain Wentworth believed it impossible +for man to be more attached to woman than poor Benwick had been to +Fanny Harville, or to be more deeply afflicted under the dreadful +change. He considered his disposition as of the sort which must suffer +heavily, uniting very strong feelings with quiet, serious, and retiring +manners, and a decided taste for reading, and sedentary pursuits. To +finish the interest of the story, the friendship between him and the +Harvilles seemed, if possible, augmented by the event which closed all +their views of alliance, and Captain Benwick was now living with them +entirely. Captain Harville had taken his present house for half a +year; his taste, and his health, and his fortune, all directing him to +a residence inexpensive, and by the sea; and the grandeur of the +country, and the retirement of Lyme in the winter, appeared exactly +adapted to Captain Benwick's state of mind. The sympathy and good-will +excited towards Captain Benwick was very great. + +"And yet," said Anne to herself, as they now moved forward to meet the +party, "he has not, perhaps, a more sorrowing heart than I have. I +cannot believe his prospects so blighted for ever. He is younger than +I am; younger in feeling, if not in fact; younger as a man. He will +rally again, and be happy with another." + +They all met, and were introduced. Captain Harville was a tall, dark +man, with a sensible, benevolent countenance; a little lame; and from +strong features and want of health, looking much older than Captain +Wentworth. Captain Benwick looked, and was, the youngest of the three, +and, compared with either of them, a little man. He had a pleasing +face and a melancholy air, just as he ought to have, and drew back from +conversation. + +Captain Harville, though not equalling Captain Wentworth in manners, +was a perfect gentleman, unaffected, warm, and obliging. Mrs Harville, +a degree less polished than her husband, seemed, however, to have the +same good feelings; and nothing could be more pleasant than their +desire of considering the whole party as friends of their own, because +the friends of Captain Wentworth, or more kindly hospitable than their +entreaties for their all promising to dine with them. The dinner, +already ordered at the inn, was at last, though unwillingly, accepted +as a excuse; but they seemed almost hurt that Captain Wentworth should +have brought any such party to Lyme, without considering it as a thing +of course that they should dine with them. + +There was so much attachment to Captain Wentworth in all this, and such +a bewitching charm in a degree of hospitality so uncommon, so unlike +the usual style of give-and-take invitations, and dinners of formality +and display, that Anne felt her spirits not likely to be benefited by +an increasing acquaintance among his brother-officers. "These would +have been all my friends," was her thought; and she had to struggle +against a great tendency to lowness. + +On quitting the Cobb, they all went in-doors with their new friends, +and found rooms so small as none but those who invite from the heart +could think capable of accommodating so many. Anne had a moment's +astonishment on the subject herself; but it was soon lost in the +pleasanter feelings which sprang from the sight of all the ingenious +contrivances and nice arrangements of Captain Harville, to turn the +actual space to the best account, to supply the deficiencies of +lodging-house furniture, and defend the windows and doors against the +winter storms to be expected. The varieties in the fitting-up of the +rooms, where the common necessaries provided by the owner, in the +common indifferent plight, were contrasted with some few articles of a +rare species of wood, excellently worked up, and with something curious +and valuable from all the distant countries Captain Harville had +visited, were more than amusing to Anne; connected as it all was with +his profession, the fruit of its labours, the effect of its influence +on his habits, the picture of repose and domestic happiness it +presented, made it to her a something more, or less, than gratification. + +Captain Harville was no reader; but he had contrived excellent +accommodations, and fashioned very pretty shelves, for a tolerable +collection of well-bound volumes, the property of Captain Benwick. His +lameness prevented him from taking much exercise; but a mind of +usefulness and ingenuity seemed to furnish him with constant employment +within. He drew, he varnished, he carpentered, he glued; he made toys +for the children; he fashioned new netting-needles and pins with +improvements; and if everything else was done, sat down to his large +fishing-net at one corner of the room. + +Anne thought she left great happiness behind her when they quitted the +house; and Louisa, by whom she found herself walking, burst forth into +raptures of admiration and delight on the character of the navy; their +friendliness, their brotherliness, their openness, their uprightness; +protesting that she was convinced of sailors having more worth and +warmth than any other set of men in England; that they only knew how to +live, and they only deserved to be respected and loved. + +They went back to dress and dine; and so well had the scheme answered +already, that nothing was found amiss; though its being "so entirely +out of season," and the "no thoroughfare of Lyme," and the "no +expectation of company," had brought many apologies from the heads of +the inn. + +Anne found herself by this time growing so much more hardened to being +in Captain Wentworth's company than she had at first imagined could +ever be, that the sitting down to the same table with him now, and the +interchange of the common civilities attending on it (they never got +beyond), was become a mere nothing. + +The nights were too dark for the ladies to meet again till the morrow, +but Captain Harville had promised them a visit in the evening; and he +came, bringing his friend also, which was more than had been expected, +it having been agreed that Captain Benwick had all the appearance of +being oppressed by the presence of so many strangers. He ventured +among them again, however, though his spirits certainly did not seem +fit for the mirth of the party in general. + +While Captains Wentworth and Harville led the talk on one side of the +room, and by recurring to former days, supplied anecdotes in abundance +to occupy and entertain the others, it fell to Anne's lot to be placed +rather apart with Captain Benwick; and a very good impulse of her +nature obliged her to begin an acquaintance with him. He was shy, and +disposed to abstraction; but the engaging mildness of her countenance, +and gentleness of her manners, soon had their effect; and Anne was well +repaid the first trouble of exertion. He was evidently a young man of +considerable taste in reading, though principally in poetry; and +besides the persuasion of having given him at least an evening's +indulgence in the discussion of subjects, which his usual companions +had probably no concern in, she had the hope of being of real use to +him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling +against affliction, which had naturally grown out of their +conversation. For, though shy, he did not seem reserved; it had rather +the appearance of feelings glad to burst their usual restraints; and +having talked of poetry, the richness of the present age, and gone +through a brief comparison of opinion as to the first-rate poets, +trying to ascertain whether Marmion or The Lady of the Lake were to be +preferred, and how ranked the Giaour and The Bride of Abydos; and +moreover, how the Giaour was to be pronounced, he showed himself so +intimately acquainted with all the tenderest songs of the one poet, and +all the impassioned descriptions of hopeless agony of the other; he +repeated, with such tremulous feeling, the various lines which imaged a +broken heart, or a mind destroyed by wretchedness, and looked so +entirely as if he meant to be understood, that she ventured to hope he +did not always read only poetry, and to say, that she thought it was +the misfortune of poetry to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who +enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could +estimate it truly were the very feelings which ought to taste it but +sparingly. + +His looks shewing him not pained, but pleased with this allusion to his +situation, she was emboldened to go on; and feeling in herself the +right of seniority of mind, she ventured to recommend a larger +allowance of prose in his daily study; and on being requested to +particularize, mentioned such works of our best moralists, such +collections of the finest letters, such memoirs of characters of worth +and suffering, as occurred to her at the moment as calculated to rouse +and fortify the mind by the highest precepts, and the strongest +examples of moral and religious endurances. + +Captain Benwick listened attentively, and seemed grateful for the +interest implied; and though with a shake of the head, and sighs which +declared his little faith in the efficacy of any books on grief like +his, noted down the names of those she recommended, and promised to +procure and read them. + +When the evening was over, Anne could not but be amused at the idea of +her coming to Lyme to preach patience and resignation to a young man +whom she had never seen before; nor could she help fearing, on more +serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and +preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct +would ill bear examination. + + + +Chapter 12 + + +Anne and Henrietta, finding themselves the earliest of the party the +next morning, agreed to stroll down to the sea before breakfast. They +went to the sands, to watch the flowing of the tide, which a fine +south-easterly breeze was bringing in with all the grandeur which so +flat a shore admitted. They praised the morning; gloried in the sea; +sympathized in the delight of the fresh-feeling breeze--and were +silent; till Henrietta suddenly began again with-- + +"Oh! yes,--I am quite convinced that, with very few exceptions, the +sea-air always does good. There can be no doubt of its having been of +the greatest service to Dr Shirley, after his illness, last spring +twelve-month. He declares himself, that coming to Lyme for a month, +did him more good than all the medicine he took; and, that being by the +sea, always makes him feel young again. Now, I cannot help thinking it +a pity that he does not live entirely by the sea. I do think he had +better leave Uppercross entirely, and fix at Lyme. Do not you, Anne? +Do not you agree with me, that it is the best thing he could do, both +for himself and Mrs Shirley? She has cousins here, you know, and many +acquaintance, which would make it cheerful for her, and I am sure she +would be glad to get to a place where she could have medical attendance +at hand, in case of his having another seizure. Indeed I think it +quite melancholy to have such excellent people as Dr and Mrs Shirley, +who have been doing good all their lives, wearing out their last days +in a place like Uppercross, where, excepting our family, they seem shut +out from all the world. I wish his friends would propose it to him. I +really think they ought. And, as to procuring a dispensation, there +could be no difficulty at his time of life, and with his character. My +only doubt is, whether anything could persuade him to leave his parish. +He is so very strict and scrupulous in his notions; over-scrupulous I +must say. Do not you think, Anne, it is being over-scrupulous? Do not +you think it is quite a mistaken point of conscience, when a clergyman +sacrifices his health for the sake of duties, which may be just as well +performed by another person? And at Lyme too, only seventeen miles +off, he would be near enough to hear, if people thought there was +anything to complain of." + +Anne smiled more than once to herself during this speech, and entered +into the subject, as ready to do good by entering into the feelings of +a young lady as of a young man, though here it was good of a lower +standard, for what could be offered but general acquiescence? She said +all that was reasonable and proper on the business; felt the claims of +Dr Shirley to repose as she ought; saw how very desirable it was that +he should have some active, respectable young man, as a resident +curate, and was even courteous enough to hint at the advantage of such +resident curate's being married. + +"I wish," said Henrietta, very well pleased with her companion, "I wish +Lady Russell lived at Uppercross, and were intimate with Dr Shirley. I +have always heard of Lady Russell as a woman of the greatest influence +with everybody! I always look upon her as able to persuade a person to +anything! I am afraid of her, as I have told you before, quite afraid +of her, because she is so very clever; but I respect her amazingly, and +wish we had such a neighbour at Uppercross." + +Anne was amused by Henrietta's manner of being grateful, and amused +also that the course of events and the new interests of Henrietta's +views should have placed her friend at all in favour with any of the +Musgrove family; she had only time, however, for a general answer, and +a wish that such another woman were at Uppercross, before all subjects +suddenly ceased, on seeing Louisa and Captain Wentworth coming towards +them. They came also for a stroll till breakfast was likely to be +ready; but Louisa recollecting, immediately afterwards that she had +something to procure at a shop, invited them all to go back with her +into the town. They were all at her disposal. + +When they came to the steps, leading upwards from the beach, a +gentleman, at the same moment preparing to come down, politely drew +back, and stopped to give them way. They ascended and passed him; and +as they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a +degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of. +She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty +features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine +wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of +eye which it had also produced. It was evident that the gentleman, +(completely a gentleman in manner) admired her exceedingly. Captain +Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed his +noticing of it. He gave her a momentary glance, a glance of +brightness, which seemed to say, "That man is struck with you, and even +I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again." + +After attending Louisa through her business, and loitering about a +little longer, they returned to the inn; and Anne, in passing +afterwards quickly from her own chamber to their dining-room, had +nearly run against the very same gentleman, as he came out of an +adjoining apartment. She had before conjectured him to be a stranger +like themselves, and determined that a well-looking groom, who was +strolling about near the two inns as they came back, should be his +servant. Both master and man being in mourning assisted the idea. It +was now proved that he belonged to the same inn as themselves; and this +second meeting, short as it was, also proved again by the gentleman's +looks, that he thought hers very lovely, and by the readiness and +propriety of his apologies, that he was a man of exceedingly good +manners. He seemed about thirty, and though not handsome, had an +agreeable person. Anne felt that she should like to know who he was. + +They had nearly done breakfast, when the sound of a carriage, (almost +the first they had heard since entering Lyme) drew half the party to +the window. It was a gentleman's carriage, a curricle, but only coming +round from the stable-yard to the front door; somebody must be going +away. It was driven by a servant in mourning. + +The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up that he might compare +it with his own; the servant in mourning roused Anne's curiosity, and +the whole six were collected to look, by the time the owner of the +curricle was to be seen issuing from the door amidst the bows and +civilities of the household, and taking his seat, to drive off. + +"Ah!" cried Captain Wentworth, instantly, and with half a glance at +Anne, "it is the very man we passed." + +The Miss Musgroves agreed to it; and having all kindly watched him as +far up the hill as they could, they returned to the breakfast table. +The waiter came into the room soon afterwards. + +"Pray," said Captain Wentworth, immediately, "can you tell us the name +of the gentleman who is just gone away?" + +"Yes, Sir, a Mr Elliot, a gentleman of large fortune, came in last +night from Sidmouth. Dare say you heard the carriage, sir, while you +were at dinner; and going on now for Crewkherne, in his way to Bath and +London." + +"Elliot!" Many had looked on each other, and many had repeated the +name, before all this had been got through, even by the smart rapidity +of a waiter. + +"Bless me!" cried Mary; "it must be our cousin; it must be our Mr +Elliot, it must, indeed! Charles, Anne, must not it? In mourning, you +see, just as our Mr Elliot must be. How very extraordinary! In the +very same inn with us! Anne, must not it be our Mr Elliot? my +father's next heir? Pray sir," turning to the waiter, "did not you +hear, did not his servant say whether he belonged to the Kellynch +family?" + +"No, ma'am, he did not mention no particular family; but he said his +master was a very rich gentleman, and would be a baronight some day." + +"There! you see!" cried Mary in an ecstasy, "just as I said! Heir to +Sir Walter Elliot! I was sure that would come out, if it was so. +Depend upon it, that is a circumstance which his servants take care to +publish, wherever he goes. But, Anne, only conceive how extraordinary! +I wish I had looked at him more. I wish we had been aware in time, who +it was, that he might have been introduced to us. What a pity that we +should not have been introduced to each other! Do you think he had the +Elliot countenance? I hardly looked at him, I was looking at the +horses; but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance, I +wonder the arms did not strike me! Oh! the great-coat was hanging over +the panel, and hid the arms, so it did; otherwise, I am sure, I should +have observed them, and the livery too; if the servant had not been in +mourning, one should have known him by the livery." + +"Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together," said +Captain Wentworth, "we must consider it to be the arrangement of +Providence, that you should not be introduced to your cousin." + +When she could command Mary's attention, Anne quietly tried to convince +her that their father and Mr Elliot had not, for many years, been on +such terms as to make the power of attempting an introduction at all +desirable. + +At the same time, however, it was a secret gratification to herself to +have seen her cousin, and to know that the future owner of Kellynch was +undoubtedly a gentleman, and had an air of good sense. She would not, +upon any account, mention her having met with him the second time; +luckily Mary did not much attend to their having passed close by him in +their earlier walk, but she would have felt quite ill-used by Anne's +having actually run against him in the passage, and received his very +polite excuses, while she had never been near him at all; no, that +cousinly little interview must remain a perfect secret. + +"Of course," said Mary, "you will mention our seeing Mr Elliot, the +next time you write to Bath. I think my father certainly ought to hear +of it; do mention all about him." + +Anne avoided a direct reply, but it was just the circumstance which she +considered as not merely unnecessary to be communicated, but as what +ought to be suppressed. The offence which had been given her father, +many years back, she knew; Elizabeth's particular share in it she +suspected; and that Mr Elliot's idea always produced irritation in both +was beyond a doubt. Mary never wrote to Bath herself; all the toil of +keeping up a slow and unsatisfactory correspondence with Elizabeth fell +on Anne. + +Breakfast had not been long over, when they were joined by Captain and +Mrs Harville and Captain Benwick; with whom they had appointed to take +their last walk about Lyme. They ought to be setting off for +Uppercross by one, and in the mean while were to be all together, and +out of doors as long as they could. + +Anne found Captain Benwick getting near her, as soon as they were all +fairly in the street. Their conversation the preceding evening did not +disincline him to seek her again; and they walked together some time, +talking as before of Mr Scott and Lord Byron, and still as unable as +before, and as unable as any other two readers, to think exactly alike +of the merits of either, till something occasioned an almost general +change amongst their party, and instead of Captain Benwick, she had +Captain Harville by her side. + +"Miss Elliot," said he, speaking rather low, "you have done a good deed +in making that poor fellow talk so much. I wish he could have such +company oftener. It is bad for him, I know, to be shut up as he is; +but what can we do? We cannot part." + +"No," said Anne, "that I can easily believe to be impossible; but in +time, perhaps--we know what time does in every case of affliction, and +you must remember, Captain Harville, that your friend may yet be called +a young mourner--only last summer, I understand." + +"Ay, true enough," (with a deep sigh) "only June." + +"And not known to him, perhaps, so soon." + +"Not till the first week of August, when he came home from the Cape, +just made into the Grappler. I was at Plymouth dreading to hear of +him; he sent in letters, but the Grappler was under orders for +Portsmouth. There the news must follow him, but who was to tell it? +not I. I would as soon have been run up to the yard-arm. Nobody could +do it, but that good fellow" (pointing to Captain Wentworth.) "The +Laconia had come into Plymouth the week before; no danger of her being +sent to sea again. He stood his chance for the rest; wrote up for +leave of absence, but without waiting the return, travelled night and +day till he got to Portsmouth, rowed off to the Grappler that instant, +and never left the poor fellow for a week. That's what he did, and +nobody else could have saved poor James. You may think, Miss Elliot, +whether he is dear to us!" + +Anne did think on the question with perfect decision, and said as much +in reply as her own feeling could accomplish, or as his seemed able to +bear, for he was too much affected to renew the subject, and when he +spoke again, it was of something totally different. + +Mrs Harville's giving it as her opinion that her husband would have +quite walking enough by the time he reached home, determined the +direction of all the party in what was to be their last walk; they +would accompany them to their door, and then return and set off +themselves. By all their calculations there was just time for this; +but as they drew near the Cobb, there was such a general wish to walk +along it once more, all were so inclined, and Louisa soon grew so +determined, that the difference of a quarter of an hour, it was found, +would be no difference at all; so with all the kind leave-taking, and +all the kind interchange of invitations and promises which may be +imagined, they parted from Captain and Mrs Harville at their own door, +and still accompanied by Captain Benwick, who seemed to cling to them +to the last, proceeded to make the proper adieus to the Cobb. + +Anne found Captain Benwick again drawing near her. Lord Byron's "dark +blue seas" could not fail of being brought forward by their present +view, and she gladly gave him all her attention as long as attention +was possible. It was soon drawn, perforce another way. + +There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant +for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower, and +all were contented to pass quietly and carefully down the steep flight, +excepting Louisa; she must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth. +In all their walks, he had had to jump her from the stiles; the +sensation was delightful to her. The hardness of the pavement for her +feet, made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, +however. She was safely down, and instantly, to show her enjoyment, +ran up the steps to be jumped down again. He advised her against it, +thought the jar too great; but no, he reasoned and talked in vain, she +smiled and said, "I am determined I will:" he put out his hands; she +was too precipitate by half a second, she fell on the pavement on the +Lower Cobb, and was taken up lifeless! There was no wound, no blood, +no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face +was like death. The horror of the moment to all who stood around! + +Captain Wentworth, who had caught her up, knelt with her in his arms, +looking on her with a face as pallid as her own, in an agony of +silence. "She is dead! she is dead!" screamed Mary, catching hold of +her husband, and contributing with his own horror to make him +immoveable; and in another moment, Henrietta, sinking under the +conviction, lost her senses too, and would have fallen on the steps, +but for Captain Benwick and Anne, who caught and supported her between +them. + +"Is there no one to help me?" were the first words which burst from +Captain Wentworth, in a tone of despair, and as if all his own strength +were gone. + +"Go to him, go to him," cried Anne, "for heaven's sake go to him. I +can support her myself. Leave me, and go to him. Rub her hands, rub +her temples; here are salts; take them, take them." + +Captain Benwick obeyed, and Charles at the same moment, disengaging +himself from his wife, they were both with him; and Louisa was raised +up and supported more firmly between them, and everything was done that +Anne had prompted, but in vain; while Captain Wentworth, staggering +against the wall for his support, exclaimed in the bitterest agony-- + +"Oh God! her father and mother!" + +"A surgeon!" said Anne. + +He caught the word; it seemed to rouse him at once, and saying only-- +"True, true, a surgeon this instant," was darting away, when Anne +eagerly suggested-- + +"Captain Benwick, would not it be better for Captain Benwick? He knows +where a surgeon is to be found." + +Every one capable of thinking felt the advantage of the idea, and in a +moment (it was all done in rapid moments) Captain Benwick had resigned +the poor corpse-like figure entirely to the brother's care, and was +off for the town with the utmost rapidity. + +As to the wretched party left behind, it could scarcely be said which +of the three, who were completely rational, was suffering most: Captain +Wentworth, Anne, or Charles, who, really a very affectionate brother, +hung over Louisa with sobs of grief, and could only turn his eyes from +one sister, to see the other in a state as insensible, or to witness +the hysterical agitations of his wife, calling on him for help which he +could not give. + +Anne, attending with all the strength and zeal, and thought, which +instinct supplied, to Henrietta, still tried, at intervals, to suggest +comfort to the others, tried to quiet Mary, to animate Charles, to +assuage the feelings of Captain Wentworth. Both seemed to look to her +for directions. + +"Anne, Anne," cried Charles, "What is to be done next? What, in +heaven's name, is to be done next?" + +Captain Wentworth's eyes were also turned towards her. + +"Had not she better be carried to the inn? Yes, I am sure: carry her +gently to the inn." + +"Yes, yes, to the inn," repeated Captain Wentworth, comparatively +collected, and eager to be doing something. "I will carry her myself. +Musgrove, take care of the others." + +By this time the report of the accident had spread among the workmen +and boatmen about the Cobb, and many were collected near them, to be +useful if wanted, at any rate, to enjoy the sight of a dead young lady, +nay, two dead young ladies, for it proved twice as fine as the first +report. To some of the best-looking of these good people Henrietta was +consigned, for, though partially revived, she was quite helpless; and +in this manner, Anne walking by her side, and Charles attending to his +wife, they set forward, treading back with feelings unutterable, the +ground, which so lately, so very lately, and so light of heart, they +had passed along. + +They were not off the Cobb, before the Harvilles met them. Captain +Benwick had been seen flying by their house, with a countenance which +showed something to be wrong; and they had set off immediately, +informed and directed as they passed, towards the spot. Shocked as +Captain Harville was, he brought senses and nerves that could be +instantly useful; and a look between him and his wife decided what was +to be done. She must be taken to their house; all must go to their +house; and await the surgeon's arrival there. They would not listen to +scruples: he was obeyed; they were all beneath his roof; and while +Louisa, under Mrs Harville's direction, was conveyed up stairs, and +given possession of her own bed, assistance, cordials, restoratives +were supplied by her husband to all who needed them. + +Louisa had once opened her eyes, but soon closed them again, without +apparent consciousness. This had been a proof of life, however, of +service to her sister; and Henrietta, though perfectly incapable of +being in the same room with Louisa, was kept, by the agitation of hope +and fear, from a return of her own insensibility. Mary, too, was +growing calmer. + +The surgeon was with them almost before it had seemed possible. They +were sick with horror, while he examined; but he was not hopeless. The +head had received a severe contusion, but he had seen greater injuries +recovered from: he was by no means hopeless; he spoke cheerfully. + +That he did not regard it as a desperate case, that he did not say a +few hours must end it, was at first felt, beyond the hope of most; and +the ecstasy of such a reprieve, the rejoicing, deep and silent, after a +few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had been offered, may +be conceived. + +The tone, the look, with which "Thank God!" was uttered by Captain +Wentworth, Anne was sure could never be forgotten by her; nor the sight +of him afterwards, as he sat near a table, leaning over it with folded +arms and face concealed, as if overpowered by the various feelings of +his soul, and trying by prayer and reflection to calm them. + +Louisa's limbs had escaped. There was no injury but to the head. + +It now became necessary for the party to consider what was best to be +done, as to their general situation. They were now able to speak to +each other and consult. That Louisa must remain where she was, however +distressing to her friends to be involving the Harvilles in such +trouble, did not admit a doubt. Her removal was impossible. The +Harvilles silenced all scruples; and, as much as they could, all +gratitude. They had looked forward and arranged everything before the +others began to reflect. Captain Benwick must give up his room to +them, and get another bed elsewhere; and the whole was settled. They +were only concerned that the house could accommodate no more; and yet +perhaps, by "putting the children away in the maid's room, or swinging +a cot somewhere," they could hardly bear to think of not finding room +for two or three besides, supposing they might wish to stay; though, +with regard to any attendance on Miss Musgrove, there need not be the +least uneasiness in leaving her to Mrs Harville's care entirely. Mrs +Harville was a very experienced nurse, and her nursery-maid, who had +lived with her long, and gone about with her everywhere, was just such +another. Between these two, she could want no possible attendance by +day or night. And all this was said with a truth and sincerity of +feeling irresistible. + +Charles, Henrietta, and Captain Wentworth were the three in +consultation, and for a little while it was only an interchange of +perplexity and terror. "Uppercross, the necessity of some one's going +to Uppercross; the news to be conveyed; how it could be broken to Mr +and Mrs Musgrove; the lateness of the morning; an hour already gone +since they ought to have been off; the impossibility of being in +tolerable time." At first, they were capable of nothing more to the +purpose than such exclamations; but, after a while, Captain Wentworth, +exerting himself, said-- + +"We must be decided, and without the loss of another minute. Every +minute is valuable. Some one must resolve on being off for Uppercross +instantly. Musgrove, either you or I must go." + +Charles agreed, but declared his resolution of not going away. He +would be as little incumbrance as possible to Captain and Mrs Harville; +but as to leaving his sister in such a state, he neither ought, nor +would. So far it was decided; and Henrietta at first declared the +same. She, however, was soon persuaded to think differently. The +usefulness of her staying! She who had not been able to remain in +Louisa's room, or to look at her, without sufferings which made her +worse than helpless! She was forced to acknowledge that she could do +no good, yet was still unwilling to be away, till, touched by the +thought of her father and mother, she gave it up; she consented, she +was anxious to be at home. + +The plan had reached this point, when Anne, coming quietly down from +Louisa's room, could not but hear what followed, for the parlour door +was open. + +"Then it is settled, Musgrove," cried Captain Wentworth, "that you +stay, and that I take care of your sister home. But as to the rest, as +to the others, if one stays to assist Mrs Harville, I think it need be +only one. Mrs Charles Musgrove will, of course, wish to get back to +her children; but if Anne will stay, no one so proper, so capable as +Anne." + +She paused a moment to recover from the emotion of hearing herself so +spoken of. The other two warmly agreed with what he said, and she then +appeared. + +"You will stay, I am sure; you will stay and nurse her;" cried he, +turning to her and speaking with a glow, and yet a gentleness, which +seemed almost restoring the past. She coloured deeply, and he +recollected himself and moved away. She expressed herself most +willing, ready, happy to remain. "It was what she had been thinking +of, and wishing to be allowed to do. A bed on the floor in Louisa's +room would be sufficient for her, if Mrs Harville would but think so." + +One thing more, and all seemed arranged. Though it was rather +desirable that Mr and Mrs Musgrove should be previously alarmed by some +share of delay; yet the time required by the Uppercross horses to take +them back, would be a dreadful extension of suspense; and Captain +Wentworth proposed, and Charles Musgrove agreed, that it would be much +better for him to take a chaise from the inn, and leave Mr Musgrove's +carriage and horses to be sent home the next morning early, when there +would be the farther advantage of sending an account of Louisa's night. + +Captain Wentworth now hurried off to get everything ready on his part, +and to be soon followed by the two ladies. When the plan was made +known to Mary, however, there was an end of all peace in it. She was +so wretched and so vehement, complained so much of injustice in being +expected to go away instead of Anne; Anne, who was nothing to Louisa, +while she was her sister, and had the best right to stay in Henrietta's +stead! Why was not she to be as useful as Anne? And to go home +without Charles, too, without her husband! No, it was too unkind. And +in short, she said more than her husband could long withstand, and as +none of the others could oppose when he gave way, there was no help for +it; the change of Mary for Anne was inevitable. + +Anne had never submitted more reluctantly to the jealous and +ill-judging claims of Mary; but so it must be, and they set off for the +town, Charles taking care of his sister, and Captain Benwick attending +to her. She gave a moment's recollection, as they hurried along, to +the little circumstances which the same spots had witnessed earlier in +the morning. There she had listened to Henrietta's schemes for Dr +Shirley's leaving Uppercross; farther on, she had first seen Mr Elliot; +a moment seemed all that could now be given to any one but Louisa, or +those who were wrapt up in her welfare. + +Captain Benwick was most considerately attentive to her; and, united as +they all seemed by the distress of the day, she felt an increasing +degree of good-will towards him, and a pleasure even in thinking that +it might, perhaps, be the occasion of continuing their acquaintance. + +Captain Wentworth was on the watch for them, and a chaise and four in +waiting, stationed for their convenience in the lowest part of the +street; but his evident surprise and vexation at the substitution of +one sister for the other, the change in his countenance, the +astonishment, the expressions begun and suppressed, with which Charles +was listened to, made but a mortifying reception of Anne; or must at +least convince her that she was valued only as she could be useful to +Louisa. + +She endeavoured to be composed, and to be just. Without emulating the +feelings of an Emma towards her Henry, she would have attended on +Louisa with a zeal above the common claims of regard, for his sake; and +she hoped he would not long be so unjust as to suppose she would shrink +unnecessarily from the office of a friend. + +In the mean while she was in the carriage. He had handed them both in, +and placed himself between them; and in this manner, under these +circumstances, full of astonishment and emotion to Anne, she quitted +Lyme. How the long stage would pass; how it was to affect their +manners; what was to be their sort of intercourse, she could not +foresee. It was all quite natural, however. He was devoted to +Henrietta; always turning towards her; and when he spoke at all, always +with the view of supporting her hopes and raising her spirits. In +general, his voice and manner were studiously calm. To spare Henrietta +from agitation seemed the governing principle. Once only, when she had +been grieving over the last ill-judged, ill-fated walk to the Cobb, +bitterly lamenting that it ever had been thought of, he burst forth, as +if wholly overcome-- + +"Don't talk of it, don't talk of it," he cried. "Oh God! that I had +not given way to her at the fatal moment! Had I done as I ought! But +so eager and so resolute! Dear, sweet Louisa!" + +Anne wondered whether it ever occurred to him now, to question the +justness of his own previous opinion as to the universal felicity and +advantage of firmness of character; and whether it might not strike him +that, like all other qualities of the mind, it should have its +proportions and limits. She thought it could scarcely escape him to +feel that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of +happiness as a very resolute character. + +They got on fast. Anne was astonished to recognise the same hills and +the same objects so soon. Their actual speed, heightened by some dread +of the conclusion, made the road appear but half as long as on the day +before. It was growing quite dusk, however, before they were in the +neighbourhood of Uppercross, and there had been total silence among +them for some time, Henrietta leaning back in the corner, with a shawl +over her face, giving the hope of her having cried herself to sleep; +when, as they were going up their last hill, Anne found herself all at +once addressed by Captain Wentworth. In a low, cautious voice, he +said:-- + +"I have been considering what we had best do. She must not appear at +first. She could not stand it. I have been thinking whether you had +not better remain in the carriage with her, while I go in and break it +to Mr and Mrs Musgrove. Do you think this is a good plan?" + +She did: he was satisfied, and said no more. But the remembrance of +the appeal remained a pleasure to her, as a proof of friendship, and of +deference for her judgement, a great pleasure; and when it became a +sort of parting proof, its value did not lessen. + +When the distressing communication at Uppercross was over, and he had +seen the father and mother quite as composed as could be hoped, and the +daughter all the better for being with them, he announced his intention +of returning in the same carriage to Lyme; and when the horses were +baited, he was off. + +(End of volume one.) + + + +Chapter 13 + + +The remainder of Anne's time at Uppercross, comprehending only two +days, was spent entirely at the Mansion House; and she had the +satisfaction of knowing herself extremely useful there, both as an +immediate companion, and as assisting in all those arrangements for the +future, which, in Mr and Mrs Musgrove's distressed state of spirits, +would have been difficulties. + +They had an early account from Lyme the next morning. Louisa was much +the same. No symptoms worse than before had appeared. Charles came a +few hours afterwards, to bring a later and more particular account. He +was tolerably cheerful. A speedy cure must not be hoped, but +everything was going on as well as the nature of the case admitted. In +speaking of the Harvilles, he seemed unable to satisfy his own sense of +their kindness, especially of Mrs Harville's exertions as a nurse. +"She really left nothing for Mary to do. He and Mary had been +persuaded to go early to their inn last night. Mary had been +hysterical again this morning. When he came away, she was going to +walk out with Captain Benwick, which, he hoped, would do her good. He +almost wished she had been prevailed on to come home the day before; +but the truth was, that Mrs Harville left nothing for anybody to do." + +Charles was to return to Lyme the same afternoon, and his father had at +first half a mind to go with him, but the ladies could not consent. It +would be going only to multiply trouble to the others, and increase his +own distress; and a much better scheme followed and was acted upon. A +chaise was sent for from Crewkherne, and Charles conveyed back a far +more useful person in the old nursery-maid of the family, one who +having brought up all the children, and seen the very last, the +lingering and long-petted Master Harry, sent to school after his +brothers, was now living in her deserted nursery to mend stockings and +dress all the blains and bruises she could get near her, and who, +consequently, was only too happy in being allowed to go and help nurse +dear Miss Louisa. Vague wishes of getting Sarah thither, had occurred +before to Mrs Musgrove and Henrietta; but without Anne, it would hardly +have been resolved on, and found practicable so soon. + +They were indebted, the next day, to Charles Hayter, for all the minute +knowledge of Louisa, which it was so essential to obtain every +twenty-four hours. He made it his business to go to Lyme, and his +account was still encouraging. The intervals of sense and +consciousness were believed to be stronger. Every report agreed in +Captain Wentworth's appearing fixed in Lyme. + +Anne was to leave them on the morrow, an event which they all dreaded. +"What should they do without her? They were wretched comforters for +one another." And so much was said in this way, that Anne thought she +could not do better than impart among them the general inclination to +which she was privy, and persuaded them all to go to Lyme at once. She +had little difficulty; it was soon determined that they would go; go +to-morrow, fix themselves at the inn, or get into lodgings, as it +suited, and there remain till dear Louisa could be moved. They must be +taking off some trouble from the good people she was with; they might +at least relieve Mrs Harville from the care of her own children; and in +short, they were so happy in the decision, that Anne was delighted with +what she had done, and felt that she could not spend her last morning +at Uppercross better than in assisting their preparations, and sending +them off at an early hour, though her being left to the solitary range +of the house was the consequence. + +She was the last, excepting the little boys at the cottage, she was the +very last, the only remaining one of all that had filled and animated +both houses, of all that had given Uppercross its cheerful character. +A few days had made a change indeed! + +If Louisa recovered, it would all be well again. More than former +happiness would be restored. There could not be a doubt, to her mind +there was none, of what would follow her recovery. A few months hence, +and the room now so deserted, occupied but by her silent, pensive self, +might be filled again with all that was happy and gay, all that was +glowing and bright in prosperous love, all that was most unlike Anne +Elliot! + +An hour's complete leisure for such reflections as these, on a dark +November day, a small thick rain almost blotting out the very few +objects ever to be discerned from the windows, was enough to make the +sound of Lady Russell's carriage exceedingly welcome; and yet, though +desirous to be gone, she could not quit the Mansion House, or look an +adieu to the Cottage, with its black, dripping and comfortless veranda, +or even notice through the misty glasses the last humble tenements of +the village, without a saddened heart. Scenes had passed in Uppercross +which made it precious. It stood the record of many sensations of +pain, once severe, but now softened; and of some instances of relenting +feeling, some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could +never be looked for again, and which could never cease to be dear. She +left it all behind her, all but the recollection that such things had +been. + +Anne had never entered Kellynch since her quitting Lady Russell's house +in September. It had not been necessary, and the few occasions of its +being possible for her to go to the Hall she had contrived to evade and +escape from. Her first return was to resume her place in the modern +and elegant apartments of the Lodge, and to gladden the eyes of its +mistress. + +There was some anxiety mixed with Lady Russell's joy in meeting her. +She knew who had been frequenting Uppercross. But happily, either Anne +was improved in plumpness and looks, or Lady Russell fancied her so; +and Anne, in receiving her compliments on the occasion, had the +amusement of connecting them with the silent admiration of her cousin, +and of hoping that she was to be blessed with a second spring of youth +and beauty. + +When they came to converse, she was soon sensible of some mental +change. The subjects of which her heart had been full on leaving +Kellynch, and which she had felt slighted, and been compelled to +smother among the Musgroves, were now become but of secondary interest. +She had lately lost sight even of her father and sister and Bath. +Their concerns had been sunk under those of Uppercross; and when Lady +Russell reverted to their former hopes and fears, and spoke her +satisfaction in the house in Camden Place, which had been taken, and +her regret that Mrs Clay should still be with them, Anne would have +been ashamed to have it known how much more she was thinking of Lyme +and Louisa Musgrove, and all her acquaintance there; how much more +interesting to her was the home and the friendship of the Harvilles and +Captain Benwick, than her own father's house in Camden Place, or her +own sister's intimacy with Mrs Clay. She was actually forced to exert +herself to meet Lady Russell with anything like the appearance of equal +solicitude, on topics which had by nature the first claim on her. + +There was a little awkwardness at first in their discourse on another +subject. They must speak of the accident at Lyme. Lady Russell had +not been arrived five minutes the day before, when a full account of +the whole had burst on her; but still it must be talked of, she must +make enquiries, she must regret the imprudence, lament the result, and +Captain Wentworth's name must be mentioned by both. Anne was conscious +of not doing it so well as Lady Russell. She could not speak the name, +and look straight forward to Lady Russell's eye, till she had adopted +the expedient of telling her briefly what she thought of the attachment +between him and Louisa. When this was told, his name distressed her no +longer. + +Lady Russell had only to listen composedly, and wish them happy, but +internally her heart revelled in angry pleasure, in pleased contempt, +that the man who at twenty-three had seemed to understand somewhat of +the value of an Anne Elliot, should, eight years afterwards, be charmed +by a Louisa Musgrove. + +The first three or four days passed most quietly, with no circumstance +to mark them excepting the receipt of a note or two from Lyme, which +found their way to Anne, she could not tell how, and brought a rather +improving account of Louisa. At the end of that period, Lady Russell's +politeness could repose no longer, and the fainter self-threatenings of +the past became in a decided tone, "I must call on Mrs Croft; I really +must call upon her soon. Anne, have you courage to go with me, and pay +a visit in that house? It will be some trial to us both." + +Anne did not shrink from it; on the contrary, she truly felt as she +said, in observing-- + +"I think you are very likely to suffer the most of the two; your +feelings are less reconciled to the change than mine. By remaining in +the neighbourhood, I am become inured to it." + +She could have said more on the subject; for she had in fact so high an +opinion of the Crofts, and considered her father so very fortunate in +his tenants, felt the parish to be so sure of a good example, and the +poor of the best attention and relief, that however sorry and ashamed +for the necessity of the removal, she could not but in conscience feel +that they were gone who deserved not to stay, and that Kellynch Hall +had passed into better hands than its owners'. These convictions must +unquestionably have their own pain, and severe was its kind; but they +precluded that pain which Lady Russell would suffer in entering the +house again, and returning through the well-known apartments. + +In such moments Anne had no power of saying to herself, "These rooms +ought to belong only to us. Oh, how fallen in their destination! How +unworthily occupied! An ancient family to be so driven away! +Strangers filling their place!" No, except when she thought of her +mother, and remembered where she had been used to sit and preside, she +had no sigh of that description to heave. + +Mrs Croft always met her with a kindness which gave her the pleasure of +fancying herself a favourite, and on the present occasion, receiving +her in that house, there was particular attention. + +The sad accident at Lyme was soon the prevailing topic, and on +comparing their latest accounts of the invalid, it appeared that each +lady dated her intelligence from the same hour of yestermorn; that +Captain Wentworth had been in Kellynch yesterday (the first time since +the accident), had brought Anne the last note, which she had not been +able to trace the exact steps of; had staid a few hours and then +returned again to Lyme, and without any present intention of quitting +it any more. He had enquired after her, she found, particularly; had +expressed his hope of Miss Elliot's not being the worse for her +exertions, and had spoken of those exertions as great. This was +handsome, and gave her more pleasure than almost anything else could +have done. + +As to the sad catastrophe itself, it could be canvassed only in one +style by a couple of steady, sensible women, whose judgements had to +work on ascertained events; and it was perfectly decided that it had +been the consequence of much thoughtlessness and much imprudence; that +its effects were most alarming, and that it was frightful to think, how +long Miss Musgrove's recovery might yet be doubtful, and how liable she +would still remain to suffer from the concussion hereafter! The +Admiral wound it up summarily by exclaiming-- + +"Ay, a very bad business indeed. A new sort of way this, for a young +fellow to be making love, by breaking his mistress's head, is not it, +Miss Elliot? This is breaking a head and giving a plaster, truly!" + +Admiral Croft's manners were not quite of the tone to suit Lady +Russell, but they delighted Anne. His goodness of heart and simplicity +of character were irresistible. + +"Now, this must be very bad for you," said he, suddenly rousing from a +little reverie, "to be coming and finding us here. I had not +recollected it before, I declare, but it must be very bad. But now, do +not stand upon ceremony. Get up and go over all the rooms in the house +if you like it." + +"Another time, Sir, I thank you, not now." + +"Well, whenever it suits you. You can slip in from the shrubbery at +any time; and there you will find we keep our umbrellas hanging up by +that door. A good place is not it? But," (checking himself), "you +will not think it a good place, for yours were always kept in the +butler's room. Ay, so it always is, I believe. One man's ways may be +as good as another's, but we all like our own best. And so you must +judge for yourself, whether it would be better for you to go about the +house or not." + +Anne, finding she might decline it, did so, very gratefully. + +"We have made very few changes either," continued the Admiral, after +thinking a moment. "Very few. We told you about the laundry-door, at +Uppercross. That has been a very great improvement. The wonder was, +how any family upon earth could bear with the inconvenience of its +opening as it did, so long! You will tell Sir Walter what we have +done, and that Mr Shepherd thinks it the greatest improvement the house +ever had. Indeed, I must do ourselves the justice to say, that the few +alterations we have made have been all very much for the better. My +wife should have the credit of them, however. I have done very little +besides sending away some of the large looking-glasses from my +dressing-room, which was your father's. A very good man, and very much +the gentleman I am sure: but I should think, Miss Elliot," (looking +with serious reflection), "I should think he must be rather a dressy +man for his time of life. Such a number of looking-glasses! oh Lord! +there was no getting away from one's self. So I got Sophy to lend me a +hand, and we soon shifted their quarters; and now I am quite snug, with +my little shaving glass in one corner, and another great thing that I +never go near." + +Anne, amused in spite of herself, was rather distressed for an answer, +and the Admiral, fearing he might not have been civil enough, took up +the subject again, to say-- + +"The next time you write to your good father, Miss Elliot, pray give +him my compliments and Mrs Croft's, and say that we are settled here +quite to our liking, and have no fault at all to find with the place. +The breakfast-room chimney smokes a little, I grant you, but it is only +when the wind is due north and blows hard, which may not happen three +times a winter. And take it altogether, now that we have been into +most of the houses hereabouts and can judge, there is not one that we +like better than this. Pray say so, with my compliments. He will be +glad to hear it." + +Lady Russell and Mrs Croft were very well pleased with each other: but +the acquaintance which this visit began was fated not to proceed far at +present; for when it was returned, the Crofts announced themselves to +be going away for a few weeks, to visit their connexions in the north +of the county, and probably might not be at home again before Lady +Russell would be removing to Bath. + +So ended all danger to Anne of meeting Captain Wentworth at Kellynch +Hall, or of seeing him in company with her friend. Everything was safe +enough, and she smiled over the many anxious feelings she had wasted on +the subject. + + + +Chapter 14 + + +Though Charles and Mary had remained at Lyme much longer after Mr and +Mrs Musgrove's going than Anne conceived they could have been at all +wanted, they were yet the first of the family to be at home again; and +as soon as possible after their return to Uppercross they drove over to +the Lodge. They had left Louisa beginning to sit up; but her head, +though clear, was exceedingly weak, and her nerves susceptible to the +highest extreme of tenderness; and though she might be pronounced to be +altogether doing very well, it was still impossible to say when she +might be able to bear the removal home; and her father and mother, who +must return in time to receive their younger children for the Christmas +holidays, had hardly a hope of being allowed to bring her with them. + +They had been all in lodgings together. Mrs Musgrove had got Mrs +Harville's children away as much as she could, every possible supply +from Uppercross had been furnished, to lighten the inconvenience to the +Harvilles, while the Harvilles had been wanting them to come to dinner +every day; and in short, it seemed to have been only a struggle on each +side as to which should be most disinterested and hospitable. + +Mary had had her evils; but upon the whole, as was evident by her +staying so long, she had found more to enjoy than to suffer. Charles +Hayter had been at Lyme oftener than suited her; and when they dined +with the Harvilles there had been only a maid-servant to wait, and at +first Mrs Harville had always given Mrs Musgrove precedence; but then, +she had received so very handsome an apology from her on finding out +whose daughter she was, and there had been so much going on every day, +there had been so many walks between their lodgings and the Harvilles, +and she had got books from the library, and changed them so often, that +the balance had certainly been much in favour of Lyme. She had been +taken to Charmouth too, and she had bathed, and she had gone to church, +and there were a great many more people to look at in the church at +Lyme than at Uppercross; and all this, joined to the sense of being so +very useful, had made really an agreeable fortnight. + +Anne enquired after Captain Benwick, Mary's face was clouded directly. +Charles laughed. + +"Oh! Captain Benwick is very well, I believe, but he is a very odd +young man. I do not know what he would be at. We asked him to come +home with us for a day or two: Charles undertook to give him some +shooting, and he seemed quite delighted, and, for my part, I thought it +was all settled; when behold! on Tuesday night, he made a very awkward +sort of excuse; 'he never shot' and he had 'been quite misunderstood,' +and he had promised this and he had promised that, and the end of it +was, I found, that he did not mean to come. I suppose he was afraid of +finding it dull; but upon my word I should have thought we were lively +enough at the Cottage for such a heart-broken man as Captain Benwick." + +Charles laughed again and said, "Now Mary, you know very well how it +really was. It was all your doing," (turning to Anne.) "He fancied +that if he went with us, he should find you close by: he fancied +everybody to be living in Uppercross; and when he discovered that Lady +Russell lived three miles off, his heart failed him, and he had not +courage to come. That is the fact, upon my honour, Mary knows it is." + +But Mary did not give into it very graciously, whether from not +considering Captain Benwick entitled by birth and situation to be in +love with an Elliot, or from not wanting to believe Anne a greater +attraction to Uppercross than herself, must be left to be guessed. +Anne's good-will, however, was not to be lessened by what she heard. +She boldly acknowledged herself flattered, and continued her enquiries. + +"Oh! he talks of you," cried Charles, "in such terms--" Mary +interrupted him. "I declare, Charles, I never heard him mention Anne +twice all the time I was there. I declare, Anne, he never talks of you +at all." + +"No," admitted Charles, "I do not know that he ever does, in a general +way; but however, it is a very clear thing that he admires you +exceedingly. His head is full of some books that he is reading upon +your recommendation, and he wants to talk to you about them; he has +found out something or other in one of them which he thinks--oh! I +cannot pretend to remember it, but it was something very fine--I +overheard him telling Henrietta all about it; and then 'Miss Elliot' +was spoken of in the highest terms! Now Mary, I declare it was so, I +heard it myself, and you were in the other room. 'Elegance, sweetness, +beauty.' Oh! there was no end of Miss Elliot's charms." + +"And I am sure," cried Mary, warmly, "it was a very little to his +credit, if he did. Miss Harville only died last June. Such a heart is +very little worth having; is it, Lady Russell? I am sure you will +agree with me." + +"I must see Captain Benwick before I decide," said Lady Russell, +smiling. + +"And that you are very likely to do very soon, I can tell you, ma'am," +said Charles. "Though he had not nerves for coming away with us, and +setting off again afterwards to pay a formal visit here, he will make +his way over to Kellynch one day by himself, you may depend on it. I +told him the distance and the road, and I told him of the church's +being so very well worth seeing; for as he has a taste for those sort +of things, I thought that would be a good excuse, and he listened with +all his understanding and soul; and I am sure from his manner that you +will have him calling here soon. So, I give you notice, Lady Russell." + +"Any acquaintance of Anne's will always be welcome to me," was Lady +Russell's kind answer. + +"Oh! as to being Anne's acquaintance," said Mary, "I think he is rather +my acquaintance, for I have been seeing him every day this last +fortnight." + +"Well, as your joint acquaintance, then, I shall be very happy to see +Captain Benwick." + +"You will not find anything very agreeable in him, I assure you, ma'am. +He is one of the dullest young men that ever lived. He has walked with +me, sometimes, from one end of the sands to the other, without saying a +word. He is not at all a well-bred young man. I am sure you will not +like him." + +"There we differ, Mary," said Anne. "I think Lady Russell would like +him. I think she would be so much pleased with his mind, that she +would very soon see no deficiency in his manner." + +"So do I, Anne," said Charles. "I am sure Lady Russell would like him. +He is just Lady Russell's sort. Give him a book, and he will read all +day long." + +"Yes, that he will!" exclaimed Mary, tauntingly. "He will sit poring +over his book, and not know when a person speaks to him, or when one +drop's one's scissors, or anything that happens. Do you think Lady +Russell would like that?" + +Lady Russell could not help laughing. "Upon my word," said she, "I +should not have supposed that my opinion of any one could have admitted +of such difference of conjecture, steady and matter of fact as I may +call myself. I have really a curiosity to see the person who can give +occasion to such directly opposite notions. I wish he may be induced +to call here. And when he does, Mary, you may depend upon hearing my +opinion; but I am determined not to judge him beforehand." + +"You will not like him, I will answer for it." + +Lady Russell began talking of something else. Mary spoke with +animation of their meeting with, or rather missing, Mr Elliot so +extraordinarily. + +"He is a man," said Lady Russell, "whom I have no wish to see. His +declining to be on cordial terms with the head of his family, has left +a very strong impression in his disfavour with me." + +This decision checked Mary's eagerness, and stopped her short in the +midst of the Elliot countenance. + +With regard to Captain Wentworth, though Anne hazarded no enquiries, +there was voluntary communication sufficient. His spirits had been +greatly recovering lately as might be expected. As Louisa improved, he +had improved, and he was now quite a different creature from what he +had been the first week. He had not seen Louisa; and was so extremely +fearful of any ill consequence to her from an interview, that he did +not press for it at all; and, on the contrary, seemed to have a plan of +going away for a week or ten days, till her head was stronger. He had +talked of going down to Plymouth for a week, and wanted to persuade +Captain Benwick to go with him; but, as Charles maintained to the last, +Captain Benwick seemed much more disposed to ride over to Kellynch. + +There can be no doubt that Lady Russell and Anne were both occasionally +thinking of Captain Benwick, from this time. Lady Russell could not +hear the door-bell without feeling that it might be his herald; nor +could Anne return from any stroll of solitary indulgence in her +father's grounds, or any visit of charity in the village, without +wondering whether she might see him or hear of him. Captain Benwick +came not, however. He was either less disposed for it than Charles had +imagined, or he was too shy; and after giving him a week's indulgence, +Lady Russell determined him to be unworthy of the interest which he had +been beginning to excite. + +The Musgroves came back to receive their happy boys and girls from +school, bringing with them Mrs Harville's little children, to improve +the noise of Uppercross, and lessen that of Lyme. Henrietta remained +with Louisa; but all the rest of the family were again in their usual +quarters. + +Lady Russell and Anne paid their compliments to them once, when Anne +could not but feel that Uppercross was already quite alive again. +Though neither Henrietta, nor Louisa, nor Charles Hayter, nor Captain +Wentworth were there, the room presented as strong a contrast as could +be wished to the last state she had seen it in. + +Immediately surrounding Mrs Musgrove were the little Harvilles, whom +she was sedulously guarding from the tyranny of the two children from +the Cottage, expressly arrived to amuse them. On one side was a table +occupied by some chattering girls, cutting up silk and gold paper; and +on the other were tressels and trays, bending under the weight of brawn +and cold pies, where riotous boys were holding high revel; the whole +completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be +heard, in spite of all the noise of the others. Charles and Mary also +came in, of course, during their visit, and Mr Musgrove made a point of +paying his respects to Lady Russell, and sat down close to her for ten +minutes, talking with a very raised voice, but from the clamour of the +children on his knees, generally in vain. It was a fine family-piece. + +Anne, judging from her own temperament, would have deemed such a +domestic hurricane a bad restorative of the nerves, which Louisa's +illness must have so greatly shaken. But Mrs Musgrove, who got Anne +near her on purpose to thank her most cordially, again and again, for +all her attentions to them, concluded a short recapitulation of what +she had suffered herself by observing, with a happy glance round the +room, that after all she had gone through, nothing was so likely to do +her good as a little quiet cheerfulness at home. + +Louisa was now recovering apace. Her mother could even think of her +being able to join their party at home, before her brothers and sisters +went to school again. The Harvilles had promised to come with her and +stay at Uppercross, whenever she returned. Captain Wentworth was gone, +for the present, to see his brother in Shropshire. + +"I hope I shall remember, in future," said Lady Russell, as soon as +they were reseated in the carriage, "not to call at Uppercross in the +Christmas holidays." + +Everybody has their taste in noises as well as in other matters; and +sounds are quite innoxious, or most distressing, by their sort rather +than their quantity. When Lady Russell not long afterwards, was +entering Bath on a wet afternoon, and driving through the long course +of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden Place, amidst the dash of +other carriages, the heavy rumble of carts and drays, the bawling of +newspapermen, muffin-men and milkmen, and the ceaseless clink of +pattens, she made no complaint. No, these were noises which belonged +to the winter pleasures; her spirits rose under their influence; and +like Mrs Musgrove, she was feeling, though not saying, that after being +long in the country, nothing could be so good for her as a little quiet +cheerfulness. + +Anne did not share these feelings. She persisted in a very determined, +though very silent disinclination for Bath; caught the first dim view +of the extensive buildings, smoking in rain, without any wish of seeing +them better; felt their progress through the streets to be, however +disagreeable, yet too rapid; for who would be glad to see her when she +arrived? And looked back, with fond regret, to the bustles of +Uppercross and the seclusion of Kellynch. + +Elizabeth's last letter had communicated a piece of news of some +interest. Mr Elliot was in Bath. He had called in Camden Place; had +called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive. If +Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking +much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the +connection, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect. This was +very wonderful if it were true; and Lady Russell was in a state of very +agreeable curiosity and perplexity about Mr Elliot, already recanting +the sentiment she had so lately expressed to Mary, of his being "a man +whom she had no wish to see." She had a great wish to see him. If he +really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be +forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree. + +Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance, but she +felt that she would rather see Mr Elliot again than not, which was more +than she could say for many other persons in Bath. + +She was put down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her +own lodgings, in Rivers Street. + + + +Chapter 15 + + +Sir Walter had taken a very good house in Camden Place, a lofty +dignified situation, such as becomes a man of consequence; and both he +and Elizabeth were settled there, much to their satisfaction. + +Anne entered it with a sinking heart, anticipating an imprisonment of +many months, and anxiously saying to herself, "Oh! when shall I leave +you again?" A degree of unexpected cordiality, however, in the welcome +she received, did her good. Her father and sister were glad to see +her, for the sake of shewing her the house and furniture, and met her +with kindness. Her making a fourth, when they sat down to dinner, was +noticed as an advantage. + +Mrs Clay was very pleasant, and very smiling, but her courtesies and +smiles were more a matter of course. Anne had always felt that she +would pretend what was proper on her arrival, but the complaisance of +the others was unlooked for. They were evidently in excellent spirits, +and she was soon to listen to the causes. They had no inclination to +listen to her. After laying out for some compliments of being deeply +regretted in their old neighbourhood, which Anne could not pay, they +had only a few faint enquiries to make, before the talk must be all +their own. Uppercross excited no interest, Kellynch very little: it +was all Bath. + +They had the pleasure of assuring her that Bath more than answered +their expectations in every respect. Their house was undoubtedly the +best in Camden Place; their drawing-rooms had many decided advantages +over all the others which they had either seen or heard of, and the +superiority was not less in the style of the fitting-up, or the taste +of the furniture. Their acquaintance was exceedingly sought after. +Everybody was wanting to visit them. They had drawn back from many +introductions, and still were perpetually having cards left by people +of whom they knew nothing. + +Here were funds of enjoyment. Could Anne wonder that her father and +sister were happy? She might not wonder, but she must sigh that her +father should feel no degradation in his change, should see nothing to +regret in the duties and dignity of the resident landholder, should +find so much to be vain of in the littlenesses of a town; and she must +sigh, and smile, and wonder too, as Elizabeth threw open the +folding-doors and walked with exultation from one drawing-room to the +other, boasting of their space; at the possibility of that woman, who +had been mistress of Kellynch Hall, finding extent to be proud of +between two walls, perhaps thirty feet asunder. + +But this was not all which they had to make them happy. They had Mr +Elliot too. Anne had a great deal to hear of Mr Elliot. He was not +only pardoned, they were delighted with him. He had been in Bath about +a fortnight; (he had passed through Bath in November, in his way to +London, when the intelligence of Sir Walter's being settled there had +of course reached him, though only twenty-four hours in the place, but +he had not been able to avail himself of it;) but he had now been a +fortnight in Bath, and his first object on arriving, had been to leave +his card in Camden Place, following it up by such assiduous endeavours +to meet, and when they did meet, by such great openness of conduct, +such readiness to apologize for the past, such solicitude to be +received as a relation again, that their former good understanding was +completely re-established. + +They had not a fault to find in him. He had explained away all the +appearance of neglect on his own side. It had originated in +misapprehension entirely. He had never had an idea of throwing himself +off; he had feared that he was thrown off, but knew not why, and +delicacy had kept him silent. Upon the hint of having spoken +disrespectfully or carelessly of the family and the family honours, he +was quite indignant. He, who had ever boasted of being an Elliot, and +whose feelings, as to connection, were only too strict to suit the +unfeudal tone of the present day. He was astonished, indeed, but his +character and general conduct must refute it. He could refer Sir +Walter to all who knew him; and certainly, the pains he had been taking +on this, the first opportunity of reconciliation, to be restored to the +footing of a relation and heir-presumptive, was a strong proof of his +opinions on the subject. + +The circumstances of his marriage, too, were found to admit of much +extenuation. This was an article not to be entered on by himself; but +a very intimate friend of his, a Colonel Wallis, a highly respectable +man, perfectly the gentleman, (and not an ill-looking man, Sir Walter +added), who was living in very good style in Marlborough Buildings, and +had, at his own particular request, been admitted to their acquaintance +through Mr Elliot, had mentioned one or two things relative to the +marriage, which made a material difference in the discredit of it. + +Colonel Wallis had known Mr Elliot long, had been well acquainted also +with his wife, had perfectly understood the whole story. She was +certainly not a woman of family, but well educated, accomplished, rich, +and excessively in love with his friend. There had been the charm. +She had sought him. Without that attraction, not all her money would +have tempted Elliot, and Sir Walter was, moreover, assured of her +having been a very fine woman. Here was a great deal to soften the +business. A very fine woman with a large fortune, in love with him! +Sir Walter seemed to admit it as complete apology; and though Elizabeth +could not see the circumstance in quite so favourable a light, she +allowed it be a great extenuation. + +Mr Elliot had called repeatedly, had dined with them once, evidently +delighted by the distinction of being asked, for they gave no dinners +in general; delighted, in short, by every proof of cousinly notice, and +placing his whole happiness in being on intimate terms in Camden Place. + +Anne listened, but without quite understanding it. Allowances, large +allowances, she knew, must be made for the ideas of those who spoke. +She heard it all under embellishment. All that sounded extravagant or +irrational in the progress of the reconciliation might have no origin +but in the language of the relators. Still, however, she had the +sensation of there being something more than immediately appeared, in +Mr Elliot's wishing, after an interval of so many years, to be well +received by them. In a worldly view, he had nothing to gain by being +on terms with Sir Walter; nothing to risk by a state of variance. In +all probability he was already the richer of the two, and the Kellynch +estate would as surely be his hereafter as the title. A sensible man, +and he had looked like a very sensible man, why should it be an object +to him? She could only offer one solution; it was, perhaps, for +Elizabeth's sake. There might really have been a liking formerly, +though convenience and accident had drawn him a different way; and now +that he could afford to please himself, he might mean to pay his +addresses to her. Elizabeth was certainly very handsome, with +well-bred, elegant manners, and her character might never have been +penetrated by Mr Elliot, knowing her but in public, and when very young +himself. How her temper and understanding might bear the investigation +of his present keener time of life was another concern and rather a +fearful one. Most earnestly did she wish that he might not be too +nice, or too observant if Elizabeth were his object; and that Elizabeth +was disposed to believe herself so, and that her friend Mrs Clay was +encouraging the idea, seemed apparent by a glance or two between them, +while Mr Elliot's frequent visits were talked of. + +Anne mentioned the glimpses she had had of him at Lyme, but without +being much attended to. "Oh! yes, perhaps, it had been Mr Elliot. +They did not know. It might be him, perhaps." They could not listen +to her description of him. They were describing him themselves; Sir +Walter especially. He did justice to his very gentlemanlike +appearance, his air of elegance and fashion, his good shaped face, his +sensible eye; but, at the same time, "must lament his being very much +under-hung, a defect which time seemed to have increased; nor could he +pretend to say that ten years had not altered almost every feature for +the worse. Mr Elliot appeared to think that he (Sir Walter) was +looking exactly as he had done when they last parted;" but Sir Walter +had "not been able to return the compliment entirely, which had +embarrassed him. He did not mean to complain, however. Mr Elliot was +better to look at than most men, and he had no objection to being seen +with him anywhere." + +Mr Elliot, and his friends in Marlborough Buildings, were talked of the +whole evening. "Colonel Wallis had been so impatient to be introduced +to them! and Mr Elliot so anxious that he should!" and there was a Mrs +Wallis, at present known only to them by description, as she was in +daily expectation of her confinement; but Mr Elliot spoke of her as "a +most charming woman, quite worthy of being known in Camden Place," and +as soon as she recovered they were to be acquainted. Sir Walter +thought much of Mrs Wallis; she was said to be an excessively pretty +woman, beautiful. "He longed to see her. He hoped she might make some +amends for the many very plain faces he was continually passing in the +streets. The worst of Bath was the number of its plain women. He did +not mean to say that there were no pretty women, but the number of the +plain was out of all proportion. He had frequently observed, as he +walked, that one handsome face would be followed by thirty, or +five-and-thirty frights; and once, as he had stood in a shop on Bond +Street, he had counted eighty-seven women go by, one after another, +without there being a tolerable face among them. It had been a frosty +morning, to be sure, a sharp frost, which hardly one woman in a +thousand could stand the test of. But still, there certainly were a +dreadful multitude of ugly women in Bath; and as for the men! they +were infinitely worse. Such scarecrows as the streets were full of! +It was evident how little the women were used to the sight of anything +tolerable, by the effect which a man of decent appearance produced. He +had never walked anywhere arm-in-arm with Colonel Wallis (who was a +fine military figure, though sandy-haired) without observing that every +woman's eye was upon him; every woman's eye was sure to be upon Colonel +Wallis." Modest Sir Walter! He was not allowed to escape, however. +His daughter and Mrs Clay united in hinting that Colonel Wallis's +companion might have as good a figure as Colonel Wallis, and certainly +was not sandy-haired. + +"How is Mary looking?" said Sir Walter, in the height of his good +humour. "The last time I saw her she had a red nose, but I hope that +may not happen every day." + +"Oh! no, that must have been quite accidental. In general she has been +in very good health and very good looks since Michaelmas." + +"If I thought it would not tempt her to go out in sharp winds, and grow +coarse, I would send her a new hat and pelisse." + +Anne was considering whether she should venture to suggest that a gown, +or a cap, would not be liable to any such misuse, when a knock at the +door suspended everything. "A knock at the door! and so late! It was +ten o'clock. Could it be Mr Elliot? They knew he was to dine in +Lansdown Crescent. It was possible that he might stop in his way home +to ask them how they did. They could think of no one else. Mrs Clay +decidedly thought it Mr Elliot's knock." Mrs Clay was right. With all +the state which a butler and foot-boy could give, Mr Elliot was ushered +into the room. + +It was the same, the very same man, with no difference but of dress. +Anne drew a little back, while the others received his compliments, and +her sister his apologies for calling at so unusual an hour, but "he +could not be so near without wishing to know that neither she nor her +friend had taken cold the day before," &c. &c; which was all as +politely done, and as politely taken, as possible, but her part must +follow then. Sir Walter talked of his youngest daughter; "Mr Elliot +must give him leave to present him to his youngest daughter" (there was +no occasion for remembering Mary); and Anne, smiling and blushing, very +becomingly shewed to Mr Elliot the pretty features which he had by no +means forgotten, and instantly saw, with amusement at his little start +of surprise, that he had not been at all aware of who she was. He +looked completely astonished, but not more astonished than pleased; his +eyes brightened! and with the most perfect alacrity he welcomed the +relationship, alluded to the past, and entreated to be received as an +acquaintance already. He was quite as good-looking as he had appeared +at Lyme, his countenance improved by speaking, and his manners were so +exactly what they ought to be, so polished, so easy, so particularly +agreeable, that she could compare them in excellence to only one +person's manners. They were not the same, but they were, perhaps, +equally good. + +He sat down with them, and improved their conversation very much. +There could be no doubt of his being a sensible man. Ten minutes were +enough to certify that. His tone, his expressions, his choice of +subject, his knowing where to stop; it was all the operation of a +sensible, discerning mind. As soon as he could, he began to talk to +her of Lyme, wanting to compare opinions respecting the place, but +especially wanting to speak of the circumstance of their happening to +be guests in the same inn at the same time; to give his own route, +understand something of hers, and regret that he should have lost such +an opportunity of paying his respects to her. She gave him a short +account of her party and business at Lyme. His regret increased as he +listened. He had spent his whole solitary evening in the room +adjoining theirs; had heard voices, mirth continually; thought they +must be a most delightful set of people, longed to be with them, but +certainly without the smallest suspicion of his possessing the shadow +of a right to introduce himself. If he had but asked who the party +were! The name of Musgrove would have told him enough. "Well, it +would serve to cure him of an absurd practice of never asking a +question at an inn, which he had adopted, when quite a young man, on +the principal of its being very ungenteel to be curious. + +"The notions of a young man of one or two and twenty," said he, "as to +what is necessary in manners to make him quite the thing, are more +absurd, I believe, than those of any other set of beings in the world. +The folly of the means they often employ is only to be equalled by the +folly of what they have in view." + +But he must not be addressing his reflections to Anne alone: he knew +it; he was soon diffused again among the others, and it was only at +intervals that he could return to Lyme. + +His enquiries, however, produced at length an account of the scene she +had been engaged in there, soon after his leaving the place. Having +alluded to "an accident," he must hear the whole. When he questioned, +Sir Walter and Elizabeth began to question also, but the difference in +their manner of doing it could not be unfelt. She could only compare +Mr Elliot to Lady Russell, in the wish of really comprehending what had +passed, and in the degree of concern for what she must have suffered in +witnessing it. + +He staid an hour with them. The elegant little clock on the mantel-piece +had struck "eleven with its silver sounds," and the watchman was +beginning to be heard at a distance telling the same tale, before Mr +Elliot or any of them seemed to feel that he had been there long. + +Anne could not have supposed it possible that her first evening in +Camden Place could have passed so well! + + + +Chapter 16 + + +There was one point which Anne, on returning to her family, would have +been more thankful to ascertain even than Mr Elliot's being in love +with Elizabeth, which was, her father's not being in love with Mrs +Clay; and she was very far from easy about it, when she had been at +home a few hours. On going down to breakfast the next morning, she +found there had just been a decent pretence on the lady's side of +meaning to leave them. She could imagine Mrs Clay to have said, that +"now Miss Anne was come, she could not suppose herself at all wanted;" +for Elizabeth was replying in a sort of whisper, "That must not be any +reason, indeed. I assure you I feel it none. She is nothing to me, +compared with you;" and she was in full time to hear her father say, +"My dear madam, this must not be. As yet, you have seen nothing of +Bath. You have been here only to be useful. You must not run away +from us now. You must stay to be acquainted with Mrs Wallis, the +beautiful Mrs Wallis. To your fine mind, I well know the sight of +beauty is a real gratification." + +He spoke and looked so much in earnest, that Anne was not surprised to +see Mrs Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself. Her +countenance, perhaps, might express some watchfulness; but the praise +of the fine mind did not appear to excite a thought in her sister. The +lady could not but yield to such joint entreaties, and promise to stay. + +In the course of the same morning, Anne and her father chancing to be +alone together, he began to compliment her on her improved looks; he +thought her "less thin in her person, in her cheeks; her skin, her +complexion, greatly improved; clearer, fresher. Had she been using any +thing in particular?" "No, nothing." "Merely Gowland," he supposed. +"No, nothing at all." "Ha! he was surprised at that;" and added, +"certainly you cannot do better than to continue as you are; you cannot +be better than well; or I should recommend Gowland, the constant use of +Gowland, during the spring months. Mrs Clay has been using it at my +recommendation, and you see what it has done for her. You see how it +has carried away her freckles." + +If Elizabeth could but have heard this! Such personal praise might +have struck her, especially as it did not appear to Anne that the +freckles were at all lessened. But everything must take its chance. +The evil of a marriage would be much diminished, if Elizabeth were also +to marry. As for herself, she might always command a home with Lady +Russell. + +Lady Russell's composed mind and polite manners were put to some trial +on this point, in her intercourse in Camden Place. The sight of Mrs +Clay in such favour, and of Anne so overlooked, was a perpetual +provocation to her there; and vexed her as much when she was away, as a +person in Bath who drinks the water, gets all the new publications, and +has a very large acquaintance, has time to be vexed. + +As Mr Elliot became known to her, she grew more charitable, or more +indifferent, towards the others. His manners were an immediate +recommendation; and on conversing with him she found the solid so fully +supporting the superficial, that she was at first, as she told Anne, +almost ready to exclaim, "Can this be Mr Elliot?" and could not +seriously picture to herself a more agreeable or estimable man. +Everything united in him; good understanding, correct opinions, +knowledge of the world, and a warm heart. He had strong feelings of +family attachment and family honour, without pride or weakness; he +lived with the liberality of a man of fortune, without display; he +judged for himself in everything essential, without defying public +opinion in any point of worldly decorum. He was steady, observant, +moderate, candid; never run away with by spirits or by selfishness, +which fancied itself strong feeling; and yet, with a sensibility to +what was amiable and lovely, and a value for all the felicities of +domestic life, which characters of fancied enthusiasm and violent +agitation seldom really possess. She was sure that he had not been +happy in marriage. Colonel Wallis said it, and Lady Russell saw it; +but it had been no unhappiness to sour his mind, nor (she began pretty +soon to suspect) to prevent his thinking of a second choice. Her +satisfaction in Mr Elliot outweighed all the plague of Mrs Clay. + +It was now some years since Anne had begun to learn that she and her +excellent friend could sometimes think differently; and it did not +surprise her, therefore, that Lady Russell should see nothing +suspicious or inconsistent, nothing to require more motives than +appeared, in Mr Elliot's great desire of a reconciliation. In Lady +Russell's view, it was perfectly natural that Mr Elliot, at a mature +time of life, should feel it a most desirable object, and what would +very generally recommend him among all sensible people, to be on good +terms with the head of his family; the simplest process in the world of +time upon a head naturally clear, and only erring in the heyday of +youth. Anne presumed, however, still to smile about it, and at last to +mention "Elizabeth." Lady Russell listened, and looked, and made only +this cautious reply:--"Elizabeth! very well; time will explain." + +It was a reference to the future, which Anne, after a little +observation, felt she must submit to. She could determine nothing at +present. In that house Elizabeth must be first; and she was in the +habit of such general observance as "Miss Elliot," that any +particularity of attention seemed almost impossible. Mr Elliot, too, +it must be remembered, had not been a widower seven months. A little +delay on his side might be very excusable. In fact, Anne could never +see the crape round his hat, without fearing that she was the +inexcusable one, in attributing to him such imaginations; for though +his marriage had not been very happy, still it had existed so many +years that she could not comprehend a very rapid recovery from the +awful impression of its being dissolved. + +However it might end, he was without any question their pleasantest +acquaintance in Bath: she saw nobody equal to him; and it was a great +indulgence now and then to talk to him about Lyme, which he seemed to +have as lively a wish to see again, and to see more of, as herself. +They went through the particulars of their first meeting a great many +times. He gave her to understand that he had looked at her with some +earnestness. She knew it well; and she remembered another person's +look also. + +They did not always think alike. His value for rank and connexion she +perceived was greater than hers. It was not merely complaisance, it +must be a liking to the cause, which made him enter warmly into her +father and sister's solicitudes on a subject which she thought unworthy +to excite them. The Bath paper one morning announced the arrival of +the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and her daughter, the Honourable +Miss Carteret; and all the comfort of No. --, Camden Place, was swept +away for many days; for the Dalrymples (in Anne's opinion, most +unfortunately) were cousins of the Elliots; and the agony was how to +introduce themselves properly. + +Anne had never seen her father and sister before in contact with +nobility, and she must acknowledge herself disappointed. She had hoped +better things from their high ideas of their own situation in life, and +was reduced to form a wish which she had never foreseen; a wish that +they had more pride; for "our cousins Lady Dalrymple and Miss +Carteret;" "our cousins, the Dalrymples," sounded in her ears all day +long. + +Sir Walter had once been in company with the late viscount, but had +never seen any of the rest of the family; and the difficulties of the +case arose from there having been a suspension of all intercourse by +letters of ceremony, ever since the death of that said late viscount, +when, in consequence of a dangerous illness of Sir Walter's at the same +time, there had been an unlucky omission at Kellynch. No letter of +condolence had been sent to Ireland. The neglect had been visited on +the head of the sinner; for when poor Lady Elliot died herself, no +letter of condolence was received at Kellynch, and, consequently, there +was but too much reason to apprehend that the Dalrymples considered the +relationship as closed. How to have this anxious business set to +rights, and be admitted as cousins again, was the question: and it was +a question which, in a more rational manner, neither Lady Russell nor +Mr Elliot thought unimportant. "Family connexions were always worth +preserving, good company always worth seeking; Lady Dalrymple had taken +a house, for three months, in Laura Place, and would be living in +style. She had been at Bath the year before, and Lady Russell had +heard her spoken of as a charming woman. It was very desirable that +the connexion should be renewed, if it could be done, without any +compromise of propriety on the side of the Elliots." + +Sir Walter, however, would choose his own means, and at last wrote a +very fine letter of ample explanation, regret, and entreaty, to his +right honourable cousin. Neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliot could +admire the letter; but it did all that was wanted, in bringing three +lines of scrawl from the Dowager Viscountess. "She was very much +honoured, and should be happy in their acquaintance." The toils of the +business were over, the sweets began. They visited in Laura Place, +they had the cards of Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and the Honourable +Miss Carteret, to be arranged wherever they might be most visible: and +"Our cousins in Laura Place,"--"Our cousin, Lady Dalrymple and Miss +Carteret," were talked of to everybody. + +Anne was ashamed. Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even been very +agreeable, she would still have been ashamed of the agitation they +created, but they were nothing. There was no superiority of manner, +accomplishment, or understanding. Lady Dalrymple had acquired the name +of "a charming woman," because she had a smile and a civil answer for +everybody. Miss Carteret, with still less to say, was so plain and so +awkward, that she would never have been tolerated in Camden Place but +for her birth. + +Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better; but yet "it +was an acquaintance worth having;" and when Anne ventured to speak her +opinion of them to Mr Elliot, he agreed to their being nothing in +themselves, but still maintained that, as a family connexion, as good +company, as those who would collect good company around them, they had +their value. Anne smiled and said, + +"My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, +well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is +what I call good company." + +"You are mistaken," said he gently, "that is not good company; that is +the best. Good company requires only birth, education, and manners, +and with regard to education is not very nice. Birth and good manners +are essential; but a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing +in good company; on the contrary, it will do very well. My cousin Anne +shakes her head. She is not satisfied. She is fastidious. My dear +cousin" (sitting down by her), "you have a better right to be +fastidious than almost any other woman I know; but will it answer? +Will it make you happy? Will it not be wiser to accept the society of +those good ladies in Laura Place, and enjoy all the advantages of the +connexion as far as possible? You may depend upon it, that they will +move in the first set in Bath this winter, and as rank is rank, your +being known to be related to them will have its use in fixing your +family (our family let me say) in that degree of consideration which we +must all wish for." + +"Yes," sighed Anne, "we shall, indeed, be known to be related to them!" +then recollecting herself, and not wishing to be answered, she added, +"I certainly do think there has been by far too much trouble taken to +procure the acquaintance. I suppose" (smiling) "I have more pride than +any of you; but I confess it does vex me, that we should be so +solicitous to have the relationship acknowledged, which we may be very +sure is a matter of perfect indifference to them." + +"Pardon me, dear cousin, you are unjust in your own claims. In London, +perhaps, in your present quiet style of living, it might be as you say: +but in Bath; Sir Walter Elliot and his family will always be worth +knowing: always acceptable as acquaintance." + +"Well," said Anne, "I certainly am proud, too proud to enjoy a welcome +which depends so entirely upon place." + +"I love your indignation," said he; "it is very natural. But here you +are in Bath, and the object is to be established here with all the +credit and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot. You +talk of being proud; I am called proud, I know, and I shall not wish to +believe myself otherwise; for our pride, if investigated, would have +the same object, I have no doubt, though the kind may seem a little +different. In one point, I am sure, my dear cousin," (he continued, +speaking lower, though there was no one else in the room) "in one +point, I am sure, we must feel alike. We must feel that every addition +to your father's society, among his equals or superiors, may be of use +in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him." + +He looked, as he spoke, to the seat which Mrs Clay had been lately +occupying: a sufficient explanation of what he particularly meant; and +though Anne could not believe in their having the same sort of pride, +she was pleased with him for not liking Mrs Clay; and her conscience +admitted that his wishing to promote her father's getting great +acquaintance was more than excusable in the view of defeating her. + + + +Chapter 17 + + +While Sir Walter and Elizabeth were assiduously pushing their good +fortune in Laura Place, Anne was renewing an acquaintance of a very +different description. + +She had called on her former governess, and had heard from her of there +being an old school-fellow in Bath, who had the two strong claims on +her attention of past kindness and present suffering. Miss Hamilton, +now Mrs Smith, had shewn her kindness in one of those periods of her +life when it had been most valuable. Anne had gone unhappy to school, +grieving for the loss of a mother whom she had dearly loved, feeling +her separation from home, and suffering as a girl of fourteen, of +strong sensibility and not high spirits, must suffer at such a time; +and Miss Hamilton, three years older than herself, but still from the +want of near relations and a settled home, remaining another year at +school, had been useful and good to her in a way which had considerably +lessened her misery, and could never be remembered with indifference. + +Miss Hamilton had left school, had married not long afterwards, was +said to have married a man of fortune, and this was all that Anne had +known of her, till now that their governess's account brought her +situation forward in a more decided but very different form. + +She was a widow and poor. Her husband had been extravagant; and at his +death, about two years before, had left his affairs dreadfully +involved. She had had difficulties of every sort to contend with, and +in addition to these distresses had been afflicted with a severe +rheumatic fever, which, finally settling in her legs, had made her for +the present a cripple. She had come to Bath on that account, and was +now in lodgings near the hot baths, living in a very humble way, unable +even to afford herself the comfort of a servant, and of course almost +excluded from society. + +Their mutual friend answered for the satisfaction which a visit from +Miss Elliot would give Mrs Smith, and Anne therefore lost no time in +going. She mentioned nothing of what she had heard, or what she +intended, at home. It would excite no proper interest there. She only +consulted Lady Russell, who entered thoroughly into her sentiments, and +was most happy to convey her as near to Mrs Smith's lodgings in +Westgate Buildings, as Anne chose to be taken. + +The visit was paid, their acquaintance re-established, their interest +in each other more than re-kindled. The first ten minutes had its +awkwardness and its emotion. Twelve years were gone since they had +parted, and each presented a somewhat different person from what the +other had imagined. Twelve years had changed Anne from the blooming, +silent, unformed girl of fifteen, to the elegant little woman of +seven-and-twenty, with every beauty except bloom, and with manners as +consciously right as they were invariably gentle; and twelve years had +transformed the fine-looking, well-grown Miss Hamilton, in all the glow +of health and confidence of superiority, into a poor, infirm, helpless +widow, receiving the visit of her former protegee as a favour; but all +that was uncomfortable in the meeting had soon passed away, and left +only the interesting charm of remembering former partialities and +talking over old times. + +Anne found in Mrs Smith the good sense and agreeable manners which she +had almost ventured to depend on, and a disposition to converse and be +cheerful beyond her expectation. Neither the dissipations of the +past--and she had lived very much in the world--nor the restrictions of +the present, neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her +heart or ruined her spirits. + +In the course of a second visit she talked with great openness, and +Anne's astonishment increased. She could scarcely imagine a more +cheerless situation in itself than Mrs Smith's. She had been very fond +of her husband: she had buried him. She had been used to affluence: +it was gone. She had no child to connect her with life and happiness +again, no relations to assist in the arrangement of perplexed affairs, +no health to make all the rest supportable. Her accommodations were +limited to a noisy parlour, and a dark bedroom behind, with no +possibility of moving from one to the other without assistance, which +there was only one servant in the house to afford, and she never +quitted the house but to be conveyed into the warm bath. Yet, in spite +of all this, Anne had reason to believe that she had moments only of +languor and depression, to hours of occupation and enjoyment. How +could it be? She watched, observed, reflected, and finally determined +that this was not a case of fortitude or of resignation only. A +submissive spirit might be patient, a strong understanding would supply +resolution, but here was something more; here was that elasticity of +mind, that disposition to be comforted, that power of turning readily +from evil to good, and of finding employment which carried her out of +herself, which was from nature alone. It was the choicest gift of +Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, +by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counterbalance almost +every other want. + +There had been a time, Mrs Smith told her, when her spirits had nearly +failed. She could not call herself an invalid now, compared with her +state on first reaching Bath. Then she had, indeed, been a pitiable +object; for she had caught cold on the journey, and had hardly taken +possession of her lodgings before she was again confined to her bed and +suffering under severe and constant pain; and all this among strangers, +with the absolute necessity of having a regular nurse, and finances at +that moment particularly unfit to meet any extraordinary expense. She +had weathered it, however, and could truly say that it had done her +good. It had increased her comforts by making her feel herself to be +in good hands. She had seen too much of the world, to expect sudden or +disinterested attachment anywhere, but her illness had proved to her +that her landlady had a character to preserve, and would not use her +ill; and she had been particularly fortunate in her nurse, as a sister +of her landlady, a nurse by profession, and who had always a home in +that house when unemployed, chanced to be at liberty just in time to +attend her. "And she," said Mrs Smith, "besides nursing me most +admirably, has really proved an invaluable acquaintance. As soon as I +could use my hands she taught me to knit, which has been a great +amusement; and she put me in the way of making these little +thread-cases, pin-cushions and card-racks, which you always find me so +busy about, and which supply me with the means of doing a little good +to one or two very poor families in this neighbourhood. She had a +large acquaintance, of course professionally, among those who can +afford to buy, and she disposes of my merchandise. She always takes +the right time for applying. Everybody's heart is open, you know, when +they have recently escaped from severe pain, or are recovering the +blessing of health, and Nurse Rooke thoroughly understands when to +speak. She is a shrewd, intelligent, sensible woman. Hers is a line +for seeing human nature; and she has a fund of good sense and +observation, which, as a companion, make her infinitely superior to +thousands of those who having only received 'the best education in the +world,' know nothing worth attending to. Call it gossip, if you will, +but when Nurse Rooke has half an hour's leisure to bestow on me, she is +sure to have something to relate that is entertaining and profitable: +something that makes one know one's species better. One likes to hear +what is going on, to be au fait as to the newest modes of being +trifling and silly. To me, who live so much alone, her conversation, I +assure you, is a treat." + +Anne, far from wishing to cavil at the pleasure, replied, "I can easily +believe it. Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they +are intelligent may be well worth listening to. Such varieties of +human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing! And it is not +merely in its follies, that they are well read; for they see it +occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or +affecting. What instances must pass before them of ardent, +disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, +patience, resignation: of all the conflicts and all the sacrifices +that ennoble us most. A sick chamber may often furnish the worth of +volumes." + +"Yes," said Mrs Smith more doubtingly, "sometimes it may, though I fear +its lessons are not often in the elevated style you describe. Here and +there, human nature may be great in times of trial; but generally +speaking, it is its weakness and not its strength that appears in a +sick chamber: it is selfishness and impatience rather than generosity +and fortitude, that one hears of. There is so little real friendship +in the world! and unfortunately" (speaking low and tremulously) "there +are so many who forget to think seriously till it is almost too late." + +Anne saw the misery of such feelings. The husband had not been what he +ought, and the wife had been led among that part of mankind which made +her think worse of the world than she hoped it deserved. It was but a +passing emotion however with Mrs Smith; she shook it off, and soon +added in a different tone-- + +"I do not suppose the situation my friend Mrs Rooke is in at present, +will furnish much either to interest or edify me. She is only nursing +Mrs Wallis of Marlborough Buildings; a mere pretty, silly, expensive, +fashionable woman, I believe; and of course will have nothing to report +but of lace and finery. I mean to make my profit of Mrs Wallis, +however. She has plenty of money, and I intend she shall buy all the +high-priced things I have in hand now." + +Anne had called several times on her friend, before the existence of +such a person was known in Camden Place. At last, it became necessary +to speak of her. Sir Walter, Elizabeth and Mrs Clay, returned one +morning from Laura Place, with a sudden invitation from Lady Dalrymple +for the same evening, and Anne was already engaged, to spend that +evening in Westgate Buildings. She was not sorry for the excuse. They +were only asked, she was sure, because Lady Dalrymple being kept at +home by a bad cold, was glad to make use of the relationship which had +been so pressed on her; and she declined on her own account with great +alacrity--"She was engaged to spend the evening with an old +schoolfellow." They were not much interested in anything relative to +Anne; but still there were questions enough asked, to make it +understood what this old schoolfellow was; and Elizabeth was +disdainful, and Sir Walter severe. + +"Westgate Buildings!" said he, "and who is Miss Anne Elliot to be +visiting in Westgate Buildings? A Mrs Smith. A widow Mrs Smith; and +who was her husband? One of five thousand Mr Smiths whose names are to +be met with everywhere. And what is her attraction? That she is old +and sickly. Upon my word, Miss Anne Elliot, you have the most +extraordinary taste! Everything that revolts other people, low +company, paltry rooms, foul air, disgusting associations are inviting +to you. But surely you may put off this old lady till to-morrow: she +is not so near her end, I presume, but that she may hope to see another +day. What is her age? Forty?" + +"No, sir, she is not one-and-thirty; but I do not think I can put off +my engagement, because it is the only evening for some time which will +at once suit her and myself. She goes into the warm bath to-morrow, +and for the rest of the week, you know, we are engaged." + +"But what does Lady Russell think of this acquaintance?" asked +Elizabeth. + +"She sees nothing to blame in it," replied Anne; "on the contrary, she +approves it, and has generally taken me when I have called on Mrs +Smith." + +"Westgate Buildings must have been rather surprised by the appearance +of a carriage drawn up near its pavement," observed Sir Walter. "Sir +Henry Russell's widow, indeed, has no honours to distinguish her arms, +but still it is a handsome equipage, and no doubt is well known to +convey a Miss Elliot. A widow Mrs Smith lodging in Westgate Buildings! +A poor widow barely able to live, between thirty and forty; a mere Mrs +Smith, an every-day Mrs Smith, of all people and all names in the +world, to be the chosen friend of Miss Anne Elliot, and to be preferred +by her to her own family connections among the nobility of England and +Ireland! Mrs Smith! Such a name!" + +Mrs Clay, who had been present while all this passed, now thought it +advisable to leave the room, and Anne could have said much, and did +long to say a little in defence of her friend's not very dissimilar +claims to theirs, but her sense of personal respect to her father +prevented her. She made no reply. She left it to himself to +recollect, that Mrs Smith was not the only widow in Bath between thirty +and forty, with little to live on, and no surname of dignity. + +Anne kept her appointment; the others kept theirs, and of course she +heard the next morning that they had had a delightful evening. She had +been the only one of the set absent, for Sir Walter and Elizabeth had +not only been quite at her ladyship's service themselves, but had +actually been happy to be employed by her in collecting others, and had +been at the trouble of inviting both Lady Russell and Mr Elliot; and Mr +Elliot had made a point of leaving Colonel Wallis early, and Lady +Russell had fresh arranged all her evening engagements in order to wait +on her. Anne had the whole history of all that such an evening could +supply from Lady Russell. To her, its greatest interest must be, in +having been very much talked of between her friend and Mr Elliot; in +having been wished for, regretted, and at the same time honoured for +staying away in such a cause. Her kind, compassionate visits to this +old schoolfellow, sick and reduced, seemed to have quite delighted Mr +Elliot. He thought her a most extraordinary young woman; in her +temper, manners, mind, a model of female excellence. He could meet +even Lady Russell in a discussion of her merits; and Anne could not be +given to understand so much by her friend, could not know herself to be +so highly rated by a sensible man, without many of those agreeable +sensations which her friend meant to create. + +Lady Russell was now perfectly decided in her opinion of Mr Elliot. +She was as much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in time as of his +deserving her, and was beginning to calculate the number of weeks which +would free him from all the remaining restraints of widowhood, and +leave him at liberty to exert his most open powers of pleasing. She +would not speak to Anne with half the certainty she felt on the +subject, she would venture on little more than hints of what might be +hereafter, of a possible attachment on his side, of the desirableness +of the alliance, supposing such attachment to be real and returned. +Anne heard her, and made no violent exclamations; she only smiled, +blushed, and gently shook her head. + +"I am no match-maker, as you well know," said Lady Russell, "being much +too well aware of the uncertainty of all human events and calculations. +I only mean that if Mr Elliot should some time hence pay his addresses +to you, and if you should be disposed to accept him, I think there +would be every possibility of your being happy together. A most +suitable connection everybody must consider it, but I think it might be +a very happy one." + +"Mr Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man, and in many respects I +think highly of him," said Anne; "but we should not suit." + +Lady Russell let this pass, and only said in rejoinder, "I own that to +be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch, the future +Lady Elliot, to look forward and see you occupying your dear mother's +place, succeeding to all her rights, and all her popularity, as well as +to all her virtues, would be the highest possible gratification to me. +You are your mother's self in countenance and disposition; and if I +might be allowed to fancy you such as she was, in situation and name, +and home, presiding and blessing in the same spot, and only superior to +her in being more highly valued! My dearest Anne, it would give me +more delight than is often felt at my time of life!" + +Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise, to walk to a distant table, +and, leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings +this picture excited. For a few moments her imagination and her heart +were bewitched. The idea of becoming what her mother had been; of +having the precious name of "Lady Elliot" first revived in herself; of +being restored to Kellynch, calling it her home again, her home for +ever, was a charm which she could not immediately resist. Lady Russell +said not another word, willing to leave the matter to its own +operation; and believing that, could Mr Elliot at that moment with +propriety have spoken for himself!--she believed, in short, what Anne +did not believe. The same image of Mr Elliot speaking for himself +brought Anne to composure again. The charm of Kellynch and of "Lady +Elliot" all faded away. She never could accept him. And it was not +only that her feelings were still adverse to any man save one; her +judgement, on a serious consideration of the possibilities of such a +case was against Mr Elliot. + +Though they had now been acquainted a month, she could not be satisfied +that she really knew his character. That he was a sensible man, an +agreeable man, that he talked well, professed good opinions, seemed to +judge properly and as a man of principle, this was all clear enough. +He certainly knew what was right, nor could she fix on any one article +of moral duty evidently transgressed; but yet she would have been +afraid to answer for his conduct. She distrusted the past, if not the +present. The names which occasionally dropt of former associates, the +allusions to former practices and pursuits, suggested suspicions not +favourable of what he had been. She saw that there had been bad +habits; that Sunday travelling had been a common thing; that there had +been a period of his life (and probably not a short one) when he had +been, at least, careless in all serious matters; and, though he might +now think very differently, who could answer for the true sentiments of +a clever, cautious man, grown old enough to appreciate a fair +character? How could it ever be ascertained that his mind was truly +cleansed? + +Mr Elliot was rational, discreet, polished, but he was not open. There +was never any burst of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight, +at the evil or good of others. This, to Anne, was a decided +imperfection. Her early impressions were incurable. She prized the +frank, the open-hearted, the eager character beyond all others. Warmth +and enthusiasm did captivate her still. She felt that she could so +much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or +said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind +never varied, whose tongue never slipped. + +Mr Elliot was too generally agreeable. Various as were the tempers in +her father's house, he pleased them all. He endured too well, stood +too well with every body. He had spoken to her with some degree of +openness of Mrs Clay; had appeared completely to see what Mrs Clay was +about, and to hold her in contempt; and yet Mrs Clay found him as +agreeable as any body. + +Lady Russell saw either less or more than her young friend, for she saw +nothing to excite distrust. She could not imagine a man more exactly +what he ought to be than Mr Elliot; nor did she ever enjoy a sweeter +feeling than the hope of seeing him receive the hand of her beloved +Anne in Kellynch church, in the course of the following autumn. + + + +Chapter 18 + + +It was the beginning of February; and Anne, having been a month in +Bath, was growing very eager for news from Uppercross and Lyme. She +wanted to hear much more than Mary had communicated. It was three +weeks since she had heard at all. She only knew that Henrietta was at +home again; and that Louisa, though considered to be recovering fast, +was still in Lyme; and she was thinking of them all very intently one +evening, when a thicker letter than usual from Mary was delivered to +her; and, to quicken the pleasure and surprise, with Admiral and Mrs +Croft's compliments. + +The Crofts must be in Bath! A circumstance to interest her. They were +people whom her heart turned to very naturally. + +"What is this?" cried Sir Walter. "The Crofts have arrived in Bath? +The Crofts who rent Kellynch? What have they brought you?" + +"A letter from Uppercross Cottage, Sir." + +"Oh! those letters are convenient passports. They secure an +introduction. I should have visited Admiral Croft, however, at any +rate. I know what is due to my tenant." + +Anne could listen no longer; she could not even have told how the poor +Admiral's complexion escaped; her letter engrossed her. It had been +begun several days back. + + +"February 1st. + +"My dear Anne,--I make no apology for my silence, because I know how +little people think of letters in such a place as Bath. You must be a +great deal too happy to care for Uppercross, which, as you well know, +affords little to write about. We have had a very dull Christmas; Mr +and Mrs Musgrove have not had one dinner party all the holidays. I do +not reckon the Hayters as anybody. The holidays, however, are over at +last: I believe no children ever had such long ones. I am sure I had +not. The house was cleared yesterday, except of the little Harvilles; +but you will be surprised to hear they have never gone home. Mrs +Harville must be an odd mother to part with them so long. I do not +understand it. They are not at all nice children, in my opinion; but +Mrs Musgrove seems to like them quite as well, if not better, than her +grandchildren. What dreadful weather we have had! It may not be felt +in Bath, with your nice pavements; but in the country it is of some +consequence. I have not had a creature call on me since the second +week in January, except Charles Hayter, who had been calling much +oftener than was welcome. Between ourselves, I think it a great pity +Henrietta did not remain at Lyme as long as Louisa; it would have kept +her a little out of his way. The carriage is gone to-day, to bring +Louisa and the Harvilles to-morrow. We are not asked to dine with +them, however, till the day after, Mrs Musgrove is so afraid of her +being fatigued by the journey, which is not very likely, considering +the care that will be taken of her; and it would be much more +convenient to me to dine there to-morrow. I am glad you find Mr Elliot +so agreeable, and wish I could be acquainted with him too; but I have +my usual luck: I am always out of the way when any thing desirable is +going on; always the last of my family to be noticed. What an immense +time Mrs Clay has been staying with Elizabeth! Does she never mean to +go away? But perhaps if she were to leave the room vacant, we might +not be invited. Let me know what you think of this. I do not expect +my children to be asked, you know. I can leave them at the Great House +very well, for a month or six weeks. I have this moment heard that the +Crofts are going to Bath almost immediately; they think the Admiral +gouty. Charles heard it quite by chance; they have not had the +civility to give me any notice, or of offering to take anything. I do +not think they improve at all as neighbours. We see nothing of them, +and this is really an instance of gross inattention. Charles joins me +in love, and everything proper. Yours affectionately, + +"Mary M---. + +"I am sorry to say that I am very far from well; and Jemima has just +told me that the butcher says there is a bad sore-throat very much +about. I dare say I shall catch it; and my sore-throats, you know, are +always worse than anybody's." + + +So ended the first part, which had been afterwards put into an +envelope, containing nearly as much more. + + +"I kept my letter open, that I might send you word how Louisa bore her +journey, and now I am extremely glad I did, having a great deal to add. +In the first place, I had a note from Mrs Croft yesterday, offering to +convey anything to you; a very kind, friendly note indeed, addressed to +me, just as it ought; I shall therefore be able to make my letter as +long as I like. The Admiral does not seem very ill, and I sincerely +hope Bath will do him all the good he wants. I shall be truly glad to +have them back again. Our neighbourhood cannot spare such a pleasant +family. But now for Louisa. I have something to communicate that will +astonish you not a little. She and the Harvilles came on Tuesday very +safely, and in the evening we went to ask her how she did, when we were +rather surprised not to find Captain Benwick of the party, for he had +been invited as well as the Harvilles; and what do you think was the +reason? Neither more nor less than his being in love with Louisa, and +not choosing to venture to Uppercross till he had had an answer from Mr +Musgrove; for it was all settled between him and her before she came +away, and he had written to her father by Captain Harville. True, upon +my honour! Are not you astonished? I shall be surprised at least if +you ever received a hint of it, for I never did. Mrs Musgrove protests +solemnly that she knew nothing of the matter. We are all very well +pleased, however, for though it is not equal to her marrying Captain +Wentworth, it is infinitely better than Charles Hayter; and Mr Musgrove +has written his consent, and Captain Benwick is expected to-day. Mrs +Harville says her husband feels a good deal on his poor sister's +account; but, however, Louisa is a great favourite with both. Indeed, +Mrs Harville and I quite agree that we love her the better for having +nursed her. Charles wonders what Captain Wentworth will say; but if +you remember, I never thought him attached to Louisa; I never could see +anything of it. And this is the end, you see, of Captain Benwick's +being supposed to be an admirer of yours. How Charles could take such +a thing into his head was always incomprehensible to me. I hope he +will be more agreeable now. Certainly not a great match for Louisa +Musgrove, but a million times better than marrying among the Hayters." + + +Mary need not have feared her sister's being in any degree prepared for +the news. She had never in her life been more astonished. Captain +Benwick and Louisa Musgrove! It was almost too wonderful for belief, +and it was with the greatest effort that she could remain in the room, +preserve an air of calmness, and answer the common questions of the +moment. Happily for her, they were not many. Sir Walter wanted to +know whether the Crofts travelled with four horses, and whether they +were likely to be situated in such a part of Bath as it might suit Miss +Elliot and himself to visit in; but had little curiosity beyond. + +"How is Mary?" said Elizabeth; and without waiting for an answer, "And +pray what brings the Crofts to Bath?" + +"They come on the Admiral's account. He is thought to be gouty." + +"Gout and decrepitude!" said Sir Walter. "Poor old gentleman." + +"Have they any acquaintance here?" asked Elizabeth. + +"I do not know; but I can hardly suppose that, at Admiral Croft's time +of life, and in his profession, he should not have many acquaintance in +such a place as this." + +"I suspect," said Sir Walter coolly, "that Admiral Croft will be best +known in Bath as the renter of Kellynch Hall. Elizabeth, may we +venture to present him and his wife in Laura Place?" + +"Oh, no! I think not. Situated as we are with Lady Dalrymple, cousins, +we ought to be very careful not to embarrass her with acquaintance she +might not approve. If we were not related, it would not signify; but +as cousins, she would feel scrupulous as to any proposal of ours. We +had better leave the Crofts to find their own level. There are several +odd-looking men walking about here, who, I am told, are sailors. The +Crofts will associate with them." + +This was Sir Walter and Elizabeth's share of interest in the letter; +when Mrs Clay had paid her tribute of more decent attention, in an +enquiry after Mrs Charles Musgrove, and her fine little boys, Anne was +at liberty. + +In her own room, she tried to comprehend it. Well might Charles wonder +how Captain Wentworth would feel! Perhaps he had quitted the field, +had given Louisa up, had ceased to love, had found he did not love her. +She could not endure the idea of treachery or levity, or anything akin +to ill usage between him and his friend. She could not endure that +such a friendship as theirs should be severed unfairly. + +Captain Benwick and Louisa Musgrove! The high-spirited, joyous-talking +Louisa Musgrove, and the dejected, thinking, feeling, reading, Captain +Benwick, seemed each of them everything that would not suit the other. +Their minds most dissimilar! Where could have been the attraction? +The answer soon presented itself. It had been in situation. They had +been thrown together several weeks; they had been living in the same +small family party: since Henrietta's coming away, they must have been +depending almost entirely on each other, and Louisa, just recovering +from illness, had been in an interesting state, and Captain Benwick was +not inconsolable. That was a point which Anne had not been able to +avoid suspecting before; and instead of drawing the same conclusion as +Mary, from the present course of events, they served only to confirm +the idea of his having felt some dawning of tenderness toward herself. +She did not mean, however, to derive much more from it to gratify her +vanity, than Mary might have allowed. She was persuaded that any +tolerably pleasing young woman who had listened and seemed to feel for +him would have received the same compliment. He had an affectionate +heart. He must love somebody. + +She saw no reason against their being happy. Louisa had fine naval +fervour to begin with, and they would soon grow more alike. He would +gain cheerfulness, and she would learn to be an enthusiast for Scott +and Lord Byron; nay, that was probably learnt already; of course they +had fallen in love over poetry. The idea of Louisa Musgrove turned +into a person of literary taste, and sentimental reflection was +amusing, but she had no doubt of its being so. The day at Lyme, the +fall from the Cobb, might influence her health, her nerves, her +courage, her character to the end of her life, as thoroughly as it +appeared to have influenced her fate. + +The conclusion of the whole was, that if the woman who had been +sensible of Captain Wentworth's merits could be allowed to prefer +another man, there was nothing in the engagement to excite lasting +wonder; and if Captain Wentworth lost no friend by it, certainly +nothing to be regretted. No, it was not regret which made Anne's heart +beat in spite of herself, and brought the colour into her cheeks when +she thought of Captain Wentworth unshackled and free. She had some +feelings which she was ashamed to investigate. They were too much like +joy, senseless joy! + +She longed to see the Crofts; but when the meeting took place, it was +evident that no rumour of the news had yet reached them. The visit of +ceremony was paid and returned; and Louisa Musgrove was mentioned, and +Captain Benwick, too, without even half a smile. + +The Crofts had placed themselves in lodgings in Gay Street, perfectly +to Sir Walter's satisfaction. He was not at all ashamed of the +acquaintance, and did, in fact, think and talk a great deal more about +the Admiral, than the Admiral ever thought or talked about him. + +The Crofts knew quite as many people in Bath as they wished for, and +considered their intercourse with the Elliots as a mere matter of form, +and not in the least likely to afford them any pleasure. They brought +with them their country habit of being almost always together. He was +ordered to walk to keep off the gout, and Mrs Croft seemed to go shares +with him in everything, and to walk for her life to do him good. Anne +saw them wherever she went. Lady Russell took her out in her carriage +almost every morning, and she never failed to think of them, and never +failed to see them. Knowing their feelings as she did, it was a most +attractive picture of happiness to her. She always watched them as +long as she could, delighted to fancy she understood what they might be +talking of, as they walked along in happy independence, or equally +delighted to see the Admiral's hearty shake of the hand when he +encountered an old friend, and observe their eagerness of conversation +when occasionally forming into a little knot of the navy, Mrs Croft +looking as intelligent and keen as any of the officers around her. + +Anne was too much engaged with Lady Russell to be often walking +herself; but it so happened that one morning, about a week or ten days +after the Croft's arrival, it suited her best to leave her friend, or +her friend's carriage, in the lower part of the town, and return alone +to Camden Place, and in walking up Milsom Street she had the good +fortune to meet with the Admiral. He was standing by himself at a +printshop window, with his hands behind him, in earnest contemplation +of some print, and she not only might have passed him unseen, but was +obliged to touch as well as address him before she could catch his +notice. When he did perceive and acknowledge her, however, it was done +with all his usual frankness and good humour. "Ha! is it you? Thank +you, thank you. This is treating me like a friend. Here I am, you +see, staring at a picture. I can never get by this shop without +stopping. But what a thing here is, by way of a boat! Do look at it. +Did you ever see the like? What queer fellows your fine painters must +be, to think that anybody would venture their lives in such a shapeless +old cockleshell as that? And yet here are two gentlemen stuck up in it +mightily at their ease, and looking about them at the rocks and +mountains, as if they were not to be upset the next moment, which they +certainly must be. I wonder where that boat was built!" (laughing +heartily); "I would not venture over a horsepond in it. Well," +(turning away), "now, where are you bound? Can I go anywhere for you, +or with you? Can I be of any use?" + +"None, I thank you, unless you will give me the pleasure of your +company the little way our road lies together. I am going home." + + +"That I will, with all my heart, and farther, too. Yes, yes we will +have a snug walk together, and I have something to tell you as we go +along. There, take my arm; that's right; I do not feel comfortable if +I have not a woman there. Lord! what a boat it is!" taking a last look +at the picture, as they began to be in motion. + +"Did you say that you had something to tell me, sir?" + +"Yes, I have, presently. But here comes a friend, Captain Brigden; I +shall only say, 'How d'ye do?' as we pass, however. I shall not stop. +'How d'ye do?' Brigden stares to see anybody with me but my wife. +She, poor soul, is tied by the leg. She has a blister on one of her +heels, as large as a three-shilling piece. If you look across the +street, you will see Admiral Brand coming down and his brother. Shabby +fellows, both of them! I am glad they are not on this side of the way. +Sophy cannot bear them. They played me a pitiful trick once: got away +with some of my best men. I will tell you the whole story another +time. There comes old Sir Archibald Drew and his grandson. Look, he +sees us; he kisses his hand to you; he takes you for my wife. Ah! the +peace has come too soon for that younker. Poor old Sir Archibald! How +do you like Bath, Miss Elliot? It suits us very well. We are always +meeting with some old friend or other; the streets full of them every +morning; sure to have plenty of chat; and then we get away from them +all, and shut ourselves in our lodgings, and draw in our chairs, and +are snug as if we were at Kellynch, ay, or as we used to be even at +North Yarmouth and Deal. We do not like our lodgings here the worse, I +can tell you, for putting us in mind of those we first had at North +Yarmouth. The wind blows through one of the cupboards just in the same +way." + +When they were got a little farther, Anne ventured to press again for +what he had to communicate. She hoped when clear of Milsom Street to +have her curiosity gratified; but she was still obliged to wait, for +the Admiral had made up his mind not to begin till they had gained the +greater space and quiet of Belmont; and as she was not really Mrs +Croft, she must let him have his own way. As soon as they were fairly +ascending Belmont, he began-- + +"Well, now you shall hear something that will surprise you. But first +of all, you must tell me the name of the young lady I am going to talk +about. That young lady, you know, that we have all been so concerned +for. The Miss Musgrove, that all this has been happening to. Her +Christian name: I always forget her Christian name." + +Anne had been ashamed to appear to comprehend so soon as she really +did; but now she could safely suggest the name of "Louisa." + +"Ay, ay, Miss Louisa Musgrove, that is the name. I wish young ladies +had not such a number of fine Christian names. I should never be out +if they were all Sophys, or something of that sort. Well, this Miss +Louisa, we all thought, you know, was to marry Frederick. He was +courting her week after week. The only wonder was, what they could be +waiting for, till the business at Lyme came; then, indeed, it was clear +enough that they must wait till her brain was set to right. But even +then there was something odd in their way of going on. Instead of +staying at Lyme, he went off to Plymouth, and then he went off to see +Edward. When we came back from Minehead he was gone down to Edward's, +and there he has been ever since. We have seen nothing of him since +November. Even Sophy could not understand it. But now, the matter has +taken the strangest turn of all; for this young lady, the same Miss +Musgrove, instead of being to marry Frederick, is to marry James +Benwick. You know James Benwick." + +"A little. I am a little acquainted with Captain Benwick." + +"Well, she is to marry him. Nay, most likely they are married already, +for I do not know what they should wait for." + +"I thought Captain Benwick a very pleasing young man," said Anne, "and +I understand that he bears an excellent character." + +"Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick. +He is only a commander, it is true, made last summer, and these are bad +times for getting on, but he has not another fault that I know of. An +excellent, good-hearted fellow, I assure you; a very active, zealous +officer too, which is more than you would think for, perhaps, for that +soft sort of manner does not do him justice." + +"Indeed you are mistaken there, sir; I should never augur want of +spirit from Captain Benwick's manners. I thought them particularly +pleasing, and I will answer for it, they would generally please." + +"Well, well, ladies are the best judges; but James Benwick is rather +too piano for me; and though very likely it is all our partiality, +Sophy and I cannot help thinking Frederick's manners better than his. +There is something about Frederick more to our taste." + +Anne was caught. She had only meant to oppose the too common idea of +spirit and gentleness being incompatible with each other, not at all to +represent Captain Benwick's manners as the very best that could +possibly be; and, after a little hesitation, she was beginning to say, +"I was not entering into any comparison of the two friends," but the +Admiral interrupted her with-- + +"And the thing is certainly true. It is not a mere bit of gossip. We +have it from Frederick himself. His sister had a letter from him +yesterday, in which he tells us of it, and he had just had it in a +letter from Harville, written upon the spot, from Uppercross. I fancy +they are all at Uppercross." + +This was an opportunity which Anne could not resist; she said, +therefore, "I hope, Admiral, I hope there is nothing in the style of +Captain Wentworth's letter to make you and Mrs Croft particularly +uneasy. It did seem, last autumn, as if there were an attachment +between him and Louisa Musgrove; but I hope it may be understood to +have worn out on each side equally, and without violence. I hope his +letter does not breathe the spirit of an ill-used man." + +"Not at all, not at all; there is not an oath or a murmur from +beginning to end." + +Anne looked down to hide her smile. + +"No, no; Frederick is not a man to whine and complain; he has too much +spirit for that. If the girl likes another man better, it is very fit +she should have him." + +"Certainly. But what I mean is, that I hope there is nothing in +Captain Wentworth's manner of writing to make you suppose he thinks +himself ill-used by his friend, which might appear, you know, without +its being absolutely said. I should be very sorry that such a +friendship as has subsisted between him and Captain Benwick should be +destroyed, or even wounded, by a circumstance of this sort." + +"Yes, yes, I understand you. But there is nothing at all of that +nature in the letter. He does not give the least fling at Benwick; +does not so much as say, 'I wonder at it, I have a reason of my own for +wondering at it.' No, you would not guess, from his way of writing, +that he had ever thought of this Miss (what's her name?) for himself. +He very handsomely hopes they will be happy together; and there is +nothing very unforgiving in that, I think." + +Anne did not receive the perfect conviction which the Admiral meant to +convey, but it would have been useless to press the enquiry farther. +She therefore satisfied herself with common-place remarks or quiet +attention, and the Admiral had it all his own way. + +"Poor Frederick!" said he at last. "Now he must begin all over again +with somebody else. I think we must get him to Bath. Sophy must +write, and beg him to come to Bath. Here are pretty girls enough, I am +sure. It would be of no use to go to Uppercross again, for that other +Miss Musgrove, I find, is bespoke by her cousin, the young parson. Do +not you think, Miss Elliot, we had better try to get him to Bath?" + + + +Chapter 19 + + +While Admiral Croft was taking this walk with Anne, and expressing his +wish of getting Captain Wentworth to Bath, Captain Wentworth was +already on his way thither. Before Mrs Croft had written, he was +arrived, and the very next time Anne walked out, she saw him. + +Mr Elliot was attending his two cousins and Mrs Clay. They were in +Milsom Street. It began to rain, not much, but enough to make shelter +desirable for women, and quite enough to make it very desirable for +Miss Elliot to have the advantage of being conveyed home in Lady +Dalrymple's carriage, which was seen waiting at a little distance; she, +Anne, and Mrs Clay, therefore, turned into Molland's, while Mr Elliot +stepped to Lady Dalrymple, to request her assistance. He soon joined +them again, successful, of course; Lady Dalrymple would be most happy +to take them home, and would call for them in a few minutes. + +Her ladyship's carriage was a barouche, and did not hold more than four +with any comfort. Miss Carteret was with her mother; consequently it +was not reasonable to expect accommodation for all the three Camden +Place ladies. There could be no doubt as to Miss Elliot. Whoever +suffered inconvenience, she must suffer none, but it occupied a little +time to settle the point of civility between the other two. The rain +was a mere trifle, and Anne was most sincere in preferring a walk with +Mr Elliot. But the rain was also a mere trifle to Mrs Clay; she would +hardly allow it even to drop at all, and her boots were so thick! much +thicker than Miss Anne's; and, in short, her civility rendered her +quite as anxious to be left to walk with Mr Elliot as Anne could be, +and it was discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so +determined, that the others were obliged to settle it for them; Miss +Elliot maintaining that Mrs Clay had a little cold already, and Mr +Elliot deciding on appeal, that his cousin Anne's boots were rather the +thickest. + +It was fixed accordingly, that Mrs Clay should be of the party in the +carriage; and they had just reached this point, when Anne, as she sat +near the window, descried, most decidedly and distinctly, Captain +Wentworth walking down the street. + +Her start was perceptible only to herself; but she instantly felt that +she was the greatest simpleton in the world, the most unaccountable and +absurd! For a few minutes she saw nothing before her; it was all +confusion. She was lost, and when she had scolded back her senses, she +found the others still waiting for the carriage, and Mr Elliot (always +obliging) just setting off for Union Street on a commission of Mrs +Clay's. + +She now felt a great inclination to go to the outer door; she wanted to +see if it rained. Why was she to suspect herself of another motive? +Captain Wentworth must be out of sight. She left her seat, she would +go; one half of her should not be always so much wiser than the other +half, or always suspecting the other of being worse than it was. She +would see if it rained. She was sent back, however, in a moment by the +entrance of Captain Wentworth himself, among a party of gentlemen and +ladies, evidently his acquaintance, and whom he must have joined a +little below Milsom Street. He was more obviously struck and confused +by the sight of her than she had ever observed before; he looked quite +red. For the first time, since their renewed acquaintance, she felt +that she was betraying the least sensibility of the two. She had the +advantage of him in the preparation of the last few moments. All the +overpowering, blinding, bewildering, first effects of strong surprise +were over with her. Still, however, she had enough to feel! It was +agitation, pain, pleasure, a something between delight and misery. + +He spoke to her, and then turned away. The character of his manner was +embarrassment. She could not have called it either cold or friendly, +or anything so certainly as embarrassed. + +After a short interval, however, he came towards her, and spoke again. +Mutual enquiries on common subjects passed: neither of them, probably, +much the wiser for what they heard, and Anne continuing fully sensible +of his being less at ease than formerly. They had by dint of being so +very much together, got to speak to each other with a considerable +portion of apparent indifference and calmness; but he could not do it +now. Time had changed him, or Louisa had changed him. There was +consciousness of some sort or other. He looked very well, not as if he +had been suffering in health or spirits, and he talked of Uppercross, +of the Musgroves, nay, even of Louisa, and had even a momentary look of +his own arch significance as he named her; but yet it was Captain +Wentworth not comfortable, not easy, not able to feign that he was. + +It did not surprise, but it grieved Anne to observe that Elizabeth +would not know him. She saw that he saw Elizabeth, that Elizabeth saw +him, that there was complete internal recognition on each side; she was +convinced that he was ready to be acknowledged as an acquaintance, +expecting it, and she had the pain of seeing her sister turn away with +unalterable coldness. + +Lady Dalrymple's carriage, for which Miss Elliot was growing very +impatient, now drew up; the servant came in to announce it. It was +beginning to rain again, and altogether there was a delay, and a +bustle, and a talking, which must make all the little crowd in the shop +understand that Lady Dalrymple was calling to convey Miss Elliot. At +last Miss Elliot and her friend, unattended but by the servant, (for +there was no cousin returned), were walking off; and Captain Wentworth, +watching them, turned again to Anne, and by manner, rather than words, +was offering his services to her. + +"I am much obliged to you," was her answer, "but I am not going with +them. The carriage would not accommodate so many. I walk: I prefer +walking." + +"But it rains." + +"Oh! very little, Nothing that I regard." + +After a moment's pause he said: "Though I came only yesterday, I have +equipped myself properly for Bath already, you see," (pointing to a new +umbrella); "I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to +walk; though I think it would be more prudent to let me get you a +chair." + +She was very much obliged to him, but declined it all, repeating her +conviction, that the rain would come to nothing at present, and adding, +"I am only waiting for Mr Elliot. He will be here in a moment, I am +sure." + +She had hardly spoken the words when Mr Elliot walked in. Captain +Wentworth recollected him perfectly. There was no difference between +him and the man who had stood on the steps at Lyme, admiring Anne as +she passed, except in the air and look and manner of the privileged +relation and friend. He came in with eagerness, appeared to see and +think only of her, apologised for his stay, was grieved to have kept +her waiting, and anxious to get her away without further loss of time +and before the rain increased; and in another moment they walked off +together, her arm under his, a gentle and embarrassed glance, and a +"Good morning to you!" being all that she had time for, as she passed +away. + +As soon as they were out of sight, the ladies of Captain Wentworth's +party began talking of them. + +"Mr Elliot does not dislike his cousin, I fancy?" + +"Oh! no, that is clear enough. One can guess what will happen there. +He is always with them; half lives in the family, I believe. What a +very good-looking man!" + +"Yes, and Miss Atkinson, who dined with him once at the Wallises, says +he is the most agreeable man she ever was in company with." + +"She is pretty, I think; Anne Elliot; very pretty, when one comes to +look at her. It is not the fashion to say so, but I confess I admire +her more than her sister." + +"Oh! so do I." + +"And so do I. No comparison. But the men are all wild after Miss +Elliot. Anne is too delicate for them." + +Anne would have been particularly obliged to her cousin, if he would +have walked by her side all the way to Camden Place, without saying a +word. She had never found it so difficult to listen to him, though +nothing could exceed his solicitude and care, and though his subjects +were principally such as were wont to be always interesting: praise, +warm, just, and discriminating, of Lady Russell, and insinuations +highly rational against Mrs Clay. But just now she could think only of +Captain Wentworth. She could not understand his present feelings, +whether he were really suffering much from disappointment or not; and +till that point were settled, she could not be quite herself. + +She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas! she must +confess to herself that she was not wise yet. + +Another circumstance very essential for her to know, was how long he +meant to be in Bath; he had not mentioned it, or she could not +recollect it. He might be only passing through. But it was more +probable that he should be come to stay. In that case, so liable as +every body was to meet every body in Bath, Lady Russell would in all +likelihood see him somewhere. Would she recollect him? How would it +all be? + +She had already been obliged to tell Lady Russell that Louisa Musgrove +was to marry Captain Benwick. It had cost her something to encounter +Lady Russell's surprise; and now, if she were by any chance to be +thrown into company with Captain Wentworth, her imperfect knowledge of +the matter might add another shade of prejudice against him. + +The following morning Anne was out with her friend, and for the first +hour, in an incessant and fearful sort of watch for him in vain; but at +last, in returning down Pulteney Street, she distinguished him on the +right hand pavement at such a distance as to have him in view the +greater part of the street. There were many other men about him, many +groups walking the same way, but there was no mistaking him. She +looked instinctively at Lady Russell; but not from any mad idea of her +recognising him so soon as she did herself. No, it was not to be +supposed that Lady Russell would perceive him till they were nearly +opposite. She looked at her however, from time to time, anxiously; and +when the moment approached which must point him out, though not daring +to look again (for her own countenance she knew was unfit to be seen), +she was yet perfectly conscious of Lady Russell's eyes being turned +exactly in the direction for him--of her being, in short, intently +observing him. She could thoroughly comprehend the sort of fascination +he must possess over Lady Russell's mind, the difficulty it must be for +her to withdraw her eyes, the astonishment she must be feeling that +eight or nine years should have passed over him, and in foreign climes +and in active service too, without robbing him of one personal grace! + +At last, Lady Russell drew back her head. "Now, how would she speak of +him?" + +"You will wonder," said she, "what has been fixing my eye so long; but +I was looking after some window-curtains, which Lady Alicia and Mrs +Frankland were telling me of last night. They described the +drawing-room window-curtains of one of the houses on this side of the +way, and this part of the street, as being the handsomest and best hung +of any in Bath, but could not recollect the exact number, and I have +been trying to find out which it could be; but I confess I can see no +curtains hereabouts that answer their description." + +Anne sighed and blushed and smiled, in pity and disdain, either at her +friend or herself. The part which provoked her most, was that in all +this waste of foresight and caution, she should have lost the right +moment for seeing whether he saw them. + +A day or two passed without producing anything. The theatre or the +rooms, where he was most likely to be, were not fashionable enough for +the Elliots, whose evening amusements were solely in the elegant +stupidity of private parties, in which they were getting more and more +engaged; and Anne, wearied of such a state of stagnation, sick of +knowing nothing, and fancying herself stronger because her strength was +not tried, was quite impatient for the concert evening. It was a +concert for the benefit of a person patronised by Lady Dalrymple. Of +course they must attend. It was really expected to be a good one, and +Captain Wentworth was very fond of music. If she could only have a few +minutes conversation with him again, she fancied she should be +satisfied; and as to the power of addressing him, she felt all over +courage if the opportunity occurred. Elizabeth had turned from him, +Lady Russell overlooked him; her nerves were strengthened by these +circumstances; she felt that she owed him attention. + +She had once partly promised Mrs Smith to spend the evening with her; +but in a short hurried call she excused herself and put it off, with +the more decided promise of a longer visit on the morrow. Mrs Smith +gave a most good-humoured acquiescence. + +"By all means," said she; "only tell me all about it, when you do come. +Who is your party?" + +Anne named them all. Mrs Smith made no reply; but when she was leaving +her said, and with an expression half serious, half arch, "Well, I +heartily wish your concert may answer; and do not fail me to-morrow if +you can come; for I begin to have a foreboding that I may not have many +more visits from you." + +Anne was startled and confused; but after standing in a moment's +suspense, was obliged, and not sorry to be obliged, to hurry away. + + + +Chapter 20 + + +Sir Walter, his two daughters, and Mrs Clay, were the earliest of all +their party at the rooms in the evening; and as Lady Dalrymple must be +waited for, they took their station by one of the fires in the Octagon +Room. But hardly were they so settled, when the door opened again, and +Captain Wentworth walked in alone. Anne was the nearest to him, and +making yet a little advance, she instantly spoke. He was preparing +only to bow and pass on, but her gentle "How do you do?" brought him +out of the straight line to stand near her, and make enquiries in +return, in spite of the formidable father and sister in the back +ground. Their being in the back ground was a support to Anne; she knew +nothing of their looks, and felt equal to everything which she believed +right to be done. + +While they were speaking, a whispering between her father and Elizabeth +caught her ear. She could not distinguish, but she must guess the +subject; and on Captain Wentworth's making a distant bow, she +comprehended that her father had judged so well as to give him that +simple acknowledgement of acquaintance, and she was just in time by a +side glance to see a slight curtsey from Elizabeth herself. This, +though late, and reluctant, and ungracious, was yet better than +nothing, and her spirits improved. + +After talking, however, of the weather, and Bath, and the concert, +their conversation began to flag, and so little was said at last, that +she was expecting him to go every moment, but he did not; he seemed in +no hurry to leave her; and presently with renewed spirit, with a little +smile, a little glow, he said-- + +"I have hardly seen you since our day at Lyme. I am afraid you must +have suffered from the shock, and the more from its not overpowering +you at the time." + +She assured him that she had not. + +"It was a frightful hour," said he, "a frightful day!" and he passed +his hand across his eyes, as if the remembrance were still too painful, +but in a moment, half smiling again, added, "The day has produced some +effects however; has had some consequences which must be considered as +the very reverse of frightful. When you had the presence of mind to +suggest that Benwick would be the properest person to fetch a surgeon, +you could have little idea of his being eventually one of those most +concerned in her recovery." + +"Certainly I could have none. But it appears--I should hope it would +be a very happy match. There are on both sides good principles and +good temper." + +"Yes," said he, looking not exactly forward; "but there, I think, ends +the resemblance. With all my soul I wish them happy, and rejoice over +every circumstance in favour of it. They have no difficulties to +contend with at home, no opposition, no caprice, no delays. The +Musgroves are behaving like themselves, most honourably and kindly, +only anxious with true parental hearts to promote their daughter's +comfort. All this is much, very much in favour of their happiness; +more than perhaps--" + +He stopped. A sudden recollection seemed to occur, and to give him +some taste of that emotion which was reddening Anne's cheeks and fixing +her eyes on the ground. After clearing his throat, however, he +proceeded thus-- + +"I confess that I do think there is a disparity, too great a disparity, +and in a point no less essential than mind. I regard Louisa Musgrove +as a very amiable, sweet-tempered girl, and not deficient in +understanding, but Benwick is something more. He is a clever man, a +reading man; and I confess, that I do consider his attaching himself to +her with some surprise. Had it been the effect of gratitude, had he +learnt to love her, because he believed her to be preferring him, it +would have been another thing. But I have no reason to suppose it so. +It seems, on the contrary, to have been a perfectly spontaneous, +untaught feeling on his side, and this surprises me. A man like him, +in his situation! with a heart pierced, wounded, almost broken! Fanny +Harville was a very superior creature, and his attachment to her was +indeed attachment. A man does not recover from such a devotion of the +heart to such a woman. He ought not; he does not." + +Either from the consciousness, however, that his friend had recovered, +or from other consciousness, he went no farther; and Anne who, in spite +of the agitated voice in which the latter part had been uttered, and in +spite of all the various noises of the room, the almost ceaseless slam +of the door, and ceaseless buzz of persons walking through, had +distinguished every word, was struck, gratified, confused, and +beginning to breathe very quick, and feel an hundred things in a +moment. It was impossible for her to enter on such a subject; and yet, +after a pause, feeling the necessity of speaking, and having not the +smallest wish for a total change, she only deviated so far as to say-- + +"You were a good while at Lyme, I think?" + +"About a fortnight. I could not leave it till Louisa's doing well was +quite ascertained. I had been too deeply concerned in the mischief to +be soon at peace. It had been my doing, solely mine. She would not +have been obstinate if I had not been weak. The country round Lyme is +very fine. I walked and rode a great deal; and the more I saw, the +more I found to admire." + +"I should very much like to see Lyme again," said Anne. + +"Indeed! I should not have supposed that you could have found anything +in Lyme to inspire such a feeling. The horror and distress you were +involved in, the stretch of mind, the wear of spirits! I should have +thought your last impressions of Lyme must have been strong disgust." + +"The last hours were certainly very painful," replied Anne; "but when +pain is over, the remembrance of it often becomes a pleasure. One does +not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been +all suffering, nothing but suffering, which was by no means the case at +Lyme. We were only in anxiety and distress during the last two hours, +and previously there had been a great deal of enjoyment. So much +novelty and beauty! I have travelled so little, that every fresh place +would be interesting to me; but there is real beauty at Lyme; and in +short" (with a faint blush at some recollections), "altogether my +impressions of the place are very agreeable." + +As she ceased, the entrance door opened again, and the very party +appeared for whom they were waiting. "Lady Dalrymple, Lady Dalrymple," +was the rejoicing sound; and with all the eagerness compatible with +anxious elegance, Sir Walter and his two ladies stepped forward to meet +her. Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, escorted by Mr Elliot and +Colonel Wallis, who had happened to arrive nearly at the same instant, +advanced into the room. The others joined them, and it was a group in +which Anne found herself also necessarily included. She was divided +from Captain Wentworth. Their interesting, almost too interesting +conversation must be broken up for a time, but slight was the penance +compared with the happiness which brought it on! She had learnt, in +the last ten minutes, more of his feelings towards Louisa, more of all +his feelings than she dared to think of; and she gave herself up to the +demands of the party, to the needful civilities of the moment, with +exquisite, though agitated sensations. She was in good humour with +all. She had received ideas which disposed her to be courteous and +kind to all, and to pity every one, as being less happy than herself. + +The delightful emotions were a little subdued, when on stepping back +from the group, to be joined again by Captain Wentworth, she saw that +he was gone. She was just in time to see him turn into the Concert +Room. He was gone; he had disappeared, she felt a moment's regret. +But "they should meet again. He would look for her, he would find her +out before the evening were over, and at present, perhaps, it was as +well to be asunder. She was in need of a little interval for +recollection." + +Upon Lady Russell's appearance soon afterwards, the whole party was +collected, and all that remained was to marshal themselves, and proceed +into the Concert Room; and be of all the consequence in their power, +draw as many eyes, excite as many whispers, and disturb as many people +as they could. + +Very, very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they walked in. +Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret, and looking on the broad back +of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before her, had nothing to wish +for which did not seem within her reach; and Anne--but it would be an +insult to the nature of Anne's felicity, to draw any comparison between +it and her sister's; the origin of one all selfish vanity, of the other +all generous attachment. + +Anne saw nothing, thought nothing of the brilliancy of the room. Her +happiness was from within. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks glowed; +but she knew nothing about it. She was thinking only of the last half +hour, and as they passed to their seats, her mind took a hasty range +over it. His choice of subjects, his expressions, and still more his +manner and look, had been such as she could see in only one light. His +opinion of Louisa Musgrove's inferiority, an opinion which he had +seemed solicitous to give, his wonder at Captain Benwick, his feelings +as to a first, strong attachment; sentences begun which he could not +finish, his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance, +all, all declared that he had a heart returning to her at least; that +anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were +succeeded, not merely by friendship and regard, but by the tenderness +of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past. She could +not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her. + +These were thoughts, with their attendant visions, which occupied and +flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation; and she +passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even +trying to discern him. When their places were determined on, and they +were all properly arranged, she looked round to see if he should happen +to be in the same part of the room, but he was not; her eye could not +reach him; and the concert being just opening, she must consent for a +time to be happy in a humbler way. + +The party was divided and disposed of on two contiguous benches: Anne +was among those on the foremost, and Mr Elliot had manoeuvred so well, +with the assistance of his friend Colonel Wallis, as to have a seat by +her. Miss Elliot, surrounded by her cousins, and the principal object +of Colonel Wallis's gallantry, was quite contented. + +Anne's mind was in a most favourable state for the entertainment of the +evening; it was just occupation enough: she had feelings for the +tender, spirits for the gay, attention for the scientific, and patience +for the wearisome; and had never liked a concert better, at least +during the first act. Towards the close of it, in the interval +succeeding an Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr +Elliot. They had a concert bill between them. + +"This," said she, "is nearly the sense, or rather the meaning of the +words, for certainly the sense of an Italian love-song must not be +talked of, but it is as nearly the meaning as I can give; for I do not +pretend to understand the language. I am a very poor Italian scholar." + +"Yes, yes, I see you are. I see you know nothing of the matter. You +have only knowledge enough of the language to translate at sight these +inverted, transposed, curtailed Italian lines, into clear, +comprehensible, elegant English. You need not say anything more of +your ignorance. Here is complete proof." + +"I will not oppose such kind politeness; but I should be sorry to be +examined by a real proficient." + +"I have not had the pleasure of visiting in Camden Place so long," +replied he, "without knowing something of Miss Anne Elliot; and I do +regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be +aware of half her accomplishments, and too highly accomplished for +modesty to be natural in any other woman." + +"For shame! for shame! this is too much flattery. I forget what we are +to have next," turning to the bill. + +"Perhaps," said Mr Elliot, speaking low, "I have had a longer +acquaintance with your character than you are aware of." + +"Indeed! How so? You can have been acquainted with it only since I +came to Bath, excepting as you might hear me previously spoken of in my +own family." + +"I knew you by report long before you came to Bath. I had heard you +described by those who knew you intimately. I have been acquainted +with you by character many years. Your person, your disposition, +accomplishments, manner; they were all present to me." + +Mr Elliot was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to raise. No +one can withstand the charm of such a mystery. To have been described +long ago to a recent acquaintance, by nameless people, is irresistible; +and Anne was all curiosity. She wondered, and questioned him eagerly; +but in vain. He delighted in being asked, but he would not tell. + +"No, no, some time or other, perhaps, but not now. He would mention no +names now; but such, he could assure her, had been the fact. He had +many years ago received such a description of Miss Anne Elliot as had +inspired him with the highest idea of her merit, and excited the +warmest curiosity to know her." + +Anne could think of no one so likely to have spoken with partiality of +her many years ago as the Mr Wentworth of Monkford, Captain Wentworth's +brother. He might have been in Mr Elliot's company, but she had not +courage to ask the question. + +"The name of Anne Elliot," said he, "has long had an interesting sound +to me. Very long has it possessed a charm over my fancy; and, if I +dared, I would breathe my wishes that the name might never change." + +Such, she believed, were his words; but scarcely had she received their +sound, than her attention was caught by other sounds immediately behind +her, which rendered every thing else trivial. Her father and Lady +Dalrymple were speaking. + +"A well-looking man," said Sir Walter, "a very well-looking man." + +"A very fine young man indeed!" said Lady Dalrymple. "More air than +one often sees in Bath. Irish, I dare say." + +"No, I just know his name. A bowing acquaintance. Wentworth; Captain +Wentworth of the navy. His sister married my tenant in Somersetshire, +the Croft, who rents Kellynch." + +Before Sir Walter had reached this point, Anne's eyes had caught the +right direction, and distinguished Captain Wentworth standing among a +cluster of men at a little distance. As her eyes fell on him, his +seemed to be withdrawn from her. It had that appearance. It seemed as +if she had been one moment too late; and as long as she dared observe, +he did not look again: but the performance was recommencing, and she +was forced to seem to restore her attention to the orchestra and look +straight forward. + +When she could give another glance, he had moved away. He could not +have come nearer to her if he would; she was so surrounded and shut in: +but she would rather have caught his eye. + +Mr Elliot's speech, too, distressed her. She had no longer any +inclination to talk to him. She wished him not so near her. + +The first act was over. Now she hoped for some beneficial change; and, +after a period of nothing-saying amongst the party, some of them did +decide on going in quest of tea. Anne was one of the few who did not +choose to move. She remained in her seat, and so did Lady Russell; but +she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr Elliot; and she did not mean, +whatever she might feel on Lady Russell's account, to shrink from +conversation with Captain Wentworth, if he gave her the opportunity. +She was persuaded by Lady Russell's countenance that she had seen him. + +He did not come however. Anne sometimes fancied she discerned him at a +distance, but he never came. The anxious interval wore away +unproductively. The others returned, the room filled again, benches +were reclaimed and repossessed, and another hour of pleasure or of +penance was to be sat out, another hour of music was to give delight or +the gapes, as real or affected taste for it prevailed. To Anne, it +chiefly wore the prospect of an hour of agitation. She could not quit +that room in peace without seeing Captain Wentworth once more, without +the interchange of one friendly look. + +In re-settling themselves there were now many changes, the result of +which was favourable for her. Colonel Wallis declined sitting down +again, and Mr Elliot was invited by Elizabeth and Miss Carteret, in a +manner not to be refused, to sit between them; and by some other +removals, and a little scheming of her own, Anne was enabled to place +herself much nearer the end of the bench than she had been before, much +more within reach of a passer-by. She could not do so, without +comparing herself with Miss Larolles, the inimitable Miss Larolles; but +still she did it, and not with much happier effect; though by what +seemed prosperity in the shape of an early abdication in her next +neighbours, she found herself at the very end of the bench before the +concert closed. + +Such was her situation, with a vacant space at hand, when Captain +Wentworth was again in sight. She saw him not far off. He saw her +too; yet he looked grave, and seemed irresolute, and only by very slow +degrees came at last near enough to speak to her. She felt that +something must be the matter. The change was indubitable. The +difference between his present air and what it had been in the Octagon +Room was strikingly great. Why was it? She thought of her father, of +Lady Russell. Could there have been any unpleasant glances? He began +by speaking of the concert gravely, more like the Captain Wentworth of +Uppercross; owned himself disappointed, had expected singing; and in +short, must confess that he should not be sorry when it was over. Anne +replied, and spoke in defence of the performance so well, and yet in +allowance for his feelings so pleasantly, that his countenance +improved, and he replied again with almost a smile. They talked for a +few minutes more; the improvement held; he even looked down towards the +bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth occupying; when at that +moment a touch on her shoulder obliged Anne to turn round. It came +from Mr Elliot. He begged her pardon, but she must be applied to, to +explain Italian again. Miss Carteret was very anxious to have a +general idea of what was next to be sung. Anne could not refuse; but +never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more suffering spirit. + +A few minutes, though as few as possible, were inevitably consumed; and +when her own mistress again, when able to turn and look as she had done +before, she found herself accosted by Captain Wentworth, in a reserved +yet hurried sort of farewell. "He must wish her good night; he was +going; he should get home as fast as he could." + +"Is not this song worth staying for?" said Anne, suddenly struck by an +idea which made her yet more anxious to be encouraging. + +"No!" he replied impressively, "there is nothing worth my staying for;" +and he was gone directly. + +Jealousy of Mr Elliot! It was the only intelligible motive. Captain +Wentworth jealous of her affection! Could she have believed it a week +ago; three hours ago! For a moment the gratification was exquisite. +But, alas! there were very different thoughts to succeed. How was such +jealousy to be quieted? How was the truth to reach him? How, in all +the peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he +ever learn of her real sentiments? It was misery to think of Mr +Elliot's attentions. Their evil was incalculable. + + + +Chapter 21 + + +Anne recollected with pleasure the next morning her promise of going to +Mrs Smith, meaning that it should engage her from home at the time when +Mr Elliot would be most likely to call; for to avoid Mr Elliot was +almost a first object. + +She felt a great deal of good-will towards him. In spite of the +mischief of his attentions, she owed him gratitude and regard, perhaps +compassion. She could not help thinking much of the extraordinary +circumstances attending their acquaintance, of the right which he +seemed to have to interest her, by everything in situation, by his own +sentiments, by his early prepossession. It was altogether very +extraordinary; flattering, but painful. There was much to regret. How +she might have felt had there been no Captain Wentworth in the case, +was not worth enquiry; for there was a Captain Wentworth; and be the +conclusion of the present suspense good or bad, her affection would be +his for ever. Their union, she believed, could not divide her more +from other men, than their final separation. + +Prettier musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy, could +never have passed along the streets of Bath, than Anne was sporting +with from Camden Place to Westgate Buildings. It was almost enough to +spread purification and perfume all the way. + +She was sure of a pleasant reception; and her friend seemed this +morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have +expected her, though it had been an appointment. + +An account of the concert was immediately claimed; and Anne's +recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate her +features and make her rejoice to talk of it. All that she could tell +she told most gladly, but the all was little for one who had been +there, and unsatisfactory for such an enquirer as Mrs Smith, who had +already heard, through the short cut of a laundress and a waiter, +rather more of the general success and produce of the evening than Anne +could relate, and who now asked in vain for several particulars of the +company. Everybody of any consequence or notoriety in Bath was well +know by name to Mrs Smith. + +"The little Durands were there, I conclude," said she, "with their +mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be +fed. They never miss a concert." + +"Yes; I did not see them myself, but I heard Mr Elliot say they were in +the room." + +"The Ibbotsons, were they there? and the two new beauties, with the +tall Irish officer, who is talked of for one of them." + +"I do not know. I do not think they were." + +"Old Lady Mary Maclean? I need not ask after her. She never misses, I +know; and you must have seen her. She must have been in your own +circle; for as you went with Lady Dalrymple, you were in the seats of +grandeur, round the orchestra, of course." + +"No, that was what I dreaded. It would have been very unpleasant to me +in every respect. But happily Lady Dalrymple always chooses to be +farther off; and we were exceedingly well placed, that is, for hearing; +I must not say for seeing, because I appear to have seen very little." + +"Oh! you saw enough for your own amusement. I can understand. There +is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known even in a crowd, and this +you had. You were a large party in yourselves, and you wanted nothing +beyond." + +"But I ought to have looked about me more," said Anne, conscious while +she spoke that there had in fact been no want of looking about, that +the object only had been deficient. + +"No, no; you were better employed. You need not tell me that you had a +pleasant evening. I see it in your eye. I perfectly see how the hours +passed: that you had always something agreeable to listen to. In the +intervals of the concert it was conversation." + +Anne half smiled and said, "Do you see that in my eye?" + +"Yes, I do. Your countenance perfectly informs me that you were in +company last night with the person whom you think the most agreeable in +the world, the person who interests you at this present time more than +all the rest of the world put together." + +A blush overspread Anne's cheeks. She could say nothing. + +"And such being the case," continued Mrs Smith, after a short pause, "I +hope you believe that I do know how to value your kindness in coming to +me this morning. It is really very good of you to come and sit with +me, when you must have so many pleasanter demands upon your time." + +Anne heard nothing of this. She was still in the astonishment and +confusion excited by her friend's penetration, unable to imagine how +any report of Captain Wentworth could have reached her. After another +short silence-- + +"Pray," said Mrs Smith, "is Mr Elliot aware of your acquaintance with +me? Does he know that I am in Bath?" + +"Mr Elliot!" repeated Anne, looking up surprised. A moment's +reflection shewed her the mistake she had been under. She caught it +instantaneously; and recovering her courage with the feeling of safety, +soon added, more composedly, "Are you acquainted with Mr Elliot?" + +"I have been a good deal acquainted with him," replied Mrs Smith, +gravely, "but it seems worn out now. It is a great while since we met." + +"I was not at all aware of this. You never mentioned it before. Had I +known it, I would have had the pleasure of talking to him about you." + +"To confess the truth," said Mrs Smith, assuming her usual air of +cheerfulness, "that is exactly the pleasure I want you to have. I want +you to talk about me to Mr Elliot. I want your interest with him. He +can be of essential service to me; and if you would have the goodness, +my dear Miss Elliot, to make it an object to yourself, of course it is +done." + +"I should be extremely happy; I hope you cannot doubt my willingness to +be of even the slightest use to you," replied Anne; "but I suspect that +you are considering me as having a higher claim on Mr Elliot, a greater +right to influence him, than is really the case. I am sure you have, +somehow or other, imbibed such a notion. You must consider me only as +Mr Elliot's relation. If in that light there is anything which you +suppose his cousin might fairly ask of him, I beg you would not +hesitate to employ me." + +Mrs Smith gave her a penetrating glance, and then, smiling, said-- + +"I have been a little premature, I perceive; I beg your pardon. I +ought to have waited for official information, But now, my dear Miss +Elliot, as an old friend, do give me a hint as to when I may speak. +Next week? To be sure by next week I may be allowed to think it all +settled, and build my own selfish schemes on Mr Elliot's good fortune." + +"No," replied Anne, "nor next week, nor next, nor next. I assure you +that nothing of the sort you are thinking of will be settled any week. +I am not going to marry Mr Elliot. I should like to know why you +imagine I am?" + +Mrs Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her +head, and exclaimed-- + +"Now, how I do wish I understood you! How I do wish I knew what you +were at! I have a great idea that you do not design to be cruel, when +the right moment occurs. Till it does come, you know, we women never +mean to have anybody. It is a thing of course among us, that every man +is refused, till he offers. But why should you be cruel? Let me plead +for my--present friend I cannot call him, but for my former friend. +Where can you look for a more suitable match? Where could you expect a +more gentlemanlike, agreeable man? Let me recommend Mr Elliot. I am +sure you hear nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis; and who can +know him better than Colonel Wallis?" + +"My dear Mrs Smith, Mr Elliot's wife has not been dead much above half +a year. He ought not to be supposed to be paying his addresses to any +one." + +"Oh! if these are your only objections," cried Mrs Smith, archly, "Mr +Elliot is safe, and I shall give myself no more trouble about him. Do +not forget me when you are married, that's all. Let him know me to be +a friend of yours, and then he will think little of the trouble +required, which it is very natural for him now, with so many affairs +and engagements of his own, to avoid and get rid of as he can; very +natural, perhaps. Ninety-nine out of a hundred would do the same. Of +course, he cannot be aware of the importance to me. Well, my dear Miss +Elliot, I hope and trust you will be very happy. Mr Elliot has sense +to understand the value of such a woman. Your peace will not be +shipwrecked as mine has been. You are safe in all worldly matters, and +safe in his character. He will not be led astray; he will not be +misled by others to his ruin." + +"No," said Anne, "I can readily believe all that of my cousin. He +seems to have a calm decided temper, not at all open to dangerous +impressions. I consider him with great respect. I have no reason, +from any thing that has fallen within my observation, to do otherwise. +But I have not known him long; and he is not a man, I think, to be +known intimately soon. Will not this manner of speaking of him, Mrs +Smith, convince you that he is nothing to me? Surely this must be calm +enough. And, upon my word, he is nothing to me. Should he ever +propose to me (which I have very little reason to imagine he has any +thought of doing), I shall not accept him. I assure you I shall not. +I assure you, Mr Elliot had not the share which you have been +supposing, in whatever pleasure the concert of last night might afford: +not Mr Elliot; it is not Mr Elliot that--" + +She stopped, regretting with a deep blush that she had implied so much; +but less would hardly have been sufficient. Mrs Smith would hardly +have believed so soon in Mr Elliot's failure, but from the perception +of there being a somebody else. As it was, she instantly submitted, +and with all the semblance of seeing nothing beyond; and Anne, eager to +escape farther notice, was impatient to know why Mrs Smith should have +fancied she was to marry Mr Elliot; where she could have received the +idea, or from whom she could have heard it. + +"Do tell me how it first came into your head." + +"It first came into my head," replied Mrs Smith, "upon finding how much +you were together, and feeling it to be the most probable thing in the +world to be wished for by everybody belonging to either of you; and you +may depend upon it that all your acquaintance have disposed of you in +the same way. But I never heard it spoken of till two days ago." + +"And has it indeed been spoken of?" + +"Did you observe the woman who opened the door to you when you called +yesterday?" + +"No. Was not it Mrs Speed, as usual, or the maid? I observed no one +in particular." + +"It was my friend Mrs Rooke; Nurse Rooke; who, by-the-bye, had a great +curiosity to see you, and was delighted to be in the way to let you in. +She came away from Marlborough Buildings only on Sunday; and she it was +who told me you were to marry Mr Elliot. She had had it from Mrs +Wallis herself, which did not seem bad authority. She sat an hour with +me on Monday evening, and gave me the whole history." "The whole +history," repeated Anne, laughing. "She could not make a very long +history, I think, of one such little article of unfounded news." + +Mrs Smith said nothing. + +"But," continued Anne, presently, "though there is no truth in my +having this claim on Mr Elliot, I should be extremely happy to be of +use to you in any way that I could. Shall I mention to him your being +in Bath? Shall I take any message?" + +"No, I thank you: no, certainly not. In the warmth of the moment, and +under a mistaken impression, I might, perhaps, have endeavoured to +interest you in some circumstances; but not now. No, I thank you, I +have nothing to trouble you with." + +"I think you spoke of having known Mr Elliot many years?" + +"I did." + +"Not before he was married, I suppose?" + +"Yes; he was not married when I knew him first." + +"And--were you much acquainted?" + +"Intimately." + +"Indeed! Then do tell me what he was at that time of life. I have a +great curiosity to know what Mr Elliot was as a very young man. Was he +at all such as he appears now?" + +"I have not seen Mr Elliot these three years," was Mrs Smith's answer, +given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the subject farther; +and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an increase of curiosity. +They were both silent: Mrs Smith very thoughtful. At last-- + +"I beg your pardon, my dear Miss Elliot," she cried, in her natural +tone of cordiality, "I beg your pardon for the short answers I have +been giving you, but I have been uncertain what I ought to do. I have +been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell you. There +were many things to be taken into the account. One hates to be +officious, to be giving bad impressions, making mischief. Even the +smooth surface of family-union seems worth preserving, though there may +be nothing durable beneath. However, I have determined; I think I am +right; I think you ought to be made acquainted with Mr Elliot's real +character. Though I fully believe that, at present, you have not the +smallest intention of accepting him, there is no saying what may +happen. You might, some time or other, be differently affected towards +him. Hear the truth, therefore, now, while you are unprejudiced. Mr +Elliot is a man without heart or conscience; a designing, wary, +cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself; whom for his own +interest or ease, would be guilty of any cruelty, or any treachery, +that could be perpetrated without risk of his general character. He +has no feeling for others. Those whom he has been the chief cause of +leading into ruin, he can neglect and desert without the smallest +compunction. He is totally beyond the reach of any sentiment of +justice or compassion. Oh! he is black at heart, hollow and black!" + +Anne's astonished air, and exclamation of wonder, made her pause, and +in a calmer manner, she added, + +"My expressions startle you. You must allow for an injured, angry +woman. But I will try to command myself. I will not abuse him. I +will only tell you what I have found him. Facts shall speak. He was +the intimate friend of my dear husband, who trusted and loved him, and +thought him as good as himself. The intimacy had been formed before +our marriage. I found them most intimate friends; and I, too, became +excessively pleased with Mr Elliot, and entertained the highest opinion +of him. At nineteen, you know, one does not think very seriously; but +Mr Elliot appeared to me quite as good as others, and much more +agreeable than most others, and we were almost always together. We +were principally in town, living in very good style. He was then the +inferior in circumstances; he was then the poor one; he had chambers in +the Temple, and it was as much as he could do to support the appearance +of a gentleman. He had always a home with us whenever he chose it; he +was always welcome; he was like a brother. My poor Charles, who had +the finest, most generous spirit in the world, would have divided his +last farthing with him; and I know that his purse was open to him; I +know that he often assisted him." + +"This must have been about that very period of Mr Elliot's life," said +Anne, "which has always excited my particular curiosity. It must have +been about the same time that he became known to my father and sister. +I never knew him myself; I only heard of him; but there was a something +in his conduct then, with regard to my father and sister, and +afterwards in the circumstances of his marriage, which I never could +quite reconcile with present times. It seemed to announce a different +sort of man." + +"I know it all, I know it all," cried Mrs Smith. "He had been +introduced to Sir Walter and your sister before I was acquainted with +him, but I heard him speak of them for ever. I know he was invited and +encouraged, and I know he did not choose to go. I can satisfy you, +perhaps, on points which you would little expect; and as to his +marriage, I knew all about it at the time. I was privy to all the fors +and againsts; I was the friend to whom he confided his hopes and plans; +and though I did not know his wife previously, her inferior situation +in society, indeed, rendered that impossible, yet I knew her all her +life afterwards, or at least till within the last two years of her +life, and can answer any question you may wish to put." + +"Nay," said Anne, "I have no particular enquiry to make about her. I +have always understood they were not a happy couple. But I should like +to know why, at that time of his life, he should slight my father's +acquaintance as he did. My father was certainly disposed to take very +kind and proper notice of him. Why did Mr Elliot draw back?" + +"Mr Elliot," replied Mrs Smith, "at that period of his life, had one +object in view: to make his fortune, and by a rather quicker process +than the law. He was determined to make it by marriage. He was +determined, at least, not to mar it by an imprudent marriage; and I +know it was his belief (whether justly or not, of course I cannot +decide), that your father and sister, in their civilities and +invitations, were designing a match between the heir and the young +lady, and it was impossible that such a match should have answered his +ideas of wealth and independence. That was his motive for drawing +back, I can assure you. He told me the whole story. He had no +concealments with me. It was curious, that having just left you behind +me in Bath, my first and principal acquaintance on marrying should be +your cousin; and that, through him, I should be continually hearing of +your father and sister. He described one Miss Elliot, and I thought +very affectionately of the other." + +"Perhaps," cried Anne, struck by a sudden idea, "you sometimes spoke of +me to Mr Elliot?" + +"To be sure I did; very often. I used to boast of my own Anne Elliot, +and vouch for your being a very different creature from--" + +She checked herself just in time. + +"This accounts for something which Mr Elliot said last night," cried +Anne. "This explains it. I found he had been used to hear of me. I +could not comprehend how. What wild imaginations one forms where dear +self is concerned! How sure to be mistaken! But I beg your pardon; I +have interrupted you. Mr Elliot married then completely for money? +The circumstances, probably, which first opened your eyes to his +character." + +Mrs Smith hesitated a little here. "Oh! those things are too common. +When one lives in the world, a man or woman's marrying for money is too +common to strike one as it ought. I was very young, and associated +only with the young, and we were a thoughtless, gay set, without any +strict rules of conduct. We lived for enjoyment. I think differently +now; time and sickness and sorrow have given me other notions; but at +that period I must own I saw nothing reprehensible in what Mr Elliot +was doing. 'To do the best for himself,' passed as a duty." + +"But was not she a very low woman?" + +"Yes; which I objected to, but he would not regard. Money, money, was +all that he wanted. Her father was a grazier, her grandfather had been +a butcher, but that was all nothing. She was a fine woman, had had a +decent education, was brought forward by some cousins, thrown by chance +into Mr Elliot's company, and fell in love with him; and not a +difficulty or a scruple was there on his side, with respect to her +birth. All his caution was spent in being secured of the real amount +of her fortune, before he committed himself. Depend upon it, whatever +esteem Mr Elliot may have for his own situation in life now, as a young +man he had not the smallest value for it. His chance for the Kellynch +estate was something, but all the honour of the family he held as cheap +as dirt. I have often heard him declare, that if baronetcies were +saleable, anybody should have his for fifty pounds, arms and motto, +name and livery included; but I will not pretend to repeat half that I +used to hear him say on that subject. It would not be fair; and yet +you ought to have proof, for what is all this but assertion, and you +shall have proof." + +"Indeed, my dear Mrs Smith, I want none," cried Anne. "You have +asserted nothing contradictory to what Mr Elliot appeared to be some +years ago. This is all in confirmation, rather, of what we used to +hear and believe. I am more curious to know why he should be so +different now." + +"But for my satisfaction, if you will have the goodness to ring for +Mary; stay: I am sure you will have the still greater goodness of +going yourself into my bedroom, and bringing me the small inlaid box +which you will find on the upper shelf of the closet." + +Anne, seeing her friend to be earnestly bent on it, did as she was +desired. The box was brought and placed before her, and Mrs Smith, +sighing over it as she unlocked it, said-- + +"This is full of papers belonging to him, to my husband; a small +portion only of what I had to look over when I lost him. The letter I +am looking for was one written by Mr Elliot to him before our marriage, +and happened to be saved; why, one can hardly imagine. But he was +careless and immethodical, like other men, about those things; and when +I came to examine his papers, I found it with others still more +trivial, from different people scattered here and there, while many +letters and memorandums of real importance had been destroyed. Here it +is; I would not burn it, because being even then very little satisfied +with Mr Elliot, I was determined to preserve every document of former +intimacy. I have now another motive for being glad that I can produce +it." + +This was the letter, directed to "Charles Smith, Esq. Tunbridge Wells," +and dated from London, as far back as July, 1803:-- + +"Dear Smith,--I have received yours. Your kindness almost overpowers +me. I wish nature had made such hearts as yours more common, but I +have lived three-and-twenty years in the world, and have seen none like +it. At present, believe me, I have no need of your services, being in +cash again. Give me joy: I have got rid of Sir Walter and Miss. They +are gone back to Kellynch, and almost made me swear to visit them this +summer; but my first visit to Kellynch will be with a surveyor, to tell +me how to bring it with best advantage to the hammer. The baronet, +nevertheless, is not unlikely to marry again; he is quite fool enough. +If he does, however, they will leave me in peace, which may be a decent +equivalent for the reversion. He is worse than last year. + +"I wish I had any name but Elliot. I am sick of it. The name of +Walter I can drop, thank God! and I desire you will never insult me +with my second W. again, meaning, for the rest of my life, to be only +yours truly,--Wm. Elliot." + +Such a letter could not be read without putting Anne in a glow; and Mrs +Smith, observing the high colour in her face, said-- + +"The language, I know, is highly disrespectful. Though I have forgot +the exact terms, I have a perfect impression of the general meaning. +But it shows you the man. Mark his professions to my poor husband. +Can any thing be stronger?" + +Anne could not immediately get over the shock and mortification of +finding such words applied to her father. She was obliged to recollect +that her seeing the letter was a violation of the laws of honour, that +no one ought to be judged or to be known by such testimonies, that no +private correspondence could bear the eye of others, before she could +recover calmness enough to return the letter which she had been +meditating over, and say-- + +"Thank you. This is full proof undoubtedly; proof of every thing you +were saying. But why be acquainted with us now?" + +"I can explain this too," cried Mrs Smith, smiling. + +"Can you really?" + +"Yes. I have shewn you Mr Elliot as he was a dozen years ago, and I +will shew him as he is now. I cannot produce written proof again, but +I can give as authentic oral testimony as you can desire, of what he is +now wanting, and what he is now doing. He is no hypocrite now. He +truly wants to marry you. His present attentions to your family are +very sincere: quite from the heart. I will give you my authority: his +friend Colonel Wallis." + +"Colonel Wallis! you are acquainted with him?" + +"No. It does not come to me in quite so direct a line as that; it +takes a bend or two, but nothing of consequence. The stream is as good +as at first; the little rubbish it collects in the turnings is easily +moved away. Mr Elliot talks unreservedly to Colonel Wallis of his +views on you, which said Colonel Wallis, I imagine to be, in himself, a +sensible, careful, discerning sort of character; but Colonel Wallis has +a very pretty silly wife, to whom he tells things which he had better +not, and he repeats it all to her. She in the overflowing spirits of +her recovery, repeats it all to her nurse; and the nurse knowing my +acquaintance with you, very naturally brings it all to me. On Monday +evening, my good friend Mrs Rooke let me thus much into the secrets of +Marlborough Buildings. When I talked of a whole history, therefore, +you see I was not romancing so much as you supposed." + +"My dear Mrs Smith, your authority is deficient. This will not do. Mr +Elliot's having any views on me will not in the least account for the +efforts he made towards a reconciliation with my father. That was all +prior to my coming to Bath. I found them on the most friendly terms +when I arrived." + +"I know you did; I know it all perfectly, but--" + +"Indeed, Mrs Smith, we must not expect to get real information in such +a line. Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so +many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can +hardly have much truth left." + +"Only give me a hearing. You will soon be able to judge of the general +credit due, by listening to some particulars which you can yourself +immediately contradict or confirm. Nobody supposes that you were his +first inducement. He had seen you indeed, before he came to Bath, and +admired you, but without knowing it to be you. So says my historian, +at least. Is this true? Did he see you last summer or autumn, +'somewhere down in the west,' to use her own words, without knowing it +to be you?" + +"He certainly did. So far it is very true. At Lyme. I happened to be +at Lyme." + +"Well," continued Mrs Smith, triumphantly, "grant my friend the credit +due to the establishment of the first point asserted. He saw you then +at Lyme, and liked you so well as to be exceedingly pleased to meet +with you again in Camden Place, as Miss Anne Elliot, and from that +moment, I have no doubt, had a double motive in his visits there. But +there was another, and an earlier, which I will now explain. If there +is anything in my story which you know to be either false or +improbable, stop me. My account states, that your sister's friend, the +lady now staying with you, whom I have heard you mention, came to Bath +with Miss Elliot and Sir Walter as long ago as September (in short when +they first came themselves), and has been staying there ever since; +that she is a clever, insinuating, handsome woman, poor and plausible, +and altogether such in situation and manner, as to give a general idea, +among Sir Walter's acquaintance, of her meaning to be Lady Elliot, and +as general a surprise that Miss Elliot should be apparently, blind to +the danger." + +Here Mrs Smith paused a moment; but Anne had not a word to say, and she +continued-- + +"This was the light in which it appeared to those who knew the family, +long before you returned to it; and Colonel Wallis had his eye upon +your father enough to be sensible of it, though he did not then visit +in Camden Place; but his regard for Mr Elliot gave him an interest in +watching all that was going on there, and when Mr Elliot came to Bath +for a day or two, as he happened to do a little before Christmas, +Colonel Wallis made him acquainted with the appearance of things, and +the reports beginning to prevail. Now you are to understand, that time +had worked a very material change in Mr Elliot's opinions as to the +value of a baronetcy. Upon all points of blood and connexion he is a +completely altered man. Having long had as much money as he could +spend, nothing to wish for on the side of avarice or indulgence, he has +been gradually learning to pin his happiness upon the consequence he is +heir to. I thought it coming on before our acquaintance ceased, but it +is now a confirmed feeling. He cannot bear the idea of not being Sir +William. You may guess, therefore, that the news he heard from his +friend could not be very agreeable, and you may guess what it produced; +the resolution of coming back to Bath as soon as possible, and of +fixing himself here for a time, with the view of renewing his former +acquaintance, and recovering such a footing in the family as might give +him the means of ascertaining the degree of his danger, and of +circumventing the lady if he found it material. This was agreed upon +between the two friends as the only thing to be done; and Colonel +Wallis was to assist in every way that he could. He was to be +introduced, and Mrs Wallis was to be introduced, and everybody was to +be introduced. Mr Elliot came back accordingly; and on application was +forgiven, as you know, and re-admitted into the family; and there it +was his constant object, and his only object (till your arrival added +another motive), to watch Sir Walter and Mrs Clay. He omitted no +opportunity of being with them, threw himself in their way, called at +all hours; but I need not be particular on this subject. You can +imagine what an artful man would do; and with this guide, perhaps, may +recollect what you have seen him do." + +"Yes," said Anne, "you tell me nothing which does not accord with what +I have known, or could imagine. There is always something offensive in +the details of cunning. The manoeuvres of selfishness and duplicity +must ever be revolting, but I have heard nothing which really surprises +me. I know those who would be shocked by such a representation of Mr +Elliot, who would have difficulty in believing it; but I have never +been satisfied. I have always wanted some other motive for his conduct +than appeared. I should like to know his present opinion, as to the +probability of the event he has been in dread of; whether he considers +the danger to be lessening or not." + +"Lessening, I understand," replied Mrs Smith. "He thinks Mrs Clay +afraid of him, aware that he sees through her, and not daring to +proceed as she might do in his absence. But since he must be absent +some time or other, I do not perceive how he can ever be secure while +she holds her present influence. Mrs Wallis has an amusing idea, as +nurse tells me, that it is to be put into the marriage articles when +you and Mr Elliot marry, that your father is not to marry Mrs Clay. A +scheme, worthy of Mrs Wallis's understanding, by all accounts; but my +sensible nurse Rooke sees the absurdity of it. 'Why, to be sure, +ma'am,' said she, 'it would not prevent his marrying anybody else.' +And, indeed, to own the truth, I do not think nurse, in her heart, is a +very strenuous opposer of Sir Walter's making a second match. She must +be allowed to be a favourer of matrimony, you know; and (since self +will intrude) who can say that she may not have some flying visions of +attending the next Lady Elliot, through Mrs Wallis's recommendation?" + +"I am very glad to know all this," said Anne, after a little +thoughtfulness. "It will be more painful to me in some respects to be +in company with him, but I shall know better what to do. My line of +conduct will be more direct. Mr Elliot is evidently a disingenuous, +artificial, worldly man, who has never had any better principle to +guide him than selfishness." + +But Mr Elliot was not done with. Mrs Smith had been carried away from +her first direction, and Anne had forgotten, in the interest of her own +family concerns, how much had been originally implied against him; but +her attention was now called to the explanation of those first hints, +and she listened to a recital which, if it did not perfectly justify +the unqualified bitterness of Mrs Smith, proved him to have been very +unfeeling in his conduct towards her; very deficient both in justice +and compassion. + +She learned that (the intimacy between them continuing unimpaired by Mr +Elliot's marriage) they had been as before always together, and Mr +Elliot had led his friend into expenses much beyond his fortune. Mrs +Smith did not want to take blame to herself, and was most tender of +throwing any on her husband; but Anne could collect that their income +had never been equal to their style of living, and that from the first +there had been a great deal of general and joint extravagance. From +his wife's account of him she could discern Mr Smith to have been a man +of warm feelings, easy temper, careless habits, and not strong +understanding, much more amiable than his friend, and very unlike him, +led by him, and probably despised by him. Mr Elliot, raised by his +marriage to great affluence, and disposed to every gratification of +pleasure and vanity which could be commanded without involving himself, +(for with all his self-indulgence he had become a prudent man), and +beginning to be rich, just as his friend ought to have found himself to +be poor, seemed to have had no concern at all for that friend's +probable finances, but, on the contrary, had been prompting and +encouraging expenses which could end only in ruin; and the Smiths +accordingly had been ruined. + +The husband had died just in time to be spared the full knowledge of +it. They had previously known embarrassments enough to try the +friendship of their friends, and to prove that Mr Elliot's had better +not be tried; but it was not till his death that the wretched state of +his affairs was fully known. With a confidence in Mr Elliot's regard, +more creditable to his feelings than his judgement, Mr Smith had +appointed him the executor of his will; but Mr Elliot would not act, +and the difficulties and distress which this refusal had heaped on her, +in addition to the inevitable sufferings of her situation, had been +such as could not be related without anguish of spirit, or listened to +without corresponding indignation. + +Anne was shewn some letters of his on the occasion, answers to urgent +applications from Mrs Smith, which all breathed the same stern +resolution of not engaging in a fruitless trouble, and, under a cold +civility, the same hard-hearted indifference to any of the evils it +might bring on her. It was a dreadful picture of ingratitude and +inhumanity; and Anne felt, at some moments, that no flagrant open crime +could have been worse. She had a great deal to listen to; all the +particulars of past sad scenes, all the minutiae of distress upon +distress, which in former conversations had been merely hinted at, were +dwelt on now with a natural indulgence. Anne could perfectly +comprehend the exquisite relief, and was only the more inclined to +wonder at the composure of her friend's usual state of mind. + +There was one circumstance in the history of her grievances of +particular irritation. She had good reason to believe that some +property of her husband in the West Indies, which had been for many +years under a sort of sequestration for the payment of its own +incumbrances, might be recoverable by proper measures; and this +property, though not large, would be enough to make her comparatively +rich. But there was nobody to stir in it. Mr Elliot would do nothing, +and she could do nothing herself, equally disabled from personal +exertion by her state of bodily weakness, and from employing others by +her want of money. She had no natural connexions to assist her even +with their counsel, and she could not afford to purchase the assistance +of the law. This was a cruel aggravation of actually straitened means. +To feel that she ought to be in better circumstances, that a little +trouble in the right place might do it, and to fear that delay might be +even weakening her claims, was hard to bear. + +It was on this point that she had hoped to engage Anne's good offices +with Mr Elliot. She had previously, in the anticipation of their +marriage, been very apprehensive of losing her friend by it; but on +being assured that he could have made no attempt of that nature, since +he did not even know her to be in Bath, it immediately occurred, that +something might be done in her favour by the influence of the woman he +loved, and she had been hastily preparing to interest Anne's feelings, +as far as the observances due to Mr Elliot's character would allow, +when Anne's refutation of the supposed engagement changed the face of +everything; and while it took from her the new-formed hope of +succeeding in the object of her first anxiety, left her at least the +comfort of telling the whole story her own way. + +After listening to this full description of Mr Elliot, Anne could not +but express some surprise at Mrs Smith's having spoken of him so +favourably in the beginning of their conversation. "She had seemed to +recommend and praise him!" + +"My dear," was Mrs Smith's reply, "there was nothing else to be done. +I considered your marrying him as certain, though he might not yet have +made the offer, and I could no more speak the truth of him, than if he +had been your husband. My heart bled for you, as I talked of +happiness; and yet he is sensible, he is agreeable, and with such a +woman as you, it was not absolutely hopeless. He was very unkind to +his first wife. They were wretched together. But she was too ignorant +and giddy for respect, and he had never loved her. I was willing to +hope that you must fare better." + +Anne could just acknowledge within herself such a possibility of having +been induced to marry him, as made her shudder at the idea of the +misery which must have followed. It was just possible that she might +have been persuaded by Lady Russell! And under such a supposition, +which would have been most miserable, when time had disclosed all, too +late? + +It was very desirable that Lady Russell should be no longer deceived; +and one of the concluding arrangements of this important conference, +which carried them through the greater part of the morning, was, that +Anne had full liberty to communicate to her friend everything relative +to Mrs Smith, in which his conduct was involved. + + + +Chapter 22 + + +Anne went home to think over all that she had heard. In one point, her +feelings were relieved by this knowledge of Mr Elliot. There was no +longer anything of tenderness due to him. He stood as opposed to +Captain Wentworth, in all his own unwelcome obtrusiveness; and the evil +of his attentions last night, the irremediable mischief he might have +done, was considered with sensations unqualified, unperplexed. Pity +for him was all over. But this was the only point of relief. In every +other respect, in looking around her, or penetrating forward, she saw +more to distrust and to apprehend. She was concerned for the +disappointment and pain Lady Russell would be feeling; for the +mortifications which must be hanging over her father and sister, and +had all the distress of foreseeing many evils, without knowing how to +avert any one of them. She was most thankful for her own knowledge of +him. She had never considered herself as entitled to reward for not +slighting an old friend like Mrs Smith, but here was a reward indeed +springing from it! Mrs Smith had been able to tell her what no one +else could have done. Could the knowledge have been extended through +her family? But this was a vain idea. She must talk to Lady Russell, +tell her, consult with her, and having done her best, wait the event +with as much composure as possible; and after all, her greatest want of +composure would be in that quarter of the mind which could not be +opened to Lady Russell; in that flow of anxieties and fears which must +be all to herself. + + +She found, on reaching home, that she had, as she intended, escaped +seeing Mr Elliot; that he had called and paid them a long morning +visit; but hardly had she congratulated herself, and felt safe, when +she heard that he was coming again in the evening. + +"I had not the smallest intention of asking him," said Elizabeth, with +affected carelessness, "but he gave so many hints; so Mrs Clay says, at +least." + +"Indeed, I do say it. I never saw anybody in my life spell harder for +an invitation. Poor man! I was really in pain for him; for your +hard-hearted sister, Miss Anne, seems bent on cruelty." + +"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I have been rather too much used to the game to +be soon overcome by a gentleman's hints. However, when I found how +excessively he was regretting that he should miss my father this +morning, I gave way immediately, for I would never really omit an +opportunity of bring him and Sir Walter together. They appear to so +much advantage in company with each other. Each behaving so +pleasantly. Mr Elliot looking up with so much respect." + +"Quite delightful!" cried Mrs Clay, not daring, however, to turn her +eyes towards Anne. "Exactly like father and son! Dear Miss Elliot, +may I not say father and son?" + +"Oh! I lay no embargo on any body's words. If you will have such +ideas! But, upon my word, I am scarcely sensible of his attentions +being beyond those of other men." + +"My dear Miss Elliot!" exclaimed Mrs Clay, lifting her hands and eyes, +and sinking all the rest of her astonishment in a convenient silence. + +"Well, my dear Penelope, you need not be so alarmed about him. I did +invite him, you know. I sent him away with smiles. When I found he +was really going to his friends at Thornberry Park for the whole day +to-morrow, I had compassion on him." + +Anne admired the good acting of the friend, in being able to shew such +pleasure as she did, in the expectation and in the actual arrival of +the very person whose presence must really be interfering with her +prime object. It was impossible but that Mrs Clay must hate the sight +of Mr Elliot; and yet she could assume a most obliging, placid look, +and appear quite satisfied with the curtailed license of devoting +herself only half as much to Sir Walter as she would have done +otherwise. + +To Anne herself it was most distressing to see Mr Elliot enter the +room; and quite painful to have him approach and speak to her. She had +been used before to feel that he could not be always quite sincere, but +now she saw insincerity in everything. His attentive deference to her +father, contrasted with his former language, was odious; and when she +thought of his cruel conduct towards Mrs Smith, she could hardly bear +the sight of his present smiles and mildness, or the sound of his +artificial good sentiments. + +She meant to avoid any such alteration of manners as might provoke a +remonstrance on his side. It was a great object to her to escape all +enquiry or eclat; but it was her intention to be as decidedly cool to +him as might be compatible with their relationship; and to retrace, as +quietly as she could, the few steps of unnecessary intimacy she had +been gradually led along. She was accordingly more guarded, and more +cool, than she had been the night before. + +He wanted to animate her curiosity again as to how and where he could +have heard her formerly praised; wanted very much to be gratified by +more solicitation; but the charm was broken: he found that the heat and +animation of a public room was necessary to kindle his modest cousin's +vanity; he found, at least, that it was not to be done now, by any of +those attempts which he could hazard among the too-commanding claims of +the others. He little surmised that it was a subject acting now +exactly against his interest, bringing immediately to her thoughts all +those parts of his conduct which were least excusable. + +She had some satisfaction in finding that he was really going out of +Bath the next morning, going early, and that he would be gone the +greater part of two days. He was invited again to Camden Place the +very evening of his return; but from Thursday to Saturday evening his +absence was certain. It was bad enough that a Mrs Clay should be +always before her; but that a deeper hypocrite should be added to their +party, seemed the destruction of everything like peace and comfort. It +was so humiliating to reflect on the constant deception practised on +her father and Elizabeth; to consider the various sources of +mortification preparing for them! Mrs Clay's selfishness was not so +complicate nor so revolting as his; and Anne would have compounded for +the marriage at once, with all its evils, to be clear of Mr Elliot's +subtleties in endeavouring to prevent it. + +On Friday morning she meant to go very early to Lady Russell, and +accomplish the necessary communication; and she would have gone +directly after breakfast, but that Mrs Clay was also going out on some +obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble, which determined her to +wait till she might be safe from such a companion. She saw Mrs Clay +fairly off, therefore, before she began to talk of spending the morning +in Rivers Street. + +"Very well," said Elizabeth, "I have nothing to send but my love. Oh! +you may as well take back that tiresome book she would lend me, and +pretend I have read it through. I really cannot be plaguing myself for +ever with all the new poems and states of the nation that come out. +Lady Russell quite bores one with her new publications. You need not +tell her so, but I thought her dress hideous the other night. I used +to think she had some taste in dress, but I was ashamed of her at the +concert. Something so formal and arrange in her air! and she sits so +upright! My best love, of course." + +"And mine," added Sir Walter. "Kindest regards. And you may say, that +I mean to call upon her soon. Make a civil message; but I shall only +leave my card. Morning visits are never fair by women at her time of +life, who make themselves up so little. If she would only wear rouge +she would not be afraid of being seen; but last time I called, I +observed the blinds were let down immediately." + +While her father spoke, there was a knock at the door. Who could it +be? Anne, remembering the preconcerted visits, at all hours, of Mr +Elliot, would have expected him, but for his known engagement seven +miles off. After the usual period of suspense, the usual sounds of +approach were heard, and "Mr and Mrs Charles Musgrove" were ushered +into the room. + +Surprise was the strongest emotion raised by their appearance; but Anne +was really glad to see them; and the others were not so sorry but that +they could put on a decent air of welcome; and as soon as it became +clear that these, their nearest relations, were not arrived with any +views of accommodation in that house, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were +able to rise in cordiality, and do the honours of it very well. They +were come to Bath for a few days with Mrs Musgrove, and were at the +White Hart. So much was pretty soon understood; but till Sir Walter +and Elizabeth were walking Mary into the other drawing-room, and +regaling themselves with her admiration, Anne could not draw upon +Charles's brain for a regular history of their coming, or an +explanation of some smiling hints of particular business, which had +been ostentatiously dropped by Mary, as well as of some apparent +confusion as to whom their party consisted of. + +She then found that it consisted of Mrs Musgrove, Henrietta, and +Captain Harville, beside their two selves. He gave her a very plain, +intelligible account of the whole; a narration in which she saw a great +deal of most characteristic proceeding. The scheme had received its +first impulse by Captain Harville's wanting to come to Bath on +business. He had begun to talk of it a week ago; and by way of doing +something, as shooting was over, Charles had proposed coming with him, +and Mrs Harville had seemed to like the idea of it very much, as an +advantage to her husband; but Mary could not bear to be left, and had +made herself so unhappy about it, that for a day or two everything +seemed to be in suspense, or at an end. But then, it had been taken up +by his father and mother. His mother had some old friends in Bath whom +she wanted to see; it was thought a good opportunity for Henrietta to +come and buy wedding-clothes for herself and her sister; and, in short, +it ended in being his mother's party, that everything might be +comfortable and easy to Captain Harville; and he and Mary were included +in it by way of general convenience. They had arrived late the night +before. Mrs Harville, her children, and Captain Benwick, remained with +Mr Musgrove and Louisa at Uppercross. + +Anne's only surprise was, that affairs should be in forwardness enough +for Henrietta's wedding-clothes to be talked of. She had imagined such +difficulties of fortune to exist there as must prevent the marriage +from being near at hand; but she learned from Charles that, very +recently, (since Mary's last letter to herself), Charles Hayter had +been applied to by a friend to hold a living for a youth who could not +possibly claim it under many years; and that on the strength of his +present income, with almost a certainty of something more permanent +long before the term in question, the two families had consented to the +young people's wishes, and that their marriage was likely to take place +in a few months, quite as soon as Louisa's. "And a very good living it +was," Charles added: "only five-and-twenty miles from Uppercross, and +in a very fine country: fine part of Dorsetshire. In the centre of +some of the best preserves in the kingdom, surrounded by three great +proprietors, each more careful and jealous than the other; and to two +of the three at least, Charles Hayter might get a special +recommendation. Not that he will value it as he ought," he observed, +"Charles is too cool about sporting. That's the worst of him." + +"I am extremely glad, indeed," cried Anne, "particularly glad that this +should happen; and that of two sisters, who both deserve equally well, +and who have always been such good friends, the pleasant prospect of +one should not be dimming those of the other--that they should be so +equal in their prosperity and comfort. I hope your father and mother +are quite happy with regard to both." + +"Oh! yes. My father would be well pleased if the gentlemen were +richer, but he has no other fault to find. Money, you know, coming +down with money--two daughters at once--it cannot be a very agreeable +operation, and it streightens him as to many things. However, I do not +mean to say they have not a right to it. It is very fit they should +have daughters' shares; and I am sure he has always been a very kind, +liberal father to me. Mary does not above half like Henrietta's match. +She never did, you know. But she does not do him justice, nor think +enough about Winthrop. I cannot make her attend to the value of the +property. It is a very fair match, as times go; and I have liked +Charles Hayter all my life, and I shall not leave off now." + +"Such excellent parents as Mr and Mrs Musgrove," exclaimed Anne, +"should be happy in their children's marriages. They do everything to +confer happiness, I am sure. What a blessing to young people to be in +such hands! Your father and mother seem so totally free from all those +ambitious feelings which have led to so much misconduct and misery, +both in young and old. I hope you think Louisa perfectly recovered +now?" + +He answered rather hesitatingly, "Yes, I believe I do; very much +recovered; but she is altered; there is no running or jumping about, no +laughing or dancing; it is quite different. If one happens only to +shut the door a little hard, she starts and wriggles like a young +dab-chick in the water; and Benwick sits at her elbow, reading verses, +or whispering to her, all day long." + +Anne could not help laughing. "That cannot be much to your taste, I +know," said she; "but I do believe him to be an excellent young man." + +"To be sure he is. Nobody doubts it; and I hope you do not think I am +so illiberal as to want every man to have the same objects and +pleasures as myself. I have a great value for Benwick; and when one +can but get him to talk, he has plenty to say. His reading has done +him no harm, for he has fought as well as read. He is a brave fellow. +I got more acquainted with him last Monday than ever I did before. We +had a famous set-to at rat-hunting all the morning in my father's great +barns; and he played his part so well that I have liked him the better +ever since." + +Here they were interrupted by the absolute necessity of Charles's +following the others to admire mirrors and china; but Anne had heard +enough to understand the present state of Uppercross, and rejoice in +its happiness; and though she sighed as she rejoiced, her sigh had none +of the ill-will of envy in it. She would certainly have risen to their +blessings if she could, but she did not want to lessen theirs. + +The visit passed off altogether in high good humour. Mary was in +excellent spirits, enjoying the gaiety and the change, and so well +satisfied with the journey in her mother-in-law's carriage with four +horses, and with her own complete independence of Camden Place, that +she was exactly in a temper to admire everything as she ought, and +enter most readily into all the superiorities of the house, as they +were detailed to her. She had no demands on her father or sister, and +her consequence was just enough increased by their handsome +drawing-rooms. + +Elizabeth was, for a short time, suffering a good deal. She felt that +Mrs Musgrove and all her party ought to be asked to dine with them; but +she could not bear to have the difference of style, the reduction of +servants, which a dinner must betray, witnessed by those who had been +always so inferior to the Elliots of Kellynch. It was a struggle +between propriety and vanity; but vanity got the better, and then +Elizabeth was happy again. These were her internal persuasions: "Old +fashioned notions; country hospitality; we do not profess to give +dinners; few people in Bath do; Lady Alicia never does; did not even +ask her own sister's family, though they were here a month: and I dare +say it would be very inconvenient to Mrs Musgrove; put her quite out of +her way. I am sure she would rather not come; she cannot feel easy +with us. I will ask them all for an evening; that will be much better; +that will be a novelty and a treat. They have not seen two such +drawing rooms before. They will be delighted to come to-morrow +evening. It shall be a regular party, small, but most elegant." And +this satisfied Elizabeth: and when the invitation was given to the two +present, and promised for the absent, Mary was as completely satisfied. +She was particularly asked to meet Mr Elliot, and be introduced to Lady +Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, who were fortunately already engaged to +come; and she could not have received a more gratifying attention. +Miss Elliot was to have the honour of calling on Mrs Musgrove in the +course of the morning; and Anne walked off with Charles and Mary, to go +and see her and Henrietta directly. + +Her plan of sitting with Lady Russell must give way for the present. +They all three called in Rivers Street for a couple of minutes; but +Anne convinced herself that a day's delay of the intended communication +could be of no consequence, and hastened forward to the White Hart, to +see again the friends and companions of the last autumn, with an +eagerness of good-will which many associations contributed to form. + +They found Mrs Musgrove and her daughter within, and by themselves, and +Anne had the kindest welcome from each. Henrietta was exactly in that +state of recently-improved views, of fresh-formed happiness, which made +her full of regard and interest for everybody she had ever liked before +at all; and Mrs Musgrove's real affection had been won by her +usefulness when they were in distress. It was a heartiness, and a +warmth, and a sincerity which Anne delighted in the more, from the sad +want of such blessings at home. She was entreated to give them as much +of her time as possible, invited for every day and all day long, or +rather claimed as part of the family; and, in return, she naturally +fell into all her wonted ways of attention and assistance, and on +Charles's leaving them together, was listening to Mrs Musgrove's +history of Louisa, and to Henrietta's of herself, giving opinions on +business, and recommendations to shops; with intervals of every help +which Mary required, from altering her ribbon to settling her accounts; +from finding her keys, and assorting her trinkets, to trying to +convince her that she was not ill-used by anybody; which Mary, well +amused as she generally was, in her station at a window overlooking the +entrance to the Pump Room, could not but have her moments of imagining. + +A morning of thorough confusion was to be expected. A large party in +an hotel ensured a quick-changing, unsettled scene. One five minutes +brought a note, the next a parcel; and Anne had not been there half an +hour, when their dining-room, spacious as it was, seemed more than half +filled: a party of steady old friends were seated around Mrs Musgrove, +and Charles came back with Captains Harville and Wentworth. The +appearance of the latter could not be more than the surprise of the +moment. It was impossible for her to have forgotten to feel that this +arrival of their common friends must be soon bringing them together +again. Their last meeting had been most important in opening his +feelings; she had derived from it a delightful conviction; but she +feared from his looks, that the same unfortunate persuasion, which had +hastened him away from the Concert Room, still governed. He did not +seem to want to be near enough for conversation. + +She tried to be calm, and leave things to take their course, and tried +to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence:--"Surely, if +there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts must understand +each other ere long. We are not boy and girl, to be captiously +irritable, misled by every moment's inadvertence, and wantonly playing +with our own happiness." And yet, a few minutes afterwards, she felt +as if their being in company with each other, under their present +circumstances, could only be exposing them to inadvertencies and +misconstructions of the most mischievous kind. + +"Anne," cried Mary, still at her window, "there is Mrs Clay, I am sure, +standing under the colonnade, and a gentleman with her. I saw them +turn the corner from Bath Street just now. They seemed deep in talk. +Who is it? Come, and tell me. Good heavens! I recollect. It is Mr +Elliot himself." + +"No," cried Anne, quickly, "it cannot be Mr Elliot, I assure you. He +was to leave Bath at nine this morning, and does not come back till +to-morrow." + +As she spoke, she felt that Captain Wentworth was looking at her, the +consciousness of which vexed and embarrassed her, and made her regret +that she had said so much, simple as it was. + +Mary, resenting that she should be supposed not to know her own cousin, +began talking very warmly about the family features, and protesting +still more positively that it was Mr Elliot, calling again upon Anne to +come and look for herself, but Anne did not mean to stir, and tried to +be cool and unconcerned. Her distress returned, however, on perceiving +smiles and intelligent glances pass between two or three of the lady +visitors, as if they believed themselves quite in the secret. It was +evident that the report concerning her had spread, and a short pause +succeeded, which seemed to ensure that it would now spread farther. + +"Do come, Anne" cried Mary, "come and look yourself. You will be too +late if you do not make haste. They are parting; they are shaking +hands. He is turning away. Not know Mr Elliot, indeed! You seem to +have forgot all about Lyme." + +To pacify Mary, and perhaps screen her own embarrassment, Anne did move +quietly to the window. She was just in time to ascertain that it +really was Mr Elliot, which she had never believed, before he +disappeared on one side, as Mrs Clay walked quickly off on the other; +and checking the surprise which she could not but feel at such an +appearance of friendly conference between two persons of totally +opposite interest, she calmly said, "Yes, it is Mr Elliot, certainly. +He has changed his hour of going, I suppose, that is all, or I may be +mistaken, I might not attend;" and walked back to her chair, +recomposed, and with the comfortable hope of having acquitted herself +well. + +The visitors took their leave; and Charles, having civilly seen them +off, and then made a face at them, and abused them for coming, began +with-- + +"Well, mother, I have done something for you that you will like. I +have been to the theatre, and secured a box for to-morrow night. A'n't +I a good boy? I know you love a play; and there is room for us all. +It holds nine. I have engaged Captain Wentworth. Anne will not be +sorry to join us, I am sure. We all like a play. Have not I done +well, mother?" + +Mrs Musgrove was good humouredly beginning to express her perfect +readiness for the play, if Henrietta and all the others liked it, when +Mary eagerly interrupted her by exclaiming-- + +"Good heavens, Charles! how can you think of such a thing? Take a box +for to-morrow night! Have you forgot that we are engaged to Camden +Place to-morrow night? and that we were most particularly asked to meet +Lady Dalrymple and her daughter, and Mr Elliot, and all the principal +family connexions, on purpose to be introduced to them? How can you be +so forgetful?" + +"Phoo! phoo!" replied Charles, "what's an evening party? Never worth +remembering. Your father might have asked us to dinner, I think, if he +had wanted to see us. You may do as you like, but I shall go to the +play." + +"Oh! Charles, I declare it will be too abominable if you do, when you +promised to go." + +"No, I did not promise. I only smirked and bowed, and said the word +'happy.' There was no promise." + +"But you must go, Charles. It would be unpardonable to fail. We were +asked on purpose to be introduced. There was always such a great +connexion between the Dalrymples and ourselves. Nothing ever happened +on either side that was not announced immediately. We are quite near +relations, you know; and Mr Elliot too, whom you ought so particularly +to be acquainted with! Every attention is due to Mr Elliot. Consider, +my father's heir: the future representative of the family." + +"Don't talk to me about heirs and representatives," cried Charles. "I +am not one of those who neglect the reigning power to bow to the rising +sun. If I would not go for the sake of your father, I should think it +scandalous to go for the sake of his heir. What is Mr Elliot to me?" +The careless expression was life to Anne, who saw that Captain +Wentworth was all attention, looking and listening with his whole soul; +and that the last words brought his enquiring eyes from Charles to +herself. + +Charles and Mary still talked on in the same style; he, half serious +and half jesting, maintaining the scheme for the play, and she, +invariably serious, most warmly opposing it, and not omitting to make +it known that, however determined to go to Camden Place herself, she +should not think herself very well used, if they went to the play +without her. Mrs Musgrove interposed. + +"We had better put it off. Charles, you had much better go back and +change the box for Tuesday. It would be a pity to be divided, and we +should be losing Miss Anne, too, if there is a party at her father's; +and I am sure neither Henrietta nor I should care at all for the play, +if Miss Anne could not be with us." + +Anne felt truly obliged to her for such kindness; and quite as much so +for the opportunity it gave her of decidedly saying-- + +"If it depended only on my inclination, ma'am, the party at home +(excepting on Mary's account) would not be the smallest impediment. I +have no pleasure in the sort of meeting, and should be too happy to +change it for a play, and with you. But, it had better not be +attempted, perhaps." She had spoken it; but she trembled when it was +done, conscious that her words were listened to, and daring not even to +try to observe their effect. + +It was soon generally agreed that Tuesday should be the day; Charles +only reserving the advantage of still teasing his wife, by persisting +that he would go to the play to-morrow if nobody else would. + +Captain Wentworth left his seat, and walked to the fire-place; probably +for the sake of walking away from it soon afterwards, and taking a +station, with less bare-faced design, by Anne. + +"You have not been long enough in Bath," said he, "to enjoy the evening +parties of the place." + +"Oh! no. The usual character of them has nothing for me. I am no +card-player." + +"You were not formerly, I know. You did not use to like cards; but +time makes many changes." + +"I am not yet so much changed," cried Anne, and stopped, fearing she +hardly knew what misconstruction. After waiting a few moments he said, +and as if it were the result of immediate feeling, "It is a period, +indeed! Eight years and a half is a period." + +Whether he would have proceeded farther was left to Anne's imagination +to ponder over in a calmer hour; for while still hearing the sounds he +had uttered, she was startled to other subjects by Henrietta, eager to +make use of the present leisure for getting out, and calling on her +companions to lose no time, lest somebody else should come in. + +They were obliged to move. Anne talked of being perfectly ready, and +tried to look it; but she felt that could Henrietta have known the +regret and reluctance of her heart in quitting that chair, in preparing +to quit the room, she would have found, in all her own sensations for +her cousin, in the very security of his affection, wherewith to pity +her. + +Their preparations, however, were stopped short. Alarming sounds were +heard; other visitors approached, and the door was thrown open for Sir +Walter and Miss Elliot, whose entrance seemed to give a general chill. +Anne felt an instant oppression, and wherever she looked saw symptoms +of the same. The comfort, the freedom, the gaiety of the room was +over, hushed into cold composure, determined silence, or insipid talk, +to meet the heartless elegance of her father and sister. How +mortifying to feel that it was so! + +Her jealous eye was satisfied in one particular. Captain Wentworth was +acknowledged again by each, by Elizabeth more graciously than before. +She even addressed him once, and looked at him more than once. +Elizabeth was, in fact, revolving a great measure. The sequel +explained it. After the waste of a few minutes in saying the proper +nothings, she began to give the invitation which was to comprise all +the remaining dues of the Musgroves. "To-morrow evening, to meet a few +friends: no formal party." It was all said very gracefully, and the +cards with which she had provided herself, the "Miss Elliot at home," +were laid on the table, with a courteous, comprehensive smile to all, +and one smile and one card more decidedly for Captain Wentworth. The +truth was, that Elizabeth had been long enough in Bath to understand +the importance of a man of such an air and appearance as his. The past +was nothing. The present was that Captain Wentworth would move about +well in her drawing-room. The card was pointedly given, and Sir Walter +and Elizabeth arose and disappeared. + +The interruption had been short, though severe, and ease and animation +returned to most of those they left as the door shut them out, but not +to Anne. She could think only of the invitation she had with such +astonishment witnessed, and of the manner in which it had been +received; a manner of doubtful meaning, of surprise rather than +gratification, of polite acknowledgement rather than acceptance. She +knew him; she saw disdain in his eye, and could not venture to believe +that he had determined to accept such an offering, as an atonement for +all the insolence of the past. Her spirits sank. He held the card in +his hand after they were gone, as if deeply considering it. + +"Only think of Elizabeth's including everybody!" whispered Mary very +audibly. "I do not wonder Captain Wentworth is delighted! You see he +cannot put the card out of his hand." + +Anne caught his eye, saw his cheeks glow, and his mouth form itself +into a momentary expression of contempt, and turned away, that she +might neither see nor hear more to vex her. + +The party separated. The gentlemen had their own pursuits, the ladies +proceeded on their own business, and they met no more while Anne +belonged to them. She was earnestly begged to return and dine, and +give them all the rest of the day, but her spirits had been so long +exerted that at present she felt unequal to more, and fit only for +home, where she might be sure of being as silent as she chose. + +Promising to be with them the whole of the following morning, +therefore, she closed the fatigues of the present by a toilsome walk to +Camden Place, there to spend the evening chiefly in listening to the +busy arrangements of Elizabeth and Mrs Clay for the morrow's party, the +frequent enumeration of the persons invited, and the continually +improving detail of all the embellishments which were to make it the +most completely elegant of its kind in Bath, while harassing herself +with the never-ending question, of whether Captain Wentworth would come +or not? They were reckoning him as certain, but with her it was a +gnawing solicitude never appeased for five minutes together. She +generally thought he would come, because she generally thought he +ought; but it was a case which she could not so shape into any positive +act of duty or discretion, as inevitably to defy the suggestions of +very opposite feelings. + +She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless agitation, +to let Mrs Clay know that she had been seen with Mr Elliot three hours +after his being supposed to be out of Bath, for having watched in vain +for some intimation of the interview from the lady herself, she +determined to mention it, and it seemed to her there was guilt in Mrs +Clay's face as she listened. It was transient: cleared away in an +instant; but Anne could imagine she read there the consciousness of +having, by some complication of mutual trick, or some overbearing +authority of his, been obliged to attend (perhaps for half an hour) to +his lectures and restrictions on her designs on Sir Walter. She +exclaimed, however, with a very tolerable imitation of nature:-- + +"Oh! dear! very true. Only think, Miss Elliot, to my great surprise I +met with Mr Elliot in Bath Street. I was never more astonished. He +turned back and walked with me to the Pump Yard. He had been prevented +setting off for Thornberry, but I really forget by what; for I was in a +hurry, and could not much attend, and I can only answer for his being +determined not to be delayed in his return. He wanted to know how +early he might be admitted to-morrow. He was full of 'to-morrow,' and +it is very evident that I have been full of it too, ever since I +entered the house, and learnt the extension of your plan and all that +had happened, or my seeing him could never have gone so entirely out of +my head." + + + +Chapter 23 + + +One day only had passed since Anne's conversation with Mrs Smith; but a +keener interest had succeeded, and she was now so little touched by Mr +Elliot's conduct, except by its effects in one quarter, that it became +a matter of course the next morning, still to defer her explanatory +visit in Rivers Street. She had promised to be with the Musgroves from +breakfast to dinner. Her faith was plighted, and Mr Elliot's +character, like the Sultaness Scheherazade's head, must live another +day. + +She could not keep her appointment punctually, however; the weather was +unfavourable, and she had grieved over the rain on her friends' +account, and felt it very much on her own, before she was able to +attempt the walk. When she reached the White Hart, and made her way to +the proper apartment, she found herself neither arriving quite in time, +nor the first to arrive. The party before her were, Mrs Musgrove, +talking to Mrs Croft, and Captain Harville to Captain Wentworth; and +she immediately heard that Mary and Henrietta, too impatient to wait, +had gone out the moment it had cleared, but would be back again soon, +and that the strictest injunctions had been left with Mrs Musgrove to +keep her there till they returned. She had only to submit, sit down, +be outwardly composed, and feel herself plunged at once in all the +agitations which she had merely laid her account of tasting a little +before the morning closed. There was no delay, no waste of time. She +was deep in the happiness of such misery, or the misery of such +happiness, instantly. Two minutes after her entering the room, Captain +Wentworth said-- + +"We will write the letter we were talking of, Harville, now, if you +will give me materials." + +Materials were at hand, on a separate table; he went to it, and nearly +turning his back to them all, was engrossed by writing. + +Mrs Musgrove was giving Mrs Croft the history of her eldest daughter's +engagement, and just in that inconvenient tone of voice which was +perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper. Anne felt that +she did not belong to the conversation, and yet, as Captain Harville +seemed thoughtful and not disposed to talk, she could not avoid hearing +many undesirable particulars; such as, "how Mr Musgrove and my brother +Hayter had met again and again to talk it over; what my brother Hayter +had said one day, and what Mr Musgrove had proposed the next, and what +had occurred to my sister Hayter, and what the young people had wished, +and what I said at first I never could consent to, but was afterwards +persuaded to think might do very well," and a great deal in the same +style of open-hearted communication: minutiae which, even with every +advantage of taste and delicacy, which good Mrs Musgrove could not +give, could be properly interesting only to the principals. Mrs Croft +was attending with great good-humour, and whenever she spoke at all, it +was very sensibly. Anne hoped the gentlemen might each be too much +self-occupied to hear. + +"And so, ma'am, all these thing considered," said Mrs Musgrove, in her +powerful whisper, "though we could have wished it different, yet, +altogether, we did not think it fair to stand out any longer, for +Charles Hayter was quite wild about it, and Henrietta was pretty near +as bad; and so we thought they had better marry at once, and make the +best of it, as many others have done before them. At any rate, said I, +it will be better than a long engagement." + +"That is precisely what I was going to observe," cried Mrs Croft. "I +would rather have young people settle on a small income at once, and +have to struggle with a few difficulties together, than be involved in +a long engagement. I always think that no mutual--" + +"Oh! dear Mrs Croft," cried Mrs Musgrove, unable to let her finish her +speech, "there is nothing I so abominate for young people as a long +engagement. It is what I always protested against for my children. It +is all very well, I used to say, for young people to be engaged, if +there is a certainty of their being able to marry in six months, or +even in twelve; but a long engagement--" + +"Yes, dear ma'am," said Mrs Croft, "or an uncertain engagement, an +engagement which may be long. To begin without knowing that at such a +time there will be the means of marrying, I hold to be very unsafe and +unwise, and what I think all parents should prevent as far as they can." + +Anne found an unexpected interest here. She felt its application to +herself, felt it in a nervous thrill all over her; and at the same +moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant table, +Captain Wentworth's pen ceased to move, his head was raised, pausing, +listening, and he turned round the next instant to give a look, one +quick, conscious look at her. + +The two ladies continued to talk, to re-urge the same admitted truths, +and enforce them with such examples of the ill effect of a contrary +practice as had fallen within their observation, but Anne heard nothing +distinctly; it was only a buzz of words in her ear, her mind was in +confusion. + +Captain Harville, who had in truth been hearing none of it, now left +his seat, and moved to a window, and Anne seeming to watch him, though +it was from thorough absence of mind, became gradually sensible that he +was inviting her to join him where he stood. He looked at her with a +smile, and a little motion of the head, which expressed, "Come to me, I +have something to say;" and the unaffected, easy kindness of manner +which denoted the feelings of an older acquaintance than he really was, +strongly enforced the invitation. She roused herself and went to him. +The window at which he stood was at the other end of the room from +where the two ladies were sitting, and though nearer to Captain +Wentworth's table, not very near. As she joined him, Captain +Harville's countenance re-assumed the serious, thoughtful expression +which seemed its natural character. + +"Look here," said he, unfolding a parcel in his hand, and displaying a +small miniature painting, "do you know who that is?" + +"Certainly: Captain Benwick." + +"Yes, and you may guess who it is for. But," (in a deep tone,) "it was +not done for her. Miss Elliot, do you remember our walking together at +Lyme, and grieving for him? I little thought then--but no matter. +This was drawn at the Cape. He met with a clever young German artist +at the Cape, and in compliance with a promise to my poor sister, sat to +him, and was bringing it home for her; and I have now the charge of +getting it properly set for another! It was a commission to me! But +who else was there to employ? I hope I can allow for him. I am not +sorry, indeed, to make it over to another. He undertakes it;" (looking +towards Captain Wentworth,) "he is writing about it now." And with a +quivering lip he wound up the whole by adding, "Poor Fanny! she would +not have forgotten him so soon!" + +"No," replied Anne, in a low, feeling voice. "That I can easily +believe." + +"It was not in her nature. She doted on him." + +"It would not be the nature of any woman who truly loved." + +Captain Harville smiled, as much as to say, "Do you claim that for your +sex?" and she answered the question, smiling also, "Yes. We certainly +do not forget you as soon as you forget us. It is, perhaps, our fate +rather than our merit. We cannot help ourselves. We live at home, +quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us. You are forced on +exertion. You have always a profession, pursuits, business of some +sort or other, to take you back into the world immediately, and +continual occupation and change soon weaken impressions." + +"Granting your assertion that the world does all this so soon for men +(which, however, I do not think I shall grant), it does not apply to +Benwick. He has not been forced upon any exertion. The peace turned +him on shore at the very moment, and he has been living with us, in our +little family circle, ever since." + +"True," said Anne, "very true; I did not recollect; but what shall we +say now, Captain Harville? If the change be not from outward +circumstances, it must be from within; it must be nature, man's nature, +which has done the business for Captain Benwick." + +"No, no, it is not man's nature. I will not allow it to be more man's +nature than woman's to be inconstant and forget those they do love, or +have loved. I believe the reverse. I believe in a true analogy +between our bodily frames and our mental; and that as our bodies are +the strongest, so are our feelings; capable of bearing most rough +usage, and riding out the heaviest weather." + +"Your feelings may be the strongest," replied Anne, "but the same +spirit of analogy will authorise me to assert that ours are the most +tender. Man is more robust than woman, but he is not longer lived; +which exactly explains my view of the nature of their attachments. +Nay, it would be too hard upon you, if it were otherwise. You have +difficulties, and privations, and dangers enough to struggle with. You +are always labouring and toiling, exposed to every risk and hardship. +Your home, country, friends, all quitted. Neither time, nor health, +nor life, to be called your own. It would be hard, indeed" (with a +faltering voice), "if woman's feelings were to be added to all this." + +"We shall never agree upon this question," Captain Harville was +beginning to say, when a slight noise called their attention to Captain +Wentworth's hitherto perfectly quiet division of the room. It was +nothing more than that his pen had fallen down; but Anne was startled +at finding him nearer than she had supposed, and half inclined to +suspect that the pen had only fallen because he had been occupied by +them, striving to catch sounds, which yet she did not think he could +have caught. + +"Have you finished your letter?" said Captain Harville. + +"Not quite, a few lines more. I shall have done in five minutes." + +"There is no hurry on my side. I am only ready whenever you are. I am +in very good anchorage here," (smiling at Anne,) "well supplied, and +want for nothing. No hurry for a signal at all. Well, Miss Elliot," +(lowering his voice,) "as I was saying we shall never agree, I suppose, +upon this point. No man and woman, would, probably. But let me +observe that all histories are against you--all stories, prose and +verse. If I had such a memory as Benwick, I could bring you fifty +quotations in a moment on my side the argument, and I do not think I +ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon +woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's +fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men." + +"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in +books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. +Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been +in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything." + +"But how shall we prove anything?" + +"We never shall. We never can expect to prove any thing upon such a +point. It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of proof. +We each begin, probably, with a little bias towards our own sex; and +upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it which has +occurred within our own circle; many of which circumstances (perhaps +those very cases which strike us the most) may be precisely such as +cannot be brought forward without betraying a confidence, or in some +respect saying what should not be said." + +"Ah!" cried Captain Harville, in a tone of strong feeling, "if I could +but make you comprehend what a man suffers when he takes a last look at +his wife and children, and watches the boat that he has sent them off +in, as long as it is in sight, and then turns away and says, 'God knows +whether we ever meet again!' And then, if I could convey to you the +glow of his soul when he does see them again; when, coming back after a +twelvemonth's absence, perhaps, and obliged to put into another port, +he calculates how soon it be possible to get them there, pretending to +deceive himself, and saying, 'They cannot be here till such a day,' but +all the while hoping for them twelve hours sooner, and seeing them +arrive at last, as if Heaven had given them wings, by many hours sooner +still! If I could explain to you all this, and all that a man can bear +and do, and glories to do, for the sake of these treasures of his +existence! I speak, you know, only of such men as have hearts!" +pressing his own with emotion. + +"Oh!" cried Anne eagerly, "I hope I do justice to all that is felt by +you, and by those who resemble you. God forbid that I should +undervalue the warm and faithful feelings of any of my +fellow-creatures! I should deserve utter contempt if I dared to +suppose that true attachment and constancy were known only by woman. +No, I believe you capable of everything great and good in your married +lives. I believe you equal to every important exertion, and to every +domestic forbearance, so long as--if I may be allowed the +expression--so long as you have an object. I mean while the woman you +love lives, and lives for you. All the privilege I claim for my own +sex (it is not a very enviable one; you need not covet it), is that of +loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." + +She could not immediately have uttered another sentence; her heart was +too full, her breath too much oppressed. + +"You are a good soul," cried Captain Harville, putting his hand on her +arm, quite affectionately. "There is no quarrelling with you. And +when I think of Benwick, my tongue is tied." + +Their attention was called towards the others. Mrs Croft was taking +leave. + +"Here, Frederick, you and I part company, I believe," said she. "I am +going home, and you have an engagement with your friend. To-night we +may have the pleasure of all meeting again at your party," (turning to +Anne.) "We had your sister's card yesterday, and I understood +Frederick had a card too, though I did not see it; and you are +disengaged, Frederick, are you not, as well as ourselves?" + +Captain Wentworth was folding up a letter in great haste, and either +could not or would not answer fully. + +"Yes," said he, "very true; here we separate, but Harville and I shall +soon be after you; that is, Harville, if you are ready, I am in half a +minute. I know you will not be sorry to be off. I shall be at your +service in half a minute." + +Mrs Croft left them, and Captain Wentworth, having sealed his letter +with great rapidity, was indeed ready, and had even a hurried, agitated +air, which shewed impatience to be gone. Anne knew not how to +understand it. She had the kindest "Good morning, God bless you!" from +Captain Harville, but from him not a word, nor a look! He had passed +out of the room without a look! + +She had only time, however, to move closer to the table where he had +been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door opened, it +was himself. He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his gloves, +and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, he drew out a +letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes +of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a time, and hastily collecting his +gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs Musgrove was aware +of his being in it: the work of an instant! + +The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was almost beyond +expression. The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to "Miss A. +E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily. +While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also +addressing her! On the contents of that letter depended all which this +world could do for her. Anything was possible, anything might be +defied rather than suspense. Mrs Musgrove had little arrangements of +her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and +sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very +spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following +words: + + +"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means +as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half +hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are +gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your +own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare +not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an +earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, +weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have +brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not +seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not +waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think +you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant +hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can +distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. +Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do +believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe +it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W. + +"I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow +your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to +decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never." + + +Such a letter was not to be soon recovered from. Half an hour's +solitude and reflection might have tranquillized her; but the ten +minutes only which now passed before she was interrupted, with all the +restraints of her situation, could do nothing towards tranquillity. +Every moment rather brought fresh agitation. It was overpowering +happiness. And before she was beyond the first stage of full +sensation, Charles, Mary, and Henrietta all came in. + +The absolute necessity of seeming like herself produced then an +immediate struggle; but after a while she could do no more. She began +not to understand a word they said, and was obliged to plead +indisposition and excuse herself. They could then see that she looked +very ill, were shocked and concerned, and would not stir without her +for the world. This was dreadful. Would they only have gone away, and +left her in the quiet possession of that room it would have been her +cure; but to have them all standing or waiting around her was +distracting, and in desperation, she said she would go home. + +"By all means, my dear," cried Mrs Musgrove, "go home directly, and +take care of yourself, that you may be fit for the evening. I wish +Sarah was here to doctor you, but I am no doctor myself. Charles, ring +and order a chair. She must not walk." + +But the chair would never do. Worse than all! To lose the possibility +of speaking two words to Captain Wentworth in the course of her quiet, +solitary progress up the town (and she felt almost certain of meeting +him) could not be borne. The chair was earnestly protested against, +and Mrs Musgrove, who thought only of one sort of illness, having +assured herself with some anxiety, that there had been no fall in the +case; that Anne had not at any time lately slipped down, and got a blow +on her head; that she was perfectly convinced of having had no fall; +could part with her cheerfully, and depend on finding her better at +night. + +Anxious to omit no possible precaution, Anne struggled, and said-- + +"I am afraid, ma'am, that it is not perfectly understood. Pray be so +good as to mention to the other gentlemen that we hope to see your +whole party this evening. I am afraid there had been some mistake; and +I wish you particularly to assure Captain Harville and Captain +Wentworth, that we hope to see them both." + +"Oh! my dear, it is quite understood, I give you my word. Captain +Harville has no thought but of going." + +"Do you think so? But I am afraid; and I should be so very sorry. +Will you promise me to mention it, when you see them again? You will +see them both this morning, I dare say. Do promise me." + +"To be sure I will, if you wish it. Charles, if you see Captain +Harville anywhere, remember to give Miss Anne's message. But indeed, +my dear, you need not be uneasy. Captain Harville holds himself quite +engaged, I'll answer for it; and Captain Wentworth the same, I dare +say." + +Anne could do no more; but her heart prophesied some mischance to damp +the perfection of her felicity. It could not be very lasting, however. +Even if he did not come to Camden Place himself, it would be in her +power to send an intelligible sentence by Captain Harville. Another +momentary vexation occurred. Charles, in his real concern and good +nature, would go home with her; there was no preventing him. This was +almost cruel. But she could not be long ungrateful; he was sacrificing +an engagement at a gunsmith's, to be of use to her; and she set off +with him, with no feeling but gratitude apparent. + +They were on Union Street, when a quicker step behind, a something of +familiar sound, gave her two moments' preparation for the sight of +Captain Wentworth. He joined them; but, as if irresolute whether to +join or to pass on, said nothing, only looked. Anne could command +herself enough to receive that look, and not repulsively. The cheeks +which had been pale now glowed, and the movements which had hesitated +were decided. He walked by her side. Presently, struck by a sudden +thought, Charles said-- + +"Captain Wentworth, which way are you going? Only to Gay Street, or +farther up the town?" + +"I hardly know," replied Captain Wentworth, surprised. + +"Are you going as high as Belmont? Are you going near Camden Place? +Because, if you are, I shall have no scruple in asking you to take my +place, and give Anne your arm to her father's door. She is rather done +for this morning, and must not go so far without help, and I ought to +be at that fellow's in the Market Place. He promised me the sight of a +capital gun he is just going to send off; said he would keep it +unpacked to the last possible moment, that I might see it; and if I do +not turn back now, I have no chance. By his description, a good deal +like the second size double-barrel of mine, which you shot with one day +round Winthrop." + +There could not be an objection. There could be only the most proper +alacrity, a most obliging compliance for public view; and smiles reined +in and spirits dancing in private rapture. In half a minute Charles +was at the bottom of Union Street again, and the other two proceeding +together: and soon words enough had passed between them to decide +their direction towards the comparatively quiet and retired gravel +walk, where the power of conversation would make the present hour a +blessing indeed, and prepare it for all the immortality which the +happiest recollections of their own future lives could bestow. There +they exchanged again those feelings and those promises which had once +before seemed to secure everything, but which had been followed by so +many, many years of division and estrangement. There they returned +again into the past, more exquisitely happy, perhaps, in their +re-union, than when it had been first projected; more tender, more +tried, more fixed in a knowledge of each other's character, truth, and +attachment; more equal to act, more justified in acting. And there, as +they slowly paced the gradual ascent, heedless of every group around +them, seeing neither sauntering politicians, bustling housekeepers, +flirting girls, nor nursery-maids and children, they could indulge in +those retrospections and acknowledgements, and especially in those +explanations of what had directly preceded the present moment, which +were so poignant and so ceaseless in interest. All the little +variations of the last week were gone through; and of yesterday and +today there could scarcely be an end. + +She had not mistaken him. Jealousy of Mr Elliot had been the retarding +weight, the doubt, the torment. That had begun to operate in the very +hour of first meeting her in Bath; that had returned, after a short +suspension, to ruin the concert; and that had influenced him in +everything he had said and done, or omitted to say and do, in the last +four-and-twenty hours. It had been gradually yielding to the better +hopes which her looks, or words, or actions occasionally encouraged; it +had been vanquished at last by those sentiments and those tones which +had reached him while she talked with Captain Harville; and under the +irresistible governance of which he had seized a sheet of paper, and +poured out his feelings. + +Of what he had then written, nothing was to be retracted or qualified. +He persisted in having loved none but her. She had never been +supplanted. He never even believed himself to see her equal. Thus +much indeed he was obliged to acknowledge: that he had been constant +unconsciously, nay unintentionally; that he had meant to forget her, +and believed it to be done. He had imagined himself indifferent, when +he had only been angry; and he had been unjust to her merits, because +he had been a sufferer from them. Her character was now fixed on his +mind as perfection itself, maintaining the loveliest medium of +fortitude and gentleness; but he was obliged to acknowledge that only +at Uppercross had he learnt to do her justice, and only at Lyme had he +begun to understand himself. At Lyme, he had received lessons of more +than one sort. The passing admiration of Mr Elliot had at least roused +him, and the scenes on the Cobb and at Captain Harville's had fixed her +superiority. + +In his preceding attempts to attach himself to Louisa Musgrove (the +attempts of angry pride), he protested that he had for ever felt it to +be impossible; that he had not cared, could not care, for Louisa; +though till that day, till the leisure for reflection which followed +it, he had not understood the perfect excellence of the mind with which +Louisa's could so ill bear a comparison, or the perfect unrivalled hold +it possessed over his own. There, he had learnt to distinguish between +the steadiness of principle and the obstinacy of self-will, between the +darings of heedlessness and the resolution of a collected mind. There +he had seen everything to exalt in his estimation the woman he had +lost; and there begun to deplore the pride, the folly, the madness of +resentment, which had kept him from trying to regain her when thrown in +his way. + +From that period his penance had become severe. He had no sooner been +free from the horror and remorse attending the first few days of +Louisa's accident, no sooner begun to feel himself alive again, than he +had begun to feel himself, though alive, not at liberty. + +"I found," said he, "that I was considered by Harville an engaged man! +That neither Harville nor his wife entertained a doubt of our mutual +attachment. I was startled and shocked. To a degree, I could +contradict this instantly; but, when I began to reflect that others +might have felt the same--her own family, nay, perhaps herself--I was +no longer at my own disposal. I was hers in honour if she wished it. +I had been unguarded. I had not thought seriously on this subject +before. I had not considered that my excessive intimacy must have its +danger of ill consequence in many ways; and that I had no right to be +trying whether I could attach myself to either of the girls, at the +risk of raising even an unpleasant report, were there no other ill +effects. I had been grossly wrong, and must abide the consequences." + +He found too late, in short, that he had entangled himself; and that +precisely as he became fully satisfied of his not caring for Louisa at +all, he must regard himself as bound to her, if her sentiments for him +were what the Harvilles supposed. It determined him to leave Lyme, and +await her complete recovery elsewhere. He would gladly weaken, by any +fair means, whatever feelings or speculations concerning him might +exist; and he went, therefore, to his brother's, meaning after a while +to return to Kellynch, and act as circumstances might require. + +"I was six weeks with Edward," said he, "and saw him happy. I could +have no other pleasure. I deserved none. He enquired after you very +particularly; asked even if you were personally altered, little +suspecting that to my eye you could never alter." + +Anne smiled, and let it pass. It was too pleasing a blunder for a +reproach. It is something for a woman to be assured, in her +eight-and-twentieth year, that she has not lost one charm of earlier +youth; but the value of such homage was inexpressibly increased to +Anne, by comparing it with former words, and feeling it to be the +result, not the cause of a revival of his warm attachment. + +He had remained in Shropshire, lamenting the blindness of his own +pride, and the blunders of his own calculations, till at once released +from Louisa by the astonishing and felicitous intelligence of her +engagement with Benwick. + +"Here," said he, "ended the worst of my state; for now I could at least +put myself in the way of happiness; I could exert myself; I could do +something. But to be waiting so long in inaction, and waiting only for +evil, had been dreadful. Within the first five minutes I said, 'I will +be at Bath on Wednesday,' and I was. Was it unpardonable to think it +worth my while to come? and to arrive with some degree of hope? You +were single. It was possible that you might retain the feelings of the +past, as I did; and one encouragement happened to be mine. I could +never doubt that you would be loved and sought by others, but I knew to +a certainty that you had refused one man, at least, of better +pretensions than myself; and I could not help often saying, 'Was this +for me?'" + +Their first meeting in Milsom Street afforded much to be said, but the +concert still more. That evening seemed to be made up of exquisite +moments. The moment of her stepping forward in the Octagon Room to +speak to him: the moment of Mr Elliot's appearing and tearing her +away, and one or two subsequent moments, marked by returning hope or +increasing despondency, were dwelt on with energy. + +"To see you," cried he, "in the midst of those who could not be my +well-wishers; to see your cousin close by you, conversing and smiling, +and feel all the horrible eligibilities and proprieties of the match! +To consider it as the certain wish of every being who could hope to +influence you! Even if your own feelings were reluctant or +indifferent, to consider what powerful supports would be his! Was it +not enough to make the fool of me which I appeared? How could I look +on without agony? Was not the very sight of the friend who sat behind +you, was not the recollection of what had been, the knowledge of her +influence, the indelible, immoveable impression of what persuasion had +once done--was it not all against me?" + +"You should have distinguished," replied Anne. "You should not have +suspected me now; the case is so different, and my age is so different. +If I was wrong in yielding to persuasion once, remember that it was to +persuasion exerted on the side of safety, not of risk. When I yielded, +I thought it was to duty, but no duty could be called in aid here. In +marrying a man indifferent to me, all risk would have been incurred, +and all duty violated." + +"Perhaps I ought to have reasoned thus," he replied, "but I could not. +I could not derive benefit from the late knowledge I had acquired of +your character. I could not bring it into play; it was overwhelmed, +buried, lost in those earlier feelings which I had been smarting under +year after year. I could think of you only as one who had yielded, who +had given me up, who had been influenced by any one rather than by me. +I saw you with the very person who had guided you in that year of +misery. I had no reason to believe her of less authority now. The +force of habit was to be added." + +"I should have thought," said Anne, "that my manner to yourself might +have spared you much or all of this." + +"No, no! your manner might be only the ease which your engagement to +another man would give. I left you in this belief; and yet, I was +determined to see you again. My spirits rallied with the morning, and +I felt that I had still a motive for remaining here." + +At last Anne was at home again, and happier than any one in that house +could have conceived. All the surprise and suspense, and every other +painful part of the morning dissipated by this conversation, she +re-entered the house so happy as to be obliged to find an alloy in some +momentary apprehensions of its being impossible to last. An interval +of meditation, serious and grateful, was the best corrective of +everything dangerous in such high-wrought felicity; and she went to her +room, and grew steadfast and fearless in the thankfulness of her +enjoyment. + +The evening came, the drawing-rooms were lighted up, the company +assembled. It was but a card party, it was but a mixture of those who +had never met before, and those who met too often; a commonplace +business, too numerous for intimacy, too small for variety; but Anne +had never found an evening shorter. Glowing and lovely in sensibility +and happiness, and more generally admired than she thought about or +cared for, she had cheerful or forbearing feelings for every creature +around her. Mr Elliot was there; she avoided, but she could pity him. +The Wallises, she had amusement in understanding them. Lady Dalrymple +and Miss Carteret--they would soon be innoxious cousins to her. She +cared not for Mrs Clay, and had nothing to blush for in the public +manners of her father and sister. With the Musgroves, there was the +happy chat of perfect ease; with Captain Harville, the kind-hearted +intercourse of brother and sister; with Lady Russell, attempts at +conversation, which a delicious consciousness cut short; with Admiral +and Mrs Croft, everything of peculiar cordiality and fervent interest, +which the same consciousness sought to conceal; and with Captain +Wentworth, some moments of communications continually occurring, and +always the hope of more, and always the knowledge of his being there. + +It was in one of these short meetings, each apparently occupied in +admiring a fine display of greenhouse plants, that she said-- + +"I have been thinking over the past, and trying impartially to judge of +the right and wrong, I mean with regard to myself; and I must believe +that I was right, much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly +right in being guided by the friend whom you will love better than you +do now. To me, she was in the place of a parent. Do not mistake me, +however. I am not saying that she did not err in her advice. It was, +perhaps, one of those cases in which advice is good or bad only as the +event decides; and for myself, I certainly never should, in any +circumstance of tolerable similarity, give such advice. But I mean, +that I was right in submitting to her, and that if I had done +otherwise, I should have suffered more in continuing the engagement +than I did even in giving it up, because I should have suffered in my +conscience. I have now, as far as such a sentiment is allowable in +human nature, nothing to reproach myself with; and if I mistake not, a +strong sense of duty is no bad part of a woman's portion." + +He looked at her, looked at Lady Russell, and looking again at her, +replied, as if in cool deliberation-- + +"Not yet. But there are hopes of her being forgiven in time. I trust +to being in charity with her soon. But I too have been thinking over +the past, and a question has suggested itself, whether there may not +have been one person more my enemy even than that lady? My own self. +Tell me if, when I returned to England in the year eight, with a few +thousand pounds, and was posted into the Laconia, if I had then written +to you, would you have answered my letter? Would you, in short, have +renewed the engagement then?" + +"Would I!" was all her answer; but the accent was decisive enough. + +"Good God!" he cried, "you would! It is not that I did not think of +it, or desire it, as what could alone crown all my other success; but I +was proud, too proud to ask again. I did not understand you. I shut +my eyes, and would not understand you, or do you justice. This is a +recollection which ought to make me forgive every one sooner than +myself. Six years of separation and suffering might have been spared. +It is a sort of pain, too, which is new to me. I have been used to the +gratification of believing myself to earn every blessing that I +enjoyed. I have valued myself on honourable toils and just rewards. +Like other great men under reverses," he added, with a smile. "I must +endeavour to subdue my mind to my fortune. I must learn to brook being +happier than I deserve." + + + +Chapter 24 + + +Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take +it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to +carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever +so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort. +This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be +truth; and if such parties succeed, how should a Captain Wentworth and +an Anne Elliot, with the advantage of maturity of mind, consciousness +of right, and one independent fortune between them, fail of bearing +down every opposition? They might in fact, have borne down a great +deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them +beyond the want of graciousness and warmth. Sir Walter made no +objection, and Elizabeth did nothing worse than look cold and +unconcerned. Captain Wentworth, with five-and-twenty thousand pounds, +and as high in his profession as merit and activity could place him, +was no longer nobody. He was now esteemed quite worthy to address the +daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had principle +or sense enough to maintain himself in the situation in which +Providence had placed him, and who could give his daughter at present +but a small part of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers +hereafter. + +Sir Walter, indeed, though he had no affection for Anne, and no vanity +flattered, to make him really happy on the occasion, was very far from +thinking it a bad match for her. On the contrary, when he saw more of +Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well, +he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his +superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her +superiority of rank; and all this, assisted by his well-sounding name, +enabled Sir Walter at last to prepare his pen, with a very good grace, +for the insertion of the marriage in the volume of honour. + +The only one among them, whose opposition of feeling could excite any +serious anxiety was Lady Russell. Anne knew that Lady Russell must be +suffering some pain in understanding and relinquishing Mr Elliot, and +be making some struggles to become truly acquainted with, and do +justice to Captain Wentworth. This however was what Lady Russell had +now to do. She must learn to feel that she had been mistaken with +regard to both; that she had been unfairly influenced by appearances in +each; that because Captain Wentworth's manners had not suited her own +ideas, she had been too quick in suspecting them to indicate a +character of dangerous impetuosity; and that because Mr Elliot's +manners had precisely pleased her in their propriety and correctness, +their general politeness and suavity, she had been too quick in +receiving them as the certain result of the most correct opinions and +well-regulated mind. There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do, +than to admit that she had been pretty completely wrong, and to take up +a new set of opinions and of hopes. + +There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in the discernment +of character, a natural penetration, in short, which no experience in +others can equal, and Lady Russell had been less gifted in this part of +understanding than her young friend. But she was a very good woman, +and if her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her first +was to see Anne happy. She loved Anne better than she loved her own +abilities; and when the awkwardness of the beginning was over, found +little hardship in attaching herself as a mother to the man who was +securing the happiness of her other child. + +Of all the family, Mary was probably the one most immediately gratified +by the circumstance. It was creditable to have a sister married, and +she might flatter herself with having been greatly instrumental to the +connexion, by keeping Anne with her in the autumn; and as her own +sister must be better than her husband's sisters, it was very agreeable +that Captain Wentworth should be a richer man than either Captain +Benwick or Charles Hayter. She had something to suffer, perhaps, when +they came into contact again, in seeing Anne restored to the rights of +seniority, and the mistress of a very pretty landaulette; but she had a +future to look forward to, of powerful consolation. Anne had no +Uppercross Hall before her, no landed estate, no headship of a family; +and if they could but keep Captain Wentworth from being made a baronet, +she would not change situations with Anne. + +It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally satisfied +with her situation, for a change is not very probable there. She had +soon the mortification of seeing Mr Elliot withdraw, and no one of +proper condition has since presented himself to raise even the +unfounded hopes which sunk with him. + +The news of his cousins Anne's engagement burst on Mr Elliot most +unexpectedly. It deranged his best plan of domestic happiness, his +best hope of keeping Sir Walter single by the watchfulness which a +son-in-law's rights would have given. But, though discomfited and +disappointed, he could still do something for his own interest and his +own enjoyment. He soon quitted Bath; and on Mrs Clay's quitting it +soon afterwards, and being next heard of as established under his +protection in London, it was evident how double a game he had been +playing, and how determined he was to save himself from being cut out +by one artful woman, at least. + +Mrs Clay's affections had overpowered her interest, and she had +sacrificed, for the young man's sake, the possibility of scheming +longer for Sir Walter. She has abilities, however, as well as +affections; and it is now a doubtful point whether his cunning, or +hers, may finally carry the day; whether, after preventing her from +being the wife of Sir Walter, he may not be wheedled and caressed at +last into making her the wife of Sir William. + +It cannot be doubted that Sir Walter and Elizabeth were shocked and +mortified by the loss of their companion, and the discovery of their +deception in her. They had their great cousins, to be sure, to resort +to for comfort; but they must long feel that to flatter and follow +others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of +half enjoyment. + +Anne, satisfied at a very early period of Lady Russell's meaning to +love Captain Wentworth as she ought, had no other alloy to the +happiness of her prospects than what arose from the consciousness of +having no relations to bestow on him which a man of sense could value. +There she felt her own inferiority very keenly. The disproportion in +their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment's regret; but +to have no family to receive and estimate him properly, nothing of +respectability, of harmony, of good will to offer in return for all the +worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and +sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be +sensible of under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity. She had +but two friends in the world to add to his list, Lady Russell and Mrs +Smith. To those, however, he was very well disposed to attach himself. +Lady Russell, in spite of all her former transgressions, he could now +value from his heart. While he was not obliged to say that he believed +her to have been right in originally dividing them, he was ready to say +almost everything else in her favour, and as for Mrs Smith, she had +claims of various kinds to recommend her quickly and permanently. + +Her recent good offices by Anne had been enough in themselves, and +their marriage, instead of depriving her of one friend, secured her +two. She was their earliest visitor in their settled life; and Captain +Wentworth, by putting her in the way of recovering her husband's +property in the West Indies, by writing for her, acting for her, and +seeing her through all the petty difficulties of the case with the +activity and exertion of a fearless man and a determined friend, fully +requited the services which she had rendered, or ever meant to render, +to his wife. + +Mrs Smith's enjoyments were not spoiled by this improvement of income, +with some improvement of health, and the acquisition of such friends to +be often with, for her cheerfulness and mental alacrity did not fail +her; and while these prime supplies of good remained, she might have +bid defiance even to greater accessions of worldly prosperity. She +might have been absolutely rich and perfectly healthy, and yet be +happy. Her spring of felicity was in the glow of her spirits, as her +friend Anne's was in the warmth of her heart. Anne was tenderness +itself, and she had the full worth of it in Captain Wentworth's +affection. His profession was all that could ever make her friends +wish that tenderness less, the dread of a future war all that could dim +her sunshine. She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay +the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if +possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its +national importance. + + + +Finis + + + + + + + + +NORTHANGER ABBEY + + +by Jane Austen (1803) + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT BY THE AUTHORESS, TO NORTHANGER ABBEY + +THIS little work was finished in the year 1803, and intended for +immediate publication. It was disposed of to a bookseller, it was even +advertised, and why the business proceeded no farther, the author +has never been able to learn. That any bookseller should think it +worth-while to purchase what he did not think it worth-while to publish +seems extraordinary. But with this, neither the author nor the public +have any other concern than as some observation is necessary upon those +parts of the work which thirteen years have made comparatively obsolete. +The public are entreated to bear in mind that thirteen years have passed +since it was finished, many more since it was begun, and that during +that period, places, manners, books, and opinions have undergone +considerable changes. + + + +CHAPTER 1 + + +No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have +supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character +of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were +all equally against her. Her father was a clergyman, without being +neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his name +was Richard--and he had never been handsome. He had a considerable +independence besides two good livings--and he was not in the least +addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother was a woman of useful +plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a +good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and +instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might +expect, she still lived on--lived to have six children more--to see them +growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself. A family +of ten children will be always called a fine family, where there are +heads and arms and legs enough for the number; but the Morlands had +little other right to the word, for they were in general very plain, and +Catherine, for many years of her life, as plain as any. She had a thin +awkward figure, a sallow skin without colour, dark lank hair, and strong +features--so much for her person; and not less unpropitious for heroism +seemed her mind. She was fond of all boy's plays, and greatly preferred +cricket not merely to dolls, but to the more heroic enjoyments of +infancy, nursing a dormouse, feeding a canary-bird, or watering a +rose-bush. Indeed she had no taste for a garden; and if she gathered +flowers at all, it was chiefly for the pleasure of mischief--at least +so it was conjectured from her always preferring those which she was +forbidden to take. Such were her propensities--her abilities were quite +as extraordinary. She never could learn or understand anything +before she was taught; and sometimes not even then, for she was often +inattentive, and occasionally stupid. Her mother was three months in +teaching her only to repeat the "Beggar's Petition"; and after all, her +next sister, Sally, could say it better than she did. Not that Catherine +was always stupid--by no means; she learnt the fable of "The Hare and +Many Friends" as quickly as any girl in England. Her mother wished her +to learn music; and Catherine was sure she should like it, for she was +very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn spinnet; so, at eight +years old she began. She learnt a year, and could not bear it; and Mrs. +Morland, who did not insist on her daughters being accomplished in +spite of incapacity or distaste, allowed her to leave off. The day which +dismissed the music-master was one of the happiest of Catherine's life. +Her taste for drawing was not superior; though whenever she could obtain +the outside of a letter from her mother or seize upon any other odd +piece of paper, she did what she could in that way, by drawing houses +and trees, hens and chickens, all very much like one another. Writing +and accounts she was taught by her father; French by her mother: her +proficiency in either was not remarkable, and she shirked her lessons in +both whenever she could. What a strange, unaccountable character!--for +with all these symptoms of profligacy at ten years old, she had neither +a bad heart nor a bad temper, was seldom stubborn, scarcely ever +quarrelsome, and very kind to the little ones, with few interruptions +of tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild, hated confinement and +cleanliness, and loved nothing so well in the world as rolling down the +green slope at the back of the house. + +Such was Catherine Morland at ten. At fifteen, appearances were mending; +she began to curl her hair and long for balls; her complexion improved, +her features were softened by plumpness and colour, her eyes gained more +animation, and her figure more consequence. Her love of dirt gave way to +an inclination for finery, and she grew clean as she grew smart; she had +now the pleasure of sometimes hearing her father and mother remark +on her personal improvement. "Catherine grows quite a good-looking +girl--she is almost pretty today," were words which caught her ears now +and then; and how welcome were the sounds! To look almost pretty is an +acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain the +first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever +receive. + +Mrs. Morland was a very good woman, and wished to see her children +everything they ought to be; but her time was so much occupied in +lying-in and teaching the little ones, that her elder daughters were +inevitably left to shift for themselves; and it was not very wonderful +that Catherine, who had by nature nothing heroic about her, should +prefer cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about +the country at the age of fourteen, to books--or at least books of +information--for, provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be +gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she +had never any objection to books at all. But from fifteen to seventeen +she was in training for a heroine; she read all such works as heroines +must read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so +serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful lives. + +From Pope, she learnt to censure those who + + "bear about the mockery of woe." + + +From Gray, that + + "Many a flower is born to blush unseen, + "And waste its fragrance on the desert air." + + +From Thompson, that-- + + "It is a delightful task + "To teach the young idea how to shoot." + + +And from Shakespeare she gained a great store of information--amongst +the rest, that-- + + "Trifles light as air, + "Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong, + "As proofs of Holy Writ." + + +That + + "The poor beetle, which we tread upon, + "In corporal sufferance feels a pang as great + "As when a giant dies." + + +And that a young woman in love always looks-- + + "like Patience on a monument + "Smiling at Grief." + + +So far her improvement was sufficient--and in many other points she came +on exceedingly well; for though she could not write sonnets, she brought +herself to read them; and though there seemed no chance of her throwing +a whole party into raptures by a prelude on the pianoforte, of her own +composition, she could listen to other people's performance with very +little fatigue. Her greatest deficiency was in the pencil--she had no +notion of drawing--not enough even to attempt a sketch of her lover's +profile, that she might be detected in the design. There she fell +miserably short of the true heroic height. At present she did not know +her own poverty, for she had no lover to portray. She had reached the +age of seventeen, without having seen one amiable youth who could call +forth her sensibility, without having inspired one real passion, and +without having excited even any admiration but what was very moderate +and very transient. This was strange indeed! But strange things may be +generally accounted for if their cause be fairly searched out. There was +not one lord in the neighbourhood; no--not even a baronet. There was not +one family among their acquaintance who had reared and supported a boy +accidentally found at their door--not one young man whose origin +was unknown. Her father had no ward, and the squire of the parish no +children. + +But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty +surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen +to throw a hero in her way. + +Mr. Allen, who owned the chief of the property about Fullerton, the +village in Wiltshire where the Morlands lived, was ordered to Bath +for the benefit of a gouty constitution--and his lady, a good-humoured +woman, fond of Miss Morland, and probably aware that if adventures will +not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad, +invited her to go with them. Mr. and Mrs. Morland were all compliance, +and Catherine all happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER 2 + + +In addition to what has been already said of Catherine Morland's +personal and mental endowments, when about to be launched into all the +difficulties and dangers of a six weeks' residence in Bath, it may be +stated, for the reader's more certain information, lest the following +pages should otherwise fail of giving any idea of what her character is +meant to be, that her heart was affectionate; her disposition cheerful +and open, without conceit or affectation of any kind--her manners just +removed from the awkwardness and shyness of a girl; her person pleasing, +and, when in good looks, pretty--and her mind about as ignorant and +uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is. + +When the hour of departure drew near, the maternal anxiety of Mrs. +Morland will be naturally supposed to be most severe. A thousand +alarming presentiments of evil to her beloved Catherine from this +terrific separation must oppress her heart with sadness, and drown her +in tears for the last day or two of their being together; and advice of +the most important and applicable nature must of course flow from her +wise lips in their parting conference in her closet. Cautions against +the violence of such noblemen and baronets as delight in forcing young +ladies away to some remote farm-house, must, at such a moment, relieve +the fulness of her heart. Who would not think so? But Mrs. Morland knew +so little of lords and baronets, that she entertained no notion of their +general mischievousness, and was wholly unsuspicious of danger to her +daughter from their machinations. Her cautions were confined to the +following points. "I beg, Catherine, you will always wrap yourself up +very warm about the throat, when you come from the rooms at night; and +I wish you would try to keep some account of the money you spend; I will +give you this little book on purpose." + +Sally, or rather Sarah (for what young lady of common gentility will +reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as she can?), +must from situation be at this time the intimate friend and confidante +of her sister. It is remarkable, however, that she neither insisted +on Catherine's writing by every post, nor exacted her promise of +transmitting the character of every new acquaintance, nor a detail +of every interesting conversation that Bath might produce. Everything +indeed relative to this important journey was done, on the part of the +Morlands, with a degree of moderation and composure, which seemed +rather consistent with the common feelings of common life, than with the +refined susceptibilities, the tender emotions which the first separation +of a heroine from her family ought always to excite. Her father, instead +of giving her an unlimited order on his banker, or even putting an +hundred pounds bank-bill into her hands, gave her only ten guineas, and +promised her more when she wanted it. + +Under these unpromising auspices, the parting took place, and the +journey began. It was performed with suitable quietness and uneventful +safety. Neither robbers nor tempests befriended them, nor one lucky +overturn to introduce them to the hero. Nothing more alarming occurred +than a fear, on Mrs. Allen's side, of having once left her clogs behind +her at an inn, and that fortunately proved to be groundless. + +They arrived at Bath. Catherine was all eager delight--her eyes were +here, there, everywhere, as they approached its fine and striking +environs, and afterwards drove through those streets which conducted +them to the hotel. She was come to be happy, and she felt happy already. + +They were soon settled in comfortable lodgings in Pulteney Street. + +It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs. Allen, that the +reader may be able to judge in what manner her actions will hereafter +tend to promote the general distress of the work, and how she will, +probably, contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate +wretchedness of which a last volume is capable--whether by her +imprudence, vulgarity, or jealousy--whether by intercepting her letters, +ruining her character, or turning her out of doors. + +Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can +raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world +who could like them well enough to marry them. She had neither beauty, +genius, accomplishment, nor manner. The air of a gentlewoman, a great +deal of quiet, inactive good temper, and a trifling turn of mind +were all that could account for her being the choice of a sensible, +intelligent man like Mr. Allen. In one respect she was admirably fitted +to introduce a young lady into public, being as fond of going everywhere +and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be. Dress was +her passion. She had a most harmless delight in being fine; and our +heroine's entree into life could not take place till after three or four +days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn, and her chaperone +was provided with a dress of the newest fashion. Catherine too made +some purchases herself, and when all these matters were arranged, the +important evening came which was to usher her into the Upper Rooms. Her +hair was cut and dressed by the best hand, her clothes put on with care, +and both Mrs. Allen and her maid declared she looked quite as she should +do. With such encouragement, Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured +through the crowd. As for admiration, it was always very welcome when it +came, but she did not depend on it. + +Mrs. Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter the ballroom +till late. The season was full, the room crowded, and the two ladies +squeezed in as well as they could. As for Mr. Allen, he repaired +directly to the card-room, and left them to enjoy a mob by themselves. +With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of +her protegee, Mrs. Allen made her way through the throng of men by +the door, as swiftly as the necessary caution would allow; Catherine, +however, kept close at her side, and linked her arm too firmly within +her friend's to be torn asunder by any common effort of a struggling +assembly. But to her utter amazement she found that to proceed along the +room was by no means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd; it +seemed rather to increase as they went on, whereas she had imagined that +when once fairly within the door, they should easily find seats and be +able to watch the dances with perfect convenience. But this was far from +being the case, and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the +top of the room, their situation was just the same; they saw nothing +of the dancers but the high feathers of some of the ladies. Still they +moved on--something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion +of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage +behind the highest bench. Here there was something less of crowd than +below; and hence Miss Morland had a comprehensive view of all the +company beneath her, and of all the dangers of her late passage through +them. It was a splendid sight, and she began, for the first time that +evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance, but she had +not an acquaintance in the room. Mrs. Allen did all that she could do +in such a case by saying very placidly, every now and then, "I wish you +could dance, my dear--I wish you could get a partner." For some time +her young friend felt obliged to her for these wishes; but they were +repeated so often, and proved so totally ineffectual, that Catherine +grew tired at last, and would thank her no more. + +They were not long able, however, to enjoy the repose of the eminence +they had so laboriously gained. Everybody was shortly in motion for +tea, and they must squeeze out like the rest. Catherine began to feel +something of disappointment--she was tired of being continually pressed +against by people, the generality of whose faces possessed nothing to +interest, and with all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she +could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the exchange of a +syllable with any of her fellow captives; and when at last arrived in +the tea-room, she felt yet more the awkwardness of having no party to +join, no acquaintance to claim, no gentleman to assist them. They saw +nothing of Mr. Allen; and after looking about them in vain for a more +eligible situation, were obliged to sit down at the end of a table, at +which a large party were already placed, without having anything to do +there, or anybody to speak to, except each other. + +Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on having +preserved her gown from injury. "It would have been very shocking to +have it torn," said she, "would not it? It is such a delicate muslin. +For my part I have not seen anything I like so well in the whole room, I +assure you." + +"How uncomfortable it is," whispered Catherine, "not to have a single +acquaintance here!" + +"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with perfect serenity, "it is very +uncomfortable indeed." + +"What shall we do? The gentlemen and ladies at this table look as if +they wondered why we came here--we seem forcing ourselves into their +party." + +"Aye, so we do. That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large +acquaintance here." + +"I wish we had any--it would be somebody to go to." + +"Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly. +The Skinners were here last year--I wish they were here now." + +"Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no tea-things for us, you +see." + +"No more there are, indeed. How very provoking! But I think we had +better sit still, for one gets so tumbled in such a crowd! How is my +head, my dear? Somebody gave me a push that has hurt it, I am afraid." + +"No, indeed, it looks very nice. But, dear Mrs. Allen, are you sure +there is nobody you know in all this multitude of people? I think you +must know somebody." + +"I don't, upon my word--I wish I did. I wish I had a large acquaintance +here with all my heart, and then I should get you a partner. I should be +so glad to have you dance. There goes a strange-looking woman! What an +odd gown she has got on! How old-fashioned it is! Look at the back." + +After some time they received an offer of tea from one of their +neighbours; it was thankfully accepted, and this introduced a light +conversation with the gentleman who offered it, which was the only time +that anybody spoke to them during the evening, till they were discovered +and joined by Mr. Allen when the dance was over. + +"Well, Miss Morland," said he, directly, "I hope you have had an +agreeable ball." + +"Very agreeable indeed," she replied, vainly endeavouring to hide a +great yawn. + +"I wish she had been able to dance," said his wife; "I wish we could +have got a partner for her. I have been saying how glad I should be if +the Skinners were here this winter instead of last; or if the Parrys had +come, as they talked of once, she might have danced with George Parry. I +am so sorry she has not had a partner!" + +"We shall do better another evening I hope," was Mr. Allen's +consolation. + +The company began to disperse when the dancing was over--enough to leave +space for the remainder to walk about in some comfort; and now was the +time for a heroine, who had not yet played a very distinguished part +in the events of the evening, to be noticed and admired. Every five +minutes, by removing some of the crowd, gave greater openings for her +charms. She was now seen by many young men who had not been near her +before. Not one, however, started with rapturous wonder on beholding +her, no whisper of eager inquiry ran round the room, nor was she once +called a divinity by anybody. Yet Catherine was in very good looks, and +had the company only seen her three years before, they would now have +thought her exceedingly handsome. + +She was looked at, however, and with some admiration; for, in her own +hearing, two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl. Such words +had their due effect; she immediately thought the evening pleasanter +than she had found it before--her humble vanity was contented--she +felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple praise than a +true-quality heroine would have been for fifteen sonnets in celebration +of her charms, and went to her chair in good humour with everybody, and +perfectly satisfied with her share of public attention. + + + + +CHAPTER 3 + + +Every morning now brought its regular duties--shops were to be visited; +some new part of the town to be looked at; and the pump-room to be +attended, where they paraded up and down for an hour, looking at +everybody and speaking to no one. The wish of a numerous acquaintance +in Bath was still uppermost with Mrs. Allen, and she repeated it after +every fresh proof, which every morning brought, of her knowing nobody at +all. + +They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms; and here fortune was more +favourable to our heroine. The master of the ceremonies introduced to +her a very gentlemanlike young man as a partner; his name was Tilney. +He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a +pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not +quite handsome, was very near it. His address was good, and Catherine +felt herself in high luck. There was little leisure for speaking +while they danced; but when they were seated at tea, she found him as +agreeable as she had already given him credit for being. He talked with +fluency and spirit--and there was an archness and pleasantry in his +manner which interested, though it was hardly understood by her. After +chatting some time on such matters as naturally arose from the objects +around them, he suddenly addressed her with--"I have hitherto been very +remiss, madam, in the proper attentions of a partner here; I have not +yet asked you how long you have been in Bath; whether you were ever here +before; whether you have been at the Upper Rooms, the theatre, and +the concert; and how you like the place altogether. I have been +very negligent--but are you now at leisure to satisfy me in these +particulars? If you are I will begin directly." + +"You need not give yourself that trouble, sir." + +"No trouble, I assure you, madam." Then forming his features into a set +smile, and affectedly softening his voice, he added, with a simpering +air, "Have you been long in Bath, madam?" + +"About a week, sir," replied Catherine, trying not to laugh. + +"Really!" with affected astonishment. + +"Why should you be surprised, sir?" + +"Why, indeed!" said he, in his natural tone. "But some emotion must +appear to be raised by your reply, and surprise is more easily assumed, +and not less reasonable than any other. Now let us go on. Were you never +here before, madam?" + +"Never, sir." + +"Indeed! Have you yet honoured the Upper Rooms?" + +"Yes, sir, I was there last Monday." + +"Have you been to the theatre?" + +"Yes, sir, I was at the play on Tuesday." + +"To the concert?" + +"Yes, sir, on Wednesday." + +"And are you altogether pleased with Bath?" + +"Yes--I like it very well." + +"Now I must give one smirk, and then we may be rational again." +Catherine turned away her head, not knowing whether she might venture to +laugh. "I see what you think of me," said he gravely--"I shall make but +a poor figure in your journal tomorrow." + +"My journal!" + +"Yes, I know exactly what you will say: Friday, went to the Lower +Rooms; wore my sprigged muslin robe with blue trimmings--plain black +shoes--appeared to much advantage; but was strangely harassed by a +queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed +me by his nonsense." + +"Indeed I shall say no such thing." + +"Shall I tell you what you ought to say?" + +"If you please." + +"I danced with a very agreeable young man, introduced by Mr. King; had +a great deal of conversation with him--seems a most extraordinary +genius--hope I may know more of him. That, madam, is what I wish you to +say." + +"But, perhaps, I keep no journal." + +"Perhaps you are not sitting in this room, and I am not sitting by +you. These are points in which a doubt is equally possible. Not keep a +journal! How are your absent cousins to understand the tenour of your +life in Bath without one? How are the civilities and compliments of +every day to be related as they ought to be, unless noted down every +evening in a journal? How are your various dresses to be remembered, +and the particular state of your complexion, and curl of your hair to be +described in all their diversities, without having constant recourse to +a journal? My dear madam, I am not so ignorant of young ladies' ways as +you wish to believe me; it is this delightful habit of journaling which +largely contributes to form the easy style of writing for which ladies +are so generally celebrated. Everybody allows that the talent of writing +agreeable letters is peculiarly female. Nature may have done something, +but I am sure it must be essentially assisted by the practice of keeping +a journal." + +"I have sometimes thought," said Catherine, doubtingly, "whether ladies +do write so much better letters than gentlemen! That is--I should not +think the superiority was always on our side." + +"As far as I have had opportunity of judging, it appears to me that the +usual style of letter-writing among women is faultless, except in three +particulars." + +"And what are they?" + +"A general deficiency of subject, a total inattention to stops, and a +very frequent ignorance of grammar." + +"Upon my word! I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the +compliment. You do not think too highly of us in that way." + +"I should no more lay it down as a general rule that women write better +letters than men, than that they sing better duets, or draw better +landscapes. In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence +is pretty fairly divided between the sexes." + +They were interrupted by Mrs. Allen: "My dear Catherine," said she, "do +take this pin out of my sleeve; I am afraid it has torn a hole already; +I shall be quite sorry if it has, for this is a favourite gown, though +it cost but nine shillings a yard." + +"That is exactly what I should have guessed it, madam," said Mr. Tilney, +looking at the muslin. + +"Do you understand muslins, sir?" + +"Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats, and am allowed to be an +excellent judge; and my sister has often trusted me in the choice of a +gown. I bought one for her the other day, and it was pronounced to be a +prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. I gave but five shillings a +yard for it, and a true Indian muslin." + +Mrs. Allen was quite struck by his genius. "Men commonly take so little +notice of those things," said she; "I can never get Mr. Allen to know +one of my gowns from another. You must be a great comfort to your +sister, sir." + +"I hope I am, madam." + +"And pray, sir, what do you think of Miss Morland's gown?" + +"It is very pretty, madam," said he, gravely examining it; "but I do not +think it will wash well; I am afraid it will fray." + +"How can you," said Catherine, laughing, "be so--" She had almost said +"strange." + +"I am quite of your opinion, sir," replied Mrs. Allen; "and so I told +Miss Morland when she bought it." + +"But then you know, madam, muslin always turns to some account or other; +Miss Morland will get enough out of it for a handkerchief, or a cap, or +a cloak. Muslin can never be said to be wasted. I have heard my sister +say so forty times, when she has been extravagant in buying more than +she wanted, or careless in cutting it to pieces." + +"Bath is a charming place, sir; there are so many good shops here. We +are sadly off in the country; not but what we have very good shops in +Salisbury, but it is so far to go--eight miles is a long way; Mr. Allen +says it is nine, measured nine; but I am sure it cannot be more than +eight; and it is such a fag--I come back tired to death. Now, here one +can step out of doors and get a thing in five minutes." + +Mr. Tilney was polite enough to seem interested in what she said; and +she kept him on the subject of muslins till the dancing recommenced. +Catherine feared, as she listened to their discourse, that he indulged +himself a little too much with the foibles of others. "What are you +thinking of so earnestly?" said he, as they walked back to the ballroom; +"not of your partner, I hope, for, by that shake of the head, your +meditations are not satisfactory." + +Catherine coloured, and said, "I was not thinking of anything." + +"That is artful and deep, to be sure; but I had rather be told at once +that you will not tell me." + +"Well then, I will not." + +"Thank you; for now we shall soon be acquainted, as I am authorized to +tease you on this subject whenever we meet, and nothing in the world +advances intimacy so much." + +They danced again; and, when the assembly closed, parted, on the +lady's side at least, with a strong inclination for continuing the +acquaintance. Whether she thought of him so much, while she drank her +warm wine and water, and prepared herself for bed, as to dream of him +when there, cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in +a slight slumber, or a morning doze at most; for if it be true, as a +celebrated writer has maintained, that no young lady can be justified +in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared,* it must be +very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the +gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her. How proper Mr. Tilney +might be as a dreamer or a lover had not yet perhaps entered Mr. Allen's +head, but that he was not objectionable as a common acquaintance for +his young charge he was on inquiry satisfied; for he had early in the +evening taken pains to know who her partner was, and had been assured +of Mr. Tilney's being a clergyman, and of a very respectable family in +Gloucestershire. + + + + +CHAPTER 4 + + +With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pump-room the +next day, secure within herself of seeing Mr. Tilney there before the +morning were over, and ready to meet him with a smile; but no smile +was demanded--Mr. Tilney did not appear. Every creature in Bath, +except himself, was to be seen in the room at different periods of the +fashionable hours; crowds of people were every moment passing in and +out, up the steps and down; people whom nobody cared about, and nobody +wanted to see; and he only was absent. "What a delightful place Bath +is," said Mrs. Allen as they sat down near the great clock, after +parading the room till they were tired; "and how pleasant it would be if +we had any acquaintance here." + +This sentiment had been uttered so often in vain that Mrs. Allen had no +particular reason to hope it would be followed with more advantage now; +but we are told to "despair of nothing we would attain," as "unwearied +diligence our point would gain"; and the unwearied diligence with which +she had every day wished for the same thing was at length to have its +just reward, for hardly had she been seated ten minutes before a lady of +about her own age, who was sitting by her, and had been looking at her +attentively for several minutes, addressed her with great complaisance +in these words: "I think, madam, I cannot be mistaken; it is a long time +since I had the pleasure of seeing you, but is not your name Allen?" +This question answered, as it readily was, the stranger pronounced hers +to be Thorpe; and Mrs. Allen immediately recognized the features of +a former schoolfellow and intimate, whom she had seen only once since +their respective marriages, and that many years ago. Their joy on this +meeting was very great, as well it might, since they had been contented +to know nothing of each other for the last fifteen years. Compliments +on good looks now passed; and, after observing how time had slipped away +since they were last together, how little they had thought of meeting in +Bath, and what a pleasure it was to see an old friend, they proceeded to +make inquiries and give intelligence as to their families, sisters, and +cousins, talking both together, far more ready to give than to receive +information, and each hearing very little of what the other said. Mrs. +Thorpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker, over Mrs. Allen, +in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her +sons, and the beauty of her daughters, when she related their different +situations and views--that John was at Oxford, Edward at Merchant +Taylors', and William at sea--and all of them more beloved and respected +in their different station than any other three beings ever were, Mrs. +Allen had no similar information to give, no similar triumphs to press +on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend, and was forced to +sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions, consoling +herself, however, with the discovery, which her keen eye soon made, that +the lace on Mrs. Thorpe's pelisse was not half so handsome as that on +her own. + +"Here come my dear girls," cried Mrs. Thorpe, pointing at three +smart-looking females who, arm in arm, were then moving towards her. "My +dear Mrs. Allen, I long to introduce them; they will be so delighted +to see you: the tallest is Isabella, my eldest; is not she a fine young +woman? The others are very much admired too, but I believe Isabella is +the handsomest." + +The Miss Thorpes were introduced; and Miss Morland, who had been for a +short time forgotten, was introduced likewise. The name seemed to strike +them all; and, after speaking to her with great civility, the eldest +young lady observed aloud to the rest, "How excessively like her brother +Miss Morland is!" + +"The very picture of him indeed!" cried the mother--and "I should have +known her anywhere for his sister!" was repeated by them all, two or +three times over. For a moment Catherine was surprised; but Mrs. Thorpe +and her daughters had scarcely begun the history of their acquaintance +with Mr. James Morland, before she remembered that her eldest brother +had lately formed an intimacy with a young man of his own college, of +the name of Thorpe; and that he had spent the last week of the Christmas +vacation with his family, near London. + +The whole being explained, many obliging things were said by the Miss +Thorpes of their wish of being better acquainted with her; of being +considered as already friends, through the friendship of their brothers, +etc., which Catherine heard with pleasure, and answered with all the +pretty expressions she could command; and, as the first proof of amity, +she was soon invited to accept an arm of the eldest Miss Thorpe, and +take a turn with her about the room. Catherine was delighted with this +extension of her Bath acquaintance, and almost forgot Mr. Tilney while +she talked to Miss Thorpe. Friendship is certainly the finest balm for +the pangs of disappointed love. + +Their conversation turned upon those subjects, of which the free +discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden intimacy +between two young ladies: such as dress, balls, flirtations, and +quizzes. Miss Thorpe, however, being four years older than Miss Morland, +and at least four years better informed, had a very decided advantage in +discussing such points; she could compare the balls of Bath with those +of Tunbridge, its fashions with the fashions of London; could rectify +the opinions of her new friend in many articles of tasteful attire; +could discover a flirtation between any gentleman and lady who only +smiled on each other; and point out a quiz through the thickness of a +crowd. These powers received due admiration from Catherine, to whom they +were entirely new; and the respect which they naturally inspired might +have been too great for familiarity, had not the easy gaiety of Miss +Thorpe's manners, and her frequent expressions of delight on this +acquaintance with her, softened down every feeling of awe, and left +nothing but tender affection. Their increasing attachment was not to be +satisfied with half a dozen turns in the pump-room, but required, when +they all quitted it together, that Miss Thorpe should accompany Miss +Morland to the very door of Mr. Allen's house; and that they should +there part with a most affectionate and lengthened shake of hands, after +learning, to their mutual relief, that they should see each other across +the theatre at night, and say their prayers in the same chapel the next +morning. Catherine then ran directly upstairs, and watched Miss Thorpe's +progress down the street from the drawing-room window; admired the +graceful spirit of her walk, the fashionable air of her figure and +dress; and felt grateful, as well she might, for the chance which had +procured her such a friend. + +Mrs. Thorpe was a widow, and not a very rich one; she was a +good-humoured, well-meaning woman, and a very indulgent mother. Her +eldest daughter had great personal beauty, and the younger ones, by +pretending to be as handsome as their sister, imitating her air, and +dressing in the same style, did very well. + +This brief account of the family is intended to supersede the necessity +of a long and minute detail from Mrs. Thorpe herself, of her past +adventures and sufferings, which might otherwise be expected to occupy +the three or four following chapters; in which the worthlessness of +lords and attorneys might be set forth, and conversations, which had +passed twenty years before, be minutely repeated. + + + + +CHAPTER 5 + + +Catherine was not so much engaged at the theatre that evening, in +returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe, though they certainly +claimed much of her leisure, as to forget to look with an inquiring eye +for Mr. Tilney in every box which her eye could reach; but she looked in +vain. Mr. Tilney was no fonder of the play than the pump-room. She hoped +to be more fortunate the next day; and when her wishes for fine weather +were answered by seeing a beautiful morning, she hardly felt a doubt of +it; for a fine Sunday in Bath empties every house of its inhabitants, +and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk about and tell +their acquaintance what a charming day it is. + +As soon as divine service was over, the Thorpes and Allens eagerly +joined each other; and after staying long enough in the pump-room to +discover that the crowd was insupportable, and that there was not +a genteel face to be seen, which everybody discovers every Sunday +throughout the season, they hastened away to the Crescent, to breathe +the fresh air of better company. Here Catherine and Isabella, arm +in arm, again tasted the sweets of friendship in an unreserved +conversation; they talked much, and with much enjoyment; but again +was Catherine disappointed in her hope of reseeing her partner. He was +nowhere to be met with; every search for him was equally unsuccessful, +in morning lounges or evening assemblies; neither at the Upper nor Lower +Rooms, at dressed or undressed balls, was he perceivable; nor among the +walkers, the horsemen, or the curricle-drivers of the morning. His name +was not in the pump-room book, and curiosity could do no more. He must +be gone from Bath. Yet he had not mentioned that his stay would be so +short! This sort of mysteriousness, which is always so becoming in a +hero, threw a fresh grace in Catherine's imagination around his person +and manners, and increased her anxiety to know more of him. From the +Thorpes she could learn nothing, for they had been only two days in Bath +before they met with Mrs. Allen. It was a subject, however, in which +she often indulged with her fair friend, from whom she received every +possible encouragement to continue to think of him; and his impression +on her fancy was not suffered therefore to weaken. Isabella was very +sure that he must be a charming young man, and was equally sure that he +must have been delighted with her dear Catherine, and would therefore +shortly return. She liked him the better for being a clergyman, "for she +must confess herself very partial to the profession"; and something like +a sigh escaped her as she said it. Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not +demanding the cause of that gentle emotion--but she was not experienced +enough in the finesse of love, or the duties of friendship, to know when +delicate raillery was properly called for, or when a confidence should +be forced. + +Mrs. Allen was now quite happy--quite satisfied with Bath. She had found +some acquaintance, had been so lucky too as to find in them the family +of a most worthy old friend; and, as the completion of good fortune, had +found these friends by no means so expensively dressed as herself. Her +daily expressions were no longer, "I wish we had some acquaintance in +Bath!" They were changed into, "How glad I am we have met with Mrs. +Thorpe!" and she was as eager in promoting the intercourse of the two +families, as her young charge and Isabella themselves could be; never +satisfied with the day unless she spent the chief of it by the side of +Mrs. Thorpe, in what they called conversation, but in which there was +scarcely ever any exchange of opinion, and not often any resemblance of +subject, for Mrs. Thorpe talked chiefly of her children, and Mrs. Allen +of her gowns. + +The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick +as its beginning had been warm, and they passed so rapidly through every +gradation of increasing tenderness that there was shortly no fresh proof +of it to be given to their friends or themselves. They called each other +by their Christian name, were always arm in arm when they walked, pinned +up each other's train for the dance, and were not to be divided in the +set; and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments, they +were still resolute in meeting in defiance of wet and dirt, and shut +themselves up, to read novels together. Yes, novels; for I will not +adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel-writers, +of degrading by their contemptuous censure the very performances, to the +number of which they are themselves adding--joining with their greatest +enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works, and scarcely +ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine, who, if she +accidentally take up a novel, is sure to turn over its insipid pages +with disgust. Alas! If the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the +heroine of another, from whom can she expect protection and regard? I +cannot approve of it. Let us leave it to the reviewers to abuse such +effusions of fancy at their leisure, and over every new novel to talk in +threadbare strains of the trash with which the press now groans. Let us +not desert one another; we are an injured body. Although our productions +have afforded more extensive and unaffected pleasure than those of any +other literary corporation in the world, no species of composition has +been so much decried. From pride, ignorance, or fashion, our foes +are almost as many as our readers. And while the abilities of the +nine-hundredth abridger of the History of England, or of the man who +collects and publishes in a volume some dozen lines of Milton, Pope, and +Prior, with a paper from the Spectator, and a chapter from Sterne, +are eulogized by a thousand pens--there seems almost a general wish of +decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour of the novelist, and +of slighting the performances which have only genius, wit, and taste to +recommend them. "I am no novel-reader--I seldom look into novels--Do not +imagine that I often read novels--It is really very well for a novel." +Such is the common cant. "And what are you reading, Miss--?" "Oh! It is +only a novel!" replies the young lady, while she lays down her book +with affected indifference, or momentary shame. "It is only Cecilia, or +Camilla, or Belinda"; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest +powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge +of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the +liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the +best-chosen language. Now, had the same young lady been engaged with a +volume of the Spectator, instead of such a work, how proudly would she +have produced the book, and told its name; though the chances must be +against her being occupied by any part of that voluminous publication, +of which either the matter or manner would not disgust a young person of +taste: the substance of its papers so often consisting in the statement +of improbable circumstances, unnatural characters, and topics of +conversation which no longer concern anyone living; and their language, +too, frequently so coarse as to give no very favourable idea of the age +that could endure it. + + + + +CHAPTER 6 + + +The following conversation, which took place between the two friends in +the pump-room one morning, after an acquaintance of eight or nine +days, is given as a specimen of their very warm attachment, and of the +delicacy, discretion, originality of thought, and literary taste which +marked the reasonableness of that attachment. + +They met by appointment; and as Isabella had arrived nearly five +minutes before her friend, her first address naturally was, "My dearest +creature, what can have made you so late? I have been waiting for you at +least this age!" + +"Have you, indeed! I am very sorry for it; but really I thought I was in +very good time. It is but just one. I hope you have not been here long?" + +"Oh! These ten ages at least. I am sure I have been here this half hour. +But now, let us go and sit down at the other end of the room, and enjoy +ourselves. I have an hundred things to say to you. In the first place, +I was so afraid it would rain this morning, just as I wanted to set off; +it looked very showery, and that would have thrown me into agonies! Do +you know, I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine, in a shop window in +Milsom Street just now--very like yours, only with coquelicot ribbons +instead of green; I quite longed for it. But, my dearest Catherine, what +have you been doing with yourself all this morning? Have you gone on +with Udolpho?" + +"Yes, I have been reading it ever since I woke; and I am got to the +black veil." + +"Are you, indeed? How delightful! Oh! I would not tell you what is +behind the black veil for the world! Are not you wild to know?" + +"Oh! Yes, quite; what can it be? But do not tell me--I would not be +told upon any account. I know it must be a skeleton, I am sure it is +Laurentina's skeleton. Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like +to spend my whole life in reading it. I assure you, if it had not been +to meet you, I would not have come away from it for all the world." + +"Dear creature! How much I am obliged to you; and when you have finished +Udolpho, we will read the Italian together; and I have made out a list +of ten or twelve more of the same kind for you." + +"Have you, indeed! How glad I am! What are they all?" + +"I will read you their names directly; here they are, in my pocketbook. +Castle of Wolfenbach, Clermont, Mysterious Warnings, Necromancer of the +Black Forest, Midnight Bell, Orphan of the Rhine, and Horrid Mysteries. +Those will last us some time." + +"Yes, pretty well; but are they all horrid, are you sure they are all +horrid?" + +"Yes, quite sure; for a particular friend of mine, a Miss Andrews, a +sweet girl, one of the sweetest creatures in the world, has read every +one of them. I wish you knew Miss Andrews, you would be delighted with +her. She is netting herself the sweetest cloak you can conceive. I think +her as beautiful as an angel, and I am so vexed with the men for not +admiring her! I scold them all amazingly about it." + +"Scold them! Do you scold them for not admiring her?" + +"Yes, that I do. There is nothing I would not do for those who are +really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is +not my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong. I told +Captain Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter that if he was to +tease me all night, I would not dance with him, unless he would allow +Miss Andrews to be as beautiful as an angel. The men think us incapable +of real friendship, you know, and I am determined to show them the +difference. Now, if I were to hear anybody speak slightingly of you, I +should fire up in a moment: but that is not at all likely, for you are +just the kind of girl to be a great favourite with the men." + +"Oh, dear!" cried Catherine, colouring. "How can you say so?" + +"I know you very well; you have so much animation, which is exactly +what Miss Andrews wants, for I must confess there is something amazingly +insipid about her. Oh! I must tell you, that just after we parted +yesterday, I saw a young man looking at you so earnestly--I am sure he +is in love with you." Catherine coloured, and disclaimed again. Isabella +laughed. "It is very true, upon my honour, but I see how it is; you are +indifferent to everybody's admiration, except that of one gentleman, +who shall be nameless. Nay, I cannot blame you"--speaking more +seriously--"your feelings are easily understood. Where the heart is +really attached, I know very well how little one can be pleased with the +attention of anybody else. Everything is so insipid, so uninteresting, +that does not relate to the beloved object! I can perfectly comprehend +your feelings." + +"But you should not persuade me that I think so very much about Mr. +Tilney, for perhaps I may never see him again." + +"Not see him again! My dearest creature, do not talk of it. I am sure +you would be miserable if you thought so!" + +"No, indeed, I should not. I do not pretend to say that I was not very +much pleased with him; but while I have Udolpho to read, I feel as if +nobody could make me miserable. Oh! The dreadful black veil! My dear +Isabella, I am sure there must be Laurentina's skeleton behind it." + +"It is so odd to me, that you should never have read Udolpho before; but +I suppose Mrs. Morland objects to novels." + +"No, she does not. She very often reads Sir Charles Grandison herself; +but new books do not fall in our way." + +"Sir Charles Grandison! That is an amazing horrid book, is it not? I +remember Miss Andrews could not get through the first volume." + +"It is not like Udolpho at all; but yet I think it is very +entertaining." + +"Do you indeed! You surprise me; I thought it had not been readable. +But, my dearest Catherine, have you settled what to wear on your head +tonight? I am determined at all events to be dressed exactly like you. +The men take notice of that sometimes, you know." + +"But it does not signify if they do," said Catherine, very innocently. + +"Signify! Oh, heavens! I make it a rule never to mind what they say. +They are very often amazingly impertinent if you do not treat them with +spirit, and make them keep their distance." + +"Are they? Well, I never observed that. They always behave very well to +me." + +"Oh! They give themselves such airs. They are the most conceited +creatures in the world, and think themselves of so much importance! +By the by, though I have thought of it a hundred times, I have always +forgot to ask you what is your favourite complexion in a man. Do you +like them best dark or fair?" + +"I hardly know. I never much thought about it. Something between both, I +think. Brown--not fair, and--and not very dark." + +"Very well, Catherine. That is exactly he. I have not forgot your +description of Mr. Tilney--'a brown skin, with dark eyes, and rather +dark hair.' Well, my taste is different. I prefer light eyes, and as to +complexion--do you know--I like a sallow better than any other. You must +not betray me, if you should ever meet with one of your acquaintance +answering that description." + +"Betray you! What do you mean?" + +"Nay, do not distress me. I believe I have said too much. Let us drop +the subject." + +Catherine, in some amazement, complied, and after remaining a few +moments silent, was on the point of reverting to what interested her +at that time rather more than anything else in the world, Laurentina's +skeleton, when her friend prevented her, by saying, "For heaven's sake! +Let us move away from this end of the room. Do you know, there are two +odious young men who have been staring at me this half hour. They really +put me quite out of countenance. Let us go and look at the arrivals. +They will hardly follow us there." + +Away they walked to the book; and while Isabella examined the names, it +was Catherine's employment to watch the proceedings of these alarming +young men. + +"They are not coming this way, are they? I hope they are not so +impertinent as to follow us. Pray let me know if they are coming. I am +determined I will not look up." + +In a few moments Catherine, with unaffected pleasure, assured her +that she need not be longer uneasy, as the gentlemen had just left the +pump-room. + +"And which way are they gone?" said Isabella, turning hastily round. +"One was a very good-looking young man." + +"They went towards the church-yard." + +"Well, I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them! And now, what say you +to going to Edgar's Buildings with me, and looking at my new hat? You +said you should like to see it." + +Catherine readily agreed. "Only," she added, "perhaps we may overtake +the two young men." + +"Oh! Never mind that. If we make haste, we shall pass by them presently, +and I am dying to show you my hat." + +"But if we only wait a few minutes, there will be no danger of our +seeing them at all." + +"I shall not pay them any such compliment, I assure you. I have no +notion of treating men with such respect. That is the way to spoil +them." + +Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning; and therefore, +to show the independence of Miss Thorpe, and her resolution of humbling +the sex, they set off immediately as fast as they could walk, in pursuit +of the two young men. + + + + +CHAPTER 7 + + +Half a minute conducted them through the pump-yard to the archway, +opposite Union Passage; but here they were stopped. Everybody acquainted +with Bath may remember the difficulties of crossing Cheap Street at +this point; it is indeed a street of so impertinent a nature, so +unfortunately connected with the great London and Oxford roads, and the +principal inn of the city, that a day never passes in which parties of +ladies, however important their business, whether in quest of pastry, +millinery, or even (as in the present case) of young men, are not +detained on one side or other by carriages, horsemen, or carts. This +evil had been felt and lamented, at least three times a day, by Isabella +since her residence in Bath; and she was now fated to feel and lament it +once more, for at the very moment of coming opposite to Union Passage, +and within view of the two gentlemen who were proceeding through the +crowds, and threading the gutters of that interesting alley, they +were prevented crossing by the approach of a gig, driven along on bad +pavement by a most knowing-looking coachman with all the vehemence that +could most fitly endanger the lives of himself, his companion, and his +horse. + +"Oh, these odious gigs!" said Isabella, looking up. "How I detest them." +But this detestation, though so just, was of short duration, for she +looked again and exclaimed, "Delightful! Mr. Morland and my brother!" + +"Good heaven! 'Tis James!" was uttered at the same moment by Catherine; +and, on catching the young men's eyes, the horse was immediately checked +with a violence which almost threw him on his haunches, and the servant +having now scampered up, the gentlemen jumped out, and the equipage was +delivered to his care. + +Catherine, by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected, received her +brother with the liveliest pleasure; and he, being of a very amiable +disposition, and sincerely attached to her, gave every proof on his +side of equal satisfaction, which he could have leisure to do, while the +bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly challenging his notice; +and to her his devoirs were speedily paid, with a mixture of joy and +embarrassment which might have informed Catherine, had she been more +expert in the development of other people's feelings, and less simply +engrossed by her own, that her brother thought her friend quite as +pretty as she could do herself. + +John Thorpe, who in the meantime had been giving orders about the +horses, soon joined them, and from him she directly received the amends +which were her due; for while he slightly and carelessly touched the +hand of Isabella, on her he bestowed a whole scrape and half a short +bow. He was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face +and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore +the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy +where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to be +easy. He took out his watch: "How long do you think we have been running +it from Tetbury, Miss Morland?" + +"I do not know the distance." Her brother told her that it was +twenty-three miles. + +"Three and twenty!" cried Thorpe. "Five and twenty if it is an inch." +Morland remonstrated, pleaded the authority of road-books, innkeepers, +and milestones; but his friend disregarded them all; he had a surer test +of distance. "I know it must be five and twenty," said he, "by the time +we have been doing it. It is now half after one; we drove out of the +inn-yard at Tetbury as the town clock struck eleven; and I defy any man +in England to make my horse go less than ten miles an hour in harness; +that makes it exactly twenty-five." + +"You have lost an hour," said Morland; "it was only ten o'clock when we +came from Tetbury." + +"Ten o'clock! It was eleven, upon my soul! I counted every stroke. This +brother of yours would persuade me out of my senses, Miss Morland; do +but look at my horse; did you ever see an animal so made for speed in +your life?" (The servant had just mounted the carriage and was driving +off.) "Such true blood! Three hours and and a half indeed coming only +three and twenty miles! Look at that creature, and suppose it possible +if you can." + +"He does look very hot, to be sure." + +"Hot! He had not turned a hair till we came to Walcot Church; but look +at his forehand; look at his loins; only see how he moves; that horse +cannot go less than ten miles an hour: tie his legs and he will get on. +What do you think of my gig, Miss Morland? A neat one, is not it? +Well hung; town-built; I have not had it a month. It was built for a +Christchurch man, a friend of mine, a very good sort of fellow; he ran +it a few weeks, till, I believe, it was convenient to have done with it. +I happened just then to be looking out for some light thing of the kind, +though I had pretty well determined on a curricle too; but I chanced to +meet him on Magdalen Bridge, as he was driving into Oxford, last term: +'Ah! Thorpe,' said he, 'do you happen to want such a little thing as +this? It is a capital one of the kind, but I am cursed tired of it.' +'Oh! D--,' said I; 'I am your man; what do you ask?' And how much do you +think he did, Miss Morland?" + +"I am sure I cannot guess at all." + +"Curricle-hung, you see; seat, trunk, sword-case, splashing-board, +lamps, silver moulding, all you see complete; the iron-work as good +as new, or better. He asked fifty guineas; I closed with him directly, +threw down the money, and the carriage was mine." + +"And I am sure," said Catherine, "I know so little of such things that I +cannot judge whether it was cheap or dear." + +"Neither one nor t'other; I might have got it for less, I dare say; but +I hate haggling, and poor Freeman wanted cash." + +"That was very good-natured of you," said Catherine, quite pleased. + +"Oh! D---- it, when one has the means of doing a kind thing by a friend, +I hate to be pitiful." + +An inquiry now took place into the intended movements of the young +ladies; and, on finding whither they were going, it was decided that +the gentlemen should accompany them to Edgar's Buildings, and pay their +respects to Mrs. Thorpe. James and Isabella led the way; and so +well satisfied was the latter with her lot, so contentedly was she +endeavouring to ensure a pleasant walk to him who brought the double +recommendation of being her brother's friend, and her friend's brother, +so pure and uncoquettish were her feelings, that, though they overtook +and passed the two offending young men in Milsom Street, she was so far +from seeking to attract their notice, that she looked back at them only +three times. + +John Thorpe kept of course with Catherine, and, after a few minutes' +silence, renewed the conversation about his gig. "You will find, +however, Miss Morland, it would be reckoned a cheap thing by some +people, for I might have sold it for ten guineas more the next day; +Jackson, of Oriel, bid me sixty at once; Morland was with me at the +time." + +"Yes," said Morland, who overheard this; "but you forget that your horse +was included." + +"My horse! Oh, d---- it! I would not sell my horse for a hundred. Are +you fond of an open carriage, Miss Morland?" + +"Yes, very; I have hardly ever an opportunity of being in one; but I am +particularly fond of it." + +"I am glad of it; I will drive you out in mine every day." + +"Thank you," said Catherine, in some distress, from a doubt of the +propriety of accepting such an offer. + +"I will drive you up Lansdown Hill tomorrow." + +"Thank you; but will not your horse want rest?" + +"Rest! He has only come three and twenty miles today; all nonsense; +nothing ruins horses so much as rest; nothing knocks them up so soon. +No, no; I shall exercise mine at the average of four hours every day +while I am here." + +"Shall you indeed!" said Catherine very seriously. "That will be forty +miles a day." + +"Forty! Aye, fifty, for what I care. Well, I will drive you up Lansdown +tomorrow; mind, I am engaged." + +"How delightful that will be!" cried Isabella, turning round. "My +dearest Catherine, I quite envy you; but I am afraid, brother, you will +not have room for a third." + +"A third indeed! No, no; I did not come to Bath to drive my sisters +about; that would be a good joke, faith! Morland must take care of you." + +This brought on a dialogue of civilities between the other two; but +Catherine heard neither the particulars nor the result. Her companion's +discourse now sunk from its hitherto animated pitch to nothing more than +a short decisive sentence of praise or condemnation on the face of every +woman they met; and Catherine, after listening and agreeing as long as +she could, with all the civility and deference of the youthful female +mind, fearful of hazarding an opinion of its own in opposition to that +of a self-assured man, especially where the beauty of her own sex is +concerned, ventured at length to vary the subject by a question which +had been long uppermost in her thoughts; it was, "Have you ever read +Udolpho, Mr. Thorpe?" + +"Udolpho! Oh, Lord! Not I; I never read novels; I have something else to +do." + +Catherine, humbled and ashamed, was going to apologize for her question, +but he prevented her by saying, "Novels are all so full of nonsense +and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since +Tom Jones, except The Monk; I read that t'other day; but as for all the +others, they are the stupidest things in creation." + +"I think you must like Udolpho, if you were to read it; it is so very +interesting." + +"Not I, faith! No, if I read any, it shall be Mrs. Radcliffe's; her +novels are amusing enough; they are worth reading; some fun and nature +in them." + +"Udolpho was written by Mrs. Radcliffe," said Catherine, with some +hesitation, from the fear of mortifying him. + +"No sure; was it? Aye, I remember, so it was; I was thinking of that +other stupid book, written by that woman they make such a fuss about, +she who married the French emigrant." + +"I suppose you mean Camilla?" + +"Yes, that's the book; such unnatural stuff! An old man playing at +see-saw, I took up the first volume once and looked it over, but I soon +found it would not do; indeed I guessed what sort of stuff it must be +before I saw it: as soon as I heard she had married an emigrant, I was +sure I should never be able to get through it." + +"I have never read it." + +"You had no loss, I assure you; it is the horridest nonsense you can +imagine; there is nothing in the world in it but an old man's playing at +see-saw and learning Latin; upon my soul there is not." + +This critique, the justness of which was unfortunately lost on poor +Catherine, brought them to the door of Mrs. Thorpe's lodgings, and the +feelings of the discerning and unprejudiced reader of Camilla gave way +to the feelings of the dutiful and affectionate son, as they met Mrs. +Thorpe, who had descried them from above, in the passage. "Ah, Mother! +How do you do?" said he, giving her a hearty shake of the hand. "Where +did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. +Here is Morland and I come to stay a few days with you, so you must look +out for a couple of good beds somewhere near." And this address seemed +to satisfy all the fondest wishes of the mother's heart, for she +received him with the most delighted and exulting affection. On his +two younger sisters he then bestowed an equal portion of his fraternal +tenderness, for he asked each of them how they did, and observed that +they both looked very ugly. + +These manners did not please Catherine; but he was James's friend +and Isabella's brother; and her judgment was further bought off by +Isabella's assuring her, when they withdrew to see the new hat, that +John thought her the most charming girl in the world, and by John's +engaging her before they parted to dance with him that evening. Had she +been older or vainer, such attacks might have done little; but, where +youth and diffidence are united, it requires uncommon steadiness of +reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl +in the world, and of being so very early engaged as a partner; and the +consequence was that, when the two Morlands, after sitting an hour with +the Thorpes, set off to walk together to Mr. Allen's, and James, as +the door was closed on them, said, "Well, Catherine, how do you like my +friend Thorpe?" instead of answering, as she probably would have done, +had there been no friendship and no flattery in the case, "I do not like +him at all," she directly replied, "I like him very much; he seems very +agreeable." + +"He is as good-natured a fellow as ever lived; a little of a rattle; but +that will recommend him to your sex, I believe: and how do you like the +rest of the family?" + +"Very, very much indeed: Isabella particularly." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so; she is just the kind of young woman +I could wish to see you attached to; she has so much good sense, and is +so thoroughly unaffected and amiable; I always wanted you to know her; +and she seems very fond of you. She said the highest things in your +praise that could possibly be; and the praise of such a girl as Miss +Thorpe even you, Catherine," taking her hand with affection, "may be +proud of." + +"Indeed I am," she replied; "I love her exceedingly, and am delighted +to find that you like her too. You hardly mentioned anything of her when +you wrote to me after your visit there." + +"Because I thought I should soon see you myself. I hope you will be a +great deal together while you are in Bath. She is a most amiable girl; +such a superior understanding! How fond all the family are of her; she +is evidently the general favourite; and how much she must be admired in +such a place as this--is not she?" + +"Yes, very much indeed, I fancy; Mr. Allen thinks her the prettiest girl +in Bath." + +"I dare say he does; and I do not know any man who is a better judge of +beauty than Mr. Allen. I need not ask you whether you are happy here, my +dear Catherine; with such a companion and friend as Isabella Thorpe, it +would be impossible for you to be otherwise; and the Allens, I am sure, +are very kind to you?" + +"Yes, very kind; I never was so happy before; and now you are come it +will be more delightful than ever; how good it is of you to come so far +on purpose to see me." + +James accepted this tribute of gratitude, and qualified his conscience +for accepting it too, by saying with perfect sincerity, "Indeed, +Catherine, I love you dearly." + +Inquiries and communications concerning brothers and sisters, the +situation of some, the growth of the rest, and other family matters now +passed between them, and continued, with only one small digression +on James's part, in praise of Miss Thorpe, till they reached Pulteney +Street, where he was welcomed with great kindness by Mr. and Mrs. Allen, +invited by the former to dine with them, and summoned by the latter +to guess the price and weigh the merits of a new muff and tippet. +A pre-engagement in Edgar's Buildings prevented his accepting the +invitation of one friend, and obliged him to hurry away as soon as he +had satisfied the demands of the other. The time of the two parties +uniting in the Octagon Room being correctly adjusted, Catherine was then +left to the luxury of a raised, restless, and frightened imagination +over the pages of Udolpho, lost from all worldly concerns of dressing +and dinner, incapable of soothing Mrs. Allen's fears on the delay of an +expected dressmaker, and having only one minute in sixty to bestow even +on the reflection of her own felicity, in being already engaged for the +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER 8 + + +In spite of Udolpho and the dressmaker, however, the party from Pulteney +Street reached the Upper Rooms in very good time. The Thorpes and James +Morland were there only two minutes before them; and Isabella having +gone through the usual ceremonial of meeting her friend with the most +smiling and affectionate haste, of admiring the set of her gown, and +envying the curl of her hair, they followed their chaperones, arm in +arm, into the ballroom, whispering to each other whenever a thought +occurred, and supplying the place of many ideas by a squeeze of the hand +or a smile of affection. + +The dancing began within a few minutes after they were seated; and +James, who had been engaged quite as long as his sister, was very +importunate with Isabella to stand up; but John was gone into the +card-room to speak to a friend, and nothing, she declared, should induce +her to join the set before her dear Catherine could join it too. "I +assure you," said she, "I would not stand up without your dear sister +for all the world; for if I did we should certainly be separated the +whole evening." Catherine accepted this kindness with gratitude, and +they continued as they were for three minutes longer, when Isabella, who +had been talking to James on the other side of her, turned again to his +sister and whispered, "My dear creature, I am afraid I must leave you, +your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin; I know you will not +mind my going away, and I dare say John will be back in a moment, +and then you may easily find me out." Catherine, though a little +disappointed, had too much good nature to make any opposition, and the +others rising up, Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and +say, "Good-bye, my dear love," before they hurried off. The younger +Miss Thorpes being also dancing, Catherine was left to the mercy of Mrs. +Thorpe and Mrs. Allen, between whom she now remained. She could not help +being vexed at the non-appearance of Mr. Thorpe, for she not only longed +to be dancing, but was likewise aware that, as the real dignity of her +situation could not be known, she was sharing with the scores of other +young ladies still sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner. +To be disgraced in the eye of the world, to wear the appearance of +infamy while her heart is all purity, her actions all innocence, and the +misconduct of another the true source of her debasement, is one of those +circumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroine's life, and her +fortitude under it what particularly dignifies her character. Catherine +had fortitude too; she suffered, but no murmur passed her lips. + +From this state of humiliation, she was roused, at the end of ten +minutes, to a pleasanter feeling, by seeing, not Mr. Thorpe, but Mr. +Tilney, within three yards of the place where they sat; he seemed to be +moving that way, but he did not see her, and therefore the smile and the +blush, which his sudden reappearance raised in Catherine, passed away +without sullying her heroic importance. He looked as handsome and as +lively as ever, and was talking with interest to a fashionable and +pleasing-looking young woman, who leant on his arm, and whom Catherine +immediately guessed to be his sister; thus unthinkingly throwing away +a fair opportunity of considering him lost to her forever, by being +married already. But guided only by what was simple and probable, it +had never entered her head that Mr. Tilney could be married; he had not +behaved, he had not talked, like the married men to whom she had been +used; he had never mentioned a wife, and he had acknowledged a sister. +From these circumstances sprang the instant conclusion of his sister's +now being by his side; and therefore, instead of turning of a deathlike +paleness and falling in a fit on Mrs. Allen's bosom, Catherine sat +erect, in the perfect use of her senses, and with cheeks only a little +redder than usual. + +Mr. Tilney and his companion, who continued, though slowly, to approach, +were immediately preceded by a lady, an acquaintance of Mrs. Thorpe; and +this lady stopping to speak to her, they, as belonging to her, stopped +likewise, and Catherine, catching Mr. Tilney's eye, instantly received +from him the smiling tribute of recognition. She returned it with +pleasure, and then advancing still nearer, he spoke both to her and Mrs. +Allen, by whom he was very civilly acknowledged. "I am very happy to see +you again, sir, indeed; I was afraid you had left Bath." He thanked her +for her fears, and said that he had quitted it for a week, on the very +morning after his having had the pleasure of seeing her. + +"Well, sir, and I dare say you are not sorry to be back again, for it +is just the place for young people--and indeed for everybody else too. +I tell Mr. Allen, when he talks of being sick of it, that I am sure he +should not complain, for it is so very agreeable a place, that it is +much better to be here than at home at this dull time of year. I tell +him he is quite in luck to be sent here for his health." + +"And I hope, madam, that Mr. Allen will be obliged to like the place, +from finding it of service to him." + +"Thank you, sir. I have no doubt that he will. A neighbour of ours, +Dr. Skinner, was here for his health last winter, and came away quite +stout." + +"That circumstance must give great encouragement." + +"Yes, sir--and Dr. Skinner and his family were here three months; so I +tell Mr. Allen he must not be in a hurry to get away." + +Here they were interrupted by a request from Mrs. Thorpe to Mrs. Allen, +that she would move a little to accommodate Mrs. Hughes and Miss Tilney +with seats, as they had agreed to join their party. This was accordingly +done, Mr. Tilney still continuing standing before them; and after a +few minutes' consideration, he asked Catherine to dance with him. This +compliment, delightful as it was, produced severe mortification to the +lady; and in giving her denial, she expressed her sorrow on the occasion +so very much as if she really felt it that had Thorpe, who joined her +just afterwards, been half a minute earlier, he might have thought her +sufferings rather too acute. The very easy manner in which he then told +her that he had kept her waiting did not by any means reconcile her more +to her lot; nor did the particulars which he entered into while they +were standing up, of the horses and dogs of the friend whom he had just +left, and of a proposed exchange of terriers between them, interest her +so much as to prevent her looking very often towards that part of the +room where she had left Mr. Tilney. Of her dear Isabella, to whom she +particularly longed to point out that gentleman, she could see nothing. +They were in different sets. She was separated from all her party, and +away from all her acquaintance; one mortification succeeded another, +and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson, that to go previously +engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity or +enjoyment of a young lady. From such a moralizing strain as this, she +was suddenly roused by a touch on the shoulder, and turning round, +perceived Mrs. Hughes directly behind her, attended by Miss Tilney and +a gentleman. "I beg your pardon, Miss Morland," said she, "for this +liberty--but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Thorpe, and Mrs. Thorpe said +she was sure you would not have the least objection to letting in this +young lady by you." Mrs. Hughes could not have applied to any creature +in the room more happy to oblige her than Catherine. The young ladies +were introduced to each other, Miss Tilney expressing a proper sense of +such goodness, Miss Morland with the real delicacy of a generous mind +making light of the obligation; and Mrs. Hughes, satisfied with having +so respectably settled her young charge, returned to her party. + +Miss Tilney had a good figure, a pretty face, and a very agreeable +countenance; and her air, though it had not all the decided pretension, +the resolute stylishness of Miss Thorpe's, had more real elegance. Her +manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy nor +affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young, attractive, and +at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her, +and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable +vexation on every little trifling occurrence. Catherine, interested at +once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr. Tilney, was desirous +of being acquainted with her, and readily talked therefore whenever she +could think of anything to say, and had courage and leisure for saying +it. But the hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy, by +the frequent want of one or more of these requisites, prevented their +doing more than going through the first rudiments of an acquaintance, by +informing themselves how well the other liked Bath, how much she admired +its buildings and surrounding country, whether she drew, or played, or +sang, and whether she was fond of riding on horseback. + +The two dances were scarcely concluded before Catherine found her arm +gently seized by her faithful Isabella, who in great spirits exclaimed, +"At last I have got you. My dearest creature, I have been looking for +you this hour. What could induce you to come into this set, when you +knew I was in the other? I have been quite wretched without you." + +"My dear Isabella, how was it possible for me to get at you? I could not +even see where you were." + +"So I told your brother all the time--but he would not believe me. Do go +and see for her, Mr. Morland, said I--but all in vain--he would not stir +an inch. Was not it so, Mr. Morland? But you men are all so immoderately +lazy! I have been scolding him to such a degree, my dear Catherine, you +would be quite amazed. You know I never stand upon ceremony with such +people." + +"Look at that young lady with the white beads round her head," whispered +Catherine, detaching her friend from James. "It is Mr. Tilney's sister." + +"Oh! Heavens! You don't say so! Let me look at her this moment. What a +delightful girl! I never saw anything half so beautiful! But where is +her all-conquering brother? Is he in the room? Point him out to me this +instant, if he is. I die to see him. Mr. Morland, you are not to listen. +We are not talking about you." + +"But what is all this whispering about? What is going on?" + +"There now, I knew how it would be. You men have such restless +curiosity! Talk of the curiosity of women, indeed! 'Tis nothing. But be +satisfied, for you are not to know anything at all of the matter." + +"And is that likely to satisfy me, do you think?" + +"Well, I declare I never knew anything like you. What can it signify to +you, what we are talking of. Perhaps we are talking about you; therefore +I would advise you not to listen, or you may happen to hear something +not very agreeable." + +In this commonplace chatter, which lasted some time, the original +subject seemed entirely forgotten; and though Catherine was very well +pleased to have it dropped for a while, she could not avoid a little +suspicion at the total suspension of all Isabella's impatient desire to +see Mr. Tilney. When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance, James would +have led his fair partner away, but she resisted. "I tell you, Mr. +Morland," she cried, "I would not do such a thing for all the world. +How can you be so teasing; only conceive, my dear Catherine, what your +brother wants me to do. He wants me to dance with him again, though +I tell him that it is a most improper thing, and entirely against the +rules. It would make us the talk of the place, if we were not to change +partners." + +"Upon my honour," said James, "in these public assemblies, it is as +often done as not." + +"Nonsense, how can you say so? But when you men have a point to carry, +you never stick at anything. My sweet Catherine, do support me; persuade +your brother how impossible it is. Tell him that it would quite shock +you to see me do such a thing; now would not it?" + +"No, not at all; but if you think it wrong, you had much better change." + +"There," cried Isabella, "you hear what your sister says, and yet you +will not mind her. Well, remember that it is not my fault, if we set all +the old ladies in Bath in a bustle. Come along, my dearest Catherine, +for heaven's sake, and stand by me." And off they went, to regain +their former place. John Thorpe, in the meanwhile, had walked away; and +Catherine, ever willing to give Mr. Tilney an opportunity of repeating +the agreeable request which had already flattered her once, made her +way to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe as fast as she could, in the hope +of finding him still with them--a hope which, when it proved to be +fruitless, she felt to have been highly unreasonable. "Well, my dear," +said Mrs. Thorpe, impatient for praise of her son, "I hope you have had +an agreeable partner." + +"Very agreeable, madam." + +"I am glad of it. John has charming spirits, has not he?" + +"Did you meet Mr. Tilney, my dear?" said Mrs. Allen. + +"No, where is he?" + +"He was with us just now, and said he was so tired of lounging about, +that he was resolved to go and dance; so I thought perhaps he would ask +you, if he met with you." + +"Where can he be?" said Catherine, looking round; but she had not looked +round long before she saw him leading a young lady to the dance. + +"Ah! He has got a partner; I wish he had asked you," said Mrs. Allen; +and after a short silence, she added, "he is a very agreeable young +man." + +"Indeed he is, Mrs. Allen," said Mrs. Thorpe, smiling complacently; "I +must say it, though I am his mother, that there is not a more agreeable +young man in the world." + +This inapplicable answer might have been too much for the comprehension +of many; but it did not puzzle Mrs. Allen, for after only a moment's +consideration, she said, in a whisper to Catherine, "I dare say she +thought I was speaking of her son." + +Catherine was disappointed and vexed. She seemed to have missed by so +little the very object she had had in view; and this persuasion did not +incline her to a very gracious reply, when John Thorpe came up to her +soon afterwards and said, "Well, Miss Morland, I suppose you and I are +to stand up and jig it together again." + +"Oh, no; I am much obliged to you, our two dances are over; and, +besides, I am tired, and do not mean to dance any more." + +"Do not you? Then let us walk about and quiz people. Come along with +me, and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in the room; my two +younger sisters and their partners. I have been laughing at them this +half hour." + +Again Catherine excused herself; and at last he walked off to quiz his +sisters by himself. The rest of the evening she found very dull; Mr. +Tilney was drawn away from their party at tea, to attend that of his +partner; Miss Tilney, though belonging to it, did not sit near her, and +James and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together that the +latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friend than one smile, one +squeeze, and one "dearest Catherine." + + + + +CHAPTER 9 + + +The progress of Catherine's unhappiness from the events of the evening +was as follows. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with +everybody about her, while she remained in the rooms, which speedily +brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home. This, +on arriving in Pulteney Street, took the direction of extraordinary +hunger, and when that was appeased, changed into an earnest longing to +be in bed; such was the extreme point of her distress; for when there +she immediately fell into a sound sleep which lasted nine hours, and +from which she awoke perfectly revived, in excellent spirits, with fresh +hopes and fresh schemes. The first wish of her heart was to improve her +acquaintance with Miss Tilney, and almost her first resolution, to seek +her for that purpose, in the pump-room at noon. In the pump-room, one +so newly arrived in Bath must be met with, and that building she had +already found so favourable for the discovery of female excellence, +and the completion of female intimacy, so admirably adapted for secret +discourses and unlimited confidence, that she was most reasonably +encouraged to expect another friend from within its walls. Her plan +for the morning thus settled, she sat quietly down to her book after +breakfast, resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment +till the clock struck one; and from habitude very little incommoded by +the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs. Allen, whose vacancy of mind and +incapacity for thinking were such, that as she never talked a great +deal, so she could never be entirely silent; and, therefore, while she +sat at her work, if she lost her needle or broke her thread, if she +heard a carriage in the street, or saw a speck upon her gown, she must +observe it aloud, whether there were anyone at leisure to answer her or +not. At about half past twelve, a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste +to the window, and scarcely had she time to inform Catherine of there +being two open carriages at the door, in the first only a servant, +her brother driving Miss Thorpe in the second, before John Thorpe came +running upstairs, calling out, "Well, Miss Morland, here I am. Have +you been waiting long? We could not come before; the old devil of a +coachmaker was such an eternity finding out a thing fit to be got into, +and now it is ten thousand to one but they break down before we are out +of the street. How do you do, Mrs. Allen? A famous ball last night, was +not it? Come, Miss Morland, be quick, for the others are in a confounded +hurry to be off. They want to get their tumble over." + +"What do you mean?" said Catherine. "Where are you all going to?" + +"Going to? Why, you have not forgot our engagement! Did not we agree +together to take a drive this morning? What a head you have! We are +going up Claverton Down." + +"Something was said about it, I remember," said Catherine, looking at +Mrs. Allen for her opinion; "but really I did not expect you." + +"Not expect me! That's a good one! And what a dust you would have made, +if I had not come." + +Catherine's silent appeal to her friend, meanwhile, was entirely thrown +away, for Mrs. Allen, not being at all in the habit of conveying any +expression herself by a look, was not aware of its being ever intended +by anybody else; and Catherine, whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again +could at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive, and who +thought there could be no impropriety in her going with Mr. Thorpe, as +Isabella was going at the same time with James, was therefore obliged to +speak plainer. "Well, ma'am, what do you say to it? Can you spare me for +an hour or two? Shall I go?" + +"Do just as you please, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with the most +placid indifference. Catherine took the advice, and ran off to get +ready. In a very few minutes she reappeared, having scarcely allowed +the two others time enough to get through a few short sentences in her +praise, after Thorpe had procured Mrs. Allen's admiration of his gig; +and then receiving her friend's parting good wishes, they both hurried +downstairs. "My dearest creature," cried Isabella, to whom the duty +of friendship immediately called her before she could get into the +carriage, "you have been at least three hours getting ready. I was +afraid you were ill. What a delightful ball we had last night. I have a +thousand things to say to you; but make haste and get in, for I long to +be off." + +Catherine followed her orders and turned away, but not too soon to hear +her friend exclaim aloud to James, "What a sweet girl she is! I quite +dote on her." + +"You will not be frightened, Miss Morland," said Thorpe, as he handed +her in, "if my horse should dance about a little at first setting off. +He will, most likely, give a plunge or two, and perhaps take the rest +for a minute; but he will soon know his master. He is full of spirits, +playful as can be, but there is no vice in him." + +Catherine did not think the portrait a very inviting one, but it was too +late to retreat, and she was too young to own herself frightened; so, +resigning herself to her fate, and trusting to the animal's boasted +knowledge of its owner, she sat peaceably down, and saw Thorpe sit down +by her. Everything being then arranged, the servant who stood at the +horse's head was bid in an important voice "to let him go," and off they +went in the quietest manner imaginable, without a plunge or a caper, or +anything like one. Catherine, delighted at so happy an escape, spoke +her pleasure aloud with grateful surprise; and her companion immediately +made the matter perfectly simple by assuring her that it was entirely +owing to the peculiarly judicious manner in which he had then held the +reins, and the singular discernment and dexterity with which he had +directed his whip. Catherine, though she could not help wondering that +with such perfect command of his horse, he should think it necessary to +alarm her with a relation of its tricks, congratulated herself sincerely +on being under the care of so excellent a coachman; and perceiving that +the animal continued to go on in the same quiet manner, without +showing the smallest propensity towards any unpleasant vivacity, and +(considering its inevitable pace was ten miles an hour) by no means +alarmingly fast, gave herself up to all the enjoyment of air and +exercise of the most invigorating kind, in a fine mild day of February, +with the consciousness of safety. A silence of several minutes succeeded +their first short dialogue; it was broken by Thorpe's saying very +abruptly, "Old Allen is as rich as a Jew--is not he?" Catherine did not +understand him--and he repeated his question, adding in explanation, +"Old Allen, the man you are with." + +"Oh! Mr. Allen, you mean. Yes, I believe, he is very rich." + +"And no children at all?" + +"No--not any." + +"A famous thing for his next heirs. He is your godfather, is not he?" + +"My godfather! No." + +"But you are always very much with them." + +"Yes, very much." + +"Aye, that is what I meant. He seems a good kind of old fellow enough, +and has lived very well in his time, I dare say; he is not gouty for +nothing. Does he drink his bottle a day now?" + +"His bottle a day! No. Why should you think of such a thing? He is a +very temperate man, and you could not fancy him in liquor last night?" + +"Lord help you! You women are always thinking of men's being in liquor. +Why, you do not suppose a man is overset by a bottle? I am sure of +this--that if everybody was to drink their bottle a day, there would not +be half the disorders in the world there are now. It would be a famous +good thing for us all." + +"I cannot believe it." + +"Oh! Lord, it would be the saving of thousands. There is not the +hundredth part of the wine consumed in this kingdom that there ought to +be. Our foggy climate wants help." + +"And yet I have heard that there is a great deal of wine drunk in +Oxford." + +"Oxford! There is no drinking at Oxford now, I assure you. Nobody drinks +there. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints +at the utmost. Now, for instance, it was reckoned a remarkable thing, at +the last party in my rooms, that upon an average we cleared about five +pints a head. It was looked upon as something out of the common way. +Mine is famous good stuff, to be sure. You would not often meet with +anything like it in Oxford--and that may account for it. But this will +just give you a notion of the general rate of drinking there." + +"Yes, it does give a notion," said Catherine warmly, "and that is, that +you all drink a great deal more wine than I thought you did. However, I +am sure James does not drink so much." + +This declaration brought on a loud and overpowering reply, of which +no part was very distinct, except the frequent exclamations, amounting +almost to oaths, which adorned it, and Catherine was left, when it +ended, with rather a strengthened belief of there being a great deal +of wine drunk in Oxford, and the same happy conviction of her brother's +comparative sobriety. + +Thorpe's ideas then all reverted to the merits of his own equipage, and +she was called on to admire the spirit and freedom with which his horse +moved along, and the ease which his paces, as well as the excellence of +the springs, gave the motion of the carriage. She followed him in all +his admiration as well as she could. To go before or beyond him was +impossible. His knowledge and her ignorance of the subject, his rapidity +of expression, and her diffidence of herself put that out of her power; +she could strike out nothing new in commendation, but she readily echoed +whatever he chose to assert, and it was finally settled between them +without any difficulty that his equipage was altogether the most +complete of its kind in England, his carriage the neatest, his horse the +best goer, and himself the best coachman. "You do not really think, +Mr. Thorpe," said Catherine, venturing after some time to consider the +matter as entirely decided, and to offer some little variation on the +subject, "that James's gig will break down?" + +"Break down! Oh! Lord! Did you ever see such a little tittuppy thing in +your life? There is not a sound piece of iron about it. The wheels have +been fairly worn out these ten years at least--and as for the body! Upon +my soul, you might shake it to pieces yourself with a touch. It is the +most devilish little rickety business I ever beheld! Thank God! we +have got a better. I would not be bound to go two miles in it for fifty +thousand pounds." + +"Good heavens!" cried Catherine, quite frightened. "Then pray let us +turn back; they will certainly meet with an accident if we go on. Do let +us turn back, Mr. Thorpe; stop and speak to my brother, and tell him how +very unsafe it is." + +"Unsafe! Oh, lord! What is there in that? They will only get a roll if +it does break down; and there is plenty of dirt; it will be excellent +falling. Oh, curse it! The carriage is safe enough, if a man knows how +to drive it; a thing of that sort in good hands will last above twenty +years after it is fairly worn out. Lord bless you! I would undertake for +five pounds to drive it to York and back again, without losing a nail." + +Catherine listened with astonishment; she knew not how to reconcile two +such very different accounts of the same thing; for she had not been +brought up to understand the propensities of a rattle, nor to know to +how many idle assertions and impudent falsehoods the excess of vanity +will lead. Her own family were plain, matter-of-fact people who seldom +aimed at wit of any kind; her father, at the utmost, being contented +with a pun, and her mother with a proverb; they were not in the habit +therefore of telling lies to increase their importance, or of asserting +at one moment what they would contradict the next. She reflected on the +affair for some time in much perplexity, and was more than once on the +point of requesting from Mr. Thorpe a clearer insight into his real +opinion on the subject; but she checked herself, because it appeared to +her that he did not excel in giving those clearer insights, in making +those things plain which he had before made ambiguous; and, joining to +this, the consideration that he would not really suffer his sister and +his friend to be exposed to a danger from which he might easily preserve +them, she concluded at last that he must know the carriage to be in fact +perfectly safe, and therefore would alarm herself no longer. By him +the whole matter seemed entirely forgotten; and all the rest of his +conversation, or rather talk, began and ended with himself and his own +concerns. He told her of horses which he had bought for a trifle and +sold for incredible sums; of racing matches, in which his judgment had +infallibly foretold the winner; of shooting parties, in which he had +killed more birds (though without having one good shot) than all his +companions together; and described to her some famous day's sport, with +the fox-hounds, in which his foresight and skill in directing the dogs +had repaired the mistakes of the most experienced huntsman, and in which +the boldness of his riding, though it had never endangered his own life +for a moment, had been constantly leading others into difficulties, +which he calmly concluded had broken the necks of many. + +Little as Catherine was in the habit of judging for herself, and unfixed +as were her general notions of what men ought to be, she could not +entirely repress a doubt, while she bore with the effusions of his +endless conceit, of his being altogether completely agreeable. It was a +bold surmise, for he was Isabella's brother; and she had been assured by +James that his manners would recommend him to all her sex; but in spite +of this, the extreme weariness of his company, which crept over her +before they had been out an hour, and which continued unceasingly to +increase till they stopped in Pulteney Street again, induced her, in +some small degree, to resist such high authority, and to distrust his +powers of giving universal pleasure. + +When they arrived at Mrs. Allen's door, the astonishment of Isabella was +hardly to be expressed, on finding that it was too late in the day for +them to attend her friend into the house: "Past three o'clock!" It was +inconceivable, incredible, impossible! And she would neither believe her +own watch, nor her brother's, nor the servant's; she would believe no +assurance of it founded on reason or reality, till Morland produced his +watch, and ascertained the fact; to have doubted a moment longer then +would have been equally inconceivable, incredible, and impossible; and +she could only protest, over and over again, that no two hours and a +half had ever gone off so swiftly before, as Catherine was called on to +confirm; Catherine could not tell a falsehood even to please Isabella; +but the latter was spared the misery of her friend's dissenting voice, +by not waiting for her answer. Her own feelings entirely engrossed +her; her wretchedness was most acute on finding herself obliged to go +directly home. It was ages since she had had a moment's conversation +with her dearest Catherine; and, though she had such thousands of things +to say to her, it appeared as if they were never to be together again; +so, with smiles of most exquisite misery, and the laughing eye of utter +despondency, she bade her friend adieu and went on. + +Catherine found Mrs. Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of +the morning, and was immediately greeted with, "Well, my dear, here +you are," a truth which she had no greater inclination than power to +dispute; "and I hope you have had a pleasant airing?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I thank you; we could not have had a nicer day." + +"So Mrs. Thorpe said; she was vastly pleased at your all going." + +"You have seen Mrs. Thorpe, then?" + +"Yes, I went to the pump-room as soon as you were gone, and there I met +her, and we had a great deal of talk together. She says there was hardly +any veal to be got at market this morning, it is so uncommonly scarce." + +"Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance?" + +"Yes; we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent, and there we met Mrs. +Hughes, and Mr. and Miss Tilney walking with her." + +"Did you indeed? And did they speak to you?" + +"Yes, we walked along the Crescent together for half an hour. They seem +very agreeable people. Miss Tilney was in a very pretty spotted +muslin, and I fancy, by what I can learn, that she always dresses very +handsomely. Mrs. Hughes talked to me a great deal about the family." + +"And what did she tell you of them?" + +"Oh! A vast deal indeed; she hardly talked of anything else." + +"Did she tell you what part of Gloucestershire they come from?" + +"Yes, she did; but I cannot recollect now. But they are very good kind +of people, and very rich. Mrs. Tilney was a Miss Drummond, and she +and Mrs. Hughes were schoolfellows; and Miss Drummond had a very large +fortune; and, when she married, her father gave her twenty thousand +pounds, and five hundred to buy wedding-clothes. Mrs. Hughes saw all the +clothes after they came from the warehouse." + +"And are Mr. and Mrs. Tilney in Bath?" + +"Yes, I fancy they are, but I am not quite certain. Upon recollection, +however, I have a notion they are both dead; at least the mother is; +yes, I am sure Mrs. Tilney is dead, because Mrs. Hughes told me there +was a very beautiful set of pearls that Mr. Drummond gave his daughter +on her wedding-day and that Miss Tilney has got now, for they were put +by for her when her mother died." + +"And is Mr. Tilney, my partner, the only son?" + +"I cannot be quite positive about that, my dear; I have some idea he is; +but, however, he is a very fine young man, Mrs. Hughes says, and likely +to do very well." + +Catherine inquired no further; she had heard enough to feel that +Mrs. Allen had no real intelligence to give, and that she was most +particularly unfortunate herself in having missed such a meeting with +both brother and sister. Could she have foreseen such a circumstance, +nothing should have persuaded her to go out with the others; and, as +it was, she could only lament her ill luck, and think over what she had +lost, till it was clear to her that the drive had by no means been very +pleasant and that John Thorpe himself was quite disagreeable. + + + + +CHAPTER 10 + + +The Allens, Thorpes, and Morlands all met in the evening at the +theatre; and, as Catherine and Isabella sat together, there was then an +opportunity for the latter to utter some few of the many thousand +things which had been collecting within her for communication in the +immeasurable length of time which had divided them. "Oh, heavens! +My beloved Catherine, have I got you at last?" was her address on +Catherine's entering the box and sitting by her. "Now, Mr. Morland," for +he was close to her on the other side, "I shall not speak another word +to you all the rest of the evening; so I charge you not to expect it. My +sweetest Catherine, how have you been this long age? But I need not ask +you, for you look delightfully. You really have done your hair in a +more heavenly style than ever; you mischievous creature, do you want to +attract everybody? I assure you, my brother is quite in love with you +already; and as for Mr. Tilney--but that is a settled thing--even your +modesty cannot doubt his attachment now; his coming back to Bath makes +it too plain. Oh! What would not I give to see him! I really am quite +wild with impatience. My mother says he is the most delightful young man +in the world; she saw him this morning, you know; you must introduce him +to me. Is he in the house now? Look about, for heaven's sake! I assure +you, I can hardly exist till I see him." + +"No," said Catherine, "he is not here; I cannot see him anywhere." + +"Oh, horrid! Am I never to be acquainted with him? How do you like my +gown? I think it does not look amiss; the sleeves were entirely my own +thought. Do you know, I get so immoderately sick of Bath; your brother +and I were agreeing this morning that, though it is vastly well to be +here for a few weeks, we would not live here for millions. We soon found +out that our tastes were exactly alike in preferring the country to +every other place; really, our opinions were so exactly the same, it was +quite ridiculous! There was not a single point in which we differed; I +would not have had you by for the world; you are such a sly thing, I am +sure you would have made some droll remark or other about it." + +"No, indeed I should not." + +"Oh, yes you would indeed; I know you better than you know yourself. You +would have told us that we seemed born for each other, or some nonsense +of that kind, which would have distressed me beyond conception; my +cheeks would have been as red as your roses; I would not have had you by +for the world." + +"Indeed you do me injustice; I would not have made so improper a remark +upon any account; and besides, I am sure it would never have entered my +head." + +Isabella smiled incredulously and talked the rest of the evening to +James. + +Catherine's resolution of endeavouring to meet Miss Tilney again +continued in full force the next morning; and till the usual moment of +going to the pump-room, she felt some alarm from the dread of a second +prevention. But nothing of that kind occurred, no visitors appeared to +delay them, and they all three set off in good time for the pump-room, +where the ordinary course of events and conversation took place; Mr. +Allen, after drinking his glass of water, joined some gentlemen to +talk over the politics of the day and compare the accounts of their +newspapers; and the ladies walked about together, noticing every new +face, and almost every new bonnet in the room. The female part of the +Thorpe family, attended by James Morland, appeared among the crowd in +less than a quarter of an hour, and Catherine immediately took her +usual place by the side of her friend. James, who was now in constant +attendance, maintained a similar position, and separating themselves +from the rest of their party, they walked in that manner for some +time, till Catherine began to doubt the happiness of a situation which, +confining her entirely to her friend and brother, gave her very +little share in the notice of either. They were always engaged in +some sentimental discussion or lively dispute, but their sentiment was +conveyed in such whispering voices, and their vivacity attended with +so much laughter, that though Catherine's supporting opinion was not +unfrequently called for by one or the other, she was never able to give +any, from not having heard a word of the subject. At length however +she was empowered to disengage herself from her friend, by the avowed +necessity of speaking to Miss Tilney, whom she most joyfully saw just +entering the room with Mrs. Hughes, and whom she instantly joined, with +a firmer determination to be acquainted, than she might have had courage +to command, had she not been urged by the disappointment of the day +before. Miss Tilney met her with great civility, returned her advances +with equal goodwill, and they continued talking together as long as +both parties remained in the room; and though in all probability not +an observation was made, nor an expression used by either which had not +been made and used some thousands of times before, under that roof, in +every Bath season, yet the merit of their being spoken with simplicity +and truth, and without personal conceit, might be something uncommon. + +"How well your brother dances!" was an artless exclamation of +Catherine's towards the close of their conversation, which at once +surprised and amused her companion. + +"Henry!" she replied with a smile. "Yes, he does dance very well." + +"He must have thought it very odd to hear me say I was engaged the other +evening, when he saw me sitting down. But I really had been engaged +the whole day to Mr. Thorpe." Miss Tilney could only bow. "You cannot +think," added Catherine after a moment's silence, "how surprised I was +to see him again. I felt so sure of his being quite gone away." + +"When Henry had the pleasure of seeing you before, he was in Bath but +for a couple of days. He came only to engage lodgings for us." + +"That never occurred to me; and of course, not seeing him anywhere, I +thought he must be gone. Was not the young lady he danced with on Monday +a Miss Smith?" + +"Yes, an acquaintance of Mrs. Hughes." + +"I dare say she was very glad to dance. Do you think her pretty?" + +"Not very." + +"He never comes to the pump-room, I suppose?" + +"Yes, sometimes; but he has rid out this morning with my father." + +Mrs. Hughes now joined them, and asked Miss Tilney if she was ready to +go. "I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again soon," said +Catherine. "Shall you be at the cotillion ball tomorrow?" + +"Perhaps we--Yes, I think we certainly shall." + +"I am glad of it, for we shall all be there." This civility was duly +returned; and they parted--on Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge +of her new acquaintance's feelings, and on Catherine's, without the +smallest consciousness of having explained them. + +She went home very happy. The morning had answered all her hopes, and +the evening of the following day was now the object of expectation, +the future good. What gown and what head-dress she should wear on the +occasion became her chief concern. She cannot be justified in it. Dress +is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about +it often destroys its own aim. Catherine knew all this very well; her +great aunt had read her a lecture on the subject only the Christmas +before; and yet she lay awake ten minutes on Wednesday night debating +between her spotted and her tamboured muslin, and nothing but the +shortness of the time prevented her buying a new one for the evening. +This would have been an error in judgment, great though not uncommon, +from which one of the other sex rather than her own, a brother rather +than a great aunt, might have warned her, for man only can be aware of +the insensibility of man towards a new gown. It would be mortifying to +the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little +the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire; +how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin, and how +unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, +the mull, or the jackonet. Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. +No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for +it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of +shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter. But not +one of these grave reflections troubled the tranquillity of Catherine. + +She entered the rooms on Thursday evening with feelings very different +from what had attended her thither the Monday before. She had then been +exulting in her engagement to Thorpe, and was now chiefly anxious to +avoid his sight, lest he should engage her again; for though she could +not, dared not expect that Mr. Tilney should ask her a third time to +dance, her wishes, hopes, and plans all centred in nothing less. Every +young lady may feel for my heroine in this critical moment, for every +young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation. All have +been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger from the +pursuit of someone whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious +for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please. As soon as +they were joined by the Thorpes, Catherine's agony began; she fidgeted +about if John Thorpe came towards her, hid herself as much as possible +from his view, and when he spoke to her pretended not to hear him. The +cotillions were over, the country-dancing beginning, and she saw nothing +of the Tilneys. + +"Do not be frightened, my dear Catherine," whispered Isabella, "but I am +really going to dance with your brother again. I declare positively it +is quite shocking. I tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself, but you +and John must keep us in countenance. Make haste, my dear creature, and +come to us. John is just walked off, but he will be back in a moment." + +Catherine had neither time nor inclination to answer. The others walked +away, John Thorpe was still in view, and she gave herself up for lost. +That she might not appear, however, to observe or expect him, she kept +her eyes intently fixed on her fan; and a self-condemnation for her +folly, in supposing that among such a crowd they should even meet with +the Tilneys in any reasonable time, had just passed through her mind, +when she suddenly found herself addressed and again solicited to dance, +by Mr. Tilney himself. With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she +granted his request, and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went +with him to the set, may be easily imagined. To escape, and, as +she believed, so narrowly escape John Thorpe, and to be asked, so +immediately on his joining her, asked by Mr. Tilney, as if he had sought +her on purpose!--it did not appear to her that life could supply any +greater felicity. + +Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a +place, however, when her attention was claimed by John Thorpe, who stood +behind her. "Heyday, Miss Morland!" said he. "What is the meaning of +this? I thought you and I were to dance together." + +"I wonder you should think so, for you never asked me." + +"That is a good one, by Jove! I asked you as soon as I came into the +room, and I was just going to ask you again, but when I turned round, +you were gone! This is a cursed shabby trick! I only came for the sake +of dancing with you, and I firmly believe you were engaged to me ever +since Monday. Yes; I remember, I asked you while you were waiting in the +lobby for your cloak. And here have I been telling all my acquaintance +that I was going to dance with the prettiest girl in the room; and +when they see you standing up with somebody else, they will quiz me +famously." + +"Oh, no; they will never think of me, after such a description as that." + +"By heavens, if they do not, I will kick them out of the room for +blockheads. What chap have you there?" Catherine satisfied his +curiosity. "Tilney," he repeated. "Hum--I do not know him. A good figure +of a man; well put together. Does he want a horse? Here is a friend +of mine, Sam Fletcher, has got one to sell that would suit anybody. A +famous clever animal for the road--only forty guineas. I had fifty minds +to buy it myself, for it is one of my maxims always to buy a good horse +when I meet with one; but it would not answer my purpose, it would not +do for the field. I would give any money for a real good hunter. I +have three now, the best that ever were backed. I would not take +eight hundred guineas for them. Fletcher and I mean to get a house in +Leicestershire, against the next season. It is so d--uncomfortable, +living at an inn." + +This was the last sentence by which he could weary Catherine's +attention, for he was just then borne off by the resistless pressure of +a long string of passing ladies. Her partner now drew near, and said, +"That gentleman would have put me out of patience, had he stayed with +you half a minute longer. He has no business to withdraw the attention +of my partner from me. We have entered into a contract of mutual +agreeableness for the space of an evening, and all our agreeableness +belongs solely to each other for that time. Nobody can fasten themselves +on the notice of one, without injuring the rights of the other. +I consider a country-dance as an emblem of marriage. Fidelity and +complaisance are the principal duties of both; and those men who do not +choose to dance or marry themselves, have no business with the partners +or wives of their neighbours." + +"But they are such very different things!" + +"--That you think they cannot be compared together." + +"To be sure not. People that marry can never part, but must go and keep +house together. People that dance only stand opposite each other in a +long room for half an hour." + +"And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing. Taken in that +light certainly, their resemblance is not striking; but I think I could +place them in such a view. You will allow, that in both, man has the +advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal; that in both, +it is an engagement between man and woman, formed for the advantage of +each; and that when once entered into, they belong exclusively to each +other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty, each +to endeavour to give the other no cause for wishing that he or she had +bestowed themselves elsewhere, and their best interest to keep their own +imaginations from wandering towards the perfections of their neighbours, +or fancying that they should have been better off with anyone else. You +will allow all this?" + +"Yes, to be sure, as you state it, all this sounds very well; but still +they are so very different. I cannot look upon them at all in the same +light, nor think the same duties belong to them." + +"In one respect, there certainly is a difference. In marriage, the man +is supposed to provide for the support of the woman, the woman to make +the home agreeable to the man; he is to purvey, and she is to smile. +But in dancing, their duties are exactly changed; the agreeableness, the +compliance are expected from him, while she furnishes the fan and the +lavender water. That, I suppose, was the difference of duties which +struck you, as rendering the conditions incapable of comparison." + +"No, indeed, I never thought of that." + +"Then I am quite at a loss. One thing, however, I must observe. This +disposition on your side is rather alarming. You totally disallow any +similarity in the obligations; and may I not thence infer that your +notions of the duties of the dancing state are not so strict as your +partner might wish? Have I not reason to fear that if the gentleman who +spoke to you just now were to return, or if any other gentleman were to +address you, there would be nothing to restrain you from conversing with +him as long as you chose?" + +"Mr. Thorpe is such a very particular friend of my brother's, that if he +talks to me, I must talk to him again; but there are hardly three young +men in the room besides him that I have any acquaintance with." + +"And is that to be my only security? Alas, alas!" + +"Nay, I am sure you cannot have a better; for if I do not know anybody, +it is impossible for me to talk to them; and, besides, I do not want to +talk to anybody." + +"Now you have given me a security worth having; and I shall proceed +with courage. Do you find Bath as agreeable as when I had the honour of +making the inquiry before?" + +"Yes, quite--more so, indeed." + +"More so! Take care, or you will forget to be tired of it at the proper +time. You ought to be tired at the end of six weeks." + +"I do not think I should be tired, if I were to stay here six months." + +"Bath, compared with London, has little variety, and so everybody finds +out every year. 'For six weeks, I allow Bath is pleasant enough; but +beyond that, it is the most tiresome place in the world.' You would be +told so by people of all descriptions, who come regularly every winter, +lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve, and go away at last because +they can afford to stay no longer." + +"Well, other people must judge for themselves, and those who go to +London may think nothing of Bath. But I, who live in a small retired +village in the country, can never find greater sameness in such a place +as this than in my own home; for here are a variety of amusements, a +variety of things to be seen and done all day long, which I can know +nothing of there." + +"You are not fond of the country." + +"Yes, I am. I have always lived there, and always been very happy. But +certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than in a Bath +life. One day in the country is exactly like another." + +"But then you spend your time so much more rationally in the country." + +"Do I?" + +"Do you not?" + +"I do not believe there is much difference." + +"Here you are in pursuit only of amusement all day long." + +"And so I am at home--only I do not find so much of it. I walk about +here, and so I do there; but here I see a variety of people in every +street, and there I can only go and call on Mrs. Allen." + +Mr. Tilney was very much amused. + +"Only go and call on Mrs. Allen!" he repeated. "What a picture of +intellectual poverty! However, when you sink into this abyss again, you +will have more to say. You will be able to talk of Bath, and of all that +you did here." + +"Oh! Yes. I shall never be in want of something to talk of again to Mrs. +Allen, or anybody else. I really believe I shall always be talking of +Bath, when I am at home again--I do like it so very much. If I could but +have Papa and Mamma, and the rest of them here, I suppose I should be +too happy! James's coming (my eldest brother) is quite delightful--and +especially as it turns out that the very family we are just got so +intimate with are his intimate friends already. Oh! Who can ever be +tired of Bath?" + +"Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every sort to it as you do. +But papas and mammas, and brothers, and intimate friends are a good deal +gone by, to most of the frequenters of Bath--and the honest relish of +balls and plays, and everyday sights, is past with them." Here +their conversation closed, the demands of the dance becoming now too +importunate for a divided attention. + +Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set, Catherine perceived +herself to be earnestly regarded by a gentleman who stood among the +lookers-on, immediately behind her partner. He was a very handsome man, +of a commanding aspect, past the bloom, but not past the vigour of +life; and with his eye still directed towards her, she saw him presently +address Mr. Tilney in a familiar whisper. Confused by his notice, and +blushing from the fear of its being excited by something wrong in +her appearance, she turned away her head. But while she did so, the +gentleman retreated, and her partner, coming nearer, said, "I see that +you guess what I have just been asked. That gentleman knows your name, +and you have a right to know his. It is General Tilney, my father." + +Catherine's answer was only "Oh!"--but it was an "Oh!" expressing +everything needful: attention to his words, and perfect reliance on +their truth. With real interest and strong admiration did her eye now +follow the general, as he moved through the crowd, and "How handsome a +family they are!" was her secret remark. + +In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded, a new source +of felicity arose to her. She had never taken a country walk since +her arrival in Bath. Miss Tilney, to whom all the commonly frequented +environs were familiar, spoke of them in terms which made her all +eagerness to know them too; and on her openly fearing that she might +find nobody to go with her, it was proposed by the brother and sister +that they should join in a walk, some morning or other. "I shall like +it," she cried, "beyond anything in the world; and do not let us put +it off--let us go tomorrow." This was readily agreed to, with only a +proviso of Miss Tilney's, that it did not rain, which Catherine was sure +it would not. At twelve o'clock, they were to call for her in Pulteney +Street; and "Remember--twelve o'clock," was her parting speech to +her new friend. Of her other, her older, her more established friend, +Isabella, of whose fidelity and worth she had enjoyed a fortnight's +experience, she scarcely saw anything during the evening. Yet, though +longing to make her acquainted with her happiness, she cheerfully +submitted to the wish of Mr. Allen, which took them rather early away, +and her spirits danced within her, as she danced in her chair all the +way home. + + + + +CHAPTER 11 + + +The morrow brought a very sober-looking morning, the sun making only +a few efforts to appear, and Catherine augured from it everything most +favourable to her wishes. A bright morning so early in the year, +she allowed, would generally turn to rain, but a cloudy one foretold +improvement as the day advanced. She applied to Mr. Allen for +confirmation of her hopes, but Mr. Allen, not having his own skies and +barometer about him, declined giving any absolute promise of sunshine. +She applied to Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. Allen's opinion was more positive. +"She had no doubt in the world of its being a very fine day, if the +clouds would only go off, and the sun keep out." + +At about eleven o'clock, however, a few specks of small rain upon the +windows caught Catherine's watchful eye, and "Oh! dear, I do believe it +will be wet," broke from her in a most desponding tone. + +"I thought how it would be," said Mrs. Allen. + +"No walk for me today," sighed Catherine; "but perhaps it may come to +nothing, or it may hold up before twelve." + +"Perhaps it may, but then, my dear, it will be so dirty." + +"Oh! That will not signify; I never mind dirt." + +"No," replied her friend very placidly, "I know you never mind dirt." + +After a short pause, "It comes on faster and faster!" said Catherine, as +she stood watching at a window. + +"So it does indeed. If it keeps raining, the streets will be very wet." + +"There are four umbrellas up already. How I hate the sight of an +umbrella!" + +"They are disagreeable things to carry. I would much rather take a chair +at any time." + +"It was such a nice-looking morning! I felt so convinced it would be +dry!" + +"Anybody would have thought so indeed. There will be very few people in +the pump-room, if it rains all the morning. I hope Mr. Allen will put +on his greatcoat when he goes, but I dare say he will not, for he had +rather do anything in the world than walk out in a greatcoat; I wonder +he should dislike it, it must be so comfortable." + +The rain continued--fast, though not heavy. Catherine went every five +minutes to the clock, threatening on each return that, if it still +kept on raining another five minutes, she would give up the matter as +hopeless. The clock struck twelve, and it still rained. "You will not be +able to go, my dear." + +"I do not quite despair yet. I shall not give it up till a quarter after +twelve. This is just the time of day for it to clear up, and I do think +it looks a little lighter. There, it is twenty minutes after twelve, and +now I shall give it up entirely. Oh! That we had such weather here +as they had at Udolpho, or at least in Tuscany and the south of +France!--the night that poor St. Aubin died!--such beautiful weather!" + +At half past twelve, when Catherine's anxious attention to the weather +was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its amendment, the +sky began voluntarily to clear. A gleam of sunshine took her quite by +surprise; she looked round; the clouds were parting, and she instantly +returned to the window to watch over and encourage the happy appearance. +Ten minutes more made it certain that a bright afternoon would succeed, +and justified the opinion of Mrs. Allen, who had "always thought it +would clear up." But whether Catherine might still expect her friends, +whether there had not been too much rain for Miss Tilney to venture, +must yet be a question. + +It was too dirty for Mrs. Allen to accompany her husband to the +pump-room; he accordingly set off by himself, and Catherine had barely +watched him down the street when her notice was claimed by the approach +of the same two open carriages, containing the same three people that +had surprised her so much a few mornings back. + +"Isabella, my brother, and Mr. Thorpe, I declare! They are coming for +me perhaps--but I shall not go--I cannot go indeed, for you know Miss +Tilney may still call." Mrs. Allen agreed to it. John Thorpe was soon +with them, and his voice was with them yet sooner, for on the stairs he +was calling out to Miss Morland to be quick. "Make haste! Make haste!" +as he threw open the door. "Put on your hat this moment--there is no +time to be lost--we are going to Bristol. How d'ye do, Mrs. Allen?" + +"To Bristol! Is not that a great way off? But, however, I cannot go with +you today, because I am engaged; I expect some friends every moment." +This was of course vehemently talked down as no reason at all; Mrs. +Allen was called on to second him, and the two others walked in, to give +their assistance. "My sweetest Catherine, is not this delightful? We +shall have a most heavenly drive. You are to thank your brother and me +for the scheme; it darted into our heads at breakfast-time, I verily +believe at the same instant; and we should have been off two hours ago +if it had not been for this detestable rain. But it does not signify, +the nights are moonlight, and we shall do delightfully. Oh! I am in such +ecstasies at the thoughts of a little country air and quiet! So much +better than going to the Lower Rooms. We shall drive directly to Clifton +and dine there; and, as soon as dinner is over, if there is time for it, +go on to Kingsweston." + +"I doubt our being able to do so much," said Morland. + +"You croaking fellow!" cried Thorpe. "We shall be able to do ten times +more. Kingsweston! Aye, and Blaize Castle too, and anything else we can +hear of; but here is your sister says she will not go." + +"Blaize Castle!" cried Catherine. "What is that'?" + +"The finest place in England--worth going fifty miles at any time to +see." + +"What, is it really a castle, an old castle?" + +"The oldest in the kingdom." + +"But is it like what one reads of?" + +"Exactly--the very same." + +"But now really--are there towers and long galleries?" + +"By dozens." + +"Then I should like to see it; but I cannot--I cannot go. + +"Not go! My beloved creature, what do you mean'?" + +"I cannot go, because"--looking down as she spoke, fearful of Isabella's +smile--"I expect Miss Tilney and her brother to call on me to take a +country walk. They promised to come at twelve, only it rained; but now, +as it is so fine, I dare say they will be here soon." + +"Not they indeed," cried Thorpe; "for, as we turned into Broad Street, I +saw them--does he not drive a phaeton with bright chestnuts?" + +"I do not know indeed." + +"Yes, I know he does; I saw him. You are talking of the man you danced +with last night, are not you?" + +"Yes. + +"Well, I saw him at that moment turn up the Lansdown Road, driving a +smart-looking girl." + +"Did you indeed?" + +"Did upon my soul; knew him again directly, and he seemed to have got +some very pretty cattle too." + +"It is very odd! But I suppose they thought it would be too dirty for a +walk." + +"And well they might, for I never saw so much dirt in my life. Walk! +You could no more walk than you could fly! It has not been so dirty the +whole winter; it is ankle-deep everywhere." + +Isabella corroborated it: "My dearest Catherine, you cannot form an idea +of the dirt; come, you must go; you cannot refuse going now." + +"I should like to see the castle; but may we go all over it? May we go +up every staircase, and into every suite of rooms?" + +"Yes, yes, every hole and corner." + +"But then, if they should only be gone out for an hour till it is dryer, +and call by and by?" + +"Make yourself easy, there is no danger of that, for I heard Tilney +hallooing to a man who was just passing by on horseback, that they were +going as far as Wick Rocks." + +"Then I will. Shall I go, Mrs. Allen?" + +"Just as you please, my dear." + +"Mrs. Allen, you must persuade her to go," was the general cry. Mrs. +Allen was not inattentive to it: "Well, my dear," said she, "suppose you +go." And in two minutes they were off. + +Catherine's feelings, as she got into the carriage, were in a very +unsettled state; divided between regret for the loss of one great +pleasure, and the hope of soon enjoying another, almost its equal in +degree, however unlike in kind. She could not think the Tilneys had +acted quite well by her, in so readily giving up their engagement, +without sending her any message of excuse. It was now but an hour later +than the time fixed on for the beginning of their walk; and, in spite of +what she had heard of the prodigious accumulation of dirt in the course +of that hour, she could not from her own observation help thinking that +they might have gone with very little inconvenience. To feel herself +slighted by them was very painful. On the other hand, the delight of +exploring an edifice like Udolpho, as her fancy represented Blaize +Castle to be, was such a counterpoise of good as might console her for +almost anything. + +They passed briskly down Pulteney Street, and through Laura Place, +without the exchange of many words. Thorpe talked to his horse, and she +meditated, by turns, on broken promises and broken arches, phaetons +and false hangings, Tilneys and trap-doors. As they entered Argyle +Buildings, however, she was roused by this address from her companion, +"Who is that girl who looked at you so hard as she went by?" + +"Who? Where?" + +"On the right-hand pavement--she must be almost out of sight now." +Catherine looked round and saw Miss Tilney leaning on her brother's arm, +walking slowly down the street. She saw them both looking back at her. +"Stop, stop, Mr. Thorpe," she impatiently cried; "it is Miss Tilney; it +is indeed. How could you tell me they were gone? Stop, stop, I will +get out this moment and go to them." But to what purpose did she speak? +Thorpe only lashed his horse into a brisker trot; the Tilneys, who had +soon ceased to look after her, were in a moment out of sight round the +corner of Laura Place, and in another moment she was herself whisked +into the marketplace. Still, however, and during the length of another +street, she entreated him to stop. "Pray, pray stop, Mr. Thorpe. I +cannot go on. I will not go on. I must go back to Miss Tilney." But Mr. +Thorpe only laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd +noises, and drove on; and Catherine, angry and vexed as she was, having +no power of getting away, was obliged to give up the point and submit. +Her reproaches, however, were not spared. "How could you deceive me so, +Mr. Thorpe? How could you say that you saw them driving up the Lansdown +Road? I would not have had it happen so for the world. They must think +it so strange, so rude of me! To go by them, too, without saying a word! +You do not know how vexed I am; I shall have no pleasure at Clifton, nor +in anything else. I had rather, ten thousand times rather, get out now, +and walk back to them. How could you say you saw them driving out in a +phaeton?" Thorpe defended himself very stoutly, declared he had never +seen two men so much alike in his life, and would hardly give up the +point of its having been Tilney himself. + +Their drive, even when this subject was over, was not likely to be very +agreeable. Catherine's complaisance was no longer what it had been in +their former airing. She listened reluctantly, and her replies were +short. Blaize Castle remained her only comfort; towards that, she still +looked at intervals with pleasure; though rather than be disappointed of +the promised walk, and especially rather than be thought ill of by the +Tilneys, she would willingly have given up all the happiness which its +walls could supply--the happiness of a progress through a long suite of +lofty rooms, exhibiting the remains of magnificent furniture, though +now for many years deserted--the happiness of being stopped in their way +along narrow, winding vaults, by a low, grated door; or even of having +their lamp, their only lamp, extinguished by a sudden gust of wind, and +of being left in total darkness. In the meanwhile, they proceeded on +their journey without any mischance, and were within view of the town +of Keynsham, when a halloo from Morland, who was behind them, made his +friend pull up, to know what was the matter. The others then came close +enough for conversation, and Morland said, "We had better go back, +Thorpe; it is too late to go on today; your sister thinks so as well as +I. We have been exactly an hour coming from Pulteney Street, very little +more than seven miles; and, I suppose, we have at least eight more to +go. It will never do. We set out a great deal too late. We had much +better put it off till another day, and turn round." + +"It is all one to me," replied Thorpe rather angrily; and instantly +turning his horse, they were on their way back to Bath. + +"If your brother had not got such a d--beast to drive," said he soon +afterwards, "we might have done it very well. My horse would have +trotted to Clifton within the hour, if left to himself, and I have +almost broke my arm with pulling him in to that cursed broken-winded +jade's pace. Morland is a fool for not keeping a horse and gig of his +own." + +"No, he is not," said Catherine warmly, "for I am sure he could not +afford it." + +"And why cannot he afford it?" + +"Because he has not money enough." + +"And whose fault is that?" + +"Nobody's, that I know of." Thorpe then said something in the loud, +incoherent way to which he had often recourse, about its being a +d--thing to be miserly; and that if people who rolled in money could not +afford things, he did not know who could, which Catherine did not even +endeavour to understand. Disappointed of what was to have been the +consolation for her first disappointment, she was less and less disposed +either to be agreeable herself or to find her companion so; and they +returned to Pulteney Street without her speaking twenty words. + +As she entered the house, the footman told her that a gentleman and lady +had called and inquired for her a few minutes after her setting off; +that, when he told them she was gone out with Mr. Thorpe, the lady had +asked whether any message had been left for her; and on his saying no, +had felt for a card, but said she had none about her, and went away. +Pondering over these heart-rending tidings, Catherine walked slowly +upstairs. At the head of them she was met by Mr. Allen, who, on hearing +the reason of their speedy return, said, "I am glad your brother had so +much sense; I am glad you are come back. It was a strange, wild scheme." + +They all spent the evening together at Thorpe's. Catherine was disturbed +and out of spirits; but Isabella seemed to find a pool of commerce, in +the fate of which she shared, by private partnership with Morland, a +very good equivalent for the quiet and country air of an inn at Clifton. +Her satisfaction, too, in not being at the Lower Rooms was spoken more +than once. "How I pity the poor creatures that are going there! How glad +I am that I am not amongst them! I wonder whether it will be a full ball +or not! They have not begun dancing yet. I would not be there for +all the world. It is so delightful to have an evening now and then +to oneself. I dare say it will not be a very good ball. I know the +Mitchells will not be there. I am sure I pity everybody that is. But I +dare say, Mr. Morland, you long to be at it, do not you? I am sure you +do. Well, pray do not let anybody here be a restraint on you. I dare say +we could do very well without you; but you men think yourselves of such +consequence." + +Catherine could almost have accused Isabella of being wanting in +tenderness towards herself and her sorrows, so very little did they +appear to dwell on her mind, and so very inadequate was the comfort she +offered. "Do not be so dull, my dearest creature," she whispered. "You +will quite break my heart. It was amazingly shocking, to be sure; but +the Tilneys were entirely to blame. Why were not they more punctual? +It was dirty, indeed, but what did that signify? I am sure John and I +should not have minded it. I never mind going through anything, where a +friend is concerned; that is my disposition, and John is just the same; +he has amazing strong feelings. Good heavens! What a delightful hand you +have got! Kings, I vow! I never was so happy in my life! I would fifty +times rather you should have them than myself." + +And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch, which is the +true heroine's portion; to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with +tears. And lucky may she think herself, if she get another good night's +rest in the course of the next three months. + + + + +CHAPTER 12 + + +"Mrs. Allen," said Catherine the next morning, "will there be any harm +in my calling on Miss Tilney today? I shall not be easy till I have +explained everything." + +"Go, by all means, my dear; only put on a white gown; Miss Tilney always +wears white." + +Catherine cheerfully complied, and being properly equipped, was more +impatient than ever to be at the pump-room, that she might inform +herself of General Tilney's lodgings, for though she believed they were +in Milsom Street, she was not certain of the house, and Mrs. Allen's +wavering convictions only made it more doubtful. To Milsom Street she +was directed, and having made herself perfect in the number, hastened +away with eager steps and a beating heart to pay her visit, explain her +conduct, and be forgiven; tripping lightly through the church-yard, and +resolutely turning away her eyes, that she might not be obliged to +see her beloved Isabella and her dear family, who, she had reason to +believe, were in a shop hard by. She reached the house without any +impediment, looked at the number, knocked at the door, and inquired for +Miss Tilney. The man believed Miss Tilney to be at home, but was not +quite certain. Would she be pleased to send up her name? She gave her +card. In a few minutes the servant returned, and with a look which did +not quite confirm his words, said he had been mistaken, for that Miss +Tilney was walked out. Catherine, with a blush of mortification, left +the house. She felt almost persuaded that Miss Tilney was at home, and +too much offended to admit her; and as she retired down the street, +could not withhold one glance at the drawing-room windows, in +expectation of seeing her there, but no one appeared at them. At the +bottom of the street, however, she looked back again, and then, not at a +window, but issuing from the door, she saw Miss Tilney herself. She was +followed by a gentleman, whom Catherine believed to be her father, +and they turned up towards Edgar's Buildings. Catherine, in deep +mortification, proceeded on her way. She could almost be angry herself +at such angry incivility; but she checked the resentful sensation; she +remembered her own ignorance. She knew not how such an offence as hers +might be classed by the laws of worldly politeness, to what a degree +of unforgivingness it might with propriety lead, nor to what rigours of +rudeness in return it might justly make her amenable. + +Dejected and humbled, she had even some thoughts of not going with the +others to the theatre that night; but it must be confessed that they +were not of long continuance, for she soon recollected, in the first +place, that she was without any excuse for staying at home; and, in the +second, that it was a play she wanted very much to see. To the theatre +accordingly they all went; no Tilneys appeared to plague or please her; +she feared that, amongst the many perfections of the family, a fondness +for plays was not to be ranked; but perhaps it was because they were +habituated to the finer performances of the London stage, which she +knew, on Isabella's authority, rendered everything else of the kind +"quite horrid." She was not deceived in her own expectation of pleasure; +the comedy so well suspended her care that no one, observing her during +the first four acts, would have supposed she had any wretchedness about +her. On the beginning of the fifth, however, the sudden view of Mr. +Henry Tilney and his father, joining a party in the opposite box, +recalled her to anxiety and distress. The stage could no longer excite +genuine merriment--no longer keep her whole attention. Every other look +upon an average was directed towards the opposite box; and, for the +space of two entire scenes, did she thus watch Henry Tilney, without +being once able to catch his eye. No longer could he be suspected of +indifference for a play; his notice was never withdrawn from the stage +during two whole scenes. At length, however, he did look towards her, +and he bowed--but such a bow! No smile, no continued observance attended +it; his eyes were immediately returned to their former direction. +Catherine was restlessly miserable; she could almost have run round to +the box in which he sat and forced him to hear her explanation. Feelings +rather natural than heroic possessed her; instead of considering her +own dignity injured by this ready condemnation--instead of proudly +resolving, in conscious innocence, to show her resentment towards him +who could harbour a doubt of it, to leave to him all the trouble +of seeking an explanation, and to enlighten him on the past only by +avoiding his sight, or flirting with somebody else--she took to herself +all the shame of misconduct, or at least of its appearance, and was only +eager for an opportunity of explaining its cause. + +The play concluded--the curtain fell--Henry Tilney was no longer to be +seen where he had hitherto sat, but his father remained, and perhaps he +might be now coming round to their box. She was right; in a few minutes +he appeared, and, making his way through the then thinning rows, spoke +with like calm politeness to Mrs. Allen and her friend. Not with such +calmness was he answered by the latter: "Oh! Mr. Tilney, I have been +quite wild to speak to you, and make my apologies. You must have thought +me so rude; but indeed it was not my own fault, was it, Mrs. Allen? +Did not they tell me that Mr. Tilney and his sister were gone out in a +phaeton together? And then what could I do? But I had ten thousand times +rather have been with you; now had not I, Mrs. Allen?" + +"My dear, you tumble my gown," was Mrs. Allen's reply. + +Her assurance, however, standing sole as it did, was not thrown away; it +brought a more cordial, more natural smile into his countenance, and +he replied in a tone which retained only a little affected reserve: +"We were much obliged to you at any rate for wishing us a pleasant walk +after our passing you in Argyle Street: you were so kind as to look back +on purpose." + +"But indeed I did not wish you a pleasant walk; I never thought of such +a thing; but I begged Mr. Thorpe so earnestly to stop; I called out to +him as soon as ever I saw you; now, Mrs. Allen, did not--Oh! You were +not there; but indeed I did; and, if Mr. Thorpe would only have stopped, +I would have jumped out and run after you." + +Is there a Henry in the world who could be insensible to such a +declaration? Henry Tilney at least was not. With a yet sweeter smile, he +said everything that need be said of his sister's concern, regret, and +dependence on Catherine's honour. "Oh! Do not say Miss Tilney was not +angry," cried Catherine, "because I know she was; for she would not see +me this morning when I called; I saw her walk out of the house the next +minute after my leaving it; I was hurt, but I was not affronted. Perhaps +you did not know I had been there." + +"I was not within at the time; but I heard of it from Eleanor, and she +has been wishing ever since to see you, to explain the reason of such +incivility; but perhaps I can do it as well. It was nothing more than +that my father--they were just preparing to walk out, and he being +hurried for time, and not caring to have it put off--made a point of her +being denied. That was all, I do assure you. She was very much vexed, +and meant to make her apology as soon as possible." + +Catherine's mind was greatly eased by this information, yet a something +of solicitude remained, from which sprang the following question, +thoroughly artless in itself, though rather distressing to the +gentleman: "But, Mr. Tilney, why were you less generous than your +sister? If she felt such confidence in my good intentions, and could +suppose it to be only a mistake, why should you be so ready to take +offence?" + +"Me! I take offence!" + +"Nay, I am sure by your look, when you came into the box, you were +angry." + +"I angry! I could have no right." + +"Well, nobody would have thought you had no right who saw your face." He +replied by asking her to make room for him, and talking of the play. + +He remained with them some time, and was only too agreeable for +Catherine to be contented when he went away. Before they parted, +however, it was agreed that the projected walk should be taken as soon +as possible; and, setting aside the misery of his quitting their box, +she was, upon the whole, left one of the happiest creatures in the +world. + +While talking to each other, she had observed with some surprise that +John Thorpe, who was never in the same part of the house for ten minutes +together, was engaged in conversation with General Tilney; and she felt +something more than surprise when she thought she could perceive herself +the object of their attention and discourse. What could they have to say +of her? She feared General Tilney did not like her appearance: she found +it was implied in his preventing her admittance to his daughter, rather +than postpone his own walk a few minutes. "How came Mr. Thorpe to know +your father?" was her anxious inquiry, as she pointed them out to her +companion. He knew nothing about it; but his father, like every military +man, had a very large acquaintance. + +When the entertainment was over, Thorpe came to assist them in getting +out. Catherine was the immediate object of his gallantry; and, while +they waited in the lobby for a chair, he prevented the inquiry which had +travelled from her heart almost to the tip of her tongue, by asking, in +a consequential manner, whether she had seen him talking with General +Tilney: "He is a fine old fellow, upon my soul! Stout, active--looks +as young as his son. I have a great regard for him, I assure you: a +gentleman-like, good sort of fellow as ever lived." + +"But how came you to know him?" + +"Know him! There are few people much about town that I do not know. I +have met him forever at the Bedford; and I knew his face again today the +moment he came into the billiard-room. One of the best players we have, +by the by; and we had a little touch together, though I was almost +afraid of him at first: the odds were five to four against me; and, if +I had not made one of the cleanest strokes that perhaps ever was made in +this world--I took his ball exactly--but I could not make you understand +it without a table; however, I did beat him. A very fine fellow; as rich +as a Jew. I should like to dine with him; I dare say he gives famous +dinners. But what do you think we have been talking of? You. Yes, by +heavens! And the general thinks you the finest girl in Bath." + +"Oh! Nonsense! How can you say so?" + +"And what do you think I said?"--lowering his voice--"well done, +general, said I; I am quite of your mind." + +Here Catherine, who was much less gratified by his admiration than by +General Tilney's, was not sorry to be called away by Mr. Allen. Thorpe, +however, would see her to her chair, and, till she entered it, continued +the same kind of delicate flattery, in spite of her entreating him to +have done. + +That General Tilney, instead of disliking, should admire her, was very +delightful; and she joyfully thought that there was not one of the +family whom she need now fear to meet. The evening had done more, much +more, for her than could have been expected. + + + + +CHAPTER 13 + + +Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have now +passed in review before the reader; the events of each day, its hopes +and fears, mortifications and pleasures, have been separately stated, +and the pangs of Sunday only now remain to be described, and close the +week. The Clifton scheme had been deferred, not relinquished, and on +the afternoon's crescent of this day, it was brought forward again. In a +private consultation between Isabella and James, the former of whom had +particularly set her heart upon going, and the latter no less anxiously +placed his upon pleasing her, it was agreed that, provided the weather +were fair, the party should take place on the following morning; and +they were to set off very early, in order to be at home in good time. +The affair thus determined, and Thorpe's approbation secured, Catherine +only remained to be apprised of it. She had left them for a few minutes +to speak to Miss Tilney. In that interval the plan was completed, and as +soon as she came again, her agreement was demanded; but instead of the +gay acquiescence expected by Isabella, Catherine looked grave, was very +sorry, but could not go. The engagement which ought to have kept her +from joining in the former attempt would make it impossible for her to +accompany them now. She had that moment settled with Miss Tilney to take +their proposed walk tomorrow; it was quite determined, and she would +not, upon any account, retract. But that she must and should retract +was instantly the eager cry of both the Thorpes; they must go to Clifton +tomorrow, they would not go without her, it would be nothing to put off +a mere walk for one day longer, and they would not hear of a refusal. +Catherine was distressed, but not subdued. "Do not urge me, Isabella. I +am engaged to Miss Tilney. I cannot go." This availed nothing. The same +arguments assailed her again; she must go, she should go, and they would +not hear of a refusal. "It would be so easy to tell Miss Tilney that you +had just been reminded of a prior engagement, and must only beg to put +off the walk till Tuesday." + +"No, it would not be easy. I could not do it. There has been no prior +engagement." But Isabella became only more and more urgent, calling +on her in the most affectionate manner, addressing her by the most +endearing names. She was sure her dearest, sweetest Catherine would not +seriously refuse such a trifling request to a friend who loved her so +dearly. She knew her beloved Catherine to have so feeling a heart, so +sweet a temper, to be so easily persuaded by those she loved. But all +in vain; Catherine felt herself to be in the right, and though pained +by such tender, such flattering supplication, could not allow it to +influence her. Isabella then tried another method. She reproached her +with having more affection for Miss Tilney, though she had known her so +little a while, than for her best and oldest friends, with being grown +cold and indifferent, in short, towards herself. "I cannot help being +jealous, Catherine, when I see myself slighted for strangers, I, who +love you so excessively! When once my affections are placed, it is not +in the power of anything to change them. But I believe my feelings are +stronger than anybody's; I am sure they are too strong for my own peace; +and to see myself supplanted in your friendship by strangers does cut me +to the quick, I own. These Tilneys seem to swallow up everything else." + +Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it the +part of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others? +Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of +everything but her own gratification. These painful ideas crossed her +mind, though she said nothing. Isabella, in the meanwhile, had applied +her handkerchief to her eyes; and Morland, miserable at such a sight, +could not help saying, "Nay, Catherine. I think you cannot stand out any +longer now. The sacrifice is not much; and to oblige such a friend--I +shall think you quite unkind, if you still refuse." + +This was the first time of her brother's openly siding against her, and +anxious to avoid his displeasure, she proposed a compromise. If they +would only put off their scheme till Tuesday, which they might easily +do, as it depended only on themselves, she could go with them, and +everybody might then be satisfied. But "No, no, no!" was the immediate +answer; "that could not be, for Thorpe did not know that he might not +go to town on Tuesday." Catherine was sorry, but could do no more; and +a short silence ensued, which was broken by Isabella, who in a voice of +cold resentment said, "Very well, then there is an end of the party. +If Catherine does not go, I cannot. I cannot be the only woman. I would +not, upon any account in the world, do so improper a thing." + +"Catherine, you must go," said James. + +"But why cannot Mr. Thorpe drive one of his other sisters? I dare say +either of them would like to go." + +"Thank ye," cried Thorpe, "but I did not come to Bath to drive my +sisters about, and look like a fool. No, if you do not go, d---- me if I +do. I only go for the sake of driving you." + +"That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure." But her words were +lost on Thorpe, who had turned abruptly away. + +The three others still continued together, walking in a most +uncomfortable manner to poor Catherine; sometimes not a word was said, +sometimes she was again attacked with supplications or reproaches, and +her arm was still linked within Isabella's, though their hearts were +at war. At one moment she was softened, at another irritated; always +distressed, but always steady. + +"I did not think you had been so obstinate, Catherine," said James; +"you were not used to be so hard to persuade; you once were the kindest, +best-tempered of my sisters." + +"I hope I am not less so now," she replied, very feelingly; "but indeed +I cannot go. If I am wrong, I am doing what I believe to be right." + +"I suspect," said Isabella, in a low voice, "there is no great +struggle." + +Catherine's heart swelled; she drew away her arm, and Isabella made no +opposition. Thus passed a long ten minutes, till they were again joined +by Thorpe, who, coming to them with a gayer look, said, "Well, I +have settled the matter, and now we may all go tomorrow with a safe +conscience. I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuses." + +"You have not!" cried Catherine. + +"I have, upon my soul. Left her this moment. Told her you had sent me to +say that, having just recollected a prior engagement of going to Clifton +with us tomorrow, you could not have the pleasure of walking with her +till Tuesday. She said very well, Tuesday was just as convenient to her; +so there is an end of all our difficulties. A pretty good thought of +mine--hey?" + +Isabella's countenance was once more all smiles and good humour, and +James too looked happy again. + +"A most heavenly thought indeed! Now, my sweet Catherine, all our +distresses are over; you are honourably acquitted, and we shall have a +most delightful party." + +"This will not do," said Catherine; "I cannot submit to this. I must run +after Miss Tilney directly and set her right." + +Isabella, however, caught hold of one hand, Thorpe of the other, and +remonstrances poured in from all three. Even James was quite angry. When +everything was settled, when Miss Tilney herself said that Tuesday would +suit her as well, it was quite ridiculous, quite absurd, to make any +further objection. + +"I do not care. Mr. Thorpe had no business to invent any such message. +If I had thought it right to put it off, I could have spoken to Miss +Tilney myself. This is only doing it in a ruder way; and how do I know +that Mr. Thorpe has--He may be mistaken again perhaps; he led me into +one act of rudeness by his mistake on Friday. Let me go, Mr. Thorpe; +Isabella, do not hold me." + +Thorpe told her it would be in vain to go after the Tilneys; they were +turning the corner into Brock Street, when he had overtaken them, and +were at home by this time. + +"Then I will go after them," said Catherine; "wherever they are I will +go after them. It does not signify talking. If I could not be persuaded +into doing what I thought wrong, I never will be tricked into it." +And with these words she broke away and hurried off. Thorpe would have +darted after her, but Morland withheld him. "Let her go, let her go, if +she will go. She is as obstinate as--" + +Thorpe never finished the simile, for it could hardly have been a proper +one. + +Away walked Catherine in great agitation, as fast as the crowd would +permit her, fearful of being pursued, yet determined to persevere. As +she walked, she reflected on what had passed. It was painful to her to +disappoint and displease them, particularly to displease her brother; +but she could not repent her resistance. Setting her own inclination +apart, to have failed a second time in her engagement to Miss Tilney, to +have retracted a promise voluntarily made only five minutes before, +and on a false pretence too, must have been wrong. She had not been +withstanding them on selfish principles alone, she had not consulted +merely her own gratification; that might have been ensured in some +degree by the excursion itself, by seeing Blaize Castle; no, she had +attended to what was due to others, and to her own character in their +opinion. Her conviction of being right, however, was not enough to +restore her composure; till she had spoken to Miss Tilney she could not +be at ease; and quickening her pace when she got clear of the Crescent, +she almost ran over the remaining ground till she gained the top of +Milsom Street. So rapid had been her movements that in spite of the +Tilneys' advantage in the outset, they were but just turning into +their lodgings as she came within view of them; and the servant still +remaining at the open door, she used only the ceremony of saying +that she must speak with Miss Tilney that moment, and hurrying by him +proceeded upstairs. Then, opening the first door before her, which +happened to be the right, she immediately found herself in the +drawing-room with General Tilney, his son, and daughter. Her +explanation, defective only in being--from her irritation of nerves and +shortness of breath--no explanation at all, was instantly given. "I am +come in a great hurry--It was all a mistake--I never promised to go--I +told them from the first I could not go.--I ran away in a great hurry +to explain it.--I did not care what you thought of me.--I would not stay +for the servant." + +The business, however, though not perfectly elucidated by this speech, +soon ceased to be a puzzle. Catherine found that John Thorpe had given +the message; and Miss Tilney had no scruple in owning herself greatly +surprised by it. But whether her brother had still exceeded her in +resentment, Catherine, though she instinctively addressed herself as +much to one as to the other in her vindication, had no means of knowing. +Whatever might have been felt before her arrival, her eager declarations +immediately made every look and sentence as friendly as she could +desire. + +The affair thus happily settled, she was introduced by Miss Tilney +to her father, and received by him with such ready, such solicitous +politeness as recalled Thorpe's information to her mind, and made her +think with pleasure that he might be sometimes depended on. To such +anxious attention was the general's civility carried, that not aware of +her extraordinary swiftness in entering the house, he was quite angry +with the servant whose neglect had reduced her to open the door of the +apartment herself. "What did William mean by it? He should make a point +of inquiring into the matter." And if Catherine had not most warmly +asserted his innocence, it seemed likely that William would lose the +favour of his master forever, if not his place, by her rapidity. + +After sitting with them a quarter of an hour, she rose to take leave, +and was then most agreeably surprised by General Tilney's asking her if +she would do his daughter the honour of dining and spending the rest +of the day with her. Miss Tilney added her own wishes. Catherine was +greatly obliged; but it was quite out of her power. Mr. and Mrs. Allen +would expect her back every moment. The general declared he could say no +more; the claims of Mr. and Mrs. Allen were not to be superseded; but on +some other day he trusted, when longer notice could be given, they would +not refuse to spare her to her friend. "Oh, no; Catherine was sure they +would not have the least objection, and she should have great pleasure +in coming." The general attended her himself to the street-door, saying +everything gallant as they went downstairs, admiring the elasticity of +her walk, which corresponded exactly with the spirit of her dancing, and +making her one of the most graceful bows she had ever beheld, when they +parted. + +Catherine, delighted by all that had passed, proceeded gaily to Pulteney +Street, walking, as she concluded, with great elasticity, though she +had never thought of it before. She reached home without seeing anything +more of the offended party; and now that she had been triumphant +throughout, had carried her point, and was secure of her walk, she began +(as the flutter of her spirits subsided) to doubt whether she had been +perfectly right. A sacrifice was always noble; and if she had given way +to their entreaties, she should have been spared the distressing idea of +a friend displeased, a brother angry, and a scheme of great happiness +to both destroyed, perhaps through her means. To ease her mind, and +ascertain by the opinion of an unprejudiced person what her own conduct +had really been, she took occasion to mention before Mr. Allen the +half-settled scheme of her brother and the Thorpes for the following +day. Mr. Allen caught at it directly. "Well," said he, "and do you think +of going too?" + +"No; I had just engaged myself to walk with Miss Tilney before they told +me of it; and therefore you know I could not go with them, could I?" + +"No, certainly not; and I am glad you do not think of it. These schemes +are not at all the thing. Young men and women driving about the country +in open carriages! Now and then it is very well; but going to inns and +public places together! It is not right; and I wonder Mrs. Thorpe should +allow it. I am glad you do not think of going; I am sure Mrs. Morland +would not be pleased. Mrs. Allen, are not you of my way of thinking? Do +not you think these kind of projects objectionable?" + +"Yes, very much so indeed. Open carriages are nasty things. A clean +gown is not five minutes' wear in them. You are splashed getting in +and getting out; and the wind takes your hair and your bonnet in every +direction. I hate an open carriage myself." + +"I know you do; but that is not the question. Do not you think it has an +odd appearance, if young ladies are frequently driven about in them by +young men, to whom they are not even related?" + +"Yes, my dear, a very odd appearance indeed. I cannot bear to see it." + +"Dear madam," cried Catherine, "then why did not you tell me so before? +I am sure if I had known it to be improper, I would not have gone with +Mr. Thorpe at all; but I always hoped you would tell me, if you thought +I was doing wrong." + +"And so I should, my dear, you may depend on it; for as I told Mrs. +Morland at parting, I would always do the best for you in my power. But +one must not be over particular. Young people will be young people, +as your good mother says herself. You know I wanted you, when we first +came, not to buy that sprigged muslin, but you would. Young people do +not like to be always thwarted." + +"But this was something of real consequence; and I do not think you +would have found me hard to persuade." + +"As far as it has gone hitherto, there is no harm done," said Mr. Allen; +"and I would only advise you, my dear, not to go out with Mr. Thorpe any +more." + +"That is just what I was going to say," added his wife. + +Catherine, relieved for herself, felt uneasy for Isabella, and after a +moment's thought, asked Mr. Allen whether it would not be both proper +and kind in her to write to Miss Thorpe, and explain the indecorum of +which she must be as insensible as herself; for she considered that +Isabella might otherwise perhaps be going to Clifton the next day, in +spite of what had passed. Mr. Allen, however, discouraged her from doing +any such thing. "You had better leave her alone, my dear; she is old +enough to know what she is about, and if not, has a mother to advise +her. Mrs. Thorpe is too indulgent beyond a doubt; but, however, you had +better not interfere. She and your brother choose to go, and you will be +only getting ill will." + +Catherine submitted, and though sorry to think that Isabella should be +doing wrong, felt greatly relieved by Mr. Allen's approbation of her +own conduct, and truly rejoiced to be preserved by his advice from the +danger of falling into such an error herself. Her escape from being one +of the party to Clifton was now an escape indeed; for what would the +Tilneys have thought of her, if she had broken her promise to them in +order to do what was wrong in itself, if she had been guilty of one +breach of propriety, only to enable her to be guilty of another? + + + + +CHAPTER 14 + + +The next morning was fair, and Catherine almost expected another attack +from the assembled party. With Mr. Allen to support her, she felt no +dread of the event: but she would gladly be spared a contest, where +victory itself was painful, and was heartily rejoiced therefore at +neither seeing nor hearing anything of them. The Tilneys called for +her at the appointed time; and no new difficulty arising, no sudden +recollection, no unexpected summons, no impertinent intrusion to +disconcert their measures, my heroine was most unnaturally able to +fulfil her engagement, though it was made with the hero himself. +They determined on walking round Beechen Cliff, that noble hill whose +beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it so striking an object +from almost every opening in Bath. + +"I never look at it," said Catherine, as they walked along the side of +the river, "without thinking of the south of France." + +"You have been abroad then?" said Henry, a little surprised. + +"Oh! No, I only mean what I have read about. It always puts me in mind +of the country that Emily and her father travelled through, in The +Mysteries of Udolpho. But you never read novels, I dare say?" + +"Why not?" + +"Because they are not clever enough for you--gentlemen read better +books." + +"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good +novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe's +works, and most of them with great pleasure. The Mysteries of Udolpho, +when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again; I remember +finishing it in two days--my hair standing on end the whole time." + +"Yes," added Miss Tilney, "and I remember that you undertook to read it +aloud to me, and that when I was called away for only five minutes to +answer a note, instead of waiting for me, you took the volume into the +Hermitage Walk, and I was obliged to stay till you had finished it." + +"Thank you, Eleanor--a most honourable testimony. You see, Miss Morland, +the injustice of your suspicions. Here was I, in my eagerness to get on, +refusing to wait only five minutes for my sister, breaking the promise +I had made of reading it aloud, and keeping her in suspense at a most +interesting part, by running away with the volume, which, you are to +observe, was her own, particularly her own. I am proud when I reflect on +it, and I think it must establish me in your good opinion." + +"I am very glad to hear it indeed, and now I shall never be ashamed of +liking Udolpho myself. But I really thought before, young men despised +novels amazingly." + +"It is amazingly; it may well suggest amazement if they do--for they +read nearly as many as women. I myself have read hundreds and hundreds. +Do not imagine that you can cope with me in a knowledge of Julias and +Louisas. If we proceed to particulars, and engage in the never-ceasing +inquiry of 'Have you read this?' and 'Have you read that?' I shall soon +leave you as far behind me as--what shall I say?--I want an appropriate +simile.--as far as your friend Emily herself left poor Valancourt when +she went with her aunt into Italy. Consider how many years I have had +the start of you. I had entered on my studies at Oxford, while you were +a good little girl working your sampler at home!" + +"Not very good, I am afraid. But now really, do not you think Udolpho +the nicest book in the world?" + +"The nicest--by which I suppose you mean the neatest. That must depend +upon the binding." + +"Henry," said Miss Tilney, "you are very impertinent. Miss Morland, he +is treating you exactly as he does his sister. He is forever finding +fault with me, for some incorrectness of language, and now he is taking +the same liberty with you. The word 'nicest,' as you used it, did not +suit him; and you had better change it as soon as you can, or we shall +be overpowered with Johnson and Blair all the rest of the way." + +"I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but +it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?" + +"Very true," said Henry, "and this is a very nice day, and we are taking +a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a +very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally perhaps it +was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or +refinement--people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments, or +their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised +in that one word." + +"While, in fact," cried his sister, "it ought only to be applied to you, +without any commendation at all. You are more nice than wise. Come, +Miss Morland, let us leave him to meditate over our faults in the utmost +propriety of diction, while we praise Udolpho in whatever terms we +like best. It is a most interesting work. You are fond of that kind of +reading?" + +"To say the truth, I do not much like any other." + +"Indeed!" + +"That is, I can read poetry and plays, and things of that sort, and +do not dislike travels. But history, real solemn history, I cannot be +interested in. Can you?" + +"Yes, I am fond of history." + +"I wish I were too. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me +nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and +kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for +nothing, and hardly any women at all--it is very tiresome: and yet I +often think it odd that it should be so dull, for a great deal of it +must be invention. The speeches that are put into the heroes' mouths, +their thoughts and designs--the chief of all this must be invention, and +invention is what delights me in other books." + +"Historians, you think," said Miss Tilney, "are not happy in their +flights of fancy. They display imagination without raising interest. I +am fond of history--and am very well contented to take the false with +the true. In the principal facts they have sources of intelligence +in former histories and records, which may be as much depended on, +I conclude, as anything that does not actually pass under one's own +observation; and as for the little embellishments you speak of, they are +embellishments, and I like them as such. If a speech be well drawn up, +I read it with pleasure, by whomsoever it may be made--and probably with +much greater, if the production of Mr. Hume or Mr. Robertson, than if +the genuine words of Caractacus, Agricola, or Alfred the Great." + +"You are fond of history! And so are Mr. Allen and my father; and I have +two brothers who do not dislike it. So many instances within my small +circle of friends is remarkable! At this rate, I shall not pity the +writers of history any longer. If people like to read their books, it +is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, +which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be +labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck +me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, +I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on +purpose to do it." + +"That little boys and girls should be tormented," said Henry, "is what +no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized state can +deny; but in behalf of our most distinguished historians, I must observe +that they might well be offended at being supposed to have no higher +aim, and that by their method and style, they are perfectly well +qualified to torment readers of the most advanced reason and mature +time of life. I use the verb 'to torment,' as I observed to be your own +method, instead of 'to instruct,' supposing them to be now admitted as +synonymous." + +"You think me foolish to call instruction a torment, but if you had been +as much used as myself to hear poor little children first learning their +letters and then learning to spell, if you had ever seen how stupid they +can be for a whole morning together, and how tired my poor mother is +at the end of it, as I am in the habit of seeing almost every day of my +life at home, you would allow that 'to torment' and 'to instruct' might +sometimes be used as synonymous words." + +"Very probably. But historians are not accountable for the difficulty +of learning to read; and even you yourself, who do not altogether seem +particularly friendly to very severe, very intense application, may +perhaps be brought to acknowledge that it is very well worth-while to +be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of +being able to read all the rest of it. Consider--if reading had not been +taught, Mrs. Radcliffe would have written in vain--or perhaps might not +have written at all." + +Catherine assented--and a very warm panegyric from her on that lady's +merits closed the subject. The Tilneys were soon engaged in another on +which she had nothing to say. They were viewing the country with the +eyes of persons accustomed to drawing, and decided on its capability of +being formed into pictures, with all the eagerness of real taste. Here +Catherine was quite lost. She knew nothing of drawing--nothing of taste: +and she listened to them with an attention which brought her little +profit, for they talked in phrases which conveyed scarcely any idea +to her. The little which she could understand, however, appeared to +contradict the very few notions she had entertained on the matter +before. It seemed as if a good view were no longer to be taken from the +top of an high hill, and that a clear blue sky was no longer a proof +of a fine day. She was heartily ashamed of her ignorance. A misplaced +shame. Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. +To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of +administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would +always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of +knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can. + +The advantages of natural folly in a beautiful girl have been already +set forth by the capital pen of a sister author; and to her treatment +of the subject I will only add, in justice to men, that though to the +larger and more trifling part of the sex, imbecility in females is a +great enhancement of their personal charms, there is a portion of them +too reasonable and too well informed themselves to desire anything +more in woman than ignorance. But Catherine did not know her own +advantages--did not know that a good-looking girl, with an affectionate +heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young +man, unless circumstances are particularly untoward. In the present +instance, she confessed and lamented her want of knowledge, declared +that she would give anything in the world to be able to draw; and +a lecture on the picturesque immediately followed, in which his +instructions were so clear that she soon began to see beauty in +everything admired by him, and her attention was so earnest that he +became perfectly satisfied of her having a great deal of natural taste. +He talked of foregrounds, distances, and second distances--side-screens +and perspectives--lights and shades; and Catherine was so hopeful a +scholar that when they gained the top of Beechen Cliff, she voluntarily +rejected the whole city of Bath as unworthy to make part of a landscape. +Delighted with her progress, and fearful of wearying her with too much +wisdom at once, Henry suffered the subject to decline, and by an easy +transition from a piece of rocky fragment and the withered oak which +he had placed near its summit, to oaks in general, to forests, the +enclosure of them, waste lands, crown lands and government, he shortly +found himself arrived at politics; and from politics, it was an +easy step to silence. The general pause which succeeded his short +disquisition on the state of the nation was put an end to by Catherine, +who, in rather a solemn tone of voice, uttered these words, "I have +heard that something very shocking indeed will soon come out in London." + +Miss Tilney, to whom this was chiefly addressed, was startled, and +hastily replied, "Indeed! And of what nature?" + +"That I do not know, nor who is the author. I have only heard that it is +to be more horrible than anything we have met with yet." + +"Good heaven! Where could you hear of such a thing?" + +"A particular friend of mine had an account of it in a letter from +London yesterday. It is to be uncommonly dreadful. I shall expect murder +and everything of the kind." + +"You speak with astonishing composure! But I hope your friend's accounts +have been exaggerated; and if such a design is known beforehand, proper +measures will undoubtedly be taken by government to prevent its coming +to effect." + +"Government," said Henry, endeavouring not to smile, "neither desires +nor dares to interfere in such matters. There must be murder; and +government cares not how much." + +The ladies stared. He laughed, and added, "Come, shall I make you +understand each other, or leave you to puzzle out an explanation as +you can? No--I will be noble. I will prove myself a man, no less by the +generosity of my soul than the clearness of my head. I have no patience +with such of my sex as disdain to let themselves sometimes down to the +comprehension of yours. Perhaps the abilities of women are neither sound +nor acute--neither vigorous nor keen. Perhaps they may want observation, +discernment, judgment, fire, genius, and wit." + +"Miss Morland, do not mind what he says; but have the goodness to +satisfy me as to this dreadful riot." + +"Riot! What riot?" + +"My dear Eleanor, the riot is only in your own brain. The confusion +there is scandalous. Miss Morland has been talking of nothing more +dreadful than a new publication which is shortly to come out, in three +duodecimo volumes, two hundred and seventy-six pages in each, with +a frontispiece to the first, of two tombstones and a lantern--do you +understand? And you, Miss Morland--my stupid sister has mistaken all +your clearest expressions. You talked of expected horrors in London--and +instead of instantly conceiving, as any rational creature would have +done, that such words could relate only to a circulating library, she +immediately pictured to herself a mob of three thousand men assembling +in St. George's Fields, the Bank attacked, the Tower threatened, the +streets of London flowing with blood, a detachment of the Twelfth Light +Dragoons (the hopes of the nation) called up from Northampton to quell +the insurgents, and the gallant Captain Frederick Tilney, in the +moment of charging at the head of his troop, knocked off his horse by a +brickbat from an upper window. Forgive her stupidity. The fears of the +sister have added to the weakness of the woman; but she is by no means a +simpleton in general." + +Catherine looked grave. "And now, Henry," said Miss Tilney, "that you +have made us understand each other, you may as well make Miss Morland +understand yourself--unless you mean to have her think you intolerably +rude to your sister, and a great brute in your opinion of women in +general. Miss Morland is not used to your odd ways." + +"I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with them." + +"No doubt; but that is no explanation of the present." + +"What am I to do?" + +"You know what you ought to do. Clear your character handsomely before +her. Tell her that you think very highly of the understanding of women." + +"Miss Morland, I think very highly of the understanding of all the women +in the world--especially of those--whoever they may be--with whom I +happen to be in company." + +"That is not enough. Be more serious." + +"Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of +women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much that they +never find it necessary to use more than half." + +"We shall get nothing more serious from him now, Miss Morland. He is +not in a sober mood. But I do assure you that he must be entirely +misunderstood, if he can ever appear to say an unjust thing of any woman +at all, or an unkind one of me." + +It was no effort to Catherine to believe that Henry Tilney could never +be wrong. His manner might sometimes surprise, but his meaning must +always be just: and what she did not understand, she was almost as ready +to admire, as what she did. The whole walk was delightful, and though it +ended too soon, its conclusion was delightful too; her friends attended +her into the house, and Miss Tilney, before they parted, addressing +herself with respectful form, as much to Mrs. Allen as to Catherine, +petitioned for the pleasure of her company to dinner on the day after +the next. No difficulty was made on Mrs. Allen's side, and the only +difficulty on Catherine's was in concealing the excess of her pleasure. + +The morning had passed away so charmingly as to banish all her +friendship and natural affection, for no thought of Isabella or James +had crossed her during their walk. When the Tilneys were gone, she +became amiable again, but she was amiable for some time to little +effect; Mrs. Allen had no intelligence to give that could relieve her +anxiety; she had heard nothing of any of them. Towards the end of the +morning, however, Catherine, having occasion for some indispensable yard +of ribbon which must be bought without a moment's delay, walked out into +the town, and in Bond Street overtook the second Miss Thorpe as she was +loitering towards Edgar's Buildings between two of the sweetest girls in +the world, who had been her dear friends all the morning. From her, she +soon learned that the party to Clifton had taken place. "They set off at +eight this morning," said Miss Anne, "and I am sure I do not envy +them their drive. I think you and I are very well off to be out of the +scrape. It must be the dullest thing in the world, for there is not a +soul at Clifton at this time of year. Belle went with your brother, and +John drove Maria." + +Catherine spoke the pleasure she really felt on hearing this part of the +arrangement. + +"Oh! yes," rejoined the other, "Maria is gone. She was quite wild to go. +She thought it would be something very fine. I cannot say I admire her +taste; and for my part, I was determined from the first not to go, if +they pressed me ever so much." + +Catherine, a little doubtful of this, could not help answering, "I wish +you could have gone too. It is a pity you could not all go." + +"Thank you; but it is quite a matter of indifference to me. Indeed, I +would not have gone on any account. I was saying so to Emily and Sophia +when you overtook us." + +Catherine was still unconvinced; but glad that Anne should have the +friendship of an Emily and a Sophia to console her, she bade her adieu +without much uneasiness, and returned home, pleased that the party had +not been prevented by her refusing to join it, and very heartily wishing +that it might be too pleasant to allow either James or Isabella to +resent her resistance any longer. + + + + +CHAPTER 15 + + +Early the next day, a note from Isabella, speaking peace and tenderness +in every line, and entreating the immediate presence of her friend on +a matter of the utmost importance, hastened Catherine, in the happiest +state of confidence and curiosity, to Edgar's Buildings. The two +youngest Miss Thorpes were by themselves in the parlour; and, on Anne's +quitting it to call her sister, Catherine took the opportunity of asking +the other for some particulars of their yesterday's party. Maria desired +no greater pleasure than to speak of it; and Catherine immediately +learnt that it had been altogether the most delightful scheme in the +world, that nobody could imagine how charming it had been, and that +it had been more delightful than anybody could conceive. Such was the +information of the first five minutes; the second unfolded thus much in +detail--that they had driven directly to the York Hotel, ate some soup, +and bespoke an early dinner, walked down to the pump-room, tasted the +water, and laid out some shillings in purses and spars; thence adjoined +to eat ice at a pastry-cook's, and hurrying back to the hotel, swallowed +their dinner in haste, to prevent being in the dark; and then had a +delightful drive back, only the moon was not up, and it rained a little, +and Mr. Morland's horse was so tired he could hardly get it along. + +Catherine listened with heartfelt satisfaction. It appeared that Blaize +Castle had never been thought of; and, as for all the rest, there was +nothing to regret for half an instant. Maria's intelligence concluded +with a tender effusion of pity for her sister Anne, whom she represented +as insupportably cross, from being excluded the party. + +"She will never forgive me, I am sure; but, you know, how could I help +it? John would have me go, for he vowed he would not drive her, because +she had such thick ankles. I dare say she will not be in good humour +again this month; but I am determined I will not be cross; it is not a +little matter that puts me out of temper." + +Isabella now entered the room with so eager a step, and a look of such +happy importance, as engaged all her friend's notice. Maria was without +ceremony sent away, and Isabella, embracing Catherine, thus began: "Yes, +my dear Catherine, it is so indeed; your penetration has not deceived +you. Oh! That arch eye of yours! It sees through everything." + +Catherine replied only by a look of wondering ignorance. + +"Nay, my beloved, sweetest friend," continued the other, "compose +yourself. I am amazingly agitated, as you perceive. Let us sit down and +talk in comfort. Well, and so you guessed it the moment you had my note? +Sly creature! Oh! My dear Catherine, you alone, who know my heart, can +judge of my present happiness. Your brother is the most charming of +men. I only wish I were more worthy of him. But what will your excellent +father and mother say? Oh! Heavens! When I think of them I am so +agitated!" + +Catherine's understanding began to awake: an idea of the truth suddenly +darted into her mind; and, with the natural blush of so new an emotion, +she cried out, "Good heaven! My dear Isabella, what do you mean? Can +you--can you really be in love with James?" + +This bold surmise, however, she soon learnt comprehended but half the +fact. The anxious affection, which she was accused of having continually +watched in Isabella's every look and action, had, in the course of their +yesterday's party, received the delightful confession of an equal love. +Her heart and faith were alike engaged to James. Never had Catherine +listened to anything so full of interest, wonder, and joy. Her brother +and her friend engaged! New to such circumstances, the importance of +it appeared unspeakably great, and she contemplated it as one of those +grand events, of which the ordinary course of life can hardly afford a +return. The strength of her feelings she could not express; the nature +of them, however, contented her friend. The happiness of having such a +sister was their first effusion, and the fair ladies mingled in embraces +and tears of joy. + +Delighting, however, as Catherine sincerely did in the prospect of the +connection, it must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her +in tender anticipations. "You will be so infinitely dearer to me, my +Catherine, than either Anne or Maria: I feel that I shall be so much +more attached to my dear Morland's family than to my own." + +This was a pitch of friendship beyond Catherine. + +"You are so like your dear brother," continued Isabella, "that I quite +doted on you the first moment I saw you. But so it always is with me; +the first moment settles everything. The very first day that Morland +came to us last Christmas--the very first moment I beheld him--my heart +was irrecoverably gone. I remember I wore my yellow gown, with my hair +done up in braids; and when I came into the drawing-room, and John +introduced him, I thought I never saw anybody so handsome before." + +Here Catherine secretly acknowledged the power of love; for, though +exceedingly fond of her brother, and partial to all his endowments, she +had never in her life thought him handsome. + +"I remember too, Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening, and wore +her puce-coloured sarsenet; and she looked so heavenly that I thought +your brother must certainly fall in love with her; I could not sleep +a wink all right for thinking of it. Oh! Catherine, the many sleepless +nights I have had on your brother's account! I would not have you suffer +half what I have done! I am grown wretchedly thin, I know; but I will +not pain you by describing my anxiety; you have seen enough of it. I +feel that I have betrayed myself perpetually--so unguarded in speaking +of my partiality for the church! But my secret I was always sure would +be safe with you." + +Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer; but ashamed of an +ignorance little expected, she dared no longer contest the point, +nor refuse to have been as full of arch penetration and affectionate +sympathy as Isabella chose to consider her. Her brother, she found, +was preparing to set off with all speed to Fullerton, to make known his +situation and ask consent; and here was a source of some real agitation +to the mind of Isabella. Catherine endeavoured to persuade her, as she +was herself persuaded, that her father and mother would never oppose +their son's wishes. "It is impossible," said she, "for parents to be +more kind, or more desirous of their children's happiness; I have no +doubt of their consenting immediately." + +"Morland says exactly the same," replied Isabella; "and yet I dare not +expect it; my fortune will be so small; they never can consent to it. +Your brother, who might marry anybody!" + +Here Catherine again discerned the force of love. + +"Indeed, Isabella, you are too humble. The difference of fortune can be +nothing to signify." + +"Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify +nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for +myself, I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed. Had I the +command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother +would be my only choice." + +This charming sentiment, recommended as much by sense as novelty, +gave Catherine a most pleasing remembrance of all the heroines of her +acquaintance; and she thought her friend never looked more lovely than +in uttering the grand idea. "I am sure they will consent," was her +frequent declaration; "I am sure they will be delighted with you." + +"For my own part," said Isabella, "my wishes are so moderate that the +smallest income in nature would be enough for me. Where people are +really attached, poverty itself is wealth; grandeur I detest: I would +not settle in London for the universe. A cottage in some retired village +would be ecstasy. There are some charming little villas about Richmond." + +"Richmond!" cried Catherine. "You must settle near Fullerton. You must +be near us." + +"I am sure I shall be miserable if we do not. If I can but be near you, +I shall be satisfied. But this is idle talking! I will not allow myself +to think of such things, till we have your father's answer. Morland +says that by sending it tonight to Salisbury, we may have it tomorrow. +Tomorrow? I know I shall never have courage to open the letter. I know +it will be the death of me." + +A reverie succeeded this conviction--and when Isabella spoke again, it +was to resolve on the quality of her wedding-gown. + +Their conference was put an end to by the anxious young lover himself, +who came to breathe his parting sigh before he set off for Wiltshire. +Catherine wished to congratulate him, but knew not what to say, and her +eloquence was only in her eyes. From them, however, the eight parts of +speech shone out most expressively, and James could combine them with +ease. Impatient for the realization of all that he hoped at home, his +adieus were not long; and they would have been yet shorter, had he not +been frequently detained by the urgent entreaties of his fair one that +he would go. Twice was he called almost from the door by her eagerness +to have him gone. "Indeed, Morland, I must drive you away. Consider how +far you have to ride. I cannot bear to see you linger so. For heaven's +sake, waste no more time. There, go, go--I insist on it." + +The two friends, with hearts now more united than ever, were inseparable +for the day; and in schemes of sisterly happiness the hours flew along. +Mrs. Thorpe and her son, who were acquainted with everything, and +who seemed only to want Mr. Morland's consent, to consider Isabella's +engagement as the most fortunate circumstance imaginable for their +family, were allowed to join their counsels, and add their quota of +significant looks and mysterious expressions to fill up the measure +of curiosity to be raised in the unprivileged younger sisters. To +Catherine's simple feelings, this odd sort of reserve seemed neither +kindly meant, nor consistently supported; and its unkindness she would +hardly have forborne pointing out, had its inconsistency been less their +friend; but Anne and Maria soon set her heart at ease by the sagacity of +their "I know what"; and the evening was spent in a sort of war of wit, +a display of family ingenuity, on one side in the mystery of an affected +secret, on the other of undefined discovery, all equally acute. + +Catherine was with her friend again the next day, endeavouring to +support her spirits and while away the many tedious hours before +the delivery of the letters; a needful exertion, for as the time +of reasonable expectation drew near, Isabella became more and more +desponding, and before the letter arrived, had worked herself into a +state of real distress. But when it did come, where could distress +be found? "I have had no difficulty in gaining the consent of my kind +parents, and am promised that everything in their power shall be done to +forward my happiness," were the first three lines, and in one moment +all was joyful security. The brightest glow was instantly spread over +Isabella's features, all care and anxiety seemed removed, her spirits +became almost too high for control, and she called herself without +scruple the happiest of mortals. + +Mrs. Thorpe, with tears of joy, embraced her daughter, her son, her +visitor, and could have embraced half the inhabitants of Bath with +satisfaction. Her heart was overflowing with tenderness. It was "dear +John" and "dear Catherine" at every word; "dear Anne and dear Maria" +must immediately be made sharers in their felicity; and two "dears" at +once before the name of Isabella were not more than that beloved child +had now well earned. John himself was no skulker in joy. He not only +bestowed on Mr. Morland the high commendation of being one of the finest +fellows in the world, but swore off many sentences in his praise. + +The letter, whence sprang all this felicity, was short, containing +little more than this assurance of success; and every particular was +deferred till James could write again. But for particulars Isabella +could well afford to wait. The needful was comprised in Mr. Morland's +promise; his honour was pledged to make everything easy; and by what +means their income was to be formed, whether landed property were to +be resigned, or funded money made over, was a matter in which her +disinterested spirit took no concern. She knew enough to feel secure of +an honourable and speedy establishment, and her imagination took a rapid +flight over its attendant felicities. She saw herself at the end of +a few weeks, the gaze and admiration of every new acquaintance at +Fullerton, the envy of every valued old friend in Putney, with a +carriage at her command, a new name on her tickets, and a brilliant +exhibition of hoop rings on her finger. + +When the contents of the letter were ascertained, John Thorpe, who had +only waited its arrival to begin his journey to London, prepared to set +off. "Well, Miss Morland," said he, on finding her alone in the parlour, +"I am come to bid you good-bye." Catherine wished him a good journey. +Without appearing to hear her, he walked to the window, fidgeted about, +hummed a tune, and seemed wholly self-occupied. + +"Shall not you be late at Devizes?" said Catherine. He made no answer; +but after a minute's silence burst out with, "A famous good thing this +marrying scheme, upon my soul! A clever fancy of Morland's and Belle's. +What do you think of it, Miss Morland? I say it is no bad notion." + +"I am sure I think it a very good one." + +"Do you? That's honest, by heavens! I am glad you are no enemy to +matrimony, however. Did you ever hear the old song 'Going to One Wedding +Brings on Another?' I say, you will come to Belle's wedding, I hope." + +"Yes; I have promised your sister to be with her, if possible." + +"And then you know"--twisting himself about and forcing a foolish +laugh--"I say, then you know, we may try the truth of this same old +song." + +"May we? But I never sing. Well, I wish you a good journey. I dine with +Miss Tilney today, and must now be going home." + +"Nay, but there is no such confounded hurry. Who knows when we may +be together again? Not but that I shall be down again by the end of a +fortnight, and a devilish long fortnight it will appear to me." + +"Then why do you stay away so long?" replied Catherine--finding that he +waited for an answer. + +"That is kind of you, however--kind and good-natured. I shall not forget +it in a hurry. But you have more good nature and all that, than anybody +living, I believe. A monstrous deal of good nature, and it is not only +good nature, but you have so much, so much of everything; and then you +have such--upon my soul, I do not know anybody like you." + +"Oh! dear, there are a great many people like me, I dare say, only a +great deal better. Good morning to you." + +"But I say, Miss Morland, I shall come and pay my respects at Fullerton +before it is long, if not disagreeable." + +"Pray do. My father and mother will be very glad to see you." + +"And I hope--I hope, Miss Morland, you will not be sorry to see me." + +"Oh! dear, not at all. There are very few people I am sorry to see. +Company is always cheerful." + +"That is just my way of thinking. Give me but a little cheerful company, +let me only have the company of the people I love, let me only be where +I like and with whom I like, and the devil take the rest, say I. And +I am heartily glad to hear you say the same. But I have a notion, Miss +Morland, you and I think pretty much alike upon most matters." + +"Perhaps we may; but it is more than I ever thought of. And as to most +matters, to say the truth, there are not many that I know my own mind +about." + +"By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother my brains with what +does not concern me. My notion of things is simple enough. Let me only +have the girl I like, say I, with a comfortable house over my head, and +what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing. I am sure of a good +income of my own; and if she had not a penny, why, so much the better." + +"Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good fortune on one +side, there can be no occasion for any on the other. No matter which +has it, so that there is enough. I hate the idea of one great fortune +looking out for another. And to marry for money I think the wickedest +thing in existence. Good day. We shall be very glad to see you at +Fullerton, whenever it is convenient." And away she went. It was not in +the power of all his gallantry to detain her longer. With such news to +communicate, and such a visit to prepare for, her departure was not +to be delayed by anything in his nature to urge; and she hurried away, +leaving him to the undivided consciousness of his own happy address, and +her explicit encouragement. + +The agitation which she had herself experienced on first learning her +brother's engagement made her expect to raise no inconsiderable emotion +in Mr. and Mrs. Allen, by the communication of the wonderful event. How +great was her disappointment! The important affair, which many words of +preparation ushered in, had been foreseen by them both ever since +her brother's arrival; and all that they felt on the occasion was +comprehended in a wish for the young people's happiness, with a remark, +on the gentleman's side, in favour of Isabella's beauty, and on the +lady's, of her great good luck. It was to Catherine the most surprising +insensibility. The disclosure, however, of the great secret of James's +going to Fullerton the day before, did raise some emotion in Mrs. Allen. +She could not listen to that with perfect calmness, but repeatedly +regretted the necessity of its concealment, wished she could have known +his intention, wished she could have seen him before he went, as she +should certainly have troubled him with her best regards to his father +and mother, and her kind compliments to all the Skinners. + + + + +CHAPTER 16 + + +Catherine's expectations of pleasure from her visit in Milsom Street +were so very high that disappointment was inevitable; and accordingly, +though she was most politely received by General Tilney, and kindly +welcomed by his daughter, though Henry was at home, and no one else of +the party, she found, on her return, without spending many hours in +the examination of her feelings, that she had gone to her appointment +preparing for happiness which it had not afforded. Instead of finding +herself improved in acquaintance with Miss Tilney, from the intercourse +of the day, she seemed hardly so intimate with her as before; instead +of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage than ever, in the ease of a +family party, he had never said so little, nor been so little agreeable; +and, in spite of their father's great civilities to her--in spite of his +thanks, invitations, and compliments--it had been a release to get +away from him. It puzzled her to account for all this. It could not +be General Tilney's fault. That he was perfectly agreeable and +good-natured, and altogether a very charming man, did not admit of a +doubt, for he was tall and handsome, and Henry's father. He could not +be accountable for his children's want of spirits, or for her want of +enjoyment in his company. The former she hoped at last might have +been accidental, and the latter she could only attribute to her own +stupidity. Isabella, on hearing the particulars of the visit, gave +a different explanation: "It was all pride, pride, insufferable +haughtiness and pride! She had long suspected the family to be very +high, and this made it certain. Such insolence of behaviour as Miss +Tilney's she had never heard of in her life! Not to do the honours of +her house with common good breeding! To behave to her guest with such +superciliousness! Hardly even to speak to her!" + +"But it was not so bad as that, Isabella; there was no superciliousness; +she was very civil." + +"Oh! Don't defend her! And then the brother, he, who had appeared +so attached to you! Good heavens! Well, some people's feelings are +incomprehensible. And so he hardly looked once at you the whole day?" + +"I do not say so; but he did not seem in good spirits." + +"How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy is my +aversion. Let me entreat you never to think of him again, my dear +Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you." + +"Unworthy! I do not suppose he ever thinks of me." + +"That is exactly what I say; he never thinks of you. Such fickleness! +Oh! How different to your brother and to mine! I really believe John has +the most constant heart." + +"But as for General Tilney, I assure you it would be impossible for +anybody to behave to me with greater civility and attention; it seemed +to be his only care to entertain and make me happy." + +"Oh! I know no harm of him; I do not suspect him of pride. I believe he +is a very gentleman-like man. John thinks very well of him, and John's +judgment--" + +"Well, I shall see how they behave to me this evening; we shall meet +them at the rooms." + +"And must I go?" + +"Do not you intend it? I thought it was all settled." + +"Nay, since you make such a point of it, I can refuse you nothing. But +do not insist upon my being very agreeable, for my heart, you know, will +be some forty miles off. And as for dancing, do not mention it, I beg; +that is quite out of the question. Charles Hodges will plague me to +death, I dare say; but I shall cut him very short. Ten to one but he +guesses the reason, and that is exactly what I want to avoid, so I shall +insist on his keeping his conjecture to himself." + +Isabella's opinion of the Tilneys did not influence her friend; she was +sure there had been no insolence in the manners either of brother or +sister; and she did not credit there being any pride in their hearts. +The evening rewarded her confidence; she was met by one with the same +kindness, and by the other with the same attention, as heretofore: Miss +Tilney took pains to be near her, and Henry asked her to dance. + +Having heard the day before in Milsom Street that their elder brother, +Captain Tilney, was expected almost every hour, she was at no loss for +the name of a very fashionable-looking, handsome young man, whom she had +never seen before, and who now evidently belonged to their party. She +looked at him with great admiration, and even supposed it possible that +some people might think him handsomer than his brother, though, in her +eyes, his air was more assuming, and his countenance less prepossessing. +His taste and manners were beyond a doubt decidedly inferior; for, +within her hearing, he not only protested against every thought of +dancing himself, but even laughed openly at Henry for finding it +possible. From the latter circumstance it may be presumed that, whatever +might be our heroine's opinion of him, his admiration of her was not +of a very dangerous kind; not likely to produce animosities between the +brothers, nor persecutions to the lady. He cannot be the instigator of +the three villains in horsemen's greatcoats, by whom she will hereafter +be forced into a traveling-chaise and four, which will drive off with +incredible speed. Catherine, meanwhile, undisturbed by presentiments of +such an evil, or of any evil at all, except that of having but a short +set to dance down, enjoyed her usual happiness with Henry Tilney, +listening with sparkling eyes to everything he said; and, in finding him +irresistible, becoming so herself. + +At the end of the first dance, Captain Tilney came towards them again, +and, much to Catherine's dissatisfaction, pulled his brother away. They +retired whispering together; and, though her delicate sensibility did +not take immediate alarm, and lay it down as fact, that Captain Tilney +must have heard some malevolent misrepresentation of her, which he now +hastened to communicate to his brother, in the hope of separating them +forever, she could not have her partner conveyed from her sight without +very uneasy sensations. Her suspense was of full five minutes' duration; +and she was beginning to think it a very long quarter of an hour, when +they both returned, and an explanation was given, by Henry's requesting +to know if she thought her friend, Miss Thorpe, would have any objection +to dancing, as his brother would be most happy to be introduced to +her. Catherine, without hesitation, replied that she was very sure Miss +Thorpe did not mean to dance at all. The cruel reply was passed on to +the other, and he immediately walked away. + +"Your brother will not mind it, I know," said she, "because I heard him +say before that he hated dancing; but it was very good-natured in him +to think of it. I suppose he saw Isabella sitting down, and fancied she +might wish for a partner; but he is quite mistaken, for she would not +dance upon any account in the world." + +Henry smiled, and said, "How very little trouble it can give you to +understand the motive of other people's actions." + +"Why? What do you mean?" + +"With you, it is not, How is such a one likely to be influenced, What +is the inducement most likely to act upon such a person's feelings, age, +situation, and probable habits of life considered--but, How should I be +influenced, What would be my inducement in acting so and so?" + +"I do not understand you." + +"Then we are on very unequal terms, for I understand you perfectly +well." + +"Me? Yes; I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible." + +"Bravo! An excellent satire on modern language." + +"But pray tell me what you mean." + +"Shall I indeed? Do you really desire it? But you are not aware of the +consequences; it will involve you in a very cruel embarrassment, and +certainly bring on a disagreement between us. + +"No, no; it shall not do either; I am not afraid." + +"Well, then, I only meant that your attributing my brother's wish of +dancing with Miss Thorpe to good nature alone convinced me of your being +superior in good nature yourself to all the rest of the world." + +Catherine blushed and disclaimed, and the gentleman's predictions were +verified. There was a something, however, in his words which repaid her +for the pain of confusion; and that something occupied her mind so much +that she drew back for some time, forgetting to speak or to listen, and +almost forgetting where she was; till, roused by the voice of Isabella, +she looked up and saw her with Captain Tilney preparing to give them +hands across. + +Isabella shrugged her shoulders and smiled, the only explanation of this +extraordinary change which could at that time be given; but as it +was not quite enough for Catherine's comprehension, she spoke her +astonishment in very plain terms to her partner. + +"I cannot think how it could happen! Isabella was so determined not to +dance." + +"And did Isabella never change her mind before?" + +"Oh! But, because--And your brother! After what you told him from me, +how could he think of going to ask her?" + +"I cannot take surprise to myself on that head. You bid me be surprised +on your friend's account, and therefore I am; but as for my brother, his +conduct in the business, I must own, has been no more than I believed +him perfectly equal to. The fairness of your friend was an open +attraction; her firmness, you know, could only be understood by +yourself." + +"You are laughing; but, I assure you, Isabella is very firm in general." + +"It is as much as should be said of anyone. To be always firm must be +to be often obstinate. When properly to relax is the trial of judgment; +and, without reference to my brother, I really think Miss Thorpe has by +no means chosen ill in fixing on the present hour." + +The friends were not able to get together for any confidential discourse +till all the dancing was over; but then, as they walked about the room +arm in arm, Isabella thus explained herself: "I do not wonder at your +surprise; and I am really fatigued to death. He is such a rattle! +Amusing enough, if my mind had been disengaged; but I would have given +the world to sit still." + +"Then why did not you?" + +"Oh! My dear! It would have looked so particular; and you know how I +abhor doing that. I refused him as long as I possibly could, but he +would take no denial. You have no idea how he pressed me. I begged him +to excuse me, and get some other partner--but no, not he; after aspiring +to my hand, there was nobody else in the room he could bear to think of; +and it was not that he wanted merely to dance, he wanted to be with +me. Oh! Such nonsense! I told him he had taken a very unlikely way to +prevail upon me; for, of all things in the world, I hated fine speeches +and compliments; and so--and so then I found there would be no peace if +I did not stand up. Besides, I thought Mrs. Hughes, who introduced him, +might take it ill if I did not: and your dear brother, I am sure he +would have been miserable if I had sat down the whole evening. I am +so glad it is over! My spirits are quite jaded with listening to his +nonsense: and then, being such a smart young fellow, I saw every eye was +upon us." + +"He is very handsome indeed." + +"Handsome! Yes, I suppose he may. I dare say people would admire him +in general; but he is not at all in my style of beauty. I hate a florid +complexion and dark eyes in a man. However, he is very well. Amazingly +conceited, I am sure. I took him down several times, you know, in my +way." + +When the young ladies next met, they had a far more interesting subject +to discuss. James Morland's second letter was then received, and the +kind intentions of his father fully explained. A living, of which Mr. +Morland was himself patron and incumbent, of about four hundred pounds +yearly value, was to be resigned to his son as soon as he should be +old enough to take it; no trifling deduction from the family income, no +niggardly assignment to one of ten children. An estate of at least equal +value, moreover, was assured as his future inheritance. + +James expressed himself on the occasion with becoming gratitude; and +the necessity of waiting between two and three years before they could +marry, being, however unwelcome, no more than he had expected, was borne +by him without discontent. Catherine, whose expectations had been as +unfixed as her ideas of her father's income, and whose judgment was now +entirely led by her brother, felt equally well satisfied, and heartily +congratulated Isabella on having everything so pleasantly settled. + +"It is very charming indeed," said Isabella, with a grave face. "Mr. +Morland has behaved vastly handsome indeed," said the gentle Mrs. +Thorpe, looking anxiously at her daughter. "I only wish I could do as +much. One could not expect more from him, you know. If he finds he +can do more by and by, I dare say he will, for I am sure he must be an +excellent good-hearted man. Four hundred is but a small income to begin +on indeed, but your wishes, my dear Isabella, are so moderate, you do +not consider how little you ever want, my dear." + +"It is not on my own account I wish for more; but I cannot bear to +be the means of injuring my dear Morland, making him sit down upon an +income hardly enough to find one in the common necessaries of life. For +myself, it is nothing; I never think of myself." + +"I know you never do, my dear; and you will always find your reward in +the affection it makes everybody feel for you. There never was a young +woman so beloved as you are by everybody that knows you; and I dare say +when Mr. Morland sees you, my dear child--but do not let us distress +our dear Catherine by talking of such things. Mr. Morland has behaved so +very handsome, you know. I always heard he was a most excellent man; +and you know, my dear, we are not to suppose but what, if you had had a +suitable fortune, he would have come down with something more, for I am +sure he must be a most liberal-minded man." + +"Nobody can think better of Mr. Morland than I do, I am sure. But +everybody has their failing, you know, and everybody has a right to +do what they like with their own money." Catherine was hurt by these +insinuations. "I am very sure," said she, "that my father has promised +to do as much as he can afford." + +Isabella recollected herself. "As to that, my sweet Catherine, there +cannot be a doubt, and you know me well enough to be sure that a much +smaller income would satisfy me. It is not the want of more money that +makes me just at present a little out of spirits; I hate money; and if +our union could take place now upon only fifty pounds a year, I should +not have a wish unsatisfied. Ah! my Catherine, you have found me out. +There's the sting. The long, long, endless two years and half that are +to pass before your brother can hold the living." + +"Yes, yes, my darling Isabella," said Mrs. Thorpe, "we perfectly see +into your heart. You have no disguise. We perfectly understand the +present vexation; and everybody must love you the better for such a +noble honest affection." + +Catherine's uncomfortable feelings began to lessen. She endeavoured to +believe that the delay of the marriage was the only source of Isabella's +regret; and when she saw her at their next interview as cheerful and +amiable as ever, endeavoured to forget that she had for a minute thought +otherwise. James soon followed his letter, and was received with the +most gratifying kindness. + + + + +CHAPTER 17 + + +The Allens had now entered on the sixth week of their stay in Bath; and +whether it should be the last was for some time a question, to which +Catherine listened with a beating heart. To have her acquaintance with +the Tilneys end so soon was an evil which nothing could counterbalance. +Her whole happiness seemed at stake, while the affair was in suspense, +and everything secured when it was determined that the lodgings should +be taken for another fortnight. What this additional fortnight was to +produce to her beyond the pleasure of sometimes seeing Henry Tilney made +but a small part of Catherine's speculation. Once or twice indeed, since +James's engagement had taught her what could be done, she had got so +far as to indulge in a secret "perhaps," but in general the felicity of +being with him for the present bounded her views: the present was now +comprised in another three weeks, and her happiness being certain for +that period, the rest of her life was at such a distance as to excite +but little interest. In the course of the morning which saw this +business arranged, she visited Miss Tilney, and poured forth her +joyful feelings. It was doomed to be a day of trial. No sooner had she +expressed her delight in Mr. Allen's lengthened stay than Miss Tilney +told her of her father's having just determined upon quitting Bath +by the end of another week. Here was a blow! The past suspense of +the morning had been ease and quiet to the present disappointment. +Catherine's countenance fell, and in a voice of most sincere concern she +echoed Miss Tilney's concluding words, "By the end of another week!" + +"Yes, my father can seldom be prevailed on to give the waters what I +think a fair trial. He has been disappointed of some friends' arrival +whom he expected to meet here, and as he is now pretty well, is in a +hurry to get home." + +"I am very sorry for it," said Catherine dejectedly; "if I had known +this before--" + +"Perhaps," said Miss Tilney in an embarrassed manner, "you would be so +good--it would make me very happy if--" + +The entrance of her father put a stop to the civility, which Catherine +was beginning to hope might introduce a desire of their corresponding. +After addressing her with his usual politeness, he turned to his +daughter and said, "Well, Eleanor, may I congratulate you on being +successful in your application to your fair friend?" + +"I was just beginning to make the request, sir, as you came in." + +"Well, proceed by all means. I know how much your heart is in it. My +daughter, Miss Morland," he continued, without leaving his daughter time +to speak, "has been forming a very bold wish. We leave Bath, as she has +perhaps told you, on Saturday se'nnight. A letter from my steward tells +me that my presence is wanted at home; and being disappointed in my hope +of seeing the Marquis of Longtown and General Courteney here, some of +my very old friends, there is nothing to detain me longer in Bath. And +could we carry our selfish point with you, we should leave it without a +single regret. Can you, in short, be prevailed on to quit this scene +of public triumph and oblige your friend Eleanor with your company in +Gloucestershire? I am almost ashamed to make the request, though its +presumption would certainly appear greater to every creature in Bath +than yourself. Modesty such as yours--but not for the world would I pain +it by open praise. If you can be induced to honour us with a visit, +you will make us happy beyond expression. 'Tis true, we can offer you +nothing like the gaieties of this lively place; we can tempt you neither +by amusement nor splendour, for our mode of living, as you see, is plain +and unpretending; yet no endeavours shall be wanting on our side to make +Northanger Abbey not wholly disagreeable." + +Northanger Abbey! These were thrilling words, and wound up Catherine's +feelings to the highest point of ecstasy. Her grateful and gratified +heart could hardly restrain its expressions within the language of +tolerable calmness. To receive so flattering an invitation! To have her +company so warmly solicited! Everything honourable and soothing, every +present enjoyment, and every future hope was contained in it; and her +acceptance, with only the saving clause of Papa and Mamma's approbation, +was eagerly given. "I will write home directly," said she, "and if they +do not object, as I dare say they will not--" + +General Tilney was not less sanguine, having already waited on her +excellent friends in Pulteney Street, and obtained their sanction of +his wishes. "Since they can consent to part with you," said he, "we may +expect philosophy from all the world." + +Miss Tilney was earnest, though gentle, in her secondary civilities, and +the affair became in a few minutes as nearly settled as this necessary +reference to Fullerton would allow. + +The circumstances of the morning had led Catherine's feelings through +the varieties of suspense, security, and disappointment; but they were +now safely lodged in perfect bliss; and with spirits elated to rapture, +with Henry at her heart, and Northanger Abbey on her lips, she +hurried home to write her letter. Mr. and Mrs. Morland, relying on +the discretion of the friends to whom they had already entrusted their +daughter, felt no doubt of the propriety of an acquaintance which had +been formed under their eye, and sent therefore by return of post their +ready consent to her visit in Gloucestershire. This indulgence, though +not more than Catherine had hoped for, completed her conviction of being +favoured beyond every other human creature, in friends and fortune, +circumstance and chance. Everything seemed to cooperate for her +advantage. By the kindness of her first friends, the Allens, she had +been introduced into scenes where pleasures of every kind had met her. +Her feelings, her preferences, had each known the happiness of a return. +Wherever she felt attachment, she had been able to create it. The +affection of Isabella was to be secured to her in a sister. The Tilneys, +they, by whom, above all, she desired to be favourably thought of, +outstripped even her wishes in the flattering measures by which their +intimacy was to be continued. She was to be their chosen visitor, she +was to be for weeks under the same roof with the person whose society +she mostly prized--and, in addition to all the rest, this roof was to +be the roof of an abbey! Her passion for ancient edifices was next in +degree to her passion for Henry Tilney--and castles and abbeys made +usually the charm of those reveries which his image did not fill. To see +and explore either the ramparts and keep of the one, or the cloisters +of the other, had been for many weeks a darling wish, though to be more +than the visitor of an hour had seemed too nearly impossible for desire. +And yet, this was to happen. With all the chances against her of house, +hall, place, park, court, and cottage, Northanger turned up an abbey, +and she was to be its inhabitant. Its long, damp passages, its narrow +cells and ruined chapel, were to be within her daily reach, and she +could not entirely subdue the hope of some traditional legends, some +awful memorials of an injured and ill-fated nun. + +It was wonderful that her friends should seem so little elated by the +possession of such a home, that the consciousness of it should be so +meekly borne. The power of early habit only could account for it. A +distinction to which they had been born gave no pride. Their superiority +of abode was no more to them than their superiority of person. + +Many were the inquiries she was eager to make of Miss Tilney; but so +active were her thoughts, that when these inquiries were answered, she +was hardly more assured than before, of Northanger Abbey having been +a richly endowed convent at the time of the Reformation, of its having +fallen into the hands of an ancestor of the Tilneys on its dissolution, +of a large portion of the ancient building still making a part of the +present dwelling although the rest was decayed, or of its standing low +in a valley, sheltered from the north and east by rising woods of oak. + + + + +CHAPTER 18 + + +With a mind thus full of happiness, Catherine was hardly aware that two +or three days had passed away, without her seeing Isabella for more than +a few minutes together. She began first to be sensible of this, and +to sigh for her conversation, as she walked along the pump-room one +morning, by Mrs. Allen's side, without anything to say or to hear; and +scarcely had she felt a five minutes' longing of friendship, before the +object of it appeared, and inviting her to a secret conference, led the +way to a seat. "This is my favourite place," said she as they sat +down on a bench between the doors, which commanded a tolerable view of +everybody entering at either; "it is so out of the way." + +Catherine, observing that Isabella's eyes were continually bent towards +one door or the other, as in eager expectation, and remembering how +often she had been falsely accused of being arch, thought the present a +fine opportunity for being really so; and therefore gaily said, "Do not +be uneasy, Isabella, James will soon be here." + +"Psha! My dear creature," she replied, "do not think me such a simpleton +as to be always wanting to confine him to my elbow. It would be hideous +to be always together; we should be the jest of the place. And so you +are going to Northanger! I am amazingly glad of it. It is one of the +finest old places in England, I understand. I shall depend upon a most +particular description of it." + +"You shall certainly have the best in my power to give. But who are you +looking for? Are your sisters coming?" + +"I am not looking for anybody. One's eyes must be somewhere, and you +know what a foolish trick I have of fixing mine, when my thoughts are an +hundred miles off. I am amazingly absent; I believe I am the most absent +creature in the world. Tilney says it is always the case with minds of a +certain stamp." + +"But I thought, Isabella, you had something in particular to tell me?" + +"Oh! Yes, and so I have. But here is a proof of what I was saying. My +poor head, I had quite forgot it. Well, the thing is this: I have just +had a letter from John; you can guess the contents." + +"No, indeed, I cannot." + +"My sweet love, do not be so abominably affected. What can he write +about, but yourself? You know he is over head and ears in love with +you." + +"With me, dear Isabella!" + +"Nay, my sweetest Catherine, this is being quite absurd! Modesty, and +all that, is very well in its way, but really a little common honesty is +sometimes quite as becoming. I have no idea of being so overstrained! +It is fishing for compliments. His attentions were such as a child must +have noticed. And it was but half an hour before he left Bath that you +gave him the most positive encouragement. He says so in this letter, +says that he as good as made you an offer, and that you received his +advances in the kindest way; and now he wants me to urge his suit, +and say all manner of pretty things to you. So it is in vain to affect +ignorance." + +Catherine, with all the earnestness of truth, expressed her astonishment +at such a charge, protesting her innocence of every thought of Mr. +Thorpe's being in love with her, and the consequent impossibility of +her having ever intended to encourage him. "As to any attentions on his +side, I do declare, upon my honour, I never was sensible of them for a +moment--except just his asking me to dance the first day of his coming. +And as to making me an offer, or anything like it, there must be some +unaccountable mistake. I could not have misunderstood a thing of that +kind, you know! And, as I ever wish to be believed, I solemnly protest +that no syllable of such a nature ever passed between us. The last half +hour before he went away! It must be all and completely a mistake--for I +did not see him once that whole morning." + +"But that you certainly did, for you spent the whole morning in Edgar's +Buildings--it was the day your father's consent came--and I am pretty +sure that you and John were alone in the parlour some time before you +left the house." + +"Are you? Well, if you say it, it was so, I dare say--but for the life +of me, I cannot recollect it. I do remember now being with you, and +seeing him as well as the rest--but that we were ever alone for five +minutes--However, it is not worth arguing about, for whatever might pass +on his side, you must be convinced, by my having no recollection of it, +that I never thought, nor expected, nor wished for anything of the kind +from him. I am excessively concerned that he should have any regard for +me--but indeed it has been quite unintentional on my side; I never had +the smallest idea of it. Pray undeceive him as soon as you can, and tell +him I beg his pardon--that is--I do not know what I ought to say--but +make him understand what I mean, in the properest way. I would not speak +disrespectfully of a brother of yours, Isabella, I am sure; but you know +very well that if I could think of one man more than another--he is not +the person." Isabella was silent. "My dear friend, you must not be angry +with me. I cannot suppose your brother cares so very much about me. And, +you know, we shall still be sisters." + +"Yes, yes" (with a blush), "there are more ways than one of our being +sisters. But where am I wandering to? Well, my dear Catherine, the case +seems to be that you are determined against poor John--is not it so?" + +"I certainly cannot return his affection, and as certainly never meant +to encourage it." + +"Since that is the case, I am sure I shall not tease you any further. +John desired me to speak to you on the subject, and therefore I have. +But I confess, as soon as I read his letter, I thought it a very +foolish, imprudent business, and not likely to promote the good of +either; for what were you to live upon, supposing you came together? You +have both of you something, to be sure, but it is not a trifle that will +support a family nowadays; and after all that romancers may say, there +is no doing without money. I only wonder John could think of it; he +could not have received my last." + +"You do acquit me, then, of anything wrong?--You are convinced that I +never meant to deceive your brother, never suspected him of liking me +till this moment?" + +"Oh! As to that," answered Isabella laughingly, "I do not pretend to +determine what your thoughts and designs in time past may have been. All +that is best known to yourself. A little harmless flirtation or so will +occur, and one is often drawn on to give more encouragement than one +wishes to stand by. But you may be assured that I am the last person in +the world to judge you severely. All those things should be allowed for +in youth and high spirits. What one means one day, you know, one may not +mean the next. Circumstances change, opinions alter." + +"But my opinion of your brother never did alter; it was always the same. +You are describing what never happened." + +"My dearest Catherine," continued the other without at all listening to +her, "I would not for all the world be the means of hurrying you into an +engagement before you knew what you were about. I do not think anything +would justify me in wishing you to sacrifice all your happiness merely +to oblige my brother, because he is my brother, and who perhaps after +all, you know, might be just as happy without you, for people seldom +know what they would be at, young men especially, they are so amazingly +changeable and inconstant. What I say is, why should a brother's +happiness be dearer to me than a friend's? You know I carry my notions +of friendship pretty high. But, above all things, my dear Catherine, do +not be in a hurry. Take my word for it, that if you are in too great +a hurry, you will certainly live to repent it. Tilney says there is +nothing people are so often deceived in as the state of their own +affections, and I believe he is very right. Ah! Here he comes; never +mind, he will not see us, I am sure." + +Catherine, looking up, perceived Captain Tilney; and Isabella, +earnestly fixing her eye on him as she spoke, soon caught his notice. He +approached immediately, and took the seat to which her movements invited +him. His first address made Catherine start. Though spoken low, she +could distinguish, "What! Always to be watched, in person or by proxy!" + +"Psha, nonsense!" was Isabella's answer in the same half whisper. "Why +do you put such things into my head? If I could believe it--my spirit, +you know, is pretty independent." + +"I wish your heart were independent. That would be enough for me." + +"My heart, indeed! What can you have to do with hearts? You men have +none of you any hearts." + +"If we have not hearts, we have eyes; and they give us torment enough." + +"Do they? I am sorry for it; I am sorry they find anything so +disagreeable in me. I will look another way. I hope this pleases you" +(turning her back on him); "I hope your eyes are not tormented now." + +"Never more so; for the edge of a blooming cheek is still in view--at +once too much and too little." + +Catherine heard all this, and quite out of countenance, could listen +no longer. Amazed that Isabella could endure it, and jealous for her +brother, she rose up, and saying she should join Mrs. Allen, proposed +their walking. But for this Isabella showed no inclination. She was so +amazingly tired, and it was so odious to parade about the pump-room; +and if she moved from her seat she should miss her sisters; she was +expecting her sisters every moment; so that her dearest Catherine must +excuse her, and must sit quietly down again. But Catherine could be +stubborn too; and Mrs. Allen just then coming up to propose their +returning home, she joined her and walked out of the pump-room, leaving +Isabella still sitting with Captain Tilney. With much uneasiness did +she thus leave them. It seemed to her that Captain Tilney was falling +in love with Isabella, and Isabella unconsciously encouraging him; +unconsciously it must be, for Isabella's attachment to James was as +certain and well acknowledged as her engagement. To doubt her truth +or good intentions was impossible; and yet, during the whole of their +conversation her manner had been odd. She wished Isabella had talked +more like her usual self, and not so much about money, and had not +looked so well pleased at the sight of Captain Tilney. How strange that +she should not perceive his admiration! Catherine longed to give her a +hint of it, to put her on her guard, and prevent all the pain which +her too lively behaviour might otherwise create both for him and her +brother. + +The compliment of John Thorpe's affection did not make amends for this +thoughtlessness in his sister. She was almost as far from believing as +from wishing it to be sincere; for she had not forgotten that he +could mistake, and his assertion of the offer and of her encouragement +convinced her that his mistakes could sometimes be very egregious. +In vanity, therefore, she gained but little; her chief profit was in +wonder. That he should think it worth his while to fancy himself in love +with her was a matter of lively astonishment. Isabella talked of his +attentions; she had never been sensible of any; but Isabella had said +many things which she hoped had been spoken in haste, and would never +be said again; and upon this she was glad to rest altogether for present +ease and comfort. + + + + +CHAPTER 19 + + +A few days passed away, and Catherine, though not allowing herself to +suspect her friend, could not help watching her closely. The result of +her observations was not agreeable. Isabella seemed an altered creature. +When she saw her, indeed, surrounded only by their immediate friends +in Edgar's Buildings or Pulteney Street, her change of manners was so +trifling that, had it gone no farther, it might have passed unnoticed. +A something of languid indifference, or of that boasted absence of +mind which Catherine had never heard of before, would occasionally come +across her; but had nothing worse appeared, that might only have spread +a new grace and inspired a warmer interest. But when Catherine saw her +in public, admitting Captain Tilney's attentions as readily as they were +offered, and allowing him almost an equal share with James in her notice +and smiles, the alteration became too positive to be passed over. What +could be meant by such unsteady conduct, what her friend could be at, +was beyond her comprehension. Isabella could not be aware of the pain +she was inflicting; but it was a degree of wilful thoughtlessness which +Catherine could not but resent. James was the sufferer. She saw him +grave and uneasy; and however careless of his present comfort the woman +might be who had given him her heart, to her it was always an object. +For poor Captain Tilney too she was greatly concerned. Though his looks +did not please her, his name was a passport to her goodwill, and she +thought with sincere compassion of his approaching disappointment; for, +in spite of what she had believed herself to overhear in the pump-room, +his behaviour was so incompatible with a knowledge of Isabella's +engagement that she could not, upon reflection, imagine him aware of it. +He might be jealous of her brother as a rival, but if more had seemed +implied, the fault must have been in her misapprehension. She wished, by +a gentle remonstrance, to remind Isabella of her situation, and make +her aware of this double unkindness; but for remonstrance, either +opportunity or comprehension was always against her. If able to suggest +a hint, Isabella could never understand it. In this distress, the +intended departure of the Tilney family became her chief consolation; +their journey into Gloucestershire was to take place within a few days, +and Captain Tilney's removal would at least restore peace to every heart +but his own. But Captain Tilney had at present no intention of removing; +he was not to be of the party to Northanger; he was to continue at Bath. +When Catherine knew this, her resolution was directly made. She spoke to +Henry Tilney on the subject, regretting his brother's evident partiality +for Miss Thorpe, and entreating him to make known her prior engagement. + +"My brother does know it," was Henry's answer. + +"Does he? Then why does he stay here?" + +He made no reply, and was beginning to talk of something else; but she +eagerly continued, "Why do not you persuade him to go away? The longer +he stays, the worse it will be for him at last. Pray advise him for his +own sake, and for everybody's sake, to leave Bath directly. Absence will +in time make him comfortable again; but he can have no hope here, and it +is only staying to be miserable." + +Henry smiled and said, "I am sure my brother would not wish to do that." + +"Then you will persuade him to go away?" + +"Persuasion is not at command; but pardon me, if I cannot even endeavour +to persuade him. I have myself told him that Miss Thorpe is engaged. He +knows what he is about, and must be his own master." + +"No, he does not know what he is about," cried Catherine; "he does not +know the pain he is giving my brother. Not that James has ever told me +so, but I am sure he is very uncomfortable." + +"And are you sure it is my brother's doing?" + +"Yes, very sure." + +"Is it my brother's attentions to Miss Thorpe, or Miss Thorpe's +admission of them, that gives the pain?" + +"Is not it the same thing?" + +"I think Mr. Morland would acknowledge a difference. No man is offended +by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only +who can make it a torment." + +Catherine blushed for her friend, and said, "Isabella is wrong. But I +am sure she cannot mean to torment, for she is very much attached to my +brother. She has been in love with him ever since they first met, and +while my father's consent was uncertain, she fretted herself almost into +a fever. You know she must be attached to him." + +"I understand: she is in love with James, and flirts with Frederick." + +"Oh! no, not flirts. A woman in love with one man cannot flirt with +another." + +"It is probable that she will neither love so well, nor flirt so +well, as she might do either singly. The gentlemen must each give up a +little." + +After a short pause, Catherine resumed with, "Then you do not believe +Isabella so very much attached to my brother?" + +"I can have no opinion on that subject." + +"But what can your brother mean? If he knows her engagement, what can he +mean by his behaviour?" + +"You are a very close questioner." + +"Am I? I only ask what I want to be told." + +"But do you only ask what I can be expected to tell?" + +"Yes, I think so; for you must know your brother's heart." + +"My brother's heart, as you term it, on the present occasion, I assure +you I can only guess at." + +"Well?" + +"Well! Nay, if it is to be guesswork, let us all guess for ourselves. To +be guided by second-hand conjecture is pitiful. The premises are before +you. My brother is a lively and perhaps sometimes a thoughtless young +man; he has had about a week's acquaintance with your friend, and he has +known her engagement almost as long as he has known her." + +"Well," said Catherine, after some moments' consideration, "you may be +able to guess at your brother's intentions from all this; but I am sure +I cannot. But is not your father uncomfortable about it? Does not he +want Captain Tilney to go away? Sure, if your father were to speak to +him, he would go." + +"My dear Miss Morland," said Henry, "in this amiable solicitude for your +brother's comfort, may you not be a little mistaken? Are you not carried +a little too far? Would he thank you, either on his own account or +Miss Thorpe's, for supposing that her affection, or at least her good +behaviour, is only to be secured by her seeing nothing of Captain +Tilney? Is he safe only in solitude? Or is her heart constant to him +only when unsolicited by anyone else? He cannot think this--and you may +be sure that he would not have you think it. I will not say, 'Do not +be uneasy,' because I know that you are so, at this moment; but be as +little uneasy as you can. You have no doubt of the mutual attachment +of your brother and your friend; depend upon it, therefore, that +real jealousy never can exist between them; depend upon it that no +disagreement between them can be of any duration. Their hearts are open +to each other, as neither heart can be to you; they know exactly what +is required and what can be borne; and you may be certain that one will +never tease the other beyond what is known to be pleasant." + +Perceiving her still to look doubtful and grave, he added, "Though +Frederick does not leave Bath with us, he will probably remain but a +very short time, perhaps only a few days behind us. His leave of absence +will soon expire, and he must return to his regiment. And what will then +be their acquaintance? The mess-room will drink Isabella Thorpe for +a fortnight, and she will laugh with your brother over poor Tilney's +passion for a month." + +Catherine would contend no longer against comfort. She had resisted its +approaches during the whole length of a speech, but it now carried her +captive. Henry Tilney must know best. She blamed herself for the extent +of her fears, and resolved never to think so seriously on the subject +again. + +Her resolution was supported by Isabella's behaviour in their parting +interview. The Thorpes spent the last evening of Catherine's stay in +Pulteney Street, and nothing passed between the lovers to excite +her uneasiness, or make her quit them in apprehension. James was in +excellent spirits, and Isabella most engagingly placid. Her tenderness +for her friend seemed rather the first feeling of her heart; but that +at such a moment was allowable; and once she gave her lover a flat +contradiction, and once she drew back her hand; but Catherine remembered +Henry's instructions, and placed it all to judicious affection. The +embraces, tears, and promises of the parting fair ones may be fancied. + + + + +CHAPTER 20 + + +Mr. and Mrs. Allen were sorry to lose their young friend, whose good +humour and cheerfulness had made her a valuable companion, and in the +promotion of whose enjoyment their own had been gently increased. Her +happiness in going with Miss Tilney, however, prevented their wishing +it otherwise; and, as they were to remain only one more week in Bath +themselves, her quitting them now would not long be felt. Mr. Allen +attended her to Milsom Street, where she was to breakfast, and saw her +seated with the kindest welcome among her new friends; but so great was +her agitation in finding herself as one of the family, and so fearful +was she of not doing exactly what was right, and of not being able to +preserve their good opinion, that, in the embarrassment of the first +five minutes, she could almost have wished to return with him to +Pulteney Street. + +Miss Tilney's manners and Henry's smile soon did away some of her +unpleasant feelings; but still she was far from being at ease; nor could +the incessant attentions of the general himself entirely reassure her. +Nay, perverse as it seemed, she doubted whether she might not have felt +less, had she been less attended to. His anxiety for her comfort--his +continual solicitations that she would eat, and his often-expressed +fears of her seeing nothing to her taste--though never in her life +before had she beheld half such variety on a breakfast-table--made it +impossible for her to forget for a moment that she was a visitor. She +felt utterly unworthy of such respect, and knew not how to reply to it. +Her tranquillity was not improved by the general's impatience for the +appearance of his eldest son, nor by the displeasure he expressed at his +laziness when Captain Tilney at last came down. She was quite pained by +the severity of his father's reproof, which seemed disproportionate to +the offence; and much was her concern increased when she found herself +the principal cause of the lecture, and that his tardiness was chiefly +resented from being disrespectful to her. This was placing her in a +very uncomfortable situation, and she felt great compassion for Captain +Tilney, without being able to hope for his goodwill. + +He listened to his father in silence, and attempted not any defence, +which confirmed her in fearing that the inquietude of his mind, on +Isabella's account, might, by keeping him long sleepless, have been +the real cause of his rising late. It was the first time of her being +decidedly in his company, and she had hoped to be now able to form +her opinion of him; but she scarcely heard his voice while his father +remained in the room; and even afterwards, so much were his spirits +affected, she could distinguish nothing but these words, in a whisper to +Eleanor, "How glad I shall be when you are all off." + +The bustle of going was not pleasant. The clock struck ten while the +trunks were carrying down, and the general had fixed to be out of Milsom +Street by that hour. His greatcoat, instead of being brought for him +to put on directly, was spread out in the curricle in which he was to +accompany his son. The middle seat of the chaise was not drawn out, +though there were three people to go in it, and his daughter's maid had +so crowded it with parcels that Miss Morland would not have room to sit; +and, so much was he influenced by this apprehension when he handed her +in, that she had some difficulty in saving her own new writing-desk from +being thrown out into the street. At last, however, the door was closed +upon the three females, and they set off at the sober pace in which +the handsome, highly fed four horses of a gentleman usually perform a +journey of thirty miles: such was the distance of Northanger from Bath, +to be now divided into two equal stages. Catherine's spirits revived as +they drove from the door; for with Miss Tilney she felt no restraint; +and, with the interest of a road entirely new to her, of an abbey +before, and a curricle behind, she caught the last view of Bath without +any regret, and met with every milestone before she expected it. The +tediousness of a two hours' wait at Petty France, in which there was +nothing to be done but to eat without being hungry, and loiter about +without anything to see, next followed--and her admiration of the style +in which they travelled, of the fashionable chaise and four--postilions +handsomely liveried, rising so regularly in their stirrups, and +numerous outriders properly mounted, sunk a little under this consequent +inconvenience. Had their party been perfectly agreeable, the delay would +have been nothing; but General Tilney, though so charming a man, seemed +always a check upon his children's spirits, and scarcely anything was +said but by himself; the observation of which, with his discontent at +whatever the inn afforded, and his angry impatience at the waiters, made +Catherine grow every moment more in awe of him, and appeared to lengthen +the two hours into four. At last, however, the order of release was +given; and much was Catherine then surprised by the general's proposal +of her taking his place in his son's curricle for the rest of the +journey: "the day was fine, and he was anxious for her seeing as much of +the country as possible." + +The remembrance of Mr. Allen's opinion, respecting young men's open +carriages, made her blush at the mention of such a plan, and her first +thought was to decline it; but her second was of greater deference for +General Tilney's judgment; he could not propose anything improper for +her; and, in the course of a few minutes, she found herself with Henry +in the curricle, as happy a being as ever existed. A very short trial +convinced her that a curricle was the prettiest equipage in the world; +the chaise and four wheeled off with some grandeur, to be sure, but it +was a heavy and troublesome business, and she could not easily forget +its having stopped two hours at Petty France. Half the time would +have been enough for the curricle, and so nimbly were the light horses +disposed to move, that, had not the general chosen to have his own +carriage lead the way, they could have passed it with ease in half a +minute. But the merit of the curricle did not all belong to the horses; +Henry drove so well--so quietly--without making any disturbance, +without parading to her, or swearing at them: so different from the only +gentleman-coachman whom it was in her power to compare him with! And +then his hat sat so well, and the innumerable capes of his greatcoat +looked so becomingly important! To be driven by him, next to being +dancing with him, was certainly the greatest happiness in the world. In +addition to every other delight, she had now that of listening to her +own praise; of being thanked at least, on his sister's account, for +her kindness in thus becoming her visitor; of hearing it ranked as real +friendship, and described as creating real gratitude. His sister, he +said, was uncomfortably circumstanced--she had no female companion--and, +in the frequent absence of her father, was sometimes without any +companion at all. + +"But how can that be?" said Catherine. "Are not you with her?" + +"Northanger is not more than half my home; I have an establishment at +my own house in Woodston, which is nearly twenty miles from my father's, +and some of my time is necessarily spent there." + +"How sorry you must be for that!" + +"I am always sorry to leave Eleanor." + +"Yes; but besides your affection for her, you must be so fond of +the abbey! After being used to such a home as the abbey, an ordinary +parsonage-house must be very disagreeable." + +He smiled, and said, "You have formed a very favourable idea of the +abbey." + +"To be sure, I have. Is not it a fine old place, just like what one +reads about?" + +"And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors that a building such +as 'what one reads about' may produce? Have you a stout heart? Nerves +fit for sliding panels and tapestry?" + +"Oh! yes--I do not think I should be easily frightened, because there +would be so many people in the house--and besides, it has never been +uninhabited and left deserted for years, and then the family come back +to it unawares, without giving any notice, as generally happens." + +"No, certainly. We shall not have to explore our way into a hall dimly +lighted by the expiring embers of a wood fire--nor be obliged to spread +our beds on the floor of a room without windows, doors, or furniture. +But you must be aware that when a young lady is (by whatever means) +introduced into a dwelling of this kind, she is always lodged apart from +the rest of the family. While they snugly repair to their own end of the +house, she is formally conducted by Dorothy, the ancient housekeeper, up +a different staircase, and along many gloomy passages, into an apartment +never used since some cousin or kin died in it about twenty years +before. Can you stand such a ceremony as this? Will not your mind +misgive you when you find yourself in this gloomy chamber--too lofty and +extensive for you, with only the feeble rays of a single lamp to take +in its size--its walls hung with tapestry exhibiting figures as large as +life, and the bed, of dark green stuff or purple velvet, presenting even +a funereal appearance? Will not your heart sink within you?" + +"Oh! But this will not happen to me, I am sure." + +"How fearfully will you examine the furniture of your apartment! And +what will you discern? Not tables, toilettes, wardrobes, or drawers, +but on one side perhaps the remains of a broken lute, on the other a +ponderous chest which no efforts can open, and over the fireplace +the portrait of some handsome warrior, whose features will so +incomprehensibly strike you, that you will not be able to withdraw your +eyes from it. Dorothy, meanwhile, no less struck by your appearance, +gazes on you in great agitation, and drops a few unintelligible hints. +To raise your spirits, moreover, she gives you reason to suppose that +the part of the abbey you inhabit is undoubtedly haunted, and informs +you that you will not have a single domestic within call. With this +parting cordial she curtsies off--you listen to the sound of her +receding footsteps as long as the last echo can reach you--and when, +with fainting spirits, you attempt to fasten your door, you discover, +with increased alarm, that it has no lock." + +"Oh! Mr. Tilney, how frightful! This is just like a book! But it cannot +really happen to me. I am sure your housekeeper is not really Dorothy. +Well, what then?" + +"Nothing further to alarm perhaps may occur the first night. After +surmounting your unconquerable horror of the bed, you will retire to +rest, and get a few hours' unquiet slumber. But on the second, or at +farthest the third night after your arrival, you will probably have a +violent storm. Peals of thunder so loud as to seem to shake the edifice +to its foundation will roll round the neighbouring mountains--and during +the frightful gusts of wind which accompany it, you will probably think +you discern (for your lamp is not extinguished) one part of the hanging +more violently agitated than the rest. Unable of course to repress your +curiosity in so favourable a moment for indulging it, you will instantly +arise, and throwing your dressing-gown around you, proceed to examine +this mystery. After a very short search, you will discover a division in +the tapestry so artfully constructed as to defy the minutest inspection, +and on opening it, a door will immediately appear--which door, being +only secured by massy bars and a padlock, you will, after a few efforts, +succeed in opening--and, with your lamp in your hand, will pass through +it into a small vaulted room." + +"No, indeed; I should be too much frightened to do any such thing." + +"What! Not when Dorothy has given you to understand that there is a +secret subterraneous communication between your apartment and the chapel +of St. Anthony, scarcely two miles off? Could you shrink from so simple +an adventure? No, no, you will proceed into this small vaulted room, +and through this into several others, without perceiving anything very +remarkable in either. In one perhaps there may be a dagger, in another +a few drops of blood, and in a third the remains of some instrument of +torture; but there being nothing in all this out of the common way, +and your lamp being nearly exhausted, you will return towards your own +apartment. In repassing through the small vaulted room, however, your +eyes will be attracted towards a large, old-fashioned cabinet of ebony +and gold, which, though narrowly examining the furniture before, you +had passed unnoticed. Impelled by an irresistible presentiment, you will +eagerly advance to it, unlock its folding doors, and search into +every drawer--but for some time without discovering anything of +importance--perhaps nothing but a considerable hoard of diamonds. At +last, however, by touching a secret spring, an inner compartment will +open--a roll of paper appears--you seize it--it contains many sheets of +manuscript--you hasten with the precious treasure into your own chamber, +but scarcely have you been able to decipher 'Oh! Thou--whomsoever thou +mayst be, into whose hands these memoirs of the wretched Matilda may +fall'--when your lamp suddenly expires in the socket, and leaves you in +total darkness." + +"Oh! No, no--do not say so. Well, go on." + +But Henry was too much amused by the interest he had raised to be able +to carry it farther; he could no longer command solemnity either of +subject or voice, and was obliged to entreat her to use her own fancy +in the perusal of Matilda's woes. Catherine, recollecting herself, grew +ashamed of her eagerness, and began earnestly to assure him that her +attention had been fixed without the smallest apprehension of really +meeting with what he related. "Miss Tilney, she was sure, would never +put her into such a chamber as he had described! She was not at all +afraid." + +As they drew near the end of their journey, her impatience for a sight +of the abbey--for some time suspended by his conversation on subjects +very different--returned in full force, and every bend in the road was +expected with solemn awe to afford a glimpse of its massy walls of grey +stone, rising amidst a grove of ancient oaks, with the last beams of the +sun playing in beautiful splendour on its high Gothic windows. But so +low did the building stand, that she found herself passing through the +great gates of the lodge into the very grounds of Northanger, without +having discerned even an antique chimney. + +She knew not that she had any right to be surprised, but there was a +something in this mode of approach which she certainly had not expected. +To pass between lodges of a modern appearance, to find herself with such +ease in the very precincts of the abbey, and driven so rapidly along a +smooth, level road of fine gravel, without obstacle, alarm, or solemnity +of any kind, struck her as odd and inconsistent. She was not long +at leisure, however, for such considerations. A sudden scud of rain, +driving full in her face, made it impossible for her to observe anything +further, and fixed all her thoughts on the welfare of her new straw +bonnet; and she was actually under the abbey walls, was springing, with +Henry's assistance, from the carriage, was beneath the shelter of the +old porch, and had even passed on to the hall, where her friend and +the general were waiting to welcome her, without feeling one awful +foreboding of future misery to herself, or one moment's suspicion of any +past scenes of horror being acted within the solemn edifice. The breeze +had not seemed to waft the sighs of the murdered to her; it had wafted +nothing worse than a thick mizzling rain; and having given a good shake +to her habit, she was ready to be shown into the common drawing-room, +and capable of considering where she was. + +An abbey! Yes, it was delightful to be really in an abbey! But she +doubted, as she looked round the room, whether anything within her +observation would have given her the consciousness. The furniture was in +all the profusion and elegance of modern taste. The fireplace, where she +had expected the ample width and ponderous carving of former times, was +contracted to a Rumford, with slabs of plain though handsome marble, and +ornaments over it of the prettiest English china. The windows, to which +she looked with peculiar dependence, from having heard the general talk +of his preserving them in their Gothic form with reverential care, were +yet less what her fancy had portrayed. To be sure, the pointed arch +was preserved--the form of them was Gothic--they might be even +casements--but every pane was so large, so clear, so light! To an +imagination which had hoped for the smallest divisions, and the heaviest +stone-work, for painted glass, dirt, and cobwebs, the difference was +very distressing. + +The general, perceiving how her eye was employed, began to talk of the +smallness of the room and simplicity of the furniture, where everything, +being for daily use, pretended only to comfort, etc.; flattering +himself, however, that there were some apartments in the Abbey not +unworthy her notice--and was proceeding to mention the costly gilding +of one in particular, when, taking out his watch, he stopped short to +pronounce it with surprise within twenty minutes of five! This seemed +the word of separation, and Catherine found herself hurried away by Miss +Tilney in such a manner as convinced her that the strictest punctuality +to the family hours would be expected at Northanger. + +Returning through the large and lofty hall, they ascended a broad +staircase of shining oak, which, after many flights and many +landing-places, brought them upon a long, wide gallery. On one side it +had a range of doors, and it was lighted on the other by windows which +Catherine had only time to discover looked into a quadrangle, before +Miss Tilney led the way into a chamber, and scarcely staying to hope she +would find it comfortable, left her with an anxious entreaty that she +would make as little alteration as possible in her dress. + + + + +CHAPTER 21 + + +A moment's glance was enough to satisfy Catherine that her apartment +was very unlike the one which Henry had endeavoured to alarm her by the +description of. It was by no means unreasonably large, and contained +neither tapestry nor velvet. The walls were papered, the floor was +carpeted; the windows were neither less perfect nor more dim than those +of the drawing-room below; the furniture, though not of the latest +fashion, was handsome and comfortable, and the air of the room +altogether far from uncheerful. Her heart instantaneously at ease on +this point, she resolved to lose no time in particular examination of +anything, as she greatly dreaded disobliging the general by any delay. +Her habit therefore was thrown off with all possible haste, and she was +preparing to unpin the linen package, which the chaise-seat had conveyed +for her immediate accommodation, when her eye suddenly fell on a large +high chest, standing back in a deep recess on one side of the fireplace. +The sight of it made her start; and, forgetting everything else, she +stood gazing on it in motionless wonder, while these thoughts crossed +her: + +"This is strange indeed! I did not expect such a sight as this! An +immense heavy chest! What can it hold? Why should it be placed here? +Pushed back too, as if meant to be out of sight! I will look into +it--cost me what it may, I will look into it--and directly too--by +daylight. If I stay till evening my candle may go out." She advanced and +examined it closely: it was of cedar, curiously inlaid with some darker +wood, and raised, about a foot from the ground, on a carved stand of the +same. The lock was silver, though tarnished from age; at each end +were the imperfect remains of handles also of silver, broken perhaps +prematurely by some strange violence; and, on the centre of the lid, was +a mysterious cipher, in the same metal. Catherine bent over it intently, +but without being able to distinguish anything with certainty. She could +not, in whatever direction she took it, believe the last letter to be +a T; and yet that it should be anything else in that house was +a circumstance to raise no common degree of astonishment. If not +originally theirs, by what strange events could it have fallen into the +Tilney family? + +Her fearful curiosity was every moment growing greater; and seizing, +with trembling hands, the hasp of the lock, she resolved at all hazards +to satisfy herself at least as to its contents. With difficulty, for +something seemed to resist her efforts, she raised the lid a few inches; +but at that moment a sudden knocking at the door of the room made her, +starting, quit her hold, and the lid closed with alarming violence. This +ill-timed intruder was Miss Tilney's maid, sent by her mistress to be of +use to Miss Morland; and though Catherine immediately dismissed her, it +recalled her to the sense of what she ought to be doing, and forced her, +in spite of her anxious desire to penetrate this mystery, to proceed in +her dressing without further delay. Her progress was not quick, for her +thoughts and her eyes were still bent on the object so well calculated +to interest and alarm; and though she dared not waste a moment upon +a second attempt, she could not remain many paces from the chest. At +length, however, having slipped one arm into her gown, her toilette +seemed so nearly finished that the impatience of her curiosity might +safely be indulged. One moment surely might be spared; and, so desperate +should be the exertion of her strength, that, unless secured by +supernatural means, the lid in one moment should be thrown back. With +this spirit she sprang forward, and her confidence did not deceive her. +Her resolute effort threw back the lid, and gave to her astonished eyes +the view of a white cotton counterpane, properly folded, reposing at one +end of the chest in undisputed possession! + +She was gazing on it with the first blush of surprise when Miss Tilney, +anxious for her friend's being ready, entered the room, and to the +rising shame of having harboured for some minutes an absurd expectation, +was then added the shame of being caught in so idle a search. "That is +a curious old chest, is not it?" said Miss Tilney, as Catherine hastily +closed it and turned away to the glass. "It is impossible to say how +many generations it has been here. How it came to be first put in this +room I know not, but I have not had it moved, because I thought it might +sometimes be of use in holding hats and bonnets. The worst of it is that +its weight makes it difficult to open. In that corner, however, it is at +least out of the way." + +Catherine had no leisure for speech, being at once blushing, tying her +gown, and forming wise resolutions with the most violent dispatch. Miss +Tilney gently hinted her fear of being late; and in half a minute they +ran downstairs together, in an alarm not wholly unfounded, for General +Tilney was pacing the drawing-room, his watch in his hand, and having, +on the very instant of their entering, pulled the bell with violence, +ordered "Dinner to be on table directly!" + +Catherine trembled at the emphasis with which he spoke, and sat pale +and breathless, in a most humble mood, concerned for his children, and +detesting old chests; and the general, recovering his politeness as he +looked at her, spent the rest of his time in scolding his daughter for +so foolishly hurrying her fair friend, who was absolutely out of breath +from haste, when there was not the least occasion for hurry in the +world: but Catherine could not at all get over the double distress +of having involved her friend in a lecture and been a great simpleton +herself, till they were happily seated at the dinner-table, when the +general's complacent smiles, and a good appetite of her own, restored +her to peace. The dining-parlour was a noble room, suitable in its +dimensions to a much larger drawing-room than the one in common use, and +fitted up in a style of luxury and expense which was almost lost on the +unpractised eye of Catherine, who saw little more than its spaciousness +and the number of their attendants. Of the former, she spoke aloud +her admiration; and the general, with a very gracious countenance, +acknowledged that it was by no means an ill-sized room, and further +confessed that, though as careless on such subjects as most people, he +did look upon a tolerably large eating-room as one of the necessaries +of life; he supposed, however, "that she must have been used to much +better-sized apartments at Mr. Allen's?" + +"No, indeed," was Catherine's honest assurance; "Mr. Allen's +dining-parlour was not more than half as large," and she had never +seen so large a room as this in her life. The general's good humour +increased. Why, as he had such rooms, he thought it would be simple not +to make use of them; but, upon his honour, he believed there might be +more comfort in rooms of only half their size. Mr. Allen's house, he was +sure, must be exactly of the true size for rational happiness. + +The evening passed without any further disturbance, and, in the +occasional absence of General Tilney, with much positive cheerfulness. +It was only in his presence that Catherine felt the smallest fatigue +from her journey; and even then, even in moments of languor or +restraint, a sense of general happiness preponderated, and she could +think of her friends in Bath without one wish of being with them. + +The night was stormy; the wind had been rising at intervals the whole +afternoon; and by the time the party broke up, it blew and rained +violently. Catherine, as she crossed the hall, listened to the tempest +with sensations of awe; and, when she heard it rage round a corner of +the ancient building and close with sudden fury a distant door, felt +for the first time that she was really in an abbey. Yes, these were +characteristic sounds; they brought to her recollection a countless +variety of dreadful situations and horrid scenes, which such buildings +had witnessed, and such storms ushered in; and most heartily did she +rejoice in the happier circumstances attending her entrance within walls +so solemn! She had nothing to dread from midnight assassins or drunken +gallants. Henry had certainly been only in jest in what he had told her +that morning. In a house so furnished, and so guarded, she could have +nothing to explore or to suffer, and might go to her bedroom as securely +as if it had been her own chamber at Fullerton. Thus wisely fortifying +her mind, as she proceeded upstairs, she was enabled, especially on +perceiving that Miss Tilney slept only two doors from her, to enter +her room with a tolerably stout heart; and her spirits were immediately +assisted by the cheerful blaze of a wood fire. "How much better is +this," said she, as she walked to the fender--"how much better to find a +fire ready lit, than to have to wait shivering in the cold till all the +family are in bed, as so many poor girls have been obliged to do, and +then to have a faithful old servant frightening one by coming in with a +faggot! How glad I am that Northanger is what it is! If it had been like +some other places, I do not know that, in such a night as this, I could +have answered for my courage: but now, to be sure, there is nothing to +alarm one." + +She looked round the room. The window curtains seemed in motion. It +could be nothing but the violence of the wind penetrating through the +divisions of the shutters; and she stepped boldly forward, carelessly +humming a tune, to assure herself of its being so, peeped courageously +behind each curtain, saw nothing on either low window seat to scare her, +and on placing a hand against the shutter, felt the strongest conviction +of the wind's force. A glance at the old chest, as she turned away from +this examination, was not without its use; she scorned the causeless +fears of an idle fancy, and began with a most happy indifference to +prepare herself for bed. "She should take her time; she should not hurry +herself; she did not care if she were the last person up in the house. +But she would not make up her fire; that would seem cowardly, as if +she wished for the protection of light after she were in bed." The fire +therefore died away, and Catherine, having spent the best part of an +hour in her arrangements, was beginning to think of stepping into bed, +when, on giving a parting glance round the room, she was struck by the +appearance of a high, old-fashioned black cabinet, which, though in +a situation conspicuous enough, had never caught her notice before. +Henry's words, his description of the ebony cabinet which was to escape +her observation at first, immediately rushed across her; and though +there could be nothing really in it, there was something whimsical, it +was certainly a very remarkable coincidence! She took her candle and +looked closely at the cabinet. It was not absolutely ebony and gold; but +it was japan, black and yellow japan of the handsomest kind; and as she +held her candle, the yellow had very much the effect of gold. The key +was in the door, and she had a strange fancy to look into it; not, +however, with the smallest expectation of finding anything, but it was +so very odd, after what Henry had said. In short, she could not sleep +till she had examined it. So, placing the candle with great caution on +a chair, she seized the key with a very tremulous hand and tried to turn +it; but it resisted her utmost strength. Alarmed, but not discouraged, +she tried it another way; a bolt flew, and she believed herself +successful; but how strangely mysterious! The door was still immovable. +She paused a moment in breathless wonder. The wind roared down the +chimney, the rain beat in torrents against the windows, and everything +seemed to speak the awfulness of her situation. To retire to bed, +however, unsatisfied on such a point, would be vain, since sleep must be +impossible with the consciousness of a cabinet so mysteriously closed +in her immediate vicinity. Again, therefore, she applied herself to the +key, and after moving it in every possible way for some instants with +the determined celerity of hope's last effort, the door suddenly yielded +to her hand: her heart leaped with exultation at such a victory, and +having thrown open each folding door, the second being secured only by +bolts of less wonderful construction than the lock, though in that her +eye could not discern anything unusual, a double range of small drawers +appeared in view, with some larger drawers above and below them; and in +the centre, a small door, closed also with a lock and key, secured in +all probability a cavity of importance. + +Catherine's heart beat quick, but her courage did not fail her. With a +cheek flushed by hope, and an eye straining with curiosity, her fingers +grasped the handle of a drawer and drew it forth. It was entirely empty. +With less alarm and greater eagerness she seized a second, a third, a +fourth; each was equally empty. Not one was left unsearched, and in not +one was anything found. Well read in the art of concealing a treasure, +the possibility of false linings to the drawers did not escape her, and +she felt round each with anxious acuteness in vain. The place in the +middle alone remained now unexplored; and though she had "never from +the first had the smallest idea of finding anything in any part of the +cabinet, and was not in the least disappointed at her ill success thus +far, it would be foolish not to examine it thoroughly while she was +about it." It was some time however before she could unfasten the door, +the same difficulty occurring in the management of this inner lock as of +the outer; but at length it did open; and not vain, as hitherto, was her +search; her quick eyes directly fell on a roll of paper pushed back +into the further part of the cavity, apparently for concealment, and +her feelings at that moment were indescribable. Her heart fluttered, her +knees trembled, and her cheeks grew pale. She seized, with an unsteady +hand, the precious manuscript, for half a glance sufficed to ascertain +written characters; and while she acknowledged with awful sensations +this striking exemplification of what Henry had foretold, resolved +instantly to peruse every line before she attempted to rest. + +The dimness of the light her candle emitted made her turn to it with +alarm; but there was no danger of its sudden extinction; it had yet some +hours to burn; and that she might not have any greater difficulty in +distinguishing the writing than what its ancient date might occasion, +she hastily snuffed it. Alas! It was snuffed and extinguished in one. A +lamp could not have expired with more awful effect. Catherine, for a +few moments, was motionless with horror. It was done completely; not a +remnant of light in the wick could give hope to the rekindling breath. +Darkness impenetrable and immovable filled the room. A violent gust +of wind, rising with sudden fury, added fresh horror to the moment. +Catherine trembled from head to foot. In the pause which succeeded, a +sound like receding footsteps and the closing of a distant door struck +on her affrighted ear. Human nature could support no more. A cold sweat +stood on her forehead, the manuscript fell from her hand, and groping +her way to the bed, she jumped hastily in, and sought some suspension of +agony by creeping far underneath the clothes. To close her eyes in +sleep that night, she felt must be entirely out of the question. With +a curiosity so justly awakened, and feelings in every way so agitated, +repose must be absolutely impossible. The storm too abroad so dreadful! +She had not been used to feel alarm from wind, but now every blast +seemed fraught with awful intelligence. The manuscript so wonderfully +found, so wonderfully accomplishing the morning's prediction, how was it +to be accounted for? What could it contain? To whom could it relate? +By what means could it have been so long concealed? And how singularly +strange that it should fall to her lot to discover it! Till she had made +herself mistress of its contents, however, she could have neither repose +nor comfort; and with the sun's first rays she was determined to peruse +it. But many were the tedious hours which must yet intervene. She +shuddered, tossed about in her bed, and envied every quiet sleeper. The +storm still raged, and various were the noises, more terrific even +than the wind, which struck at intervals on her startled ear. The very +curtains of her bed seemed at one moment in motion, and at another +the lock of her door was agitated, as if by the attempt of somebody to +enter. Hollow murmurs seemed to creep along the gallery, and more than +once her blood was chilled by the sound of distant moans. Hour after +hour passed away, and the wearied Catherine had heard three proclaimed +by all the clocks in the house before the tempest subsided or she +unknowingly fell fast asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER 22 + + +The housemaid's folding back her window-shutters at eight o'clock the +next day was the sound which first roused Catherine; and she opened her +eyes, wondering that they could ever have been closed, on objects of +cheerfulness; her fire was already burning, and a bright morning +had succeeded the tempest of the night. Instantaneously, with the +consciousness of existence, returned her recollection of the manuscript; +and springing from the bed in the very moment of the maid's going away, +she eagerly collected every scattered sheet which had burst from the +roll on its falling to the ground, and flew back to enjoy the luxury +of their perusal on her pillow. She now plainly saw that she must not +expect a manuscript of equal length with the generality of what she had +shuddered over in books, for the roll, seeming to consist entirely of +small disjointed sheets, was altogether but of trifling size, and much +less than she had supposed it to be at first. + +Her greedy eye glanced rapidly over a page. She started at its import. +Could it be possible, or did not her senses play her false? An inventory +of linen, in coarse and modern characters, seemed all that was before +her! If the evidence of sight might be trusted, she held a washing-bill +in her hand. She seized another sheet, and saw the same articles with +little variation; a third, a fourth, and a fifth presented nothing +new. Shirts, stockings, cravats, and waistcoats faced her in each. Two +others, penned by the same hand, marked an expenditure scarcely more +interesting, in letters, hair-powder, shoe-string, and breeches-ball. +And the larger sheet, which had enclosed the rest, seemed by its first +cramp line, "To poultice chestnut mare"--a farrier's bill! Such was the +collection of papers (left perhaps, as she could then suppose, by the +negligence of a servant in the place whence she had taken them) which +had filled her with expectation and alarm, and robbed her of half her +night's rest! She felt humbled to the dust. Could not the adventure of +the chest have taught her wisdom? A corner of it, catching her eye as +she lay, seemed to rise up in judgment against her. Nothing could now +be clearer than the absurdity of her recent fancies. To suppose that a +manuscript of many generations back could have remained undiscovered in +a room such as that, so modern, so habitable!--Or that she should be the +first to possess the skill of unlocking a cabinet, the key of which was +open to all! + +How could she have so imposed on herself? Heaven forbid that Henry +Tilney should ever know her folly! And it was in a great measure his +own doing, for had not the cabinet appeared so exactly to agree with his +description of her adventures, she should never have felt the smallest +curiosity about it. This was the only comfort that occurred. Impatient +to get rid of those hateful evidences of her folly, those detestable +papers then scattered over the bed, she rose directly, and folding them +up as nearly as possible in the same shape as before, returned them +to the same spot within the cabinet, with a very hearty wish that no +untoward accident might ever bring them forward again, to disgrace her +even with herself. + +Why the locks should have been so difficult to open, however, was still +something remarkable, for she could now manage them with perfect ease. +In this there was surely something mysterious, and she indulged in the +flattering suggestion for half a minute, till the possibility of the +door's having been at first unlocked, and of being herself its fastener, +darted into her head, and cost her another blush. + +She got away as soon as she could from a room in which her conduct +produced such unpleasant reflections, and found her way with all speed +to the breakfast-parlour, as it had been pointed out to her by Miss +Tilney the evening before. Henry was alone in it; and his immediate hope +of her having been undisturbed by the tempest, with an arch reference +to the character of the building they inhabited, was rather distressing. +For the world would she not have her weakness suspected, and yet, +unequal to an absolute falsehood, was constrained to acknowledge that +the wind had kept her awake a little. "But we have a charming morning +after it," she added, desiring to get rid of the subject; "and storms +and sleeplessness are nothing when they are over. What beautiful +hyacinths! I have just learnt to love a hyacinth." + +"And how might you learn? By accident or argument?" + +"Your sister taught me; I cannot tell how. Mrs. Allen used to take +pains, year after year, to make me like them; but I never could, till +I saw them the other day in Milsom Street; I am naturally indifferent +about flowers." + +"But now you love a hyacinth. So much the better. You have gained a new +source of enjoyment, and it is well to have as many holds upon happiness +as possible. Besides, a taste for flowers is always desirable in your +sex, as a means of getting you out of doors, and tempting you to more +frequent exercise than you would otherwise take. And though the love +of a hyacinth may be rather domestic, who can tell, the sentiment once +raised, but you may in time come to love a rose?" + +"But I do not want any such pursuit to get me out of doors. The pleasure +of walking and breathing fresh air is enough for me, and in fine weather +I am out more than half my time. Mamma says I am never within." + +"At any rate, however, I am pleased that you have learnt to love +a hyacinth. The mere habit of learning to love is the thing; and a +teachableness of disposition in a young lady is a great blessing. Has my +sister a pleasant mode of instruction?" + +Catherine was saved the embarrassment of attempting an answer by the +entrance of the general, whose smiling compliments announced a happy +state of mind, but whose gentle hint of sympathetic early rising did not +advance her composure. + +The elegance of the breakfast set forced itself on Catherine's notice +when they were seated at table; and, lucidly, it had been the general's +choice. He was enchanted by her approbation of his taste, confessed it +to be neat and simple, thought it right to encourage the manufacture of +his country; and for his part, to his uncritical palate, the tea was as +well flavoured from the clay of Staffordshire, as from that of Dresden +or Save. But this was quite an old set, purchased two years ago. +The manufacture was much improved since that time; he had seen some +beautiful specimens when last in town, and had he not been perfectly +without vanity of that kind, might have been tempted to order a new +set. He trusted, however, that an opportunity might ere long occur of +selecting one--though not for himself. Catherine was probably the only +one of the party who did not understand him. + +Shortly after breakfast Henry left them for Woodston, where business +required and would keep him two or three days. They all attended in +the hall to see him mount his horse, and immediately on re-entering the +breakfast-room, Catherine walked to a window in the hope of catching +another glimpse of his figure. "This is a somewhat heavy call upon your +brother's fortitude," observed the general to Eleanor. "Woodston will +make but a sombre appearance today." + +"Is it a pretty place?" asked Catherine. + +"What say you, Eleanor? Speak your opinion, for ladies can best tell the +taste of ladies in regard to places as well as men. I think it would be +acknowledged by the most impartial eye to have many recommendations. The +house stands among fine meadows facing the south-east, with an excellent +kitchen-garden in the same aspect; the walls surrounding which I built +and stocked myself about ten years ago, for the benefit of my son. It +is a family living, Miss Morland; and the property in the place being +chiefly my own, you may believe I take care that it shall not be a bad +one. Did Henry's income depend solely on this living, he would not be +ill-provided for. Perhaps it may seem odd, that with only two younger +children, I should think any profession necessary for him; and certainly +there are moments when we could all wish him disengaged from every tie +of business. But though I may not exactly make converts of you young +ladies, I am sure your father, Miss Morland, would agree with me in +thinking it expedient to give every young man some employment. The +money is nothing, it is not an object, but employment is the thing. +Even Frederick, my eldest son, you see, who will perhaps inherit as +considerable a landed property as any private man in the county, has his +profession." + +The imposing effect of this last argument was equal to his wishes. The +silence of the lady proved it to be unanswerable. + +Something had been said the evening before of her being shown over the +house, and he now offered himself as her conductor; and though Catherine +had hoped to explore it accompanied only by his daughter, it was a +proposal of too much happiness in itself, under any circumstances, not +to be gladly accepted; for she had been already eighteen hours in the +abbey, and had seen only a few of its rooms. The netting-box, just +leisurely drawn forth, was closed with joyful haste, and she was ready +to attend him in a moment. "And when they had gone over the house, he +promised himself moreover the pleasure of accompanying her into the +shrubberies and garden." She curtsied her acquiescence. "But perhaps +it might be more agreeable to her to make those her first object. +The weather was at present favourable, and at this time of year the +uncertainty was very great of its continuing so. Which would she prefer? +He was equally at her service. Which did his daughter think would most +accord with her fair friend's wishes? But he thought he could discern. +Yes, he certainly read in Miss Morland's eyes a judicious desire of +making use of the present smiling weather. But when did she judge amiss? +The abbey would be always safe and dry. He yielded implicitly, and +would fetch his hat and attend them in a moment." He left the room, +and Catherine, with a disappointed, anxious face, began to speak of her +unwillingness that he should be taking them out of doors against his own +inclination, under a mistaken idea of pleasing her; but she was stopped +by Miss Tilney's saying, with a little confusion, "I believe it will be +wisest to take the morning while it is so fine; and do not be uneasy on +my father's account; he always walks out at this time of day." + +Catherine did not exactly know how this was to be understood. Why +was Miss Tilney embarrassed? Could there be any unwillingness on the +general's side to show her over the abbey? The proposal was his own. And +was not it odd that he should always take his walk so early? Neither her +father nor Mr. Allen did so. It was certainly very provoking. She was +all impatience to see the house, and had scarcely any curiosity about +the grounds. If Henry had been with them indeed! But now she should not +know what was picturesque when she saw it. Such were her thoughts, but +she kept them to herself, and put on her bonnet in patient discontent. + +She was struck, however, beyond her expectation, by the grandeur of +the abbey, as she saw it for the first time from the lawn. The whole +building enclosed a large court; and two sides of the quadrangle, rich +in Gothic ornaments, stood forward for admiration. The remainder was +shut off by knolls of old trees, or luxuriant plantations, and the steep +woody hills rising behind, to give it shelter, were beautiful even in +the leafless month of March. Catherine had seen nothing to compare with +it; and her feelings of delight were so strong, that without waiting for +any better authority, she boldly burst forth in wonder and praise. The +general listened with assenting gratitude; and it seemed as if his own +estimation of Northanger had waited unfixed till that hour. + +The kitchen-garden was to be next admired, and he led the way to it +across a small portion of the park. + +The number of acres contained in this garden was such as Catherine could +not listen to without dismay, being more than double the extent of all +Mr. Allen's, as well her father's, including church-yard and orchard. +The walls seemed countless in number, endless in length; a village of +hot-houses seemed to arise among them, and a whole parish to be at +work within the enclosure. The general was flattered by her looks of +surprise, which told him almost as plainly, as he soon forced her to +tell him in words, that she had never seen any gardens at all equal to +them before; and he then modestly owned that, "without any ambition of +that sort himself--without any solicitude about it--he did believe them +to be unrivalled in the kingdom. If he had a hobby-horse, it was that. +He loved a garden. Though careless enough in most matters of eating, he +loved good fruit--or if he did not, his friends and children did. There +were great vexations, however, attending such a garden as his. The +utmost care could not always secure the most valuable fruits. The pinery +had yielded only one hundred in the last year. Mr. Allen, he supposed, +must feel these inconveniences as well as himself." + +"No, not at all. Mr. Allen did not care about the garden, and never went +into it." + +With a triumphant smile of self-satisfaction, the general wished he +could do the same, for he never entered his, without being vexed in some +way or other, by its falling short of his plan. + +"How were Mr. Allen's succession-houses worked?" describing the nature +of his own as they entered them. + +"Mr. Allen had only one small hot-house, which Mrs. Allen had the use of +for her plants in winter, and there was a fire in it now and then." + +"He is a happy man!" said the general, with a look of very happy +contempt. + +Having taken her into every division, and led her under every wall, till +she was heartily weary of seeing and wondering, he suffered the girls +at last to seize the advantage of an outer door, and then expressing +his wish to examine the effect of some recent alterations about the +tea-house, proposed it as no unpleasant extension of their walk, if Miss +Morland were not tired. "But where are you going, Eleanor? Why do you +choose that cold, damp path to it? Miss Morland will get wet. Our best +way is across the park." + +"This is so favourite a walk of mine," said Miss Tilney, "that I always +think it the best and nearest way. But perhaps it may be damp." + +It was a narrow winding path through a thick grove of old Scotch firs; +and Catherine, struck by its gloomy aspect, and eager to enter it, +could not, even by the general's disapprobation, be kept from stepping +forward. He perceived her inclination, and having again urged the plea +of health in vain, was too polite to make further opposition. He excused +himself, however, from attending them: "The rays of the sun were not too +cheerful for him, and he would meet them by another course." He turned +away; and Catherine was shocked to find how much her spirits were +relieved by the separation. The shock, however, being less real than the +relief, offered it no injury; and she began to talk with easy gaiety of +the delightful melancholy which such a grove inspired. + +"I am particularly fond of this spot," said her companion, with a sigh. +"It was my mother's favourite walk." + +Catherine had never heard Mrs. Tilney mentioned in the family before, +and the interest excited by this tender remembrance showed itself +directly in her altered countenance, and in the attentive pause with +which she waited for something more. + +"I used to walk here so often with her!" added Eleanor; "though I never +loved it then, as I have loved it since. At that time indeed I used to +wonder at her choice. But her memory endears it now." + +"And ought it not," reflected Catherine, "to endear it to her husband? +Yet the general would not enter it." Miss Tilney continuing silent, she +ventured to say, "Her death must have been a great affliction!" + +"A great and increasing one," replied the other, in a low voice. "I was +only thirteen when it happened; and though I felt my loss perhaps as +strongly as one so young could feel it, I did not, I could not, then +know what a loss it was." She stopped for a moment, and then added, with +great firmness, "I have no sister, you know--and though Henry--though my +brothers are very affectionate, and Henry is a great deal here, which I +am most thankful for, it is impossible for me not to be often solitary." + +"To be sure you must miss him very much." + +"A mother would have been always present. A mother would have been a +constant friend; her influence would have been beyond all other." + +"Was she a very charming woman? Was she handsome? Was there any picture +of her in the abbey? And why had she been so partial to that grove? Was +it from dejection of spirits?"--were questions now eagerly poured forth; +the first three received a ready affirmative, the two others were passed +by; and Catherine's interest in the deceased Mrs. Tilney augmented with +every question, whether answered or not. Of her unhappiness in marriage, +she felt persuaded. The general certainly had been an unkind husband. He +did not love her walk: could he therefore have loved her? And besides, +handsome as he was, there was a something in the turn of his features +which spoke his not having behaved well to her. + +"Her picture, I suppose," blushing at the consummate art of her own +question, "hangs in your father's room?" + +"No; it was intended for the drawing-room; but my father was +dissatisfied with the painting, and for some time it had no place. +Soon after her death I obtained it for my own, and hung it in my +bed-chamber--where I shall be happy to show it you; it is very like." +Here was another proof. A portrait--very like--of a departed wife, not +valued by the husband! He must have been dreadfully cruel to her! + +Catherine attempted no longer to hide from herself the nature of the +feelings which, in spite of all his attentions, he had previously +excited; and what had been terror and dislike before, was now absolute +aversion. Yes, aversion! His cruelty to such a charming woman made him +odious to her. She had often read of such characters, characters which +Mr. Allen had been used to call unnatural and overdrawn; but here was +proof positive of the contrary. + +She had just settled this point when the end of the path brought them +directly upon the general; and in spite of all her virtuous indignation, +she found herself again obliged to walk with him, listen to him, and +even to smile when he smiled. Being no longer able, however, to receive +pleasure from the surrounding objects, she soon began to walk with +lassitude; the general perceived it, and with a concern for her health, +which seemed to reproach her for her opinion of him, was most urgent +for returning with his daughter to the house. He would follow them in +a quarter of an hour. Again they parted--but Eleanor was called back in +half a minute to receive a strict charge against taking her friend round +the abbey till his return. This second instance of his anxiety to delay +what she so much wished for struck Catherine as very remarkable. + + + + +CHAPTER 23 + + +An hour passed away before the general came in, spent, on the part of +his young guest, in no very favourable consideration of his character. +"This lengthened absence, these solitary rambles, did not speak a mind +at ease, or a conscience void of reproach." At length he appeared; and, +whatever might have been the gloom of his meditations, he could still +smile with them. Miss Tilney, understanding in part her friend's +curiosity to see the house, soon revived the subject; and her father +being, contrary to Catherine's expectations, unprovided with any +pretence for further delay, beyond that of stopping five minutes to +order refreshments to be in the room by their return, was at last ready +to escort them. + +They set forward; and, with a grandeur of air, a dignified step, +which caught the eye, but could not shake the doubts of the well-read +Catherine, he led the way across the hall, through the common +drawing-room and one useless antechamber, into a room magnificent both +in size and furniture--the real drawing-room, used only with company of +consequence. It was very noble--very grand--very charming!--was all that +Catherine had to say, for her indiscriminating eye scarcely discerned +the colour of the satin; and all minuteness of praise, all praise +that had much meaning, was supplied by the general: the costliness or +elegance of any room's fitting-up could be nothing to her; she cared for +no furniture of a more modern date than the fifteenth century. When the +general had satisfied his own curiosity, in a close examination of every +well-known ornament, they proceeded into the library, an apartment, in +its way, of equal magnificence, exhibiting a collection of books, on +which an humble man might have looked with pride. Catherine heard, +admired, and wondered with more genuine feeling than before--gathered +all that she could from this storehouse of knowledge, by running over +the titles of half a shelf, and was ready to proceed. But suites of +apartments did not spring up with her wishes. Large as was the building, +she had already visited the greatest part; though, on being told that, +with the addition of the kitchen, the six or seven rooms she had now +seen surrounded three sides of the court, she could scarcely believe it, +or overcome the suspicion of there being many chambers secreted. It was +some relief, however, that they were to return to the rooms in common +use, by passing through a few of less importance, looking into the +court, which, with occasional passages, not wholly unintricate, +connected the different sides; and she was further soothed in her +progress by being told that she was treading what had once been a +cloister, having traces of cells pointed out, and observing several +doors that were neither opened nor explained to her--by finding herself +successively in a billiard-room, and in the general's private apartment, +without comprehending their connection, or being able to turn aright +when she left them; and lastly, by passing through a dark little room, +owning Henry's authority, and strewed with his litter of books, guns, +and greatcoats. + +From the dining-room, of which, though already seen, and always to be +seen at five o'clock, the general could not forgo the pleasure of pacing +out the length, for the more certain information of Miss Morland, as +to what she neither doubted nor cared for, they proceeded by quick +communication to the kitchen--the ancient kitchen of the convent, rich +in the massy walls and smoke of former days, and in the stoves and hot +closets of the present. The general's improving hand had not loitered +here: every modern invention to facilitate the labour of the cooks had +been adopted within this, their spacious theatre; and, when the genius +of others had failed, his own had often produced the perfection wanted. +His endowments of this spot alone might at any time have placed him high +among the benefactors of the convent. + +With the walls of the kitchen ended all the antiquity of the abbey; the +fourth side of the quadrangle having, on account of its decaying state, +been removed by the general's father, and the present erected in its +place. All that was venerable ceased here. The new building was not +only new, but declared itself to be so; intended only for offices, and +enclosed behind by stable-yards, no uniformity of architecture had been +thought necessary. Catherine could have raved at the hand which had +swept away what must have been beyond the value of all the rest, for the +purposes of mere domestic economy; and would willingly have been spared +the mortification of a walk through scenes so fallen, had the general +allowed it; but if he had a vanity, it was in the arrangement of his +offices; and as he was convinced that, to a mind like Miss Morland's, +a view of the accommodations and comforts, by which the labours of her +inferiors were softened, must always be gratifying, he should make +no apology for leading her on. They took a slight survey of all; and +Catherine was impressed, beyond her expectation, by their multiplicity +and their convenience. The purposes for which a few shapeless pantries +and a comfortless scullery were deemed sufficient at Fullerton, were +here carried on in appropriate divisions, commodious and roomy. The +number of servants continually appearing did not strike her less than +the number of their offices. Wherever they went, some pattened girl +stopped to curtsy, or some footman in dishabille sneaked off. Yet this +was an abbey! How inexpressibly different in these domestic arrangements +from such as she had read about--from abbeys and castles, in which, +though certainly larger than Northanger, all the dirty work of the house +was to be done by two pair of female hands at the utmost. How they could +get through it all had often amazed Mrs. Allen; and, when Catherine saw +what was necessary here, she began to be amazed herself. + +They returned to the hall, that the chief staircase might be ascended, +and the beauty of its wood, and ornaments of rich carving might be +pointed out: having gained the top, they turned in an opposite direction +from the gallery in which her room lay, and shortly entered one on +the same plan, but superior in length and breadth. She was here shown +successively into three large bed-chambers, with their dressing-rooms, +most completely and handsomely fitted up; everything that money and +taste could do, to give comfort and elegance to apartments, had been +bestowed on these; and, being furnished within the last five years, they +were perfect in all that would be generally pleasing, and wanting in all +that could give pleasure to Catherine. As they were surveying the last, +the general, after slightly naming a few of the distinguished characters +by whom they had at times been honoured, turned with a smiling +countenance to Catherine, and ventured to hope that henceforward some of +their earliest tenants might be "our friends from Fullerton." She felt +the unexpected compliment, and deeply regretted the impossibility of +thinking well of a man so kindly disposed towards herself, and so full +of civility to all her family. + +The gallery was terminated by folding doors, which Miss Tilney, +advancing, had thrown open, and passed through, and seemed on the point +of doing the same by the first door to the left, in another long reach +of gallery, when the general, coming forwards, called her hastily, and, +as Catherine thought, rather angrily back, demanding whether she were +going?--And what was there more to be seen?--Had not Miss Morland +already seen all that could be worth her notice?--And did she not +suppose her friend might be glad of some refreshment after so much +exercise? Miss Tilney drew back directly, and the heavy doors were +closed upon the mortified Catherine, who, having seen, in a momentary +glance beyond them, a narrower passage, more numerous openings, and +symptoms of a winding staircase, believed herself at last within the +reach of something worth her notice; and felt, as she unwillingly paced +back the gallery, that she would rather be allowed to examine that end +of the house than see all the finery of all the rest. The general's +evident desire of preventing such an examination was an additional +stimulant. Something was certainly to be concealed; her fancy, though +it had trespassed lately once or twice, could not mislead her here; +and what that something was, a short sentence of Miss Tilney's, as they +followed the general at some distance downstairs, seemed to point out: +"I was going to take you into what was my mother's room--the room +in which she died--" were all her words; but few as they were, they +conveyed pages of intelligence to Catherine. It was no wonder that the +general should shrink from the sight of such objects as that room +must contain; a room in all probability never entered by him since the +dreadful scene had passed, which released his suffering wife, and left +him to the stings of conscience. + +She ventured, when next alone with Eleanor, to express her wish of being +permitted to see it, as well as all the rest of that side of the house; +and Eleanor promised to attend her there, whenever they should have a +convenient hour. Catherine understood her: the general must be watched +from home, before that room could be entered. "It remains as it was, I +suppose?" said she, in a tone of feeling. + +"Yes, entirely." + +"And how long ago may it be that your mother died?" + +"She has been dead these nine years." And nine years, Catherine knew, +was a trifle of time, compared with what generally elapsed after the +death of an injured wife, before her room was put to rights. + +"You were with her, I suppose, to the last?" + +"No," said Miss Tilney, sighing; "I was unfortunately from home. Her +illness was sudden and short; and, before I arrived it was all over." + +Catherine's blood ran cold with the horrid suggestions which naturally +sprang from these words. Could it be possible? Could Henry's father--? +And yet how many were the examples to justify even the blackest +suspicions! And, when she saw him in the evening, while she worked +with her friend, slowly pacing the drawing-room for an hour together in +silent thoughtfulness, with downcast eyes and contracted brow, she felt +secure from all possibility of wronging him. It was the air and attitude +of a Montoni! What could more plainly speak the gloomy workings of a +mind not wholly dead to every sense of humanity, in its fearful review +of past scenes of guilt? Unhappy man! And the anxiousness of her spirits +directed her eyes towards his figure so repeatedly, as to catch Miss +Tilney's notice. "My father," she whispered, "often walks about the room +in this way; it is nothing unusual." + +"So much the worse!" thought Catherine; such ill-timed exercise was of a +piece with the strange unseasonableness of his morning walks, and boded +nothing good. + +After an evening, the little variety and seeming length of which made +her peculiarly sensible of Henry's importance among them, she was +heartily glad to be dismissed; though it was a look from the general not +designed for her observation which sent his daughter to the bell. +When the butler would have lit his master's candle, however, he was +forbidden. The latter was not going to retire. "I have many pamphlets to +finish," said he to Catherine, "before I can close my eyes, and perhaps +may be poring over the affairs of the nation for hours after you are +asleep. Can either of us be more meetly employed? My eyes will be +blinding for the good of others, and yours preparing by rest for future +mischief." + +But neither the business alleged, nor the magnificent compliment, +could win Catherine from thinking that some very different object must +occasion so serious a delay of proper repose. To be kept up for hours, +after the family were in bed, by stupid pamphlets was not very likely. +There must be some deeper cause: something was to be done which could +be done only while the household slept; and the probability that Mrs. +Tilney yet lived, shut up for causes unknown, and receiving from the +pitiless hands of her husband a nightly supply of coarse food, was the +conclusion which necessarily followed. Shocking as was the idea, it +was at least better than a death unfairly hastened, as, in the natural +course of things, she must ere long be released. The suddenness of her +reputed illness, the absence of her daughter, and probably of her other +children, at the time--all favoured the supposition of her imprisonment. +Its origin--jealousy perhaps, or wanton cruelty--was yet to be +unravelled. + +In revolving these matters, while she undressed, it suddenly struck her +as not unlikely that she might that morning have passed near the very +spot of this unfortunate woman's confinement--might have been within +a few paces of the cell in which she languished out her days; for what +part of the abbey could be more fitted for the purpose than that which +yet bore the traces of monastic division? In the high-arched passage, +paved with stone, which already she had trodden with peculiar awe, she +well remembered the doors of which the general had given no account. To +what might not those doors lead? In support of the plausibility of this +conjecture, it further occurred to her that the forbidden gallery, in +which lay the apartments of the unfortunate Mrs. Tilney, must be, as +certainly as her memory could guide her, exactly over this suspected +range of cells, and the staircase by the side of those apartments of +which she had caught a transient glimpse, communicating by some +secret means with those cells, might well have favoured the barbarous +proceedings of her husband. Down that staircase she had perhaps been +conveyed in a state of well-prepared insensibility! + +Catherine sometimes started at the boldness of her own surmises, and +sometimes hoped or feared that she had gone too far; but they were +supported by such appearances as made their dismissal impossible. + +The side of the quadrangle, in which she supposed the guilty scene to be +acting, being, according to her belief, just opposite her own, it struck +her that, if judiciously watched, some rays of light from the general's +lamp might glimmer through the lower windows, as he passed to the prison +of his wife; and, twice before she stepped into bed, she stole gently +from her room to the corresponding window in the gallery, to see if it +appeared; but all abroad was dark, and it must yet be too early. The +various ascending noises convinced her that the servants must still be +up. Till midnight, she supposed it would be in vain to watch; but then, +when the clock had struck twelve, and all was quiet, she would, if not +quite appalled by darkness, steal out and look once more. The clock +struck twelve--and Catherine had been half an hour asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER 24 + + +The next day afforded no opportunity for the proposed examination of the +mysterious apartments. It was Sunday, and the whole time between morning +and afternoon service was required by the general in exercise abroad or +eating cold meat at home; and great as was Catherine's curiosity, her +courage was not equal to a wish of exploring them after dinner, either +by the fading light of the sky between six and seven o'clock, or by the +yet more partial though stronger illumination of a treacherous lamp. +The day was unmarked therefore by anything to interest her imagination +beyond the sight of a very elegant monument to the memory of Mrs. +Tilney, which immediately fronted the family pew. By that her eye +was instantly caught and long retained; and the perusal of the highly +strained epitaph, in which every virtue was ascribed to her by the +inconsolable husband, who must have been in some way or other her +destroyer, affected her even to tears. + +That the general, having erected such a monument, should be able to face +it, was not perhaps very strange, and yet that he could sit so boldly +collected within its view, maintain so elevated an air, look so +fearlessly around, nay, that he should even enter the church, seemed +wonderful to Catherine. Not, however, that many instances of beings +equally hardened in guilt might not be produced. She could remember +dozens who had persevered in every possible vice, going on from crime to +crime, murdering whomsoever they chose, without any feeling of humanity +or remorse; till a violent death or a religious retirement closed their +black career. The erection of the monument itself could not in the +smallest degree affect her doubts of Mrs. Tilney's actual decease. Were +she even to descend into the family vault where her ashes were supposed +to slumber, were she to behold the coffin in which they were said to +be enclosed--what could it avail in such a case? Catherine had read too +much not to be perfectly aware of the ease with which a waxen figure +might be introduced, and a supposititious funeral carried on. + +The succeeding morning promised something better. The general's early +walk, ill-timed as it was in every other view, was favourable here; and +when she knew him to be out of the house, she directly proposed to Miss +Tilney the accomplishment of her promise. Eleanor was ready to oblige +her; and Catherine reminding her as they went of another promise, their +first visit in consequence was to the portrait in her bed-chamber. It +represented a very lovely woman, with a mild and pensive countenance, +justifying, so far, the expectations of its new observer; but they were +not in every respect answered, for Catherine had depended upon meeting +with features, hair, complexion, that should be the very counterpart, +the very image, if not of Henry's, of Eleanor's--the only portraits of +which she had been in the habit of thinking, bearing always an equal +resemblance of mother and child. A face once taken was taken for +generations. But here she was obliged to look and consider and study +for a likeness. She contemplated it, however, in spite of this drawback, +with much emotion, and, but for a yet stronger interest, would have left +it unwillingly. + +Her agitation as they entered the great gallery was too much for any +endeavour at discourse; she could only look at her companion. Eleanor's +countenance was dejected, yet sedate; and its composure spoke her inured +to all the gloomy objects to which they were advancing. Again she passed +through the folding doors, again her hand was upon the important lock, +and Catherine, hardly able to breathe, was turning to close the former +with fearful caution, when the figure, the dreaded figure of the general +himself at the further end of the gallery, stood before her! The name of +"Eleanor" at the same moment, in his loudest tone, resounded through the +building, giving to his daughter the first intimation of his presence, +and to Catherine terror upon terror. An attempt at concealment had been +her first instinctive movement on perceiving him, yet she could +scarcely hope to have escaped his eye; and when her friend, who with an +apologizing look darted hastily by her, had joined and disappeared +with him, she ran for safety to her own room, and, locking herself +in, believed that she should never have courage to go down again. She +remained there at least an hour, in the greatest agitation, deeply +commiserating the state of her poor friend, and expecting a summons +herself from the angry general to attend him in his own apartment. No +summons, however, arrived; and at last, on seeing a carriage drive up +to the abbey, she was emboldened to descend and meet him under the +protection of visitors. The breakfast-room was gay with company; and +she was named to them by the general as the friend of his daughter, in +a complimentary style, which so well concealed his resentful ire, as to +make her feel secure at least of life for the present. And Eleanor, +with a command of countenance which did honour to her concern for his +character, taking an early occasion of saying to her, "My father only +wanted me to answer a note," she began to hope that she had either been +unseen by the general, or that from some consideration of policy she +should be allowed to suppose herself so. Upon this trust she dared still +to remain in his presence, after the company left them, and nothing +occurred to disturb it. + +In the course of this morning's reflections, she came to a resolution +of making her next attempt on the forbidden door alone. It would be much +better in every respect that Eleanor should know nothing of the matter. +To involve her in the danger of a second detection, to court her into +an apartment which must wring her heart, could not be the office of a +friend. The general's utmost anger could not be to herself what it might +be to a daughter; and, besides, she thought the examination itself +would be more satisfactory if made without any companion. It would be +impossible to explain to Eleanor the suspicions, from which the other +had, in all likelihood, been hitherto happily exempt; nor could she +therefore, in her presence, search for those proofs of the general's +cruelty, which however they might yet have escaped discovery, she felt +confident of somewhere drawing forth, in the shape of some fragmented +journal, continued to the last gasp. Of the way to the apartment she was +now perfectly mistress; and as she wished to get it over before Henry's +return, who was expected on the morrow, there was no time to be lost. +The day was bright, her courage high; at four o'clock, the sun was now +two hours above the horizon, and it would be only her retiring to dress +half an hour earlier than usual. + +It was done; and Catherine found herself alone in the gallery before the +clocks had ceased to strike. It was no time for thought; she hurried +on, slipped with the least possible noise through the folding doors, +and without stopping to look or breathe, rushed forward to the one in +question. The lock yielded to her hand, and, luckily, with no sullen +sound that could alarm a human being. On tiptoe she entered; the room +was before her; but it was some minutes before she could advance another +step. She beheld what fixed her to the spot and agitated every feature. +She saw a large, well-proportioned apartment, an handsome dimity bed, +arranged as unoccupied with an housemaid's care, a bright Bath stove, +mahogany wardrobes, and neatly painted chairs, on which the warm beams +of a western sun gaily poured through two sash windows! Catherine had +expected to have her feelings worked, and worked they were. Astonishment +and doubt first seized them; and a shortly succeeding ray of common +sense added some bitter emotions of shame. She could not be mistaken +as to the room; but how grossly mistaken in everything else!--in Miss +Tilney's meaning, in her own calculation! This apartment, to which she +had given a date so ancient, a position so awful, proved to be one end +of what the general's father had built. There were two other doors in +the chamber, leading probably into dressing-closets; but she had no +inclination to open either. Would the veil in which Mrs. Tilney had last +walked, or the volume in which she had last read, remain to tell what +nothing else was allowed to whisper? No: whatever might have been the +general's crimes, he had certainly too much wit to let them sue for +detection. She was sick of exploring, and desired but to be safe in her +own room, with her own heart only privy to its folly; and she was on +the point of retreating as softly as she had entered, when the sound of +footsteps, she could hardly tell where, made her pause and tremble. +To be found there, even by a servant, would be unpleasant; but by the +general (and he seemed always at hand when least wanted), much worse! +She listened--the sound had ceased; and resolving not to lose a +moment, she passed through and closed the door. At that instant a door +underneath was hastily opened; someone seemed with swift steps to ascend +the stairs, by the head of which she had yet to pass before she could +gain the gallery. She had no power to move. With a feeling of terror +not very definable, she fixed her eyes on the staircase, and in a few +moments it gave Henry to her view. "Mr. Tilney!" she exclaimed in a +voice of more than common astonishment. He looked astonished too. "Good +God!" she continued, not attending to his address. "How came you here? +How came you up that staircase?" + +"How came I up that staircase!" he replied, greatly surprised. "Because +it is my nearest way from the stable-yard to my own chamber; and why +should I not come up it?" + +Catherine recollected herself, blushed deeply, and could say no more. He +seemed to be looking in her countenance for that explanation which her +lips did not afford. She moved on towards the gallery. "And may I not, +in my turn," said he, as he pushed back the folding doors, "ask how you +came here? This passage is at least as extraordinary a road from the +breakfast-parlour to your apartment, as that staircase can be from the +stables to mine." + +"I have been," said Catherine, looking down, "to see your mother's +room." + +"My mother's room! Is there anything extraordinary to be seen there?" + +"No, nothing at all. I thought you did not mean to come back till +tomorrow." + +"I did not expect to be able to return sooner, when I went away; but +three hours ago I had the pleasure of finding nothing to detain me. You +look pale. I am afraid I alarmed you by running so fast up those stairs. +Perhaps you did not know--you were not aware of their leading from the +offices in common use?" + +"No, I was not. You have had a very fine day for your ride." + +"Very; and does Eleanor leave you to find your way into all the rooms in +the house by yourself?" + +"Oh! No; she showed me over the greatest part on Saturday--and we were +coming here to these rooms--but only"--dropping her voice--"your father +was with us." + +"And that prevented you," said Henry, earnestly regarding her. "Have you +looked into all the rooms in that passage?" + +"No, I only wanted to see--Is not it very late? I must go and dress." + +"It is only a quarter past four" showing his watch--"and you are not now +in Bath. No theatre, no rooms to prepare for. Half an hour at Northanger +must be enough." + +She could not contradict it, and therefore suffered herself to be +detained, though her dread of further questions made her, for the first +time in their acquaintance, wish to leave him. They walked slowly up the +gallery. "Have you had any letter from Bath since I saw you?" + +"No, and I am very much surprised. Isabella promised so faithfully to +write directly." + +"Promised so faithfully! A faithful promise! That puzzles me. I have +heard of a faithful performance. But a faithful promise--the fidelity +of promising! It is a power little worth knowing, however, since it can +deceive and pain you. My mother's room is very commodious, is it not? +Large and cheerful-looking, and the dressing-closets so well disposed! +It always strikes me as the most comfortable apartment in the house, and +I rather wonder that Eleanor should not take it for her own. She sent +you to look at it, I suppose?" + +"No." + +"It has been your own doing entirely?" Catherine said nothing. After a +short silence, during which he had closely observed her, he added, "As +there is nothing in the room in itself to raise curiosity, this must +have proceeded from a sentiment of respect for my mother's character, +as described by Eleanor, which does honour to her memory. The world, I +believe, never saw a better woman. But it is not often that virtue can +boast an interest such as this. The domestic, unpretending merits of a +person never known do not often create that kind of fervent, venerating +tenderness which would prompt a visit like yours. Eleanor, I suppose, +has talked of her a great deal?" + +"Yes, a great deal. That is--no, not much, but what she did say was very +interesting. Her dying so suddenly" (slowly, and with hesitation it +was spoken), "and you--none of you being at home--and your father, I +thought--perhaps had not been very fond of her." + +"And from these circumstances," he replied (his quick eye +fixed on hers), "you infer perhaps the probability of some +negligence--some"--(involuntarily she shook her head)--"or it may be--of +something still less pardonable." She raised her eyes towards him +more fully than she had ever done before. "My mother's illness," he +continued, "the seizure which ended in her death, was sudden. The malady +itself, one from which she had often suffered, a bilious fever--its +cause therefore constitutional. On the third day, in short, as soon as +she could be prevailed on, a physician attended her, a very respectable +man, and one in whom she had always placed great confidence. Upon his +opinion of her danger, two others were called in the next day, and +remained in almost constant attendance for four and twenty hours. On the +fifth day she died. During the progress of her disorder, Frederick and I +(we were both at home) saw her repeatedly; and from our own observation +can bear witness to her having received every possible attention +which could spring from the affection of those about her, or which her +situation in life could command. Poor Eleanor was absent, and at such a +distance as to return only to see her mother in her coffin." + +"But your father," said Catherine, "was he afflicted?" + +"For a time, greatly so. You have erred in supposing him not attached +to her. He loved her, I am persuaded, as well as it was possible for him +to--we have not all, you know, the same tenderness of disposition--and +I will not pretend to say that while she lived, she might not often have +had much to bear, but though his temper injured her, his judgment never +did. His value of her was sincere; and, if not permanently, he was truly +afflicted by her death." + +"I am very glad of it," said Catherine; "it would have been very +shocking!" + +"If I understand you rightly, you had formed a surmise of such horror as +I have hardly words to--Dear Miss Morland, consider the dreadful nature +of the suspicions you have entertained. What have you been judging from? +Remember the country and the age in which we live. Remember that we are +English, that we are Christians. Consult your own understanding, your +own sense of the probable, your own observation of what is passing +around you. Does our education prepare us for such atrocities? Do our +laws connive at them? Could they be perpetrated without being known, in +a country like this, where social and literary intercourse is on such a +footing, where every man is surrounded by a neighbourhood of voluntary +spies, and where roads and newspapers lay everything open? Dearest Miss +Morland, what ideas have you been admitting?" + +They had reached the end of the gallery, and with tears of shame she ran +off to her own room. + + + + +CHAPTER 25 + + +The visions of romance were over. Catherine was completely awakened. +Henry's address, short as it had been, had more thoroughly opened her +eyes to the extravagance of her late fancies than all their several +disappointments had done. Most grievously was she humbled. Most bitterly +did she cry. It was not only with herself that she was sunk--but with +Henry. Her folly, which now seemed even criminal, was all exposed to +him, and he must despise her forever. The liberty which her imagination +had dared to take with the character of his father--could he ever +forgive it? The absurdity of her curiosity and her fears--could they +ever be forgotten? She hated herself more than she could express. He +had--she thought he had, once or twice before this fatal morning, shown +something like affection for her. But now--in short, she made herself as +miserable as possible for about half an hour, went down when the +clock struck five, with a broken heart, and could scarcely give an +intelligible answer to Eleanor's inquiry if she was well. The formidable +Henry soon followed her into the room, and the only difference in his +behaviour to her was that he paid her rather more attention than usual. +Catherine had never wanted comfort more, and he looked as if he was +aware of it. + +The evening wore away with no abatement of this soothing politeness; and +her spirits were gradually raised to a modest tranquillity. She did not +learn either to forget or defend the past; but she learned to hope that +it would never transpire farther, and that it might not cost her Henry's +entire regard. Her thoughts being still chiefly fixed on what she had +with such causeless terror felt and done, nothing could shortly be +clearer than that it had been all a voluntary, self-created delusion, +each trifling circumstance receiving importance from an imagination +resolved on alarm, and everything forced to bend to one purpose by +a mind which, before she entered the abbey, had been craving to be +frightened. She remembered with what feelings she had prepared for a +knowledge of Northanger. She saw that the infatuation had been created, +the mischief settled, long before her quitting Bath, and it seemed as if +the whole might be traced to the influence of that sort of reading which +she had there indulged. + +Charming as were all Mrs. Radcliffe's works, and charming even as were +the works of all her imitators, it was not in them perhaps that human +nature, at least in the Midland counties of England, was to be looked +for. Of the Alps and Pyrenees, with their pine forests and their vices, +they might give a faithful delineation; and Italy, Switzerland, and +the south of France might be as fruitful in horrors as they were there +represented. Catherine dared not doubt beyond her own country, and even +of that, if hard pressed, would have yielded the northern and western +extremities. But in the central part of England there was surely some +security for the existence even of a wife not beloved, in the laws of +the land, and the manners of the age. Murder was not tolerated, servants +were not slaves, and neither poison nor sleeping potions to be procured, +like rhubarb, from every druggist. Among the Alps and Pyrenees, perhaps, +there were no mixed characters. There, such as were not as spotless as +an angel might have the dispositions of a fiend. But in England it was +not so; among the English, she believed, in their hearts and habits, +there was a general though unequal mixture of good and bad. Upon this +conviction, she would not be surprised if even in Henry and Eleanor +Tilney, some slight imperfection might hereafter appear; and upon this +conviction she need not fear to acknowledge some actual specks in +the character of their father, who, though cleared from the grossly +injurious suspicions which she must ever blush to have entertained, she +did believe, upon serious consideration, to be not perfectly amiable. + +Her mind made up on these several points, and her resolution formed, of +always judging and acting in future with the greatest good sense, she +had nothing to do but to forgive herself and be happier than ever; and +the lenient hand of time did much for her by insensible gradations in +the course of another day. Henry's astonishing generosity and nobleness +of conduct, in never alluding in the slightest way to what had passed, +was of the greatest assistance to her; and sooner than she could have +supposed it possible in the beginning of her distress, her spirits +became absolutely comfortable, and capable, as heretofore, of continual +improvement by anything he said. There were still some subjects, indeed, +under which she believed they must always tremble--the mention of a +chest or a cabinet, for instance--and she did not love the sight of +japan in any shape: but even she could allow that an occasional memento +of past folly, however painful, might not be without use. + +The anxieties of common life began soon to succeed to the alarms of +romance. Her desire of hearing from Isabella grew every day greater. +She was quite impatient to know how the Bath world went on, and how the +rooms were attended; and especially was she anxious to be assured of +Isabella's having matched some fine netting-cotton, on which she had +left her intent; and of her continuing on the best terms with James. Her +only dependence for information of any kind was on Isabella. James had +protested against writing to her till his return to Oxford; and Mrs. +Allen had given her no hopes of a letter till she had got back to +Fullerton. But Isabella had promised and promised again; and when she +promised a thing, she was so scrupulous in performing it! This made it +so particularly strange! + +For nine successive mornings, Catherine wondered over the repetition +of a disappointment, which each morning became more severe: but, on +the tenth, when she entered the breakfast-room, her first object was a +letter, held out by Henry's willing hand. She thanked him as heartily +as if he had written it himself. "'Tis only from James, however," as she +looked at the direction. She opened it; it was from Oxford; and to this +purpose: + + +"Dear Catherine, + +"Though, God knows, with little inclination for writing, I think it my +duty to tell you that everything is at an end between Miss Thorpe and +me. I left her and Bath yesterday, never to see either again. I shall +not enter into particulars--they would only pain you more. You will soon +hear enough from another quarter to know where lies the blame; and I +hope will acquit your brother of everything but the folly of too easily +thinking his affection returned. Thank God! I am undeceived in time! +But it is a heavy blow! After my father's consent had been so kindly +given--but no more of this. She has made me miserable forever! Let me +soon hear from you, dear Catherine; you are my only friend; your love +I do build upon. I wish your visit at Northanger may be over before +Captain Tilney makes his engagement known, or you will be uncomfortably +circumstanced. Poor Thorpe is in town: I dread the sight of him; his +honest heart would feel so much. I have written to him and my father. +Her duplicity hurts me more than all; till the very last, if I reasoned +with her, she declared herself as much attached to me as ever, and +laughed at my fears. I am ashamed to think how long I bore with it; +but if ever man had reason to believe himself loved, I was that man. I +cannot understand even now what she would be at, for there could be no +need of my being played off to make her secure of Tilney. We parted +at last by mutual consent--happy for me had we never met! I can never +expect to know such another woman! Dearest Catherine, beware how you +give your heart. + +"Believe me," &c. + + +Catherine had not read three lines before her sudden change of +countenance, and short exclamations of sorrowing wonder, declared her to +be receiving unpleasant news; and Henry, earnestly watching her through +the whole letter, saw plainly that it ended no better than it began. He +was prevented, however, from even looking his surprise by his father's +entrance. They went to breakfast directly; but Catherine could hardly +eat anything. Tears filled her eyes, and even ran down her cheeks as she +sat. The letter was one moment in her hand, then in her lap, and then in +her pocket; and she looked as if she knew not what she did. The general, +between his cocoa and his newspaper, had luckily no leisure for noticing +her; but to the other two her distress was equally visible. As soon +as she dared leave the table she hurried away to her own room; but the +housemaids were busy in it, and she was obliged to come down again. +She turned into the drawing-room for privacy, but Henry and Eleanor had +likewise retreated thither, and were at that moment deep in consultation +about her. She drew back, trying to beg their pardon, but was, with +gentle violence, forced to return; and the others withdrew, after +Eleanor had affectionately expressed a wish of being of use or comfort +to her. + +After half an hour's free indulgence of grief and reflection, Catherine +felt equal to encountering her friends; but whether she should make +her distress known to them was another consideration. Perhaps, if +particularly questioned, she might just give an idea--just distantly +hint at it--but not more. To expose a friend, such a friend as Isabella +had been to her--and then their own brother so closely concerned in it! +She believed she must waive the subject altogether. Henry and Eleanor +were by themselves in the breakfast-room; and each, as she entered it, +looked at her anxiously. Catherine took her place at the table, and, +after a short silence, Eleanor said, "No bad news from Fullerton, I +hope? Mr. and Mrs. Morland--your brothers and sisters--I hope they are +none of them ill?" + +"No, I thank you" (sighing as she spoke); "they are all very well. My +letter was from my brother at Oxford." + +Nothing further was said for a few minutes; and then speaking through +her tears, she added, "I do not think I shall ever wish for a letter +again!" + +"I am sorry," said Henry, closing the book he had just opened; "if I +had suspected the letter of containing anything unwelcome, I should have +given it with very different feelings." + +"It contained something worse than anybody could suppose! Poor James is +so unhappy! You will soon know why." + +"To have so kind-hearted, so affectionate a sister," replied Henry +warmly, "must be a comfort to him under any distress." + +"I have one favour to beg," said Catherine, shortly afterwards, in an +agitated manner, "that, if your brother should be coming here, you will +give me notice of it, that I may go away." + +"Our brother! Frederick!" + +"Yes; I am sure I should be very sorry to leave you so soon, but +something has happened that would make it very dreadful for me to be in +the same house with Captain Tilney." + +Eleanor's work was suspended while she gazed with increasing +astonishment; but Henry began to suspect the truth, and something, in +which Miss Thorpe's name was included, passed his lips. + +"How quick you are!" cried Catherine: "you have guessed it, I declare! +And yet, when we talked about it in Bath, you little thought of its +ending so. Isabella--no wonder now I have not heard from her--Isabella +has deserted my brother, and is to marry yours! Could you have believed +there had been such inconstancy and fickleness, and everything that is +bad in the world?" + +"I hope, so far as concerns my brother, you are misinformed. I hope +he has not had any material share in bringing on Mr. Morland's +disappointment. His marrying Miss Thorpe is not probable. I think you +must be deceived so far. I am very sorry for Mr. Morland--sorry that +anyone you love should be unhappy; but my surprise would be greater at +Frederick's marrying her than at any other part of the story." + +"It is very true, however; you shall read James's letter yourself. +Stay--There is one part--" recollecting with a blush the last line. + +"Will you take the trouble of reading to us the passages which concern +my brother?" + +"No, read it yourself," cried Catherine, whose second thoughts were +clearer. "I do not know what I was thinking of" (blushing again that she +had blushed before); "James only means to give me good advice." + +He gladly received the letter, and, having read it through, with close +attention, returned it saying, "Well, if it is to be so, I can only +say that I am sorry for it. Frederick will not be the first man who has +chosen a wife with less sense than his family expected. I do not envy +his situation, either as a lover or a son." + +Miss Tilney, at Catherine's invitation, now read the letter likewise, +and, having expressed also her concern and surprise, began to inquire +into Miss Thorpe's connections and fortune. + +"Her mother is a very good sort of woman," was Catherine's answer. + +"What was her father?" + +"A lawyer, I believe. They live at Putney." + +"Are they a wealthy family?" + +"No, not very. I do not believe Isabella has any fortune at all: but +that will not signify in your family. Your father is so very liberal! +He told me the other day that he only valued money as it allowed him to +promote the happiness of his children." The brother and sister looked +at each other. "But," said Eleanor, after a short pause, "would it be to +promote his happiness, to enable him to marry such a girl? She must be +an unprincipled one, or she could not have used your brother so. And how +strange an infatuation on Frederick's side! A girl who, before his eyes, +is violating an engagement voluntarily entered into with another man! Is +not it inconceivable, Henry? Frederick too, who always wore his heart so +proudly! Who found no woman good enough to be loved!" + +"That is the most unpromising circumstance, the strongest presumption +against him. When I think of his past declarations, I give him up. +Moreover, I have too good an opinion of Miss Thorpe's prudence to +suppose that she would part with one gentleman before the other +was secured. It is all over with Frederick indeed! He is a deceased +man--defunct in understanding. Prepare for your sister-in-law, Eleanor, +and such a sister-in-law as you must delight in! Open, candid, artless, +guileless, with affections strong but simple, forming no pretensions, +and knowing no disguise." + +"Such a sister-in-law, Henry, I should delight in," said Eleanor with a +smile. + +"But perhaps," observed Catherine, "though she has behaved so ill by our +family, she may behave better by yours. Now she has really got the man +she likes, she may be constant." + +"Indeed I am afraid she will," replied Henry; "I am afraid she will +be very constant, unless a baronet should come in her way; that is +Frederick's only chance. I will get the Bath paper, and look over the +arrivals." + +"You think it is all for ambition, then? And, upon my word, there are +some things that seem very like it. I cannot forget that, when she first +knew what my father would do for them, she seemed quite disappointed +that it was not more. I never was so deceived in anyone's character in +my life before." + +"Among all the great variety that you have known and studied." + +"My own disappointment and loss in her is very great; but, as for poor +James, I suppose he will hardly ever recover it." + +"Your brother is certainly very much to be pitied at present; but we +must not, in our concern for his sufferings, undervalue yours. You feel, +I suppose, that in losing Isabella, you lose half yourself: you feel a +void in your heart which nothing else can occupy. Society is becoming +irksome; and as for the amusements in which you were wont to share at +Bath, the very idea of them without her is abhorrent. You would not, +for instance, now go to a ball for the world. You feel that you have no +longer any friend to whom you can speak with unreserve, on whose regard +you can place dependence, or whose counsel, in any difficulty, you could +rely on. You feel all this?" + +"No," said Catherine, after a few moments' reflection, "I do not--ought +I? To say the truth, though I am hurt and grieved, that I cannot still +love her, that I am never to hear from her, perhaps never to see her +again, I do not feel so very, very much afflicted as one would have +thought." + +"You feel, as you always do, what is most to the credit of human nature. +Such feelings ought to be investigated, that they may know themselves." + +Catherine, by some chance or other, found her spirits so very much +relieved by this conversation that she could not regret her being led +on, though so unaccountably, to mention the circumstance which had +produced it. + + + + +CHAPTER 26 + + +From this time, the subject was frequently canvassed by the three young +people; and Catherine found, with some surprise, that her two young +friends were perfectly agreed in considering Isabella's want of +consequence and fortune as likely to throw great difficulties in the way +of her marrying their brother. Their persuasion that the general would, +upon this ground alone, independent of the objection that might be +raised against her character, oppose the connection, turned her feelings +moreover with some alarm towards herself. She was as insignificant, +and perhaps as portionless, as Isabella; and if the heir of the Tilney +property had not grandeur and wealth enough in himself, at what point +of interest were the demands of his younger brother to rest? The very +painful reflections to which this thought led could only be dispersed by +a dependence on the effect of that particular partiality, which, as she +was given to understand by his words as well as his actions, she had +from the first been so fortunate as to excite in the general; and by a +recollection of some most generous and disinterested sentiments on the +subject of money, which she had more than once heard him utter, and +which tempted her to think his disposition in such matters misunderstood +by his children. + +They were so fully convinced, however, that their brother would not +have the courage to apply in person for his father's consent, and so +repeatedly assured her that he had never in his life been less likely to +come to Northanger than at the present time, that she suffered her mind +to be at ease as to the necessity of any sudden removal of her own. But +as it was not to be supposed that Captain Tilney, whenever he made his +application, would give his father any just idea of Isabella's conduct, +it occurred to her as highly expedient that Henry should lay the whole +business before him as it really was, enabling the general by that means +to form a cool and impartial opinion, and prepare his objections on +a fairer ground than inequality of situations. She proposed it to him +accordingly; but he did not catch at the measure so eagerly as she had +expected. "No," said he, "my father's hands need not be strengthened, +and Frederick's confession of folly need not be forestalled. He must +tell his own story." + +"But he will tell only half of it." + +"A quarter would be enough." + +A day or two passed away and brought no tidings of Captain Tilney. His +brother and sister knew not what to think. Sometimes it appeared to +them as if his silence would be the natural result of the suspected +engagement, and at others that it was wholly incompatible with it. +The general, meanwhile, though offended every morning by Frederick's +remissness in writing, was free from any real anxiety about him, and had +no more pressing solicitude than that of making Miss Morland's time at +Northanger pass pleasantly. He often expressed his uneasiness on this +head, feared the sameness of every day's society and employments would +disgust her with the place, wished the Lady Frasers had been in the +country, talked every now and then of having a large party to dinner, +and once or twice began even to calculate the number of young dancing +people in the neighbourhood. But then it was such a dead time of year, +no wild-fowl, no game, and the Lady Frasers were not in the country. +And it all ended, at last, in his telling Henry one morning that when he +next went to Woodston, they would take him by surprise there some day +or other, and eat their mutton with him. Henry was greatly honoured and +very happy, and Catherine was quite delighted with the scheme. "And when +do you think, sir, I may look forward to this pleasure? I must be at +Woodston on Monday to attend the parish meeting, and shall probably be +obliged to stay two or three days." + +"Well, well, we will take our chance some one of those days. There is +no need to fix. You are not to put yourself at all out of your way. +Whatever you may happen to have in the house will be enough. I think I +can answer for the young ladies making allowance for a bachelor's table. +Let me see; Monday will be a busy day with you, we will not come on +Monday; and Tuesday will be a busy one with me. I expect my surveyor +from Brockham with his report in the morning; and afterwards I cannot in +decency fail attending the club. I really could not face my acquaintance +if I stayed away now; for, as I am known to be in the country, it would +be taken exceedingly amiss; and it is a rule with me, Miss Morland, +never to give offence to any of my neighbours, if a small sacrifice of +time and attention can prevent it. They are a set of very worthy men. +They have half a buck from Northanger twice a year; and I dine with them +whenever I can. Tuesday, therefore, we may say is out of the question. +But on Wednesday, I think, Henry, you may expect us; and we shall be +with you early, that we may have time to look about us. Two hours and +three quarters will carry us to Woodston, I suppose; we shall be in the +carriage by ten; so, about a quarter before one on Wednesday, you may +look for us." + +A ball itself could not have been more welcome to Catherine than +this little excursion, so strong was her desire to be acquainted with +Woodston; and her heart was still bounding with joy when Henry, about an +hour afterwards, came booted and greatcoated into the room where she +and Eleanor were sitting, and said, "I am come, young ladies, in a +very moralizing strain, to observe that our pleasures in this world +are always to be paid for, and that we often purchase them at a great +disadvantage, giving ready-monied actual happiness for a draft on the +future, that may not be honoured. Witness myself, at this present hour. +Because I am to hope for the satisfaction of seeing you at Woodston on +Wednesday, which bad weather, or twenty other causes, may prevent, I +must go away directly, two days before I intended it." + +"Go away!" said Catherine, with a very long face. "And why?" + +"Why! How can you ask the question? Because no time is to be lost in +frightening my old housekeeper out of her wits, because I must go and +prepare a dinner for you, to be sure." + +"Oh! Not seriously!" + +"Aye, and sadly too--for I had much rather stay." + +"But how can you think of such a thing, after what the general said? +When he so particularly desired you not to give yourself any trouble, +because anything would do." + +Henry only smiled. "I am sure it is quite unnecessary upon your sister's +account and mine. You must know it to be so; and the general made such +a point of your providing nothing extraordinary: besides, if he had not +said half so much as he did, he has always such an excellent dinner +at home, that sitting down to a middling one for one day could not +signify." + +"I wish I could reason like you, for his sake and my own. Good-bye. As +tomorrow is Sunday, Eleanor, I shall not return." + +He went; and, it being at any time a much simpler operation to Catherine +to doubt her own judgment than Henry's, she was very soon obliged to +give him credit for being right, however disagreeable to her his going. +But the inexplicability of the general's conduct dwelt much on her +thoughts. That he was very particular in his eating, she had, by her own +unassisted observation, already discovered; but why he should say +one thing so positively, and mean another all the while, was most +unaccountable! How were people, at that rate, to be understood? Who but +Henry could have been aware of what his father was at? + +From Saturday to Wednesday, however, they were now to be without Henry. +This was the sad finale of every reflection: and Captain Tilney's letter +would certainly come in his absence; and Wednesday she was very sure +would be wet. The past, present, and future were all equally in gloom. +Her brother so unhappy, and her loss in Isabella so great; and Eleanor's +spirits always affected by Henry's absence! What was there to interest +or amuse her? She was tired of the woods and the shrubberies--always so +smooth and so dry; and the abbey in itself was no more to her now than +any other house. The painful remembrance of the folly it had helped +to nourish and perfect was the only emotion which could spring from a +consideration of the building. What a revolution in her ideas! She, who +had so longed to be in an abbey! Now, there was nothing so charming +to her imagination as the unpretending comfort of a well-connected +parsonage, something like Fullerton, but better: Fullerton had its +faults, but Woodston probably had none. If Wednesday should ever come! + +It did come, and exactly when it might be reasonably looked for. It +came--it was fine--and Catherine trod on air. By ten o'clock, the chaise +and four conveyed the two from the abbey; and, after an agreeable drive +of almost twenty miles, they entered Woodston, a large and populous +village, in a situation not unpleasant. Catherine was ashamed to say +how pretty she thought it, as the general seemed to think an apology +necessary for the flatness of the country, and the size of the village; +but in her heart she preferred it to any place she had ever been at, +and looked with great admiration at every neat house above the rank of +a cottage, and at all the little chandler's shops which they passed. At +the further end of the village, and tolerably disengaged from the rest +of it, stood the parsonage, a new-built substantial stone house, with +its semicircular sweep and green gates; and, as they drove up to the +door, Henry, with the friends of his solitude, a large Newfoundland +puppy and two or three terriers, was ready to receive and make much of +them. + +Catherine's mind was too full, as she entered the house, for her either +to observe or to say a great deal; and, till called on by the general +for her opinion of it, she had very little idea of the room in which she +was sitting. Upon looking round it then, she perceived in a moment that +it was the most comfortable room in the world; but she was too guarded +to say so, and the coldness of her praise disappointed him. + +"We are not calling it a good house," said he. "We are not comparing +it with Fullerton and Northanger--we are considering it as a mere +parsonage, small and confined, we allow, but decent, perhaps, and +habitable; and altogether not inferior to the generality; or, in other +words, I believe there are few country parsonages in England half so +good. It may admit of improvement, however. Far be it from me to say +otherwise; and anything in reason--a bow thrown out, perhaps--though, +between ourselves, if there is one thing more than another my aversion, +it is a patched-on bow." + +Catherine did not hear enough of this speech to understand or be pained +by it; and other subjects being studiously brought forward and supported +by Henry, at the same time that a tray full of refreshments was +introduced by his servant, the general was shortly restored to his +complacency, and Catherine to all her usual ease of spirits. + +The room in question was of a commodious, well-proportioned size, and +handsomely fitted up as a dining-parlour; and on their quitting it to +walk round the grounds, she was shown, first into a smaller apartment, +belonging peculiarly to the master of the house, and made unusually tidy +on the occasion; and afterwards into what was to be the drawing-room, +with the appearance of which, though unfurnished, Catherine was +delighted enough even to satisfy the general. It was a prettily shaped +room, the windows reaching to the ground, and the view from them +pleasant, though only over green meadows; and she expressed her +admiration at the moment with all the honest simplicity with which she +felt it. "Oh! Why do not you fit up this room, Mr. Tilney? What a pity +not to have it fitted up! It is the prettiest room I ever saw; it is the +prettiest room in the world!" + +"I trust," said the general, with a most satisfied smile, "that it will +very speedily be furnished: it waits only for a lady's taste!" + +"Well, if it was my house, I should never sit anywhere else. Oh! What a +sweet little cottage there is among the trees--apple trees, too! It is +the prettiest cottage!" + +"You like it--you approve it as an object--it is enough. Henry, remember +that Robinson is spoken to about it. The cottage remains." + +Such a compliment recalled all Catherine's consciousness, and silenced +her directly; and, though pointedly applied to by the general for her +choice of the prevailing colour of the paper and hangings, nothing like +an opinion on the subject could be drawn from her. The influence of +fresh objects and fresh air, however, was of great use in dissipating +these embarrassing associations; and, having reached the ornamental part +of the premises, consisting of a walk round two sides of a meadow, on +which Henry's genius had begun to act about half a year ago, she was +sufficiently recovered to think it prettier than any pleasure-ground she +had ever been in before, though there was not a shrub in it higher than +the green bench in the corner. + +A saunter into other meadows, and through part of the village, with a +visit to the stables to examine some improvements, and a charming game +of play with a litter of puppies just able to roll about, brought them +to four o'clock, when Catherine scarcely thought it could be three. At +four they were to dine, and at six to set off on their return. Never had +any day passed so quickly! + +She could not but observe that the abundance of the dinner did not seem +to create the smallest astonishment in the general; nay, that he was +even looking at the side-table for cold meat which was not there. His +son and daughter's observations were of a different kind. They had +seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table but his own, and never +before known him so little disconcerted by the melted butter's being +oiled. + +At six o'clock, the general having taken his coffee, the carriage again +received them; and so gratifying had been the tenor of his conduct +throughout the whole visit, so well assured was her mind on the subject +of his expectations, that, could she have felt equally confident of the +wishes of his son, Catherine would have quitted Woodston with little +anxiety as to the How or the When she might return to it. + + + + +CHAPTER 27 + + +The next morning brought the following very unexpected letter from +Isabella: + + +Bath, April + +My dearest Catherine, I received your two kind letters with the greatest +delight, and have a thousand apologies to make for not answering them +sooner. I really am quite ashamed of my idleness; but in this horrid +place one can find time for nothing. I have had my pen in my hand to +begin a letter to you almost every day since you left Bath, but have +always been prevented by some silly trifler or other. Pray write to me +soon, and direct to my own home. Thank God, we leave this vile place +tomorrow. Since you went away, I have had no pleasure in it--the dust +is beyond anything; and everybody one cares for is gone. I believe if I +could see you I should not mind the rest, for you are dearer to me than +anybody can conceive. I am quite uneasy about your dear brother, not +having heard from him since he went to Oxford; and am fearful of some +misunderstanding. Your kind offices will set all right: he is the only +man I ever did or could love, and I trust you will convince him of it. +The spring fashions are partly down; and the hats the most frightful you +can imagine. I hope you spend your time pleasantly, but am afraid you +never think of me. I will not say all that I could of the family you are +with, because I would not be ungenerous, or set you against those you +esteem; but it is very difficult to know whom to trust, and young men +never know their minds two days together. I rejoice to say that the +young man whom, of all others, I particularly abhor, has left Bath. You +will know, from this description, I must mean Captain Tilney, who, as +you may remember, was amazingly disposed to follow and tease me, before +you went away. Afterwards he got worse, and became quite my shadow. Many +girls might have been taken in, for never were such attentions; but I +knew the fickle sex too well. He went away to his regiment two days ago, +and I trust I shall never be plagued with him again. He is the greatest +coxcomb I ever saw, and amazingly disagreeable. The last two days he was +always by the side of Charlotte Davis: I pitied his taste, but took no +notice of him. The last time we met was in Bath Street, and I turned +directly into a shop that he might not speak to me; I would not even +look at him. He went into the pump-room afterwards; but I would not have +followed him for all the world. Such a contrast between him and your +brother! Pray send me some news of the latter--I am quite unhappy about +him; he seemed so uncomfortable when he went away, with a cold, or +something that affected his spirits. I would write to him myself, but +have mislaid his direction; and, as I hinted above, am afraid he +took something in my conduct amiss. Pray explain everything to his +satisfaction; or, if he still harbours any doubt, a line from himself +to me, or a call at Putney when next in town, might set all to rights. +I have not been to the rooms this age, nor to the play, except going in +last night with the Hodges, for a frolic, at half price: they teased +me into it; and I was determined they should not say I shut myself up +because Tilney was gone. We happened to sit by the Mitchells, and they +pretended to be quite surprised to see me out. I knew their spite: at +one time they could not be civil to me, but now they are all friendship; +but I am not such a fool as to be taken in by them. You know I have a +pretty good spirit of my own. Anne Mitchell had tried to put on a +turban like mine, as I wore it the week before at the concert, but made +wretched work of it--it happened to become my odd face, I believe, at +least Tilney told me so at the time, and said every eye was upon me; but +he is the last man whose word I would take. I wear nothing but purple +now: I know I look hideous in it, but no matter--it is your dear +brother's favourite colour. Lose no time, my dearest, sweetest +Catherine, in writing to him and to me, Who ever am, etc. + + +Such a strain of shallow artifice could not impose even upon Catherine. +Its inconsistencies, contradictions, and falsehood struck her from the +very first. She was ashamed of Isabella, and ashamed of having ever +loved her. Her professions of attachment were now as disgusting as her +excuses were empty, and her demands impudent. "Write to James on her +behalf! No, James should never hear Isabella's name mentioned by her +again." + +On Henry's arrival from Woodston, she made known to him and Eleanor +their brother's safety, congratulating them with sincerity on it, and +reading aloud the most material passages of her letter with strong +indignation. When she had finished it--"So much for Isabella," she +cried, "and for all our intimacy! She must think me an idiot, or she +could not have written so; but perhaps this has served to make her +character better known to me than mine is to her. I see what she has +been about. She is a vain coquette, and her tricks have not answered. I +do not believe she had ever any regard either for James or for me, and I +wish I had never known her." + +"It will soon be as if you never had," said Henry. + +"There is but one thing that I cannot understand. I see that she has +had designs on Captain Tilney, which have not succeeded; but I do not +understand what Captain Tilney has been about all this time. Why should +he pay her such attentions as to make her quarrel with my brother, and +then fly off himself?" + +"I have very little to say for Frederick's motives, such as I believe +them to have been. He has his vanities as well as Miss Thorpe, and the +chief difference is, that, having a stronger head, they have not yet +injured himself. If the effect of his behaviour does not justify him +with you, we had better not seek after the cause." + +"Then you do not suppose he ever really cared about her?" + +"I am persuaded that he never did." + +"And only made believe to do so for mischief's sake?" + +Henry bowed his assent. + +"Well, then, I must say that I do not like him at all. Though it has +turned out so well for us, I do not like him at all. As it happens, +there is no great harm done, because I do not think Isabella has any +heart to lose. But, suppose he had made her very much in love with him?" + +"But we must first suppose Isabella to have had a heart to +lose--consequently to have been a very different creature; and, in that +case, she would have met with very different treatment." + +"It is very right that you should stand by your brother." + +"And if you would stand by yours, you would not be much distressed by +the disappointment of Miss Thorpe. But your mind is warped by an innate +principle of general integrity, and therefore not accessible to the cool +reasonings of family partiality, or a desire of revenge." + +Catherine was complimented out of further bitterness. Frederick could +not be unpardonably guilty, while Henry made himself so agreeable. She +resolved on not answering Isabella's letter, and tried to think no more +of it. + + + + +CHAPTER 28 + + +Soon after this, the general found himself obliged to go to London for +a week; and he left Northanger earnestly regretting that any necessity +should rob him even for an hour of Miss Morland's company, and anxiously +recommending the study of her comfort and amusement to his children +as their chief object in his absence. His departure gave Catherine the +first experimental conviction that a loss may be sometimes a gain. The +happiness with which their time now passed, every employment voluntary, +every laugh indulged, every meal a scene of ease and good humour, +walking where they liked and when they liked, their hours, pleasures, +and fatigues at their own command, made her thoroughly sensible of the +restraint which the general's presence had imposed, and most thankfully +feel their present release from it. Such ease and such delights made her +love the place and the people more and more every day; and had it not +been for a dread of its soon becoming expedient to leave the one, and +an apprehension of not being equally beloved by the other, she would at +each moment of each day have been perfectly happy; but she was now in +the fourth week of her visit; before the general came home, the fourth +week would be turned, and perhaps it might seem an intrusion if she +stayed much longer. This was a painful consideration whenever it +occurred; and eager to get rid of such a weight on her mind, she very +soon resolved to speak to Eleanor about it at once, propose going away, +and be guided in her conduct by the manner in which her proposal might +be taken. + +Aware that if she gave herself much time, she might feel it difficult to +bring forward so unpleasant a subject, she took the first opportunity of +being suddenly alone with Eleanor, and of Eleanor's being in the +middle of a speech about something very different, to start forth her +obligation of going away very soon. Eleanor looked and declared herself +much concerned. She had "hoped for the pleasure of her company for a +much longer time--had been misled (perhaps by her wishes) to suppose +that a much longer visit had been promised--and could not but think that +if Mr. and Mrs. Morland were aware of the pleasure it was to her to have +her there, they would be too generous to hasten her return." Catherine +explained: "Oh! As to that, Papa and Mamma were in no hurry at all. As +long as she was happy, they would always be satisfied." + +"Then why, might she ask, in such a hurry herself to leave them?" + +"Oh! Because she had been there so long." + +"Nay, if you can use such a word, I can urge you no farther. If you +think it long--" + +"Oh! No, I do not indeed. For my own pleasure, I could stay with you as +long again." And it was directly settled that, till she had, her leaving +them was not even to be thought of. In having this cause of uneasiness +so pleasantly removed, the force of the other was likewise weakened. The +kindness, the earnestness of Eleanor's manner in pressing her to stay, +and Henry's gratified look on being told that her stay was determined, +were such sweet proofs of her importance with them, as left her only +just so much solicitude as the human mind can never do comfortably +without. She did--almost always--believe that Henry loved her, and quite +always that his father and sister loved and even wished her to belong +to them; and believing so far, her doubts and anxieties were merely +sportive irritations. + +Henry was not able to obey his father's injunction of remaining wholly +at Northanger in attendance on the ladies, during his absence in London, +the engagements of his curate at Woodston obliging him to leave them on +Saturday for a couple of nights. His loss was not now what it had been +while the general was at home; it lessened their gaiety, but did not +ruin their comfort; and the two girls agreeing in occupation, and +improving in intimacy, found themselves so well sufficient for the time +to themselves, that it was eleven o'clock, rather a late hour at +the abbey, before they quitted the supper-room on the day of Henry's +departure. They had just reached the head of the stairs when it seemed, +as far as the thickness of the walls would allow them to judge, that a +carriage was driving up to the door, and the next moment confirmed the +idea by the loud noise of the house-bell. After the first perturbation +of surprise had passed away, in a "Good heaven! What can be the matter?" +it was quickly decided by Eleanor to be her eldest brother, whose +arrival was often as sudden, if not quite so unseasonable, and +accordingly she hurried down to welcome him. + +Catherine walked on to her chamber, making up her mind as well as she +could, to a further acquaintance with Captain Tilney, and comforting +herself under the unpleasant impression his conduct had given her, and +the persuasion of his being by far too fine a gentleman to approve of +her, that at least they should not meet under such circumstances as +would make their meeting materially painful. She trusted he would never +speak of Miss Thorpe; and indeed, as he must by this time be ashamed of +the part he had acted, there could be no danger of it; and as long as +all mention of Bath scenes were avoided, she thought she could behave +to him very civilly. In such considerations time passed away, and it was +certainly in his favour that Eleanor should be so glad to see him, and +have so much to say, for half an hour was almost gone since his arrival, +and Eleanor did not come up. + +At that moment Catherine thought she heard her step in the gallery, and +listened for its continuance; but all was silent. Scarcely, however, +had she convicted her fancy of error, when the noise of something moving +close to her door made her start; it seemed as if someone was touching +the very doorway--and in another moment a slight motion of the lock +proved that some hand must be on it. She trembled a little at the idea +of anyone's approaching so cautiously; but resolving not to be again +overcome by trivial appearances of alarm, or misled by a raised +imagination, she stepped quietly forward, and opened the door. Eleanor, +and only Eleanor, stood there. Catherine's spirits, however, were +tranquillized but for an instant, for Eleanor's cheeks were pale, and +her manner greatly agitated. Though evidently intending to come in, it +seemed an effort to enter the room, and a still greater to speak when +there. Catherine, supposing some uneasiness on Captain Tilney's account, +could only express her concern by silent attention, obliged her to be +seated, rubbed her temples with lavender-water, and hung over her with +affectionate solicitude. "My dear Catherine, you must not--you must not +indeed--" were Eleanor's first connected words. "I am quite well. +This kindness distracts me--I cannot bear it--I come to you on such an +errand!" + +"Errand! To me!" + +"How shall I tell you! Oh! How shall I tell you!" + +A new idea now darted into Catherine's mind, and turning as pale as her +friend, she exclaimed, "'Tis a messenger from Woodston!" + +"You are mistaken, indeed," returned Eleanor, looking at her most +compassionately; "it is no one from Woodston. It is my father himself." +Her voice faltered, and her eyes were turned to the ground as she +mentioned his name. His unlooked-for return was enough in itself to make +Catherine's heart sink, and for a few moments she hardly supposed +there were anything worse to be told. She said nothing; and Eleanor, +endeavouring to collect herself and speak with firmness, but with eyes +still cast down, soon went on. "You are too good, I am sure, to think +the worse of me for the part I am obliged to perform. I am indeed a most +unwilling messenger. After what has so lately passed, so lately been +settled between us--how joyfully, how thankfully on my side!--as to your +continuing here as I hoped for many, many weeks longer, how can I tell +you that your kindness is not to be accepted--and that the happiness +your company has hitherto given us is to be repaid by--But I must not +trust myself with words. My dear Catherine, we are to part. My father +has recollected an engagement that takes our whole family away on +Monday. We are going to Lord Longtown's, near Hereford, for a fortnight. +Explanation and apology are equally impossible. I cannot attempt +either." + +"My dear Eleanor," cried Catherine, suppressing her feelings as well as +she could, "do not be so distressed. A second engagement must give +way to a first. I am very, very sorry we are to part--so soon, and so +suddenly too; but I am not offended, indeed I am not. I can finish my +visit here, you know, at any time; or I hope you will come to me. Can +you, when you return from this lord's, come to Fullerton?" + +"It will not be in my power, Catherine." + +"Come when you can, then." + +Eleanor made no answer; and Catherine's thoughts recurring to something +more directly interesting, she added, thinking aloud, "Monday--so soon +as Monday; and you all go. Well, I am certain of--I shall be able to +take leave, however. I need not go till just before you do, you know. Do +not be distressed, Eleanor, I can go on Monday very well. My father +and mother's having no notice of it is of very little consequence. The +general will send a servant with me, I dare say, half the way--and then +I shall soon be at Salisbury, and then I am only nine miles from home." + +"Ah, Catherine! Were it settled so, it would be somewhat less +intolerable, though in such common attentions you would have received +but half what you ought. But--how can I tell you?--tomorrow morning is +fixed for your leaving us, and not even the hour is left to your choice; +the very carriage is ordered, and will be here at seven o'clock, and no +servant will be offered you." + +Catherine sat down, breathless and speechless. "I could hardly believe +my senses, when I heard it; and no displeasure, no resentment that +you can feel at this moment, however justly great, can be more than I +myself--but I must not talk of what I felt. Oh! That I could suggest +anything in extenuation! Good God! What will your father and mother say! +After courting you from the protection of real friends to this--almost +double distance from your home, to have you driven out of the house, +without the considerations even of decent civility! Dear, dear +Catherine, in being the bearer of such a message, I seem guilty myself +of all its insult; yet, I trust you will acquit me, for you must have +been long enough in this house to see that I am but a nominal mistress +of it, that my real power is nothing." + +"Have I offended the general?" said Catherine in a faltering voice. + +"Alas! For my feelings as a daughter, all that I know, all that I +answer for, is that you can have given him no just cause of offence. He +certainly is greatly, very greatly discomposed; I have seldom seen him +more so. His temper is not happy, and something has now occurred to +ruffle it in an uncommon degree; some disappointment, some vexation, +which just at this moment seems important, but which I can hardly +suppose you to have any concern in, for how is it possible?" + +It was with pain that Catherine could speak at all; and it was only for +Eleanor's sake that she attempted it. "I am sure," said she, "I am very +sorry if I have offended him. It was the last thing I would willingly +have done. But do not be unhappy, Eleanor. An engagement, you know, must +be kept. I am only sorry it was not recollected sooner, that I might +have written home. But it is of very little consequence." + +"I hope, I earnestly hope, that to your real safety it will be of none; +but to everything else it is of the greatest consequence: to comfort, +appearance, propriety, to your family, to the world. Were your friends, +the Allens, still in Bath, you might go to them with comparative ease; +a few hours would take you there; but a journey of seventy miles, to be +taken post by you, at your age, alone, unattended!" + +"Oh, the journey is nothing. Do not think about that. And if we are to +part, a few hours sooner or later, you know, makes no difference. I +can be ready by seven. Let me be called in time." Eleanor saw that she +wished to be alone; and believing it better for each that they should +avoid any further conversation, now left her with, "I shall see you in +the morning." + +Catherine's swelling heart needed relief. In Eleanor's presence +friendship and pride had equally restrained her tears, but no sooner was +she gone than they burst forth in torrents. Turned from the house, and +in such a way! Without any reason that could justify, any apology that +could atone for the abruptness, the rudeness, nay, the insolence of +it. Henry at a distance--not able even to bid him farewell. Every hope, +every expectation from him suspended, at least, and who could say how +long? Who could say when they might meet again? And all this by such +a man as General Tilney, so polite, so well bred, and heretofore +so particularly fond of her! It was as incomprehensible as it was +mortifying and grievous. From what it could arise, and where it would +end, were considerations of equal perplexity and alarm. The manner in +which it was done so grossly uncivil, hurrying her away without any +reference to her own convenience, or allowing her even the appearance +of choice as to the time or mode of her travelling; of two days, the +earliest fixed on, and of that almost the earliest hour, as if resolved +to have her gone before he was stirring in the morning, that he +might not be obliged even to see her. What could all this mean but +an intentional affront? By some means or other she must have had the +misfortune to offend him. Eleanor had wished to spare her from so +painful a notion, but Catherine could not believe it possible that any +injury or any misfortune could provoke such ill will against a person +not connected, or, at least, not supposed to be connected with it. + +Heavily passed the night. Sleep, or repose that deserved the name +of sleep, was out of the question. That room, in which her disturbed +imagination had tormented her on her first arrival, was again the scene +of agitated spirits and unquiet slumbers. Yet how different now the +source of her inquietude from what it had been then--how mournfully +superior in reality and substance! Her anxiety had foundation in +fact, her fears in probability; and with a mind so occupied in the +contemplation of actual and natural evil, the solitude of her situation, +the darkness of her chamber, the antiquity of the building, were felt +and considered without the smallest emotion; and though the wind was +high, and often produced strange and sudden noises throughout the house, +she heard it all as she lay awake, hour after hour, without curiosity or +terror. + +Soon after six Eleanor entered her room, eager to show attention or give +assistance where it was possible; but very little remained to be done. +Catherine had not loitered; she was almost dressed, and her packing +almost finished. The possibility of some conciliatory message from the +general occurred to her as his daughter appeared. What so natural, as +that anger should pass away and repentance succeed it? And she only +wanted to know how far, after what had passed, an apology might properly +be received by her. But the knowledge would have been useless here; +it was not called for; neither clemency nor dignity was put to the +trial--Eleanor brought no message. Very little passed between them on +meeting; each found her greatest safety in silence, and few and trivial +were the sentences exchanged while they remained upstairs, Catherine in +busy agitation completing her dress, and Eleanor with more goodwill than +experience intent upon filling the trunk. When everything was done they +left the room, Catherine lingering only half a minute behind her friend +to throw a parting glance on every well-known, cherished object, and +went down to the breakfast-parlour, where breakfast was prepared. She +tried to eat, as well to save herself from the pain of being urged as +to make her friend comfortable; but she had no appetite, and could not +swallow many mouthfuls. The contrast between this and her last breakfast +in that room gave her fresh misery, and strengthened her distaste for +everything before her. It was not four and twenty hours ago since they +had met there to the same repast, but in circumstances how different! +With what cheerful ease, what happy, though false, security, had she +then looked around her, enjoying everything present, and fearing little +in future, beyond Henry's going to Woodston for a day! Happy, happy +breakfast! For Henry had been there; Henry had sat by her and helped +her. These reflections were long indulged undisturbed by any address +from her companion, who sat as deep in thought as herself; and the +appearance of the carriage was the first thing to startle and recall +them to the present moment. Catherine's colour rose at the sight of it; +and the indignity with which she was treated, striking at that instant +on her mind with peculiar force, made her for a short time sensible only +of resentment. Eleanor seemed now impelled into resolution and speech. + +"You must write to me, Catherine," she cried; "you must let me hear from +you as soon as possible. Till I know you to be safe at home, I shall +not have an hour's comfort. For one letter, at all risks, all hazards, I +must entreat. Let me have the satisfaction of knowing that you are safe +at Fullerton, and have found your family well, and then, till I can ask +for your correspondence as I ought to do, I will not expect more. Direct +to me at Lord Longtown's, and, I must ask it, under cover to Alice." + +"No, Eleanor, if you are not allowed to receive a letter from me, I am +sure I had better not write. There can be no doubt of my getting home +safe." + +Eleanor only replied, "I cannot wonder at your feelings. I will not +importune you. I will trust to your own kindness of heart when I am at +a distance from you." But this, with the look of sorrow accompanying +it, was enough to melt Catherine's pride in a moment, and she instantly +said, "Oh, Eleanor, I will write to you indeed." + +There was yet another point which Miss Tilney was anxious to settle, +though somewhat embarrassed in speaking of. It had occurred to her that +after so long an absence from home, Catherine might not be provided with +money enough for the expenses of her journey, and, upon suggesting it +to her with most affectionate offers of accommodation, it proved to be +exactly the case. Catherine had never thought on the subject till that +moment, but, upon examining her purse, was convinced that but for +this kindness of her friend, she might have been turned from the house +without even the means of getting home; and the distress in which she +must have been thereby involved filling the minds of both, scarcely +another word was said by either during the time of their remaining +together. Short, however, was that time. The carriage was soon announced +to be ready; and Catherine, instantly rising, a long and affectionate +embrace supplied the place of language in bidding each other adieu; and, +as they entered the hall, unable to leave the house without some mention +of one whose name had not yet been spoken by either, she paused a +moment, and with quivering lips just made it intelligible that she left +"her kind remembrance for her absent friend." But with this approach to +his name ended all possibility of restraining her feelings; and, hiding +her face as well as she could with her handkerchief, she darted across +the hall, jumped into the chaise, and in a moment was driven from the +door. + + + + +CHAPTER 29 + + +Catherine was too wretched to be fearful. The journey in itself had no +terrors for her; and she began it without either dreading its length or +feeling its solitariness. Leaning back in one corner of the carriage, in +a violent burst of tears, she was conveyed some miles beyond the walls +of the abbey before she raised her head; and the highest point of ground +within the park was almost closed from her view before she was capable +of turning her eyes towards it. Unfortunately, the road she now +travelled was the same which only ten days ago she had so happily passed +along in going to and from Woodston; and, for fourteen miles, every +bitter feeling was rendered more severe by the review of objects on +which she had first looked under impressions so different. Every mile, +as it brought her nearer Woodston, added to her sufferings, and when +within the distance of five, she passed the turning which led to it, and +thought of Henry, so near, yet so unconscious, her grief and agitation +were excessive. + +The day which she had spent at that place had been one of the happiest +of her life. It was there, it was on that day, that the general had made +use of such expressions with regard to Henry and herself, had so +spoken and so looked as to give her the most positive conviction of his +actually wishing their marriage. Yes, only ten days ago had he +elated her by his pointed regard--had he even confused her by his too +significant reference! And now--what had she done, or what had she +omitted to do, to merit such a change? + +The only offence against him of which she could accuse herself had been +such as was scarcely possible to reach his knowledge. Henry and her own +heart only were privy to the shocking suspicions which she had so idly +entertained; and equally safe did she believe her secret with each. +Designedly, at least, Henry could not have betrayed her. If, indeed, by +any strange mischance his father should have gained intelligence of +what she had dared to think and look for, of her causeless fancies +and injurious examinations, she could not wonder at any degree of his +indignation. If aware of her having viewed him as a murderer, she could +not wonder at his even turning her from his house. But a justification +so full of torture to herself, she trusted, would not be in his power. + +Anxious as were all her conjectures on this point, it was not, however, +the one on which she dwelt most. There was a thought yet nearer, a more +prevailing, more impetuous concern. How Henry would think, and feel, +and look, when he returned on the morrow to Northanger and heard of +her being gone, was a question of force and interest to rise over every +other, to be never ceasing, alternately irritating and soothing; it +sometimes suggested the dread of his calm acquiescence, and at others +was answered by the sweetest confidence in his regret and resentment. To +the general, of course, he would not dare to speak; but to Eleanor--what +might he not say to Eleanor about her? + +In this unceasing recurrence of doubts and inquiries, on any one article +of which her mind was incapable of more than momentary repose, the hours +passed away, and her journey advanced much faster than she looked for. +The pressing anxieties of thought, which prevented her from noticing +anything before her, when once beyond the neighbourhood of Woodston, +saved her at the same time from watching her progress; and though no +object on the road could engage a moment's attention, she found no stage +of it tedious. From this, she was preserved too by another cause, by +feeling no eagerness for her journey's conclusion; for to return in such +a manner to Fullerton was almost to destroy the pleasure of a meeting +with those she loved best, even after an absence such as hers--an eleven +weeks' absence. What had she to say that would not humble herself and +pain her family, that would not increase her own grief by the confession +of it, extend an useless resentment, and perhaps involve the innocent +with the guilty in undistinguishing ill will? She could never do justice +to Henry and Eleanor's merit; she felt it too strongly for expression; +and should a dislike be taken against them, should they be thought of +unfavourably, on their father's account, it would cut her to the heart. + +With these feelings, she rather dreaded than sought for the first view +of that well-known spire which would announce her within twenty miles of +home. Salisbury she had known to be her point on leaving Northanger; but +after the first stage she had been indebted to the post-masters for the +names of the places which were then to conduct her to it; so great +had been her ignorance of her route. She met with nothing, however, +to distress or frighten her. Her youth, civil manners, and liberal +pay procured her all the attention that a traveller like herself could +require; and stopping only to change horses, she travelled on for +about eleven hours without accident or alarm, and between six and seven +o'clock in the evening found herself entering Fullerton. + +A heroine returning, at the close of her career, to her native village, +in all the triumph of recovered reputation, and all the dignity of +a countess, with a long train of noble relations in their several +phaetons, and three waiting-maids in a travelling chaise and four, +behind her, is an event on which the pen of the contriver may well +delight to dwell; it gives credit to every conclusion, and the author +must share in the glory she so liberally bestows. But my affair is +widely different; I bring back my heroine to her home in solitude and +disgrace; and no sweet elation of spirits can lead me into minuteness. +A heroine in a hack post-chaise is such a blow upon sentiment, as no +attempt at grandeur or pathos can withstand. Swiftly therefore shall her +post-boy drive through the village, amid the gaze of Sunday groups, and +speedy shall be her descent from it. + +But, whatever might be the distress of Catherine's mind, as she thus +advanced towards the parsonage, and whatever the humiliation of her +biographer in relating it, she was preparing enjoyment of no everyday +nature for those to whom she went; first, in the appearance of her +carriage--and secondly, in herself. The chaise of a traveller being +a rare sight in Fullerton, the whole family were immediately at the +window; and to have it stop at the sweep-gate was a pleasure to brighten +every eye and occupy every fancy--a pleasure quite unlooked for by all +but the two youngest children, a boy and girl of six and four years old, +who expected a brother or sister in every carriage. Happy the glance +that first distinguished Catherine! Happy the voice that proclaimed the +discovery! But whether such happiness were the lawful property of George +or Harriet could never be exactly understood. + +Her father, mother, Sarah, George, and Harriet, all assembled at the +door to welcome her with affectionate eagerness, was a sight to awaken +the best feelings of Catherine's heart; and in the embrace of each, as +she stepped from the carriage, she found herself soothed beyond anything +that she had believed possible. So surrounded, so caressed, she was even +happy! In the joyfulness of family love everything for a short time was +subdued, and the pleasure of seeing her, leaving them at first little +leisure for calm curiosity, they were all seated round the tea-table, +which Mrs. Morland had hurried for the comfort of the poor traveller, +whose pale and jaded looks soon caught her notice, before any inquiry so +direct as to demand a positive answer was addressed to her. + +Reluctantly, and with much hesitation, did she then begin what might +perhaps, at the end of half an hour, be termed, by the courtesy of her +hearers, an explanation; but scarcely, within that time, could they +at all discover the cause, or collect the particulars, of her sudden +return. They were far from being an irritable race; far from any +quickness in catching, or bitterness in resenting, affronts: but here, +when the whole was unfolded, was an insult not to be overlooked, nor, +for the first half hour, to be easily pardoned. Without suffering any +romantic alarm, in the consideration of their daughter's long and lonely +journey, Mr. and Mrs. Morland could not but feel that it might have been +productive of much unpleasantness to her; that it was what they could +never have voluntarily suffered; and that, in forcing her on such +a measure, General Tilney had acted neither honourably nor +feelingly--neither as a gentleman nor as a parent. Why he had done it, +what could have provoked him to such a breach of hospitality, and so +suddenly turned all his partial regard for their daughter into actual +ill will, was a matter which they were at least as far from divining +as Catherine herself; but it did not oppress them by any means so long; +and, after a due course of useless conjecture, that "it was a strange +business, and that he must be a very strange man," grew enough for all +their indignation and wonder; though Sarah indeed still indulged in the +sweets of incomprehensibility, exclaiming and conjecturing with youthful +ardour. "My dear, you give yourself a great deal of needless trouble," +said her mother at last; "depend upon it, it is something not at all +worth understanding." + +"I can allow for his wishing Catherine away, when he recollected this +engagement," said Sarah, "but why not do it civilly?" + +"I am sorry for the young people," returned Mrs. Morland; "they must +have a sad time of it; but as for anything else, it is no matter now; +Catherine is safe at home, and our comfort does not depend upon General +Tilney." Catherine sighed. "Well," continued her philosophic mother, "I +am glad I did not know of your journey at the time; but now it is all +over, perhaps there is no great harm done. It is always good for +young people to be put upon exerting themselves; and you know, my dear +Catherine, you always were a sad little scatter-brained creature; but +now you must have been forced to have your wits about you, with so much +changing of chaises and so forth; and I hope it will appear that you +have not left anything behind you in any of the pockets." + +Catherine hoped so too, and tried to feel an interest in her own +amendment, but her spirits were quite worn down; and, to be silent and +alone becoming soon her only wish, she readily agreed to her mother's +next counsel of going early to bed. Her parents, seeing nothing in +her ill looks and agitation but the natural consequence of mortified +feelings, and of the unusual exertion and fatigue of such a journey, +parted from her without any doubt of their being soon slept away; and +though, when they all met the next morning, her recovery was not equal +to their hopes, they were still perfectly unsuspicious of there being +any deeper evil. They never once thought of her heart, which, for the +parents of a young lady of seventeen, just returned from her first +excursion from home, was odd enough! + +As soon as breakfast was over, she sat down to fulfil her promise to +Miss Tilney, whose trust in the effect of time and distance on her +friend's disposition was already justified, for already did Catherine +reproach herself with having parted from Eleanor coldly, with +having never enough valued her merits or kindness, and never enough +commiserated her for what she had been yesterday left to endure. The +strength of these feelings, however, was far from assisting her pen; +and never had it been harder for her to write than in addressing Eleanor +Tilney. To compose a letter which might at once do justice to her +sentiments and her situation, convey gratitude without servile regret, +be guarded without coldness, and honest without resentment--a letter +which Eleanor might not be pained by the perusal of--and, above all, +which she might not blush herself, if Henry should chance to see, was an +undertaking to frighten away all her powers of performance; and, after +long thought and much perplexity, to be very brief was all that she +could determine on with any confidence of safety. The money therefore +which Eleanor had advanced was enclosed with little more than grateful +thanks, and the thousand good wishes of a most affectionate heart. + +"This has been a strange acquaintance," observed Mrs. Morland, as the +letter was finished; "soon made and soon ended. I am sorry it happens +so, for Mrs. Allen thought them very pretty kind of young people; and +you were sadly out of luck too in your Isabella. Ah! Poor James! Well, +we must live and learn; and the next new friends you make I hope will be +better worth keeping." + +Catherine coloured as she warmly answered, "No friend can be better +worth keeping than Eleanor." + +"If so, my dear, I dare say you will meet again some time or other; do +not be uneasy. It is ten to one but you are thrown together again in the +course of a few years; and then what a pleasure it will be!" + +Mrs. Morland was not happy in her attempt at consolation. The hope +of meeting again in the course of a few years could only put into +Catherine's head what might happen within that time to make a meeting +dreadful to her. She could never forget Henry Tilney, or think of him +with less tenderness than she did at that moment; but he might forget +her; and in that case, to meet--! Her eyes filled with tears as she +pictured her acquaintance so renewed; and her mother, perceiving her +comfortable suggestions to have had no good effect, proposed, as another +expedient for restoring her spirits, that they should call on Mrs. +Allen. + +The two houses were only a quarter of a mile apart; and, as they walked, +Mrs. Morland quickly dispatched all that she felt on the score of +James's disappointment. "We are sorry for him," said she; "but otherwise +there is no harm done in the match going off; for it could not be +a desirable thing to have him engaged to a girl whom we had not the +smallest acquaintance with, and who was so entirely without fortune; and +now, after such behaviour, we cannot think at all well of her. Just at +present it comes hard to poor James; but that will not last forever; and +I dare say he will be a discreeter man all his life, for the foolishness +of his first choice." + +This was just such a summary view of the affair as Catherine could +listen to; another sentence might have endangered her complaisance, +and made her reply less rational; for soon were all her thinking powers +swallowed up in the reflection of her own change of feelings and spirits +since last she had trodden that well-known road. It was not three months +ago since, wild with joyful expectation, she had there run backwards +and forwards some ten times a day, with an heart light, gay, and +independent; looking forward to pleasures untasted and unalloyed, and +free from the apprehension of evil as from the knowledge of it. Three +months ago had seen her all this; and now, how altered a being did she +return! + +She was received by the Allens with all the kindness which her +unlooked-for appearance, acting on a steady affection, would naturally +call forth; and great was their surprise, and warm their displeasure, +on hearing how she had been treated--though Mrs. Morland's account of +it was no inflated representation, no studied appeal to their passions. +"Catherine took us quite by surprise yesterday evening," said she. "She +travelled all the way post by herself, and knew nothing of coming till +Saturday night; for General Tilney, from some odd fancy or other, all +of a sudden grew tired of having her there, and almost turned her out +of the house. Very unfriendly, certainly; and he must be a very odd +man; but we are so glad to have her amongst us again! And it is a great +comfort to find that she is not a poor helpless creature, but can shift +very well for herself." + +Mr. Allen expressed himself on the occasion with the reasonable +resentment of a sensible friend; and Mrs. Allen thought his expressions +quite good enough to be immediately made use of again by herself. His +wonder, his conjectures, and his explanations became in succession hers, +with the addition of this single remark--"I really have not patience +with the general"--to fill up every accidental pause. And, "I really +have not patience with the general," was uttered twice after Mr. +Allen left the room, without any relaxation of anger, or any material +digression of thought. A more considerable degree of wandering attended +the third repetition; and, after completing the fourth, she immediately +added, "Only think, my dear, of my having got that frightful great rent +in my best Mechlin so charmingly mended, before I left Bath, that one +can hardly see where it was. I must show it you some day or other. Bath +is a nice place, Catherine, after all. I assure you I did not above half +like coming away. Mrs. Thorpe's being there was such a comfort to us, +was not it? You know, you and I were quite forlorn at first." + +"Yes, but that did not last long," said Catherine, her eyes brightening +at the recollection of what had first given spirit to her existence +there. + +"Very true: we soon met with Mrs. Thorpe, and then we wanted for +nothing. My dear, do not you think these silk gloves wear very well? +I put them on new the first time of our going to the Lower Rooms, you +know, and I have worn them a great deal since. Do you remember that +evening?" + +"Do I! Oh! Perfectly." + +"It was very agreeable, was not it? Mr. Tilney drank tea with us, and I +always thought him a great addition, he is so very agreeable. I have a +notion you danced with him, but am not quite sure. I remember I had my +favourite gown on." + +Catherine could not answer; and, after a short trial of other subjects, +Mrs. Allen again returned to--"I really have not patience with the +general! Such an agreeable, worthy man as he seemed to be! I do not +suppose, Mrs. Morland, you ever saw a better-bred man in your life. His +lodgings were taken the very day after he left them, Catherine. But no +wonder; Milsom Street, you know." + +As they walked home again, Mrs. Morland endeavoured to impress on her +daughter's mind the happiness of having such steady well-wishers as Mr. +and Mrs. Allen, and the very little consideration which the neglect or +unkindness of slight acquaintance like the Tilneys ought to have with +her, while she could preserve the good opinion and affection of her +earliest friends. There was a great deal of good sense in all this; but +there are some situations of the human mind in which good sense has +very little power; and Catherine's feelings contradicted almost every +position her mother advanced. It was upon the behaviour of these very +slight acquaintance that all her present happiness depended; and +while Mrs. Morland was successfully confirming her own opinions by the +justness of her own representations, Catherine was silently reflecting +that now Henry must have arrived at Northanger; now he must have heard +of her departure; and now, perhaps, they were all setting off for +Hereford. + + + + +CHAPTER 30 + + +Catherine's disposition was not naturally sedentary, nor had her habits +been ever very industrious; but whatever might hitherto have been her +defects of that sort, her mother could not but perceive them now to be +greatly increased. She could neither sit still nor employ herself for +ten minutes together, walking round the garden and orchard again and +again, as if nothing but motion was voluntary; and it seemed as if she +could even walk about the house rather than remain fixed for any time +in the parlour. Her loss of spirits was a yet greater alteration. In her +rambling and her idleness she might only be a caricature of herself; but +in her silence and sadness she was the very reverse of all that she had +been before. + +For two days Mrs. Morland allowed it to pass even without a hint; +but when a third night's rest had neither restored her cheerfulness, +improved her in useful activity, nor given her a greater inclination for +needlework, she could no longer refrain from the gentle reproof of, "My +dear Catherine, I am afraid you are growing quite a fine lady. I do not +know when poor Richard's cravats would be done, if he had no friend +but you. Your head runs too much upon Bath; but there is a time for +everything--a time for balls and plays, and a time for work. You have +had a long run of amusement, and now you must try to be useful." + +Catherine took up her work directly, saying, in a dejected voice, that +"her head did not run upon Bath--much." + +"Then you are fretting about General Tilney, and that is very simple +of you; for ten to one whether you ever see him again. You should never +fret about trifles." After a short silence--"I hope, my Catherine, you +are not getting out of humour with home because it is not so grand +as Northanger. That would be turning your visit into an evil indeed. +Wherever you are you should always be contented, but especially at home, +because there you must spend the most of your time. I did not quite +like, at breakfast, to hear you talk so much about the French bread at +Northanger." + +"I am sure I do not care about the bread. It is all the same to me what +I eat." + +"There is a very clever essay in one of the books upstairs upon much +such a subject, about young girls that have been spoilt for home by +great acquaintance--The Mirror, I think. I will look it out for you some +day or other, because I am sure it will do you good." + +Catherine said no more, and, with an endeavour to do right, applied +to her work; but, after a few minutes, sunk again, without knowing it +herself, into languor and listlessness, moving herself in her chair, +from the irritation of weariness, much oftener than she moved her +needle. Mrs. Morland watched the progress of this relapse; and seeing, +in her daughter's absent and dissatisfied look, the full proof of that +repining spirit to which she had now begun to attribute her want of +cheerfulness, hastily left the room to fetch the book in question, +anxious to lose no time in attacking so dreadful a malady. It was some +time before she could find what she looked for; and other family matters +occurring to detain her, a quarter of an hour had elapsed ere she +returned downstairs with the volume from which so much was hoped. Her +avocations above having shut out all noise but what she created herself, +she knew not that a visitor had arrived within the last few minutes, +till, on entering the room, the first object she beheld was a young +man whom she had never seen before. With a look of much respect, he +immediately rose, and being introduced to her by her conscious daughter +as "Mr. Henry Tilney," with the embarrassment of real sensibility began +to apologize for his appearance there, acknowledging that after what had +passed he had little right to expect a welcome at Fullerton, and stating +his impatience to be assured of Miss Morland's having reached her home +in safety, as the cause of his intrusion. He did not address himself to +an uncandid judge or a resentful heart. Far from comprehending him or +his sister in their father's misconduct, Mrs. Morland had been always +kindly disposed towards each, and instantly, pleased by his appearance, +received him with the simple professions of unaffected benevolence; +thanking him for such an attention to her daughter, assuring him that +the friends of her children were always welcome there, and entreating +him to say not another word of the past. + +He was not ill-inclined to obey this request, for, though his heart was +greatly relieved by such unlooked-for mildness, it was not just at that +moment in his power to say anything to the purpose. Returning in silence +to his seat, therefore, he remained for some minutes most civilly +answering all Mrs. Morland's common remarks about the weather and +roads. Catherine meanwhile--the anxious, agitated, happy, feverish +Catherine--said not a word; but her glowing cheek and brightened eye +made her mother trust that this good-natured visit would at least set +her heart at ease for a time, and gladly therefore did she lay aside the +first volume of The Mirror for a future hour. + +Desirous of Mr. Morland's assistance, as well in giving encouragement, +as in finding conversation for her guest, whose embarrassment on his +father's account she earnestly pitied, Mrs. Morland had very early +dispatched one of the children to summon him; but Mr. Morland was from +home--and being thus without any support, at the end of a quarter of +an hour she had nothing to say. After a couple of minutes' unbroken +silence, Henry, turning to Catherine for the first time since her +mother's entrance, asked her, with sudden alacrity, if Mr. and Mrs. +Allen were now at Fullerton? And on developing, from amidst all her +perplexity of words in reply, the meaning, which one short syllable +would have given, immediately expressed his intention of paying his +respects to them, and, with a rising colour, asked her if she would +have the goodness to show him the way. "You may see the house from this +window, sir," was information on Sarah's side, which produced only a +bow of acknowledgment from the gentleman, and a silencing nod from +her mother; for Mrs. Morland, thinking it probable, as a secondary +consideration in his wish of waiting on their worthy neighbours, that he +might have some explanation to give of his father's behaviour, which it +must be more pleasant for him to communicate only to Catherine, would +not on any account prevent her accompanying him. They began their walk, +and Mrs. Morland was not entirely mistaken in his object in wishing it. +Some explanation on his father's account he had to give; but his first +purpose was to explain himself, and before they reached Mr. Allen's +grounds he had done it so well that Catherine did not think it could +ever be repeated too often. She was assured of his affection; and that +heart in return was solicited, which, perhaps, they pretty equally +knew was already entirely his own; for, though Henry was now sincerely +attached to her, though he felt and delighted in all the excellencies +of her character and truly loved her society, I must confess that his +affection originated in nothing better than gratitude, or, in other +words, that a persuasion of her partiality for him had been the only +cause of giving her a serious thought. It is a new circumstance in +romance, I acknowledge, and dreadfully derogatory of an heroine's +dignity; but if it be as new in common life, the credit of a wild +imagination will at least be all my own. + +A very short visit to Mrs. Allen, in which Henry talked at random, +without sense or connection, and Catherine, rapt in the contemplation of +her own unutterable happiness, scarcely opened her lips, dismissed them +to the ecstasies of another tete-a-tete; and before it was suffered to +close, she was enabled to judge how far he was sanctioned by parental +authority in his present application. On his return from Woodston, two +days before, he had been met near the abbey by his impatient father, +hastily informed in angry terms of Miss Morland's departure, and ordered +to think of her no more. + +Such was the permission upon which he had now offered her his hand. +The affrighted Catherine, amidst all the terrors of expectation, as she +listened to this account, could not but rejoice in the kind caution +with which Henry had saved her from the necessity of a conscientious +rejection, by engaging her faith before he mentioned the subject; and +as he proceeded to give the particulars, and explain the motives of +his father's conduct, her feelings soon hardened into even a triumphant +delight. The general had had nothing to accuse her of, nothing to lay +to her charge, but her being the involuntary, unconscious object of a +deception which his pride could not pardon, and which a better pride +would have been ashamed to own. She was guilty only of being less rich +than he had supposed her to be. Under a mistaken persuasion of her +possessions and claims, he had courted her acquaintance in Bath, +solicited her company at Northanger, and designed her for his +daughter-in-law. On discovering his error, to turn her from the house +seemed the best, though to his feelings an inadequate proof of his +resentment towards herself, and his contempt of her family. + +John Thorpe had first misled him. The general, perceiving his son +one night at the theatre to be paying considerable attention to Miss +Morland, had accidentally inquired of Thorpe if he knew more of her +than her name. Thorpe, most happy to be on speaking terms with a man +of General Tilney's importance, had been joyfully and proudly +communicative; and being at that time not only in daily expectation +of Morland's engaging Isabella, but likewise pretty well resolved upon +marrying Catherine himself, his vanity induced him to represent the +family as yet more wealthy than his vanity and avarice had made him +believe them. With whomsoever he was, or was likely to be connected, his +own consequence always required that theirs should be great, and as his +intimacy with any acquaintance grew, so regularly grew their fortune. +The expectations of his friend Morland, therefore, from the first +overrated, had ever since his introduction to Isabella been gradually +increasing; and by merely adding twice as much for the grandeur of the +moment, by doubling what he chose to think the amount of Mr. Morland's +preferment, trebling his private fortune, bestowing a rich aunt, and +sinking half the children, he was able to represent the whole family +to the general in a most respectable light. For Catherine, however, the +peculiar object of the general's curiosity, and his own speculations, +he had yet something more in reserve, and the ten or fifteen thousand +pounds which her father could give her would be a pretty addition to Mr. +Allen's estate. Her intimacy there had made him seriously determine on +her being handsomely legacied hereafter; and to speak of her therefore +as the almost acknowledged future heiress of Fullerton naturally +followed. Upon such intelligence the general had proceeded; for never +had it occurred to him to doubt its authority. Thorpe's interest in the +family, by his sister's approaching connection with one of its members, +and his own views on another (circumstances of which he boasted with +almost equal openness), seemed sufficient vouchers for his truth; and +to these were added the absolute facts of the Allens being wealthy and +childless, of Miss Morland's being under their care, and--as soon as his +acquaintance allowed him to judge--of their treating her with parental +kindness. His resolution was soon formed. Already had he discerned a +liking towards Miss Morland in the countenance of his son; and thankful +for Mr. Thorpe's communication, he almost instantly determined to spare +no pains in weakening his boasted interest and ruining his dearest +hopes. Catherine herself could not be more ignorant at the time of all +this, than his own children. Henry and Eleanor, perceiving nothing in +her situation likely to engage their father's particular respect, had +seen with astonishment the suddenness, continuance, and extent of his +attention; and though latterly, from some hints which had accompanied an +almost positive command to his son of doing everything in his power to +attach her, Henry was convinced of his father's believing it to be +an advantageous connection, it was not till the late explanation at +Northanger that they had the smallest idea of the false calculations +which had hurried him on. That they were false, the general had learnt +from the very person who had suggested them, from Thorpe himself, whom +he had chanced to meet again in town, and who, under the influence of +exactly opposite feelings, irritated by Catherine's refusal, and +yet more by the failure of a very recent endeavour to accomplish a +reconciliation between Morland and Isabella, convinced that they were +separated forever, and spurning a friendship which could be no longer +serviceable, hastened to contradict all that he had said before to +the advantage of the Morlands--confessed himself to have been totally +mistaken in his opinion of their circumstances and character, misled by +the rhodomontade of his friend to believe his father a man of substance +and credit, whereas the transactions of the two or three last weeks +proved him to be neither; for after coming eagerly forward on the first +overture of a marriage between the families, with the most liberal +proposals, he had, on being brought to the point by the shrewdness of +the relator, been constrained to acknowledge himself incapable of +giving the young people even a decent support. They were, in fact, a +necessitous family; numerous, too, almost beyond example; by no means +respected in their own neighbourhood, as he had lately had particular +opportunities of discovering; aiming at a style of life which their +fortune could not warrant; seeking to better themselves by wealthy +connections; a forward, bragging, scheming race. + +The terrified general pronounced the name of Allen with an inquiring +look; and here too Thorpe had learnt his error. The Allens, he believed, +had lived near them too long, and he knew the young man on whom the +Fullerton estate must devolve. The general needed no more. Enraged with +almost everybody in the world but himself, he set out the next day for +the abbey, where his performances have been seen. + +I leave it to my reader's sagacity to determine how much of all this +it was possible for Henry to communicate at this time to Catherine, how +much of it he could have learnt from his father, in what points his own +conjectures might assist him, and what portion must yet remain to be +told in a letter from James. I have united for their case what they must +divide for mine. Catherine, at any rate, heard enough to feel that in +suspecting General Tilney of either murdering or shutting up his wife, +she had scarcely sinned against his character, or magnified his cruelty. + +Henry, in having such things to relate of his father, was almost +as pitiable as in their first avowal to himself. He blushed for the +narrow-minded counsel which he was obliged to expose. The conversation +between them at Northanger had been of the most unfriendly kind. Henry's +indignation on hearing how Catherine had been treated, on comprehending +his father's views, and being ordered to acquiesce in them, had been +open and bold. The general, accustomed on every ordinary occasion to +give the law in his family, prepared for no reluctance but of feeling, +no opposing desire that should dare to clothe itself in words, could ill +brook the opposition of his son, steady as the sanction of reason and +the dictate of conscience could make it. But, in such a cause, his +anger, though it must shock, could not intimidate Henry, who was +sustained in his purpose by a conviction of its justice. He felt himself +bound as much in honour as in affection to Miss Morland, and believing +that heart to be his own which he had been directed to gain, no unworthy +retraction of a tacit consent, no reversing decree of unjustifiable +anger, could shake his fidelity, or influence the resolutions it +prompted. + +He steadily refused to accompany his father into Herefordshire, an +engagement formed almost at the moment to promote the dismissal of +Catherine, and as steadily declared his intention of offering her his +hand. The general was furious in his anger, and they parted in dreadful +disagreement. Henry, in an agitation of mind which many solitary hours +were required to compose, had returned almost instantly to Woodston, +and, on the afternoon of the following day, had begun his journey to +Fullerton. + + + + +CHAPTER 31 + + +Mr. and Mrs. Morland's surprise on being applied to by Mr. Tilney for +their consent to his marrying their daughter was, for a few minutes, +considerable, it having never entered their heads to suspect an +attachment on either side; but as nothing, after all, could be more +natural than Catherine's being beloved, they soon learnt to consider it +with only the happy agitation of gratified pride, and, as far as they +alone were concerned, had not a single objection to start. His pleasing +manners and good sense were self-evident recommendations; and having +never heard evil of him, it was not their way to suppose any evil could +be told. Goodwill supplying the place of experience, his character +needed no attestation. "Catherine would make a sad, heedless young +housekeeper to be sure," was her mother's foreboding remark; but quick +was the consolation of there being nothing like practice. + +There was but one obstacle, in short, to be mentioned; but till that one +was removed, it must be impossible for them to sanction the engagement. +Their tempers were mild, but their principles were steady, and while +his parent so expressly forbade the connection, they could not allow +themselves to encourage it. That the general should come forward to +solicit the alliance, or that he should even very heartily approve it, +they were not refined enough to make any parading stipulation; but +the decent appearance of consent must be yielded, and that once +obtained--and their own hearts made them trust that it could not be +very long denied--their willing approbation was instantly to follow. His +consent was all that they wished for. They were no more inclined than +entitled to demand his money. Of a very considerable fortune, his son +was, by marriage settlements, eventually secure; his present income was +an income of independence and comfort, and under every pecuniary view, +it was a match beyond the claims of their daughter. + +The young people could not be surprised at a decision like this. They +felt and they deplored--but they could not resent it; and they parted, +endeavouring to hope that such a change in the general, as each believed +almost impossible, might speedily take place, to unite them again in +the fullness of privileged affection. Henry returned to what was now +his only home, to watch over his young plantations, and extend his +improvements for her sake, to whose share in them he looked anxiously +forward; and Catherine remained at Fullerton to cry. Whether the +torments of absence were softened by a clandestine correspondence, let +us not inquire. Mr. and Mrs. Morland never did--they had been too kind +to exact any promise; and whenever Catherine received a letter, as, at +that time, happened pretty often, they always looked another way. + +The anxiety, which in this state of their attachment must be the portion +of Henry and Catherine, and of all who loved either, as to its final +event, can hardly extend, I fear, to the bosom of my readers, who will +see in the tell-tale compression of the pages before them, that we are +all hastening together to perfect felicity. The means by which their +early marriage was effected can be the only doubt: what probable +circumstance could work upon a temper like the general's? The +circumstance which chiefly availed was the marriage of his daughter with +a man of fortune and consequence, which took place in the course of +the summer--an accession of dignity that threw him into a fit of good +humour, from which he did not recover till after Eleanor had obtained +his forgiveness of Henry, and his permission for him "to be a fool if he +liked it!" + +The marriage of Eleanor Tilney, her removal from all the evils of such +a home as Northanger had been made by Henry's banishment, to the home of +her choice and the man of her choice, is an event which I expect to +give general satisfaction among all her acquaintance. My own joy on the +occasion is very sincere. I know no one more entitled, by unpretending +merit, or better prepared by habitual suffering, to receive and enjoy +felicity. Her partiality for this gentleman was not of recent origin; +and he had been long withheld only by inferiority of situation from +addressing her. His unexpected accession to title and fortune had +removed all his difficulties; and never had the general loved his +daughter so well in all her hours of companionship, utility, and patient +endurance as when he first hailed her "Your Ladyship!" Her husband was +really deserving of her; independent of his peerage, his wealth, and +his attachment, being to a precision the most charming young man in the +world. Any further definition of his merits must be unnecessary; the +most charming young man in the world is instantly before the imagination +of us all. Concerning the one in question, therefore, I have only to +add--aware that the rules of composition forbid the introduction of a +character not connected with my fable--that this was the very +gentleman whose negligent servant left behind him that collection of +washing-bills, resulting from a long visit at Northanger, by which my +heroine was involved in one of her most alarming adventures. + +The influence of the viscount and viscountess in their brother's behalf +was assisted by that right understanding of Mr. Morland's circumstances +which, as soon as the general would allow himself to be informed, they +were qualified to give. It taught him that he had been scarcely +more misled by Thorpe's first boast of the family wealth than by his +subsequent malicious overthrow of it; that in no sense of the word were +they necessitous or poor, and that Catherine would have three thousand +pounds. This was so material an amendment of his late expectations that +it greatly contributed to smooth the descent of his pride; and by no +means without its effect was the private intelligence, which he was at +some pains to procure, that the Fullerton estate, being entirely at +the disposal of its present proprietor, was consequently open to every +greedy speculation. + +On the strength of this, the general, soon after Eleanor's marriage, +permitted his son to return to Northanger, and thence made him the +bearer of his consent, very courteously worded in a page full of empty +professions to Mr. Morland. The event which it authorized soon followed: +Henry and Catherine were married, the bells rang, and everybody smiled; +and, as this took place within a twelvemonth from the first day of their +meeting, it will not appear, after all the dreadful delays occasioned by +the general's cruelty, that they were essentially hurt by it. To begin +perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen is +to do pretty well; and professing myself moreover convinced that the +general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to +their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their +knowledge of each other, and adding strength to their attachment, +I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the +tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or +reward filial disobedience. + + + +*Vide a letter from Mr. Richardson, No. 97, Vol. II, Rambler. + + + + +A NOTE ON THE TEXT + +Northanger Abbey was written in 1797-98 under a different title. The +manuscript was revised around 1803 and sold to a London publisher, +Crosbie & Co., who sold it back in 1816. The Signet Classic text +is based on the first edition, published by John Murray, London, in +1818--the year following Miss Austen's death. Spelling and punctuation +have been largely brought into conformity with modern British usage. + + + + + + + + + +MANSFIELD PARK + +(1814) + + +By Jane Austen + + + + +CHAPTER I + +About thirty years ago Miss Maria Ward, of Huntingdon, with only seven +thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of +Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton, and to be thereby raised +to the rank of a baronet's lady, with all the comforts and consequences +of an handsome house and large income. All Huntingdon exclaimed on the +greatness of the match, and her uncle, the lawyer, himself, allowed her +to be at least three thousand pounds short of any equitable claim to it. +She had two sisters to be benefited by her elevation; and such of their +acquaintance as thought Miss Ward and Miss Frances quite as handsome as +Miss Maria, did not scruple to predict their marrying with almost equal +advantage. But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in +the world as there are pretty women to deserve them. Miss Ward, at the +end of half a dozen years, found herself obliged to be attached to +the Rev. Mr. Norris, a friend of her brother-in-law, with scarcely any +private fortune, and Miss Frances fared yet worse. Miss Ward's match, +indeed, when it came to the point, was not contemptible: Sir Thomas +being happily able to give his friend an income in the living of +Mansfield; and Mr. and Mrs. Norris began their career of conjugal +felicity with very little less than a thousand a year. But Miss Frances +married, in the common phrase, to disoblige her family, and by fixing on +a lieutenant of marines, without education, fortune, or connexions, did +it very thoroughly. She could hardly have made a more untoward choice. +Sir Thomas Bertram had interest, which, from principle as well as +pride--from a general wish of doing right, and a desire of seeing all +that were connected with him in situations of respectability, he would +have been glad to exert for the advantage of Lady Bertram's sister; but +her husband's profession was such as no interest could reach; and before +he had time to devise any other method of assisting them, an absolute +breach between the sisters had taken place. It was the natural result of +the conduct of each party, and such as a very imprudent marriage almost +always produces. To save herself from useless remonstrance, Mrs. Price +never wrote to her family on the subject till actually married. Lady +Bertram, who was a woman of very tranquil feelings, and a temper +remarkably easy and indolent, would have contented herself with merely +giving up her sister, and thinking no more of the matter; but Mrs. +Norris had a spirit of activity, which could not be satisfied till she +had written a long and angry letter to Fanny, to point out the folly of +her conduct, and threaten her with all its possible ill consequences. +Mrs. Price, in her turn, was injured and angry; and an answer, which +comprehended each sister in its bitterness, and bestowed such very +disrespectful reflections on the pride of Sir Thomas as Mrs. Norris +could not possibly keep to herself, put an end to all intercourse +between them for a considerable period. + +Their homes were so distant, and the circles in which they moved so +distinct, as almost to preclude the means of ever hearing of each +other's existence during the eleven following years, or, at least, to +make it very wonderful to Sir Thomas that Mrs. Norris should ever have +it in her power to tell them, as she now and then did, in an angry +voice, that Fanny had got another child. By the end of eleven years, +however, Mrs. Price could no longer afford to cherish pride or +resentment, or to lose one connexion that might possibly assist her. +A large and still increasing family, an husband disabled for active +service, but not the less equal to company and good liquor, and a very +small income to supply their wants, made her eager to regain the friends +she had so carelessly sacrificed; and she addressed Lady Bertram in +a letter which spoke so much contrition and despondence, such a +superfluity of children, and such a want of almost everything else, as +could not but dispose them all to a reconciliation. She was preparing +for her ninth lying-in; and after bewailing the circumstance, and +imploring their countenance as sponsors to the expected child, she +could not conceal how important she felt they might be to the future +maintenance of the eight already in being. Her eldest was a boy of ten +years old, a fine spirited fellow, who longed to be out in the world; +but what could she do? Was there any chance of his being hereafter +useful to Sir Thomas in the concerns of his West Indian property? +No situation would be beneath him; or what did Sir Thomas think of +Woolwich? or how could a boy be sent out to the East? + +The letter was not unproductive. It re-established peace and kindness. +Sir Thomas sent friendly advice and professions, Lady Bertram dispatched +money and baby-linen, and Mrs. Norris wrote the letters. + +Such were its immediate effects, and within a twelvemonth a more +important advantage to Mrs. Price resulted from it. Mrs. Norris was +often observing to the others that she could not get her poor sister and +her family out of her head, and that, much as they had all done for her, +she seemed to be wanting to do more; and at length she could not but +own it to be her wish that poor Mrs. Price should be relieved from the +charge and expense of one child entirely out of her great number. "What +if they were among them to undertake the care of her eldest daughter, +a girl now nine years old, of an age to require more attention than her +poor mother could possibly give? The trouble and expense of it to them +would be nothing, compared with the benevolence of the action." Lady +Bertram agreed with her instantly. "I think we cannot do better," said +she; "let us send for the child." + +Sir Thomas could not give so instantaneous and unqualified a consent. He +debated and hesitated;--it was a serious charge;--a girl so brought up +must be adequately provided for, or there would be cruelty instead +of kindness in taking her from her family. He thought of his own four +children, of his two sons, of cousins in love, etc.;--but no sooner +had he deliberately begun to state his objections, than Mrs. Norris +interrupted him with a reply to them all, whether stated or not. + +"My dear Sir Thomas, I perfectly comprehend you, and do justice to the +generosity and delicacy of your notions, which indeed are quite of a +piece with your general conduct; and I entirely agree with you in +the main as to the propriety of doing everything one could by way of +providing for a child one had in a manner taken into one's own hands; +and I am sure I should be the last person in the world to withhold my +mite upon such an occasion. Having no children of my own, who should I +look to in any little matter I may ever have to bestow, but the children +of my sisters?--and I am sure Mr. Norris is too just--but you know I am +a woman of few words and professions. Do not let us be frightened from +a good deed by a trifle. Give a girl an education, and introduce +her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of +settling well, without farther expense to anybody. A niece of ours, Sir +Thomas, I may say, or at least of _yours_, would not grow up in this +neighbourhood without many advantages. I don't say she would be so +handsome as her cousins. I dare say she would not; but she would be +introduced into the society of this country under such very favourable +circumstances as, in all human probability, would get her a creditable +establishment. You are thinking of your sons--but do not you know that, +of all things upon earth, _that_ is the least likely to happen, brought +up as they would be, always together like brothers and sisters? It is +morally impossible. I never knew an instance of it. It is, in fact, the +only sure way of providing against the connexion. Suppose her a pretty +girl, and seen by Tom or Edmund for the first time seven years hence, +and I dare say there would be mischief. The very idea of her having been +suffered to grow up at a distance from us all in poverty and neglect, +would be enough to make either of the dear, sweet-tempered boys in love +with her. But breed her up with them from this time, and suppose her +even to have the beauty of an angel, and she will never be more to +either than a sister." + +"There is a great deal of truth in what you say," replied Sir Thomas, +"and far be it from me to throw any fanciful impediment in the way of a +plan which would be so consistent with the relative situations of each. +I only meant to observe that it ought not to be lightly engaged in, +and that to make it really serviceable to Mrs. Price, and creditable to +ourselves, we must secure to the child, or consider ourselves engaged to +secure to her hereafter, as circumstances may arise, the provision of +a gentlewoman, if no such establishment should offer as you are so +sanguine in expecting." + +"I thoroughly understand you," cried Mrs. Norris, "you are everything +that is generous and considerate, and I am sure we shall never disagree +on this point. Whatever I can do, as you well know, I am always ready +enough to do for the good of those I love; and, though I could never +feel for this little girl the hundredth part of the regard I bear your +own dear children, nor consider her, in any respect, so much my own, +I should hate myself if I were capable of neglecting her. Is not she a +sister's child? and could I bear to see her want while I had a bit of +bread to give her? My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm +heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of +life than do an ungenerous thing. So, if you are not against it, I will +write to my poor sister tomorrow, and make the proposal; and, as soon +as matters are settled, _I_ will engage to get the child to Mansfield; +_you_ shall have no trouble about it. My own trouble, you know, I never +regard. I will send Nanny to London on purpose, and she may have a bed +at her cousin the saddler's, and the child be appointed to meet her +there. They may easily get her from Portsmouth to town by the coach, +under the care of any creditable person that may chance to be going. I +dare say there is always some reputable tradesman's wife or other going +up." + +Except to the attack on Nanny's cousin, Sir Thomas no longer made any +objection, and a more respectable, though less economical rendezvous +being accordingly substituted, everything was considered as settled, +and the pleasures of so benevolent a scheme were already enjoyed. The +division of gratifying sensations ought not, in strict justice, to +have been equal; for Sir Thomas was fully resolved to be the real and +consistent patron of the selected child, and Mrs. Norris had not the +least intention of being at any expense whatever in her maintenance. +As far as walking, talking, and contriving reached, she was thoroughly +benevolent, and nobody knew better how to dictate liberality to others; +but her love of money was equal to her love of directing, and she knew +quite as well how to save her own as to spend that of her friends. +Having married on a narrower income than she had been used to look +forward to, she had, from the first, fancied a very strict line of +economy necessary; and what was begun as a matter of prudence, soon grew +into a matter of choice, as an object of that needful solicitude which +there were no children to supply. Had there been a family to provide +for, Mrs. Norris might never have saved her money; but having no care +of that kind, there was nothing to impede her frugality, or lessen the +comfort of making a yearly addition to an income which they had never +lived up to. Under this infatuating principle, counteracted by no real +affection for her sister, it was impossible for her to aim at more than +the credit of projecting and arranging so expensive a charity; though +perhaps she might so little know herself as to walk home to the +Parsonage, after this conversation, in the happy belief of being the +most liberal-minded sister and aunt in the world. + +When the subject was brought forward again, her views were more fully +explained; and, in reply to Lady Bertram's calm inquiry of "Where shall +the child come to first, sister, to you or to us?" Sir Thomas heard with +some surprise that it would be totally out of Mrs. Norris's power to +take any share in the personal charge of her. He had been considering +her as a particularly welcome addition at the Parsonage, as a desirable +companion to an aunt who had no children of her own; but he found +himself wholly mistaken. Mrs. Norris was sorry to say that the little +girl's staying with them, at least as things then were, was quite out of +the question. Poor Mr. Norris's indifferent state of health made it an +impossibility: he could no more bear the noise of a child than he could +fly; if, indeed, he should ever get well of his gouty complaints, it +would be a different matter: she should then be glad to take her turn, +and think nothing of the inconvenience; but just now, poor Mr. Norris +took up every moment of her time, and the very mention of such a thing +she was sure would distract him. + +"Then she had better come to us," said Lady Bertram, with the utmost +composure. After a short pause Sir Thomas added with dignity, "Yes, let +her home be in this house. We will endeavour to do our duty by her, and +she will, at least, have the advantage of companions of her own age, and +of a regular instructress." + +"Very true," cried Mrs. Norris, "which are both very important +considerations; and it will be just the same to Miss Lee whether she has +three girls to teach, or only two--there can be no difference. I only +wish I could be more useful; but you see I do all in my power. I am not +one of those that spare their own trouble; and Nanny shall fetch her, +however it may put me to inconvenience to have my chief counsellor away +for three days. I suppose, sister, you will put the child in the little +white attic, near the old nurseries. It will be much the best place +for her, so near Miss Lee, and not far from the girls, and close by the +housemaids, who could either of them help to dress her, you know, and +take care of her clothes, for I suppose you would not think it fair to +expect Ellis to wait on her as well as the others. Indeed, I do not see +that you could possibly place her anywhere else." + +Lady Bertram made no opposition. + +"I hope she will prove a well-disposed girl," continued Mrs. Norris, +"and be sensible of her uncommon good fortune in having such friends." + +"Should her disposition be really bad," said Sir Thomas, "we must not, +for our own children's sake, continue her in the family; but there is +no reason to expect so great an evil. We shall probably see much to wish +altered in her, and must prepare ourselves for gross ignorance, some +meanness of opinions, and very distressing vulgarity of manner; but +these are not incurable faults; nor, I trust, can they be dangerous for +her associates. Had my daughters been _younger_ than herself, I should +have considered the introduction of such a companion as a matter of very +serious moment; but, as it is, I hope there can be nothing to fear for +_them_, and everything to hope for _her_, from the association." + +"That is exactly what I think," cried Mrs. Norris, "and what I was +saying to my husband this morning. It will be an education for the +child, said I, only being with her cousins; if Miss Lee taught her +nothing, she would learn to be good and clever from _them_." + +"I hope she will not tease my poor pug," said Lady Bertram; "I have but +just got Julia to leave it alone." + +"There will be some difficulty in our way, Mrs. Norris," observed Sir +Thomas, "as to the distinction proper to be made between the girls +as they grow up: how to preserve in the minds of my _daughters_ the +consciousness of what they are, without making them think too lowly of +their cousin; and how, without depressing her spirits too far, to make +her remember that she is not a _Miss Bertram_. I should wish to see them +very good friends, and would, on no account, authorise in my girls the +smallest degree of arrogance towards their relation; but still they +cannot be equals. Their rank, fortune, rights, and expectations will +always be different. It is a point of great delicacy, and you must +assist us in our endeavours to choose exactly the right line of +conduct." + +Mrs. Norris was quite at his service; and though she perfectly agreed +with him as to its being a most difficult thing, encouraged him to hope +that between them it would be easily managed. + +It will be readily believed that Mrs. Norris did not write to her sister +in vain. Mrs. Price seemed rather surprised that a girl should be +fixed on, when she had so many fine boys, but accepted the offer most +thankfully, assuring them of her daughter's being a very well-disposed, +good-humoured girl, and trusting they would never have cause to throw +her off. She spoke of her farther as somewhat delicate and puny, but was +sanguine in the hope of her being materially better for change of air. +Poor woman! she probably thought change of air might agree with many of +her children. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The little girl performed her long journey in safety; and at Northampton +was met by Mrs. Norris, who thus regaled in the credit of being foremost +to welcome her, and in the importance of leading her in to the others, +and recommending her to their kindness. + +Fanny Price was at this time just ten years old, and though there might +not be much in her first appearance to captivate, there was, at least, +nothing to disgust her relations. She was small of her age, with no glow +of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly timid and shy, +and shrinking from notice; but her air, though awkward, was not vulgar, +her voice was sweet, and when she spoke her countenance was pretty. Sir +Thomas and Lady Bertram received her very kindly; and Sir Thomas, +seeing how much she needed encouragement, tried to be all that was +conciliating: but he had to work against a most untoward gravity of +deportment; and Lady Bertram, without taking half so much trouble, or +speaking one word where he spoke ten, by the mere aid of a good-humoured +smile, became immediately the less awful character of the two. + +The young people were all at home, and sustained their share in the +introduction very well, with much good humour, and no embarrassment, at +least on the part of the sons, who, at seventeen and sixteen, and tall +of their age, had all the grandeur of men in the eyes of their little +cousin. The two girls were more at a loss from being younger and in +greater awe of their father, who addressed them on the occasion with +rather an injudicious particularity. But they were too much used to +company and praise to have anything like natural shyness; and their +confidence increasing from their cousin's total want of it, they were +soon able to take a full survey of her face and her frock in easy +indifference. + +They were a remarkably fine family, the sons very well-looking, the +daughters decidedly handsome, and all of them well-grown and forward of +their age, which produced as striking a difference between the cousins +in person, as education had given to their address; and no one would +have supposed the girls so nearly of an age as they really were. There +were in fact but two years between the youngest and Fanny. Julia +Bertram was only twelve, and Maria but a year older. The little visitor +meanwhile was as unhappy as possible. Afraid of everybody, ashamed of +herself, and longing for the home she had left, she knew not how to look +up, and could scarcely speak to be heard, or without crying. Mrs. Norris +had been talking to her the whole way from Northampton of her wonderful +good fortune, and the extraordinary degree of gratitude and good +behaviour which it ought to produce, and her consciousness of misery was +therefore increased by the idea of its being a wicked thing for her +not to be happy. The fatigue, too, of so long a journey, became soon no +trifling evil. In vain were the well-meant condescensions of Sir Thomas, +and all the officious prognostications of Mrs. Norris that she would be +a good girl; in vain did Lady Bertram smile and make her sit on the sofa +with herself and pug, and vain was even the sight of a gooseberry tart +towards giving her comfort; she could scarcely swallow two mouthfuls +before tears interrupted her, and sleep seeming to be her likeliest +friend, she was taken to finish her sorrows in bed. + +"This is not a very promising beginning," said Mrs. Norris, when Fanny +had left the room. "After all that I said to her as we came along, I +thought she would have behaved better; I told her how much might depend +upon her acquitting herself well at first. I wish there may not be a +little sulkiness of temper--her poor mother had a good deal; but we must +make allowances for such a child--and I do not know that her being sorry +to leave her home is really against her, for, with all its faults, +it _was_ her home, and she cannot as yet understand how much she has +changed for the better; but then there is moderation in all things." + +It required a longer time, however, than Mrs. Norris was inclined to +allow, to reconcile Fanny to the novelty of Mansfield Park, and the +separation from everybody she had been used to. Her feelings were very +acute, and too little understood to be properly attended to. Nobody +meant to be unkind, but nobody put themselves out of their way to secure +her comfort. + +The holiday allowed to the Miss Bertrams the next day, on purpose to +afford leisure for getting acquainted with, and entertaining their young +cousin, produced little union. They could not but hold her cheap on +finding that she had but two sashes, and had never learned French; and +when they perceived her to be little struck with the duet they were so +good as to play, they could do no more than make her a generous present +of some of their least valued toys, and leave her to herself, while +they adjourned to whatever might be the favourite holiday sport of the +moment, making artificial flowers or wasting gold paper. + +Fanny, whether near or from her cousins, whether in the schoolroom, the +drawing-room, or the shrubbery, was equally forlorn, finding something +to fear in every person and place. She was disheartened by Lady +Bertram's silence, awed by Sir Thomas's grave looks, and quite overcome +by Mrs. Norris's admonitions. Her elder cousins mortified her by +reflections on her size, and abashed her by noticing her shyness: Miss +Lee wondered at her ignorance, and the maid-servants sneered at her +clothes; and when to these sorrows was added the idea of the brothers +and sisters among whom she had always been important as playfellow, +instructress, and nurse, the despondence that sunk her little heart was +severe. + +The grandeur of the house astonished, but could not console her. The +rooms were too large for her to move in with ease: whatever she touched +she expected to injure, and she crept about in constant terror of +something or other; often retreating towards her own chamber to cry; and +the little girl who was spoken of in the drawing-room when she left it +at night as seeming so desirably sensible of her peculiar good fortune, +ended every day's sorrows by sobbing herself to sleep. A week had +passed in this way, and no suspicion of it conveyed by her quiet +passive manner, when she was found one morning by her cousin Edmund, the +youngest of the sons, sitting crying on the attic stairs. + +"My dear little cousin," said he, with all the gentleness of an +excellent nature, "what can be the matter?" And sitting down by her, +he was at great pains to overcome her shame in being so surprised, and +persuade her to speak openly. Was she ill? or was anybody angry with +her? or had she quarrelled with Maria and Julia? or was she puzzled +about anything in her lesson that he could explain? Did she, in short, +want anything he could possibly get her, or do for her? For a long while +no answer could be obtained beyond a "no, no--not at all--no, thank +you"; but he still persevered; and no sooner had he begun to revert +to her own home, than her increased sobs explained to him where the +grievance lay. He tried to console her. + +"You are sorry to leave Mama, my dear little Fanny," said he, "which +shows you to be a very good girl; but you must remember that you are +with relations and friends, who all love you, and wish to make you +happy. Let us walk out in the park, and you shall tell me all about your +brothers and sisters." + +On pursuing the subject, he found that, dear as all these brothers and +sisters generally were, there was one among them who ran more in her +thoughts than the rest. It was William whom she talked of most, and +wanted most to see. William, the eldest, a year older than herself, her +constant companion and friend; her advocate with her mother (of whom +he was the darling) in every distress. "William did not like she should +come away; he had told her he should miss her very much indeed." "But +William will write to you, I dare say." "Yes, he had promised he would, +but he had told _her_ to write first." "And when shall you do it?" She +hung her head and answered hesitatingly, "she did not know; she had not +any paper." + +"If that be all your difficulty, I will furnish you with paper and every +other material, and you may write your letter whenever you choose. Would +it make you happy to write to William?" + +"Yes, very." + +"Then let it be done now. Come with me into the breakfast-room, we shall +find everything there, and be sure of having the room to ourselves." + +"But, cousin, will it go to the post?" + +"Yes, depend upon me it shall: it shall go with the other letters; and, +as your uncle will frank it, it will cost William nothing." + +"My uncle!" repeated Fanny, with a frightened look. + +"Yes, when you have written the letter, I will take it to my father to +frank." + +Fanny thought it a bold measure, but offered no further resistance; and +they went together into the breakfast-room, where Edmund prepared her +paper, and ruled her lines with all the goodwill that her brother +could himself have felt, and probably with somewhat more exactness. He +continued with her the whole time of her writing, to assist her with his +penknife or his orthography, as either were wanted; and added to these +attentions, which she felt very much, a kindness to her brother which +delighted her beyond all the rest. He wrote with his own hand his +love to his cousin William, and sent him half a guinea under the seal. +Fanny's feelings on the occasion were such as she believed herself +incapable of expressing; but her countenance and a few artless words +fully conveyed all their gratitude and delight, and her cousin began +to find her an interesting object. He talked to her more, and, from all +that she said, was convinced of her having an affectionate heart, and +a strong desire of doing right; and he could perceive her to be farther +entitled to attention by great sensibility of her situation, and great +timidity. He had never knowingly given her pain, but he now felt that +she required more positive kindness; and with that view endeavoured, +in the first place, to lessen her fears of them all, and gave her +especially a great deal of good advice as to playing with Maria and +Julia, and being as merry as possible. + +From this day Fanny grew more comfortable. She felt that she had a +friend, and the kindness of her cousin Edmund gave her better spirits +with everybody else. The place became less strange, and the people less +formidable; and if there were some amongst them whom she could not cease +to fear, she began at least to know their ways, and to catch the best +manner of conforming to them. The little rusticities and awkwardnesses +which had at first made grievous inroads on the tranquillity of all, +and not least of herself, necessarily wore away, and she was no longer +materially afraid to appear before her uncle, nor did her aunt Norris's +voice make her start very much. To her cousins she became occasionally +an acceptable companion. Though unworthy, from inferiority of age and +strength, to be their constant associate, their pleasures and schemes +were sometimes of a nature to make a third very useful, especially when +that third was of an obliging, yielding temper; and they could not but +own, when their aunt inquired into her faults, or their brother Edmund +urged her claims to their kindness, that "Fanny was good-natured +enough." + +Edmund was uniformly kind himself; and she had nothing worse to endure +on the part of Tom than that sort of merriment which a young man of +seventeen will always think fair with a child of ten. He was just +entering into life, full of spirits, and with all the liberal +dispositions of an eldest son, who feels born only for expense and +enjoyment. His kindness to his little cousin was consistent with his +situation and rights: he made her some very pretty presents, and laughed +at her. + +As her appearance and spirits improved, Sir Thomas and Mrs. Norris +thought with greater satisfaction of their benevolent plan; and it +was pretty soon decided between them that, though far from clever, she +showed a tractable disposition, and seemed likely to give them little +trouble. A mean opinion of her abilities was not confined to _them_. +Fanny could read, work, and write, but she had been taught nothing more; +and as her cousins found her ignorant of many things with which they had +been long familiar, they thought her prodigiously stupid, and for the +first two or three weeks were continually bringing some fresh report of +it into the drawing-room. "Dear mama, only think, my cousin cannot +put the map of Europe together--or my cousin cannot tell the principal +rivers in Russia--or, she never heard of Asia Minor--or she does +not know the difference between water-colours and crayons!--How +strange!--Did you ever hear anything so stupid?" + +"My dear," their considerate aunt would reply, "it is very bad, but +you must not expect everybody to be as forward and quick at learning as +yourself." + +"But, aunt, she is really so very ignorant!--Do you know, we asked her +last night which way she would go to get to Ireland; and she said, she +should cross to the Isle of Wight. She thinks of nothing but the Isle of +Wight, and she calls it _the_ _Island_, as if there were no other island +in the world. I am sure I should have been ashamed of myself, if I had +not known better long before I was so old as she is. I cannot remember +the time when I did not know a great deal that she has not the least +notion of yet. How long ago it is, aunt, since we used to repeat the +chronological order of the kings of England, with the dates of their +accession, and most of the principal events of their reigns!" + +"Yes," added the other; "and of the Roman emperors as low as Severus; +besides a great deal of the heathen mythology, and all the metals, +semi-metals, planets, and distinguished philosophers." + +"Very true indeed, my dears, but you are blessed with wonderful +memories, and your poor cousin has probably none at all. There is a +vast deal of difference in memories, as well as in everything else, +and therefore you must make allowance for your cousin, and pity her +deficiency. And remember that, if you are ever so forward and clever +yourselves, you should always be modest; for, much as you know already, +there is a great deal more for you to learn." + +"Yes, I know there is, till I am seventeen. But I must tell you another +thing of Fanny, so odd and so stupid. Do you know, she says she does not +want to learn either music or drawing." + +"To be sure, my dear, that is very stupid indeed, and shows a great +want of genius and emulation. But, all things considered, I do not know +whether it is not as well that it should be so, for, though you know +(owing to me) your papa and mama are so good as to bring her up with +you, it is not at all necessary that she should be as accomplished as +you are;--on the contrary, it is much more desirable that there should +be a difference." + +Such were the counsels by which Mrs. Norris assisted to form her nieces' +minds; and it is not very wonderful that, with all their promising +talents and early information, they should be entirely deficient in the +less common acquirements of self-knowledge, generosity and humility. In +everything but disposition they were admirably taught. Sir Thomas did +not know what was wanting, because, though a truly anxious father, he +was not outwardly affectionate, and the reserve of his manner repressed +all the flow of their spirits before him. + +To the education of her daughters Lady Bertram paid not the smallest +attention. She had not time for such cares. She was a woman who spent +her days in sitting, nicely dressed, on a sofa, doing some long piece of +needlework, of little use and no beauty, thinking more of her pug than +her children, but very indulgent to the latter when it did not put +herself to inconvenience, guided in everything important by Sir Thomas, +and in smaller concerns by her sister. Had she possessed greater leisure +for the service of her girls, she would probably have supposed it +unnecessary, for they were under the care of a governess, with proper +masters, and could want nothing more. As for Fanny's being stupid at +learning, "she could only say it was very unlucky, but some people +_were_ stupid, and Fanny must take more pains: she did not know what +else was to be done; and, except her being so dull, she must add she saw +no harm in the poor little thing, and always found her very handy and +quick in carrying messages, and fetching what she wanted." + +Fanny, with all her faults of ignorance and timidity, was fixed at +Mansfield Park, and learning to transfer in its favour much of her +attachment to her former home, grew up there not unhappily among her +cousins. There was no positive ill-nature in Maria or Julia; and though +Fanny was often mortified by their treatment of her, she thought too +lowly of her own claims to feel injured by it. + +From about the time of her entering the family, Lady Bertram, in +consequence of a little ill-health, and a great deal of indolence, gave +up the house in town, which she had been used to occupy every spring, +and remained wholly in the country, leaving Sir Thomas to attend his +duty in Parliament, with whatever increase or diminution of comfort +might arise from her absence. In the country, therefore, the Miss +Bertrams continued to exercise their memories, practise their duets, +and grow tall and womanly: and their father saw them becoming in person, +manner, and accomplishments, everything that could satisfy his anxiety. +His eldest son was careless and extravagant, and had already given him +much uneasiness; but his other children promised him nothing but good. +His daughters, he felt, while they retained the name of Bertram, must +be giving it new grace, and in quitting it, he trusted, would extend +its respectable alliances; and the character of Edmund, his strong good +sense and uprightness of mind, bid most fairly for utility, honour, and +happiness to himself and all his connexions. He was to be a clergyman. + +Amid the cares and the complacency which his own children suggested, +Sir Thomas did not forget to do what he could for the children of Mrs. +Price: he assisted her liberally in the education and disposal of her +sons as they became old enough for a determinate pursuit; and Fanny, +though almost totally separated from her family, was sensible of the +truest satisfaction in hearing of any kindness towards them, or of +anything at all promising in their situation or conduct. Once, and once +only, in the course of many years, had she the happiness of being with +William. Of the rest she saw nothing: nobody seemed to think of her ever +going amongst them again, even for a visit, nobody at home seemed to +want her; but William determining, soon after her removal, to be a +sailor, was invited to spend a week with his sister in Northamptonshire +before he went to sea. Their eager affection in meeting, their exquisite +delight in being together, their hours of happy mirth, and moments of +serious conference, may be imagined; as well as the sanguine views and +spirits of the boy even to the last, and the misery of the girl when he +left her. Luckily the visit happened in the Christmas holidays, when she +could directly look for comfort to her cousin Edmund; and he told her +such charming things of what William was to do, and be hereafter, in +consequence of his profession, as made her gradually admit that the +separation might have some use. Edmund's friendship never failed her: +his leaving Eton for Oxford made no change in his kind dispositions, and +only afforded more frequent opportunities of proving them. Without any +display of doing more than the rest, or any fear of doing too much, +he was always true to her interests, and considerate of her feelings, +trying to make her good qualities understood, and to conquer the +diffidence which prevented their being more apparent; giving her advice, +consolation, and encouragement. + +Kept back as she was by everybody else, his single support could not +bring her forward; but his attentions were otherwise of the highest +importance in assisting the improvement of her mind, and extending its +pleasures. He knew her to be clever, to have a quick apprehension +as well as good sense, and a fondness for reading, which, properly +directed, must be an education in itself. Miss Lee taught her French, +and heard her read the daily portion of history; but he recommended +the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and +corrected her judgment: he made reading useful by talking to her of what +she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praise. In return +for such services she loved him better than anybody in the world except +William: her heart was divided between the two. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The first event of any importance in the family was the death of Mr. +Norris, which happened when Fanny was about fifteen, and necessarily +introduced alterations and novelties. Mrs. Norris, on quitting the +Parsonage, removed first to the Park, and afterwards to a small house +of Sir Thomas's in the village, and consoled herself for the loss of her +husband by considering that she could do very well without him; and for +her reduction of income by the evident necessity of stricter economy. + +The living was hereafter for Edmund; and, had his uncle died a few years +sooner, it would have been duly given to some friend to hold till he +were old enough for orders. But Tom's extravagance had, previous to +that event, been so great as to render a different disposal of the next +presentation necessary, and the younger brother must help to pay for the +pleasures of the elder. There was another family living actually held +for Edmund; but though this circumstance had made the arrangement +somewhat easier to Sir Thomas's conscience, he could not but feel it to +be an act of injustice, and he earnestly tried to impress his eldest son +with the same conviction, in the hope of its producing a better effect +than anything he had yet been able to say or do. + +"I blush for you, Tom," said he, in his most dignified manner; "I blush +for the expedient which I am driven on, and I trust I may pity your +feelings as a brother on the occasion. You have robbed Edmund for ten, +twenty, thirty years, perhaps for life, of more than half the income +which ought to be his. It may hereafter be in my power, or in yours +(I hope it will), to procure him better preferment; but it must not +be forgotten that no benefit of that sort would have been beyond his +natural claims on us, and that nothing can, in fact, be an equivalent +for the certain advantage which he is now obliged to forego through the +urgency of your debts." + +Tom listened with some shame and some sorrow; but escaping as quickly as +possible, could soon with cheerful selfishness reflect, firstly, that he +had not been half so much in debt as some of his friends; secondly, that +his father had made a most tiresome piece of work of it; and, +thirdly, that the future incumbent, whoever he might be, would, in all +probability, die very soon. + +On Mr. Norris's death the presentation became the right of a Dr. Grant, +who came consequently to reside at Mansfield; and on proving to be a +hearty man of forty-five, seemed likely to disappoint Mr. Bertram's +calculations. But "no, he was a short-necked, apoplectic sort of fellow, +and, plied well with good things, would soon pop off." + +He had a wife about fifteen years his junior, but no children; and +they entered the neighbourhood with the usual fair report of being very +respectable, agreeable people. + +The time was now come when Sir Thomas expected his sister-in-law to +claim her share in their niece, the change in Mrs. Norris's situation, +and the improvement in Fanny's age, seeming not merely to do away any +former objection to their living together, but even to give it the most +decided eligibility; and as his own circumstances were rendered less +fair than heretofore, by some recent losses on his West India estate, in +addition to his eldest son's extravagance, it became not undesirable +to himself to be relieved from the expense of her support, and the +obligation of her future provision. In the fullness of his belief that +such a thing must be, he mentioned its probability to his wife; and the +first time of the subject's occurring to her again happening to be when +Fanny was present, she calmly observed to her, "So, Fanny, you are going +to leave us, and live with my sister. How shall you like it?" + +Fanny was too much surprised to do more than repeat her aunt's words, +"Going to leave you?" + +"Yes, my dear; why should you be astonished? You have been five years +with us, and my sister always meant to take you when Mr. Norris died. +But you must come up and tack on my patterns all the same." + +The news was as disagreeable to Fanny as it had been unexpected. She had +never received kindness from her aunt Norris, and could not love her. + +"I shall be very sorry to go away," said she, with a faltering voice. + +"Yes, I dare say you will; _that's_ natural enough. I suppose you have +had as little to vex you since you came into this house as any creature +in the world." + +"I hope I am not ungrateful, aunt," said Fanny modestly. + +"No, my dear; I hope not. I have always found you a very good girl." + +"And am I never to live here again?" + +"Never, my dear; but you are sure of a comfortable home. It can make +very little difference to you, whether you are in one house or the +other." + +Fanny left the room with a very sorrowful heart; she could not feel the +difference to be so small, she could not think of living with her aunt +with anything like satisfaction. As soon as she met with Edmund she told +him her distress. + +"Cousin," said she, "something is going to happen which I do not like +at all; and though you have often persuaded me into being reconciled to +things that I disliked at first, you will not be able to do it now. I am +going to live entirely with my aunt Norris." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes; my aunt Bertram has just told me so. It is quite settled. I am to +leave Mansfield Park, and go to the White House, I suppose, as soon as +she is removed there." + +"Well, Fanny, and if the plan were not unpleasant to you, I should call +it an excellent one." + +"Oh, cousin!" + +"It has everything else in its favour. My aunt is acting like a sensible +woman in wishing for you. She is choosing a friend and companion exactly +where she ought, and I am glad her love of money does not interfere. +You will be what you ought to be to her. I hope it does not distress you +very much, Fanny?" + +"Indeed it does: I cannot like it. I love this house and everything in +it: I shall love nothing there. You know how uncomfortable I feel with +her." + +"I can say nothing for her manner to you as a child; but it was the +same with us all, or nearly so. She never knew how to be pleasant to +children. But you are now of an age to be treated better; I think she is +behaving better already; and when you are her only companion, you _must_ +be important to her." + +"I can never be important to any one." + +"What is to prevent you?" + +"Everything. My situation, my foolishness and awkwardness." + +"As to your foolishness and awkwardness, my dear Fanny, believe me, you +never have a shadow of either, but in using the words so improperly. +There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where +you are known. You have good sense, and a sweet temper, and I am sure +you have a grateful heart, that could never receive kindness without +wishing to return it. I do not know any better qualifications for a +friend and companion." + +"You are too kind," said Fanny, colouring at such praise; "how shall I +ever thank you as I ought, for thinking so well of me. Oh! cousin, if I +am to go away, I shall remember your goodness to the last moment of my +life." + +"Why, indeed, Fanny, I should hope to be remembered at such a distance +as the White House. You speak as if you were going two hundred miles +off instead of only across the park; but you will belong to us almost +as much as ever. The two families will be meeting every day in the +year. The only difference will be that, living with your aunt, you will +necessarily be brought forward as you ought to be. _Here_ there are +too many whom you can hide behind; but with _her_ you will be forced to +speak for yourself." + +"Oh! I do not say so." + +"I must say it, and say it with pleasure. Mrs. Norris is much better +fitted than my mother for having the charge of you now. She is of a +temper to do a great deal for anybody she really interests herself +about, and she will force you to do justice to your natural powers." + +Fanny sighed, and said, "I cannot see things as you do; but I ought to +believe you to be right rather than myself, and I am very much obliged +to you for trying to reconcile me to what must be. If I could suppose +my aunt really to care for me, it would be delightful to feel myself of +consequence to anybody. _Here_, I know, I am of none, and yet I love the +place so well." + +"The place, Fanny, is what you will not quit, though you quit the house. +You will have as free a command of the park and gardens as ever. Even +_your_ constant little heart need not take fright at such a nominal +change. You will have the same walks to frequent, the same library to +choose from, the same people to look at, the same horse to ride." + +"Very true. Yes, dear old grey pony! Ah! cousin, when I remember how +much I used to dread riding, what terrors it gave me to hear it talked +of as likely to do me good (oh! how I have trembled at my uncle's +opening his lips if horses were talked of), and then think of the kind +pains you took to reason and persuade me out of my fears, and convince +me that I should like it after a little while, and feel how right you +proved to be, I am inclined to hope you may always prophesy as well." + +"And I am quite convinced that your being with Mrs. Norris will be as +good for your mind as riding has been for your health, and as much for +your ultimate happiness too." + +So ended their discourse, which, for any very appropriate service it +could render Fanny, might as well have been spared, for Mrs. Norris had +not the smallest intention of taking her. It had never occurred to her, +on the present occasion, but as a thing to be carefully avoided. To +prevent its being expected, she had fixed on the smallest habitation +which could rank as genteel among the buildings of Mansfield parish, +the White House being only just large enough to receive herself and her +servants, and allow a spare room for a friend, of which she made a +very particular point. The spare rooms at the Parsonage had never been +wanted, but the absolute necessity of a spare room for a friend was now +never forgotten. Not all her precautions, however, could save her from +being suspected of something better; or, perhaps, her very display of +the importance of a spare room might have misled Sir Thomas to suppose +it really intended for Fanny. Lady Bertram soon brought the matter to a +certainty by carelessly observing to Mrs. Norris-- + +"I think, sister, we need not keep Miss Lee any longer, when Fanny goes +to live with you." + +Mrs. Norris almost started. "Live with me, dear Lady Bertram! what do +you mean?" + +"Is she not to live with you? I thought you had settled it with Sir +Thomas." + +"Me! never. I never spoke a syllable about it to Sir Thomas, nor he to +me. Fanny live with me! the last thing in the world for me to think +of, or for anybody to wish that really knows us both. Good heaven! what +could I do with Fanny? Me! a poor, helpless, forlorn widow, unfit for +anything, my spirits quite broke down; what could I do with a girl at +her time of life? A girl of fifteen! the very age of all others to need +most attention and care, and put the cheerfullest spirits to the test! +Sure Sir Thomas could not seriously expect such a thing! Sir Thomas is +too much my friend. Nobody that wishes me well, I am sure, would propose +it. How came Sir Thomas to speak to you about it?" + +"Indeed, I do not know. I suppose he thought it best." + +"But what did he say? He could not say he _wished_ me to take Fanny. I +am sure in his heart he could not wish me to do it." + +"No; he only said he thought it very likely; and I thought so too. We +both thought it would be a comfort to you. But if you do not like it, +there is no more to be said. She is no encumbrance here." + +"Dear sister, if you consider my unhappy state, how can she be any +comfort to me? Here am I, a poor desolate widow, deprived of the best of +husbands, my health gone in attending and nursing him, my spirits still +worse, all my peace in this world destroyed, with hardly enough to +support me in the rank of a gentlewoman, and enable me to live so as not +to disgrace the memory of the dear departed--what possible comfort could +I have in taking such a charge upon me as Fanny? If I could wish it for +my own sake, I would not do so unjust a thing by the poor girl. She +is in good hands, and sure of doing well. I must struggle through my +sorrows and difficulties as I can." + +"Then you will not mind living by yourself quite alone?" + +"Lady Bertram, I do not complain. I know I cannot live as I have done, +but I must retrench where I can, and learn to be a better manager. I +_have_ _been_ a liberal housekeeper enough, but I shall not be ashamed +to practise economy now. My situation is as much altered as my income. +A great many things were due from poor Mr. Norris, as clergyman of the +parish, that cannot be expected from me. It is unknown how much was +consumed in our kitchen by odd comers and goers. At the White House, +matters must be better looked after. I _must_ live within my income, or +I shall be miserable; and I own it would give me great satisfaction to +be able to do rather more, to lay by a little at the end of the year." + +"I dare say you will. You always do, don't you?" + +"My object, Lady Bertram, is to be of use to those that come after me. +It is for your children's good that I wish to be richer. I have nobody +else to care for, but I should be very glad to think I could leave a +little trifle among them worth their having." + +"You are very good, but do not trouble yourself about them. They are +sure of being well provided for. Sir Thomas will take care of that." + +"Why, you know, Sir Thomas's means will be rather straitened if the +Antigua estate is to make such poor returns." + +"Oh! _that_ will soon be settled. Sir Thomas has been writing about it, +I know." + +"Well, Lady Bertram," said Mrs. Norris, moving to go, "I can only say +that my sole desire is to be of use to your family: and so, if Sir +Thomas should ever speak again about my taking Fanny, you will be able +to say that my health and spirits put it quite out of the question; +besides that, I really should not have a bed to give her, for I must +keep a spare room for a friend." + +Lady Bertram repeated enough of this conversation to her husband to +convince him how much he had mistaken his sister-in-law's views; and +she was from that moment perfectly safe from all expectation, or the +slightest allusion to it from him. He could not but wonder at her +refusing to do anything for a niece whom she had been so forward to +adopt; but, as she took early care to make him, as well as Lady Bertram, +understand that whatever she possessed was designed for their family, +he soon grew reconciled to a distinction which, at the same time that it +was advantageous and complimentary to them, would enable him better to +provide for Fanny himself. + +Fanny soon learnt how unnecessary had been her fears of a removal; +and her spontaneous, untaught felicity on the discovery, conveyed some +consolation to Edmund for his disappointment in what he had expected to +be so essentially serviceable to her. Mrs. Norris took possession of the +White House, the Grants arrived at the Parsonage, and these events over, +everything at Mansfield went on for some time as usual. + +The Grants showing a disposition to be friendly and sociable, gave great +satisfaction in the main among their new acquaintance. They had their +faults, and Mrs. Norris soon found them out. The Doctor was very fond of +eating, and would have a good dinner every day; and Mrs. Grant, instead +of contriving to gratify him at little expense, gave her cook as high +wages as they did at Mansfield Park, and was scarcely ever seen in her +offices. Mrs. Norris could not speak with any temper of such grievances, +nor of the quantity of butter and eggs that were regularly consumed +in the house. "Nobody loved plenty and hospitality more than herself; +nobody more hated pitiful doings; the Parsonage, she believed, had never +been wanting in comforts of any sort, had never borne a bad character +in _her_ _time_, but this was a way of going on that she could not +understand. A fine lady in a country parsonage was quite out of place. +_Her_ store-room, she thought, might have been good enough for Mrs. +Grant to go into. Inquire where she would, she could not find out that +Mrs. Grant had ever had more than five thousand pounds." + +Lady Bertram listened without much interest to this sort of invective. +She could not enter into the wrongs of an economist, but she felt all +the injuries of beauty in Mrs. Grant's being so well settled in life +without being handsome, and expressed her astonishment on that point +almost as often, though not so diffusely, as Mrs. Norris discussed the +other. + +These opinions had been hardly canvassed a year before another event +arose of such importance in the family, as might fairly claim some place +in the thoughts and conversation of the ladies. Sir Thomas found it +expedient to go to Antigua himself, for the better arrangement of his +affairs, and he took his eldest son with him, in the hope of detaching +him from some bad connexions at home. They left England with the +probability of being nearly a twelvemonth absent. + +The necessity of the measure in a pecuniary light, and the hope of its +utility to his son, reconciled Sir Thomas to the effort of quitting the +rest of his family, and of leaving his daughters to the direction of +others at their present most interesting time of life. He could not +think Lady Bertram quite equal to supply his place with them, or rather, +to perform what should have been her own; but, in Mrs. Norris's watchful +attention, and in Edmund's judgment, he had sufficient confidence to +make him go without fears for their conduct. + +Lady Bertram did not at all like to have her husband leave her; but she +was not disturbed by any alarm for his safety, or solicitude for his +comfort, being one of those persons who think nothing can be dangerous, +or difficult, or fatiguing to anybody but themselves. + +The Miss Bertrams were much to be pitied on the occasion: not for their +sorrow, but for their want of it. Their father was no object of love to +them; he had never seemed the friend of their pleasures, and his absence +was unhappily most welcome. They were relieved by it from all restraint; +and without aiming at one gratification that would probably have been +forbidden by Sir Thomas, they felt themselves immediately at their +own disposal, and to have every indulgence within their reach. Fanny's +relief, and her consciousness of it, were quite equal to her cousins'; +but a more tender nature suggested that her feelings were ungrateful, +and she really grieved because she could not grieve. "Sir Thomas, who +had done so much for her and her brothers, and who was gone perhaps +never to return! that she should see him go without a tear! it was a +shameful insensibility." He had said to her, moreover, on the very last +morning, that he hoped she might see William again in the course of the +ensuing winter, and had charged her to write and invite him to Mansfield +as soon as the squadron to which he belonged should be known to be +in England. "This was so thoughtful and kind!" and would he only have +smiled upon her, and called her "my dear Fanny," while he said it, every +former frown or cold address might have been forgotten. But he had ended +his speech in a way to sink her in sad mortification, by adding, "If +William does come to Mansfield, I hope you may be able to convince him +that the many years which have passed since you parted have not been +spent on your side entirely without improvement; though, I fear, he must +find his sister at sixteen in some respects too much like his sister at +ten." She cried bitterly over this reflection when her uncle was +gone; and her cousins, on seeing her with red eyes, set her down as a +hypocrite. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Tom Bertram had of late spent so little of his time at home that he +could be only nominally missed; and Lady Bertram was soon astonished +to find how very well they did even without his father, how well Edmund +could supply his place in carving, talking to the steward, writing to +the attorney, settling with the servants, and equally saving her +from all possible fatigue or exertion in every particular but that of +directing her letters. + +The earliest intelligence of the travellers' safe arrival at Antigua, +after a favourable voyage, was received; though not before Mrs. Norris +had been indulging in very dreadful fears, and trying to make Edmund +participate them whenever she could get him alone; and as she depended +on being the first person made acquainted with any fatal catastrophe, +she had already arranged the manner of breaking it to all the others, +when Sir Thomas's assurances of their both being alive and well made it +necessary to lay by her agitation and affectionate preparatory speeches +for a while. + +The winter came and passed without their being called for; the accounts +continued perfectly good; and Mrs. Norris, in promoting gaieties for her +nieces, assisting their toilets, displaying their accomplishments, +and looking about for their future husbands, had so much to do as, in +addition to all her own household cares, some interference in those of +her sister, and Mrs. Grant's wasteful doings to overlook, left her very +little occasion to be occupied in fears for the absent. + +The Miss Bertrams were now fully established among the belles of the +neighbourhood; and as they joined to beauty and brilliant acquirements +a manner naturally easy, and carefully formed to general civility and +obligingness, they possessed its favour as well as its admiration. Their +vanity was in such good order that they seemed to be quite free from it, +and gave themselves no airs; while the praises attending such behaviour, +secured and brought round by their aunt, served to strengthen them in +believing they had no faults. + +Lady Bertram did not go into public with her daughters. She was too +indolent even to accept a mother's gratification in witnessing their +success and enjoyment at the expense of any personal trouble, and the +charge was made over to her sister, who desired nothing better than a +post of such honourable representation, and very thoroughly relished +the means it afforded her of mixing in society without having horses to +hire. + +Fanny had no share in the festivities of the season; but she enjoyed +being avowedly useful as her aunt's companion when they called away the +rest of the family; and, as Miss Lee had left Mansfield, she naturally +became everything to Lady Bertram during the night of a ball or a party. +She talked to her, listened to her, read to her; and the tranquillity +of such evenings, her perfect security in such a _tete-a-tete_ from any +sound of unkindness, was unspeakably welcome to a mind which had seldom +known a pause in its alarms or embarrassments. As to her cousins' +gaieties, she loved to hear an account of them, especially of the +balls, and whom Edmund had danced with; but thought too lowly of her +own situation to imagine she should ever be admitted to the same, and +listened, therefore, without an idea of any nearer concern in them. Upon +the whole, it was a comfortable winter to her; for though it brought +no William to England, the never-failing hope of his arrival was worth +much. + +The ensuing spring deprived her of her valued friend, the old grey pony; +and for some time she was in danger of feeling the loss in her health as +well as in her affections; for in spite of the acknowledged importance +of her riding on horse-back, no measures were taken for mounting her +again, "because," as it was observed by her aunts, "she might ride one +of her cousin's horses at any time when they did not want them," and as +the Miss Bertrams regularly wanted their horses every fine day, and had +no idea of carrying their obliging manners to the sacrifice of any real +pleasure, that time, of course, never came. They took their cheerful +rides in the fine mornings of April and May; and Fanny either sat at +home the whole day with one aunt, or walked beyond her strength at +the instigation of the other: Lady Bertram holding exercise to be as +unnecessary for everybody as it was unpleasant to herself; and Mrs. +Norris, who was walking all day, thinking everybody ought to walk +as much. Edmund was absent at this time, or the evil would have +been earlier remedied. When he returned, to understand how Fanny was +situated, and perceived its ill effects, there seemed with him but one +thing to be done; and that "Fanny must have a horse" was the resolute +declaration with which he opposed whatever could be urged by the +supineness of his mother, or the economy of his aunt, to make it appear +unimportant. Mrs. Norris could not help thinking that some steady old +thing might be found among the numbers belonging to the Park that would +do vastly well; or that one might be borrowed of the steward; or that +perhaps Dr. Grant might now and then lend them the pony he sent to the +post. She could not but consider it as absolutely unnecessary, and even +improper, that Fanny should have a regular lady's horse of her own, in +the style of her cousins. She was sure Sir Thomas had never intended it: +and she must say that, to be making such a purchase in his absence, and +adding to the great expenses of his stable, at a time when a large part +of his income was unsettled, seemed to her very unjustifiable. "Fanny +must have a horse," was Edmund's only reply. Mrs. Norris could not see +it in the same light. Lady Bertram did: she entirely agreed with her son +as to the necessity of it, and as to its being considered necessary by +his father; she only pleaded against there being any hurry; she only +wanted him to wait till Sir Thomas's return, and then Sir Thomas might +settle it all himself. He would be at home in September, and where would +be the harm of only waiting till September? + +Though Edmund was much more displeased with his aunt than with his +mother, as evincing least regard for her niece, he could not help paying +more attention to what she said; and at length determined on a method of +proceeding which would obviate the risk of his father's thinking he +had done too much, and at the same time procure for Fanny the immediate +means of exercise, which he could not bear she should be without. He had +three horses of his own, but not one that would carry a woman. Two +of them were hunters; the third, a useful road-horse: this third he +resolved to exchange for one that his cousin might ride; he knew where +such a one was to be met with; and having once made up his mind, the +whole business was soon completed. The new mare proved a treasure; with +a very little trouble she became exactly calculated for the purpose, +and Fanny was then put in almost full possession of her. She had not +supposed before that anything could ever suit her like the old grey +pony; but her delight in Edmund's mare was far beyond any former +pleasure of the sort; and the addition it was ever receiving in the +consideration of that kindness from which her pleasure sprung, was +beyond all her words to express. She regarded her cousin as an example +of everything good and great, as possessing worth which no one but +herself could ever appreciate, and as entitled to such gratitude from +her as no feelings could be strong enough to pay. Her sentiments towards +him were compounded of all that was respectful, grateful, confiding, and +tender. + +As the horse continued in name, as well as fact, the property of Edmund, +Mrs. Norris could tolerate its being for Fanny's use; and had Lady +Bertram ever thought about her own objection again, he might have +been excused in her eyes for not waiting till Sir Thomas's return in +September, for when September came Sir Thomas was still abroad, and +without any near prospect of finishing his business. Unfavourable +circumstances had suddenly arisen at a moment when he was beginning to +turn all his thoughts towards England; and the very great uncertainty +in which everything was then involved determined him on sending home his +son, and waiting the final arrangement by himself. Tom arrived safely, +bringing an excellent account of his father's health; but to very little +purpose, as far as Mrs. Norris was concerned. Sir Thomas's sending away +his son seemed to her so like a parent's care, under the influence of a +foreboding of evil to himself, that she could not help feeling dreadful +presentiments; and as the long evenings of autumn came on, was so +terribly haunted by these ideas, in the sad solitariness of her cottage, +as to be obliged to take daily refuge in the dining-room of the Park. +The return of winter engagements, however, was not without its effect; +and in the course of their progress, her mind became so pleasantly +occupied in superintending the fortunes of her eldest niece, as +tolerably to quiet her nerves. "If poor Sir Thomas were fated never to +return, it would be peculiarly consoling to see their dear Maria well +married," she very often thought; always when they were in the company +of men of fortune, and particularly on the introduction of a young man +who had recently succeeded to one of the largest estates and finest +places in the country. + +Mr. Rushworth was from the first struck with the beauty of Miss Bertram, +and, being inclined to marry, soon fancied himself in love. He was +a heavy young man, with not more than common sense; but as there was +nothing disagreeable in his figure or address, the young lady was well +pleased with her conquest. Being now in her twenty-first year, Maria +Bertram was beginning to think matrimony a duty; and as a marriage with +Mr. Rushworth would give her the enjoyment of a larger income than her +father's, as well as ensure her the house in town, which was now a prime +object, it became, by the same rule of moral obligation, her evident +duty to marry Mr. Rushworth if she could. Mrs. Norris was most zealous +in promoting the match, by every suggestion and contrivance likely to +enhance its desirableness to either party; and, among other means, by +seeking an intimacy with the gentleman's mother, who at present lived +with him, and to whom she even forced Lady Bertram to go through ten +miles of indifferent road to pay a morning visit. It was not long before +a good understanding took place between this lady and herself. Mrs. +Rushworth acknowledged herself very desirous that her son should marry, +and declared that of all the young ladies she had ever seen, Miss +Bertram seemed, by her amiable qualities and accomplishments, the best +adapted to make him happy. Mrs. Norris accepted the compliment, +and admired the nice discernment of character which could so well +distinguish merit. Maria was indeed the pride and delight of them +all--perfectly faultless--an angel; and, of course, so surrounded by +admirers, must be difficult in her choice: but yet, as far as Mrs. +Norris could allow herself to decide on so short an acquaintance, Mr. +Rushworth appeared precisely the young man to deserve and attach her. + +After dancing with each other at a proper number of balls, the young +people justified these opinions, and an engagement, with a due reference +to the absent Sir Thomas, was entered into, much to the satisfaction +of their respective families, and of the general lookers-on of the +neighbourhood, who had, for many weeks past, felt the expediency of Mr. +Rushworth's marrying Miss Bertram. + +It was some months before Sir Thomas's consent could be received; but, +in the meanwhile, as no one felt a doubt of his most cordial pleasure +in the connexion, the intercourse of the two families was carried +on without restraint, and no other attempt made at secrecy than Mrs. +Norris's talking of it everywhere as a matter not to be talked of at +present. + +Edmund was the only one of the family who could see a fault in the +business; but no representation of his aunt's could induce him to find +Mr. Rushworth a desirable companion. He could allow his sister to be +the best judge of her own happiness, but he was not pleased that her +happiness should centre in a large income; nor could he refrain from +often saying to himself, in Mr. Rushworth's company--"If this man had +not twelve thousand a year, he would be a very stupid fellow." + +Sir Thomas, however, was truly happy in the prospect of an alliance +so unquestionably advantageous, and of which he heard nothing but the +perfectly good and agreeable. It was a connexion exactly of the right +sort--in the same county, and the same interest--and his most hearty +concurrence was conveyed as soon as possible. He only conditioned that +the marriage should not take place before his return, which he was again +looking eagerly forward to. He wrote in April, and had strong hopes +of settling everything to his entire satisfaction, and leaving Antigua +before the end of the summer. + +Such was the state of affairs in the month of July; and Fanny had just +reached her eighteenth year, when the society of the village received +an addition in the brother and sister of Mrs. Grant, a Mr. and Miss +Crawford, the children of her mother by a second marriage. They were +young people of fortune. The son had a good estate in Norfolk, the +daughter twenty thousand pounds. As children, their sister had been +always very fond of them; but, as her own marriage had been soon +followed by the death of their common parent, which left them to the +care of a brother of their father, of whom Mrs. Grant knew nothing, she +had scarcely seen them since. In their uncle's house they had found a +kind home. Admiral and Mrs. Crawford, though agreeing in nothing else, +were united in affection for these children, or, at least, were no +farther adverse in their feelings than that each had their favourite, to +whom they showed the greatest fondness of the two. The Admiral delighted +in the boy, Mrs. Crawford doted on the girl; and it was the lady's death +which now obliged her _protegee_, after some months' further trial at +her uncle's house, to find another home. Admiral Crawford was a man of +vicious conduct, who chose, instead of retaining his niece, to bring his +mistress under his own roof; and to this Mrs. Grant was indebted for her +sister's proposal of coming to her, a measure quite as welcome on one +side as it could be expedient on the other; for Mrs. Grant, having by +this time run through the usual resources of ladies residing in the +country without a family of children--having more than filled her +favourite sitting-room with pretty furniture, and made a choice +collection of plants and poultry--was very much in want of some variety +at home. The arrival, therefore, of a sister whom she had always loved, +and now hoped to retain with her as long as she remained single, was +highly agreeable; and her chief anxiety was lest Mansfield should not +satisfy the habits of a young woman who had been mostly used to London. + +Miss Crawford was not entirely free from similar apprehensions, though +they arose principally from doubts of her sister's style of living and +tone of society; and it was not till after she had tried in vain to +persuade her brother to settle with her at his own country house, +that she could resolve to hazard herself among her other relations. To +anything like a permanence of abode, or limitation of society, Henry +Crawford had, unluckily, a great dislike: he could not accommodate his +sister in an article of such importance; but he escorted her, with the +utmost kindness, into Northamptonshire, and as readily engaged to fetch +her away again, at half an hour's notice, whenever she were weary of the +place. + +The meeting was very satisfactory on each side. Miss Crawford found a +sister without preciseness or rusticity, a sister's husband who looked +the gentleman, and a house commodious and well fitted up; and Mrs. Grant +received in those whom she hoped to love better than ever a young man +and woman of very prepossessing appearance. Mary Crawford was remarkably +pretty; Henry, though not handsome, had air and countenance; the manners +of both were lively and pleasant, and Mrs. Grant immediately gave them +credit for everything else. She was delighted with each, but Mary was +her dearest object; and having never been able to glory in beauty of her +own, she thoroughly enjoyed the power of being proud of her sister's. +She had not waited her arrival to look out for a suitable match for her: +she had fixed on Tom Bertram; the eldest son of a baronet was not too +good for a girl of twenty thousand pounds, with all the elegance +and accomplishments which Mrs. Grant foresaw in her; and being a +warm-hearted, unreserved woman, Mary had not been three hours in the +house before she told her what she had planned. + +Miss Crawford was glad to find a family of such consequence so very near +them, and not at all displeased either at her sister's early care, or +the choice it had fallen on. Matrimony was her object, provided she +could marry well: and having seen Mr. Bertram in town, she knew that +objection could no more be made to his person than to his situation in +life. While she treated it as a joke, therefore, she did not forget to +think of it seriously. The scheme was soon repeated to Henry. + +"And now," added Mrs. Grant, "I have thought of something to make it +complete. I should dearly love to settle you both in this country; and +therefore, Henry, you shall marry the youngest Miss Bertram, a nice, +handsome, good-humoured, accomplished girl, who will make you very +happy." + +Henry bowed and thanked her. + +"My dear sister," said Mary, "if you can persuade him into anything +of the sort, it will be a fresh matter of delight to me to find myself +allied to anybody so clever, and I shall only regret that you have +not half a dozen daughters to dispose of. If you can persuade Henry +to marry, you must have the address of a Frenchwoman. All that English +abilities can do has been tried already. I have three very particular +friends who have been all dying for him in their turn; and the pains +which they, their mothers (very clever women), as well as my dear aunt +and myself, have taken to reason, coax, or trick him into marrying, is +inconceivable! He is the most horrible flirt that can be imagined. If +your Miss Bertrams do not like to have their hearts broke, let them +avoid Henry." + +"My dear brother, I will not believe this of you." + +"No, I am sure you are too good. You will be kinder than Mary. You +will allow for the doubts of youth and inexperience. I am of a cautious +temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry. Nobody can +think more highly of the matrimonial state than myself. I consider the +blessing of a wife as most justly described in those discreet lines of +the poet--'Heaven's _last_ best gift.'" + +"There, Mrs. Grant, you see how he dwells on one word, and only look +at his smile. I assure you he is very detestable; the Admiral's lessons +have quite spoiled him." + +"I pay very little regard," said Mrs. Grant, "to what any young person +says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for +it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person." + +Dr. Grant laughingly congratulated Miss Crawford on feeling no +disinclination to the state herself. + +"Oh yes! I am not at all ashamed of it. I would have everybody marry if +they can do it properly: I do not like to have people throw themselves +away; but everybody should marry as soon as they can do it to +advantage." + + + +CHAPTER V + +The young people were pleased with each other from the first. On each +side there was much to attract, and their acquaintance soon promised as +early an intimacy as good manners would warrant. Miss Crawford's beauty +did her no disservice with the Miss Bertrams. They were too handsome +themselves to dislike any woman for being so too, and were almost as +much charmed as their brothers with her lively dark eye, clear brown +complexion, and general prettiness. Had she been tall, full formed, and +fair, it might have been more of a trial: but as it was, there could be +no comparison; and she was most allowably a sweet, pretty girl, while +they were the finest young women in the country. + +Her brother was not handsome: no, when they first saw him he was +absolutely plain, black and plain; but still he was the gentleman, with +a pleasing address. The second meeting proved him not so very plain: +he was plain, to be sure, but then he had so much countenance, and his +teeth were so good, and he was so well made, that one soon forgot he was +plain; and after a third interview, after dining in company with him at +the Parsonage, he was no longer allowed to be called so by anybody. He +was, in fact, the most agreeable young man the sisters had ever known, +and they were equally delighted with him. Miss Bertram's engagement made +him in equity the property of Julia, of which Julia was fully aware; and +before he had been at Mansfield a week, she was quite ready to be fallen +in love with. + +Maria's notions on the subject were more confused and indistinct. She +did not want to see or understand. "There could be no harm in her liking +an agreeable man--everybody knew her situation--Mr. Crawford must take +care of himself." Mr. Crawford did not mean to be in any danger! the +Miss Bertrams were worth pleasing, and were ready to be pleased; and he +began with no object but of making them like him. He did not want them +to die of love; but with sense and temper which ought to have made him +judge and feel better, he allowed himself great latitude on such points. + +"I like your Miss Bertrams exceedingly, sister," said he, as he returned +from attending them to their carriage after the said dinner visit; "they +are very elegant, agreeable girls." + +"So they are indeed, and I am delighted to hear you say it. But you like +Julia best." + +"Oh yes! I like Julia best." + +"But do you really? for Miss Bertram is in general thought the +handsomest." + +"So I should suppose. She has the advantage in every feature, and I +prefer her countenance; but I like Julia best; Miss Bertram is certainly +the handsomest, and I have found her the most agreeable, but I shall +always like Julia best, because you order me." + +"I shall not talk to you, Henry, but I know you _will_ like her best at +last." + +"Do not I tell you that I like her best _at_ _first_?" + +"And besides, Miss Bertram is engaged. Remember that, my dear brother. +Her choice is made." + +"Yes, and I like her the better for it. An engaged woman is always more +agreeable than a disengaged. She is satisfied with herself. Her cares +are over, and she feels that she may exert all her powers of pleasing +without suspicion. All is safe with a lady engaged: no harm can be +done." + +"Why, as to that, Mr. Rushworth is a very good sort of young man, and it +is a great match for her." + +"But Miss Bertram does not care three straws for him; _that_ is your +opinion of your intimate friend. _I_ do not subscribe to it. I am sure +Miss Bertram is very much attached to Mr. Rushworth. I could see it in +her eyes, when he was mentioned. I think too well of Miss Bertram to +suppose she would ever give her hand without her heart." + +"Mary, how shall we manage him?" + +"We must leave him to himself, I believe. Talking does no good. He will +be taken in at last." + +"But I would not have him _taken_ _in_; I would not have him duped; I +would have it all fair and honourable." + +"Oh dear! let him stand his chance and be taken in. It will do just as +well. Everybody is taken in at some period or other." + +"Not always in marriage, dear Mary." + +"In marriage especially. With all due respect to such of the present +company as chance to be married, my dear Mrs. Grant, there is not one in +a hundred of either sex who is not taken in when they marry. Look where +I will, I see that it _is_ so; and I feel that it _must_ be so, when I +consider that it is, of all transactions, the one in which people expect +most from others, and are least honest themselves." + +"Ah! You have been in a bad school for matrimony, in Hill Street." + +"My poor aunt had certainly little cause to love the state; but, +however, speaking from my own observation, it is a manoeuvring business. +I know so many who have married in the full expectation and confidence +of some one particular advantage in the connexion, or accomplishment, or +good quality in the person, who have found themselves entirely deceived, +and been obliged to put up with exactly the reverse. What is this but a +take in?" + +"My dear child, there must be a little imagination here. I beg your +pardon, but I cannot quite believe you. Depend upon it, you see but +half. You see the evil, but you do not see the consolation. There will +be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to +expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human +nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make +a second better: we find comfort somewhere--and those evil-minded +observers, dearest Mary, who make much of a little, are more taken in +and deceived than the parties themselves." + +"Well done, sister! I honour your _esprit_ _du_ _corps_. When I am a +wife, I mean to be just as staunch myself; and I wish my friends in +general would be so too. It would save me many a heartache." + +"You are as bad as your brother, Mary; but we will cure you both. +Mansfield shall cure you both, and without any taking in. Stay with us, +and we will cure you." + +The Crawfords, without wanting to be cured, were very willing to stay. +Mary was satisfied with the Parsonage as a present home, and Henry +equally ready to lengthen his visit. He had come, intending to spend +only a few days with them; but Mansfield promised well, and there was +nothing to call him elsewhere. It delighted Mrs. Grant to keep them both +with her, and Dr. Grant was exceedingly well contented to have it so: a +talking pretty young woman like Miss Crawford is always pleasant society +to an indolent, stay-at-home man; and Mr. Crawford's being his guest was +an excuse for drinking claret every day. + +The Miss Bertrams' admiration of Mr. Crawford was more rapturous than +anything which Miss Crawford's habits made her likely to feel. She +acknowledged, however, that the Mr. Bertrams were very fine young men, +that two such young men were not often seen together even in London, and +that their manners, particularly those of the eldest, were very good. +_He_ had been much in London, and had more liveliness and gallantry than +Edmund, and must, therefore, be preferred; and, indeed, his being the +eldest was another strong claim. She had felt an early presentiment that +she _should_ like the eldest best. She knew it was her way. + +Tom Bertram must have been thought pleasant, indeed, at any rate; he was +the sort of young man to be generally liked, his agreeableness was of +the kind to be oftener found agreeable than some endowments of a higher +stamp, for he had easy manners, excellent spirits, a large acquaintance, +and a great deal to say; and the reversion of Mansfield Park, and a +baronetcy, did no harm to all this. Miss Crawford soon felt that he and +his situation might do. She looked about her with due consideration, and +found almost everything in his favour: a park, a real park, five miles +round, a spacious modern-built house, so well placed and well screened +as to deserve to be in any collection of engravings of gentlemen's +seats in the kingdom, and wanting only to be completely new +furnished--pleasant sisters, a quiet mother, and an agreeable man +himself--with the advantage of being tied up from much gaming at present +by a promise to his father, and of being Sir Thomas hereafter. It +might do very well; she believed she should accept him; and she began +accordingly to interest herself a little about the horse which he had to +run at the B---- races. + +These races were to call him away not long after their acquaintance +began; and as it appeared that the family did not, from his usual goings +on, expect him back again for many weeks, it would bring his passion to +an early proof. Much was said on his side to induce her to attend the +races, and schemes were made for a large party to them, with all the +eagerness of inclination, but it would only do to be talked of. + +And Fanny, what was _she_ doing and thinking all this while? and what +was _her_ opinion of the newcomers? Few young ladies of eighteen could +be less called on to speak their opinion than Fanny. In a quiet way, +very little attended to, she paid her tribute of admiration to Miss +Crawford's beauty; but as she still continued to think Mr. Crawford +very plain, in spite of her two cousins having repeatedly proved the +contrary, she never mentioned _him_. The notice, which she excited +herself, was to this effect. "I begin now to understand you all, +except Miss Price," said Miss Crawford, as she was walking with the Mr. +Bertrams. "Pray, is she out, or is she not? I am puzzled. She dined at +the Parsonage, with the rest of you, which seemed like being _out_; and +yet she says so little, that I can hardly suppose she _is_." + +Edmund, to whom this was chiefly addressed, replied, "I believe I know +what you mean, but I will not undertake to answer the question. My +cousin is grown up. She has the age and sense of a woman, but the outs +and not outs are beyond me." + +"And yet, in general, nothing can be more easily ascertained. The +distinction is so broad. Manners as well as appearance are, generally +speaking, so totally different. Till now, I could not have supposed it +possible to be mistaken as to a girl's being out or not. A girl not out +has always the same sort of dress: a close bonnet, for instance; looks +very demure, and never says a word. You may smile, but it is so, I +assure you; and except that it is sometimes carried a little too far, +it is all very proper. Girls should be quiet and modest. The most +objectionable part is, that the alteration of manners on being +introduced into company is frequently too sudden. They sometimes pass in +such very little time from reserve to quite the opposite--to confidence! +_That_ is the faulty part of the present system. One does not like to +see a girl of eighteen or nineteen so immediately up to every thing--and +perhaps when one has seen her hardly able to speak the year before. Mr. +Bertram, I dare say _you_ have sometimes met with such changes." + +"I believe I have, but this is hardly fair; I see what you are at. You +are quizzing me and Miss Anderson." + +"No, indeed. Miss Anderson! I do not know who or what you mean. I am +quite in the dark. But I _will_ quiz you with a great deal of pleasure, +if you will tell me what about." + +"Ah! you carry it off very well, but I cannot be quite so far imposed +on. You must have had Miss Anderson in your eye, in describing an +altered young lady. You paint too accurately for mistake. It was exactly +so. The Andersons of Baker Street. We were speaking of them the other +day, you know. Edmund, you have heard me mention Charles Anderson. +The circumstance was precisely as this lady has represented it. When +Anderson first introduced me to his family, about two years ago, his +sister was not _out_, and I could not get her to speak to me. I sat +there an hour one morning waiting for Anderson, with only her and a +little girl or two in the room, the governess being sick or run away, +and the mother in and out every moment with letters of business, and I +could hardly get a word or a look from the young lady--nothing like a +civil answer--she screwed up her mouth, and turned from me with such an +air! I did not see her again for a twelvemonth. She was then _out_. I +met her at Mrs. Holford's, and did not recollect her. She came up to me, +claimed me as an acquaintance, stared me out of countenance; and talked +and laughed till I did not know which way to look. I felt that I must +be the jest of the room at the time, and Miss Crawford, it is plain, has +heard the story." + +"And a very pretty story it is, and with more truth in it, I dare say, +than does credit to Miss Anderson. It is too common a fault. Mothers +certainly have not yet got quite the right way of managing their +daughters. I do not know where the error lies. I do not pretend to set +people right, but I do see that they are often wrong." + +"Those who are showing the world what female manners _should_ be," said +Mr. Bertram gallantly, "are doing a great deal to set them right." + +"The error is plain enough," said the less courteous Edmund; "such girls +are ill brought up. They are given wrong notions from the beginning. +They are always acting upon motives of vanity, and there is no more +real modesty in their behaviour _before_ they appear in public than +afterwards." + +"I do not know," replied Miss Crawford hesitatingly. "Yes, I cannot +agree with you there. It is certainly the modestest part of the +business. It is much worse to have girls not out give themselves the +same airs and take the same liberties as if they were, which I have seen +done. That is worse than anything--quite disgusting!" + +"Yes, _that_ is very inconvenient indeed," said Mr. Bertram. "It leads +one astray; one does not know what to do. The close bonnet and demure +air you describe so well (and nothing was ever juster), tell one what +is expected; but I got into a dreadful scrape last year from the want of +them. I went down to Ramsgate for a week with a friend last September, +just after my return from the West Indies. My friend Sneyd--you have +heard me speak of Sneyd, Edmund--his father, and mother, and sisters, +were there, all new to me. When we reached Albion Place they were out; +we went after them, and found them on the pier: Mrs. and the two Miss +Sneyds, with others of their acquaintance. I made my bow in form; and +as Mrs. Sneyd was surrounded by men, attached myself to one of her +daughters, walked by her side all the way home, and made myself as +agreeable as I could; the young lady perfectly easy in her manners, and +as ready to talk as to listen. I had not a suspicion that I could be +doing anything wrong. They looked just the same: both well-dressed, with +veils and parasols like other girls; but I afterwards found that I had +been giving all my attention to the youngest, who was not _out_, and +had most excessively offended the eldest. Miss Augusta ought not to have +been noticed for the next six months; and Miss Sneyd, I believe, has +never forgiven me." + +"That was bad indeed. Poor Miss Sneyd. Though I have no younger +sister, I feel for her. To be neglected before one's time must be very +vexatious; but it was entirely the mother's fault. Miss Augusta should +have been with her governess. Such half-and-half doings never prosper. +But now I must be satisfied about Miss Price. Does she go to balls? Does +she dine out every where, as well as at my sister's?" + +"No," replied Edmund; "I do not think she has ever been to a ball. My +mother seldom goes into company herself, and dines nowhere but with Mrs. +Grant, and Fanny stays at home with _her_." + +"Oh! then the point is clear. Miss Price is not out." + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Mr. Bertram set off for--------, and Miss Crawford was prepared to +find a great chasm in their society, and to miss him decidedly in the +meetings which were now becoming almost daily between the families; +and on their all dining together at the Park soon after his going, she +retook her chosen place near the bottom of the table, fully expecting to +feel a most melancholy difference in the change of masters. It would +be a very flat business, she was sure. In comparison with his brother, +Edmund would have nothing to say. The soup would be sent round in a most +spiritless manner, wine drank without any smiles or agreeable trifling, +and the venison cut up without supplying one pleasant anecdote of any +former haunch, or a single entertaining story, about "my friend such a +one." She must try to find amusement in what was passing at the upper +end of the table, and in observing Mr. Rushworth, who was now making his +appearance at Mansfield for the first time since the Crawfords' arrival. +He had been visiting a friend in the neighbouring county, and that +friend having recently had his grounds laid out by an improver, Mr. +Rushworth was returned with his head full of the subject, and very eager +to be improving his own place in the same way; and though not saying +much to the purpose, could talk of nothing else. The subject had +been already handled in the drawing-room; it was revived in the +dining-parlour. Miss Bertram's attention and opinion was evidently his +chief aim; and though her deportment showed rather conscious superiority +than any solicitude to oblige him, the mention of Sotherton Court, +and the ideas attached to it, gave her a feeling of complacency, which +prevented her from being very ungracious. + +"I wish you could see Compton," said he; "it is the most complete thing! +I never saw a place so altered in my life. I told Smith I did not know +where I was. The approach _now_, is one of the finest things in the +country: you see the house in the most surprising manner. I declare, +when I got back to Sotherton yesterday, it looked like a prison--quite a +dismal old prison." + +"Oh, for shame!" cried Mrs. Norris. "A prison indeed? Sotherton Court is +the noblest old place in the world." + +"It wants improvement, ma'am, beyond anything. I never saw a place that +wanted so much improvement in my life; and it is so forlorn that I do +not know what can be done with it." + +"No wonder that Mr. Rushworth should think so at present," said Mrs. +Grant to Mrs. Norris, with a smile; "but depend upon it, Sotherton will +have _every_ improvement in time which his heart can desire." + +"I must try to do something with it," said Mr. Rushworth, "but I do not +know what. I hope I shall have some good friend to help me." + +"Your best friend upon such an occasion," said Miss Bertram calmly, +"would be Mr. Repton, I imagine." + +"That is what I was thinking of. As he has done so well by Smith, I +think I had better have him at once. His terms are five guineas a day." + +"Well, and if they were _ten_," cried Mrs. Norris, "I am sure _you_ need +not regard it. The expense need not be any impediment. If I were you, +I should not think of the expense. I would have everything done in the +best style, and made as nice as possible. Such a place as Sotherton +Court deserves everything that taste and money can do. You have space to +work upon there, and grounds that will well reward you. For my own part, +if I had anything within the fiftieth part of the size of Sotherton, I +should be always planting and improving, for naturally I am excessively +fond of it. It would be too ridiculous for me to attempt anything where +I am now, with my little half acre. It would be quite a burlesque. But +if I had more room, I should take a prodigious delight in improving and +planting. We did a vast deal in that way at the Parsonage: we made it +quite a different place from what it was when we first had it. You young +ones do not remember much about it, perhaps; but if dear Sir Thomas were +here, he could tell you what improvements we made: and a great deal more +would have been done, but for poor Mr. Norris's sad state of health. +He could hardly ever get out, poor man, to enjoy anything, and _that_ +disheartened me from doing several things that Sir Thomas and I used to +talk of. If it had not been for _that_, we should have carried on the +garden wall, and made the plantation to shut out the churchyard, just +as Dr. Grant has done. We were always doing something as it was. It was +only the spring twelvemonth before Mr. Norris's death that we put in the +apricot against the stable wall, which is now grown such a noble tree, +and getting to such perfection, sir," addressing herself then to Dr. +Grant. + +"The tree thrives well, beyond a doubt, madam," replied Dr. Grant. "The +soil is good; and I never pass it without regretting that the fruit +should be so little worth the trouble of gathering." + +"Sir, it is a Moor Park, we bought it as a Moor Park, and it cost +us--that is, it was a present from Sir Thomas, but I saw the bill--and I +know it cost seven shillings, and was charged as a Moor Park." + +"You were imposed on, ma'am," replied Dr. Grant: "these potatoes have as +much the flavour of a Moor Park apricot as the fruit from that tree. It +is an insipid fruit at the best; but a good apricot is eatable, which +none from my garden are." + +"The truth is, ma'am," said Mrs. Grant, pretending to whisper across +the table to Mrs. Norris, "that Dr. Grant hardly knows what the natural +taste of our apricot is: he is scarcely ever indulged with one, for it +is so valuable a fruit; with a little assistance, and ours is such a +remarkably large, fair sort, that what with early tarts and preserves, +my cook contrives to get them all." + +Mrs. Norris, who had begun to redden, was appeased; and, for a little +while, other subjects took place of the improvements of Sotherton. Dr. +Grant and Mrs. Norris were seldom good friends; their acquaintance had +begun in dilapidations, and their habits were totally dissimilar. + +After a short interruption Mr. Rushworth began again. "Smith's place +is the admiration of all the country; and it was a mere nothing before +Repton took it in hand. I think I shall have Repton." + +"Mr. Rushworth," said Lady Bertram, "if I were you, I would have a +very pretty shrubbery. One likes to get out into a shrubbery in fine +weather." + +Mr. Rushworth was eager to assure her ladyship of his acquiescence, and +tried to make out something complimentary; but, between his submission +to _her_ taste, and his having always intended the same himself, with +the superadded objects of professing attention to the comfort of ladies +in general, and of insinuating that there was one only whom he was +anxious to please, he grew puzzled, and Edmund was glad to put an end +to his speech by a proposal of wine. Mr. Rushworth, however, though not +usually a great talker, had still more to say on the subject next his +heart. "Smith has not much above a hundred acres altogether in his +grounds, which is little enough, and makes it more surprising that the +place can have been so improved. Now, at Sotherton we have a good seven +hundred, without reckoning the water meadows; so that I think, if so +much could be done at Compton, we need not despair. There have been two +or three fine old trees cut down, that grew too near the house, and +it opens the prospect amazingly, which makes me think that Repton, or +anybody of that sort, would certainly have the avenue at Sotherton down: +the avenue that leads from the west front to the top of the hill, +you know," turning to Miss Bertram particularly as he spoke. But Miss +Bertram thought it most becoming to reply-- + +"The avenue! Oh! I do not recollect it. I really know very little of +Sotherton." + +Fanny, who was sitting on the other side of Edmund, exactly opposite +Miss Crawford, and who had been attentively listening, now looked at +him, and said in a low voice-- + +"Cut down an avenue! What a pity! Does it not make you think of Cowper? +'Ye fallen avenues, once more I mourn your fate unmerited.'" + +He smiled as he answered, "I am afraid the avenue stands a bad chance, +Fanny." + +"I should like to see Sotherton before it is cut down, to see the place +as it is now, in its old state; but I do not suppose I shall." + +"Have you never been there? No, you never can; and, unluckily, it is out +of distance for a ride. I wish we could contrive it." + +"Oh! it does not signify. Whenever I do see it, you will tell me how it +has been altered." + +"I collect," said Miss Crawford, "that Sotherton is an old place, and a +place of some grandeur. In any particular style of building?" + +"The house was built in Elizabeth's time, and is a large, regular, brick +building; heavy, but respectable looking, and has many good rooms. It +is ill placed. It stands in one of the lowest spots of the park; in that +respect, unfavourable for improvement. But the woods are fine, and +there is a stream, which, I dare say, might be made a good deal of. Mr. +Rushworth is quite right, I think, in meaning to give it a modern dress, +and I have no doubt that it will be all done extremely well." + +Miss Crawford listened with submission, and said to herself, "He is a +well-bred man; he makes the best of it." + +"I do not wish to influence Mr. Rushworth," he continued; "but, had I +a place to new fashion, I should not put myself into the hands of an +improver. I would rather have an inferior degree of beauty, of my own +choice, and acquired progressively. I would rather abide by my own +blunders than by his." + +"_You_ would know what you were about, of course; but that would not +suit _me_. I have no eye or ingenuity for such matters, but as they are +before me; and had I a place of my own in the country, I should be most +thankful to any Mr. Repton who would undertake it, and give me as much +beauty as he could for my money; and I should never look at it till it +was complete." + +"It would be delightful to _me_ to see the progress of it all," said +Fanny. + +"Ay, you have been brought up to it. It was no part of my education; and +the only dose I ever had, being administered by not the first favourite +in the world, has made me consider improvements _in_ _hand_ as the +greatest of nuisances. Three years ago the Admiral, my honoured uncle, +bought a cottage at Twickenham for us all to spend our summers in; +and my aunt and I went down to it quite in raptures; but it being +excessively pretty, it was soon found necessary to be improved, and for +three months we were all dirt and confusion, without a gravel walk to +step on, or a bench fit for use. I would have everything as complete +as possible in the country, shrubberies and flower-gardens, and rustic +seats innumerable: but it must all be done without my care. Henry is +different; he loves to be doing." + +Edmund was sorry to hear Miss Crawford, whom he was much disposed to +admire, speak so freely of her uncle. It did not suit his sense of +propriety, and he was silenced, till induced by further smiles and +liveliness to put the matter by for the present. + +"Mr. Bertram," said she, "I have tidings of my harp at last. I am +assured that it is safe at Northampton; and there it has probably been +these ten days, in spite of the solemn assurances we have so often +received to the contrary." Edmund expressed his pleasure and surprise. +"The truth is, that our inquiries were too direct; we sent a servant, +we went ourselves: this will not do seventy miles from London; but this +morning we heard of it in the right way. It was seen by some farmer, and +he told the miller, and the miller told the butcher, and the butcher's +son-in-law left word at the shop." + +"I am very glad that you have heard of it, by whatever means, and hope +there will be no further delay." + +"I am to have it to-morrow; but how do you think it is to be conveyed? +Not by a wagon or cart: oh no! nothing of that kind could be hired in +the village. I might as well have asked for porters and a handbarrow." + +"You would find it difficult, I dare say, just now, in the middle of a +very late hay harvest, to hire a horse and cart?" + +"I was astonished to find what a piece of work was made of it! To want +a horse and cart in the country seemed impossible, so I told my maid to +speak for one directly; and as I cannot look out of my dressing-closet +without seeing one farmyard, nor walk in the shrubbery without passing +another, I thought it would be only ask and have, and was rather grieved +that I could not give the advantage to all. Guess my surprise, when +I found that I had been asking the most unreasonable, most impossible +thing in the world; had offended all the farmers, all the labourers, +all the hay in the parish! As for Dr. Grant's bailiff, I believe I had +better keep out of _his_ way; and my brother-in-law himself, who is all +kindness in general, looked rather black upon me when he found what I +had been at." + +"You could not be expected to have thought on the subject before; but +when you _do_ think of it, you must see the importance of getting in +the grass. The hire of a cart at any time might not be so easy as you +suppose: our farmers are not in the habit of letting them out; but, in +harvest, it must be quite out of their power to spare a horse." + +"I shall understand all your ways in time; but, coming down with the +true London maxim, that everything is to be got with money, I was a +little embarrassed at first by the sturdy independence of your country +customs. However, I am to have my harp fetched to-morrow. Henry, who is +good-nature itself, has offered to fetch it in his barouche. Will it not +be honourably conveyed?" + +Edmund spoke of the harp as his favourite instrument, and hoped to be +soon allowed to hear her. Fanny had never heard the harp at all, and +wished for it very much. + +"I shall be most happy to play to you both," said Miss Crawford; "at +least as long as you can like to listen: probably much longer, for +I dearly love music myself, and where the natural taste is equal the +player must always be best off, for she is gratified in more ways than +one. Now, Mr. Bertram, if you write to your brother, I entreat you to +tell him that my harp is come: he heard so much of my misery about it. +And you may say, if you please, that I shall prepare my most plaintive +airs against his return, in compassion to his feelings, as I know his +horse will lose." + +"If I write, I will say whatever you wish me; but I do not, at present, +foresee any occasion for writing." + +"No, I dare say, nor if he were to be gone a twelvemonth, would you ever +write to him, nor he to you, if it could be helped. The occasion would +never be foreseen. What strange creatures brothers are! You would not +write to each other but upon the most urgent necessity in the world; and +when obliged to take up the pen to say that such a horse is ill, or such +a relation dead, it is done in the fewest possible words. You have but +one style among you. I know it perfectly. Henry, who is in every other +respect exactly what a brother should be, who loves me, consults me, +confides in me, and will talk to me by the hour together, has never +yet turned the page in a letter; and very often it is nothing more +than--'Dear Mary, I am just arrived. Bath seems full, and everything +as usual. Yours sincerely.' That is the true manly style; that is a +complete brother's letter." + +"When they are at a distance from all their family," said Fanny, +colouring for William's sake, "they can write long letters." + +"Miss Price has a brother at sea," said Edmund, "whose excellence as a +correspondent makes her think you too severe upon us." + +"At sea, has she? In the king's service, of course?" + +Fanny would rather have had Edmund tell the story, but his determined +silence obliged her to relate her brother's situation: her voice was +animated in speaking of his profession, and the foreign stations he had +been on; but she could not mention the number of years that he had been +absent without tears in her eyes. Miss Crawford civilly wished him an +early promotion. + +"Do you know anything of my cousin's captain?" said Edmund; "Captain +Marshall? You have a large acquaintance in the navy, I conclude?" + +"Among admirals, large enough; but," with an air of grandeur, "we know +very little of the inferior ranks. Post-captains may be very good sort +of men, but they do not belong to _us_. Of various admirals I could tell +you a great deal: of them and their flags, and the gradation of their +pay, and their bickerings and jealousies. But, in general, I can assure +you that they are all passed over, and all very ill used. Certainly, my +home at my uncle's brought me acquainted with a circle of admirals. Of +_Rears_ and _Vices_ I saw enough. Now do not be suspecting me of a pun, +I entreat." + +Edmund again felt grave, and only replied, "It is a noble profession." + +"Yes, the profession is well enough under two circumstances: if it make +the fortune, and there be discretion in spending it; but, in short, it +is not a favourite profession of mine. It has never worn an amiable form +to _me_." + +Edmund reverted to the harp, and was again very happy in the prospect of +hearing her play. + +The subject of improving grounds, meanwhile, was still under +consideration among the others; and Mrs. Grant could not help addressing +her brother, though it was calling his attention from Miss Julia +Bertram. + +"My dear Henry, have _you_ nothing to say? You have been an improver +yourself, and from what I hear of Everingham, it may vie with any place +in England. Its natural beauties, I am sure, are great. Everingham, +as it _used_ to be, was perfect in my estimation: such a happy fall of +ground, and such timber! What would I not give to see it again?" + +"Nothing could be so gratifying to me as to hear your opinion of it," +was his answer; "but I fear there would be some disappointment: you +would not find it equal to your present ideas. In extent, it is a mere +nothing; you would be surprised at its insignificance; and, as for +improvement, there was very little for me to do--too little: I should +like to have been busy much longer." + +"You are fond of the sort of thing?" said Julia. + +"Excessively; but what with the natural advantages of the ground, which +pointed out, even to a very young eye, what little remained to be done, +and my own consequent resolutions, I had not been of age three +months before Everingham was all that it is now. My plan was laid +at Westminster, a little altered, perhaps, at Cambridge, and at +one-and-twenty executed. I am inclined to envy Mr. Rushworth for having +so much happiness yet before him. I have been a devourer of my own." + +"Those who see quickly, will resolve quickly, and act quickly," +said Julia. "_You_ can never want employment. Instead of envying Mr. +Rushworth, you should assist him with your opinion." + +Mrs. Grant, hearing the latter part of this speech, enforced it warmly, +persuaded that no judgment could be equal to her brother's; and as +Miss Bertram caught at the idea likewise, and gave it her full support, +declaring that, in her opinion, it was infinitely better to consult +with friends and disinterested advisers, than immediately to throw the +business into the hands of a professional man, Mr. Rushworth was very +ready to request the favour of Mr. Crawford's assistance; and Mr. +Crawford, after properly depreciating his own abilities, was quite at +his service in any way that could be useful. Mr. Rushworth then began to +propose Mr. Crawford's doing him the honour of coming over to Sotherton, +and taking a bed there; when Mrs. Norris, as if reading in her two +nieces' minds their little approbation of a plan which was to take Mr. +Crawford away, interposed with an amendment. + +"There can be no doubt of Mr. Crawford's willingness; but why should not +more of us go? Why should not we make a little party? Here are many that +would be interested in your improvements, my dear Mr. Rushworth, and +that would like to hear Mr. Crawford's opinion on the spot, and that +might be of some small use to you with _their_ opinions; and, for my +own part, I have been long wishing to wait upon your good mother again; +nothing but having no horses of my own could have made me so remiss; but +now I could go and sit a few hours with Mrs. Rushworth, while the rest +of you walked about and settled things, and then we could all return +to a late dinner here, or dine at Sotherton, just as might be most +agreeable to your mother, and have a pleasant drive home by moonlight. +I dare say Mr. Crawford would take my two nieces and me in his barouche, +and Edmund can go on horseback, you know, sister, and Fanny will stay at +home with you." + +Lady Bertram made no objection; and every one concerned in the going +was forward in expressing their ready concurrence, excepting Edmund, who +heard it all and said nothing. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +"Well, Fanny, and how do you like Miss Crawford _now_?" said Edmund the +next day, after thinking some time on the subject himself. "How did you +like her yesterday?" + +"Very well--very much. I like to hear her talk. She entertains me; and +she is so extremely pretty, that I have great pleasure in looking at +her." + +"It is her countenance that is so attractive. She has a wonderful play +of feature! But was there nothing in her conversation that struck you, +Fanny, as not quite right?" + +"Oh yes! she ought not to have spoken of her uncle as she did. I was +quite astonished. An uncle with whom she has been living so many years, +and who, whatever his faults may be, is so very fond of her brother, +treating him, they say, quite like a son. I could not have believed it!" + +"I thought you would be struck. It was very wrong; very indecorous." + +"And very ungrateful, I think." + +"Ungrateful is a strong word. I do not know that her uncle has any claim +to her _gratitude_; his wife certainly had; and it is the warmth of her +respect for her aunt's memory which misleads her here. She is awkwardly +circumstanced. With such warm feelings and lively spirits it must be +difficult to do justice to her affection for Mrs. Crawford, without +throwing a shade on the Admiral. I do not pretend to know which was most +to blame in their disagreements, though the Admiral's present conduct +might incline one to the side of his wife; but it is natural and amiable +that Miss Crawford should acquit her aunt entirely. I do not censure her +_opinions_; but there certainly _is_ impropriety in making them public." + +"Do not you think," said Fanny, after a little consideration, "that this +impropriety is a reflection itself upon Mrs. Crawford, as her niece has +been entirely brought up by her? She cannot have given her right notions +of what was due to the Admiral." + +"That is a fair remark. Yes, we must suppose the faults of the niece +to have been those of the aunt; and it makes one more sensible of the +disadvantages she has been under. But I think her present home must +do her good. Mrs. Grant's manners are just what they ought to be. She +speaks of her brother with a very pleasing affection." + +"Yes, except as to his writing her such short letters. She made me +almost laugh; but I cannot rate so very highly the love or good-nature +of a brother who will not give himself the trouble of writing anything +worth reading to his sisters, when they are separated. I am sure William +would never have used _me_ so, under any circumstances. And what right +had she to suppose that _you_ would not write long letters when you were +absent?" + +"The right of a lively mind, Fanny, seizing whatever may contribute +to its own amusement or that of others; perfectly allowable, when +untinctured by ill-humour or roughness; and there is not a shadow of +either in the countenance or manner of Miss Crawford: nothing sharp, or +loud, or coarse. She is perfectly feminine, except in the instances we +have been speaking of. There she cannot be justified. I am glad you saw +it all as I did." + +Having formed her mind and gained her affections, he had a good chance +of her thinking like him; though at this period, and on this subject, +there began now to be some danger of dissimilarity, for he was in a line +of admiration of Miss Crawford, which might lead him where Fanny +could not follow. Miss Crawford's attractions did not lessen. The harp +arrived, and rather added to her beauty, wit, and good-humour; for she +played with the greatest obligingness, with an expression and taste +which were peculiarly becoming, and there was something clever to be +said at the close of every air. Edmund was at the Parsonage every day, +to be indulged with his favourite instrument: one morning secured an +invitation for the next; for the lady could not be unwilling to have a +listener, and every thing was soon in a fair train. + +A young woman, pretty, lively, with a harp as elegant as herself, and +both placed near a window, cut down to the ground, and opening on a +little lawn, surrounded by shrubs in the rich foliage of summer, was +enough to catch any man's heart. The season, the scene, the air, were +all favourable to tenderness and sentiment. Mrs. Grant and her tambour +frame were not without their use: it was all in harmony; and as +everything will turn to account when love is once set going, even the +sandwich tray, and Dr. Grant doing the honours of it, were worth looking +at. Without studying the business, however, or knowing what he was +about, Edmund was beginning, at the end of a week of such intercourse, +to be a good deal in love; and to the credit of the lady it may be added +that, without his being a man of the world or an elder brother, without +any of the arts of flattery or the gaieties of small talk, he began to +be agreeable to her. She felt it to be so, though she had not foreseen, +and could hardly understand it; for he was not pleasant by any common +rule: he talked no nonsense; he paid no compliments; his opinions +were unbending, his attentions tranquil and simple. There was a charm, +perhaps, in his sincerity, his steadiness, his integrity, which Miss +Crawford might be equal to feel, though not equal to discuss with +herself. She did not think very much about it, however: he pleased her +for the present; she liked to have him near her; it was enough. + +Fanny could not wonder that Edmund was at the Parsonage every morning; +she would gladly have been there too, might she have gone in uninvited +and unnoticed, to hear the harp; neither could she wonder that, when the +evening stroll was over, and the two families parted again, he should +think it right to attend Mrs. Grant and her sister to their home, while +Mr. Crawford was devoted to the ladies of the Park; but she thought it +a very bad exchange; and if Edmund were not there to mix the wine and +water for her, would rather go without it than not. She was a little +surprised that he could spend so many hours with Miss Crawford, and +not see more of the sort of fault which he had already observed, and of +which _she_ was almost always reminded by a something of the same nature +whenever she was in her company; but so it was. Edmund was fond of +speaking to her of Miss Crawford, but he seemed to think it enough that +the Admiral had since been spared; and she scrupled to point out her own +remarks to him, lest it should appear like ill-nature. The first actual +pain which Miss Crawford occasioned her was the consequence of an +inclination to learn to ride, which the former caught, soon after her +being settled at Mansfield, from the example of the young ladies at the +Park, and which, when Edmund's acquaintance with her increased, led to +his encouraging the wish, and the offer of his own quiet mare for the +purpose of her first attempts, as the best fitted for a beginner that +either stable could furnish. No pain, no injury, however, was designed +by him to his cousin in this offer: _she_ was not to lose a day's +exercise by it. The mare was only to be taken down to the Parsonage half +an hour before her ride were to begin; and Fanny, on its being first +proposed, so far from feeling slighted, was almost over-powered with +gratitude that he should be asking her leave for it. + +Miss Crawford made her first essay with great credit to herself, and no +inconvenience to Fanny. Edmund, who had taken down the mare and presided +at the whole, returned with it in excellent time, before either Fanny or +the steady old coachman, who always attended her when she rode without +her cousins, were ready to set forward. The second day's trial was not +so guiltless. Miss Crawford's enjoyment of riding was such that she did +not know how to leave off. Active and fearless, and though rather small, +strongly made, she seemed formed for a horsewoman; and to the pure +genuine pleasure of the exercise, something was probably added in +Edmund's attendance and instructions, and something more in the +conviction of very much surpassing her sex in general by her early +progress, to make her unwilling to dismount. Fanny was ready and +waiting, and Mrs. Norris was beginning to scold her for not being gone, +and still no horse was announced, no Edmund appeared. To avoid her aunt, +and look for him, she went out. + +The houses, though scarcely half a mile apart, were not within sight of +each other; but, by walking fifty yards from the hall door, she could +look down the park, and command a view of the Parsonage and all its +demesnes, gently rising beyond the village road; and in Dr. Grant's +meadow she immediately saw the group--Edmund and Miss Crawford both on +horse-back, riding side by side, Dr. and Mrs. Grant, and Mr. Crawford, +with two or three grooms, standing about and looking on. A happy party +it appeared to her, all interested in one object: cheerful beyond a +doubt, for the sound of merriment ascended even to her. It was a sound +which did not make _her_ cheerful; she wondered that Edmund should +forget her, and felt a pang. She could not turn her eyes from the +meadow; she could not help watching all that passed. At first Miss +Crawford and her companion made the circuit of the field, which was not +small, at a foot's pace; then, at _her_ apparent suggestion, they rose +into a canter; and to Fanny's timid nature it was most astonishing to +see how well she sat. After a few minutes they stopped entirely. Edmund +was close to her; he was speaking to her; he was evidently directing her +management of the bridle; he had hold of her hand; she saw it, or the +imagination supplied what the eye could not reach. She must not wonder +at all this; what could be more natural than that Edmund should be +making himself useful, and proving his good-nature by any one? She could +not but think, indeed, that Mr. Crawford might as well have saved him +the trouble; that it would have been particularly proper and becoming +in a brother to have done it himself; but Mr. Crawford, with all his +boasted good-nature, and all his coachmanship, probably knew nothing +of the matter, and had no active kindness in comparison of Edmund. She +began to think it rather hard upon the mare to have such double duty; if +she were forgotten, the poor mare should be remembered. + +Her feelings for one and the other were soon a little tranquillised +by seeing the party in the meadow disperse, and Miss Crawford still on +horseback, but attended by Edmund on foot, pass through a gate into the +lane, and so into the park, and make towards the spot where she stood. +She began then to be afraid of appearing rude and impatient; and walked +to meet them with a great anxiety to avoid the suspicion. + +"My dear Miss Price," said Miss Crawford, as soon as she was at all +within hearing, "I am come to make my own apologies for keeping you +waiting; but I have nothing in the world to say for myself--I knew it +was very late, and that I was behaving extremely ill; and therefore, if +you please, you must forgive me. Selfishness must always be forgiven, +you know, because there is no hope of a cure." + +Fanny's answer was extremely civil, and Edmund added his conviction that +she could be in no hurry. "For there is more than time enough for my +cousin to ride twice as far as she ever goes," said he, "and you have +been promoting her comfort by preventing her from setting off half an +hour sooner: clouds are now coming up, and she will not suffer from the +heat as she would have done then. I wish _you_ may not be fatigued by so +much exercise. I wish you had saved yourself this walk home." + +"No part of it fatigues me but getting off this horse, I assure you," +said she, as she sprang down with his help; "I am very strong. Nothing +ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like. Miss Price, I give way to +you with a very bad grace; but I sincerely hope you will have a pleasant +ride, and that I may have nothing but good to hear of this dear, +delightful, beautiful animal." + +The old coachman, who had been waiting about with his own horse, now +joining them, Fanny was lifted on hers, and they set off across another +part of the park; her feelings of discomfort not lightened by seeing, as +she looked back, that the others were walking down the hill together to +the village; nor did her attendant do her much good by his comments on +Miss Crawford's great cleverness as a horse-woman, which he had been +watching with an interest almost equal to her own. + +"It is a pleasure to see a lady with such a good heart for riding!" +said he. "I never see one sit a horse better. She did not seem to have +a thought of fear. Very different from you, miss, when you first began, +six years ago come next Easter. Lord bless you! how you did tremble when +Sir Thomas first had you put on!" + +In the drawing-room Miss Crawford was also celebrated. Her merit in +being gifted by Nature with strength and courage was fully appreciated +by the Miss Bertrams; her delight in riding was like their own; her +early excellence in it was like their own, and they had great pleasure +in praising it. + +"I was sure she would ride well," said Julia; "she has the make for it. +Her figure is as neat as her brother's." + +"Yes," added Maria, "and her spirits are as good, and she has the same +energy of character. I cannot but think that good horsemanship has a +great deal to do with the mind." + +When they parted at night Edmund asked Fanny whether she meant to ride +the next day. + +"No, I do not know--not if you want the mare," was her answer. + +"I do not want her at all for myself," said he; "but whenever you are +next inclined to stay at home, I think Miss Crawford would be glad to +have her a longer time--for a whole morning, in short. She has a great +desire to get as far as Mansfield Common: Mrs. Grant has been telling +her of its fine views, and I have no doubt of her being perfectly equal +to it. But any morning will do for this. She would be extremely sorry to +interfere with you. It would be very wrong if she did. _She_ rides only +for pleasure; _you_ for health." + +"I shall not ride to-morrow, certainly," said Fanny; "I have been out +very often lately, and would rather stay at home. You know I am strong +enough now to walk very well." + +Edmund looked pleased, which must be Fanny's comfort, and the ride to +Mansfield Common took place the next morning: the party included all the +young people but herself, and was much enjoyed at the time, and doubly +enjoyed again in the evening discussion. A successful scheme of this +sort generally brings on another; and the having been to Mansfield +Common disposed them all for going somewhere else the day after. There +were many other views to be shewn; and though the weather was hot, there +were shady lanes wherever they wanted to go. A young party is always +provided with a shady lane. Four fine mornings successively were spent +in this manner, in shewing the Crawfords the country, and doing the +honours of its finest spots. Everything answered; it was all gaiety and +good-humour, the heat only supplying inconvenience enough to be talked +of with pleasure--till the fourth day, when the happiness of one of +the party was exceedingly clouded. Miss Bertram was the one. Edmund and +Julia were invited to dine at the Parsonage, and _she_ was excluded. +It was meant and done by Mrs. Grant, with perfect good-humour, on Mr. +Rushworth's account, who was partly expected at the Park that day; +but it was felt as a very grievous injury, and her good manners were +severely taxed to conceal her vexation and anger till she reached home. +As Mr. Rushworth did _not_ come, the injury was increased, and she had +not even the relief of shewing her power over him; she could only be +sullen to her mother, aunt, and cousin, and throw as great a gloom as +possible over their dinner and dessert. + +Between ten and eleven Edmund and Julia walked into the drawing-room, +fresh with the evening air, glowing and cheerful, the very reverse +of what they found in the three ladies sitting there, for Maria would +scarcely raise her eyes from her book, and Lady Bertram was half-asleep; +and even Mrs. Norris, discomposed by her niece's ill-humour, and having +asked one or two questions about the dinner, which were not immediately +attended to, seemed almost determined to say no more. For a few minutes +the brother and sister were too eager in their praise of the night and +their remarks on the stars, to think beyond themselves; but when the +first pause came, Edmund, looking around, said, "But where is Fanny? Is +she gone to bed?" + +"No, not that I know of," replied Mrs. Norris; "she was here a moment +ago." + +Her own gentle voice speaking from the other end of the room, which was +a very long one, told them that she was on the sofa. Mrs. Norris began +scolding. + +"That is a very foolish trick, Fanny, to be idling away all the evening +upon a sofa. Why cannot you come and sit here, and employ yourself as +_we_ do? If you have no work of your own, I can supply you from the +poor basket. There is all the new calico, that was bought last week, +not touched yet. I am sure I almost broke my back by cutting it out. You +should learn to think of other people; and, take my word for it, it is a +shocking trick for a young person to be always lolling upon a sofa." + +Before half this was said, Fanny was returned to her seat at the table, +and had taken up her work again; and Julia, who was in high good-humour, +from the pleasures of the day, did her the justice of exclaiming, "I +must say, ma'am, that Fanny is as little upon the sofa as anybody in the +house." + +"Fanny," said Edmund, after looking at her attentively, "I am sure you +have the headache." + +She could not deny it, but said it was not very bad. + +"I can hardly believe you," he replied; "I know your looks too well. How +long have you had it?" + +"Since a little before dinner. It is nothing but the heat." + +"Did you go out in the heat?" + +"Go out! to be sure she did," said Mrs. Norris: "would you have her stay +within such a fine day as this? Were not we _all_ out? Even your mother +was out to-day for above an hour." + +"Yes, indeed, Edmund," added her ladyship, who had been thoroughly +awakened by Mrs. Norris's sharp reprimand to Fanny; "I was out above an +hour. I sat three-quarters of an hour in the flower-garden, while Fanny +cut the roses; and very pleasant it was, I assure you, but very hot. It +was shady enough in the alcove, but I declare I quite dreaded the coming +home again." + +"Fanny has been cutting roses, has she?" + +"Yes, and I am afraid they will be the last this year. Poor thing! _She_ +found it hot enough; but they were so full-blown that one could not +wait." + +"There was no help for it, certainly," rejoined Mrs. Norris, in a rather +softened voice; "but I question whether her headache might not be caught +_then_, sister. There is nothing so likely to give it as standing and +stooping in a hot sun; but I dare say it will be well to-morrow. Suppose +you let her have your aromatic vinegar; I always forget to have mine +filled." + +"She has got it," said Lady Bertram; "she has had it ever since she came +back from your house the second time." + +"What!" cried Edmund; "has she been walking as well as cutting roses; +walking across the hot park to your house, and doing it twice, ma'am? No +wonder her head aches." + +Mrs. Norris was talking to Julia, and did not hear. + +"I was afraid it would be too much for her," said Lady Bertram; "but +when the roses were gathered, your aunt wished to have them, and then +you know they must be taken home." + +"But were there roses enough to oblige her to go twice?" + +"No; but they were to be put into the spare room to dry; and, unluckily, +Fanny forgot to lock the door of the room and bring away the key, so she +was obliged to go again." + +Edmund got up and walked about the room, saying, "And could nobody be +employed on such an errand but Fanny? Upon my word, ma'am, it has been a +very ill-managed business." + +"I am sure I do not know how it was to have been done better," cried +Mrs. Norris, unable to be longer deaf; "unless I had gone myself, +indeed; but I cannot be in two places at once; and I was talking to Mr. +Green at that very time about your mother's dairymaid, by _her_ desire, +and had promised John Groom to write to Mrs. Jefferies about his son, +and the poor fellow was waiting for me half an hour. I think nobody +can justly accuse me of sparing myself upon any occasion, but really I +cannot do everything at once. And as for Fanny's just stepping down +to my house for me--it is not much above a quarter of a mile--I cannot +think I was unreasonable to ask it. How often do I pace it three times a +day, early and late, ay, and in all weathers too, and say nothing about +it?" + +"I wish Fanny had half your strength, ma'am." + +"If Fanny would be more regular in her exercise, she would not be +knocked up so soon. She has not been out on horseback now this long +while, and I am persuaded that, when she does not ride, she ought to +walk. If she had been riding before, I should not have asked it of her. +But I thought it would rather do her good after being stooping among the +roses; for there is nothing so refreshing as a walk after a fatigue +of that kind; and though the sun was strong, it was not so very hot. +Between ourselves, Edmund," nodding significantly at his mother, "it was +cutting the roses, and dawdling about in the flower-garden, that did the +mischief." + +"I am afraid it was, indeed," said the more candid Lady Bertram, who had +overheard her; "I am very much afraid she caught the headache there, +for the heat was enough to kill anybody. It was as much as I could bear +myself. Sitting and calling to Pug, and trying to keep him from the +flower-beds, was almost too much for me." + +Edmund said no more to either lady; but going quietly to another table, +on which the supper-tray yet remained, brought a glass of Madeira to +Fanny, and obliged her to drink the greater part. She wished to be able +to decline it; but the tears, which a variety of feelings created, made +it easier to swallow than to speak. + +Vexed as Edmund was with his mother and aunt, he was still more angry +with himself. His own forgetfulness of her was worse than anything which +they had done. Nothing of this would have happened had she been properly +considered; but she had been left four days together without any choice +of companions or exercise, and without any excuse for avoiding whatever +her unreasonable aunts might require. He was ashamed to think that +for four days together she had not had the power of riding, and very +seriously resolved, however unwilling he must be to check a pleasure of +Miss Crawford's, that it should never happen again. + +Fanny went to bed with her heart as full as on the first evening of her +arrival at the Park. The state of her spirits had probably had its +share in her indisposition; for she had been feeling neglected, and been +struggling against discontent and envy for some days past. As she leant +on the sofa, to which she had retreated that she might not be seen, the +pain of her mind had been much beyond that in her head; and the sudden +change which Edmund's kindness had then occasioned, made her hardly know +how to support herself. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Fanny's rides recommenced the very next day; and as it was a pleasant +fresh-feeling morning, less hot than the weather had lately been, Edmund +trusted that her losses, both of health and pleasure, would be soon made +good. While she was gone Mr. Rushworth arrived, escorting his mother, +who came to be civil and to shew her civility especially, in urging the +execution of the plan for visiting Sotherton, which had been started a +fortnight before, and which, in consequence of her subsequent absence +from home, had since lain dormant. Mrs. Norris and her nieces were all +well pleased with its revival, and an early day was named and agreed +to, provided Mr. Crawford should be disengaged: the young ladies did +not forget that stipulation, and though Mrs. Norris would willingly have +answered for his being so, they would neither authorise the liberty nor +run the risk; and at last, on a hint from Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth +discovered that the properest thing to be done was for him to walk down +to the Parsonage directly, and call on Mr. Crawford, and inquire whether +Wednesday would suit him or not. + +Before his return Mrs. Grant and Miss Crawford came in. Having been out +some time, and taken a different route to the house, they had not met +him. Comfortable hopes, however, were given that he would find Mr. +Crawford at home. The Sotherton scheme was mentioned of course. It was +hardly possible, indeed, that anything else should be talked of, +for Mrs. Norris was in high spirits about it; and Mrs. Rushworth, a +well-meaning, civil, prosing, pompous woman, who thought nothing of +consequence, but as it related to her own and her son's concerns, +had not yet given over pressing Lady Bertram to be of the party. Lady +Bertram constantly declined it; but her placid manner of refusal made +Mrs. Rushworth still think she wished to come, till Mrs. Norris's more +numerous words and louder tone convinced her of the truth. + +"The fatigue would be too much for my sister, a great deal too much, I +assure you, my dear Mrs. Rushworth. Ten miles there, and ten back, you +know. You must excuse my sister on this occasion, and accept of our +two dear girls and myself without her. Sotherton is the only place that +could give her a _wish_ to go so far, but it cannot be, indeed. She will +have a companion in Fanny Price, you know, so it will all do very well; +and as for Edmund, as he is not here to speak for himself, I will answer +for his being most happy to join the party. He can go on horseback, you +know." + +Mrs. Rushworth being obliged to yield to Lady Bertram's staying at home, +could only be sorry. "The loss of her ladyship's company would be a +great drawback, and she should have been extremely happy to have seen +the young lady too, Miss Price, who had never been at Sotherton yet, and +it was a pity she should not see the place." + +"You are very kind, you are all kindness, my dear madam," cried Mrs. +Norris; "but as to Fanny, she will have opportunities in plenty of +seeing Sotherton. She has time enough before her; and her going now is +quite out of the question. Lady Bertram could not possibly spare her." + +"Oh no! I cannot do without Fanny." + +Mrs. Rushworth proceeded next, under the conviction that everybody must +be wanting to see Sotherton, to include Miss Crawford in the invitation; +and though Mrs. Grant, who had not been at the trouble of visiting Mrs. +Rushworth, on her coming into the neighbourhood, civilly declined it on +her own account, she was glad to secure any pleasure for her sister; +and Mary, properly pressed and persuaded, was not long in accepting +her share of the civility. Mr. Rushworth came back from the Parsonage +successful; and Edmund made his appearance just in time to learn +what had been settled for Wednesday, to attend Mrs. Rushworth to her +carriage, and walk half-way down the park with the two other ladies. + +On his return to the breakfast-room, he found Mrs. Norris trying to +make up her mind as to whether Miss Crawford's being of the party were +desirable or not, or whether her brother's barouche would not be full +without her. The Miss Bertrams laughed at the idea, assuring her that +the barouche would hold four perfectly well, independent of the box, on +which _one_ might go with him. + +"But why is it necessary," said Edmund, "that Crawford's carriage, or +his _only_, should be employed? Why is no use to be made of my mother's +chaise? I could not, when the scheme was first mentioned the other +day, understand why a visit from the family were not to be made in the +carriage of the family." + +"What!" cried Julia: "go boxed up three in a postchaise in this weather, +when we may have seats in a barouche! No, my dear Edmund, that will not +quite do." + +"Besides," said Maria, "I know that Mr. Crawford depends upon taking us. +After what passed at first, he would claim it as a promise." + +"And, my dear Edmund," added Mrs. Norris, "taking out _two_ carriages +when _one_ will do, would be trouble for nothing; and, between +ourselves, coachman is not very fond of the roads between this and +Sotherton: he always complains bitterly of the narrow lanes scratching +his carriage, and you know one should not like to have dear Sir Thomas, +when he comes home, find all the varnish scratched off." + +"That would not be a very handsome reason for using Mr. Crawford's," +said Maria; "but the truth is, that Wilcox is a stupid old fellow, and +does not know how to drive. I will answer for it that we shall find no +inconvenience from narrow roads on Wednesday." + +"There is no hardship, I suppose, nothing unpleasant," said Edmund, "in +going on the barouche box." + +"Unpleasant!" cried Maria: "oh dear! I believe it would be generally +thought the favourite seat. There can be no comparison as to one's view +of the country. Probably Miss Crawford will choose the barouche-box +herself." + +"There can be no objection, then, to Fanny's going with you; there can +be no doubt of your having room for her." + +"Fanny!" repeated Mrs. Norris; "my dear Edmund, there is no idea of her +going with us. She stays with her aunt. I told Mrs. Rushworth so. She is +not expected." + +"You can have no reason, I imagine, madam," said he, addressing his +mother, "for wishing Fanny _not_ to be of the party, but as it relates +to yourself, to your own comfort. If you could do without her, you would +not wish to keep her at home?" + +"To be sure not, but I _cannot_ do without her." + +"You can, if I stay at home with you, as I mean to do." + +There was a general cry out at this. "Yes," he continued, "there is no +necessity for my going, and I mean to stay at home. Fanny has a great +desire to see Sotherton. I know she wishes it very much. She has not +often a gratification of the kind, and I am sure, ma'am, you would be +glad to give her the pleasure now?" + +"Oh yes! very glad, if your aunt sees no objection." + +Mrs. Norris was very ready with the only objection which could +remain--their having positively assured Mrs. Rushworth that Fanny could +not go, and the very strange appearance there would consequently be in +taking her, which seemed to her a difficulty quite impossible to be got +over. It must have the strangest appearance! It would be something so +very unceremonious, so bordering on disrespect for Mrs. Rushworth, whose +own manners were such a pattern of good-breeding and attention, that she +really did not feel equal to it. Mrs. Norris had no affection for Fanny, +and no wish of procuring her pleasure at any time; but her opposition to +Edmund _now_, arose more from partiality for her own scheme, because it +_was_ her own, than from anything else. She felt that she had arranged +everything extremely well, and that any alteration must be for the +worse. When Edmund, therefore, told her in reply, as he did when she +would give him the hearing, that she need not distress herself on Mrs. +Rushworth's account, because he had taken the opportunity, as he walked +with her through the hall, of mentioning Miss Price as one who would +probably be of the party, and had directly received a very sufficient +invitation for his cousin, Mrs. Norris was too much vexed to submit with +a very good grace, and would only say, "Very well, very well, just as +you chuse, settle it your own way, I am sure I do not care about it." + +"It seems very odd," said Maria, "that you should be staying at home +instead of Fanny." + +"I am sure she ought to be very much obliged to you," added Julia, +hastily leaving the room as she spoke, from a consciousness that she +ought to offer to stay at home herself. + +"Fanny will feel quite as grateful as the occasion requires," was +Edmund's only reply, and the subject dropt. + +Fanny's gratitude, when she heard the plan, was, in fact, much greater +than her pleasure. She felt Edmund's kindness with all, and more than +all, the sensibility which he, unsuspicious of her fond attachment, +could be aware of; but that he should forego any enjoyment on her +account gave her pain, and her own satisfaction in seeing Sotherton +would be nothing without him. + +The next meeting of the two Mansfield families produced another +alteration in the plan, and one that was admitted with general +approbation. Mrs. Grant offered herself as companion for the day to Lady +Bertram in lieu of her son, and Dr. Grant was to join them at dinner. +Lady Bertram was very well pleased to have it so, and the young ladies +were in spirits again. Even Edmund was very thankful for an arrangement +which restored him to his share of the party; and Mrs. Norris thought it +an excellent plan, and had it at her tongue's end, and was on the point +of proposing it, when Mrs. Grant spoke. + +Wednesday was fine, and soon after breakfast the barouche arrived, Mr. +Crawford driving his sisters; and as everybody was ready, there was +nothing to be done but for Mrs. Grant to alight and the others to take +their places. The place of all places, the envied seat, the post of +honour, was unappropriated. To whose happy lot was it to fall? While +each of the Miss Bertrams were meditating how best, and with the most +appearance of obliging the others, to secure it, the matter was settled +by Mrs. Grant's saying, as she stepped from the carriage, "As there are +five of you, it will be better that one should sit with Henry; and as +you were saying lately that you wished you could drive, Julia, I think +this will be a good opportunity for you to take a lesson." + +Happy Julia! Unhappy Maria! The former was on the barouche-box in a +moment, the latter took her seat within, in gloom and mortification; and +the carriage drove off amid the good wishes of the two remaining ladies, +and the barking of Pug in his mistress's arms. + +Their road was through a pleasant country; and Fanny, whose rides had +never been extensive, was soon beyond her knowledge, and was very happy +in observing all that was new, and admiring all that was pretty. She was +not often invited to join in the conversation of the others, nor did +she desire it. Her own thoughts and reflections were habitually her +best companions; and, in observing the appearance of the country, the +bearings of the roads, the difference of soil, the state of the harvest, +the cottages, the cattle, the children, she found entertainment that +could only have been heightened by having Edmund to speak to of what she +felt. That was the only point of resemblance between her and the lady +who sat by her: in everything but a value for Edmund, Miss Crawford was +very unlike her. She had none of Fanny's delicacy of taste, of mind, of +feeling; she saw Nature, inanimate Nature, with little observation; +her attention was all for men and women, her talents for the light +and lively. In looking back after Edmund, however, when there was any +stretch of road behind them, or when he gained on them in ascending a +considerable hill, they were united, and a "there he is" broke at the +same moment from them both, more than once. + +For the first seven miles Miss Bertram had very little real comfort: +her prospect always ended in Mr. Crawford and her sister sitting side by +side, full of conversation and merriment; and to see only his expressive +profile as he turned with a smile to Julia, or to catch the laugh of +the other, was a perpetual source of irritation, which her own sense +of propriety could but just smooth over. When Julia looked back, it was +with a countenance of delight, and whenever she spoke to them, it was in +the highest spirits: "her view of the country was charming, she wished +they could all see it," etc.; but her only offer of exchange was +addressed to Miss Crawford, as they gained the summit of a long hill, +and was not more inviting than this: "Here is a fine burst of country. I +wish you had my seat, but I dare say you will not take it, let me press +you ever so much;" and Miss Crawford could hardly answer before they +were moving again at a good pace. + +When they came within the influence of Sotherton associations, it was +better for Miss Bertram, who might be said to have two strings to her +bow. She had Rushworth feelings, and Crawford feelings, and in +the vicinity of Sotherton the former had considerable effect. Mr. +Rushworth's consequence was hers. She could not tell Miss Crawford that +"those woods belonged to Sotherton," she could not carelessly observe +that "she believed that it was now all Mr. Rushworth's property on each +side of the road," without elation of heart; and it was a pleasure +to increase with their approach to the capital freehold mansion, +and ancient manorial residence of the family, with all its rights of +court-leet and court-baron. + +"Now we shall have no more rough road, Miss Crawford; our difficulties +are over. The rest of the way is such as it ought to be. Mr. Rushworth +has made it since he succeeded to the estate. Here begins the village. +Those cottages are really a disgrace. The church spire is reckoned +remarkably handsome. I am glad the church is not so close to the great +house as often happens in old places. The annoyance of the bells must be +terrible. There is the parsonage: a tidy-looking house, and I understand +the clergyman and his wife are very decent people. Those are almshouses, +built by some of the family. To the right is the steward's house; he +is a very respectable man. Now we are coming to the lodge-gates; but we +have nearly a mile through the park still. It is not ugly, you see, at +this end; there is some fine timber, but the situation of the house is +dreadful. We go down hill to it for half a mile, and it is a pity, for +it would not be an ill-looking place if it had a better approach." + +Miss Crawford was not slow to admire; she pretty well guessed Miss +Bertram's feelings, and made it a point of honour to promote her +enjoyment to the utmost. Mrs. Norris was all delight and volubility; and +even Fanny had something to say in admiration, and might be heard with +complacency. Her eye was eagerly taking in everything within her reach; +and after being at some pains to get a view of the house, and observing +that "it was a sort of building which she could not look at but with +respect," she added, "Now, where is the avenue? The house fronts the +east, I perceive. The avenue, therefore, must be at the back of it. Mr. +Rushworth talked of the west front." + +"Yes, it is exactly behind the house; begins at a little distance, and +ascends for half a mile to the extremity of the grounds. You may see +something of it here--something of the more distant trees. It is oak +entirely." + +Miss Bertram could now speak with decided information of what she had +known nothing about when Mr. Rushworth had asked her opinion; and her +spirits were in as happy a flutter as vanity and pride could furnish, +when they drove up to the spacious stone steps before the principal +entrance. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Mr. Rushworth was at the door to receive his fair lady; and the whole +party were welcomed by him with due attention. In the drawing-room they +were met with equal cordiality by the mother, and Miss Bertram had all +the distinction with each that she could wish. After the business of +arriving was over, it was first necessary to eat, and the doors were +thrown open to admit them through one or two intermediate rooms into the +appointed dining-parlour, where a collation was prepared with abundance +and elegance. Much was said, and much was ate, and all went well. The +particular object of the day was then considered. How would Mr. Crawford +like, in what manner would he chuse, to take a survey of the grounds? +Mr. Rushworth mentioned his curricle. Mr. Crawford suggested the greater +desirableness of some carriage which might convey more than two. "To be +depriving themselves of the advantage of other eyes and other judgments, +might be an evil even beyond the loss of present pleasure." + +Mrs. Rushworth proposed that the chaise should be taken also; but this +was scarcely received as an amendment: the young ladies neither smiled +nor spoke. Her next proposition, of shewing the house to such of them +as had not been there before, was more acceptable, for Miss Bertram +was pleased to have its size displayed, and all were glad to be doing +something. + +The whole party rose accordingly, and under Mrs. Rushworth's guidance +were shewn through a number of rooms, all lofty, and many large, and +amply furnished in the taste of fifty years back, with shining floors, +solid mahogany, rich damask, marble, gilding, and carving, each handsome +in its way. Of pictures there were abundance, and some few good, but +the larger part were family portraits, no longer anything to anybody +but Mrs. Rushworth, who had been at great pains to learn all that the +housekeeper could teach, and was now almost equally well qualified to +shew the house. On the present occasion she addressed herself chiefly to +Miss Crawford and Fanny, but there was no comparison in the willingness +of their attention; for Miss Crawford, who had seen scores of great +houses, and cared for none of them, had only the appearance of civilly +listening, while Fanny, to whom everything was almost as interesting +as it was new, attended with unaffected earnestness to all that Mrs. +Rushworth could relate of the family in former times, its rise and +grandeur, regal visits and loyal efforts, delighted to connect anything +with history already known, or warm her imagination with scenes of the +past. + +The situation of the house excluded the possibility of much prospect +from any of the rooms; and while Fanny and some of the others were +attending Mrs. Rushworth, Henry Crawford was looking grave and shaking +his head at the windows. Every room on the west front looked across +a lawn to the beginning of the avenue immediately beyond tall iron +palisades and gates. + +Having visited many more rooms than could be supposed to be of any +other use than to contribute to the window-tax, and find employment for +housemaids, "Now," said Mrs. Rushworth, "we are coming to the chapel, +which properly we ought to enter from above, and look down upon; but +as we are quite among friends, I will take you in this way, if you will +excuse me." + +They entered. Fanny's imagination had prepared her for something +grander than a mere spacious, oblong room, fitted up for the purpose of +devotion: with nothing more striking or more solemn than the profusion +of mahogany, and the crimson velvet cushions appearing over the ledge of +the family gallery above. "I am disappointed," said she, in a low voice, +to Edmund. "This is not my idea of a chapel. There is nothing awful +here, nothing melancholy, nothing grand. Here are no aisles, no arches, +no inscriptions, no banners. No banners, cousin, to be 'blown by the +night wind of heaven.' No signs that a 'Scottish monarch sleeps below.'" + +"You forget, Fanny, how lately all this has been built, and for how +confined a purpose, compared with the old chapels of castles and +monasteries. It was only for the private use of the family. They have +been buried, I suppose, in the parish church. _There_ you must look for +the banners and the achievements." + +"It was foolish of me not to think of all that; but I am disappointed." + +Mrs. Rushworth began her relation. "This chapel was fitted up as you see +it, in James the Second's time. Before that period, as I understand, +the pews were only wainscot; and there is some reason to think that +the linings and cushions of the pulpit and family seat were only purple +cloth; but this is not quite certain. It is a handsome chapel, and was +formerly in constant use both morning and evening. Prayers were always +read in it by the domestic chaplain, within the memory of many; but the +late Mr. Rushworth left it off." + +"Every generation has its improvements," said Miss Crawford, with a +smile, to Edmund. + +Mrs. Rushworth was gone to repeat her lesson to Mr. Crawford; and +Edmund, Fanny, and Miss Crawford remained in a cluster together. + +"It is a pity," cried Fanny, "that the custom should have been +discontinued. It was a valuable part of former times. There is something +in a chapel and chaplain so much in character with a great house, +with one's ideas of what such a household should be! A whole family +assembling regularly for the purpose of prayer is fine!" + +"Very fine indeed," said Miss Crawford, laughing. "It must do the heads +of the family a great deal of good to force all the poor housemaids and +footmen to leave business and pleasure, and say their prayers here twice +a day, while they are inventing excuses themselves for staying away." + +"_That_ is hardly Fanny's idea of a family assembling," said Edmund. "If +the master and mistress do _not_ attend themselves, there must be more +harm than good in the custom." + +"At any rate, it is safer to leave people to their own devices on such +subjects. Everybody likes to go their own way--to chuse their own time +and manner of devotion. The obligation of attendance, the formality, the +restraint, the length of time--altogether it is a formidable thing, and +what nobody likes; and if the good people who used to kneel and gape in +that gallery could have foreseen that the time would ever come when men +and women might lie another ten minutes in bed, when they woke with a +headache, without danger of reprobation, because chapel was missed, +they would have jumped with joy and envy. Cannot you imagine with what +unwilling feelings the former belles of the house of Rushworth did +many a time repair to this chapel? The young Mrs. Eleanors and Mrs. +Bridgets--starched up into seeming piety, but with heads full of +something very different--especially if the poor chaplain were not worth +looking at--and, in those days, I fancy parsons were very inferior even +to what they are now." + +For a few moments she was unanswered. Fanny coloured and looked +at Edmund, but felt too angry for speech; and he needed a little +recollection before he could say, "Your lively mind can hardly be +serious even on serious subjects. You have given us an amusing sketch, +and human nature cannot say it was not so. We must all feel _at_ _times_ +the difficulty of fixing our thoughts as we could wish; but if you are +supposing it a frequent thing, that is to say, a weakness grown into a +habit from neglect, what could be expected from the _private_ devotions +of such persons? Do you think the minds which are suffered, which +are indulged in wanderings in a chapel, would be more collected in a +closet?" + +"Yes, very likely. They would have two chances at least in their favour. +There would be less to distract the attention from without, and it would +not be tried so long." + +"The mind which does not struggle against itself under _one_ +circumstance, would find objects to distract it in the _other_, I +believe; and the influence of the place and of example may often rouse +better feelings than are begun with. The greater length of the service, +however, I admit to be sometimes too hard a stretch upon the mind. One +wishes it were not so; but I have not yet left Oxford long enough to +forget what chapel prayers are." + +While this was passing, the rest of the party being scattered about the +chapel, Julia called Mr. Crawford's attention to her sister, by saying, +"Do look at Mr. Rushworth and Maria, standing side by side, exactly as +if the ceremony were going to be performed. Have not they completely the +air of it?" + +Mr. Crawford smiled his acquiescence, and stepping forward to Maria, +said, in a voice which she only could hear, "I do not like to see Miss +Bertram so near the altar." + +Starting, the lady instinctively moved a step or two, but recovering +herself in a moment, affected to laugh, and asked him, in a tone not +much louder, "If he would give her away?" + +"I am afraid I should do it very awkwardly," was his reply, with a look +of meaning. + +Julia, joining them at the moment, carried on the joke. + +"Upon my word, it is really a pity that it should not take place +directly, if we had but a proper licence, for here we are altogether, +and nothing in the world could be more snug and pleasant." And she +talked and laughed about it with so little caution as to catch the +comprehension of Mr. Rushworth and his mother, and expose her sister to +the whispered gallantries of her lover, while Mrs. Rushworth spoke +with proper smiles and dignity of its being a most happy event to her +whenever it took place. + +"If Edmund were but in orders!" cried Julia, and running to where he +stood with Miss Crawford and Fanny: "My dear Edmund, if you were but in +orders now, you might perform the ceremony directly. How unlucky that +you are not ordained; Mr. Rushworth and Maria are quite ready." + +Miss Crawford's countenance, as Julia spoke, might have amused a +disinterested observer. She looked almost aghast under the new idea she +was receiving. Fanny pitied her. "How distressed she will be at what she +said just now," passed across her mind. + +"Ordained!" said Miss Crawford; "what, are you to be a clergyman?" + +"Yes; I shall take orders soon after my father's return--probably at +Christmas." + +Miss Crawford, rallying her spirits, and recovering her complexion, +replied only, "If I had known this before, I would have spoken of the +cloth with more respect," and turned the subject. + +The chapel was soon afterwards left to the silence and stillness +which reigned in it, with few interruptions, throughout the year. Miss +Bertram, displeased with her sister, led the way, and all seemed to feel +that they had been there long enough. + +The lower part of the house had been now entirely shewn, and Mrs. +Rushworth, never weary in the cause, would have proceeded towards the +principal staircase, and taken them through all the rooms above, if her +son had not interposed with a doubt of there being time enough. "For +if," said he, with the sort of self-evident proposition which many a +clearer head does not always avoid, "we are _too_ long going over the +house, we shall not have time for what is to be done out of doors. It is +past two, and we are to dine at five." + +Mrs. Rushworth submitted; and the question of surveying the grounds, +with the who and the how, was likely to be more fully agitated, and Mrs. +Norris was beginning to arrange by what junction of carriages and horses +most could be done, when the young people, meeting with an outward door, +temptingly open on a flight of steps which led immediately to turf and +shrubs, and all the sweets of pleasure-grounds, as by one impulse, one +wish for air and liberty, all walked out. + +"Suppose we turn down here for the present," said Mrs. Rushworth, +civilly taking the hint and following them. "Here are the greatest +number of our plants, and here are the curious pheasants." + +"Query," said Mr. Crawford, looking round him, "whether we may not find +something to employ us here before we go farther? I see walls of great +promise. Mr. Rushworth, shall we summon a council on this lawn?" + +"James," said Mrs. Rushworth to her son, "I believe the wilderness +will be new to all the party. The Miss Bertrams have never seen the +wilderness yet." + +No objection was made, but for some time there seemed no inclination to +move in any plan, or to any distance. All were attracted at first by the +plants or the pheasants, and all dispersed about in happy independence. +Mr. Crawford was the first to move forward to examine the capabilities +of that end of the house. The lawn, bounded on each side by a high wall, +contained beyond the first planted area a bowling-green, and beyond +the bowling-green a long terrace walk, backed by iron palisades, and +commanding a view over them into the tops of the trees of the wilderness +immediately adjoining. It was a good spot for fault-finding. Mr. +Crawford was soon followed by Miss Bertram and Mr. Rushworth; and when, +after a little time, the others began to form into parties, these three +were found in busy consultation on the terrace by Edmund, Miss Crawford, +and Fanny, who seemed as naturally to unite, and who, after a short +participation of their regrets and difficulties, left them and walked +on. The remaining three, Mrs. Rushworth, Mrs. Norris, and Julia, were +still far behind; for Julia, whose happy star no longer prevailed, +was obliged to keep by the side of Mrs. Rushworth, and restrain her +impatient feet to that lady's slow pace, while her aunt, having fallen +in with the housekeeper, who was come out to feed the pheasants, was +lingering behind in gossip with her. Poor Julia, the only one out of +the nine not tolerably satisfied with their lot, was now in a state of +complete penance, and as different from the Julia of the barouche-box as +could well be imagined. The politeness which she had been brought up to +practise as a duty made it impossible for her to escape; while the +want of that higher species of self-command, that just consideration of +others, that knowledge of her own heart, that principle of right, which +had not formed any essential part of her education, made her miserable +under it. + +"This is insufferably hot," said Miss Crawford, when they had taken one +turn on the terrace, and were drawing a second time to the door in the +middle which opened to the wilderness. "Shall any of us object to being +comfortable? Here is a nice little wood, if one can but get into it. +What happiness if the door should not be locked! but of course it is; +for in these great places the gardeners are the only people who can go +where they like." + +The door, however, proved not to be locked, and they were all agreed in +turning joyfully through it, and leaving the unmitigated glare of day +behind. A considerable flight of steps landed them in the wilderness, +which was a planted wood of about two acres, and though chiefly of +larch and laurel, and beech cut down, and though laid out with too much +regularity, was darkness and shade, and natural beauty, compared with +the bowling-green and the terrace. They all felt the refreshment of it, +and for some time could only walk and admire. At length, after a short +pause, Miss Crawford began with, "So you are to be a clergyman, Mr. +Bertram. This is rather a surprise to me." + +"Why should it surprise you? You must suppose me designed for some +profession, and might perceive that I am neither a lawyer, nor a +soldier, nor a sailor." + +"Very true; but, in short, it had not occurred to me. And you know there +is generally an uncle or a grandfather to leave a fortune to the second +son." + +"A very praiseworthy practice," said Edmund, "but not quite universal. +I am one of the exceptions, and _being_ one, must do something for +myself." + +"But why are you to be a clergyman? I thought _that_ was always the lot +of the youngest, where there were many to chuse before him." + +"Do you think the church itself never chosen, then?" + +"_Never_ is a black word. But yes, in the _never_ of conversation, which +means _not_ _very_ _often_, I do think it. For what is to be done in the +church? Men love to distinguish themselves, and in either of the other +lines distinction may be gained, but not in the church. A clergyman is +nothing." + +"The _nothing_ of conversation has its gradations, I hope, as well as +the _never_. A clergyman cannot be high in state or fashion. He must +not head mobs, or set the ton in dress. But I cannot call that situation +nothing which has the charge of all that is of the first importance +to mankind, individually or collectively considered, temporally and +eternally, which has the guardianship of religion and morals, and +consequently of the manners which result from their influence. No one +here can call the _office_ nothing. If the man who holds it is so, it +is by the neglect of his duty, by foregoing its just importance, and +stepping out of his place to appear what he ought not to appear." + +"_You_ assign greater consequence to the clergyman than one has been +used to hear given, or than I can quite comprehend. One does not see +much of this influence and importance in society, and how can it be +acquired where they are so seldom seen themselves? How can two sermons a +week, even supposing them worth hearing, supposing the preacher to have +the sense to prefer Blair's to his own, do all that you speak of? govern +the conduct and fashion the manners of a large congregation for the rest +of the week? One scarcely sees a clergyman out of his pulpit." + +"_You_ are speaking of London, _I_ am speaking of the nation at large." + +"The metropolis, I imagine, is a pretty fair sample of the rest." + +"Not, I should hope, of the proportion of virtue to vice throughout the +kingdom. We do not look in great cities for our best morality. It is not +there that respectable people of any denomination can do most good; and +it certainly is not there that the influence of the clergy can be most +felt. A fine preacher is followed and admired; but it is not in fine +preaching only that a good clergyman will be useful in his parish and +his neighbourhood, where the parish and neighbourhood are of a size +capable of knowing his private character, and observing his general +conduct, which in London can rarely be the case. The clergy are lost +there in the crowds of their parishioners. They are known to the largest +part only as preachers. And with regard to their influencing public +manners, Miss Crawford must not misunderstand me, or suppose I mean to +call them the arbiters of good-breeding, the regulators of refinement +and courtesy, the masters of the ceremonies of life. The _manners_ I +speak of might rather be called _conduct_, perhaps, the result of good +principles; the effect, in short, of those doctrines which it is their +duty to teach and recommend; and it will, I believe, be everywhere +found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are +the rest of the nation." + +"Certainly," said Fanny, with gentle earnestness. + +"There," cried Miss Crawford, "you have quite convinced Miss Price +already." + +"I wish I could convince Miss Crawford too." + +"I do not think you ever will," said she, with an arch smile; "I am just +as much surprised now as I was at first that you should intend to take +orders. You really are fit for something better. Come, do change your +mind. It is not too late. Go into the law." + +"Go into the law! With as much ease as I was told to go into this +wilderness." + +"Now you are going to say something about law being the worst wilderness +of the two, but I forestall you; remember, I have forestalled you." + +"You need not hurry when the object is only to prevent my saying a +_bon_ _mot_, for there is not the least wit in my nature. I am a very +matter-of-fact, plain-spoken being, and may blunder on the borders of a +repartee for half an hour together without striking it out." + +A general silence succeeded. Each was thoughtful. Fanny made the first +interruption by saying, "I wonder that I should be tired with only +walking in this sweet wood; but the next time we come to a seat, if it +is not disagreeable to you, I should be glad to sit down for a little +while." + +"My dear Fanny," cried Edmund, immediately drawing her arm within his, +"how thoughtless I have been! I hope you are not very tired. Perhaps," +turning to Miss Crawford, "my other companion may do me the honour of +taking an arm." + +"Thank you, but I am not at all tired." She took it, however, as she +spoke, and the gratification of having her do so, of feeling such a +connexion for the first time, made him a little forgetful of Fanny. +"You scarcely touch me," said he. "You do not make me of any use. What a +difference in the weight of a woman's arm from that of a man! At Oxford +I have been a good deal used to have a man lean on me for the length of +a street, and you are only a fly in the comparison." + +"I am really not tired, which I almost wonder at; for we must have +walked at least a mile in this wood. Do not you think we have?" + +"Not half a mile," was his sturdy answer; for he was not yet so much in +love as to measure distance, or reckon time, with feminine lawlessness. + +"Oh! you do not consider how much we have wound about. We have taken +such a very serpentine course, and the wood itself must be half a mile +long in a straight line, for we have never seen the end of it yet since +we left the first great path." + +"But if you remember, before we left that first great path, we saw +directly to the end of it. We looked down the whole vista, and saw it +closed by iron gates, and it could not have been more than a furlong in +length." + +"Oh! I know nothing of your furlongs, but I am sure it is a very long +wood, and that we have been winding in and out ever since we came into +it; and therefore, when I say that we have walked a mile in it, I must +speak within compass." + +"We have been exactly a quarter of an hour here," said Edmund, taking +out his watch. "Do you think we are walking four miles an hour?" + +"Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too +slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch." + +A few steps farther brought them out at the bottom of the very walk they +had been talking of; and standing back, well shaded and sheltered, and +looking over a ha-ha into the park, was a comfortable-sized bench, on +which they all sat down. + +"I am afraid you are very tired, Fanny," said Edmund, observing her; +"why would not you speak sooner? This will be a bad day's amusement for +you if you are to be knocked up. Every sort of exercise fatigues her so +soon, Miss Crawford, except riding." + +"How abominable in you, then, to let me engross her horse as I did all +last week! I am ashamed of you and of myself, but it shall never happen +again." + +"_Your_ attentiveness and consideration makes me more sensible of my own +neglect. Fanny's interest seems in safer hands with you than with me." + +"That she should be tired now, however, gives me no surprise; for there +is nothing in the course of one's duties so fatiguing as what we have +been doing this morning: seeing a great house, dawdling from one room to +another, straining one's eyes and one's attention, hearing what one does +not understand, admiring what one does not care for. It is generally +allowed to be the greatest bore in the world, and Miss Price has found +it so, though she did not know it." + +"I shall soon be rested," said Fanny; "to sit in the shade on a fine +day, and look upon verdure, is the most perfect refreshment." + +After sitting a little while Miss Crawford was up again. "I must move," +said she; "resting fatigues me. I have looked across the ha-ha till I +am weary. I must go and look through that iron gate at the same view, +without being able to see it so well." + +Edmund left the seat likewise. "Now, Miss Crawford, if you will look up +the walk, you will convince yourself that it cannot be half a mile long, +or half half a mile." + +"It is an immense distance," said she; "I see _that_ with a glance." + +He still reasoned with her, but in vain. She would not calculate, she +would not compare. She would only smile and assert. The greatest degree +of rational consistency could not have been more engaging, and they +talked with mutual satisfaction. At last it was agreed that they should +endeavour to determine the dimensions of the wood by walking a little +more about it. They would go to one end of it, in the line they were +then in--for there was a straight green walk along the bottom by +the side of the ha-ha--and perhaps turn a little way in some other +direction, if it seemed likely to assist them, and be back in a few +minutes. Fanny said she was rested, and would have moved too, but this +was not suffered. Edmund urged her remaining where she was with an +earnestness which she could not resist, and she was left on the bench to +think with pleasure of her cousin's care, but with great regret that she +was not stronger. She watched them till they had turned the corner, and +listened till all sound of them had ceased. + + + +CHAPTER X + +A quarter of an hour, twenty minutes, passed away, and Fanny was still +thinking of Edmund, Miss Crawford, and herself, without interruption +from any one. She began to be surprised at being left so long, and to +listen with an anxious desire of hearing their steps and their voices +again. She listened, and at length she heard; she heard voices and feet +approaching; but she had just satisfied herself that it was not those +she wanted, when Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth, and Mr. Crawford issued +from the same path which she had trod herself, and were before her. + +"Miss Price all alone" and "My dear Fanny, how comes this?" were the +first salutations. She told her story. "Poor dear Fanny," cried her +cousin, "how ill you have been used by them! You had better have staid +with us." + +Then seating herself with a gentleman on each side, she resumed +the conversation which had engaged them before, and discussed the +possibility of improvements with much animation. Nothing was fixed +on; but Henry Crawford was full of ideas and projects, and, generally +speaking, whatever he proposed was immediately approved, first by her, +and then by Mr. Rushworth, whose principal business seemed to be to +hear the others, and who scarcely risked an original thought of his own +beyond a wish that they had seen his friend Smith's place. + +After some minutes spent in this way, Miss Bertram, observing the iron +gate, expressed a wish of passing through it into the park, that their +views and their plans might be more comprehensive. It was the very thing +of all others to be wished, it was the best, it was the only way of +proceeding with any advantage, in Henry Crawford's opinion; and he +directly saw a knoll not half a mile off, which would give them exactly +the requisite command of the house. Go therefore they must to that +knoll, and through that gate; but the gate was locked. Mr. Rushworth +wished he had brought the key; he had been very near thinking whether he +should not bring the key; he was determined he would never come without +the key again; but still this did not remove the present evil. They +could not get through; and as Miss Bertram's inclination for so doing +did by no means lessen, it ended in Mr. Rushworth's declaring outright +that he would go and fetch the key. He set off accordingly. + +"It is undoubtedly the best thing we can do now, as we are so far from +the house already," said Mr. Crawford, when he was gone. + +"Yes, there is nothing else to be done. But now, sincerely, do not you +find the place altogether worse than you expected?" + +"No, indeed, far otherwise. I find it better, grander, more complete in +its style, though that style may not be the best. And to tell you the +truth," speaking rather lower, "I do not think that _I_ shall ever see +Sotherton again with so much pleasure as I do now. Another summer will +hardly improve it to me." + +After a moment's embarrassment the lady replied, "You are too much a +man of the world not to see with the eyes of the world. If other people +think Sotherton improved, I have no doubt that you will." + +"I am afraid I am not quite so much the man of the world as might be +good for me in some points. My feelings are not quite so evanescent, nor +my memory of the past under such easy dominion as one finds to be the +case with men of the world." + +This was followed by a short silence. Miss Bertram began again. "You +seemed to enjoy your drive here very much this morning. I was glad to +see you so well entertained. You and Julia were laughing the whole way." + +"Were we? Yes, I believe we were; but I have not the least recollection +at what. Oh! I believe I was relating to her some ridiculous stories of +an old Irish groom of my uncle's. Your sister loves to laugh." + +"You think her more light-hearted than I am?" + +"More easily amused," he replied; "consequently, you know," smiling, +"better company. I could not have hoped to entertain you with Irish +anecdotes during a ten miles' drive." + +"Naturally, I believe, I am as lively as Julia, but I have more to think +of now." + +"You have, undoubtedly; and there are situations in which very high +spirits would denote insensibility. Your prospects, however, are too +fair to justify want of spirits. You have a very smiling scene before +you." + +"Do you mean literally or figuratively? Literally, I conclude. Yes, +certainly, the sun shines, and the park looks very cheerful. But +unluckily that iron gate, that ha-ha, give me a feeling of restraint and +hardship. 'I cannot get out,' as the starling said." As she spoke, and +it was with expression, she walked to the gate: he followed her. "Mr. +Rushworth is so long fetching this key!" + +"And for the world you would not get out without the key and without Mr. +Rushworth's authority and protection, or I think you might with little +difficulty pass round the edge of the gate, here, with my assistance; +I think it might be done, if you really wished to be more at large, and +could allow yourself to think it not prohibited." + +"Prohibited! nonsense! I certainly can get out that way, and I will. +Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment, you know; we shall not be out of +sight." + +"Or if we are, Miss Price will be so good as to tell him that he will +find us near that knoll: the grove of oak on the knoll." + +Fanny, feeling all this to be wrong, could not help making an effort to +prevent it. "You will hurt yourself, Miss Bertram," she cried; "you will +certainly hurt yourself against those spikes; you will tear your gown; +you will be in danger of slipping into the ha-ha. You had better not +go." + +Her cousin was safe on the other side while these words were spoken, +and, smiling with all the good-humour of success, she said, "Thank you, +my dear Fanny, but I and my gown are alive and well, and so good-bye." + +Fanny was again left to her solitude, and with no increase of pleasant +feelings, for she was sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, +astonished at Miss Bertram, and angry with Mr. Crawford. By taking +a circuitous route, and, as it appeared to her, very unreasonable +direction to the knoll, they were soon beyond her eye; and for some +minutes longer she remained without sight or sound of any companion. +She seemed to have the little wood all to herself. She could almost +have thought that Edmund and Miss Crawford had left it, but that it was +impossible for Edmund to forget her so entirely. + +She was again roused from disagreeable musings by sudden footsteps: +somebody was coming at a quick pace down the principal walk. She +expected Mr. Rushworth, but it was Julia, who, hot and out of breath, +and with a look of disappointment, cried out on seeing her, "Heyday! +Where are the others? I thought Maria and Mr. Crawford were with you." + +Fanny explained. + +"A pretty trick, upon my word! I cannot see them anywhere," looking +eagerly into the park. "But they cannot be very far off, and I think I +am equal to as much as Maria, even without help." + +"But, Julia, Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment with the key. Do +wait for Mr. Rushworth." + +"Not I, indeed. I have had enough of the family for one morning. Why, +child, I have but this moment escaped from his horrible mother. Such a +penance as I have been enduring, while you were sitting here so composed +and so happy! It might have been as well, perhaps, if you had been in my +place, but you always contrive to keep out of these scrapes." + +This was a most unjust reflection, but Fanny could allow for it, and let +it pass: Julia was vexed, and her temper was hasty; but she felt that it +would not last, and therefore, taking no notice, only asked her if she +had not seen Mr. Rushworth. + +"Yes, yes, we saw him. He was posting away as if upon life and death, +and could but just spare time to tell us his errand, and where you all +were." + +"It is a pity he should have so much trouble for nothing." + +"_That_ is Miss Maria's concern. I am not obliged to punish myself for +_her_ sins. The mother I could not avoid, as long as my tiresome aunt +was dancing about with the housekeeper, but the son I _can_ get away +from." + +And she immediately scrambled across the fence, and walked away, not +attending to Fanny's last question of whether she had seen anything of +Miss Crawford and Edmund. The sort of dread in which Fanny now sat of +seeing Mr. Rushworth prevented her thinking so much of their continued +absence, however, as she might have done. She felt that he had been +very ill-used, and was quite unhappy in having to communicate what had +passed. He joined her within five minutes after Julia's exit; and +though she made the best of the story, he was evidently mortified and +displeased in no common degree. At first he scarcely said anything; his +looks only expressed his extreme surprise and vexation, and he walked to +the gate and stood there, without seeming to know what to do. + +"They desired me to stay--my cousin Maria charged me to say that you +would find them at that knoll, or thereabouts." + +"I do not believe I shall go any farther," said he sullenly; "I see +nothing of them. By the time I get to the knoll they may be gone +somewhere else. I have had walking enough." + +And he sat down with a most gloomy countenance by Fanny. + +"I am very sorry," said she; "it is very unlucky." And she longed to be +able to say something more to the purpose. + +After an interval of silence, "I think they might as well have staid for +me," said he. + +"Miss Bertram thought you would follow her." + +"I should not have had to follow her if she had staid." + +This could not be denied, and Fanny was silenced. After another pause, +he went on--"Pray, Miss Price, are you such a great admirer of this Mr. +Crawford as some people are? For my part, I can see nothing in him." + +"I do not think him at all handsome." + +"Handsome! Nobody can call such an undersized man handsome. He is not +five foot nine. I should not wonder if he is not more than five foot +eight. I think he is an ill-looking fellow. In my opinion, these +Crawfords are no addition at all. We did very well without them." + +A small sigh escaped Fanny here, and she did not know how to contradict +him. + +"If I had made any difficulty about fetching the key, there might have +been some excuse, but I went the very moment she said she wanted it." + +"Nothing could be more obliging than your manner, I am sure, and I dare +say you walked as fast as you could; but still it is some distance, you +know, from this spot to the house, quite into the house; and when people +are waiting, they are bad judges of time, and every half minute seems +like five." + +He got up and walked to the gate again, and "wished he had had the key +about him at the time." Fanny thought she discerned in his standing +there an indication of relenting, which encouraged her to another +attempt, and she said, therefore, "It is a pity you should not join +them. They expected to have a better view of the house from that part +of the park, and will be thinking how it may be improved; and nothing of +that sort, you know, can be settled without you." + +She found herself more successful in sending away than in retaining a +companion. Mr. Rushworth was worked on. "Well," said he, "if you +really think I had better go: it would be foolish to bring the key +for nothing." And letting himself out, he walked off without farther +ceremony. + +Fanny's thoughts were now all engrossed by the two who had left her so +long ago, and getting quite impatient, she resolved to go in search +of them. She followed their steps along the bottom walk, and had just +turned up into another, when the voice and the laugh of Miss Crawford +once more caught her ear; the sound approached, and a few more windings +brought them before her. They were just returned into the wilderness +from the park, to which a sidegate, not fastened, had tempted them very +soon after their leaving her, and they had been across a portion of the +park into the very avenue which Fanny had been hoping the whole morning +to reach at last, and had been sitting down under one of the trees. This +was their history. It was evident that they had been spending their time +pleasantly, and were not aware of the length of their absence. Fanny's +best consolation was in being assured that Edmund had wished for her +very much, and that he should certainly have come back for her, had she +not been tired already; but this was not quite sufficient to do away +with the pain of having been left a whole hour, when he had talked of +only a few minutes, nor to banish the sort of curiosity she felt to know +what they had been conversing about all that time; and the result of +the whole was to her disappointment and depression, as they prepared by +general agreement to return to the house. + +On reaching the bottom of the steps to the terrace, Mrs. Rushworth +and Mrs. Norris presented themselves at the top, just ready for the +wilderness, at the end of an hour and a half from their leaving the +house. Mrs. Norris had been too well employed to move faster. Whatever +cross-accidents had occurred to intercept the pleasures of her nieces, +she had found a morning of complete enjoyment; for the housekeeper, +after a great many courtesies on the subject of pheasants, had taken her +to the dairy, told her all about their cows, and given her the receipt +for a famous cream cheese; and since Julia's leaving them they had +been met by the gardener, with whom she had made a most satisfactory +acquaintance, for she had set him right as to his grandson's illness, +convinced him that it was an ague, and promised him a charm for it; and +he, in return, had shewn her all his choicest nursery of plants, and +actually presented her with a very curious specimen of heath. + +On this _rencontre_ they all returned to the house together, there +to lounge away the time as they could with sofas, and chit-chat, and +Quarterly Reviews, till the return of the others, and the arrival of +dinner. It was late before the Miss Bertrams and the two gentlemen came +in, and their ramble did not appear to have been more than partially +agreeable, or at all productive of anything useful with regard to the +object of the day. By their own accounts they had been all walking after +each other, and the junction which had taken place at last seemed, to +Fanny's observation, to have been as much too late for re-establishing +harmony, as it confessedly had been for determining on any alteration. +She felt, as she looked at Julia and Mr. Rushworth, that hers was not +the only dissatisfied bosom amongst them: there was gloom on the face of +each. Mr. Crawford and Miss Bertram were much more gay, and she thought +that he was taking particular pains, during dinner, to do away any +little resentment of the other two, and restore general good-humour. + +Dinner was soon followed by tea and coffee, a ten miles' drive home +allowed no waste of hours; and from the time of their sitting down to +table, it was a quick succession of busy nothings till the carriage came +to the door, and Mrs. Norris, having fidgeted about, and obtained a +few pheasants' eggs and a cream cheese from the housekeeper, and made +abundance of civil speeches to Mrs. Rushworth, was ready to lead the +way. At the same moment Mr. Crawford, approaching Julia, said, "I hope I +am not to lose my companion, unless she is afraid of the evening air +in so exposed a seat." The request had not been foreseen, but was very +graciously received, and Julia's day was likely to end almost as well as +it began. Miss Bertram had made up her mind to something different, and +was a little disappointed; but her conviction of being really the +one preferred comforted her under it, and enabled her to receive Mr. +Rushworth's parting attentions as she ought. He was certainly better +pleased to hand her into the barouche than to assist her in ascending +the box, and his complacency seemed confirmed by the arrangement. + +"Well, Fanny, this has been a fine day for you, upon my word," said +Mrs. Norris, as they drove through the park. "Nothing but pleasure from +beginning to end! I am sure you ought to be very much obliged to your +aunt Bertram and me for contriving to let you go. A pretty good day's +amusement you have had!" + +Maria was just discontented enough to say directly, "I think _you_ have +done pretty well yourself, ma'am. Your lap seems full of good things, +and here is a basket of something between us which has been knocking my +elbow unmercifully." + +"My dear, it is only a beautiful little heath, which that nice old +gardener would make me take; but if it is in your way, I will have it in +my lap directly. There, Fanny, you shall carry that parcel for me; take +great care of it: do not let it fall; it is a cream cheese, just like +the excellent one we had at dinner. Nothing would satisfy that good old +Mrs. Whitaker, but my taking one of the cheeses. I stood out as long +as I could, till the tears almost came into her eyes, and I knew it was +just the sort that my sister would be delighted with. That Mrs. Whitaker +is a treasure! She was quite shocked when I asked her whether wine was +allowed at the second table, and she has turned away two housemaids for +wearing white gowns. Take care of the cheese, Fanny. Now I can manage +the other parcel and the basket very well." + +"What else have you been spunging?" said Maria, half-pleased that +Sotherton should be so complimented. + +"Spunging, my dear! It is nothing but four of those beautiful pheasants' +eggs, which Mrs. Whitaker would quite force upon me: she would not take +a denial. She said it must be such an amusement to me, as she understood +I lived quite alone, to have a few living creatures of that sort; and +so to be sure it will. I shall get the dairymaid to set them under the +first spare hen, and if they come to good I can have them moved to my +own house and borrow a coop; and it will be a great delight to me in +my lonely hours to attend to them. And if I have good luck, your mother +shall have some." + +It was a beautiful evening, mild and still, and the drive was as +pleasant as the serenity of Nature could make it; but when Mrs. Norris +ceased speaking, it was altogether a silent drive to those within. Their +spirits were in general exhausted; and to determine whether the day had +afforded most pleasure or pain, might occupy the meditations of almost +all. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss +Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters +from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield. It was much +pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think +of their father in England again within a certain period, which these +letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise. + +November was the black month fixed for his return. Sir Thomas wrote of +it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise. His +business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take +his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward +with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November. + +Maria was more to be pitied than Julia; for to her the father brought a +husband, and the return of the friend most solicitous for her happiness +would unite her to the lover, on whom she had chosen that happiness +should depend. It was a gloomy prospect, and all she could do was to +throw a mist over it, and hope when the mist cleared away she should +see something else. It would hardly be _early_ in November, there +were generally delays, a bad passage or _something_; that favouring +_something_ which everybody who shuts their eyes while they look, or +their understandings while they reason, feels the comfort of. It would +probably be the middle of November at least; the middle of November +was three months off. Three months comprised thirteen weeks. Much might +happen in thirteen weeks. + +Sir Thomas would have been deeply mortified by a suspicion of half that +his daughters felt on the subject of his return, and would hardly have +found consolation in a knowledge of the interest it excited in the +breast of another young lady. Miss Crawford, on walking up with her +brother to spend the evening at Mansfield Park, heard the good news; and +though seeming to have no concern in the affair beyond politeness, and +to have vented all her feelings in a quiet congratulation, heard it with +an attention not so easily satisfied. Mrs. Norris gave the particulars +of the letters, and the subject was dropt; but after tea, as Miss +Crawford was standing at an open window with Edmund and Fanny looking +out on a twilight scene, while the Miss Bertrams, Mr. Rushworth, +and Henry Crawford were all busy with candles at the pianoforte, she +suddenly revived it by turning round towards the group, and saying, "How +happy Mr. Rushworth looks! He is thinking of November." + +Edmund looked round at Mr. Rushworth too, but had nothing to say. + +"Your father's return will be a very interesting event." + +"It will, indeed, after such an absence; an absence not only long, but +including so many dangers." + +"It will be the forerunner also of other interesting events: your +sister's marriage, and your taking orders." + +"Yes." + +"Don't be affronted," said she, laughing, "but it does put me in mind of +some of the old heathen heroes, who, after performing great exploits in +a foreign land, offered sacrifices to the gods on their safe return." + +"There is no sacrifice in the case," replied Edmund, with a serious +smile, and glancing at the pianoforte again; "it is entirely her own +doing." + +"Oh yes I know it is. I was merely joking. She has done no more than +what every young woman would do; and I have no doubt of her being +extremely happy. My other sacrifice, of course, you do not understand." + +"My taking orders, I assure you, is quite as voluntary as Maria's +marrying." + +"It is fortunate that your inclination and your father's convenience +should accord so well. There is a very good living kept for you, I +understand, hereabouts." + +"Which you suppose has biassed me?" + +"But _that_ I am sure it has not," cried Fanny. + +"Thank you for your good word, Fanny, but it is more than I would affirm +myself. On the contrary, the knowing that there was such a provision for +me probably did bias me. Nor can I think it wrong that it should. There +was no natural disinclination to be overcome, and I see no reason why +a man should make a worse clergyman for knowing that he will have a +competence early in life. I was in safe hands. I hope I should not have +been influenced myself in a wrong way, and I am sure my father was too +conscientious to have allowed it. I have no doubt that I was biased, but +I think it was blamelessly." + +"It is the same sort of thing," said Fanny, after a short pause, "as for +the son of an admiral to go into the navy, or the son of a general to be +in the army, and nobody sees anything wrong in that. Nobody wonders that +they should prefer the line where their friends can serve them best, or +suspects them to be less in earnest in it than they appear." + +"No, my dear Miss Price, and for reasons good. The profession, either +navy or army, is its own justification. It has everything in its favour: +heroism, danger, bustle, fashion. Soldiers and sailors are always +acceptable in society. Nobody can wonder that men are soldiers and +sailors." + +"But the motives of a man who takes orders with the certainty of +preferment may be fairly suspected, you think?" said Edmund. "To be +justified in your eyes, he must do it in the most complete uncertainty +of any provision." + +"What! take orders without a living! No; that is madness indeed; +absolute madness." + +"Shall I ask you how the church is to be filled, if a man is neither to +take orders with a living nor without? No; for you certainly would not +know what to say. But I must beg some advantage to the clergyman from +your own argument. As he cannot be influenced by those feelings which +you rank highly as temptation and reward to the soldier and sailor in +their choice of a profession, as heroism, and noise, and fashion, are +all against him, he ought to be less liable to the suspicion of wanting +sincerity or good intentions in the choice of his." + +"Oh! no doubt he is very sincere in preferring an income ready made, +to the trouble of working for one; and has the best intentions of doing +nothing all the rest of his days but eat, drink, and grow fat. It is +indolence, Mr. Bertram, indeed. Indolence and love of ease; a want of +all laudable ambition, of taste for good company, or of inclination +to take the trouble of being agreeable, which make men clergymen. +A clergyman has nothing to do but be slovenly and selfish--read the +newspaper, watch the weather, and quarrel with his wife. His curate does +all the work, and the business of his own life is to dine." + +"There are such clergymen, no doubt, but I think they are not so common +as to justify Miss Crawford in esteeming it their general character. I +suspect that in this comprehensive and (may I say) commonplace censure, +you are not judging from yourself, but from prejudiced persons, whose +opinions you have been in the habit of hearing. It is impossible that +your own observation can have given you much knowledge of the clergy. +You can have been personally acquainted with very few of a set of men +you condemn so conclusively. You are speaking what you have been told at +your uncle's table." + +"I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion +is general, it is usually correct. Though _I_ have not seen much of +the domestic lives of clergymen, it is seen by too many to leave any +deficiency of information." + +"Where any one body of educated men, of whatever denomination, are +condemned indiscriminately, there must be a deficiency of information, +or (smiling) of something else. Your uncle, and his brother admirals, +perhaps knew little of clergymen beyond the chaplains whom, good or bad, +they were always wishing away." + +"Poor William! He has met with great kindness from the chaplain of the +Antwerp," was a tender apostrophe of Fanny's, very much to the purpose +of her own feelings if not of the conversation. + +"I have been so little addicted to take my opinions from my uncle," +said Miss Crawford, "that I can hardly suppose--and since you push me so +hard, I must observe, that I am not entirely without the means of seeing +what clergymen are, being at this present time the guest of my own +brother, Dr. Grant. And though Dr. Grant is most kind and obliging to +me, and though he is really a gentleman, and, I dare say, a good scholar +and clever, and often preaches good sermons, and is very respectable, +_I_ see him to be an indolent, selfish _bon_ _vivant_, who must have +his palate consulted in everything; who will not stir a finger for the +convenience of any one; and who, moreover, if the cook makes a blunder, +is out of humour with his excellent wife. To own the truth, Henry and +I were partly driven out this very evening by a disappointment about a +green goose, which he could not get the better of. My poor sister was +forced to stay and bear it." + +"I do not wonder at your disapprobation, upon my word. It is a great +defect of temper, made worse by a very faulty habit of self-indulgence; +and to see your sister suffering from it must be exceedingly painful to +such feelings as yours. Fanny, it goes against us. We cannot attempt to +defend Dr. Grant." + +"No," replied Fanny, "but we need not give up his profession for all +that; because, whatever profession Dr. Grant had chosen, he would have +taken a--not a good temper into it; and as he must, either in the navy +or army, have had a great many more people under his command than he +has now, I think more would have been made unhappy by him as a sailor or +soldier than as a clergyman. Besides, I cannot but suppose that whatever +there may be to wish otherwise in Dr. Grant would have been in a greater +danger of becoming worse in a more active and worldly profession, where +he would have had less time and obligation--where he might have escaped +that knowledge of himself, the _frequency_, at least, of that knowledge +which it is impossible he should escape as he is now. A man--a sensible +man like Dr. Grant, cannot be in the habit of teaching others their duty +every week, cannot go to church twice every Sunday, and preach such very +good sermons in so good a manner as he does, without being the better +for it himself. It must make him think; and I have no doubt that he +oftener endeavours to restrain himself than he would if he had been +anything but a clergyman." + +"We cannot prove to the contrary, to be sure; but I wish you a better +fate, Miss Price, than to be the wife of a man whose amiableness +depends upon his own sermons; for though he may preach himself into a +good-humour every Sunday, it will be bad enough to have him quarrelling +about green geese from Monday morning till Saturday night." + +"I think the man who could often quarrel with Fanny," said Edmund +affectionately, "must be beyond the reach of any sermons." + +Fanny turned farther into the window; and Miss Crawford had only time +to say, in a pleasant manner, "I fancy Miss Price has been more used to +deserve praise than to hear it"; when, being earnestly invited by the +Miss Bertrams to join in a glee, she tripped off to the instrument, +leaving Edmund looking after her in an ecstasy of admiration of all her +many virtues, from her obliging manners down to her light and graceful +tread. + +"There goes good-humour, I am sure," said he presently. "There goes a +temper which would never give pain! How well she walks! and how readily +she falls in with the inclination of others! joining them the moment she +is asked. What a pity," he added, after an instant's reflection, "that +she should have been in such hands!" + +Fanny agreed to it, and had the pleasure of seeing him continue at the +window with her, in spite of the expected glee; and of having his eyes +soon turned, like hers, towards the scene without, where all that was +solemn, and soothing, and lovely, appeared in the brilliancy of an +unclouded night, and the contrast of the deep shade of the woods. Fanny +spoke her feelings. "Here's harmony!" said she; "here's repose! Here's +what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only +can attempt to describe! Here's what may tranquillise every care, and +lift the heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night as this, I +feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; +and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of Nature +were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by +contemplating such a scene." + +"I like to hear your enthusiasm, Fanny. It is a lovely night, and they +are much to be pitied who have not been taught to feel, in some degree, +as you do; who have not, at least, been given a taste for Nature in +early life. They lose a great deal." + +"_You_ taught me to think and feel on the subject, cousin." + +"I had a very apt scholar. There's Arcturus looking very bright." + +"Yes, and the Bear. I wish I could see Cassiopeia." + +"We must go out on the lawn for that. Should you be afraid?" + +"Not in the least. It is a great while since we have had any +star-gazing." + +"Yes; I do not know how it has happened." The glee began. "We will stay +till this is finished, Fanny," said he, turning his back on the window; +and as it advanced, she had the mortification of seeing him advance too, +moving forward by gentle degrees towards the instrument, and when it +ceased, he was close by the singers, among the most urgent in requesting +to hear the glee again. + +Fanny sighed alone at the window till scolded away by Mrs. Norris's +threats of catching cold. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Sir Thomas was to return in November, and his eldest son had duties to +call him earlier home. The approach of September brought tidings of Mr. +Bertram, first in a letter to the gamekeeper and then in a letter +to Edmund; and by the end of August he arrived himself, to be gay, +agreeable, and gallant again as occasion served, or Miss Crawford +demanded; to tell of races and Weymouth, and parties and friends, to +which she might have listened six weeks before with some interest, and +altogether to give her the fullest conviction, by the power of actual +comparison, of her preferring his younger brother. + +It was very vexatious, and she was heartily sorry for it; but so it was; +and so far from now meaning to marry the elder, she did not even want +to attract him beyond what the simplest claims of conscious beauty +required: his lengthened absence from Mansfield, without anything but +pleasure in view, and his own will to consult, made it perfectly clear +that he did not care about her; and his indifference was so much more +than equalled by her own, that were he now to step forth the owner of +Mansfield Park, the Sir Thomas complete, which he was to be in time, she +did not believe she could accept him. + +The season and duties which brought Mr. Bertram back to Mansfield took +Mr. Crawford into Norfolk. Everingham could not do without him in the +beginning of September. He went for a fortnight--a fortnight of such +dullness to the Miss Bertrams as ought to have put them both on their +guard, and made even Julia admit, in her jealousy of her sister, the +absolute necessity of distrusting his attentions, and wishing him not +to return; and a fortnight of sufficient leisure, in the intervals of +shooting and sleeping, to have convinced the gentleman that he ought +to keep longer away, had he been more in the habit of examining his own +motives, and of reflecting to what the indulgence of his idle vanity was +tending; but, thoughtless and selfish from prosperity and bad example, +he would not look beyond the present moment. The sisters, handsome, +clever, and encouraging, were an amusement to his sated mind; and +finding nothing in Norfolk to equal the social pleasures of Mansfield, +he gladly returned to it at the time appointed, and was welcomed thither +quite as gladly by those whom he came to trifle with further. + +Maria, with only Mr. Rushworth to attend to her, and doomed to the +repeated details of his day's sport, good or bad, his boast of his dogs, +his jealousy of his neighbours, his doubts of their qualifications, +and his zeal after poachers, subjects which will not find their way to +female feelings without some talent on one side or some attachment on +the other, had missed Mr. Crawford grievously; and Julia, unengaged and +unemployed, felt all the right of missing him much more. Each sister +believed herself the favourite. Julia might be justified in so doing by +the hints of Mrs. Grant, inclined to credit what she wished, and Maria +by the hints of Mr. Crawford himself. Everything returned into the same +channel as before his absence; his manners being to each so animated and +agreeable as to lose no ground with either, and just stopping short of +the consistence, the steadiness, the solicitude, and the warmth which +might excite general notice. + +Fanny was the only one of the party who found anything to dislike; but +since the day at Sotherton, she could never see Mr. Crawford with either +sister without observation, and seldom without wonder or censure; and +had her confidence in her own judgment been equal to her exercise of it +in every other respect, had she been sure that she was seeing clearly, +and judging candidly, she would probably have made some important +communications to her usual confidant. As it was, however, she only +hazarded a hint, and the hint was lost. "I am rather surprised," said +she, "that Mr. Crawford should come back again so soon, after being here +so long before, full seven weeks; for I had understood he was so +very fond of change and moving about, that I thought something would +certainly occur, when he was once gone, to take him elsewhere. He is +used to much gayer places than Mansfield." + +"It is to his credit," was Edmund's answer; "and I dare say it gives his +sister pleasure. She does not like his unsettled habits." + +"What a favourite he is with my cousins!" + +"Yes, his manners to women are such as must please. Mrs. Grant, I +believe, suspects him of a preference for Julia; I have never seen much +symptom of it, but I wish it may be so. He has no faults but what a +serious attachment would remove." + +"If Miss Bertram were not engaged," said Fanny cautiously, "I could +sometimes almost think that he admired her more than Julia." + +"Which is, perhaps, more in favour of his liking Julia best, than you, +Fanny, may be aware; for I believe it often happens that a man, before +he has quite made up his own mind, will distinguish the sister or +intimate friend of the woman he is really thinking of more than the +woman herself. Crawford has too much sense to stay here if he found +himself in any danger from Maria; and I am not at all afraid for her, +after such a proof as she has given that her feelings are not strong." + +Fanny supposed she must have been mistaken, and meant to think +differently in future; but with all that submission to Edmund could +do, and all the help of the coinciding looks and hints which she +occasionally noticed in some of the others, and which seemed to say that +Julia was Mr. Crawford's choice, she knew not always what to think. She +was privy, one evening, to the hopes of her aunt Norris on the subject, +as well as to her feelings, and the feelings of Mrs. Rushworth, on a +point of some similarity, and could not help wondering as she listened; +and glad would she have been not to be obliged to listen, for it was +while all the other young people were dancing, and she sitting, +most unwillingly, among the chaperons at the fire, longing for the +re-entrance of her elder cousin, on whom all her own hopes of a partner +then depended. It was Fanny's first ball, though without the preparation +or splendour of many a young lady's first ball, being the thought only +of the afternoon, built on the late acquisition of a violin player in +the servants' hall, and the possibility of raising five couple with +the help of Mrs. Grant and a new intimate friend of Mr. Bertram's just +arrived on a visit. It had, however, been a very happy one to Fanny +through four dances, and she was quite grieved to be losing even a +quarter of an hour. While waiting and wishing, looking now at +the dancers and now at the door, this dialogue between the two +above-mentioned ladies was forced on her-- + +"I think, ma'am," said Mrs. Norris, her eyes directed towards Mr. +Rushworth and Maria, who were partners for the second time, "we shall +see some happy faces again now." + +"Yes, ma'am, indeed," replied the other, with a stately simper, "there +will be some satisfaction in looking on _now_, and I think it was rather +a pity they should have been obliged to part. Young folks in their +situation should be excused complying with the common forms. I wonder my +son did not propose it." + +"I dare say he did, ma'am. Mr. Rushworth is never remiss. But dear Maria +has such a strict sense of propriety, so much of that true delicacy +which one seldom meets with nowadays, Mrs. Rushworth--that wish of +avoiding particularity! Dear ma'am, only look at her face at this +moment; how different from what it was the two last dances!" + +Miss Bertram did indeed look happy, her eyes were sparkling with +pleasure, and she was speaking with great animation, for Julia and her +partner, Mr. Crawford, were close to her; they were all in a cluster +together. How she had looked before, Fanny could not recollect, for she +had been dancing with Edmund herself, and had not thought about her. + +Mrs. Norris continued, "It is quite delightful, ma'am, to see young +people so properly happy, so well suited, and so much the thing! I +cannot but think of dear Sir Thomas's delight. And what do you say, +ma'am, to the chance of another match? Mr. Rushworth has set a good +example, and such things are very catching." + +Mrs. Rushworth, who saw nothing but her son, was quite at a loss. + +"The couple above, ma'am. Do you see no symptoms there?" + +"Oh dear! Miss Julia and Mr. Crawford. Yes, indeed, a very pretty match. +What is his property?" + +"Four thousand a year." + +"Very well. Those who have not more must be satisfied with what they +have. Four thousand a year is a pretty estate, and he seems a very +genteel, steady young man, so I hope Miss Julia will be very happy." + +"It is not a settled thing, ma'am, yet. We only speak of it among +friends. But I have very little doubt it _will_ be. He is growing +extremely particular in his attentions." + +Fanny could listen no farther. Listening and wondering were all +suspended for a time, for Mr. Bertram was in the room again; and though +feeling it would be a great honour to be asked by him, she thought it +must happen. He came towards their little circle; but instead of asking +her to dance, drew a chair near her, and gave her an account of the +present state of a sick horse, and the opinion of the groom, from +whom he had just parted. Fanny found that it was not to be, and in the +modesty of her nature immediately felt that she had been unreasonable +in expecting it. When he had told of his horse, he took a newspaper from +the table, and looking over it, said in a languid way, "If you want to +dance, Fanny, I will stand up with you." With more than equal civility +the offer was declined; she did not wish to dance. "I am glad of it," +said he, in a much brisker tone, and throwing down the newspaper again, +"for I am tired to death. I only wonder how the good people can keep +it up so long. They had need be _all_ in love, to find any amusement in +such folly; and so they are, I fancy. If you look at them you may see +they are so many couple of lovers--all but Yates and Mrs. Grant--and, +between ourselves, she, poor woman, must want a lover as much as any one +of them. A desperate dull life hers must be with the doctor," making +a sly face as he spoke towards the chair of the latter, who proving, +however, to be close at his elbow, made so instantaneous a change of +expression and subject necessary, as Fanny, in spite of everything, +could hardly help laughing at. "A strange business this in America, Dr. +Grant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know what I am to +think of public matters." + +"My dear Tom," cried his aunt soon afterwards, "as you are not dancing, +I dare say you will have no objection to join us in a rubber; shall +you?" Then leaving her seat, and coming to him to enforce the proposal, +added in a whisper, "We want to make a table for Mrs. Rushworth, you +know. Your mother is quite anxious about it, but cannot very well spare +time to sit down herself, because of her fringe. Now, you and I and Dr. +Grant will just do; and though _we_ play but half-crowns, you know, you +may bet half-guineas with _him_." + +"I should be most happy," replied he aloud, and jumping up with +alacrity, "it would give me the greatest pleasure; but that I am +this moment going to dance." Come, Fanny, taking her hand, "do not be +dawdling any longer, or the dance will be over." + +Fanny was led off very willingly, though it was impossible for her to +feel much gratitude towards her cousin, or distinguish, as he certainly +did, between the selfishness of another person and his own. + +"A pretty modest request upon my word," he indignantly exclaimed as they +walked away. "To want to nail me to a card-table for the next two hours +with herself and Dr. Grant, who are always quarrelling, and that poking +old woman, who knows no more of whist than of algebra. I wish my good +aunt would be a little less busy! And to ask me in such a way too! +without ceremony, before them all, so as to leave me no possibility +of refusing. _That_ is what I dislike most particularly. It raises my +spleen more than anything, to have the pretence of being asked, of +being given a choice, and at the same time addressed in such a way as +to oblige one to do the very thing, whatever it be! If I had not luckily +thought of standing up with you I could not have got out of it. It is +a great deal too bad. But when my aunt has got a fancy in her head, +nothing can stop her." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Honourable John Yates, this new friend, had not much to recommend +him beyond habits of fashion and expense, and being the younger son of +a lord with a tolerable independence; and Sir Thomas would probably +have thought his introduction at Mansfield by no means desirable. Mr. +Bertram's acquaintance with him had begun at Weymouth, where they had +spent ten days together in the same society, and the friendship, if +friendship it might be called, had been proved and perfected by Mr. +Yates's being invited to take Mansfield in his way, whenever he could, +and by his promising to come; and he did come rather earlier than had +been expected, in consequence of the sudden breaking-up of a large party +assembled for gaiety at the house of another friend, which he had left +Weymouth to join. He came on the wings of disappointment, and with his +head full of acting, for it had been a theatrical party; and the play +in which he had borne a part was within two days of representation, +when the sudden death of one of the nearest connexions of the family +had destroyed the scheme and dispersed the performers. To be so near +happiness, so near fame, so near the long paragraph in praise of the +private theatricals at Ecclesford, the seat of the Right Hon. Lord +Ravenshaw, in Cornwall, which would of course have immortalised the +whole party for at least a twelvemonth! and being so near, to lose +it all, was an injury to be keenly felt, and Mr. Yates could talk of +nothing else. Ecclesford and its theatre, with its arrangements and +dresses, rehearsals and jokes, was his never-failing subject, and to +boast of the past his only consolation. + +Happily for him, a love of the theatre is so general, an itch for acting +so strong among young people, that he could hardly out-talk the interest +of his hearers. From the first casting of the parts to the epilogue it +was all bewitching, and there were few who did not wish to have been a +party concerned, or would have hesitated to try their skill. The play +had been Lovers' Vows, and Mr. Yates was to have been Count Cassel. "A +trifling part," said he, "and not at all to my taste, and such a one +as I certainly would not accept again; but I was determined to make no +difficulties. Lord Ravenshaw and the duke had appropriated the only two +characters worth playing before I reached Ecclesford; and though Lord +Ravenshaw offered to resign his to me, it was impossible to take it, you +know. I was sorry for _him_ that he should have so mistaken his powers, +for he was no more equal to the Baron--a little man with a weak voice, +always hoarse after the first ten minutes. It must have injured the +piece materially; but _I_ was resolved to make no difficulties. Sir +Henry thought the duke not equal to Frederick, but that was because +Sir Henry wanted the part himself; whereas it was certainly in the best +hands of the two. I was surprised to see Sir Henry such a stick. Luckily +the strength of the piece did not depend upon him. Our Agatha was +inimitable, and the duke was thought very great by many. And upon the +whole, it would certainly have gone off wonderfully." + +"It was a hard case, upon my word"; and, "I do think you were very much +to be pitied," were the kind responses of listening sympathy. + +"It is not worth complaining about; but to be sure the poor old dowager +could not have died at a worse time; and it is impossible to help +wishing that the news could have been suppressed for just the three days +we wanted. It was but three days; and being only a grandmother, and all +happening two hundred miles off, I think there would have been no great +harm, and it was suggested, I know; but Lord Ravenshaw, who I suppose is +one of the most correct men in England, would not hear of it." + +"An afterpiece instead of a comedy," said Mr. Bertram. "Lovers' Vows +were at an end, and Lord and Lady Ravenshaw left to act My Grandmother +by themselves. Well, the jointure may comfort _him_; and perhaps, +between friends, he began to tremble for his credit and his lungs in the +Baron, and was not sorry to withdraw; and to make _you_ amends, Yates, I +think we must raise a little theatre at Mansfield, and ask you to be our +manager." + +This, though the thought of the moment, did not end with the moment; for +the inclination to act was awakened, and in no one more strongly than in +him who was now master of the house; and who, having so much leisure as +to make almost any novelty a certain good, had likewise such a degree of +lively talents and comic taste, as were exactly adapted to the novelty +of acting. The thought returned again and again. "Oh for the Ecclesford +theatre and scenery to try something with." Each sister could echo the +wish; and Henry Crawford, to whom, in all the riot of his gratifications +it was yet an untasted pleasure, was quite alive at the idea. "I really +believe," said he, "I could be fool enough at this moment to undertake +any character that ever was written, from Shylock or Richard III down to +the singing hero of a farce in his scarlet coat and cocked hat. I feel +as if I could be anything or everything; as if I could rant and storm, +or sigh or cut capers, in any tragedy or comedy in the English language. +Let us be doing something. Be it only half a play, an act, a scene; what +should prevent us? Not these countenances, I am sure," looking towards +the Miss Bertrams; "and for a theatre, what signifies a theatre? We +shall be only amusing ourselves. Any room in this house might suffice." + +"We must have a curtain," said Tom Bertram; "a few yards of green baize +for a curtain, and perhaps that may be enough." + +"Oh, quite enough," cried Mr. Yates, "with only just a side wing or two +run up, doors in flat, and three or four scenes to be let down; nothing +more would be necessary on such a plan as this. For mere amusement among +ourselves we should want nothing more." + +"I believe we must be satisfied with _less_," said Maria. "There would +not be time, and other difficulties would arise. We must rather adopt +Mr. Crawford's views, and make the _performance_, not the _theatre_, our +object. Many parts of our best plays are independent of scenery." + +"Nay," said Edmund, who began to listen with alarm. "Let us do nothing +by halves. If we are to act, let it be in a theatre completely fitted +up with pit, boxes, and gallery, and let us have a play entire from +beginning to end; so as it be a German play, no matter what, with a good +tricking, shifting afterpiece, and a figure-dance, and a hornpipe, and a +song between the acts. If we do not outdo Ecclesford, we do nothing." + +"Now, Edmund, do not be disagreeable," said Julia. "Nobody loves a play +better than you do, or can have gone much farther to see one." + +"True, to see real acting, good hardened real acting; but I would hardly +walk from this room to the next to look at the raw efforts of those who +have not been bred to the trade: a set of gentlemen and ladies, who have +all the disadvantages of education and decorum to struggle through." + +After a short pause, however, the subject still continued, and was +discussed with unabated eagerness, every one's inclination increasing +by the discussion, and a knowledge of the inclination of the rest; and +though nothing was settled but that Tom Bertram would prefer a comedy, +and his sisters and Henry Crawford a tragedy, and that nothing in the +world could be easier than to find a piece which would please them all, +the resolution to act something or other seemed so decided as to +make Edmund quite uncomfortable. He was determined to prevent it, if +possible, though his mother, who equally heard the conversation which +passed at table, did not evince the least disapprobation. + +The same evening afforded him an opportunity of trying his strength. +Maria, Julia, Henry Crawford, and Mr. Yates were in the billiard-room. +Tom, returning from them into the drawing-room, where Edmund was +standing thoughtfully by the fire, while Lady Bertram was on the sofa at +a little distance, and Fanny close beside her arranging her work, thus +began as he entered--"Such a horribly vile billiard-table as ours is not +to be met with, I believe, above ground. I can stand it no longer, and I +think, I may say, that nothing shall ever tempt me to it again; but one +good thing I have just ascertained: it is the very room for a theatre, +precisely the shape and length for it; and the doors at the farther +end, communicating with each other, as they may be made to do in five +minutes, by merely moving the bookcase in my father's room, is the very +thing we could have desired, if we had sat down to wish for it; and +my father's room will be an excellent greenroom. It seems to join the +billiard-room on purpose." + +"You are not serious, Tom, in meaning to act?" said Edmund, in a low +voice, as his brother approached the fire. + +"Not serious! never more so, I assure you. What is there to surprise you +in it?" + +"I think it would be very wrong. In a _general_ light, private +theatricals are open to some objections, but as _we_ are circumstanced, +I must think it would be highly injudicious, and more than injudicious +to attempt anything of the kind. It would shew great want of feeling +on my father's account, absent as he is, and in some degree of constant +danger; and it would be imprudent, I think, with regard to Maria, whose +situation is a very delicate one, considering everything, extremely +delicate." + +"You take up a thing so seriously! as if we were going to act three +times a week till my father's return, and invite all the country. But +it is not to be a display of that sort. We mean nothing but a little +amusement among ourselves, just to vary the scene, and exercise our +powers in something new. We want no audience, no publicity. We may be +trusted, I think, in chusing some play most perfectly unexceptionable; +and I can conceive no greater harm or danger to any of us in conversing +in the elegant written language of some respectable author than in +chattering in words of our own. I have no fears and no scruples. And +as to my father's being absent, it is so far from an objection, that I +consider it rather as a motive; for the expectation of his return must +be a very anxious period to my mother; and if we can be the means of +amusing that anxiety, and keeping up her spirits for the next few weeks, +I shall think our time very well spent, and so, I am sure, will he. It +is a _very_ anxious period for her." + +As he said this, each looked towards their mother. Lady Bertram, sunk +back in one corner of the sofa, the picture of health, wealth, ease, +and tranquillity, was just falling into a gentle doze, while Fanny was +getting through the few difficulties of her work for her. + +Edmund smiled and shook his head. + +"By Jove! this won't do," cried Tom, throwing himself into a chair with +a hearty laugh. "To be sure, my dear mother, your anxiety--I was unlucky +there." + +"What is the matter?" asked her ladyship, in the heavy tone of one +half-roused; "I was not asleep." + +"Oh dear, no, ma'am, nobody suspected you! Well, Edmund," he continued, +returning to the former subject, posture, and voice, as soon as Lady +Bertram began to nod again, "but _this_ I _will_ maintain, that we shall +be doing no harm." + +"I cannot agree with you; I am convinced that my father would totally +disapprove it." + +"And I am convinced to the contrary. Nobody is fonder of the exercise +of talent in young people, or promotes it more, than my father, and for +anything of the acting, spouting, reciting kind, I think he has always a +decided taste. I am sure he encouraged it in us as boys. How many a time +have we mourned over the dead body of Julius Caesar, and to _be'd_ and +not _to_ _be'd_, in this very room, for his amusement? And I am sure, +_my_ _name_ _was_ _Norval_, every evening of my life through one +Christmas holidays." + +"It was a very different thing. You must see the difference yourself. My +father wished us, as schoolboys, to speak well, but he would never +wish his grown-up daughters to be acting plays. His sense of decorum is +strict." + +"I know all that," said Tom, displeased. "I know my father as well as +you do; and I'll take care that his daughters do nothing to distress +him. Manage your own concerns, Edmund, and I'll take care of the rest of +the family." + +"If you are resolved on acting," replied the persevering Edmund, "I must +hope it will be in a very small and quiet way; and I think a theatre +ought not to be attempted. It would be taking liberties with my father's +house in his absence which could not be justified." + +"For everything of that nature I will be answerable," said Tom, in a +decided tone. "His house shall not be hurt. I have quite as great an +interest in being careful of his house as you can have; and as to such +alterations as I was suggesting just now, such as moving a bookcase, or +unlocking a door, or even as using the billiard-room for the space of a +week without playing at billiards in it, you might just as well suppose +he would object to our sitting more in this room, and less in the +breakfast-room, than we did before he went away, or to my sister's +pianoforte being moved from one side of the room to the other. Absolute +nonsense!" + +"The innovation, if not wrong as an innovation, will be wrong as an +expense." + +"Yes, the expense of such an undertaking would be prodigious! Perhaps +it might cost a whole twenty pounds. Something of a theatre we must have +undoubtedly, but it will be on the simplest plan: a green curtain and a +little carpenter's work, and that's all; and as the carpenter's work +may be all done at home by Christopher Jackson himself, it will be +too absurd to talk of expense; and as long as Jackson is employed, +everything will be right with Sir Thomas. Don't imagine that nobody in +this house can see or judge but yourself. Don't act yourself, if you do +not like it, but don't expect to govern everybody else." + +"No, as to acting myself," said Edmund, "_that_ I absolutely protest +against." + +Tom walked out of the room as he said it, and Edmund was left to sit +down and stir the fire in thoughtful vexation. + +Fanny, who had heard it all, and borne Edmund company in every feeling +throughout the whole, now ventured to say, in her anxiety to suggest +some comfort, "Perhaps they may not be able to find any play to suit +them. Your brother's taste and your sisters' seem very different." + +"I have no hope there, Fanny. If they persist in the scheme, they will +find something. I shall speak to my sisters and try to dissuade _them_, +and that is all I can do." + +"I should think my aunt Norris would be on your side." + +"I dare say she would, but she has no influence with either Tom or my +sisters that could be of any use; and if I cannot convince them myself, +I shall let things take their course, without attempting it through +her. Family squabbling is the greatest evil of all, and we had better do +anything than be altogether by the ears." + +His sisters, to whom he had an opportunity of speaking the next morning, +were quite as impatient of his advice, quite as unyielding to his +representation, quite as determined in the cause of pleasure, as Tom. +Their mother had no objection to the plan, and they were not in the +least afraid of their father's disapprobation. There could be no harm in +what had been done in so many respectable families, and by so many women +of the first consideration; and it must be scrupulousness run mad that +could see anything to censure in a plan like theirs, comprehending only +brothers and sisters and intimate friends, and which would never be +heard of beyond themselves. Julia _did_ seem inclined to admit that +Maria's situation might require particular caution and delicacy--but +that could not extend to _her_--she was at liberty; and Maria evidently +considered her engagement as only raising her so much more above +restraint, and leaving her less occasion than Julia to consult either +father or mother. Edmund had little to hope, but he was still urging the +subject when Henry Crawford entered the room, fresh from the Parsonage, +calling out, "No want of hands in our theatre, Miss Bertram. No want +of understrappers: my sister desires her love, and hopes to be admitted +into the company, and will be happy to take the part of any old duenna +or tame confidante, that you may not like to do yourselves." + +Maria gave Edmund a glance, which meant, "What say you now? Can we +be wrong if Mary Crawford feels the same?" And Edmund, silenced, +was obliged to acknowledge that the charm of acting might well carry +fascination to the mind of genius; and with the ingenuity of love, to +dwell more on the obliging, accommodating purport of the message than on +anything else. + +The scheme advanced. Opposition was vain; and as to Mrs. Norris, he +was mistaken in supposing she would wish to make any. She started no +difficulties that were not talked down in five minutes by her eldest +nephew and niece, who were all-powerful with her; and as the whole +arrangement was to bring very little expense to anybody, and none at all +to herself, as she foresaw in it all the comforts of hurry, bustle, +and importance, and derived the immediate advantage of fancying herself +obliged to leave her own house, where she had been living a month at +her own cost, and take up her abode in theirs, that every hour might be +spent in their service, she was, in fact, exceedingly delighted with the +project. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Fanny seemed nearer being right than Edmund had supposed. The business +of finding a play that would suit everybody proved to be no trifle; and +the carpenter had received his orders and taken his measurements, had +suggested and removed at least two sets of difficulties, and having made +the necessity of an enlargement of plan and expense fully evident, was +already at work, while a play was still to seek. Other preparations +were also in hand. An enormous roll of green baize had arrived from +Northampton, and been cut out by Mrs. Norris (with a saving by her good +management of full three-quarters of a yard), and was actually forming +into a curtain by the housemaids, and still the play was wanting; and +as two or three days passed away in this manner, Edmund began almost to +hope that none might ever be found. + +There were, in fact, so many things to be attended to, so many people +to be pleased, so many best characters required, and, above all, such a +need that the play should be at once both tragedy and comedy, that there +did seem as little chance of a decision as anything pursued by youth and +zeal could hold out. + +On the tragic side were the Miss Bertrams, Henry Crawford, and Mr. +Yates; on the comic, Tom Bertram, not _quite_ alone, because it was +evident that Mary Crawford's wishes, though politely kept back, inclined +the same way: but his determinateness and his power seemed to make +allies unnecessary; and, independent of this great irreconcilable +difference, they wanted a piece containing very few characters in the +whole, but every character first-rate, and three principal women. All +the best plays were run over in vain. Neither Hamlet, nor Macbeth, nor +Othello, nor Douglas, nor The Gamester, presented anything that could +satisfy even the tragedians; and The Rivals, The School for Scandal, +Wheel of Fortune, Heir at Law, and a long et cetera, were successively +dismissed with yet warmer objections. No piece could be proposed that +did not supply somebody with a difficulty, and on one side or the other +it was a continual repetition of, "Oh no, _that_ will never do! Let us +have no ranting tragedies. Too many characters. Not a tolerable +woman's part in the play. Anything but _that_, my dear Tom. It would be +impossible to fill it up. One could not expect anybody to take such a +part. Nothing but buffoonery from beginning to end. _That_ might do, +perhaps, but for the low parts. If I _must_ give my opinion, I have +always thought it the most insipid play in the English language. _I_ do +not wish to make objections; I shall be happy to be of any use, but I +think we could not chuse worse." + +Fanny looked on and listened, not unamused to observe the selfishness +which, more or less disguised, seemed to govern them all, and wondering +how it would end. For her own gratification she could have wished that +something might be acted, for she had never seen even half a play, but +everything of higher consequence was against it. + +"This will never do," said Tom Bertram at last. "We are wasting time +most abominably. Something must be fixed on. No matter what, so that +something is chosen. We must not be so nice. A few characters too many +must not frighten us. We must _double_ them. We must descend a little. +If a part is insignificant, the greater our credit in making anything of +it. From this moment I make no difficulties. I take any part you chuse +to give me, so as it be comic. Let it but be comic, I condition for +nothing more." + +For about the fifth time he then proposed the Heir at Law, doubting only +whether to prefer Lord Duberley or Dr. Pangloss for himself; and very +earnestly, but very unsuccessfully, trying to persuade the others that +there were some fine tragic parts in the rest of the dramatis personae. + +The pause which followed this fruitless effort was ended by the same +speaker, who, taking up one of the many volumes of plays that lay on the +table, and turning it over, suddenly exclaimed--"Lovers' Vows! And why +should not Lovers' Vows do for _us_ as well as for the Ravenshaws? How +came it never to be thought of before? It strikes me as if it would do +exactly. What say you all? Here are two capital tragic parts for Yates +and Crawford, and here is the rhyming Butler for me, if nobody else +wants it; a trifling part, but the sort of thing I should not dislike, +and, as I said before, I am determined to take anything and do my best. +And as for the rest, they may be filled up by anybody. It is only Count +Cassel and Anhalt." + +The suggestion was generally welcome. Everybody was growing weary of +indecision, and the first idea with everybody was, that nothing had been +proposed before so likely to suit them all. Mr. Yates was particularly +pleased: he had been sighing and longing to do the Baron at Ecclesford, +had grudged every rant of Lord Ravenshaw's, and been forced to re-rant +it all in his own room. The storm through Baron Wildenheim was the +height of his theatrical ambition; and with the advantage of knowing +half the scenes by heart already, he did now, with the greatest +alacrity, offer his services for the part. To do him justice, however, +he did not resolve to appropriate it; for remembering that there was +some very good ranting-ground in Frederick, he professed an equal +willingness for that. Henry Crawford was ready to take either. Whichever +Mr. Yates did not chuse would perfectly satisfy him, and a short parley +of compliment ensued. Miss Bertram, feeling all the interest of an +Agatha in the question, took on her to decide it, by observing to Mr. +Yates that this was a point in which height and figure ought to +be considered, and that _his_ being the tallest, seemed to fit him +peculiarly for the Baron. She was acknowledged to be quite right, and +the two parts being accepted accordingly, she was certain of the proper +Frederick. Three of the characters were now cast, besides Mr. Rushworth, +who was always answered for by Maria as willing to do anything; when +Julia, meaning, like her sister, to be Agatha, began to be scrupulous on +Miss Crawford's account. + +"This is not behaving well by the absent," said she. "Here are not women +enough. Amelia and Agatha may do for Maria and me, but here is nothing +for your sister, Mr. Crawford." + +Mr. Crawford desired _that_ might not be thought of: he was very sure +his sister had no wish of acting but as she might be useful, and that +she would not allow herself to be considered in the present case. But +this was immediately opposed by Tom Bertram, who asserted the part of +Amelia to be in every respect the property of Miss Crawford, if she +would accept it. "It falls as naturally, as necessarily to her," +said he, "as Agatha does to one or other of my sisters. It can be no +sacrifice on their side, for it is highly comic." + +A short silence followed. Each sister looked anxious; for each felt the +best claim to Agatha, and was hoping to have it pressed on her by the +rest. Henry Crawford, who meanwhile had taken up the play, and with +seeming carelessness was turning over the first act, soon settled the +business. + +"I must entreat Miss _Julia_ Bertram," said he, "not to engage in the +part of Agatha, or it will be the ruin of all my solemnity. You must +not, indeed you must not" (turning to her). "I could not stand your +countenance dressed up in woe and paleness. The many laughs we have had +together would infallibly come across me, and Frederick and his knapsack +would be obliged to run away." + +Pleasantly, courteously, it was spoken; but the manner was lost in the +matter to Julia's feelings. She saw a glance at Maria which confirmed +the injury to herself: it was a scheme, a trick; she was slighted, Maria +was preferred; the smile of triumph which Maria was trying to suppress +shewed how well it was understood; and before Julia could command +herself enough to speak, her brother gave his weight against her too, +by saying, "Oh yes! Maria must be Agatha. Maria will be the best Agatha. +Though Julia fancies she prefers tragedy, I would not trust her in it. +There is nothing of tragedy about her. She has not the look of it. Her +features are not tragic features, and she walks too quick, and speaks +too quick, and would not keep her countenance. She had better do the old +countrywoman: the Cottager's wife; you had, indeed, Julia. Cottager's +wife is a very pretty part, I assure you. The old lady relieves the +high-flown benevolence of her husband with a good deal of spirit. You +shall be Cottager's wife." + +"Cottager's wife!" cried Mr. Yates. "What are you talking of? The most +trivial, paltry, insignificant part; the merest commonplace; not a +tolerable speech in the whole. Your sister do that! It is an insult +to propose it. At Ecclesford the governess was to have done it. We +all agreed that it could not be offered to anybody else. A little more +justice, Mr. Manager, if you please. You do not deserve the office, if +you cannot appreciate the talents of your company a little better." + +"Why, as to _that_, my good friend, till I and my company have really +acted there must be some guesswork; but I mean no disparagement to +Julia. We cannot have two Agathas, and we must have one Cottager's +wife; and I am sure I set her the example of moderation myself in being +satisfied with the old Butler. If the part is trifling she will have +more credit in making something of it; and if she is so desperately bent +against everything humorous, let her take Cottager's speeches instead of +Cottager's wife's, and so change the parts all through; _he_ is solemn +and pathetic enough, I am sure. It could make no difference in the play, +and as for Cottager himself, when he has got his wife's speeches, _I_ +would undertake him with all my heart." + +"With all your partiality for Cottager's wife," said Henry Crawford, "it +will be impossible to make anything of it fit for your sister, and we +must not suffer her good-nature to be imposed on. We must not _allow_ +her to accept the part. She must not be left to her own complaisance. +Her talents will be wanted in Amelia. Amelia is a character more +difficult to be well represented than even Agatha. I consider Amelia +is the most difficult character in the whole piece. It requires great +powers, great nicety, to give her playfulness and simplicity without +extravagance. I have seen good actresses fail in the part. Simplicity, +indeed, is beyond the reach of almost every actress by profession. +It requires a delicacy of feeling which they have not. It requires a +gentlewoman--a Julia Bertram. You _will_ undertake it, I hope?" turning +to her with a look of anxious entreaty, which softened her a little; but +while she hesitated what to say, her brother again interposed with Miss +Crawford's better claim. + +"No, no, Julia must not be Amelia. It is not at all the part for her. +She would not like it. She would not do well. She is too tall and +robust. Amelia should be a small, light, girlish, skipping figure. It is +fit for Miss Crawford, and Miss Crawford only. She looks the part, and I +am persuaded will do it admirably." + +Without attending to this, Henry Crawford continued his supplication. +"You must oblige us," said he, "indeed you must. When you have studied +the character, I am sure you will feel it suit you. Tragedy may be your +choice, but it will certainly appear that comedy chuses _you_. You +will be to visit me in prison with a basket of provisions; you will +not refuse to visit me in prison? I think I see you coming in with your +basket." + +The influence of his voice was felt. Julia wavered; but was he only +trying to soothe and pacify her, and make her overlook the previous +affront? She distrusted him. The slight had been most determined. He +was, perhaps, but at treacherous play with her. She looked suspiciously +at her sister; Maria's countenance was to decide it: if she were vexed +and alarmed--but Maria looked all serenity and satisfaction, and Julia +well knew that on this ground Maria could not be happy but at her +expense. With hasty indignation, therefore, and a tremulous voice, she +said to him, "You do not seem afraid of not keeping your countenance +when I come in with a basket of provisions--though one might have +supposed--but it is only as Agatha that I was to be so overpowering!" +She stopped--Henry Crawford looked rather foolish, and as if he did not +know what to say. Tom Bertram began again-- + +"Miss Crawford must be Amelia. She will be an excellent Amelia." + +"Do not be afraid of _my_ wanting the character," cried Julia, with +angry quickness: "I am _not_ to be Agatha, and I am sure I will do +nothing else; and as to Amelia, it is of all parts in the world the +most disgusting to me. I quite detest her. An odious, little, pert, +unnatural, impudent girl. I have always protested against comedy, and +this is comedy in its worst form." And so saying, she walked hastily +out of the room, leaving awkward feelings to more than one, but exciting +small compassion in any except Fanny, who had been a quiet auditor of +the whole, and who could not think of her as under the agitations of +_jealousy_ without great pity. + +A short silence succeeded her leaving them; but her brother soon +returned to business and Lovers' Vows, and was eagerly looking over +the play, with Mr. Yates's help, to ascertain what scenery would be +necessary--while Maria and Henry Crawford conversed together in an +under-voice, and the declaration with which she began of, "I am sure I +would give up the part to Julia most willingly, but that though I shall +probably do it very ill, I feel persuaded _she_ would do it worse," was +doubtless receiving all the compliments it called for. + +When this had lasted some time, the division of the party was completed +by Tom Bertram and Mr. Yates walking off together to consult farther in +the room now beginning to be called _the_ _Theatre_, and Miss Bertram's +resolving to go down to the Parsonage herself with the offer of Amelia +to Miss Crawford; and Fanny remained alone. + +The first use she made of her solitude was to take up the volume which +had been left on the table, and begin to acquaint herself with the play +of which she had heard so much. Her curiosity was all awake, and she ran +through it with an eagerness which was suspended only by intervals of +astonishment, that it could be chosen in the present instance, that it +could be proposed and accepted in a private theatre! Agatha and Amelia +appeared to her in their different ways so totally improper for home +representation--the situation of one, and the language of the other, +so unfit to be expressed by any woman of modesty, that she could hardly +suppose her cousins could be aware of what they were engaging in; and +longed to have them roused as soon as possible by the remonstrance which +Edmund would certainly make. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Miss Crawford accepted the part very readily; and soon after Miss +Bertram's return from the Parsonage, Mr. Rushworth arrived, and another +character was consequently cast. He had the offer of Count Cassel +and Anhalt, and at first did not know which to chuse, and wanted Miss +Bertram to direct him; but upon being made to understand the different +style of the characters, and which was which, and recollecting that he +had once seen the play in London, and had thought Anhalt a very stupid +fellow, he soon decided for the Count. Miss Bertram approved the +decision, for the less he had to learn the better; and though she could +not sympathise in his wish that the Count and Agatha might be to act +together, nor wait very patiently while he was slowly turning over the +leaves with the hope of still discovering such a scene, she very kindly +took his part in hand, and curtailed every speech that admitted being +shortened; besides pointing out the necessity of his being very much +dressed, and chusing his colours. Mr. Rushworth liked the idea of his +finery very well, though affecting to despise it; and was too much +engaged with what his own appearance would be to think of the others, +or draw any of those conclusions, or feel any of that displeasure which +Maria had been half prepared for. + +Thus much was settled before Edmund, who had been out all the morning, +knew anything of the matter; but when he entered the drawing-room before +dinner, the buzz of discussion was high between Tom, Maria, and Mr. +Yates; and Mr. Rushworth stepped forward with great alacrity to tell him +the agreeable news. + +"We have got a play," said he. "It is to be Lovers' Vows; and I am to be +Count Cassel, and am to come in first with a blue dress and a pink satin +cloak, and afterwards am to have another fine fancy suit, by way of a +shooting-dress. I do not know how I shall like it." + +Fanny's eyes followed Edmund, and her heart beat for him as she heard +this speech, and saw his look, and felt what his sensations must be. + +"Lovers' Vows!" in a tone of the greatest amazement, was his only reply +to Mr. Rushworth, and he turned towards his brother and sisters as if +hardly doubting a contradiction. + +"Yes," cried Mr. Yates. "After all our debatings and difficulties, we +find there is nothing that will suit us altogether so well, nothing so +unexceptionable, as Lovers' Vows. The wonder is that it should not have +been thought of before. My stupidity was abominable, for here we have +all the advantage of what I saw at Ecclesford; and it is so useful to +have anything of a model! We have cast almost every part." + +"But what do you do for women?" said Edmund gravely, and looking at +Maria. + +Maria blushed in spite of herself as she answered, "I take the part +which Lady Ravenshaw was to have done, and" (with a bolder eye) "Miss +Crawford is to be Amelia." + +"I should not have thought it the sort of play to be so easily filled +up, with _us_," replied Edmund, turning away to the fire, where sat +his mother, aunt, and Fanny, and seating himself with a look of great +vexation. + +Mr. Rushworth followed him to say, "I come in three times, and have +two-and-forty speeches. That's something, is not it? But I do not much +like the idea of being so fine. I shall hardly know myself in a blue +dress and a pink satin cloak." + +Edmund could not answer him. In a few minutes Mr. Bertram was called +out of the room to satisfy some doubts of the carpenter; and being +accompanied by Mr. Yates, and followed soon afterwards by Mr. Rushworth, +Edmund almost immediately took the opportunity of saying, "I cannot, +before Mr. Yates, speak what I feel as to this play, without reflecting +on his friends at Ecclesford; but I must now, my dear Maria, tell _you_, +that I think it exceedingly unfit for private representation, and that I +hope you will give it up. I cannot but suppose you _will_ when you have +read it carefully over. Read only the first act aloud to either your +mother or aunt, and see how you can approve it. It will not be necessary +to send you to your _father's_ judgment, I am convinced." + +"We see things very differently," cried Maria. "I am perfectly +acquainted with the play, I assure you; and with a very few omissions, +and so forth, which will be made, of course, I can see nothing +objectionable in it; and _I_ am not the _only_ young woman you find who +thinks it very fit for private representation." + +"I am sorry for it," was his answer; "but in this matter it is _you_ who +are to lead. _You_ must set the example. If others have blundered, it +is your place to put them right, and shew them what true delicacy is. +In all points of decorum _your_ conduct must be law to the rest of the +party." + +This picture of her consequence had some effect, for no one loved better +to lead than Maria; and with far more good-humour she answered, "I am +much obliged to you, Edmund; you mean very well, I am sure: but I still +think you see things too strongly; and I really cannot undertake to +harangue all the rest upon a subject of this kind. _There_ would be the +greatest indecorum, I think." + +"Do you imagine that I could have such an idea in my head? No; let your +conduct be the only harangue. Say that, on examining the part, you feel +yourself unequal to it; that you find it requiring more exertion and +confidence than you can be supposed to have. Say this with firmness, and +it will be quite enough. All who can distinguish will understand your +motive. The play will be given up, and your delicacy honoured as it +ought." + +"Do not act anything improper, my dear," said Lady Bertram. "Sir Thomas +would not like it.--Fanny, ring the bell; I must have my dinner.--To be +sure, Julia is dressed by this time." + +"I am convinced, madam," said Edmund, preventing Fanny, "that Sir Thomas +would not like it." + +"There, my dear, do you hear what Edmund says?" + +"If I were to decline the part," said Maria, with renewed zeal, "Julia +would certainly take it." + +"What!" cried Edmund, "if she knew your reasons!" + +"Oh! she might think the difference between us--the difference in our +situations--that _she_ need not be so scrupulous as _I_ might feel +necessary. I am sure she would argue so. No; you must excuse me; I +cannot retract my consent; it is too far settled, everybody would be so +disappointed, Tom would be quite angry; and if we are so very nice, we +shall never act anything." + +"I was just going to say the very same thing," said Mrs. Norris. +"If every play is to be objected to, you will act nothing, and the +preparations will be all so much money thrown away, and I am sure _that_ +would be a discredit to us all. I do not know the play; but, as Maria +says, if there is anything a little too warm (and it is so with most of +them) it can be easily left out. We must not be over-precise, Edmund. As +Mr. Rushworth is to act too, there can be no harm. I only wish Tom had +known his own mind when the carpenters began, for there was the loss +of half a day's work about those side-doors. The curtain will be a good +job, however. The maids do their work very well, and I think we shall be +able to send back some dozens of the rings. There is no occasion to put +them so very close together. I _am_ of some use, I hope, in preventing +waste and making the most of things. There should always be one +steady head to superintend so many young ones. I forgot to tell Tom of +something that happened to me this very day. I had been looking about me +in the poultry-yard, and was just coming out, when who should I see but +Dick Jackson making up to the servants' hall-door with two bits of deal +board in his hand, bringing them to father, you may be sure; mother had +chanced to send him of a message to father, and then father had bid +him bring up them two bits of board, for he could not no how do without +them. I knew what all this meant, for the servants' dinner-bell +was ringing at the very moment over our heads; and as I hate such +encroaching people (the Jacksons are very encroaching, I have always +said so: just the sort of people to get all they can), I said to the boy +directly (a great lubberly fellow of ten years old, you know, who ought +to be ashamed of himself), '_I'll_ take the boards to your father, Dick, +so get you home again as fast as you can.' The boy looked very silly, +and turned away without offering a word, for I believe I might speak +pretty sharp; and I dare say it will cure him of coming marauding about +the house for one while. I hate such greediness--so good as your father +is to the family, employing the man all the year round!" + +Nobody was at the trouble of an answer; the others soon returned; and +Edmund found that to have endeavoured to set them right must be his only +satisfaction. + +Dinner passed heavily. Mrs. Norris related again her triumph over Dick +Jackson, but neither play nor preparation were otherwise much talked +of, for Edmund's disapprobation was felt even by his brother, though +he would not have owned it. Maria, wanting Henry Crawford's animating +support, thought the subject better avoided. Mr. Yates, who was trying +to make himself agreeable to Julia, found her gloom less impenetrable on +any topic than that of his regret at her secession from their company; +and Mr. Rushworth, having only his own part and his own dress in his +head, had soon talked away all that could be said of either. + +But the concerns of the theatre were suspended only for an hour or two: +there was still a great deal to be settled; and the spirits of evening +giving fresh courage, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates, soon after their being +reassembled in the drawing-room, seated themselves in committee at a +separate table, with the play open before them, and were just getting +deep in the subject when a most welcome interruption was given by the +entrance of Mr. and Miss Crawford, who, late and dark and dirty as it +was, could not help coming, and were received with the most grateful +joy. + +"Well, how do you go on?" and "What have you settled?" and "Oh! we +can do nothing without you," followed the first salutations; and Henry +Crawford was soon seated with the other three at the table, while his +sister made her way to Lady Bertram, and with pleasant attention was +complimenting _her_. "I must really congratulate your ladyship," said +she, "on the play being chosen; for though you have borne it with +exemplary patience, I am sure you must be sick of all our noise and +difficulties. The actors may be glad, but the bystanders must be +infinitely more thankful for a decision; and I do sincerely give you +joy, madam, as well as Mrs. Norris, and everybody else who is in the +same predicament," glancing half fearfully, half slyly, beyond Fanny to +Edmund. + +She was very civilly answered by Lady Bertram, but Edmund said nothing. +His being only a bystander was not disclaimed. After continuing in chat +with the party round the fire a few minutes, Miss Crawford returned +to the party round the table; and standing by them, seemed to +interest herself in their arrangements till, as if struck by a sudden +recollection, she exclaimed, "My good friends, you are most composedly +at work upon these cottages and alehouses, inside and out; but pray let +me know my fate in the meanwhile. Who is to be Anhalt? What gentleman +among you am I to have the pleasure of making love to?" + +For a moment no one spoke; and then many spoke together to tell the same +melancholy truth, that they had not yet got any Anhalt. "Mr. Rushworth +was to be Count Cassel, but no one had yet undertaken Anhalt." + +"I had my choice of the parts," said Mr. Rushworth; "but I thought I +should like the Count best, though I do not much relish the finery I am +to have." + +"You chose very wisely, I am sure," replied Miss Crawford, with a +brightened look; "Anhalt is a heavy part." + +"_The_ _Count_ has two-and-forty speeches," returned Mr. Rushworth, +"which is no trifle." + +"I am not at all surprised," said Miss Crawford, after a short pause, +"at this want of an Anhalt. Amelia deserves no better. Such a forward +young lady may well frighten the men." + +"I should be but too happy in taking the part, if it were possible," +cried Tom; "but, unluckily, the Butler and Anhalt are in together. I +will not entirely give it up, however; I will try what can be done--I +will look it over again." + +"Your _brother_ should take the part," said Mr. Yates, in a low voice. +"Do not you think he would?" + +"_I_ shall not ask him," replied Tom, in a cold, determined manner. + +Miss Crawford talked of something else, and soon afterwards rejoined the +party at the fire. + +"They do not want me at all," said she, seating herself. "I only puzzle +them, and oblige them to make civil speeches. Mr. Edmund Bertram, as +you do not act yourself, you will be a disinterested adviser; and, +therefore, I apply to _you_. What shall we do for an Anhalt? Is it +practicable for any of the others to double it? What is your advice?" + +"My advice," said he calmly, "is that you change the play." + +"_I_ should have no objection," she replied; "for though I should not +particularly dislike the part of Amelia if well supported, that is, if +everything went well, I shall be sorry to be an inconvenience; but +as they do not chuse to hear your advice at _that_ _table_" (looking +round), "it certainly will not be taken." + +Edmund said no more. + +"If _any_ part could tempt _you_ to act, I suppose it would be Anhalt," +observed the lady archly, after a short pause; "for he is a clergyman, +you know." + +"_That_ circumstance would by no means tempt me," he replied, "for I +should be sorry to make the character ridiculous by bad acting. It +must be very difficult to keep Anhalt from appearing a formal, solemn +lecturer; and the man who chuses the profession itself is, perhaps, one +of the last who would wish to represent it on the stage." + +Miss Crawford was silenced, and with some feelings of resentment and +mortification, moved her chair considerably nearer the tea-table, and +gave all her attention to Mrs. Norris, who was presiding there. + +"Fanny," cried Tom Bertram, from the other table, where the conference +was eagerly carrying on, and the conversation incessant, "we want your +services." + +Fanny was up in a moment, expecting some errand; for the habit of +employing her in that way was not yet overcome, in spite of all that +Edmund could do. + +"Oh! we do not want to disturb you from your seat. We do not want your +_present_ services. We shall only want you in our play. You must be +Cottager's wife." + +"Me!" cried Fanny, sitting down again with a most frightened look. +"Indeed you must excuse me. I could not act anything if you were to give +me the world. No, indeed, I cannot act." + +"Indeed, but you must, for we cannot excuse you. It need not frighten +you: it is a nothing of a part, a mere nothing, not above half a dozen +speeches altogether, and it will not much signify if nobody hears a word +you say; so you may be as creep-mouse as you like, but we must have you +to look at." + +"If you are afraid of half a dozen speeches," cried Mr. Rushworth, "what +would you do with such a part as mine? I have forty-two to learn." + +"It is not that I am afraid of learning by heart," said Fanny, shocked +to find herself at that moment the only speaker in the room, and to feel +that almost every eye was upon her; "but I really cannot act." + +"Yes, yes, you can act well enough for _us_. Learn your part, and we +will teach you all the rest. You have only two scenes, and as I shall +be Cottager, I'll put you in and push you about, and you will do it very +well, I'll answer for it." + +"No, indeed, Mr. Bertram, you must excuse me. You cannot have an idea. +It would be absolutely impossible for me. If I were to undertake it, I +should only disappoint you." + +"Phoo! Phoo! Do not be so shamefaced. You'll do it very well. Every +allowance will be made for you. We do not expect perfection. You must +get a brown gown, and a white apron, and a mob cap, and we must make +you a few wrinkles, and a little of the crowsfoot at the corner of your +eyes, and you will be a very proper, little old woman." + +"You must excuse me, indeed you must excuse me," cried Fanny, growing +more and more red from excessive agitation, and looking distressfully +at Edmund, who was kindly observing her; but unwilling to exasperate +his brother by interference, gave her only an encouraging smile. Her +entreaty had no effect on Tom: he only said again what he had said +before; and it was not merely Tom, for the requisition was now backed by +Maria, and Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Yates, with an urgency which differed +from his but in being more gentle or more ceremonious, and which +altogether was quite overpowering to Fanny; and before she could breathe +after it, Mrs. Norris completed the whole by thus addressing her in a +whisper at once angry and audible--"What a piece of work here is about +nothing: I am quite ashamed of you, Fanny, to make such a difficulty of +obliging your cousins in a trifle of this sort--so kind as they are to +you! Take the part with a good grace, and let us hear no more of the +matter, I entreat." + +"Do not urge her, madam," said Edmund. "It is not fair to urge her +in this manner. You see she does not like to act. Let her chuse for +herself, as well as the rest of us. Her judgment may be quite as safely +trusted. Do not urge her any more." + +"I am not going to urge her," replied Mrs. Norris sharply; "but I shall +think her a very obstinate, ungrateful girl, if she does not do what her +aunt and cousins wish her--very ungrateful, indeed, considering who and +what she is." + +Edmund was too angry to speak; but Miss Crawford, looking for a moment +with astonished eyes at Mrs. Norris, and then at Fanny, whose tears were +beginning to shew themselves, immediately said, with some keenness, "I +do not like my situation: this _place_ is too hot for me," and moved +away her chair to the opposite side of the table, close to Fanny, saying +to her, in a kind, low whisper, as she placed herself, "Never mind, +my dear Miss Price, this is a cross evening: everybody is cross and +teasing, but do not let us mind them"; and with pointed attention +continued to talk to her and endeavour to raise her spirits, in spite of +being out of spirits herself. By a look at her brother she prevented any +farther entreaty from the theatrical board, and the really good feelings +by which she was almost purely governed were rapidly restoring her to +all the little she had lost in Edmund's favour. + +Fanny did not love Miss Crawford; but she felt very much obliged to her +for her present kindness; and when, from taking notice of her work, +and wishing _she_ could work as well, and begging for the pattern, and +supposing Fanny was now preparing for her _appearance_, as of course she +would come out when her cousin was married, Miss Crawford proceeded to +inquire if she had heard lately from her brother at sea, and said that +she had quite a curiosity to see him, and imagined him a very fine young +man, and advised Fanny to get his picture drawn before he went to sea +again--she could not help admitting it to be very agreeable flattery, or +help listening, and answering with more animation than she had intended. + +The consultation upon the play still went on, and Miss Crawford's +attention was first called from Fanny by Tom Bertram's telling her, +with infinite regret, that he found it absolutely impossible for him to +undertake the part of Anhalt in addition to the Butler: he had been most +anxiously trying to make it out to be feasible, but it would not do; +he must give it up. "But there will not be the smallest difficulty in +filling it," he added. "We have but to speak the word; we may pick and +chuse. I could name, at this moment, at least six young men within six +miles of us, who are wild to be admitted into our company, and there are +one or two that would not disgrace us: I should not be afraid to trust +either of the Olivers or Charles Maddox. Tom Oliver is a very clever +fellow, and Charles Maddox is as gentlemanlike a man as you will see +anywhere, so I will take my horse early to-morrow morning and ride over +to Stoke, and settle with one of them." + +While he spoke, Maria was looking apprehensively round at Edmund in full +expectation that he must oppose such an enlargement of the plan as this: +so contrary to all their first protestations; but Edmund said nothing. +After a moment's thought, Miss Crawford calmly replied, "As far as I +am concerned, I can have no objection to anything that you all think +eligible. Have I ever seen either of the gentlemen? Yes, Mr. Charles +Maddox dined at my sister's one day, did not he, Henry? A quiet-looking +young man. I remember him. Let _him_ be applied to, if you please, for +it will be less unpleasant to me than to have a perfect stranger." + +Charles Maddox was to be the man. Tom repeated his resolution of going +to him early on the morrow; and though Julia, who had scarcely opened +her lips before, observed, in a sarcastic manner, and with a glance +first at Maria and then at Edmund, that "the Mansfield theatricals would +enliven the whole neighbourhood exceedingly," Edmund still held his +peace, and shewed his feelings only by a determined gravity. + +"I am not very sanguine as to our play," said Miss Crawford, in an +undervoice to Fanny, after some consideration; "and I can tell Mr. +Maddox that I shall shorten some of _his_ speeches, and a great many of +_my_ _own_, before we rehearse together. It will be very disagreeable, +and by no means what I expected." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +It was not in Miss Crawford's power to talk Fanny into any real +forgetfulness of what had passed. When the evening was over, she went to +bed full of it, her nerves still agitated by the shock of such an attack +from her cousin Tom, so public and so persevered in, and her spirits +sinking under her aunt's unkind reflection and reproach. To be called +into notice in such a manner, to hear that it was but the prelude to +something so infinitely worse, to be told that she must do what was +so impossible as to act; and then to have the charge of obstinacy and +ingratitude follow it, enforced with such a hint at the dependence +of her situation, had been too distressing at the time to make the +remembrance when she was alone much less so, especially with the +superadded dread of what the morrow might produce in continuation of the +subject. Miss Crawford had protected her only for the time; and if +she were applied to again among themselves with all the authoritative +urgency that Tom and Maria were capable of, and Edmund perhaps away, +what should she do? She fell asleep before she could answer the +question, and found it quite as puzzling when she awoke the next +morning. The little white attic, which had continued her sleeping-room +ever since her first entering the family, proving incompetent to suggest +any reply, she had recourse, as soon as she was dressed, to another +apartment more spacious and more meet for walking about in and thinking, +and of which she had now for some time been almost equally mistress. It +had been their school-room; so called till the Miss Bertrams would not +allow it to be called so any longer, and inhabited as such to a later +period. There Miss Lee had lived, and there they had read and written, +and talked and laughed, till within the last three years, when she had +quitted them. The room had then become useless, and for some time was +quite deserted, except by Fanny, when she visited her plants, or wanted +one of the books, which she was still glad to keep there, from the +deficiency of space and accommodation in her little chamber above: but +gradually, as her value for the comforts of it increased, she had added +to her possessions, and spent more of her time there; and having nothing +to oppose her, had so naturally and so artlessly worked herself into it, +that it was now generally admitted to be hers. The East room, as it had +been called ever since Maria Bertram was sixteen, was now considered +Fanny's, almost as decidedly as the white attic: the smallness of the +one making the use of the other so evidently reasonable that the Miss +Bertrams, with every superiority in their own apartments which their own +sense of superiority could demand, were entirely approving it; and Mrs. +Norris, having stipulated for there never being a fire in it on Fanny's +account, was tolerably resigned to her having the use of what nobody +else wanted, though the terms in which she sometimes spoke of the +indulgence seemed to imply that it was the best room in the house. + +The aspect was so favourable that even without a fire it was habitable +in many an early spring and late autumn morning to such a willing mind +as Fanny's; and while there was a gleam of sunshine she hoped not to be +driven from it entirely, even when winter came. The comfort of it in +her hours of leisure was extreme. She could go there after anything +unpleasant below, and find immediate consolation in some pursuit, or +some train of thought at hand. Her plants, her books--of which she had +been a collector from the first hour of her commanding a shilling--her +writing-desk, and her works of charity and ingenuity, were all within +her reach; or if indisposed for employment, if nothing but musing would +do, she could scarcely see an object in that room which had not an +interesting remembrance connected with it. Everything was a friend, or +bore her thoughts to a friend; and though there had been sometimes much +of suffering to her; though her motives had often been misunderstood, +her feelings disregarded, and her comprehension undervalued; though she +had known the pains of tyranny, of ridicule, and neglect, yet almost +every recurrence of either had led to something consolatory: her aunt +Bertram had spoken for her, or Miss Lee had been encouraging, or, what +was yet more frequent or more dear, Edmund had been her champion and her +friend: he had supported her cause or explained her meaning, he had told +her not to cry, or had given her some proof of affection which made +her tears delightful; and the whole was now so blended together, so +harmonised by distance, that every former affliction had its charm. The +room was most dear to her, and she would not have changed its furniture +for the handsomest in the house, though what had been originally plain +had suffered all the ill-usage of children; and its greatest elegancies +and ornaments were a faded footstool of Julia's work, too ill done +for the drawing-room, three transparencies, made in a rage for +transparencies, for the three lower panes of one window, where Tintern +Abbey held its station between a cave in Italy and a moonlight lake in +Cumberland, a collection of family profiles, thought unworthy of being +anywhere else, over the mantelpiece, and by their side, and pinned +against the wall, a small sketch of a ship sent four years ago from the +Mediterranean by William, with H.M.S. Antwerp at the bottom, in letters +as tall as the mainmast. + +To this nest of comforts Fanny now walked down to try its influence on +an agitated, doubting spirit, to see if by looking at Edmund's profile +she could catch any of his counsel, or by giving air to her geraniums +she might inhale a breeze of mental strength herself. But she had more +than fears of her own perseverance to remove: she had begun to feel +undecided as to what she _ought_ _to_ _do_; and as she walked round the +room her doubts were increasing. Was she _right_ in refusing what was +so warmly asked, so strongly wished for--what might be so essential to a +scheme on which some of those to whom she owed the greatest complaisance +had set their hearts? Was it not ill-nature, selfishness, and a fear of +exposing herself? And would Edmund's judgment, would his persuasion of +Sir Thomas's disapprobation of the whole, be enough to justify her in a +determined denial in spite of all the rest? It would be so horrible to +her to act that she was inclined to suspect the truth and purity of her +own scruples; and as she looked around her, the claims of her cousins +to being obliged were strengthened by the sight of present upon present +that she had received from them. The table between the windows was +covered with work-boxes and netting-boxes which had been given her at +different times, principally by Tom; and she grew bewildered as to the +amount of the debt which all these kind remembrances produced. A tap at +the door roused her in the midst of this attempt to find her way to her +duty, and her gentle "Come in" was answered by the appearance of one, +before whom all her doubts were wont to be laid. Her eyes brightened at +the sight of Edmund. + +"Can I speak with you, Fanny, for a few minutes?" said he. + +"Yes, certainly." + +"I want to consult. I want your opinion." + +"My opinion!" she cried, shrinking from such a compliment, highly as it +gratified her. + +"Yes, your advice and opinion. I do not know what to do. This acting +scheme gets worse and worse, you see. They have chosen almost as bad a +play as they could, and now, to complete the business, are going to ask +the help of a young man very slightly known to any of us. This is the +end of all the privacy and propriety which was talked about at first. +I know no harm of Charles Maddox; but the excessive intimacy which +must spring from his being admitted among us in this manner is highly +objectionable, the _more_ than intimacy--the familiarity. I cannot +think of it with any patience; and it does appear to me an evil of such +magnitude as must, _if_ _possible_, be prevented. Do not you see it in +the same light?" + +"Yes; but what can be done? Your brother is so determined." + +"There is but _one_ thing to be done, Fanny. I must take Anhalt myself. +I am well aware that nothing else will quiet Tom." + +Fanny could not answer him. + +"It is not at all what I like," he continued. "No man can like being +driven into the _appearance_ of such inconsistency. After being known to +oppose the scheme from the beginning, there is absurdity in the face of +my joining them _now_, when they are exceeding their first plan in every +respect; but I can think of no other alternative. Can you, Fanny?" + +"No," said Fanny slowly, "not immediately, but--" + +"But what? I see your judgment is not with me. Think it a little over. +Perhaps you are not so much aware as I am of the mischief that _may_, of +the unpleasantness that _must_ arise from a young man's being received +in this manner: domesticated among us; authorised to come at all hours, +and placed suddenly on a footing which must do away all restraints. To +think only of the licence which every rehearsal must tend to create. It +is all very bad! Put yourself in Miss Crawford's place, Fanny. Consider +what it would be to act Amelia with a stranger. She has a right to be +felt for, because she evidently feels for herself. I heard enough of +what she said to you last night to understand her unwillingness to be +acting with a stranger; and as she probably engaged in the part with +different expectations--perhaps without considering the subject enough +to know what was likely to be--it would be ungenerous, it would be +really wrong to expose her to it. Her feelings ought to be respected. +Does it not strike you so, Fanny? You hesitate." + +"I am sorry for Miss Crawford; but I am more sorry to see you drawn in +to do what you had resolved against, and what you are known to think +will be disagreeable to my uncle. It will be such a triumph to the +others!" + +"They will not have much cause of triumph when they see how infamously I +act. But, however, triumph there certainly will be, and I must brave it. +But if I can be the means of restraining the publicity of the business, +of limiting the exhibition, of concentrating our folly, I shall be +well repaid. As I am now, I have no influence, I can do nothing: I have +offended them, and they will not hear me; but when I have put them in +good-humour by this concession, I am not without hopes of persuading +them to confine the representation within a much smaller circle than +they are now in the high road for. This will be a material gain. My +object is to confine it to Mrs. Rushworth and the Grants. Will not this +be worth gaining?" + +"Yes, it will be a great point." + +"But still it has not your approbation. Can you mention any other +measure by which I have a chance of doing equal good?" + +"No, I cannot think of anything else." + +"Give me your approbation, then, Fanny. I am not comfortable without +it." + +"Oh, cousin!" + +"If you are against me, I ought to distrust myself, and yet--But it is +absolutely impossible to let Tom go on in this way, riding about the +country in quest of anybody who can be persuaded to act--no matter whom: +the look of a gentleman is to be enough. I thought _you_ would have +entered more into Miss Crawford's feelings." + +"No doubt she will be very glad. It must be a great relief to her," said +Fanny, trying for greater warmth of manner. + +"She never appeared more amiable than in her behaviour to you last +night. It gave her a very strong claim on my goodwill." + +"She _was_ very kind, indeed, and I am glad to have her spared"... + +She could not finish the generous effusion. Her conscience stopt her in +the middle, but Edmund was satisfied. + +"I shall walk down immediately after breakfast," said he, "and am sure +of giving pleasure there. And now, dear Fanny, I will not interrupt you +any longer. You want to be reading. But I could not be easy till I had +spoken to you, and come to a decision. Sleeping or waking, my head has +been full of this matter all night. It is an evil, but I am certainly +making it less than it might be. If Tom is up, I shall go to him +directly and get it over, and when we meet at breakfast we shall be all +in high good-humour at the prospect of acting the fool together with +such unanimity. _You_, in the meanwhile, will be taking a trip into +China, I suppose. How does Lord Macartney go on?"--opening a volume on +the table and then taking up some others. "And here are Crabbe's Tales, +and the Idler, at hand to relieve you, if you tire of your great book. I +admire your little establishment exceedingly; and as soon as I am +gone, you will empty your head of all this nonsense of acting, and sit +comfortably down to your table. But do not stay here to be cold." + +He went; but there was no reading, no China, no composure for Fanny. He +had told her the most extraordinary, the most inconceivable, the most +unwelcome news; and she could think of nothing else. To be acting! After +all his objections--objections so just and so public! After all that she +had heard him say, and seen him look, and known him to be feeling. Could +it be possible? Edmund so inconsistent! Was he not deceiving himself? +Was he not wrong? Alas! it was all Miss Crawford's doing. She had seen +her influence in every speech, and was miserable. The doubts and alarms +as to her own conduct, which had previously distressed her, and +which had all slept while she listened to him, were become of little +consequence now. This deeper anxiety swallowed them up. Things should +take their course; she cared not how it ended. Her cousins might attack, +but could hardly tease her. She was beyond their reach; and if at last +obliged to yield--no matter--it was all misery now. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +It was, indeed, a triumphant day to Mr. Bertram and Maria. Such a +victory over Edmund's discretion had been beyond their hopes, and was +most delightful. There was no longer anything to disturb them in their +darling project, and they congratulated each other in private on the +jealous weakness to which they attributed the change, with all the glee +of feelings gratified in every way. Edmund might still look grave, and +say he did not like the scheme in general, and must disapprove the play +in particular; their point was gained: he was to act, and he was driven +to it by the force of selfish inclinations only. Edmund had descended +from that moral elevation which he had maintained before, and they were +both as much the better as the happier for the descent. + +They behaved very well, however, to _him_ on the occasion, betraying no +exultation beyond the lines about the corners of the mouth, and seemed +to think it as great an escape to be quit of the intrusion of Charles +Maddox, as if they had been forced into admitting him against their +inclination. "To have it quite in their own family circle was what +they had particularly wished. A stranger among them would have been the +destruction of all their comfort"; and when Edmund, pursuing that idea, +gave a hint of his hope as to the limitation of the audience, they were +ready, in the complaisance of the moment, to promise anything. It was +all good-humour and encouragement. Mrs. Norris offered to contrive his +dress, Mr. Yates assured him that Anhalt's last scene with the Baron +admitted a good deal of action and emphasis, and Mr. Rushworth undertook +to count his speeches. + +"Perhaps," said Tom, "Fanny may be more disposed to oblige us now. +Perhaps you may persuade _her_." + +"No, she is quite determined. She certainly will not act." + +"Oh! very well." And not another word was said; but Fanny felt herself +again in danger, and her indifference to the danger was beginning to +fail her already. + +There were not fewer smiles at the Parsonage than at the Park on this +change in Edmund; Miss Crawford looked very lovely in hers, and entered +with such an instantaneous renewal of cheerfulness into the whole +affair as could have but one effect on him. "He was certainly right in +respecting such feelings; he was glad he had determined on it." And the +morning wore away in satisfactions very sweet, if not very sound. One +advantage resulted from it to Fanny: at the earnest request of Miss +Crawford, Mrs. Grant had, with her usual good-humour, agreed to +undertake the part for which Fanny had been wanted; and this was all +that occurred to gladden _her_ heart during the day; and even this, when +imparted by Edmund, brought a pang with it, for it was Miss Crawford to +whom she was obliged--it was Miss Crawford whose kind exertions were to +excite her gratitude, and whose merit in making them was spoken of +with a glow of admiration. She was safe; but peace and safety were +unconnected here. Her mind had been never farther from peace. She could +not feel that she had done wrong herself, but she was disquieted +in every other way. Her heart and her judgment were equally against +Edmund's decision: she could not acquit his unsteadiness, and his +happiness under it made her wretched. She was full of jealousy and +agitation. Miss Crawford came with looks of gaiety which seemed an +insult, with friendly expressions towards herself which she could hardly +answer calmly. Everybody around her was gay and busy, prosperous and +important; each had their object of interest, their part, their dress, +their favourite scene, their friends and confederates: all were finding +employment in consultations and comparisons, or diversion in the playful +conceits they suggested. She alone was sad and insignificant: she had +no share in anything; she might go or stay; she might be in the midst +of their noise, or retreat from it to the solitude of the East room, +without being seen or missed. She could almost think anything would +have been preferable to this. Mrs. Grant was of consequence: _her_ +good-nature had honourable mention; her taste and her time were +considered; her presence was wanted; she was sought for, and attended, +and praised; and Fanny was at first in some danger of envying her the +character she had accepted. But reflection brought better feelings, and +shewed her that Mrs. Grant was entitled to respect, which could never +have belonged to _her_; and that, had she received even the greatest, +she could never have been easy in joining a scheme which, considering +only her uncle, she must condemn altogether. + +Fanny's heart was not absolutely the only saddened one amongst them, +as she soon began to acknowledge to herself. Julia was a sufferer too, +though not quite so blamelessly. + +Henry Crawford had trifled with her feelings; but she had very long +allowed and even sought his attentions, with a jealousy of her sister so +reasonable as ought to have been their cure; and now that the conviction +of his preference for Maria had been forced on her, she submitted to it +without any alarm for Maria's situation, or any endeavour at rational +tranquillity for herself. She either sat in gloomy silence, wrapt in +such gravity as nothing could subdue, no curiosity touch, no wit amuse; +or allowing the attentions of Mr. Yates, was talking with forced gaiety +to him alone, and ridiculing the acting of the others. + +For a day or two after the affront was given, Henry Crawford had +endeavoured to do it away by the usual attack of gallantry and +compliment, but he had not cared enough about it to persevere against a +few repulses; and becoming soon too busy with his play to have time for +more than one flirtation, he grew indifferent to the quarrel, or rather +thought it a lucky occurrence, as quietly putting an end to what might +ere long have raised expectations in more than Mrs. Grant. She was not +pleased to see Julia excluded from the play, and sitting by disregarded; +but as it was not a matter which really involved her happiness, as Henry +must be the best judge of his own, and as he did assure her, with a +most persuasive smile, that neither he nor Julia had ever had a serious +thought of each other, she could only renew her former caution as to +the elder sister, entreat him not to risk his tranquillity by too +much admiration there, and then gladly take her share in anything that +brought cheerfulness to the young people in general, and that did so +particularly promote the pleasure of the two so dear to her. + +"I rather wonder Julia is not in love with Henry," was her observation +to Mary. + +"I dare say she is," replied Mary coldly. "I imagine both sisters are." + +"Both! no, no, that must not be. Do not give him a hint of it. Think of +Mr. Rushworth!" + +"You had better tell Miss Bertram to think of Mr. Rushworth. It may +do _her_ some good. I often think of Mr. Rushworth's property and +independence, and wish them in other hands; but I never think of him. A +man might represent the county with such an estate; a man might escape a +profession and represent the county." + +"I dare say he _will_ be in parliament soon. When Sir Thomas comes, I +dare say he will be in for some borough, but there has been nobody to +put him in the way of doing anything yet." + +"Sir Thomas is to achieve many mighty things when he comes home," said +Mary, after a pause. "Do you remember Hawkins Browne's 'Address to +Tobacco,' in imitation of Pope?-- + + Blest leaf! whose aromatic gales dispense + To Templars modesty, to Parsons sense. + +I will parody them-- + + Blest Knight! whose dictatorial looks dispense + To Children affluence, to Rushworth sense. + +Will not that do, Mrs. Grant? Everything seems to depend upon Sir +Thomas's return." + +"You will find his consequence very just and reasonable when you see him +in his family, I assure you. I do not think we do so well without him. +He has a fine dignified manner, which suits the head of such a house, +and keeps everybody in their place. Lady Bertram seems more of a cipher +now than when he is at home; and nobody else can keep Mrs. Norris in +order. But, Mary, do not fancy that Maria Bertram cares for Henry. I +am sure _Julia_ does not, or she would not have flirted as she did last +night with Mr. Yates; and though he and Maria are very good friends, I +think she likes Sotherton too well to be inconstant." + +"I would not give much for Mr. Rushworth's chance if Henry stept in +before the articles were signed." + +"If you have such a suspicion, something must be done; and as soon as +the play is all over, we will talk to him seriously and make him know +his own mind; and if he means nothing, we will send him off, though he +is Henry, for a time." + +Julia _did_ suffer, however, though Mrs. Grant discerned it not, and +though it escaped the notice of many of her own family likewise. She had +loved, she did love still, and she had all the suffering which a warm +temper and a high spirit were likely to endure under the disappointment +of a dear, though irrational hope, with a strong sense of ill-usage. +Her heart was sore and angry, and she was capable only of angry +consolations. The sister with whom she was used to be on easy terms was +now become her greatest enemy: they were alienated from each other; +and Julia was not superior to the hope of some distressing end to the +attentions which were still carrying on there, some punishment to +Maria for conduct so shameful towards herself as well as towards Mr. +Rushworth. With no material fault of temper, or difference of opinion, +to prevent their being very good friends while their interests were +the same, the sisters, under such a trial as this, had not affection or +principle enough to make them merciful or just, to give them honour or +compassion. Maria felt her triumph, and pursued her purpose, careless of +Julia; and Julia could never see Maria distinguished by Henry Crawford +without trusting that it would create jealousy, and bring a public +disturbance at last. + +Fanny saw and pitied much of this in Julia; but there was no outward +fellowship between them. Julia made no communication, and Fanny took +no liberties. They were two solitary sufferers, or connected only by +Fanny's consciousness. + +The inattention of the two brothers and the aunt to Julia's +discomposure, and their blindness to its true cause, must be imputed to +the fullness of their own minds. They were totally preoccupied. Tom was +engrossed by the concerns of his theatre, and saw nothing that did not +immediately relate to it. Edmund, between his theatrical and his real +part, between Miss Crawford's claims and his own conduct, between love +and consistency, was equally unobservant; and Mrs. Norris was too busy +in contriving and directing the general little matters of the company, +superintending their various dresses with economical expedient, for +which nobody thanked her, and saving, with delighted integrity, half +a crown here and there to the absent Sir Thomas, to have leisure for +watching the behaviour, or guarding the happiness of his daughters. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Everything was now in a regular train: theatre, actors, actresses, and +dresses, were all getting forward; but though no other great impediments +arose, Fanny found, before many days were past, that it was not all +uninterrupted enjoyment to the party themselves, and that she had not to +witness the continuance of such unanimity and delight as had been almost +too much for her at first. Everybody began to have their vexation. +Edmund had many. Entirely against _his_ judgment, a scene-painter +arrived from town, and was at work, much to the increase of the +expenses, and, what was worse, of the eclat of their proceedings; and +his brother, instead of being really guided by him as to the privacy of +the representation, was giving an invitation to every family who came +in his way. Tom himself began to fret over the scene-painter's slow +progress, and to feel the miseries of waiting. He had learned his +part--all his parts, for he took every trifling one that could be united +with the Butler, and began to be impatient to be acting; and every day +thus unemployed was tending to increase his sense of the insignificance +of all his parts together, and make him more ready to regret that some +other play had not been chosen. + +Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only +listener at hand, came in for the complaints and the distresses of +most of them. _She_ knew that Mr. Yates was in general thought to rant +dreadfully; that Mr. Yates was disappointed in Henry Crawford; that +Tom Bertram spoke so quick he would be unintelligible; that Mrs. Grant +spoiled everything by laughing; that Edmund was behindhand with his +part, and that it was misery to have anything to do with Mr. Rushworth, +who was wanting a prompter through every speech. She knew, also, that +poor Mr. Rushworth could seldom get anybody to rehearse with him: _his_ +complaint came before her as well as the rest; and so decided to her +eye was her cousin Maria's avoidance of him, and so needlessly often the +rehearsal of the first scene between her and Mr. Crawford, that she had +soon all the terror of other complaints from _him_. So far from being +all satisfied and all enjoying, she found everybody requiring something +they had not, and giving occasion of discontent to the others. Everybody +had a part either too long or too short; nobody would attend as they +ought; nobody would remember on which side they were to come in; nobody +but the complainer would observe any directions. + +Fanny believed herself to derive as much innocent enjoyment from the +play as any of them; Henry Crawford acted well, and it was a pleasure to +_her_ to creep into the theatre, and attend the rehearsal of the first +act, in spite of the feelings it excited in some speeches for Maria. +Maria, she also thought, acted well, too well; and after the first +rehearsal or two, Fanny began to be their only audience; and sometimes +as prompter, sometimes as spectator, was often very useful. As far as +she could judge, Mr. Crawford was considerably the best actor of all: he +had more confidence than Edmund, more judgment than Tom, more talent and +taste than Mr. Yates. She did not like him as a man, but she must admit +him to be the best actor, and on this point there were not many who +differed from her. Mr. Yates, indeed, exclaimed against his tameness and +insipidity; and the day came at last, when Mr. Rushworth turned to her +with a black look, and said, "Do you think there is anything so very +fine in all this? For the life and soul of me, I cannot admire him; and, +between ourselves, to see such an undersized, little, mean-looking man, +set up for a fine actor, is very ridiculous in my opinion." + +From this moment there was a return of his former jealousy, which Maria, +from increasing hopes of Crawford, was at little pains to remove; and +the chances of Mr. Rushworth's ever attaining to the knowledge of his +two-and-forty speeches became much less. As to his ever making anything +_tolerable_ of them, nobody had the smallest idea of that except +his mother; _she_, indeed, regretted that his part was not more +considerable, and deferred coming over to Mansfield till they were +forward enough in their rehearsal to comprehend all his scenes; but the +others aspired at nothing beyond his remembering the catchword, and the +first line of his speech, and being able to follow the prompter through +the rest. Fanny, in her pity and kindheartedness, was at great pains to +teach him how to learn, giving him all the helps and directions in her +power, trying to make an artificial memory for him, and learning every +word of his part herself, but without his being much the forwarder. + +Many uncomfortable, anxious, apprehensive feelings she certainly had; +but with all these, and other claims on her time and attention, she was +as far from finding herself without employment or utility amongst them, +as without a companion in uneasiness; quite as far from having no +demand on her leisure as on her compassion. The gloom of her first +anticipations was proved to have been unfounded. She was occasionally +useful to all; she was perhaps as much at peace as any. + +There was a great deal of needlework to be done, moreover, in which her +help was wanted; and that Mrs. Norris thought her quite as well off +as the rest, was evident by the manner in which she claimed it--"Come, +Fanny," she cried, "these are fine times for you, but you must not be +always walking from one room to the other, and doing the lookings-on at +your ease, in this way; I want you here. I have been slaving myself till +I can hardly stand, to contrive Mr. Rushworth's cloak without sending +for any more satin; and now I think you may give me your help in putting +it together. There are but three seams; you may do them in a trice. It +would be lucky for me if I had nothing but the executive part to do. +_You_ are best off, I can tell you: but if nobody did more than _you_, +we should not get on very fast." + +Fanny took the work very quietly, without attempting any defence; but +her kinder aunt Bertram observed on her behalf-- + +"One cannot wonder, sister, that Fanny _should_ be delighted: it is +all new to her, you know; you and I used to be very fond of a play +ourselves, and so am I still; and as soon as I am a little more at +leisure, _I_ mean to look in at their rehearsals too. What is the play +about, Fanny? you have never told me." + +"Oh! sister, pray do not ask her now; for Fanny is not one of those who +can talk and work at the same time. It is about Lovers' Vows." + +"I believe," said Fanny to her aunt Bertram, "there will be three acts +rehearsed to-morrow evening, and that will give you an opportunity of +seeing all the actors at once." + +"You had better stay till the curtain is hung," interposed Mrs. Norris; +"the curtain will be hung in a day or two--there is very little sense in +a play without a curtain--and I am much mistaken if you do not find it +draw up into very handsome festoons." + +Lady Bertram seemed quite resigned to waiting. Fanny did not share her +aunt's composure: she thought of the morrow a great deal, for if the +three acts were rehearsed, Edmund and Miss Crawford would then be acting +together for the first time; the third act would bring a scene between +them which interested her most particularly, and which she was longing +and dreading to see how they would perform. The whole subject of it was +love--a marriage of love was to be described by the gentleman, and very +little short of a declaration of love be made by the lady. + +She had read and read the scene again with many painful, many wondering +emotions, and looked forward to their representation of it as a +circumstance almost too interesting. She did not _believe_ they had yet +rehearsed it, even in private. + +The morrow came, the plan for the evening continued, and Fanny's +consideration of it did not become less agitated. She worked very +diligently under her aunt's directions, but her diligence and her +silence concealed a very absent, anxious mind; and about noon she +made her escape with her work to the East room, that she might have no +concern in another, and, as she deemed it, most unnecessary rehearsal of +the first act, which Henry Crawford was just proposing, desirous at +once of having her time to herself, and of avoiding the sight of Mr. +Rushworth. A glimpse, as she passed through the hall, of the two ladies +walking up from the Parsonage made no change in her wish of retreat, and +she worked and meditated in the East room, undisturbed, for a quarter of +an hour, when a gentle tap at the door was followed by the entrance of +Miss Crawford. + +"Am I right? Yes; this is the East room. My dear Miss Price, I beg your +pardon, but I have made my way to you on purpose to entreat your help." + +Fanny, quite surprised, endeavoured to shew herself mistress of the room +by her civilities, and looked at the bright bars of her empty grate with +concern. + +"Thank you; I am quite warm, very warm. Allow me to stay here a little +while, and do have the goodness to hear me my third act. I have brought +my book, and if you would but rehearse it with me, I should be _so_ +obliged! I came here to-day intending to rehearse it with Edmund--by +ourselves--against the evening, but he is not in the way; and if he +_were_, I do not think I could go through it with _him_, till I have +hardened myself a little; for really there is a speech or two. You will +be so good, won't you?" + +Fanny was most civil in her assurances, though she could not give them +in a very steady voice. + +"Have you ever happened to look at the part I mean?" continued Miss +Crawford, opening her book. "Here it is. I did not think much of it at +first--but, upon my word. There, look at _that_ speech, and _that_, and +_that_. How am I ever to look him in the face and say such things? Could +you do it? But then he is your cousin, which makes all the difference. +You must rehearse it with me, that I may fancy _you_ him, and get on by +degrees. You _have_ a look of _his_ sometimes." + +"Have I? I will do my best with the greatest readiness; but I must +_read_ the part, for I can say very little of it." + +"_None_ of it, I suppose. You are to have the book, of course. Now for +it. We must have two chairs at hand for you to bring forward to the +front of the stage. There--very good school-room chairs, not made for a +theatre, I dare say; much more fitted for little girls to sit and kick +their feet against when they are learning a lesson. What would your +governess and your uncle say to see them used for such a purpose? Could +Sir Thomas look in upon us just now, he would bless himself, for we +are rehearsing all over the house. Yates is storming away in the +dining-room. I heard him as I came upstairs, and the theatre is engaged +of course by those indefatigable rehearsers, Agatha and Frederick. If +_they_ are not perfect, I _shall_ be surprised. By the bye, I looked in +upon them five minutes ago, and it happened to be exactly at one of the +times when they were trying _not_ to embrace, and Mr. Rushworth was with +me. I thought he began to look a little queer, so I turned it off as +well as I could, by whispering to him, 'We shall have an excellent +Agatha; there is something so _maternal_ in her manner, so completely +_maternal_ in her voice and countenance.' Was not that well done of me? +He brightened up directly. Now for my soliloquy." + +She began, and Fanny joined in with all the modest feeling which the +idea of representing Edmund was so strongly calculated to inspire; but +with looks and voice so truly feminine as to be no very good picture of +a man. With such an Anhalt, however, Miss Crawford had courage enough; +and they had got through half the scene, when a tap at the door brought +a pause, and the entrance of Edmund, the next moment, suspended it all. + +Surprise, consciousness, and pleasure appeared in each of the three +on this unexpected meeting; and as Edmund was come on the very same +business that had brought Miss Crawford, consciousness and pleasure were +likely to be more than momentary in _them_. He too had his book, and was +seeking Fanny, to ask her to rehearse with him, and help him to prepare +for the evening, without knowing Miss Crawford to be in the house; +and great was the joy and animation of being thus thrown together, of +comparing schemes, and sympathising in praise of Fanny's kind offices. + +_She_ could not equal them in their warmth. _Her_ spirits sank under the +glow of theirs, and she felt herself becoming too nearly nothing to +both to have any comfort in having been sought by either. They must now +rehearse together. Edmund proposed, urged, entreated it, till the lady, +not very unwilling at first, could refuse no longer, and Fanny was +wanted only to prompt and observe them. She was invested, indeed, with +the office of judge and critic, and earnestly desired to exercise it and +tell them all their faults; but from doing so every feeling within her +shrank--she could not, would not, dared not attempt it: had she been +otherwise qualified for criticism, her conscience must have restrained +her from venturing at disapprobation. She believed herself to feel too +much of it in the aggregate for honesty or safety in particulars. To +prompt them must be enough for her; and it was sometimes _more_ than +enough; for she could not always pay attention to the book. In watching +them she forgot herself; and, agitated by the increasing spirit of +Edmund's manner, had once closed the page and turned away exactly as he +wanted help. It was imputed to very reasonable weariness, and she was +thanked and pitied; but she deserved their pity more than she hoped they +would ever surmise. At last the scene was over, and Fanny forced herself +to add her praise to the compliments each was giving the other; and when +again alone and able to recall the whole, she was inclined to believe +their performance would, indeed, have such nature and feeling in it as +must ensure their credit, and make it a very suffering exhibition to +herself. Whatever might be its effect, however, she must stand the brunt +of it again that very day. + +The first regular rehearsal of the three first acts was certainly to +take place in the evening: Mrs. Grant and the Crawfords were engaged to +return for that purpose as soon as they could after dinner; and every +one concerned was looking forward with eagerness. There seemed a general +diffusion of cheerfulness on the occasion. Tom was enjoying such an +advance towards the end; Edmund was in spirits from the morning's +rehearsal, and little vexations seemed everywhere smoothed away. All +were alert and impatient; the ladies moved soon, the gentlemen soon +followed them, and with the exception of Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and +Julia, everybody was in the theatre at an early hour; and having lighted +it up as well as its unfinished state admitted, were waiting only the +arrival of Mrs. Grant and the Crawfords to begin. + +They did not wait long for the Crawfords, but there was no Mrs. Grant. +She could not come. Dr. Grant, professing an indisposition, for which he +had little credit with his fair sister-in-law, could not spare his wife. + +"Dr. Grant is ill," said she, with mock solemnity. "He has been ill ever +since he did not eat any of the pheasant today. He fancied it tough, +sent away his plate, and has been suffering ever since". + +Here was disappointment! Mrs. Grant's non-attendance was sad indeed. +Her pleasant manners and cheerful conformity made her always valuable +amongst them; but _now_ she was absolutely necessary. They could not +act, they could not rehearse with any satisfaction without her. The +comfort of the whole evening was destroyed. What was to be done? Tom, as +Cottager, was in despair. After a pause of perplexity, some eyes began +to be turned towards Fanny, and a voice or two to say, "If Miss Price +would be so good as to _read_ the part." She was immediately surrounded +by supplications; everybody asked it; even Edmund said, "Do, Fanny, if +it is not _very_ disagreeable to you." + +But Fanny still hung back. She could not endure the idea of it. Why was +not Miss Crawford to be applied to as well? Or why had not she rather +gone to her own room, as she had felt to be safest, instead of attending +the rehearsal at all? She had known it would irritate and distress her; +she had known it her duty to keep away. She was properly punished. + +"You have only to _read_ the part," said Henry Crawford, with renewed +entreaty. + +"And I do believe she can say every word of it," added Maria, "for she +could put Mrs. Grant right the other day in twenty places. Fanny, I am +sure you know the part." + +Fanny could not say she did _not_; and as they all persevered, as +Edmund repeated his wish, and with a look of even fond dependence on +her good-nature, she must yield. She would do her best. Everybody was +satisfied; and she was left to the tremors of a most palpitating heart, +while the others prepared to begin. + +They _did_ begin; and being too much engaged in their own noise to be +struck by an unusual noise in the other part of the house, had proceeded +some way when the door of the room was thrown open, and Julia, appearing +at it, with a face all aghast, exclaimed, "My father is come! He is in +the hall at this moment." + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +How is the consternation of the party to be described? To the greater +number it was a moment of absolute horror. Sir Thomas in the house! All +felt the instantaneous conviction. Not a hope of imposition or mistake +was harboured anywhere. Julia's looks were an evidence of the fact that +made it indisputable; and after the first starts and exclamations, not a +word was spoken for half a minute: each with an altered countenance was +looking at some other, and almost each was feeling it a stroke the most +unwelcome, most ill-timed, most appalling! Mr. Yates might consider +it only as a vexatious interruption for the evening, and Mr. Rushworth +might imagine it a blessing; but every other heart was sinking under +some degree of self-condemnation or undefined alarm, every other heart +was suggesting, "What will become of us? what is to be done now?" It +was a terrible pause; and terrible to every ear were the corroborating +sounds of opening doors and passing footsteps. + +Julia was the first to move and speak again. Jealousy and bitterness +had been suspended: selfishness was lost in the common cause; but at the +moment of her appearance, Frederick was listening with looks of devotion +to Agatha's narrative, and pressing her hand to his heart; and as soon +as she could notice this, and see that, in spite of the shock of her +words, he still kept his station and retained her sister's hand, her +wounded heart swelled again with injury, and looking as red as she had +been white before, she turned out of the room, saying, "_I_ need not be +afraid of appearing before him." + +Her going roused the rest; and at the same moment the two brothers +stepped forward, feeling the necessity of doing something. A very few +words between them were sufficient. The case admitted no difference of +opinion: they must go to the drawing-room directly. Maria joined them +with the same intent, just then the stoutest of the three; for the +very circumstance which had driven Julia away was to her the sweetest +support. Henry Crawford's retaining her hand at such a moment, a moment +of such peculiar proof and importance, was worth ages of doubt and +anxiety. She hailed it as an earnest of the most serious determination, +and was equal even to encounter her father. They walked off, utterly +heedless of Mr. Rushworth's repeated question of, "Shall I go too? Had +not I better go too? Will not it be right for me to go too?" but they +were no sooner through the door than Henry Crawford undertook to answer +the anxious inquiry, and, encouraging him by all means to pay his +respects to Sir Thomas without delay, sent him after the others with +delighted haste. + +Fanny was left with only the Crawfords and Mr. Yates. She had been quite +overlooked by her cousins; and as her own opinion of her claims on Sir +Thomas's affection was much too humble to give her any idea of classing +herself with his children, she was glad to remain behind and gain a +little breathing-time. Her agitation and alarm exceeded all that was +endured by the rest, by the right of a disposition which not even +innocence could keep from suffering. She was nearly fainting: all her +former habitual dread of her uncle was returning, and with it compassion +for him and for almost every one of the party on the development before +him, with solicitude on Edmund's account indescribable. She had found +a seat, where in excessive trembling she was enduring all these fearful +thoughts, while the other three, no longer under any restraint, were +giving vent to their feelings of vexation, lamenting over such an +unlooked-for premature arrival as a most untoward event, and without +mercy wishing poor Sir Thomas had been twice as long on his passage, or +were still in Antigua. + +The Crawfords were more warm on the subject than Mr. Yates, from better +understanding the family, and judging more clearly of the mischief that +must ensue. The ruin of the play was to them a certainty: they felt +the total destruction of the scheme to be inevitably at hand; while Mr. +Yates considered it only as a temporary interruption, a disaster for the +evening, and could even suggest the possibility of the rehearsal being +renewed after tea, when the bustle of receiving Sir Thomas were over, +and he might be at leisure to be amused by it. The Crawfords laughed +at the idea; and having soon agreed on the propriety of their walking +quietly home and leaving the family to themselves, proposed Mr. Yates's +accompanying them and spending the evening at the Parsonage. But Mr. +Yates, having never been with those who thought much of parental claims, +or family confidence, could not perceive that anything of the kind was +necessary; and therefore, thanking them, said, "he preferred remaining +where he was, that he might pay his respects to the old gentleman +handsomely since he _was_ come; and besides, he did not think it would +be fair by the others to have everybody run away." + +Fanny was just beginning to collect herself, and to feel that if she +staid longer behind it might seem disrespectful, when this point was +settled, and being commissioned with the brother and sister's apology, +saw them preparing to go as she quitted the room herself to perform the +dreadful duty of appearing before her uncle. + +Too soon did she find herself at the drawing-room door; and after +pausing a moment for what she knew would not come, for a courage which +the outside of no door had ever supplied to her, she turned the lock in +desperation, and the lights of the drawing-room, and all the collected +family, were before her. As she entered, her own name caught her ear. +Sir Thomas was at that moment looking round him, and saying, "But where +is Fanny? Why do not I see my little Fanny?"--and on perceiving her, +came forward with a kindness which astonished and penetrated her, +calling her his dear Fanny, kissing her affectionately, and observing +with decided pleasure how much she was grown! Fanny knew not how to +feel, nor where to look. She was quite oppressed. He had never been so +kind, so _very_ kind to her in his life. His manner seemed changed, his +voice was quick from the agitation of joy; and all that had been awful +in his dignity seemed lost in tenderness. He led her nearer the light +and looked at her again--inquired particularly after her health, and +then, correcting himself, observed that he need not inquire, for +her appearance spoke sufficiently on that point. A fine blush having +succeeded the previous paleness of her face, he was justified in his +belief of her equal improvement in health and beauty. He inquired next +after her family, especially William: and his kindness altogether was +such as made her reproach herself for loving him so little, and thinking +his return a misfortune; and when, on having courage to lift her eyes to +his face, she saw that he was grown thinner, and had the burnt, fagged, +worn look of fatigue and a hot climate, every tender feeling was +increased, and she was miserable in considering how much unsuspected +vexation was probably ready to burst on him. + +Sir Thomas was indeed the life of the party, who at his suggestion +now seated themselves round the fire. He had the best right to be the +talker; and the delight of his sensations in being again in his own +house, in the centre of his family, after such a separation, made him +communicative and chatty in a very unusual degree; and he was ready to +give every information as to his voyage, and answer every question +of his two sons almost before it was put. His business in Antigua had +latterly been prosperously rapid, and he came directly from Liverpool, +having had an opportunity of making his passage thither in a private +vessel, instead of waiting for the packet; and all the little +particulars of his proceedings and events, his arrivals and departures, +were most promptly delivered, as he sat by Lady Bertram and looked with +heartfelt satisfaction on the faces around him--interrupting himself +more than once, however, to remark on his good fortune in finding them +all at home--coming unexpectedly as he did--all collected together +exactly as he could have wished, but dared not depend on. Mr. Rushworth +was not forgotten: a most friendly reception and warmth of hand-shaking +had already met him, and with pointed attention he was now included in +the objects most intimately connected with Mansfield. There was nothing +disagreeable in Mr. Rushworth's appearance, and Sir Thomas was liking +him already. + +By not one of the circle was he listened to with such unbroken, +unalloyed enjoyment as by his wife, who was really extremely happy to +see him, and whose feelings were so warmed by his sudden arrival as to +place her nearer agitation than she had been for the last twenty years. +She had been _almost_ fluttered for a few minutes, and still remained so +sensibly animated as to put away her work, move Pug from her side, and +give all her attention and all the rest of her sofa to her husband. She +had no anxieties for anybody to cloud _her_ pleasure: her own time had +been irreproachably spent during his absence: she had done a great +deal of carpet-work, and made many yards of fringe; and she would have +answered as freely for the good conduct and useful pursuits of all +the young people as for her own. It was so agreeable to her to see +him again, and hear him talk, to have her ear amused and her whole +comprehension filled by his narratives, that she began particularly +to feel how dreadfully she must have missed him, and how impossible it +would have been for her to bear a lengthened absence. + +Mrs. Norris was by no means to be compared in happiness to her +sister. Not that _she_ was incommoded by many fears of Sir Thomas's +disapprobation when the present state of his house should be known, for +her judgment had been so blinded that, except by the instinctive caution +with which she had whisked away Mr. Rushworth's pink satin cloak as her +brother-in-law entered, she could hardly be said to shew any sign of +alarm; but she was vexed by the _manner_ of his return. It had left her +nothing to do. Instead of being sent for out of the room, and seeing +him first, and having to spread the happy news through the house, Sir +Thomas, with a very reasonable dependence, perhaps, on the nerves of his +wife and children, had sought no confidant but the butler, and had been +following him almost instantaneously into the drawing-room. Mrs. Norris +felt herself defrauded of an office on which she had always depended, +whether his arrival or his death were to be the thing unfolded; and was +now trying to be in a bustle without having anything to bustle about, +and labouring to be important where nothing was wanted but tranquillity +and silence. Would Sir Thomas have consented to eat, she might have gone +to the housekeeper with troublesome directions, and insulted the footmen +with injunctions of despatch; but Sir Thomas resolutely declined all +dinner: he would take nothing, nothing till tea came--he would rather +wait for tea. Still Mrs. Norris was at intervals urging something +different; and in the most interesting moment of his passage to England, +when the alarm of a French privateer was at the height, she burst +through his recital with the proposal of soup. "Sure, my dear Sir +Thomas, a basin of soup would be a much better thing for you than tea. +Do have a basin of soup." + +Sir Thomas could not be provoked. "Still the same anxiety for +everybody's comfort, my dear Mrs. Norris," was his answer. "But indeed I +would rather have nothing but tea." + +"Well, then, Lady Bertram, suppose you speak for tea directly; suppose +you hurry Baddeley a little; he seems behindhand to-night." She carried +this point, and Sir Thomas's narrative proceeded. + +At length there was a pause. His immediate communications were +exhausted, and it seemed enough to be looking joyfully around him, now +at one, now at another of the beloved circle; but the pause was not +long: in the elation of her spirits Lady Bertram became talkative, and +what were the sensations of her children upon hearing her say, "How +do you think the young people have been amusing themselves lately, Sir +Thomas? They have been acting. We have been all alive with acting." + +"Indeed! and what have you been acting?" + +"Oh! they'll tell you all about it." + +"The _all_ will soon be told," cried Tom hastily, and with affected +unconcern; "but it is not worth while to bore my father with it now. You +will hear enough of it to-morrow, sir. We have just been trying, by way +of doing something, and amusing my mother, just within the last week, +to get up a few scenes, a mere trifle. We have had such incessant rains +almost since October began, that we have been nearly confined to the +house for days together. I have hardly taken out a gun since the 3rd. +Tolerable sport the first three days, but there has been no attempting +anything since. The first day I went over Mansfield Wood, and Edmund +took the copses beyond Easton, and we brought home six brace between +us, and might each have killed six times as many, but we respect your +pheasants, sir, I assure you, as much as you could desire. I do not +think you will find your woods by any means worse stocked than they +were. _I_ never saw Mansfield Wood so full of pheasants in my life +as this year. I hope you will take a day's sport there yourself, sir, +soon." + +For the present the danger was over, and Fanny's sick feelings subsided; +but when tea was soon afterwards brought in, and Sir Thomas, getting up, +said that he found that he could not be any longer in the house without +just looking into his own dear room, every agitation was returning. He +was gone before anything had been said to prepare him for the change he +must find there; and a pause of alarm followed his disappearance. Edmund +was the first to speak-- + +"Something must be done," said he. + +"It is time to think of our visitors," said Maria, still feeling her +hand pressed to Henry Crawford's heart, and caring little for anything +else. "Where did you leave Miss Crawford, Fanny?" + +Fanny told of their departure, and delivered their message. + +"Then poor Yates is all alone," cried Tom. "I will go and fetch him. He +will be no bad assistant when it all comes out." + +To the theatre he went, and reached it just in time to witness the first +meeting of his father and his friend. Sir Thomas had been a good deal +surprised to find candles burning in his room; and on casting his eye +round it, to see other symptoms of recent habitation and a general air +of confusion in the furniture. The removal of the bookcase from before +the billiard-room door struck him especially, but he had scarcely more +than time to feel astonished at all this, before there were sounds from +the billiard-room to astonish him still farther. Some one was talking +there in a very loud accent; he did not know the voice--more than +talking--almost hallooing. He stepped to the door, rejoicing at that +moment in having the means of immediate communication, and, opening it, +found himself on the stage of a theatre, and opposed to a ranting young +man, who appeared likely to knock him down backwards. At the very moment +of Yates perceiving Sir Thomas, and giving perhaps the very best start +he had ever given in the whole course of his rehearsals, Tom Bertram +entered at the other end of the room; and never had he found greater +difficulty in keeping his countenance. His father's looks of solemnity +and amazement on this his first appearance on any stage, and the gradual +metamorphosis of the impassioned Baron Wildenheim into the well-bred and +easy Mr. Yates, making his bow and apology to Sir Thomas Bertram, was +such an exhibition, such a piece of true acting, as he would not have +lost upon any account. It would be the last--in all probability--the +last scene on that stage; but he was sure there could not be a finer. +The house would close with the greatest eclat. + +There was little time, however, for the indulgence of any images of +merriment. It was necessary for him to step forward, too, and assist +the introduction, and with many awkward sensations he did his best. Sir +Thomas received Mr. Yates with all the appearance of cordiality which +was due to his own character, but was really as far from pleased +with the necessity of the acquaintance as with the manner of its +commencement. Mr. Yates's family and connexions were sufficiently known +to him to render his introduction as the "particular friend," another of +the hundred particular friends of his son, exceedingly unwelcome; and it +needed all the felicity of being again at home, and all the forbearance +it could supply, to save Sir Thomas from anger on finding himself thus +bewildered in his own house, making part of a ridiculous exhibition in +the midst of theatrical nonsense, and forced in so untoward a moment to +admit the acquaintance of a young man whom he felt sure of disapproving, +and whose easy indifference and volubility in the course of the first +five minutes seemed to mark him the most at home of the two. + +Tom understood his father's thoughts, and heartily wishing he might be +always as well disposed to give them but partial expression, began to +see, more clearly than he had ever done before, that there might be some +ground of offence, that there might be some reason for the glance his +father gave towards the ceiling and stucco of the room; and that when he +inquired with mild gravity after the fate of the billiard-table, he was +not proceeding beyond a very allowable curiosity. A few minutes were +enough for such unsatisfactory sensations on each side; and Sir +Thomas having exerted himself so far as to speak a few words of +calm approbation in reply to an eager appeal of Mr. Yates, as to the +happiness of the arrangement, the three gentlemen returned to the +drawing-room together, Sir Thomas with an increase of gravity which was +not lost on all. + +"I come from your theatre," said he composedly, as he sat down; "I found +myself in it rather unexpectedly. Its vicinity to my own room--but in +every respect, indeed, it took me by surprise, as I had not the smallest +suspicion of your acting having assumed so serious a character. It +appears a neat job, however, as far as I could judge by candlelight, +and does my friend Christopher Jackson credit." And then he would +have changed the subject, and sipped his coffee in peace over domestic +matters of a calmer hue; but Mr. Yates, without discernment to catch Sir +Thomas's meaning, or diffidence, or delicacy, or discretion enough to +allow him to lead the discourse while he mingled among the others with +the least obtrusiveness himself, would keep him on the topic of the +theatre, would torment him with questions and remarks relative to it, +and finally would make him hear the whole history of his disappointment +at Ecclesford. Sir Thomas listened most politely, but found much to +offend his ideas of decorum, and confirm his ill-opinion of Mr. Yates's +habits of thinking, from the beginning to the end of the story; and when +it was over, could give him no other assurance of sympathy than what a +slight bow conveyed. + +"This was, in fact, the origin of _our_ acting," said Tom, after +a moment's thought. "My friend Yates brought the infection from +Ecclesford, and it spread--as those things always spread, you know, +sir--the faster, probably, from _your_ having so often encouraged the +sort of thing in us formerly. It was like treading old ground again." + +Mr. Yates took the subject from his friend as soon as possible, and +immediately gave Sir Thomas an account of what they had done and were +doing: told him of the gradual increase of their views, the happy +conclusion of their first difficulties, and present promising state of +affairs; relating everything with so blind an interest as made him not +only totally unconscious of the uneasy movements of many of his +friends as they sat, the change of countenance, the fidget, the hem! of +unquietness, but prevented him even from seeing the expression of the +face on which his own eyes were fixed--from seeing Sir Thomas's dark +brow contract as he looked with inquiring earnestness at his daughters +and Edmund, dwelling particularly on the latter, and speaking a +language, a remonstrance, a reproof, which _he_ felt at his heart. Not +less acutely was it felt by Fanny, who had edged back her chair behind +her aunt's end of the sofa, and, screened from notice herself, saw all +that was passing before her. Such a look of reproach at Edmund from his +father she could never have expected to witness; and to feel that it +was in any degree deserved was an aggravation indeed. Sir Thomas's +look implied, "On your judgment, Edmund, I depended; what have you +been about?" She knelt in spirit to her uncle, and her bosom swelled to +utter, "Oh, not to _him_! Look so to all the others, but not to _him_!" + +Mr. Yates was still talking. "To own the truth, Sir Thomas, we were in +the middle of a rehearsal when you arrived this evening. We were going +through the three first acts, and not unsuccessfully upon the whole. Our +company is now so dispersed, from the Crawfords being gone home, that +nothing more can be done to-night; but if you will give us the honour of +your company to-morrow evening, I should not be afraid of the result. We +bespeak your indulgence, you understand, as young performers; we bespeak +your indulgence." + +"My indulgence shall be given, sir," replied Sir Thomas gravely, "but +without any other rehearsal." And with a relenting smile, he added, "I +come home to be happy and indulgent." Then turning away towards any +or all of the rest, he tranquilly said, "Mr. and Miss Crawford were +mentioned in my last letters from Mansfield. Do you find them agreeable +acquaintance?" + +Tom was the only one at all ready with an answer, but he being entirely +without particular regard for either, without jealousy either in love +or acting, could speak very handsomely of both. "Mr. Crawford was a +most pleasant, gentleman-like man; his sister a sweet, pretty, elegant, +lively girl." + +Mr. Rushworth could be silent no longer. "I do not say he is not +gentleman-like, considering; but you should tell your father he is not +above five feet eight, or he will be expecting a well-looking man." + +Sir Thomas did not quite understand this, and looked with some surprise +at the speaker. + +"If I must say what I think," continued Mr. Rushworth, "in my opinion it +is very disagreeable to be always rehearsing. It is having too much of a +good thing. I am not so fond of acting as I was at first. I think we are +a great deal better employed, sitting comfortably here among ourselves, +and doing nothing." + +Sir Thomas looked again, and then replied with an approving smile, "I am +happy to find our sentiments on this subject so much the same. It gives +me sincere satisfaction. That I should be cautious and quick-sighted, +and feel many scruples which my children do _not_ feel, is perfectly +natural; and equally so that my value for domestic tranquillity, for a +home which shuts out noisy pleasures, should much exceed theirs. But at +your time of life to feel all this, is a most favourable circumstance +for yourself, and for everybody connected with you; and I am sensible of +the importance of having an ally of such weight." + +Sir Thomas meant to be giving Mr. Rushworth's opinion in better words +than he could find himself. He was aware that he must not expect a +genius in Mr. Rushworth; but as a well-judging, steady young man, with +better notions than his elocution would do justice to, he intended to +value him very highly. It was impossible for many of the others not to +smile. Mr. Rushworth hardly knew what to do with so much meaning; but by +looking, as he really felt, most exceedingly pleased with Sir Thomas's +good opinion, and saying scarcely anything, he did his best towards +preserving that good opinion a little longer. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Edmund's first object the next morning was to see his father alone, and +give him a fair statement of the whole acting scheme, defending his own +share in it as far only as he could then, in a soberer moment, feel his +motives to deserve, and acknowledging, with perfect ingenuousness, that +his concession had been attended with such partial good as to make his +judgment in it very doubtful. He was anxious, while vindicating himself, +to say nothing unkind of the others: but there was only one amongst +them whose conduct he could mention without some necessity of defence +or palliation. "We have all been more or less to blame," said he, "every +one of us, excepting Fanny. Fanny is the only one who has judged rightly +throughout; who has been consistent. _Her_ feelings have been steadily +against it from first to last. She never ceased to think of what was due +to you. You will find Fanny everything you could wish." + +Sir Thomas saw all the impropriety of such a scheme among such a party, +and at such a time, as strongly as his son had ever supposed he must; he +felt it too much, indeed, for many words; and having shaken hands with +Edmund, meant to try to lose the disagreeable impression, and forget how +much he had been forgotten himself as soon as he could, after the house +had been cleared of every object enforcing the remembrance, and restored +to its proper state. He did not enter into any remonstrance with his +other children: he was more willing to believe they felt their error +than to run the risk of investigation. The reproof of an immediate +conclusion of everything, the sweep of every preparation, would be +sufficient. + +There was one person, however, in the house, whom he could not leave +to learn his sentiments merely through his conduct. He could not help +giving Mrs. Norris a hint of his having hoped that her advice might +have been interposed to prevent what her judgment must certainly have +disapproved. The young people had been very inconsiderate in forming the +plan; they ought to have been capable of a better decision themselves; +but they were young; and, excepting Edmund, he believed, of unsteady +characters; and with greater surprise, therefore, he must regard her +acquiescence in their wrong measures, her countenance of their unsafe +amusements, than that such measures and such amusements should have +been suggested. Mrs. Norris was a little confounded and as nearly +being silenced as ever she had been in her life; for she was ashamed to +confess having never seen any of the impropriety which was so glaring +to Sir Thomas, and would not have admitted that her influence was +insufficient--that she might have talked in vain. Her only resource was +to get out of the subject as fast as possible, and turn the current +of Sir Thomas's ideas into a happier channel. She had a great deal to +insinuate in her own praise as to _general_ attention to the interest +and comfort of his family, much exertion and many sacrifices to glance +at in the form of hurried walks and sudden removals from her own +fireside, and many excellent hints of distrust and economy to Lady +Bertram and Edmund to detail, whereby a most considerable saving had +always arisen, and more than one bad servant been detected. But her +chief strength lay in Sotherton. Her greatest support and glory was +in having formed the connexion with the Rushworths. _There_ she +was impregnable. She took to herself all the credit of bringing Mr. +Rushworth's admiration of Maria to any effect. "If I had not been +active," said she, "and made a point of being introduced to his mother, +and then prevailed on my sister to pay the first visit, I am as certain +as I sit here that nothing would have come of it; for Mr. Rushworth +is the sort of amiable modest young man who wants a great deal of +encouragement, and there were girls enough on the catch for him if we +had been idle. But I left no stone unturned. I was ready to move heaven +and earth to persuade my sister, and at last I did persuade her. You +know the distance to Sotherton; it was in the middle of winter, and the +roads almost impassable, but I did persuade her." + +"I know how great, how justly great, your influence is with Lady Bertram +and her children, and am the more concerned that it should not have +been." + +"My dear Sir Thomas, if you had seen the state of the roads _that_ day! +I thought we should never have got through them, though we had the four +horses of course; and poor old coachman would attend us, out of his +great love and kindness, though he was hardly able to sit the box on +account of the rheumatism which I had been doctoring him for ever since +Michaelmas. I cured him at last; but he was very bad all the winter--and +this was such a day, I could not help going to him up in his room before +we set off to advise him not to venture: he was putting on his wig; so +I said, 'Coachman, you had much better not go; your Lady and I shall be +very safe; you know how steady Stephen is, and Charles has been upon the +leaders so often now, that I am sure there is no fear.' But, however, I +soon found it would not do; he was bent upon going, and as I hate to be +worrying and officious, I said no more; but my heart quite ached for him +at every jolt, and when we got into the rough lanes about Stoke, where, +what with frost and snow upon beds of stones, it was worse than anything +you can imagine, I was quite in an agony about him. And then the poor +horses too! To see them straining away! You know how I always feel for +the horses. And when we got to the bottom of Sandcroft Hill, what do you +think I did? You will laugh at me; but I got out and walked up. I did +indeed. It might not be saving them much, but it was something, and I +could not bear to sit at my ease and be dragged up at the expense of +those noble animals. I caught a dreadful cold, but _that_ I did not +regard. My object was accomplished in the visit." + +"I hope we shall always think the acquaintance worth any trouble that +might be taken to establish it. There is nothing very striking in Mr. +Rushworth's manners, but I was pleased last night with what appeared to +be his opinion on one subject: his decided preference of a quiet family +party to the bustle and confusion of acting. He seemed to feel exactly +as one could wish." + +"Yes, indeed, and the more you know of him the better you will like him. +He is not a shining character, but he has a thousand good qualities; and +is so disposed to look up to you, that I am quite laughed at about it, +for everybody considers it as my doing. 'Upon my word, Mrs. Norris,' +said Mrs. Grant the other day, 'if Mr. Rushworth were a son of your own, +he could not hold Sir Thomas in greater respect.'" + +Sir Thomas gave up the point, foiled by her evasions, disarmed by her +flattery; and was obliged to rest satisfied with the conviction that +where the present pleasure of those she loved was at stake, her kindness +did sometimes overpower her judgment. + +It was a busy morning with him. Conversation with any of them occupied +but a small part of it. He had to reinstate himself in all the wonted +concerns of his Mansfield life: to see his steward and his bailiff; to +examine and compute, and, in the intervals of business, to walk into +his stables and his gardens, and nearest plantations; but active and +methodical, he had not only done all this before he resumed his seat as +master of the house at dinner, he had also set the carpenter to work in +pulling down what had been so lately put up in the billiard-room, +and given the scene-painter his dismissal long enough to justify the +pleasing belief of his being then at least as far off as Northampton. +The scene-painter was gone, having spoilt only the floor of one room, +ruined all the coachman's sponges, and made five of the under-servants +idle and dissatisfied; and Sir Thomas was in hopes that another day or +two would suffice to wipe away every outward memento of what had been, +even to the destruction of every unbound copy of Lovers' Vows in the +house, for he was burning all that met his eye. + +Mr. Yates was beginning now to understand Sir Thomas's intentions, +though as far as ever from understanding their source. He and his friend +had been out with their guns the chief of the morning, and Tom had taken +the opportunity of explaining, with proper apologies for his father's +particularity, what was to be expected. Mr. Yates felt it as acutely as +might be supposed. To be a second time disappointed in the same way was +an instance of very severe ill-luck; and his indignation was such, +that had it not been for delicacy towards his friend, and his friend's +youngest sister, he believed he should certainly attack the baronet +on the absurdity of his proceedings, and argue him into a little more +rationality. He believed this very stoutly while he was in Mansfield +Wood, and all the way home; but there was a something in Sir Thomas, +when they sat round the same table, which made Mr. Yates think it +wiser to let him pursue his own way, and feel the folly of it without +opposition. He had known many disagreeable fathers before, and often +been struck with the inconveniences they occasioned, but never, in +the whole course of his life, had he seen one of that class so +unintelligibly moral, so infamously tyrannical as Sir Thomas. He was +not a man to be endured but for his children's sake, and he might be +thankful to his fair daughter Julia that Mr. Yates did yet mean to stay +a few days longer under his roof. + +The evening passed with external smoothness, though almost every +mind was ruffled; and the music which Sir Thomas called for from his +daughters helped to conceal the want of real harmony. Maria was in a +good deal of agitation. It was of the utmost consequence to her that +Crawford should now lose no time in declaring himself, and she was +disturbed that even a day should be gone by without seeming to advance +that point. She had been expecting to see him the whole morning, and +all the evening, too, was still expecting him. Mr. Rushworth had set off +early with the great news for Sotherton; and she had fondly hoped for +such an immediate _eclaircissement_ as might save him the trouble of +ever coming back again. But they had seen no one from the Parsonage, +not a creature, and had heard no tidings beyond a friendly note of +congratulation and inquiry from Mrs. Grant to Lady Bertram. It was the +first day for many, many weeks, in which the families had been wholly +divided. Four-and-twenty hours had never passed before, since August +began, without bringing them together in some way or other. It was a +sad, anxious day; and the morrow, though differing in the sort of evil, +did by no means bring less. A few moments of feverish enjoyment were +followed by hours of acute suffering. Henry Crawford was again in the +house: he walked up with Dr. Grant, who was anxious to pay his respects +to Sir Thomas, and at rather an early hour they were ushered into the +breakfast-room, where were most of the family. Sir Thomas soon appeared, +and Maria saw with delight and agitation the introduction of the man she +loved to her father. Her sensations were indefinable, and so were they +a few minutes afterwards upon hearing Henry Crawford, who had a chair +between herself and Tom, ask the latter in an undervoice whether +there were any plans for resuming the play after the present happy +interruption (with a courteous glance at Sir Thomas), because, in that +case, he should make a point of returning to Mansfield at any time +required by the party: he was going away immediately, being to meet his +uncle at Bath without delay; but if there were any prospect of a renewal +of Lovers' Vows, he should hold himself positively engaged, he should +break through every other claim, he should absolutely condition with his +uncle for attending them whenever he might be wanted. The play should +not be lost by _his_ absence. + +"From Bath, Norfolk, London, York, wherever I may be," said he; "I will +attend you from any place in England, at an hour's notice." + +It was well at that moment that Tom had to speak, and not his sister. He +could immediately say with easy fluency, "I am sorry you are going; +but as to our play, _that_ is all over--entirely at an end" (looking +significantly at his father). "The painter was sent off yesterday, and +very little will remain of the theatre to-morrow. I knew how _that_ +would be from the first. It is early for Bath. You will find nobody +there." + +"It is about my uncle's usual time." + +"When do you think of going?" + +"I may, perhaps, get as far as Banbury to-day." + +"Whose stables do you use at Bath?" was the next question; and while +this branch of the subject was under discussion, Maria, who wanted +neither pride nor resolution, was preparing to encounter her share of it +with tolerable calmness. + +To her he soon turned, repeating much of what he had already said, with +only a softened air and stronger expressions of regret. But what availed +his expressions or his air? He was going, and, if not voluntarily going, +voluntarily intending to stay away; for, excepting what might be due +to his uncle, his engagements were all self-imposed. He might talk of +necessity, but she knew his independence. The hand which had so pressed +hers to his heart! the hand and the heart were alike motionless and +passive now! Her spirit supported her, but the agony of her mind was +severe. She had not long to endure what arose from listening to language +which his actions contradicted, or to bury the tumult of her feelings +under the restraint of society; for general civilities soon called +his notice from her, and the farewell visit, as it then became openly +acknowledged, was a very short one. He was gone--he had touched her +hand for the last time, he had made his parting bow, and she might seek +directly all that solitude could do for her. Henry Crawford was gone, +gone from the house, and within two hours afterwards from the parish; +and so ended all the hopes his selfish vanity had raised in Maria and +Julia Bertram. + +Julia could rejoice that he was gone. His presence was beginning to be +odious to her; and if Maria gained him not, she was now cool enough to +dispense with any other revenge. She did not want exposure to be added +to desertion. Henry Crawford gone, she could even pity her sister. + +With a purer spirit did Fanny rejoice in the intelligence. She heard it +at dinner, and felt it a blessing. By all the others it was mentioned +with regret; and his merits honoured with due gradation of feeling--from +the sincerity of Edmund's too partial regard, to the unconcern of his +mother speaking entirely by rote. Mrs. Norris began to look about her, +and wonder that his falling in love with Julia had come to nothing; and +could almost fear that she had been remiss herself in forwarding it; but +with so many to care for, how was it possible for even _her_ activity to +keep pace with her wishes? + +Another day or two, and Mr. Yates was gone likewise. In _his_ departure +Sir Thomas felt the chief interest: wanting to be alone with his family, +the presence of a stranger superior to Mr. Yates must have been irksome; +but of him, trifling and confident, idle and expensive, it was every way +vexatious. In himself he was wearisome, but as the friend of Tom and +the admirer of Julia he became offensive. Sir Thomas had been quite +indifferent to Mr. Crawford's going or staying: but his good wishes +for Mr. Yates's having a pleasant journey, as he walked with him to the +hall-door, were given with genuine satisfaction. Mr. Yates had staid to +see the destruction of every theatrical preparation at Mansfield, the +removal of everything appertaining to the play: he left the house in all +the soberness of its general character; and Sir Thomas hoped, in seeing +him out of it, to be rid of the worst object connected with the scheme, +and the last that must be inevitably reminding him of its existence. + +Mrs. Norris contrived to remove one article from his sight that might +have distressed him. The curtain, over which she had presided with such +talent and such success, went off with her to her cottage, where she +happened to be particularly in want of green baize. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Sir Thomas's return made a striking change in the ways of the family, +independent of Lovers' Vows. Under his government, Mansfield was an +altered place. Some members of their society sent away, and the spirits +of many others saddened--it was all sameness and gloom compared with +the past--a sombre family party rarely enlivened. There was little +intercourse with the Parsonage. Sir Thomas, drawing back from intimacies +in general, was particularly disinclined, at this time, for any +engagements but in one quarter. The Rushworths were the only addition to +his own domestic circle which he could solicit. + +Edmund did not wonder that such should be his father's feelings, nor +could he regret anything but the exclusion of the Grants. "But they," he +observed to Fanny, "have a claim. They seem to belong to us; they seem +to be part of ourselves. I could wish my father were more sensible of +their very great attention to my mother and sisters while he was away. I +am afraid they may feel themselves neglected. But the truth is, that my +father hardly knows them. They had not been here a twelvemonth when he +left England. If he knew them better, he would value their society as it +deserves; for they are in fact exactly the sort of people he would +like. We are sometimes a little in want of animation among ourselves: my +sisters seem out of spirits, and Tom is certainly not at his ease. Dr. +and Mrs. Grant would enliven us, and make our evenings pass away with +more enjoyment even to my father." + +"Do you think so?" said Fanny: "in my opinion, my uncle would not like +_any_ addition. I think he values the very quietness you speak of, and +that the repose of his own family circle is all he wants. And it does +not appear to me that we are more serious than we used to be--I mean +before my uncle went abroad. As well as I can recollect, it was always +much the same. There was never much laughing in his presence; or, if +there is any difference, it is not more, I think, than such an absence +has a tendency to produce at first. There must be a sort of shyness; but +I cannot recollect that our evenings formerly were ever merry, except +when my uncle was in town. No young people's are, I suppose, when those +they look up to are at home". + +"I believe you are right, Fanny," was his reply, after a short +consideration. "I believe our evenings are rather returned to what they +were, than assuming a new character. The novelty was in their being +lively. Yet, how strong the impression that only a few weeks will give! +I have been feeling as if we had never lived so before." + +"I suppose I am graver than other people," said Fanny. "The evenings do +not appear long to me. I love to hear my uncle talk of the West Indies. +I could listen to him for an hour together. It entertains _me_ more than +many other things have done; but then I am unlike other people, I dare +say." + +"Why should you dare say _that_?" (smiling). "Do you want to be told +that you are only unlike other people in being more wise and discreet? +But when did you, or anybody, ever get a compliment from me, Fanny? Go +to my father if you want to be complimented. He will satisfy you. Ask +your uncle what he thinks, and you will hear compliments enough: and +though they may be chiefly on your person, you must put up with it, and +trust to his seeing as much beauty of mind in time." + +Such language was so new to Fanny that it quite embarrassed her. + +"Your uncle thinks you very pretty, dear Fanny--and that is the long and +the short of the matter. Anybody but myself would have made something +more of it, and anybody but you would resent that you had not been +thought very pretty before; but the truth is, that your uncle never +did admire you till now--and now he does. Your complexion is so +improved!--and you have gained so much countenance!--and your +figure--nay, Fanny, do not turn away about it--it is but an uncle. If +you cannot bear an uncle's admiration, what is to become of you? You +must really begin to harden yourself to the idea of being worth looking +at. You must try not to mind growing up into a pretty woman." + +"Oh! don't talk so, don't talk so," cried Fanny, distressed by more +feelings than he was aware of; but seeing that she was distressed, he +had done with the subject, and only added more seriously-- + +"Your uncle is disposed to be pleased with you in every respect; and I +only wish you would talk to him more. You are one of those who are too +silent in the evening circle." + +"But I do talk to him more than I used. I am sure I do. Did not you hear +me ask him about the slave-trade last night?" + +"I did--and was in hopes the question would be followed up by others. It +would have pleased your uncle to be inquired of farther." + +"And I longed to do it--but there was such a dead silence! And while +my cousins were sitting by without speaking a word, or seeming at all +interested in the subject, I did not like--I thought it would appear as +if I wanted to set myself off at their expense, by shewing a curiosity +and pleasure in his information which he must wish his own daughters to +feel." + +"Miss Crawford was very right in what she said of you the other day: +that you seemed almost as fearful of notice and praise as other women +were of neglect. We were talking of you at the Parsonage, and those were +her words. She has great discernment. I know nobody who distinguishes +characters better. For so young a woman it is remarkable! She certainly +understands _you_ better than you are understood by the greater part of +those who have known you so long; and with regard to some others, I can +perceive, from occasional lively hints, the unguarded expressions of +the moment, that she could define _many_ as accurately, did not delicacy +forbid it. I wonder what she thinks of my father! She must admire him +as a fine-looking man, with most gentlemanlike, dignified, consistent +manners; but perhaps, having seen him so seldom, his reserve may be +a little repulsive. Could they be much together, I feel sure of their +liking each other. He would enjoy her liveliness and she has talents to +value his powers. I wish they met more frequently! I hope she does not +suppose there is any dislike on his side." + +"She must know herself too secure of the regard of all the rest of you," +said Fanny, with half a sigh, "to have any such apprehension. And Sir +Thomas's wishing just at first to be only with his family, is so very +natural, that she can argue nothing from that. After a little while, I +dare say, we shall be meeting again in the same sort of way, allowing +for the difference of the time of year." + +"This is the first October that she has passed in the country since her +infancy. I do not call Tunbridge or Cheltenham the country; and November +is a still more serious month, and I can see that Mrs. Grant is very +anxious for her not finding Mansfield dull as winter comes on." + +Fanny could have said a great deal, but it was safer to say nothing, and +leave untouched all Miss Crawford's resources--her accomplishments, her +spirits, her importance, her friends, lest it should betray her into +any observations seemingly unhandsome. Miss Crawford's kind opinion of +herself deserved at least a grateful forbearance, and she began to talk +of something else. + +"To-morrow, I think, my uncle dines at Sotherton, and you and Mr. +Bertram too. We shall be quite a small party at home. I hope my uncle +may continue to like Mr. Rushworth." + +"That is impossible, Fanny. He must like him less after to-morrow's +visit, for we shall be five hours in his company. I should dread +the stupidity of the day, if there were not a much greater evil to +follow--the impression it must leave on Sir Thomas. He cannot much +longer deceive himself. I am sorry for them all, and would give +something that Rushworth and Maria had never met." + +In this quarter, indeed, disappointment was impending over Sir Thomas. +Not all his good-will for Mr. Rushworth, not all Mr. Rushworth's +deference for him, could prevent him from soon discerning some part of +the truth--that Mr. Rushworth was an inferior young man, as ignorant +in business as in books, with opinions in general unfixed, and without +seeming much aware of it himself. + +He had expected a very different son-in-law; and beginning to feel +grave on Maria's account, tried to understand _her_ feelings. Little +observation there was necessary to tell him that indifference was the +most favourable state they could be in. Her behaviour to Mr. Rushworth +was careless and cold. She could not, did not like him. Sir Thomas +resolved to speak seriously to her. Advantageous as would be the +alliance, and long standing and public as was the engagement, her +happiness must not be sacrificed to it. Mr. Rushworth had, perhaps, been +accepted on too short an acquaintance, and, on knowing him better, she +was repenting. + +With solemn kindness Sir Thomas addressed her: told her his fears, +inquired into her wishes, entreated her to be open and sincere, and +assured her that every inconvenience should be braved, and the connexion +entirely given up, if she felt herself unhappy in the prospect of it. He +would act for her and release her. Maria had a moment's struggle as she +listened, and only a moment's: when her father ceased, she was able to +give her answer immediately, decidedly, and with no apparent agitation. +She thanked him for his great attention, his paternal kindness, but he +was quite mistaken in supposing she had the smallest desire of breaking +through her engagement, or was sensible of any change of opinion or +inclination since her forming it. She had the highest esteem for Mr. +Rushworth's character and disposition, and could not have a doubt of her +happiness with him. + +Sir Thomas was satisfied; too glad to be satisfied, perhaps, to urge the +matter quite so far as his judgment might have dictated to others. It +was an alliance which he could not have relinquished without pain; +and thus he reasoned. Mr. Rushworth was young enough to improve. Mr. +Rushworth must and would improve in good society; and if Maria could now +speak so securely of her happiness with him, speaking certainly without +the prejudice, the blindness of love, she ought to be believed. Her +feelings, probably, were not acute; he had never supposed them to be +so; but her comforts might not be less on that account; and if she could +dispense with seeing her husband a leading, shining character, there +would certainly be everything else in her favour. A well-disposed young +woman, who did not marry for love, was in general but the more attached +to her own family; and the nearness of Sotherton to Mansfield +must naturally hold out the greatest temptation, and would, in all +probability, be a continual supply of the most amiable and innocent +enjoyments. Such and such-like were the reasonings of Sir Thomas, +happy to escape the embarrassing evils of a rupture, the wonder, +the reflections, the reproach that must attend it; happy to secure a +marriage which would bring him such an addition of respectability +and influence, and very happy to think anything of his daughter's +disposition that was most favourable for the purpose. + +To her the conference closed as satisfactorily as to him. She was in a +state of mind to be glad that she had secured her fate beyond recall: +that she had pledged herself anew to Sotherton; that she was safe from +the possibility of giving Crawford the triumph of governing her actions, +and destroying her prospects; and retired in proud resolve, determined +only to behave more cautiously to Mr. Rushworth in future, that her +father might not be again suspecting her. + +Had Sir Thomas applied to his daughter within the first three or four +days after Henry Crawford's leaving Mansfield, before her feelings were +at all tranquillised, before she had given up every hope of him, or +absolutely resolved on enduring his rival, her answer might have been +different; but after another three or four days, when there was no +return, no letter, no message, no symptom of a softened heart, no hope +of advantage from separation, her mind became cool enough to seek all +the comfort that pride and self revenge could give. + +Henry Crawford had destroyed her happiness, but he should not know that +he had done it; he should not destroy her credit, her appearance, her +prosperity, too. He should not have to think of her as pining in the +retirement of Mansfield for _him_, rejecting Sotherton and London, +independence and splendour, for _his_ sake. Independence was more +needful than ever; the want of it at Mansfield more sensibly felt. She +was less and less able to endure the restraint which her father imposed. +The liberty which his absence had given was now become absolutely +necessary. She must escape from him and Mansfield as soon as possible, +and find consolation in fortune and consequence, bustle and the world, +for a wounded spirit. Her mind was quite determined, and varied not. + +To such feelings delay, even the delay of much preparation, would have +been an evil, and Mr. Rushworth could hardly be more impatient for the +marriage than herself. In all the important preparations of the mind +she was complete: being prepared for matrimony by an hatred of home, +restraint, and tranquillity; by the misery of disappointed affection, +and contempt of the man she was to marry. The rest might wait. The +preparations of new carriages and furniture might wait for London and +spring, when her own taste could have fairer play. + +The principals being all agreed in this respect, it soon appeared that a +very few weeks would be sufficient for such arrangements as must precede +the wedding. + +Mrs. Rushworth was quite ready to retire, and make way for the fortunate +young woman whom her dear son had selected; and very early in November +removed herself, her maid, her footman, and her chariot, with true +dowager propriety, to Bath, there to parade over the wonders of +Sotherton in her evening parties; enjoying them as thoroughly, perhaps, +in the animation of a card-table, as she had ever done on the spot; and +before the middle of the same month the ceremony had taken place which +gave Sotherton another mistress. + +It was a very proper wedding. The bride was elegantly dressed; the two +bridesmaids were duly inferior; her father gave her away; her mother +stood with salts in her hand, expecting to be agitated; her aunt tried +to cry; and the service was impressively read by Dr. Grant. Nothing +could be objected to when it came under the discussion of the +neighbourhood, except that the carriage which conveyed the bride and +bridegroom and Julia from the church-door to Sotherton was the same +chaise which Mr. Rushworth had used for a twelvemonth before. In +everything else the etiquette of the day might stand the strictest +investigation. + +It was done, and they were gone. Sir Thomas felt as an anxious father +must feel, and was indeed experiencing much of the agitation which his +wife had been apprehensive of for herself, but had fortunately escaped. +Mrs. Norris, most happy to assist in the duties of the day, by spending +it at the Park to support her sister's spirits, and drinking the health +of Mr. and Mrs. Rushworth in a supernumerary glass or two, was all +joyous delight; for she had made the match; she had done everything; +and no one would have supposed, from her confident triumph, that she +had ever heard of conjugal infelicity in her life, or could have the +smallest insight into the disposition of the niece who had been brought +up under her eye. + +The plan of the young couple was to proceed, after a few days, to +Brighton, and take a house there for some weeks. Every public place was +new to Maria, and Brighton is almost as gay in winter as in summer. When +the novelty of amusement there was over, it would be time for the wider +range of London. + +Julia was to go with them to Brighton. Since rivalry between the sisters +had ceased, they had been gradually recovering much of their former good +understanding; and were at least sufficiently friends to make each of +them exceedingly glad to be with the other at such a time. Some other +companion than Mr. Rushworth was of the first consequence to his lady; +and Julia was quite as eager for novelty and pleasure as Maria, though +she might not have struggled through so much to obtain them, and could +better bear a subordinate situation. + +Their departure made another material change at Mansfield, a chasm +which required some time to fill up. The family circle became greatly +contracted; and though the Miss Bertrams had latterly added little to +its gaiety, they could not but be missed. Even their mother missed them; +and how much more their tenderhearted cousin, who wandered about +the house, and thought of them, and felt for them, with a degree of +affectionate regret which they had never done much to deserve! + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Fanny's consequence increased on the departure of her cousins. Becoming, +as she then did, the only young woman in the drawing-room, the only +occupier of that interesting division of a family in which she had +hitherto held so humble a third, it was impossible for her not to be +more looked at, more thought of and attended to, than she had ever been +before; and "Where is Fanny?" became no uncommon question, even without +her being wanted for any one's convenience. + +Not only at home did her value increase, but at the Parsonage too. In +that house, which she had hardly entered twice a year since Mr. Norris's +death, she became a welcome, an invited guest, and in the gloom and dirt +of a November day, most acceptable to Mary Crawford. Her visits there, +beginning by chance, were continued by solicitation. Mrs. Grant, +really eager to get any change for her sister, could, by the easiest +self-deceit, persuade herself that she was doing the kindest thing by +Fanny, and giving her the most important opportunities of improvement in +pressing her frequent calls. + +Fanny, having been sent into the village on some errand by her aunt +Norris, was overtaken by a heavy shower close to the Parsonage; and +being descried from one of the windows endeavouring to find shelter +under the branches and lingering leaves of an oak just beyond their +premises, was forced, though not without some modest reluctance on her +part, to come in. A civil servant she had withstood; but when Dr. Grant +himself went out with an umbrella, there was nothing to be done but to +be very much ashamed, and to get into the house as fast as possible; and +to poor Miss Crawford, who had just been contemplating the dismal rain +in a very desponding state of mind, sighing over the ruin of all her +plan of exercise for that morning, and of every chance of seeing a +single creature beyond themselves for the next twenty-four hours, the +sound of a little bustle at the front door, and the sight of Miss Price +dripping with wet in the vestibule, was delightful. The value of an +event on a wet day in the country was most forcibly brought before her. +She was all alive again directly, and among the most active in being +useful to Fanny, in detecting her to be wetter than she would at first +allow, and providing her with dry clothes; and Fanny, after being +obliged to submit to all this attention, and to being assisted and +waited on by mistresses and maids, being also obliged, on returning +downstairs, to be fixed in their drawing-room for an hour while the rain +continued, the blessing of something fresh to see and think of was thus +extended to Miss Crawford, and might carry on her spirits to the period +of dressing and dinner. + +The two sisters were so kind to her, and so pleasant, that Fanny might +have enjoyed her visit could she have believed herself not in the way, +and could she have foreseen that the weather would certainly clear at +the end of the hour, and save her from the shame of having Dr. Grant's +carriage and horses out to take her home, with which she was threatened. +As to anxiety for any alarm that her absence in such weather might +occasion at home, she had nothing to suffer on that score; for as her +being out was known only to her two aunts, she was perfectly aware that +none would be felt, and that in whatever cottage aunt Norris might chuse +to establish her during the rain, her being in such cottage would be +indubitable to aunt Bertram. + +It was beginning to look brighter, when Fanny, observing a harp in the +room, asked some questions about it, which soon led to an acknowledgment +of her wishing very much to hear it, and a confession, which could +hardly be believed, of her having never yet heard it since its being +in Mansfield. To Fanny herself it appeared a very simple and natural +circumstance. She had scarcely ever been at the Parsonage since the +instrument's arrival, there had been no reason that she should; but Miss +Crawford, calling to mind an early expressed wish on the subject, was +concerned at her own neglect; and "Shall I play to you now?" and "What +will you have?" were questions immediately following with the readiest +good-humour. + +She played accordingly; happy to have a new listener, and a listener who +seemed so much obliged, so full of wonder at the performance, and who +shewed herself not wanting in taste. She played till Fanny's eyes, +straying to the window on the weather's being evidently fair, spoke what +she felt must be done. + +"Another quarter of an hour," said Miss Crawford, "and we shall see how +it will be. Do not run away the first moment of its holding up. Those +clouds look alarming." + +"But they are passed over," said Fanny. "I have been watching them. This +weather is all from the south." + +"South or north, I know a black cloud when I see it; and you must not +set forward while it is so threatening. And besides, I want to play +something more to you--a very pretty piece--and your cousin Edmund's +prime favourite. You must stay and hear your cousin's favourite." + +Fanny felt that she must; and though she had not waited for that +sentence to be thinking of Edmund, such a memento made her particularly +awake to his idea, and she fancied him sitting in that room again +and again, perhaps in the very spot where she sat now, listening with +constant delight to the favourite air, played, as it appeared to her, +with superior tone and expression; and though pleased with it herself, +and glad to like whatever was liked by him, she was more sincerely +impatient to go away at the conclusion of it than she had been before; +and on this being evident, she was so kindly asked to call again, to +take them in her walk whenever she could, to come and hear more of the +harp, that she felt it necessary to be done, if no objection arose at +home. + +Such was the origin of the sort of intimacy which took place between +them within the first fortnight after the Miss Bertrams' going away--an +intimacy resulting principally from Miss Crawford's desire of something +new, and which had little reality in Fanny's feelings. Fanny went to her +every two or three days: it seemed a kind of fascination: she could not +be easy without going, and yet it was without loving her, without ever +thinking like her, without any sense of obligation for being sought +after now when nobody else was to be had; and deriving no higher +pleasure from her conversation than occasional amusement, and _that_ +often at the expense of her judgment, when it was raised by pleasantry +on people or subjects which she wished to be respected. She went, +however, and they sauntered about together many an half-hour in Mrs. +Grant's shrubbery, the weather being unusually mild for the time of +year, and venturing sometimes even to sit down on one of the benches now +comparatively unsheltered, remaining there perhaps till, in the midst +of some tender ejaculation of Fanny's on the sweets of so protracted +an autumn, they were forced, by the sudden swell of a cold gust shaking +down the last few yellow leaves about them, to jump up and walk for +warmth. + +"This is pretty, very pretty," said Fanny, looking around her as +they were thus sitting together one day; "every time I come into this +shrubbery I am more struck with its growth and beauty. Three years ago, +this was nothing but a rough hedgerow along the upper side of the field, +never thought of as anything, or capable of becoming anything; and now +it is converted into a walk, and it would be difficult to say whether +most valuable as a convenience or an ornament; and perhaps, in another +three years, we may be forgetting--almost forgetting what it was before. +How wonderful, how very wonderful the operations of time, and the +changes of the human mind!" And following the latter train of thought, +she soon afterwards added: "If any one faculty of our nature may be +called _more_ wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory. There +seems something more speakingly incomprehensible in the powers, +the failures, the inequalities of memory, than in any other of our +intelligences. The memory is sometimes so retentive, so serviceable, so +obedient; at others, so bewildered and so weak; and at others again, so +tyrannic, so beyond control! We are, to be sure, a miracle every way; +but our powers of recollecting and of forgetting do seem peculiarly past +finding out." + +Miss Crawford, untouched and inattentive, had nothing to say; and +Fanny, perceiving it, brought back her own mind to what she thought must +interest. + +"It may seem impertinent in _me_ to praise, but I must admire the taste +Mrs. Grant has shewn in all this. There is such a quiet simplicity in +the plan of the walk! Not too much attempted!" + +"Yes," replied Miss Crawford carelessly, "it does very well for a +place of this sort. One does not think of extent _here_; and between +ourselves, till I came to Mansfield, I had not imagined a country parson +ever aspired to a shrubbery, or anything of the kind." + +"I am so glad to see the evergreens thrive!" said Fanny, in reply. "My +uncle's gardener always says the soil here is better than his own, and +so it appears from the growth of the laurels and evergreens in general. +The evergreen! How beautiful, how welcome, how wonderful the evergreen! +When one thinks of it, how astonishing a variety of nature! In some +countries we know the tree that sheds its leaf is the variety, but that +does not make it less amazing that the same soil and the same sun should +nurture plants differing in the first rule and law of their existence. +You will think me rhapsodising; but when I am out of doors, especially +when I am sitting out of doors, I am very apt to get into this sort of +wondering strain. One cannot fix one's eyes on the commonest natural +production without finding food for a rambling fancy." + +"To say the truth," replied Miss Crawford, "I am something like the +famous Doge at the court of Lewis XIV.; and may declare that I see no +wonder in this shrubbery equal to seeing myself in it. If anybody had +told me a year ago that this place would be my home, that I should be +spending month after month here, as I have done, I certainly should +not have believed them. I have now been here nearly five months; and, +moreover, the quietest five months I ever passed." + +"_Too_ quiet for you, I believe." + +"I should have thought so _theoretically_ myself, but," and her eyes +brightened as she spoke, "take it all and all, I never spent so happy a +summer. But then," with a more thoughtful air and lowered voice, "there +is no saying what it may lead to." + +Fanny's heart beat quick, and she felt quite unequal to surmising +or soliciting anything more. Miss Crawford, however, with renewed +animation, soon went on-- + +"I am conscious of being far better reconciled to a country residence +than I had ever expected to be. I can even suppose it pleasant to +spend _half_ the year in the country, under certain circumstances, +very pleasant. An elegant, moderate-sized house in the centre of family +connexions; continual engagements among them; commanding the first +society in the neighbourhood; looked up to, perhaps, as leading it even +more than those of larger fortune, and turning from the cheerful round +of such amusements to nothing worse than a _tete-a-tete_ with the person +one feels most agreeable in the world. There is nothing frightful in +such a picture, is there, Miss Price? One need not envy the new Mrs. +Rushworth with such a home as _that_." + +"Envy Mrs. Rushworth!" was all that Fanny attempted to say. "Come, come, +it would be very un-handsome in us to be severe on Mrs. Rushworth, for I +look forward to our owing her a great many gay, brilliant, happy hours. +I expect we shall be all very much at Sotherton another year. Such +a match as Miss Bertram has made is a public blessing; for the first +pleasures of Mr. Rushworth's wife must be to fill her house, and give +the best balls in the country." + +Fanny was silent, and Miss Crawford relapsed into thoughtfulness, till +suddenly looking up at the end of a few minutes, she exclaimed, "Ah! +here he is." It was not Mr. Rushworth, however, but Edmund, who then +appeared walking towards them with Mrs. Grant. "My sister and Mr. +Bertram. I am so glad your eldest cousin is gone, that he may be Mr. +Bertram again. There is something in the sound of Mr. _Edmund_ Bertram +so formal, so pitiful, so younger-brother-like, that I detest it." + +"How differently we feel!" cried Fanny. "To me, the sound of _Mr._ +Bertram is so cold and nothing-meaning, so entirely without warmth or +character! It just stands for a gentleman, and that's all. But there is +nobleness in the name of Edmund. It is a name of heroism and renown; of +kings, princes, and knights; and seems to breathe the spirit of chivalry +and warm affections." + +"I grant you the name is good in itself, and _Lord_ Edmund or _Sir_ +Edmund sound delightfully; but sink it under the chill, the annihilation +of a Mr., and Mr. Edmund is no more than Mr. John or Mr. Thomas. Well, +shall we join and disappoint them of half their lecture upon sitting +down out of doors at this time of year, by being up before they can +begin?" + +Edmund met them with particular pleasure. It was the first time of his +seeing them together since the beginning of that better acquaintance +which he had been hearing of with great satisfaction. A friendship +between two so very dear to him was exactly what he could have wished: +and to the credit of the lover's understanding, be it stated, that he +did not by any means consider Fanny as the only, or even as the greater +gainer by such a friendship. + +"Well," said Miss Crawford, "and do you not scold us for our imprudence? +What do you think we have been sitting down for but to be talked to +about it, and entreated and supplicated never to do so again?" + +"Perhaps I might have scolded," said Edmund, "if either of you had been +sitting down alone; but while you do wrong together, I can overlook a +great deal." + +"They cannot have been sitting long," cried Mrs. Grant, "for when I went +up for my shawl I saw them from the staircase window, and then they were +walking." + +"And really," added Edmund, "the day is so mild, that your sitting down +for a few minutes can be hardly thought imprudent. Our weather must +not always be judged by the calendar. We may sometimes take greater +liberties in November than in May." + +"Upon my word," cried Miss Crawford, "you are two of the most +disappointing and unfeeling kind friends I ever met with! There is no +giving you a moment's uneasiness. You do not know how much we have been +suffering, nor what chills we have felt! But I have long thought Mr. +Bertram one of the worst subjects to work on, in any little manoeuvre +against common sense, that a woman could be plagued with. I had very +little hope of _him_ from the first; but you, Mrs. Grant, my sister, my +own sister, I think I had a right to alarm you a little." + +"Do not flatter yourself, my dearest Mary. You have not the smallest +chance of moving me. I have my alarms, but they are quite in a different +quarter; and if I could have altered the weather, you would have had a +good sharp east wind blowing on you the whole time--for here are some of +my plants which Robert _will_ leave out because the nights are so mild, +and I know the end of it will be, that we shall have a sudden change of +weather, a hard frost setting in all at once, taking everybody (at least +Robert) by surprise, and I shall lose every one; and what is worse, cook +has just been telling me that the turkey, which I particularly wished +not to be dressed till Sunday, because I know how much more Dr. Grant +would enjoy it on Sunday after the fatigues of the day, will not keep +beyond to-morrow. These are something like grievances, and make me think +the weather most unseasonably close." + +"The sweets of housekeeping in a country village!" said Miss Crawford +archly. "Commend me to the nurseryman and the poulterer." + +"My dear child, commend Dr. Grant to the deanery of Westminster or St. +Paul's, and I should be as glad of your nurseryman and poulterer as you +could be. But we have no such people in Mansfield. What would you have +me do?" + +"Oh! you can do nothing but what you do already: be plagued very often, +and never lose your temper." + +"Thank you; but there is no escaping these little vexations, Mary, live +where we may; and when you are settled in town and I come to see you, I +dare say I shall find you with yours, in spite of the nurseryman and +the poulterer, perhaps on their very account. Their remoteness and +unpunctuality, or their exorbitant charges and frauds, will be drawing +forth bitter lamentations." + +"I mean to be too rich to lament or to feel anything of the sort. +A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. It +certainly may secure all the myrtle and turkey part of it." + +"You intend to be very rich?" said Edmund, with a look which, to Fanny's +eye, had a great deal of serious meaning. + +"To be sure. Do not you? Do not we all?" + +"I cannot intend anything which it must be so completely beyond my power +to command. Miss Crawford may chuse her degree of wealth. She has only +to fix on her number of thousands a year, and there can be no doubt of +their coming. My intentions are only not to be poor." + +"By moderation and economy, and bringing down your wants to your income, +and all that. I understand you--and a very proper plan it is for a +person at your time of life, with such limited means and indifferent +connexions. What can _you_ want but a decent maintenance? You have +not much time before you; and your relations are in no situation to do +anything for you, or to mortify you by the contrast of their own wealth +and consequence. Be honest and poor, by all means--but I shall not envy +you; I do not much think I shall even respect you. I have a much greater +respect for those that are honest and rich." + +"Your degree of respect for honesty, rich or poor, is precisely what +I have no manner of concern with. I do not mean to be poor. Poverty +is exactly what I have determined against. Honesty, in the something +between, in the middle state of worldly circumstances, is all that I am +anxious for your not looking down on." + +"But I do look down upon it, if it might have been higher. I must +look down upon anything contented with obscurity when it might rise to +distinction." + +"But how may it rise? How may my honesty at least rise to any +distinction?" + +This was not so very easy a question to answer, and occasioned an "Oh!" +of some length from the fair lady before she could add, "You ought to be +in parliament, or you should have gone into the army ten years ago." + +"_That_ is not much to the purpose now; and as to my being in +parliament, I believe I must wait till there is an especial assembly for +the representation of younger sons who have little to live on. No, Miss +Crawford," he added, in a more serious tone, "there _are_ distinctions +which I should be miserable if I thought myself without any +chance--absolutely without chance or possibility of obtaining--but they +are of a different character." + +A look of consciousness as he spoke, and what seemed a consciousness +of manner on Miss Crawford's side as she made some laughing answer, +was sorrowfull food for Fanny's observation; and finding herself quite +unable to attend as she ought to Mrs. Grant, by whose side she was now +following the others, she had nearly resolved on going home immediately, +and only waited for courage to say so, when the sound of the great clock +at Mansfield Park, striking three, made her feel that she had +really been much longer absent than usual, and brought the previous +self-inquiry of whether she should take leave or not just then, and how, +to a very speedy issue. With undoubting decision she directly began her +adieus; and Edmund began at the same time to recollect that his mother +had been inquiring for her, and that he had walked down to the Parsonage +on purpose to bring her back. + +Fanny's hurry increased; and without in the least expecting Edmund's +attendance, she would have hastened away alone; but the general pace was +quickened, and they all accompanied her into the house, through which it +was necessary to pass. Dr. Grant was in the vestibule, and as they stopt +to speak to him she found, from Edmund's manner, that he _did_ mean to +go with her. He too was taking leave. She could not but be thankful. In +the moment of parting, Edmund was invited by Dr. Grant to eat his mutton +with him the next day; and Fanny had barely time for an unpleasant +feeling on the occasion, when Mrs. Grant, with sudden recollection, +turned to her and asked for the pleasure of her company too. This was +so new an attention, so perfectly new a circumstance in the events of +Fanny's life, that she was all surprise and embarrassment; and while +stammering out her great obligation, and her "but she did not suppose it +would be in her power," was looking at Edmund for his opinion and help. +But Edmund, delighted with her having such an happiness offered, and +ascertaining with half a look, and half a sentence, that she had no +objection but on her aunt's account, could not imagine that his mother +would make any difficulty of sparing her, and therefore gave his decided +open advice that the invitation should be accepted; and though Fanny +would not venture, even on his encouragement, to such a flight of +audacious independence, it was soon settled, that if nothing were heard +to the contrary, Mrs. Grant might expect her. + +"And you know what your dinner will be," said Mrs. Grant, smiling--"the +turkey, and I assure you a very fine one; for, my dear," turning to her +husband, "cook insists upon the turkey's being dressed to-morrow." + +"Very well, very well," cried Dr. Grant, "all the better; I am glad +to hear you have anything so good in the house. But Miss Price and Mr. +Edmund Bertram, I dare say, would take their chance. We none of us want +to hear the bill of fare. A friendly meeting, and not a fine dinner, +is all we have in view. A turkey, or a goose, or a leg of mutton, or +whatever you and your cook chuse to give us." + +The two cousins walked home together; and, except in the immediate +discussion of this engagement, which Edmund spoke of with the warmest +satisfaction, as so particularly desirable for her in the intimacy which +he saw with so much pleasure established, it was a silent walk; for +having finished that subject, he grew thoughtful and indisposed for any +other. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +"But why should Mrs. Grant ask Fanny?" said Lady Bertram. "How came she +to think of asking Fanny? Fanny never dines there, you know, in this +sort of way. I cannot spare her, and I am sure she does not want to go. +Fanny, you do not want to go, do you?" + +"If you put such a question to her," cried Edmund, preventing his +cousin's speaking, "Fanny will immediately say No; but I am sure, my +dear mother, she would like to go; and I can see no reason why she +should not." + +"I cannot imagine why Mrs. Grant should think of asking her? She never +did before. She used to ask your sisters now and then, but she never +asked Fanny." + +"If you cannot do without me, ma'am--" said Fanny, in a self-denying +tone. + +"But my mother will have my father with her all the evening." + +"To be sure, so I shall." + +"Suppose you take my father's opinion, ma'am." + +"That's well thought of. So I will, Edmund. I will ask Sir Thomas, as +soon as he comes in, whether I can do without her." + +"As you please, ma'am, on that head; but I meant my father's opinion +as to the _propriety_ of the invitation's being accepted or not; and +I think he will consider it a right thing by Mrs. Grant, as well as by +Fanny, that being the _first_ invitation it should be accepted." + +"I do not know. We will ask him. But he will be very much surprised that +Mrs. Grant should ask Fanny at all." + +There was nothing more to be said, or that could be said to any purpose, +till Sir Thomas were present; but the subject involving, as it did, +her own evening's comfort for the morrow, was so much uppermost in Lady +Bertram's mind, that half an hour afterwards, on his looking in for a +minute in his way from his plantation to his dressing-room, she called +him back again, when he had almost closed the door, with "Sir Thomas, +stop a moment--I have something to say to you." + +Her tone of calm languor, for she never took the trouble of raising her +voice, was always heard and attended to; and Sir Thomas came back. Her +story began; and Fanny immediately slipped out of the room; for to hear +herself the subject of any discussion with her uncle was more than her +nerves could bear. She was anxious, she knew--more anxious perhaps than +she ought to be--for what was it after all whether she went or staid? +but if her uncle were to be a great while considering and deciding, and +with very grave looks, and those grave looks directed to her, and +at last decide against her, she might not be able to appear properly +submissive and indifferent. Her cause, meanwhile, went on well. It +began, on Lady Bertram's part, with--"I have something to tell you that +will surprise you. Mrs. Grant has asked Fanny to dinner." + +"Well," said Sir Thomas, as if waiting more to accomplish the surprise. + +"Edmund wants her to go. But how can I spare her?" + +"She will be late," said Sir Thomas, taking out his watch; "but what is +your difficulty?" + +Edmund found himself obliged to speak and fill up the blanks in his +mother's story. He told the whole; and she had only to add, "So strange! +for Mrs. Grant never used to ask her." + +"But is it not very natural," observed Edmund, "that Mrs. Grant should +wish to procure so agreeable a visitor for her sister?" + +"Nothing can be more natural," said Sir Thomas, after a short +deliberation; "nor, were there no sister in the case, could anything, +in my opinion, be more natural. Mrs. Grant's shewing civility to Miss +Price, to Lady Bertram's niece, could never want explanation. The only +surprise I can feel is, that this should be the _first_ time of its +being paid. Fanny was perfectly right in giving only a conditional +answer. She appears to feel as she ought. But as I conclude that she +must wish to go, since all young people like to be together, I can see +no reason why she should be denied the indulgence." + +"But can I do without her, Sir Thomas?" + +"Indeed I think you may." + +"She always makes tea, you know, when my sister is not here." + +"Your sister, perhaps, may be prevailed on to spend the day with us, and +I shall certainly be at home." + +"Very well, then, Fanny may go, Edmund." + +The good news soon followed her. Edmund knocked at her door in his way +to his own. + +"Well, Fanny, it is all happily settled, and without the smallest +hesitation on your uncle's side. He had but one opinion. You are to go." + +"Thank you, I am _so_ glad," was Fanny's instinctive reply; though when +she had turned from him and shut the door, she could not help feeling, +"And yet why should I be glad? for am I not certain of seeing or hearing +something there to pain me?" + +In spite of this conviction, however, she was glad. Simple as such an +engagement might appear in other eyes, it had novelty and importance in +hers, for excepting the day at Sotherton, she had scarcely ever dined +out before; and though now going only half a mile, and only to three +people, still it was dining out, and all the little interests of +preparation were enjoyments in themselves. She had neither sympathy nor +assistance from those who ought to have entered into her feelings and +directed her taste; for Lady Bertram never thought of being useful to +anybody, and Mrs. Norris, when she came on the morrow, in consequence of +an early call and invitation from Sir Thomas, was in a very ill humour, +and seemed intent only on lessening her niece's pleasure, both present +and future, as much as possible. + +"Upon my word, Fanny, you are in high luck to meet with such attention +and indulgence! You ought to be very much obliged to Mrs. Grant for +thinking of you, and to your aunt for letting you go, and you ought to +look upon it as something extraordinary; for I hope you are aware that +there is no real occasion for your going into company in this sort of +way, or ever dining out at all; and it is what you must not depend upon +ever being repeated. Nor must you be fancying that the invitation is +meant as any particular compliment to _you_; the compliment is intended +to your uncle and aunt and me. Mrs. Grant thinks it a civility due to +_us_ to take a little notice of you, or else it would never have come +into her head, and you may be very certain that, if your cousin Julia +had been at home, you would not have been asked at all." + +Mrs. Norris had now so ingeniously done away all Mrs. Grant's part of +the favour, that Fanny, who found herself expected to speak, could only +say that she was very much obliged to her aunt Bertram for sparing her, +and that she was endeavouring to put her aunt's evening work in such a +state as to prevent her being missed. + +"Oh! depend upon it, your aunt can do very well without you, or you +would not be allowed to go. _I_ shall be here, so you may be quite easy +about your aunt. And I hope you will have a very _agreeable_ day, and +find it all mighty _delightful_. But I must observe that five is the +very awkwardest of all possible numbers to sit down to table; and I +cannot but be surprised that such an _elegant_ lady as Mrs. Grant should +not contrive better! And round their enormous great wide table, too, +which fills up the room so dreadfully! Had the doctor been contented to +take my dining-table when I came away, as anybody in their senses would +have done, instead of having that absurd new one of his own, which is +wider, literally wider than the dinner-table here, how infinitely better +it would have been! and how much more he would have been respected! for +people are never respected when they step out of their proper sphere. +Remember that, Fanny. Five--only five to be sitting round that table. +However, you will have dinner enough on it for ten, I dare say." + +Mrs. Norris fetched breath, and went on again. + +"The nonsense and folly of people's stepping out of their rank and +trying to appear above themselves, makes me think it right to give _you_ +a hint, Fanny, now that you are going into company without any of us; +and I do beseech and entreat you not to be putting yourself forward, and +talking and giving your opinion as if you were one of your cousins--as +if you were dear Mrs. Rushworth or Julia. _That_ will never do, believe +me. Remember, wherever you are, you must be the lowest and last; and +though Miss Crawford is in a manner at home at the Parsonage, you are +not to be taking place of her. And as to coming away at night, you are +to stay just as long as Edmund chuses. Leave him to settle _that_." + +"Yes, ma'am, I should not think of anything else." + +"And if it should rain, which I think exceedingly likely, for I never +saw it more threatening for a wet evening in my life, you must manage as +well as you can, and not be expecting the carriage to be sent for you. I +certainly do not go home to-night, and, therefore, the carriage will not +be out on my account; so you must make up your mind to what may happen, +and take your things accordingly." + +Her niece thought it perfectly reasonable. She rated her own claims +to comfort as low even as Mrs. Norris could; and when Sir Thomas soon +afterwards, just opening the door, said, "Fanny, at what time would you +have the carriage come round?" she felt a degree of astonishment which +made it impossible for her to speak. + +"My dear Sir Thomas!" cried Mrs. Norris, red with anger, "Fanny can +walk." + +"Walk!" repeated Sir Thomas, in a tone of most unanswerable dignity, and +coming farther into the room. "My niece walk to a dinner engagement at +this time of the year! Will twenty minutes after four suit you?" + +"Yes, sir," was Fanny's humble answer, given with the feelings almost +of a criminal towards Mrs. Norris; and not bearing to remain with her +in what might seem a state of triumph, she followed her uncle out of +the room, having staid behind him only long enough to hear these words +spoken in angry agitation-- + +"Quite unnecessary! a great deal too kind! But Edmund goes; true, it is +upon Edmund's account. I observed he was hoarse on Thursday night." + +But this could not impose on Fanny. She felt that the carriage was for +herself, and herself alone: and her uncle's consideration of her, coming +immediately after such representations from her aunt, cost her some +tears of gratitude when she was alone. + +The coachman drove round to a minute; another minute brought down the +gentleman; and as the lady had, with a most scrupulous fear of being +late, been many minutes seated in the drawing-room, Sir Thomas saw them +off in as good time as his own correctly punctual habits required. + +"Now I must look at you, Fanny," said Edmund, with the kind smile of an +affectionate brother, "and tell you how I like you; and as well as I can +judge by this light, you look very nicely indeed. What have you got on?" + +"The new dress that my uncle was so good as to give me on my cousin's +marriage. I hope it is not too fine; but I thought I ought to wear it as +soon as I could, and that I might not have such another opportunity all +the winter. I hope you do not think me too fine." + +"A woman can never be too fine while she is all in white. No, I see no +finery about you; nothing but what is perfectly proper. Your gown seems +very pretty. I like these glossy spots. Has not Miss Crawford a gown +something the same?" + +In approaching the Parsonage they passed close by the stable-yard and +coach-house. + +"Heyday!" said Edmund, "here's company, here's a carriage! who have they +got to meet us?" And letting down the side-glass to distinguish, "'Tis +Crawford's, Crawford's barouche, I protest! There are his own two men +pushing it back into its old quarters. He is here, of course. This is +quite a surprise, Fanny. I shall be very glad to see him." + +There was no occasion, there was no time for Fanny to say how very +differently she felt; but the idea of having such another to observe +her was a great increase of the trepidation with which she performed the +very awful ceremony of walking into the drawing-room. + +In the drawing-room Mr. Crawford certainly was, having been just long +enough arrived to be ready for dinner; and the smiles and pleased looks +of the three others standing round him, shewed how welcome was his +sudden resolution of coming to them for a few days on leaving Bath. +A very cordial meeting passed between him and Edmund; and with the +exception of Fanny, the pleasure was general; and even to _her_ there +might be some advantage in his presence, since every addition to the +party must rather forward her favourite indulgence of being suffered to +sit silent and unattended to. She was soon aware of this herself; for +though she must submit, as her own propriety of mind directed, in spite +of her aunt Norris's opinion, to being the principal lady in company, +and to all the little distinctions consequent thereon, she found, while +they were at table, such a happy flow of conversation prevailing, in +which she was not required to take any part--there was so much to be +said between the brother and sister about Bath, so much between the two +young men about hunting, so much of politics between Mr. Crawford and +Dr. Grant, and of everything and all together between Mr. Crawford +and Mrs. Grant, as to leave her the fairest prospect of having only +to listen in quiet, and of passing a very agreeable day. She could not +compliment the newly arrived gentleman, however, with any appearance of +interest, in a scheme for extending his stay at Mansfield, and sending +for his hunters from Norfolk, which, suggested by Dr. Grant, advised by +Edmund, and warmly urged by the two sisters, was soon in possession of +his mind, and which he seemed to want to be encouraged even by her to +resolve on. Her opinion was sought as to the probable continuance of the +open weather, but her answers were as short and indifferent as civility +allowed. She could not wish him to stay, and would much rather not have +him speak to her. + +Her two absent cousins, especially Maria, were much in her thoughts on +seeing him; but no embarrassing remembrance affected _his_ spirits. +Here he was again on the same ground where all had passed before, and +apparently as willing to stay and be happy without the Miss Bertrams, +as if he had never known Mansfield in any other state. She heard them +spoken of by him only in a general way, till they were all re-assembled +in the drawing-room, when Edmund, being engaged apart in some matter of +business with Dr. Grant, which seemed entirely to engross them, and +Mrs. Grant occupied at the tea-table, he began talking of them with more +particularity to his other sister. With a significant smile, which made +Fanny quite hate him, he said, "So! Rushworth and his fair bride are at +Brighton, I understand; happy man!" + +"Yes, they have been there about a fortnight, Miss Price, have they not? +And Julia is with them." + +"And Mr. Yates, I presume, is not far off." + +"Mr. Yates! Oh! we hear nothing of Mr. Yates. I do not imagine he +figures much in the letters to Mansfield Park; do you, Miss Price? I +think my friend Julia knows better than to entertain her father with Mr. +Yates." + +"Poor Rushworth and his two-and-forty speeches!" continued Crawford. +"Nobody can ever forget them. Poor fellow! I see him now--his toil and +his despair. Well, I am much mistaken if his lovely Maria will ever want +him to make two-and-forty speeches to her"; adding, with a momentary +seriousness, "She is too good for him--much too good." And then changing +his tone again to one of gentle gallantry, and addressing Fanny, he +said, "You were Mr. Rushworth's best friend. Your kindness and patience +can never be forgotten, your indefatigable patience in trying to make it +possible for him to learn his part--in trying to give him a brain +which nature had denied--to mix up an understanding for him out of the +superfluity of your own! _He_ might not have sense enough himself to +estimate your kindness, but I may venture to say that it had honour from +all the rest of the party." + +Fanny coloured, and said nothing. + +"It is as a dream, a pleasant dream!" he exclaimed, breaking forth +again, after a few minutes' musing. "I shall always look back on our +theatricals with exquisite pleasure. There was such an interest, such an +animation, such a spirit diffused. Everybody felt it. We were all alive. +There was employment, hope, solicitude, bustle, for every hour of +the day. Always some little objection, some little doubt, some little +anxiety to be got over. I never was happier." + +With silent indignation Fanny repeated to herself, "Never +happier!--never happier than when doing what you must know was not +justifiable!--never happier than when behaving so dishonourably and +unfeelingly! Oh! what a corrupted mind!" + +"We were unlucky, Miss Price," he continued, in a lower tone, to avoid +the possibility of being heard by Edmund, and not at all aware of her +feelings, "we certainly were very unlucky. Another week, only one other +week, would have been enough for us. I think if we had had the disposal +of events--if Mansfield Park had had the government of the winds +just for a week or two, about the equinox, there would have been +a difference. Not that we would have endangered his safety by any +tremendous weather--but only by a steady contrary wind, or a calm. I +think, Miss Price, we would have indulged ourselves with a week's calm +in the Atlantic at that season." + +He seemed determined to be answered; and Fanny, averting her face, said, +with a firmer tone than usual, "As far as _I_ am concerned, sir, I would +not have delayed his return for a day. My uncle disapproved it all so +entirely when he did arrive, that in my opinion everything had gone +quite far enough." + +She had never spoken so much at once to him in her life before, and +never so angrily to any one; and when her speech was over, she trembled +and blushed at her own daring. He was surprised; but after a few +moments' silent consideration of her, replied in a calmer, graver tone, +and as if the candid result of conviction, "I believe you are right. +It was more pleasant than prudent. We were getting too noisy." And +then turning the conversation, he would have engaged her on some other +subject, but her answers were so shy and reluctant that he could not +advance in any. + +Miss Crawford, who had been repeatedly eyeing Dr. Grant and Edmund, +now observed, "Those gentlemen must have some very interesting point to +discuss." + +"The most interesting in the world," replied her brother--"how to make +money; how to turn a good income into a better. Dr. Grant is giving +Bertram instructions about the living he is to step into so soon. I find +he takes orders in a few weeks. They were at it in the dining-parlour. I +am glad to hear Bertram will be so well off. He will have a very pretty +income to make ducks and drakes with, and earned without much trouble. I +apprehend he will not have less than seven hundred a year. Seven hundred +a year is a fine thing for a younger brother; and as of course he will +still live at home, it will be all for his _menus_ _plaisirs_; and a +sermon at Christmas and Easter, I suppose, will be the sum total of +sacrifice." + +His sister tried to laugh off her feelings by saying, "Nothing amuses me +more than the easy manner with which everybody settles the abundance of +those who have a great deal less than themselves. You would look rather +blank, Henry, if your _menus_ _plaisirs_ were to be limited to seven +hundred a year." + +"Perhaps I might; but all _that_ you know is entirely comparative. +Birthright and habit must settle the business. Bertram is certainly well +off for a cadet of even a baronet's family. By the time he is four or +five and twenty he will have seven hundred a year, and nothing to do for +it." + +Miss Crawford _could_ have said that there would be a something to do +and to suffer for it, which she could not think lightly of; but she +checked herself and let it pass; and tried to look calm and unconcerned +when the two gentlemen shortly afterwards joined them. + +"Bertram," said Henry Crawford, "I shall make a point of coming to +Mansfield to hear you preach your first sermon. I shall come on purpose +to encourage a young beginner. When is it to be? Miss Price, will not +you join me in encouraging your cousin? Will not you engage to attend +with your eyes steadily fixed on him the whole time--as I shall do--not +to lose a word; or only looking off just to note down any sentence +preeminently beautiful? We will provide ourselves with tablets and a +pencil. When will it be? You must preach at Mansfield, you know, that +Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram may hear you." + +"I shall keep clear of you, Crawford, as long as I can," said Edmund; +"for you would be more likely to disconcert me, and I should be more +sorry to see you trying at it than almost any other man." + +"Will he not feel this?" thought Fanny. "No, he can feel nothing as he +ought." + +The party being now all united, and the chief talkers attracting each +other, she remained in tranquillity; and as a whist-table was formed +after tea--formed really for the amusement of Dr. Grant, by his +attentive wife, though it was not to be supposed so--and Miss Crawford +took her harp, she had nothing to do but to listen; and her tranquillity +remained undisturbed the rest of the evening, except when Mr. Crawford +now and then addressed to her a question or observation, which she could +not avoid answering. Miss Crawford was too much vexed by what had passed +to be in a humour for anything but music. With that she soothed herself +and amused her friend. + +The assurance of Edmund's being so soon to take orders, coming upon her +like a blow that had been suspended, and still hoped uncertain and at a +distance, was felt with resentment and mortification. She was very angry +with him. She had thought her influence more. She _had_ begun to think +of him; she felt that she had, with great regard, with almost decided +intentions; but she would now meet him with his own cool feelings. It +was plain that he could have no serious views, no true attachment, by +fixing himself in a situation which he must know she would never +stoop to. She would learn to match him in his indifference. She would +henceforth admit his attentions without any idea beyond immediate +amusement. If _he_ could so command his affections, _hers_ should do her +no harm. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Henry Crawford had quite made up his mind by the next morning to give +another fortnight to Mansfield, and having sent for his hunters, and +written a few lines of explanation to the Admiral, he looked round at +his sister as he sealed and threw the letter from him, and seeing the +coast clear of the rest of the family, said, with a smile, "And how do +you think I mean to amuse myself, Mary, on the days that I do not hunt? +I am grown too old to go out more than three times a week; but I have a +plan for the intermediate days, and what do you think it is?" + +"To walk and ride with me, to be sure." + +"Not exactly, though I shall be happy to do both, but _that_ would be +exercise only to my body, and I must take care of my mind. Besides, +_that_ would be all recreation and indulgence, without the wholesome +alloy of labour, and I do not like to eat the bread of idleness. No, my +plan is to make Fanny Price in love with me." + +"Fanny Price! Nonsense! No, no. You ought to be satisfied with her two +cousins." + +"But I cannot be satisfied without Fanny Price, without making a small +hole in Fanny Price's heart. You do not seem properly aware of her +claims to notice. When we talked of her last night, you none of you +seemed sensible of the wonderful improvement that has taken place in her +looks within the last six weeks. You see her every day, and therefore do +not notice it; but I assure you she is quite a different creature from +what she was in the autumn. She was then merely a quiet, modest, not +plain-looking girl, but she is now absolutely pretty. I used to think +she had neither complexion nor countenance; but in that soft skin of +hers, so frequently tinged with a blush as it was yesterday, there is +decided beauty; and from what I observed of her eyes and mouth, I do +not despair of their being capable of expression enough when she +has anything to express. And then, her air, her manner, her _tout_ +_ensemble_, is so indescribably improved! She must be grown two inches, +at least, since October." + +"Phoo! phoo! This is only because there were no tall women to compare +her with, and because she has got a new gown, and you never saw her so +well dressed before. She is just what she was in October, believe me. +The truth is, that she was the only girl in company for you to notice, +and you must have a somebody. I have always thought her pretty--not +strikingly pretty--but 'pretty enough,' as people say; a sort of beauty +that grows on one. Her eyes should be darker, but she has a sweet smile; +but as for this wonderful degree of improvement, I am sure it may all +be resolved into a better style of dress, and your having nobody else to +look at; and therefore, if you do set about a flirtation with her, you +never will persuade me that it is in compliment to her beauty, or that +it proceeds from anything but your own idleness and folly." + +Her brother gave only a smile to this accusation, and soon afterwards +said, "I do not quite know what to make of Miss Fanny. I do not +understand her. I could not tell what she would be at yesterday. What is +her character? Is she solemn? Is she queer? Is she prudish? Why did she +draw back and look so grave at me? I could hardly get her to speak. I +never was so long in company with a girl in my life, trying to entertain +her, and succeed so ill! Never met with a girl who looked so grave on +me! I must try to get the better of this. Her looks say, 'I will not +like you, I am determined not to like you'; and I say she shall." + +"Foolish fellow! And so this is her attraction after all! This it is, +her not caring about you, which gives her such a soft skin, and makes +her so much taller, and produces all these charms and graces! I do +desire that you will not be making her really unhappy; a _little_ love, +perhaps, may animate and do her good, but I will not have you plunge +her deep, for she is as good a little creature as ever lived, and has a +great deal of feeling." + +"It can be but for a fortnight," said Henry; "and if a fortnight can +kill her, she must have a constitution which nothing could save. No, I +will not do her any harm, dear little soul! only want her to look kindly +on me, to give me smiles as well as blushes, to keep a chair for me by +herself wherever we are, and be all animation when I take it and talk +to her; to think as I think, be interested in all my possessions and +pleasures, try to keep me longer at Mansfield, and feel when I go away +that she shall be never happy again. I want nothing more." + +"Moderation itself!" said Mary. "I can have no scruples now. Well, you +will have opportunities enough of endeavouring to recommend yourself, +for we are a great deal together." + +And without attempting any farther remonstrance, she left Fanny to +her fate, a fate which, had not Fanny's heart been guarded in a way +unsuspected by Miss Crawford, might have been a little harder than she +deserved; for although there doubtless are such unconquerable young +ladies of eighteen (or one should not read about them) as are never +to be persuaded into love against their judgment by all that talent, +manner, attention, and flattery can do, I have no inclination to +believe Fanny one of them, or to think that with so much tenderness +of disposition, and so much taste as belonged to her, she could have +escaped heart-whole from the courtship (though the courtship only of +a fortnight) of such a man as Crawford, in spite of there being some +previous ill opinion of him to be overcome, had not her affection been +engaged elsewhere. With all the security which love of another and +disesteem of him could give to the peace of mind he was attacking, +his continued attentions--continued, but not obtrusive, and adapting +themselves more and more to the gentleness and delicacy of her +character--obliged her very soon to dislike him less than formerly. She +had by no means forgotten the past, and she thought as ill of him as +ever; but she felt his powers: he was entertaining; and his manners were +so improved, so polite, so seriously and blamelessly polite, that it was +impossible not to be civil to him in return. + +A very few days were enough to effect this; and at the end of those few +days, circumstances arose which had a tendency rather to forward his +views of pleasing her, inasmuch as they gave her a degree of happiness +which must dispose her to be pleased with everybody. William, her +brother, the so long absent and dearly loved brother, was in England +again. She had a letter from him herself, a few hurried happy lines, +written as the ship came up Channel, and sent into Portsmouth with +the first boat that left the Antwerp at anchor in Spithead; and when +Crawford walked up with the newspaper in his hand, which he had hoped +would bring the first tidings, he found her trembling with joy over this +letter, and listening with a glowing, grateful countenance to the kind +invitation which her uncle was most collectedly dictating in reply. + +It was but the day before that Crawford had made himself thoroughly +master of the subject, or had in fact become at all aware of her having +such a brother, or his being in such a ship, but the interest then +excited had been very properly lively, determining him on his return to +town to apply for information as to the probable period of the Antwerp's +return from the Mediterranean, etc.; and the good luck which attended +his early examination of ship news the next morning seemed the reward of +his ingenuity in finding out such a method of pleasing her, as well as +of his dutiful attention to the Admiral, in having for many years +taken in the paper esteemed to have the earliest naval intelligence. He +proved, however, to be too late. All those fine first feelings, of which +he had hoped to be the exciter, were already given. But his intention, +the kindness of his intention, was thankfully acknowledged: quite +thankfully and warmly, for she was elevated beyond the common timidity +of her mind by the flow of her love for William. + +This dear William would soon be amongst them. There could be no doubt +of his obtaining leave of absence immediately, for he was still only a +midshipman; and as his parents, from living on the spot, must already +have seen him, and be seeing him perhaps daily, his direct holidays +might with justice be instantly given to the sister, who had been his +best correspondent through a period of seven years, and the uncle who +had done most for his support and advancement; and accordingly the reply +to her reply, fixing a very early day for his arrival, came as soon as +possible; and scarcely ten days had passed since Fanny had been in +the agitation of her first dinner-visit, when she found herself in an +agitation of a higher nature, watching in the hall, in the lobby, on +the stairs, for the first sound of the carriage which was to bring her a +brother. + +It came happily while she was thus waiting; and there being neither +ceremony nor fearfulness to delay the moment of meeting, she was with +him as he entered the house, and the first minutes of exquisite feeling +had no interruption and no witnesses, unless the servants chiefly intent +upon opening the proper doors could be called such. This was exactly +what Sir Thomas and Edmund had been separately conniving at, as each +proved to the other by the sympathetic alacrity with which they both +advised Mrs. Norris's continuing where she was, instead of rushing out +into the hall as soon as the noises of the arrival reached them. + +William and Fanny soon shewed themselves; and Sir Thomas had the +pleasure of receiving, in his protege, certainly a very different person +from the one he had equipped seven years ago, but a young man of an +open, pleasant countenance, and frank, unstudied, but feeling and +respectful manners, and such as confirmed him his friend. + +It was long before Fanny could recover from the agitating happiness of +such an hour as was formed by the last thirty minutes of expectation, +and the first of fruition; it was some time even before her happiness +could be said to make her happy, before the disappointment inseparable +from the alteration of person had vanished, and she could see in him the +same William as before, and talk to him, as her heart had been yearning +to do through many a past year. That time, however, did gradually come, +forwarded by an affection on his side as warm as her own, and much less +encumbered by refinement or self-distrust. She was the first object +of his love, but it was a love which his stronger spirits, and bolder +temper, made it as natural for him to express as to feel. On the +morrow they were walking about together with true enjoyment, and every +succeeding morrow renewed a _tete-a-tete_ which Sir Thomas could not but +observe with complacency, even before Edmund had pointed it out to him. + +Excepting the moments of peculiar delight, which any marked or +unlooked-for instance of Edmund's consideration of her in the last few +months had excited, Fanny had never known so much felicity in her life, +as in this unchecked, equal, fearless intercourse with the brother and +friend who was opening all his heart to her, telling her all his hopes +and fears, plans, and solicitudes respecting that long thought of, +dearly earned, and justly valued blessing of promotion; who could give +her direct and minute information of the father and mother, brothers and +sisters, of whom she very seldom heard; who was interested in all the +comforts and all the little hardships of her home at Mansfield; ready to +think of every member of that home as she directed, or differing only +by a less scrupulous opinion, and more noisy abuse of their aunt Norris, +and with whom (perhaps the dearest indulgence of the whole) all the evil +and good of their earliest years could be gone over again, and every +former united pain and pleasure retraced with the fondest recollection. +An advantage this, a strengthener of love, in which even the conjugal +tie is beneath the fraternal. Children of the same family, the same +blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of +enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connexions can supply; and +it must be by a long and unnatural estrangement, by a divorce which +no subsequent connexion can justify, if such precious remains of the +earliest attachments are ever entirely outlived. Too often, alas! it is +so. Fraternal love, sometimes almost everything, is at others worse than +nothing. But with William and Fanny Price it was still a sentiment +in all its prime and freshness, wounded by no opposition of interest, +cooled by no separate attachment, and feeling the influence of time and +absence only in its increase. + +An affection so amiable was advancing each in the opinion of all who had +hearts to value anything good. Henry Crawford was as much struck with +it as any. He honoured the warm-hearted, blunt fondness of the young +sailor, which led him to say, with his hands stretched towards Fanny's +head, "Do you know, I begin to like that queer fashion already, though +when I first heard of such things being done in England, I could +not believe it; and when Mrs. Brown, and the other women at the +Commissioner's at Gibraltar, appeared in the same trim, I thought they +were mad; but Fanny can reconcile me to anything"; and saw, with lively +admiration, the glow of Fanny's cheek, the brightness of her eye, the +deep interest, the absorbed attention, while her brother was describing +any of the imminent hazards, or terrific scenes, which such a period at +sea must supply. + +It was a picture which Henry Crawford had moral taste enough to value. +Fanny's attractions increased--increased twofold; for the sensibility +which beautified her complexion and illumined her countenance was an +attraction in itself. He was no longer in doubt of the capabilities of +her heart. She had feeling, genuine feeling. It would be something to +be loved by such a girl, to excite the first ardours of her young +unsophisticated mind! She interested him more than he had foreseen. A +fortnight was not enough. His stay became indefinite. + +William was often called on by his uncle to be the talker. His recitals +were amusing in themselves to Sir Thomas, but the chief object in +seeking them was to understand the reciter, to know the young man by his +histories; and he listened to his clear, simple, spirited details +with full satisfaction, seeing in them the proof of good principles, +professional knowledge, energy, courage, and cheerfulness, everything +that could deserve or promise well. Young as he was, William had already +seen a great deal. He had been in the Mediterranean; in the West Indies; +in the Mediterranean again; had been often taken on shore by the favour +of his captain, and in the course of seven years had known every variety +of danger which sea and war together could offer. With such means in +his power he had a right to be listened to; and though Mrs. Norris could +fidget about the room, and disturb everybody in quest of two needlefuls +of thread or a second-hand shirt button, in the midst of her nephew's +account of a shipwreck or an engagement, everybody else was attentive; +and even Lady Bertram could not hear of such horrors unmoved, or +without sometimes lifting her eyes from her work to say, "Dear me! how +disagreeable! I wonder anybody can ever go to sea." + +To Henry Crawford they gave a different feeling. He longed to have been +at sea, and seen and done and suffered as much. His heart was warmed, +his fancy fired, and he felt the highest respect for a lad who, before +he was twenty, had gone through such bodily hardships and given such +proofs of mind. The glory of heroism, of usefulness, of exertion, of +endurance, made his own habits of selfish indulgence appear in shameful +contrast; and he wished he had been a William Price, distinguishing +himself and working his way to fortune and consequence with so much +self-respect and happy ardour, instead of what he was! + +The wish was rather eager than lasting. He was roused from the reverie +of retrospection and regret produced by it, by some inquiry from Edmund +as to his plans for the next day's hunting; and he found it was as well +to be a man of fortune at once with horses and grooms at his command. +In one respect it was better, as it gave him the means of conferring a +kindness where he wished to oblige. With spirits, courage, and curiosity +up to anything, William expressed an inclination to hunt; and Crawford +could mount him without the slightest inconvenience to himself, and with +only some scruples to obviate in Sir Thomas, who knew better than his +nephew the value of such a loan, and some alarms to reason away in +Fanny. She feared for William; by no means convinced by all that he +could relate of his own horsemanship in various countries, of the +scrambling parties in which he had been engaged, the rough horses and +mules he had ridden, or his many narrow escapes from dreadful falls, +that he was at all equal to the management of a high-fed hunter in an +English fox-chase; nor till he returned safe and well, without accident +or discredit, could she be reconciled to the risk, or feel any of that +obligation to Mr. Crawford for lending the horse which he had fully +intended it should produce. When it was proved, however, to have done +William no harm, she could allow it to be a kindness, and even reward +the owner with a smile when the animal was one minute tendered to his +use again; and the next, with the greatest cordiality, and in a manner +not to be resisted, made over to his use entirely so long as he remained +in Northamptonshire. + + [End volume one of this edition. + Printed by T. and A. Constable, + Printers to Her Majesty at + the Edinburgh University Press] + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +The intercourse of the two families was at this period more nearly +restored to what it had been in the autumn, than any member of the +old intimacy had thought ever likely to be again. The return of Henry +Crawford, and the arrival of William Price, had much to do with it, +but much was still owing to Sir Thomas's more than toleration of the +neighbourly attempts at the Parsonage. His mind, now disengaged from +the cares which had pressed on him at first, was at leisure to find +the Grants and their young inmates really worth visiting; and though +infinitely above scheming or contriving for any the most advantageous +matrimonial establishment that could be among the apparent possibilities +of any one most dear to him, and disdaining even as a littleness the +being quick-sighted on such points, he could not avoid perceiving, in +a grand and careless way, that Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing +his niece--nor perhaps refrain (though unconsciously) from giving a more +willing assent to invitations on that account. + +His readiness, however, in agreeing to dine at the Parsonage, when the +general invitation was at last hazarded, after many debates and many +doubts as to whether it were worth while, "because Sir Thomas seemed +so ill inclined, and Lady Bertram was so indolent!" proceeded from +good-breeding and goodwill alone, and had nothing to do with Mr. +Crawford, but as being one in an agreeable group: for it was in the +course of that very visit that he first began to think that any one in +the habit of such idle observations _would_ _have_ _thought_ that Mr. +Crawford was the admirer of Fanny Price. + +The meeting was generally felt to be a pleasant one, being composed in a +good proportion of those who would talk and those who would listen; +and the dinner itself was elegant and plentiful, according to the usual +style of the Grants, and too much according to the usual habits of +all to raise any emotion except in Mrs. Norris, who could never behold +either the wide table or the number of dishes on it with patience, and +who did always contrive to experience some evil from the passing of the +servants behind her chair, and to bring away some fresh conviction of +its being impossible among so many dishes but that some must be cold. + +In the evening it was found, according to the predetermination of Mrs. +Grant and her sister, that after making up the whist-table there would +remain sufficient for a round game, and everybody being as perfectly +complying and without a choice as on such occasions they always are, +speculation was decided on almost as soon as whist; and Lady Bertram +soon found herself in the critical situation of being applied to for her +own choice between the games, and being required either to draw a card +for whist or not. She hesitated. Luckily Sir Thomas was at hand. + +"What shall I do, Sir Thomas? Whist and speculation; which will amuse me +most?" + +Sir Thomas, after a moment's thought, recommended speculation. He was +a whist player himself, and perhaps might feel that it would not much +amuse him to have her for a partner. + +"Very well," was her ladyship's contented answer; "then speculation, if +you please, Mrs. Grant. I know nothing about it, but Fanny must teach +me." + +Here Fanny interposed, however, with anxious protestations of her own +equal ignorance; she had never played the game nor seen it played in +her life; and Lady Bertram felt a moment's indecision again; but upon +everybody's assuring her that nothing could be so easy, that it was the +easiest game on the cards, and Henry Crawford's stepping forward with a +most earnest request to be allowed to sit between her ladyship and Miss +Price, and teach them both, it was so settled; and Sir Thomas, Mrs. +Norris, and Dr. and Mrs. Grant being seated at the table of prime +intellectual state and dignity, the remaining six, under Miss Crawford's +direction, were arranged round the other. It was a fine arrangement +for Henry Crawford, who was close to Fanny, and with his hands full of +business, having two persons' cards to manage as well as his own; for +though it was impossible for Fanny not to feel herself mistress of the +rules of the game in three minutes, he had yet to inspirit her play, +sharpen her avarice, and harden her heart, which, especially in any +competition with William, was a work of some difficulty; and as for Lady +Bertram, he must continue in charge of all her fame and fortune through +the whole evening; and if quick enough to keep her from looking at her +cards when the deal began, must direct her in whatever was to be done +with them to the end of it. + +He was in high spirits, doing everything with happy ease, and preeminent +in all the lively turns, quick resources, and playful impudence that +could do honour to the game; and the round table was altogether a very +comfortable contrast to the steady sobriety and orderly silence of the +other. + +Twice had Sir Thomas inquired into the enjoyment and success of his +lady, but in vain; no pause was long enough for the time his measured +manner needed; and very little of her state could be known till Mrs. +Grant was able, at the end of the first rubber, to go to her and pay her +compliments. + +"I hope your ladyship is pleased with the game." + +"Oh dear, yes! very entertaining indeed. A very odd game. I do not know +what it is all about. I am never to see my cards; and Mr. Crawford does +all the rest." + +"Bertram," said Crawford, some time afterwards, taking the opportunity +of a little languor in the game, "I have never told you what happened to +me yesterday in my ride home." They had been hunting together, and were +in the midst of a good run, and at some distance from Mansfield, when +his horse being found to have flung a shoe, Henry Crawford had been +obliged to give up, and make the best of his way back. "I told you I +lost my way after passing that old farmhouse with the yew-trees, because +I can never bear to ask; but I have not told you that, with my usual +luck--for I never do wrong without gaining by it--I found myself in due +time in the very place which I had a curiosity to see. I was suddenly, +upon turning the corner of a steepish downy field, in the midst of +a retired little village between gently rising hills; a small stream +before me to be forded, a church standing on a sort of knoll to my +right--which church was strikingly large and handsome for the place, and +not a gentleman or half a gentleman's house to be seen excepting one--to +be presumed the Parsonage--within a stone's throw of the said knoll and +church. I found myself, in short, in Thornton Lacey." + +"It sounds like it," said Edmund; "but which way did you turn after +passing Sewell's farm?" + +"I answer no such irrelevant and insidious questions; though were I to +answer all that you could put in the course of an hour, you would never +be able to prove that it was _not_ Thornton Lacey--for such it certainly +was." + +"You inquired, then?" + +"No, I never inquire. But I _told_ a man mending a hedge that it was +Thornton Lacey, and he agreed to it." + +"You have a good memory. I had forgotten having ever told you half so +much of the place." + +Thornton Lacey was the name of his impending living, as Miss Crawford +well knew; and her interest in a negotiation for William Price's knave +increased. + +"Well," continued Edmund, "and how did you like what you saw?" + +"Very much indeed. You are a lucky fellow. There will be work for five +summers at least before the place is liveable." + +"No, no, not so bad as that. The farmyard must be moved, I grant you; +but I am not aware of anything else. The house is by no means bad, and +when the yard is removed, there may be a very tolerable approach to it." + +"The farmyard must be cleared away entirely, and planted up to shut +out the blacksmith's shop. The house must be turned to front the east +instead of the north--the entrance and principal rooms, I mean, must be +on that side, where the view is really very pretty; I am sure it may be +done. And _there_ must be your approach, through what is at present the +garden. You must make a new garden at what is now the back of the house; +which will be giving it the best aspect in the world, sloping to the +south-east. The ground seems precisely formed for it. I rode fifty yards +up the lane, between the church and the house, in order to look about +me; and saw how it might all be. Nothing can be easier. The meadows +beyond what _will_ _be_ the garden, as well as what now _is_, sweeping +round from the lane I stood in to the north-east, that is, to the +principal road through the village, must be all laid together, of +course; very pretty meadows they are, finely sprinkled with timber. They +belong to the living, I suppose; if not, you must purchase them. Then +the stream--something must be done with the stream; but I could not +quite determine what. I had two or three ideas." + +"And I have two or three ideas also," said Edmund, "and one of them is, +that very little of your plan for Thornton Lacey will ever be put in +practice. I must be satisfied with rather less ornament and beauty. I +think the house and premises may be made comfortable, and given the air +of a gentleman's residence, without any very heavy expense, and that +must suffice me; and, I hope, may suffice all who care about me." + +Miss Crawford, a little suspicious and resentful of a certain tone of +voice, and a certain half-look attending the last expression of his +hope, made a hasty finish of her dealings with William Price; and +securing his knave at an exorbitant rate, exclaimed, "There, I will +stake my last like a woman of spirit. No cold prudence for me. I am not +born to sit still and do nothing. If I lose the game, it shall not be +from not striving for it." + +The game was hers, and only did not pay her for what she had given +to secure it. Another deal proceeded, and Crawford began again about +Thornton Lacey. + +"My plan may not be the best possible: I had not many minutes to form +it in; but you must do a good deal. The place deserves it, and you +will find yourself not satisfied with much less than it is capable of. +(Excuse me, your ladyship must not see your cards. There, let them lie +just before you.) The place deserves it, Bertram. You talk of giving it +the air of a gentleman's residence. _That_ will be done by the removal +of the farmyard; for, independent of that terrible nuisance, I never saw +a house of the kind which had in itself so much the air of a +gentleman's residence, so much the look of a something above a mere +parsonage-house--above the expenditure of a few hundreds a year. It is +not a scrambling collection of low single rooms, with as many roofs +as windows; it is not cramped into the vulgar compactness of a square +farmhouse: it is a solid, roomy, mansion-like looking house, such as +one might suppose a respectable old country family had lived in from +generation to generation, through two centuries at least, and were now +spending from two to three thousand a year in." Miss Crawford listened, +and Edmund agreed to this. "The air of a gentleman's residence, +therefore, you cannot but give it, if you do anything. But it is capable +of much more. (Let me see, Mary; Lady Bertram bids a dozen for that +queen; no, no, a dozen is more than it is worth. Lady Bertram does not +bid a dozen. She will have nothing to say to it. Go on, go on.) By some +such improvements as I have suggested (I do not really require you to +proceed upon my plan, though, by the bye, I doubt anybody's striking out +a better) you may give it a higher character. You may raise it into +a _place_. From being the mere gentleman's residence, it becomes, by +judicious improvement, the residence of a man of education, taste, +modern manners, good connexions. All this may be stamped on it; and that +house receive such an air as to make its owner be set down as the +great landholder of the parish by every creature travelling the road; +especially as there is no real squire's house to dispute the point--a +circumstance, between ourselves, to enhance the value of such a +situation in point of privilege and independence beyond all calculation. +_You_ think with me, I hope" (turning with a softened voice to Fanny). +"Have you ever seen the place?" + +Fanny gave a quick negative, and tried to hide her interest in the +subject by an eager attention to her brother, who was driving as hard a +bargain, and imposing on her as much as he could; but Crawford pursued +with "No, no, you must not part with the queen. You have bought her too +dearly, and your brother does not offer half her value. No, no, sir, +hands off, hands off. Your sister does not part with the queen. She is +quite determined. The game will be yours," turning to her again; "it +will certainly be yours." + +"And Fanny had much rather it were William's," said Edmund, smiling at +her. "Poor Fanny! not allowed to cheat herself as she wishes!" + +"Mr. Bertram," said Miss Crawford, a few minutes afterwards, "you know +Henry to be such a capital improver, that you cannot possibly engage in +anything of the sort at Thornton Lacey without accepting his help. Only +think how useful he was at Sotherton! Only think what grand things were +produced there by our all going with him one hot day in August to drive +about the grounds, and see his genius take fire. There we went, and +there we came home again; and what was done there is not to be told!" + +Fanny's eyes were turned on Crawford for a moment with an expression +more than grave--even reproachful; but on catching his, were instantly +withdrawn. With something of consciousness he shook his head at his +sister, and laughingly replied, "I cannot say there was much done at +Sotherton; but it was a hot day, and we were all walking after each +other, and bewildered." As soon as a general buzz gave him shelter, he +added, in a low voice, directed solely at Fanny, "I should be sorry to +have my powers of _planning_ judged of by the day at Sotherton. I see +things very differently now. Do not think of me as I appeared then." + +Sotherton was a word to catch Mrs. Norris, and being just then in the +happy leisure which followed securing the odd trick by Sir Thomas's +capital play and her own against Dr. and Mrs. Grant's great hands, +she called out, in high good-humour, "Sotherton! Yes, that is a place, +indeed, and we had a charming day there. William, you are quite out of +luck; but the next time you come, I hope dear Mr. and Mrs. Rushworth +will be at home, and I am sure I can answer for your being kindly +received by both. Your cousins are not of a sort to forget their +relations, and Mr. Rushworth is a most amiable man. They are at Brighton +now, you know; in one of the best houses there, as Mr. Rushworth's fine +fortune gives them a right to be. I do not exactly know the distance, +but when you get back to Portsmouth, if it is not very far off, you +ought to go over and pay your respects to them; and I could send a +little parcel by you that I want to get conveyed to your cousins." + +"I should be very happy, aunt; but Brighton is almost by Beachey Head; +and if I could get so far, I could not expect to be welcome in such a +smart place as that--poor scrubby midshipman as I am." + +Mrs. Norris was beginning an eager assurance of the affability he might +depend on, when she was stopped by Sir Thomas's saying with authority, +"I do not advise your going to Brighton, William, as I trust you may +soon have more convenient opportunities of meeting; but my daughters +would be happy to see their cousins anywhere; and you will find Mr. +Rushworth most sincerely disposed to regard all the connexions of our +family as his own." + +"I would rather find him private secretary to the First Lord than +anything else," was William's only answer, in an undervoice, not meant +to reach far, and the subject dropped. + +As yet Sir Thomas had seen nothing to remark in Mr. Crawford's +behaviour; but when the whist-table broke up at the end of the second +rubber, and leaving Dr. Grant and Mrs. Norris to dispute over their last +play, he became a looker-on at the other, he found his niece the +object of attentions, or rather of professions, of a somewhat pointed +character. + +Henry Crawford was in the first glow of another scheme about Thornton +Lacey; and not being able to catch Edmund's ear, was detailing it to his +fair neighbour with a look of considerable earnestness. His scheme was +to rent the house himself the following winter, that he might have a +home of his own in that neighbourhood; and it was not merely for the use +of it in the hunting-season (as he was then telling her), though _that_ +consideration had certainly some weight, feeling as he did that, in +spite of all Dr. Grant's very great kindness, it was impossible for him +and his horses to be accommodated where they now were without material +inconvenience; but his attachment to that neighbourhood did not depend +upon one amusement or one season of the year: he had set his heart upon +having a something there that he could come to at any time, a little +homestall at his command, where all the holidays of his year might be +spent, and he might find himself continuing, improving, and _perfecting_ +that friendship and intimacy with the Mansfield Park family which was +increasing in value to him every day. Sir Thomas heard and was not +offended. There was no want of respect in the young man's address; +and Fanny's reception of it was so proper and modest, so calm and +uninviting, that he had nothing to censure in her. She said little, +assented only here and there, and betrayed no inclination either of +appropriating any part of the compliment to herself, or of strengthening +his views in favour of Northamptonshire. Finding by whom he was +observed, Henry Crawford addressed himself on the same subject to Sir +Thomas, in a more everyday tone, but still with feeling. + +"I want to be your neighbour, Sir Thomas, as you have, perhaps, heard me +telling Miss Price. May I hope for your acquiescence, and for your not +influencing your son against such a tenant?" + +Sir Thomas, politely bowing, replied, "It is the only way, sir, in which +I could _not_ wish you established as a permanent neighbour; but I hope, +and believe, that Edmund will occupy his own house at Thornton Lacey. +Edmund, am I saying too much?" + +Edmund, on this appeal, had first to hear what was going on; but, on +understanding the question, was at no loss for an answer. + +"Certainly, sir, I have no idea but of residence. But, Crawford, though +I refuse you as a tenant, come to me as a friend. Consider the house as +half your own every winter, and we will add to the stables on your own +improved plan, and with all the improvements of your improved plan that +may occur to you this spring." + +"We shall be the losers," continued Sir Thomas. "His going, though only +eight miles, will be an unwelcome contraction of our family circle; but +I should have been deeply mortified if any son of mine could reconcile +himself to doing less. It is perfectly natural that you should not have +thought much on the subject, Mr. Crawford. But a parish has wants and +claims which can be known only by a clergyman constantly resident, and +which no proxy can be capable of satisfying to the same extent. Edmund +might, in the common phrase, do the duty of Thornton, that is, he might +read prayers and preach, without giving up Mansfield Park: he might ride +over every Sunday, to a house nominally inhabited, and go through divine +service; he might be the clergyman of Thornton Lacey every seventh day, +for three or four hours, if that would content him. But it will not. +He knows that human nature needs more lessons than a weekly sermon can +convey; and that if he does not live among his parishioners, and prove +himself, by constant attention, their well-wisher and friend, he does +very little either for their good or his own." + +Mr. Crawford bowed his acquiescence. + +"I repeat again," added Sir Thomas, "that Thornton Lacey is the only +house in the neighbourhood in which I should _not_ be happy to wait on +Mr. Crawford as occupier." + +Mr. Crawford bowed his thanks. + +"Sir Thomas," said Edmund, "undoubtedly understands the duty of a parish +priest. We must hope his son may prove that _he_ knows it too." + +Whatever effect Sir Thomas's little harangue might really produce on Mr. +Crawford, it raised some awkward sensations in two of the others, two +of his most attentive listeners--Miss Crawford and Fanny. One of +whom, having never before understood that Thornton was so soon and so +completely to be his home, was pondering with downcast eyes on what it +would be _not_ to see Edmund every day; and the other, startled from the +agreeable fancies she had been previously indulging on the strength of +her brother's description, no longer able, in the picture she had +been forming of a future Thornton, to shut out the church, sink the +clergyman, and see only the respectable, elegant, modernised, and +occasional residence of a man of independent fortune, was considering +Sir Thomas, with decided ill-will, as the destroyer of all this, and +suffering the more from that involuntary forbearance which his character +and manner commanded, and from not daring to relieve herself by a single +attempt at throwing ridicule on his cause. + +All the agreeable of _her_ speculation was over for that hour. It was +time to have done with cards, if sermons prevailed; and she was glad to +find it necessary to come to a conclusion, and be able to refresh her +spirits by a change of place and neighbour. + +The chief of the party were now collected irregularly round the +fire, and waiting the final break-up. William and Fanny were the most +detached. They remained together at the otherwise deserted card-table, +talking very comfortably, and not thinking of the rest, till some of the +rest began to think of them. Henry Crawford's chair was the first to be +given a direction towards them, and he sat silently observing them for a +few minutes; himself, in the meanwhile, observed by Sir Thomas, who was +standing in chat with Dr. Grant. + +"This is the assembly night," said William. "If I were at Portsmouth I +should be at it, perhaps." + +"But you do not wish yourself at Portsmouth, William?" + +"No, Fanny, that I do not. I shall have enough of Portsmouth and of +dancing too, when I cannot have you. And I do not know that there would +be any good in going to the assembly, for I might not get a partner. +The Portsmouth girls turn up their noses at anybody who has not a +commission. One might as well be nothing as a midshipman. One _is_ +nothing, indeed. You remember the Gregorys; they are grown up amazing +fine girls, but they will hardly speak to _me_, because Lucy is courted +by a lieutenant." + +"Oh! shame, shame! But never mind it, William" (her own cheeks in a +glow of indignation as she spoke). "It is not worth minding. It is no +reflection on _you_; it is no more than what the greatest admirals have +all experienced, more or less, in their time. You must think of that, +you must try to make up your mind to it as one of the hardships which +fall to every sailor's share, like bad weather and hard living, only +with this advantage, that there will be an end to it, that there will +come a time when you will have nothing of that sort to endure. When you +are a lieutenant! only think, William, when you are a lieutenant, how +little you will care for any nonsense of this kind." + +"I begin to think I shall never be a lieutenant, Fanny. Everybody gets +made but me." + +"Oh! my dear William, do not talk so; do not be so desponding. My uncle +says nothing, but I am sure he will do everything in his power to get +you made. He knows, as well as you do, of what consequence it is." + +She was checked by the sight of her uncle much nearer to them than she +had any suspicion of, and each found it necessary to talk of something +else. + +"Are you fond of dancing, Fanny?" + +"Yes, very; only I am soon tired." + +"I should like to go to a ball with you and see you dance. Have you +never any balls at Northampton? I should like to see you dance, and I'd +dance with you if you _would_, for nobody would know who I was here, +and I should like to be your partner once more. We used to jump about +together many a time, did not we? when the hand-organ was in the street? +I am a pretty good dancer in my way, but I dare say you are a better." +And turning to his uncle, who was now close to them, "Is not Fanny a +very good dancer, sir?" + +Fanny, in dismay at such an unprecedented question, did not know which +way to look, or how to be prepared for the answer. Some very grave +reproof, or at least the coldest expression of indifference, must be +coming to distress her brother, and sink her to the ground. But, on the +contrary, it was no worse than, "I am sorry to say that I am unable +to answer your question. I have never seen Fanny dance since she was a +little girl; but I trust we shall both think she acquits herself like +a gentlewoman when we do see her, which, perhaps, we may have an +opportunity of doing ere long." + +"I have had the pleasure of seeing your sister dance, Mr. Price," +said Henry Crawford, leaning forward, "and will engage to answer every +inquiry which you can make on the subject, to your entire satisfaction. +But I believe" (seeing Fanny looked distressed) "it must be at some +other time. There is _one_ person in company who does not like to have +Miss Price spoken of." + +True enough, he had once seen Fanny dance; and it was equally true +that he would now have answered for her gliding about with quiet, light +elegance, and in admirable time; but, in fact, he could not for the life +of him recall what her dancing had been, and rather took it for granted +that she had been present than remembered anything about her. + +He passed, however, for an admirer of her dancing; and Sir Thomas, by no +means displeased, prolonged the conversation on dancing in general, and +was so well engaged in describing the balls of Antigua, and listening to +what his nephew could relate of the different modes of dancing which +had fallen within his observation, that he had not heard his carriage +announced, and was first called to the knowledge of it by the bustle of +Mrs. Norris. + +"Come, Fanny, Fanny, what are you about? We are going. Do not you see +your aunt is going? Quick, quick! I cannot bear to keep good old Wilcox +waiting. You should always remember the coachman and horses. My dear Sir +Thomas, we have settled it that the carriage should come back for you, +and Edmund and William." + +Sir Thomas could not dissent, as it had been his own arrangement, +previously communicated to his wife and sister; but _that_ seemed +forgotten by Mrs. Norris, who must fancy that she settled it all +herself. + +Fanny's last feeling in the visit was disappointment: for the shawl +which Edmund was quietly taking from the servant to bring and put round +her shoulders was seized by Mr. Crawford's quicker hand, and she was +obliged to be indebted to his more prominent attention. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +William's desire of seeing Fanny dance made more than a momentary +impression on his uncle. The hope of an opportunity, which Sir Thomas +had then given, was not given to be thought of no more. He remained +steadily inclined to gratify so amiable a feeling; to gratify anybody +else who might wish to see Fanny dance, and to give pleasure to the +young people in general; and having thought the matter over, and taken +his resolution in quiet independence, the result of it appeared the +next morning at breakfast, when, after recalling and commending what +his nephew had said, he added, "I do not like, William, that you +should leave Northamptonshire without this indulgence. It would give me +pleasure to see you both dance. You spoke of the balls at Northampton. +Your cousins have occasionally attended them; but they would not +altogether suit us now. The fatigue would be too much for your aunt. I +believe we must not think of a Northampton ball. A dance at home would +be more eligible; and if--" + +"Ah, my dear Sir Thomas!" interrupted Mrs. Norris, "I knew what was +coming. I knew what you were going to say. If dear Julia were at home, +or dearest Mrs. Rushworth at Sotherton, to afford a reason, an occasion +for such a thing, you would be tempted to give the young people a dance +at Mansfield. I know you would. If _they_ were at home to grace the +ball, a ball you would have this very Christmas. Thank your uncle, +William, thank your uncle!" + +"My daughters," replied Sir Thomas, gravely interposing, "have their +pleasures at Brighton, and I hope are very happy; but the dance which I +think of giving at Mansfield will be for their cousins. Could we be all +assembled, our satisfaction would undoubtedly be more complete, but the +absence of some is not to debar the others of amusement." + +Mrs. Norris had not another word to say. She saw decision in his looks, +and her surprise and vexation required some minutes' silence to be +settled into composure. A ball at such a time! His daughters absent and +herself not consulted! There was comfort, however, soon at hand. _She_ +must be the doer of everything: Lady Bertram would of course be spared +all thought and exertion, and it would all fall upon _her_. She should +have to do the honours of the evening; and this reflection quickly +restored so much of her good-humour as enabled her to join in with the +others, before their happiness and thanks were all expressed. + +Edmund, William, and Fanny did, in their different ways, look and speak +as much grateful pleasure in the promised ball as Sir Thomas could +desire. Edmund's feelings were for the other two. His father had never +conferred a favour or shewn a kindness more to his satisfaction. + +Lady Bertram was perfectly quiescent and contented, and had no +objections to make. Sir Thomas engaged for its giving her very little +trouble; and she assured him "that she was not at all afraid of the +trouble; indeed, she could not imagine there would be any." + +Mrs. Norris was ready with her suggestions as to the rooms he would +think fittest to be used, but found it all prearranged; and when she +would have conjectured and hinted about the day, it appeared that the +day was settled too. Sir Thomas had been amusing himself with shaping a +very complete outline of the business; and as soon as she would listen +quietly, could read his list of the families to be invited, from whom +he calculated, with all necessary allowance for the shortness of the +notice, to collect young people enough to form twelve or fourteen +couple: and could detail the considerations which had induced him to +fix on the 22nd as the most eligible day. William was required to be at +Portsmouth on the 24th; the 22nd would therefore be the last day of his +visit; but where the days were so few it would be unwise to fix on any +earlier. Mrs. Norris was obliged to be satisfied with thinking just the +same, and with having been on the point of proposing the 22nd herself, +as by far the best day for the purpose. + +The ball was now a settled thing, and before the evening a proclaimed +thing to all whom it concerned. Invitations were sent with despatch, +and many a young lady went to bed that night with her head full of happy +cares as well as Fanny. To her the cares were sometimes almost beyond +the happiness; for young and inexperienced, with small means of choice +and no confidence in her own taste, the "how she should be dressed" was +a point of painful solicitude; and the almost solitary ornament in her +possession, a very pretty amber cross which William had brought her from +Sicily, was the greatest distress of all, for she had nothing but a bit +of ribbon to fasten it to; and though she had worn it in that manner +once, would it be allowable at such a time in the midst of all the rich +ornaments which she supposed all the other young ladies would appear in? +And yet not to wear it! William had wanted to buy her a gold chain too, +but the purchase had been beyond his means, and therefore not to wear +the cross might be mortifying him. These were anxious considerations; +enough to sober her spirits even under the prospect of a ball given +principally for her gratification. + +The preparations meanwhile went on, and Lady Bertram continued to sit on +her sofa without any inconvenience from them. She had some extra visits +from the housekeeper, and her maid was rather hurried in making up a new +dress for her: Sir Thomas gave orders, and Mrs. Norris ran about; but +all this gave _her_ no trouble, and as she had foreseen, "there was, in +fact, no trouble in the business." + +Edmund was at this time particularly full of cares: his mind being +deeply occupied in the consideration of two important events now +at hand, which were to fix his fate in life--ordination and +matrimony--events of such a serious character as to make the ball, which +would be very quickly followed by one of them, appear of less moment in +his eyes than in those of any other person in the house. On the 23rd +he was going to a friend near Peterborough, in the same situation +as himself, and they were to receive ordination in the course of the +Christmas week. Half his destiny would then be determined, but the +other half might not be so very smoothly wooed. His duties would be +established, but the wife who was to share, and animate, and reward +those duties, might yet be unattainable. He knew his own mind, but he +was not always perfectly assured of knowing Miss Crawford's. There were +points on which they did not quite agree; there were moments in which +she did not seem propitious; and though trusting altogether to her +affection, so far as to be resolved--almost resolved--on bringing it to +a decision within a very short time, as soon as the variety of business +before him were arranged, and he knew what he had to offer her, he +had many anxious feelings, many doubting hours as to the result. His +conviction of her regard for him was sometimes very strong; he could +look back on a long course of encouragement, and she was as perfect in +disinterested attachment as in everything else. But at other times +doubt and alarm intermingled with his hopes; and when he thought of +her acknowledged disinclination for privacy and retirement, her decided +preference of a London life, what could he expect but a determined +rejection? unless it were an acceptance even more to be deprecated, +demanding such sacrifices of situation and employment on his side as +conscience must forbid. + +The issue of all depended on one question. Did she love him well enough +to forego what had used to be essential points? Did she love him well +enough to make them no longer essential? And this question, which he was +continually repeating to himself, though oftenest answered with a "Yes," +had sometimes its "No." + +Miss Crawford was soon to leave Mansfield, and on this circumstance the +"no" and the "yes" had been very recently in alternation. He had seen +her eyes sparkle as she spoke of the dear friend's letter, which claimed +a long visit from her in London, and of the kindness of Henry, in +engaging to remain where he was till January, that he might convey her +thither; he had heard her speak of the pleasure of such a journey with +an animation which had "no" in every tone. But this had occurred on the +first day of its being settled, within the first hour of the burst of +such enjoyment, when nothing but the friends she was to visit was before +her. He had since heard her express herself differently, with other +feelings, more chequered feelings: he had heard her tell Mrs. Grant that +she should leave her with regret; that she began to believe neither the +friends nor the pleasures she was going to were worth those she left +behind; and that though she felt she must go, and knew she should enjoy +herself when once away, she was already looking forward to being at +Mansfield again. Was there not a "yes" in all this? + +With such matters to ponder over, and arrange, and re-arrange, Edmund +could not, on his own account, think very much of the evening which the +rest of the family were looking forward to with a more equal degree of +strong interest. Independent of his two cousins' enjoyment in it, the +evening was to him of no higher value than any other appointed meeting +of the two families might be. In every meeting there was a hope of +receiving farther confirmation of Miss Crawford's attachment; but the +whirl of a ballroom, perhaps, was not particularly favourable to the +excitement or expression of serious feelings. To engage her early for +the two first dances was all the command of individual happiness which +he felt in his power, and the only preparation for the ball which he +could enter into, in spite of all that was passing around him on the +subject, from morning till night. + +Thursday was the day of the ball; and on Wednesday morning Fanny, still +unable to satisfy herself as to what she ought to wear, determined to +seek the counsel of the more enlightened, and apply to Mrs. Grant and +her sister, whose acknowledged taste would certainly bear her blameless; +and as Edmund and William were gone to Northampton, and she had reason +to think Mr. Crawford likewise out, she walked down to the Parsonage +without much fear of wanting an opportunity for private discussion; +and the privacy of such a discussion was a most important part of it to +Fanny, being more than half-ashamed of her own solicitude. + +She met Miss Crawford within a few yards of the Parsonage, just setting +out to call on her, and as it seemed to her that her friend, though +obliged to insist on turning back, was unwilling to lose her walk, she +explained her business at once, and observed, that if she would be so +kind as to give her opinion, it might be all talked over as well without +doors as within. Miss Crawford appeared gratified by the application, +and after a moment's thought, urged Fanny's returning with her in a much +more cordial manner than before, and proposed their going up into her +room, where they might have a comfortable coze, without disturbing Dr. +and Mrs. Grant, who were together in the drawing-room. It was just the +plan to suit Fanny; and with a great deal of gratitude on her side for +such ready and kind attention, they proceeded indoors, and upstairs, and +were soon deep in the interesting subject. Miss Crawford, pleased with +the appeal, gave her all her best judgment and taste, made everything +easy by her suggestions, and tried to make everything agreeable by her +encouragement. The dress being settled in all its grander parts--"But +what shall you have by way of necklace?" said Miss Crawford. "Shall not +you wear your brother's cross?" And as she spoke she was undoing a +small parcel, which Fanny had observed in her hand when they met. Fanny +acknowledged her wishes and doubts on this point: she did not know +how either to wear the cross, or to refrain from wearing it. She was +answered by having a small trinket-box placed before her, and being +requested to chuse from among several gold chains and necklaces. Such +had been the parcel with which Miss Crawford was provided, and such the +object of her intended visit: and in the kindest manner she now urged +Fanny's taking one for the cross and to keep for her sake, saying +everything she could think of to obviate the scruples which were making +Fanny start back at first with a look of horror at the proposal. + +"You see what a collection I have," said she; "more by half than I ever +use or think of. I do not offer them as new. I offer nothing but an old +necklace. You must forgive the liberty, and oblige me." + +Fanny still resisted, and from her heart. The gift was too valuable. But +Miss Crawford persevered, and argued the case with so much affectionate +earnestness through all the heads of William and the cross, and the +ball, and herself, as to be finally successful. Fanny found +herself obliged to yield, that she might not be accused of pride +or indifference, or some other littleness; and having with modest +reluctance given her consent, proceeded to make the selection. She +looked and looked, longing to know which might be least valuable; and +was determined in her choice at last, by fancying there was one necklace +more frequently placed before her eyes than the rest. It was of gold, +prettily worked; and though Fanny would have preferred a longer and a +plainer chain as more adapted for her purpose, she hoped, in fixing +on this, to be chusing what Miss Crawford least wished to keep. Miss +Crawford smiled her perfect approbation; and hastened to complete the +gift by putting the necklace round her, and making her see how well +it looked. Fanny had not a word to say against its becomingness, and, +excepting what remained of her scruples, was exceedingly pleased with +an acquisition so very apropos. She would rather, perhaps, have been +obliged to some other person. But this was an unworthy feeling. Miss +Crawford had anticipated her wants with a kindness which proved her a +real friend. "When I wear this necklace I shall always think of you," +said she, "and feel how very kind you were." + +"You must think of somebody else too, when you wear that necklace," +replied Miss Crawford. "You must think of Henry, for it was his choice +in the first place. He gave it to me, and with the necklace I make over +to you all the duty of remembering the original giver. It is to be +a family remembrancer. The sister is not to be in your mind without +bringing the brother too." + +Fanny, in great astonishment and confusion, would have returned the +present instantly. To take what had been the gift of another person, +of a brother too, impossible! it must not be! and with an eagerness +and embarrassment quite diverting to her companion, she laid down the +necklace again on its cotton, and seemed resolved either to take another +or none at all. Miss Crawford thought she had never seen a prettier +consciousness. "My dear child," said she, laughing, "what are you afraid +of? Do you think Henry will claim the necklace as mine, and fancy you +did not come honestly by it? or are you imagining he would be too much +flattered by seeing round your lovely throat an ornament which his money +purchased three years ago, before he knew there was such a throat in the +world? or perhaps"--looking archly--"you suspect a confederacy between +us, and that what I am now doing is with his knowledge and at his +desire?" + +With the deepest blushes Fanny protested against such a thought. + +"Well, then," replied Miss Crawford more seriously, but without at all +believing her, "to convince me that you suspect no trick, and are as +unsuspicious of compliment as I have always found you, take the necklace +and say no more about it. Its being a gift of my brother's need not make +the smallest difference in your accepting it, as I assure you it makes +none in my willingness to part with it. He is always giving me something +or other. I have such innumerable presents from him that it is quite +impossible for me to value or for him to remember half. And as for this +necklace, I do not suppose I have worn it six times: it is very pretty, +but I never think of it; and though you would be most heartily welcome +to any other in my trinket-box, you have happened to fix on the very +one which, if I have a choice, I would rather part with and see in your +possession than any other. Say no more against it, I entreat you. Such a +trifle is not worth half so many words." + +Fanny dared not make any farther opposition; and with renewed but less +happy thanks accepted the necklace again, for there was an expression in +Miss Crawford's eyes which she could not be satisfied with. + +It was impossible for her to be insensible of Mr. Crawford's change of +manners. She had long seen it. He evidently tried to please her: he was +gallant, he was attentive, he was something like what he had been to her +cousins: he wanted, she supposed, to cheat her of her tranquillity as +he had cheated them; and whether he might not have some concern in this +necklace--she could not be convinced that he had not, for Miss Crawford, +complaisant as a sister, was careless as a woman and a friend. + +Reflecting and doubting, and feeling that the possession of what she had +so much wished for did not bring much satisfaction, she now walked +home again, with a change rather than a diminution of cares since her +treading that path before. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +On reaching home Fanny went immediately upstairs to deposit this +unexpected acquisition, this doubtful good of a necklace, in some +favourite box in the East room, which held all her smaller treasures; +but on opening the door, what was her surprise to find her cousin Edmund +there writing at the table! Such a sight having never occurred before, +was almost as wonderful as it was welcome. + +"Fanny," said he directly, leaving his seat and his pen, and meeting her +with something in his hand, "I beg your pardon for being here. I came +to look for you, and after waiting a little while in hope of your coming +in, was making use of your inkstand to explain my errand. You will find +the beginning of a note to yourself; but I can now speak my business, +which is merely to beg your acceptance of this little trifle--a chain +for William's cross. You ought to have had it a week ago, but there has +been a delay from my brother's not being in town by several days so soon +as I expected; and I have only just now received it at Northampton. I +hope you will like the chain itself, Fanny. I endeavoured to consult the +simplicity of your taste; but, at any rate, I know you will be kind to +my intentions, and consider it, as it really is, a token of the love of +one of your oldest friends." + +And so saying, he was hurrying away, before Fanny, overpowered by a +thousand feelings of pain and pleasure, could attempt to speak; but +quickened by one sovereign wish, she then called out, "Oh! cousin, stop +a moment, pray stop!" + +He turned back. + +"I cannot attempt to thank you," she continued, in a very agitated +manner; "thanks are out of the question. I feel much more than I can +possibly express. Your goodness in thinking of me in such a way is +beyond--" + +"If that is all you have to say, Fanny" smiling and turning away again. + +"No, no, it is not. I want to consult you." + +Almost unconsciously she had now undone the parcel he had just put +into her hand, and seeing before her, in all the niceness of jewellers' +packing, a plain gold chain, perfectly simple and neat, she could not +help bursting forth again, "Oh, this is beautiful indeed! This is the +very thing, precisely what I wished for! This is the only ornament I +have ever had a desire to possess. It will exactly suit my cross. They +must and shall be worn together. It comes, too, in such an acceptable +moment. Oh, cousin, you do not know how acceptable it is." + +"My dear Fanny, you feel these things a great deal too much. I am most +happy that you like the chain, and that it should be here in time for +to-morrow; but your thanks are far beyond the occasion. Believe me, I +have no pleasure in the world superior to that of contributing to yours. +No, I can safely say, I have no pleasure so complete, so unalloyed. It +is without a drawback." + +Upon such expressions of affection Fanny could have lived an hour +without saying another word; but Edmund, after waiting a moment, obliged +her to bring down her mind from its heavenly flight by saying, "But what +is it that you want to consult me about?" + +It was about the necklace, which she was now most earnestly longing to +return, and hoped to obtain his approbation of her doing. She gave the +history of her recent visit, and now her raptures might well be over; +for Edmund was so struck with the circumstance, so delighted with what +Miss Crawford had done, so gratified by such a coincidence of conduct +between them, that Fanny could not but admit the superior power of one +pleasure over his own mind, though it might have its drawback. It was +some time before she could get his attention to her plan, or any answer +to her demand of his opinion: he was in a reverie of fond reflection, +uttering only now and then a few half-sentences of praise; but when +he did awake and understand, he was very decided in opposing what she +wished. + +"Return the necklace! No, my dear Fanny, upon no account. It would be +mortifying her severely. There can hardly be a more unpleasant sensation +than the having anything returned on our hands which we have given with +a reasonable hope of its contributing to the comfort of a friend. Why +should she lose a pleasure which she has shewn herself so deserving of?" + +"If it had been given to me in the first instance," said Fanny, "I +should not have thought of returning it; but being her brother's +present, is not it fair to suppose that she would rather not part with +it, when it is not wanted?" + +"She must not suppose it not wanted, not acceptable, at least: and its +having been originally her brother's gift makes no difference; for as +she was not prevented from offering, nor you from taking it on that +account, it ought not to prevent you from keeping it. No doubt it is +handsomer than mine, and fitter for a ballroom." + +"No, it is not handsomer, not at all handsomer in its way, and, for +my purpose, not half so fit. The chain will agree with William's cross +beyond all comparison better than the necklace." + +"For one night, Fanny, for only one night, if it _be_ a sacrifice; I am +sure you will, upon consideration, make that sacrifice rather than give +pain to one who has been so studious of your comfort. Miss Crawford's +attentions to you have been--not more than you were justly entitled +to--I am the last person to think that _could_ _be_, but they have been +invariable; and to be returning them with what must have something the +_air_ of ingratitude, though I know it could never have the _meaning_, +is not in your nature, I am sure. Wear the necklace, as you are engaged +to do, to-morrow evening, and let the chain, which was not ordered with +any reference to the ball, be kept for commoner occasions. This is my +advice. I would not have the shadow of a coolness between the two whose +intimacy I have been observing with the greatest pleasure, and in whose +characters there is so much general resemblance in true generosity +and natural delicacy as to make the few slight differences, resulting +principally from situation, no reasonable hindrance to a perfect +friendship. I would not have the shadow of a coolness arise," he +repeated, his voice sinking a little, "between the two dearest objects I +have on earth." + +He was gone as he spoke; and Fanny remained to tranquillise herself as +she could. She was one of his two dearest--that must support her. But +the other: the first! She had never heard him speak so openly before, +and though it told her no more than what she had long perceived, it was +a stab, for it told of his own convictions and views. They were +decided. He would marry Miss Crawford. It was a stab, in spite of every +long-standing expectation; and she was obliged to repeat again and +again, that she was one of his two dearest, before the words gave her +any sensation. Could she believe Miss Crawford to deserve him, it would +be--oh, how different would it be--how far more tolerable! But he was +deceived in her: he gave her merits which she had not; her faults were +what they had ever been, but he saw them no longer. Till she had shed +many tears over this deception, Fanny could not subdue her agitation; +and the dejection which followed could only be relieved by the influence +of fervent prayers for his happiness. + +It was her intention, as she felt it to be her duty, to try to overcome +all that was excessive, all that bordered on selfishness, in her +affection for Edmund. To call or to fancy it a loss, a disappointment, +would be a presumption for which she had not words strong enough to +satisfy her own humility. To think of him as Miss Crawford might be +justified in thinking, would in her be insanity. To her he could be +nothing under any circumstances; nothing dearer than a friend. Why did +such an idea occur to her even enough to be reprobated and forbidden? It +ought not to have touched on the confines of her imagination. She would +endeavour to be rational, and to deserve the right of judging of Miss +Crawford's character, and the privilege of true solicitude for him by a +sound intellect and an honest heart. + +She had all the heroism of principle, and was determined to do her duty; +but having also many of the feelings of youth and nature, let her not +be much wondered at, if, after making all these good resolutions on the +side of self-government, she seized the scrap of paper on which Edmund +had begun writing to her, as a treasure beyond all her hopes, and +reading with the tenderest emotion these words, "My very dear Fanny, +you must do me the favour to accept" locked it up with the chain, as the +dearest part of the gift. It was the only thing approaching to a letter +which she had ever received from him; she might never receive another; +it was impossible that she ever should receive another so perfectly +gratifying in the occasion and the style. Two lines more prized had +never fallen from the pen of the most distinguished author--never +more completely blessed the researches of the fondest biographer. The +enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's. To her, +the handwriting itself, independent of anything it may convey, is a +blessedness. Never were such characters cut by any other human being as +Edmund's commonest handwriting gave! This specimen, written in haste +as it was, had not a fault; and there was a felicity in the flow of the +first four words, in the arrangement of "My very dear Fanny," which she +could have looked at for ever. + +Having regulated her thoughts and comforted her feelings by this happy +mixture of reason and weakness, she was able in due time to go down +and resume her usual employments near her aunt Bertram, and pay her the +usual observances without any apparent want of spirits. + +Thursday, predestined to hope and enjoyment, came; and opened with +more kindness to Fanny than such self-willed, unmanageable days often +volunteer, for soon after breakfast a very friendly note was brought +from Mr. Crawford to William, stating that as he found himself obliged +to go to London on the morrow for a few days, he could not help trying +to procure a companion; and therefore hoped that if William could +make up his mind to leave Mansfield half a day earlier than had been +proposed, he would accept a place in his carriage. Mr. Crawford meant to +be in town by his uncle's accustomary late dinner-hour, and William +was invited to dine with him at the Admiral's. The proposal was a very +pleasant one to William himself, who enjoyed the idea of travelling post +with four horses, and such a good-humoured, agreeable friend; and, in +likening it to going up with despatches, was saying at once everything +in favour of its happiness and dignity which his imagination could +suggest; and Fanny, from a different motive, was exceedingly pleased; +for the original plan was that William should go up by the mail from +Northampton the following night, which would not have allowed him an +hour's rest before he must have got into a Portsmouth coach; and though +this offer of Mr. Crawford's would rob her of many hours of his company, +she was too happy in having William spared from the fatigue of such +a journey, to think of anything else. Sir Thomas approved of it for +another reason. His nephew's introduction to Admiral Crawford might be +of service. The Admiral, he believed, had interest. Upon the whole, it +was a very joyous note. Fanny's spirits lived on it half the morning, +deriving some accession of pleasure from its writer being himself to go +away. + +As for the ball, so near at hand, she had too many agitations and fears +to have half the enjoyment in anticipation which she ought to have had, +or must have been supposed to have by the many young ladies looking +forward to the same event in situations more at ease, but under +circumstances of less novelty, less interest, less peculiar +gratification, than would be attributed to her. Miss Price, known +only by name to half the people invited, was now to make her first +appearance, and must be regarded as the queen of the evening. Who could +be happier than Miss Price? But Miss Price had not been brought up to +the trade of _coming_ _out_; and had she known in what light this ball +was, in general, considered respecting her, it would very much have +lessened her comfort by increasing the fears she already had of doing +wrong and being looked at. To dance without much observation or any +extraordinary fatigue, to have strength and partners for about half the +evening, to dance a little with Edmund, and not a great deal with Mr. +Crawford, to see William enjoy himself, and be able to keep away +from her aunt Norris, was the height of her ambition, and seemed to +comprehend her greatest possibility of happiness. As these were the best +of her hopes, they could not always prevail; and in the course of a long +morning, spent principally with her two aunts, she was often under the +influence of much less sanguine views. William, determined to make this +last day a day of thorough enjoyment, was out snipe-shooting; Edmund, +she had too much reason to suppose, was at the Parsonage; and left +alone to bear the worrying of Mrs. Norris, who was cross because the +housekeeper would have her own way with the supper, and whom _she_ could +not avoid though the housekeeper might, Fanny was worn down at last to +think everything an evil belonging to the ball, and when sent off with +a parting worry to dress, moved as languidly towards her own room, and +felt as incapable of happiness as if she had been allowed no share in +it. + +As she walked slowly upstairs she thought of yesterday; it had been +about the same hour that she had returned from the Parsonage, and +found Edmund in the East room. "Suppose I were to find him there again +to-day!" said she to herself, in a fond indulgence of fancy. + +"Fanny," said a voice at that moment near her. Starting and looking up, +she saw, across the lobby she had just reached, Edmund himself, standing +at the head of a different staircase. He came towards her. "You look +tired and fagged, Fanny. You have been walking too far." + +"No, I have not been out at all." + +"Then you have had fatigues within doors, which are worse. You had +better have gone out." + +Fanny, not liking to complain, found it easiest to make no answer; and +though he looked at her with his usual kindness, she believed he had +soon ceased to think of her countenance. He did not appear in spirits: +something unconnected with her was probably amiss. They proceeded +upstairs together, their rooms being on the same floor above. + +"I come from Dr. Grant's," said Edmund presently. "You may guess my +errand there, Fanny." And he looked so conscious, that Fanny could think +but of one errand, which turned her too sick for speech. "I wished to +engage Miss Crawford for the two first dances," was the explanation that +followed, and brought Fanny to life again, enabling her, as she found +she was expected to speak, to utter something like an inquiry as to the +result. + +"Yes," he answered, "she is engaged to me; but" (with a smile that did +not sit easy) "she says it is to be the last time that she ever will +dance with me. She is not serious. I think, I hope, I am sure she is +not serious; but I would rather not hear it. She never has danced with a +clergyman, she says, and she never _will_. For my own sake, I could wish +there had been no ball just at--I mean not this very week, this very +day; to-morrow I leave home." + +Fanny struggled for speech, and said, "I am very sorry that anything has +occurred to distress you. This ought to be a day of pleasure. My uncle +meant it so." + +"Oh yes, yes! and it will be a day of pleasure. It will all end right. I +am only vexed for a moment. In fact, it is not that I consider the ball +as ill-timed; what does it signify? But, Fanny," stopping her, by taking +her hand, and speaking low and seriously, "you know what all this means. +You see how it is; and could tell me, perhaps better than I could tell +you, how and why I am vexed. Let me talk to you a little. You are a +kind, kind listener. I have been pained by her manner this morning, and +cannot get the better of it. I know her disposition to be as sweet and +faultless as your own, but the influence of her former companions +makes her seem--gives to her conversation, to her professed opinions, +sometimes a tinge of wrong. She does not _think_ evil, but she speaks +it, speaks it in playfulness; and though I know it to be playfulness, it +grieves me to the soul." + +"The effect of education," said Fanny gently. + +Edmund could not but agree to it. "Yes, that uncle and aunt! They have +injured the finest mind; for sometimes, Fanny, I own to you, it does +appear more than manner: it appears as if the mind itself was tainted." + +Fanny imagined this to be an appeal to her judgment, and therefore, +after a moment's consideration, said, "If you only want me as a +listener, cousin, I will be as useful as I can; but I am not qualified +for an adviser. Do not ask advice of _me_. I am not competent." + +"You are right, Fanny, to protest against such an office, but you need +not be afraid. It is a subject on which I should never ask advice; it +is the sort of subject on which it had better never be asked; and few, +I imagine, do ask it, but when they want to be influenced against their +conscience. I only want to talk to you." + +"One thing more. Excuse the liberty; but take care _how_ you talk to me. +Do not tell me anything now, which hereafter you may be sorry for. The +time may come--" + +The colour rushed into her cheeks as she spoke. + +"Dearest Fanny!" cried Edmund, pressing her hand to his lips with +almost as much warmth as if it had been Miss Crawford's, "you are all +considerate thought! But it is unnecessary here. The time will never +come. No such time as you allude to will ever come. I begin to think it +most improbable: the chances grow less and less; and even if it should, +there will be nothing to be remembered by either you or me that we need +be afraid of, for I can never be ashamed of my own scruples; and if they +are removed, it must be by changes that will only raise her character +the more by the recollection of the faults she once had. You are the +only being upon earth to whom I should say what I have said; but you +have always known my opinion of her; you can bear me witness, Fanny, +that I have never been blinded. How many a time have we talked over +her little errors! You need not fear me; I have almost given up every +serious idea of her; but I must be a blockhead indeed, if, whatever +befell me, I could think of your kindness and sympathy without the +sincerest gratitude." + +He had said enough to shake the experience of eighteen. He had said +enough to give Fanny some happier feelings than she had lately known, +and with a brighter look, she answered, "Yes, cousin, I am convinced +that _you_ would be incapable of anything else, though perhaps some +might not. I cannot be afraid of hearing anything you wish to say. Do +not check yourself. Tell me whatever you like." + +They were now on the second floor, and the appearance of a housemaid +prevented any farther conversation. For Fanny's present comfort it was +concluded, perhaps, at the happiest moment: had he been able to talk +another five minutes, there is no saying that he might not have talked +away all Miss Crawford's faults and his own despondence. But as it was, +they parted with looks on his side of grateful affection, and with +some very precious sensations on hers. She had felt nothing like it for +hours. Since the first joy from Mr. Crawford's note to William had worn +away, she had been in a state absolutely the reverse; there had been +no comfort around, no hope within her. Now everything was smiling. +William's good fortune returned again upon her mind, and seemed of +greater value than at first. The ball, too--such an evening of pleasure +before her! It was now a real animation; and she began to dress for it +with much of the happy flutter which belongs to a ball. All went well: +she did not dislike her own looks; and when she came to the necklaces +again, her good fortune seemed complete, for upon trial the one given +her by Miss Crawford would by no means go through the ring of the cross. +She had, to oblige Edmund, resolved to wear it; but it was too large for +the purpose. His, therefore, must be worn; and having, with delightful +feelings, joined the chain and the cross--those memorials of the two +most beloved of her heart, those dearest tokens so formed for each other +by everything real and imaginary--and put them round her neck, and seen +and felt how full of William and Edmund they were, she was able, without +an effort, to resolve on wearing Miss Crawford's necklace too. She +acknowledged it to be right. Miss Crawford had a claim; and when it was +no longer to encroach on, to interfere with the stronger claims, the +truer kindness of another, she could do her justice even with pleasure +to herself. The necklace really looked very well; and Fanny left her +room at last, comfortably satisfied with herself and all about her. + +Her aunt Bertram had recollected her on this occasion with an unusual +degree of wakefulness. It had really occurred to her, unprompted, that +Fanny, preparing for a ball, might be glad of better help than the upper +housemaid's, and when dressed herself, she actually sent her own maid to +assist her; too late, of course, to be of any use. Mrs. Chapman had just +reached the attic floor, when Miss Price came out of her room completely +dressed, and only civilities were necessary; but Fanny felt her aunt's +attention almost as much as Lady Bertram or Mrs. Chapman could do +themselves. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Her uncle and both her aunts were in the drawing-room when Fanny went +down. To the former she was an interesting object, and he saw with +pleasure the general elegance of her appearance, and her being in +remarkably good looks. The neatness and propriety of her dress was all +that he would allow himself to commend in her presence, but upon her +leaving the room again soon afterwards, he spoke of her beauty with very +decided praise. + +"Yes," said Lady Bertram, "she looks very well. I sent Chapman to her." + +"Look well! Oh, yes!" cried Mrs. Norris, "she has good reason to look +well with all her advantages: brought up in this family as she has been, +with all the benefit of her cousins' manners before her. Only think, my +dear Sir Thomas, what extraordinary advantages you and I have been the +means of giving her. The very gown you have been taking notice of is +your own generous present to her when dear Mrs. Rushworth married. What +would she have been if we had not taken her by the hand?" + +Sir Thomas said no more; but when they sat down to table the eyes of +the two young men assured him that the subject might be gently touched +again, when the ladies withdrew, with more success. Fanny saw that she +was approved; and the consciousness of looking well made her look still +better. From a variety of causes she was happy, and she was soon made +still happier; for in following her aunts out of the room, Edmund, who +was holding open the door, said, as she passed him, "You must dance +with me, Fanny; you must keep two dances for me; any two that you like, +except the first." She had nothing more to wish for. She had hardly +ever been in a state so nearly approaching high spirits in her life. Her +cousins' former gaiety on the day of a ball was no longer surprising to +her; she felt it to be indeed very charming, and was actually practising +her steps about the drawing-room as long as she could be safe from the +notice of her aunt Norris, who was entirely taken up at first in fresh +arranging and injuring the noble fire which the butler had prepared. + +Half an hour followed that would have been at least languid under any +other circumstances, but Fanny's happiness still prevailed. It was but +to think of her conversation with Edmund, and what was the restlessness +of Mrs. Norris? What were the yawns of Lady Bertram? + +The gentlemen joined them; and soon after began the sweet expectation of +a carriage, when a general spirit of ease and enjoyment seemed diffused, +and they all stood about and talked and laughed, and every moment had +its pleasure and its hope. Fanny felt that there must be a struggle +in Edmund's cheerfulness, but it was delightful to see the effort so +successfully made. + +When the carriages were really heard, when the guests began really to +assemble, her own gaiety of heart was much subdued: the sight of so +many strangers threw her back into herself; and besides the gravity and +formality of the first great circle, which the manners of neither Sir +Thomas nor Lady Bertram were of a kind to do away, she found herself +occasionally called on to endure something worse. She was introduced +here and there by her uncle, and forced to be spoken to, and to curtsey, +and speak again. This was a hard duty, and she was never summoned to +it without looking at William, as he walked about at his ease in the +background of the scene, and longing to be with him. + +The entrance of the Grants and Crawfords was a favourable epoch. The +stiffness of the meeting soon gave way before their popular manners and +more diffused intimacies: little groups were formed, and everybody grew +comfortable. Fanny felt the advantage; and, drawing back from the toils +of civility, would have been again most happy, could she have kept her +eyes from wandering between Edmund and Mary Crawford. _She_ looked all +loveliness--and what might not be the end of it? Her own musings +were brought to an end on perceiving Mr. Crawford before her, and +her thoughts were put into another channel by his engaging her almost +instantly for the first two dances. Her happiness on this occasion was +very much _a_ _la_ _mortal_, finely chequered. To be secure of a partner +at first was a most essential good--for the moment of beginning was now +growing seriously near; and she so little understood her own claims as +to think that if Mr. Crawford had not asked her, she must have been the +last to be sought after, and should have received a partner only through +a series of inquiry, and bustle, and interference, which would have been +terrible; but at the same time there was a pointedness in his manner of +asking her which she did not like, and she saw his eye glancing for +a moment at her necklace, with a smile--she thought there was a +smile--which made her blush and feel wretched. And though there was no +second glance to disturb her, though his object seemed then to be only +quietly agreeable, she could not get the better of her embarrassment, +heightened as it was by the idea of his perceiving it, and had no +composure till he turned away to some one else. Then she could gradually +rise up to the genuine satisfaction of having a partner, a voluntary +partner, secured against the dancing began. + +When the company were moving into the ballroom, she found herself +for the first time near Miss Crawford, whose eyes and smiles were +immediately and more unequivocally directed as her brother's had been, +and who was beginning to speak on the subject, when Fanny, anxious +to get the story over, hastened to give the explanation of the second +necklace: the real chain. Miss Crawford listened; and all her intended +compliments and insinuations to Fanny were forgotten: she felt only one +thing; and her eyes, bright as they had been before, shewing they could +yet be brighter, she exclaimed with eager pleasure, "Did he? Did Edmund? +That was like himself. No other man would have thought of it. I honour +him beyond expression." And she looked around as if longing to tell him +so. He was not near, he was attending a party of ladies out of the room; +and Mrs. Grant coming up to the two girls, and taking an arm of each, +they followed with the rest. + +Fanny's heart sunk, but there was no leisure for thinking long even of +Miss Crawford's feelings. They were in the ballroom, the violins were +playing, and her mind was in a flutter that forbade its fixing on +anything serious. She must watch the general arrangements, and see how +everything was done. + +In a few minutes Sir Thomas came to her, and asked if she were engaged; +and the "Yes, sir; to Mr. Crawford," was exactly what he had intended +to hear. Mr. Crawford was not far off; Sir Thomas brought him to her, +saying something which discovered to Fanny, that _she_ was to lead the +way and open the ball; an idea that had never occurred to her before. +Whenever she had thought of the minutiae of the evening, it had been as +a matter of course that Edmund would begin with Miss Crawford; and the +impression was so strong, that though _her_ _uncle_ spoke the contrary, +she could not help an exclamation of surprise, a hint of her unfitness, +an entreaty even to be excused. To be urging her opinion against Sir +Thomas's was a proof of the extremity of the case; but such was her +horror at the first suggestion, that she could actually look him in +the face and say that she hoped it might be settled otherwise; in vain, +however: Sir Thomas smiled, tried to encourage her, and then looked too +serious, and said too decidedly, "It must be so, my dear," for her to +hazard another word; and she found herself the next moment conducted by +Mr. Crawford to the top of the room, and standing there to be joined by +the rest of the dancers, couple after couple, as they were formed. + +She could hardly believe it. To be placed above so many elegant young +women! The distinction was too great. It was treating her like her +cousins! And her thoughts flew to those absent cousins with most +unfeigned and truly tender regret, that they were not at home to take +their own place in the room, and have their share of a pleasure which +would have been so very delightful to them. So often as she had heard +them wish for a ball at home as the greatest of all felicities! And +to have them away when it was given--and for _her_ to be opening the +ball--and with Mr. Crawford too! She hoped they would not envy her that +distinction _now_; but when she looked back to the state of things in +the autumn, to what they had all been to each other when once dancing +in that house before, the present arrangement was almost more than she +could understand herself. + +The ball began. It was rather honour than happiness to Fanny, for the +first dance at least: her partner was in excellent spirits, and tried to +impart them to her; but she was a great deal too much frightened to have +any enjoyment till she could suppose herself no longer looked at. Young, +pretty, and gentle, however, she had no awkwardnesses that were not +as good as graces, and there were few persons present that were not +disposed to praise her. She was attractive, she was modest, she was Sir +Thomas's niece, and she was soon said to be admired by Mr. Crawford. It +was enough to give her general favour. Sir Thomas himself was watching +her progress down the dance with much complacency; he was proud of his +niece; and without attributing all her personal beauty, as Mrs. Norris +seemed to do, to her transplantation to Mansfield, he was pleased with +himself for having supplied everything else: education and manners she +owed to him. + +Miss Crawford saw much of Sir Thomas's thoughts as he stood, and having, +in spite of all his wrongs towards her, a general prevailing desire of +recommending herself to him, took an opportunity of stepping aside to +say something agreeable of Fanny. Her praise was warm, and he +received it as she could wish, joining in it as far as discretion, and +politeness, and slowness of speech would allow, and certainly appearing +to greater advantage on the subject than his lady did soon afterwards, +when Mary, perceiving her on a sofa very near, turned round before she +began to dance, to compliment her on Miss Price's looks. + +"Yes, she does look very well," was Lady Bertram's placid reply. +"Chapman helped her to dress. I sent Chapman to her." Not but that +she was really pleased to have Fanny admired; but she was so much more +struck with her own kindness in sending Chapman to her, that she could +not get it out of her head. + +Miss Crawford knew Mrs. Norris too well to think of gratifying _her_ +by commendation of Fanny; to her, it was as the occasion offered--"Ah! +ma'am, how much we want dear Mrs. Rushworth and Julia to-night!" and +Mrs. Norris paid her with as many smiles and courteous words as she had +time for, amid so much occupation as she found for herself in making +up card-tables, giving hints to Sir Thomas, and trying to move all the +chaperons to a better part of the room. + +Miss Crawford blundered most towards Fanny herself in her intentions +to please. She meant to be giving her little heart a happy flutter, +and filling her with sensations of delightful self-consequence; and, +misinterpreting Fanny's blushes, still thought she must be doing so when +she went to her after the two first dances, and said, with a significant +look, "Perhaps _you_ can tell me why my brother goes to town to-morrow? +He says he has business there, but will not tell me what. The first time +he ever denied me his confidence! But this is what we all come to. +All are supplanted sooner or later. Now, I must apply to you for +information. Pray, what is Henry going for?" + +Fanny protested her ignorance as steadily as her embarrassment allowed. + +"Well, then," replied Miss Crawford, laughing, "I must suppose it to be +purely for the pleasure of conveying your brother, and of talking of you +by the way." + +Fanny was confused, but it was the confusion of discontent; while Miss +Crawford wondered she did not smile, and thought her over-anxious, +or thought her odd, or thought her anything rather than insensible of +pleasure in Henry's attentions. Fanny had a good deal of enjoyment in +the course of the evening; but Henry's attentions had very little to +do with it. She would much rather _not_ have been asked by him again so +very soon, and she wished she had not been obliged to suspect that his +previous inquiries of Mrs. Norris, about the supper hour, were all for +the sake of securing her at that part of the evening. But it was not to +be avoided: he made her feel that she was the object of all; though she +could not say that it was unpleasantly done, that there was indelicacy +or ostentation in his manner; and sometimes, when he talked of William, +he was really not unagreeable, and shewed even a warmth of heart +which did him credit. But still his attentions made no part of her +satisfaction. She was happy whenever she looked at William, and saw how +perfectly he was enjoying himself, in every five minutes that she could +walk about with him and hear his account of his partners; she was happy +in knowing herself admired; and she was happy in having the two dances +with Edmund still to look forward to, during the greatest part of the +evening, her hand being so eagerly sought after that her indefinite +engagement with _him_ was in continual perspective. She was happy even +when they did take place; but not from any flow of spirits on his side, +or any such expressions of tender gallantry as had blessed the morning. +His mind was fagged, and her happiness sprung from being the friend with +whom it could find repose. "I am worn out with civility," said he. "I +have been talking incessantly all night, and with nothing to say. But +with _you_, Fanny, there may be peace. You will not want to be talked +to. Let us have the luxury of silence." Fanny would hardly even speak +her agreement. A weariness, arising probably, in great measure, from the +same feelings which he had acknowledged in the morning, was peculiarly +to be respected, and they went down their two dances together with such +sober tranquillity as might satisfy any looker-on that Sir Thomas had +been bringing up no wife for his younger son. + +The evening had afforded Edmund little pleasure. Miss Crawford had +been in gay spirits when they first danced together, but it was not her +gaiety that could do him good: it rather sank than raised his comfort; +and afterwards, for he found himself still impelled to seek her +again, she had absolutely pained him by her manner of speaking of the +profession to which he was now on the point of belonging. They had +talked, and they had been silent; he had reasoned, she had ridiculed; +and they had parted at last with mutual vexation. Fanny, not able to +refrain entirely from observing them, had seen enough to be tolerably +satisfied. It was barbarous to be happy when Edmund was suffering. Yet +some happiness must and would arise from the very conviction that he did +suffer. + +When her two dances with him were over, her inclination and strength for +more were pretty well at an end; and Sir Thomas, having seen her walk +rather than dance down the shortening set, breathless, and with her hand +at her side, gave his orders for her sitting down entirely. From that +time Mr. Crawford sat down likewise. + +"Poor Fanny!" cried William, coming for a moment to visit her, and +working away his partner's fan as if for life, "how soon she is knocked +up! Why, the sport is but just begun. I hope we shall keep it up these +two hours. How can you be tired so soon?" + +"So soon! my good friend," said Sir Thomas, producing his watch with all +necessary caution; "it is three o'clock, and your sister is not used to +these sort of hours." + +"Well, then, Fanny, you shall not get up to-morrow before I go. Sleep as +long as you can, and never mind me." + +"Oh! William." + +"What! Did she think of being up before you set off?" + +"Oh! yes, sir," cried Fanny, rising eagerly from her seat to be nearer +her uncle; "I must get up and breakfast with him. It will be the last +time, you know; the last morning." + +"You had better not. He is to have breakfasted and be gone by half-past +nine. Mr. Crawford, I think you call for him at half-past nine?" + +Fanny was too urgent, however, and had too many tears in her eyes for +denial; and it ended in a gracious "Well, well!" which was permission. + +"Yes, half-past nine," said Crawford to William as the latter was +leaving them, "and I shall be punctual, for there will be no kind sister +to get up for _me_." And in a lower tone to Fanny, "I shall have only +a desolate house to hurry from. Your brother will find my ideas of time +and his own very different to-morrow." + +After a short consideration, Sir Thomas asked Crawford to join the early +breakfast party in that house instead of eating alone: he should himself +be of it; and the readiness with which his invitation was accepted +convinced him that the suspicions whence, he must confess to himself, +this very ball had in great measure sprung, were well founded. Mr. +Crawford was in love with Fanny. He had a pleasing anticipation of what +would be. His niece, meanwhile, did not thank him for what he had just +done. She had hoped to have William all to herself the last morning. It +would have been an unspeakable indulgence. But though her wishes +were overthrown, there was no spirit of murmuring within her. On the +contrary, she was so totally unused to have her pleasure consulted, or +to have anything take place at all in the way she could desire, that she +was more disposed to wonder and rejoice in having carried her point so +far, than to repine at the counteraction which followed. + +Shortly afterward, Sir Thomas was again interfering a little with her +inclination, by advising her to go immediately to bed. "Advise" was his +word, but it was the advice of absolute power, and she had only to +rise, and, with Mr. Crawford's very cordial adieus, pass quietly away; +stopping at the entrance-door, like the Lady of Branxholm Hall, "one +moment and no more," to view the happy scene, and take a last look at +the five or six determined couple who were still hard at work; and then, +creeping slowly up the principal staircase, pursued by the ceaseless +country-dance, feverish with hopes and fears, soup and negus, +sore-footed and fatigued, restless and agitated, yet feeling, in spite +of everything, that a ball was indeed delightful. + +In thus sending her away, Sir Thomas perhaps might not be thinking +merely of her health. It might occur to him that Mr. Crawford had been +sitting by her long enough, or he might mean to recommend her as a wife +by shewing her persuadableness. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +The ball was over, and the breakfast was soon over too; the last kiss +was given, and William was gone. Mr. Crawford had, as he foretold, been +very punctual, and short and pleasant had been the meal. + +After seeing William to the last moment, Fanny walked back to the +breakfast-room with a very saddened heart to grieve over the melancholy +change; and there her uncle kindly left her to cry in peace, conceiving, +perhaps, that the deserted chair of each young man might exercise her +tender enthusiasm, and that the remaining cold pork bones and mustard in +William's plate might but divide her feelings with the broken egg-shells +in Mr. Crawford's. She sat and cried _con_ _amore_ as her uncle +intended, but it was _con_ _amore_ fraternal and no other. William was +gone, and she now felt as if she had wasted half his visit in idle cares +and selfish solicitudes unconnected with him. + +Fanny's disposition was such that she could never even think of her +aunt Norris in the meagreness and cheerlessness of her own small house, +without reproaching herself for some little want of attention to her +when they had been last together; much less could her feelings acquit +her of having done and said and thought everything by William that was +due to him for a whole fortnight. + +It was a heavy, melancholy day. Soon after the second breakfast, Edmund +bade them good-bye for a week, and mounted his horse for Peterborough, +and then all were gone. Nothing remained of last night but remembrances, +which she had nobody to share in. She talked to her aunt Bertram--she +must talk to somebody of the ball; but her aunt had seen so little of +what had passed, and had so little curiosity, that it was heavy work. +Lady Bertram was not certain of anybody's dress or anybody's place at +supper but her own. "She could not recollect what it was that she had +heard about one of the Miss Maddoxes, or what it was that Lady Prescott +had noticed in Fanny: she was not sure whether Colonel Harrison had been +talking of Mr. Crawford or of William when he said he was the finest +young man in the room--somebody had whispered something to her; she had +forgot to ask Sir Thomas what it could be." And these were her longest +speeches and clearest communications: the rest was only a languid "Yes, +yes; very well; did you? did he? I did not see _that_; I should not know +one from the other." This was very bad. It was only better than Mrs. +Norris's sharp answers would have been; but she being gone home with +all the supernumerary jellies to nurse a sick maid, there was peace +and good-humour in their little party, though it could not boast much +beside. + +The evening was heavy like the day. "I cannot think what is the matter +with me," said Lady Bertram, when the tea-things were removed. "I feel +quite stupid. It must be sitting up so late last night. Fanny, you must +do something to keep me awake. I cannot work. Fetch the cards; I feel so +very stupid." + +The cards were brought, and Fanny played at cribbage with her aunt till +bedtime; and as Sir Thomas was reading to himself, no sounds were +heard in the room for the next two hours beyond the reckonings of the +game--"And _that_ makes thirty-one; four in hand and eight in crib. You +are to deal, ma'am; shall I deal for you?" Fanny thought and thought +again of the difference which twenty-four hours had made in that room, +and all that part of the house. Last night it had been hope and smiles, +bustle and motion, noise and brilliancy, in the drawing-room, and out +of the drawing-room, and everywhere. Now it was languor, and all but +solitude. + +A good night's rest improved her spirits. She could think of William the +next day more cheerfully; and as the morning afforded her an opportunity +of talking over Thursday night with Mrs. Grant and Miss Crawford, in a +very handsome style, with all the heightenings of imagination, and +all the laughs of playfulness which are so essential to the shade of a +departed ball, she could afterwards bring her mind without much effort +into its everyday state, and easily conform to the tranquillity of the +present quiet week. + +They were indeed a smaller party than she had ever known there for +a whole day together, and _he_ was gone on whom the comfort and +cheerfulness of every family meeting and every meal chiefly depended. +But this must be learned to be endured. He would soon be always gone; +and she was thankful that she could now sit in the same room with her +uncle, hear his voice, receive his questions, and even answer them, +without such wretched feelings as she had formerly known. + +"We miss our two young men," was Sir Thomas's observation on both the +first and second day, as they formed their very reduced circle after +dinner; and in consideration of Fanny's swimming eyes, nothing more was +said on the first day than to drink their good health; but on the +second it led to something farther. William was kindly commended and +his promotion hoped for. "And there is no reason to suppose," added Sir +Thomas, "but that his visits to us may now be tolerably frequent. As to +Edmund, we must learn to do without him. This will be the last winter of +his belonging to us, as he has done." + +"Yes," said Lady Bertram, "but I wish he was not going away. They are +all going away, I think. I wish they would stay at home." + +This wish was levelled principally at Julia, who had just applied for +permission to go to town with Maria; and as Sir Thomas thought it best +for each daughter that the permission should be granted, Lady Bertram, +though in her own good-nature she would not have prevented it, was +lamenting the change it made in the prospect of Julia's return, which +would otherwise have taken place about this time. A great deal of good +sense followed on Sir Thomas's side, tending to reconcile his wife to +the arrangement. Everything that a considerate parent _ought_ to feel +was advanced for her use; and everything that an affectionate mother +_must_ feel in promoting her children's enjoyment was attributed to her +nature. Lady Bertram agreed to it all with a calm "Yes"; and at the end +of a quarter of an hour's silent consideration spontaneously observed, +"Sir Thomas, I have been thinking--and I am very glad we took Fanny as +we did, for now the others are away we feel the good of it." + +Sir Thomas immediately improved this compliment by adding, "Very true. +We shew Fanny what a good girl we think her by praising her to her face, +she is now a very valuable companion. If we have been kind to _her_, she +is now quite as necessary to _us_." + +"Yes," said Lady Bertram presently; "and it is a comfort to think that +we shall always have _her_." + +Sir Thomas paused, half smiled, glanced at his niece, and then gravely +replied, "She will never leave us, I hope, till invited to some other +home that may reasonably promise her greater happiness than she knows +here." + +"And _that_ is not very likely to be, Sir Thomas. Who should invite her? +Maria might be very glad to see her at Sotherton now and then, but she +would not think of asking her to live there; and I am sure she is better +off here; and besides, I cannot do without her." + +The week which passed so quietly and peaceably at the great house in +Mansfield had a very different character at the Parsonage. To the young +lady, at least, in each family, it brought very different feelings. What +was tranquillity and comfort to Fanny was tediousness and vexation to +Mary. Something arose from difference of disposition and habit: one so +easily satisfied, the other so unused to endure; but still more might be +imputed to difference of circumstances. In some points of interest they +were exactly opposed to each other. To Fanny's mind, Edmund's absence +was really, in its cause and its tendency, a relief. To Mary it was +every way painful. She felt the want of his society every day, almost +every hour, and was too much in want of it to derive anything but +irritation from considering the object for which he went. He could not +have devised anything more likely to raise his consequence than this +week's absence, occurring as it did at the very time of her brother's +going away, of William Price's going too, and completing the sort of +general break-up of a party which had been so animated. She felt it +keenly. They were now a miserable trio, confined within doors by a +series of rain and snow, with nothing to do and no variety to hope for. +Angry as she was with Edmund for adhering to his own notions, and acting +on them in defiance of her (and she had been so angry that they had +hardly parted friends at the ball), she could not help thinking of +him continually when absent, dwelling on his merit and affection, and +longing again for the almost daily meetings they lately had. His absence +was unnecessarily long. He should not have planned such an absence--he +should not have left home for a week, when her own departure from +Mansfield was so near. Then she began to blame herself. She wished she +had not spoken so warmly in their last conversation. She was afraid she +had used some strong, some contemptuous expressions in speaking of the +clergy, and that should not have been. It was ill-bred; it was wrong. +She wished such words unsaid with all her heart. + +Her vexation did not end with the week. All this was bad, but she had +still more to feel when Friday came round again and brought no Edmund; +when Saturday came and still no Edmund; and when, through the slight +communication with the other family which Sunday produced, she learned +that he had actually written home to defer his return, having promised +to remain some days longer with his friend. + +If she had felt impatience and regret before--if she had been sorry for +what she said, and feared its too strong effect on him--she now felt +and feared it all tenfold more. She had, moreover, to contend with one +disagreeable emotion entirely new to her--jealousy. His friend Mr. +Owen had sisters; he might find them attractive. But, at any rate, his +staying away at a time when, according to all preceding plans, she was +to remove to London, meant something that she could not bear. Had Henry +returned, as he talked of doing, at the end of three or four days, she +should now have been leaving Mansfield. It became absolutely necessary +for her to get to Fanny and try to learn something more. She could not +live any longer in such solitary wretchedness; and she made her way +to the Park, through difficulties of walking which she had deemed +unconquerable a week before, for the chance of hearing a little in +addition, for the sake of at least hearing his name. + +The first half-hour was lost, for Fanny and Lady Bertram were together, +and unless she had Fanny to herself she could hope for nothing. But +at last Lady Bertram left the room, and then almost immediately Miss +Crawford thus began, with a voice as well regulated as she could--"And +how do _you_ like your cousin Edmund's staying away so long? Being the +only young person at home, I consider _you_ as the greatest sufferer. +You must miss him. Does his staying longer surprise you?" + +"I do not know," said Fanny hesitatingly. "Yes; I had not particularly +expected it." + +"Perhaps he will always stay longer than he talks of. It is the general +way all young men do." + +"He did not, the only time he went to see Mr. Owen before." + +"He finds the house more agreeable _now_. He is a very--a very pleasing +young man himself, and I cannot help being rather concerned at not +seeing him again before I go to London, as will now undoubtedly be the +case. I am looking for Henry every day, and as soon as he comes there +will be nothing to detain me at Mansfield. I should like to have seen +him once more, I confess. But you must give my compliments to him. Yes; +I think it must be compliments. Is not there a something wanted, +Miss Price, in our language--a something between compliments and--and +love--to suit the sort of friendly acquaintance we have had together? So +many months' acquaintance! But compliments may be sufficient here. +Was his letter a long one? Does he give you much account of what he is +doing? Is it Christmas gaieties that he is staying for?" + +"I only heard a part of the letter; it was to my uncle; but I believe +it was very short; indeed I am sure it was but a few lines. All that I +heard was that his friend had pressed him to stay longer, and that he +had agreed to do so. A _few_ days longer, or _some_ days longer; I am +not quite sure which." + +"Oh! if he wrote to his father; but I thought it might have been to Lady +Bertram or you. But if he wrote to his father, no wonder he was concise. +Who could write chat to Sir Thomas? If he had written to you, there +would have been more particulars. You would have heard of balls +and parties. He would have sent you a description of everything and +everybody. How many Miss Owens are there?" + +"Three grown up." + +"Are they musical?" + +"I do not at all know. I never heard." + +"That is the first question, you know," said Miss Crawford, trying to +appear gay and unconcerned, "which every woman who plays herself is sure +to ask about another. But it is very foolish to ask questions about +any young ladies--about any three sisters just grown up; for one knows, +without being told, exactly what they are: all very accomplished and +pleasing, and one very pretty. There is a beauty in every family; it is +a regular thing. Two play on the pianoforte, and one on the harp; and +all sing, or would sing if they were taught, or sing all the better for +not being taught; or something like it." + +"I know nothing of the Miss Owens," said Fanny calmly. + +"You know nothing and you care less, as people say. Never did tone +express indifference plainer. Indeed, how can one care for those one has +never seen? Well, when your cousin comes back, he will find Mansfield +very quiet; all the noisy ones gone, your brother and mine and myself. I +do not like the idea of leaving Mrs. Grant now the time draws near. She +does not like my going." + +Fanny felt obliged to speak. "You cannot doubt your being missed by +many," said she. "You will be very much missed." + +Miss Crawford turned her eye on her, as if wanting to hear or see more, +and then laughingly said, "Oh yes! missed as every noisy evil is missed +when it is taken away; that is, there is a great difference felt. But I +am not fishing; don't compliment me. If I _am_ missed, it will appear. +I may be discovered by those who want to see me. I shall not be in any +doubtful, or distant, or unapproachable region." + +Now Fanny could not bring herself to speak, and Miss Crawford was +disappointed; for she had hoped to hear some pleasant assurance of her +power from one who she thought must know, and her spirits were clouded +again. + +"The Miss Owens," said she, soon afterwards; "suppose you were to have +one of the Miss Owens settled at Thornton Lacey; how should you like it? +Stranger things have happened. I dare say they are trying for it. And +they are quite in the light, for it would be a very pretty establishment +for them. I do not at all wonder or blame them. It is everybody's duty +to do as well for themselves as they can. Sir Thomas Bertram's son is +somebody; and now he is in their own line. Their father is a clergyman, +and their brother is a clergyman, and they are all clergymen together. +He is their lawful property; he fairly belongs to them. You don't speak, +Fanny; Miss Price, you don't speak. But honestly now, do not you rather +expect it than otherwise?" + +"No," said Fanny stoutly, "I do not expect it at all." + +"Not at all!" cried Miss Crawford with alacrity. "I wonder at that. But +I dare say you know exactly--I always imagine you are--perhaps you do +not think him likely to marry at all--or not at present." + +"No, I do not," said Fanny softly, hoping she did not err either in the +belief or the acknowledgment of it. + +Her companion looked at her keenly; and gathering greater spirit from +the blush soon produced from such a look, only said, "He is best off as +he is," and turned the subject. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +Miss Crawford's uneasiness was much lightened by this conversation, and +she walked home again in spirits which might have defied almost another +week of the same small party in the same bad weather, had they been put +to the proof; but as that very evening brought her brother down from +London again in quite, or more than quite, his usual cheerfulness, she +had nothing farther to try her own. His still refusing to tell her what +he had gone for was but the promotion of gaiety; a day before it might +have irritated, but now it was a pleasant joke--suspected only of +concealing something planned as a pleasant surprise to herself. And the +next day _did_ bring a surprise to her. Henry had said he should just +go and ask the Bertrams how they did, and be back in ten minutes, but +he was gone above an hour; and when his sister, who had been waiting for +him to walk with her in the garden, met him at last most impatiently in +the sweep, and cried out, "My dear Henry, where can you have been +all this time?" he had only to say that he had been sitting with Lady +Bertram and Fanny. + +"Sitting with them an hour and a half!" exclaimed Mary. + +But this was only the beginning of her surprise. + +"Yes, Mary," said he, drawing her arm within his, and walking along +the sweep as if not knowing where he was: "I could not get away sooner; +Fanny looked so lovely! I am quite determined, Mary. My mind is entirely +made up. Will it astonish you? No: you must be aware that I am quite +determined to marry Fanny Price." + +The surprise was now complete; for, in spite of whatever his +consciousness might suggest, a suspicion of his having any such views +had never entered his sister's imagination; and she looked so truly the +astonishment she felt, that he was obliged to repeat what he had said, +and more fully and more solemnly. The conviction of his determination +once admitted, it was not unwelcome. There was even pleasure with the +surprise. Mary was in a state of mind to rejoice in a connexion with the +Bertram family, and to be not displeased with her brother's marrying a +little beneath him. + +"Yes, Mary," was Henry's concluding assurance. "I am fairly caught. +You know with what idle designs I began; but this is the end of them. +I have, I flatter myself, made no inconsiderable progress in her +affections; but my own are entirely fixed." + +"Lucky, lucky girl!" cried Mary, as soon as she could speak; "what a +match for her! My dearest Henry, this must be my _first_ feeling; but +my _second_, which you shall have as sincerely, is, that I approve your +choice from my soul, and foresee your happiness as heartily as I wish +and desire it. You will have a sweet little wife; all gratitude and +devotion. Exactly what you deserve. What an amazing match for her! Mrs. +Norris often talks of her luck; what will she say now? The delight +of all the family, indeed! And she has some _true_ friends in it! How +_they_ will rejoice! But tell me all about it! Talk to me for ever. When +did you begin to think seriously about her?" + +Nothing could be more impossible than to answer such a question, though +nothing could be more agreeable than to have it asked. "How the pleasing +plague had stolen on him" he could not say; and before he had expressed +the same sentiment with a little variation of words three times over, +his sister eagerly interrupted him with, "Ah, my dear Henry, and this +is what took you to London! This was your business! You chose to consult +the Admiral before you made up your mind." + +But this he stoutly denied. He knew his uncle too well to consult him on +any matrimonial scheme. The Admiral hated marriage, and thought it never +pardonable in a young man of independent fortune. + +"When Fanny is known to him," continued Henry, "he will doat on her. +She is exactly the woman to do away every prejudice of such a man as +the Admiral, for she he would describe, if indeed he has now delicacy +of language enough to embody his own ideas. But till it is absolutely +settled--settled beyond all interference, he shall know nothing of the +matter. No, Mary, you are quite mistaken. You have not discovered my +business yet." + +"Well, well, I am satisfied. I know now to whom it must relate, and am +in no hurry for the rest. Fanny Price! wonderful, quite wonderful! That +Mansfield should have done so much for--that _you_ should have found +your fate in Mansfield! But you are quite right; you could not have +chosen better. There is not a better girl in the world, and you do not +want for fortune; and as to her connexions, they are more than good. The +Bertrams are undoubtedly some of the first people in this country. She +is niece to Sir Thomas Bertram; that will be enough for the world. But +go on, go on. Tell me more. What are your plans? Does she know her own +happiness?" + +"No." + +"What are you waiting for?" + +"For--for very little more than opportunity. Mary, she is not like her +cousins; but I think I shall not ask in vain." + +"Oh no! you cannot. Were you even less pleasing--supposing her not to +love you already (of which, however, I can have little doubt)--you would +be safe. The gentleness and gratitude of her disposition would secure +her all your own immediately. From my soul I do not think she would +marry you _without_ love; that is, if there is a girl in the world +capable of being uninfluenced by ambition, I can suppose it her; but ask +her to love you, and she will never have the heart to refuse." + +As soon as her eagerness could rest in silence, he was as happy to tell +as she could be to listen; and a conversation followed almost as deeply +interesting to her as to himself, though he had in fact nothing to +relate but his own sensations, nothing to dwell on but Fanny's charms. +Fanny's beauty of face and figure, Fanny's graces of manner and goodness +of heart, were the exhaustless theme. The gentleness, modesty, and +sweetness of her character were warmly expatiated on; that sweetness +which makes so essential a part of every woman's worth in the judgment +of man, that though he sometimes loves where it is not, he can never +believe it absent. Her temper he had good reason to depend on and +to praise. He had often seen it tried. Was there one of the family, +excepting Edmund, who had not in some way or other continually exercised +her patience and forbearance? Her affections were evidently strong. To +see her with her brother! What could more delightfully prove that the +warmth of her heart was equal to its gentleness? What could be more +encouraging to a man who had her love in view? Then, her understanding +was beyond every suspicion, quick and clear; and her manners were the +mirror of her own modest and elegant mind. Nor was this all. Henry +Crawford had too much sense not to feel the worth of good principles +in a wife, though he was too little accustomed to serious reflection to +know them by their proper name; but when he talked of her having such a +steadiness and regularity of conduct, such a high notion of honour, and +such an observance of decorum as might warrant any man in the fullest +dependence on her faith and integrity, he expressed what was inspired by +the knowledge of her being well principled and religious. + +"I could so wholly and absolutely confide in her," said he; "and _that_ +is what I want." + +Well might his sister, believing as she really did that his opinion of +Fanny Price was scarcely beyond her merits, rejoice in her prospects. + +"The more I think of it," she cried, "the more am I convinced that you +are doing quite right; and though I should never have selected Fanny +Price as the girl most likely to attach you, I am now persuaded she is +the very one to make you happy. Your wicked project upon her peace turns +out a clever thought indeed. You will both find your good in it." + +"It was bad, very bad in me against such a creature; but I did not know +her then; and she shall have no reason to lament the hour that first put +it into my head. I will make her very happy, Mary; happier than she has +ever yet been herself, or ever seen anybody else. I will not take her +from Northamptonshire. I shall let Everingham, and rent a place in this +neighbourhood; perhaps Stanwix Lodge. I shall let a seven years' lease +of Everingham. I am sure of an excellent tenant at half a word. I could +name three people now, who would give me my own terms and thank me." + +"Ha!" cried Mary; "settle in Northamptonshire! That is pleasant! Then we +shall be all together." + +When she had spoken it, she recollected herself, and wished it unsaid; +but there was no need of confusion; for her brother saw her only as the +supposed inmate of Mansfield parsonage, and replied but to invite her in +the kindest manner to his own house, and to claim the best right in her. + +"You must give us more than half your time," said he. "I cannot admit +Mrs. Grant to have an equal claim with Fanny and myself, for we shall +both have a right in you. Fanny will be so truly your sister!" + +Mary had only to be grateful and give general assurances; but she was +now very fully purposed to be the guest of neither brother nor sister +many months longer. + +"You will divide your year between London and Northamptonshire?" + +"Yes." + +"That's right; and in London, of course, a house of your own: no longer +with the Admiral. My dearest Henry, the advantage to you of getting away +from the Admiral before your manners are hurt by the contagion of his, +before you have contracted any of his foolish opinions, or learned to +sit over your dinner as if it were the best blessing of life! _You_ are +not sensible of the gain, for your regard for him has blinded you; but, +in my estimation, your marrying early may be the saving of you. To have +seen you grow like the Admiral in word or deed, look or gesture, would +have broken my heart." + +"Well, well, we do not think quite alike here. The Admiral has his +faults, but he is a very good man, and has been more than a father to +me. Few fathers would have let me have my own way half so much. You must +not prejudice Fanny against him. I must have them love one another." + +Mary refrained from saying what she felt, that there could not be two +persons in existence whose characters and manners were less accordant: +time would discover it to him; but she could not help _this_ reflection +on the Admiral. "Henry, I think so highly of Fanny Price, that if I +could suppose the next Mrs. Crawford would have half the reason which +my poor ill-used aunt had to abhor the very name, I would prevent the +marriage, if possible; but I know you: I know that a wife you _loved_ +would be the happiest of women, and that even when you ceased to +love, she would yet find in you the liberality and good-breeding of a +gentleman." + +The impossibility of not doing everything in the world to make Fanny +Price happy, or of ceasing to love Fanny Price, was of course the +groundwork of his eloquent answer. + +"Had you seen her this morning, Mary," he continued, "attending with +such ineffable sweetness and patience to all the demands of her aunt's +stupidity, working with her, and for her, her colour beautifully +heightened as she leant over the work, then returning to her seat to +finish a note which she was previously engaged in writing for that +stupid woman's service, and all this with such unpretending gentleness, +so much as if it were a matter of course that she was not to have a +moment at her own command, her hair arranged as neatly as it always is, +and one little curl falling forward as she wrote, which she now and then +shook back, and in the midst of all this, still speaking at intervals to +_me_, or listening, and as if she liked to listen, to what I said. Had +you seen her so, Mary, you would not have implied the possibility of her +power over my heart ever ceasing." + +"My dearest Henry," cried Mary, stopping short, and smiling in his face, +"how glad I am to see you so much in love! It quite delights me. But +what will Mrs. Rushworth and Julia say?" + +"I care neither what they say nor what they feel. They will now see what +sort of woman it is that can attach me, that can attach a man of sense. +I wish the discovery may do them any good. And they will now see their +cousin treated as she ought to be, and I wish they may be heartily +ashamed of their own abominable neglect and unkindness. They will be +angry," he added, after a moment's silence, and in a cooler tone; "Mrs. +Rushworth will be very angry. It will be a bitter pill to her; that is, +like other bitter pills, it will have two moments' ill flavour, and then +be swallowed and forgotten; for I am not such a coxcomb as to suppose +her feelings more lasting than other women's, though _I_ was the object +of them. Yes, Mary, my Fanny will feel a difference indeed: a daily, +hourly difference, in the behaviour of every being who approaches her; +and it will be the completion of my happiness to know that I am the doer +of it, that I am the person to give the consequence so justly her due. +Now she is dependent, helpless, friendless, neglected, forgotten." + +"Nay, Henry, not by all; not forgotten by all; not friendless or +forgotten. Her cousin Edmund never forgets her." + +"Edmund! True, I believe he is, generally speaking, kind to her, and +so is Sir Thomas in his way; but it is the way of a rich, superior, +long-worded, arbitrary uncle. What can Sir Thomas and Edmund together +do, what do they _do_ for her happiness, comfort, honour, and dignity in +the world, to what I _shall_ do?" + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Henry Crawford was at Mansfield Park again the next morning, and at an +earlier hour than common visiting warrants. The two ladies were together +in the breakfast-room, and, fortunately for him, Lady Bertram was on the +very point of quitting it as he entered. She was almost at the door, and +not chusing by any means to take so much trouble in vain, she still went +on, after a civil reception, a short sentence about being waited for, +and a "Let Sir Thomas know" to the servant. + +Henry, overjoyed to have her go, bowed and watched her off, and without +losing another moment, turned instantly to Fanny, and, taking out some +letters, said, with a most animated look, "I must acknowledge myself +infinitely obliged to any creature who gives me such an opportunity +of seeing you alone: I have been wishing it more than you can have any +idea. Knowing as I do what your feelings as a sister are, I could hardly +have borne that any one in the house should share with you in the +first knowledge of the news I now bring. He is made. Your brother is a +lieutenant. I have the infinite satisfaction of congratulating you on +your brother's promotion. Here are the letters which announce it, this +moment come to hand. You will, perhaps, like to see them." + +Fanny could not speak, but he did not want her to speak. To see the +expression of her eyes, the change of her complexion, the progress of +her feelings, their doubt, confusion, and felicity, was enough. She took +the letters as he gave them. The first was from the Admiral to inform +his nephew, in a few words, of his having succeeded in the object he had +undertaken, the promotion of young Price, and enclosing two more, one +from the Secretary of the First Lord to a friend, whom the Admiral had +set to work in the business, the other from that friend to himself, +by which it appeared that his lordship had the very great happiness of +attending to the recommendation of Sir Charles; that Sir Charles was +much delighted in having such an opportunity of proving his regard +for Admiral Crawford, and that the circumstance of Mr. William Price's +commission as Second Lieutenant of H.M. Sloop Thrush being made out was +spreading general joy through a wide circle of great people. + +While her hand was trembling under these letters, her eye running from +one to the other, and her heart swelling with emotion, Crawford thus +continued, with unfeigned eagerness, to express his interest in the +event-- + +"I will not talk of my own happiness," said he, "great as it is, for I +think only of yours. Compared with you, who has a right to be happy? I +have almost grudged myself my own prior knowledge of what you ought to +have known before all the world. I have not lost a moment, however. +The post was late this morning, but there has not been since a moment's +delay. How impatient, how anxious, how wild I have been on the subject, +I will not attempt to describe; how severely mortified, how cruelly +disappointed, in not having it finished while I was in London! I was +kept there from day to day in the hope of it, for nothing less dear +to me than such an object would have detained me half the time from +Mansfield. But though my uncle entered into my wishes with all the +warmth I could desire, and exerted himself immediately, there were +difficulties from the absence of one friend, and the engagements of +another, which at last I could no longer bear to stay the end of, and +knowing in what good hands I left the cause, I came away on Monday, +trusting that many posts would not pass before I should be followed by +such very letters as these. My uncle, who is the very best man in +the world, has exerted himself, as I knew he would, after seeing your +brother. He was delighted with him. I would not allow myself yesterday +to say how delighted, or to repeat half that the Admiral said in his +praise. I deferred it all till his praise should be proved the praise of +a friend, as this day _does_ prove it. _Now_ I may say that even I could +not require William Price to excite a greater interest, or be followed +by warmer wishes and higher commendation, than were most voluntarily +bestowed by my uncle after the evening they had passed together." + +"Has this been all _your_ doing, then?" cried Fanny. "Good heaven! how +very, very kind! Have you really--was it by _your_ desire? I beg your +pardon, but I am bewildered. Did Admiral Crawford apply? How was it? I +am stupefied." + +Henry was most happy to make it more intelligible, by beginning at an +earlier stage, and explaining very particularly what he had done. His +last journey to London had been undertaken with no other view than that +of introducing her brother in Hill Street, and prevailing on the Admiral +to exert whatever interest he might have for getting him on. This had +been his business. He had communicated it to no creature: he had not +breathed a syllable of it even to Mary; while uncertain of the issue, +he could not have borne any participation of his feelings, but this had +been his business; and he spoke with such a glow of what his solicitude +had been, and used such strong expressions, was so abounding in the +_deepest_ _interest_, in _twofold_ _motives_, in _views_ _and_ _wishes_ +_more_ _than_ _could_ _be_ _told_, that Fanny could not have remained +insensible of his drift, had she been able to attend; but her heart was +so full and her senses still so astonished, that she could listen but +imperfectly even to what he told her of William, and saying only when +he paused, "How kind! how very kind! Oh, Mr. Crawford, we are infinitely +obliged to you! Dearest, dearest William!" She jumped up and moved in +haste towards the door, crying out, "I will go to my uncle. My uncle +ought to know it as soon as possible." But this could not be suffered. +The opportunity was too fair, and his feelings too impatient. He was +after her immediately. "She must not go, she must allow him five minutes +longer," and he took her hand and led her back to her seat, and was in +the middle of his farther explanation, before she had suspected for what +she was detained. When she did understand it, however, and found herself +expected to believe that she had created sensations which his heart had +never known before, and that everything he had done for William was to +be placed to the account of his excessive and unequalled attachment +to her, she was exceedingly distressed, and for some moments unable +to speak. She considered it all as nonsense, as mere trifling and +gallantry, which meant only to deceive for the hour; she could not but +feel that it was treating her improperly and unworthily, and in such a +way as she had not deserved; but it was like himself, and entirely of a +piece with what she had seen before; and she would not allow herself to +shew half the displeasure she felt, because he had been conferring an +obligation, which no want of delicacy on his part could make a trifle +to her. While her heart was still bounding with joy and gratitude on +William's behalf, she could not be severely resentful of anything that +injured only herself; and after having twice drawn back her hand, and +twice attempted in vain to turn away from him, she got up, and said +only, with much agitation, "Don't, Mr. Crawford, pray don't! I beg you +would not. This is a sort of talking which is very unpleasant to me. I +must go away. I cannot bear it." But he was still talking on, describing +his affection, soliciting a return, and, finally, in words so plain as +to bear but one meaning even to her, offering himself, hand, fortune, +everything, to her acceptance. It was so; he had said it. Her +astonishment and confusion increased; and though still not knowing +how to suppose him serious, she could hardly stand. He pressed for an +answer. + +"No, no, no!" she cried, hiding her face. "This is all nonsense. Do not +distress me. I can hear no more of this. Your kindness to William makes +me more obliged to you than words can express; but I do not want, I +cannot bear, I must not listen to such--No, no, don't think of me. But +you are _not_ thinking of me. I know it is all nothing." + +She had burst away from him, and at that moment Sir Thomas was heard +speaking to a servant in his way towards the room they were in. It was +no time for farther assurances or entreaty, though to part with her at +a moment when her modesty alone seemed, to his sanguine and preassured +mind, to stand in the way of the happiness he sought, was a cruel +necessity. She rushed out at an opposite door from the one her uncle +was approaching, and was walking up and down the East room in the +utmost confusion of contrary feeling, before Sir Thomas's politeness +or apologies were over, or he had reached the beginning of the joyful +intelligence which his visitor came to communicate. + +She was feeling, thinking, trembling about everything; agitated, happy, +miserable, infinitely obliged, absolutely angry. It was all beyond +belief! He was inexcusable, incomprehensible! But such were his habits +that he could do nothing without a mixture of evil. He had previously +made her the happiest of human beings, and now he had insulted--she knew +not what to say, how to class, or how to regard it. She would not have +him be serious, and yet what could excuse the use of such words and +offers, if they meant but to trifle? + +But William was a lieutenant. _That_ was a fact beyond a doubt, and +without an alloy. She would think of it for ever and forget all the +rest. Mr. Crawford would certainly never address her so again: he must +have seen how unwelcome it was to her; and in that case, how gratefully +she could esteem him for his friendship to William! + +She would not stir farther from the East room than the head of the great +staircase, till she had satisfied herself of Mr. Crawford's having left +the house; but when convinced of his being gone, she was eager to go +down and be with her uncle, and have all the happiness of his joy +as well as her own, and all the benefit of his information or his +conjectures as to what would now be William's destination. Sir Thomas +was as joyful as she could desire, and very kind and communicative; and +she had so comfortable a talk with him about William as to make her +feel as if nothing had occurred to vex her, till she found, towards the +close, that Mr. Crawford was engaged to return and dine there that +very day. This was a most unwelcome hearing, for though he might think +nothing of what had passed, it would be quite distressing to her to see +him again so soon. + +She tried to get the better of it; tried very hard, as the dinner hour +approached, to feel and appear as usual; but it was quite impossible for +her not to look most shy and uncomfortable when their visitor entered +the room. She could not have supposed it in the power of any concurrence +of circumstances to give her so many painful sensations on the first day +of hearing of William's promotion. + +Mr. Crawford was not only in the room--he was soon close to her. He +had a note to deliver from his sister. Fanny could not look at him, but +there was no consciousness of past folly in his voice. She opened her +note immediately, glad to have anything to do, and happy, as she read +it, to feel that the fidgetings of her aunt Norris, who was also to dine +there, screened her a little from view. + +"My dear Fanny,--for so I may now always call you, to the infinite +relief of a tongue that has been stumbling at _Miss_ _Price_ for at +least the last six weeks--I cannot let my brother go without sending you +a few lines of general congratulation, and giving my most joyful consent +and approval. Go on, my dear Fanny, and without fear; there can be no +difficulties worth naming. I chuse to suppose that the assurance of my +consent will be something; so you may smile upon him with your sweetest +smiles this afternoon, and send him back to me even happier than he +goes.--Yours affectionately, M. C." + +These were not expressions to do Fanny any good; for though she read +in too much haste and confusion to form the clearest judgment of Miss +Crawford's meaning, it was evident that she meant to compliment her on +her brother's attachment, and even to _appear_ to believe it serious. +She did not know what to do, or what to think. There was wretchedness in +the idea of its being serious; there was perplexity and agitation every +way. She was distressed whenever Mr. Crawford spoke to her, and he spoke +to her much too often; and she was afraid there was a something in his +voice and manner in addressing her very different from what they were +when he talked to the others. Her comfort in that day's dinner was +quite destroyed: she could hardly eat anything; and when Sir Thomas +good-humouredly observed that joy had taken away her appetite, she +was ready to sink with shame, from the dread of Mr. Crawford's +interpretation; for though nothing could have tempted her to turn +her eyes to the right hand, where he sat, she felt that _his_ were +immediately directed towards her. + +She was more silent than ever. She would hardly join even when William +was the subject, for his commission came all from the right hand too, +and there was pain in the connexion. + +She thought Lady Bertram sat longer than ever, and began to be in +despair of ever getting away; but at last they were in the drawing-room, +and she was able to think as she would, while her aunts finished the +subject of William's appointment in their own style. + +Mrs. Norris seemed as much delighted with the saving it would be to +Sir Thomas as with any part of it. "_Now_ William would be able to keep +himself, which would make a vast difference to his uncle, for it was +unknown how much he had cost his uncle; and, indeed, it would make some +difference in _her_ presents too. She was very glad that she had given +William what she did at parting, very glad, indeed, that it had been in +her power, without material inconvenience, just at that time to give him +something rather considerable; that is, for _her_, with _her_ limited +means, for now it would all be useful in helping to fit up his cabin. +She knew he must be at some expense, that he would have many things to +buy, though to be sure his father and mother would be able to put him in +the way of getting everything very cheap; but she was very glad she had +contributed her mite towards it." + +"I am glad you gave him something considerable," said Lady Bertram, with +most unsuspicious calmness, "for _I_ gave him only 10." + +"Indeed!" cried Mrs. Norris, reddening. "Upon my word, he must have gone +off with his pockets well lined, and at no expense for his journey to +London either!" + +"Sir Thomas told me 10 would be enough." + +Mrs. Norris, being not at all inclined to question its sufficiency, +began to take the matter in another point. + +"It is amazing," said she, "how much young people cost their friends, +what with bringing them up and putting them out in the world! They +little think how much it comes to, or what their parents, or their +uncles and aunts, pay for them in the course of the year. Now, here are +my sister Price's children; take them all together, I dare say nobody +would believe what a sum they cost Sir Thomas every year, to say nothing +of what _I_ do for them." + +"Very true, sister, as you say. But, poor things! they cannot help +it; and you know it makes very little difference to Sir Thomas. Fanny, +William must not forget my shawl if he goes to the East Indies; and I +shall give him a commission for anything else that is worth having. I +wish he may go to the East Indies, that I may have my shawl. I think I +will have two shawls, Fanny." + +Fanny, meanwhile, speaking only when she could not help it, was very +earnestly trying to understand what Mr. and Miss Crawford were at. There +was everything in the world _against_ their being serious but his words +and manner. Everything natural, probable, reasonable, was against it; +all their habits and ways of thinking, and all her own demerits. How +could _she_ have excited serious attachment in a man who had seen so +many, and been admired by so many, and flirted with so many, infinitely +her superiors; who seemed so little open to serious impressions, even +where pains had been taken to please him; who thought so slightly, so +carelessly, so unfeelingly on all such points; who was everything to +everybody, and seemed to find no one essential to him? And farther, +how could it be supposed that his sister, with all her high and worldly +notions of matrimony, would be forwarding anything of a serious nature +in such a quarter? Nothing could be more unnatural in either. Fanny +was ashamed of her own doubts. Everything might be possible rather than +serious attachment, or serious approbation of it toward her. She had +quite convinced herself of this before Sir Thomas and Mr. Crawford +joined them. The difficulty was in maintaining the conviction quite so +absolutely after Mr. Crawford was in the room; for once or twice a +look seemed forced on her which she did not know how to class among the +common meaning; in any other man, at least, she would have said that +it meant something very earnest, very pointed. But she still tried to +believe it no more than what he might often have expressed towards her +cousins and fifty other women. + +She thought he was wishing to speak to her unheard by the rest. She +fancied he was trying for it the whole evening at intervals, whenever +Sir Thomas was out of the room, or at all engaged with Mrs. Norris, and +she carefully refused him every opportunity. + +At last--it seemed an at last to Fanny's nervousness, though not +remarkably late--he began to talk of going away; but the comfort of the +sound was impaired by his turning to her the next moment, and saying, +"Have you nothing to send to Mary? No answer to her note? She will be +disappointed if she receives nothing from you. Pray write to her, if it +be only a line." + +"Oh yes! certainly," cried Fanny, rising in haste, the haste of +embarrassment and of wanting to get away--"I will write directly." + +She went accordingly to the table, where she was in the habit of writing +for her aunt, and prepared her materials without knowing what in the +world to say. She had read Miss Crawford's note only once, and how to +reply to anything so imperfectly understood was most distressing. +Quite unpractised in such sort of note-writing, had there been time for +scruples and fears as to style she would have felt them in abundance: +but something must be instantly written; and with only one decided +feeling, that of wishing not to appear to think anything really +intended, she wrote thus, in great trembling both of spirits and hand-- + +"I am very much obliged to you, my dear Miss Crawford, for your kind +congratulations, as far as they relate to my dearest William. The rest +of your note I know means nothing; but I am so unequal to anything of +the sort, that I hope you will excuse my begging you to take no farther +notice. I have seen too much of Mr. Crawford not to understand his +manners; if he understood me as well, he would, I dare say, behave +differently. I do not know what I write, but it would be a great favour +of you never to mention the subject again. With thanks for the honour of +your note, I remain, dear Miss Crawford, etc., etc." + +The conclusion was scarcely intelligible from increasing fright, for +she found that Mr. Crawford, under pretence of receiving the note, was +coming towards her. + +"You cannot think I mean to hurry you," said he, in an undervoice, +perceiving the amazing trepidation with which she made up the note, "you +cannot think I have any such object. Do not hurry yourself, I entreat." + +"Oh! I thank you; I have quite done, just done; it will be ready in a +moment; I am very much obliged to you; if you will be so good as to give +_that_ to Miss Crawford." + +The note was held out, and must be taken; and as she instantly and with +averted eyes walked towards the fireplace, where sat the others, he had +nothing to do but to go in good earnest. + +Fanny thought she had never known a day of greater agitation, both of +pain and pleasure; but happily the pleasure was not of a sort to die +with the day; for every day would restore the knowledge of William's +advancement, whereas the pain, she hoped, would return no more. She had +no doubt that her note must appear excessively ill-written, that +the language would disgrace a child, for her distress had allowed no +arrangement; but at least it would assure them both of her being neither +imposed on nor gratified by Mr. Crawford's attentions. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Fanny had by no means forgotten Mr. Crawford when she awoke the next +morning; but she remembered the purport of her note, and was not less +sanguine as to its effect than she had been the night before. If Mr. +Crawford would but go away! That was what she most earnestly desired: +go and take his sister with him, as he was to do, and as he returned to +Mansfield on purpose to do. And why it was not done already she could +not devise, for Miss Crawford certainly wanted no delay. Fanny had +hoped, in the course of his yesterday's visit, to hear the day named; +but he had only spoken of their journey as what would take place ere +long. + +Having so satisfactorily settled the conviction her note would convey, +she could not but be astonished to see Mr. Crawford, as she accidentally +did, coming up to the house again, and at an hour as early as the day +before. His coming might have nothing to do with her, but she must avoid +seeing him if possible; and being then on her way upstairs, she resolved +there to remain, during the whole of his visit, unless actually sent +for; and as Mrs. Norris was still in the house, there seemed little +danger of her being wanted. + +She sat some time in a good deal of agitation, listening, trembling, and +fearing to be sent for every moment; but as no footsteps approached the +East room, she grew gradually composed, could sit down, and be able to +employ herself, and able to hope that Mr. Crawford had come and would go +without her being obliged to know anything of the matter. + +Nearly half an hour had passed, and she was growing very comfortable, +when suddenly the sound of a step in regular approach was heard; a heavy +step, an unusual step in that part of the house: it was her uncle's; she +knew it as well as his voice; she had trembled at it as often, and began +to tremble again, at the idea of his coming up to speak to her, whatever +might be the subject. It was indeed Sir Thomas who opened the door and +asked if she were there, and if he might come in. The terror of his +former occasional visits to that room seemed all renewed, and she felt +as if he were going to examine her again in French and English. + +She was all attention, however, in placing a chair for him, and trying +to appear honoured; and, in her agitation, had quite overlooked the +deficiencies of her apartment, till he, stopping short as he entered, +said, with much surprise, "Why have you no fire to-day?" + +There was snow on the ground, and she was sitting in a shawl. She +hesitated. + +"I am not cold, sir: I never sit here long at this time of year." + +"But you have a fire in general?" + +"No, sir." + +"How comes this about? Here must be some mistake. I understood that you +had the use of this room by way of making you perfectly comfortable. +In your bedchamber I know you _cannot_ have a fire. Here is some great +misapprehension which must be rectified. It is highly unfit for you to +sit, be it only half an hour a day, without a fire. You are not strong. +You are chilly. Your aunt cannot be aware of this." + +Fanny would rather have been silent; but being obliged to speak, she +could not forbear, in justice to the aunt she loved best, from saying +something in which the words "my aunt Norris" were distinguishable. + +"I understand," cried her uncle, recollecting himself, and not wanting +to hear more: "I understand. Your aunt Norris has always been an +advocate, and very judiciously, for young people's being brought up +without unnecessary indulgences; but there should be moderation in +everything. She is also very hardy herself, which of course will +influence her in her opinion of the wants of others. And on another +account, too, I can perfectly comprehend. I know what her sentiments +have always been. The principle was good in itself, but it may have +been, and I believe _has_ _been_, carried too far in your case. I +am aware that there has been sometimes, in some points, a misplaced +distinction; but I think too well of you, Fanny, to suppose you will +ever harbour resentment on that account. You have an understanding +which will prevent you from receiving things only in part, and judging +partially by the event. You will take in the whole of the past, you +will consider times, persons, and probabilities, and you will feel that +_they_ were not least your friends who were educating and preparing you +for that mediocrity of condition which _seemed_ to be your lot. Though +their caution may prove eventually unnecessary, it was kindly meant; and +of this you may be assured, that every advantage of affluence will be +doubled by the little privations and restrictions that may have been +imposed. I am sure you will not disappoint my opinion of you, by failing +at any time to treat your aunt Norris with the respect and attention +that are due to her. But enough of this. Sit down, my dear. I must speak +to you for a few minutes, but I will not detain you long." + +Fanny obeyed, with eyes cast down and colour rising. After a moment's +pause, Sir Thomas, trying to suppress a smile, went on. + +"You are not aware, perhaps, that I have had a visitor this morning. I +had not been long in my own room, after breakfast, when Mr. Crawford was +shewn in. His errand you may probably conjecture." + +Fanny's colour grew deeper and deeper; and her uncle, perceiving that +she was embarrassed to a degree that made either speaking or looking +up quite impossible, turned away his own eyes, and without any farther +pause proceeded in his account of Mr. Crawford's visit. + +Mr. Crawford's business had been to declare himself the lover of Fanny, +make decided proposals for her, and entreat the sanction of the uncle, +who seemed to stand in the place of her parents; and he had done it all +so well, so openly, so liberally, so properly, that Sir Thomas, feeling, +moreover, his own replies, and his own remarks to have been very much +to the purpose, was exceedingly happy to give the particulars of their +conversation; and little aware of what was passing in his niece's mind, +conceived that by such details he must be gratifying her far more than +himself. He talked, therefore, for several minutes without Fanny's +daring to interrupt him. She had hardly even attained the wish to do it. +Her mind was in too much confusion. She had changed her position; and, +with her eyes fixed intently on one of the windows, was listening to her +uncle in the utmost perturbation and dismay. For a moment he ceased, but +she had barely become conscious of it, when, rising from his chair, he +said, "And now, Fanny, having performed one part of my commission, +and shewn you everything placed on a basis the most assured and +satisfactory, I may execute the remainder by prevailing on you to +accompany me downstairs, where, though I cannot but presume on having +been no unacceptable companion myself, I must submit to your finding +one still better worth listening to. Mr. Crawford, as you have perhaps +foreseen, is yet in the house. He is in my room, and hoping to see you +there." + +There was a look, a start, an exclamation on hearing this, which +astonished Sir Thomas; but what was his increase of astonishment on +hearing her exclaim--"Oh! no, sir, I cannot, indeed I cannot go down to +him. Mr. Crawford ought to know--he must know that: I told him enough +yesterday to convince him; he spoke to me on this subject yesterday, +and I told him without disguise that it was very disagreeable to me, and +quite out of my power to return his good opinion." + +"I do not catch your meaning," said Sir Thomas, sitting down again. "Out +of your power to return his good opinion? What is all this? I know he +spoke to you yesterday, and (as far as I understand) received as much +encouragement to proceed as a well-judging young woman could permit +herself to give. I was very much pleased with what I collected to have +been your behaviour on the occasion; it shewed a discretion highly to +be commended. But now, when he has made his overtures so properly, and +honourably--what are your scruples _now_?" + +"You are mistaken, sir," cried Fanny, forced by the anxiety of the +moment even to tell her uncle that he was wrong; "you are quite +mistaken. How could Mr. Crawford say such a thing? I gave him no +encouragement yesterday. On the contrary, I told him, I cannot recollect +my exact words, but I am sure I told him that I would not listen to him, +that it was very unpleasant to me in every respect, and that I begged +him never to talk to me in that manner again. I am sure I said as much +as that and more; and I should have said still more, if I had been quite +certain of his meaning anything seriously; but I did not like to be, I +could not bear to be, imputing more than might be intended. I thought it +might all pass for nothing with _him_." + +She could say no more; her breath was almost gone. + +"Am I to understand," said Sir Thomas, after a few moments' silence, +"that you mean to _refuse_ Mr. Crawford?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Refuse him?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Refuse Mr. Crawford! Upon what plea? For what reason?" + +"I--I cannot like him, sir, well enough to marry him." + +"This is very strange!" said Sir Thomas, in a voice of calm displeasure. +"There is something in this which my comprehension does not reach. Here +is a young man wishing to pay his addresses to you, with everything to +recommend him: not merely situation in life, fortune, and character, +but with more than common agreeableness, with address and conversation +pleasing to everybody. And he is not an acquaintance of to-day; you have +now known him some time. His sister, moreover, is your intimate friend, +and he has been doing _that_ for your brother, which I should suppose +would have been almost sufficient recommendation to you, had there been +no other. It is very uncertain when my interest might have got William +on. He has done it already." + +"Yes," said Fanny, in a faint voice, and looking down with fresh shame; +and she did feel almost ashamed of herself, after such a picture as her +uncle had drawn, for not liking Mr. Crawford. + +"You must have been aware," continued Sir Thomas presently, "you must +have been some time aware of a particularity in Mr. Crawford's manners +to you. This cannot have taken you by surprise. You must have observed +his attentions; and though you always received them very properly (I +have no accusation to make on that head), I never perceived them to be +unpleasant to you. I am half inclined to think, Fanny, that you do not +quite know your own feelings." + +"Oh yes, sir! indeed I do. His attentions were always--what I did not +like." + +Sir Thomas looked at her with deeper surprise. "This is beyond me," +said he. "This requires explanation. Young as you are, and having seen +scarcely any one, it is hardly possible that your affections--" + +He paused and eyed her fixedly. He saw her lips formed into a _no_, +though the sound was inarticulate, but her face was like scarlet. That, +however, in so modest a girl, might be very compatible with innocence; +and chusing at least to appear satisfied, he quickly added, "No, no, I +know _that_ is quite out of the question; quite impossible. Well, there +is nothing more to be said." + +And for a few minutes he did say nothing. He was deep in thought. His +niece was deep in thought likewise, trying to harden and prepare herself +against farther questioning. She would rather die than own the truth; +and she hoped, by a little reflection, to fortify herself beyond +betraying it. + +"Independently of the interest which Mr. Crawford's _choice_ seemed to +justify" said Sir Thomas, beginning again, and very composedly, "his +wishing to marry at all so early is recommendatory to me. I am an +advocate for early marriages, where there are means in proportion, and +would have every young man, with a sufficient income, settle as soon +after four-and-twenty as he can. This is so much my opinion, that I am +sorry to think how little likely my own eldest son, your cousin, Mr. +Bertram, is to marry early; but at present, as far as I can judge, +matrimony makes no part of his plans or thoughts. I wish he were more +likely to fix." Here was a glance at Fanny. "Edmund, I consider, from +his dispositions and habits, as much more likely to marry early than +his brother. _He_, indeed, I have lately thought, has seen the woman he +could love, which, I am convinced, my eldest son has not. Am I right? Do +you agree with me, my dear?" + +"Yes, sir." + +It was gently, but it was calmly said, and Sir Thomas was easy on the +score of the cousins. But the removal of his alarm did his niece +no service: as her unaccountableness was confirmed his displeasure +increased; and getting up and walking about the room with a frown, which +Fanny could picture to herself, though she dared not lift up her eyes, +he shortly afterwards, and in a voice of authority, said, "Have you any +reason, child, to think ill of Mr. Crawford's temper?" + +"No, sir." + +She longed to add, "But of his principles I have"; but her heart sunk +under the appalling prospect of discussion, explanation, and probably +non-conviction. Her ill opinion of him was founded chiefly on +observations, which, for her cousins' sake, she could scarcely dare +mention to their father. Maria and Julia, and especially Maria, were so +closely implicated in Mr. Crawford's misconduct, that she could not give +his character, such as she believed it, without betraying them. She had +hoped that, to a man like her uncle, so discerning, so honourable, so +good, the simple acknowledgment of settled _dislike_ on her side would +have been sufficient. To her infinite grief she found it was not. + +Sir Thomas came towards the table where she sat in trembling +wretchedness, and with a good deal of cold sternness, said, "It is of no +use, I perceive, to talk to you. We had better put an end to this most +mortifying conference. Mr. Crawford must not be kept longer waiting. I +will, therefore, only add, as thinking it my duty to mark my opinion of +your conduct, that you have disappointed every expectation I had formed, +and proved yourself of a character the very reverse of what I had +supposed. For I _had_, Fanny, as I think my behaviour must have shewn, +formed a very favourable opinion of you from the period of my return to +England. I had thought you peculiarly free from wilfulness of temper, +self-conceit, and every tendency to that independence of spirit which +prevails so much in modern days, even in young women, and which in young +women is offensive and disgusting beyond all common offence. But you +have now shewn me that you can be wilful and perverse; that you can and +will decide for yourself, without any consideration or deference for +those who have surely some right to guide you, without even asking their +advice. You have shewn yourself very, very different from anything that +I had imagined. The advantage or disadvantage of your family, of your +parents, your brothers and sisters, never seems to have had a moment's +share in your thoughts on this occasion. How _they_ might be benefited, +how _they_ must rejoice in such an establishment for you, is nothing to +_you_. You think only of yourself, and because you do not feel for Mr. +Crawford exactly what a young heated fancy imagines to be necessary for +happiness, you resolve to refuse him at once, without wishing even for +a little time to consider of it, a little more time for cool +consideration, and for really examining your own inclinations; and are, +in a wild fit of folly, throwing away from you such an opportunity of +being settled in life, eligibly, honourably, nobly settled, as will, +probably, never occur to you again. Here is a young man of sense, of +character, of temper, of manners, and of fortune, exceedingly attached +to you, and seeking your hand in the most handsome and disinterested +way; and let me tell you, Fanny, that you may live eighteen years longer +in the world without being addressed by a man of half Mr. Crawford's +estate, or a tenth part of his merits. Gladly would I have bestowed +either of my own daughters on him. Maria is nobly married; but had +Mr. Crawford sought Julia's hand, I should have given it to him with +superior and more heartfelt satisfaction than I gave Maria's to Mr. +Rushworth." After half a moment's pause: "And I should have been very +much surprised had either of my daughters, on receiving a proposal +of marriage at any time which might carry with it only _half_ the +eligibility of _this_, immediately and peremptorily, and without paying +my opinion or my regard the compliment of any consultation, put a +decided negative on it. I should have been much surprised and much hurt +by such a proceeding. I should have thought it a gross violation of duty +and respect. _You_ are not to be judged by the same rule. You do not +owe me the duty of a child. But, Fanny, if your heart can acquit you of +_ingratitude_--" + +He ceased. Fanny was by this time crying so bitterly that, angry as he +was, he would not press that article farther. Her heart was almost broke +by such a picture of what she appeared to him; by such accusations, +so heavy, so multiplied, so rising in dreadful gradation! Self-willed, +obstinate, selfish, and ungrateful. He thought her all this. She had +deceived his expectations; she had lost his good opinion. What was to +become of her? + +"I am very sorry," said she inarticulately, through her tears, "I am +very sorry indeed." + +"Sorry! yes, I hope you are sorry; and you will probably have reason to +be long sorry for this day's transactions." + +"If it were possible for me to do otherwise" said she, with another +strong effort; "but I am so perfectly convinced that I could never make +him happy, and that I should be miserable myself." + +Another burst of tears; but in spite of that burst, and in spite of that +great black word _miserable_, which served to introduce it, Sir Thomas +began to think a little relenting, a little change of inclination, might +have something to do with it; and to augur favourably from the personal +entreaty of the young man himself. He knew her to be very timid, and +exceedingly nervous; and thought it not improbable that her mind +might be in such a state as a little time, a little pressing, a little +patience, and a little impatience, a judicious mixture of all on the +lover's side, might work their usual effect on. If the gentleman would +but persevere, if he had but love enough to persevere, Sir Thomas began +to have hopes; and these reflections having passed across his mind and +cheered it, "Well," said he, in a tone of becoming gravity, but of less +anger, "well, child, dry up your tears. There is no use in these tears; +they can do no good. You must now come downstairs with me. Mr. Crawford +has been kept waiting too long already. You must give him your own +answer: we cannot expect him to be satisfied with less; and you only +can explain to him the grounds of that misconception of your sentiments, +which, unfortunately for himself, he certainly has imbibed. I am totally +unequal to it." + +But Fanny shewed such reluctance, such misery, at the idea of going down +to him, that Sir Thomas, after a little consideration, judged it better +to indulge her. His hopes from both gentleman and lady suffered a small +depression in consequence; but when he looked at his niece, and saw the +state of feature and complexion which her crying had brought her +into, he thought there might be as much lost as gained by an immediate +interview. With a few words, therefore, of no particular meaning, he +walked off by himself, leaving his poor niece to sit and cry over what +had passed, with very wretched feelings. + +Her mind was all disorder. The past, present, future, everything was +terrible. But her uncle's anger gave her the severest pain of all. +Selfish and ungrateful! to have appeared so to him! She was miserable +for ever. She had no one to take her part, to counsel, or speak for her. +Her only friend was absent. He might have softened his father; but all, +perhaps all, would think her selfish and ungrateful. She might have to +endure the reproach again and again; she might hear it, or see it, or +know it to exist for ever in every connexion about her. She could not +but feel some resentment against Mr. Crawford; yet, if he really loved +her, and were unhappy too! It was all wretchedness together. + +In about a quarter of an hour her uncle returned; she was almost +ready to faint at the sight of him. He spoke calmly, however, without +austerity, without reproach, and she revived a little. There was +comfort, too, in his words, as well as his manner, for he began with, +"Mr. Crawford is gone: he has just left me. I need not repeat what has +passed. I do not want to add to anything you may now be feeling, by an +account of what he has felt. Suffice it, that he has behaved in the +most gentlemanlike and generous manner, and has confirmed me in a most +favourable opinion of his understanding, heart, and temper. Upon my +representation of what you were suffering, he immediately, and with the +greatest delicacy, ceased to urge to see you for the present." + +Here Fanny, who had looked up, looked down again. "Of course," continued +her uncle, "it cannot be supposed but that he should request to speak +with you alone, be it only for five minutes; a request too natural, +a claim too just to be denied. But there is no time fixed; perhaps +to-morrow, or whenever your spirits are composed enough. For the present +you have only to tranquillise yourself. Check these tears; they do but +exhaust you. If, as I am willing to suppose, you wish to shew me any +observance, you will not give way to these emotions, but endeavour to +reason yourself into a stronger frame of mind. I advise you to go out: +the air will do you good; go out for an hour on the gravel; you will +have the shrubbery to yourself, and will be the better for air and +exercise. And, Fanny" (turning back again for a moment), "I shall make +no mention below of what has passed; I shall not even tell your aunt +Bertram. There is no occasion for spreading the disappointment; say +nothing about it yourself." + +This was an order to be most joyfully obeyed; this was an act of +kindness which Fanny felt at her heart. To be spared from her aunt +Norris's interminable reproaches! he left her in a glow of gratitude. +Anything might be bearable rather than such reproaches. Even to see Mr. +Crawford would be less overpowering. + +She walked out directly, as her uncle recommended, and followed his +advice throughout, as far as she could; did check her tears; did +earnestly try to compose her spirits and strengthen her mind. She wished +to prove to him that she did desire his comfort, and sought to regain +his favour; and he had given her another strong motive for exertion, in +keeping the whole affair from the knowledge of her aunts. Not to excite +suspicion by her look or manner was now an object worth attaining; and +she felt equal to almost anything that might save her from her aunt +Norris. + +She was struck, quite struck, when, on returning from her walk and going +into the East room again, the first thing which caught her eye was a +fire lighted and burning. A fire! it seemed too much; just at that time +to be giving her such an indulgence was exciting even painful gratitude. +She wondered that Sir Thomas could have leisure to think of such a +trifle again; but she soon found, from the voluntary information of the +housemaid, who came in to attend it, that so it was to be every day. Sir +Thomas had given orders for it. + +"I must be a brute, indeed, if I can be really ungrateful!" said she, in +soliloquy. "Heaven defend me from being ungrateful!" + +She saw nothing more of her uncle, nor of her aunt Norris, till they met +at dinner. Her uncle's behaviour to her was then as nearly as possible +what it had been before; she was sure he did not mean there should be +any change, and that it was only her own conscience that could fancy +any; but her aunt was soon quarrelling with her; and when she found how +much and how unpleasantly her having only walked out without her aunt's +knowledge could be dwelt on, she felt all the reason she had to bless +the kindness which saved her from the same spirit of reproach, exerted +on a more momentous subject. + +"If I had known you were going out, I should have got you just to go +as far as my house with some orders for Nanny," said she, "which I have +since, to my very great inconvenience, been obliged to go and carry +myself. I could very ill spare the time, and you might have saved me the +trouble, if you would only have been so good as to let us know you were +going out. It would have made no difference to you, I suppose, whether +you had walked in the shrubbery or gone to my house." + +"I recommended the shrubbery to Fanny as the driest place," said Sir +Thomas. + +"Oh!" said Mrs. Norris, with a moment's check, "that was very kind of +you, Sir Thomas; but you do not know how dry the path is to my house. +Fanny would have had quite as good a walk there, I assure you, with the +advantage of being of some use, and obliging her aunt: it is all her +fault. If she would but have let us know she was going out but there is +a something about Fanny, I have often observed it before--she likes to +go her own way to work; she does not like to be dictated to; she takes +her own independent walk whenever she can; she certainly has a little +spirit of secrecy, and independence, and nonsense, about her, which I +would advise her to get the better of." + +As a general reflection on Fanny, Sir Thomas thought nothing could be +more unjust, though he had been so lately expressing the same sentiments +himself, and he tried to turn the conversation: tried repeatedly +before he could succeed; for Mrs. Norris had not discernment enough to +perceive, either now, or at any other time, to what degree he thought +well of his niece, or how very far he was from wishing to have his own +children's merits set off by the depreciation of hers. She was talking +_at_ Fanny, and resenting this private walk half through the dinner. + +It was over, however, at last; and the evening set in with more +composure to Fanny, and more cheerfulness of spirits than she could +have hoped for after so stormy a morning; but she trusted, in the first +place, that she had done right: that her judgment had not misled her. +For the purity of her intentions she could answer; and she was willing +to hope, secondly, that her uncle's displeasure was abating, and would +abate farther as he considered the matter with more impartiality, and +felt, as a good man must feel, how wretched, and how unpardonable, how +hopeless, and how wicked it was to marry without affection. + +When the meeting with which she was threatened for the morrow was past, +she could not but flatter herself that the subject would be finally +concluded, and Mr. Crawford once gone from Mansfield, that everything +would soon be as if no such subject had existed. She would not, could +not believe, that Mr. Crawford's affection for her could distress him +long; his mind was not of that sort. London would soon bring its cure. +In London he would soon learn to wonder at his infatuation, and be +thankful for the right reason in her which had saved him from its evil +consequences. + +While Fanny's mind was engaged in these sort of hopes, her uncle was, +soon after tea, called out of the room; an occurrence too common to +strike her, and she thought nothing of it till the butler reappeared ten +minutes afterwards, and advancing decidedly towards herself, said, +"Sir Thomas wishes to speak with you, ma'am, in his own room." Then it +occurred to her what might be going on; a suspicion rushed over her mind +which drove the colour from her cheeks; but instantly rising, she was +preparing to obey, when Mrs. Norris called out, "Stay, stay, Fanny! what +are you about? where are you going? don't be in such a hurry. Depend +upon it, it is not you who are wanted; depend upon it, it is me" +(looking at the butler); "but you are so very eager to put yourself +forward. What should Sir Thomas want you for? It is me, Baddeley, you +mean; I am coming this moment. You mean me, Baddeley, I am sure; Sir +Thomas wants me, not Miss Price." + +But Baddeley was stout. "No, ma'am, it is Miss Price; I am certain of +its being Miss Price." And there was a half-smile with the words, which +meant, "I do not think you would answer the purpose at all." + +Mrs. Norris, much discontented, was obliged to compose herself to work +again; and Fanny, walking off in agitating consciousness, found herself, +as she anticipated, in another minute alone with Mr. Crawford. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +The conference was neither so short nor so conclusive as the lady had +designed. The gentleman was not so easily satisfied. He had all the +disposition to persevere that Sir Thomas could wish him. He had vanity, +which strongly inclined him in the first place to think she did love +him, though she might not know it herself; and which, secondly, when +constrained at last to admit that she did know her own present feelings, +convinced him that he should be able in time to make those feelings what +he wished. + +He was in love, very much in love; and it was a love which, operating +on an active, sanguine spirit, of more warmth than delicacy, made her +affection appear of greater consequence because it was withheld, and +determined him to have the glory, as well as the felicity, of forcing +her to love him. + +He would not despair: he would not desist. He had every well-grounded +reason for solid attachment; he knew her to have all the worth that +could justify the warmest hopes of lasting happiness with her; her +conduct at this very time, by speaking the disinterestedness and +delicacy of her character (qualities which he believed most rare +indeed), was of a sort to heighten all his wishes, and confirm all his +resolutions. He knew not that he had a pre-engaged heart to attack. +Of _that_ he had no suspicion. He considered her rather as one who +had never thought on the subject enough to be in danger; who had been +guarded by youth, a youth of mind as lovely as of person; whose modesty +had prevented her from understanding his attentions, and who was still +overpowered by the suddenness of addresses so wholly unexpected, and the +novelty of a situation which her fancy had never taken into account. + +Must it not follow of course, that, when he was understood, he should +succeed? He believed it fully. Love such as his, in a man like himself, +must with perseverance secure a return, and at no great distance; and +he had so much delight in the idea of obliging her to love him in a very +short time, that her not loving him now was scarcely regretted. A little +difficulty to be overcome was no evil to Henry Crawford. He rather +derived spirits from it. He had been apt to gain hearts too easily. His +situation was new and animating. + +To Fanny, however, who had known too much opposition all her life to +find any charm in it, all this was unintelligible. She found that he did +mean to persevere; but how he could, after such language from her as she +felt herself obliged to use, was not to be understood. She told him that +she did not love him, could not love him, was sure she never should love +him; that such a change was quite impossible; that the subject was most +painful to her; that she must entreat him never to mention it again, to +allow her to leave him at once, and let it be considered as concluded +for ever. And when farther pressed, had added, that in her opinion their +dispositions were so totally dissimilar as to make mutual affection +incompatible; and that they were unfitted for each other by nature, +education, and habit. All this she had said, and with the earnestness +of sincerity; yet this was not enough, for he immediately denied there +being anything uncongenial in their characters, or anything unfriendly +in their situations; and positively declared, that he would still love, +and still hope! + +Fanny knew her own meaning, but was no judge of her own manner. Her +manner was incurably gentle; and she was not aware how much it concealed +the sternness of her purpose. Her diffidence, gratitude, and softness +made every expression of indifference seem almost an effort of +self-denial; seem, at least, to be giving nearly as much pain to herself +as to him. Mr. Crawford was no longer the Mr. Crawford who, as the +clandestine, insidious, treacherous admirer of Maria Bertram, had been +her abhorrence, whom she had hated to see or to speak to, in whom she +could believe no good quality to exist, and whose power, even of being +agreeable, she had barely acknowledged. He was now the Mr. Crawford who +was addressing herself with ardent, disinterested love; whose feelings +were apparently become all that was honourable and upright, whose views +of happiness were all fixed on a marriage of attachment; who was +pouring out his sense of her merits, describing and describing again his +affection, proving as far as words could prove it, and in the language, +tone, and spirit of a man of talent too, that he sought her for her +gentleness and her goodness; and to complete the whole, he was now the +Mr. Crawford who had procured William's promotion! + +Here was a change, and here were claims which could not but operate! +She might have disdained him in all the dignity of angry virtue, in +the grounds of Sotherton, or the theatre at Mansfield Park; but he +approached her now with rights that demanded different treatment. +She must be courteous, and she must be compassionate. She must have +a sensation of being honoured, and whether thinking of herself or her +brother, she must have a strong feeling of gratitude. The effect of the +whole was a manner so pitying and agitated, and words intermingled with +her refusal so expressive of obligation and concern, that to a temper of +vanity and hope like Crawford's, the truth, or at least the strength +of her indifference, might well be questionable; and he was not so +irrational as Fanny considered him, in the professions of persevering, +assiduous, and not desponding attachment which closed the interview. + +It was with reluctance that he suffered her to go; but there was no look +of despair in parting to belie his words, or give her hopes of his being +less unreasonable than he professed himself. + +Now she was angry. Some resentment did arise at a perseverance so +selfish and ungenerous. Here was again a want of delicacy and regard for +others which had formerly so struck and disgusted her. Here was again +a something of the same Mr. Crawford whom she had so reprobated before. +How evidently was there a gross want of feeling and humanity where his +own pleasure was concerned; and alas! how always known no principle to +supply as a duty what the heart was deficient in! Had her own affections +been as free as perhaps they ought to have been, he never could have +engaged them. + +So thought Fanny, in good truth and sober sadness, as she sat musing +over that too great indulgence and luxury of a fire upstairs: wondering +at the past and present; wondering at what was yet to come, and in a +nervous agitation which made nothing clear to her but the persuasion of +her being never under any circumstances able to love Mr. Crawford, and +the felicity of having a fire to sit over and think of it. + +Sir Thomas was obliged, or obliged himself, to wait till the morrow for +a knowledge of what had passed between the young people. He then saw +Mr. Crawford, and received his account. The first feeling was +disappointment: he had hoped better things; he had thought that an +hour's entreaty from a young man like Crawford could not have worked so +little change on a gentle-tempered girl like Fanny; but there was speedy +comfort in the determined views and sanguine perseverance of the lover; +and when seeing such confidence of success in the principal, Sir Thomas +was soon able to depend on it himself. + +Nothing was omitted, on his side, of civility, compliment, or kindness, +that might assist the plan. Mr. Crawford's steadiness was honoured, and +Fanny was praised, and the connexion was still the most desirable in the +world. At Mansfield Park Mr. Crawford would always be welcome; he had +only to consult his own judgment and feelings as to the frequency of his +visits, at present or in future. In all his niece's family and friends, +there could be but one opinion, one wish on the subject; the influence +of all who loved her must incline one way. + +Everything was said that could encourage, every encouragement received +with grateful joy, and the gentlemen parted the best of friends. + +Satisfied that the cause was now on a footing the most proper and +hopeful, Sir Thomas resolved to abstain from all farther importunity +with his niece, and to shew no open interference. Upon her disposition +he believed kindness might be the best way of working. Entreaty should +be from one quarter only. The forbearance of her family on a point, +respecting which she could be in no doubt of their wishes, might be +their surest means of forwarding it. Accordingly, on this principle, Sir +Thomas took the first opportunity of saying to her, with a mild gravity, +intended to be overcoming, "Well, Fanny, I have seen Mr. Crawford again, +and learn from him exactly how matters stand between you. He is a most +extraordinary young man, and whatever be the event, you must feel that +you have created an attachment of no common character; though, young +as you are, and little acquainted with the transient, varying, unsteady +nature of love, as it generally exists, you cannot be struck as I +am with all that is wonderful in a perseverance of this sort against +discouragement. With him it is entirely a matter of feeling: he claims +no merit in it; perhaps is entitled to none. Yet, having chosen so +well, his constancy has a respectable stamp. Had his choice been less +unexceptionable, I should have condemned his persevering." + +"Indeed, sir," said Fanny, "I am very sorry that Mr. Crawford should +continue to know that it is paying me a very great compliment, and I +feel most undeservedly honoured; but I am so perfectly convinced, and I +have told him so, that it never will be in my power--" + +"My dear," interrupted Sir Thomas, "there is no occasion for this. Your +feelings are as well known to me as my wishes and regrets must be +to you. There is nothing more to be said or done. From this hour the +subject is never to be revived between us. You will have nothing to +fear, or to be agitated about. You cannot suppose me capable of trying +to persuade you to marry against your inclinations. Your happiness and +advantage are all that I have in view, and nothing is required of you +but to bear with Mr. Crawford's endeavours to convince you that they may +not be incompatible with his. He proceeds at his own risk. You are on +safe ground. I have engaged for your seeing him whenever he calls, as +you might have done had nothing of this sort occurred. You will see +him with the rest of us, in the same manner, and, as much as you +can, dismissing the recollection of everything unpleasant. He leaves +Northamptonshire so soon, that even this slight sacrifice cannot be +often demanded. The future must be very uncertain. And now, my dear +Fanny, this subject is closed between us." + +The promised departure was all that Fanny could think of with much +satisfaction. Her uncle's kind expressions, however, and forbearing +manner, were sensibly felt; and when she considered how much of the +truth was unknown to him, she believed she had no right to wonder at +the line of conduct he pursued. He, who had married a daughter to Mr. +Rushworth: romantic delicacy was certainly not to be expected from him. +She must do her duty, and trust that time might make her duty easier +than it now was. + +She could not, though only eighteen, suppose Mr. Crawford's attachment +would hold out for ever; she could not but imagine that steady, +unceasing discouragement from herself would put an end to it in time. +How much time she might, in her own fancy, allot for its dominion, is +another concern. It would not be fair to inquire into a young lady's +exact estimate of her own perfections. + +In spite of his intended silence, Sir Thomas found himself once more +obliged to mention the subject to his niece, to prepare her briefly for +its being imparted to her aunts; a measure which he would still have +avoided, if possible, but which became necessary from the totally +opposite feelings of Mr. Crawford as to any secrecy of proceeding. He +had no idea of concealment. It was all known at the Parsonage, where +he loved to talk over the future with both his sisters, and it would be +rather gratifying to him to have enlightened witnesses of the progress +of his success. When Sir Thomas understood this, he felt the necessity +of making his own wife and sister-in-law acquainted with the business +without delay; though, on Fanny's account, he almost dreaded the +effect of the communication to Mrs. Norris as much as Fanny herself. He +deprecated her mistaken but well-meaning zeal. Sir Thomas, indeed, was, +by this time, not very far from classing Mrs. Norris as one of those +well-meaning people who are always doing mistaken and very disagreeable +things. + +Mrs. Norris, however, relieved him. He pressed for the strictest +forbearance and silence towards their niece; she not only promised, but +did observe it. She only looked her increased ill-will. Angry she was: +bitterly angry; but she was more angry with Fanny for having received +such an offer than for refusing it. It was an injury and affront to +Julia, who ought to have been Mr. Crawford's choice; and, independently +of that, she disliked Fanny, because she had neglected her; and she +would have grudged such an elevation to one whom she had been always +trying to depress. + +Sir Thomas gave her more credit for discretion on the occasion than she +deserved; and Fanny could have blessed her for allowing her only to see +her displeasure, and not to hear it. + +Lady Bertram took it differently. She had been a beauty, and a +prosperous beauty, all her life; and beauty and wealth were all that +excited her respect. To know Fanny to be sought in marriage by a man of +fortune, raised her, therefore, very much in her opinion. By convincing +her that Fanny _was_ very pretty, which she had been doubting about +before, and that she would be advantageously married, it made her feel a +sort of credit in calling her niece. + +"Well, Fanny," said she, as soon as they were alone together afterwards, +and she really had known something like impatience to be alone with her, +and her countenance, as she spoke, had extraordinary animation; "Well, +Fanny, I have had a very agreeable surprise this morning. I must just +speak of it _once_, I told Sir Thomas I must _once_, and then I +shall have done. I give you joy, my dear niece." And looking at her +complacently, she added, "Humph, we certainly are a handsome family!" + +Fanny coloured, and doubted at first what to say; when, hoping to assail +her on her vulnerable side, she presently answered-- + +"My dear aunt, _you_ cannot wish me to do differently from what I have +done, I am sure. _You_ cannot wish me to marry; for you would miss me, +should not you? Yes, I am sure you would miss me too much for that." + +"No, my dear, I should not think of missing you, when such an offer as +this comes in your way. I could do very well without you, if you were +married to a man of such good estate as Mr. Crawford. And you must be +aware, Fanny, that it is every young woman's duty to accept such a very +unexceptionable offer as this." + +This was almost the only rule of conduct, the only piece of advice, +which Fanny had ever received from her aunt in the course of eight years +and a half. It silenced her. She felt how unprofitable contention would +be. If her aunt's feelings were against her, nothing could be hoped from +attacking her understanding. Lady Bertram was quite talkative. + +"I will tell you what, Fanny," said she, "I am sure he fell in love with +you at the ball; I am sure the mischief was done that evening. You did +look remarkably well. Everybody said so. Sir Thomas said so. And you +know you had Chapman to help you to dress. I am very glad I sent +Chapman to you. I shall tell Sir Thomas that I am sure it was done +that evening." And still pursuing the same cheerful thoughts, she soon +afterwards added, "And will tell you what, Fanny, which is more than I +did for Maria: the next time Pug has a litter you shall have a puppy." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +Edmund had great things to hear on his return. Many surprises were +awaiting him. The first that occurred was not least in interest: the +appearance of Henry Crawford and his sister walking together through the +village as he rode into it. He had concluded--he had meant them to be +far distant. His absence had been extended beyond a fortnight purposely +to avoid Miss Crawford. He was returning to Mansfield with spirits ready +to feed on melancholy remembrances, and tender associations, when her +own fair self was before him, leaning on her brother's arm, and he found +himself receiving a welcome, unquestionably friendly, from the woman +whom, two moments before, he had been thinking of as seventy miles off, +and as farther, much farther, from him in inclination than any distance +could express. + +Her reception of him was of a sort which he could not have hoped +for, had he expected to see her. Coming as he did from such a purport +fulfilled as had taken him away, he would have expected anything rather +than a look of satisfaction, and words of simple, pleasant meaning. +It was enough to set his heart in a glow, and to bring him home in the +properest state for feeling the full value of the other joyful surprises +at hand. + +William's promotion, with all its particulars, he was soon master of; +and with such a secret provision of comfort within his own breast to +help the joy, he found in it a source of most gratifying sensation and +unvarying cheerfulness all dinner-time. + +After dinner, when he and his father were alone, he had Fanny's history; +and then all the great events of the last fortnight, and the present +situation of matters at Mansfield were known to him. + +Fanny suspected what was going on. They sat so much longer than usual in +the dining-parlour, that she was sure they must be talking of her; and +when tea at last brought them away, and she was to be seen by Edmund +again, she felt dreadfully guilty. He came to her, sat down by her, took +her hand, and pressed it kindly; and at that moment she thought that, +but for the occupation and the scene which the tea-things afforded, she +must have betrayed her emotion in some unpardonable excess. + +He was not intending, however, by such action, to be conveying to her +that unqualified approbation and encouragement which her hopes drew +from it. It was designed only to express his participation in all that +interested her, and to tell her that he had been hearing what quickened +every feeling of affection. He was, in fact, entirely on his father's +side of the question. His surprise was not so great as his father's at +her refusing Crawford, because, so far from supposing her to consider +him with anything like a preference, he had always believed it to +be rather the reverse, and could imagine her to be taken perfectly +unprepared, but Sir Thomas could not regard the connexion as more +desirable than he did. It had every recommendation to him; and while +honouring her for what she had done under the influence of her present +indifference, honouring her in rather stronger terms than Sir Thomas +could quite echo, he was most earnest in hoping, and sanguine in +believing, that it would be a match at last, and that, united by mutual +affection, it would appear that their dispositions were as exactly +fitted to make them blessed in each other, as he was now beginning +seriously to consider them. Crawford had been too precipitate. He had +not given her time to attach herself. He had begun at the wrong end. +With such powers as his, however, and such a disposition as hers, Edmund +trusted that everything would work out a happy conclusion. Meanwhile, +he saw enough of Fanny's embarrassment to make him scrupulously guard +against exciting it a second time, by any word, or look, or movement. + +Crawford called the next day, and on the score of Edmund's return, Sir +Thomas felt himself more than licensed to ask him to stay dinner; it was +really a necessary compliment. He staid of course, and Edmund had then +ample opportunity for observing how he sped with Fanny, and what degree +of immediate encouragement for him might be extracted from her manners; +and it was so little, so very, very little--every chance, every +possibility of it, resting upon her embarrassment only; if there was +not hope in her confusion, there was hope in nothing else--that he was +almost ready to wonder at his friend's perseverance. Fanny was worth it +all; he held her to be worth every effort of patience, every exertion of +mind, but he did not think he could have gone on himself with any woman +breathing, without something more to warm his courage than his eyes +could discern in hers. He was very willing to hope that Crawford saw +clearer, and this was the most comfortable conclusion for his friend +that he could come to from all that he observed to pass before, and at, +and after dinner. + +In the evening a few circumstances occurred which he thought more +promising. When he and Crawford walked into the drawing-room, his mother +and Fanny were sitting as intently and silently at work as if there +were nothing else to care for. Edmund could not help noticing their +apparently deep tranquillity. + +"We have not been so silent all the time," replied his mother. "Fanny +has been reading to me, and only put the book down upon hearing you +coming." And sure enough there was a book on the table which had the air +of being very recently closed: a volume of Shakespeare. "She often +reads to me out of those books; and she was in the middle of a very +fine speech of that man's--what's his name, Fanny?--when we heard your +footsteps." + +Crawford took the volume. "Let me have the pleasure of finishing that +speech to your ladyship," said he. "I shall find it immediately." And by +carefully giving way to the inclination of the leaves, he did find it, +or within a page or two, quite near enough to satisfy Lady Bertram, who +assured him, as soon as he mentioned the name of Cardinal Wolsey, that +he had got the very speech. Not a look or an offer of help had Fanny +given; not a syllable for or against. All her attention was for her +work. She seemed determined to be interested by nothing else. But taste +was too strong in her. She could not abstract her mind five minutes: she +was forced to listen; his reading was capital, and her pleasure in good +reading extreme. To _good_ reading, however, she had been long used: +her uncle read well, her cousins all, Edmund very well, but in Mr. +Crawford's reading there was a variety of excellence beyond what she had +ever met with. The King, the Queen, Buckingham, Wolsey, Cromwell, all +were given in turn; for with the happiest knack, the happiest power of +jumping and guessing, he could always alight at will on the best scene, +or the best speeches of each; and whether it were dignity, or pride, or +tenderness, or remorse, or whatever were to be expressed, he could do +it with equal beauty. It was truly dramatic. His acting had first taught +Fanny what pleasure a play might give, and his reading brought all his +acting before her again; nay, perhaps with greater enjoyment, for it +came unexpectedly, and with no such drawback as she had been used to +suffer in seeing him on the stage with Miss Bertram. + +Edmund watched the progress of her attention, and was amused and +gratified by seeing how she gradually slackened in the needlework, which +at the beginning seemed to occupy her totally: how it fell from her hand +while she sat motionless over it, and at last, how the eyes which had +appeared so studiously to avoid him throughout the day were turned and +fixed on Crawford--fixed on him for minutes, fixed on him, in short, +till the attraction drew Crawford's upon her, and the book was closed, +and the charm was broken. Then she was shrinking again into herself, +and blushing and working as hard as ever; but it had been enough to give +Edmund encouragement for his friend, and as he cordially thanked him, he +hoped to be expressing Fanny's secret feelings too. + +"That play must be a favourite with you," said he; "you read as if you +knew it well." + +"It will be a favourite, I believe, from this hour," replied Crawford; +"but I do not think I have had a volume of Shakespeare in my hand before +since I was fifteen. I once saw Henry the Eighth acted, or I have heard +of it from somebody who did, I am not certain which. But Shakespeare +one gets acquainted with without knowing how. It is a part of an +Englishman's constitution. His thoughts and beauties are so spread +abroad that one touches them everywhere; one is intimate with him by +instinct. No man of any brain can open at a good part of one of his +plays without falling into the flow of his meaning immediately." + +"No doubt one is familiar with Shakespeare in a degree," said Edmund, +"from one's earliest years. His celebrated passages are quoted +by everybody; they are in half the books we open, and we all talk +Shakespeare, use his similes, and describe with his descriptions; but +this is totally distinct from giving his sense as you gave it. To know +him in bits and scraps is common enough; to know him pretty thoroughly +is, perhaps, not uncommon; but to read him well aloud is no everyday +talent." + +"Sir, you do me honour," was Crawford's answer, with a bow of mock +gravity. + +Both gentlemen had a glance at Fanny, to see if a word of accordant +praise could be extorted from her; yet both feeling that it could not +be. Her praise had been given in her attention; _that_ must content +them. + +Lady Bertram's admiration was expressed, and strongly too. "It was +really like being at a play," said she. "I wish Sir Thomas had been +here." + +Crawford was excessively pleased. If Lady Bertram, with all her +incompetency and languor, could feel this, the inference of what her +niece, alive and enlightened as she was, must feel, was elevating. + +"You have a great turn for acting, I am sure, Mr. Crawford," said her +ladyship soon afterwards; "and I will tell you what, I think you will +have a theatre, some time or other, at your house in Norfolk. I mean +when you are settled there. I do indeed. I think you will fit up a +theatre at your house in Norfolk." + +"Do you, ma'am?" cried he, with quickness. "No, no, that will never be. +Your ladyship is quite mistaken. No theatre at Everingham! Oh no!" And +he looked at Fanny with an expressive smile, which evidently meant, +"That lady will never allow a theatre at Everingham." + +Edmund saw it all, and saw Fanny so determined _not_ to see it, as to +make it clear that the voice was enough to convey the full meaning of +the protestation; and such a quick consciousness of compliment, such a +ready comprehension of a hint, he thought, was rather favourable than +not. + +The subject of reading aloud was farther discussed. The two young men +were the only talkers, but they, standing by the fire, talked over the +too common neglect of the qualification, the total inattention to it, +in the ordinary school-system for boys, the consequently natural, yet in +some instances almost unnatural, degree of ignorance and uncouthness +of men, of sensible and well-informed men, when suddenly called to the +necessity of reading aloud, which had fallen within their notice, giving +instances of blunders, and failures with their secondary causes, the +want of management of the voice, of proper modulation and emphasis, of +foresight and judgment, all proceeding from the first cause: want of +early attention and habit; and Fanny was listening again with great +entertainment. + +"Even in my profession," said Edmund, with a smile, "how little the +art of reading has been studied! how little a clear manner, and good +delivery, have been attended to! I speak rather of the past, however, +than the present. There is now a spirit of improvement abroad; but among +those who were ordained twenty, thirty, forty years ago, the larger +number, to judge by their performance, must have thought reading was +reading, and preaching was preaching. It is different now. The subject +is more justly considered. It is felt that distinctness and energy may +have weight in recommending the most solid truths; and besides, there is +more general observation and taste, a more critical knowledge diffused +than formerly; in every congregation there is a larger proportion who +know a little of the matter, and who can judge and criticise." + +Edmund had already gone through the service once since his ordination; +and upon this being understood, he had a variety of questions from +Crawford as to his feelings and success; questions, which being made, +though with the vivacity of friendly interest and quick taste, without +any touch of that spirit of banter or air of levity which Edmund knew to +be most offensive to Fanny, he had true pleasure in satisfying; and +when Crawford proceeded to ask his opinion and give his own as to the +properest manner in which particular passages in the service should be +delivered, shewing it to be a subject on which he had thought before, +and thought with judgment, Edmund was still more and more pleased. This +would be the way to Fanny's heart. She was not to be won by all that +gallantry and wit and good-nature together could do; or, at least, +she would not be won by them nearly so soon, without the assistance of +sentiment and feeling, and seriousness on serious subjects. + +"Our liturgy," observed Crawford, "has beauties, which not even a +careless, slovenly style of reading can destroy; but it has also +redundancies and repetitions which require good reading not to be felt. +For myself, at least, I must confess being not always so attentive as I +ought to be" (here was a glance at Fanny); "that nineteen times out of +twenty I am thinking how such a prayer ought to be read, and longing to +have it to read myself. Did you speak?" stepping eagerly to Fanny, and +addressing her in a softened voice; and upon her saying "No," he added, +"Are you sure you did not speak? I saw your lips move. I fancied you +might be going to tell me I ought to be more attentive, and not _allow_ +my thoughts to wander. Are not you going to tell me so?" + +"No, indeed, you know your duty too well for me to--even supposing--" + +She stopt, felt herself getting into a puzzle, and could not be +prevailed on to add another word, not by dint of several minutes of +supplication and waiting. He then returned to his former station, and +went on as if there had been no such tender interruption. + +"A sermon, well delivered, is more uncommon even than prayers well read. +A sermon, good in itself, is no rare thing. It is more difficult +to speak well than to compose well; that is, the rules and trick of +composition are oftener an object of study. A thoroughly good sermon, +thoroughly well delivered, is a capital gratification. I can never hear +such a one without the greatest admiration and respect, and more than +half a mind to take orders and preach myself. There is something in the +eloquence of the pulpit, when it is really eloquence, which is entitled +to the highest praise and honour. The preacher who can touch and affect +such an heterogeneous mass of hearers, on subjects limited, and long +worn threadbare in all common hands; who can say anything new or +striking, anything that rouses the attention without offending the +taste, or wearing out the feelings of his hearers, is a man whom one +could not, in his public capacity, honour enough. I should like to be +such a man." + +Edmund laughed. + +"I should indeed. I never listened to a distinguished preacher in my +life without a sort of envy. But then, I must have a London audience. +I could not preach but to the educated; to those who were capable of +estimating my composition. And I do not know that I should be fond of +preaching often; now and then, perhaps once or twice in the spring, +after being anxiously expected for half a dozen Sundays together; but +not for a constancy; it would not do for a constancy." + +Here Fanny, who could not but listen, involuntarily shook her head, +and Crawford was instantly by her side again, entreating to know her +meaning; and as Edmund perceived, by his drawing in a chair, and sitting +down close by her, that it was to be a very thorough attack, that looks +and undertones were to be well tried, he sank as quietly as possible +into a corner, turned his back, and took up a newspaper, very sincerely +wishing that dear little Fanny might be persuaded into explaining away +that shake of the head to the satisfaction of her ardent lover; and as +earnestly trying to bury every sound of the business from himself in +murmurs of his own, over the various advertisements of "A most desirable +Estate in South Wales"; "To Parents and Guardians"; and a "Capital +season'd Hunter." + +Fanny, meanwhile, vexed with herself for not having been as motionless +as she was speechless, and grieved to the heart to see Edmund's +arrangements, was trying by everything in the power of her modest, +gentle nature, to repulse Mr. Crawford, and avoid both his looks and +inquiries; and he, unrepulsable, was persisting in both. + +"What did that shake of the head mean?" said he. "What was it meant to +express? Disapprobation, I fear. But of what? What had I been saying +to displease you? Did you think me speaking improperly, lightly, +irreverently on the subject? Only tell me if I was. Only tell me if +I was wrong. I want to be set right. Nay, nay, I entreat you; for one +moment put down your work. What did that shake of the head mean?" + +In vain was her "Pray, sir, don't; pray, Mr. Crawford," repeated twice +over; and in vain did she try to move away. In the same low, eager +voice, and the same close neighbourhood, he went on, reurging the same +questions as before. She grew more agitated and displeased. + +"How can you, sir? You quite astonish me; I wonder how you can--" + +"Do I astonish you?" said he. "Do you wonder? Is there anything in +my present entreaty that you do not understand? I will explain to you +instantly all that makes me urge you in this manner, all that gives me +an interest in what you look and do, and excites my present curiosity. I +will not leave you to wonder long." + +In spite of herself, she could not help half a smile, but she said +nothing. + +"You shook your head at my acknowledging that I should not like to +engage in the duties of a clergyman always for a constancy. Yes, that +was the word. Constancy: I am not afraid of the word. I would spell it, +read it, write it with anybody. I see nothing alarming in the word. Did +you think I ought?" + +"Perhaps, sir," said Fanny, wearied at last into speaking--"perhaps, +sir, I thought it was a pity you did not always know yourself as well as +you seemed to do at that moment." + +Crawford, delighted to get her to speak at any rate, was determined +to keep it up; and poor Fanny, who had hoped to silence him by such an +extremity of reproof, found herself sadly mistaken, and that it was only +a change from one object of curiosity and one set of words to another. +He had always something to entreat the explanation of. The opportunity +was too fair. None such had occurred since his seeing her in her uncle's +room, none such might occur again before his leaving Mansfield. Lady +Bertram's being just on the other side of the table was a trifle, +for she might always be considered as only half-awake, and Edmund's +advertisements were still of the first utility. + +"Well," said Crawford, after a course of rapid questions and reluctant +answers; "I am happier than I was, because I now understand more clearly +your opinion of me. You think me unsteady: easily swayed by the whim of +the moment, easily tempted, easily put aside. With such an opinion, no +wonder that. But we shall see. It is not by protestations that I shall +endeavour to convince you I am wronged; it is not by telling you that my +affections are steady. My conduct shall speak for me; absence, distance, +time shall speak for me. _They_ shall prove that, as far as you can be +deserved by anybody, I do deserve you. You are infinitely my superior +in merit; all _that_ I know. You have qualities which I had not before +supposed to exist in such a degree in any human creature. You have some +touches of the angel in you beyond what--not merely beyond what one +sees, because one never sees anything like it--but beyond what one +fancies might be. But still I am not frightened. It is not by equality +of merit that you can be won. That is out of the question. It is he +who sees and worships your merit the strongest, who loves you most +devotedly, that has the best right to a return. There I build my +confidence. By that right I do and will deserve you; and when once +convinced that my attachment is what I declare it, I know you too well +not to entertain the warmest hopes. Yes, dearest, sweetest Fanny. Nay" +(seeing her draw back displeased), "forgive me. Perhaps I have as yet +no right; but by what other name can I call you? Do you suppose you are +ever present to my imagination under any other? No, it is 'Fanny' that +I think of all day, and dream of all night. You have given the name such +reality of sweetness, that nothing else can now be descriptive of you." + +Fanny could hardly have kept her seat any longer, or have refrained from +at least trying to get away in spite of all the too public opposition +she foresaw to it, had it not been for the sound of approaching relief, +the very sound which she had been long watching for, and long thinking +strangely delayed. + +The solemn procession, headed by Baddeley, of tea-board, urn, and +cake-bearers, made its appearance, and delivered her from a grievous +imprisonment of body and mind. Mr. Crawford was obliged to move. She was +at liberty, she was busy, she was protected. + +Edmund was not sorry to be admitted again among the number of those who +might speak and hear. But though the conference had seemed full long to +him, and though on looking at Fanny he saw rather a flush of vexation, +he inclined to hope that so much could not have been said and listened +to without some profit to the speaker. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +Edmund had determined that it belonged entirely to Fanny to chuse +whether her situation with regard to Crawford should be mentioned +between them or not; and that if she did not lead the way, it should +never be touched on by him; but after a day or two of mutual reserve, he +was induced by his father to change his mind, and try what his influence +might do for his friend. + +A day, and a very early day, was actually fixed for the Crawfords' +departure; and Sir Thomas thought it might be as well to make one +more effort for the young man before he left Mansfield, that all his +professions and vows of unshaken attachment might have as much hope to +sustain them as possible. + +Sir Thomas was most cordially anxious for the perfection of Mr. +Crawford's character in that point. He wished him to be a model of +constancy; and fancied the best means of effecting it would be by not +trying him too long. + +Edmund was not unwilling to be persuaded to engage in the business; he +wanted to know Fanny's feelings. She had been used to consult him in +every difficulty, and he loved her too well to bear to be denied her +confidence now; he hoped to be of service to her, he thought he must be +of service to her; whom else had she to open her heart to? If she did +not need counsel, she must need the comfort of communication. Fanny +estranged from him, silent and reserved, was an unnatural state of +things; a state which he must break through, and which he could easily +learn to think she was wanting him to break through. + +"I will speak to her, sir: I will take the first opportunity of speaking +to her alone," was the result of such thoughts as these; and upon Sir +Thomas's information of her being at that very time walking alone in the +shrubbery, he instantly joined her. + +"I am come to walk with you, Fanny," said he. "Shall I?" Drawing her +arm within his. "It is a long while since we have had a comfortable walk +together." + +She assented to it all rather by look than word. Her spirits were low. + +"But, Fanny," he presently added, "in order to have a comfortable walk, +something more is necessary than merely pacing this gravel together. You +must talk to me. I know you have something on your mind. I know what you +are thinking of. You cannot suppose me uninformed. Am I to hear of it +from everybody but Fanny herself?" + +Fanny, at once agitated and dejected, replied, "If you hear of it from +everybody, cousin, there can be nothing for me to tell." + +"Not of facts, perhaps; but of feelings, Fanny. No one but you can tell +me them. I do not mean to press you, however. If it is not what you wish +yourself, I have done. I had thought it might be a relief." + +"I am afraid we think too differently for me to find any relief in +talking of what I feel." + +"Do you suppose that we think differently? I have no idea of it. I dare +say that, on a comparison of our opinions, they would be found as much +alike as they have been used to be: to the point--I consider Crawford's +proposals as most advantageous and desirable, if you could return his +affection. I consider it as most natural that all your family should +wish you could return it; but that, as you cannot, you have done exactly +as you ought in refusing him. Can there be any disagreement between us +here?" + +"Oh no! But I thought you blamed me. I thought you were against me. This +is such a comfort!" + +"This comfort you might have had sooner, Fanny, had you sought it. But +how could you possibly suppose me against you? How could you imagine me +an advocate for marriage without love? Were I even careless in general +on such matters, how could you imagine me so where your happiness was at +stake?" + +"My uncle thought me wrong, and I knew he had been talking to you." + +"As far as you have gone, Fanny, I think you perfectly right. I may be +sorry, I may be surprised--though hardly _that_, for you had not had +time to attach yourself--but I think you perfectly right. Can it admit +of a question? It is disgraceful to us if it does. You did not love him; +nothing could have justified your accepting him." + +Fanny had not felt so comfortable for days and days. + +"So far your conduct has been faultless, and they were quite mistaken +who wished you to do otherwise. But the matter does not end here. +Crawford's is no common attachment; he perseveres, with the hope of +creating that regard which had not been created before. This, we know, +must be a work of time. But" (with an affectionate smile) "let him +succeed at last, Fanny, let him succeed at last. You have proved +yourself upright and disinterested, prove yourself grateful and +tender-hearted; and then you will be the perfect model of a woman which +I have always believed you born for." + +"Oh! never, never, never! he never will succeed with me." And she spoke +with a warmth which quite astonished Edmund, and which she blushed at +the recollection of herself, when she saw his look, and heard him +reply, "Never! Fanny!--so very determined and positive! This is not like +yourself, your rational self." + +"I mean," she cried, sorrowfully correcting herself, "that I _think_ I +never shall, as far as the future can be answered for; I think I never +shall return his regard." + +"I must hope better things. I am aware, more aware than Crawford can be, +that the man who means to make you love him (you having due notice of +his intentions) must have very uphill work, for there are all your early +attachments and habits in battle array; and before he can get your heart +for his own use he has to unfasten it from all the holds upon things +animate and inanimate, which so many years' growth have confirmed, and +which are considerably tightened for the moment by the very idea +of separation. I know that the apprehension of being forced to quit +Mansfield will for a time be arming you against him. I wish he had not +been obliged to tell you what he was trying for. I wish he had known you +as well as I do, Fanny. Between us, I think we should have won you. My +theoretical and his practical knowledge together could not have failed. +He should have worked upon my plans. I must hope, however, that time, +proving him (as I firmly believe it will) to deserve you by his steady +affection, will give him his reward. I cannot suppose that you have not +the _wish_ to love him--the natural wish of gratitude. You must have +some feeling of that sort. You must be sorry for your own indifference." + +"We are so totally unlike," said Fanny, avoiding a direct answer, "we +are so very, very different in all our inclinations and ways, that +I consider it as quite impossible we should ever be tolerably happy +together, even if I _could_ like him. There never were two people more +dissimilar. We have not one taste in common. We should be miserable." + +"You are mistaken, Fanny. The dissimilarity is not so strong. You are +quite enough alike. You _have_ tastes in common. You have moral and +literary tastes in common. You have both warm hearts and benevolent +feelings; and, Fanny, who that heard him read, and saw you listen to +Shakespeare the other night, will think you unfitted as companions? You +forget yourself: there is a decided difference in your tempers, I allow. +He is lively, you are serious; but so much the better: his spirits will +support yours. It is your disposition to be easily dejected and to fancy +difficulties greater than they are. His cheerfulness will counteract +this. He sees difficulties nowhere: and his pleasantness and gaiety will +be a constant support to you. Your being so far unlike, Fanny, does not +in the smallest degree make against the probability of your happiness +together: do not imagine it. I am myself convinced that it is rather a +favourable circumstance. I am perfectly persuaded that the tempers +had better be unlike: I mean unlike in the flow of the spirits, in +the manners, in the inclination for much or little company, in the +propensity to talk or to be silent, to be grave or to be gay. Some +opposition here is, I am thoroughly convinced, friendly to matrimonial +happiness. I exclude extremes, of course; and a very close resemblance +in all those points would be the likeliest way to produce an extreme. +A counteraction, gentle and continual, is the best safeguard of manners +and conduct." + +Full well could Fanny guess where his thoughts were now: Miss Crawford's +power was all returning. He had been speaking of her cheerfully from the +hour of his coming home. His avoiding her was quite at an end. He had +dined at the Parsonage only the preceding day. + +After leaving him to his happier thoughts for some minutes, Fanny, +feeling it due to herself, returned to Mr. Crawford, and said, "It +is not merely in _temper_ that I consider him as totally unsuited to +myself; though, in _that_ respect, I think the difference between us too +great, infinitely too great: his spirits often oppress me; but there is +something in him which I object to still more. I must say, cousin, that +I cannot approve his character. I have not thought well of him from the +time of the play. I then saw him behaving, as it appeared to me, so +very improperly and unfeelingly--I may speak of it now because it is all +over--so improperly by poor Mr. Rushworth, not seeming to care how he +exposed or hurt him, and paying attentions to my cousin Maria, which--in +short, at the time of the play, I received an impression which will +never be got over." + +"My dear Fanny," replied Edmund, scarcely hearing her to the end, "let +us not, any of us, be judged by what we appeared at that period of +general folly. The time of the play is a time which I hate to recollect. +Maria was wrong, Crawford was wrong, we were all wrong together; but +none so wrong as myself. Compared with me, all the rest were blameless. +I was playing the fool with my eyes open." + +"As a bystander," said Fanny, "perhaps I saw more than you did; and I do +think that Mr. Rushworth was sometimes very jealous." + +"Very possibly. No wonder. Nothing could be more improper than the whole +business. I am shocked whenever I think that Maria could be capable of +it; but, if she could undertake the part, we must not be surprised at +the rest." + +"Before the play, I am much mistaken if _Julia_ did not think he was +paying her attentions." + +"Julia! I have heard before from some one of his being in love with +Julia; but I could never see anything of it. And, Fanny, though I hope I +do justice to my sisters' good qualities, I think it very possible that +they might, one or both, be more desirous of being admired by Crawford, +and might shew that desire rather more unguardedly than was perfectly +prudent. I can remember that they were evidently fond of his society; +and with such encouragement, a man like Crawford, lively, and it may +be, a little unthinking, might be led on to--there could be nothing very +striking, because it is clear that he had no pretensions: his heart was +reserved for you. And I must say, that its being for you has raised him +inconceivably in my opinion. It does him the highest honour; it shews +his proper estimation of the blessing of domestic happiness and pure +attachment. It proves him unspoilt by his uncle. It proves him, in +short, everything that I had been used to wish to believe him, and +feared he was not." + +"I am persuaded that he does not think, as he ought, on serious +subjects." + +"Say, rather, that he has not thought at all upon serious subjects, +which I believe to be a good deal the case. How could it be otherwise, +with such an education and adviser? Under the disadvantages, indeed, +which both have had, is it not wonderful that they should be what they +are? Crawford's _feelings_, I am ready to acknowledge, have hitherto +been too much his guides. Happily, those feelings have generally been +good. You will supply the rest; and a most fortunate man he is to attach +himself to such a creature--to a woman who, firm as a rock in her own +principles, has a gentleness of character so well adapted to recommend +them. He has chosen his partner, indeed, with rare felicity. He will +make you happy, Fanny; I know he will make you happy; but you will make +him everything." + +"I would not engage in such a charge," cried Fanny, in a shrinking +accent; "in such an office of high responsibility!" + +"As usual, believing yourself unequal to anything! fancying everything +too much for you! Well, though I may not be able to persuade you into +different feelings, you will be persuaded into them, I trust. I confess +myself sincerely anxious that you may. I have no common interest in +Crawford's well-doing. Next to your happiness, Fanny, his has the first +claim on me. You are aware of my having no common interest in Crawford." + +Fanny was too well aware of it to have anything to say; and they walked +on together some fifty yards in mutual silence and abstraction. Edmund +first began again-- + +"I was very much pleased by her manner of speaking of it yesterday, +particularly pleased, because I had not depended upon her seeing +everything in so just a light. I knew she was very fond of you; but yet +I was afraid of her not estimating your worth to her brother quite as +it deserved, and of her regretting that he had not rather fixed on +some woman of distinction or fortune. I was afraid of the bias of those +worldly maxims, which she has been too much used to hear. But it was +very different. She spoke of you, Fanny, just as she ought. She desires +the connexion as warmly as your uncle or myself. We had a long talk +about it. I should not have mentioned the subject, though very anxious +to know her sentiments; but I had not been in the room five minutes +before she began introducing it with all that openness of heart, and +sweet peculiarity of manner, that spirit and ingenuousness which are so +much a part of herself. Mrs. Grant laughed at her for her rapidity." + +"Was Mrs. Grant in the room, then?" + +"Yes, when I reached the house I found the two sisters together by +themselves; and when once we had begun, we had not done with you, Fanny, +till Crawford and Dr. Grant came in." + +"It is above a week since I saw Miss Crawford." + +"Yes, she laments it; yet owns it may have been best. You will see her, +however, before she goes. She is very angry with you, Fanny; you must be +prepared for that. She calls herself very angry, but you can imagine her +anger. It is the regret and disappointment of a sister, who thinks her +brother has a right to everything he may wish for, at the first moment. +She is hurt, as you would be for William; but she loves and esteems you +with all her heart." + +"I knew she would be very angry with me." + +"My dearest Fanny," cried Edmund, pressing her arm closer to him, "do +not let the idea of her anger distress you. It is anger to be talked +of rather than felt. Her heart is made for love and kindness, not for +resentment. I wish you could have overheard her tribute of praise; +I wish you could have seen her countenance, when she said that you +_should_ be Henry's wife. And I observed that she always spoke of you +as 'Fanny,' which she was never used to do; and it had a sound of most +sisterly cordiality." + +"And Mrs. Grant, did she say--did she speak; was she there all the +time?" + +"Yes, she was agreeing exactly with her sister. The surprise of your +refusal, Fanny, seems to have been unbounded. That you could refuse such +a man as Henry Crawford seems more than they can understand. I said what +I could for you; but in good truth, as they stated the case--you must +prove yourself to be in your senses as soon as you can by a different +conduct; nothing else will satisfy them. But this is teasing you. I have +done. Do not turn away from me." + +"I _should_ have thought," said Fanny, after a pause of recollection and +exertion, "that every woman must have felt the possibility of a man's +not being approved, not being loved by some one of her sex at least, let +him be ever so generally agreeable. Let him have all the perfections +in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain that a man +must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself. But, +even supposing it is so, allowing Mr. Crawford to have all the claims +which his sisters think he has, how was I to be prepared to meet him +with any feeling answerable to his own? He took me wholly by surprise. +I had not an idea that his behaviour to me before had any meaning; and +surely I was not to be teaching myself to like him only because he was +taking what seemed very idle notice of me. In my situation, it would +have been the extreme of vanity to be forming expectations on Mr. +Crawford. I am sure his sisters, rating him as they do, must have +thought it so, supposing he had meant nothing. How, then, was I to +be--to be in love with him the moment he said he was with me? How was I +to have an attachment at his service, as soon as it was asked for? His +sisters should consider me as well as him. The higher his deserts, the +more improper for me ever to have thought of him. And, and--we think +very differently of the nature of women, if they can imagine a woman so +very soon capable of returning an affection as this seems to imply." + +"My dear, dear Fanny, now I have the truth. I know this to be the truth; +and most worthy of you are such feelings. I had attributed them to you +before. I thought I could understand you. You have now given exactly +the explanation which I ventured to make for you to your friend and Mrs. +Grant, and they were both better satisfied, though your warm-hearted +friend was still run away with a little by the enthusiasm of her +fondness for Henry. I told them that you were of all human creatures the +one over whom habit had most power and novelty least; and that the very +circumstance of the novelty of Crawford's addresses was against him. +Their being so new and so recent was all in their disfavour; that you +could tolerate nothing that you were not used to; and a great deal more +to the same purpose, to give them a knowledge of your character. Miss +Crawford made us laugh by her plans of encouragement for her brother. +She meant to urge him to persevere in the hope of being loved in time, +and of having his addresses most kindly received at the end of about ten +years' happy marriage." + +Fanny could with difficulty give the smile that was here asked for. Her +feelings were all in revolt. She feared she had been doing wrong: saying +too much, overacting the caution which she had been fancying necessary; +in guarding against one evil, laying herself open to another; and to +have Miss Crawford's liveliness repeated to her at such a moment, and on +such a subject, was a bitter aggravation. + +Edmund saw weariness and distress in her face, and immediately resolved +to forbear all farther discussion; and not even to mention the name +of Crawford again, except as it might be connected with what _must_ be +agreeable to her. On this principle, he soon afterwards observed--"They +go on Monday. You are sure, therefore, of seeing your friend either +to-morrow or Sunday. They really go on Monday; and I was within a trifle +of being persuaded to stay at Lessingby till that very day! I had almost +promised it. What a difference it might have made! Those five or six +days more at Lessingby might have been felt all my life." + +"You were near staying there?" + +"Very. I was most kindly pressed, and had nearly consented. Had I +received any letter from Mansfield, to tell me how you were all going +on, I believe I should certainly have staid; but I knew nothing that +had happened here for a fortnight, and felt that I had been away long +enough." + +"You spent your time pleasantly there?" + +"Yes; that is, it was the fault of my own mind if I did not. They were +all very pleasant. I doubt their finding me so. I took uneasiness with +me, and there was no getting rid of it till I was in Mansfield again." + +"The Miss Owens--you liked them, did not you?" + +"Yes, very well. Pleasant, good-humoured, unaffected girls. But I am +spoilt, Fanny, for common female society. Good-humoured, unaffected +girls will not do for a man who has been used to sensible women. They +are two distinct orders of being. You and Miss Crawford have made me too +nice." + +Still, however, Fanny was oppressed and wearied; he saw it in her looks, +it could not be talked away; and attempting it no more, he led her +directly, with the kind authority of a privileged guardian, into the +house. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Edmund now believed himself perfectly acquainted with all that Fanny +could tell, or could leave to be conjectured of her sentiments, and he +was satisfied. It had been, as he before presumed, too hasty a measure +on Crawford's side, and time must be given to make the idea first +familiar, and then agreeable to her. She must be used to the +consideration of his being in love with her, and then a return of +affection might not be very distant. + +He gave this opinion as the result of the conversation to his father; +and recommended there being nothing more said to her: no farther +attempts to influence or persuade; but that everything should be left to +Crawford's assiduities, and the natural workings of her own mind. + +Sir Thomas promised that it should be so. Edmund's account of Fanny's +disposition he could believe to be just; he supposed she had all those +feelings, but he must consider it as very unfortunate that she _had_; +for, less willing than his son to trust to the future, he could not +help fearing that if such very long allowances of time and habit were +necessary for her, she might not have persuaded herself into receiving +his addresses properly before the young man's inclination for paying +them were over. There was nothing to be done, however, but to submit +quietly and hope the best. + +The promised visit from "her friend," as Edmund called Miss Crawford, +was a formidable threat to Fanny, and she lived in continual terror of +it. As a sister, so partial and so angry, and so little scrupulous of +what she said, and in another light so triumphant and secure, she was in +every way an object of painful alarm. Her displeasure, her penetration, +and her happiness were all fearful to encounter; and the dependence of +having others present when they met was Fanny's only support in looking +forward to it. She absented herself as little as possible from Lady +Bertram, kept away from the East room, and took no solitary walk in the +shrubbery, in her caution to avoid any sudden attack. + +She succeeded. She was safe in the breakfast-room, with her aunt, when +Miss Crawford did come; and the first misery over, and Miss Crawford +looking and speaking with much less particularity of expression than she +had anticipated, Fanny began to hope there would be nothing worse to be +endured than a half-hour of moderate agitation. But here she hoped too +much; Miss Crawford was not the slave of opportunity. She was determined +to see Fanny alone, and therefore said to her tolerably soon, in a low +voice, "I must speak to you for a few minutes somewhere"; words that +Fanny felt all over her, in all her pulses and all her nerves. Denial +was impossible. Her habits of ready submission, on the contrary, made +her almost instantly rise and lead the way out of the room. She did it +with wretched feelings, but it was inevitable. + +They were no sooner in the hall than all restraint of countenance was +over on Miss Crawford's side. She immediately shook her head at Fanny +with arch, yet affectionate reproach, and taking her hand, seemed hardly +able to help beginning directly. She said nothing, however, but, "Sad, +sad girl! I do not know when I shall have done scolding you," and had +discretion enough to reserve the rest till they might be secure of +having four walls to themselves. Fanny naturally turned upstairs, and +took her guest to the apartment which was now always fit for comfortable +use; opening the door, however, with a most aching heart, and feeling +that she had a more distressing scene before her than ever that spot had +yet witnessed. But the evil ready to burst on her was at least delayed +by the sudden change in Miss Crawford's ideas; by the strong effect on +her mind which the finding herself in the East room again produced. + +"Ha!" she cried, with instant animation, "am I here again? The East +room! Once only was I in this room before"; and after stopping to look +about her, and seemingly to retrace all that had then passed, she added, +"Once only before. Do you remember it? I came to rehearse. Your cousin +came too; and we had a rehearsal. You were our audience and prompter. +A delightful rehearsal. I shall never forget it. Here we were, just in +this part of the room: here was your cousin, here was I, here were the +chairs. Oh! why will such things ever pass away?" + +Happily for her companion, she wanted no answer. Her mind was entirely +self-engrossed. She was in a reverie of sweet remembrances. + +"The scene we were rehearsing was so very remarkable! The subject of +it so very--very--what shall I say? He was to be describing and +recommending matrimony to me. I think I see him now, trying to be as +demure and composed as Anhalt ought, through the two long speeches. +'When two sympathetic hearts meet in the marriage state, matrimony +may be called a happy life.' I suppose no time can ever wear out the +impression I have of his looks and voice as he said those words. It was +curious, very curious, that we should have such a scene to play! If I +had the power of recalling any one week of my existence, it should be +that week--that acting week. Say what you would, Fanny, it should be +_that_; for I never knew such exquisite happiness in any other. His +sturdy spirit to bend as it did! Oh! it was sweet beyond expression. But +alas, that very evening destroyed it all. That very evening brought your +most unwelcome uncle. Poor Sir Thomas, who was glad to see you? Yet, +Fanny, do not imagine I would now speak disrespectfully of Sir Thomas, +though I certainly did hate him for many a week. No, I do him justice +now. He is just what the head of such a family should be. Nay, in sober +sadness, I believe I now love you all." And having said so, with a +degree of tenderness and consciousness which Fanny had never seen in her +before, and now thought only too becoming, she turned away for a moment +to recover herself. "I have had a little fit since I came into this +room, as you may perceive," said she presently, with a playful smile, +"but it is over now; so let us sit down and be comfortable; for as to +scolding you, Fanny, which I came fully intending to do, I have not +the heart for it when it comes to the point." And embracing her very +affectionately, "Good, gentle Fanny! when I think of this being the +last time of seeing you for I do not know how long, I feel it quite +impossible to do anything but love you." + +Fanny was affected. She had not foreseen anything of this, and her +feelings could seldom withstand the melancholy influence of the word +"last." She cried as if she had loved Miss Crawford more than she +possibly could; and Miss Crawford, yet farther softened by the sight of +such emotion, hung about her with fondness, and said, "I hate to leave +you. I shall see no one half so amiable where I am going. Who says we +shall not be sisters? I know we shall. I feel that we are born to +be connected; and those tears convince me that you feel it too, dear +Fanny." + +Fanny roused herself, and replying only in part, said, "But you are +only going from one set of friends to another. You are going to a very +particular friend." + +"Yes, very true. Mrs. Fraser has been my intimate friend for years. But +I have not the least inclination to go near her. I can think only of the +friends I am leaving: my excellent sister, yourself, and the Bertrams in +general. You have all so much more _heart_ among you than one finds in +the world at large. You all give me a feeling of being able to trust and +confide in you, which in common intercourse one knows nothing of. I wish +I had settled with Mrs. Fraser not to go to her till after Easter, a +much better time for the visit, but now I cannot put her off. And when +I have done with her I must go to her sister, Lady Stornaway, because +_she_ was rather my most particular friend of the two, but I have not +cared much for _her_ these three years." + +After this speech the two girls sat many minutes silent, each +thoughtful: Fanny meditating on the different sorts of friendship in the +world, Mary on something of less philosophic tendency. _She_ first spoke +again. + +"How perfectly I remember my resolving to look for you upstairs, and +setting off to find my way to the East room, without having an idea +whereabouts it was! How well I remember what I was thinking of as I came +along, and my looking in and seeing you here sitting at this table at +work; and then your cousin's astonishment, when he opened the door, at +seeing me here! To be sure, your uncle's returning that very evening! +There never was anything quite like it." + +Another short fit of abstraction followed, when, shaking it off, she +thus attacked her companion. + +"Why, Fanny, you are absolutely in a reverie. Thinking, I hope, of one +who is always thinking of you. Oh! that I could transport you for a +short time into our circle in town, that you might understand how your +power over Henry is thought of there! Oh! the envyings and heartburnings +of dozens and dozens; the wonder, the incredulity that will be felt at +hearing what you have done! For as to secrecy, Henry is quite the hero +of an old romance, and glories in his chains. You should come to London +to know how to estimate your conquest. If you were to see how he is +courted, and how I am courted for his sake! Now, I am well aware that +I shall not be half so welcome to Mrs. Fraser in consequence of his +situation with you. When she comes to know the truth she will, very +likely, wish me in Northamptonshire again; for there is a daughter of +Mr. Fraser, by a first wife, whom she is wild to get married, and +wants Henry to take. Oh! she has been trying for him to such a degree. +Innocent and quiet as you sit here, you cannot have an idea of the +_sensation_ that you will be occasioning, of the curiosity there will +be to see you, of the endless questions I shall have to answer! Poor +Margaret Fraser will be at me for ever about your eyes and your teeth, +and how you do your hair, and who makes your shoes. I wish Margaret were +married, for my poor friend's sake, for I look upon the Frasers to be +about as unhappy as most other married people. And yet it was a most +desirable match for Janet at the time. We were all delighted. She could +not do otherwise than accept him, for he was rich, and she had nothing; +but he turns out ill-tempered and _exigeant_, and wants a young woman, +a beautiful young woman of five-and-twenty, to be as steady as himself. +And my friend does not manage him well; she does not seem to know how +to make the best of it. There is a spirit of irritation which, to say +nothing worse, is certainly very ill-bred. In their house I shall call +to mind the conjugal manners of Mansfield Parsonage with respect. Even +Dr. Grant does shew a thorough confidence in my sister, and a certain +consideration for her judgment, which makes one feel there _is_ +attachment; but of that I shall see nothing with the Frasers. I shall +be at Mansfield for ever, Fanny. My own sister as a wife, Sir Thomas +Bertram as a husband, are my standards of perfection. Poor Janet has +been sadly taken in, and yet there was nothing improper on her side: +she did not run into the match inconsiderately; there was no want of +foresight. She took three days to consider of his proposals, and during +those three days asked the advice of everybody connected with her whose +opinion was worth having, and especially applied to my late dear aunt, +whose knowledge of the world made her judgment very generally and +deservedly looked up to by all the young people of her acquaintance, and +she was decidedly in favour of Mr. Fraser. This seems as if nothing were +a security for matrimonial comfort. I have not so much to say for my +friend Flora, who jilted a very nice young man in the Blues for the sake +of that horrid Lord Stornaway, who has about as much sense, Fanny, as +Mr. Rushworth, but much worse-looking, and with a blackguard character. +I _had_ my doubts at the time about her being right, for he has not even +the air of a gentleman, and now I am sure she was wrong. By the bye, +Flora Ross was dying for Henry the first winter she came out. But were I +to attempt to tell you of all the women whom I have known to be in love +with him, I should never have done. It is you, only you, insensible +Fanny, who can think of him with anything like indifference. But are you +so insensible as you profess yourself? No, no, I see you are not." + +There was, indeed, so deep a blush over Fanny's face at that moment as +might warrant strong suspicion in a predisposed mind. + +"Excellent creature! I will not tease you. Everything shall take its +course. But, dear Fanny, you must allow that you were not so absolutely +unprepared to have the question asked as your cousin fancies. It is not +possible but that you must have had some thoughts on the subject, some +surmises as to what might be. You must have seen that he was trying to +please you by every attention in his power. Was not he devoted to you +at the ball? And then before the ball, the necklace! Oh! you received +it just as it was meant. You were as conscious as heart could desire. I +remember it perfectly." + +"Do you mean, then, that your brother knew of the necklace beforehand? +Oh! Miss Crawford, _that_ was not fair." + +"Knew of it! It was his own doing entirely, his own thought. I am +ashamed to say that it had never entered my head, but I was delighted to +act on his proposal for both your sakes." + +"I will not say," replied Fanny, "that I was not half afraid at the time +of its being so, for there was something in your look that frightened +me, but not at first; I was as unsuspicious of it at first--indeed, +indeed I was. It is as true as that I sit here. And had I had an idea +of it, nothing should have induced me to accept the necklace. As to your +brother's behaviour, certainly I was sensible of a particularity: I had +been sensible of it some little time, perhaps two or three weeks; but +then I considered it as meaning nothing: I put it down as simply being +his way, and was as far from supposing as from wishing him to have any +serious thoughts of me. I had not, Miss Crawford, been an inattentive +observer of what was passing between him and some part of this family in +the summer and autumn. I was quiet, but I was not blind. I could not +but see that Mr. Crawford allowed himself in gallantries which did mean +nothing." + +"Ah! I cannot deny it. He has now and then been a sad flirt, and +cared very little for the havoc he might be making in young ladies' +affections. I have often scolded him for it, but it is his only fault; +and there is this to be said, that very few young ladies have any +affections worth caring for. And then, Fanny, the glory of fixing one +who has been shot at by so many; of having it in one's power to pay off +the debts of one's sex! Oh! I am sure it is not in woman's nature to +refuse such a triumph." + +Fanny shook her head. "I cannot think well of a man who sports with any +woman's feelings; and there may often be a great deal more suffered than +a stander-by can judge of." + +"I do not defend him. I leave him entirely to your mercy, and when he +has got you at Everingham, I do not care how much you lecture him. But +this I will say, that his fault, the liking to make girls a little +in love with him, is not half so dangerous to a wife's happiness as a +tendency to fall in love himself, which he has never been addicted to. +And I do seriously and truly believe that he is attached to you in a way +that he never was to any woman before; that he loves you with all his +heart, and will love you as nearly for ever as possible. If any man ever +loved a woman for ever, I think Henry will do as much for you." + +Fanny could not avoid a faint smile, but had nothing to say. + +"I cannot imagine Henry ever to have been happier," continued Mary +presently, "than when he had succeeded in getting your brother's +commission." + +She had made a sure push at Fanny's feelings here. + +"Oh! yes. How very, very kind of him." + +"I know he must have exerted himself very much, for I know the parties +he had to move. The Admiral hates trouble, and scorns asking favours; +and there are so many young men's claims to be attended to in the same +way, that a friendship and energy, not very determined, is easily put +by. What a happy creature William must be! I wish we could see him." + +Poor Fanny's mind was thrown into the most distressing of all its +varieties. The recollection of what had been done for William was always +the most powerful disturber of every decision against Mr. Crawford; and +she sat thinking deeply of it till Mary, who had been first watching +her complacently, and then musing on something else, suddenly called +her attention by saying: "I should like to sit talking with you here all +day, but we must not forget the ladies below, and so good-bye, my dear, +my amiable, my excellent Fanny, for though we shall nominally part in +the breakfast-parlour, I must take leave of you here. And I do take +leave, longing for a happy reunion, and trusting that when we meet +again, it will be under circumstances which may open our hearts to each +other without any remnant or shadow of reserve." + +A very, very kind embrace, and some agitation of manner, accompanied +these words. + +"I shall see your cousin in town soon: he talks of being there tolerably +soon; and Sir Thomas, I dare say, in the course of the spring; and your +eldest cousin, and the Rushworths, and Julia, I am sure of meeting again +and again, and all but you. I have two favours to ask, Fanny: one is +your correspondence. You must write to me. And the other, that you will +often call on Mrs. Grant, and make her amends for my being gone." + +The first, at least, of these favours Fanny would rather not have been +asked; but it was impossible for her to refuse the correspondence; it +was impossible for her even not to accede to it more readily than +her own judgment authorised. There was no resisting so much apparent +affection. Her disposition was peculiarly calculated to value a fond +treatment, and from having hitherto known so little of it, she was the +more overcome by Miss Crawford's. Besides, there was gratitude towards +her, for having made their _tete-a-tete_ so much less painful than her +fears had predicted. + +It was over, and she had escaped without reproaches and without +detection. Her secret was still her own; and while that was the case, +she thought she could resign herself to almost everything. + +In the evening there was another parting. Henry Crawford came and +sat some time with them; and her spirits not being previously in the +strongest state, her heart was softened for a while towards him, because +he really seemed to feel. Quite unlike his usual self, he scarcely said +anything. He was evidently oppressed, and Fanny must grieve for him, +though hoping she might never see him again till he were the husband of +some other woman. + +When it came to the moment of parting, he would take her hand, he would +not be denied it; he said nothing, however, or nothing that she heard, +and when he had left the room, she was better pleased that such a token +of friendship had passed. + +On the morrow the Crawfords were gone. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +Mr. Crawford gone, Sir Thomas's next object was that he should be +missed; and he entertained great hope that his niece would find a blank +in the loss of those attentions which at the time she had felt, or +fancied, an evil. She had tasted of consequence in its most flattering +form; and he did hope that the loss of it, the sinking again into +nothing, would awaken very wholesome regrets in her mind. He watched her +with this idea; but he could hardly tell with what success. He hardly +knew whether there were any difference in her spirits or not. She +was always so gentle and retiring that her emotions were beyond his +discrimination. He did not understand her: he felt that he did not; and +therefore applied to Edmund to tell him how she stood affected on the +present occasion, and whether she were more or less happy than she had +been. + +Edmund did not discern any symptoms of regret, and thought his father +a little unreasonable in supposing the first three or four days could +produce any. + +What chiefly surprised Edmund was, that Crawford's sister, the friend +and companion who had been so much to her, should not be more visibly +regretted. He wondered that Fanny spoke so seldom of _her_, and had so +little voluntarily to say of her concern at this separation. + +Alas! it was this sister, this friend and companion, who was now the +chief bane of Fanny's comfort. If she could have believed Mary's future +fate as unconnected with Mansfield as she was determined the brother's +should be, if she could have hoped her return thither to be as distant +as she was much inclined to think his, she would have been light of +heart indeed; but the more she recollected and observed, the more deeply +was she convinced that everything was now in a fairer train for Miss +Crawford's marrying Edmund than it had ever been before. On his side the +inclination was stronger, on hers less equivocal. His objections, the +scruples of his integrity, seemed all done away, nobody could tell +how; and the doubts and hesitations of her ambition were equally got +over--and equally without apparent reason. It could only be imputed to +increasing attachment. His good and her bad feelings yielded to love, +and such love must unite them. He was to go to town as soon as some +business relative to Thornton Lacey were completed--perhaps within a +fortnight; he talked of going, he loved to talk of it; and when once +with her again, Fanny could not doubt the rest. Her acceptance must be +as certain as his offer; and yet there were bad feelings still remaining +which made the prospect of it most sorrowful to her, independently, she +believed, independently of self. + +In their very last conversation, Miss Crawford, in spite of some amiable +sensations, and much personal kindness, had still been Miss Crawford; +still shewn a mind led astray and bewildered, and without any suspicion +of being so; darkened, yet fancying itself light. She might love, but +she did not deserve Edmund by any other sentiment. Fanny believed there +was scarcely a second feeling in common between them; and she may be +forgiven by older sages for looking on the chance of Miss Crawford's +future improvement as nearly desperate, for thinking that if Edmund's +influence in this season of love had already done so little in clearing +her judgment, and regulating her notions, his worth would be finally +wasted on her even in years of matrimony. + +Experience might have hoped more for any young people so circumstanced, +and impartiality would not have denied to Miss Crawford's nature that +participation of the general nature of women which would lead her to +adopt the opinions of the man she loved and respected as her own. But +as such were Fanny's persuasions, she suffered very much from them, and +could never speak of Miss Crawford without pain. + +Sir Thomas, meanwhile, went on with his own hopes and his own +observations, still feeling a right, by all his knowledge of human +nature, to expect to see the effect of the loss of power and consequence +on his niece's spirits, and the past attentions of the lover producing a +craving for their return; and he was soon afterwards able to account for +his not yet completely and indubitably seeing all this, by the prospect +of another visitor, whose approach he could allow to be quite enough to +support the spirits he was watching. William had obtained a ten days' +leave of absence, to be given to Northamptonshire, and was coming, the +happiest of lieutenants, because the latest made, to shew his happiness +and describe his uniform. + +He came; and he would have been delighted to shew his uniform there too, +had not cruel custom prohibited its appearance except on duty. So the +uniform remained at Portsmouth, and Edmund conjectured that before Fanny +had any chance of seeing it, all its own freshness and all the freshness +of its wearer's feelings must be worn away. It would be sunk into a +badge of disgrace; for what can be more unbecoming, or more worthless, +than the uniform of a lieutenant, who has been a lieutenant a year or +two, and sees others made commanders before him? So reasoned Edmund, +till his father made him the confidant of a scheme which placed Fanny's +chance of seeing the second lieutenant of H.M.S. Thrush in all his glory +in another light. + +This scheme was that she should accompany her brother back to +Portsmouth, and spend a little time with her own family. It had occurred +to Sir Thomas, in one of his dignified musings, as a right and desirable +measure; but before he absolutely made up his mind, he consulted his +son. Edmund considered it every way, and saw nothing but what was right. +The thing was good in itself, and could not be done at a better time; +and he had no doubt of it being highly agreeable to Fanny. This was +enough to determine Sir Thomas; and a decisive "then so it shall be" +closed that stage of the business; Sir Thomas retiring from it with some +feelings of satisfaction, and views of good over and above what he had +communicated to his son; for his prime motive in sending her away had +very little to do with the propriety of her seeing her parents again, +and nothing at all with any idea of making her happy. He certainly +wished her to go willingly, but he as certainly wished her to be +heartily sick of home before her visit ended; and that a little +abstinence from the elegancies and luxuries of Mansfield Park would +bring her mind into a sober state, and incline her to a juster estimate +of the value of that home of greater permanence, and equal comfort, of +which she had the offer. + +It was a medicinal project upon his niece's understanding, which he must +consider as at present diseased. A residence of eight or nine years in +the abode of wealth and plenty had a little disordered her powers of +comparing and judging. Her father's house would, in all probability, +teach her the value of a good income; and he trusted that she would be +the wiser and happier woman, all her life, for the experiment he had +devised. + +Had Fanny been at all addicted to raptures, she must have had a strong +attack of them when she first understood what was intended, when her +uncle first made her the offer of visiting the parents, and brothers, +and sisters, from whom she had been divided almost half her life; of +returning for a couple of months to the scenes of her infancy, with +William for the protector and companion of her journey, and the +certainty of continuing to see William to the last hour of his remaining +on land. Had she ever given way to bursts of delight, it must have been +then, for she was delighted, but her happiness was of a quiet, deep, +heart-swelling sort; and though never a great talker, she was always +more inclined to silence when feeling most strongly. At the moment she +could only thank and accept. Afterwards, when familiarised with the +visions of enjoyment so suddenly opened, she could speak more largely +to William and Edmund of what she felt; but still there were emotions +of tenderness that could not be clothed in words. The remembrance of all +her earliest pleasures, and of what she had suffered in being torn from +them, came over her with renewed strength, and it seemed as if to be +at home again would heal every pain that had since grown out of the +separation. To be in the centre of such a circle, loved by so many, +and more loved by all than she had ever been before; to feel affection +without fear or restraint; to feel herself the equal of those who +surrounded her; to be at peace from all mention of the Crawfords, safe +from every look which could be fancied a reproach on their account. This +was a prospect to be dwelt on with a fondness that could be but half +acknowledged. + +Edmund, too--to be two months from _him_ (and perhaps she might be +allowed to make her absence three) must do her good. At a distance, +unassailed by his looks or his kindness, and safe from the perpetual +irritation of knowing his heart, and striving to avoid his confidence, +she should be able to reason herself into a properer state; she should +be able to think of him as in London, and arranging everything there, +without wretchedness. What might have been hard to bear at Mansfield was +to become a slight evil at Portsmouth. + +The only drawback was the doubt of her aunt Bertram's being comfortable +without her. She was of use to no one else; but _there_ she might be +missed to a degree that she did not like to think of; and that part of +the arrangement was, indeed, the hardest for Sir Thomas to accomplish, +and what only _he_ could have accomplished at all. + +But he was master at Mansfield Park. When he had really resolved on +any measure, he could always carry it through; and now by dint of long +talking on the subject, explaining and dwelling on the duty of Fanny's +sometimes seeing her family, he did induce his wife to let her go; +obtaining it rather from submission, however, than conviction, for Lady +Bertram was convinced of very little more than that Sir Thomas thought +Fanny ought to go, and therefore that she must. In the calmness of +her own dressing-room, in the impartial flow of her own meditations, +unbiassed by his bewildering statements, she could not acknowledge any +necessity for Fanny's ever going near a father and mother who had done +without her so long, while she was so useful to herself. And as to the +not missing her, which under Mrs. Norris's discussion was the point +attempted to be proved, she set herself very steadily against admitting +any such thing. + +Sir Thomas had appealed to her reason, conscience, and dignity. He +called it a sacrifice, and demanded it of her goodness and self-command +as such. But Mrs. Norris wanted to persuade her that Fanny could be very +well spared--_she_ being ready to give up all her own time to her as +requested--and, in short, could not really be wanted or missed. + +"That may be, sister," was all Lady Bertram's reply. "I dare say you are +very right; but I am sure I shall miss her very much." + +The next step was to communicate with Portsmouth. Fanny wrote to offer +herself; and her mother's answer, though short, was so kind--a few +simple lines expressed so natural and motherly a joy in the prospect +of seeing her child again, as to confirm all the daughter's views of +happiness in being with her--convincing her that she should now find a +warm and affectionate friend in the "mama" who had certainly shewn no +remarkable fondness for her formerly; but this she could easily suppose +to have been her own fault or her own fancy. She had probably alienated +love by the helplessness and fretfulness of a fearful temper, or been +unreasonable in wanting a larger share than any one among so many could +deserve. Now, when she knew better how to be useful, and how to forbear, +and when her mother could be no longer occupied by the incessant +demands of a house full of little children, there would be leisure and +inclination for every comfort, and they should soon be what mother and +daughter ought to be to each other. + +William was almost as happy in the plan as his sister. It would be the +greatest pleasure to him to have her there to the last moment before he +sailed, and perhaps find her there still when he came in from his first +cruise. And besides, he wanted her so very much to see the Thrush before +she went out of harbour--the Thrush was certainly the finest sloop in +the service--and there were several improvements in the dockyard, too, +which he quite longed to shew her. + +He did not scruple to add that her being at home for a while would be a +great advantage to everybody. + +"I do not know how it is," said he; "but we seem to want some of +your nice ways and orderliness at my father's. The house is always in +confusion. You will set things going in a better way, I am sure. You +will tell my mother how it all ought to be, and you will be so useful to +Susan, and you will teach Betsey, and make the boys love and mind you. +How right and comfortable it will all be!" + +By the time Mrs. Price's answer arrived, there remained but a very few +days more to be spent at Mansfield; and for part of one of those days +the young travellers were in a good deal of alarm on the subject of +their journey, for when the mode of it came to be talked of, and Mrs. +Norris found that all her anxiety to save her brother-in-law's money +was vain, and that in spite of her wishes and hints for a less expensive +conveyance of Fanny, they were to travel post; when she saw Sir Thomas +actually give William notes for the purpose, she was struck with the +idea of there being room for a third in the carriage, and suddenly +seized with a strong inclination to go with them, to go and see her poor +dear sister Price. She proclaimed her thoughts. She must say that she +had more than half a mind to go with the young people; it would be such +an indulgence to her; she had not seen her poor dear sister Price for +more than twenty years; and it would be a help to the young people in +their journey to have her older head to manage for them; and she could +not help thinking her poor dear sister Price would feel it very unkind +of her not to come by such an opportunity. + +William and Fanny were horror-struck at the idea. + +All the comfort of their comfortable journey would be destroyed at +once. With woeful countenances they looked at each other. Their suspense +lasted an hour or two. No one interfered to encourage or dissuade. Mrs. +Norris was left to settle the matter by herself; and it ended, to the +infinite joy of her nephew and niece, in the recollection that she could +not possibly be spared from Mansfield Park at present; that she was a +great deal too necessary to Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram for her to +be able to answer it to herself to leave them even for a week, and +therefore must certainly sacrifice every other pleasure to that of being +useful to them. + +It had, in fact, occurred to her, that though taken to Portsmouth for +nothing, it would be hardly possible for her to avoid paying her own +expenses back again. So her poor dear sister Price was left to all the +disappointment of her missing such an opportunity, and another twenty +years' absence, perhaps, begun. + +Edmund's plans were affected by this Portsmouth journey, this absence of +Fanny's. He too had a sacrifice to make to Mansfield Park as well as his +aunt. He had intended, about this time, to be going to London; but he +could not leave his father and mother just when everybody else of most +importance to their comfort was leaving them; and with an effort, felt +but not boasted of, he delayed for a week or two longer a journey which +he was looking forward to with the hope of its fixing his happiness for +ever. + +He told Fanny of it. She knew so much already, that she must know +everything. It made the substance of one other confidential discourse +about Miss Crawford; and Fanny was the more affected from feeling it to +be the last time in which Miss Crawford's name would ever be mentioned +between them with any remains of liberty. Once afterwards she was +alluded to by him. Lady Bertram had been telling her niece in the +evening to write to her soon and often, and promising to be a good +correspondent herself; and Edmund, at a convenient moment, then added +in a whisper, "And _I_ shall write to you, Fanny, when I have anything +worth writing about, anything to say that I think you will like to hear, +and that you will not hear so soon from any other quarter." Had she +doubted his meaning while she listened, the glow in his face, when she +looked up at him, would have been decisive. + +For this letter she must try to arm herself. That a letter from Edmund +should be a subject of terror! She began to feel that she had not yet +gone through all the changes of opinion and sentiment which the progress +of time and variation of circumstances occasion in this world of +changes. The vicissitudes of the human mind had not yet been exhausted +by her. + +Poor Fanny! though going as she did willingly and eagerly, the last +evening at Mansfield Park must still be wretchedness. Her heart was +completely sad at parting. She had tears for every room in the house, +much more for every beloved inhabitant. She clung to her aunt, because +she would miss her; she kissed the hand of her uncle with struggling +sobs, because she had displeased him; and as for Edmund, she could +neither speak, nor look, nor think, when the last moment came with +_him_; and it was not till it was over that she knew he was giving her +the affectionate farewell of a brother. + +All this passed overnight, for the journey was to begin very early in +the morning; and when the small, diminished party met at breakfast, +William and Fanny were talked of as already advanced one stage. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +The novelty of travelling, and the happiness of being with William, soon +produced their natural effect on Fanny's spirits, when Mansfield Park +was fairly left behind; and by the time their first stage was ended, and +they were to quit Sir Thomas's carriage, she was able to take leave of +the old coachman, and send back proper messages, with cheerful looks. + +Of pleasant talk between the brother and sister there was no end. +Everything supplied an amusement to the high glee of William's mind, and +he was full of frolic and joke in the intervals of their higher-toned +subjects, all of which ended, if they did not begin, in praise of the +Thrush, conjectures how she would be employed, schemes for an action +with some superior force, which (supposing the first lieutenant out of +the way, and William was not very merciful to the first lieutenant) was +to give himself the next step as soon as possible, or speculations upon +prize-money, which was to be generously distributed at home, with only +the reservation of enough to make the little cottage comfortable, +in which he and Fanny were to pass all their middle and later life +together. + +Fanny's immediate concerns, as far as they involved Mr. Crawford, made +no part of their conversation. William knew what had passed, and from +his heart lamented that his sister's feelings should be so cold towards +a man whom he must consider as the first of human characters; but he was +of an age to be all for love, and therefore unable to blame; and knowing +her wish on the subject, he would not distress her by the slightest +allusion. + +She had reason to suppose herself not yet forgotten by Mr. Crawford. She +had heard repeatedly from his sister within the three weeks which had +passed since their leaving Mansfield, and in each letter there had been +a few lines from himself, warm and determined like his speeches. It +was a correspondence which Fanny found quite as unpleasant as she had +feared. Miss Crawford's style of writing, lively and affectionate, was +itself an evil, independent of what she was thus forced into reading +from the brother's pen, for Edmund would never rest till she had read +the chief of the letter to him; and then she had to listen to his +admiration of her language, and the warmth of her attachments. There +had, in fact, been so much of message, of allusion, of recollection, so +much of Mansfield in every letter, that Fanny could not but suppose it +meant for him to hear; and to find herself forced into a purpose of +that kind, compelled into a correspondence which was bringing her the +addresses of the man she did not love, and obliging her to administer +to the adverse passion of the man she did, was cruelly mortifying. Here, +too, her present removal promised advantage. When no longer under the +same roof with Edmund, she trusted that Miss Crawford would have no +motive for writing strong enough to overcome the trouble, and that at +Portsmouth their correspondence would dwindle into nothing. + +With such thoughts as these, among ten hundred others, Fanny proceeded +in her journey safely and cheerfully, and as expeditiously as could +rationally be hoped in the dirty month of February. They entered Oxford, +but she could take only a hasty glimpse of Edmund's college as they +passed along, and made no stop anywhere till they reached Newbury, where +a comfortable meal, uniting dinner and supper, wound up the enjoyments +and fatigues of the day. + +The next morning saw them off again at an early hour; and with no +events, and no delays, they regularly advanced, and were in the environs +of Portsmouth while there was yet daylight for Fanny to look around her, +and wonder at the new buildings. They passed the drawbridge, and +entered the town; and the light was only beginning to fail as, guided +by William's powerful voice, they were rattled into a narrow street, +leading from the High Street, and drawn up before the door of a small +house now inhabited by Mr. Price. + +Fanny was all agitation and flutter; all hope and apprehension. The +moment they stopped, a trollopy-looking maidservant, seemingly in +waiting for them at the door, stepped forward, and more intent on +telling the news than giving them any help, immediately began with, "The +Thrush is gone out of harbour, please sir, and one of the officers has +been here to--" She was interrupted by a fine tall boy of eleven years +old, who, rushing out of the house, pushed the maid aside, and while +William was opening the chaise-door himself, called out, "You are just +in time. We have been looking for you this half-hour. The Thrush went +out of harbour this morning. I saw her. It was a beautiful sight. And +they think she will have her orders in a day or two. And Mr. Campbell +was here at four o'clock to ask for you: he has got one of the Thrush's +boats, and is going off to her at six, and hoped you would be here in +time to go with him." + +A stare or two at Fanny, as William helped her out of the carriage, was +all the voluntary notice which this brother bestowed; but he made no +objection to her kissing him, though still entirely engaged in detailing +farther particulars of the Thrush's going out of harbour, in which +he had a strong right of interest, being to commence his career of +seamanship in her at this very time. + +Another moment and Fanny was in the narrow entrance-passage of the +house, and in her mother's arms, who met her there with looks of true +kindness, and with features which Fanny loved the more, because they +brought her aunt Bertram's before her, and there were her two sisters: +Susan, a well-grown fine girl of fourteen, and Betsey, the youngest of +the family, about five--both glad to see her in their way, though with +no advantage of manner in receiving her. But manner Fanny did not want. +Would they but love her, she should be satisfied. + +She was then taken into a parlour, so small that her first conviction +was of its being only a passage-room to something better, and she stood +for a moment expecting to be invited on; but when she saw there was +no other door, and that there were signs of habitation before her, she +called back her thoughts, reproved herself, and grieved lest they should +have been suspected. Her mother, however, could not stay long enough +to suspect anything. She was gone again to the street-door, to welcome +William. "Oh! my dear William, how glad I am to see you. But have you +heard about the Thrush? She is gone out of harbour already; three days +before we had any thought of it; and I do not know what I am to do about +Sam's things, they will never be ready in time; for she may have her +orders to-morrow, perhaps. It takes me quite unawares. And now you must +be off for Spithead too. Campbell has been here, quite in a worry about +you; and now what shall we do? I thought to have had such a comfortable +evening with you, and here everything comes upon me at once." + +Her son answered cheerfully, telling her that everything was always for +the best; and making light of his own inconvenience in being obliged to +hurry away so soon. + +"To be sure, I had much rather she had stayed in harbour, that I might +have sat a few hours with you in comfort; but as there is a boat ashore, +I had better go off at once, and there is no help for it. Whereabouts +does the Thrush lay at Spithead? Near the Canopus? But no matter; here's +Fanny in the parlour, and why should we stay in the passage? Come, +mother, you have hardly looked at your own dear Fanny yet." + +In they both came, and Mrs. Price having kindly kissed her daughter +again, and commented a little on her growth, began with very natural +solicitude to feel for their fatigues and wants as travellers. + +"Poor dears! how tired you must both be! and now, what will you have? I +began to think you would never come. Betsey and I have been watching for +you this half-hour. And when did you get anything to eat? And what would +you like to have now? I could not tell whether you would be for some +meat, or only a dish of tea, after your journey, or else I would have +got something ready. And now I am afraid Campbell will be here before +there is time to dress a steak, and we have no butcher at hand. It is +very inconvenient to have no butcher in the street. We were better off +in our last house. Perhaps you would like some tea as soon as it can be +got." + +They both declared they should prefer it to anything. "Then, Betsey, my +dear, run into the kitchen and see if Rebecca has put the water on; and +tell her to bring in the tea-things as soon as she can. I wish we could +get the bell mended; but Betsey is a very handy little messenger." + +Betsey went with alacrity, proud to shew her abilities before her fine +new sister. + +"Dear me!" continued the anxious mother, "what a sad fire we have got, +and I dare say you are both starved with cold. Draw your chair nearer, +my dear. I cannot think what Rebecca has been about. I am sure I told +her to bring some coals half an hour ago. Susan, you should have taken +care of the fire." + +"I was upstairs, mama, moving my things," said Susan, in a fearless, +self-defending tone, which startled Fanny. "You know you had but just +settled that my sister Fanny and I should have the other room; and I +could not get Rebecca to give me any help." + +Farther discussion was prevented by various bustles: first, the driver +came to be paid; then there was a squabble between Sam and Rebecca about +the manner of carrying up his sister's trunk, which he would manage all +his own way; and lastly, in walked Mr. Price himself, his own loud voice +preceding him, as with something of the oath kind he kicked away his +son's port-manteau and his daughter's bandbox in the passage, and called +out for a candle; no candle was brought, however, and he walked into the +room. + +Fanny with doubting feelings had risen to meet him, but sank down again +on finding herself undistinguished in the dusk, and unthought of. With +a friendly shake of his son's hand, and an eager voice, he instantly +began--"Ha! welcome back, my boy. Glad to see you. Have you heard the +news? The Thrush went out of harbour this morning. Sharp is the +word, you see! By G--, you are just in time! The doctor has been here +inquiring for you: he has got one of the boats, and is to be off for +Spithead by six, so you had better go with him. I have been to Turner's +about your mess; it is all in a way to be done. I should not wonder if +you had your orders to-morrow: but you cannot sail with this wind, if +you are to cruise to the westward; and Captain Walsh thinks you will +certainly have a cruise to the westward, with the Elephant. By G--, I +wish you may! But old Scholey was saying, just now, that he thought you +would be sent first to the Texel. Well, well, we are ready, whatever +happens. But by G--, you lost a fine sight by not being here in the +morning to see the Thrush go out of harbour! I would not have been out +of the way for a thousand pounds. Old Scholey ran in at breakfast-time, +to say she had slipped her moorings and was coming out, I jumped up, and +made but two steps to the platform. If ever there was a perfect beauty +afloat, she is one; and there she lays at Spithead, and anybody in +England would take her for an eight-and-twenty. I was upon the platform +two hours this afternoon looking at her. She lays close to the Endymion, +between her and the Cleopatra, just to the eastward of the sheer hulk." + +"Ha!" cried William, "_that's_ just where I should have put her myself. +It's the best berth at Spithead. But here is my sister, sir; here is +Fanny," turning and leading her forward; "it is so dark you do not see +her." + +With an acknowledgment that he had quite forgot her, Mr. Price now +received his daughter; and having given her a cordial hug, and observed +that she was grown into a woman, and he supposed would be wanting a +husband soon, seemed very much inclined to forget her again. Fanny +shrunk back to her seat, with feelings sadly pained by his language and +his smell of spirits; and he talked on only to his son, and only of the +Thrush, though William, warmly interested as he was in that subject, +more than once tried to make his father think of Fanny, and her long +absence and long journey. + +After sitting some time longer, a candle was obtained; but as there was +still no appearance of tea, nor, from Betsey's reports from the kitchen, +much hope of any under a considerable period, William determined to +go and change his dress, and make the necessary preparations for +his removal on board directly, that he might have his tea in comfort +afterwards. + +As he left the room, two rosy-faced boys, ragged and dirty, about eight +and nine years old, rushed into it just released from school, and coming +eagerly to see their sister, and tell that the Thrush was gone out of +harbour; Tom and Charles. Charles had been born since Fanny's going +away, but Tom she had often helped to nurse, and now felt a particular +pleasure in seeing again. Both were kissed very tenderly, but Tom she +wanted to keep by her, to try to trace the features of the baby she had +loved, and talked to, of his infant preference of herself. Tom, however, +had no mind for such treatment: he came home not to stand and be talked +to, but to run about and make a noise; and both boys had soon burst from +her, and slammed the parlour-door till her temples ached. + +She had now seen all that were at home; there remained only two brothers +between herself and Susan, one of whom was a clerk in a public office +in London, and the other midshipman on board an Indiaman. But though she +had _seen_ all the members of the family, she had not yet _heard_ all +the noise they could make. Another quarter of an hour brought her a +great deal more. William was soon calling out from the landing-place of +the second story for his mother and for Rebecca. He was in distress +for something that he had left there, and did not find again. A key was +mislaid, Betsey accused of having got at his new hat, and some slight, +but essential alteration of his uniform waistcoat, which he had been +promised to have done for him, entirely neglected. + +Mrs. Price, Rebecca, and Betsey all went up to defend themselves, all +talking together, but Rebecca loudest, and the job was to be done as +well as it could in a great hurry; William trying in vain to send Betsey +down again, or keep her from being troublesome where she was; the whole +of which, as almost every door in the house was open, could be plainly +distinguished in the parlour, except when drowned at intervals by the +superior noise of Sam, Tom, and Charles chasing each other up and down +stairs, and tumbling about and hallooing. + +Fanny was almost stunned. The smallness of the house and thinness of the +walls brought everything so close to her, that, added to the fatigue of +her journey, and all her recent agitation, she hardly knew how to +bear it. _Within_ the room all was tranquil enough, for Susan having +disappeared with the others, there were soon only her father and herself +remaining; and he, taking out a newspaper, the accustomary loan of a +neighbour, applied himself to studying it, without seeming to recollect +her existence. The solitary candle was held between himself and the +paper, without any reference to her possible convenience; but she had +nothing to do, and was glad to have the light screened from her aching +head, as she sat in bewildered, broken, sorrowful contemplation. + +She was at home. But, alas! it was not such a home, she had not such a +welcome, as--she checked herself; she was unreasonable. What right had +she to be of importance to her family? She could have none, so long lost +sight of! William's concerns must be dearest, they always had been, and +he had every right. Yet to have so little said or asked about herself, +to have scarcely an inquiry made after Mansfield! It did pain her to +have Mansfield forgotten; the friends who had done so much--the dear, +dear friends! But here, one subject swallowed up all the rest. Perhaps +it must be so. The destination of the Thrush must be now preeminently +interesting. A day or two might shew the difference. _She_ only was to +blame. Yet she thought it would not have been so at Mansfield. No, in +her uncle's house there would have been a consideration of times and +seasons, a regulation of subject, a propriety, an attention towards +everybody which there was not here. + +The only interruption which thoughts like these received for nearly half +an hour was from a sudden burst of her father's, not at all calculated +to compose them. At a more than ordinary pitch of thumping and hallooing +in the passage, he exclaimed, "Devil take those young dogs! How they are +singing out! Ay, Sam's voice louder than all the rest! That boy is fit +for a boatswain. Holla, you there! Sam, stop your confounded pipe, or I +shall be after you." + +This threat was so palpably disregarded, that though within five minutes +afterwards the three boys all burst into the room together and sat down, +Fanny could not consider it as a proof of anything more than their +being for the time thoroughly fagged, which their hot faces and panting +breaths seemed to prove, especially as they were still kicking each +other's shins, and hallooing out at sudden starts immediately under +their father's eye. + +The next opening of the door brought something more welcome: it was for +the tea-things, which she had begun almost to despair of seeing that +evening. Susan and an attendant girl, whose inferior appearance informed +Fanny, to her great surprise, that she had previously seen the upper +servant, brought in everything necessary for the meal; Susan looking, as +she put the kettle on the fire and glanced at her sister, as if divided +between the agreeable triumph of shewing her activity and usefulness, +and the dread of being thought to demean herself by such an office. "She +had been into the kitchen," she said, "to hurry Sally and help make the +toast, and spread the bread and butter, or she did not know when they +should have got tea, and she was sure her sister must want something +after her journey." + +Fanny was very thankful. She could not but own that she should be very +glad of a little tea, and Susan immediately set about making it, as if +pleased to have the employment all to herself; and with only a little +unnecessary bustle, and some few injudicious attempts at keeping her +brothers in better order than she could, acquitted herself very well. +Fanny's spirit was as much refreshed as her body; her head and heart +were soon the better for such well-timed kindness. Susan had an open, +sensible countenance; she was like William, and Fanny hoped to find her +like him in disposition and goodwill towards herself. + +In this more placid state of things William reentered, followed not +far behind by his mother and Betsey. He, complete in his lieutenant's +uniform, looking and moving all the taller, firmer, and more graceful +for it, and with the happiest smile over his face, walked up directly +to Fanny, who, rising from her seat, looked at him for a moment in +speechless admiration, and then threw her arms round his neck to sob out +her various emotions of pain and pleasure. + +Anxious not to appear unhappy, she soon recovered herself; and wiping +away her tears, was able to notice and admire all the striking parts +of his dress; listening with reviving spirits to his cheerful hopes of +being on shore some part of every day before they sailed, and even of +getting her to Spithead to see the sloop. + +The next bustle brought in Mr. Campbell, the surgeon of the Thrush, a +very well-behaved young man, who came to call for his friend, and for +whom there was with some contrivance found a chair, and with some hasty +washing of the young tea-maker's, a cup and saucer; and after another +quarter of an hour of earnest talk between the gentlemen, noise rising +upon noise, and bustle upon bustle, men and boys at last all in motion +together, the moment came for setting off; everything was ready, William +took leave, and all of them were gone; for the three boys, in spite +of their mother's entreaty, determined to see their brother and Mr. +Campbell to the sally-port; and Mr. Price walked off at the same time to +carry back his neighbour's newspaper. + +Something like tranquillity might now be hoped for; and accordingly, +when Rebecca had been prevailed on to carry away the tea-things, +and Mrs. Price had walked about the room some time looking for a +shirt-sleeve, which Betsey at last hunted out from a drawer in the +kitchen, the small party of females were pretty well composed, and the +mother having lamented again over the impossibility of getting Sam ready +in time, was at leisure to think of her eldest daughter and the friends +she had come from. + +A few inquiries began: but one of the earliest--"How did sister Bertram +manage about her servants?" "Was she as much plagued as herself to get +tolerable servants?"--soon led her mind away from Northamptonshire, and +fixed it on her own domestic grievances, and the shocking character of +all the Portsmouth servants, of whom she believed her own two were the +very worst, engrossed her completely. The Bertrams were all forgotten +in detailing the faults of Rebecca, against whom Susan had also much +to depose, and little Betsey a great deal more, and who did seem so +thoroughly without a single recommendation, that Fanny could not help +modestly presuming that her mother meant to part with her when her year +was up. + +"Her year!" cried Mrs. Price; "I am sure I hope I shall be rid of her +before she has staid a year, for that will not be up till November. +Servants are come to such a pass, my dear, in Portsmouth, that it is +quite a miracle if one keeps them more than half a year. I have no hope +of ever being settled; and if I was to part with Rebecca, I should +only get something worse. And yet I do not think I am a very difficult +mistress to please; and I am sure the place is easy enough, for there is +always a girl under her, and I often do half the work myself." + +Fanny was silent; but not from being convinced that there might not be a +remedy found for some of these evils. As she now sat looking at Betsey, +she could not but think particularly of another sister, a very pretty +little girl, whom she had left there not much younger when she went into +Northamptonshire, who had died a few years afterwards. There had been +something remarkably amiable about her. Fanny in those early days had +preferred her to Susan; and when the news of her death had at last +reached Mansfield, had for a short time been quite afflicted. The sight +of Betsey brought the image of little Mary back again, but she would +not have pained her mother by alluding to her for the world. While +considering her with these ideas, Betsey, at a small distance, was +holding out something to catch her eyes, meaning to screen it at the +same time from Susan's. + +"What have you got there, my love?" said Fanny; "come and shew it to +me." + +It was a silver knife. Up jumped Susan, claiming it as her own, and +trying to get it away; but the child ran to her mother's protection, +and Susan could only reproach, which she did very warmly, and evidently +hoping to interest Fanny on her side. "It was very hard that she was not +to have her _own_ knife; it was her own knife; little sister Mary had +left it to her upon her deathbed, and she ought to have had it to keep +herself long ago. But mama kept it from her, and was always letting +Betsey get hold of it; and the end of it would be that Betsey would +spoil it, and get it for her own, though mama had _promised_ her that +Betsey should not have it in her own hands." + +Fanny was quite shocked. Every feeling of duty, honour, and tenderness +was wounded by her sister's speech and her mother's reply. + +"Now, Susan," cried Mrs. Price, in a complaining voice, "now, how can +you be so cross? You are always quarrelling about that knife. I wish you +would not be so quarrelsome. Poor little Betsey; how cross Susan is to +you! But you should not have taken it out, my dear, when I sent you to +the drawer. You know I told you not to touch it, because Susan is so +cross about it. I must hide it another time, Betsey. Poor Mary little +thought it would be such a bone of contention when she gave it me to +keep, only two hours before she died. Poor little soul! she could but +just speak to be heard, and she said so prettily, 'Let sister Susan have +my knife, mama, when I am dead and buried.' Poor little dear! she was so +fond of it, Fanny, that she would have it lay by her in bed, all through +her illness. It was the gift of her good godmother, old Mrs. Admiral +Maxwell, only six weeks before she was taken for death. Poor little +sweet creature! Well, she was taken away from evil to come. My own +Betsey" (fondling her), "_you_ have not the luck of such a good +godmother. Aunt Norris lives too far off to think of such little people +as you." + +Fanny had indeed nothing to convey from aunt Norris, but a message to +say she hoped that her god-daughter was a good girl, and learnt her +book. There had been at one moment a slight murmur in the drawing-room +at Mansfield Park about sending her a prayer-book; but no second sound +had been heard of such a purpose. Mrs. Norris, however, had gone home +and taken down two old prayer-books of her husband with that idea; but, +upon examination, the ardour of generosity went off. One was found +to have too small a print for a child's eyes, and the other to be too +cumbersome for her to carry about. + +Fanny, fatigued and fatigued again, was thankful to accept the first +invitation of going to bed; and before Betsey had finished her cry at +being allowed to sit up only one hour extraordinary in honour of sister, +she was off, leaving all below in confusion and noise again; the boys +begging for toasted cheese, her father calling out for his rum and +water, and Rebecca never where she ought to be. + +There was nothing to raise her spirits in the confined and scantily +furnished chamber that she was to share with Susan. The smallness of +the rooms above and below, indeed, and the narrowness of the passage and +staircase, struck her beyond her imagination. She soon learned to think +with respect of her own little attic at Mansfield Park, in _that_ house +reckoned too small for anybody's comfort. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +Could Sir Thomas have seen all his niece's feelings, when she wrote her +first letter to her aunt, he would not have despaired; for though a good +night's rest, a pleasant morning, the hope of soon seeing William again, +and the comparatively quiet state of the house, from Tom and Charles +being gone to school, Sam on some project of his own, and her father +on his usual lounges, enabled her to express herself cheerfully on the +subject of home, there were still, to her own perfect consciousness, +many drawbacks suppressed. Could he have seen only half that she felt +before the end of a week, he would have thought Mr. Crawford sure of +her, and been delighted with his own sagacity. + +Before the week ended, it was all disappointment. In the first place, +William was gone. The Thrush had had her orders, the wind had changed, +and he was sailed within four days from their reaching Portsmouth; and +during those days she had seen him only twice, in a short and +hurried way, when he had come ashore on duty. There had been no free +conversation, no walk on the ramparts, no visit to the dockyard, no +acquaintance with the Thrush, nothing of all that they had planned and +depended on. Everything in that quarter failed her, except William's +affection. His last thought on leaving home was for her. He stepped back +again to the door to say, "Take care of Fanny, mother. She is tender, +and not used to rough it like the rest of us. I charge you, take care of +Fanny." + +William was gone: and the home he had left her in was, Fanny could not +conceal it from herself, in almost every respect the very reverse of +what she could have wished. It was the abode of noise, disorder, and +impropriety. Nobody was in their right place, nothing was done as it +ought to be. She could not respect her parents as she had hoped. On her +father, her confidence had not been sanguine, but he was more negligent +of his family, his habits were worse, and his manners coarser, than +she had been prepared for. He did not want abilities but he had no +curiosity, and no information beyond his profession; he read only +the newspaper and the navy-list; he talked only of the dockyard, the +harbour, Spithead, and the Motherbank; he swore and he drank, he was +dirty and gross. She had never been able to recall anything approaching +to tenderness in his former treatment of herself. There had remained +only a general impression of roughness and loudness; and now he scarcely +ever noticed her, but to make her the object of a coarse joke. + +Her disappointment in her mother was greater: _there_ she had hoped +much, and found almost nothing. Every flattering scheme of being of +consequence to her soon fell to the ground. Mrs. Price was not unkind; +but, instead of gaining on her affection and confidence, and becoming +more and more dear, her daughter never met with greater kindness from +her than on the first day of her arrival. The instinct of nature was +soon satisfied, and Mrs. Price's attachment had no other source. Her +heart and her time were already quite full; she had neither leisure nor +affection to bestow on Fanny. Her daughters never had been much to her. +She was fond of her sons, especially of William, but Betsey was the +first of her girls whom she had ever much regarded. To her she was most +injudiciously indulgent. William was her pride; Betsey her darling; +and John, Richard, Sam, Tom, and Charles occupied all the rest of her +maternal solicitude, alternately her worries and her comforts. These +shared her heart: her time was given chiefly to her house and her +servants. Her days were spent in a kind of slow bustle; all was busy +without getting on, always behindhand and lamenting it, without altering +her ways; wishing to be an economist, without contrivance or regularity; +dissatisfied with her servants, without skill to make them better, and +whether helping, or reprimanding, or indulging them, without any power +of engaging their respect. + +Of her two sisters, Mrs. Price very much more resembled Lady Bertram +than Mrs. Norris. She was a manager by necessity, without any of Mrs. +Norris's inclination for it, or any of her activity. Her disposition +was naturally easy and indolent, like Lady Bertram's; and a situation of +similar affluence and do-nothingness would have been much more suited +to her capacity than the exertions and self-denials of the one which her +imprudent marriage had placed her in. She might have made just as good a +woman of consequence as Lady Bertram, but Mrs. Norris would have been a +more respectable mother of nine children on a small income. + +Much of all this Fanny could not but be sensible of. She might scruple +to make use of the words, but she must and did feel that her mother was +a partial, ill-judging parent, a dawdle, a slattern, who neither taught +nor restrained her children, whose house was the scene of mismanagement +and discomfort from beginning to end, and who had no talent, no +conversation, no affection towards herself; no curiosity to know her +better, no desire of her friendship, and no inclination for her company +that could lessen her sense of such feelings. + +Fanny was very anxious to be useful, and not to appear above her home, +or in any way disqualified or disinclined, by her foreign education, +from contributing her help to its comforts, and therefore set about +working for Sam immediately; and by working early and late, with +perseverance and great despatch, did so much that the boy was shipped +off at last, with more than half his linen ready. She had great pleasure +in feeling her usefulness, but could not conceive how they would have +managed without her. + +Sam, loud and overbearing as he was, she rather regretted when he went, +for he was clever and intelligent, and glad to be employed in any errand +in the town; and though spurning the remonstrances of Susan, given as +they were, though very reasonable in themselves, with ill-timed and +powerless warmth, was beginning to be influenced by Fanny's services +and gentle persuasions; and she found that the best of the three younger +ones was gone in him: Tom and Charles being at least as many years as +they were his juniors distant from that age of feeling and reason, which +might suggest the expediency of making friends, and of endeavouring to +be less disagreeable. Their sister soon despaired of making the smallest +impression on _them_; they were quite untameable by any means of address +which she had spirits or time to attempt. Every afternoon brought a +return of their riotous games all over the house; and she very early +learned to sigh at the approach of Saturday's constant half-holiday. + +Betsey, too, a spoiled child, trained up to think the alphabet her +greatest enemy, left to be with the servants at her pleasure, and +then encouraged to report any evil of them, she was almost as ready to +despair of being able to love or assist; and of Susan's temper she +had many doubts. Her continual disagreements with her mother, her rash +squabbles with Tom and Charles, and petulance with Betsey, were at least +so distressing to Fanny that, though admitting they were by no means +without provocation, she feared the disposition that could push them to +such length must be far from amiable, and from affording any repose to +herself. + +Such was the home which was to put Mansfield out of her head, and +teach her to think of her cousin Edmund with moderated feelings. On the +contrary, she could think of nothing but Mansfield, its beloved inmates, +its happy ways. Everything where she now was in full contrast to it. The +elegance, propriety, regularity, harmony, and perhaps, above all, the +peace and tranquillity of Mansfield, were brought to her remembrance +every hour of the day, by the prevalence of everything opposite to them +_here_. + +The living in incessant noise was, to a frame and temper delicate and +nervous like Fanny's, an evil which no superadded elegance or harmony +could have entirely atoned for. It was the greatest misery of all. At +Mansfield, no sounds of contention, no raised voice, no abrupt bursts, +no tread of violence, was ever heard; all proceeded in a regular course +of cheerful orderliness; everybody had their due importance; everybody's +feelings were consulted. If tenderness could be ever supposed wanting, +good sense and good breeding supplied its place; and as to the little +irritations sometimes introduced by aunt Norris, they were short, they +were trifling, they were as a drop of water to the ocean, compared with +the ceaseless tumult of her present abode. Here everybody was noisy, +every voice was loud (excepting, perhaps, her mother's, which resembled +the soft monotony of Lady Bertram's, only worn into fretfulness). +Whatever was wanted was hallooed for, and the servants hallooed out +their excuses from the kitchen. The doors were in constant banging, the +stairs were never at rest, nothing was done without a clatter, nobody +sat still, and nobody could command attention when they spoke. + +In a review of the two houses, as they appeared to her before the end +of a week, Fanny was tempted to apply to them Dr. Johnson's celebrated +judgment as to matrimony and celibacy, and say, that though Mansfield +Park might have some pains, Portsmouth could have no pleasures. + + + +CHAPTER XL + +Fanny was right enough in not expecting to hear from Miss Crawford now +at the rapid rate in which their correspondence had begun; Mary's next +letter was after a decidedly longer interval than the last, but she +was not right in supposing that such an interval would be felt a great +relief to herself. Here was another strange revolution of mind! She was +really glad to receive the letter when it did come. In her present exile +from good society, and distance from everything that had been wont to +interest her, a letter from one belonging to the set where her heart +lived, written with affection, and some degree of elegance, was +thoroughly acceptable. The usual plea of increasing engagements was made +in excuse for not having written to her earlier; "And now that I have +begun," she continued, "my letter will not be worth your reading, for +there will be no little offering of love at the end, no three or four +lines _passionnees_ from the most devoted H. C. in the world, for +Henry is in Norfolk; business called him to Everingham ten days ago, or +perhaps he only pretended to call, for the sake of being travelling +at the same time that you were. But there he is, and, by the bye, his +absence may sufficiently account for any remissness of his sister's in +writing, for there has been no 'Well, Mary, when do you write to Fanny? +Is not it time for you to write to Fanny?' to spur me on. At last, after +various attempts at meeting, I have seen your cousins, 'dear Julia and +dearest Mrs. Rushworth'; they found me at home yesterday, and we were +glad to see each other again. We _seemed_ _very_ glad to see each other, +and I do really think we were a little. We had a vast deal to say. Shall +I tell you how Mrs. Rushworth looked when your name was mentioned? I did +not use to think her wanting in self-possession, but she had not quite +enough for the demands of yesterday. Upon the whole, Julia was in the +best looks of the two, at least after you were spoken of. There was no +recovering the complexion from the moment that I spoke of 'Fanny,' and +spoke of her as a sister should. But Mrs. Rushworth's day of good looks +will come; we have cards for her first party on the 28th. Then she +will be in beauty, for she will open one of the best houses in Wimpole +Street. I was in it two years ago, when it was Lady Lascelle's, and +prefer it to almost any I know in London, and certainly she will then +feel, to use a vulgar phrase, that she has got her pennyworth for her +penny. Henry could not have afforded her such a house. I hope she will +recollect it, and be satisfied, as well as she may, with moving the +queen of a palace, though the king may appear best in the background; +and as I have no desire to tease her, I shall never _force_ your name +upon her again. She will grow sober by degrees. From all that I hear +and guess, Baron Wildenheim's attentions to Julia continue, but I do not +know that he has any serious encouragement. She ought to do better. +A poor honourable is no catch, and I cannot imagine any liking in the +case, for take away his rants, and the poor baron has nothing. What a +difference a vowel makes! If his rents were but equal to his rants! Your +cousin Edmund moves slowly; detained, perchance, by parish duties. There +may be some old woman at Thornton Lacey to be converted. I am unwilling +to fancy myself neglected for a _young_ one. Adieu! my dear sweet Fanny, +this is a long letter from London: write me a pretty one in reply to +gladden Henry's eyes, when he comes back, and send me an account of all +the dashing young captains whom you disdain for his sake." + +There was great food for meditation in this letter, and chiefly for +unpleasant meditation; and yet, with all the uneasiness it supplied, it +connected her with the absent, it told her of people and things about +whom she had never felt so much curiosity as now, and she would +have been glad to have been sure of such a letter every week. Her +correspondence with her aunt Bertram was her only concern of higher +interest. + +As for any society in Portsmouth, that could at all make amends for +deficiencies at home, there were none within the circle of her father's +and mother's acquaintance to afford her the smallest satisfaction: she +saw nobody in whose favour she could wish to overcome her own shyness +and reserve. The men appeared to her all coarse, the women all pert, +everybody underbred; and she gave as little contentment as she received +from introductions either to old or new acquaintance. The young ladies +who approached her at first with some respect, in consideration of her +coming from a baronet's family, were soon offended by what they termed +"airs"; for, as she neither played on the pianoforte nor wore fine +pelisses, they could, on farther observation, admit no right of +superiority. + +The first solid consolation which Fanny received for the evils of home, +the first which her judgment could entirely approve, and which gave any +promise of durability, was in a better knowledge of Susan, and a hope of +being of service to her. Susan had always behaved pleasantly to herself, +but the determined character of her general manners had astonished +and alarmed her, and it was at least a fortnight before she began to +understand a disposition so totally different from her own. Susan saw +that much was wrong at home, and wanted to set it right. That a girl of +fourteen, acting only on her own unassisted reason, should err in the +method of reform, was not wonderful; and Fanny soon became more disposed +to admire the natural light of the mind which could so early distinguish +justly, than to censure severely the faults of conduct to which it led. +Susan was only acting on the same truths, and pursuing the same system, +which her own judgment acknowledged, but which her more supine and +yielding temper would have shrunk from asserting. Susan tried to be +useful, where _she_ could only have gone away and cried; and that Susan +was useful she could perceive; that things, bad as they were, would +have been worse but for such interposition, and that both her mother and +Betsey were restrained from some excesses of very offensive indulgence +and vulgarity. + +In every argument with her mother, Susan had in point of reason the +advantage, and never was there any maternal tenderness to buy her off. +The blind fondness which was for ever producing evil around her she had +never known. There was no gratitude for affection past or present to +make her better bear with its excesses to the others. + +All this became gradually evident, and gradually placed Susan before her +sister as an object of mingled compassion and respect. That her manner +was wrong, however, at times very wrong, her measures often ill-chosen +and ill-timed, and her looks and language very often indefensible, Fanny +could not cease to feel; but she began to hope they might be rectified. +Susan, she found, looked up to her and wished for her good opinion; and +new as anything like an office of authority was to Fanny, new as it +was to imagine herself capable of guiding or informing any one, she did +resolve to give occasional hints to Susan, and endeavour to exercise for +her advantage the juster notions of what was due to everybody, and what +would be wisest for herself, which her own more favoured education had +fixed in her. + +Her influence, or at least the consciousness and use of it, originated +in an act of kindness by Susan, which, after many hesitations of +delicacy, she at last worked herself up to. It had very early occurred +to her that a small sum of money might, perhaps, restore peace for +ever on the sore subject of the silver knife, canvassed as it now was +continually, and the riches which she was in possession of herself, +her uncle having given her 10 at parting, made her as able as she was +willing to be generous. But she was so wholly unused to confer favours, +except on the very poor, so unpractised in removing evils, or bestowing +kindnesses among her equals, and so fearful of appearing to elevate +herself as a great lady at home, that it took some time to determine +that it would not be unbecoming in her to make such a present. It +was made, however, at last: a silver knife was bought for Betsey, and +accepted with great delight, its newness giving it every advantage +over the other that could be desired; Susan was established in the full +possession of her own, Betsey handsomely declaring that now she had got +one so much prettier herself, she should never want _that_ again; and +no reproach seemed conveyed to the equally satisfied mother, which Fanny +had almost feared to be impossible. The deed thoroughly answered: a +source of domestic altercation was entirely done away, and it was the +means of opening Susan's heart to her, and giving her something more to +love and be interested in. Susan shewed that she had delicacy: pleased +as she was to be mistress of property which she had been struggling for +at least two years, she yet feared that her sister's judgment had been +against her, and that a reproof was designed her for having so struggled +as to make the purchase necessary for the tranquillity of the house. + +Her temper was open. She acknowledged her fears, blamed herself for +having contended so warmly; and from that hour Fanny, understanding the +worth of her disposition and perceiving how fully she was inclined to +seek her good opinion and refer to her judgment, began to feel again the +blessing of affection, and to entertain the hope of being useful to a +mind so much in need of help, and so much deserving it. She gave advice, +advice too sound to be resisted by a good understanding, and given so +mildly and considerately as not to irritate an imperfect temper, and she +had the happiness of observing its good effects not unfrequently. +More was not expected by one who, while seeing all the obligation and +expediency of submission and forbearance, saw also with sympathetic +acuteness of feeling all that must be hourly grating to a girl like +Susan. Her greatest wonder on the subject soon became--not that Susan +should have been provoked into disrespect and impatience against her +better knowledge--but that so much better knowledge, so many good +notions should have been hers at all; and that, brought up in the midst +of negligence and error, she should have formed such proper opinions +of what ought to be; she, who had had no cousin Edmund to direct her +thoughts or fix her principles. + +The intimacy thus begun between them was a material advantage to +each. By sitting together upstairs, they avoided a great deal of the +disturbance of the house; Fanny had peace, and Susan learned to think it +no misfortune to be quietly employed. They sat without a fire; but +that was a privation familiar even to Fanny, and she suffered the +less because reminded by it of the East room. It was the only point of +resemblance. In space, light, furniture, and prospect, there was +nothing alike in the two apartments; and she often heaved a sigh at the +remembrance of all her books and boxes, and various comforts there. By +degrees the girls came to spend the chief of the morning upstairs, at +first only in working and talking, but after a few days, the remembrance +of the said books grew so potent and stimulative that Fanny found it +impossible not to try for books again. There were none in her father's +house; but wealth is luxurious and daring, and some of hers found its +way to a circulating library. She became a subscriber; amazed at being +anything _in propria persona_, amazed at her own doings in every way, to +be a renter, a chuser of books! And to be having any one's improvement +in view in her choice! But so it was. Susan had read nothing, and Fanny +longed to give her a share in her own first pleasures, and inspire a +taste for the biography and poetry which she delighted in herself. + +In this occupation she hoped, moreover, to bury some of the +recollections of Mansfield, which were too apt to seize her mind if her +fingers only were busy; and, especially at this time, hoped it might +be useful in diverting her thoughts from pursuing Edmund to London, +whither, on the authority of her aunt's last letter, she knew he was +gone. She had no doubt of what would ensue. The promised notification +was hanging over her head. The postman's knock within the neighbourhood +was beginning to bring its daily terrors, and if reading could banish +the idea for even half an hour, it was something gained. + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +A week was gone since Edmund might be supposed in town, and Fanny had +heard nothing of him. There were three different conclusions to be drawn +from his silence, between which her mind was in fluctuation; each of +them at times being held the most probable. Either his going had been +again delayed, or he had yet procured no opportunity of seeing Miss +Crawford alone, or he was too happy for letter-writing! + +One morning, about this time, Fanny having now been nearly four weeks +from Mansfield, a point which she never failed to think over and +calculate every day, as she and Susan were preparing to remove, as +usual, upstairs, they were stopped by the knock of a visitor, whom they +felt they could not avoid, from Rebecca's alertness in going to the +door, a duty which always interested her beyond any other. + +It was a gentleman's voice; it was a voice that Fanny was just turning +pale about, when Mr. Crawford walked into the room. + +Good sense, like hers, will always act when really called upon; and she +found that she had been able to name him to her mother, and recall her +remembrance of the name, as that of "William's friend," though she could +not previously have believed herself capable of uttering a syllable +at such a moment. The consciousness of his being known there only as +William's friend was some support. Having introduced him, however, and +being all reseated, the terrors that occurred of what this visit might +lead to were overpowering, and she fancied herself on the point of +fainting away. + +While trying to keep herself alive, their visitor, who had at first +approached her with as animated a countenance as ever, was wisely and +kindly keeping his eyes away, and giving her time to recover, while he +devoted himself entirely to her mother, addressing her, and attending +to her with the utmost politeness and propriety, at the same time with +a degree of friendliness, of interest at least, which was making his +manner perfect. + +Mrs. Price's manners were also at their best. Warmed by the sight of +such a friend to her son, and regulated by the wish of appearing to +advantage before him, she was overflowing with gratitude--artless, +maternal gratitude--which could not be unpleasing. Mr. Price was out, +which she regretted very much. Fanny was just recovered enough to +feel that _she_ could not regret it; for to her many other sources of +uneasiness was added the severe one of shame for the home in which he +found her. She might scold herself for the weakness, but there was no +scolding it away. She was ashamed, and she would have been yet more +ashamed of her father than of all the rest. + +They talked of William, a subject on which Mrs. Price could never tire; +and Mr. Crawford was as warm in his commendation as even her heart could +wish. She felt that she had never seen so agreeable a man in her life; +and was only astonished to find that, so great and so agreeable as he +was, he should be come down to Portsmouth neither on a visit to the +port-admiral, nor the commissioner, nor yet with the intention of going +over to the island, nor of seeing the dockyard. Nothing of all that she +had been used to think of as the proof of importance, or the employment +of wealth, had brought him to Portsmouth. He had reached it late the +night before, was come for a day or two, was staying at the Crown, had +accidentally met with a navy officer or two of his acquaintance since +his arrival, but had no object of that kind in coming. + +By the time he had given all this information, it was not unreasonable +to suppose that Fanny might be looked at and spoken to; and she was +tolerably able to bear his eye, and hear that he had spent half an hour +with his sister the evening before his leaving London; that she had +sent her best and kindest love, but had had no time for writing; that he +thought himself lucky in seeing Mary for even half an hour, having spent +scarcely twenty-four hours in London, after his return from Norfolk, +before he set off again; that her cousin Edmund was in town, had been in +town, he understood, a few days; that he had not seen him himself, but +that he was well, had left them all well at Mansfield, and was to dine, +as yesterday, with the Frasers. + +Fanny listened collectedly, even to the last-mentioned circumstance; +nay, it seemed a relief to her worn mind to be at any certainty; and the +words, "then by this time it is all settled," passed internally, without +more evidence of emotion than a faint blush. + +After talking a little more about Mansfield, a subject in which her +interest was most apparent, Crawford began to hint at the expediency of +an early walk. "It was a lovely morning, and at that season of the year +a fine morning so often turned off, that it was wisest for everybody +not to delay their exercise"; and such hints producing nothing, he soon +proceeded to a positive recommendation to Mrs. Price and her +daughters to take their walk without loss of time. Now they came to an +understanding. Mrs. Price, it appeared, scarcely ever stirred out of +doors, except of a Sunday; she owned she could seldom, with her large +family, find time for a walk. "Would she not, then, persuade her +daughters to take advantage of such weather, and allow him the pleasure +of attending them?" Mrs. Price was greatly obliged and very complying. +"Her daughters were very much confined; Portsmouth was a sad place; they +did not often get out; and she knew they had some errands in the town, +which they would be very glad to do." And the consequence was, that +Fanny, strange as it was--strange, awkward, and distressing--found +herself and Susan, within ten minutes, walking towards the High Street +with Mr. Crawford. + +It was soon pain upon pain, confusion upon confusion; for they were +hardly in the High Street before they met her father, whose +appearance was not the better from its being Saturday. He stopt; and, +ungentlemanlike as he looked, Fanny was obliged to introduce him to Mr. +Crawford. She could not have a doubt of the manner in which Mr. Crawford +must be struck. He must be ashamed and disgusted altogether. He must +soon give her up, and cease to have the smallest inclination for the +match; and yet, though she had been so much wanting his affection to +be cured, this was a sort of cure that would be almost as bad as the +complaint; and I believe there is scarcely a young lady in the United +Kingdoms who would not rather put up with the misfortune of being sought +by a clever, agreeable man, than have him driven away by the vulgarity +of her nearest relations. + +Mr. Crawford probably could not regard his future father-in-law with any +idea of taking him for a model in dress; but (as Fanny instantly, and to +her great relief, discerned) her father was a very different man, a +very different Mr. Price in his behaviour to this most highly respected +stranger, from what he was in his own family at home. His manners +now, though not polished, were more than passable: they were grateful, +animated, manly; his expressions were those of an attached father, and +a sensible man; his loud tones did very well in the open air, and there +was not a single oath to be heard. Such was his instinctive compliment +to the good manners of Mr. Crawford; and, be the consequence what it +might, Fanny's immediate feelings were infinitely soothed. + +The conclusion of the two gentlemen's civilities was an offer of Mr. +Price's to take Mr. Crawford into the dockyard, which Mr. Crawford, +desirous of accepting as a favour what was intended as such, though +he had seen the dockyard again and again, and hoping to be so much the +longer with Fanny, was very gratefully disposed to avail himself of, if +the Miss Prices were not afraid of the fatigue; and as it was somehow or +other ascertained, or inferred, or at least acted upon, that they were +not at all afraid, to the dockyard they were all to go; and but for +Mr. Crawford, Mr. Price would have turned thither directly, without the +smallest consideration for his daughters' errands in the High Street. He +took care, however, that they should be allowed to go to the shops they +came out expressly to visit; and it did not delay them long, for Fanny +could so little bear to excite impatience, or be waited for, that before +the gentlemen, as they stood at the door, could do more than begin upon +the last naval regulations, or settle the number of three-deckers now in +commission, their companions were ready to proceed. + +They were then to set forward for the dockyard at once, and the walk +would have been conducted--according to Mr. Crawford's opinion--in a +singular manner, had Mr. Price been allowed the entire regulation of it, +as the two girls, he found, would have been left to follow, and keep up +with them or not, as they could, while they walked on together at their +own hasty pace. He was able to introduce some improvement occasionally, +though by no means to the extent he wished; he absolutely would not walk +away from them; and at any crossing or any crowd, when Mr. Price was +only calling out, "Come, girls; come, Fan; come, Sue, take care of +yourselves; keep a sharp lookout!" he would give them his particular +attendance. + +Once fairly in the dockyard, he began to reckon upon some happy +intercourse with Fanny, as they were very soon joined by a brother +lounger of Mr. Price's, who was come to take his daily survey of how +things went on, and who must prove a far more worthy companion than +himself; and after a time the two officers seemed very well satisfied +going about together, and discussing matters of equal and never-failing +interest, while the young people sat down upon some timbers in the yard, +or found a seat on board a vessel in the stocks which they all went to +look at. Fanny was most conveniently in want of rest. Crawford could not +have wished her more fatigued or more ready to sit down; but he could +have wished her sister away. A quick-looking girl of Susan's age was the +very worst third in the world: totally different from Lady Bertram, all +eyes and ears; and there was no introducing the main point before her. +He must content himself with being only generally agreeable, and letting +Susan have her share of entertainment, with the indulgence, now and +then, of a look or hint for the better-informed and conscious Fanny. +Norfolk was what he had mostly to talk of: there he had been some time, +and everything there was rising in importance from his present schemes. +Such a man could come from no place, no society, without importing +something to amuse; his journeys and his acquaintance were all of use, +and Susan was entertained in a way quite new to her. For Fanny, somewhat +more was related than the accidental agreeableness of the parties he had +been in. For her approbation, the particular reason of his going into +Norfolk at all, at this unusual time of year, was given. It had been +real business, relative to the renewal of a lease in which the welfare +of a large and--he believed--industrious family was at stake. He had +suspected his agent of some underhand dealing; of meaning to bias +him against the deserving; and he had determined to go himself, and +thoroughly investigate the merits of the case. He had gone, had done +even more good than he had foreseen, had been useful to more than his +first plan had comprehended, and was now able to congratulate himself +upon it, and to feel that in performing a duty, he had secured agreeable +recollections for his own mind. He had introduced himself to some +tenants whom he had never seen before; he had begun making acquaintance +with cottages whose very existence, though on his own estate, had been +hitherto unknown to him. This was aimed, and well aimed, at Fanny. It +was pleasing to hear him speak so properly; here he had been acting as +he ought to do. To be the friend of the poor and the oppressed! Nothing +could be more grateful to her; and she was on the point of giving him an +approving look, when it was all frightened off by his adding a something +too pointed of his hoping soon to have an assistant, a friend, a guide +in every plan of utility or charity for Everingham: a somebody that +would make Everingham and all about it a dearer object than it had ever +been yet. + +She turned away, and wished he would not say such things. She was +willing to allow he might have more good qualities than she had been +wont to suppose. She began to feel the possibility of his turning out +well at last; but he was and must ever be completely unsuited to her, +and ought not to think of her. + +He perceived that enough had been said of Everingham, and that it would +be as well to talk of something else, and turned to Mansfield. He could +not have chosen better; that was a topic to bring back her attention and +her looks almost instantly. It was a real indulgence to her to hear or +to speak of Mansfield. Now so long divided from everybody who knew the +place, she felt it quite the voice of a friend when he mentioned it, +and led the way to her fond exclamations in praise of its beauties and +comforts, and by his honourable tribute to its inhabitants allowed her +to gratify her own heart in the warmest eulogium, in speaking of her +uncle as all that was clever and good, and her aunt as having the +sweetest of all sweet tempers. + +He had a great attachment to Mansfield himself; he said so; he looked +forward with the hope of spending much, very much, of his time there; +always there, or in the neighbourhood. He particularly built upon a very +happy summer and autumn there this year; he felt that it would be so: he +depended upon it; a summer and autumn infinitely superior to the last. +As animated, as diversified, as social, but with circumstances of +superiority undescribable. + +"Mansfield, Sotherton, Thornton Lacey," he continued; "what a society +will be comprised in those houses! And at Michaelmas, perhaps, a fourth +may be added: some small hunting-box in the vicinity of everything so +dear; for as to any partnership in Thornton Lacey, as Edmund Bertram +once good-humouredly proposed, I hope I foresee two objections: two +fair, excellent, irresistible objections to that plan." + +Fanny was doubly silenced here; though when the moment was passed, +could regret that she had not forced herself into the acknowledged +comprehension of one half of his meaning, and encouraged him to say +something more of his sister and Edmund. It was a subject which she must +learn to speak of, and the weakness that shrunk from it would soon be +quite unpardonable. + +When Mr. Price and his friend had seen all that they wished, or had time +for, the others were ready to return; and in the course of their walk +back, Mr. Crawford contrived a minute's privacy for telling Fanny that +his only business in Portsmouth was to see her; that he was come down +for a couple of days on her account, and hers only, and because he could +not endure a longer total separation. She was sorry, really sorry; and +yet in spite of this and the two or three other things which she wished +he had not said, she thought him altogether improved since she had seen +him; he was much more gentle, obliging, and attentive to other people's +feelings than he had ever been at Mansfield; she had never seen him so +agreeable--so _near_ being agreeable; his behaviour to her father could +not offend, and there was something particularly kind and proper in the +notice he took of Susan. He was decidedly improved. She wished the next +day over, she wished he had come only for one day; but it was not +so very bad as she would have expected: the pleasure of talking of +Mansfield was so very great! + +Before they parted, she had to thank him for another pleasure, and one +of no trivial kind. Her father asked him to do them the honour of taking +his mutton with them, and Fanny had time for only one thrill of horror, +before he declared himself prevented by a prior engagement. He was +engaged to dinner already both for that day and the next; he had met +with some acquaintance at the Crown who would not be denied; he should +have the honour, however, of waiting on them again on the morrow, etc., +and so they parted--Fanny in a state of actual felicity from escaping so +horrible an evil! + +To have had him join their family dinner-party, and see all their +deficiencies, would have been dreadful! Rebecca's cookery and Rebecca's +waiting, and Betsey's eating at table without restraint, and pulling +everything about as she chose, were what Fanny herself was not yet +enough inured to for her often to make a tolerable meal. _She_ was nice +only from natural delicacy, but _he_ had been brought up in a school of +luxury and epicurism. + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +The Prices were just setting off for church the next day when Mr. +Crawford appeared again. He came, not to stop, but to join them; he was +asked to go with them to the Garrison chapel, which was exactly what he +had intended, and they all walked thither together. + +The family were now seen to advantage. Nature had given them no +inconsiderable share of beauty, and every Sunday dressed them in their +cleanest skins and best attire. Sunday always brought this comfort to +Fanny, and on this Sunday she felt it more than ever. Her poor mother +now did not look so very unworthy of being Lady Bertram's sister as she +was but too apt to look. It often grieved her to the heart to think of +the contrast between them; to think that where nature had made so little +difference, circumstances should have made so much, and that her mother, +as handsome as Lady Bertram, and some years her junior, should have an +appearance so much more worn and faded, so comfortless, so slatternly, +so shabby. But Sunday made her a very creditable and tolerably +cheerful-looking Mrs. Price, coming abroad with a fine family of +children, feeling a little respite of her weekly cares, and only +discomposed if she saw her boys run into danger, or Rebecca pass by with +a flower in her hat. + +In chapel they were obliged to divide, but Mr. Crawford took care not to +be divided from the female branch; and after chapel he still continued +with them, and made one in the family party on the ramparts. + +Mrs. Price took her weekly walk on the ramparts every fine Sunday +throughout the year, always going directly after morning service and +staying till dinner-time. It was her public place: there she met her +acquaintance, heard a little news, talked over the badness of the +Portsmouth servants, and wound up her spirits for the six days ensuing. + +Thither they now went; Mr. Crawford most happy to consider the Miss +Prices as his peculiar charge; and before they had been there long, +somehow or other, there was no saying how, Fanny could not have believed +it, but he was walking between them with an arm of each under his, +and she did not know how to prevent or put an end to it. It made her +uncomfortable for a time, but yet there were enjoyments in the day and +in the view which would be felt. + +The day was uncommonly lovely. It was really March; but it was April in +its mild air, brisk soft wind, and bright sun, occasionally clouded for +a minute; and everything looked so beautiful under the influence of such +a sky, the effects of the shadows pursuing each other on the ships at +Spithead and the island beyond, with the ever-varying hues of the sea, +now at high water, dancing in its glee and dashing against the ramparts +with so fine a sound, produced altogether such a combination of charms +for Fanny, as made her gradually almost careless of the circumstances +under which she felt them. Nay, had she been without his arm, she would +soon have known that she needed it, for she wanted strength for a two +hours' saunter of this kind, coming, as it generally did, upon a week's +previous inactivity. Fanny was beginning to feel the effect of being +debarred from her usual regular exercise; she had lost ground as to +health since her being in Portsmouth; and but for Mr. Crawford and the +beauty of the weather would soon have been knocked up now. + +The loveliness of the day, and of the view, he felt like herself. They +often stopt with the same sentiment and taste, leaning against the wall, +some minutes, to look and admire; and considering he was not Edmund, +Fanny could not but allow that he was sufficiently open to the charms +of nature, and very well able to express his admiration. She had a few +tender reveries now and then, which he could sometimes take advantage +of to look in her face without detection; and the result of these looks +was, that though as bewitching as ever, her face was less blooming than +it ought to be. She _said_ she was very well, and did not like to be +supposed otherwise; but take it all in all, he was convinced that her +present residence could not be comfortable, and therefore could not +be salutary for her, and he was growing anxious for her being again at +Mansfield, where her own happiness, and his in seeing her, must be so +much greater. + +"You have been here a month, I think?" said he. + +"No; not quite a month. It is only four weeks to-morrow since I left +Mansfield." + +"You are a most accurate and honest reckoner. I should call that a +month." + +"I did not arrive here till Tuesday evening." + +"And it is to be a two months' visit, is not?" + +"Yes. My uncle talked of two months. I suppose it will not be less." + +"And how are you to be conveyed back again? Who comes for you?" + +"I do not know. I have heard nothing about it yet from my aunt. Perhaps +I may be to stay longer. It may not be convenient for me to be fetched +exactly at the two months' end." + +After a moment's reflection, Mr. Crawford replied, "I know Mansfield, I +know its way, I know its faults towards _you_. I know the danger of +your being so far forgotten, as to have your comforts give way to the +imaginary convenience of any single being in the family. I am aware +that you may be left here week after week, if Sir Thomas cannot settle +everything for coming himself, or sending your aunt's maid for you, +without involving the slightest alteration of the arrangements which he +may have laid down for the next quarter of a year. This will not do. Two +months is an ample allowance; I should think six weeks quite enough. +I am considering your sister's health," said he, addressing himself to +Susan, "which I think the confinement of Portsmouth unfavourable to. She +requires constant air and exercise. When you know her as well as I do, +I am sure you will agree that she does, and that she ought never to +be long banished from the free air and liberty of the country. If, +therefore" (turning again to Fanny), "you find yourself growing unwell, +and any difficulties arise about your returning to Mansfield, without +waiting for the two months to be ended, _that_ must not be regarded +as of any consequence, if you feel yourself at all less strong or +comfortable than usual, and will only let my sister know it, give her +only the slightest hint, she and I will immediately come down, and take +you back to Mansfield. You know the ease and the pleasure with which +this would be done. You know all that would be felt on the occasion." + +Fanny thanked him, but tried to laugh it off. + +"I am perfectly serious," he replied, "as you perfectly know. And I +hope you will not be cruelly concealing any tendency to indisposition. +Indeed, you shall _not_; it shall not be in your power; for so long only +as you positively say, in every letter to Mary, 'I am well,' and I +know you cannot speak or write a falsehood, so long only shall you be +considered as well." + +Fanny thanked him again, but was affected and distressed to a degree +that made it impossible for her to say much, or even to be certain of +what she ought to say. This was towards the close of their walk. He +attended them to the last, and left them only at the door of their own +house, when he knew them to be going to dinner, and therefore pretended +to be waited for elsewhere. + +"I wish you were not so tired," said he, still detaining Fanny after all +the others were in the house--"I wish I left you in stronger health. Is +there anything I can do for you in town? I have half an idea of going +into Norfolk again soon. I am not satisfied about Maddison. I am sure +he still means to impose on me if possible, and get a cousin of his own +into a certain mill, which I design for somebody else. I must come to an +understanding with him. I must make him know that I will not be tricked +on the south side of Everingham, any more than on the north: that I will +be master of my own property. I was not explicit enough with him before. +The mischief such a man does on an estate, both as to the credit of his +employer and the welfare of the poor, is inconceivable. I have a great +mind to go back into Norfolk directly, and put everything at once on +such a footing as cannot be afterwards swerved from. Maddison is a +clever fellow; I do not wish to displace him, provided he does not try +to displace _me_; but it would be simple to be duped by a man who has no +right of creditor to dupe me, and worse than simple to let him give me a +hard-hearted, griping fellow for a tenant, instead of an honest man, +to whom I have given half a promise already. Would it not be worse than +simple? Shall I go? Do you advise it?" + +"I advise! You know very well what is right." + +"Yes. When you give me your opinion, I always know what is right. Your +judgment is my rule of right." + +"Oh, no! do not say so. We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we +would attend to it, than any other person can be. Good-bye; I wish you a +pleasant journey to-morrow." + +"Is there nothing I can do for you in town?" + +"Nothing; I am much obliged to you." + +"Have you no message for anybody?" + +"My love to your sister, if you please; and when you see my cousin, my +cousin Edmund, I wish you would be so good as to say that I suppose I +shall soon hear from him." + +"Certainly; and if he is lazy or negligent, I will write his excuses +myself." + +He could say no more, for Fanny would be no longer detained. He pressed +her hand, looked at her, and was gone. _He_ went to while away the next +three hours as he could, with his other acquaintance, till the best +dinner that a capital inn afforded was ready for their enjoyment, and +_she_ turned in to her more simple one immediately. + +Their general fare bore a very different character; and could he have +suspected how many privations, besides that of exercise, she endured in +her father's house, he would have wondered that her looks were not much +more affected than he found them. She was so little equal to Rebecca's +puddings and Rebecca's hashes, brought to table, as they all were, with +such accompaniments of half-cleaned plates, and not half-cleaned knives +and forks, that she was very often constrained to defer her heartiest +meal till she could send her brothers in the evening for biscuits and +buns. After being nursed up at Mansfield, it was too late in the day +to be hardened at Portsmouth; and though Sir Thomas, had he known all, +might have thought his niece in the most promising way of being starved, +both mind and body, into a much juster value for Mr. Crawford's good +company and good fortune, he would probably have feared to push his +experiment farther, lest she might die under the cure. + +Fanny was out of spirits all the rest of the day. Though tolerably +secure of not seeing Mr. Crawford again, she could not help being low. +It was parting with somebody of the nature of a friend; and though, in +one light, glad to have him gone, it seemed as if she was now deserted +by everybody; it was a sort of renewed separation from Mansfield; and +she could not think of his returning to town, and being frequently with +Mary and Edmund, without feelings so near akin to envy as made her hate +herself for having them. + +Her dejection had no abatement from anything passing around her; a +friend or two of her father's, as always happened if he was not with +them, spent the long, long evening there; and from six o'clock till +half-past nine, there was little intermission of noise or grog. She +was very low. The wonderful improvement which she still fancied in Mr. +Crawford was the nearest to administering comfort of anything within the +current of her thoughts. Not considering in how different a circle she +had been just seeing him, nor how much might be owing to contrast, she +was quite persuaded of his being astonishingly more gentle and regardful +of others than formerly. And, if in little things, must it not be so in +great? So anxious for her health and comfort, so very feeling as he now +expressed himself, and really seemed, might not it be fairly supposed +that he would not much longer persevere in a suit so distressing to her? + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +It was presumed that Mr. Crawford was travelling back, to London, on the +morrow, for nothing more was seen of him at Mr. Price's; and two days +afterwards, it was a fact ascertained to Fanny by the following letter +from his sister, opened and read by her, on another account, with the +most anxious curiosity:-- + +"I have to inform you, my dearest Fanny, that Henry has been down to +Portsmouth to see you; that he had a delightful walk with you to the +dockyard last Saturday, and one still more to be dwelt on the next day, +on the ramparts; when the balmy air, the sparkling sea, and your sweet +looks and conversation were altogether in the most delicious harmony, +and afforded sensations which are to raise ecstasy even in retrospect. +This, as well as I understand, is to be the substance of my information. +He makes me write, but I do not know what else is to be communicated, +except this said visit to Portsmouth, and these two said walks, and his +introduction to your family, especially to a fair sister of yours, a +fine girl of fifteen, who was of the party on the ramparts, taking her +first lesson, I presume, in love. I have not time for writing much, but +it would be out of place if I had, for this is to be a mere letter of +business, penned for the purpose of conveying necessary information, +which could not be delayed without risk of evil. My dear, dear Fanny, +if I had you here, how I would talk to you! You should listen to me till +you were tired, and advise me till you were still tired more; but it is +impossible to put a hundredth part of my great mind on paper, so I will +abstain altogether, and leave you to guess what you like. I have no news +for you. You have politics, of course; and it would be too bad to plague +you with the names of people and parties that fill up my time. I ought +to have sent you an account of your cousin's first party, but I was +lazy, and now it is too long ago; suffice it, that everything was just +as it ought to be, in a style that any of her connexions must have been +gratified to witness, and that her own dress and manners did her the +greatest credit. My friend, Mrs. Fraser, is mad for such a house, and it +would not make _me_ miserable. I go to Lady Stornaway after Easter; +she seems in high spirits, and very happy. I fancy Lord S. is very +good-humoured and pleasant in his own family, and I do not think him so +very ill-looking as I did--at least, one sees many worse. He will not +do by the side of your cousin Edmund. Of the last-mentioned hero, what +shall I say? If I avoided his name entirely, it would look suspicious. +I will say, then, that we have seen him two or three times, and that +my friends here are very much struck with his gentlemanlike appearance. +Mrs. Fraser (no bad judge) declares she knows but three men in town +who have so good a person, height, and air; and I must confess, when he +dined here the other day, there were none to compare with him, and +we were a party of sixteen. Luckily there is no distinction of dress +nowadays to tell tales, but--but--but Yours affectionately." + +"I had almost forgot (it was Edmund's fault: he gets into my head more +than does me good) one very material thing I had to say from Henry and +myself--I mean about our taking you back into Northamptonshire. My dear +little creature, do not stay at Portsmouth to lose your pretty looks. +Those vile sea-breezes are the ruin of beauty and health. My poor aunt +always felt affected if within ten miles of the sea, which the Admiral +of course never believed, but I know it was so. I am at your service +and Henry's, at an hour's notice. I should like the scheme, and we would +make a little circuit, and shew you Everingham in our way, and perhaps +you would not mind passing through London, and seeing the inside of St. +George's, Hanover Square. Only keep your cousin Edmund from me at such +a time: I should not like to be tempted. What a long letter! one word +more. Henry, I find, has some idea of going into Norfolk again upon +some business that _you_ approve; but this cannot possibly be permitted +before the middle of next week; that is, he cannot anyhow be spared till +after the 14th, for _we_ have a party that evening. The value of a man +like Henry, on such an occasion, is what you can have no conception +of; so you must take it upon my word to be inestimable. He will see the +Rushworths, which own I am not sorry for--having a little curiosity, and +so I think has he--though he will not acknowledge it." + +This was a letter to be run through eagerly, to be read deliberately, +to supply matter for much reflection, and to leave everything in greater +suspense than ever. The only certainty to be drawn from it was, that +nothing decisive had yet taken place. Edmund had not yet spoken. How +Miss Crawford really felt, how she meant to act, or might act without +or against her meaning; whether his importance to her were quite what +it had been before the last separation; whether, if lessened, it were +likely to lessen more, or to recover itself, were subjects for endless +conjecture, and to be thought of on that day and many days to come, +without producing any conclusion. The idea that returned the oftenest +was that Miss Crawford, after proving herself cooled and staggered by +a return to London habits, would yet prove herself in the end too much +attached to him to give him up. She would try to be more ambitious than +her heart would allow. She would hesitate, she would tease, she would +condition, she would require a great deal, but she would finally accept. + +This was Fanny's most frequent expectation. A house in town--that, she +thought, must be impossible. Yet there was no saying what Miss Crawford +might not ask. The prospect for her cousin grew worse and worse. The +woman who could speak of him, and speak only of his appearance! What an +unworthy attachment! To be deriving support from the commendations of +Mrs. Fraser! _She_ who had known him intimately half a year! Fanny was +ashamed of her. Those parts of the letter which related only to Mr. +Crawford and herself, touched her, in comparison, slightly. Whether Mr. +Crawford went into Norfolk before or after the 14th was certainly no +concern of hers, though, everything considered, she thought he _would_ +go without delay. That Miss Crawford should endeavour to secure a +meeting between him and Mrs. Rushworth, was all in her worst line of +conduct, and grossly unkind and ill-judged; but she hoped _he_ would +not be actuated by any such degrading curiosity. He acknowledged no such +inducement, and his sister ought to have given him credit for better +feelings than her own. + +She was yet more impatient for another letter from town after receiving +this than she had been before; and for a few days was so unsettled by +it altogether, by what had come, and what might come, that her usual +readings and conversation with Susan were much suspended. She could +not command her attention as she wished. If Mr. Crawford remembered her +message to her cousin, she thought it very likely, most likely, that he +would write to her at all events; it would be most consistent with his +usual kindness; and till she got rid of this idea, till it gradually +wore off, by no letters appearing in the course of three or four days +more, she was in a most restless, anxious state. + +At length, a something like composure succeeded. Suspense must be +submitted to, and must not be allowed to wear her out, and make her +useless. Time did something, her own exertions something more, and she +resumed her attentions to Susan, and again awakened the same interest in +them. + +Susan was growing very fond of her, and though without any of the early +delight in books which had been so strong in Fanny, with a disposition +much less inclined to sedentary pursuits, or to information for +information's sake, she had so strong a desire of not _appearing_ +ignorant, as, with a good clear understanding, made her a most +attentive, profitable, thankful pupil. Fanny was her oracle. Fanny's +explanations and remarks were a most important addition to every essay, +or every chapter of history. What Fanny told her of former times dwelt +more on her mind than the pages of Goldsmith; and she paid her sister +the compliment of preferring her style to that of any printed author. +The early habit of reading was wanting. + +Their conversations, however, were not always on subjects so high as +history or morals. Others had their hour; and of lesser matters, none +returned so often, or remained so long between them, as Mansfield Park, +a description of the people, the manners, the amusements, the ways +of Mansfield Park. Susan, who had an innate taste for the genteel and +well-appointed, was eager to hear, and Fanny could not but indulge +herself in dwelling on so beloved a theme. She hoped it was not wrong; +though, after a time, Susan's very great admiration of everything +said or done in her uncle's house, and earnest longing to go into +Northamptonshire, seemed almost to blame her for exciting feelings which +could not be gratified. + +Poor Susan was very little better fitted for home than her elder sister; +and as Fanny grew thoroughly to understand this, she began to feel that +when her own release from Portsmouth came, her happiness would have a +material drawback in leaving Susan behind. That a girl so capable of +being made everything good should be left in such hands, distressed her +more and more. Were _she_ likely to have a home to invite her to, what +a blessing it would be! And had it been possible for her to return Mr. +Crawford's regard, the probability of his being very far from objecting +to such a measure would have been the greatest increase of all her own +comforts. She thought he was really good-tempered, and could fancy his +entering into a plan of that sort most pleasantly. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one +letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny's +hands. As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a +minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards +the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate. These were the +contents-- + +"My Dear Fanny,--Excuse me that I have not written before. Crawford told +me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to +write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my +silence. Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been +wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power. I am returned +to Mansfield in a less assured state than when I left it. My hopes are +much weaker. You are probably aware of this already. So very fond of you +as Miss Crawford is, it is most natural that she should tell you enough +of her own feelings to furnish a tolerable guess at mine. I will not be +prevented, however, from making my own communication. Our confidences in +you need not clash. I ask no questions. There is something soothing +in the idea that we have the same friend, and that whatever unhappy +differences of opinion may exist between us, we are united in our love +of you. It will be a comfort to me to tell you how things now are, and +what are my present plans, if plans I can be said to have. I have been +returned since Saturday. I was three weeks in London, and saw her (for +London) very often. I had every attention from the Frasers that could be +reasonably expected. I dare say I was not reasonable in carrying with +me hopes of an intercourse at all like that of Mansfield. It was her +manner, however, rather than any unfrequency of meeting. Had she been +different when I did see her, I should have made no complaint, but from +the very first she was altered: my first reception was so unlike what I +had hoped, that I had almost resolved on leaving London again directly. +I need not particularise. You know the weak side of her character, and +may imagine the sentiments and expressions which were torturing me. She +was in high spirits, and surrounded by those who were giving all the +support of their own bad sense to her too lively mind. I do not like +Mrs. Fraser. She is a cold-hearted, vain woman, who has married entirely +from convenience, and though evidently unhappy in her marriage, +places her disappointment not to faults of judgment, or temper, or +disproportion of age, but to her being, after all, less affluent than +many of her acquaintance, especially than her sister, Lady Stornaway, +and is the determined supporter of everything mercenary and ambitious, +provided it be only mercenary and ambitious enough. I look upon her +intimacy with those two sisters as the greatest misfortune of her life +and mine. They have been leading her astray for years. Could she be +detached from them!--and sometimes I do not despair of it, for the +affection appears to me principally on their side. They are very fond of +her; but I am sure she does not love them as she loves you. When I think +of her great attachment to you, indeed, and the whole of her judicious, +upright conduct as a sister, she appears a very different creature, +capable of everything noble, and I am ready to blame myself for a too +harsh construction of a playful manner. I cannot give her up, Fanny. She +is the only woman in the world whom I could ever think of as a wife. If +I did not believe that she had some regard for me, of course I should +not say this, but I do believe it. I am convinced that she is not +without a decided preference. I have no jealousy of any individual. It +is the influence of the fashionable world altogether that I am jealous +of. It is the habits of wealth that I fear. Her ideas are not higher +than her own fortune may warrant, but they are beyond what our incomes +united could authorise. There is comfort, however, even here. I could +better bear to lose her because not rich enough, than because of my +profession. That would only prove her affection not equal to sacrifices, +which, in fact, I am scarcely justified in asking; and, if I am refused, +that, I think, will be the honest motive. Her prejudices, I trust, are +not so strong as they were. You have my thoughts exactly as they arise, +my dear Fanny; perhaps they are sometimes contradictory, but it will +not be a less faithful picture of my mind. Having once begun, it is a +pleasure to me to tell you all I feel. I cannot give her up. Connected +as we already are, and, I hope, are to be, to give up Mary Crawford +would be to give up the society of some of those most dear to me; to +banish myself from the very houses and friends whom, under any other +distress, I should turn to for consolation. The loss of Mary I must +consider as comprehending the loss of Crawford and of Fanny. Were it a +decided thing, an actual refusal, I hope I should know how to bear it, +and how to endeavour to weaken her hold on my heart, and in the course +of a few years--but I am writing nonsense. Were I refused, I must bear +it; and till I am, I can never cease to try for her. This is the truth. +The only question is _how_? What may be the likeliest means? I have +sometimes thought of going to London again after Easter, and sometimes +resolved on doing nothing till she returns to Mansfield. Even now, she +speaks with pleasure of being in Mansfield in June; but June is at +a great distance, and I believe I shall write to her. I have nearly +determined on explaining myself by letter. To be at an early certainty +is a material object. My present state is miserably irksome. Considering +everything, I think a letter will be decidedly the best method of +explanation. I shall be able to write much that I could not say, and +shall be giving her time for reflection before she resolves on her +answer, and I am less afraid of the result of reflection than of an +immediate hasty impulse; I think I am. My greatest danger would lie in +her consulting Mrs. Fraser, and I at a distance unable to help my own +cause. A letter exposes to all the evil of consultation, and where +the mind is anything short of perfect decision, an adviser may, in an +unlucky moment, lead it to do what it may afterwards regret. I must +think this matter over a little. This long letter, full of my own +concerns alone, will be enough to tire even the friendship of a Fanny. +The last time I saw Crawford was at Mrs. Fraser's party. I am more +and more satisfied with all that I see and hear of him. There is not a +shadow of wavering. He thoroughly knows his own mind, and acts up to his +resolutions: an inestimable quality. I could not see him and my eldest +sister in the same room without recollecting what you once told me, +and I acknowledge that they did not meet as friends. There was +marked coolness on her side. They scarcely spoke. I saw him draw back +surprised, and I was sorry that Mrs. Rushworth should resent any former +supposed slight to Miss Bertram. You will wish to hear my opinion +of Maria's degree of comfort as a wife. There is no appearance of +unhappiness. I hope they get on pretty well together. I dined twice in +Wimpole Street, and might have been there oftener, but it is mortifying +to be with Rushworth as a brother. Julia seems to enjoy London +exceedingly. I had little enjoyment there, but have less here. We are +not a lively party. You are very much wanted. I miss you more than I +can express. My mother desires her best love, and hopes to hear from +you soon. She talks of you almost every hour, and I am sorry to find +how many weeks more she is likely to be without you. My father means +to fetch you himself, but it will not be till after Easter, when he has +business in town. You are happy at Portsmouth, I hope, but this must +not be a yearly visit. I want you at home, that I may have your opinion +about Thornton Lacey. I have little heart for extensive improvements +till I know that it will ever have a mistress. I think I shall certainly +write. It is quite settled that the Grants go to Bath; they leave +Mansfield on Monday. I am glad of it. I am not comfortable enough to be +fit for anybody; but your aunt seems to feel out of luck that such an +article of Mansfield news should fall to my pen instead of hers.--Yours +ever, my dearest Fanny." + +"I never will, no, I certainly never will wish for a letter again," was +Fanny's secret declaration as she finished this. "What do they bring but +disappointment and sorrow? Not till after Easter! How shall I bear it? +And my poor aunt talking of me every hour!" + +Fanny checked the tendency of these thoughts as well as she could, but +she was within half a minute of starting the idea that Sir Thomas was +quite unkind, both to her aunt and to herself. As for the main subject +of the letter, there was nothing in that to soothe irritation. She was +almost vexed into displeasure and anger against Edmund. "There is no +good in this delay," said she. "Why is not it settled? He is blinded, +and nothing will open his eyes; nothing can, after having had truths +before him so long in vain. He will marry her, and be poor and +miserable. God grant that her influence do not make him cease to be +respectable!" She looked over the letter again. "'So very fond of me!' +'tis nonsense all. She loves nobody but herself and her brother. Her +friends leading her astray for years! She is quite as likely to have led +_them_ astray. They have all, perhaps, been corrupting one another; but +if they are so much fonder of her than she is of them, she is the less +likely to have been hurt, except by their flattery. 'The only woman in +the world whom he could ever think of as a wife.' I firmly believe it. +It is an attachment to govern his whole life. Accepted or refused, his +heart is wedded to her for ever. 'The loss of Mary I must consider as +comprehending the loss of Crawford and Fanny.' Edmund, you do not know +me. The families would never be connected if you did not connect +them! Oh! write, write. Finish it at once. Let there be an end of this +suspense. Fix, commit, condemn yourself." + +Such sensations, however, were too near akin to resentment to be long +guiding Fanny's soliloquies. She was soon more softened and sorrowful. +His warm regard, his kind expressions, his confidential treatment, +touched her strongly. He was only too good to everybody. It was a +letter, in short, which she would not but have had for the world, and +which could never be valued enough. This was the end of it. + +Everybody at all addicted to letter-writing, without having much to say, +which will include a large proportion of the female world at least, must +feel with Lady Bertram that she was out of luck in having such a capital +piece of Mansfield news as the certainty of the Grants going to Bath, +occur at a time when she could make no advantage of it, and will admit +that it must have been very mortifying to her to see it fall to the +share of her thankless son, and treated as concisely as possible at the +end of a long letter, instead of having it to spread over the largest +part of a page of her own. For though Lady Bertram rather shone in the +epistolary line, having early in her marriage, from the want of other +employment, and the circumstance of Sir Thomas's being in Parliament, +got into the way of making and keeping correspondents, and formed for +herself a very creditable, common-place, amplifying style, so that a +very little matter was enough for her: she could not do entirely without +any; she must have something to write about, even to her niece; and +being so soon to lose all the benefit of Dr. Grant's gouty symptoms and +Mrs. Grant's morning calls, it was very hard upon her to be deprived of +one of the last epistolary uses she could put them to. + +There was a rich amends, however, preparing for her. Lady Bertram's +hour of good luck came. Within a few days from the receipt of Edmund's +letter, Fanny had one from her aunt, beginning thus-- + +"My Dear Fanny,--I take up my pen to communicate some very alarming +intelligence, which I make no doubt will give you much concern". + +This was a great deal better than to have to take up the pen to acquaint +her with all the particulars of the Grants' intended journey, for the +present intelligence was of a nature to promise occupation for the pen +for many days to come, being no less than the dangerous illness of her +eldest son, of which they had received notice by express a few hours +before. + +Tom had gone from London with a party of young men to Newmarket, where +a neglected fall and a good deal of drinking had brought on a fever; and +when the party broke up, being unable to move, had been left by himself +at the house of one of these young men to the comforts of sickness and +solitude, and the attendance only of servants. Instead of being soon +well enough to follow his friends, as he had then hoped, his disorder +increased considerably, and it was not long before he thought so ill of +himself as to be as ready as his physician to have a letter despatched +to Mansfield. + +"This distressing intelligence, as you may suppose," observed +her ladyship, after giving the substance of it, "has agitated us +exceedingly, and we cannot prevent ourselves from being greatly alarmed +and apprehensive for the poor invalid, whose state Sir Thomas fears +may be very critical; and Edmund kindly proposes attending his brother +immediately, but I am happy to add that Sir Thomas will not leave me on +this distressing occasion, as it would be too trying for me. We shall +greatly miss Edmund in our small circle, but I trust and hope he +will find the poor invalid in a less alarming state than might be +apprehended, and that he will be able to bring him to Mansfield shortly, +which Sir Thomas proposes should be done, and thinks best on every +account, and I flatter myself the poor sufferer will soon be able to +bear the removal without material inconvenience or injury. As I +have little doubt of your feeling for us, my dear Fanny, under these +distressing circumstances, I will write again very soon." + +Fanny's feelings on the occasion were indeed considerably more warm and +genuine than her aunt's style of writing. She felt truly for them all. +Tom dangerously ill, Edmund gone to attend him, and the sadly small +party remaining at Mansfield, were cares to shut out every other care, +or almost every other. She could just find selfishness enough to wonder +whether Edmund _had_ written to Miss Crawford before this summons came, +but no sentiment dwelt long with her that was not purely affectionate +and disinterestedly anxious. Her aunt did not neglect her: she wrote +again and again; they were receiving frequent accounts from Edmund, +and these accounts were as regularly transmitted to Fanny, in the same +diffuse style, and the same medley of trusts, hopes, and fears, all +following and producing each other at haphazard. It was a sort of +playing at being frightened. The sufferings which Lady Bertram did not +see had little power over her fancy; and she wrote very comfortably +about agitation, and anxiety, and poor invalids, till Tom was actually +conveyed to Mansfield, and her own eyes had beheld his altered +appearance. Then a letter which she had been previously preparing for +Fanny was finished in a different style, in the language of real feeling +and alarm; then she wrote as she might have spoken. "He is just come, my +dear Fanny, and is taken upstairs; and I am so shocked to see him, that +I do not know what to do. I am sure he has been very ill. Poor Tom! I am +quite grieved for him, and very much frightened, and so is Sir Thomas; +and how glad I should be if you were here to comfort me. But Sir +Thomas hopes he will be better to-morrow, and says we must consider his +journey." + +The real solicitude now awakened in the maternal bosom was not +soon over. Tom's extreme impatience to be removed to Mansfield, and +experience those comforts of home and family which had been little +thought of in uninterrupted health, had probably induced his being +conveyed thither too early, as a return of fever came on, and for a week +he was in a more alarming state than ever. They were all very seriously +frightened. Lady Bertram wrote her daily terrors to her niece, who +might now be said to live upon letters, and pass all her time between +suffering from that of to-day and looking forward to to-morrow's. +Without any particular affection for her eldest cousin, her tenderness +of heart made her feel that she could not spare him, and the purity of +her principles added yet a keener solicitude, when she considered how +little useful, how little self-denying his life had (apparently) been. + +Susan was her only companion and listener on this, as on more common +occasions. Susan was always ready to hear and to sympathise. Nobody else +could be interested in so remote an evil as illness in a family above an +hundred miles off; not even Mrs. Price, beyond a brief question or two, +if she saw her daughter with a letter in her hand, and now and then the +quiet observation of, "My poor sister Bertram must be in a great deal of +trouble." + +So long divided and so differently situated, the ties of blood were +little more than nothing. An attachment, originally as tranquil as their +tempers, was now become a mere name. Mrs. Price did quite as much for +Lady Bertram as Lady Bertram would have done for Mrs. Price. Three or +four Prices might have been swept away, any or all except Fanny and +William, and Lady Bertram would have thought little about it; or perhaps +might have caught from Mrs. Norris's lips the cant of its being a very +happy thing and a great blessing to their poor dear sister Price to have +them so well provided for. + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +At about the week's end from his return to Mansfield, Tom's immediate +danger was over, and he was so far pronounced safe as to make his mother +perfectly easy; for being now used to the sight of him in his suffering, +helpless state, and hearing only the best, and never thinking beyond +what she heard, with no disposition for alarm and no aptitude at a hint, +Lady Bertram was the happiest subject in the world for a little medical +imposition. The fever was subdued; the fever had been his complaint; +of course he would soon be well again. Lady Bertram could think nothing +less, and Fanny shared her aunt's security, till she received a few +lines from Edmund, written purposely to give her a clearer idea of his +brother's situation, and acquaint her with the apprehensions which +he and his father had imbibed from the physician with respect to some +strong hectic symptoms, which seemed to seize the frame on the departure +of the fever. They judged it best that Lady Bertram should not be +harassed by alarms which, it was to be hoped, would prove unfounded; +but there was no reason why Fanny should not know the truth. They were +apprehensive for his lungs. + +A very few lines from Edmund shewed her the patient and the sickroom +in a juster and stronger light than all Lady Bertram's sheets of paper +could do. There was hardly any one in the house who might not have +described, from personal observation, better than herself; not one who +was not more useful at times to her son. She could do nothing but glide +in quietly and look at him; but when able to talk or be talked to, or +read to, Edmund was the companion he preferred. His aunt worried him by +her cares, and Sir Thomas knew not how to bring down his conversation or +his voice to the level of irritation and feebleness. Edmund was all in +all. Fanny would certainly believe him so at least, and must find that +her estimation of him was higher than ever when he appeared as the +attendant, supporter, cheerer of a suffering brother. There was not only +the debility of recent illness to assist: there was also, as she now +learnt, nerves much affected, spirits much depressed to calm and raise, +and her own imagination added that there must be a mind to be properly +guided. + +The family were not consumptive, and she was more inclined to hope than +fear for her cousin, except when she thought of Miss Crawford; but Miss +Crawford gave her the idea of being the child of good luck, and to her +selfishness and vanity it would be good luck to have Edmund the only +son. + +Even in the sick chamber the fortunate Mary was not forgotten. Edmund's +letter had this postscript. "On the subject of my last, I had actually +begun a letter when called away by Tom's illness, but I have now changed +my mind, and fear to trust the influence of friends. When Tom is better, +I shall go." + +Such was the state of Mansfield, and so it continued, with scarcely any +change, till Easter. A line occasionally added by Edmund to his +mother's letter was enough for Fanny's information. Tom's amendment was +alarmingly slow. + +Easter came particularly late this year, as Fanny had most sorrowfully +considered, on first learning that she had no chance of leaving +Portsmouth till after it. It came, and she had yet heard nothing of her +return--nothing even of the going to London, which was to precede +her return. Her aunt often expressed a wish for her, but there was no +notice, no message from the uncle on whom all depended. She supposed +he could not yet leave his son, but it was a cruel, a terrible delay +to her. The end of April was coming on; it would soon be almost three +months, instead of two, that she had been absent from them all, and that +her days had been passing in a state of penance, which she loved them +too well to hope they would thoroughly understand; and who could yet say +when there might be leisure to think of or fetch her? + +Her eagerness, her impatience, her longings to be with them, were such +as to bring a line or two of Cowper's Tirocinium for ever before her. +"With what intense desire she wants her home," was continually on her +tongue, as the truest description of a yearning which she could not +suppose any schoolboy's bosom to feel more keenly. + +When she had been coming to Portsmouth, she had loved to call it her +home, had been fond of saying that she was going home; the word had +been very dear to her, and so it still was, but it must be applied to +Mansfield. _That_ was now the home. Portsmouth was Portsmouth; Mansfield +was home. They had been long so arranged in the indulgence of her secret +meditations, and nothing was more consolatory to her than to find her +aunt using the same language: "I cannot but say I much regret your being +from home at this distressing time, so very trying to my spirits. I +trust and hope, and sincerely wish you may never be absent from home so +long again," were most delightful sentences to her. Still, however, it +was her private regale. Delicacy to her parents made her careful not to +betray such a preference of her uncle's house. It was always: "When I go +back into Northamptonshire, or when I return to Mansfield, I shall do +so and so." For a great while it was so, but at last the longing grew +stronger, it overthrew caution, and she found herself talking of what +she should do when she went home before she was aware. She reproached +herself, coloured, and looked fearfully towards her father and mother. +She need not have been uneasy. There was no sign of displeasure, or even +of hearing her. They were perfectly free from any jealousy of Mansfield. +She was as welcome to wish herself there as to be there. + +It was sad to Fanny to lose all the pleasures of spring. She had not +known before what pleasures she _had_ to lose in passing March and April +in a town. She had not known before how much the beginnings and progress +of vegetation had delighted her. What animation, both of body and mind, +she had derived from watching the advance of that season which cannot, +in spite of its capriciousness, be unlovely, and seeing its increasing +beauties from the earliest flowers in the warmest divisions of her +aunt's garden, to the opening of leaves of her uncle's plantations, and +the glory of his woods. To be losing such pleasures was no trifle; to +be losing them, because she was in the midst of closeness and noise, +to have confinement, bad air, bad smells, substituted for liberty, +freshness, fragrance, and verdure, was infinitely worse: but even these +incitements to regret were feeble, compared with what arose from the +conviction of being missed by her best friends, and the longing to be +useful to those who were wanting her! + +Could she have been at home, she might have been of service to every +creature in the house. She felt that she must have been of use to all. +To all she must have saved some trouble of head or hand; and were it +only in supporting the spirits of her aunt Bertram, keeping her from +the evil of solitude, or the still greater evil of a restless, officious +companion, too apt to be heightening danger in order to enhance her own +importance, her being there would have been a general good. She loved to +fancy how she could have read to her aunt, how she could have talked to +her, and tried at once to make her feel the blessing of what was, and +prepare her mind for what might be; and how many walks up and down +stairs she might have saved her, and how many messages she might have +carried. + +It astonished her that Tom's sisters could be satisfied with remaining +in London at such a time, through an illness which had now, under +different degrees of danger, lasted several weeks. _They_ might return +to Mansfield when they chose; travelling could be no difficulty to +_them_, and she could not comprehend how both could still keep away. +If Mrs. Rushworth could imagine any interfering obligations, Julia was +certainly able to quit London whenever she chose. It appeared from one +of her aunt's letters that Julia had offered to return if wanted, but +this was all. It was evident that she would rather remain where she was. + +Fanny was disposed to think the influence of London very much at war +with all respectable attachments. She saw the proof of it in Miss +Crawford, as well as in her cousins; _her_ attachment to Edmund had been +respectable, the most respectable part of her character; her friendship +for herself had at least been blameless. Where was either sentiment now? +It was so long since Fanny had had any letter from her, that she had +some reason to think lightly of the friendship which had been so dwelt +on. It was weeks since she had heard anything of Miss Crawford or of +her other connexions in town, except through Mansfield, and she was +beginning to suppose that she might never know whether Mr. Crawford had +gone into Norfolk again or not till they met, and might never hear from +his sister any more this spring, when the following letter was received +to revive old and create some new sensations-- + +"Forgive me, my dear Fanny, as soon as you can, for my long silence, and +behave as if you could forgive me directly. This is my modest request +and expectation, for you are so good, that I depend upon being treated +better than I deserve, and I write now to beg an immediate answer. I +want to know the state of things at Mansfield Park, and you, no doubt, +are perfectly able to give it. One should be a brute not to feel for the +distress they are in; and from what I hear, poor Mr. Bertram has a bad +chance of ultimate recovery. I thought little of his illness at first. +I looked upon him as the sort of person to be made a fuss with, and to +make a fuss himself in any trifling disorder, and was chiefly concerned +for those who had to nurse him; but now it is confidently asserted that +he is really in a decline, that the symptoms are most alarming, and that +part of the family, at least, are aware of it. If it be so, I am sure +you must be included in that part, that discerning part, and therefore +entreat you to let me know how far I have been rightly informed. I need +not say how rejoiced I shall be to hear there has been any mistake, but +the report is so prevalent that I confess I cannot help trembling. To +have such a fine young man cut off in the flower of his days is most +melancholy. Poor Sir Thomas will feel it dreadfully. I really am quite +agitated on the subject. Fanny, Fanny, I see you smile and look cunning, +but, upon my honour, I never bribed a physician in my life. Poor young +man! If he is to die, there will be _two_ poor young men less in the +world; and with a fearless face and bold voice would I say to any one, +that wealth and consequence could fall into no hands more deserving of +them. It was a foolish precipitation last Christmas, but the evil of +a few days may be blotted out in part. Varnish and gilding hide many +stains. It will be but the loss of the Esquire after his name. With real +affection, Fanny, like mine, more might be overlooked. Write to me by +return of post, judge of my anxiety, and do not trifle with it. Tell me +the real truth, as you have it from the fountainhead. And now, do +not trouble yourself to be ashamed of either my feelings or your own. +Believe me, they are not only natural, they are philanthropic and +virtuous. I put it to your conscience, whether 'Sir Edmund' would not do +more good with all the Bertram property than any other possible 'Sir.' +Had the Grants been at home I would not have troubled you, but you are +now the only one I can apply to for the truth, his sisters not being +within my reach. Mrs. R. has been spending the Easter with the Aylmers +at Twickenham (as to be sure you know), and is not yet returned; and +Julia is with the cousins who live near Bedford Square, but I forget +their name and street. Could I immediately apply to either, however, I +should still prefer you, because it strikes me that they have all along +been so unwilling to have their own amusements cut up, as to shut their +eyes to the truth. I suppose Mrs. R.'s Easter holidays will not last +much longer; no doubt they are thorough holidays to her. The Aylmers +are pleasant people; and her husband away, she can have nothing but +enjoyment. I give her credit for promoting his going dutifully down to +Bath, to fetch his mother; but how will she and the dowager agree in one +house? Henry is not at hand, so I have nothing to say from him. Do not +you think Edmund would have been in town again long ago, but for this +illness?--Yours ever, Mary." + +"I had actually begun folding my letter when Henry walked in, but he +brings no intelligence to prevent my sending it. Mrs. R. knows a decline +is apprehended; he saw her this morning: she returns to Wimpole Street +to-day; the old lady is come. Now do not make yourself uneasy with any +queer fancies because he has been spending a few days at Richmond. He +does it every spring. Be assured he cares for nobody but you. At this +very moment he is wild to see you, and occupied only in contriving the +means for doing so, and for making his pleasure conduce to yours. In +proof, he repeats, and more eagerly, what he said at Portsmouth about +our conveying you home, and I join him in it with all my soul. Dear +Fanny, write directly, and tell us to come. It will do us all good. +He and I can go to the Parsonage, you know, and be no trouble to our +friends at Mansfield Park. It would really be gratifying to see them +all again, and a little addition of society might be of infinite use to +them; and as to yourself, you must feel yourself to be so wanted there, +that you cannot in conscience--conscientious as you are--keep away, when +you have the means of returning. I have not time or patience to give +half Henry's messages; be satisfied that the spirit of each and every +one is unalterable affection." + +Fanny's disgust at the greater part of this letter, with her extreme +reluctance to bring the writer of it and her cousin Edmund together, +would have made her (as she felt) incapable of judging impartially +whether the concluding offer might be accepted or not. To herself, +individually, it was most tempting. To be finding herself, perhaps +within three days, transported to Mansfield, was an image of the +greatest felicity, but it would have been a material drawback to be +owing such felicity to persons in whose feelings and conduct, at the +present moment, she saw so much to condemn: the sister's feelings, +the brother's conduct, _her_ cold-hearted ambition, _his_ thoughtless +vanity. To have him still the acquaintance, the flirt perhaps, of Mrs. +Rushworth! She was mortified. She had thought better of him. Happily, +however, she was not left to weigh and decide between opposite +inclinations and doubtful notions of right; there was no occasion to +determine whether she ought to keep Edmund and Mary asunder or not. She +had a rule to apply to, which settled everything. Her awe of her uncle, +and her dread of taking a liberty with him, made it instantly plain to +her what she had to do. She must absolutely decline the proposal. If he +wanted, he would send for her; and even to offer an early return was +a presumption which hardly anything would have seemed to justify. She +thanked Miss Crawford, but gave a decided negative. "Her uncle, +she understood, meant to fetch her; and as her cousin's illness had +continued so many weeks without her being thought at all necessary, +she must suppose her return would be unwelcome at present, and that she +should be felt an encumbrance." + +Her representation of her cousin's state at this time was exactly +according to her own belief of it, and such as she supposed would convey +to the sanguine mind of her correspondent the hope of everything she was +wishing for. Edmund would be forgiven for being a clergyman, it seemed, +under certain conditions of wealth; and this, she suspected, was all +the conquest of prejudice which he was so ready to congratulate himself +upon. She had only learnt to think nothing of consequence but money. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +As Fanny could not doubt that her answer was conveying a real +disappointment, she was rather in expectation, from her knowledge of +Miss Crawford's temper, of being urged again; and though no second +letter arrived for the space of a week, she had still the same feeling +when it did come. + +On receiving it, she could instantly decide on its containing little +writing, and was persuaded of its having the air of a letter of haste +and business. Its object was unquestionable; and two moments were enough +to start the probability of its being merely to give her notice that +they should be in Portsmouth that very day, and to throw her into all +the agitation of doubting what she ought to do in such a case. If two +moments, however, can surround with difficulties, a third can disperse +them; and before she had opened the letter, the possibility of Mr. and +Miss Crawford's having applied to her uncle and obtained his permission +was giving her ease. This was the letter-- + +"A most scandalous, ill-natured rumour has just reached me, and I write, +dear Fanny, to warn you against giving the least credit to it, should it +spread into the country. Depend upon it, there is some mistake, and that +a day or two will clear it up; at any rate, that Henry is blameless, and +in spite of a moment's _etourderie_, thinks of nobody but you. Say not a +word of it; hear nothing, surmise nothing, whisper nothing till I +write again. I am sure it will be all hushed up, and nothing proved but +Rushworth's folly. If they are gone, I would lay my life they are only +gone to Mansfield Park, and Julia with them. But why would not you let +us come for you? I wish you may not repent it.--Yours, etc." + +Fanny stood aghast. As no scandalous, ill-natured rumour had reached +her, it was impossible for her to understand much of this strange +letter. She could only perceive that it must relate to Wimpole Street +and Mr. Crawford, and only conjecture that something very imprudent had +just occurred in that quarter to draw the notice of the world, and to +excite her jealousy, in Miss Crawford's apprehension, if she heard it. +Miss Crawford need not be alarmed for her. She was only sorry for the +parties concerned and for Mansfield, if the report should spread so far; +but she hoped it might not. If the Rushworths were gone themselves to +Mansfield, as was to be inferred from what Miss Crawford said, it was +not likely that anything unpleasant should have preceded them, or at +least should make any impression. + +As to Mr. Crawford, she hoped it might give him a knowledge of his own +disposition, convince him that he was not capable of being steadily +attached to any one woman in the world, and shame him from persisting +any longer in addressing herself. + +It was very strange! She had begun to think he really loved her, and to +fancy his affection for her something more than common; and his sister +still said that he cared for nobody else. Yet there must have been some +marked display of attentions to her cousin, there must have been some +strong indiscretion, since her correspondent was not of a sort to regard +a slight one. + +Very uncomfortable she was, and must continue, till she heard from +Miss Crawford again. It was impossible to banish the letter from her +thoughts, and she could not relieve herself by speaking of it to any +human being. Miss Crawford need not have urged secrecy with so much +warmth; she might have trusted to her sense of what was due to her +cousin. + +The next day came and brought no second letter. Fanny was disappointed. +She could still think of little else all the morning; but, when her +father came back in the afternoon with the daily newspaper as usual, she +was so far from expecting any elucidation through such a channel that +the subject was for a moment out of her head. + +She was deep in other musing. The remembrance of her first evening in +that room, of her father and his newspaper, came across her. No candle +was now wanted. The sun was yet an hour and half above the horizon. She +felt that she had, indeed, been three months there; and the sun's rays +falling strongly into the parlour, instead of cheering, made her still +more melancholy, for sunshine appeared to her a totally different +thing in a town and in the country. Here, its power was only a glare: +a stifling, sickly glare, serving but to bring forward stains and dirt +that might otherwise have slept. There was neither health nor gaiety in +sunshine in a town. She sat in a blaze of oppressive heat, in a cloud +of moving dust, and her eyes could only wander from the walls, marked by +her father's head, to the table cut and notched by her brothers, where +stood the tea-board never thoroughly cleaned, the cups and saucers wiped +in streaks, the milk a mixture of motes floating in thin blue, and the +bread and butter growing every minute more greasy than even Rebecca's +hands had first produced it. Her father read his newspaper, and her +mother lamented over the ragged carpet as usual, while the tea was +in preparation, and wished Rebecca would mend it; and Fanny was first +roused by his calling out to her, after humphing and considering over +a particular paragraph: "What's the name of your great cousins in town, +Fan?" + +A moment's recollection enabled her to say, "Rushworth, sir." + +"And don't they live in Wimpole Street?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then, there's the devil to pay among them, that's all! There" (holding +out the paper to her); "much good may such fine relations do you. I +don't know what Sir Thomas may think of such matters; he may be too much +of the courtier and fine gentleman to like his daughter the less. But, +by G--! if she belonged to _me_, I'd give her the rope's end as long as +I could stand over her. A little flogging for man and woman too would be +the best way of preventing such things." + +Fanny read to herself that "it was with infinite concern the newspaper +had to announce to the world a matrimonial _fracas_ in the family of +Mr. R. of Wimpole Street; the beautiful Mrs. R., whose name had not long +been enrolled in the lists of Hymen, and who had promised to become +so brilliant a leader in the fashionable world, having quitted her +husband's roof in company with the well-known and captivating Mr. C., +the intimate friend and associate of Mr. R., and it was not known even +to the editor of the newspaper whither they were gone." + +"It is a mistake, sir," said Fanny instantly; "it must be a mistake, it +cannot be true; it must mean some other people." + +She spoke from the instinctive wish of delaying shame; she spoke with +a resolution which sprung from despair, for she spoke what she did not, +could not believe herself. It had been the shock of conviction as she +read. The truth rushed on her; and how she could have spoken at all, +how she could even have breathed, was afterwards matter of wonder to +herself. + +Mr. Price cared too little about the report to make her much answer. +"It might be all a lie," he acknowledged; "but so many fine ladies were +going to the devil nowadays that way, that there was no answering for +anybody." + +"Indeed, I hope it is not true," said Mrs. Price plaintively; "it would +be so very shocking! If I have spoken once to Rebecca about that carpet, +I am sure I have spoke at least a dozen times; have not I, Betsey? And +it would not be ten minutes' work." + +The horror of a mind like Fanny's, as it received the conviction of such +guilt, and began to take in some part of the misery that must ensue, can +hardly be described. At first, it was a sort of stupefaction; but every +moment was quickening her perception of the horrible evil. She could not +doubt, she dared not indulge a hope, of the paragraph being false. Miss +Crawford's letter, which she had read so often as to make every line +her own, was in frightful conformity with it. Her eager defence of her +brother, her hope of its being _hushed_ _up_, her evident agitation, +were all of a piece with something very bad; and if there was a woman +of character in existence, who could treat as a trifle this sin of the +first magnitude, who would try to gloss it over, and desire to have it +unpunished, she could believe Miss Crawford to be the woman! Now she +could see her own mistake as to _who_ were gone, or _said_ to be +gone. It was not Mr. and Mrs. Rushworth; it was Mrs. Rushworth and Mr. +Crawford. + +Fanny seemed to herself never to have been shocked before. There was no +possibility of rest. The evening passed without a pause of misery, the +night was totally sleepless. She passed only from feelings of sickness +to shudderings of horror; and from hot fits of fever to cold. The event +was so shocking, that there were moments even when her heart revolted +from it as impossible: when she thought it could not be. A woman married +only six months ago; a man professing himself devoted, even _engaged_ to +another; that other her near relation; the whole family, both families +connected as they were by tie upon tie; all friends, all intimate +together! It was too horrible a confusion of guilt, too gross a +complication of evil, for human nature, not in a state of utter +barbarism, to be capable of! yet her judgment told her it was so. +_His_ unsettled affections, wavering with his vanity, _Maria's_ +decided attachment, and no sufficient principle on either side, gave it +possibility: Miss Crawford's letter stampt it a fact. + +What would be the consequence? Whom would it not injure? Whose views +might it not affect? Whose peace would it not cut up for ever? Miss +Crawford, herself, Edmund; but it was dangerous, perhaps, to tread +such ground. She confined herself, or tried to confine herself, to the +simple, indubitable family misery which must envelop all, if it were +indeed a matter of certified guilt and public exposure. The mother's +sufferings, the father's; there she paused. Julia's, Tom's, Edmund's; +there a yet longer pause. They were the two on whom it would fall most +horribly. Sir Thomas's parental solicitude and high sense of honour and +decorum, Edmund's upright principles, unsuspicious temper, and genuine +strength of feeling, made her think it scarcely possible for them to +support life and reason under such disgrace; and it appeared to her +that, as far as this world alone was concerned, the greatest blessing to +every one of kindred with Mrs. Rushworth would be instant annihilation. + +Nothing happened the next day, or the next, to weaken her terrors. Two +posts came in, and brought no refutation, public or private. There was +no second letter to explain away the first from Miss Crawford; there was +no intelligence from Mansfield, though it was now full time for her +to hear again from her aunt. This was an evil omen. She had, indeed, +scarcely the shadow of a hope to soothe her mind, and was reduced to so +low and wan and trembling a condition, as no mother, not unkind, except +Mrs. Price could have overlooked, when the third day did bring the +sickening knock, and a letter was again put into her hands. It bore the +London postmark, and came from Edmund. + +"Dear Fanny,--You know our present wretchedness. May God support you +under your share! We have been here two days, but there is nothing to +be done. They cannot be traced. You may not have heard of the last +blow--Julia's elopement; she is gone to Scotland with Yates. She left +London a few hours before we entered it. At any other time this would +have been felt dreadfully. Now it seems nothing; yet it is an heavy +aggravation. My father is not overpowered. More cannot be hoped. He is +still able to think and act; and I write, by his desire, to propose your +returning home. He is anxious to get you there for my mother's sake. I +shall be at Portsmouth the morning after you receive this, and hope to +find you ready to set off for Mansfield. My father wishes you to invite +Susan to go with you for a few months. Settle it as you like; say what +is proper; I am sure you will feel such an instance of his kindness at +such a moment! Do justice to his meaning, however I may confuse it. You +may imagine something of my present state. There is no end of the evil +let loose upon us. You will see me early by the mail.--Yours, etc." + +Never had Fanny more wanted a cordial. Never had she felt such a one +as this letter contained. To-morrow! to leave Portsmouth to-morrow! +She was, she felt she was, in the greatest danger of being exquisitely +happy, while so many were miserable. The evil which brought such good +to her! She dreaded lest she should learn to be insensible of it. To be +going so soon, sent for so kindly, sent for as a comfort, and with leave +to take Susan, was altogether such a combination of blessings as set her +heart in a glow, and for a time seemed to distance every pain, and +make her incapable of suitably sharing the distress even of those +whose distress she thought of most. Julia's elopement could affect her +comparatively but little; she was amazed and shocked; but it could not +occupy her, could not dwell on her mind. She was obliged to call herself +to think of it, and acknowledge it to be terrible and grievous, or it +was escaping her, in the midst of all the agitating pressing joyful +cares attending this summons to herself. + +There is nothing like employment, active indispensable employment, for +relieving sorrow. Employment, even melancholy, may dispel melancholy, +and her occupations were hopeful. She had so much to do, that not even +the horrible story of Mrs. Rushworth--now fixed to the last point of +certainty could affect her as it had done before. She had not time to +be miserable. Within twenty-four hours she was hoping to be gone; her +father and mother must be spoken to, Susan prepared, everything got +ready. Business followed business; the day was hardly long enough. The +happiness she was imparting, too, happiness very little alloyed by the +black communication which must briefly precede it--the joyful consent +of her father and mother to Susan's going with her--the general +satisfaction with which the going of both seemed regarded, and the +ecstasy of Susan herself, was all serving to support her spirits. + +The affliction of the Bertrams was little felt in the family. Mrs. Price +talked of her poor sister for a few minutes, but how to find anything to +hold Susan's clothes, because Rebecca took away all the boxes and spoilt +them, was much more in her thoughts: and as for Susan, now unexpectedly +gratified in the first wish of her heart, and knowing nothing personally +of those who had sinned, or of those who were sorrowing--if she could +help rejoicing from beginning to end, it was as much as ought to be +expected from human virtue at fourteen. + +As nothing was really left for the decision of Mrs. Price, or the good +offices of Rebecca, everything was rationally and duly accomplished, +and the girls were ready for the morrow. The advantage of much sleep +to prepare them for their journey was impossible. The cousin who was +travelling towards them could hardly have less than visited their +agitated spirits--one all happiness, the other all varying and +indescribable perturbation. + +By eight in the morning Edmund was in the house. The girls heard his +entrance from above, and Fanny went down. The idea of immediately seeing +him, with the knowledge of what he must be suffering, brought back all +her own first feelings. He so near her, and in misery. She was ready to +sink as she entered the parlour. He was alone, and met her instantly; +and she found herself pressed to his heart with only these words, just +articulate, "My Fanny, my only sister; my only comfort now!" She could +say nothing; nor for some minutes could he say more. + +He turned away to recover himself, and when he spoke again, though his +voice still faltered, his manner shewed the wish of self-command, and +the resolution of avoiding any farther allusion. "Have you breakfasted? +When shall you be ready? Does Susan go?" were questions following each +other rapidly. His great object was to be off as soon as possible. When +Mansfield was considered, time was precious; and the state of his own +mind made him find relief only in motion. It was settled that he should +order the carriage to the door in half an hour. Fanny answered for their +having breakfasted and being quite ready in half an hour. He had already +ate, and declined staying for their meal. He would walk round the +ramparts, and join them with the carriage. He was gone again; glad to +get away even from Fanny. + +He looked very ill; evidently suffering under violent emotions, which he +was determined to suppress. She knew it must be so, but it was terrible +to her. + +The carriage came; and he entered the house again at the same +moment, just in time to spend a few minutes with the family, and be a +witness--but that he saw nothing--of the tranquil manner in which the +daughters were parted with, and just in time to prevent their sitting +down to the breakfast-table, which, by dint of much unusual activity, +was quite and completely ready as the carriage drove from the door. +Fanny's last meal in her father's house was in character with her first: +she was dismissed from it as hospitably as she had been welcomed. + +How her heart swelled with joy and gratitude as she passed the barriers +of Portsmouth, and how Susan's face wore its broadest smiles, may be +easily conceived. Sitting forwards, however, and screened by her bonnet, +those smiles were unseen. + +The journey was likely to be a silent one. Edmund's deep sighs often +reached Fanny. Had he been alone with her, his heart must have opened +in spite of every resolution; but Susan's presence drove him quite into +himself, and his attempts to talk on indifferent subjects could never be +long supported. + +Fanny watched him with never-failing solicitude, and sometimes catching +his eye, revived an affectionate smile, which comforted her; but the +first day's journey passed without her hearing a word from him on the +subjects that were weighing him down. The next morning produced a +little more. Just before their setting out from Oxford, while Susan was +stationed at a window, in eager observation of the departure of a +large family from the inn, the other two were standing by the fire; and +Edmund, particularly struck by the alteration in Fanny's looks, and from +his ignorance of the daily evils of her father's house, attributing an +undue share of the change, attributing _all_ to the recent event, took +her hand, and said in a low, but very expressive tone, "No wonder--you +must feel it--you must suffer. How a man who had once loved, could +desert you! But _yours_--your regard was new compared with----Fanny, +think of _me_!" + +The first division of their journey occupied a long day, and brought +them, almost knocked up, to Oxford; but the second was over at a much +earlier hour. They were in the environs of Mansfield long before the +usual dinner-time, and as they approached the beloved place, the hearts +of both sisters sank a little. Fanny began to dread the meeting with her +aunts and Tom, under so dreadful a humiliation; and Susan to feel +with some anxiety, that all her best manners, all her lately acquired +knowledge of what was practised here, was on the point of being called +into action. Visions of good and ill breeding, of old vulgarisms and new +gentilities, were before her; and she was meditating much upon silver +forks, napkins, and finger-glasses. Fanny had been everywhere awake to +the difference of the country since February; but when they entered the +Park her perceptions and her pleasures were of the keenest sort. It was +three months, full three months, since her quitting it, and the +change was from winter to summer. Her eye fell everywhere on lawns +and plantations of the freshest green; and the trees, though not fully +clothed, were in that delightful state when farther beauty is known to +be at hand, and when, while much is actually given to the sight, more +yet remains for the imagination. Her enjoyment, however, was for herself +alone. Edmund could not share it. She looked at him, but he was leaning +back, sunk in a deeper gloom than ever, and with eyes closed, as if the +view of cheerfulness oppressed him, and the lovely scenes of home must +be shut out. + +It made her melancholy again; and the knowledge of what must be enduring +there, invested even the house, modern, airy, and well situated as it +was, with a melancholy aspect. + +By one of the suffering party within they were expected with such +impatience as she had never known before. Fanny had scarcely passed the +solemn-looking servants, when Lady Bertram came from the drawing-room +to meet her; came with no indolent step; and falling on her neck, said, +"Dear Fanny! now I shall be comfortable." + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +It had been a miserable party, each of the three believing themselves +most miserable. Mrs. Norris, however, as most attached to Maria, was +really the greatest sufferer. Maria was her first favourite, the dearest +of all; the match had been her own contriving, as she had been wont with +such pride of heart to feel and say, and this conclusion of it almost +overpowered her. + +She was an altered creature, quieted, stupefied, indifferent to +everything that passed. The being left with her sister and nephew, and +all the house under her care, had been an advantage entirely thrown +away; she had been unable to direct or dictate, or even fancy herself +useful. When really touched by affliction, her active powers had been +all benumbed; and neither Lady Bertram nor Tom had received from her the +smallest support or attempt at support. She had done no more for them +than they had done for each other. They had been all solitary, helpless, +and forlorn alike; and now the arrival of the others only established +her superiority in wretchedness. Her companions were relieved, but there +was no good for _her_. Edmund was almost as welcome to his brother +as Fanny to her aunt; but Mrs. Norris, instead of having comfort from +either, was but the more irritated by the sight of the person whom, in +the blindness of her anger, she could have charged as the daemon of the +piece. Had Fanny accepted Mr. Crawford this could not have happened. + +Susan too was a grievance. She had not spirits to notice her in more +than a few repulsive looks, but she felt her as a spy, and an intruder, +and an indigent niece, and everything most odious. By her other aunt, +Susan was received with quiet kindness. Lady Bertram could not give her +much time, or many words, but she felt her, as Fanny's sister, to have +a claim at Mansfield, and was ready to kiss and like her; and Susan +was more than satisfied, for she came perfectly aware that nothing but +ill-humour was to be expected from aunt Norris; and was so provided +with happiness, so strong in that best of blessings, an escape from +many certain evils, that she could have stood against a great deal more +indifference than she met with from the others. + +She was now left a good deal to herself, to get acquainted with the +house and grounds as she could, and spent her days very happily in so +doing, while those who might otherwise have attended to her were shut +up, or wholly occupied each with the person quite dependent on them, at +this time, for everything like comfort; Edmund trying to bury his own +feelings in exertions for the relief of his brother's, and Fanny devoted +to her aunt Bertram, returning to every former office with more than +former zeal, and thinking she could never do enough for one who seemed +so much to want her. + +To talk over the dreadful business with Fanny, talk and lament, was all +Lady Bertram's consolation. To be listened to and borne with, and hear +the voice of kindness and sympathy in return, was everything that could +be done for her. To be otherwise comforted was out of the question. The +case admitted of no comfort. Lady Bertram did not think deeply, but, +guided by Sir Thomas, she thought justly on all important points; and +she saw, therefore, in all its enormity, what had happened, and neither +endeavoured herself, nor required Fanny to advise her, to think little +of guilt and infamy. + +Her affections were not acute, nor was her mind tenacious. After a time, +Fanny found it not impossible to direct her thoughts to other subjects, +and revive some interest in the usual occupations; but whenever Lady +Bertram _was_ fixed on the event, she could see it only in one light, as +comprehending the loss of a daughter, and a disgrace never to be wiped +off. + +Fanny learnt from her all the particulars which had yet transpired. Her +aunt was no very methodical narrator, but with the help of some letters +to and from Sir Thomas, and what she already knew herself, and could +reasonably combine, she was soon able to understand quite as much as she +wished of the circumstances attending the story. + +Mrs. Rushworth had gone, for the Easter holidays, to Twickenham, with +a family whom she had just grown intimate with: a family of lively, +agreeable manners, and probably of morals and discretion to suit, for to +_their_ house Mr. Crawford had constant access at all times. His having +been in the same neighbourhood Fanny already knew. Mr. Rushworth had +been gone at this time to Bath, to pass a few days with his mother, and +bring her back to town, and Maria was with these friends without any +restraint, without even Julia; for Julia had removed from Wimpole Street +two or three weeks before, on a visit to some relations of Sir Thomas; +a removal which her father and mother were now disposed to attribute +to some view of convenience on Mr. Yates's account. Very soon after the +Rushworths' return to Wimpole Street, Sir Thomas had received a letter +from an old and most particular friend in London, who hearing and +witnessing a good deal to alarm him in that quarter, wrote to recommend +Sir Thomas's coming to London himself, and using his influence with his +daughter to put an end to the intimacy which was already exposing her to +unpleasant remarks, and evidently making Mr. Rushworth uneasy. + +Sir Thomas was preparing to act upon this letter, without communicating +its contents to any creature at Mansfield, when it was followed by +another, sent express from the same friend, to break to him the almost +desperate situation in which affairs then stood with the young people. +Mrs. Rushworth had left her husband's house: Mr. Rushworth had been +in great anger and distress to _him_ (Mr. Harding) for his advice; Mr. +Harding feared there had been _at_ _least_ very flagrant indiscretion. +The maidservant of Mrs. Rushworth, senior, threatened alarmingly. He +was doing all in his power to quiet everything, with the hope of Mrs. +Rushworth's return, but was so much counteracted in Wimpole Street by +the influence of Mr. Rushworth's mother, that the worst consequences +might be apprehended. + +This dreadful communication could not be kept from the rest of the +family. Sir Thomas set off, Edmund would go with him, and the others had +been left in a state of wretchedness, inferior only to what followed +the receipt of the next letters from London. Everything was by that time +public beyond a hope. The servant of Mrs. Rushworth, the mother, had +exposure in her power, and supported by her mistress, was not to be +silenced. The two ladies, even in the short time they had been +together, had disagreed; and the bitterness of the elder against her +daughter-in-law might perhaps arise almost as much from the personal +disrespect with which she had herself been treated as from sensibility +for her son. + +However that might be, she was unmanageable. But had she been less +obstinate, or of less weight with her son, who was always guided by the +last speaker, by the person who could get hold of and shut him up, the +case would still have been hopeless, for Mrs. Rushworth did not appear +again, and there was every reason to conclude her to be concealed +somewhere with Mr. Crawford, who had quitted his uncle's house, as for a +journey, on the very day of her absenting herself. + +Sir Thomas, however, remained yet a little longer in town, in the hope +of discovering and snatching her from farther vice, though all was lost +on the side of character. + +_His_ present state Fanny could hardly bear to think of. There was but +one of his children who was not at this time a source of misery to +him. Tom's complaints had been greatly heightened by the shock of his +sister's conduct, and his recovery so much thrown back by it, that even +Lady Bertram had been struck by the difference, and all her alarms were +regularly sent off to her husband; and Julia's elopement, the additional +blow which had met him on his arrival in London, though its force had +been deadened at the moment, must, she knew, be sorely felt. She saw +that it was. His letters expressed how much he deplored it. Under any +circumstances it would have been an unwelcome alliance; but to have it +so clandestinely formed, and such a period chosen for its completion, +placed Julia's feelings in a most unfavourable light, and severely +aggravated the folly of her choice. He called it a bad thing, done in +the worst manner, and at the worst time; and though Julia was yet as +more pardonable than Maria as folly than vice, he could not but +regard the step she had taken as opening the worst probabilities of a +conclusion hereafter like her sister's. Such was his opinion of the set +into which she had thrown herself. + +Fanny felt for him most acutely. He could have no comfort but in Edmund. +Every other child must be racking his heart. His displeasure against +herself she trusted, reasoning differently from Mrs. Norris, would now +be done away. _She_ should be justified. Mr. Crawford would have fully +acquitted her conduct in refusing him; but this, though most material +to herself, would be poor consolation to Sir Thomas. Her uncle's +displeasure was terrible to her; but what could her justification or her +gratitude and attachment do for him? His stay must be on Edmund alone. + +She was mistaken, however, in supposing that Edmund gave his father no +present pain. It was of a much less poignant nature than what the others +excited; but Sir Thomas was considering his happiness as very deeply +involved in the offence of his sister and friend; cut off by it, as +he must be, from the woman whom he had been pursuing with undoubted +attachment and strong probability of success; and who, in everything but +this despicable brother, would have been so eligible a connexion. He was +aware of what Edmund must be suffering on his own behalf, in addition +to all the rest, when they were in town: he had seen or conjectured +his feelings; and, having reason to think that one interview with Miss +Crawford had taken place, from which Edmund derived only increased +distress, had been as anxious on that account as on others to get him +out of town, and had engaged him in taking Fanny home to her aunt, with +a view to his relief and benefit, no less than theirs. Fanny was not in +the secret of her uncle's feelings, Sir Thomas not in the secret of Miss +Crawford's character. Had he been privy to her conversation with his +son, he would not have wished her to belong to him, though her twenty +thousand pounds had been forty. + +That Edmund must be for ever divided from Miss Crawford did not admit +of a doubt with Fanny; and yet, till she knew that he felt the same, her +own conviction was insufficient. She thought he did, but she wanted to +be assured of it. If he would now speak to her with the unreserve which +had sometimes been too much for her before, it would be most consoling; +but _that_ she found was not to be. She seldom saw him: never alone. He +probably avoided being alone with her. What was to be inferred? That +his judgment submitted to all his own peculiar and bitter share of this +family affliction, but that it was too keenly felt to be a subject of +the slightest communication. This must be his state. He yielded, but it +was with agonies which did not admit of speech. Long, long would it be +ere Miss Crawford's name passed his lips again, or she could hope for a +renewal of such confidential intercourse as had been. + +It _was_ long. They reached Mansfield on Thursday, and it was not till +Sunday evening that Edmund began to talk to her on the subject. Sitting +with her on Sunday evening--a wet Sunday evening--the very time of +all others when, if a friend is at hand, the heart must be opened, and +everything told; no one else in the room, except his mother, who, +after hearing an affecting sermon, had cried herself to sleep, it was +impossible not to speak; and so, with the usual beginnings, hardly to +be traced as to what came first, and the usual declaration that if she +would listen to him for a few minutes, he should be very brief, and +certainly never tax her kindness in the same way again; she need not +fear a repetition; it would be a subject prohibited entirely: he entered +upon the luxury of relating circumstances and sensations of the first +interest to himself, to one of whose affectionate sympathy he was quite +convinced. + +How Fanny listened, with what curiosity and concern, what pain and what +delight, how the agitation of his voice was watched, and how carefully +her own eyes were fixed on any object but himself, may be imagined. The +opening was alarming. He had seen Miss Crawford. He had been invited to +see her. He had received a note from Lady Stornaway to beg him to call; +and regarding it as what was meant to be the last, last interview +of friendship, and investing her with all the feelings of shame and +wretchedness which Crawford's sister ought to have known, he had gone to +her in such a state of mind, so softened, so devoted, as made it for a +few moments impossible to Fanny's fears that it should be the last. But +as he proceeded in his story, these fears were over. She had met him, +he said, with a serious--certainly a serious--even an agitated air; +but before he had been able to speak one intelligible sentence, she had +introduced the subject in a manner which he owned had shocked him. "'I +heard you were in town,' said she; 'I wanted to see you. Let us talk +over this sad business. What can equal the folly of our two relations?' +I could not answer, but I believe my looks spoke. She felt reproved. +Sometimes how quick to feel! With a graver look and voice she then +added, 'I do not mean to defend Henry at your sister's expense.' So +she began, but how she went on, Fanny, is not fit, is hardly fit to be +repeated to you. I cannot recall all her words. I would not dwell upon +them if I could. Their substance was great anger at the _folly_ of each. +She reprobated her brother's folly in being drawn on by a woman whom he +had never cared for, to do what must lose him the woman he adored; but +still more the folly of poor Maria, in sacrificing such a situation, +plunging into such difficulties, under the idea of being really loved +by a man who had long ago made his indifference clear. Guess what I must +have felt. To hear the woman whom--no harsher name than folly given! +So voluntarily, so freely, so coolly to canvass it! No reluctance, no +horror, no feminine, shall I say, no modest loathings? This is what the +world does. For where, Fanny, shall we find a woman whom nature had so +richly endowed? Spoilt, spoilt!" + +After a little reflection, he went on with a sort of desperate calmness. +"I will tell you everything, and then have done for ever. She saw it +only as folly, and that folly stamped only by exposure. The want of +common discretion, of caution: his going down to Richmond for the whole +time of her being at Twickenham; her putting herself in the power of +a servant; it was the detection, in short--oh, Fanny! it was the +detection, not the offence, which she reprobated. It was the imprudence +which had brought things to extremity, and obliged her brother to give +up every dearer plan in order to fly with her." + +He stopt. "And what," said Fanny (believing herself required to speak), +"what could you say?" + +"Nothing, nothing to be understood. I was like a man stunned. She +went on, began to talk of you; yes, then she began to talk of you, +regretting, as well she might, the loss of such a--. There she spoke +very rationally. But she has always done justice to you. 'He has thrown +away,' said she, 'such a woman as he will never see again. She would +have fixed him; she would have made him happy for ever.' My dearest +Fanny, I am giving you, I hope, more pleasure than pain by this +retrospect of what might have been--but what never can be now. You do +not wish me to be silent? If you do, give me but a look, a word, and I +have done." + +No look or word was given. + +"Thank God," said he. "We were all disposed to wonder, but it seems to +have been the merciful appointment of Providence that the heart which +knew no guile should not suffer. She spoke of you with high praise and +warm affection; yet, even here, there was alloy, a dash of evil; for in +the midst of it she could exclaim, 'Why would not she have him? It is +all her fault. Simple girl! I shall never forgive her. Had she accepted +him as she ought, they might now have been on the point of marriage, and +Henry would have been too happy and too busy to want any other object. +He would have taken no pains to be on terms with Mrs. Rushworth again. +It would have all ended in a regular standing flirtation, in yearly +meetings at Sotherton and Everingham.' Could you have believed it +possible? But the charm is broken. My eyes are opened." + +"Cruel!" said Fanny, "quite cruel. At such a moment to give way to +gaiety, to speak with lightness, and to you! Absolute cruelty." + +"Cruelty, do you call it? We differ there. No, hers is not a cruel +nature. I do not consider her as meaning to wound my feelings. The evil +lies yet deeper: in her total ignorance, unsuspiciousness of there being +such feelings; in a perversion of mind which made it natural to her to +treat the subject as she did. She was speaking only as she had been used +to hear others speak, as she imagined everybody else would speak. Hers +are not faults of temper. She would not voluntarily give unnecessary +pain to any one, and though I may deceive myself, I cannot but think +that for me, for my feelings, she would--Hers are faults of principle, +Fanny; of blunted delicacy and a corrupted, vitiated mind. Perhaps it +is best for me, since it leaves me so little to regret. Not so, however. +Gladly would I submit to all the increased pain of losing her, rather +than have to think of her as I do. I told her so." + +"Did you?" + +"Yes; when I left her I told her so." + +"How long were you together?" + +"Five-and-twenty minutes. Well, she went on to say that what remained +now to be done was to bring about a marriage between them. She spoke of +it, Fanny, with a steadier voice than I can." He was obliged to pause +more than once as he continued. "'We must persuade Henry to marry +her,' said she; 'and what with honour, and the certainty of having shut +himself out for ever from Fanny, I do not despair of it. Fanny he must +give up. I do not think that even _he_ could now hope to succeed with +one of her stamp, and therefore I hope we may find no insuperable +difficulty. My influence, which is not small shall all go that way; and +when once married, and properly supported by her own family, people of +respectability as they are, she may recover her footing in society to a +certain degree. In some circles, we know, she would never be admitted, +but with good dinners, and large parties, there will always be those +who will be glad of her acquaintance; and there is, undoubtedly, more +liberality and candour on those points than formerly. What I advise +is, that your father be quiet. Do not let him injure his own cause by +interference. Persuade him to let things take their course. If by any +officious exertions of his, she is induced to leave Henry's protection, +there will be much less chance of his marrying her than if she remain +with him. I know how he is likely to be influenced. Let Sir Thomas trust +to his honour and compassion, and it may all end well; but if he get his +daughter away, it will be destroying the chief hold.'" + +After repeating this, Edmund was so much affected that Fanny, watching +him with silent, but most tender concern, was almost sorry that the +subject had been entered on at all. It was long before he could speak +again. At last, "Now, Fanny," said he, "I shall soon have done. I have +told you the substance of all that she said. As soon as I could speak, +I replied that I had not supposed it possible, coming in such a state of +mind into that house as I had done, that anything could occur to make +me suffer more, but that she had been inflicting deeper wounds in almost +every sentence. That though I had, in the course of our acquaintance, +been often sensible of some difference in our opinions, on points, +too, of some moment, it had not entered my imagination to conceive the +difference could be such as she had now proved it. That the manner in +which she treated the dreadful crime committed by her brother and my +sister (with whom lay the greater seduction I pretended not to say), +but the manner in which she spoke of the crime itself, giving it every +reproach but the right; considering its ill consequences only as they +were to be braved or overborne by a defiance of decency and impudence in +wrong; and last of all, and above all, recommending to us a compliance, +a compromise, an acquiescence in the continuance of the sin, on the +chance of a marriage which, thinking as I now thought of her brother, +should rather be prevented than sought; all this together most +grievously convinced me that I had never understood her before, and +that, as far as related to mind, it had been the creature of my own +imagination, not Miss Crawford, that I had been too apt to dwell on +for many months past. That, perhaps, it was best for me; I had less to +regret in sacrificing a friendship, feelings, hopes which must, at any +rate, have been torn from me now. And yet, that I must and would confess +that, could I have restored her to what she had appeared to me before, +I would infinitely prefer any increase of the pain of parting, for the +sake of carrying with me the right of tenderness and esteem. This is +what I said, the purport of it; but, as you may imagine, not spoken +so collectedly or methodically as I have repeated it to you. She was +astonished, exceedingly astonished--more than astonished. I saw her +change countenance. She turned extremely red. I imagined I saw a +mixture of many feelings: a great, though short struggle; half a wish of +yielding to truths, half a sense of shame, but habit, habit carried +it. She would have laughed if she could. It was a sort of laugh, as she +answered, 'A pretty good lecture, upon my word. Was it part of your last +sermon? At this rate you will soon reform everybody at Mansfield and +Thornton Lacey; and when I hear of you next, it may be as a celebrated +preacher in some great society of Methodists, or as a missionary into +foreign parts.' She tried to speak carelessly, but she was not so +careless as she wanted to appear. I only said in reply, that from my +heart I wished her well, and earnestly hoped that she might soon learn +to think more justly, and not owe the most valuable knowledge we could +any of us acquire, the knowledge of ourselves and of our duty, to the +lessons of affliction, and immediately left the room. I had gone a few +steps, Fanny, when I heard the door open behind me. 'Mr. Bertram,' said +she. I looked back. 'Mr. Bertram,' said she, with a smile; but it was +a smile ill-suited to the conversation that had passed, a saucy playful +smile, seeming to invite in order to subdue me; at least it appeared so +to me. I resisted; it was the impulse of the moment to resist, and still +walked on. I have since, sometimes, for a moment, regretted that I did +not go back, but I know I was right, and such has been the end of our +acquaintance. And what an acquaintance has it been! How have I been +deceived! Equally in brother and sister deceived! I thank you for your +patience, Fanny. This has been the greatest relief, and now we will have +done." + +And such was Fanny's dependence on his words, that for five minutes +she thought they _had_ done. Then, however, it all came on again, or +something very like it, and nothing less than Lady Bertram's rousing +thoroughly up could really close such a conversation. Till that +happened, they continued to talk of Miss Crawford alone, and how she had +attached him, and how delightful nature had made her, and how excellent +she would have been, had she fallen into good hands earlier. Fanny, now +at liberty to speak openly, felt more than justified in adding to +his knowledge of her real character, by some hint of what share his +brother's state of health might be supposed to have in her wish for a +complete reconciliation. This was not an agreeable intimation. Nature +resisted it for a while. It would have been a vast deal pleasanter to +have had her more disinterested in her attachment; but his vanity was +not of a strength to fight long against reason. He submitted to believe +that Tom's illness had influenced her, only reserving for himself this +consoling thought, that considering the many counteractions of opposing +habits, she had certainly been _more_ attached to him than could have +been expected, and for his sake been more near doing right. Fanny +thought exactly the same; and they were also quite agreed in their +opinion of the lasting effect, the indelible impression, which such +a disappointment must make on his mind. Time would undoubtedly abate +somewhat of his sufferings, but still it was a sort of thing which he +never could get entirely the better of; and as to his ever meeting with +any other woman who could--it was too impossible to be named but with +indignation. Fanny's friendship was all that he had to cling to. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects +as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault +themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest. + +My Fanny, indeed, at this very time, I have the satisfaction of knowing, +must have been happy in spite of everything. She must have been a happy +creature in spite of all that she felt, or thought she felt, for the +distress of those around her. She had sources of delight that must force +their way. She was returned to Mansfield Park, she was useful, she was +beloved; she was safe from Mr. Crawford; and when Sir Thomas came back +she had every proof that could be given in his then melancholy state of +spirits, of his perfect approbation and increased regard; and happy as +all this must make her, she would still have been happy without any of +it, for Edmund was no longer the dupe of Miss Crawford. + +It is true that Edmund was very far from happy himself. He was suffering +from disappointment and regret, grieving over what was, and wishing for +what could never be. She knew it was so, and was sorry; but it was with +a sorrow so founded on satisfaction, so tending to ease, and so much in +harmony with every dearest sensation, that there are few who might not +have been glad to exchange their greatest gaiety for it. + +Sir Thomas, poor Sir Thomas, a parent, and conscious of errors in his +own conduct as a parent, was the longest to suffer. He felt that he +ought not to have allowed the marriage; that his daughter's sentiments +had been sufficiently known to him to render him culpable in authorising +it; that in so doing he had sacrificed the right to the expedient, and +been governed by motives of selfishness and worldly wisdom. These were +reflections that required some time to soften; but time will do almost +everything; and though little comfort arose on Mrs. Rushworth's side for +the misery she had occasioned, comfort was to be found greater than +he had supposed in his other children. Julia's match became a less +desperate business than he had considered it at first. She was humble, +and wishing to be forgiven; and Mr. Yates, desirous of being really +received into the family, was disposed to look up to him and be guided. +He was not very solid; but there was a hope of his becoming less +trifling, of his being at least tolerably domestic and quiet; and at any +rate, there was comfort in finding his estate rather more, and his debts +much less, than he had feared, and in being consulted and treated as +the friend best worth attending to. There was comfort also in Tom, who +gradually regained his health, without regaining the thoughtlessness and +selfishness of his previous habits. He was the better for ever for his +illness. He had suffered, and he had learned to think: two advantages +that he had never known before; and the self-reproach arising from the +deplorable event in Wimpole Street, to which he felt himself accessory +by all the dangerous intimacy of his unjustifiable theatre, made an +impression on his mind which, at the age of six-and-twenty, with no want +of sense or good companions, was durable in its happy effects. He became +what he ought to be: useful to his father, steady and quiet, and not +living merely for himself. + +Here was comfort indeed! and quite as soon as Sir Thomas could place +dependence on such sources of good, Edmund was contributing to his +father's ease by improvement in the only point in which he had given +him pain before--improvement in his spirits. After wandering about and +sitting under trees with Fanny all the summer evenings, he had so well +talked his mind into submission as to be very tolerably cheerful again. + +These were the circumstances and the hopes which gradually brought their +alleviation to Sir Thomas, deadening his sense of what was lost, and +in part reconciling him to himself; though the anguish arising from the +conviction of his own errors in the education of his daughters was never +to be entirely done away. + +Too late he became aware how unfavourable to the character of any young +people must be the totally opposite treatment which Maria and Julia had +been always experiencing at home, where the excessive indulgence and +flattery of their aunt had been continually contrasted with his own +severity. He saw how ill he had judged, in expecting to counteract what +was wrong in Mrs. Norris by its reverse in himself; clearly saw that he +had but increased the evil by teaching them to repress their spirits in +his presence so as to make their real disposition unknown to him, and +sending them for all their indulgences to a person who had been able to +attach them only by the blindness of her affection, and the excess of +her praise. + +Here had been grievous mismanagement; but, bad as it was, he gradually +grew to feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan +of education. Something must have been wanting _within_, or time would +have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active +principle, had been wanting; that they had never been properly taught +to govern their inclinations and tempers by that sense of duty which can +alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, +but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished +for elegance and accomplishments, the authorised object of their youth, +could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the +mind. He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to +the understanding and manners, not the disposition; and of the necessity +of self-denial and humility, he feared they had never heard from any +lips that could profit them. + +Bitterly did he deplore a deficiency which now he could scarcely +comprehend to have been possible. Wretchedly did he feel, that with all +the cost and care of an anxious and expensive education, he had brought +up his daughters without their understanding their first duties, or his +being acquainted with their character and temper. + +The high spirit and strong passions of Mrs. Rushworth, especially, were +made known to him only in their sad result. She was not to be prevailed +on to leave Mr. Crawford. She hoped to marry him, and they continued +together till she was obliged to be convinced that such hope was vain, +and till the disappointment and wretchedness arising from the conviction +rendered her temper so bad, and her feelings for him so like hatred, +as to make them for a while each other's punishment, and then induce a +voluntary separation. + +She had lived with him to be reproached as the ruin of all his happiness +in Fanny, and carried away no better consolation in leaving him than +that she _had_ divided them. What can exceed the misery of such a mind +in such a situation? + +Mr. Rushworth had no difficulty in procuring a divorce; and so ended a +marriage contracted under such circumstances as to make any better end +the effect of good luck not to be reckoned on. She had despised him, +and loved another; and he had been very much aware that it was so. The +indignities of stupidity, and the disappointments of selfish passion, +can excite little pity. His punishment followed his conduct, as did a +deeper punishment the deeper guilt of his wife. _He_ was released from +the engagement to be mortified and unhappy, till some other pretty girl +could attract him into matrimony again, and he might set forward on a +second, and, it is to be hoped, more prosperous trial of the state: if +duped, to be duped at least with good humour and good luck; while she +must withdraw with infinitely stronger feelings to a retirement and +reproach which could allow no second spring of hope or character. + +Where she could be placed became a subject of most melancholy and +momentous consultation. Mrs. Norris, whose attachment seemed to augment +with the demerits of her niece, would have had her received at home +and countenanced by them all. Sir Thomas would not hear of it; and Mrs. +Norris's anger against Fanny was so much the greater, from considering +_her_ residence there as the motive. She persisted in placing his +scruples to _her_ account, though Sir Thomas very solemnly assured her +that, had there been no young woman in question, had there been no young +person of either sex belonging to him, to be endangered by the society +or hurt by the character of Mrs. Rushworth, he would never have offered +so great an insult to the neighbourhood as to expect it to notice her. +As a daughter, he hoped a penitent one, she should be protected by him, +and secured in every comfort, and supported by every encouragement to do +right, which their relative situations admitted; but farther than _that_ +he could not go. Maria had destroyed her own character, and he would +not, by a vain attempt to restore what never could be restored, by +affording his sanction to vice, or in seeking to lessen its disgrace, be +anywise accessory to introducing such misery in another man's family as +he had known himself. + +It ended in Mrs. Norris's resolving to quit Mansfield and devote herself +to her unfortunate Maria, and in an establishment being formed for them +in another country, remote and private, where, shut up together with +little society, on one side no affection, on the other no judgment, +it may be reasonably supposed that their tempers became their mutual +punishment. + +Mrs. Norris's removal from Mansfield was the great supplementary comfort +of Sir Thomas's life. His opinion of her had been sinking from the day +of his return from Antigua: in every transaction together from that +period, in their daily intercourse, in business, or in chat, she had +been regularly losing ground in his esteem, and convincing him that +either time had done her much disservice, or that he had considerably +over-rated her sense, and wonderfully borne with her manners before. He +had felt her as an hourly evil, which was so much the worse, as there +seemed no chance of its ceasing but with life; she seemed a part of +himself that must be borne for ever. To be relieved from her, therefore, +was so great a felicity that, had she not left bitter remembrances +behind her, there might have been danger of his learning almost to +approve the evil which produced such a good. + +She was regretted by no one at Mansfield. She had never been able to +attach even those she loved best; and since Mrs. Rushworth's elopement, +her temper had been in a state of such irritation as to make her +everywhere tormenting. Not even Fanny had tears for aunt Norris, not +even when she was gone for ever. + +That Julia escaped better than Maria was owing, in some measure, to a +favourable difference of disposition and circumstance, but in a greater +to her having been less the darling of that very aunt, less flattered +and less spoilt. Her beauty and acquirements had held but a second +place. She had been always used to think herself a little inferior to +Maria. Her temper was naturally the easiest of the two; her feelings, +though quick, were more controllable, and education had not given her so +very hurtful a degree of self-consequence. + +She had submitted the best to the disappointment in Henry Crawford. +After the first bitterness of the conviction of being slighted was over, +she had been tolerably soon in a fair way of not thinking of him again; +and when the acquaintance was renewed in town, and Mr. Rushworth's house +became Crawford's object, she had had the merit of withdrawing herself +from it, and of chusing that time to pay a visit to her other friends, +in order to secure herself from being again too much attracted. This had +been her motive in going to her cousin's. Mr. Yates's convenience had +had nothing to do with it. She had been allowing his attentions some +time, but with very little idea of ever accepting him; and had not her +sister's conduct burst forth as it did, and her increased dread of her +father and of home, on that event, imagining its certain consequence +to herself would be greater severity and restraint, made her hastily +resolve on avoiding such immediate horrors at all risks, it is probable +that Mr. Yates would never have succeeded. She had not eloped with any +worse feelings than those of selfish alarm. It had appeared to her the +only thing to be done. Maria's guilt had induced Julia's folly. + +Henry Crawford, ruined by early independence and bad domestic example, +indulged in the freaks of a cold-blooded vanity a little too long. Once +it had, by an opening undesigned and unmerited, led him into the way of +happiness. Could he have been satisfied with the conquest of one +amiable woman's affections, could he have found sufficient exultation +in overcoming the reluctance, in working himself into the esteem and +tenderness of Fanny Price, there would have been every probability of +success and felicity for him. His affection had already done something. +Her influence over him had already given him some influence over her. +Would he have deserved more, there can be no doubt that more would have +been obtained, especially when that marriage had taken place, which +would have given him the assistance of her conscience in subduing her +first inclination, and brought them very often together. Would he have +persevered, and uprightly, Fanny must have been his reward, and a reward +very voluntarily bestowed, within a reasonable period from Edmund's +marrying Mary. + +Had he done as he intended, and as he knew he ought, by going down to +Everingham after his return from Portsmouth, he might have been deciding +his own happy destiny. But he was pressed to stay for Mrs. Fraser's +party; his staying was made of flattering consequence, and he was to +meet Mrs. Rushworth there. Curiosity and vanity were both engaged, and +the temptation of immediate pleasure was too strong for a mind unused to +make any sacrifice to right: he resolved to defer his Norfolk journey, +resolved that writing should answer the purpose of it, or that its +purpose was unimportant, and staid. He saw Mrs. Rushworth, was received +by her with a coldness which ought to have been repulsive, and have +established apparent indifference between them for ever; but he was +mortified, he could not bear to be thrown off by the woman whose smiles +had been so wholly at his command: he must exert himself to subdue so +proud a display of resentment; it was anger on Fanny's account; he must +get the better of it, and make Mrs. Rushworth Maria Bertram again in her +treatment of himself. + +In this spirit he began the attack, and by animated perseverance had +soon re-established the sort of familiar intercourse, of gallantry, +of flirtation, which bounded his views; but in triumphing over the +discretion which, though beginning in anger, might have saved them both, +he had put himself in the power of feelings on her side more strong +than he had supposed. She loved him; there was no withdrawing attentions +avowedly dear to her. He was entangled by his own vanity, with as little +excuse of love as possible, and without the smallest inconstancy of mind +towards her cousin. To keep Fanny and the Bertrams from a knowledge of +what was passing became his first object. Secrecy could not have been +more desirable for Mrs. Rushworth's credit than he felt it for his own. +When he returned from Richmond, he would have been glad to see Mrs. +Rushworth no more. All that followed was the result of her imprudence; +and he went off with her at last, because he could not help it, +regretting Fanny even at the moment, but regretting her infinitely more +when all the bustle of the intrigue was over, and a very few months had +taught him, by the force of contrast, to place a yet higher value on the +sweetness of her temper, the purity of her mind, and the excellence of +her principles. + +That punishment, the public punishment of disgrace, should in a just +measure attend _his_ share of the offence is, we know, not one of the +barriers which society gives to virtue. In this world the penalty is +less equal than could be wished; but without presuming to look forward +to a juster appointment hereafter, we may fairly consider a man of +sense, like Henry Crawford, to be providing for himself no small +portion of vexation and regret: vexation that must rise sometimes +to self-reproach, and regret to wretchedness, in having so requited +hospitality, so injured family peace, so forfeited his best, most +estimable, and endeared acquaintance, and so lost the woman whom he had +rationally as well as passionately loved. + +After what had passed to wound and alienate the two families, the +continuance of the Bertrams and Grants in such close neighbourhood would +have been most distressing; but the absence of the latter, for some +months purposely lengthened, ended very fortunately in the necessity, or +at least the practicability, of a permanent removal. Dr. Grant, through +an interest on which he had almost ceased to form hopes, succeeded to +a stall in Westminster, which, as affording an occasion for leaving +Mansfield, an excuse for residence in London, and an increase of income +to answer the expenses of the change, was highly acceptable to those who +went and those who staid. + +Mrs. Grant, with a temper to love and be loved, must have gone with some +regret from the scenes and people she had been used to; but the same +happiness of disposition must in any place, and any society, secure her +a great deal to enjoy, and she had again a home to offer Mary; and Mary +had had enough of her own friends, enough of vanity, ambition, love, and +disappointment in the course of the last half-year, to be in need of the +true kindness of her sister's heart, and the rational tranquillity +of her ways. They lived together; and when Dr. Grant had brought on +apoplexy and death, by three great institutionary dinners in one week, +they still lived together; for Mary, though perfectly resolved against +ever attaching herself to a younger brother again, was long in finding +among the dashing representatives, or idle heir-apparents, who were at +the command of her beauty, and her 20,000, any one who could satisfy the +better taste she had acquired at Mansfield, whose character and manners +could authorise a hope of the domestic happiness she had there learned +to estimate, or put Edmund Bertram sufficiently out of her head. + +Edmund had greatly the advantage of her in this respect. He had not to +wait and wish with vacant affections for an object worthy to succeed her +in them. Scarcely had he done regretting Mary Crawford, and observing to +Fanny how impossible it was that he should ever meet with such another +woman, before it began to strike him whether a very different kind of +woman might not do just as well, or a great deal better: whether Fanny +herself were not growing as dear, as important to him in all her smiles +and all her ways, as Mary Crawford had ever been; and whether it might +not be a possible, an hopeful undertaking to persuade her that her warm +and sisterly regard for him would be foundation enough for wedded love. + +I purposely abstain from dates on this occasion, that every one may +be at liberty to fix their own, aware that the cure of unconquerable +passions, and the transfer of unchanging attachments, must vary much as +to time in different people. I only entreat everybody to believe that +exactly at the time when it was quite natural that it should be so, and +not a week earlier, Edmund did cease to care about Miss Crawford, and +became as anxious to marry Fanny as Fanny herself could desire. + +With such a regard for her, indeed, as his had long been, a regard +founded on the most endearing claims of innocence and helplessness, and +completed by every recommendation of growing worth, what could be more +natural than the change? Loving, guiding, protecting her, as he had been +doing ever since her being ten years old, her mind in so great a degree +formed by his care, and her comfort depending on his kindness, an +object to him of such close and peculiar interest, dearer by all his own +importance with her than any one else at Mansfield, what was there now +to add, but that he should learn to prefer soft light eyes to sparkling +dark ones. And being always with her, and always talking confidentially, +and his feelings exactly in that favourable state which a recent +disappointment gives, those soft light eyes could not be very long in +obtaining the pre-eminence. + +Having once set out, and felt that he had done so on this road to +happiness, there was nothing on the side of prudence to stop him or make +his progress slow; no doubts of her deserving, no fears of opposition of +taste, no need of drawing new hopes of happiness from dissimilarity +of temper. Her mind, disposition, opinions, and habits wanted no +half-concealment, no self-deception on the present, no reliance on +future improvement. Even in the midst of his late infatuation, he had +acknowledged Fanny's mental superiority. What must be his sense of it +now, therefore? She was of course only too good for him; but as nobody +minds having what is too good for them, he was very steadily earnest in +the pursuit of the blessing, and it was not possible that encouragement +from her should be long wanting. Timid, anxious, doubting as she was, it +was still impossible that such tenderness as hers should not, at times, +hold out the strongest hope of success, though it remained for a later +period to tell him the whole delightful and astonishing truth. His +happiness in knowing himself to have been so long the beloved of such a +heart, must have been great enough to warrant any strength of language +in which he could clothe it to her or to himself; it must have been +a delightful happiness. But there was happiness elsewhere which no +description can reach. Let no one presume to give the feelings of a +young woman on receiving the assurance of that affection of which she +has scarcely allowed herself to entertain a hope. + +Their own inclinations ascertained, there were no difficulties behind, +no drawback of poverty or parent. It was a match which Sir Thomas's +wishes had even forestalled. Sick of ambitious and mercenary connexions, +prizing more and more the sterling good of principle and temper, and +chiefly anxious to bind by the strongest securities all that remained to +him of domestic felicity, he had pondered with genuine satisfaction on +the more than possibility of the two young friends finding their natural +consolation in each other for all that had occurred of disappointment to +either; and the joyful consent which met Edmund's application, the high +sense of having realised a great acquisition in the promise of Fanny for +a daughter, formed just such a contrast with his early opinion on the +subject when the poor little girl's coming had been first agitated, as +time is for ever producing between the plans and decisions of mortals, +for their own instruction, and their neighbours' entertainment. + +Fanny was indeed the daughter that he wanted. His charitable kindness +had been rearing a prime comfort for himself. His liberality had a rich +repayment, and the general goodness of his intentions by her deserved +it. He might have made her childhood happier; but it had been an error +of judgment only which had given him the appearance of harshness, and +deprived him of her early love; and now, on really knowing each other, +their mutual attachment became very strong. After settling her at +Thornton Lacey with every kind attention to her comfort, the object of +almost every day was to see her there, or to get her away from it. + +Selfishly dear as she had long been to Lady Bertram, she could not be +parted with willingly by _her_. No happiness of son or niece could make +her wish the marriage. But it was possible to part with her, because +Susan remained to supply her place. Susan became the stationary niece, +delighted to be so; and equally well adapted for it by a readiness of +mind, and an inclination for usefulness, as Fanny had been by sweetness +of temper, and strong feelings of gratitude. Susan could never be +spared. First as a comfort to Fanny, then as an auxiliary, and last as +her substitute, she was established at Mansfield, with every appearance +of equal permanency. Her more fearless disposition and happier nerves +made everything easy to her there. With quickness in understanding +the tempers of those she had to deal with, and no natural timidity to +restrain any consequent wishes, she was soon welcome and useful to all; +and after Fanny's removal succeeded so naturally to her influence over +the hourly comfort of her aunt, as gradually to become, perhaps, the +most beloved of the two. In _her_ usefulness, in Fanny's excellence, +in William's continued good conduct and rising fame, and in the general +well-doing and success of the other members of the family, all assisting +to advance each other, and doing credit to his countenance and aid, Sir +Thomas saw repeated, and for ever repeated, reason to rejoice in what he +had done for them all, and acknowledge the advantages of early hardship +and discipline, and the consciousness of being born to struggle and +endure. + +With so much true merit and true love, and no want of fortune and +friends, the happiness of the married cousins must appear as secure as +earthly happiness can be. Equally formed for domestic life, and attached +to country pleasures, their home was the home of affection and comfort; +and to complete the picture of good, the acquisition of Mansfield +living, by the death of Dr. Grant, occurred just after they had been +married long enough to begin to want an increase of income, and feel +their distance from the paternal abode an inconvenience. + +On that event they removed to Mansfield; and the Parsonage there, +which, under each of its two former owners, Fanny had never been able +to approach but with some painful sensation of restraint or alarm, soon +grew as dear to her heart, and as thoroughly perfect in her eyes, as +everything else within the view and patronage of Mansfield Park had long +been. + + +THE END + + + + + + + + +EMMA + +By Jane Austen + + + + +VOLUME I + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home +and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of +existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very +little to distress or vex her. + +She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, +indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been +mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died +too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of +her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as +governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection. + +Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a +governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly +of Emma. Between _them_ it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before +Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the +mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; +and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been +living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma +doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but +directed chiefly by her own. + +The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having +rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too +well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to +her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, +that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her. + +Sorrow came--a gentle sorrow--but not at all in the shape of any +disagreeable consciousness.--Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's +loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this +beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any +continuance. The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and +herself were left to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer +a long evening. Her father composed himself to sleep after dinner, as +usual, and she had then only to sit and think of what she had lost. + +The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston +was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and +pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering +with what self-denying, generous friendship she had always wished and +promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want +of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her +past kindness--the kindness, the affection of sixteen years--how she had +taught and how she had played with her from five years old--how she had +devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in health--and how +nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of +gratitude was owing here; but the intercourse of the last seven +years, the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed +Isabella's marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a +dearer, tenderer recollection. She had been a friend and companion such +as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing +all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and +peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of +hers--one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had +such an affection for her as could never find fault. + +How was she to bear the change?--It was true that her friend was going +only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the +difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss +Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic, +she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She +dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not +meet her in conversation, rational or playful. + +The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had +not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; +for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of +mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though +everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable +temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time. + +Her sister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being +settled in London, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily +reach; and many a long October and November evening must be struggled +through at Hartfield, before Christmas brought the next visit from +Isabella and her husband, and their little children, to fill the house, +and give her pleasant society again. + +Highbury, the large and populous village, almost amounting to a town, +to which Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and +name, did really belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses +were first in consequence there. All looked up to them. She had many +acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but +not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even +half a day. It was a melancholy change; and Emma could not but sigh over +it, and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it +necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. He was a nervous +man, easily depressed; fond of every body that he was used to, and +hating to part with them; hating change of every kind. Matrimony, as the +origin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yet +reconciled to his own daughter's marrying, nor could ever speak of her +but with compassion, though it had been entirely a match of affection, +when he was now obliged to part with Miss Taylor too; and from his +habits of gentle selfishness, and of being never able to suppose that +other people could feel differently from himself, he was very much +disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for herself as for +them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the +rest of her life at Hartfield. Emma smiled and chatted as cheerfully +as she could, to keep him from such thoughts; but when tea came, it was +impossible for him not to say exactly as he had said at dinner, + +"Poor Miss Taylor!--I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that +Mr. Weston ever thought of her!" + +"I cannot agree with you, papa; you know I cannot. Mr. Weston is such +a good-humoured, pleasant, excellent man, that he thoroughly deserves +a good wife;--and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for +ever, and bear all my odd humours, when she might have a house of her +own?" + +"A house of her own!--But where is the advantage of a house of her own? +This is three times as large.--And you have never any odd humours, my +dear." + +"How often we shall be going to see them, and they coming to see us!--We +shall be always meeting! _We_ must begin; we must go and pay wedding +visit very soon." + +"My dear, how am I to get so far? Randalls is such a distance. I could +not walk half so far." + +"No, papa, nobody thought of your walking. We must go in the carriage, +to be sure." + +"The carriage! But James will not like to put the horses to for such a +little way;--and where are the poor horses to be while we are paying our +visit?" + +"They are to be put into Mr. Weston's stable, papa. You know we have +settled all that already. We talked it all over with Mr. Weston last +night. And as for James, you may be very sure he will always like going +to Randalls, because of his daughter's being housemaid there. I only +doubt whether he will ever take us anywhere else. That was your doing, +papa. You got Hannah that good place. Nobody thought of Hannah till you +mentioned her--James is so obliged to you!" + +"I am very glad I did think of her. It was very lucky, for I would not +have had poor James think himself slighted upon any account; and I am +sure she will make a very good servant: she is a civil, pretty-spoken +girl; I have a great opinion of her. Whenever I see her, she always +curtseys and asks me how I do, in a very pretty manner; and when you +have had her here to do needlework, I observe she always turns the lock +of the door the right way and never bangs it. I am sure she will be an +excellent servant; and it will be a great comfort to poor Miss Taylor +to have somebody about her that she is used to see. Whenever James goes +over to see his daughter, you know, she will be hearing of us. He will +be able to tell her how we all are." + +Emma spared no exertions to maintain this happier flow of ideas, and +hoped, by the help of backgammon, to get her father tolerably +through the evening, and be attacked by no regrets but her own. The +backgammon-table was placed; but a visitor immediately afterwards walked +in and made it unnecessary. + +Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not +only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly +connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella's husband. He lived +about a mile from Highbury, was a frequent visitor, and always welcome, +and at this time more welcome than usual, as coming directly from their +mutual connexions in London. He had returned to a late dinner, after +some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were +well in Brunswick Square. It was a happy circumstance, and animated +Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which +always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and +her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. +Woodhouse gratefully observed, "It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, +to come out at this late hour to call upon us. I am afraid you must have +had a shocking walk." + +"Not at all, sir. It is a beautiful moonlight night; and so mild that I +must draw back from your great fire." + +"But you must have found it very damp and dirty. I wish you may not +catch cold." + +"Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck on them." + +"Well! that is quite surprising, for we have had a vast deal of rain +here. It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at +breakfast. I wanted them to put off the wedding." + +"By the bye--I have not wished you joy. Being pretty well aware of what +sort of joy you must both be feeling, I have been in no hurry with my +congratulations; but I hope it all went off tolerably well. How did you +all behave? Who cried most?" + +"Ah! poor Miss Taylor! 'Tis a sad business." + +"Poor Mr. and Miss Woodhouse, if you please; but I cannot possibly say +'poor Miss Taylor.' I have a great regard for you and Emma; but when it +comes to the question of dependence or independence!--At any rate, it +must be better to have only one to please than two." + +"Especially when _one_ of those two is such a fanciful, troublesome +creature!" said Emma playfully. "That is what you have in your head, I +know--and what you would certainly say if my father were not by." + +"I believe it is very true, my dear, indeed," said Mr. Woodhouse, with a +sigh. "I am afraid I am sometimes very fanciful and troublesome." + +"My dearest papa! You do not think I could mean _you_, or suppose Mr. +Knightley to mean _you_. What a horrible idea! Oh no! I meant only +myself. Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know--in a +joke--it is all a joke. We always say what we like to one another." + +Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults +in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them: and +though this was not particularly agreeable to Emma herself, she knew +it would be so much less so to her father, that she would not have him +really suspect such a circumstance as her not being thought perfect by +every body. + +"Emma knows I never flatter her," said Mr. Knightley, "but I meant no +reflection on any body. Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons +to please; she will now have but one. The chances are that she must be a +gainer." + +"Well," said Emma, willing to let it pass--"you want to hear about +the wedding; and I shall be happy to tell you, for we all behaved +charmingly. Every body was punctual, every body in their best looks: not +a tear, and hardly a long face to be seen. Oh no; we all felt that we +were going to be only half a mile apart, and were sure of meeting every +day." + +"Dear Emma bears every thing so well," said her father. "But, Mr. +Knightley, she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor, and I am +sure she _will_ miss her more than she thinks for." + +Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles. "It +is impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion," said Mr. +Knightley. "We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could +suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's +advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's +time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to +her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow +herself to feel so much pain as pleasure. Every friend of Miss Taylor +must be glad to have her so happily married." + +"And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me," said Emma, "and a very +considerable one--that I made the match myself. I made the match, you +know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the +right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again, may +comfort me for any thing." + +Mr. Knightley shook his head at her. Her father fondly replied, "Ah! +my dear, I wish you would not make matches and foretell things, for +whatever you say always comes to pass. Pray do not make any more +matches." + +"I promise you to make none for myself, papa; but I must, indeed, for +other people. It is the greatest amusement in the world! And after such +success, you know!--Every body said that Mr. Weston would never marry +again. Oh dear, no! Mr. Weston, who had been a widower so long, and who +seemed so perfectly comfortable without a wife, so constantly occupied +either in his business in town or among his friends here, always +acceptable wherever he went, always cheerful--Mr. Weston need not spend +a single evening in the year alone if he did not like it. Oh no! Mr. +Weston certainly would never marry again. Some people even talked of a +promise to his wife on her deathbed, and others of the son and the +uncle not letting him. All manner of solemn nonsense was talked on the +subject, but I believed none of it. + +"Ever since the day--about four years ago--that Miss Taylor and I met +with him in Broadway Lane, when, because it began to drizzle, he darted +away with so much gallantry, and borrowed two umbrellas for us from +Farmer Mitchell's, I made up my mind on the subject. I planned the match +from that hour; and when such success has blessed me in this instance, +dear papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making." + +"I do not understand what you mean by 'success,'" said Mr. Knightley. +"Success supposes endeavour. Your time has been properly and delicately +spent, if you have been endeavouring for the last four years to bring +about this marriage. A worthy employment for a young lady's mind! But +if, which I rather imagine, your making the match, as you call it, means +only your planning it, your saying to yourself one idle day, 'I think it +would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry +her,' and saying it again to yourself every now and then afterwards, why +do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You +made a lucky guess; and _that_ is all that can be said." + +"And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess?--I +pity you.--I thought you cleverer--for, depend upon it a lucky guess is +never merely luck. There is always some talent in it. And as to my +poor word 'success,' which you quarrel with, I do not know that I am so +entirely without any claim to it. You have drawn two pretty pictures; +but I think there may be a third--a something between the do-nothing and +the do-all. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston's visits here, and given +many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might +not have come to any thing after all. I think you must know Hartfield +enough to comprehend that." + +"A straightforward, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, +unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their +own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than +good to them, by interference." + +"Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others," rejoined +Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. "But, my dear, pray do not +make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family +circle grievously." + +"Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. +Elton, papa,--I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in +Highbury who deserves him--and he has been here a whole year, and has +fitted up his house so comfortably, that it would be a shame to have him +single any longer--and I thought when he was joining their hands to-day, +he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same kind office +done for him! I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I +have of doing him a service." + +"Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young +man, and I have a great regard for him. But if you want to shew him any +attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will +be a much better thing. I dare say Mr. Knightley will be so kind as to +meet him." + +"With a great deal of pleasure, sir, at any time," said Mr. Knightley, +laughing, "and I agree with you entirely, that it will be a much better +thing. Invite him to dinner, Emma, and help him to the best of the fish +and the chicken, but leave him to chuse his own wife. Depend upon it, a +man of six or seven-and-twenty can take care of himself." + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, +which for the last two or three generations had been rising into +gentility and property. He had received a good education, but, on +succeeding early in life to a small independence, had become indisposed +for any of the more homely pursuits in which his brothers were engaged, +and had satisfied an active, cheerful mind and social temper by entering +into the militia of his county, then embodied. + +Captain Weston was a general favourite; and when the chances of his +military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill, of a great Yorkshire +family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, +except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were +full of pride and importance, which the connexion would offend. + +Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her +fortune--though her fortune bore no proportion to the family-estate--was +not to be dissuaded from the marriage, and it took place, to the +infinite mortification of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with +due decorum. It was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much +happiness. Mrs. Weston ought to have found more in it, for she had a +husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him think every thing due +to her in return for the great goodness of being in love with him; +but though she had one sort of spirit, she had not the best. She had +resolution enough to pursue her own will in spite of her brother, +but not enough to refrain from unreasonable regrets at that brother's +unreasonable anger, nor from missing the luxuries of her former home. +They lived beyond their income, but still it was nothing in comparison +of Enscombe: she did not cease to love her husband, but she wanted at +once to be the wife of Captain Weston, and Miss Churchill of Enscombe. + +Captain Weston, who had been considered, especially by the Churchills, +as making such an amazing match, was proved to have much the worst of +the bargain; for when his wife died, after a three years' marriage, he +was rather a poorer man than at first, and with a child to maintain. +From the expense of the child, however, he was soon relieved. The boy +had, with the additional softening claim of a lingering illness of his +mother's, been the means of a sort of reconciliation; and Mr. and Mrs. +Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature +of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the +little Frank soon after her decease. Some scruples and some reluctance +the widower-father may be supposed to have felt; but as they were +overcome by other considerations, the child was given up to the care and +the wealth of the Churchills, and he had only his own comfort to seek, +and his own situation to improve as he could. + +A complete change of life became desirable. He quitted the militia and +engaged in trade, having brothers already established in a good way in +London, which afforded him a favourable opening. It was a concern which +brought just employment enough. He had still a small house in Highbury, +where most of his leisure days were spent; and between useful occupation +and the pleasures of society, the next eighteen or twenty years of his +life passed cheerfully away. He had, by that time, realised an easy +competence--enough to secure the purchase of a little estate adjoining +Highbury, which he had always longed for--enough to marry a woman as +portionless even as Miss Taylor, and to live according to the wishes of +his own friendly and social disposition. + +It was now some time since Miss Taylor had begun to influence his +schemes; but as it was not the tyrannic influence of youth on youth, +it had not shaken his determination of never settling till he could +purchase Randalls, and the sale of Randalls was long looked forward to; +but he had gone steadily on, with these objects in view, till they were +accomplished. He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained +his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every +probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through. He had +never been an unhappy man; his own temper had secured him from that, +even in his first marriage; but his second must shew him how delightful +a well-judging and truly amiable woman could be, and must give him the +pleasantest proof of its being a great deal better to choose than to be +chosen, to excite gratitude than to feel it. + +He had only himself to please in his choice: his fortune was his own; +for as to Frank, it was more than being tacitly brought up as his +uncle's heir, it had become so avowed an adoption as to have him assume +the name of Churchill on coming of age. It was most unlikely, therefore, +that he should ever want his father's assistance. His father had no +apprehension of it. The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her +husband entirely; but it was not in Mr. Weston's nature to imagine that +any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear, and, as he +believed, so deservedly dear. He saw his son every year in London, and +was proud of him; and his fond report of him as a very fine young man +had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too. He was looked on as +sufficiently belonging to the place to make his merits and prospects a +kind of common concern. + +Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury, and a lively +curiosity to see him prevailed, though the compliment was so little +returned that he had never been there in his life. His coming to visit +his father had been often talked of but never achieved. + +Now, upon his father's marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a +most proper attention, that the visit should take place. There was not a +dissentient voice on the subject, either when Mrs. Perry drank tea with +Mrs. and Miss Bates, or when Mrs. and Miss Bates returned the visit. Now +was the time for Mr. Frank Churchill to come among them; and the hope +strengthened when it was understood that he had written to his new +mother on the occasion. For a few days, every morning visit in Highbury +included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs. Weston had received. +"I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr. Frank Churchill +has written to Mrs. Weston? I understand it was a very handsome letter, +indeed. Mr. Woodhouse told me of it. Mr. Woodhouse saw the letter, and +he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his life." + +It was, indeed, a highly prized letter. Mrs. Weston had, of course, +formed a very favourable idea of the young man; and such a pleasing +attention was an irresistible proof of his great good sense, and a most +welcome addition to every source and every expression of congratulation +which her marriage had already secured. She felt herself a most +fortunate woman; and she had lived long enough to know how fortunate +she might well be thought, where the only regret was for a partial +separation from friends whose friendship for her had never cooled, and +who could ill bear to part with her. + +She knew that at times she must be missed; and could not think, without +pain, of Emma's losing a single pleasure, or suffering an hour's ennui, +from the want of her companionableness: but dear Emma was of no feeble +character; she was more equal to her situation than most girls would +have been, and had sense, and energy, and spirits that might be hoped +would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and +privations. And then there was such comfort in the very easy distance of +Randalls from Hartfield, so convenient for even solitary female walking, +and in Mr. Weston's disposition and circumstances, which would make the +approaching season no hindrance to their spending half the evenings in +the week together. + +Her situation was altogether the subject of hours of gratitude to Mrs. +Weston, and of moments only of regret; and her satisfaction--her more +than satisfaction--her cheerful enjoyment, was so just and so apparent, +that Emma, well as she knew her father, was sometimes taken by surprize +at his being still able to pity 'poor Miss Taylor,' when they left her +at Randalls in the centre of every domestic comfort, or saw her go away +in the evening attended by her pleasant husband to a carriage of her +own. But never did she go without Mr. Woodhouse's giving a gentle sigh, +and saying, "Ah, poor Miss Taylor! She would be very glad to stay." + +There was no recovering Miss Taylor--nor much likelihood of ceasing to +pity her; but a few weeks brought some alleviation to Mr. Woodhouse. +The compliments of his neighbours were over; he was no longer teased by +being wished joy of so sorrowful an event; and the wedding-cake, which +had been a great distress to him, was all eat up. His own stomach +could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be +different from himself. What was unwholesome to him he regarded as unfit +for any body; and he had, therefore, earnestly tried to dissuade them +from having any wedding-cake at all, and when that proved vain, as +earnestly tried to prevent any body's eating it. He had been at the +pains of consulting Mr. Perry, the apothecary, on the subject. Mr. Perry +was an intelligent, gentlemanlike man, whose frequent visits were one +of the comforts of Mr. Woodhouse's life; and upon being applied to, he +could not but acknowledge (though it seemed rather against the bias +of inclination) that wedding-cake might certainly disagree with +many--perhaps with most people, unless taken moderately. With such an +opinion, in confirmation of his own, Mr. Woodhouse hoped to influence +every visitor of the newly married pair; but still the cake was eaten; +and there was no rest for his benevolent nerves till it was all gone. + +There was a strange rumour in Highbury of all the little Perrys being +seen with a slice of Mrs. Weston's wedding-cake in their hands: but Mr. +Woodhouse would never believe it. + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Mr. Woodhouse was fond of society in his own way. He liked very much to +have his friends come and see him; and from various united causes, from +his long residence at Hartfield, and his good nature, from his fortune, +his house, and his daughter, he could command the visits of his +own little circle, in a great measure, as he liked. He had not much +intercourse with any families beyond that circle; his horror of late +hours, and large dinner-parties, made him unfit for any acquaintance but +such as would visit him on his own terms. Fortunately for him, Highbury, +including Randalls in the same parish, and Donwell Abbey in the parish +adjoining, the seat of Mr. Knightley, comprehended many such. Not +unfrequently, through Emma's persuasion, he had some of the chosen and +the best to dine with him: but evening parties were what he preferred; +and, unless he fancied himself at any time unequal to company, there +was scarcely an evening in the week in which Emma could not make up a +card-table for him. + +Real, long-standing regard brought the Westons and Mr. Knightley; and by +Mr. Elton, a young man living alone without liking it, the privilege +of exchanging any vacant evening of his own blank solitude for the +elegancies and society of Mr. Woodhouse's drawing-room, and the smiles +of his lovely daughter, was in no danger of being thrown away. + +After these came a second set; among the most come-at-able of whom were +Mrs. and Miss Bates, and Mrs. Goddard, three ladies almost always at +the service of an invitation from Hartfield, and who were fetched and +carried home so often, that Mr. Woodhouse thought it no hardship for +either James or the horses. Had it taken place only once a year, it +would have been a grievance. + +Mrs. Bates, the widow of a former vicar of Highbury, was a very old +lady, almost past every thing but tea and quadrille. She lived with her +single daughter in a very small way, and was considered with all the +regard and respect which a harmless old lady, under such untoward +circumstances, can excite. Her daughter enjoyed a most uncommon degree +of popularity for a woman neither young, handsome, rich, nor married. +Miss Bates stood in the very worst predicament in the world for having +much of the public favour; and she had no intellectual superiority to +make atonement to herself, or frighten those who might hate her into +outward respect. She had never boasted either beauty or cleverness. Her +youth had passed without distinction, and her middle of life was devoted +to the care of a failing mother, and the endeavour to make a small +income go as far as possible. And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman +whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will +and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, +was interested in every body's happiness, quicksighted to every body's +merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with +blessings in such an excellent mother, and so many good neighbours +and friends, and a home that wanted for nothing. The simplicity and +cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a +recommendation to every body, and a mine of felicity to herself. She was +a great talker upon little matters, which exactly suited Mr. Woodhouse, +full of trivial communications and harmless gossip. + +Mrs. Goddard was the mistress of a School--not of a seminary, or an +establishment, or any thing which professed, in long sentences of +refined nonsense, to combine liberal acquirements with elegant morality, +upon new principles and new systems--and where young ladies for enormous +pay might be screwed out of health and into vanity--but a real, +honest, old-fashioned Boarding-school, where a reasonable quantity of +accomplishments were sold at a reasonable price, and where girls might +be sent to be out of the way, and scramble themselves into a little +education, without any danger of coming back prodigies. Mrs. Goddard's +school was in high repute--and very deservedly; for Highbury was +reckoned a particularly healthy spot: she had an ample house and garden, +gave the children plenty of wholesome food, let them run about a great +deal in the summer, and in winter dressed their chilblains with her own +hands. It was no wonder that a train of twenty young couple now walked +after her to church. She was a plain, motherly kind of woman, who +had worked hard in her youth, and now thought herself entitled to the +occasional holiday of a tea-visit; and having formerly owed much to Mr. +Woodhouse's kindness, felt his particular claim on her to leave her neat +parlour, hung round with fancy-work, whenever she could, and win or lose +a few sixpences by his fireside. + +These were the ladies whom Emma found herself very frequently able to +collect; and happy was she, for her father's sake, in the power; though, +as far as she was herself concerned, it was no remedy for the absence of +Mrs. Weston. She was delighted to see her father look comfortable, and +very much pleased with herself for contriving things so well; but the +quiet prosings of three such women made her feel that every evening so +spent was indeed one of the long evenings she had fearfully anticipated. + +As she sat one morning, looking forward to exactly such a close of the +present day, a note was brought from Mrs. Goddard, requesting, in most +respectful terms, to be allowed to bring Miss Smith with her; a most +welcome request: for Miss Smith was a girl of seventeen, whom Emma knew +very well by sight, and had long felt an interest in, on account of +her beauty. A very gracious invitation was returned, and the evening no +longer dreaded by the fair mistress of the mansion. + +Harriet Smith was the natural daughter of somebody. Somebody had placed +her, several years back, at Mrs. Goddard's school, and somebody +had lately raised her from the condition of scholar to that of +parlour-boarder. This was all that was generally known of her history. +She had no visible friends but what had been acquired at Highbury, and +was now just returned from a long visit in the country to some young +ladies who had been at school there with her. + +She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort +which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a +fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great +sweetness, and, before the end of the evening, Emma was as much pleased +with her manners as her person, and quite determined to continue the +acquaintance. + +She was not struck by any thing remarkably clever in Miss Smith's +conversation, but she found her altogether very engaging--not +inconveniently shy, not unwilling to talk--and yet so far from pushing, +shewing so proper and becoming a deference, seeming so pleasantly +grateful for being admitted to Hartfield, and so artlessly impressed +by the appearance of every thing in so superior a style to what she had +been used to, that she must have good sense, and deserve encouragement. +Encouragement should be given. Those soft blue eyes, and all those +natural graces, should not be wasted on the inferior society of Highbury +and its connexions. The acquaintance she had already formed were +unworthy of her. The friends from whom she had just parted, though very +good sort of people, must be doing her harm. They were a family of the +name of Martin, whom Emma well knew by character, as renting a large +farm of Mr. Knightley, and residing in the parish of Donwell--very +creditably, she believed--she knew Mr. Knightley thought highly of +them--but they must be coarse and unpolished, and very unfit to be the +intimates of a girl who wanted only a little more knowledge and elegance +to be quite perfect. _She_ would notice her; she would improve her; she +would detach her from her bad acquaintance, and introduce her into good +society; she would form her opinions and her manners. It would be an +interesting, and certainly a very kind undertaking; highly becoming her +own situation in life, her leisure, and powers. + +She was so busy in admiring those soft blue eyes, in talking and +listening, and forming all these schemes in the in-betweens, that the +evening flew away at a very unusual rate; and the supper-table, which +always closed such parties, and for which she had been used to sit and +watch the due time, was all set out and ready, and moved forwards to the +fire, before she was aware. With an alacrity beyond the common impulse +of a spirit which yet was never indifferent to the credit of doing every +thing well and attentively, with the real good-will of a mind delighted +with its own ideas, did she then do all the honours of the meal, and +help and recommend the minced chicken and scalloped oysters, with an +urgency which she knew would be acceptable to the early hours and civil +scruples of their guests. + +Upon such occasions poor Mr. Woodhouses feelings were in sad warfare. +He loved to have the cloth laid, because it had been the fashion of his +youth, but his conviction of suppers being very unwholesome made him +rather sorry to see any thing put on it; and while his hospitality would +have welcomed his visitors to every thing, his care for their health +made him grieve that they would eat. + +Such another small basin of thin gruel as his own was all that he could, +with thorough self-approbation, recommend; though he might constrain +himself, while the ladies were comfortably clearing the nicer things, to +say: + +"Mrs. Bates, let me propose your venturing on one of these eggs. An egg +boiled very soft is not unwholesome. Serle understands boiling an egg +better than any body. I would not recommend an egg boiled by any body +else; but you need not be afraid, they are very small, you see--one of +our small eggs will not hurt you. Miss Bates, let Emma help you to a +_little_ bit of tart--a _very_ little bit. Ours are all apple-tarts. You +need not be afraid of unwholesome preserves here. I do not advise the +custard. Mrs. Goddard, what say you to _half_ a glass of wine? A +_small_ half-glass, put into a tumbler of water? I do not think it could +disagree with you." + +Emma allowed her father to talk--but supplied her visitors in a much +more satisfactory style, and on the present evening had particular +pleasure in sending them away happy. The happiness of Miss Smith was +quite equal to her intentions. Miss Woodhouse was so great a personage +in Highbury, that the prospect of the introduction had given as much +panic as pleasure; but the humble, grateful little girl went off with +highly gratified feelings, delighted with the affability with which Miss +Woodhouse had treated her all the evening, and actually shaken hands +with her at last! + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Harriet Smith's intimacy at Hartfield was soon a settled thing. Quick +and decided in her ways, Emma lost no time in inviting, encouraging, and +telling her to come very often; and as their acquaintance increased, so +did their satisfaction in each other. As a walking companion, Emma had +very early foreseen how useful she might find her. In that respect +Mrs. Weston's loss had been important. Her father never went beyond the +shrubbery, where two divisions of the ground sufficed him for his long +walk, or his short, as the year varied; and since Mrs. Weston's marriage +her exercise had been too much confined. She had ventured once alone to +Randalls, but it was not pleasant; and a Harriet Smith, therefore, +one whom she could summon at any time to a walk, would be a valuable +addition to her privileges. But in every respect, as she saw more of +her, she approved her, and was confirmed in all her kind designs. + +Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful +disposition, was totally free from conceit, and only desiring to be +guided by any one she looked up to. Her early attachment to herself +was very amiable; and her inclination for good company, and power of +appreciating what was elegant and clever, shewed that there was no +want of taste, though strength of understanding must not be expected. +Altogether she was quite convinced of Harriet Smith's being exactly the +young friend she wanted--exactly the something which her home required. +Such a friend as Mrs. Weston was out of the question. Two such could +never be granted. Two such she did not want. It was quite a different +sort of thing, a sentiment distinct and independent. Mrs. Weston was the +object of a regard which had its basis in gratitude and esteem. Harriet +would be loved as one to whom she could be useful. For Mrs. Weston there +was nothing to be done; for Harriet every thing. + +Her first attempts at usefulness were in an endeavour to find out who +were the parents, but Harriet could not tell. She was ready to tell +every thing in her power, but on this subject questions were vain. Emma +was obliged to fancy what she liked--but she could never believe that in +the same situation _she_ should not have discovered the truth. Harriet +had no penetration. She had been satisfied to hear and believe just what +Mrs. Goddard chose to tell her; and looked no farther. + +Mrs. Goddard, and the teachers, and the girls and the affairs of +the school in general, formed naturally a great part of the +conversation--and but for her acquaintance with the Martins of +Abbey-Mill Farm, it must have been the whole. But the Martins occupied +her thoughts a good deal; she had spent two very happy months with them, +and now loved to talk of the pleasures of her visit, and describe +the many comforts and wonders of the place. Emma encouraged her +talkativeness--amused by such a picture of another set of beings, +and enjoying the youthful simplicity which could speak with so much +exultation of Mrs. Martin's having "_two_ parlours, two very good +parlours, indeed; one of them quite as large as Mrs. Goddard's +drawing-room; and of her having an upper maid who had lived +five-and-twenty years with her; and of their having eight cows, two of +them Alderneys, and one a little Welch cow, a very pretty little Welch +cow indeed; and of Mrs. Martin's saying as she was so fond of it, +it should be called _her_ cow; and of their having a very handsome +summer-house in their garden, where some day next year they were all to +drink tea:--a very handsome summer-house, large enough to hold a dozen +people." + +For some time she was amused, without thinking beyond the immediate +cause; but as she came to understand the family better, other feelings +arose. She had taken up a wrong idea, fancying it was a mother and +daughter, a son and son's wife, who all lived together; but when it +appeared that the Mr. Martin, who bore a part in the narrative, and was +always mentioned with approbation for his great good-nature in doing +something or other, was a single man; that there was no young Mrs. +Martin, no wife in the case; she did suspect danger to her poor little +friend from all this hospitality and kindness, and that, if she were not +taken care of, she might be required to sink herself forever. + +With this inspiriting notion, her questions increased in number and +meaning; and she particularly led Harriet to talk more of Mr. Martin, +and there was evidently no dislike to it. Harriet was very ready to +speak of the share he had had in their moonlight walks and merry evening +games; and dwelt a good deal upon his being so very good-humoured and +obliging. He had gone three miles round one day in order to bring her +some walnuts, because she had said how fond she was of them, and in +every thing else he was so very obliging. He had his shepherd's son into +the parlour one night on purpose to sing to her. She was very fond +of singing. He could sing a little himself. She believed he was very +clever, and understood every thing. He had a very fine flock, and, while +she was with them, he had been bid more for his wool than any body in +the country. She believed every body spoke well of him. His mother and +sisters were very fond of him. Mrs. Martin had told her one day (and +there was a blush as she said it,) that it was impossible for any body +to be a better son, and therefore she was sure, whenever he married, he +would make a good husband. Not that she _wanted_ him to marry. She was +in no hurry at all. + +"Well done, Mrs. Martin!" thought Emma. "You know what you are about." + +"And when she had come away, Mrs. Martin was so very kind as to send +Mrs. Goddard a beautiful goose--the finest goose Mrs. Goddard had ever +seen. Mrs. Goddard had dressed it on a Sunday, and asked all the three +teachers, Miss Nash, and Miss Prince, and Miss Richardson, to sup with +her." + +"Mr. Martin, I suppose, is not a man of information beyond the line of +his own business? He does not read?" + +"Oh yes!--that is, no--I do not know--but I believe he has read a +good deal--but not what you would think any thing of. He reads the +Agricultural Reports, and some other books that lay in one of the window +seats--but he reads all _them_ to himself. But sometimes of an evening, +before we went to cards, he would read something aloud out of the +Elegant Extracts, very entertaining. And I know he has read the Vicar of +Wakefield. He never read the Romance of the Forest, nor The Children of +the Abbey. He had never heard of such books before I mentioned them, but +he is determined to get them now as soon as ever he can." + +The next question was-- + +"What sort of looking man is Mr. Martin?" + +"Oh! not handsome--not at all handsome. I thought him very plain at +first, but I do not think him so plain now. One does not, you know, +after a time. But did you never see him? He is in Highbury every now and +then, and he is sure to ride through every week in his way to Kingston. +He has passed you very often." + +"That may be, and I may have seen him fifty times, but without having +any idea of his name. A young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, +is the very last sort of person to raise my curiosity. The yeomanry are +precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing to do. +A degree or two lower, and a creditable appearance might interest me; +I might hope to be useful to their families in some way or other. But +a farmer can need none of my help, and is, therefore, in one sense, as +much above my notice as in every other he is below it." + +"To be sure. Oh yes! It is not likely you should ever have observed him; +but he knows you very well indeed--I mean by sight." + +"I have no doubt of his being a very respectable young man. I know, +indeed, that he is so, and, as such, wish him well. What do you imagine +his age to be?" + +"He was four-and-twenty the 8th of last June, and my birthday is the +23rd just a fortnight and a day's difference--which is very odd." + +"Only four-and-twenty. That is too young to settle. His mother is +perfectly right not to be in a hurry. They seem very comfortable as they +are, and if she were to take any pains to marry him, she would probably +repent it. Six years hence, if he could meet with a good sort of young +woman in the same rank as his own, with a little money, it might be very +desirable." + +"Six years hence! Dear Miss Woodhouse, he would be thirty years old!" + +"Well, and that is as early as most men can afford to marry, who are not +born to an independence. Mr. Martin, I imagine, has his fortune entirely +to make--cannot be at all beforehand with the world. Whatever money he +might come into when his father died, whatever his share of the family +property, it is, I dare say, all afloat, all employed in his stock, and +so forth; and though, with diligence and good luck, he may be rich in +time, it is next to impossible that he should have realised any thing +yet." + +"To be sure, so it is. But they live very comfortably. They have no +indoors man, else they do not want for any thing; and Mrs. Martin talks +of taking a boy another year." + +"I wish you may not get into a scrape, Harriet, whenever he does +marry;--I mean, as to being acquainted with his wife--for though his +sisters, from a superior education, are not to be altogether objected +to, it does not follow that he might marry any body at all fit for you +to notice. The misfortune of your birth ought to make you particularly +careful as to your associates. There can be no doubt of your being a +gentleman's daughter, and you must support your claim to that station by +every thing within your own power, or there will be plenty of people who +would take pleasure in degrading you." + +"Yes, to be sure, I suppose there are. But while I visit at Hartfield, +and you are so kind to me, Miss Woodhouse, I am not afraid of what any +body can do." + +"You understand the force of influence pretty well, Harriet; but I would +have you so firmly established in good society, as to be independent +even of Hartfield and Miss Woodhouse. I want to see you permanently +well connected, and to that end it will be advisable to have as few odd +acquaintance as may be; and, therefore, I say that if you should still +be in this country when Mr. Martin marries, I wish you may not be drawn +in by your intimacy with the sisters, to be acquainted with the wife, +who will probably be some mere farmer's daughter, without education." + +"To be sure. Yes. Not that I think Mr. Martin would ever marry any body +but what had had some education--and been very well brought up. However, +I do not mean to set up my opinion against yours--and I am sure I shall +not wish for the acquaintance of his wife. I shall always have a great +regard for the Miss Martins, especially Elizabeth, and should be very +sorry to give them up, for they are quite as well educated as me. But +if he marries a very ignorant, vulgar woman, certainly I had better not +visit her, if I can help it." + +Emma watched her through the fluctuations of this speech, and saw no +alarming symptoms of love. The young man had been the first admirer, but +she trusted there was no other hold, and that there would be no serious +difficulty, on Harriet's side, to oppose any friendly arrangement of her +own. + +They met Mr. Martin the very next day, as they were walking on the +Donwell road. He was on foot, and after looking very respectfully at +her, looked with most unfeigned satisfaction at her companion. Emma was +not sorry to have such an opportunity of survey; and walking a few +yards forward, while they talked together, soon made her quick eye +sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Robert Martin. His appearance was very +neat, and he looked like a sensible young man, but his person had no +other advantage; and when he came to be contrasted with gentlemen, +she thought he must lose all the ground he had gained in Harriet's +inclination. Harriet was not insensible of manner; she had voluntarily +noticed her father's gentleness with admiration as well as wonder. Mr. +Martin looked as if he did not know what manner was. + +They remained but a few minutes together, as Miss Woodhouse must not be +kept waiting; and Harriet then came running to her with a smiling face, +and in a flutter of spirits, which Miss Woodhouse hoped very soon to +compose. + +"Only think of our happening to meet him!--How very odd! It was quite +a chance, he said, that he had not gone round by Randalls. He did not +think we ever walked this road. He thought we walked towards Randalls +most days. He has not been able to get the Romance of the Forest yet. +He was so busy the last time he was at Kingston that he quite forgot it, +but he goes again to-morrow. So very odd we should happen to meet! Well, +Miss Woodhouse, is he like what you expected? What do you think of him? +Do you think him so very plain?" + +"He is very plain, undoubtedly--remarkably plain:--but that is nothing +compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect +much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so +very clownish, so totally without air. I had imagined him, I confess, a +degree or two nearer gentility." + +"To be sure," said Harriet, in a mortified voice, "he is not so genteel +as real gentlemen." + +"I think, Harriet, since your acquaintance with us, you have been +repeatedly in the company of some such very real gentlemen, that you +must yourself be struck with the difference in Mr. Martin. At Hartfield, +you have had very good specimens of well educated, well bred men. I +should be surprized if, after seeing them, you could be in company +with Mr. Martin again without perceiving him to be a very inferior +creature--and rather wondering at yourself for having ever thought him +at all agreeable before. Do not you begin to feel that now? Were not +you struck? I am sure you must have been struck by his awkward look and +abrupt manner, and the uncouthness of a voice which I heard to be wholly +unmodulated as I stood here." + +"Certainly, he is not like Mr. Knightley. He has not such a fine air and +way of walking as Mr. Knightley. I see the difference plain enough. But +Mr. Knightley is so very fine a man!" + +"Mr. Knightley's air is so remarkably good that it is not fair to +compare Mr. Martin with _him_. You might not see one in a hundred with +_gentleman_ so plainly written as in Mr. Knightley. But he is not the +only gentleman you have been lately used to. What say you to Mr. Weston +and Mr. Elton? Compare Mr. Martin with either of _them_. Compare their +manner of carrying themselves; of walking; of speaking; of being silent. +You must see the difference." + +"Oh yes!--there is a great difference. But Mr. Weston is almost an old +man. Mr. Weston must be between forty and fifty." + +"Which makes his good manners the more valuable. The older a person +grows, Harriet, the more important it is that their manners should not +be bad; the more glaring and disgusting any loudness, or coarseness, or +awkwardness becomes. What is passable in youth is detestable in later +age. Mr. Martin is now awkward and abrupt; what will he be at Mr. +Weston's time of life?" + +"There is no saying, indeed," replied Harriet rather solemnly. + +"But there may be pretty good guessing. He will be a completely gross, +vulgar farmer, totally inattentive to appearances, and thinking of +nothing but profit and loss." + +"Will he, indeed? That will be very bad." + +"How much his business engrosses him already is very plain from the +circumstance of his forgetting to inquire for the book you recommended. +He was a great deal too full of the market to think of any thing +else--which is just as it should be, for a thriving man. What has he to +do with books? And I have no doubt that he _will_ thrive, and be a very +rich man in time--and his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb +_us_." + +"I wonder he did not remember the book"--was all Harriet's answer, and +spoken with a degree of grave displeasure which Emma thought might be +safely left to itself. She, therefore, said no more for some time. Her +next beginning was, + +"In one respect, perhaps, Mr. Elton's manners are superior to Mr. +Knightley's or Mr. Weston's. They have more gentleness. They might be +more safely held up as a pattern. There is an openness, a quickness, +almost a bluntness in Mr. Weston, which every body likes in _him_, +because there is so much good-humour with it--but that would not do to +be copied. Neither would Mr. Knightley's downright, decided, commanding +sort of manner, though it suits _him_ very well; his figure, and look, +and situation in life seem to allow it; but if any young man were to set +about copying him, he would not be sufferable. On the contrary, I think +a young man might be very safely recommended to take Mr. Elton as a +model. Mr. Elton is good-humoured, cheerful, obliging, and gentle. +He seems to me to be grown particularly gentle of late. I do not know +whether he has any design of ingratiating himself with either of us, +Harriet, by additional softness, but it strikes me that his manners are +softer than they used to be. If he means any thing, it must be to please +you. Did not I tell you what he said of you the other day?" + +She then repeated some warm personal praise which she had drawn from Mr. +Elton, and now did full justice to; and Harriet blushed and smiled, and +said she had always thought Mr. Elton very agreeable. + +Mr. Elton was the very person fixed on by Emma for driving the young +farmer out of Harriet's head. She thought it would be an excellent +match; and only too palpably desirable, natural, and probable, for her +to have much merit in planning it. She feared it was what every body +else must think of and predict. It was not likely, however, that any +body should have equalled her in the date of the plan, as it had +entered her brain during the very first evening of Harriet's coming to +Hartfield. The longer she considered it, the greater was her sense +of its expediency. Mr. Elton's situation was most suitable, quite the +gentleman himself, and without low connexions; at the same time, not of +any family that could fairly object to the doubtful birth of Harriet. +He had a comfortable home for her, and Emma imagined a very sufficient +income; for though the vicarage of Highbury was not large, he was known +to have some independent property; and she thought very highly of him +as a good-humoured, well-meaning, respectable young man, without any +deficiency of useful understanding or knowledge of the world. + +She had already satisfied herself that he thought Harriet a beautiful +girl, which she trusted, with such frequent meetings at Hartfield, was +foundation enough on his side; and on Harriet's there could be little +doubt that the idea of being preferred by him would have all the usual +weight and efficacy. And he was really a very pleasing young man, a +young man whom any woman not fastidious might like. He was reckoned very +handsome; his person much admired in general, though not by her, +there being a want of elegance of feature which she could not dispense +with:--but the girl who could be gratified by a Robert Martin's riding +about the country to get walnuts for her might very well be conquered by +Mr. Elton's admiration. + + + +CHAPTER V + + +"I do not know what your opinion may be, Mrs. Weston," said Mr. +Knightley, "of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I +think it a bad thing." + +"A bad thing! Do you really think it a bad thing?--why so?" + +"I think they will neither of them do the other any good." + +"You surprize me! Emma must do Harriet good: and by supplying her with a +new object of interest, Harriet may be said to do Emma good. I have been +seeing their intimacy with the greatest pleasure. How very differently +we feel!--Not think they will do each other any good! This will +certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr. +Knightley." + +"Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you, knowing +Weston to be out, and that you must still fight your own battle." + +"Mr. Weston would undoubtedly support me, if he were here, for he thinks +exactly as I do on the subject. We were speaking of it only yesterday, +and agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma, that there should be such a +girl in Highbury for her to associate with. Mr. Knightley, I shall not +allow you to be a fair judge in this case. You are so much used to live +alone, that you do not know the value of a companion; and, perhaps no +man can be a good judge of the comfort a woman feels in the society of +one of her own sex, after being used to it all her life. I can imagine +your objection to Harriet Smith. She is not the superior young woman +which Emma's friend ought to be. But on the other hand, as Emma wants +to see her better informed, it will be an inducement to her to read more +herself. They will read together. She means it, I know." + +"Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. +I have seen a great many lists of her drawing-up at various times of +books that she meant to read regularly through--and very good lists +they were--very well chosen, and very neatly arranged--sometimes +alphabetically, and sometimes by some other rule. The list she drew +up when only fourteen--I remember thinking it did her judgment so much +credit, that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made +out a very good list now. But I have done with expecting any course of +steady reading from Emma. She will never submit to any thing +requiring industry and patience, and a subjection of the fancy to the +understanding. Where Miss Taylor failed to stimulate, I may safely +affirm that Harriet Smith will do nothing.--You never could persuade her +to read half so much as you wished.--You know you could not." + +"I dare say," replied Mrs. Weston, smiling, "that I thought so +_then_;--but since we have parted, I can never remember Emma's omitting +to do any thing I wished." + +"There is hardly any desiring to refresh such a memory as _that_,"--said +Mr. Knightley, feelingly; and for a moment or two he had done. "But I," +he soon added, "who have had no such charm thrown over my senses, must +still see, hear, and remember. Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest +of her family. At ten years old, she had the misfortune of being able to +answer questions which puzzled her sister at seventeen. She was always +quick and assured: Isabella slow and diffident. And ever since she +was twelve, Emma has been mistress of the house and of you all. In her +mother she lost the only person able to cope with her. She inherits her +mother's talents, and must have been under subjection to her." + +"I should have been sorry, Mr. Knightley, to be dependent on _your_ +recommendation, had I quitted Mr. Woodhouse's family and wanted another +situation; I do not think you would have spoken a good word for me to +any body. I am sure you always thought me unfit for the office I held." + +"Yes," said he, smiling. "You are better placed _here_; very fit for a +wife, but not at all for a governess. But you were preparing yourself to +be an excellent wife all the time you were at Hartfield. You might +not give Emma such a complete education as your powers would seem to +promise; but you were receiving a very good education from _her_, on the +very material matrimonial point of submitting your own will, and doing +as you were bid; and if Weston had asked me to recommend him a wife, I +should certainly have named Miss Taylor." + +"Thank you. There will be very little merit in making a good wife to +such a man as Mr. Weston." + +"Why, to own the truth, I am afraid you are rather thrown away, and that +with every disposition to bear, there will be nothing to be borne. We +will not despair, however. Weston may grow cross from the wantonness of +comfort, or his son may plague him." + +"I hope not _that_.--It is not likely. No, Mr. Knightley, do not +foretell vexation from that quarter." + +"Not I, indeed. I only name possibilities. I do not pretend to Emma's +genius for foretelling and guessing. I hope, with all my heart, the +young man may be a Weston in merit, and a Churchill in fortune.--But +Harriet Smith--I have not half done about Harriet Smith. I think her the +very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have. She knows +nothing herself, and looks upon Emma as knowing every thing. She is a +flatterer in all her ways; and so much the worse, because undesigned. +Her ignorance is hourly flattery. How can Emma imagine she has any +thing to learn herself, while Harriet is presenting such a delightful +inferiority? And as for Harriet, I will venture to say that _she_ cannot +gain by the acquaintance. Hartfield will only put her out of conceit +with all the other places she belongs to. She will grow just refined +enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances +have placed her home. I am much mistaken if Emma's doctrines give any +strength of mind, or tend at all to make a girl adapt herself rationally +to the varieties of her situation in life.--They only give a little +polish." + +"I either depend more upon Emma's good sense than you do, or am more +anxious for her present comfort; for I cannot lament the acquaintance. +How well she looked last night!" + +"Oh! you would rather talk of her person than her mind, would you? Very +well; I shall not attempt to deny Emma's being pretty." + +"Pretty! say beautiful rather. Can you imagine any thing nearer perfect +beauty than Emma altogether--face and figure?" + +"I do not know what I could imagine, but I confess that I have seldom +seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers. But I am a partial +old friend." + +"Such an eye!--the true hazle eye--and so brilliant! regular features, +open countenance, with a complexion! oh! what a bloom of full health, +and such a pretty height and size; such a firm and upright figure! +There is health, not merely in her bloom, but in her air, her head, her +glance. One hears sometimes of a child being 'the picture of health;' +now, Emma always gives me the idea of being the complete picture of +grown-up health. She is loveliness itself. Mr. Knightley, is not she?" + +"I have not a fault to find with her person," he replied. "I think her +all you describe. I love to look at her; and I will add this praise, +that I do not think her personally vain. Considering how very handsome +she is, she appears to be little occupied with it; her vanity lies +another way. Mrs. Weston, I am not to be talked out of my dislike of +Harriet Smith, or my dread of its doing them both harm." + +"And I, Mr. Knightley, am equally stout in my confidence of its not +doing them any harm. With all dear Emma's little faults, she is an +excellent creature. Where shall we see a better daughter, or a kinder +sister, or a truer friend? No, no; she has qualities which may be +trusted; she will never lead any one really wrong; she will make no +lasting blunder; where Emma errs once, she is in the right a hundred +times." + +"Very well; I will not plague you any more. Emma shall be an angel, and +I will keep my spleen to myself till Christmas brings John and Isabella. +John loves Emma with a reasonable and therefore not a blind affection, +and Isabella always thinks as he does; except when he is not quite +frightened enough about the children. I am sure of having their opinions +with me." + +"I know that you all love her really too well to be unjust or unkind; +but excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if I take the liberty (I consider myself, +you know, as having somewhat of the privilege of speech that Emma's +mother might have had) the liberty of hinting that I do not think any +possible good can arise from Harriet Smith's intimacy being made a +matter of much discussion among you. Pray excuse me; but supposing any +little inconvenience may be apprehended from the intimacy, it cannot be +expected that Emma, accountable to nobody but her father, who perfectly +approves the acquaintance, should put an end to it, so long as it is a +source of pleasure to herself. It has been so many years my province to +give advice, that you cannot be surprized, Mr. Knightley, at this little +remains of office." + +"Not at all," cried he; "I am much obliged to you for it. It is very +good advice, and it shall have a better fate than your advice has often +found; for it shall be attended to." + +"Mrs. John Knightley is easily alarmed, and might be made unhappy about +her sister." + +"Be satisfied," said he, "I will not raise any outcry. I will keep my +ill-humour to myself. I have a very sincere interest in Emma. Isabella +does not seem more my sister; has never excited a greater interest; +perhaps hardly so great. There is an anxiety, a curiosity in what one +feels for Emma. I wonder what will become of her!" + +"So do I," said Mrs. Weston gently, "very much." + +"She always declares she will never marry, which, of course, means just +nothing at all. But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she +cared for. It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love +with a proper object. I should like to see Emma in love, and in some +doubt of a return; it would do her good. But there is nobody hereabouts +to attach her; and she goes so seldom from home." + +"There does, indeed, seem as little to tempt her to break her resolution +at present," said Mrs. Weston, "as can well be; and while she is so +happy at Hartfield, I cannot wish her to be forming any attachment which +would be creating such difficulties on poor Mr. Woodhouse's account. I +do not recommend matrimony at present to Emma, though I mean no slight +to the state, I assure you." + +Part of her meaning was to conceal some favourite thoughts of her own +and Mr. Weston's on the subject, as much as possible. There were wishes +at Randalls respecting Emma's destiny, but it was not desirable to +have them suspected; and the quiet transition which Mr. Knightley soon +afterwards made to "What does Weston think of the weather; shall we have +rain?" convinced her that he had nothing more to say or surmise about +Hartfield. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Emma could not feel a doubt of having given Harriet's fancy a proper +direction and raised the gratitude of her young vanity to a very good +purpose, for she found her decidedly more sensible than before of Mr. +Elton's being a remarkably handsome man, with most agreeable manners; +and as she had no hesitation in following up the assurance of his +admiration by agreeable hints, she was soon pretty confident of creating +as much liking on Harriet's side, as there could be any occasion for. +She was quite convinced of Mr. Elton's being in the fairest way of +falling in love, if not in love already. She had no scruple with regard +to him. He talked of Harriet, and praised her so warmly, that she could +not suppose any thing wanting which a little time would not add. His +perception of the striking improvement of Harriet's manner, since her +introduction at Hartfield, was not one of the least agreeable proofs of +his growing attachment. + +"You have given Miss Smith all that she required," said he; "you have +made her graceful and easy. She was a beautiful creature when she +came to you, but, in my opinion, the attractions you have added are +infinitely superior to what she received from nature." + +"I am glad you think I have been useful to her; but Harriet only wanted +drawing out, and receiving a few, very few hints. She had all the +natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness in herself. I have +done very little." + +"If it were admissible to contradict a lady," said the gallant Mr. +Elton-- + +"I have perhaps given her a little more decision of character, have +taught her to think on points which had not fallen in her way before." + +"Exactly so; that is what principally strikes me. So much superadded +decision of character! Skilful has been the hand!" + +"Great has been the pleasure, I am sure. I never met with a disposition +more truly amiable." + +"I have no doubt of it." And it was spoken with a sort of sighing +animation, which had a vast deal of the lover. She was not less pleased +another day with the manner in which he seconded a sudden wish of hers, +to have Harriet's picture. + +"Did you ever have your likeness taken, Harriet?" said she: "did you +ever sit for your picture?" + +Harriet was on the point of leaving the room, and only stopt to say, +with a very interesting naivete, + +"Oh! dear, no, never." + +No sooner was she out of sight, than Emma exclaimed, + +"What an exquisite possession a good picture of her would be! I would +give any money for it. I almost long to attempt her likeness myself. +You do not know it I dare say, but two or three years ago I had a great +passion for taking likenesses, and attempted several of my friends, and +was thought to have a tolerable eye in general. But from one cause or +another, I gave it up in disgust. But really, I could almost venture, +if Harriet would sit to me. It would be such a delight to have her +picture!" + +"Let me entreat you," cried Mr. Elton; "it would indeed be a delight! +Let me entreat you, Miss Woodhouse, to exercise so charming a talent +in favour of your friend. I know what your drawings are. How could +you suppose me ignorant? Is not this room rich in specimens of your +landscapes and flowers; and has not Mrs. Weston some inimitable +figure-pieces in her drawing-room, at Randalls?" + +Yes, good man!--thought Emma--but what has all that to do with taking +likenesses? You know nothing of drawing. Don't pretend to be in raptures +about mine. Keep your raptures for Harriet's face. "Well, if you give me +such kind encouragement, Mr. Elton, I believe I shall try what I can do. +Harriet's features are very delicate, which makes a likeness difficult; +and yet there is a peculiarity in the shape of the eye and the lines +about the mouth which one ought to catch." + +"Exactly so--The shape of the eye and the lines about the mouth--I have +not a doubt of your success. Pray, pray attempt it. As you will do it, +it will indeed, to use your own words, be an exquisite possession." + +"But I am afraid, Mr. Elton, Harriet will not like to sit. She thinks +so little of her own beauty. Did not you observe her manner of answering +me? How completely it meant, 'why should my picture be drawn?'" + +"Oh! yes, I observed it, I assure you. It was not lost on me. But still +I cannot imagine she would not be persuaded." + +Harriet was soon back again, and the proposal almost immediately made; +and she had no scruples which could stand many minutes against the +earnest pressing of both the others. Emma wished to go to work directly, +and therefore produced the portfolio containing her various attempts at +portraits, for not one of them had ever been finished, that they might +decide together on the best size for Harriet. Her many beginnings were +displayed. Miniatures, half-lengths, whole-lengths, pencil, crayon, and +water-colours had been all tried in turn. She had always wanted to do +every thing, and had made more progress both in drawing and music than +many might have done with so little labour as she would ever submit to. +She played and sang;--and drew in almost every style; but steadiness +had always been wanting; and in nothing had she approached the degree of +excellence which she would have been glad to command, and ought not to +have failed of. She was not much deceived as to her own skill either +as an artist or a musician, but she was not unwilling to have others +deceived, or sorry to know her reputation for accomplishment often +higher than it deserved. + +There was merit in every drawing--in the least finished, perhaps the +most; her style was spirited; but had there been much less, or had there +been ten times more, the delight and admiration of her two companions +would have been the same. They were both in ecstasies. A likeness +pleases every body; and Miss Woodhouse's performances must be capital. + +"No great variety of faces for you," said Emma. "I had only my own +family to study from. There is my father--another of my father--but the +idea of sitting for his picture made him so nervous, that I could only +take him by stealth; neither of them very like therefore. Mrs. Weston +again, and again, and again, you see. Dear Mrs. Weston! always my +kindest friend on every occasion. She would sit whenever I asked her. +There is my sister; and really quite her own little elegant figure!--and +the face not unlike. I should have made a good likeness of her, if she +would have sat longer, but she was in such a hurry to have me draw +her four children that she would not be quiet. Then, here come all my +attempts at three of those four children;--there they are, Henry and +John and Bella, from one end of the sheet to the other, and any one of +them might do for any one of the rest. She was so eager to have them +drawn that I could not refuse; but there is no making children of three +or four years old stand still you know; nor can it be very easy to take +any likeness of them, beyond the air and complexion, unless they are +coarser featured than any of mama's children ever were. Here is my +sketch of the fourth, who was a baby. I took him as he was sleeping on +the sofa, and it is as strong a likeness of his cockade as you would +wish to see. He had nestled down his head most conveniently. That's very +like. I am rather proud of little George. The corner of the sofa is very +good. Then here is my last,"--unclosing a pretty sketch of a gentleman +in small size, whole-length--"my last and my best--my brother, Mr. John +Knightley.--This did not want much of being finished, when I put it away +in a pet, and vowed I would never take another likeness. I could not +help being provoked; for after all my pains, and when I had really made +a very good likeness of it--(Mrs. Weston and I were quite agreed in +thinking it _very_ like)--only too handsome--too flattering--but +that was a fault on the right side"--after all this, came poor dear +Isabella's cold approbation of--"Yes, it was a little like--but to be +sure it did not do him justice. We had had a great deal of trouble +in persuading him to sit at all. It was made a great favour of; and +altogether it was more than I could bear; and so I never would finish +it, to have it apologised over as an unfavourable likeness, to every +morning visitor in Brunswick Square;--and, as I said, I did then +forswear ever drawing any body again. But for Harriet's sake, or rather +for my own, and as there are no husbands and wives in the case _at_ +_present_, I will break my resolution now." + +Mr. Elton seemed very properly struck and delighted by the idea, and was +repeating, "No husbands and wives in the case at present indeed, as +you observe. Exactly so. No husbands and wives," with so interesting a +consciousness, that Emma began to consider whether she had not better +leave them together at once. But as she wanted to be drawing, the +declaration must wait a little longer. + +She had soon fixed on the size and sort of portrait. It was to be +a whole-length in water-colours, like Mr. John Knightley's, and was +destined, if she could please herself, to hold a very honourable station +over the mantelpiece. + +The sitting began; and Harriet, smiling and blushing, and afraid of not +keeping her attitude and countenance, presented a very sweet mixture of +youthful expression to the steady eyes of the artist. But there was no +doing any thing, with Mr. Elton fidgeting behind her and watching every +touch. She gave him credit for stationing himself where he might gaze +and gaze again without offence; but was really obliged to put an end to +it, and request him to place himself elsewhere. It then occurred to her +to employ him in reading. + +"If he would be so good as to read to them, it would be a kindness +indeed! It would amuse away the difficulties of her part, and lessen the +irksomeness of Miss Smith's." + +Mr. Elton was only too happy. Harriet listened, and Emma drew in peace. +She must allow him to be still frequently coming to look; any thing less +would certainly have been too little in a lover; and he was ready at the +smallest intermission of the pencil, to jump up and see the progress, +and be charmed.--There was no being displeased with such an encourager, +for his admiration made him discern a likeness almost before it +was possible. She could not respect his eye, but his love and his +complaisance were unexceptionable. + +The sitting was altogether very satisfactory; she was quite enough +pleased with the first day's sketch to wish to go on. There was no want +of likeness, she had been fortunate in the attitude, and as she meant +to throw in a little improvement to the figure, to give a little more +height, and considerably more elegance, she had great confidence of +its being in every way a pretty drawing at last, and of its filling +its destined place with credit to them both--a standing memorial of the +beauty of one, the skill of the other, and the friendship of both; +with as many other agreeable associations as Mr. Elton's very promising +attachment was likely to add. + +Harriet was to sit again the next day; and Mr. Elton, just as he ought, +entreated for the permission of attending and reading to them again. + +"By all means. We shall be most happy to consider you as one of the +party." + +The same civilities and courtesies, the same success and satisfaction, +took place on the morrow, and accompanied the whole progress of the +picture, which was rapid and happy. Every body who saw it was pleased, +but Mr. Elton was in continual raptures, and defended it through every +criticism. + +"Miss Woodhouse has given her friend the only beauty she +wanted,"--observed Mrs. Weston to him--not in the least suspecting that +she was addressing a lover.--"The expression of the eye is most correct, +but Miss Smith has not those eyebrows and eyelashes. It is the fault of +her face that she has them not." + +"Do you think so?" replied he. "I cannot agree with you. It appears +to me a most perfect resemblance in every feature. I never saw such a +likeness in my life. We must allow for the effect of shade, you know." + +"You have made her too tall, Emma," said Mr. Knightley. + +Emma knew that she had, but would not own it; and Mr. Elton warmly +added, + +"Oh no! certainly not too tall; not in the least too tall. Consider, she +is sitting down--which naturally presents a different--which in short +gives exactly the idea--and the proportions must be preserved, you know. +Proportions, fore-shortening.--Oh no! it gives one exactly the idea of +such a height as Miss Smith's. Exactly so indeed!" + +"It is very pretty," said Mr. Woodhouse. "So prettily done! Just as your +drawings always are, my dear. I do not know any body who draws so well +as you do. The only thing I do not thoroughly like is, that she seems +to be sitting out of doors, with only a little shawl over her +shoulders--and it makes one think she must catch cold." + +"But, my dear papa, it is supposed to be summer; a warm day in summer. +Look at the tree." + +"But it is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear." + +"You, sir, may say any thing," cried Mr. Elton, "but I must confess that +I regard it as a most happy thought, the placing of Miss Smith out of +doors; and the tree is touched with such inimitable spirit! Any other +situation would have been much less in character. The naivete of Miss +Smith's manners--and altogether--Oh, it is most admirable! I cannot keep +my eyes from it. I never saw such a likeness." + +The next thing wanted was to get the picture framed; and here were a few +difficulties. It must be done directly; it must be done in London; the +order must go through the hands of some intelligent person whose taste +could be depended on; and Isabella, the usual doer of all commissions, +must not be applied to, because it was December, and Mr. Woodhouse +could not bear the idea of her stirring out of her house in the fogs of +December. But no sooner was the distress known to Mr. Elton, than it +was removed. His gallantry was always on the alert. "Might he be trusted +with the commission, what infinite pleasure should he have in executing +it! he could ride to London at any time. It was impossible to say how +much he should be gratified by being employed on such an errand." + +"He was too good!--she could not endure the thought!--she would not give +him such a troublesome office for the world,"--brought on the desired +repetition of entreaties and assurances,--and a very few minutes settled +the business. + +Mr. Elton was to take the drawing to London, chuse the frame, and give +the directions; and Emma thought she could so pack it as to ensure its +safety without much incommoding him, while he seemed mostly fearful of +not being incommoded enough. + +"What a precious deposit!" said he with a tender sigh, as he received +it. + +"This man is almost too gallant to be in love," thought Emma. "I should +say so, but that I suppose there may be a hundred different ways of +being in love. He is an excellent young man, and will suit Harriet +exactly; it will be an 'Exactly so,' as he says himself; but he does +sigh and languish, and study for compliments rather more than I could +endure as a principal. I come in for a pretty good share as a second. +But it is his gratitude on Harriet's account." + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The very day of Mr. Elton's going to London produced a fresh occasion +for Emma's services towards her friend. Harriet had been at Hartfield, +as usual, soon after breakfast; and, after a time, had gone home to +return again to dinner: she returned, and sooner than had been +talked of, and with an agitated, hurried look, announcing something +extraordinary to have happened which she was longing to tell. Half a +minute brought it all out. She had heard, as soon as she got back to +Mrs. Goddard's, that Mr. Martin had been there an hour before, and +finding she was not at home, nor particularly expected, had left a +little parcel for her from one of his sisters, and gone away; and on +opening this parcel, she had actually found, besides the two songs which +she had lent Elizabeth to copy, a letter to herself; and this letter was +from him, from Mr. Martin, and contained a direct proposal of marriage. +"Who could have thought it? She was so surprized she did not know what +to do. Yes, quite a proposal of marriage; and a very good letter, +at least she thought so. And he wrote as if he really loved her very +much--but she did not know--and so, she was come as fast as she could to +ask Miss Woodhouse what she should do.--" Emma was half-ashamed of her +friend for seeming so pleased and so doubtful. + +"Upon my word," she cried, "the young man is determined not to lose any +thing for want of asking. He will connect himself well if he can." + +"Will you read the letter?" cried Harriet. "Pray do. I'd rather you +would." + +Emma was not sorry to be pressed. She read, and was surprized. The style +of the letter was much above her expectation. There were not merely no +grammatical errors, but as a composition it would not have disgraced a +gentleman; the language, though plain, was strong and unaffected, and +the sentiments it conveyed very much to the credit of the writer. It was +short, but expressed good sense, warm attachment, liberality, propriety, +even delicacy of feeling. She paused over it, while Harriet stood +anxiously watching for her opinion, with a "Well, well," and was at last +forced to add, "Is it a good letter? or is it too short?" + +"Yes, indeed, a very good letter," replied Emma rather slowly--"so +good a letter, Harriet, that every thing considered, I think one of his +sisters must have helped him. I can hardly imagine the young man whom +I saw talking with you the other day could express himself so well, if +left quite to his own powers, and yet it is not the style of a woman; +no, certainly, it is too strong and concise; not diffuse enough for a +woman. No doubt he is a sensible man, and I suppose may have a natural +talent for--thinks strongly and clearly--and when he takes a pen in +hand, his thoughts naturally find proper words. It is so with some men. +Yes, I understand the sort of mind. Vigorous, decided, with sentiments +to a certain point, not coarse. A better written letter, Harriet +(returning it,) than I had expected." + +"Well," said the still waiting Harriet;--"well--and--and what shall I +do?" + +"What shall you do! In what respect? Do you mean with regard to this +letter?" + +"Yes." + +"But what are you in doubt of? You must answer it of course--and +speedily." + +"Yes. But what shall I say? Dear Miss Woodhouse, do advise me." + +"Oh no, no! the letter had much better be all your own. You will express +yourself very properly, I am sure. There is no danger of your not +being intelligible, which is the first thing. Your meaning must be +unequivocal; no doubts or demurs: and such expressions of gratitude +and concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will +present themselves unbidden to _your_ mind, I am persuaded. You need +not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his +disappointment." + +"You think I ought to refuse him then," said Harriet, looking down. + +"Ought to refuse him! My dear Harriet, what do you mean? Are you in any +doubt as to that? I thought--but I beg your pardon, perhaps I have been +under a mistake. I certainly have been misunderstanding you, if you feel +in doubt as to the _purport_ of your answer. I had imagined you were +consulting me only as to the wording of it." + +Harriet was silent. With a little reserve of manner, Emma continued: + +"You mean to return a favourable answer, I collect." + +"No, I do not; that is, I do not mean--What shall I do? What would you +advise me to do? Pray, dear Miss Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do." + +"I shall not give you any advice, Harriet. I will have nothing to do +with it. This is a point which you must settle with your feelings." + +"I had no notion that he liked me so very much," said Harriet, +contemplating the letter. For a little while Emma persevered in her +silence; but beginning to apprehend the bewitching flattery of that +letter might be too powerful, she thought it best to say, + +"I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman _doubts_ as +to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse +him. If she can hesitate as to 'Yes,' she ought to say 'No' directly. +It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful feelings, with +half a heart. I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than yourself, +to say thus much to you. But do not imagine that I want to influence +you." + +"Oh! no, I am sure you are a great deal too kind to--but if you would +just advise me what I had best do--No, no, I do not mean that--As +you say, one's mind ought to be quite made up--One should not be +hesitating--It is a very serious thing.--It will be safer to say 'No,' +perhaps.--Do you think I had better say 'No?'" + +"Not for the world," said Emma, smiling graciously, "would I advise you +either way. You must be the best judge of your own happiness. If you +prefer Mr. Martin to every other person; if you think him the most +agreeable man you have ever been in company with, why should you +hesitate? You blush, Harriet.--Does any body else occur to you at +this moment under such a definition? Harriet, Harriet, do not deceive +yourself; do not be run away with by gratitude and compassion. At this +moment whom are you thinking of?" + +The symptoms were favourable.--Instead of answering, Harriet turned away +confused, and stood thoughtfully by the fire; and though the letter was +still in her hand, it was now mechanically twisted about without regard. +Emma waited the result with impatience, but not without strong hopes. At +last, with some hesitation, Harriet said-- + +"Miss Woodhouse, as you will not give me your opinion, I must do as well +as I can by myself; and I have now quite determined, and really almost +made up my mind--to refuse Mr. Martin. Do you think I am right?" + +"Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just +what you ought. While you were at all in suspense I kept my feelings to +myself, but now that you are so completely decided I have no hesitation +in approving. Dear Harriet, I give myself joy of this. It would +have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the +consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin. While you were in the smallest +degree wavering, I said nothing about it, because I would not influence; +but it would have been the loss of a friend to me. I could not have +visited Mrs. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill Farm. Now I am secure of you +for ever." + +Harriet had not surmised her own danger, but the idea of it struck her +forcibly. + +"You could not have visited me!" she cried, looking aghast. "No, to be +sure you could not; but I never thought of that before. That would have +been too dreadful!--What an escape!--Dear Miss Woodhouse, I would not +give up the pleasure and honour of being intimate with you for any thing +in the world." + +"Indeed, Harriet, it would have been a severe pang to lose you; but it +must have been. You would have thrown yourself out of all good society. +I must have given you up." + +"Dear me!--How should I ever have borne it! It would have killed me +never to come to Hartfield any more!" + +"Dear affectionate creature!--_You_ banished to Abbey-Mill Farm!--_You_ +confined to the society of the illiterate and vulgar all your life! I +wonder how the young man could have the assurance to ask it. He must +have a pretty good opinion of himself." + +"I do not think he is conceited either, in general," said Harriet, her +conscience opposing such censure; "at least, he is very good natured, +and I shall always feel much obliged to him, and have a great regard +for--but that is quite a different thing from--and you know, though +he may like me, it does not follow that I should--and certainly I must +confess that since my visiting here I have seen people--and if one comes +to compare them, person and manners, there is no comparison at all, +_one_ is so very handsome and agreeable. However, I do really think Mr. +Martin a very amiable young man, and have a great opinion of him; and +his being so much attached to me--and his writing such a letter--but as +to leaving you, it is what I would not do upon any consideration." + +"Thank you, thank you, my own sweet little friend. We will not be +parted. A woman is not to marry a man merely because she is asked, or +because he is attached to her, and can write a tolerable letter." + +"Oh no;--and it is but a short letter too." + +Emma felt the bad taste of her friend, but let it pass with a "very +true; and it would be a small consolation to her, for the clownish +manner which might be offending her every hour of the day, to know that +her husband could write a good letter." + +"Oh! yes, very. Nobody cares for a letter; the thing is, to be always +happy with pleasant companions. I am quite determined to refuse him. But +how shall I do? What shall I say?" + +Emma assured her there would be no difficulty in the answer, and advised +its being written directly, which was agreed to, in the hope of her +assistance; and though Emma continued to protest against any assistance +being wanted, it was in fact given in the formation of every sentence. +The looking over his letter again, in replying to it, had such a +softening tendency, that it was particularly necessary to brace her up +with a few decisive expressions; and she was so very much concerned at +the idea of making him unhappy, and thought so much of what his mother +and sisters would think and say, and was so anxious that they should not +fancy her ungrateful, that Emma believed if the young man had come in +her way at that moment, he would have been accepted after all. + +This letter, however, was written, and sealed, and sent. The business +was finished, and Harriet safe. She was rather low all the evening, but +Emma could allow for her amiable regrets, and sometimes relieved them by +speaking of her own affection, sometimes by bringing forward the idea of +Mr. Elton. + +"I shall never be invited to Abbey-Mill again," was said in rather a +sorrowful tone. + +"Nor, if you were, could I ever bear to part with you, my Harriet. You +are a great deal too necessary at Hartfield to be spared to Abbey-Mill." + +"And I am sure I should never want to go there; for I am never happy but +at Hartfield." + +Some time afterwards it was, "I think Mrs. Goddard would be very much +surprized if she knew what had happened. I am sure Miss Nash would--for +Miss Nash thinks her own sister very well married, and it is only a +linen-draper." + +"One should be sorry to see greater pride or refinement in the teacher +of a school, Harriet. I dare say Miss Nash would envy you such an +opportunity as this of being married. Even this conquest would appear +valuable in her eyes. As to any thing superior for you, I suppose she +is quite in the dark. The attentions of a certain person can hardly be +among the tittle-tattle of Highbury yet. Hitherto I fancy you and I +are the only people to whom his looks and manners have explained +themselves." + +Harriet blushed and smiled, and said something about wondering that +people should like her so much. The idea of Mr. Elton was certainly +cheering; but still, after a time, she was tender-hearted again towards +the rejected Mr. Martin. + +"Now he has got my letter," said she softly. "I wonder what they are all +doing--whether his sisters know--if he is unhappy, they will be unhappy +too. I hope he will not mind it so very much." + +"Let us think of those among our absent friends who are more cheerfully +employed," cried Emma. "At this moment, perhaps, Mr. Elton is shewing +your picture to his mother and sisters, telling how much more beautiful +is the original, and after being asked for it five or six times, +allowing them to hear your name, your own dear name." + +"My picture!--But he has left my picture in Bond-street." + +"Has he so!--Then I know nothing of Mr. Elton. No, my dear little modest +Harriet, depend upon it the picture will not be in Bond-street till +just before he mounts his horse to-morrow. It is his companion all this +evening, his solace, his delight. It opens his designs to his family, +it introduces you among them, it diffuses through the party those +pleasantest feelings of our nature, eager curiosity and warm +prepossession. How cheerful, how animated, how suspicious, how busy +their imaginations all are!" + +Harriet smiled again, and her smiles grew stronger. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Harriet slept at Hartfield that night. For some weeks past she had been +spending more than half her time there, and gradually getting to have +a bed-room appropriated to herself; and Emma judged it best in every +respect, safest and kindest, to keep her with them as much as possible +just at present. She was obliged to go the next morning for an hour or +two to Mrs. Goddard's, but it was then to be settled that she should +return to Hartfield, to make a regular visit of some days. + +While she was gone, Mr. Knightley called, and sat some time with Mr. +Woodhouse and Emma, till Mr. Woodhouse, who had previously made up his +mind to walk out, was persuaded by his daughter not to defer it, and was +induced by the entreaties of both, though against the scruples of his +own civility, to leave Mr. Knightley for that purpose. Mr. Knightley, +who had nothing of ceremony about him, was offering by his short, +decided answers, an amusing contrast to the protracted apologies and +civil hesitations of the other. + +"Well, I believe, if you will excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if you will not +consider me as doing a very rude thing, I shall take Emma's advice and +go out for a quarter of an hour. As the sun is out, I believe I had +better take my three turns while I can. I treat you without ceremony, +Mr. Knightley. We invalids think we are privileged people." + +"My dear sir, do not make a stranger of me." + +"I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter. Emma will be happy to +entertain you. And therefore I think I will beg your excuse and take my +three turns--my winter walk." + +"You cannot do better, sir." + +"I would ask for the pleasure of your company, Mr. Knightley, but I am a +very slow walker, and my pace would be tedious to you; and, besides, you +have another long walk before you, to Donwell Abbey." + +"Thank you, sir, thank you; I am going this moment myself; and I think +the sooner _you_ go the better. I will fetch your greatcoat and open the +garden door for you." + +Mr. Woodhouse at last was off; but Mr. Knightley, instead of being +immediately off likewise, sat down again, seemingly inclined for more +chat. He began speaking of Harriet, and speaking of her with more +voluntary praise than Emma had ever heard before. + +"I cannot rate her beauty as you do," said he; "but she is a +pretty little creature, and I am inclined to think very well of her +disposition. Her character depends upon those she is with; but in good +hands she will turn out a valuable woman." + +"I am glad you think so; and the good hands, I hope, may not be +wanting." + +"Come," said he, "you are anxious for a compliment, so I will tell you +that you have improved her. You have cured her of her school-girl's +giggle; she really does you credit." + +"Thank you. I should be mortified indeed if I did not believe I had been +of some use; but it is not every body who will bestow praise where they +may. _You_ do not often overpower me with it." + +"You are expecting her again, you say, this morning?" + +"Almost every moment. She has been gone longer already than she +intended." + +"Something has happened to delay her; some visitors perhaps." + +"Highbury gossips!--Tiresome wretches!" + +"Harriet may not consider every body tiresome that you would." + +Emma knew this was too true for contradiction, and therefore said +nothing. He presently added, with a smile, + +"I do not pretend to fix on times or places, but I must tell you that +I have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of +something to her advantage." + +"Indeed! how so? of what sort?" + +"A very serious sort, I assure you;" still smiling. + +"Very serious! I can think of but one thing--Who is in love with her? +Who makes you their confidant?" + +Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr. Elton's having dropt a hint. +Mr. Knightley was a sort of general friend and adviser, and she knew Mr. +Elton looked up to him. + +"I have reason to think," he replied, "that Harriet Smith will soon have +an offer of marriage, and from a most unexceptionable quarter:--Robert +Martin is the man. Her visit to Abbey-Mill, this summer, seems to have +done his business. He is desperately in love and means to marry her." + +"He is very obliging," said Emma; "but is he sure that Harriet means to +marry him?" + +"Well, well, means to make her an offer then. Will that do? He came to +the Abbey two evenings ago, on purpose to consult me about it. He knows +I have a thorough regard for him and all his family, and, I believe, +considers me as one of his best friends. He came to ask me whether +I thought it would be imprudent in him to settle so early; whether +I thought her too young: in short, whether I approved his choice +altogether; having some apprehension perhaps of her being considered +(especially since _your_ making so much of her) as in a line of society +above him. I was very much pleased with all that he said. I never hear +better sense from any one than Robert Martin. He always speaks to the +purpose; open, straightforward, and very well judging. He told me every +thing; his circumstances and plans, and what they all proposed doing in +the event of his marriage. He is an excellent young man, both as son and +brother. I had no hesitation in advising him to marry. He proved to me +that he could afford it; and that being the case, I was convinced he +could not do better. I praised the fair lady too, and altogether sent +him away very happy. If he had never esteemed my opinion before, he +would have thought highly of me then; and, I dare say, left the house +thinking me the best friend and counsellor man ever had. This happened +the night before last. Now, as we may fairly suppose, he would not allow +much time to pass before he spoke to the lady, and as he does not appear +to have spoken yesterday, it is not unlikely that he should be at Mrs. +Goddard's to-day; and she may be detained by a visitor, without thinking +him at all a tiresome wretch." + +"Pray, Mr. Knightley," said Emma, who had been smiling to herself +through a great part of this speech, "how do you know that Mr. Martin +did not speak yesterday?" + +"Certainly," replied he, surprized, "I do not absolutely know it; but it +may be inferred. Was not she the whole day with you?" + +"Come," said she, "I will tell you something, in return for what +you have told me. He did speak yesterday--that is, he wrote, and was +refused." + +This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed; and Mr. +Knightley actually looked red with surprize and displeasure, as he stood +up, in tall indignation, and said, + +"Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her. What is the +foolish girl about?" + +"Oh! to be sure," cried Emma, "it is always incomprehensible to a man +that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always +imagines a woman to be ready for any body who asks her." + +"Nonsense! a man does not imagine any such thing. But what is the +meaning of this? Harriet Smith refuse Robert Martin? madness, if it is +so; but I hope you are mistaken." + +"I saw her answer!--nothing could be clearer." + +"You saw her answer!--you wrote her answer too. Emma, this is your +doing. You persuaded her to refuse him." + +"And if I did, (which, however, I am far from allowing) I should not +feel that I had done wrong. Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man, +but I cannot admit him to be Harriet's equal; and am rather surprized +indeed that he should have ventured to address her. By your account, he +does seem to have had some scruples. It is a pity that they were ever +got over." + +"Not Harriet's equal!" exclaimed Mr. Knightley loudly and warmly; and +with calmer asperity, added, a few moments afterwards, "No, he is +not her equal indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in +situation. Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you. What are +Harriet Smith's claims, either of birth, nature or education, to any +connexion higher than Robert Martin? She is the natural daughter of +nobody knows whom, with probably no settled provision at all, and +certainly no respectable relations. She is known only as parlour-boarder +at a common school. She is not a sensible girl, nor a girl of any +information. She has been taught nothing useful, and is too young and +too simple to have acquired any thing herself. At her age she can have +no experience, and with her little wit, is not very likely ever to have +any that can avail her. She is pretty, and she is good tempered, and +that is all. My only scruple in advising the match was on his account, +as being beneath his deserts, and a bad connexion for him. I felt that, +as to fortune, in all probability he might do much better; and that as +to a rational companion or useful helpmate, he could not do worse. But I +could not reason so to a man in love, and was willing to trust to there +being no harm in her, to her having that sort of disposition, which, in +good hands, like his, might be easily led aright and turn out very well. +The advantage of the match I felt to be all on her side; and had not the +smallest doubt (nor have I now) that there would be a general cry-out +upon her extreme good luck. Even _your_ satisfaction I made sure of. +It crossed my mind immediately that you would not regret your friend's +leaving Highbury, for the sake of her being settled so well. I remember +saying to myself, 'Even Emma, with all her partiality for Harriet, will +think this a good match.'" + +"I cannot help wondering at your knowing so little of Emma as to say any +such thing. What! think a farmer, (and with all his sense and all his +merit Mr. Martin is nothing more,) a good match for my intimate friend! +Not regret her leaving Highbury for the sake of marrying a man whom +I could never admit as an acquaintance of my own! I wonder you should +think it possible for me to have such feelings. I assure you mine are +very different. I must think your statement by no means fair. You are +not just to Harriet's claims. They would be estimated very differently +by others as well as myself; Mr. Martin may be the richest of the two, +but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society.--The sphere in +which she moves is much above his.--It would be a degradation." + +"A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance, to be married to a +respectable, intelligent gentleman-farmer!" + +"As to the circumstances of her birth, though in a legal sense she may +be called Nobody, it will not hold in common sense. She is not to pay +for the offence of others, by being held below the level of those with +whom she is brought up.--There can scarcely be a doubt that her father +is a gentleman--and a gentleman of fortune.--Her allowance is +very liberal; nothing has ever been grudged for her improvement or +comfort.--That she is a gentleman's daughter, is indubitable to me; that +she associates with gentlemen's daughters, no one, I apprehend, will +deny.--She is superior to Mr. Robert Martin." + +"Whoever might be her parents," said Mr. Knightley, "whoever may have +had the charge of her, it does not appear to have been any part of +their plan to introduce her into what you would call good society. After +receiving a very indifferent education she is left in Mrs. Goddard's +hands to shift as she can;--to move, in short, in Mrs. Goddard's line, +to have Mrs. Goddard's acquaintance. Her friends evidently thought +this good enough for her; and it _was_ good enough. She desired nothing +better herself. Till you chose to turn her into a friend, her mind had +no distaste for her own set, nor any ambition beyond it. She was as +happy as possible with the Martins in the summer. She had no sense of +superiority then. If she has it now, you have given it. You have been no +friend to Harriet Smith, Emma. Robert Martin would never have proceeded +so far, if he had not felt persuaded of her not being disinclined to +him. I know him well. He has too much real feeling to address any +woman on the haphazard of selfish passion. And as to conceit, he is +the farthest from it of any man I know. Depend upon it he had +encouragement." + +It was most convenient to Emma not to make a direct reply to this +assertion; she chose rather to take up her own line of the subject +again. + +"You are a very warm friend to Mr. Martin; but, as I said before, +are unjust to Harriet. Harriet's claims to marry well are not so +contemptible as you represent them. She is not a clever girl, but she +has better sense than you are aware of, and does not deserve to have her +understanding spoken of so slightingly. Waiving that point, however, and +supposing her to be, as you describe her, only pretty and good-natured, +let me tell you, that in the degree she possesses them, they are not +trivial recommendations to the world in general, for she is, in fact, a +beautiful girl, and must be thought so by ninety-nine people out of an +hundred; and till it appears that men are much more philosophic on the +subject of beauty than they are generally supposed; till they do fall +in love with well-informed minds instead of handsome faces, a girl, with +such loveliness as Harriet, has a certainty of being admired and sought +after, of having the power of chusing from among many, consequently a +claim to be nice. Her good-nature, too, is not so very slight a claim, +comprehending, as it does, real, thorough sweetness of temper and +manner, a very humble opinion of herself, and a great readiness to +be pleased with other people. I am very much mistaken if your sex in +general would not think such beauty, and such temper, the highest claims +a woman could possess." + +"Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the reason you have, is almost +enough to make me think so too. Better be without sense, than misapply +it as you do." + +"To be sure!" cried she playfully. "I know _that_ is the feeling of +you all. I know that such a girl as Harriet is exactly what every +man delights in--what at once bewitches his senses and satisfies his +judgment. Oh! Harriet may pick and chuse. Were you, yourself, ever to +marry, she is the very woman for you. And is she, at seventeen, just +entering into life, just beginning to be known, to be wondered at +because she does not accept the first offer she receives? No--pray let +her have time to look about her." + +"I have always thought it a very foolish intimacy," said Mr. Knightley +presently, "though I have kept my thoughts to myself; but I now perceive +that it will be a very unfortunate one for Harriet. You will puff her up +with such ideas of her own beauty, and of what she has a claim to, that, +in a little while, nobody within her reach will be good enough for her. +Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief. Nothing +so easy as for a young lady to raise her expectations too high. Miss +Harriet Smith may not find offers of marriage flow in so fast, though +she is a very pretty girl. Men of sense, whatever you may chuse to +say, do not want silly wives. Men of family would not be very fond of +connecting themselves with a girl of such obscurity--and most prudent +men would be afraid of the inconvenience and disgrace they might be +involved in, when the mystery of her parentage came to be revealed. Let +her marry Robert Martin, and she is safe, respectable, and happy for +ever; but if you encourage her to expect to marry greatly, and teach her +to be satisfied with nothing less than a man of consequence and large +fortune, she may be a parlour-boarder at Mrs. Goddard's all the rest +of her life--or, at least, (for Harriet Smith is a girl who will marry +somebody or other,) till she grow desperate, and is glad to catch at the +old writing-master's son." + +"We think so very differently on this point, Mr. Knightley, that there +can be no use in canvassing it. We shall only be making each other more +angry. But as to my _letting_ her marry Robert Martin, it is impossible; +she has refused him, and so decidedly, I think, as must prevent any +second application. She must abide by the evil of having refused him, +whatever it may be; and as to the refusal itself, I will not pretend to +say that I might not influence her a little; but I assure you there +was very little for me or for any body to do. His appearance is so much +against him, and his manner so bad, that if she ever were disposed to +favour him, she is not now. I can imagine, that before she had seen +any body superior, she might tolerate him. He was the brother of her +friends, and he took pains to please her; and altogether, having seen +nobody better (that must have been his great assistant) she might not, +while she was at Abbey-Mill, find him disagreeable. But the case +is altered now. She knows now what gentlemen are; and nothing but a +gentleman in education and manner has any chance with Harriet." + +"Nonsense, errant nonsense, as ever was talked!" cried Mr. +Knightley.--"Robert Martin's manners have sense, sincerity, and +good-humour to recommend them; and his mind has more true gentility than +Harriet Smith could understand." + +Emma made no answer, and tried to look cheerfully unconcerned, but was +really feeling uncomfortable and wanting him very much to be gone. She +did not repent what she had done; she still thought herself a better +judge of such a point of female right and refinement than he could be; +but yet she had a sort of habitual respect for his judgment in general, +which made her dislike having it so loudly against her; and to have him +sitting just opposite to her in angry state, was very disagreeable. +Some minutes passed in this unpleasant silence, with only one attempt +on Emma's side to talk of the weather, but he made no answer. He was +thinking. The result of his thoughts appeared at last in these words. + +"Robert Martin has no great loss--if he can but think so; and I hope it +will not be long before he does. Your views for Harriet are best known +to yourself; but as you make no secret of your love of match-making, it +is fair to suppose that views, and plans, and projects you have;--and as +a friend I shall just hint to you that if Elton is the man, I think it +will be all labour in vain." + +Emma laughed and disclaimed. He continued, + +"Depend upon it, Elton will not do. Elton is a very good sort of man, +and a very respectable vicar of Highbury, but not at all likely to make +an imprudent match. He knows the value of a good income as well as any +body. Elton may talk sentimentally, but he will act rationally. He is +as well acquainted with his own claims, as you can be with Harriet's. +He knows that he is a very handsome young man, and a great favourite +wherever he goes; and from his general way of talking in unreserved +moments, when there are only men present, I am convinced that he does +not mean to throw himself away. I have heard him speak with great +animation of a large family of young ladies that his sisters are +intimate with, who have all twenty thousand pounds apiece." + +"I am very much obliged to you," said Emma, laughing again. "If I had +set my heart on Mr. Elton's marrying Harriet, it would have been very +kind to open my eyes; but at present I only want to keep Harriet to +myself. I have done with match-making indeed. I could never hope to +equal my own doings at Randalls. I shall leave off while I am well." + +"Good morning to you,"--said he, rising and walking off abruptly. He was +very much vexed. He felt the disappointment of the young man, and was +mortified to have been the means of promoting it, by the sanction he had +given; and the part which he was persuaded Emma had taken in the affair, +was provoking him exceedingly. + +Emma remained in a state of vexation too; but there was more +indistinctness in the causes of her's, than in his. She did not always +feel so absolutely satisfied with herself, so entirely convinced that +her opinions were right and her adversary's wrong, as Mr. Knightley. He +walked off in more complete self-approbation than he left for her. She +was not so materially cast down, however, but that a little time and +the return of Harriet were very adequate restoratives. Harriet's staying +away so long was beginning to make her uneasy. The possibility of the +young man's coming to Mrs. Goddard's that morning, and meeting with +Harriet and pleading his own cause, gave alarming ideas. The dread +of such a failure after all became the prominent uneasiness; and when +Harriet appeared, and in very good spirits, and without having any +such reason to give for her long absence, she felt a satisfaction which +settled her with her own mind, and convinced her, that let Mr. +Knightley think or say what he would, she had done nothing which woman's +friendship and woman's feelings would not justify. + +He had frightened her a little about Mr. Elton; but when she considered +that Mr. Knightley could not have observed him as she had done, neither +with the interest, nor (she must be allowed to tell herself, in spite of +Mr. Knightley's pretensions) with the skill of such an observer on such +a question as herself, that he had spoken it hastily and in anger, she +was able to believe, that he had rather said what he wished resentfully +to be true, than what he knew any thing about. He certainly might have +heard Mr. Elton speak with more unreserve than she had ever done, and +Mr. Elton might not be of an imprudent, inconsiderate disposition as to +money matters; he might naturally be rather attentive than otherwise +to them; but then, Mr. Knightley did not make due allowance for the +influence of a strong passion at war with all interested motives. Mr. +Knightley saw no such passion, and of course thought nothing of its +effects; but she saw too much of it to feel a doubt of its overcoming +any hesitations that a reasonable prudence might originally suggest; and +more than a reasonable, becoming degree of prudence, she was very sure +did not belong to Mr. Elton. + +Harriet's cheerful look and manner established hers: she came back, not +to think of Mr. Martin, but to talk of Mr. Elton. Miss Nash had been +telling her something, which she repeated immediately with great +delight. Mr. Perry had been to Mrs. Goddard's to attend a sick child, +and Miss Nash had seen him, and he had told Miss Nash, that as he was +coming back yesterday from Clayton Park, he had met Mr. Elton, and +found to his great surprize, that Mr. Elton was actually on his road +to London, and not meaning to return till the morrow, though it was the +whist-club night, which he had been never known to miss before; and Mr. +Perry had remonstrated with him about it, and told him how shabby it +was in him, their best player, to absent himself, and tried very much to +persuade him to put off his journey only one day; but it would not +do; Mr. Elton had been determined to go on, and had said in a _very_ +_particular_ way indeed, that he was going on business which he would +not put off for any inducement in the world; and something about a +very enviable commission, and being the bearer of something exceedingly +precious. Mr. Perry could not quite understand him, but he was very sure +there must be a _lady_ in the case, and he told him so; and Mr. Elton +only looked very conscious and smiling, and rode off in great spirits. +Miss Nash had told her all this, and had talked a great deal more about +Mr. Elton; and said, looking so very significantly at her, "that she did +not pretend to understand what his business might be, but she only +knew that any woman whom Mr. Elton could prefer, she should think the +luckiest woman in the world; for, beyond a doubt, Mr. Elton had not his +equal for beauty or agreeableness." + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Mr. Knightley might quarrel with her, but Emma could not quarrel with +herself. He was so much displeased, that it was longer than usual before +he came to Hartfield again; and when they did meet, his grave looks +shewed that she was not forgiven. She was sorry, but could not repent. +On the contrary, her plans and proceedings were more and more justified +and endeared to her by the general appearances of the next few days. + +The Picture, elegantly framed, came safely to hand soon after Mr. +Elton's return, and being hung over the mantelpiece of the common +sitting-room, he got up to look at it, and sighed out his half sentences +of admiration just as he ought; and as for Harriet's feelings, they were +visibly forming themselves into as strong and steady an attachment as +her youth and sort of mind admitted. Emma was soon perfectly satisfied +of Mr. Martin's being no otherwise remembered, than as he furnished a +contrast with Mr. Elton, of the utmost advantage to the latter. + +Her views of improving her little friend's mind, by a great deal of +useful reading and conversation, had never yet led to more than a few +first chapters, and the intention of going on to-morrow. It was much +easier to chat than to study; much pleasanter to let her imagination +range and work at Harriet's fortune, than to be labouring to enlarge +her comprehension or exercise it on sober facts; and the only literary +pursuit which engaged Harriet at present, the only mental provision she +was making for the evening of life, was the collecting and transcribing +all the riddles of every sort that she could meet with, into a thin +quarto of hot-pressed paper, made up by her friend, and ornamented with +ciphers and trophies. + +In this age of literature, such collections on a very grand scale are +not uncommon. Miss Nash, head-teacher at Mrs. Goddard's, had written out +at least three hundred; and Harriet, who had taken the first hint of it +from her, hoped, with Miss Woodhouse's help, to get a great many more. +Emma assisted with her invention, memory and taste; and as Harriet wrote +a very pretty hand, it was likely to be an arrangement of the first +order, in form as well as quantity. + +Mr. Woodhouse was almost as much interested in the business as the +girls, and tried very often to recollect something worth their putting +in. "So many clever riddles as there used to be when he was young--he +wondered he could not remember them! but he hoped he should in time." +And it always ended in "Kitty, a fair but frozen maid." + +His good friend Perry, too, whom he had spoken to on the subject, +did not at present recollect any thing of the riddle kind; but he +had desired Perry to be upon the watch, and as he went about so much, +something, he thought, might come from that quarter. + +It was by no means his daughter's wish that the intellects of Highbury +in general should be put under requisition. Mr. Elton was the only one +whose assistance she asked. He was invited to contribute any really good +enigmas, charades, or conundrums that he might recollect; and she had +the pleasure of seeing him most intently at work with his recollections; +and at the same time, as she could perceive, most earnestly careful that +nothing ungallant, nothing that did not breathe a compliment to the +sex should pass his lips. They owed to him their two or three politest +puzzles; and the joy and exultation with which at last he recalled, and +rather sentimentally recited, that well-known charade, + + My first doth affliction denote, + Which my second is destin'd to feel + And my whole is the best antidote + That affliction to soften and heal.-- + +made her quite sorry to acknowledge that they had transcribed it some +pages ago already. + +"Why will not you write one yourself for us, Mr. Elton?" said she; "that +is the only security for its freshness; and nothing could be easier to +you." + +"Oh no! he had never written, hardly ever, any thing of the kind in his +life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse"--he +stopt a moment--"or Miss Smith could inspire him." + +The very next day however produced some proof of inspiration. He +called for a few moments, just to leave a piece of paper on the table +containing, as he said, a charade, which a friend of his had addressed +to a young lady, the object of his admiration, but which, from his +manner, Emma was immediately convinced must be his own. + +"I do not offer it for Miss Smith's collection," said he. "Being my +friend's, I have no right to expose it in any degree to the public eye, +but perhaps you may not dislike looking at it." + +The speech was more to Emma than to Harriet, which Emma could +understand. There was deep consciousness about him, and he found +it easier to meet her eye than her friend's. He was gone the next +moment:--after another moment's pause, + +"Take it," said Emma, smiling, and pushing the paper towards +Harriet--"it is for you. Take your own." + +But Harriet was in a tremor, and could not touch it; and Emma, never +loth to be first, was obliged to examine it herself. + + To Miss-- + + CHARADE. + + My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings, + Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease. + Another view of man, my second brings, + Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + + But ah! united, what reverse we have! + Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown; + Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave, + And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + + Thy ready wit the word will soon supply, + May its approval beam in that soft eye! + +She cast her eye over it, pondered, caught the meaning, read it through +again to be quite certain, and quite mistress of the lines, and then +passing it to Harriet, sat happily smiling, and saying to herself, while +Harriet was puzzling over the paper in all the confusion of hope and +dulness, "Very well, Mr. Elton, very well indeed. I have read worse +charades. _Courtship_--a very good hint. I give you credit for it. This +is feeling your way. This is saying very plainly--'Pray, Miss Smith, +give me leave to pay my addresses to you. Approve my charade and my +intentions in the same glance.' + + May its approval beam in that soft eye! + +Harriet exactly. Soft is the very word for her eye--of all epithets, the +justest that could be given. + + Thy ready wit the word will soon supply. + +Humph--Harriet's ready wit! All the better. A man must be very much in +love, indeed, to describe her so. Ah! Mr. Knightley, I wish you had the +benefit of this; I think this would convince you. For once in your life +you would be obliged to own yourself mistaken. An excellent charade +indeed! and very much to the purpose. Things must come to a crisis soon +now." + +She was obliged to break off from these very pleasant observations, +which were otherwise of a sort to run into great length, by the +eagerness of Harriet's wondering questions. + +"What can it be, Miss Woodhouse?--what can it be? I have not an idea--I +cannot guess it in the least. What can it possibly be? Do try to find +it out, Miss Woodhouse. Do help me. I never saw any thing so hard. Is it +kingdom? I wonder who the friend was--and who could be the young lady. +Do you think it is a good one? Can it be woman? + + And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + +Can it be Neptune? + + Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + +Or a trident? or a mermaid? or a shark? Oh, no! shark is only one +syllable. It must be very clever, or he would not have brought it. Oh! +Miss Woodhouse, do you think we shall ever find it out?" + +"Mermaids and sharks! Nonsense! My dear Harriet, what are you thinking +of? Where would be the use of his bringing us a charade made by a friend +upon a mermaid or a shark? Give me the paper and listen. + +For Miss ------, read Miss Smith. + + My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings, + Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease. + +That is _court_. + + Another view of man, my second brings; + Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + +That is _ship_;--plain as it can be.--Now for the cream. + + But ah! united, (_courtship_, you know,) what reverse we have! + Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown. + Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave, + And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + +A very proper compliment!--and then follows the application, which +I think, my dear Harriet, you cannot find much difficulty in +comprehending. Read it in comfort to yourself. There can be no doubt of +its being written for you and to you." + +Harriet could not long resist so delightful a persuasion. She read +the concluding lines, and was all flutter and happiness. She could not +speak. But she was not wanted to speak. It was enough for her to feel. +Emma spoke for her. + +"There is so pointed, and so particular a meaning in this compliment," +said she, "that I cannot have a doubt as to Mr. Elton's intentions. You +are his object--and you will soon receive the completest proof of it. I +thought it must be so. I thought I could not be so deceived; but now, it +is clear; the state of his mind is as clear and decided, as my wishes on +the subject have been ever since I knew you. Yes, Harriet, just so long +have I been wanting the very circumstance to happen what has happened. +I could never tell whether an attachment between you and Mr. Elton were +most desirable or most natural. Its probability and its eligibility have +really so equalled each other! I am very happy. I congratulate you, my +dear Harriet, with all my heart. This is an attachment which a woman may +well feel pride in creating. This is a connexion which offers nothing +but good. It will give you every thing that you want--consideration, +independence, a proper home--it will fix you in the centre of all your +real friends, close to Hartfield and to me, and confirm our intimacy +for ever. This, Harriet, is an alliance which can never raise a blush in +either of us." + +"Dear Miss Woodhouse!"--and "Dear Miss Woodhouse," was all that Harriet, +with many tender embraces could articulate at first; but when they did +arrive at something more like conversation, it was sufficiently clear to +her friend that she saw, felt, anticipated, and remembered just as she +ought. Mr. Elton's superiority had very ample acknowledgment. + +"Whatever you say is always right," cried Harriet, "and therefore I +suppose, and believe, and hope it must be so; but otherwise I could not +have imagined it. It is so much beyond any thing I deserve. Mr. Elton, +who might marry any body! There cannot be two opinions about _him_. He +is so very superior. Only think of those sweet verses--'To Miss ------.' +Dear me, how clever!--Could it really be meant for me?" + +"I cannot make a question, or listen to a question about that. It is a +certainty. Receive it on my judgment. It is a sort of prologue to +the play, a motto to the chapter; and will be soon followed by +matter-of-fact prose." + +"It is a sort of thing which nobody could have expected. I am sure, +a month ago, I had no more idea myself!--The strangest things do take +place!" + +"When Miss Smiths and Mr. Eltons get acquainted--they do indeed--and +really it is strange; it is out of the common course that what is so +evidently, so palpably desirable--what courts the pre-arrangement of +other people, should so immediately shape itself into the proper form. +You and Mr. Elton are by situation called together; you belong to one +another by every circumstance of your respective homes. Your marrying +will be equal to the match at Randalls. There does seem to be a +something in the air of Hartfield which gives love exactly the right +direction, and sends it into the very channel where it ought to flow. + + The course of true love never did run smooth-- + +A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that +passage." + +"That Mr. Elton should really be in love with me,--me, of all people, +who did not know him, to speak to him, at Michaelmas! And he, the very +handsomest man that ever was, and a man that every body looks up to, +quite like Mr. Knightley! His company so sought after, that every body +says he need not eat a single meal by himself if he does not chuse it; +that he has more invitations than there are days in the week. And so +excellent in the Church! Miss Nash has put down all the texts he has +ever preached from since he came to Highbury. Dear me! When I look back +to the first time I saw him! How little did I think!--The two Abbots and +I ran into the front room and peeped through the blind when we heard he +was going by, and Miss Nash came and scolded us away, and staid to look +through herself; however, she called me back presently, and let me +look too, which was very good-natured. And how beautiful we thought he +looked! He was arm-in-arm with Mr. Cole." + +"This is an alliance which, whoever--whatever your friends may be, must +be agreeable to them, provided at least they have common sense; and we +are not to be addressing our conduct to fools. If they are anxious to +see you _happily_ married, here is a man whose amiable character gives +every assurance of it;--if they wish to have you settled in the same +country and circle which they have chosen to place you in, here it will +be accomplished; and if their only object is that you should, in the +common phrase, be _well_ married, here is the comfortable fortune, the +respectable establishment, the rise in the world which must satisfy +them." + +"Yes, very true. How nicely you talk; I love to hear you. You understand +every thing. You and Mr. Elton are one as clever as the other. This +charade!--If I had studied a twelvemonth, I could never have made any +thing like it." + +"I thought he meant to try his skill, by his manner of declining it +yesterday." + +"I do think it is, without exception, the best charade I ever read." + +"I never read one more to the purpose, certainly." + +"It is as long again as almost all we have had before." + +"I do not consider its length as particularly in its favour. Such things +in general cannot be too short." + +Harriet was too intent on the lines to hear. The most satisfactory +comparisons were rising in her mind. + +"It is one thing," said she, presently--her cheeks in a glow--"to have +very good sense in a common way, like every body else, and if there is +any thing to say, to sit down and write a letter, and say just what you +must, in a short way; and another, to write verses and charades like +this." + +Emma could not have desired a more spirited rejection of Mr. Martin's +prose. + +"Such sweet lines!" continued Harriet--"these two last!--But how shall I +ever be able to return the paper, or say I have found it out?--Oh! Miss +Woodhouse, what can we do about that?" + +"Leave it to me. You do nothing. He will be here this evening, I dare +say, and then I will give it him back, and some nonsense or other will +pass between us, and you shall not be committed.--Your soft eyes shall +chuse their own time for beaming. Trust to me." + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what a pity that I must not write this beautiful +charade into my book! I am sure I have not got one half so good." + +"Leave out the two last lines, and there is no reason why you should not +write it into your book." + +"Oh! but those two lines are"-- + +--"The best of all. Granted;--for private enjoyment; and for private +enjoyment keep them. They are not at all the less written you know, +because you divide them. The couplet does not cease to be, nor does its +meaning change. But take it away, and all _appropriation_ ceases, and a +very pretty gallant charade remains, fit for any collection. Depend upon +it, he would not like to have his charade slighted, much better than his +passion. A poet in love must be encouraged in both capacities, or +neither. Give me the book, I will write it down, and then there can be +no possible reflection on you." + +Harriet submitted, though her mind could hardly separate the parts, +so as to feel quite sure that her friend were not writing down a +declaration of love. It seemed too precious an offering for any degree +of publicity. + +"I shall never let that book go out of my own hands," said she. + +"Very well," replied Emma; "a most natural feeling; and the longer it +lasts, the better I shall be pleased. But here is my father coming: you +will not object to my reading the charade to him. It will be giving him +so much pleasure! He loves any thing of the sort, and especially any +thing that pays woman a compliment. He has the tenderest spirit of +gallantry towards us all!--You must let me read it to him." + +Harriet looked grave. + +"My dear Harriet, you must not refine too much upon this charade.--You +will betray your feelings improperly, if you are too conscious and too +quick, and appear to affix more meaning, or even quite all the meaning +which may be affixed to it. Do not be overpowered by such a little +tribute of admiration. If he had been anxious for secrecy, he would not +have left the paper while I was by; but he rather pushed it towards me +than towards you. Do not let us be too solemn on the business. He has +encouragement enough to proceed, without our sighing out our souls over +this charade." + +"Oh! no--I hope I shall not be ridiculous about it. Do as you please." + +Mr. Woodhouse came in, and very soon led to the subject again, by the +recurrence of his very frequent inquiry of "Well, my dears, how does +your book go on?--Have you got any thing fresh?" + +"Yes, papa; we have something to read you, something quite fresh. A +piece of paper was found on the table this morning--(dropt, we suppose, +by a fairy)--containing a very pretty charade, and we have just copied +it in." + +She read it to him, just as he liked to have any thing read, slowly and +distinctly, and two or three times over, with explanations of every +part as she proceeded--and he was very much pleased, and, as she had +foreseen, especially struck with the complimentary conclusion. + +"Aye, that's very just, indeed, that's very properly said. Very true. +'Woman, lovely woman.' It is such a pretty charade, my dear, that I +can easily guess what fairy brought it.--Nobody could have written so +prettily, but you, Emma." + +Emma only nodded, and smiled.--After a little thinking, and a very +tender sigh, he added, + +"Ah! it is no difficulty to see who you take after! Your dear mother +was so clever at all those things! If I had but her memory! But I can +remember nothing;--not even that particular riddle which you have +heard me mention; I can only recollect the first stanza; and there are +several. + + Kitty, a fair but frozen maid, + Kindled a flame I yet deplore, + The hood-wink'd boy I called to aid, + Though of his near approach afraid, + So fatal to my suit before. + +And that is all that I can recollect of it--but it is very clever all +the way through. But I think, my dear, you said you had got it." + +"Yes, papa, it is written out in our second page. We copied it from the +Elegant Extracts. It was Garrick's, you know." + +"Aye, very true.--I wish I could recollect more of it. + + Kitty, a fair but frozen maid. + +The name makes me think of poor Isabella; for she was very near being +christened Catherine after her grandmama. I hope we shall have her here +next week. Have you thought, my dear, where you shall put her--and what +room there will be for the children?" + +"Oh! yes--she will have her own room, of course; the room she always +has;--and there is the nursery for the children,--just as usual, you +know. Why should there be any change?" + +"I do not know, my dear--but it is so long since she was here!--not +since last Easter, and then only for a few days.--Mr. John Knightley's +being a lawyer is very inconvenient.--Poor Isabella!--she is sadly taken +away from us all!--and how sorry she will be when she comes, not to see +Miss Taylor here!" + +"She will not be surprized, papa, at least." + +"I do not know, my dear. I am sure I was very much surprized when I +first heard she was going to be married." + +"We must ask Mr. and Mrs. Weston to dine with us, while Isabella is +here." + +"Yes, my dear, if there is time.--But--(in a very depressed tone)--she +is coming for only one week. There will not be time for any thing." + +"It is unfortunate that they cannot stay longer--but it seems a case of +necessity. Mr. John Knightley must be in town again on the 28th, and we +ought to be thankful, papa, that we are to have the whole of the time +they can give to the country, that two or three days are not to be taken +out for the Abbey. Mr. Knightley promises to give up his claim this +Christmas--though you know it is longer since they were with him, than +with us." + +"It would be very hard, indeed, my dear, if poor Isabella were to be +anywhere but at Hartfield." + +Mr. Woodhouse could never allow for Mr. Knightley's claims on his +brother, or any body's claims on Isabella, except his own. He sat musing +a little while, and then said, + +"But I do not see why poor Isabella should be obliged to go back so +soon, though he does. I think, Emma, I shall try and persuade her to +stay longer with us. She and the children might stay very well." + +"Ah! papa--that is what you never have been able to accomplish, and I +do not think you ever will. Isabella cannot bear to stay behind her +husband." + +This was too true for contradiction. Unwelcome as it was, Mr. Woodhouse +could only give a submissive sigh; and as Emma saw his spirits affected +by the idea of his daughter's attachment to her husband, she immediately +led to such a branch of the subject as must raise them. + +"Harriet must give us as much of her company as she can while my brother +and sister are here. I am sure she will be pleased with the children. +We are very proud of the children, are not we, papa? I wonder which she +will think the handsomest, Henry or John?" + +"Aye, I wonder which she will. Poor little dears, how glad they will be +to come. They are very fond of being at Hartfield, Harriet." + +"I dare say they are, sir. I am sure I do not know who is not." + +"Henry is a fine boy, but John is very like his mama. Henry is the +eldest, he was named after me, not after his father. John, the second, +is named after his father. Some people are surprized, I believe, that +the eldest was not, but Isabella would have him called Henry, which I +thought very pretty of her. And he is a very clever boy, indeed. They +are all remarkably clever; and they have so many pretty ways. They will +come and stand by my chair, and say, 'Grandpapa, can you give me a bit +of string?' and once Henry asked me for a knife, but I told him knives +were only made for grandpapas. I think their father is too rough with +them very often." + +"He appears rough to you," said Emma, "because you are so very gentle +yourself; but if you could compare him with other papas, you would not +think him rough. He wishes his boys to be active and hardy; and if +they misbehave, can give them a sharp word now and then; but he is an +affectionate father--certainly Mr. John Knightley is an affectionate +father. The children are all fond of him." + +"And then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a +very frightful way!" + +"But they like it, papa; there is nothing they like so much. It is such +enjoyment to them, that if their uncle did not lay down the rule of +their taking turns, whichever began would never give way to the other." + +"Well, I cannot understand it." + +"That is the case with us all, papa. One half of the world cannot +understand the pleasures of the other." + +Later in the morning, and just as the girls were going to separate +in preparation for the regular four o'clock dinner, the hero of this +inimitable charade walked in again. Harriet turned away; but Emma could +receive him with the usual smile, and her quick eye soon discerned in +his the consciousness of having made a push--of having thrown a die; +and she imagined he was come to see how it might turn up. His ostensible +reason, however, was to ask whether Mr. Woodhouse's party could be made +up in the evening without him, or whether he should be in the smallest +degree necessary at Hartfield. If he were, every thing else must give +way; but otherwise his friend Cole had been saying so much about his +dining with him--had made such a point of it, that he had promised him +conditionally to come. + +Emma thanked him, but could not allow of his disappointing his friend +on their account; her father was sure of his rubber. He re-urged--she +re-declined; and he seemed then about to make his bow, when taking the +paper from the table, she returned it-- + +"Oh! here is the charade you were so obliging as to leave with us; thank +you for the sight of it. We admired it so much, that I have ventured +to write it into Miss Smith's collection. Your friend will not take it +amiss I hope. Of course I have not transcribed beyond the first eight +lines." + +Mr. Elton certainly did not very well know what to say. He looked rather +doubtingly--rather confused; said something about "honour,"--glanced at +Emma and at Harriet, and then seeing the book open on the table, took +it up, and examined it very attentively. With the view of passing off an +awkward moment, Emma smilingly said, + +"You must make my apologies to your friend; but so good a charade +must not be confined to one or two. He may be sure of every woman's +approbation while he writes with such gallantry." + +"I have no hesitation in saying," replied Mr. Elton, though hesitating +a good deal while he spoke; "I have no hesitation in saying--at least +if my friend feels at all as _I_ do--I have not the smallest doubt that, +could he see his little effusion honoured as _I_ see it, (looking at the +book again, and replacing it on the table), he would consider it as the +proudest moment of his life." + +After this speech he was gone as soon as possible. Emma could not think +it too soon; for with all his good and agreeable qualities, there was +a sort of parade in his speeches which was very apt to incline her to +laugh. She ran away to indulge the inclination, leaving the tender and +the sublime of pleasure to Harriet's share. + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Though now the middle of December, there had yet been no weather to +prevent the young ladies from tolerably regular exercise; and on the +morrow, Emma had a charitable visit to pay to a poor sick family, who +lived a little way out of Highbury. + +Their road to this detached cottage was down Vicarage Lane, a lane +leading at right angles from the broad, though irregular, main street of +the place; and, as may be inferred, containing the blessed abode of Mr. +Elton. A few inferior dwellings were first to be passed, and then, about +a quarter of a mile down the lane rose the Vicarage, an old and not +very good house, almost as close to the road as it could be. It had +no advantage of situation; but had been very much smartened up by the +present proprietor; and, such as it was, there could be no possibility +of the two friends passing it without a slackened pace and observing +eyes.--Emma's remark was-- + +"There it is. There go you and your riddle-book one of these +days."--Harriet's was-- + +"Oh, what a sweet house!--How very beautiful!--There are the yellow +curtains that Miss Nash admires so much." + +"I do not often walk this way _now_," said Emma, as they proceeded, "but +_then_ there will be an inducement, and I shall gradually get intimately +acquainted with all the hedges, gates, pools and pollards of this part +of Highbury." + +Harriet, she found, had never in her life been within side the Vicarage, +and her curiosity to see it was so extreme, that, considering exteriors +and probabilities, Emma could only class it, as a proof of love, with +Mr. Elton's seeing ready wit in her. + +"I wish we could contrive it," said she; "but I cannot think of any +tolerable pretence for going in;--no servant that I want to inquire +about of his housekeeper--no message from my father." + +She pondered, but could think of nothing. After a mutual silence of some +minutes, Harriet thus began again-- + +"I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married, or +going to be married! so charming as you are!"-- + +Emma laughed, and replied, + +"My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to induce me to marry; +I must find other people charming--one other person at least. And I +am not only, not going to be married, at present, but have very little +intention of ever marrying at all." + +"Ah!--so you say; but I cannot believe it." + +"I must see somebody very superior to any one I have seen yet, to be +tempted; Mr. Elton, you know, (recollecting herself,) is out of the +question: and I do _not_ wish to see any such person. I would rather not +be tempted. I cannot really change for the better. If I were to marry, I +must expect to repent it." + +"Dear me!--it is so odd to hear a woman talk so!"-- + +"I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry. Were I to fall +in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! but I never have been in +love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. +And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a +situation as mine. Fortune I do not want; employment I do not want; +consequence I do not want: I believe few married women are half as much +mistress of their husband's house as I am of Hartfield; and never, never +could I expect to be so truly beloved and important; so always first and +always right in any man's eyes as I am in my father's." + +"But then, to be an old maid at last, like Miss Bates!" + +"That is as formidable an image as you could present, Harriet; and if +I thought I should ever be like Miss Bates! so silly--so satisfied--so +smiling--so prosing--so undistinguishing and unfastidious--and so apt +to tell every thing relative to every body about me, I would marry +to-morrow. But between _us_, I am convinced there never can be any +likeness, except in being unmarried." + +"But still, you will be an old maid! and that's so dreadful!" + +"Never mind, Harriet, I shall not be a poor old maid; and it is poverty +only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single +woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old +maid! the proper sport of boys and girls, but a single woman, of good +fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant +as any body else. And the distinction is not quite so much against the +candour and common sense of the world as appears at first; for a very +narrow income has a tendency to contract the mind, and sour the temper. +Those who can barely live, and who live perforce in a very small, and +generally very inferior, society, may well be illiberal and cross. This +does not apply, however, to Miss Bates; she is only too good natured and +too silly to suit me; but, in general, she is very much to the taste +of every body, though single and though poor. Poverty certainly has not +contracted her mind: I really believe, if she had only a shilling in the +world, she would be very likely to give away sixpence of it; and nobody +is afraid of her: that is a great charm." + +"Dear me! but what shall you do? how shall you employ yourself when you +grow old?" + +"If I know myself, Harriet, mine is an active, busy mind, with a great +many independent resources; and I do not perceive why I should be more +in want of employment at forty or fifty than one-and-twenty. Woman's +usual occupations of hand and mind will be as open to me then as they +are now; or with no important variation. If I draw less, I shall read +more; if I give up music, I shall take to carpet-work. And as for +objects of interest, objects for the affections, which is in truth the +great point of inferiority, the want of which is really the great evil +to be avoided in _not_ marrying, I shall be very well off, with all the +children of a sister I love so much, to care about. There will be enough +of them, in all probability, to supply every sort of sensation that +declining life can need. There will be enough for every hope and every +fear; and though my attachment to none can equal that of a parent, it +suits my ideas of comfort better than what is warmer and blinder. My +nephews and nieces!--I shall often have a niece with me." + +"Do you know Miss Bates's niece? That is, I know you must have seen her +a hundred times--but are you acquainted?" + +"Oh! yes; we are always forced to be acquainted whenever she comes to +Highbury. By the bye, _that_ is almost enough to put one out of conceit +with a niece. Heaven forbid! at least, that I should ever bore people +half so much about all the Knightleys together, as she does about Jane +Fairfax. One is sick of the very name of Jane Fairfax. Every letter from +her is read forty times over; her compliments to all friends go round +and round again; and if she does but send her aunt the pattern of a +stomacher, or knit a pair of garters for her grandmother, one hears of +nothing else for a month. I wish Jane Fairfax very well; but she tires +me to death." + +They were now approaching the cottage, and all idle topics were +superseded. Emma was very compassionate; and the distresses of the poor +were as sure of relief from her personal attention and kindness, her +counsel and her patience, as from her purse. She understood their ways, +could allow for their ignorance and their temptations, had no romantic +expectations of extraordinary virtue from those for whom education had +done so little; entered into their troubles with ready sympathy, and +always gave her assistance with as much intelligence as good-will. In +the present instance, it was sickness and poverty together which she +came to visit; and after remaining there as long as she could give +comfort or advice, she quitted the cottage with such an impression of +the scene as made her say to Harriet, as they walked away, + +"These are the sights, Harriet, to do one good. How trifling they make +every thing else appear!--I feel now as if I could think of nothing but +these poor creatures all the rest of the day; and yet, who can say how +soon it may all vanish from my mind?" + +"Very true," said Harriet. "Poor creatures! one can think of nothing +else." + +"And really, I do not think the impression will soon be over," said +Emma, as she crossed the low hedge, and tottering footstep which ended +the narrow, slippery path through the cottage garden, and brought them +into the lane again. "I do not think it will," stopping to look once +more at all the outward wretchedness of the place, and recall the still +greater within. + +"Oh! dear, no," said her companion. + +They walked on. The lane made a slight bend; and when that bend was +passed, Mr. Elton was immediately in sight; and so near as to give Emma +time only to say farther, + +"Ah! Harriet, here comes a very sudden trial of our stability in good +thoughts. Well, (smiling,) I hope it may be allowed that if compassion +has produced exertion and relief to the sufferers, it has done all that +is truly important. If we feel for the wretched, enough to do all we can +for them, the rest is empty sympathy, only distressing to ourselves." + +Harriet could just answer, "Oh! dear, yes," before the gentleman joined +them. The wants and sufferings of the poor family, however, were the +first subject on meeting. He had been going to call on them. His visit +he would now defer; but they had a very interesting parley about +what could be done and should be done. Mr. Elton then turned back to +accompany them. + +"To fall in with each other on such an errand as this," thought Emma; +"to meet in a charitable scheme; this will bring a great increase +of love on each side. I should not wonder if it were to bring on the +declaration. It must, if I were not here. I wish I were anywhere else." + +Anxious to separate herself from them as far as she could, she soon +afterwards took possession of a narrow footpath, a little raised on one +side of the lane, leaving them together in the main road. But she had +not been there two minutes when she found that Harriet's habits of +dependence and imitation were bringing her up too, and that, in short, +they would both be soon after her. This would not do; she immediately +stopped, under pretence of having some alteration to make in the lacing +of her half-boot, and stooping down in complete occupation of the +footpath, begged them to have the goodness to walk on, and she would +follow in half a minute. They did as they were desired; and by the time +she judged it reasonable to have done with her boot, she had the comfort +of farther delay in her power, being overtaken by a child from the +cottage, setting out, according to orders, with her pitcher, to fetch +broth from Hartfield. To walk by the side of this child, and talk to +and question her, was the most natural thing in the world, or would have +been the most natural, had she been acting just then without design; +and by this means the others were still able to keep ahead, without +any obligation of waiting for her. She gained on them, however, +involuntarily: the child's pace was quick, and theirs rather slow; +and she was the more concerned at it, from their being evidently in +a conversation which interested them. Mr. Elton was speaking with +animation, Harriet listening with a very pleased attention; and Emma, +having sent the child on, was beginning to think how she might draw back +a little more, when they both looked around, and she was obliged to join +them. + +Mr. Elton was still talking, still engaged in some interesting detail; +and Emma experienced some disappointment when she found that he was only +giving his fair companion an account of the yesterday's party at his +friend Cole's, and that she was come in herself for the Stilton cheese, +the north Wiltshire, the butter, the celery, the beet-root, and all the +dessert. + +"This would soon have led to something better, of course," was her +consoling reflection; "any thing interests between those who love; and +any thing will serve as introduction to what is near the heart. If I +could but have kept longer away!" + +They now walked on together quietly, till within view of the vicarage +pales, when a sudden resolution, of at least getting Harriet into the +house, made her again find something very much amiss about her boot, and +fall behind to arrange it once more. She then broke the lace off short, +and dexterously throwing it into a ditch, was presently obliged to +entreat them to stop, and acknowledged her inability to put herself to +rights so as to be able to walk home in tolerable comfort. + +"Part of my lace is gone," said she, "and I do not know how I am to +contrive. I really am a most troublesome companion to you both, but I +hope I am not often so ill-equipped. Mr. Elton, I must beg leave to stop +at your house, and ask your housekeeper for a bit of ribband or string, +or any thing just to keep my boot on." + +Mr. Elton looked all happiness at this proposition; and nothing could +exceed his alertness and attention in conducting them into his house and +endeavouring to make every thing appear to advantage. The room they were +taken into was the one he chiefly occupied, and looking forwards; behind +it was another with which it immediately communicated; the door between +them was open, and Emma passed into it with the housekeeper to receive +her assistance in the most comfortable manner. She was obliged to leave +the door ajar as she found it; but she fully intended that Mr. Elton +should close it. It was not closed, however, it still remained ajar; but +by engaging the housekeeper in incessant conversation, she hoped to make +it practicable for him to chuse his own subject in the adjoining +room. For ten minutes she could hear nothing but herself. It could be +protracted no longer. She was then obliged to be finished, and make her +appearance. + +The lovers were standing together at one of the windows. It had a most +favourable aspect; and, for half a minute, Emma felt the glory of having +schemed successfully. But it would not do; he had not come to the point. +He had been most agreeable, most delightful; he had told Harriet that +he had seen them go by, and had purposely followed them; other little +gallantries and allusions had been dropt, but nothing serious. + +"Cautious, very cautious," thought Emma; "he advances inch by inch, and +will hazard nothing till he believes himself secure." + +Still, however, though every thing had not been accomplished by her +ingenious device, she could not but flatter herself that it had been +the occasion of much present enjoyment to both, and must be leading them +forward to the great event. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Mr. Elton must now be left to himself. It was no longer in Emma's power +to superintend his happiness or quicken his measures. The coming of her +sister's family was so very near at hand, that first in anticipation, +and then in reality, it became henceforth her prime object of interest; +and during the ten days of their stay at Hartfield it was not to be +expected--she did not herself expect--that any thing beyond occasional, +fortuitous assistance could be afforded by her to the lovers. They might +advance rapidly if they would, however; they must advance somehow or +other whether they would or no. She hardly wished to have more leisure +for them. There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they +will do for themselves. + +Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley, from having been longer than usual absent +from Surry, were exciting of course rather more than the usual interest. +Till this year, every long vacation since their marriage had been +divided between Hartfield and Donwell Abbey; but all the holidays of +this autumn had been given to sea-bathing for the children, and it was +therefore many months since they had been seen in a regular way by their +Surry connexions, or seen at all by Mr. Woodhouse, who could not be +induced to get so far as London, even for poor Isabella's sake; and +who consequently was now most nervously and apprehensively happy in +forestalling this too short visit. + +He thought much of the evils of the journey for her, and not a little +of the fatigues of his own horses and coachman who were to bring some +of the party the last half of the way; but his alarms were needless; +the sixteen miles being happily accomplished, and Mr. and Mrs. John +Knightley, their five children, and a competent number of nursery-maids, +all reaching Hartfield in safety. The bustle and joy of such an arrival, +the many to be talked to, welcomed, encouraged, and variously dispersed +and disposed of, produced a noise and confusion which his nerves could +not have borne under any other cause, nor have endured much longer even +for this; but the ways of Hartfield and the feelings of her father +were so respected by Mrs. John Knightley, that in spite of maternal +solicitude for the immediate enjoyment of her little ones, and for their +having instantly all the liberty and attendance, all the eating and +drinking, and sleeping and playing, which they could possibly wish for, +without the smallest delay, the children were never allowed to be long +a disturbance to him, either in themselves or in any restless attendance +on them. + +Mrs. John Knightley was a pretty, elegant little woman, of gentle, quiet +manners, and a disposition remarkably amiable and affectionate; wrapt +up in her family; a devoted wife, a doating mother, and so tenderly +attached to her father and sister that, but for these higher ties, a +warmer love might have seemed impossible. She could never see a fault +in any of them. She was not a woman of strong understanding or any +quickness; and with this resemblance of her father, she inherited also +much of his constitution; was delicate in her own health, over-careful +of that of her children, had many fears and many nerves, and was as fond +of her own Mr. Wingfield in town as her father could be of Mr. Perry. +They were alike too, in a general benevolence of temper, and a strong +habit of regard for every old acquaintance. + +Mr. John Knightley was a tall, gentleman-like, and very clever man; +rising in his profession, domestic, and respectable in his private +character; but with reserved manners which prevented his being generally +pleasing; and capable of being sometimes out of humour. He was not an +ill-tempered man, not so often unreasonably cross as to deserve such a +reproach; but his temper was not his great perfection; and, indeed, with +such a worshipping wife, it was hardly possible that any natural defects +in it should not be increased. The extreme sweetness of her temper +must hurt his. He had all the clearness and quickness of mind which she +wanted, and he could sometimes act an ungracious, or say a severe thing. + +He was not a great favourite with his fair sister-in-law. Nothing wrong +in him escaped her. She was quick in feeling the little injuries to +Isabella, which Isabella never felt herself. Perhaps she might have +passed over more had his manners been flattering to Isabella's sister, +but they were only those of a calmly kind brother and friend, without +praise and without blindness; but hardly any degree of personal +compliment could have made her regardless of that greatest fault of +all in her eyes which he sometimes fell into, the want of respectful +forbearance towards her father. There he had not always the patience +that could have been wished. Mr. Woodhouse's peculiarities and +fidgetiness were sometimes provoking him to a rational remonstrance or +sharp retort equally ill-bestowed. It did not often happen; for Mr. John +Knightley had really a great regard for his father-in-law, and generally +a strong sense of what was due to him; but it was too often for Emma's +charity, especially as there was all the pain of apprehension frequently +to be endured, though the offence came not. The beginning, however, of +every visit displayed none but the properest feelings, and this being of +necessity so short might be hoped to pass away in unsullied cordiality. +They had not been long seated and composed when Mr. Woodhouse, with a +melancholy shake of the head and a sigh, called his daughter's attention +to the sad change at Hartfield since she had been there last. + +"Ah, my dear," said he, "poor Miss Taylor--It is a grievous business." + +"Oh yes, sir," cried she with ready sympathy, "how you must miss her! +And dear Emma, too!--What a dreadful loss to you both!--I have been so +grieved for you.--I could not imagine how you could possibly do without +her.--It is a sad change indeed.--But I hope she is pretty well, sir." + +"Pretty well, my dear--I hope--pretty well.--I do not know but that the +place agrees with her tolerably." + +Mr. John Knightley here asked Emma quietly whether there were any doubts +of the air of Randalls. + +"Oh! no--none in the least. I never saw Mrs. Weston better in my +life--never looking so well. Papa is only speaking his own regret." + +"Very much to the honour of both," was the handsome reply. + +"And do you see her, sir, tolerably often?" asked Isabella in the +plaintive tone which just suited her father. + +Mr. Woodhouse hesitated.--"Not near so often, my dear, as I could wish." + +"Oh! papa, we have missed seeing them but one entire day since they +married. Either in the morning or evening of every day, excepting one, +have we seen either Mr. Weston or Mrs. Weston, and generally both, +either at Randalls or here--and as you may suppose, Isabella, most +frequently here. They are very, very kind in their visits. Mr. Weston +is really as kind as herself. Papa, if you speak in that melancholy way, +you will be giving Isabella a false idea of us all. Every body must be +aware that Miss Taylor must be missed, but every body ought also to be +assured that Mr. and Mrs. Weston do really prevent our missing her by +any means to the extent we ourselves anticipated--which is the exact +truth." + +"Just as it should be," said Mr. John Knightley, "and just as I hoped +it was from your letters. Her wish of shewing you attention could not be +doubted, and his being a disengaged and social man makes it all easy. I +have been always telling you, my love, that I had no idea of the change +being so very material to Hartfield as you apprehended; and now you have +Emma's account, I hope you will be satisfied." + +"Why, to be sure," said Mr. Woodhouse--"yes, certainly--I cannot +deny that Mrs. Weston, poor Mrs. Weston, does come and see us pretty +often--but then--she is always obliged to go away again." + +"It would be very hard upon Mr. Weston if she did not, papa.--You quite +forget poor Mr. Weston." + +"I think, indeed," said John Knightley pleasantly, "that Mr. Weston has +some little claim. You and I, Emma, will venture to take the part of the +poor husband. I, being a husband, and you not being a wife, the claims +of the man may very likely strike us with equal force. As for Isabella, +she has been married long enough to see the convenience of putting all +the Mr. Westons aside as much as she can." + +"Me, my love," cried his wife, hearing and understanding only in part.-- +"Are you talking about me?--I am sure nobody ought to be, or can be, a +greater advocate for matrimony than I am; and if it had not been for +the misery of her leaving Hartfield, I should never have thought of Miss +Taylor but as the most fortunate woman in the world; and as to slighting +Mr. Weston, that excellent Mr. Weston, I think there is nothing he does +not deserve. I believe he is one of the very best-tempered men that ever +existed. Excepting yourself and your brother, I do not know his equal +for temper. I shall never forget his flying Henry's kite for him that +very windy day last Easter--and ever since his particular kindness last +September twelvemonth in writing that note, at twelve o'clock at night, +on purpose to assure me that there was no scarlet fever at Cobham, I +have been convinced there could not be a more feeling heart nor a better +man in existence.--If any body can deserve him, it must be Miss Taylor." + +"Where is the young man?" said John Knightley. "Has he been here on this +occasion--or has he not?" + +"He has not been here yet," replied Emma. "There was a strong +expectation of his coming soon after the marriage, but it ended in +nothing; and I have not heard him mentioned lately." + +"But you should tell them of the letter, my dear," said her father. +"He wrote a letter to poor Mrs. Weston, to congratulate her, and a very +proper, handsome letter it was. She shewed it to me. I thought it very +well done of him indeed. Whether it was his own idea you know, one +cannot tell. He is but young, and his uncle, perhaps--" + +"My dear papa, he is three-and-twenty. You forget how time passes." + +"Three-and-twenty!--is he indeed?--Well, I could not have thought +it--and he was but two years old when he lost his poor mother! Well, +time does fly indeed!--and my memory is very bad. However, it was an +exceeding good, pretty letter, and gave Mr. and Mrs. Weston a great deal +of pleasure. I remember it was written from Weymouth, and dated Sept. +28th--and began, 'My dear Madam,' but I forget how it went on; and it +was signed 'F. C. Weston Churchill.'--I remember that perfectly." + +"How very pleasing and proper of him!" cried the good-hearted Mrs. John +Knightley. "I have no doubt of his being a most amiable young man. But +how sad it is that he should not live at home with his father! There is +something so shocking in a child's being taken away from his parents and +natural home! I never could comprehend how Mr. Weston could part with +him. To give up one's child! I really never could think well of any body +who proposed such a thing to any body else." + +"Nobody ever did think well of the Churchills, I fancy," observed Mr. +John Knightley coolly. "But you need not imagine Mr. Weston to have felt +what you would feel in giving up Henry or John. Mr. Weston is rather +an easy, cheerful-tempered man, than a man of strong feelings; he takes +things as he finds them, and makes enjoyment of them somehow or other, +depending, I suspect, much more upon what is called society for his +comforts, that is, upon the power of eating and drinking, and playing +whist with his neighbours five times a week, than upon family affection, +or any thing that home affords." + +Emma could not like what bordered on a reflection on Mr. Weston, and had +half a mind to take it up; but she struggled, and let it pass. She +would keep the peace if possible; and there was something honourable and +valuable in the strong domestic habits, the all-sufficiency of home to +himself, whence resulted her brother's disposition to look down on +the common rate of social intercourse, and those to whom it was +important.--It had a high claim to forbearance. + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Mr. Knightley was to dine with them--rather against the inclination of +Mr. Woodhouse, who did not like that any one should share with him in +Isabella's first day. Emma's sense of right however had decided it; +and besides the consideration of what was due to each brother, she had +particular pleasure, from the circumstance of the late disagreement +between Mr. Knightley and herself, in procuring him the proper +invitation. + +She hoped they might now become friends again. She thought it was time +to make up. Making-up indeed would not do. _She_ certainly had not been +in the wrong, and _he_ would never own that he had. Concession must be +out of the question; but it was time to appear to forget that they had +ever quarrelled; and she hoped it might rather assist the restoration of +friendship, that when he came into the room she had one of the children +with her--the youngest, a nice little girl about eight months old, who +was now making her first visit to Hartfield, and very happy to be danced +about in her aunt's arms. It did assist; for though he began with grave +looks and short questions, he was soon led on to talk of them all in +the usual way, and to take the child out of her arms with all the +unceremoniousness of perfect amity. Emma felt they were friends again; +and the conviction giving her at first great satisfaction, and then +a little sauciness, she could not help saying, as he was admiring the +baby, + +"What a comfort it is, that we think alike about our nephews and nieces. +As to men and women, our opinions are sometimes very different; but with +regard to these children, I observe we never disagree." + +"If you were as much guided by nature in your estimate of men and women, +and as little under the power of fancy and whim in your dealings with +them, as you are where these children are concerned, we might always +think alike." + +"To be sure--our discordancies must always arise from my being in the +wrong." + +"Yes," said he, smiling--"and reason good. I was sixteen years old when +you were born." + +"A material difference then," she replied--"and no doubt you were much +my superior in judgment at that period of our lives; but does not the +lapse of one-and-twenty years bring our understandings a good deal +nearer?" + +"Yes--a good deal _nearer_." + +"But still, not near enough to give me a chance of being right, if we +think differently." + +"I have still the advantage of you by sixteen years' experience, and by +not being a pretty young woman and a spoiled child. Come, my dear Emma, +let us be friends, and say no more about it. Tell your aunt, little +Emma, that she ought to set you a better example than to be renewing old +grievances, and that if she were not wrong before, she is now." + +"That's true," she cried--"very true. Little Emma, grow up a better +woman than your aunt. Be infinitely cleverer and not half so conceited. +Now, Mr. Knightley, a word or two more, and I have done. As far as good +intentions went, we were _both_ right, and I must say that no effects on +my side of the argument have yet proved wrong. I only want to know that +Mr. Martin is not very, very bitterly disappointed." + +"A man cannot be more so," was his short, full answer. + +"Ah!--Indeed I am very sorry.--Come, shake hands with me." + +This had just taken place and with great cordiality, when John Knightley +made his appearance, and "How d'ye do, George?" and "John, how are +you?" succeeded in the true English style, burying under a calmness that +seemed all but indifference, the real attachment which would have led +either of them, if requisite, to do every thing for the good of the +other. + +The evening was quiet and conversable, as Mr. Woodhouse declined cards +entirely for the sake of comfortable talk with his dear Isabella, and +the little party made two natural divisions; on one side he and his +daughter; on the other the two Mr. Knightleys; their subjects totally +distinct, or very rarely mixing--and Emma only occasionally joining in +one or the other. + +The brothers talked of their own concerns and pursuits, but principally +of those of the elder, whose temper was by much the most communicative, +and who was always the greater talker. As a magistrate, he had generally +some point of law to consult John about, or, at least, some curious +anecdote to give; and as a farmer, as keeping in hand the home-farm at +Donwell, he had to tell what every field was to bear next year, and to +give all such local information as could not fail of being interesting +to a brother whose home it had equally been the longest part of his +life, and whose attachments were strong. The plan of a drain, the change +of a fence, the felling of a tree, and the destination of every acre for +wheat, turnips, or spring corn, was entered into with as much equality +of interest by John, as his cooler manners rendered possible; and if his +willing brother ever left him any thing to inquire about, his inquiries +even approached a tone of eagerness. + +While they were thus comfortably occupied, Mr. Woodhouse was enjoying a +full flow of happy regrets and fearful affection with his daughter. + +"My poor dear Isabella," said he, fondly taking her hand, and +interrupting, for a few moments, her busy labours for some one of her +five children--"How long it is, how terribly long since you were here! +And how tired you must be after your journey! You must go to bed early, +my dear--and I recommend a little gruel to you before you go.--You and +I will have a nice basin of gruel together. My dear Emma, suppose we all +have a little gruel." + +Emma could not suppose any such thing, knowing as she did, that both the +Mr. Knightleys were as unpersuadable on that article as herself;--and +two basins only were ordered. After a little more discourse in praise of +gruel, with some wondering at its not being taken every evening by every +body, he proceeded to say, with an air of grave reflection, + +"It was an awkward business, my dear, your spending the autumn at South +End instead of coming here. I never had much opinion of the sea air." + +"Mr. Wingfield most strenuously recommended it, sir--or we should not +have gone. He recommended it for all the children, but particularly for +the weakness in little Bella's throat,--both sea air and bathing." + +"Ah! my dear, but Perry had many doubts about the sea doing her any +good; and as to myself, I have been long perfectly convinced, though +perhaps I never told you so before, that the sea is very rarely of use +to any body. I am sure it almost killed me once." + +"Come, come," cried Emma, feeling this to be an unsafe subject, "I must +beg you not to talk of the sea. It makes me envious and miserable;--I +who have never seen it! South End is prohibited, if you please. My dear +Isabella, I have not heard you make one inquiry about Mr. Perry yet; and +he never forgets you." + +"Oh! good Mr. Perry--how is he, sir?" + +"Why, pretty well; but not quite well. Poor Perry is bilious, and he has +not time to take care of himself--he tells me he has not time to take +care of himself--which is very sad--but he is always wanted all round +the country. I suppose there is not a man in such practice anywhere. But +then there is not so clever a man any where." + +"And Mrs. Perry and the children, how are they? do the children grow? +I have a great regard for Mr. Perry. I hope he will be calling soon. He +will be so pleased to see my little ones." + +"I hope he will be here to-morrow, for I have a question or two to ask +him about myself of some consequence. And, my dear, whenever he comes, +you had better let him look at little Bella's throat." + +"Oh! my dear sir, her throat is so much better that I have hardly any +uneasiness about it. Either bathing has been of the greatest service to +her, or else it is to be attributed to an excellent embrocation of Mr. +Wingfield's, which we have been applying at times ever since August." + +"It is not very likely, my dear, that bathing should have been of use +to her--and if I had known you were wanting an embrocation, I would have +spoken to-- + +"You seem to me to have forgotten Mrs. and Miss Bates," said Emma, "I +have not heard one inquiry after them." + +"Oh! the good Bateses--I am quite ashamed of myself--but you mention +them in most of your letters. I hope they are quite well. Good old Mrs. +Bates--I will call upon her to-morrow, and take my children.--They +are always so pleased to see my children.--And that excellent Miss +Bates!--such thorough worthy people!--How are they, sir?" + +"Why, pretty well, my dear, upon the whole. But poor Mrs. Bates had a +bad cold about a month ago." + +"How sorry I am! But colds were never so prevalent as they have been +this autumn. Mr. Wingfield told me that he has never known them more +general or heavy--except when it has been quite an influenza." + +"That has been a good deal the case, my dear; but not to the degree you +mention. Perry says that colds have been very general, but not so heavy +as he has very often known them in November. Perry does not call it +altogether a sickly season." + +"No, I do not know that Mr. Wingfield considers it _very_ sickly +except-- + +"Ah! my poor dear child, the truth is, that in London it is always +a sickly season. Nobody is healthy in London, nobody can be. It is a +dreadful thing to have you forced to live there! so far off!--and the +air so bad!" + +"No, indeed--_we_ are not at all in a bad air. Our part of London is +very superior to most others!--You must not confound us with London +in general, my dear sir. The neighbourhood of Brunswick Square is very +different from almost all the rest. We are so very airy! I should be +unwilling, I own, to live in any other part of the town;--there is +hardly any other that I could be satisfied to have my children in: +but _we_ are so remarkably airy!--Mr. Wingfield thinks the vicinity of +Brunswick Square decidedly the most favourable as to air." + +"Ah! my dear, it is not like Hartfield. You make the best of it--but +after you have been a week at Hartfield, you are all of you different +creatures; you do not look like the same. Now I cannot say, that I think +you are any of you looking well at present." + +"I am sorry to hear you say so, sir; but I assure you, excepting those +little nervous head-aches and palpitations which I am never entirely +free from anywhere, I am quite well myself; and if the children were +rather pale before they went to bed, it was only because they were a +little more tired than usual, from their journey and the happiness of +coming. I hope you will think better of their looks to-morrow; for I +assure you Mr. Wingfield told me, that he did not believe he had ever +sent us off altogether, in such good case. I trust, at least, that +you do not think Mr. Knightley looking ill," turning her eyes with +affectionate anxiety towards her husband. + +"Middling, my dear; I cannot compliment you. I think Mr. John Knightley +very far from looking well." + +"What is the matter, sir?--Did you speak to me?" cried Mr. John +Knightley, hearing his own name. + +"I am sorry to find, my love, that my father does not think you looking +well--but I hope it is only from being a little fatigued. I could have +wished, however, as you know, that you had seen Mr. Wingfield before you +left home." + +"My dear Isabella,"--exclaimed he hastily--"pray do not concern yourself +about my looks. Be satisfied with doctoring and coddling yourself and +the children, and let me look as I chuse." + +"I did not thoroughly understand what you were telling your brother," +cried Emma, "about your friend Mr. Graham's intending to have a bailiff +from Scotland, to look after his new estate. What will it answer? Will +not the old prejudice be too strong?" + +And she talked in this way so long and successfully that, when forced to +give her attention again to her father and sister, she had nothing +worse to hear than Isabella's kind inquiry after Jane Fairfax; and Jane +Fairfax, though no great favourite with her in general, she was at that +moment very happy to assist in praising. + +"That sweet, amiable Jane Fairfax!" said Mrs. John Knightley.--"It +is so long since I have seen her, except now and then for a moment +accidentally in town! What happiness it must be to her good old +grandmother and excellent aunt, when she comes to visit them! I always +regret excessively on dear Emma's account that she cannot be more at +Highbury; but now their daughter is married, I suppose Colonel and Mrs. +Campbell will not be able to part with her at all. She would be such a +delightful companion for Emma." + +Mr. Woodhouse agreed to it all, but added, + +"Our little friend Harriet Smith, however, is just such another pretty +kind of young person. You will like Harriet. Emma could not have a +better companion than Harriet." + +"I am most happy to hear it--but only Jane Fairfax one knows to be so +very accomplished and superior!--and exactly Emma's age." + +This topic was discussed very happily, and others succeeded of similar +moment, and passed away with similar harmony; but the evening did not +close without a little return of agitation. The gruel came and supplied +a great deal to be said--much praise and many comments--undoubting +decision of its wholesomeness for every constitution, and pretty +severe Philippics upon the many houses where it was never met with +tolerable;--but, unfortunately, among the failures which the daughter +had to instance, the most recent, and therefore most prominent, was in +her own cook at South End, a young woman hired for the time, who never +had been able to understand what she meant by a basin of nice smooth +gruel, thin, but not too thin. Often as she had wished for and ordered +it, she had never been able to get any thing tolerable. Here was a +dangerous opening. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Woodhouse, shaking his head and fixing his eyes on her +with tender concern.--The ejaculation in Emma's ear expressed, "Ah! +there is no end of the sad consequences of your going to South End. It +does not bear talking of." And for a little while she hoped he would not +talk of it, and that a silent rumination might suffice to restore him to +the relish of his own smooth gruel. After an interval of some minutes, +however, he began with, + +"I shall always be very sorry that you went to the sea this autumn, +instead of coming here." + +"But why should you be sorry, sir?--I assure you, it did the children a +great deal of good." + +"And, moreover, if you must go to the sea, it had better not have been +to South End. South End is an unhealthy place. Perry was surprized to +hear you had fixed upon South End." + +"I know there is such an idea with many people, but indeed it is quite +a mistake, sir.--We all had our health perfectly well there, never +found the least inconvenience from the mud; and Mr. Wingfield says it is +entirely a mistake to suppose the place unhealthy; and I am sure he may +be depended on, for he thoroughly understands the nature of the air, and +his own brother and family have been there repeatedly." + +"You should have gone to Cromer, my dear, if you went anywhere.--Perry +was a week at Cromer once, and he holds it to be the best of all the +sea-bathing places. A fine open sea, he says, and very pure air. And, by +what I understand, you might have had lodgings there quite away from +the sea--a quarter of a mile off--very comfortable. You should have +consulted Perry." + +"But, my dear sir, the difference of the journey;--only consider how +great it would have been.--An hundred miles, perhaps, instead of forty." + +"Ah! my dear, as Perry says, where health is at stake, nothing else +should be considered; and if one is to travel, there is not much to +chuse between forty miles and an hundred.--Better not move at all, +better stay in London altogether than travel forty miles to get into +a worse air. This is just what Perry said. It seemed to him a very +ill-judged measure." + +Emma's attempts to stop her father had been vain; and when he +had reached such a point as this, she could not wonder at her +brother-in-law's breaking out. + +"Mr. Perry," said he, in a voice of very strong displeasure, "would do +as well to keep his opinion till it is asked for. Why does he make it +any business of his, to wonder at what I do?--at my taking my family to +one part of the coast or another?--I may be allowed, I hope, the use of +my judgment as well as Mr. Perry.--I want his directions no more than +his drugs." He paused--and growing cooler in a moment, added, with only +sarcastic dryness, "If Mr. Perry can tell me how to convey a wife and +five children a distance of an hundred and thirty miles with no greater +expense or inconvenience than a distance of forty, I should be as +willing to prefer Cromer to South End as he could himself." + +"True, true," cried Mr. Knightley, with most ready interposition--"very +true. That's a consideration indeed.--But John, as to what I was telling +you of my idea of moving the path to Langham, of turning it more to the +right that it may not cut through the home meadows, I cannot conceive +any difficulty. I should not attempt it, if it were to be the means of +inconvenience to the Highbury people, but if you call to mind exactly +the present line of the path.... The only way of proving it, however, +will be to turn to our maps. I shall see you at the Abbey to-morrow +morning I hope, and then we will look them over, and you shall give me +your opinion." + +Mr. Woodhouse was rather agitated by such harsh reflections on his +friend Perry, to whom he had, in fact, though unconsciously, been +attributing many of his own feelings and expressions;--but the soothing +attentions of his daughters gradually removed the present evil, and +the immediate alertness of one brother, and better recollections of the +other, prevented any renewal of it. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +There could hardly be a happier creature in the world than Mrs. John +Knightley, in this short visit to Hartfield, going about every morning +among her old acquaintance with her five children, and talking over what +she had done every evening with her father and sister. She had nothing +to wish otherwise, but that the days did not pass so swiftly. It was a +delightful visit;--perfect, in being much too short. + +In general their evenings were less engaged with friends than their +mornings; but one complete dinner engagement, and out of the house too, +there was no avoiding, though at Christmas. Mr. Weston would take no +denial; they must all dine at Randalls one day;--even Mr. Woodhouse was +persuaded to think it a possible thing in preference to a division of +the party. + +How they were all to be conveyed, he would have made a difficulty if he +could, but as his son and daughter's carriage and horses were actually +at Hartfield, he was not able to make more than a simple question on +that head; it hardly amounted to a doubt; nor did it occupy Emma long +to convince him that they might in one of the carriages find room for +Harriet also. + +Harriet, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Knightley, their own especial set, were the +only persons invited to meet them;--the hours were to be early, as +well as the numbers few; Mr. Woodhouse's habits and inclination being +consulted in every thing. + +The evening before this great event (for it was a very great event that +Mr. Woodhouse should dine out, on the 24th of December) had been spent +by Harriet at Hartfield, and she had gone home so much indisposed with +a cold, that, but for her own earnest wish of being nursed by Mrs. +Goddard, Emma could not have allowed her to leave the house. Emma called +on her the next day, and found her doom already signed with regard to +Randalls. She was very feverish and had a bad sore throat: Mrs. Goddard +was full of care and affection, Mr. Perry was talked of, and Harriet +herself was too ill and low to resist the authority which excluded her +from this delightful engagement, though she could not speak of her loss +without many tears. + +Emma sat with her as long as she could, to attend her in Mrs. Goddard's +unavoidable absences, and raise her spirits by representing how much Mr. +Elton's would be depressed when he knew her state; and left her at last +tolerably comfortable, in the sweet dependence of his having a most +comfortless visit, and of their all missing her very much. She had not +advanced many yards from Mrs. Goddard's door, when she was met by Mr. +Elton himself, evidently coming towards it, and as they walked on slowly +together in conversation about the invalid--of whom he, on the rumour +of considerable illness, had been going to inquire, that he might +carry some report of her to Hartfield--they were overtaken by Mr. John +Knightley returning from the daily visit to Donwell, with his two eldest +boys, whose healthy, glowing faces shewed all the benefit of a country +run, and seemed to ensure a quick despatch of the roast mutton and rice +pudding they were hastening home for. They joined company and +proceeded together. Emma was just describing the nature of her friend's +complaint;--"a throat very much inflamed, with a great deal of heat +about her, a quick, low pulse, &c. and she was sorry to find from Mrs. +Goddard that Harriet was liable to very bad sore-throats, and had often +alarmed her with them." Mr. Elton looked all alarm on the occasion, as +he exclaimed, + +"A sore-throat!--I hope not infectious. I hope not of a putrid +infectious sort. Has Perry seen her? Indeed you should take care of +yourself as well as of your friend. Let me entreat you to run no risks. +Why does not Perry see her?" + +Emma, who was not really at all frightened herself, tranquillised this +excess of apprehension by assurances of Mrs. Goddard's experience and +care; but as there must still remain a degree of uneasiness which she +could not wish to reason away, which she would rather feed and assist +than not, she added soon afterwards--as if quite another subject, + +"It is so cold, so very cold--and looks and feels so very much like +snow, that if it were to any other place or with any other party, I +should really try not to go out to-day--and dissuade my father from +venturing; but as he has made up his mind, and does not seem to feel the +cold himself, I do not like to interfere, as I know it would be so great +a disappointment to Mr. and Mrs. Weston. But, upon my word, Mr. Elton, +in your case, I should certainly excuse myself. You appear to me a +little hoarse already, and when you consider what demand of voice and +what fatigues to-morrow will bring, I think it would be no more than +common prudence to stay at home and take care of yourself to-night." + +Mr. Elton looked as if he did not very well know what answer to make; +which was exactly the case; for though very much gratified by the kind +care of such a fair lady, and not liking to resist any advice of her's, +he had not really the least inclination to give up the visit;--but Emma, +too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to hear him +impartially, or see him with clear vision, was very well satisfied with +his muttering acknowledgment of its being "very cold, certainly very +cold," and walked on, rejoicing in having extricated him from Randalls, +and secured him the power of sending to inquire after Harriet every hour +of the evening. + +"You do quite right," said she;--"we will make your apologies to Mr. and +Mrs. Weston." + +But hardly had she so spoken, when she found her brother was civilly +offering a seat in his carriage, if the weather were Mr. Elton's only +objection, and Mr. Elton actually accepting the offer with much prompt +satisfaction. It was a done thing; Mr. Elton was to go, and never had +his broad handsome face expressed more pleasure than at this moment; +never had his smile been stronger, nor his eyes more exulting than when +he next looked at her. + +"Well," said she to herself, "this is most strange!--After I had got +him off so well, to chuse to go into company, and leave Harriet ill +behind!--Most strange indeed!--But there is, I believe, in many men, +especially single men, such an inclination--such a passion for dining +out--a dinner engagement is so high in the class of their pleasures, +their employments, their dignities, almost their duties, that any +thing gives way to it--and this must be the case with Mr. Elton; a most +valuable, amiable, pleasing young man undoubtedly, and very much in love +with Harriet; but still, he cannot refuse an invitation, he must dine +out wherever he is asked. What a strange thing love is! he can see ready +wit in Harriet, but will not dine alone for her." + +Soon afterwards Mr. Elton quitted them, and she could not but do him +the justice of feeling that there was a great deal of sentiment in his +manner of naming Harriet at parting; in the tone of his voice while +assuring her that he should call at Mrs. Goddard's for news of her fair +friend, the last thing before he prepared for the happiness of meeting +her again, when he hoped to be able to give a better report; and +he sighed and smiled himself off in a way that left the balance of +approbation much in his favour. + +After a few minutes of entire silence between them, John Knightley began +with-- + +"I never in my life saw a man more intent on being agreeable than Mr. +Elton. It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned. With +men he can be rational and unaffected, but when he has ladies to please, +every feature works." + +"Mr. Elton's manners are not perfect," replied Emma; "but where there is +a wish to please, one ought to overlook, and one does overlook a great +deal. Where a man does his best with only moderate powers, he will +have the advantage over negligent superiority. There is such perfect +good-temper and good-will in Mr. Elton as one cannot but value." + +"Yes," said Mr. John Knightley presently, with some slyness, "he seems +to have a great deal of good-will towards you." + +"Me!" she replied with a smile of astonishment, "are you imagining me to +be Mr. Elton's object?" + +"Such an imagination has crossed me, I own, Emma; and if it never +occurred to you before, you may as well take it into consideration now." + +"Mr. Elton in love with me!--What an idea!" + +"I do not say it is so; but you will do well to consider whether it +is so or not, and to regulate your behaviour accordingly. I think your +manners to him encouraging. I speak as a friend, Emma. You had better +look about you, and ascertain what you do, and what you mean to do." + +"I thank you; but I assure you you are quite mistaken. Mr. Elton and +I are very good friends, and nothing more;" and she walked on, amusing +herself in the consideration of the blunders which often arise from a +partial knowledge of circumstances, of the mistakes which people of high +pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into; and not very well +pleased with her brother for imagining her blind and ignorant, and in +want of counsel. He said no more. + +Mr. Woodhouse had so completely made up his mind to the visit, that in +spite of the increasing coldness, he seemed to have no idea of shrinking +from it, and set forward at last most punctually with his eldest +daughter in his own carriage, with less apparent consciousness of the +weather than either of the others; too full of the wonder of his own +going, and the pleasure it was to afford at Randalls to see that it was +cold, and too well wrapt up to feel it. The cold, however, was severe; +and by the time the second carriage was in motion, a few flakes of snow +were finding their way down, and the sky had the appearance of being so +overcharged as to want only a milder air to produce a very white world +in a very short time. + +Emma soon saw that her companion was not in the happiest humour. The +preparing and the going abroad in such weather, with the sacrifice of +his children after dinner, were evils, were disagreeables at least, +which Mr. John Knightley did not by any means like; he anticipated +nothing in the visit that could be at all worth the purchase; and the +whole of their drive to the vicarage was spent by him in expressing his +discontent. + +"A man," said he, "must have a very good opinion of himself when he asks +people to leave their own fireside, and encounter such a day as +this, for the sake of coming to see him. He must think himself a most +agreeable fellow; I could not do such a thing. It is the greatest +absurdity--Actually snowing at this moment!--The folly of not allowing +people to be comfortable at home--and the folly of people's not staying +comfortably at home when they can! If we were obliged to go out such +an evening as this, by any call of duty or business, what a hardship we +should deem it;--and here are we, probably with rather thinner clothing +than usual, setting forward voluntarily, without excuse, in defiance of +the voice of nature, which tells man, in every thing given to his view +or his feelings, to stay at home himself, and keep all under shelter +that he can;--here are we setting forward to spend five dull hours in +another man's house, with nothing to say or to hear that was not said +and heard yesterday, and may not be said and heard again to-morrow. +Going in dismal weather, to return probably in worse;--four horses and +four servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle, shivering +creatures into colder rooms and worse company than they might have had +at home." + +Emma did not find herself equal to give the pleased assent, which no +doubt he was in the habit of receiving, to emulate the "Very true, +my love," which must have been usually administered by his travelling +companion; but she had resolution enough to refrain from making +any answer at all. She could not be complying, she dreaded being +quarrelsome; her heroism reached only to silence. She allowed him to +talk, and arranged the glasses, and wrapped herself up, without opening +her lips. + +They arrived, the carriage turned, the step was let down, and Mr. Elton, +spruce, black, and smiling, was with them instantly. Emma thought with +pleasure of some change of subject. Mr. Elton was all obligation and +cheerfulness; he was so very cheerful in his civilities indeed, that she +began to think he must have received a different account of Harriet from +what had reached her. She had sent while dressing, and the answer had +been, "Much the same--not better." + +"_My_ report from Mrs. Goddard's," said she presently, "was not so +pleasant as I had hoped--'Not better' was _my_ answer." + +His face lengthened immediately; and his voice was the voice of +sentiment as he answered. + +"Oh! no--I am grieved to find--I was on the point of telling you that +when I called at Mrs. Goddard's door, which I did the very last thing +before I returned to dress, I was told that Miss Smith was not better, +by no means better, rather worse. Very much grieved and concerned--I +had flattered myself that she must be better after such a cordial as I +knew had been given her in the morning." + +Emma smiled and answered--"My visit was of use to the nervous part of +her complaint, I hope; but not even I can charm away a sore throat; +it is a most severe cold indeed. Mr. Perry has been with her, as you +probably heard." + +"Yes--I imagined--that is--I did not--" + +"He has been used to her in these complaints, and I hope to-morrow +morning will bring us both a more comfortable report. But it is +impossible not to feel uneasiness. Such a sad loss to our party to-day!" + +"Dreadful!--Exactly so, indeed.--She will be missed every moment." + +This was very proper; the sigh which accompanied it was really +estimable; but it should have lasted longer. Emma was rather in dismay +when only half a minute afterwards he began to speak of other things, +and in a voice of the greatest alacrity and enjoyment. + +"What an excellent device," said he, "the use of a sheepskin for +carriages. How very comfortable they make it;--impossible to feel cold +with such precautions. The contrivances of modern days indeed have +rendered a gentleman's carriage perfectly complete. One is so fenced +and guarded from the weather, that not a breath of air can find its way +unpermitted. Weather becomes absolutely of no consequence. It is a very +cold afternoon--but in this carriage we know nothing of the matter.--Ha! +snows a little I see." + +"Yes," said John Knightley, "and I think we shall have a good deal of +it." + +"Christmas weather," observed Mr. Elton. "Quite seasonable; and +extremely fortunate we may think ourselves that it did not begin +yesterday, and prevent this day's party, which it might very possibly +have done, for Mr. Woodhouse would hardly have ventured had there been +much snow on the ground; but now it is of no consequence. This is quite +the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmas every body invites +their friends about them, and people think little of even the worst +weather. I was snowed up at a friend's house once for a week. Nothing +could be pleasanter. I went for only one night, and could not get away +till that very day se'nnight." + +Mr. John Knightley looked as if he did not comprehend the pleasure, but +said only, coolly, + +"I cannot wish to be snowed up a week at Randalls." + +At another time Emma might have been amused, but she was too much +astonished now at Mr. Elton's spirits for other feelings. Harriet seemed +quite forgotten in the expectation of a pleasant party. + +"We are sure of excellent fires," continued he, "and every thing in the +greatest comfort. Charming people, Mr. and Mrs. Weston;--Mrs. Weston +indeed is much beyond praise, and he is exactly what one values, so +hospitable, and so fond of society;--it will be a small party, but where +small parties are select, they are perhaps the most agreeable of any. +Mr. Weston's dining-room does not accommodate more than ten comfortably; +and for my part, I would rather, under such circumstances, fall short by +two than exceed by two. I think you will agree with me, (turning with +a soft air to Emma,) I think I shall certainly have your approbation, +though Mr. Knightley perhaps, from being used to the large parties of +London, may not quite enter into our feelings." + +"I know nothing of the large parties of London, sir--I never dine with +any body." + +"Indeed! (in a tone of wonder and pity,) I had no idea that the law had +been so great a slavery. Well, sir, the time must come when you will +be paid for all this, when you will have little labour and great +enjoyment." + +"My first enjoyment," replied John Knightley, as they passed through the +sweep-gate, "will be to find myself safe at Hartfield again." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Some change of countenance was necessary for each gentleman as they +walked into Mrs. Weston's drawing-room;--Mr. Elton must compose his +joyous looks, and Mr. John Knightley disperse his ill-humour. Mr. +Elton must smile less, and Mr. John Knightley more, to fit them for the +place.--Emma only might be as nature prompted, and shew herself just as +happy as she was. To her it was real enjoyment to be with the Westons. +Mr. Weston was a great favourite, and there was not a creature in the +world to whom she spoke with such unreserve, as to his wife; not any +one, to whom she related with such conviction of being listened to and +understood, of being always interesting and always intelligible, the +little affairs, arrangements, perplexities, and pleasures of her father +and herself. She could tell nothing of Hartfield, in which Mrs. Weston +had not a lively concern; and half an hour's uninterrupted communication +of all those little matters on which the daily happiness of private life +depends, was one of the first gratifications of each. + +This was a pleasure which perhaps the whole day's visit might not +afford, which certainly did not belong to the present half-hour; but the +very sight of Mrs. Weston, her smile, her touch, her voice was grateful +to Emma, and she determined to think as little as possible of Mr. +Elton's oddities, or of any thing else unpleasant, and enjoy all that +was enjoyable to the utmost. + +The misfortune of Harriet's cold had been pretty well gone through +before her arrival. Mr. Woodhouse had been safely seated long enough +to give the history of it, besides all the history of his own and +Isabella's coming, and of Emma's being to follow, and had indeed just +got to the end of his satisfaction that James should come and see his +daughter, when the others appeared, and Mrs. Weston, who had been almost +wholly engrossed by her attentions to him, was able to turn away and +welcome her dear Emma. + +Emma's project of forgetting Mr. Elton for a while made her rather sorry +to find, when they had all taken their places, that he was close to her. +The difficulty was great of driving his strange insensibility towards +Harriet, from her mind, while he not only sat at her elbow, but +was continually obtruding his happy countenance on her notice, and +solicitously addressing her upon every occasion. Instead of forgetting +him, his behaviour was such that she could not avoid the internal +suggestion of "Can it really be as my brother imagined? can it be +possible for this man to be beginning to transfer his affections from +Harriet to me?--Absurd and insufferable!"--Yet he would be so anxious +for her being perfectly warm, would be so interested about her father, +and so delighted with Mrs. Weston; and at last would begin admiring her +drawings with so much zeal and so little knowledge as seemed terribly +like a would-be lover, and made it some effort with her to preserve her +good manners. For her own sake she could not be rude; and for Harriet's, +in the hope that all would yet turn out right, she was even positively +civil; but it was an effort; especially as something was going on +amongst the others, in the most overpowering period of Mr. Elton's +nonsense, which she particularly wished to listen to. She heard enough +to know that Mr. Weston was giving some information about his son; she +heard the words "my son," and "Frank," and "my son," repeated several +times over; and, from a few other half-syllables very much suspected +that he was announcing an early visit from his son; but before she could +quiet Mr. Elton, the subject was so completely past that any reviving +question from her would have been awkward. + +Now, it so happened that in spite of Emma's resolution of never +marrying, there was something in the name, in the idea of Mr. +Frank Churchill, which always interested her. She had frequently +thought--especially since his father's marriage with Miss Taylor--that +if she _were_ to marry, he was the very person to suit her in age, +character and condition. He seemed by this connexion between the +families, quite to belong to her. She could not but suppose it to be +a match that every body who knew them must think of. That Mr. and Mrs. +Weston did think of it, she was very strongly persuaded; and though +not meaning to be induced by him, or by any body else, to give up a +situation which she believed more replete with good than any she could +change it for, she had a great curiosity to see him, a decided intention +of finding him pleasant, of being liked by him to a certain degree, and +a sort of pleasure in the idea of their being coupled in their friends' +imaginations. + +With such sensations, Mr. Elton's civilities were dreadfully ill-timed; +but she had the comfort of appearing very polite, while feeling very +cross--and of thinking that the rest of the visit could not possibly +pass without bringing forward the same information again, or the +substance of it, from the open-hearted Mr. Weston.--So it proved;--for +when happily released from Mr. Elton, and seated by Mr. Weston, +at dinner, he made use of the very first interval in the cares of +hospitality, the very first leisure from the saddle of mutton, to say to +her, + +"We want only two more to be just the right number. I should like to see +two more here,--your pretty little friend, Miss Smith, and my son--and +then I should say we were quite complete. I believe you did not hear me +telling the others in the drawing-room that we are expecting Frank. +I had a letter from him this morning, and he will be with us within a +fortnight." + +Emma spoke with a very proper degree of pleasure; and fully assented to +his proposition of Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Smith making their party +quite complete. + +"He has been wanting to come to us," continued Mr. Weston, "ever since +September: every letter has been full of it; but he cannot command his +own time. He has those to please who must be pleased, and who (between +ourselves) are sometimes to be pleased only by a good many sacrifices. +But now I have no doubt of seeing him here about the second week in +January." + +"What a very great pleasure it will be to you! and Mrs. Weston is so +anxious to be acquainted with him, that she must be almost as happy as +yourself." + +"Yes, she would be, but that she thinks there will be another put-off. +She does not depend upon his coming so much as I do: but she does not +know the parties so well as I do. The case, you see, is--(but this is +quite between ourselves: I did not mention a syllable of it in the other +room. There are secrets in all families, you know)--The case is, that a +party of friends are invited to pay a visit at Enscombe in January; and +that Frank's coming depends upon their being put off. If they are not +put off, he cannot stir. But I know they will, because it is a family +that a certain lady, of some consequence, at Enscombe, has a particular +dislike to: and though it is thought necessary to invite them once in +two or three years, they always are put off when it comes to the point. +I have not the smallest doubt of the issue. I am as confident of seeing +Frank here before the middle of January, as I am of being here myself: +but your good friend there (nodding towards the upper end of the table) +has so few vagaries herself, and has been so little used to them at +Hartfield, that she cannot calculate on their effects, as I have been +long in the practice of doing." + +"I am sorry there should be any thing like doubt in the case," replied +Emma; "but am disposed to side with you, Mr. Weston. If you think he +will come, I shall think so too; for you know Enscombe." + +"Yes--I have some right to that knowledge; though I have never been at +the place in my life.--She is an odd woman!--But I never allow myself +to speak ill of her, on Frank's account; for I do believe her to be very +fond of him. I used to think she was not capable of being fond of +any body, except herself: but she has always been kind to him (in her +way--allowing for little whims and caprices, and expecting every thing +to be as she likes). And it is no small credit, in my opinion, to him, +that he should excite such an affection; for, though I would not say +it to any body else, she has no more heart than a stone to people in +general; and the devil of a temper." + +Emma liked the subject so well, that she began upon it, to Mrs. Weston, +very soon after their moving into the drawing-room: wishing her joy--yet +observing, that she knew the first meeting must be rather alarming.-- +Mrs. Weston agreed to it; but added, that she should be very glad to be +secure of undergoing the anxiety of a first meeting at the time talked +of: "for I cannot depend upon his coming. I cannot be so sanguine as +Mr. Weston. I am very much afraid that it will all end in nothing. Mr. +Weston, I dare say, has been telling you exactly how the matter stands?" + +"Yes--it seems to depend upon nothing but the ill-humour of Mrs. +Churchill, which I imagine to be the most certain thing in the world." + +"My Emma!" replied Mrs. Weston, smiling, "what is the certainty +of caprice?" Then turning to Isabella, who had not been attending +before--"You must know, my dear Mrs. Knightley, that we are by no means +so sure of seeing Mr. Frank Churchill, in my opinion, as his father +thinks. It depends entirely upon his aunt's spirits and pleasure; in +short, upon her temper. To you--to my two daughters--I may venture on +the truth. Mrs. Churchill rules at Enscombe, and is a very odd-tempered +woman; and his coming now, depends upon her being willing to spare him." + +"Oh, Mrs. Churchill; every body knows Mrs. Churchill," replied Isabella: +"and I am sure I never think of that poor young man without the greatest +compassion. To be constantly living with an ill-tempered person, must +be dreadful. It is what we happily have never known any thing of; but +it must be a life of misery. What a blessing, that she never had any +children! Poor little creatures, how unhappy she would have made them!" + +Emma wished she had been alone with Mrs. Weston. She should then have +heard more: Mrs. Weston would speak to her, with a degree of unreserve +which she would not hazard with Isabella; and, she really believed, +would scarcely try to conceal any thing relative to the Churchills +from her, excepting those views on the young man, of which her own +imagination had already given her such instinctive knowledge. But at +present there was nothing more to be said. Mr. Woodhouse very soon +followed them into the drawing-room. To be sitting long after +dinner, was a confinement that he could not endure. Neither wine nor +conversation was any thing to him; and gladly did he move to those with +whom he was always comfortable. + +While he talked to Isabella, however, Emma found an opportunity of +saying, + +"And so you do not consider this visit from your son as by any means +certain. I am sorry for it. The introduction must be unpleasant, +whenever it takes place; and the sooner it could be over, the better." + +"Yes; and every delay makes one more apprehensive of other delays. Even +if this family, the Braithwaites, are put off, I am still afraid that +some excuse may be found for disappointing us. I cannot bear to imagine +any reluctance on his side; but I am sure there is a great wish on +the Churchills' to keep him to themselves. There is jealousy. They +are jealous even of his regard for his father. In short, I can feel no +dependence on his coming, and I wish Mr. Weston were less sanguine." + +"He ought to come," said Emma. "If he could stay only a couple of days, +he ought to come; and one can hardly conceive a young man's not having +it in his power to do as much as that. A young _woman_, if she fall into +bad hands, may be teased, and kept at a distance from those she wants +to be with; but one cannot comprehend a young _man_'s being under such +restraint, as not to be able to spend a week with his father, if he +likes it." + +"One ought to be at Enscombe, and know the ways of the family, before +one decides upon what he can do," replied Mrs. Weston. "One ought to +use the same caution, perhaps, in judging of the conduct of any one +individual of any one family; but Enscombe, I believe, certainly must +not be judged by general rules: _she_ is so very unreasonable; and every +thing gives way to her." + +"But she is so fond of the nephew: he is so very great a favourite. Now, +according to my idea of Mrs. Churchill, it would be most natural, that +while she makes no sacrifice for the comfort of the husband, to whom she +owes every thing, while she exercises incessant caprice towards _him_, +she should frequently be governed by the nephew, to whom she owes +nothing at all." + +"My dearest Emma, do not pretend, with your sweet temper, to understand +a bad one, or to lay down rules for it: you must let it go its own way. +I have no doubt of his having, at times, considerable influence; but it +may be perfectly impossible for him to know beforehand _when_ it will +be." + +Emma listened, and then coolly said, "I shall not be satisfied, unless +he comes." + +"He may have a great deal of influence on some points," continued Mrs. +Weston, "and on others, very little: and among those, on which she is +beyond his reach, it is but too likely, may be this very circumstance of +his coming away from them to visit us." + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Mr. Woodhouse was soon ready for his tea; and when he had drank his +tea he was quite ready to go home; and it was as much as his three +companions could do, to entertain away his notice of the lateness of +the hour, before the other gentlemen appeared. Mr. Weston was chatty and +convivial, and no friend to early separations of any sort; but at last +the drawing-room party did receive an augmentation. Mr. Elton, in very +good spirits, was one of the first to walk in. Mrs. Weston and Emma +were sitting together on a sofa. He joined them immediately, and, with +scarcely an invitation, seated himself between them. + +Emma, in good spirits too, from the amusement afforded her mind by +the expectation of Mr. Frank Churchill, was willing to forget his late +improprieties, and be as well satisfied with him as before, and on his +making Harriet his very first subject, was ready to listen with most +friendly smiles. + +He professed himself extremely anxious about her fair friend--her fair, +lovely, amiable friend. "Did she know?--had she heard any thing about +her, since their being at Randalls?--he felt much anxiety--he must +confess that the nature of her complaint alarmed him considerably." +And in this style he talked on for some time very properly, not much +attending to any answer, but altogether sufficiently awake to the terror +of a bad sore throat; and Emma was quite in charity with him. + +But at last there seemed a perverse turn; it seemed all at once as if he +were more afraid of its being a bad sore throat on her account, than on +Harriet's--more anxious that she should escape the infection, than +that there should be no infection in the complaint. He began with great +earnestness to entreat her to refrain from visiting the sick-chamber +again, for the present--to entreat her to _promise_ _him_ not to venture +into such hazard till he had seen Mr. Perry and learnt his opinion; and +though she tried to laugh it off and bring the subject back into its +proper course, there was no putting an end to his extreme solicitude +about her. She was vexed. It did appear--there was no concealing +it--exactly like the pretence of being in love with her, instead of +Harriet; an inconstancy, if real, the most contemptible and abominable! +and she had difficulty in behaving with temper. He turned to Mrs. Weston +to implore her assistance, "Would not she give him her support?--would +not she add her persuasions to his, to induce Miss Woodhouse not to go +to Mrs. Goddard's till it were certain that Miss Smith's disorder had +no infection? He could not be satisfied without a promise--would not she +give him her influence in procuring it?" + +"So scrupulous for others," he continued, "and yet so careless for +herself! She wanted me to nurse my cold by staying at home to-day, and +yet will not promise to avoid the danger of catching an ulcerated sore +throat herself. Is this fair, Mrs. Weston?--Judge between us. Have not I +some right to complain? I am sure of your kind support and aid." + +Emma saw Mrs. Weston's surprize, and felt that it must be great, at an +address which, in words and manner, was assuming to himself the right of +first interest in her; and as for herself, she was too much provoked and +offended to have the power of directly saying any thing to the purpose. +She could only give him a look; but it was such a look as she thought +must restore him to his senses, and then left the sofa, removing to a +seat by her sister, and giving her all her attention. + +She had not time to know how Mr. Elton took the reproof, so rapidly did +another subject succeed; for Mr. John Knightley now came into the room +from examining the weather, and opened on them all with the information +of the ground being covered with snow, and of its still snowing +fast, with a strong drifting wind; concluding with these words to Mr. +Woodhouse: + +"This will prove a spirited beginning of your winter engagements, +sir. Something new for your coachman and horses to be making their way +through a storm of snow." + +Poor Mr. Woodhouse was silent from consternation; but every body else +had something to say; every body was either surprized or not surprized, +and had some question to ask, or some comfort to offer. Mrs. Weston +and Emma tried earnestly to cheer him and turn his attention from his +son-in-law, who was pursuing his triumph rather unfeelingly. + +"I admired your resolution very much, sir," said he, "in venturing out +in such weather, for of course you saw there would be snow very soon. +Every body must have seen the snow coming on. I admired your spirit; and +I dare say we shall get home very well. Another hour or two's snow can +hardly make the road impassable; and we are two carriages; if one is +blown over in the bleak part of the common field there will be the other +at hand. I dare say we shall be all safe at Hartfield before midnight." + +Mr. Weston, with triumph of a different sort, was confessing that he +had known it to be snowing some time, but had not said a word, lest +it should make Mr. Woodhouse uncomfortable, and be an excuse for his +hurrying away. As to there being any quantity of snow fallen or likely +to fall to impede their return, that was a mere joke; he was afraid they +would find no difficulty. He wished the road might be impassable, that +he might be able to keep them all at Randalls; and with the utmost +good-will was sure that accommodation might be found for every body, +calling on his wife to agree with him, that with a little contrivance, +every body might be lodged, which she hardly knew how to do, from the +consciousness of there being but two spare rooms in the house. + +"What is to be done, my dear Emma?--what is to be done?" was Mr. +Woodhouse's first exclamation, and all that he could say for some +time. To her he looked for comfort; and her assurances of safety, her +representation of the excellence of the horses, and of James, and of +their having so many friends about them, revived him a little. + +His eldest daughter's alarm was equal to his own. The horror of being +blocked up at Randalls, while her children were at Hartfield, was full +in her imagination; and fancying the road to be now just passable for +adventurous people, but in a state that admitted no delay, she was eager +to have it settled, that her father and Emma should remain at Randalls, +while she and her husband set forward instantly through all the possible +accumulations of drifted snow that might impede them. + +"You had better order the carriage directly, my love," said she; "I dare +say we shall be able to get along, if we set off directly; and if we +do come to any thing very bad, I can get out and walk. I am not at all +afraid. I should not mind walking half the way. I could change my shoes, +you know, the moment I got home; and it is not the sort of thing that +gives me cold." + +"Indeed!" replied he. "Then, my dear Isabella, it is the most +extraordinary sort of thing in the world, for in general every thing +does give you cold. Walk home!--you are prettily shod for walking home, +I dare say. It will be bad enough for the horses." + +Isabella turned to Mrs. Weston for her approbation of the plan. Mrs. +Weston could only approve. Isabella then went to Emma; but Emma could +not so entirely give up the hope of their being all able to get away; +and they were still discussing the point, when Mr. Knightley, who had +left the room immediately after his brother's first report of the snow, +came back again, and told them that he had been out of doors to examine, +and could answer for there not being the smallest difficulty in their +getting home, whenever they liked it, either now or an hour hence. He +had gone beyond the sweep--some way along the Highbury road--the snow +was nowhere above half an inch deep--in many places hardly enough to +whiten the ground; a very few flakes were falling at present, but the +clouds were parting, and there was every appearance of its being soon +over. He had seen the coachmen, and they both agreed with him in there +being nothing to apprehend. + +To Isabella, the relief of such tidings was very great, and they were +scarcely less acceptable to Emma on her father's account, who +was immediately set as much at ease on the subject as his nervous +constitution allowed; but the alarm that had been raised could not be +appeased so as to admit of any comfort for him while he continued at +Randalls. He was satisfied of there being no present danger in returning +home, but no assurances could convince him that it was safe to stay; and +while the others were variously urging and recommending, Mr. Knightley +and Emma settled it in a few brief sentences: thus-- + +"Your father will not be easy; why do not you go?" + +"I am ready, if the others are." + +"Shall I ring the bell?" + +"Yes, do." + +And the bell was rung, and the carriages spoken for. A few minutes more, +and Emma hoped to see one troublesome companion deposited in his own +house, to get sober and cool, and the other recover his temper and +happiness when this visit of hardship were over. + +The carriage came: and Mr. Woodhouse, always the first object on such +occasions, was carefully attended to his own by Mr. Knightley and Mr. +Weston; but not all that either could say could prevent some renewal +of alarm at the sight of the snow which had actually fallen, and the +discovery of a much darker night than he had been prepared for. "He was +afraid they should have a very bad drive. He was afraid poor Isabella +would not like it. And there would be poor Emma in the carriage behind. +He did not know what they had best do. They must keep as much together +as they could;" and James was talked to, and given a charge to go very +slow and wait for the other carriage. + +Isabella stept in after her father; John Knightley, forgetting that he +did not belong to their party, stept in after his wife very naturally; +so that Emma found, on being escorted and followed into the second +carriage by Mr. Elton, that the door was to be lawfully shut on them, +and that they were to have a tete-a-tete drive. It would not have been +the awkwardness of a moment, it would have been rather a pleasure, +previous to the suspicions of this very day; she could have talked to +him of Harriet, and the three-quarters of a mile would have seemed but +one. But now, she would rather it had not happened. She believed he had +been drinking too much of Mr. Weston's good wine, and felt sure that he +would want to be talking nonsense. + +To restrain him as much as might be, by her own manners, she was +immediately preparing to speak with exquisite calmness and gravity of +the weather and the night; but scarcely had she begun, scarcely had they +passed the sweep-gate and joined the other carriage, than she found her +subject cut up--her hand seized--her attention demanded, and Mr. Elton +actually making violent love to her: availing himself of the precious +opportunity, declaring sentiments which must be already well known, +hoping--fearing--adoring--ready to die if she refused him; but +flattering himself that his ardent attachment and unequalled love and +unexampled passion could not fail of having some effect, and in short, +very much resolved on being seriously accepted as soon as possible. It +really was so. Without scruple--without apology--without much apparent +diffidence, Mr. Elton, the lover of Harriet, was professing himself +_her_ lover. She tried to stop him; but vainly; he would go on, and say +it all. Angry as she was, the thought of the moment made her resolve to +restrain herself when she did speak. She felt that half this folly must +be drunkenness, and therefore could hope that it might belong only to +the passing hour. Accordingly, with a mixture of the serious and the +playful, which she hoped would best suit his half and half state, she +replied, + +"I am very much astonished, Mr. Elton. This to _me_! you forget +yourself--you take me for my friend--any message to Miss Smith I shall +be happy to deliver; but no more of this to _me_, if you please." + +"Miss Smith!--message to Miss Smith!--What could she possibly +mean!"--And he repeated her words with such assurance of accent, such +boastful pretence of amazement, that she could not help replying with +quickness, + +"Mr. Elton, this is the most extraordinary conduct! and I can account +for it only in one way; you are not yourself, or you could not speak +either to me, or of Harriet, in such a manner. Command yourself enough +to say no more, and I will endeavour to forget it." + +But Mr. Elton had only drunk wine enough to elevate his spirits, not at +all to confuse his intellects. He perfectly knew his own meaning; and +having warmly protested against her suspicion as most injurious, and +slightly touched upon his respect for Miss Smith as her friend,--but +acknowledging his wonder that Miss Smith should be mentioned at all,--he +resumed the subject of his own passion, and was very urgent for a +favourable answer. + +As she thought less of his inebriety, she thought more of his +inconstancy and presumption; and with fewer struggles for politeness, +replied, + +"It is impossible for me to doubt any longer. You have made yourself +too clear. Mr. Elton, my astonishment is much beyond any thing I can +express. After such behaviour, as I have witnessed during the last +month, to Miss Smith--such attentions as I have been in the daily +habit of observing--to be addressing me in this manner--this is an +unsteadiness of character, indeed, which I had not supposed possible! +Believe me, sir, I am far, very far, from gratified in being the object +of such professions." + +"Good Heaven!" cried Mr. Elton, "what can be the meaning of this?--Miss +Smith!--I never thought of Miss Smith in the whole course of my +existence--never paid her any attentions, but as your friend: never +cared whether she were dead or alive, but as your friend. If she +has fancied otherwise, her own wishes have misled her, and I am very +sorry--extremely sorry--But, Miss Smith, indeed!--Oh! Miss Woodhouse! +who can think of Miss Smith, when Miss Woodhouse is near! No, upon my +honour, there is no unsteadiness of character. I have thought only of +you. I protest against having paid the smallest attention to any one +else. Every thing that I have said or done, for many weeks past, has +been with the sole view of marking my adoration of yourself. You +cannot really, seriously, doubt it. No!--(in an accent meant to be +insinuating)--I am sure you have seen and understood me." + +It would be impossible to say what Emma felt, on hearing this--which +of all her unpleasant sensations was uppermost. She was too completely +overpowered to be immediately able to reply: and two moments of silence +being ample encouragement for Mr. Elton's sanguine state of mind, he +tried to take her hand again, as he joyously exclaimed-- + +"Charming Miss Woodhouse! allow me to interpret this interesting +silence. It confesses that you have long understood me." + +"No, sir," cried Emma, "it confesses no such thing. So far from having +long understood you, I have been in a most complete error with respect +to your views, till this moment. As to myself, I am very sorry that you +should have been giving way to any feelings--Nothing could be farther +from my wishes--your attachment to my friend Harriet--your pursuit of +her, (pursuit, it appeared,) gave me great pleasure, and I have been +very earnestly wishing you success: but had I supposed that she were not +your attraction to Hartfield, I should certainly have thought you judged +ill in making your visits so frequent. Am I to believe that you have +never sought to recommend yourself particularly to Miss Smith?--that you +have never thought seriously of her?" + +"Never, madam," cried he, affronted in his turn: "never, I assure you. +_I_ think seriously of Miss Smith!--Miss Smith is a very good sort of +girl; and I should be happy to see her respectably settled. I wish +her extremely well: and, no doubt, there are men who might not object +to--Every body has their level: but as for myself, I am not, I think, +quite so much at a loss. I need not so totally despair of an equal +alliance, as to be addressing myself to Miss Smith!--No, madam, my +visits to Hartfield have been for yourself only; and the encouragement I +received--" + +"Encouragement!--I give you encouragement!--Sir, you have been entirely +mistaken in supposing it. I have seen you only as the admirer of my +friend. In no other light could you have been more to me than a common +acquaintance. I am exceedingly sorry: but it is well that the mistake +ends where it does. Had the same behaviour continued, Miss Smith might +have been led into a misconception of your views; not being aware, +probably, any more than myself, of the very great inequality which you +are so sensible of. But, as it is, the disappointment is single, and, I +trust, will not be lasting. I have no thoughts of matrimony at present." + +He was too angry to say another word; her manner too decided to invite +supplication; and in this state of swelling resentment, and mutually +deep mortification, they had to continue together a few minutes longer, +for the fears of Mr. Woodhouse had confined them to a foot-pace. If +there had not been so much anger, there would have been desperate +awkwardness; but their straightforward emotions left no room for the +little zigzags of embarrassment. Without knowing when the carriage +turned into Vicarage Lane, or when it stopped, they found themselves, +all at once, at the door of his house; and he was out before another +syllable passed.--Emma then felt it indispensable to wish him a good +night. The compliment was just returned, coldly and proudly; and, under +indescribable irritation of spirits, she was then conveyed to Hartfield. + +There she was welcomed, with the utmost delight, by her father, who +had been trembling for the dangers of a solitary drive from Vicarage +Lane--turning a corner which he could never bear to think of--and in +strange hands--a mere common coachman--no James; and there it seemed as +if her return only were wanted to make every thing go well: for Mr. +John Knightley, ashamed of his ill-humour, was now all kindness and +attention; and so particularly solicitous for the comfort of her +father, as to seem--if not quite ready to join him in a basin of +gruel--perfectly sensible of its being exceedingly wholesome; and the +day was concluding in peace and comfort to all their little party, +except herself.--But her mind had never been in such perturbation; and +it needed a very strong effort to appear attentive and cheerful till the +usual hour of separating allowed her the relief of quiet reflection. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The hair was curled, and the maid sent away, and Emma sat down to think +and be miserable.--It was a wretched business indeed!--Such an overthrow +of every thing she had been wishing for!--Such a development of every +thing most unwelcome!--Such a blow for Harriet!--that was the worst +of all. Every part of it brought pain and humiliation, of some sort or +other; but, compared with the evil to Harriet, all was light; and +she would gladly have submitted to feel yet more mistaken--more in +error--more disgraced by mis-judgment, than she actually was, could the +effects of her blunders have been confined to herself. + +"If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have +borne any thing. He might have doubled his presumption to me--but poor +Harriet!" + +How she could have been so deceived!--He protested that he had never +thought seriously of Harriet--never! She looked back as well as +she could; but it was all confusion. She had taken up the idea, she +supposed, and made every thing bend to it. His manners, however, must +have been unmarked, wavering, dubious, or she could not have been so +misled. + +The picture!--How eager he had been about the picture!--and the +charade!--and an hundred other circumstances;--how clearly they had +seemed to point at Harriet. To be sure, the charade, with its "ready +wit"--but then the "soft eyes"--in fact it suited neither; it was +a jumble without taste or truth. Who could have seen through such +thick-headed nonsense? + +Certainly she had often, especially of late, thought his manners to +herself unnecessarily gallant; but it had passed as his way, as a mere +error of judgment, of knowledge, of taste, as one proof among others +that he had not always lived in the best society, that with all the +gentleness of his address, true elegance was sometimes wanting; but, +till this very day, she had never, for an instant, suspected it to mean +any thing but grateful respect to her as Harriet's friend. + +To Mr. John Knightley was she indebted for her first idea on the +subject, for the first start of its possibility. There was no denying +that those brothers had penetration. She remembered what Mr. Knightley +had once said to her about Mr. Elton, the caution he had given, +the conviction he had professed that Mr. Elton would never marry +indiscreetly; and blushed to think how much truer a knowledge of his +character had been there shewn than any she had reached herself. It +was dreadfully mortifying; but Mr. Elton was proving himself, in many +respects, the very reverse of what she had meant and believed him; +proud, assuming, conceited; very full of his own claims, and little +concerned about the feelings of others. + +Contrary to the usual course of things, Mr. Elton's wanting to pay his +addresses to her had sunk him in her opinion. His professions and his +proposals did him no service. She thought nothing of his attachment, +and was insulted by his hopes. He wanted to marry well, and having the +arrogance to raise his eyes to her, pretended to be in love; but she was +perfectly easy as to his not suffering any disappointment that need be +cared for. There had been no real affection either in his language or +manners. Sighs and fine words had been given in abundance; but she could +hardly devise any set of expressions, or fancy any tone of voice, less +allied with real love. She need not trouble herself to pity him. He +only wanted to aggrandise and enrich himself; and if Miss Woodhouse +of Hartfield, the heiress of thirty thousand pounds, were not quite so +easily obtained as he had fancied, he would soon try for Miss Somebody +else with twenty, or with ten. + +But--that he should talk of encouragement, should consider her as aware +of his views, accepting his attentions, meaning (in short), to marry +him!--should suppose himself her equal in connexion or mind!--look down +upon her friend, so well understanding the gradations of rank below +him, and be so blind to what rose above, as to fancy himself shewing no +presumption in addressing her!--It was most provoking. + +Perhaps it was not fair to expect him to feel how very much he was her +inferior in talent, and all the elegancies of mind. The very want of +such equality might prevent his perception of it; but he must know that +in fortune and consequence she was greatly his superior. He must +know that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations at +Hartfield, the younger branch of a very ancient family--and that the +Eltons were nobody. The landed property of Hartfield certainly was +inconsiderable, being but a sort of notch in the Donwell Abbey estate, +to which all the rest of Highbury belonged; but their fortune, from +other sources, was such as to make them scarcely secondary to Donwell +Abbey itself, in every other kind of consequence; and the Woodhouses had +long held a high place in the consideration of the neighbourhood which +Mr. Elton had first entered not two years ago, to make his way as he +could, without any alliances but in trade, or any thing to recommend him +to notice but his situation and his civility.--But he had fancied her +in love with him; that evidently must have been his dependence; and +after raving a little about the seeming incongruity of gentle manners +and a conceited head, Emma was obliged in common honesty to stop +and admit that her own behaviour to him had been so complaisant and +obliging, so full of courtesy and attention, as (supposing her real +motive unperceived) might warrant a man of ordinary observation and +delicacy, like Mr. Elton, in fancying himself a very decided favourite. +If _she_ had so misinterpreted his feelings, she had little right to +wonder that _he_, with self-interest to blind him, should have mistaken +hers. + +The first error and the worst lay at her door. It was foolish, it was +wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. It +was adventuring too far, assuming too much, making light of what +ought to be serious, a trick of what ought to be simple. She was quite +concerned and ashamed, and resolved to do such things no more. + +"Here have I," said she, "actually talked poor Harriet into being very +much attached to this man. She might never have thought of him but for +me; and certainly never would have thought of him with hope, if I had +not assured her of his attachment, for she is as modest and humble as I +used to think him. Oh! that I had been satisfied with persuading her not +to accept young Martin. There I was quite right. That was well done +of me; but there I should have stopped, and left the rest to time and +chance. I was introducing her into good company, and giving her the +opportunity of pleasing some one worth having; I ought not to have +attempted more. But now, poor girl, her peace is cut up for some time. +I have been but half a friend to her; and if she were _not_ to feel this +disappointment so very much, I am sure I have not an idea of any body +else who would be at all desirable for her;--William Coxe--Oh! no, I +could not endure William Coxe--a pert young lawyer." + +She stopt to blush and laugh at her own relapse, and then resumed a more +serious, more dispiriting cogitation upon what had been, and might be, +and must be. The distressing explanation she had to make to Harriet, and +all that poor Harriet would be suffering, with the awkwardness of +future meetings, the difficulties of continuing or discontinuing the +acquaintance, of subduing feelings, concealing resentment, and avoiding +eclat, were enough to occupy her in most unmirthful reflections some +time longer, and she went to bed at last with nothing settled but the +conviction of her having blundered most dreadfully. + +To youth and natural cheerfulness like Emma's, though under temporary +gloom at night, the return of day will hardly fail to bring return of +spirits. The youth and cheerfulness of morning are in happy analogy, +and of powerful operation; and if the distress be not poignant enough +to keep the eyes unclosed, they will be sure to open to sensations of +softened pain and brighter hope. + +Emma got up on the morrow more disposed for comfort than she had gone +to bed, more ready to see alleviations of the evil before her, and to +depend on getting tolerably out of it. + +It was a great consolation that Mr. Elton should not be really in +love with her, or so particularly amiable as to make it shocking to +disappoint him--that Harriet's nature should not be of that superior +sort in which the feelings are most acute and retentive--and that there +could be no necessity for any body's knowing what had passed except the +three principals, and especially for her father's being given a moment's +uneasiness about it. + +These were very cheering thoughts; and the sight of a great deal of snow +on the ground did her further service, for any thing was welcome that +might justify their all three being quite asunder at present. + +The weather was most favourable for her; though Christmas Day, she +could not go to church. Mr. Woodhouse would have been miserable had his +daughter attempted it, and she was therefore safe from either exciting +or receiving unpleasant and most unsuitable ideas. The ground covered +with snow, and the atmosphere in that unsettled state between frost and +thaw, which is of all others the most unfriendly for exercise, every +morning beginning in rain or snow, and every evening setting in to +freeze, she was for many days a most honourable prisoner. No intercourse +with Harriet possible but by note; no church for her on Sunday any +more than on Christmas Day; and no need to find excuses for Mr. Elton's +absenting himself. + +It was weather which might fairly confine every body at home; and though +she hoped and believed him to be really taking comfort in some society +or other, it was very pleasant to have her father so well satisfied with +his being all alone in his own house, too wise to stir out; and to +hear him say to Mr. Knightley, whom no weather could keep entirely from +them,-- + +"Ah! Mr. Knightley, why do not you stay at home like poor Mr. Elton?" + +These days of confinement would have been, but for her private +perplexities, remarkably comfortable, as such seclusion exactly suited +her brother, whose feelings must always be of great importance to +his companions; and he had, besides, so thoroughly cleared off his +ill-humour at Randalls, that his amiableness never failed him during the +rest of his stay at Hartfield. He was always agreeable and obliging, +and speaking pleasantly of every body. But with all the hopes of +cheerfulness, and all the present comfort of delay, there was still such +an evil hanging over her in the hour of explanation with Harriet, as +made it impossible for Emma to be ever perfectly at ease. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley were not detained long at Hartfield. The +weather soon improved enough for those to move who must move; and Mr. +Woodhouse having, as usual, tried to persuade his daughter to stay +behind with all her children, was obliged to see the whole party +set off, and return to his lamentations over the destiny of poor +Isabella;--which poor Isabella, passing her life with those she doated +on, full of their merits, blind to their faults, and always innocently +busy, might have been a model of right feminine happiness. + +The evening of the very day on which they went brought a note from Mr. +Elton to Mr. Woodhouse, a long, civil, ceremonious note, to say, with +Mr. Elton's best compliments, "that he was proposing to leave Highbury +the following morning in his way to Bath; where, in compliance with +the pressing entreaties of some friends, he had engaged to spend a few +weeks, and very much regretted the impossibility he was under, from +various circumstances of weather and business, of taking a personal +leave of Mr. Woodhouse, of whose friendly civilities he should ever +retain a grateful sense--and had Mr. Woodhouse any commands, should be +happy to attend to them." + +Emma was most agreeably surprized.--Mr. Elton's absence just at this +time was the very thing to be desired. She admired him for contriving +it, though not able to give him much credit for the manner in which it +was announced. Resentment could not have been more plainly spoken than +in a civility to her father, from which she was so pointedly excluded. +She had not even a share in his opening compliments.--Her name was not +mentioned;--and there was so striking a change in all this, and such an +ill-judged solemnity of leave-taking in his graceful acknowledgments, as +she thought, at first, could not escape her father's suspicion. + +It did, however.--Her father was quite taken up with the surprize of so +sudden a journey, and his fears that Mr. Elton might never get safely to +the end of it, and saw nothing extraordinary in his language. It was a +very useful note, for it supplied them with fresh matter for thought +and conversation during the rest of their lonely evening. Mr. Woodhouse +talked over his alarms, and Emma was in spirits to persuade them away +with all her usual promptitude. + +She now resolved to keep Harriet no longer in the dark. She had reason +to believe her nearly recovered from her cold, and it was desirable that +she should have as much time as possible for getting the better of +her other complaint before the gentleman's return. She went to Mrs. +Goddard's accordingly the very next day, to undergo the necessary +penance of communication; and a severe one it was.--She had to destroy +all the hopes which she had been so industriously feeding--to appear in +the ungracious character of the one preferred--and acknowledge herself +grossly mistaken and mis-judging in all her ideas on one subject, all +her observations, all her convictions, all her prophecies for the last +six weeks. + +The confession completely renewed her first shame--and the sight of +Harriet's tears made her think that she should never be in charity with +herself again. + +Harriet bore the intelligence very well--blaming nobody--and in every +thing testifying such an ingenuousness of disposition and lowly opinion +of herself, as must appear with particular advantage at that moment to +her friend. + +Emma was in the humour to value simplicity and modesty to the utmost; +and all that was amiable, all that ought to be attaching, seemed on +Harriet's side, not her own. Harriet did not consider herself as having +any thing to complain of. The affection of such a man as Mr. Elton +would have been too great a distinction.--She never could have deserved +him--and nobody but so partial and kind a friend as Miss Woodhouse would +have thought it possible. + +Her tears fell abundantly--but her grief was so truly artless, that +no dignity could have made it more respectable in Emma's eyes--and +she listened to her and tried to console her with all her heart and +understanding--really for the time convinced that Harriet was the +superior creature of the two--and that to resemble her would be more for +her own welfare and happiness than all that genius or intelligence could +do. + +It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple-minded and +ignorant; but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of +being humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of +her life. Her second duty now, inferior only to her father's claims, was +to promote Harriet's comfort, and endeavour to prove her own affection +in some better method than by match-making. She got her to Hartfield, +and shewed her the most unvarying kindness, striving to occupy and +amuse her, and by books and conversation, to drive Mr. Elton from her +thoughts. + +Time, she knew, must be allowed for this being thoroughly done; and +she could suppose herself but an indifferent judge of such matters in +general, and very inadequate to sympathise in an attachment to Mr. Elton +in particular; but it seemed to her reasonable that at Harriet's age, +and with the entire extinction of all hope, such a progress might be +made towards a state of composure by the time of Mr. Elton's return, as +to allow them all to meet again in the common routine of acquaintance, +without any danger of betraying sentiments or increasing them. + +Harriet did think him all perfection, and maintained the non-existence +of any body equal to him in person or goodness--and did, in truth, +prove herself more resolutely in love than Emma had foreseen; but yet +it appeared to her so natural, so inevitable to strive against an +inclination of that sort _unrequited_, that she could not comprehend its +continuing very long in equal force. + +If Mr. Elton, on his return, made his own indifference as evident and +indubitable as she could not doubt he would anxiously do, she could not +imagine Harriet's persisting to place her happiness in the sight or the +recollection of him. + +Their being fixed, so absolutely fixed, in the same place, was bad for +each, for all three. Not one of them had the power of removal, or of +effecting any material change of society. They must encounter each +other, and make the best of it. + +Harriet was farther unfortunate in the tone of her companions at Mrs. +Goddard's; Mr. Elton being the adoration of all the teachers and great +girls in the school; and it must be at Hartfield only that she could +have any chance of hearing him spoken of with cooling moderation or +repellent truth. Where the wound had been given, there must the cure be +found if anywhere; and Emma felt that, till she saw her in the way of +cure, there could be no true peace for herself. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Mr. Frank Churchill did not come. When the time proposed drew near, Mrs. +Weston's fears were justified in the arrival of a letter of excuse. For +the present, he could not be spared, to his "very great mortification +and regret; but still he looked forward with the hope of coming to +Randalls at no distant period." + +Mrs. Weston was exceedingly disappointed--much more disappointed, in +fact, than her husband, though her dependence on seeing the young man +had been so much more sober: but a sanguine temper, though for ever +expecting more good than occurs, does not always pay for its hopes by +any proportionate depression. It soon flies over the present failure, +and begins to hope again. For half an hour Mr. Weston was surprized and +sorry; but then he began to perceive that Frank's coming two or three +months later would be a much better plan; better time of year; +better weather; and that he would be able, without any doubt, to stay +considerably longer with them than if he had come sooner. + +These feelings rapidly restored his comfort, while Mrs. Weston, of +a more apprehensive disposition, foresaw nothing but a repetition of +excuses and delays; and after all her concern for what her husband was +to suffer, suffered a great deal more herself. + +Emma was not at this time in a state of spirits to care really about Mr. +Frank Churchill's not coming, except as a disappointment at Randalls. +The acquaintance at present had no charm for her. She wanted, rather, to +be quiet, and out of temptation; but still, as it was desirable that she +should appear, in general, like her usual self, she took care to express +as much interest in the circumstance, and enter as warmly into Mr. +and Mrs. Weston's disappointment, as might naturally belong to their +friendship. + +She was the first to announce it to Mr. Knightley; and exclaimed quite +as much as was necessary, (or, being acting a part, perhaps rather +more,) at the conduct of the Churchills, in keeping him away. She then +proceeded to say a good deal more than she felt, of the advantage of +such an addition to their confined society in Surry; the pleasure of +looking at somebody new; the gala-day to Highbury entire, which the +sight of him would have made; and ending with reflections on the +Churchills again, found herself directly involved in a disagreement +with Mr. Knightley; and, to her great amusement, perceived that she was +taking the other side of the question from her real opinion, and making +use of Mrs. Weston's arguments against herself. + +"The Churchills are very likely in fault," said Mr. Knightley, coolly; +"but I dare say he might come if he would." + +"I do not know why you should say so. He wishes exceedingly to come; but +his uncle and aunt will not spare him." + +"I cannot believe that he has not the power of coming, if he made a +point of it. It is too unlikely, for me to believe it without proof." + +"How odd you are! What has Mr. Frank Churchill done, to make you suppose +him such an unnatural creature?" + +"I am not supposing him at all an unnatural creature, in suspecting that +he may have learnt to be above his connexions, and to care very little +for any thing but his own pleasure, from living with those who have +always set him the example of it. It is a great deal more natural than +one could wish, that a young man, brought up by those who are proud, +luxurious, and selfish, should be proud, luxurious, and selfish too. If +Frank Churchill had wanted to see his father, he would have contrived it +between September and January. A man at his age--what is he?--three or +four-and-twenty--cannot be without the means of doing as much as that. +It is impossible." + +"That's easily said, and easily felt by you, who have always been your +own master. You are the worst judge in the world, Mr. Knightley, of the +difficulties of dependence. You do not know what it is to have tempers +to manage." + +"It is not to be conceived that a man of three or four-and-twenty +should not have liberty of mind or limb to that amount. He cannot want +money--he cannot want leisure. We know, on the contrary, that he has so +much of both, that he is glad to get rid of them at the idlest haunts in +the kingdom. We hear of him for ever at some watering-place or other. A +little while ago, he was at Weymouth. This proves that he can leave the +Churchills." + +"Yes, sometimes he can." + +"And those times are whenever he thinks it worth his while; whenever +there is any temptation of pleasure." + +"It is very unfair to judge of any body's conduct, without an intimate +knowledge of their situation. Nobody, who has not been in the interior +of a family, can say what the difficulties of any individual of that +family may be. We ought to be acquainted with Enscombe, and with Mrs. +Churchill's temper, before we pretend to decide upon what her nephew +can do. He may, at times, be able to do a great deal more than he can at +others." + +"There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do, if he chuses, and +that is, his duty; not by manoeuvring and finessing, but by vigour and +resolution. It is Frank Churchill's duty to pay this attention to his +father. He knows it to be so, by his promises and messages; but if he +wished to do it, it might be done. A man who felt rightly would say at +once, simply and resolutely, to Mrs. Churchill--'Every sacrifice of +mere pleasure you will always find me ready to make to your convenience; +but I must go and see my father immediately. I know he would be hurt by +my failing in such a mark of respect to him on the present occasion. +I shall, therefore, set off to-morrow.'--If he would say so to her +at once, in the tone of decision becoming a man, there would be no +opposition made to his going." + +"No," said Emma, laughing; "but perhaps there might be some made to his +coming back again. Such language for a young man entirely dependent, to +use!--Nobody but you, Mr. Knightley, would imagine it possible. But you +have not an idea of what is requisite in situations directly opposite to +your own. Mr. Frank Churchill to be making such a speech as that to +the uncle and aunt, who have brought him up, and are to provide for +him!--Standing up in the middle of the room, I suppose, and speaking as +loud as he could!--How can you imagine such conduct practicable?" + +"Depend upon it, Emma, a sensible man would find no difficulty in it. He +would feel himself in the right; and the declaration--made, of course, +as a man of sense would make it, in a proper manner--would do him more +good, raise him higher, fix his interest stronger with the people he +depended on, than all that a line of shifts and expedients can ever do. +Respect would be added to affection. They would feel that they could +trust him; that the nephew who had done rightly by his father, would do +rightly by them; for they know, as well as he does, as well as all the +world must know, that he ought to pay this visit to his father; and +while meanly exerting their power to delay it, are in their hearts not +thinking the better of him for submitting to their whims. Respect for +right conduct is felt by every body. If he would act in this sort of +manner, on principle, consistently, regularly, their little minds would +bend to his." + +"I rather doubt that. You are very fond of bending little minds; but +where little minds belong to rich people in authority, I think they have +a knack of swelling out, till they are quite as unmanageable as great +ones. I can imagine, that if you, as you are, Mr. Knightley, were to be +transported and placed all at once in Mr. Frank Churchill's situation, +you would be able to say and do just what you have been recommending for +him; and it might have a very good effect. The Churchills might not have +a word to say in return; but then, you would have no habits of early +obedience and long observance to break through. To him who has, it might +not be so easy to burst forth at once into perfect independence, and set +all their claims on his gratitude and regard at nought. He may have as +strong a sense of what would be right, as you can have, without being so +equal, under particular circumstances, to act up to it." + +"Then it would not be so strong a sense. If it failed to produce equal +exertion, it could not be an equal conviction." + +"Oh, the difference of situation and habit! I wish you would try to +understand what an amiable young man may be likely to feel in directly +opposing those, whom as child and boy he has been looking up to all his +life." + +"Our amiable young man is a very weak young man, if this be the first +occasion of his carrying through a resolution to do right against the +will of others. It ought to have been a habit with him by this time, of +following his duty, instead of consulting expediency. I can allow for +the fears of the child, but not of the man. As he became rational, he +ought to have roused himself and shaken off all that was unworthy in +their authority. He ought to have opposed the first attempt on their +side to make him slight his father. Had he begun as he ought, there +would have been no difficulty now." + +"We shall never agree about him," cried Emma; "but that is nothing +extraordinary. I have not the least idea of his being a weak young man: +I feel sure that he is not. Mr. Weston would not be blind to folly, +though in his own son; but he is very likely to have a more yielding, +complying, mild disposition than would suit your notions of man's +perfection. I dare say he has; and though it may cut him off from some +advantages, it will secure him many others." + +"Yes; all the advantages of sitting still when he ought to move, and +of leading a life of mere idle pleasure, and fancying himself extremely +expert in finding excuses for it. He can sit down and write a fine +flourishing letter, full of professions and falsehoods, and persuade +himself that he has hit upon the very best method in the world of +preserving peace at home and preventing his father's having any right to +complain. His letters disgust me." + +"Your feelings are singular. They seem to satisfy every body else." + +"I suspect they do not satisfy Mrs. Weston. They hardly can satisfy +a woman of her good sense and quick feelings: standing in a mother's +place, but without a mother's affection to blind her. It is on her +account that attention to Randalls is doubly due, and she must doubly +feel the omission. Had she been a person of consequence herself, he +would have come I dare say; and it would not have signified whether +he did or no. Can you think your friend behindhand in these sort of +considerations? Do you suppose she does not often say all this to +herself? No, Emma, your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, +not in English. He may be very 'aimable,' have very good manners, and be +very agreeable; but he can have no English delicacy towards the feelings +of other people: nothing really amiable about him." + +"You seem determined to think ill of him." + +"Me!--not at all," replied Mr. Knightley, rather displeased; "I do not +want to think ill of him. I should be as ready to acknowledge his merits +as any other man; but I hear of none, except what are merely personal; +that he is well-grown and good-looking, with smooth, plausible manners." + +"Well, if he have nothing else to recommend him, he will be a treasure +at Highbury. We do not often look upon fine young men, well-bred and +agreeable. We must not be nice and ask for all the virtues into the +bargain. Cannot you imagine, Mr. Knightley, what a _sensation_ his +coming will produce? There will be but one subject throughout the +parishes of Donwell and Highbury; but one interest--one object of +curiosity; it will be all Mr. Frank Churchill; we shall think and speak +of nobody else." + +"You will excuse my being so much over-powered. If I find him +conversable, I shall be glad of his acquaintance; but if he is only a +chattering coxcomb, he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts." + +"My idea of him is, that he can adapt his conversation to the taste of +every body, and has the power as well as the wish of being universally +agreeable. To you, he will talk of farming; to me, of drawing or music; +and so on to every body, having that general information on all subjects +which will enable him to follow the lead, or take the lead, just as +propriety may require, and to speak extremely well on each; that is my +idea of him." + +"And mine," said Mr. Knightley warmly, "is, that if he turn out any +thing like it, he will be the most insufferable fellow breathing! What! +at three-and-twenty to be the king of his company--the great man--the +practised politician, who is to read every body's character, and make +every body's talents conduce to the display of his own superiority; to +be dispensing his flatteries around, that he may make all appear like +fools compared with himself! My dear Emma, your own good sense could not +endure such a puppy when it came to the point." + +"I will say no more about him," cried Emma, "you turn every thing to +evil. We are both prejudiced; you against, I for him; and we have no +chance of agreeing till he is really here." + +"Prejudiced! I am not prejudiced." + +"But I am very much, and without being at all ashamed of it. My love for +Mr. and Mrs. Weston gives me a decided prejudice in his favour." + +"He is a person I never think of from one month's end to another," said +Mr. Knightley, with a degree of vexation, which made Emma immediately +talk of something else, though she could not comprehend why he should be +angry. + +To take a dislike to a young man, only because he appeared to be of a +different disposition from himself, was unworthy the real liberality of +mind which she was always used to acknowledge in him; for with all the +high opinion of himself, which she had often laid to his charge, she had +never before for a moment supposed it could make him unjust to the merit +of another. + + + + +VOLUME II + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Emma and Harriet had been walking together one morning, and, in Emma's +opinion, had been talking enough of Mr. Elton for that day. She could +not think that Harriet's solace or her own sins required more; and +she was therefore industriously getting rid of the subject as they +returned;--but it burst out again when she thought she had succeeded, +and after speaking some time of what the poor must suffer in winter, and +receiving no other answer than a very plaintive--"Mr. Elton is so good +to the poor!" she found something else must be done. + +They were just approaching the house where lived Mrs. and Miss Bates. +She determined to call upon them and seek safety in numbers. There was +always sufficient reason for such an attention; Mrs. and Miss Bates +loved to be called on, and she knew she was considered by the very few +who presumed ever to see imperfection in her, as rather negligent in +that respect, and as not contributing what she ought to the stock of +their scanty comforts. + +She had had many a hint from Mr. Knightley and some from her own heart, +as to her deficiency--but none were equal to counteract the persuasion +of its being very disagreeable,--a waste of time--tiresome women--and +all the horror of being in danger of falling in with the second-rate and +third-rate of Highbury, who were calling on them for ever, and therefore +she seldom went near them. But now she made the sudden resolution of not +passing their door without going in--observing, as she proposed it to +Harriet, that, as well as she could calculate, they were just now quite +safe from any letter from Jane Fairfax. + +The house belonged to people in business. Mrs. and Miss Bates occupied +the drawing-room floor; and there, in the very moderate-sized apartment, +which was every thing to them, the visitors were most cordially and even +gratefully welcomed; the quiet neat old lady, who with her knitting was +seated in the warmest corner, wanting even to give up her place to +Miss Woodhouse, and her more active, talking daughter, almost ready +to overpower them with care and kindness, thanks for their visit, +solicitude for their shoes, anxious inquiries after Mr. Woodhouse's +health, cheerful communications about her mother's, and sweet-cake from +the beaufet--"Mrs. Cole had just been there, just called in for ten +minutes, and had been so good as to sit an hour with them, and _she_ had +taken a piece of cake and been so kind as to say she liked it very much; +and, therefore, she hoped Miss Woodhouse and Miss Smith would do them +the favour to eat a piece too." + +The mention of the Coles was sure to be followed by that of Mr. Elton. +There was intimacy between them, and Mr. Cole had heard from Mr. Elton +since his going away. Emma knew what was coming; they must have the +letter over again, and settle how long he had been gone, and how much +he was engaged in company, and what a favourite he was wherever he went, +and how full the Master of the Ceremonies' ball had been; and she went +through it very well, with all the interest and all the commendation +that could be requisite, and always putting forward to prevent Harriet's +being obliged to say a word. + +This she had been prepared for when she entered the house; but meant, +having once talked him handsomely over, to be no farther incommoded by +any troublesome topic, and to wander at large amongst all the Mistresses +and Misses of Highbury, and their card-parties. She had not been +prepared to have Jane Fairfax succeed Mr. Elton; but he was actually +hurried off by Miss Bates, she jumped away from him at last abruptly to +the Coles, to usher in a letter from her niece. + +"Oh! yes--Mr. Elton, I understand--certainly as to dancing--Mrs. Cole +was telling me that dancing at the rooms at Bath was--Mrs. Cole was so +kind as to sit some time with us, talking of Jane; for as soon as +she came in, she began inquiring after her, Jane is so very great a +favourite there. Whenever she is with us, Mrs. Cole does not know how to +shew her kindness enough; and I must say that Jane deserves it as much +as any body can. And so she began inquiring after her directly, saying, +'I know you cannot have heard from Jane lately, because it is not her +time for writing;' and when I immediately said, 'But indeed we have, we +had a letter this very morning,' I do not know that I ever saw any body +more surprized. 'Have you, upon your honour?' said she; 'well, that is +quite unexpected. Do let me hear what she says.'" + +Emma's politeness was at hand directly, to say, with smiling interest-- + +"Have you heard from Miss Fairfax so lately? I am extremely happy. I +hope she is well?" + +"Thank you. You are so kind!" replied the happily deceived aunt, while +eagerly hunting for the letter.--"Oh! here it is. I was sure it could +not be far off; but I had put my huswife upon it, you see, without being +aware, and so it was quite hid, but I had it in my hand so very lately +that I was almost sure it must be on the table. I was reading it to Mrs. +Cole, and since she went away, I was reading it again to my mother, for +it is such a pleasure to her--a letter from Jane--that she can never +hear it often enough; so I knew it could not be far off, and here it is, +only just under my huswife--and since you are so kind as to wish to hear +what she says;--but, first of all, I really must, in justice to +Jane, apologise for her writing so short a letter--only two pages you +see--hardly two--and in general she fills the whole paper and crosses +half. My mother often wonders that I can make it out so well. She often +says, when the letter is first opened, 'Well, Hetty, now I think +you will be put to it to make out all that checker-work'--don't you, +ma'am?--And then I tell her, I am sure she would contrive to make it out +herself, if she had nobody to do it for her--every word of it--I am sure +she would pore over it till she had made out every word. And, indeed, +though my mother's eyes are not so good as they were, she can see +amazingly well still, thank God! with the help of spectacles. It is such +a blessing! My mother's are really very good indeed. Jane often says, +when she is here, 'I am sure, grandmama, you must have had very strong +eyes to see as you do--and so much fine work as you have done too!--I +only wish my eyes may last me as well.'" + +All this spoken extremely fast obliged Miss Bates to stop for breath; +and Emma said something very civil about the excellence of Miss +Fairfax's handwriting. + +"You are extremely kind," replied Miss Bates, highly gratified; "you who +are such a judge, and write so beautifully yourself. I am sure there is +nobody's praise that could give us so much pleasure as Miss Woodhouse's. +My mother does not hear; she is a little deaf you know. Ma'am," +addressing her, "do you hear what Miss Woodhouse is so obliging to say +about Jane's handwriting?" + +And Emma had the advantage of hearing her own silly compliment repeated +twice over before the good old lady could comprehend it. She was +pondering, in the meanwhile, upon the possibility, without seeming very +rude, of making her escape from Jane Fairfax's letter, and had almost +resolved on hurrying away directly under some slight excuse, when Miss +Bates turned to her again and seized her attention. + +"My mother's deafness is very trifling you see--just nothing at all. By +only raising my voice, and saying any thing two or three times over, +she is sure to hear; but then she is used to my voice. But it is very +remarkable that she should always hear Jane better than she does me. +Jane speaks so distinct! However, she will not find her grandmama at all +deafer than she was two years ago; which is saying a great deal at my +mother's time of life--and it really is full two years, you know, since +she was here. We never were so long without seeing her before, and as +I was telling Mrs. Cole, we shall hardly know how to make enough of her +now." + +"Are you expecting Miss Fairfax here soon?" + +"Oh yes; next week." + +"Indeed!--that must be a very great pleasure." + +"Thank you. You are very kind. Yes, next week. Every body is so +surprized; and every body says the same obliging things. I am sure she +will be as happy to see her friends at Highbury, as they can be to see +her. Yes, Friday or Saturday; she cannot say which, because Colonel +Campbell will be wanting the carriage himself one of those days. So very +good of them to send her the whole way! But they always do, you know. Oh +yes, Friday or Saturday next. That is what she writes about. That is +the reason of her writing out of rule, as we call it; for, in the +common course, we should not have heard from her before next Tuesday or +Wednesday." + +"Yes, so I imagined. I was afraid there could be little chance of my +hearing any thing of Miss Fairfax to-day." + +"So obliging of you! No, we should not have heard, if it had not been +for this particular circumstance, of her being to come here so soon. My +mother is so delighted!--for she is to be three months with us at +least. Three months, she says so, positively, as I am going to have the +pleasure of reading to you. The case is, you see, that the Campbells are +going to Ireland. Mrs. Dixon has persuaded her father and mother to come +over and see her directly. They had not intended to go over till the +summer, but she is so impatient to see them again--for till she married, +last October, she was never away from them so much as a week, which must +make it very strange to be in different kingdoms, I was going to say, +but however different countries, and so she wrote a very urgent letter +to her mother--or her father, I declare I do not know which it was, but +we shall see presently in Jane's letter--wrote in Mr. Dixon's name as +well as her own, to press their coming over directly, and they would +give them the meeting in Dublin, and take them back to their country +seat, Baly-craig, a beautiful place, I fancy. Jane has heard a great +deal of its beauty; from Mr. Dixon, I mean--I do not know that she ever +heard about it from any body else; but it was very natural, you know, +that he should like to speak of his own place while he was paying his +addresses--and as Jane used to be very often walking out with them--for +Colonel and Mrs. Campbell were very particular about their daughter's +not walking out often with only Mr. Dixon, for which I do not at all +blame them; of course she heard every thing he might be telling Miss +Campbell about his own home in Ireland; and I think she wrote us word +that he had shewn them some drawings of the place, views that he had +taken himself. He is a most amiable, charming young man, I believe. Jane +was quite longing to go to Ireland, from his account of things." + +At this moment, an ingenious and animating suspicion entering Emma's +brain with regard to Jane Fairfax, this charming Mr. Dixon, and the +not going to Ireland, she said, with the insidious design of farther +discovery, + +"You must feel it very fortunate that Miss Fairfax should be allowed to +come to you at such a time. Considering the very particular friendship +between her and Mrs. Dixon, you could hardly have expected her to be +excused from accompanying Colonel and Mrs. Campbell." + +"Very true, very true, indeed. The very thing that we have always been +rather afraid of; for we should not have liked to have her at such a +distance from us, for months together--not able to come if any thing was +to happen. But you see, every thing turns out for the best. They want +her (Mr. and Mrs. Dixon) excessively to come over with Colonel and Mrs. +Campbell; quite depend upon it; nothing can be more kind or pressing +than their _joint_ invitation, Jane says, as you will hear presently; +Mr. Dixon does not seem in the least backward in any attention. He is +a most charming young man. Ever since the service he rendered Jane at +Weymouth, when they were out in that party on the water, and she, by the +sudden whirling round of something or other among the sails, would have +been dashed into the sea at once, and actually was all but gone, if he +had not, with the greatest presence of mind, caught hold of her habit-- +(I can never think of it without trembling!)--But ever since we had the +history of that day, I have been so fond of Mr. Dixon!" + +"But, in spite of all her friends' urgency, and her own wish of seeing +Ireland, Miss Fairfax prefers devoting the time to you and Mrs. Bates?" + +"Yes--entirely her own doing, entirely her own choice; and Colonel +and Mrs. Campbell think she does quite right, just what they should +recommend; and indeed they particularly _wish_ her to try her native +air, as she has not been quite so well as usual lately." + +"I am concerned to hear of it. I think they judge wisely. But Mrs. +Dixon must be very much disappointed. Mrs. Dixon, I understand, has +no remarkable degree of personal beauty; is not, by any means, to be +compared with Miss Fairfax." + +"Oh! no. You are very obliging to say such things--but certainly not. +There is no comparison between them. Miss Campbell always was absolutely +plain--but extremely elegant and amiable." + +"Yes, that of course." + +"Jane caught a bad cold, poor thing! so long ago as the 7th of November, +(as I am going to read to you,) and has never been well since. A long +time, is not it, for a cold to hang upon her? She never mentioned +it before, because she would not alarm us. Just like her! so +considerate!--But however, she is so far from well, that her kind +friends the Campbells think she had better come home, and try an air +that always agrees with her; and they have no doubt that three or four +months at Highbury will entirely cure her--and it is certainly a great +deal better that she should come here, than go to Ireland, if she is +unwell. Nobody could nurse her, as we should do." + +"It appears to me the most desirable arrangement in the world." + +"And so she is to come to us next Friday or Saturday, and the Campbells +leave town in their way to Holyhead the Monday following--as you will +find from Jane's letter. So sudden!--You may guess, dear Miss Woodhouse, +what a flurry it has thrown me in! If it was not for the drawback of +her illness--but I am afraid we must expect to see her grown thin, and +looking very poorly. I must tell you what an unlucky thing happened to +me, as to that. I always make a point of reading Jane's letters through +to myself first, before I read them aloud to my mother, you know, for +fear of there being any thing in them to distress her. Jane desired me +to do it, so I always do: and so I began to-day with my usual caution; +but no sooner did I come to the mention of her being unwell, than I +burst out, quite frightened, with 'Bless me! poor Jane is ill!'--which +my mother, being on the watch, heard distinctly, and was sadly alarmed +at. However, when I read on, I found it was not near so bad as I had +fancied at first; and I make so light of it now to her, that she does +not think much about it. But I cannot imagine how I could be so off my +guard. If Jane does not get well soon, we will call in Mr. Perry. The +expense shall not be thought of; and though he is so liberal, and so +fond of Jane that I dare say he would not mean to charge any thing for +attendance, we could not suffer it to be so, you know. He has a wife and +family to maintain, and is not to be giving away his time. Well, now I +have just given you a hint of what Jane writes about, we will turn to +her letter, and I am sure she tells her own story a great deal better +than I can tell it for her." + +"I am afraid we must be running away," said Emma, glancing at Harriet, +and beginning to rise--"My father will be expecting us. I had no +intention, I thought I had no power of staying more than five minutes, +when I first entered the house. I merely called, because I would not +pass the door without inquiring after Mrs. Bates; but I have been so +pleasantly detained! Now, however, we must wish you and Mrs. Bates good +morning." + +And not all that could be urged to detain her succeeded. She regained +the street--happy in this, that though much had been forced on her +against her will, though she had in fact heard the whole substance of +Jane Fairfax's letter, she had been able to escape the letter itself. + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Jane Fairfax was an orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bates's youngest +daughter. + +The marriage of Lieut. Fairfax of the ----regiment of infantry, +and Miss Jane Bates, had had its day of fame and pleasure, hope +and interest; but nothing now remained of it, save the melancholy +remembrance of him dying in action abroad--of his widow sinking under +consumption and grief soon afterwards--and this girl. + +By birth she belonged to Highbury: and when at three years old, on +losing her mother, she became the property, the charge, the consolation, +the fondling of her grandmother and aunt, there had seemed every +probability of her being permanently fixed there; of her being taught +only what very limited means could command, and growing up with no +advantages of connexion or improvement, to be engrafted on what +nature had given her in a pleasing person, good understanding, and +warm-hearted, well-meaning relations. + +But the compassionate feelings of a friend of her father gave a change +to her destiny. This was Colonel Campbell, who had very highly regarded +Fairfax, as an excellent officer and most deserving young man; and +farther, had been indebted to him for such attentions, during a severe +camp-fever, as he believed had saved his life. These were claims which +he did not learn to overlook, though some years passed away from the +death of poor Fairfax, before his own return to England put any thing in +his power. When he did return, he sought out the child and took notice +of her. He was a married man, with only one living child, a girl, about +Jane's age: and Jane became their guest, paying them long visits and +growing a favourite with all; and before she was nine years old, his +daughter's great fondness for her, and his own wish of being a real +friend, united to produce an offer from Colonel Campbell of undertaking +the whole charge of her education. It was accepted; and from that period +Jane had belonged to Colonel Campbell's family, and had lived with them +entirely, only visiting her grandmother from time to time. + +The plan was that she should be brought up for educating others; the +very few hundred pounds which she inherited from her father making +independence impossible. To provide for her otherwise was out of Colonel +Campbell's power; for though his income, by pay and appointments, was +handsome, his fortune was moderate and must be all his daughter's; +but, by giving her an education, he hoped to be supplying the means of +respectable subsistence hereafter. + +Such was Jane Fairfax's history. She had fallen into good hands, known +nothing but kindness from the Campbells, and been given an excellent +education. Living constantly with right-minded and well-informed people, +her heart and understanding had received every advantage of discipline +and culture; and Colonel Campbell's residence being in London, every +lighter talent had been done full justice to, by the attendance of +first-rate masters. Her disposition and abilities were equally worthy +of all that friendship could do; and at eighteen or nineteen she was, +as far as such an early age can be qualified for the care of children, +fully competent to the office of instruction herself; but she was too +much beloved to be parted with. Neither father nor mother could promote, +and the daughter could not endure it. The evil day was put off. It was +easy to decide that she was still too young; and Jane remained with +them, sharing, as another daughter, in all the rational pleasures of +an elegant society, and a judicious mixture of home and amusement, with +only the drawback of the future, the sobering suggestions of her own +good understanding to remind her that all this might soon be over. + +The affection of the whole family, the warm attachment of Miss +Campbell in particular, was the more honourable to each party from +the circumstance of Jane's decided superiority both in beauty and +acquirements. That nature had given it in feature could not be unseen +by the young woman, nor could her higher powers of mind be unfelt by the +parents. They continued together with unabated regard however, till the +marriage of Miss Campbell, who by that chance, that luck which so often +defies anticipation in matrimonial affairs, giving attraction to what is +moderate rather than to what is superior, engaged the affections of +Mr. Dixon, a young man, rich and agreeable, almost as soon as they were +acquainted; and was eligibly and happily settled, while Jane Fairfax had +yet her bread to earn. + +This event had very lately taken place; too lately for any thing to be +yet attempted by her less fortunate friend towards entering on her path +of duty; though she had now reached the age which her own judgment had +fixed on for beginning. She had long resolved that one-and-twenty +should be the period. With the fortitude of a devoted novitiate, she had +resolved at one-and-twenty to complete the sacrifice, and retire from +all the pleasures of life, of rational intercourse, equal society, peace +and hope, to penance and mortification for ever. + +The good sense of Colonel and Mrs. Campbell could not oppose such +a resolution, though their feelings did. As long as they lived, no +exertions would be necessary, their home might be hers for ever; and for +their own comfort they would have retained her wholly; but this would +be selfishness:--what must be at last, had better be soon. Perhaps they +began to feel it might have been kinder and wiser to have resisted the +temptation of any delay, and spared her from a taste of such enjoyments +of ease and leisure as must now be relinquished. Still, however, +affection was glad to catch at any reasonable excuse for not hurrying +on the wretched moment. She had never been quite well since the time of +their daughter's marriage; and till she should have completely recovered +her usual strength, they must forbid her engaging in duties, which, so +far from being compatible with a weakened frame and varying spirits, +seemed, under the most favourable circumstances, to require something +more than human perfection of body and mind to be discharged with +tolerable comfort. + +With regard to her not accompanying them to Ireland, her account to her +aunt contained nothing but truth, though there might be some truths +not told. It was her own choice to give the time of their absence to +Highbury; to spend, perhaps, her last months of perfect liberty with +those kind relations to whom she was so very dear: and the Campbells, +whatever might be their motive or motives, whether single, or double, or +treble, gave the arrangement their ready sanction, and said, that they +depended more on a few months spent in her native air, for the recovery +of her health, than on any thing else. Certain it was that she was to +come; and that Highbury, instead of welcoming that perfect novelty which +had been so long promised it--Mr. Frank Churchill--must put up for the +present with Jane Fairfax, who could bring only the freshness of a two +years' absence. + +Emma was sorry;--to have to pay civilities to a person she did not like +through three long months!--to be always doing more than she wished, +and less than she ought! Why she did not like Jane Fairfax might be a +difficult question to answer; Mr. Knightley had once told her it was +because she saw in her the really accomplished young woman, which she +wanted to be thought herself; and though the accusation had been eagerly +refuted at the time, there were moments of self-examination in which +her conscience could not quite acquit her. But "she could never get +acquainted with her: she did not know how it was, but there was such +coldness and reserve--such apparent indifference whether she pleased or +not--and then, her aunt was such an eternal talker!--and she was made +such a fuss with by every body!--and it had been always imagined that +they were to be so intimate--because their ages were the same, every +body had supposed they must be so fond of each other." These were her +reasons--she had no better. + +It was a dislike so little just--every imputed fault was so magnified +by fancy, that she never saw Jane Fairfax the first time after any +considerable absence, without feeling that she had injured her; and +now, when the due visit was paid, on her arrival, after a two years' +interval, she was particularly struck with the very appearance and +manners, which for those two whole years she had been depreciating. Jane +Fairfax was very elegant, remarkably elegant; and she had herself the +highest value for elegance. Her height was pretty, just such as almost +every body would think tall, and nobody could think very tall; her +figure particularly graceful; her size a most becoming medium, between +fat and thin, though a slight appearance of ill-health seemed to point +out the likeliest evil of the two. Emma could not but feel all this; and +then, her face--her features--there was more beauty in them altogether +than she had remembered; it was not regular, but it was very pleasing +beauty. Her eyes, a deep grey, with dark eye-lashes and eyebrows, had +never been denied their praise; but the skin, which she had been used to +cavil at, as wanting colour, had a clearness and delicacy which really +needed no fuller bloom. It was a style of beauty, of which elegance was +the reigning character, and as such, she must, in honour, by all her +principles, admire it:--elegance, which, whether of person or of mind, +she saw so little in Highbury. There, not to be vulgar, was distinction, +and merit. + +In short, she sat, during the first visit, looking at Jane Fairfax with +twofold complacency; the sense of pleasure and the sense of rendering +justice, and was determining that she would dislike her no longer. When +she took in her history, indeed, her situation, as well as her beauty; +when she considered what all this elegance was destined to, what she was +going to sink from, how she was going to live, it seemed impossible +to feel any thing but compassion and respect; especially, if to every +well-known particular entitling her to interest, were added the highly +probable circumstance of an attachment to Mr. Dixon, which she had +so naturally started to herself. In that case, nothing could be more +pitiable or more honourable than the sacrifices she had resolved on. +Emma was very willing now to acquit her of having seduced Mr. Dixon's +actions from his wife, or of any thing mischievous which her imagination +had suggested at first. If it were love, it might be simple, single, +successless love on her side alone. She might have been unconsciously +sucking in the sad poison, while a sharer of his conversation with her +friend; and from the best, the purest of motives, might now be +denying herself this visit to Ireland, and resolving to divide herself +effectually from him and his connexions by soon beginning her career of +laborious duty. + +Upon the whole, Emma left her with such softened, charitable feelings, +as made her look around in walking home, and lament that Highbury +afforded no young man worthy of giving her independence; nobody that she +could wish to scheme about for her. + +These were charming feelings--but not lasting. Before she had committed +herself by any public profession of eternal friendship for Jane Fairfax, +or done more towards a recantation of past prejudices and errors, than +saying to Mr. Knightley, "She certainly is handsome; she is better than +handsome!" Jane had spent an evening at Hartfield with her grandmother +and aunt, and every thing was relapsing much into its usual state. +Former provocations reappeared. The aunt was as tiresome as ever; more +tiresome, because anxiety for her health was now added to admiration +of her powers; and they had to listen to the description of exactly how +little bread and butter she ate for breakfast, and how small a slice +of mutton for dinner, as well as to see exhibitions of new caps and new +workbags for her mother and herself; and Jane's offences rose again. +They had music; Emma was obliged to play; and the thanks and praise +which necessarily followed appeared to her an affectation of candour, an +air of greatness, meaning only to shew off in higher style her own very +superior performance. She was, besides, which was the worst of all, so +cold, so cautious! There was no getting at her real opinion. Wrapt up in +a cloak of politeness, she seemed determined to hazard nothing. She was +disgustingly, was suspiciously reserved. + +If any thing could be more, where all was most, she was more reserved on +the subject of Weymouth and the Dixons than any thing. She seemed bent +on giving no real insight into Mr. Dixon's character, or her own value +for his company, or opinion of the suitableness of the match. It was all +general approbation and smoothness; nothing delineated or distinguished. +It did her no service however. Her caution was thrown away. Emma saw +its artifice, and returned to her first surmises. There probably _was_ +something more to conceal than her own preference; Mr. Dixon, perhaps, +had been very near changing one friend for the other, or been fixed only +to Miss Campbell, for the sake of the future twelve thousand pounds. + +The like reserve prevailed on other topics. She and Mr. Frank Churchill +had been at Weymouth at the same time. It was known that they were a +little acquainted; but not a syllable of real information could Emma +procure as to what he truly was. "Was he handsome?"--"She believed +he was reckoned a very fine young man." "Was he agreeable?"--"He was +generally thought so." "Did he appear a sensible young man; a young +man of information?"--"At a watering-place, or in a common London +acquaintance, it was difficult to decide on such points. Manners were +all that could be safely judged of, under a much longer knowledge than +they had yet had of Mr. Churchill. She believed every body found his +manners pleasing." Emma could not forgive her. + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Emma could not forgive her;--but as neither provocation nor resentment +were discerned by Mr. Knightley, who had been of the party, and had +seen only proper attention and pleasing behaviour on each side, he was +expressing the next morning, being at Hartfield again on business with +Mr. Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole; not so openly as he might +have done had her father been out of the room, but speaking plain enough +to be very intelligible to Emma. He had been used to think her unjust to +Jane, and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement. + +"A very pleasant evening," he began, as soon as Mr. Woodhouse had been +talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers +swept away;--"particularly pleasant. You and Miss Fairfax gave us some +very good music. I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting +at one's ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women; +sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation. I am sure Miss +Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant, Emma. You left nothing +undone. I was glad you made her play so much, for having no instrument +at her grandmother's, it must have been a real indulgence." + +"I am happy you approved," said Emma, smiling; "but I hope I am not +often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield." + +"No, my dear," said her father instantly; "_that_ I am sure you are not. +There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are. If any thing, +you are too attentive. The muffin last night--if it had been handed +round once, I think it would have been enough." + +"No," said Mr. Knightley, nearly at the same time; "you are not often +deficient; not often deficient either in manner or comprehension. I +think you understand me, therefore." + +An arch look expressed--"I understand you well enough;" but she said +only, "Miss Fairfax is reserved." + +"I always told you she was--a little; but you will soon overcome all +that part of her reserve which ought to be overcome, all that has its +foundation in diffidence. What arises from discretion must be honoured." + +"You think her diffident. I do not see it." + +"My dear Emma," said he, moving from his chair into one close by her, +"you are not going to tell me, I hope, that you had not a pleasant +evening." + +"Oh! no; I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions; and +amused to think how little information I obtained." + +"I am disappointed," was his only answer. + +"I hope every body had a pleasant evening," said Mr. Woodhouse, in his +quiet way. "I had. Once, I felt the fire rather too much; but then I +moved back my chair a little, a very little, and it did not disturb me. +Miss Bates was very chatty and good-humoured, as she always is, though +she speaks rather too quick. However, she is very agreeable, and Mrs. +Bates too, in a different way. I like old friends; and Miss Jane +Fairfax is a very pretty sort of young lady, a very pretty and a +very well-behaved young lady indeed. She must have found the evening +agreeable, Mr. Knightley, because she had Emma." + +"True, sir; and Emma, because she had Miss Fairfax." + +Emma saw his anxiety, and wishing to appease it, at least for the +present, said, and with a sincerity which no one could question-- + +"She is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep one's eyes from. +I am always watching her to admire; and I do pity her from my heart." + +Mr. Knightley looked as if he were more gratified than he cared to +express; and before he could make any reply, Mr. Woodhouse, whose +thoughts were on the Bates's, said-- + +"It is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined! a +great pity indeed! and I have often wished--but it is so little one can +venture to do--small, trifling presents, of any thing uncommon--Now we +have killed a porker, and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg; +it is very small and delicate--Hartfield pork is not like any other +pork--but still it is pork--and, my dear Emma, unless one could be sure +of their making it into steaks, nicely fried, as ours are fried, without +the smallest grease, and not roast it, for no stomach can bear roast +pork--I think we had better send the leg--do not you think so, my dear?" + +"My dear papa, I sent the whole hind-quarter. I knew you would wish it. +There will be the leg to be salted, you know, which is so very nice, and +the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like." + +"That's right, my dear, very right. I had not thought of it before, but +that is the best way. They must not over-salt the leg; and then, if it +is not over-salted, and if it is very thoroughly boiled, just as Serle +boils ours, and eaten very moderately of, with a boiled turnip, and a +little carrot or parsnip, I do not consider it unwholesome." + +"Emma," said Mr. Knightley presently, "I have a piece of news for you. +You like news--and I heard an article in my way hither that I think will +interest you." + +"News! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it?--why do you smile +so?--where did you hear it?--at Randalls?" + +He had time only to say, + +"No, not at Randalls; I have not been near Randalls," when the door was +thrown open, and Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax walked into the room. Full +of thanks, and full of news, Miss Bates knew not which to give quickest. +Mr. Knightley soon saw that he had lost his moment, and that not another +syllable of communication could rest with him. + +"Oh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? My dear Miss Woodhouse--I +come quite over-powered. Such a beautiful hind-quarter of pork! You +are too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr. Elton is going to be +married." + +Emma had not had time even to think of Mr. Elton, and she was so +completely surprized that she could not avoid a little start, and a +little blush, at the sound. + +"There is my news:--I thought it would interest you," said Mr. +Knightley, with a smile which implied a conviction of some part of what +had passed between them. + +"But where could _you_ hear it?" cried Miss Bates. "Where could you +possibly hear it, Mr. Knightley? For it is not five minutes since I +received Mrs. Cole's note--no, it cannot be more than five--or at least +ten--for I had got my bonnet and spencer on, just ready to come out--I +was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork--Jane was +standing in the passage--were not you, Jane?--for my mother was so +afraid that we had not any salting-pan large enough. So I said I would +go down and see, and Jane said, 'Shall I go down instead? for I think +you have a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.'--'Oh! +my dear,' said I--well, and just then came the note. A Miss +Hawkins--that's all I know. A Miss Hawkins of Bath. But, Mr. Knightley, +how could you possibly have heard it? for the very moment Mr. Cole told +Mrs. Cole of it, she sat down and wrote to me. A Miss Hawkins--" + +"I was with Mr. Cole on business an hour and a half ago. He had just +read Elton's letter as I was shewn in, and handed it to me directly." + +"Well! that is quite--I suppose there never was a piece of news more +generally interesting. My dear sir, you really are too bountiful. My +mother desires her very best compliments and regards, and a thousand +thanks, and says you really quite oppress her." + +"We consider our Hartfield pork," replied Mr. Woodhouse--"indeed it +certainly is, so very superior to all other pork, that Emma and I cannot +have a greater pleasure than--" + +"Oh! my dear sir, as my mother says, our friends are only too good +to us. If ever there were people who, without having great wealth +themselves, had every thing they could wish for, I am sure it is us. +We may well say that 'our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.' Well, Mr. +Knightley, and so you actually saw the letter; well--" + +"It was short--merely to announce--but cheerful, exulting, of course."-- +Here was a sly glance at Emma. "He had been so fortunate as to--I forget +the precise words--one has no business to remember them. The information +was, as you state, that he was going to be married to a Miss Hawkins. By +his style, I should imagine it just settled." + +"Mr. Elton going to be married!" said Emma, as soon as she could speak. +"He will have every body's wishes for his happiness." + +"He is very young to settle," was Mr. Woodhouse's observation. "He had +better not be in a hurry. He seemed to me very well off as he was. We +were always glad to see him at Hartfield." + +"A new neighbour for us all, Miss Woodhouse!" said Miss Bates, joyfully; +"my mother is so pleased!--she says she cannot bear to have the poor old +Vicarage without a mistress. This is great news, indeed. Jane, you have +never seen Mr. Elton!--no wonder that you have such a curiosity to see +him." + +Jane's curiosity did not appear of that absorbing nature as wholly to +occupy her. + +"No--I have never seen Mr. Elton," she replied, starting on this appeal; +"is he--is he a tall man?" + +"Who shall answer that question?" cried Emma. "My father would say +'yes,' Mr. Knightley 'no;' and Miss Bates and I that he is just the +happy medium. When you have been here a little longer, Miss Fairfax, +you will understand that Mr. Elton is the standard of perfection in +Highbury, both in person and mind." + +"Very true, Miss Woodhouse, so she will. He is the very best young +man--But, my dear Jane, if you remember, I told you yesterday he +was precisely the height of Mr. Perry. Miss Hawkins,--I dare say, an +excellent young woman. His extreme attention to my mother--wanting +her to sit in the vicarage pew, that she might hear the better, for my +mother is a little deaf, you know--it is not much, but she does not +hear quite quick. Jane says that Colonel Campbell is a little deaf. He +fancied bathing might be good for it--the warm bath--but she says it did +him no lasting benefit. Colonel Campbell, you know, is quite our angel. +And Mr. Dixon seems a very charming young man, quite worthy of him. It +is such a happiness when good people get together--and they always do. +Now, here will be Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins; and there are the Coles, +such very good people; and the Perrys--I suppose there never was a +happier or a better couple than Mr. and Mrs. Perry. I say, sir," turning +to Mr. Woodhouse, "I think there are few places with such society as +Highbury. I always say, we are quite blessed in our neighbours.--My dear +sir, if there is one thing my mother loves better than another, it is +pork--a roast loin of pork--" + +"As to who, or what Miss Hawkins is, or how long he has been acquainted +with her," said Emma, "nothing I suppose can be known. One feels that it +cannot be a very long acquaintance. He has been gone only four weeks." + +Nobody had any information to give; and, after a few more wonderings, +Emma said, + +"You are silent, Miss Fairfax--but I hope you mean to take an interest +in this news. You, who have been hearing and seeing so much of late +on these subjects, who must have been so deep in the business on Miss +Campbell's account--we shall not excuse your being indifferent about Mr. +Elton and Miss Hawkins." + +"When I have seen Mr. Elton," replied Jane, "I dare say I shall be +interested--but I believe it requires _that_ with me. And as it is some +months since Miss Campbell married, the impression may be a little worn +off." + +"Yes, he has been gone just four weeks, as you observe, Miss Woodhouse," +said Miss Bates, "four weeks yesterday.--A Miss Hawkins!--Well, I had +always rather fancied it would be some young lady hereabouts; not that +I ever--Mrs. Cole once whispered to me--but I immediately said, 'No, Mr. +Elton is a most worthy young man--but'--In short, I do not think I am +particularly quick at those sort of discoveries. I do not pretend to it. +What is before me, I see. At the same time, nobody could wonder if +Mr. Elton should have aspired--Miss Woodhouse lets me chatter on, so +good-humouredly. She knows I would not offend for the world. How does +Miss Smith do? She seems quite recovered now. Have you heard from Mrs. +John Knightley lately? Oh! those dear little children. Jane, do you +know I always fancy Mr. Dixon like Mr. John Knightley. I mean in +person--tall, and with that sort of look--and not very talkative." + +"Quite wrong, my dear aunt; there is no likeness at all." + +"Very odd! but one never does form a just idea of any body beforehand. +One takes up a notion, and runs away with it. Mr. Dixon, you say, is +not, strictly speaking, handsome?" + +"Handsome! Oh! no--far from it--certainly plain. I told you he was +plain." + +"My dear, you said that Miss Campbell would not allow him to be plain, +and that you yourself--" + +"Oh! as for me, my judgment is worth nothing. Where I have a regard, +I always think a person well-looking. But I gave what I believed the +general opinion, when I called him plain." + +"Well, my dear Jane, I believe we must be running away. The weather does +not look well, and grandmama will be uneasy. You are too obliging, my +dear Miss Woodhouse; but we really must take leave. This has been a most +agreeable piece of news indeed. I shall just go round by Mrs. Cole's; +but I shall not stop three minutes: and, Jane, you had better go home +directly--I would not have you out in a shower!--We think she is the +better for Highbury already. Thank you, we do indeed. I shall not +attempt calling on Mrs. Goddard, for I really do not think she cares for +any thing but _boiled_ pork: when we dress the leg it will be another +thing. Good morning to you, my dear sir. Oh! Mr. Knightley is coming +too. Well, that is so very!--I am sure if Jane is tired, you will be +so kind as to give her your arm.--Mr. Elton, and Miss Hawkins!--Good +morning to you." + +Emma, alone with her father, had half her attention wanted by him while +he lamented that young people would be in such a hurry to marry--and to +marry strangers too--and the other half she could give to her own view +of the subject. It was to herself an amusing and a very welcome piece +of news, as proving that Mr. Elton could not have suffered long; but she +was sorry for Harriet: Harriet must feel it--and all that she could hope +was, by giving the first information herself, to save her from hearing +it abruptly from others. It was now about the time that she was likely +to call. If she were to meet Miss Bates in her way!--and upon its +beginning to rain, Emma was obliged to expect that the weather would +be detaining her at Mrs. Goddard's, and that the intelligence would +undoubtedly rush upon her without preparation. + +The shower was heavy, but short; and it had not been over five minutes, +when in came Harriet, with just the heated, agitated look which +hurrying thither with a full heart was likely to give; and the "Oh! Miss +Woodhouse, what do you think has happened!" which instantly burst forth, +had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation. As the blow was +given, Emma felt that she could not now shew greater kindness than in +listening; and Harriet, unchecked, ran eagerly through what she had to +tell. "She had set out from Mrs. Goddard's half an hour ago--she had +been afraid it would rain--she had been afraid it would pour down +every moment--but she thought she might get to Hartfield first--she +had hurried on as fast as possible; but then, as she was passing by the +house where a young woman was making up a gown for her, she thought she +would just step in and see how it went on; and though she did not seem +to stay half a moment there, soon after she came out it began to rain, +and she did not know what to do; so she ran on directly, as fast as +she could, and took shelter at Ford's."--Ford's was the principal +woollen-draper, linen-draper, and haberdasher's shop united; the shop +first in size and fashion in the place.--"And so, there she had +set, without an idea of any thing in the world, full ten minutes, +perhaps--when, all of a sudden, who should come in--to be sure it was +so very odd!--but they always dealt at Ford's--who should come in, but +Elizabeth Martin and her brother!--Dear Miss Woodhouse! only think. I +thought I should have fainted. I did not know what to do. I was sitting +near the door--Elizabeth saw me directly; but he did not; he was busy +with the umbrella. I am sure she saw me, but she looked away directly, +and took no notice; and they both went to quite the farther end of the +shop; and I kept sitting near the door!--Oh! dear; I was so miserable! +I am sure I must have been as white as my gown. I could not go away +you know, because of the rain; but I did so wish myself anywhere in the +world but there.--Oh! dear, Miss Woodhouse--well, at last, I fancy, he +looked round and saw me; for instead of going on with her buyings, they +began whispering to one another. I am sure they were talking of me; and +I could not help thinking that he was persuading her to speak to me--(do +you think he was, Miss Woodhouse?)--for presently she came forward--came +quite up to me, and asked me how I did, and seemed ready to shake hands, +if I would. She did not do any of it in the same way that she used; I +could see she was altered; but, however, she seemed to _try_ to be very +friendly, and we shook hands, and stood talking some time; but I know no +more what I said--I was in such a tremble!--I remember she said she +was sorry we never met now; which I thought almost too kind! Dear, Miss +Woodhouse, I was absolutely miserable! By that time, it was beginning to +hold up, and I was determined that nothing should stop me from getting +away--and then--only think!--I found he was coming up towards me +too--slowly you know, and as if he did not quite know what to do; and +so he came and spoke, and I answered--and I stood for a minute, feeling +dreadfully, you know, one can't tell how; and then I took courage, and +said it did not rain, and I must go; and so off I set; and I had not got +three yards from the door, when he came after me, only to say, if I was +going to Hartfield, he thought I had much better go round by Mr. Cole's +stables, for I should find the near way quite floated by this rain. Oh! +dear, I thought it would have been the death of me! So I said, I was +very much obliged to him: you know I could not do less; and then he went +back to Elizabeth, and I came round by the stables--I believe I did--but +I hardly knew where I was, or any thing about it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, +I would rather done any thing than have it happen: and yet, you know, +there was a sort of satisfaction in seeing him behave so pleasantly and +so kindly. And Elizabeth, too. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, do talk to me and +make me comfortable again." + +Very sincerely did Emma wish to do so; but it was not immediately in +her power. She was obliged to stop and think. She was not thoroughly +comfortable herself. The young man's conduct, and his sister's, seemed +the result of real feeling, and she could not but pity them. As Harriet +described it, there had been an interesting mixture of wounded affection +and genuine delicacy in their behaviour. But she had believed them to be +well-meaning, worthy people before; and what difference did this make +in the evils of the connexion? It was folly to be disturbed by it. Of +course, he must be sorry to lose her--they must be all sorry. Ambition, +as well as love, had probably been mortified. They might all have hoped +to rise by Harriet's acquaintance: and besides, what was the value of +Harriet's description?--So easily pleased--so little discerning;--what +signified her praise? + +She exerted herself, and did try to make her comfortable, by considering +all that had passed as a mere trifle, and quite unworthy of being dwelt +on, + +"It might be distressing, for the moment," said she; "but you seem to +have behaved extremely well; and it is over--and may never--can never, +as a first meeting, occur again, and therefore you need not think about +it." + +Harriet said, "very true," and she "would not think about it;" but still +she talked of it--still she could talk of nothing else; and Emma, at +last, in order to put the Martins out of her head, was obliged to hurry +on the news, which she had meant to give with so much tender caution; +hardly knowing herself whether to rejoice or be angry, ashamed or only +amused, at such a state of mind in poor Harriet--such a conclusion of +Mr. Elton's importance with her! + +Mr. Elton's rights, however, gradually revived. Though she did not feel +the first intelligence as she might have done the day before, or an hour +before, its interest soon increased; and before their first conversation +was over, she had talked herself into all the sensations of curiosity, +wonder and regret, pain and pleasure, as to this fortunate Miss Hawkins, +which could conduce to place the Martins under proper subordination in +her fancy. + +Emma learned to be rather glad that there had been such a meeting. It +had been serviceable in deadening the first shock, without retaining any +influence to alarm. As Harriet now lived, the Martins could not get +at her, without seeking her, where hitherto they had wanted either the +courage or the condescension to seek her; for since her refusal of the +brother, the sisters never had been at Mrs. Goddard's; and a twelvemonth +might pass without their being thrown together again, with any +necessity, or even any power of speech. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting +situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of +being kindly spoken of. + +A week had not passed since Miss Hawkins's name was first mentioned in +Highbury, before she was, by some means or other, discovered to have +every recommendation of person and mind; to be handsome, elegant, highly +accomplished, and perfectly amiable: and when Mr. Elton himself arrived +to triumph in his happy prospects, and circulate the fame of her merits, +there was very little more for him to do, than to tell her Christian +name, and say whose music she principally played. + +Mr. Elton returned, a very happy man. He had gone away rejected and +mortified--disappointed in a very sanguine hope, after a series of what +appeared to him strong encouragement; and not only losing the right +lady, but finding himself debased to the level of a very wrong one. He +had gone away deeply offended--he came back engaged to another--and +to another as superior, of course, to the first, as under such +circumstances what is gained always is to what is lost. He came back gay +and self-satisfied, eager and busy, caring nothing for Miss Woodhouse, +and defying Miss Smith. + +The charming Augusta Hawkins, in addition to all the usual advantages of +perfect beauty and merit, was in possession of an independent fortune, +of so many thousands as would always be called ten; a point of some +dignity, as well as some convenience: the story told well; he had not +thrown himself away--he had gained a woman of 10,000 l. or thereabouts; +and he had gained her with such delightful rapidity--the first hour of +introduction had been so very soon followed by distinguishing notice; +the history which he had to give Mrs. Cole of the rise and progress +of the affair was so glorious--the steps so quick, from the accidental +rencontre, to the dinner at Mr. Green's, and the party at Mrs. +Brown's--smiles and blushes rising in importance--with consciousness and +agitation richly scattered--the lady had been so easily impressed--so +sweetly disposed--had in short, to use a most intelligible phrase, +been so very ready to have him, that vanity and prudence were equally +contented. + +He had caught both substance and shadow--both fortune and affection, and +was just the happy man he ought to be; talking only of himself and +his own concerns--expecting to be congratulated--ready to be laughed +at--and, with cordial, fearless smiles, now addressing all the young +ladies of the place, to whom, a few weeks ago, he would have been more +cautiously gallant. + +The wedding was no distant event, as the parties had only themselves to +please, and nothing but the necessary preparations to wait for; and +when he set out for Bath again, there was a general expectation, which +a certain glance of Mrs. Cole's did not seem to contradict, that when he +next entered Highbury he would bring his bride. + +During his present short stay, Emma had barely seen him; but just enough +to feel that the first meeting was over, and to give her the impression +of his not being improved by the mixture of pique and pretension, now +spread over his air. She was, in fact, beginning very much to wonder +that she had ever thought him pleasing at all; and his sight was so +inseparably connected with some very disagreeable feelings, that, +except in a moral light, as a penance, a lesson, a source of profitable +humiliation to her own mind, she would have been thankful to be assured +of never seeing him again. She wished him very well; but he gave +her pain, and his welfare twenty miles off would administer most +satisfaction. + +The pain of his continued residence in Highbury, however, must +certainly be lessened by his marriage. Many vain solicitudes would be +prevented--many awkwardnesses smoothed by it. A _Mrs._ _Elton_ would +be an excuse for any change of intercourse; former intimacy might sink +without remark. It would be almost beginning their life of civility +again. + +Of the lady, individually, Emma thought very little. She was good enough +for Mr. Elton, no doubt; accomplished enough for Highbury--handsome +enough--to look plain, probably, by Harriet's side. As to connexion, +there Emma was perfectly easy; persuaded, that after all his own vaunted +claims and disdain of Harriet, he had done nothing. On that article, +truth seemed attainable. _What_ she was, must be uncertain; but _who_ +she was, might be found out; and setting aside the 10,000 l., it did not +appear that she was at all Harriet's superior. She brought no name, no +blood, no alliance. Miss Hawkins was the youngest of the two daughters +of a Bristol--merchant, of course, he must be called; but, as the whole +of the profits of his mercantile life appeared so very moderate, it +was not unfair to guess the dignity of his line of trade had been very +moderate also. Part of every winter she had been used to spend in Bath; +but Bristol was her home, the very heart of Bristol; for though the +father and mother had died some years ago, an uncle remained--in the law +line--nothing more distinctly honourable was hazarded of him, than +that he was in the law line; and with him the daughter had lived. Emma +guessed him to be the drudge of some attorney, and too stupid to rise. +And all the grandeur of the connexion seemed dependent on the elder +sister, who was _very_ _well_ _married_, to a gentleman in a _great_ +_way_, near Bristol, who kept two carriages! That was the wind-up of the +history; that was the glory of Miss Hawkins. + +Could she but have given Harriet her feelings about it all! She had +talked her into love; but, alas! she was not so easily to be talked out +of it. The charm of an object to occupy the many vacancies of Harriet's +mind was not to be talked away. He might be superseded by another; he +certainly would indeed; nothing could be clearer; even a Robert Martin +would have been sufficient; but nothing else, she feared, would cure +her. Harriet was one of those, who, having once begun, would be always +in love. And now, poor girl! she was considerably worse from this +reappearance of Mr. Elton. She was always having a glimpse of him +somewhere or other. Emma saw him only once; but two or three times every +day Harriet was sure _just_ to meet with him, or _just_ to miss him, +_just_ to hear his voice, or see his shoulder, _just_ to have something +occur to preserve him in her fancy, in all the favouring warmth of +surprize and conjecture. She was, moreover, perpetually hearing about +him; for, excepting when at Hartfield, she was always among those who +saw no fault in Mr. Elton, and found nothing so interesting as +the discussion of his concerns; and every report, therefore, every +guess--all that had already occurred, all that might occur in the +arrangement of his affairs, comprehending income, servants, and +furniture, was continually in agitation around her. Her regard was +receiving strength by invariable praise of him, and her regrets kept +alive, and feelings irritated by ceaseless repetitions of Miss +Hawkins's happiness, and continual observation of, how much he seemed +attached!--his air as he walked by the house--the very sitting of his +hat, being all in proof of how much he was in love! + +Had it been allowable entertainment, had there been no pain to her +friend, or reproach to herself, in the waverings of Harriet's mind, +Emma would have been amused by its variations. Sometimes Mr. Elton +predominated, sometimes the Martins; and each was occasionally useful +as a check to the other. Mr. Elton's engagement had been the cure of +the agitation of meeting Mr. Martin. The unhappiness produced by the +knowledge of that engagement had been a little put aside by Elizabeth +Martin's calling at Mrs. Goddard's a few days afterwards. Harriet had +not been at home; but a note had been prepared and left for her, written +in the very style to touch; a small mixture of reproach, with a great +deal of kindness; and till Mr. Elton himself appeared, she had been much +occupied by it, continually pondering over what could be done in return, +and wishing to do more than she dared to confess. But Mr. Elton, in +person, had driven away all such cares. While he staid, the Martins were +forgotten; and on the very morning of his setting off for Bath again, +Emma, to dissipate some of the distress it occasioned, judged it best +for her to return Elizabeth Martin's visit. + +How that visit was to be acknowledged--what would be necessary--and +what might be safest, had been a point of some doubtful consideration. +Absolute neglect of the mother and sisters, when invited to come, would +be ingratitude. It must not be: and yet the danger of a renewal of the +acquaintance--! + +After much thinking, she could determine on nothing better, than +Harriet's returning the visit; but in a way that, if they had +understanding, should convince them that it was to be only a formal +acquaintance. She meant to take her in the carriage, leave her at the +Abbey Mill, while she drove a little farther, and call for her again +so soon, as to allow no time for insidious applications or dangerous +recurrences to the past, and give the most decided proof of what degree +of intimacy was chosen for the future. + +She could think of nothing better: and though there was something in it +which her own heart could not approve--something of ingratitude, merely +glossed over--it must be done, or what would become of Harriet? + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Small heart had Harriet for visiting. Only half an hour before her +friend called for her at Mrs. Goddard's, her evil stars had led her +to the very spot where, at that moment, a trunk, directed to _The Rev. +Philip Elton, White-Hart, Bath_, was to be seen under the operation of +being lifted into the butcher's cart, which was to convey it to where +the coaches past; and every thing in this world, excepting that trunk +and the direction, was consequently a blank. + +She went, however; and when they reached the farm, and she was to be +put down, at the end of the broad, neat gravel walk, which led between +espalier apple-trees to the front door, the sight of every thing which +had given her so much pleasure the autumn before, was beginning to +revive a little local agitation; and when they parted, Emma observed her +to be looking around with a sort of fearful curiosity, which determined +her not to allow the visit to exceed the proposed quarter of an hour. +She went on herself, to give that portion of time to an old servant who +was married, and settled in Donwell. + +The quarter of an hour brought her punctually to the white gate again; +and Miss Smith receiving her summons, was with her without delay, and +unattended by any alarming young man. She came solitarily down the +gravel walk--a Miss Martin just appearing at the door, and parting with +her seemingly with ceremonious civility. + +Harriet could not very soon give an intelligible account. She was +feeling too much; but at last Emma collected from her enough to +understand the sort of meeting, and the sort of pain it was creating. +She had seen only Mrs. Martin and the two girls. They had received her +doubtingly, if not coolly; and nothing beyond the merest commonplace had +been talked almost all the time--till just at last, when Mrs. Martin's +saying, all of a sudden, that she thought Miss Smith was grown, had +brought on a more interesting subject, and a warmer manner. In that very +room she had been measured last September, with her two friends. There +were the pencilled marks and memorandums on the wainscot by the window. +_He_ had done it. They all seemed to remember the day, the hour, +the party, the occasion--to feel the same consciousness, the same +regrets--to be ready to return to the same good understanding; and they +were just growing again like themselves, (Harriet, as Emma must suspect, +as ready as the best of them to be cordial and happy,) when the carriage +reappeared, and all was over. The style of the visit, and the shortness +of it, were then felt to be decisive. Fourteen minutes to be given +to those with whom she had thankfully passed six weeks not six months +ago!--Emma could not but picture it all, and feel how justly they might +resent, how naturally Harriet must suffer. It was a bad business. She +would have given a great deal, or endured a great deal, to have had +the Martins in a higher rank of life. They were so deserving, that a +_little_ higher should have been enough: but as it was, how could she +have done otherwise?--Impossible!--She could not repent. They must be +separated; but there was a great deal of pain in the process--so much +to herself at this time, that she soon felt the necessity of a little +consolation, and resolved on going home by way of Randalls to +procure it. Her mind was quite sick of Mr. Elton and the Martins. The +refreshment of Randalls was absolutely necessary. + +It was a good scheme; but on driving to the door they heard that neither +"master nor mistress was at home;" they had both been out some time; the +man believed they were gone to Hartfield. + +"This is too bad," cried Emma, as they turned away. "And now we shall +just miss them; too provoking!--I do not know when I have been so +disappointed." And she leaned back in the corner, to indulge her +murmurs, or to reason them away; probably a little of both--such being +the commonest process of a not ill-disposed mind. Presently the carriage +stopt; she looked up; it was stopt by Mr. and Mrs. Weston, who were +standing to speak to her. There was instant pleasure in the sight of +them, and still greater pleasure was conveyed in sound--for Mr. Weston +immediately accosted her with, + +"How d'ye do?--how d'ye do?--We have been sitting with your father--glad +to see him so well. Frank comes to-morrow--I had a letter this +morning--we see him to-morrow by dinner-time to a certainty--he is at +Oxford to-day, and he comes for a whole fortnight; I knew it would be +so. If he had come at Christmas he could not have staid three days; I +was always glad he did not come at Christmas; now we are going to have +just the right weather for him, fine, dry, settled weather. We shall +enjoy him completely; every thing has turned out exactly as we could +wish." + +There was no resisting such news, no possibility of avoiding the +influence of such a happy face as Mr. Weston's, confirmed as it all was +by the words and the countenance of his wife, fewer and quieter, but not +less to the purpose. To know that _she_ thought his coming certain was +enough to make Emma consider it so, and sincerely did she rejoice in +their joy. It was a most delightful reanimation of exhausted spirits. +The worn-out past was sunk in the freshness of what was coming; and in +the rapidity of half a moment's thought, she hoped Mr. Elton would now +be talked of no more. + +Mr. Weston gave her the history of the engagements at Enscombe, which +allowed his son to answer for having an entire fortnight at his command, +as well as the route and the method of his journey; and she listened, +and smiled, and congratulated. + +"I shall soon bring him over to Hartfield," said he, at the conclusion. + +Emma could imagine she saw a touch of the arm at this speech, from his +wife. + +"We had better move on, Mr. Weston," said she, "we are detaining the +girls." + +"Well, well, I am ready;"--and turning again to Emma, "but you must +not be expecting such a _very_ fine young man; you have only +had _my_ account you know; I dare say he is really nothing +extraordinary:"--though his own sparkling eyes at the moment were +speaking a very different conviction. + +Emma could look perfectly unconscious and innocent, and answer in a +manner that appropriated nothing. + +"Think of me to-morrow, my dear Emma, about four o'clock," was Mrs. +Weston's parting injunction; spoken with some anxiety, and meant only +for her. + +"Four o'clock!--depend upon it he will be here by three," was Mr. +Weston's quick amendment; and so ended a most satisfactory meeting. +Emma's spirits were mounted quite up to happiness; every thing wore +a different air; James and his horses seemed not half so sluggish as +before. When she looked at the hedges, she thought the elder at least +must soon be coming out; and when she turned round to Harriet, she saw +something like a look of spring, a tender smile even there. + +"Will Mr. Frank Churchill pass through Bath as well as Oxford?"--was a +question, however, which did not augur much. + +But neither geography nor tranquillity could come all at once, and Emma +was now in a humour to resolve that they should both come in time. + +The morning of the interesting day arrived, and Mrs. Weston's faithful +pupil did not forget either at ten, or eleven, or twelve o'clock, that +she was to think of her at four. + +"My dear, dear anxious friend,"--said she, in mental soliloquy, while +walking downstairs from her own room, "always overcareful for every +body's comfort but your own; I see you now in all your little fidgets, +going again and again into his room, to be sure that all is right." +The clock struck twelve as she passed through the hall. "'Tis twelve; +I shall not forget to think of you four hours hence; and by this +time to-morrow, perhaps, or a little later, I may be thinking of the +possibility of their all calling here. I am sure they will bring him +soon." + +She opened the parlour door, and saw two gentlemen sitting with her +father--Mr. Weston and his son. They had been arrived only a few +minutes, and Mr. Weston had scarcely finished his explanation of Frank's +being a day before his time, and her father was yet in the midst of his +very civil welcome and congratulations, when she appeared, to have her +share of surprize, introduction, and pleasure. + +The Frank Churchill so long talked of, so high in interest, was actually +before her--he was presented to her, and she did not think too much had +been said in his praise; he was a _very_ good looking young man; height, +air, address, all were unexceptionable, and his countenance had a great +deal of the spirit and liveliness of his father's; he looked quick and +sensible. She felt immediately that she should like him; and there was +a well-bred ease of manner, and a readiness to talk, which convinced her +that he came intending to be acquainted with her, and that acquainted +they soon must be. + +He had reached Randalls the evening before. She was pleased with the +eagerness to arrive which had made him alter his plan, and travel +earlier, later, and quicker, that he might gain half a day. + +"I told you yesterday," cried Mr. Weston with exultation, "I told you +all that he would be here before the time named. I remembered what I +used to do myself. One cannot creep upon a journey; one cannot help +getting on faster than one has planned; and the pleasure of coming in +upon one's friends before the look-out begins, is worth a great deal +more than any little exertion it needs." + +"It is a great pleasure where one can indulge in it," said the young +man, "though there are not many houses that I should presume on so far; +but in coming _home_ I felt I might do any thing." + +The word _home_ made his father look on him with fresh complacency. +Emma was directly sure that he knew how to make himself agreeable; the +conviction was strengthened by what followed. He was very much pleased +with Randalls, thought it a most admirably arranged house, would hardly +allow it even to be very small, admired the situation, the walk to +Highbury, Highbury itself, Hartfield still more, and professed himself +to have always felt the sort of interest in the country which none but +one's _own_ country gives, and the greatest curiosity to visit it. That +he should never have been able to indulge so amiable a feeling before, +passed suspiciously through Emma's brain; but still, if it were a +falsehood, it was a pleasant one, and pleasantly handled. His manner had +no air of study or exaggeration. He did really look and speak as if in a +state of no common enjoyment. + +Their subjects in general were such as belong to an opening +acquaintance. On his side were the inquiries,--"Was she a +horsewoman?--Pleasant rides?--Pleasant walks?--Had they a large +neighbourhood?--Highbury, perhaps, afforded society enough?--There were +several very pretty houses in and about it.--Balls--had they balls?--Was +it a musical society?" + +But when satisfied on all these points, and their acquaintance +proportionably advanced, he contrived to find an opportunity, while +their two fathers were engaged with each other, of introducing his +mother-in-law, and speaking of her with so much handsome praise, so much +warm admiration, so much gratitude for the happiness she secured to his +father, and her very kind reception of himself, as was an additional +proof of his knowing how to please--and of his certainly thinking it +worth while to try to please her. He did not advance a word of praise +beyond what she knew to be thoroughly deserved by Mrs. Weston; but, +undoubtedly he could know very little of the matter. He understood +what would be welcome; he could be sure of little else. "His father's +marriage," he said, "had been the wisest measure, every friend must +rejoice in it; and the family from whom he had received such a blessing +must be ever considered as having conferred the highest obligation on +him." + +He got as near as he could to thanking her for Miss Taylor's merits, +without seeming quite to forget that in the common course of things it +was to be rather supposed that Miss Taylor had formed Miss Woodhouse's +character, than Miss Woodhouse Miss Taylor's. And at last, as if +resolved to qualify his opinion completely for travelling round to its +object, he wound it all up with astonishment at the youth and beauty of +her person. + +"Elegant, agreeable manners, I was prepared for," said he; "but I +confess that, considering every thing, I had not expected more than a +very tolerably well-looking woman of a certain age; I did not know that +I was to find a pretty young woman in Mrs. Weston." + +"You cannot see too much perfection in Mrs. Weston for my feelings," +said Emma; "were you to guess her to be _eighteen_, I should listen with +pleasure; but _she_ would be ready to quarrel with you for using such +words. Don't let her imagine that you have spoken of her as a pretty +young woman." + +"I hope I should know better," he replied; "no, depend upon it, (with a +gallant bow,) that in addressing Mrs. Weston I should understand whom +I might praise without any danger of being thought extravagant in my +terms." + +Emma wondered whether the same suspicion of what might be expected from +their knowing each other, which had taken strong possession of her mind, +had ever crossed his; and whether his compliments were to be considered +as marks of acquiescence, or proofs of defiance. She must see more +of him to understand his ways; at present she only felt they were +agreeable. + +She had no doubt of what Mr. Weston was often thinking about. His quick +eye she detected again and again glancing towards them with a happy +expression; and even, when he might have determined not to look, she was +confident that he was often listening. + +Her own father's perfect exemption from any thought of the kind, the +entire deficiency in him of all such sort of penetration or suspicion, +was a most comfortable circumstance. Happily he was not farther from +approving matrimony than from foreseeing it.--Though always objecting +to every marriage that was arranged, he never suffered beforehand from +the apprehension of any; it seemed as if he could not think so ill of +any two persons' understanding as to suppose they meant to marry till it +were proved against them. She blessed the favouring blindness. He could +now, without the drawback of a single unpleasant surmise, without a +glance forward at any possible treachery in his guest, give way to all +his natural kind-hearted civility in solicitous inquiries after Mr. +Frank Churchill's accommodation on his journey, through the sad evils +of sleeping two nights on the road, and express very genuine unmixed +anxiety to know that he had certainly escaped catching cold--which, +however, he could not allow him to feel quite assured of himself till +after another night. + +A reasonable visit paid, Mr. Weston began to move.--"He must be going. +He had business at the Crown about his hay, and a great many errands for +Mrs. Weston at Ford's, but he need not hurry any body else." His son, +too well bred to hear the hint, rose immediately also, saying, + +"As you are going farther on business, sir, I will take the opportunity +of paying a visit, which must be paid some day or other, and therefore +may as well be paid now. I have the honour of being acquainted with +a neighbour of yours, (turning to Emma,) a lady residing in or near +Highbury; a family of the name of Fairfax. I shall have no difficulty, +I suppose, in finding the house; though Fairfax, I believe, is not +the proper name--I should rather say Barnes, or Bates. Do you know any +family of that name?" + +"To be sure we do," cried his father; "Mrs. Bates--we passed her +house--I saw Miss Bates at the window. True, true, you are acquainted +with Miss Fairfax; I remember you knew her at Weymouth, and a fine girl +she is. Call upon her, by all means." + +"There is no necessity for my calling this morning," said the young man; +"another day would do as well; but there was that degree of acquaintance +at Weymouth which--" + +"Oh! go to-day, go to-day. Do not defer it. What is right to be done +cannot be done too soon. And, besides, I must give you a hint, Frank; +any want of attention to her _here_ should be carefully avoided. You saw +her with the Campbells, when she was the equal of every body she mixed +with, but here she is with a poor old grandmother, who has barely enough +to live on. If you do not call early it will be a slight." + +The son looked convinced. + +"I have heard her speak of the acquaintance," said Emma; "she is a very +elegant young woman." + +He agreed to it, but with so quiet a "Yes," as inclined her almost to +doubt his real concurrence; and yet there must be a very distinct sort +of elegance for the fashionable world, if Jane Fairfax could be thought +only ordinarily gifted with it. + +"If you were never particularly struck by her manners before," said she, +"I think you will to-day. You will see her to advantage; see her and +hear her--no, I am afraid you will not hear her at all, for she has an +aunt who never holds her tongue." + +"You are acquainted with Miss Jane Fairfax, sir, are you?" said Mr. +Woodhouse, always the last to make his way in conversation; "then give +me leave to assure you that you will find her a very agreeable young +lady. She is staying here on a visit to her grandmama and aunt, very +worthy people; I have known them all my life. They will be extremely +glad to see you, I am sure; and one of my servants shall go with you to +shew you the way." + +"My dear sir, upon no account in the world; my father can direct me." + +"But your father is not going so far; he is only going to the Crown, +quite on the other side of the street, and there are a great many +houses; you might be very much at a loss, and it is a very dirty walk, +unless you keep on the footpath; but my coachman can tell you where you +had best cross the street." + +Mr. Frank Churchill still declined it, looking as serious as he could, +and his father gave his hearty support by calling out, "My good friend, +this is quite unnecessary; Frank knows a puddle of water when he sees +it, and as to Mrs. Bates's, he may get there from the Crown in a hop, +step, and jump." + +They were permitted to go alone; and with a cordial nod from one, and a +graceful bow from the other, the two gentlemen took leave. Emma remained +very well pleased with this beginning of the acquaintance, and could now +engage to think of them all at Randalls any hour of the day, with full +confidence in their comfort. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The next morning brought Mr. Frank Churchill again. He came with Mrs. +Weston, to whom and to Highbury he seemed to take very cordially. He had +been sitting with her, it appeared, most companionably at home, till +her usual hour of exercise; and on being desired to chuse their walk, +immediately fixed on Highbury.--"He did not doubt there being very +pleasant walks in every direction, but if left to him, he should always +chuse the same. Highbury, that airy, cheerful, happy-looking Highbury, +would be his constant attraction."--Highbury, with Mrs. Weston, stood +for Hartfield; and she trusted to its bearing the same construction with +him. They walked thither directly. + +Emma had hardly expected them: for Mr. Weston, who had called in for +half a minute, in order to hear that his son was very handsome, knew +nothing of their plans; and it was an agreeable surprize to her, +therefore, to perceive them walking up to the house together, arm in +arm. She was wanting to see him again, and especially to see him in +company with Mrs. Weston, upon his behaviour to whom her opinion of him +was to depend. If he were deficient there, nothing should make amends +for it. But on seeing them together, she became perfectly satisfied. It +was not merely in fine words or hyperbolical compliment that he paid his +duty; nothing could be more proper or pleasing than his whole manner to +her--nothing could more agreeably denote his wish of considering her as +a friend and securing her affection. And there was time enough for Emma +to form a reasonable judgment, as their visit included all the rest of +the morning. They were all three walking about together for an hour +or two--first round the shrubberies of Hartfield, and afterwards +in Highbury. He was delighted with every thing; admired Hartfield +sufficiently for Mr. Woodhouse's ear; and when their going farther was +resolved on, confessed his wish to be made acquainted with the whole +village, and found matter of commendation and interest much oftener than +Emma could have supposed. + +Some of the objects of his curiosity spoke very amiable feelings. He +begged to be shewn the house which his father had lived in so long, and +which had been the home of his father's father; and on recollecting that +an old woman who had nursed him was still living, walked in quest of +her cottage from one end of the street to the other; and though in +some points of pursuit or observation there was no positive merit, they +shewed, altogether, a good-will towards Highbury in general, which must +be very like a merit to those he was with. + +Emma watched and decided, that with such feelings as were now shewn, it +could not be fairly supposed that he had been ever voluntarily absenting +himself; that he had not been acting a part, or making a parade of +insincere professions; and that Mr. Knightley certainly had not done him +justice. + +Their first pause was at the Crown Inn, an inconsiderable house, though +the principal one of the sort, where a couple of pair of post-horses +were kept, more for the convenience of the neighbourhood than from any +run on the road; and his companions had not expected to be detained by +any interest excited there; but in passing it they gave the history of +the large room visibly added; it had been built many years ago for +a ball-room, and while the neighbourhood had been in a particularly +populous, dancing state, had been occasionally used as such;--but such +brilliant days had long passed away, and now the highest purpose for +which it was ever wanted was to accommodate a whist club established +among the gentlemen and half-gentlemen of the place. He was immediately +interested. Its character as a ball-room caught him; and instead of +passing on, he stopt for several minutes at the two superior sashed +windows which were open, to look in and contemplate its capabilities, +and lament that its original purpose should have ceased. He saw no fault +in the room, he would acknowledge none which they suggested. No, it +was long enough, broad enough, handsome enough. It would hold the +very number for comfort. They ought to have balls there at least every +fortnight through the winter. Why had not Miss Woodhouse revived +the former good old days of the room?--She who could do any thing in +Highbury! The want of proper families in the place, and the conviction +that none beyond the place and its immediate environs could be tempted +to attend, were mentioned; but he was not satisfied. He could not be +persuaded that so many good-looking houses as he saw around him, could +not furnish numbers enough for such a meeting; and even when particulars +were given and families described, he was still unwilling to admit that +the inconvenience of such a mixture would be any thing, or that there +would be the smallest difficulty in every body's returning into their +proper place the next morning. He argued like a young man very much bent +on dancing; and Emma was rather surprized to see the constitution of +the Weston prevail so decidedly against the habits of the Churchills. +He seemed to have all the life and spirit, cheerful feelings, and social +inclinations of his father, and nothing of the pride or reserve of +Enscombe. Of pride, indeed, there was, perhaps, scarcely enough; his +indifference to a confusion of rank, bordered too much on inelegance of +mind. He could be no judge, however, of the evil he was holding cheap. +It was but an effusion of lively spirits. + +At last he was persuaded to move on from the front of the Crown; +and being now almost facing the house where the Bateses lodged, Emma +recollected his intended visit the day before, and asked him if he had +paid it. + +"Yes, oh! yes"--he replied; "I was just going to mention it. A very +successful visit:--I saw all the three ladies; and felt very much +obliged to you for your preparatory hint. If the talking aunt had taken +me quite by surprize, it must have been the death of me. As it was, I +was only betrayed into paying a most unreasonable visit. Ten minutes +would have been all that was necessary, perhaps all that was proper; and +I had told my father I should certainly be at home before him--but there +was no getting away, no pause; and, to my utter astonishment, I found, +when he (finding me nowhere else) joined me there at last, that I had +been actually sitting with them very nearly three-quarters of an hour. +The good lady had not given me the possibility of escape before." + +"And how did you think Miss Fairfax looking?" + +"Ill, very ill--that is, if a young lady can ever be allowed to look +ill. But the expression is hardly admissible, Mrs. Weston, is it? Ladies +can never look ill. And, seriously, Miss Fairfax is naturally so +pale, as almost always to give the appearance of ill health.--A most +deplorable want of complexion." + +Emma would not agree to this, and began a warm defence of Miss Fairfax's +complexion. "It was certainly never brilliant, but she would not +allow it to have a sickly hue in general; and there was a softness and +delicacy in her skin which gave peculiar elegance to the character of +her face." He listened with all due deference; acknowledged that he had +heard many people say the same--but yet he must confess, that to him +nothing could make amends for the want of the fine glow of health. Where +features were indifferent, a fine complexion gave beauty to them all; +and where they were good, the effect was--fortunately he need not +attempt to describe what the effect was. + +"Well," said Emma, "there is no disputing about taste.--At least you +admire her except her complexion." + +He shook his head and laughed.--"I cannot separate Miss Fairfax and her +complexion." + +"Did you see her often at Weymouth? Were you often in the same society?" + +At this moment they were approaching Ford's, and he hastily exclaimed, +"Ha! this must be the very shop that every body attends every day of +their lives, as my father informs me. He comes to Highbury himself, he +says, six days out of the seven, and has always business at Ford's. +If it be not inconvenient to you, pray let us go in, that I may prove +myself to belong to the place, to be a true citizen of Highbury. I must +buy something at Ford's. It will be taking out my freedom.--I dare say +they sell gloves." + +"Oh! yes, gloves and every thing. I do admire your patriotism. You will +be adored in Highbury. You were very popular before you came, because +you were Mr. Weston's son--but lay out half a guinea at Ford's, and your +popularity will stand upon your own virtues." + +They went in; and while the sleek, well-tied parcels of "Men's Beavers" +and "York Tan" were bringing down and displaying on the counter, he +said--"But I beg your pardon, Miss Woodhouse, you were speaking to me, +you were saying something at the very moment of this burst of my _amor_ +_patriae_. Do not let me lose it. I assure you the utmost stretch of +public fame would not make me amends for the loss of any happiness in +private life." + +"I merely asked, whether you had known much of Miss Fairfax and her +party at Weymouth." + +"And now that I understand your question, I must pronounce it to be a +very unfair one. It is always the lady's right to decide on the degree +of acquaintance. Miss Fairfax must already have given her account.--I +shall not commit myself by claiming more than she may chuse to allow." + +"Upon my word! you answer as discreetly as she could do herself. But +her account of every thing leaves so much to be guessed, she is so very +reserved, so very unwilling to give the least information about any +body, that I really think you may say what you like of your acquaintance +with her." + +"May I, indeed?--Then I will speak the truth, and nothing suits me so +well. I met her frequently at Weymouth. I had known the Campbells a +little in town; and at Weymouth we were very much in the same set. +Colonel Campbell is a very agreeable man, and Mrs. Campbell a friendly, +warm-hearted woman. I like them all." + +"You know Miss Fairfax's situation in life, I conclude; what she is +destined to be?" + +"Yes--(rather hesitatingly)--I believe I do." + +"You get upon delicate subjects, Emma," said Mrs. Weston smiling; +"remember that I am here.--Mr. Frank Churchill hardly knows what to say +when you speak of Miss Fairfax's situation in life. I will move a little +farther off." + +"I certainly do forget to think of _her_," said Emma, "as having ever +been any thing but my friend and my dearest friend." + +He looked as if he fully understood and honoured such a sentiment. + +When the gloves were bought, and they had quitted the shop again, "Did +you ever hear the young lady we were speaking of, play?" said Frank +Churchill. + +"Ever hear her!" repeated Emma. "You forget how much she belongs to +Highbury. I have heard her every year of our lives since we both began. +She plays charmingly." + +"You think so, do you?--I wanted the opinion of some one who +could really judge. She appeared to me to play well, that is, with +considerable taste, but I know nothing of the matter myself.--I am +excessively fond of music, but without the smallest skill or right +of judging of any body's performance.--I have been used to hear her's +admired; and I remember one proof of her being thought to play well:--a +man, a very musical man, and in love with another woman--engaged to +her--on the point of marriage--would yet never ask that other woman +to sit down to the instrument, if the lady in question could sit down +instead--never seemed to like to hear one if he could hear the other. +That, I thought, in a man of known musical talent, was some proof." + +"Proof indeed!" said Emma, highly amused.--"Mr. Dixon is very musical, +is he? We shall know more about them all, in half an hour, from you, +than Miss Fairfax would have vouchsafed in half a year." + +"Yes, Mr. Dixon and Miss Campbell were the persons; and I thought it a +very strong proof." + +"Certainly--very strong it was; to own the truth, a great deal stronger +than, if _I_ had been Miss Campbell, would have been at all agreeable +to me. I could not excuse a man's having more music than love--more ear +than eye--a more acute sensibility to fine sounds than to my feelings. +How did Miss Campbell appear to like it?" + +"It was her very particular friend, you know." + +"Poor comfort!" said Emma, laughing. "One would rather have a stranger +preferred than one's very particular friend--with a stranger it might +not recur again--but the misery of having a very particular friend +always at hand, to do every thing better than one does oneself!--Poor +Mrs. Dixon! Well, I am glad she is gone to settle in Ireland." + +"You are right. It was not very flattering to Miss Campbell; but she +really did not seem to feel it." + +"So much the better--or so much the worse:--I do not know which. But +be it sweetness or be it stupidity in her--quickness of friendship, or +dulness of feeling--there was one person, I think, who must have felt +it: Miss Fairfax herself. She must have felt the improper and dangerous +distinction." + +"As to that--I do not--" + +"Oh! do not imagine that I expect an account of Miss Fairfax's +sensations from you, or from any body else. They are known to no human +being, I guess, but herself. But if she continued to play whenever she +was asked by Mr. Dixon, one may guess what one chuses." + +"There appeared such a perfectly good understanding among them all--" +he began rather quickly, but checking himself, added, "however, it is +impossible for me to say on what terms they really were--how it might +all be behind the scenes. I can only say that there was smoothness +outwardly. But you, who have known Miss Fairfax from a child, must be +a better judge of her character, and of how she is likely to conduct +herself in critical situations, than I can be." + +"I have known her from a child, undoubtedly; we have been children +and women together; and it is natural to suppose that we should be +intimate,--that we should have taken to each other whenever she visited +her friends. But we never did. I hardly know how it has happened; a +little, perhaps, from that wickedness on my side which was prone to take +disgust towards a girl so idolized and so cried up as she always was, +by her aunt and grandmother, and all their set. And then, her reserve--I +never could attach myself to any one so completely reserved." + +"It is a most repulsive quality, indeed," said he. "Oftentimes very +convenient, no doubt, but never pleasing. There is safety in reserve, +but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person." + +"Not till the reserve ceases towards oneself; and then the attraction +may be the greater. But I must be more in want of a friend, or an +agreeable companion, than I have yet been, to take the trouble of +conquering any body's reserve to procure one. Intimacy between Miss +Fairfax and me is quite out of the question. I have no reason to think +ill of her--not the least--except that such extreme and perpetual +cautiousness of word and manner, such a dread of giving a distinct idea +about any body, is apt to suggest suspicions of there being something to +conceal." + +He perfectly agreed with her: and after walking together so long, and +thinking so much alike, Emma felt herself so well acquainted with him, +that she could hardly believe it to be only their second meeting. He was +not exactly what she had expected; less of the man of the world in some +of his notions, less of the spoiled child of fortune, therefore better +than she had expected. His ideas seemed more moderate--his feelings +warmer. She was particularly struck by his manner of considering Mr. +Elton's house, which, as well as the church, he would go and look at, +and would not join them in finding much fault with. No, he could not +believe it a bad house; not such a house as a man was to be pitied for +having. If it were to be shared with the woman he loved, he could not +think any man to be pitied for having that house. There must be ample +room in it for every real comfort. The man must be a blockhead who +wanted more. + +Mrs. Weston laughed, and said he did not know what he was talking about. +Used only to a large house himself, and without ever thinking how many +advantages and accommodations were attached to its size, he could be no +judge of the privations inevitably belonging to a small one. But Emma, +in her own mind, determined that he _did_ know what he was talking +about, and that he shewed a very amiable inclination to settle early in +life, and to marry, from worthy motives. He might not be aware of the +inroads on domestic peace to be occasioned by no housekeeper's room, or +a bad butler's pantry, but no doubt he did perfectly feel that Enscombe +could not make him happy, and that whenever he were attached, he would +willingly give up much of wealth to be allowed an early establishment. + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Emma's very good opinion of Frank Churchill was a little shaken the +following day, by hearing that he was gone off to London, merely to have +his hair cut. A sudden freak seemed to have seized him at breakfast, and +he had sent for a chaise and set off, intending to return to dinner, +but with no more important view that appeared than having his hair cut. +There was certainly no harm in his travelling sixteen miles twice over +on such an errand; but there was an air of foppery and nonsense in it +which she could not approve. It did not accord with the rationality of +plan, the moderation in expense, or even the unselfish warmth of heart, +which she had believed herself to discern in him yesterday. Vanity, +extravagance, love of change, restlessness of temper, which must be +doing something, good or bad; heedlessness as to the pleasure of his +father and Mrs. Weston, indifferent as to how his conduct might appear +in general; he became liable to all these charges. His father only +called him a coxcomb, and thought it a very good story; but that Mrs. +Weston did not like it, was clear enough, by her passing it over as +quickly as possible, and making no other comment than that "all young +people would have their little whims." + +With the exception of this little blot, Emma found that his visit +hitherto had given her friend only good ideas of him. Mrs. Weston +was very ready to say how attentive and pleasant a companion he made +himself--how much she saw to like in his disposition altogether. He +appeared to have a very open temper--certainly a very cheerful and +lively one; she could observe nothing wrong in his notions, a great deal +decidedly right; he spoke of his uncle with warm regard, was fond of +talking of him--said he would be the best man in the world if he were +left to himself; and though there was no being attached to the aunt, he +acknowledged her kindness with gratitude, and seemed to mean always to +speak of her with respect. This was all very promising; and, but for +such an unfortunate fancy for having his hair cut, there was nothing to +denote him unworthy of the distinguished honour which her imagination +had given him; the honour, if not of being really in love with her, +of being at least very near it, and saved only by her own +indifference--(for still her resolution held of never marrying)--the +honour, in short, of being marked out for her by all their joint +acquaintance. + +Mr. Weston, on his side, added a virtue to the account which must +have some weight. He gave her to understand that Frank admired her +extremely--thought her very beautiful and very charming; and with so +much to be said for him altogether, she found she must not judge him +harshly. As Mrs. Weston observed, "all young people would have their +little whims." + +There was one person among his new acquaintance in Surry, not so +leniently disposed. In general he was judged, throughout the parishes of +Donwell and Highbury, with great candour; liberal allowances were made +for the little excesses of such a handsome young man--one who smiled so +often and bowed so well; but there was one spirit among them not to be +softened, from its power of censure, by bows or smiles--Mr. Knightley. +The circumstance was told him at Hartfield; for the moment, he was +silent; but Emma heard him almost immediately afterwards say to himself, +over a newspaper he held in his hand, "Hum! just the trifling, silly +fellow I took him for." She had half a mind to resent; but an instant's +observation convinced her that it was really said only to relieve his +own feelings, and not meant to provoke; and therefore she let it pass. + +Although in one instance the bearers of not good tidings, Mr. and +Mrs. Weston's visit this morning was in another respect particularly +opportune. Something occurred while they were at Hartfield, to make Emma +want their advice; and, which was still more lucky, she wanted exactly +the advice they gave. + +This was the occurrence:--The Coles had been settled some years in +Highbury, and were very good sort of people--friendly, liberal, and +unpretending; but, on the other hand, they were of low origin, in trade, +and only moderately genteel. On their first coming into the country, +they had lived in proportion to their income, quietly, keeping little +company, and that little unexpensively; but the last year or two had +brought them a considerable increase of means--the house in town had +yielded greater profits, and fortune in general had smiled on them. With +their wealth, their views increased; their want of a larger house, their +inclination for more company. They added to their house, to their number +of servants, to their expenses of every sort; and by this time were, +in fortune and style of living, second only to the family at Hartfield. +Their love of society, and their new dining-room, prepared every body +for their keeping dinner-company; and a few parties, chiefly among the +single men, had already taken place. The regular and best families Emma +could hardly suppose they would presume to invite--neither Donwell, nor +Hartfield, nor Randalls. Nothing should tempt _her_ to go, if they did; +and she regretted that her father's known habits would be giving +her refusal less meaning than she could wish. The Coles were very +respectable in their way, but they ought to be taught that it was not +for them to arrange the terms on which the superior families would visit +them. This lesson, she very much feared, they would receive only from +herself; she had little hope of Mr. Knightley, none of Mr. Weston. + +But she had made up her mind how to meet this presumption so many weeks +before it appeared, that when the insult came at last, it found her +very differently affected. Donwell and Randalls had received their +invitation, and none had come for her father and herself; and Mrs. +Weston's accounting for it with "I suppose they will not take the +liberty with you; they know you do not dine out," was not quite +sufficient. She felt that she should like to have had the power of +refusal; and afterwards, as the idea of the party to be assembled there, +consisting precisely of those whose society was dearest to her, occurred +again and again, she did not know that she might not have been tempted +to accept. Harriet was to be there in the evening, and the Bateses. They +had been speaking of it as they walked about Highbury the day before, +and Frank Churchill had most earnestly lamented her absence. Might +not the evening end in a dance? had been a question of his. The bare +possibility of it acted as a farther irritation on her spirits; and +her being left in solitary grandeur, even supposing the omission to be +intended as a compliment, was but poor comfort. + +It was the arrival of this very invitation while the Westons were at +Hartfield, which made their presence so acceptable; for though her first +remark, on reading it, was that "of course it must be declined," she so +very soon proceeded to ask them what they advised her to do, that their +advice for her going was most prompt and successful. + +She owned that, considering every thing, she was not absolutely +without inclination for the party. The Coles expressed themselves so +properly--there was so much real attention in the manner of it--so much +consideration for her father. "They would have solicited the honour +earlier, but had been waiting the arrival of a folding-screen from +London, which they hoped might keep Mr. Woodhouse from any draught of +air, and therefore induce him the more readily to give them the honour +of his company." Upon the whole, she was very persuadable; and it being +briefly settled among themselves how it might be done without neglecting +his comfort--how certainly Mrs. Goddard, if not Mrs. Bates, might be +depended on for bearing him company--Mr. Woodhouse was to be talked +into an acquiescence of his daughter's going out to dinner on a day now +near at hand, and spending the whole evening away from him. As for _his_ +going, Emma did not wish him to think it possible, the hours would be +too late, and the party too numerous. He was soon pretty well resigned. + +"I am not fond of dinner-visiting," said he--"I never was. No more is +Emma. Late hours do not agree with us. I am sorry Mr. and Mrs. Cole +should have done it. I think it would be much better if they would come +in one afternoon next summer, and take their tea with us--take us +in their afternoon walk; which they might do, as our hours are so +reasonable, and yet get home without being out in the damp of the +evening. The dews of a summer evening are what I would not expose any +body to. However, as they are so very desirous to have dear Emma dine +with them, and as you will both be there, and Mr. Knightley too, to take +care of her, I cannot wish to prevent it, provided the weather be what +it ought, neither damp, nor cold, nor windy." Then turning to Mrs. +Weston, with a look of gentle reproach--"Ah! Miss Taylor, if you had not +married, you would have staid at home with me." + +"Well, sir," cried Mr. Weston, "as I took Miss Taylor away, it is +incumbent on me to supply her place, if I can; and I will step to Mrs. +Goddard in a moment, if you wish it." + +But the idea of any thing to be done in a _moment_, was increasing, +not lessening, Mr. Woodhouse's agitation. The ladies knew better how +to allay it. Mr. Weston must be quiet, and every thing deliberately +arranged. + +With this treatment, Mr. Woodhouse was soon composed enough for talking +as usual. "He should be happy to see Mrs. Goddard. He had a great regard +for Mrs. Goddard; and Emma should write a line, and invite her. James +could take the note. But first of all, there must be an answer written +to Mrs. Cole." + +"You will make my excuses, my dear, as civilly as possible. You will say +that I am quite an invalid, and go no where, and therefore must decline +their obliging invitation; beginning with my _compliments_, of course. +But you will do every thing right. I need not tell you what is to be +done. We must remember to let James know that the carriage will be +wanted on Tuesday. I shall have no fears for you with him. We have never +been there above once since the new approach was made; but still I have +no doubt that James will take you very safely. And when you get there, +you must tell him at what time you would have him come for you again; +and you had better name an early hour. You will not like staying late. +You will get very tired when tea is over." + +"But you would not wish me to come away before I am tired, papa?" + +"Oh! no, my love; but you will soon be tired. There will be a great many +people talking at once. You will not like the noise." + +"But, my dear sir," cried Mr. Weston, "if Emma comes away early, it will +be breaking up the party." + +"And no great harm if it does," said Mr. Woodhouse. "The sooner every +party breaks up, the better." + +"But you do not consider how it may appear to the Coles. Emma's going +away directly after tea might be giving offence. They are good-natured +people, and think little of their own claims; but still they must +feel that any body's hurrying away is no great compliment; and Miss +Woodhouse's doing it would be more thought of than any other person's in +the room. You would not wish to disappoint and mortify the Coles, I am +sure, sir; friendly, good sort of people as ever lived, and who have +been your neighbours these _ten_ years." + +"No, upon no account in the world, Mr. Weston; I am much obliged to +you for reminding me. I should be extremely sorry to be giving them any +pain. I know what worthy people they are. Perry tells me that Mr. Cole +never touches malt liquor. You would not think it to look at him, but +he is bilious--Mr. Cole is very bilious. No, I would not be the means +of giving them any pain. My dear Emma, we must consider this. I am sure, +rather than run the risk of hurting Mr. and Mrs. Cole, you would stay a +little longer than you might wish. You will not regard being tired. You +will be perfectly safe, you know, among your friends." + +"Oh yes, papa. I have no fears at all for myself; and I should have no +scruples of staying as late as Mrs. Weston, but on your account. I am +only afraid of your sitting up for me. I am not afraid of your not being +exceedingly comfortable with Mrs. Goddard. She loves piquet, you +know; but when she is gone home, I am afraid you will be sitting up by +yourself, instead of going to bed at your usual time--and the idea of +that would entirely destroy my comfort. You must promise me not to sit +up." + +He did, on the condition of some promises on her side: such as that, +if she came home cold, she would be sure to warm herself thoroughly; if +hungry, that she would take something to eat; that her own maid should +sit up for her; and that Serle and the butler should see that every +thing were safe in the house, as usual. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Frank Churchill came back again; and if he kept his father's dinner +waiting, it was not known at Hartfield; for Mrs. Weston was too anxious +for his being a favourite with Mr. Woodhouse, to betray any imperfection +which could be concealed. + +He came back, had had his hair cut, and laughed at himself with a very +good grace, but without seeming really at all ashamed of what he had +done. He had no reason to wish his hair longer, to conceal any confusion +of face; no reason to wish the money unspent, to improve his spirits. +He was quite as undaunted and as lively as ever; and, after seeing him, +Emma thus moralised to herself:-- + +"I do not know whether it ought to be so, but certainly silly things +do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent +way. Wickedness is always wickedness, but folly is not always folly.--It +depends upon the character of those who handle it. Mr. Knightley, he is +_not_ a trifling, silly young man. If he were, he would have done this +differently. He would either have gloried in the achievement, or +been ashamed of it. There would have been either the ostentation of +a coxcomb, or the evasions of a mind too weak to defend its own +vanities.--No, I am perfectly sure that he is not trifling or silly." + +With Tuesday came the agreeable prospect of seeing him again, and for +a longer time than hitherto; of judging of his general manners, and by +inference, of the meaning of his manners towards herself; of guessing +how soon it might be necessary for her to throw coldness into her air; +and of fancying what the observations of all those might be, who were +now seeing them together for the first time. + +She meant to be very happy, in spite of the scene being laid at Mr. +Cole's; and without being able to forget that among the failings of Mr. +Elton, even in the days of his favour, none had disturbed her more than +his propensity to dine with Mr. Cole. + +Her father's comfort was amply secured, Mrs. Bates as well as Mrs. +Goddard being able to come; and her last pleasing duty, before she left +the house, was to pay her respects to them as they sat together after +dinner; and while her father was fondly noticing the beauty of her +dress, to make the two ladies all the amends in her power, by helping +them to large slices of cake and full glasses of wine, for whatever +unwilling self-denial his care of their constitution might have obliged +them to practise during the meal.--She had provided a plentiful dinner +for them; she wished she could know that they had been allowed to eat +it. + +She followed another carriage to Mr. Cole's door; and was pleased to see +that it was Mr. Knightley's; for Mr. Knightley keeping no horses, +having little spare money and a great deal of health, activity, and +independence, was too apt, in Emma's opinion, to get about as he could, +and not use his carriage so often as became the owner of Donwell Abbey. +She had an opportunity now of speaking her approbation while warm from +her heart, for he stopped to hand her out. + +"This is coming as you should do," said she; "like a gentleman.--I am +quite glad to see you." + +He thanked her, observing, "How lucky that we should arrive at the same +moment! for, if we had met first in the drawing-room, I doubt whether +you would have discerned me to be more of a gentleman than usual.--You +might not have distinguished how I came, by my look or manner." + +"Yes I should, I am sure I should. There is always a look of +consciousness or bustle when people come in a way which they know to be +beneath them. You think you carry it off very well, I dare say, but +with you it is a sort of bravado, an air of affected unconcern; I always +observe it whenever I meet you under those circumstances. _Now_ you have +nothing to try for. You are not afraid of being supposed ashamed. You +are not striving to look taller than any body else. _Now_ I shall really +be very happy to walk into the same room with you." + +"Nonsensical girl!" was his reply, but not at all in anger. + +Emma had as much reason to be satisfied with the rest of the party as +with Mr. Knightley. She was received with a cordial respect which could +not but please, and given all the consequence she could wish for. +When the Westons arrived, the kindest looks of love, the strongest of +admiration were for her, from both husband and wife; the son approached +her with a cheerful eagerness which marked her as his peculiar object, +and at dinner she found him seated by her--and, as she firmly believed, +not without some dexterity on his side. + +The party was rather large, as it included one other family, a proper +unobjectionable country family, whom the Coles had the advantage of +naming among their acquaintance, and the male part of Mr. Cox's family, +the lawyer of Highbury. The less worthy females were to come in the +evening, with Miss Bates, Miss Fairfax, and Miss Smith; but already, +at dinner, they were too numerous for any subject of conversation to be +general; and, while politics and Mr. Elton were talked over, Emma could +fairly surrender all her attention to the pleasantness of her neighbour. +The first remote sound to which she felt herself obliged to attend, was +the name of Jane Fairfax. Mrs. Cole seemed to be relating something of +her that was expected to be very interesting. She listened, and found +it well worth listening to. That very dear part of Emma, her fancy, +received an amusing supply. Mrs. Cole was telling that she had been +calling on Miss Bates, and as soon as she entered the room had +been struck by the sight of a pianoforte--a very elegant looking +instrument--not a grand, but a large-sized square pianoforte; and the +substance of the story, the end of all the dialogue which ensued of +surprize, and inquiry, and congratulations on her side, and explanations +on Miss Bates's, was, that this pianoforte had arrived from +Broadwood's the day before, to the great astonishment of both aunt and +niece--entirely unexpected; that at first, by Miss Bates's account, +Jane herself was quite at a loss, quite bewildered to think who could +possibly have ordered it--but now, they were both perfectly satisfied +that it could be from only one quarter;--of course it must be from +Colonel Campbell. + +"One can suppose nothing else," added Mrs. Cole, "and I was only +surprized that there could ever have been a doubt. But Jane, it seems, +had a letter from them very lately, and not a word was said about it. +She knows their ways best; but I should not consider their silence as +any reason for their not meaning to make the present. They might chuse +to surprize her." + +Mrs. Cole had many to agree with her; every body who spoke on the +subject was equally convinced that it must come from Colonel Campbell, +and equally rejoiced that such a present had been made; and there were +enough ready to speak to allow Emma to think her own way, and still +listen to Mrs. Cole. + +"I declare, I do not know when I have heard any thing that has given me +more satisfaction!--It always has quite hurt me that Jane Fairfax, who +plays so delightfully, should not have an instrument. It seemed quite +a shame, especially considering how many houses there are where fine +instruments are absolutely thrown away. This is like giving ourselves +a slap, to be sure! and it was but yesterday I was telling Mr. Cole, +I really was ashamed to look at our new grand pianoforte in the +drawing-room, while I do not know one note from another, and our little +girls, who are but just beginning, perhaps may never make any thing of +it; and there is poor Jane Fairfax, who is mistress of music, has not +any thing of the nature of an instrument, not even the pitifullest old +spinet in the world, to amuse herself with.--I was saying this to +Mr. Cole but yesterday, and he quite agreed with me; only he is so +particularly fond of music that he could not help indulging himself +in the purchase, hoping that some of our good neighbours might be so +obliging occasionally to put it to a better use than we can; and that +really is the reason why the instrument was bought--or else I am sure +we ought to be ashamed of it.--We are in great hopes that Miss Woodhouse +may be prevailed with to try it this evening." + +Miss Woodhouse made the proper acquiescence; and finding that nothing +more was to be entrapped from any communication of Mrs. Cole's, turned +to Frank Churchill. + +"Why do you smile?" said she. + +"Nay, why do you?" + +"Me!--I suppose I smile for pleasure at Colonel Campbell's being so rich +and so liberal.--It is a handsome present." + +"Very." + +"I rather wonder that it was never made before." + +"Perhaps Miss Fairfax has never been staying here so long before." + +"Or that he did not give her the use of their own instrument--which must +now be shut up in London, untouched by any body." + +"That is a grand pianoforte, and he might think it too large for Mrs. +Bates's house." + +"You may _say_ what you chuse--but your countenance testifies that your +_thoughts_ on this subject are very much like mine." + +"I do not know. I rather believe you are giving me more credit for +acuteness than I deserve. I smile because you smile, and shall probably +suspect whatever I find you suspect; but at present I do not see what +there is to question. If Colonel Campbell is not the person, who can +be?" + +"What do you say to Mrs. Dixon?" + +"Mrs. Dixon! very true indeed. I had not thought of Mrs. Dixon. She must +know as well as her father, how acceptable an instrument would be; and +perhaps the mode of it, the mystery, the surprize, is more like a young +woman's scheme than an elderly man's. It is Mrs. Dixon, I dare say. I +told you that your suspicions would guide mine." + +"If so, you must extend your suspicions and comprehend _Mr_. Dixon in +them." + +"Mr. Dixon.--Very well. Yes, I immediately perceive that it must be the +joint present of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon. We were speaking the other day, you +know, of his being so warm an admirer of her performance." + +"Yes, and what you told me on that head, confirmed an idea which I had +entertained before.--I do not mean to reflect upon the good intentions +of either Mr. Dixon or Miss Fairfax, but I cannot help suspecting either +that, after making his proposals to her friend, he had the misfortune +to fall in love with _her_, or that he became conscious of a little +attachment on her side. One might guess twenty things without guessing +exactly the right; but I am sure there must be a particular cause for +her chusing to come to Highbury instead of going with the Campbells +to Ireland. Here, she must be leading a life of privation and penance; +there it would have been all enjoyment. As to the pretence of trying her +native air, I look upon that as a mere excuse.--In the summer it might +have passed; but what can any body's native air do for them in the +months of January, February, and March? Good fires and carriages would +be much more to the purpose in most cases of delicate health, and I dare +say in her's. I do not require you to adopt all my suspicions, though +you make so noble a profession of doing it, but I honestly tell you what +they are." + +"And, upon my word, they have an air of great probability. Mr. Dixon's +preference of her music to her friend's, I can answer for being very +decided." + +"And then, he saved her life. Did you ever hear of that?--A water +party; and by some accident she was falling overboard. He caught her." + +"He did. I was there--one of the party." + +"Were you really?--Well!--But you observed nothing of course, for it +seems to be a new idea to you.--If I had been there, I think I should +have made some discoveries." + +"I dare say you would; but I, simple I, saw nothing but the fact, that +Miss Fairfax was nearly dashed from the vessel and that Mr. Dixon caught +her.--It was the work of a moment. And though the consequent shock and +alarm was very great and much more durable--indeed I believe it was +half an hour before any of us were comfortable again--yet that was too +general a sensation for any thing of peculiar anxiety to be +observable. I do not mean to say, however, that you might not have made +discoveries." + +The conversation was here interrupted. They were called on to share +in the awkwardness of a rather long interval between the courses, and +obliged to be as formal and as orderly as the others; but when the table +was again safely covered, when every corner dish was placed exactly +right, and occupation and ease were generally restored, Emma said, + +"The arrival of this pianoforte is decisive with me. I wanted to know +a little more, and this tells me quite enough. Depend upon it, we shall +soon hear that it is a present from Mr. and Mrs. Dixon." + +"And if the Dixons should absolutely deny all knowledge of it we must +conclude it to come from the Campbells." + +"No, I am sure it is not from the Campbells. Miss Fairfax knows it is +not from the Campbells, or they would have been guessed at first. She +would not have been puzzled, had she dared fix on them. I may not have +convinced you perhaps, but I am perfectly convinced myself that Mr. +Dixon is a principal in the business." + +"Indeed you injure me if you suppose me unconvinced. Your reasonings +carry my judgment along with them entirely. At first, while I supposed +you satisfied that Colonel Campbell was the giver, I saw it only as +paternal kindness, and thought it the most natural thing in the world. +But when you mentioned Mrs. Dixon, I felt how much more probable that it +should be the tribute of warm female friendship. And now I can see it in +no other light than as an offering of love." + +There was no occasion to press the matter farther. The conviction seemed +real; he looked as if he felt it. She said no more, other subjects +took their turn; and the rest of the dinner passed away; the dessert +succeeded, the children came in, and were talked to and admired amid the +usual rate of conversation; a few clever things said, a few downright +silly, but by much the larger proportion neither the one nor the +other--nothing worse than everyday remarks, dull repetitions, old news, +and heavy jokes. + +The ladies had not been long in the drawing-room, before the other +ladies, in their different divisions, arrived. Emma watched the entree +of her own particular little friend; and if she could not exult in her +dignity and grace, she could not only love the blooming sweetness and +the artless manner, but could most heartily rejoice in that light, +cheerful, unsentimental disposition which allowed her so many +alleviations of pleasure, in the midst of the pangs of disappointed +affection. There she sat--and who would have guessed how many tears she +had been lately shedding? To be in company, nicely dressed herself and +seeing others nicely dressed, to sit and smile and look pretty, and say +nothing, was enough for the happiness of the present hour. Jane Fairfax +did look and move superior; but Emma suspected she might have been +glad to change feelings with Harriet, very glad to have purchased the +mortification of having loved--yes, of having loved even Mr. Elton in +vain--by the surrender of all the dangerous pleasure of knowing herself +beloved by the husband of her friend. + +In so large a party it was not necessary that Emma should approach her. +She did not wish to speak of the pianoforte, she felt too much in the +secret herself, to think the appearance of curiosity or interest fair, +and therefore purposely kept at a distance; but by the others, the +subject was almost immediately introduced, and she saw the blush of +consciousness with which congratulations were received, the blush +of guilt which accompanied the name of "my excellent friend Colonel +Campbell." + +Mrs. Weston, kind-hearted and musical, was particularly interested +by the circumstance, and Emma could not help being amused at her +perseverance in dwelling on the subject; and having so much to ask and +to say as to tone, touch, and pedal, totally unsuspicious of that wish +of saying as little about it as possible, which she plainly read in the +fair heroine's countenance. + +They were soon joined by some of the gentlemen; and the very first +of the early was Frank Churchill. In he walked, the first and the +handsomest; and after paying his compliments en passant to Miss Bates +and her niece, made his way directly to the opposite side of the circle, +where sat Miss Woodhouse; and till he could find a seat by her, would +not sit at all. Emma divined what every body present must be thinking. +She was his object, and every body must perceive it. She introduced him +to her friend, Miss Smith, and, at convenient moments afterwards, heard +what each thought of the other. "He had never seen so lovely a face, and +was delighted with her naivete." And she, "Only to be sure it was paying +him too great a compliment, but she did think there were some looks a +little like Mr. Elton." Emma restrained her indignation, and only turned +from her in silence. + +Smiles of intelligence passed between her and the gentleman on first +glancing towards Miss Fairfax; but it was most prudent to avoid speech. +He told her that he had been impatient to leave the dining-room--hated +sitting long--was always the first to move when he could--that his +father, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Cox, and Mr. Cole, were left very busy over +parish business--that as long as he had staid, however, it had been +pleasant enough, as he had found them in general a set of gentlemanlike, +sensible men; and spoke so handsomely of Highbury altogether--thought it +so abundant in agreeable families--that Emma began to feel she had been +used to despise the place rather too much. She questioned him as to the +society in Yorkshire--the extent of the neighbourhood about Enscombe, +and the sort; and could make out from his answers that, as far as +Enscombe was concerned, there was very little going on, that their +visitings were among a range of great families, none very near; and +that even when days were fixed, and invitations accepted, it was an even +chance that Mrs. Churchill were not in health and spirits for going; +that they made a point of visiting no fresh person; and that, though +he had his separate engagements, it was not without difficulty, without +considerable address _at_ _times_, that he could get away, or introduce +an acquaintance for a night. + +She saw that Enscombe could not satisfy, and that Highbury, taken at +its best, might reasonably please a young man who had more retirement at +home than he liked. His importance at Enscombe was very evident. He did +not boast, but it naturally betrayed itself, that he had persuaded his +aunt where his uncle could do nothing, and on her laughing and noticing +it, he owned that he believed (excepting one or two points) he could +_with_ _time_ persuade her to any thing. One of those points on which +his influence failed, he then mentioned. He had wanted very much to +go abroad--had been very eager indeed to be allowed to travel--but she +would not hear of it. This had happened the year before. _Now_, he said, +he was beginning to have no longer the same wish. + +The unpersuadable point, which he did not mention, Emma guessed to be +good behaviour to his father. + +"I have made a most wretched discovery," said he, after a short pause.-- +"I have been here a week to-morrow--half my time. I never knew days fly +so fast. A week to-morrow!--And I have hardly begun to enjoy myself. +But just got acquainted with Mrs. Weston, and others!--I hate the +recollection." + +"Perhaps you may now begin to regret that you spent one whole day, out +of so few, in having your hair cut." + +"No," said he, smiling, "that is no subject of regret at all. I have +no pleasure in seeing my friends, unless I can believe myself fit to be +seen." + +The rest of the gentlemen being now in the room, Emma found herself +obliged to turn from him for a few minutes, and listen to Mr. Cole. When +Mr. Cole had moved away, and her attention could be restored as before, +she saw Frank Churchill looking intently across the room at Miss +Fairfax, who was sitting exactly opposite. + +"What is the matter?" said she. + +He started. "Thank you for rousing me," he replied. "I believe I have +been very rude; but really Miss Fairfax has done her hair in so odd a +way--so very odd a way--that I cannot keep my eyes from her. I never saw +any thing so outree!--Those curls!--This must be a fancy of her own. I +see nobody else looking like her!--I must go and ask her whether it +is an Irish fashion. Shall I?--Yes, I will--I declare I will--and you +shall see how she takes it;--whether she colours." + +He was gone immediately; and Emma soon saw him standing before Miss +Fairfax, and talking to her; but as to its effect on the young lady, +as he had improvidently placed himself exactly between them, exactly in +front of Miss Fairfax, she could absolutely distinguish nothing. + +Before he could return to his chair, it was taken by Mrs. Weston. + +"This is the luxury of a large party," said she:--"one can get near +every body, and say every thing. My dear Emma, I am longing to talk +to you. I have been making discoveries and forming plans, just like +yourself, and I must tell them while the idea is fresh. Do you know how +Miss Bates and her niece came here?" + +"How?--They were invited, were not they?" + +"Oh! yes--but how they were conveyed hither?--the manner of their +coming?" + +"They walked, I conclude. How else could they come?" + +"Very true.--Well, a little while ago it occurred to me how very sad +it would be to have Jane Fairfax walking home again, late at night, and +cold as the nights are now. And as I looked at her, though I never saw +her appear to more advantage, it struck me that she was heated, and +would therefore be particularly liable to take cold. Poor girl! I could +not bear the idea of it; so, as soon as Mr. Weston came into the room, +and I could get at him, I spoke to him about the carriage. You may guess +how readily he came into my wishes; and having his approbation, I made +my way directly to Miss Bates, to assure her that the carriage would be +at her service before it took us home; for I thought it would be making +her comfortable at once. Good soul! she was as grateful as possible, you +may be sure. 'Nobody was ever so fortunate as herself!'--but with many, +many thanks--'there was no occasion to trouble us, for Mr. Knightley's +carriage had brought, and was to take them home again.' I was quite +surprized;--very glad, I am sure; but really quite surprized. Such a +very kind attention--and so thoughtful an attention!--the sort of thing +that so few men would think of. And, in short, from knowing his +usual ways, I am very much inclined to think that it was for their +accommodation the carriage was used at all. I do suspect he would not +have had a pair of horses for himself, and that it was only as an excuse +for assisting them." + +"Very likely," said Emma--"nothing more likely. I know no man more +likely than Mr. Knightley to do the sort of thing--to do any thing +really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent. He is not a +gallant man, but he is a very humane one; and this, considering Jane +Fairfax's ill-health, would appear a case of humanity to him;--and for +an act of unostentatious kindness, there is nobody whom I would fix on +more than on Mr. Knightley. I know he had horses to-day--for we arrived +together; and I laughed at him about it, but he said not a word that +could betray." + +"Well," said Mrs. Weston, smiling, "you give him credit for more simple, +disinterested benevolence in this instance than I do; for while Miss +Bates was speaking, a suspicion darted into my head, and I have never +been able to get it out again. The more I think of it, the more probable +it appears. In short, I have made a match between Mr. Knightley and Jane +Fairfax. See the consequence of keeping you company!--What do you say to +it?" + +"Mr. Knightley and Jane Fairfax!" exclaimed Emma. "Dear Mrs. Weston, how +could you think of such a thing?--Mr. Knightley!--Mr. Knightley must not +marry!--You would not have little Henry cut out from Donwell?--Oh! no, +no, Henry must have Donwell. I cannot at all consent to Mr. Knightley's +marrying; and I am sure it is not at all likely. I am amazed that you +should think of such a thing." + +"My dear Emma, I have told you what led me to think of it. I do not want +the match--I do not want to injure dear little Henry--but the idea has +been given me by circumstances; and if Mr. Knightley really wished to +marry, you would not have him refrain on Henry's account, a boy of six +years old, who knows nothing of the matter?" + +"Yes, I would. I could not bear to have Henry supplanted.--Mr. +Knightley marry!--No, I have never had such an idea, and I cannot adopt +it now. And Jane Fairfax, too, of all women!" + +"Nay, she has always been a first favourite with him, as you very well +know." + +"But the imprudence of such a match!" + +"I am not speaking of its prudence; merely its probability." + +"I see no probability in it, unless you have any better foundation than +what you mention. His good-nature, his humanity, as I tell you, would +be quite enough to account for the horses. He has a great regard for the +Bateses, you know, independent of Jane Fairfax--and is always glad to +shew them attention. My dear Mrs. Weston, do not take to match-making. +You do it very ill. Jane Fairfax mistress of the Abbey!--Oh! no, +no;--every feeling revolts. For his own sake, I would not have him do so +mad a thing." + +"Imprudent, if you please--but not mad. Excepting inequality of fortune, +and perhaps a little disparity of age, I can see nothing unsuitable." + +"But Mr. Knightley does not want to marry. I am sure he has not the +least idea of it. Do not put it into his head. Why should he marry?--He +is as happy as possible by himself; with his farm, and his sheep, and +his library, and all the parish to manage; and he is extremely fond of +his brother's children. He has no occasion to marry, either to fill up +his time or his heart." + +"My dear Emma, as long as he thinks so, it is so; but if he really loves +Jane Fairfax--" + +"Nonsense! He does not care about Jane Fairfax. In the way of love, I am +sure he does not. He would do any good to her, or her family; but--" + +"Well," said Mrs. Weston, laughing, "perhaps the greatest good he could +do them, would be to give Jane such a respectable home." + +"If it would be good to her, I am sure it would be evil to himself; a +very shameful and degrading connexion. How would he bear to have Miss +Bates belonging to him?--To have her haunting the Abbey, and thanking +him all day long for his great kindness in marrying Jane?--'So very +kind and obliging!--But he always had been such a very kind neighbour!' +And then fly off, through half a sentence, to her mother's old +petticoat. 'Not that it was such a very old petticoat either--for still +it would last a great while--and, indeed, she must thankfully say that +their petticoats were all very strong.'" + +"For shame, Emma! Do not mimic her. You divert me against my conscience. +And, upon my word, I do not think Mr. Knightley would be much disturbed +by Miss Bates. Little things do not irritate him. She might talk on; and +if he wanted to say any thing himself, he would only talk louder, and +drown her voice. But the question is not, whether it would be a bad +connexion for him, but whether he wishes it; and I think he does. I have +heard him speak, and so must you, so very highly of Jane Fairfax! The +interest he takes in her--his anxiety about her health--his concern that +she should have no happier prospect! I have heard him express himself +so warmly on those points!--Such an admirer of her performance on the +pianoforte, and of her voice! I have heard him say that he could listen +to her for ever. Oh! and I had almost forgotten one idea that occurred +to me--this pianoforte that has been sent here by somebody--though +we have all been so well satisfied to consider it a present from the +Campbells, may it not be from Mr. Knightley? I cannot help suspecting +him. I think he is just the person to do it, even without being in +love." + +"Then it can be no argument to prove that he is in love. But I do not +think it is at all a likely thing for him to do. Mr. Knightley does +nothing mysteriously." + +"I have heard him lamenting her having no instrument repeatedly; oftener +than I should suppose such a circumstance would, in the common course of +things, occur to him." + +"Very well; and if he had intended to give her one, he would have told +her so." + +"There might be scruples of delicacy, my dear Emma. I have a very strong +notion that it comes from him. I am sure he was particularly silent when +Mrs. Cole told us of it at dinner." + +"You take up an idea, Mrs. Weston, and run away with it; as you have +many a time reproached me with doing. I see no sign of attachment--I +believe nothing of the pianoforte--and proof only shall convince me that +Mr. Knightley has any thought of marrying Jane Fairfax." + +They combated the point some time longer in the same way; Emma rather +gaining ground over the mind of her friend; for Mrs. Weston was the most +used of the two to yield; till a little bustle in the room shewed them +that tea was over, and the instrument in preparation;--and at the same +moment Mr. Cole approaching to entreat Miss Woodhouse would do them the +honour of trying it. Frank Churchill, of whom, in the eagerness of her +conversation with Mrs. Weston, she had been seeing nothing, except that +he had found a seat by Miss Fairfax, followed Mr. Cole, to add his very +pressing entreaties; and as, in every respect, it suited Emma best to +lead, she gave a very proper compliance. + +She knew the limitations of her own powers too well to attempt more than +she could perform with credit; she wanted neither taste nor spirit in +the little things which are generally acceptable, and could accompany +her own voice well. One accompaniment to her song took her agreeably by +surprize--a second, slightly but correctly taken by Frank Churchill. Her +pardon was duly begged at the close of the song, and every thing usual +followed. He was accused of having a delightful voice, and a perfect +knowledge of music; which was properly denied; and that he knew nothing +of the matter, and had no voice at all, roundly asserted. They sang +together once more; and Emma would then resign her place to Miss +Fairfax, whose performance, both vocal and instrumental, she never could +attempt to conceal from herself, was infinitely superior to her own. + +With mixed feelings, she seated herself at a little distance from the +numbers round the instrument, to listen. Frank Churchill sang again. +They had sung together once or twice, it appeared, at Weymouth. But the +sight of Mr. Knightley among the most attentive, soon drew away half +Emma's mind; and she fell into a train of thinking on the subject of +Mrs. Weston's suspicions, to which the sweet sounds of the united voices +gave only momentary interruptions. Her objections to Mr. Knightley's +marrying did not in the least subside. She could see nothing but evil +in it. It would be a great disappointment to Mr. John Knightley; +consequently to Isabella. A real injury to the children--a most +mortifying change, and material loss to them all;--a very great +deduction from her father's daily comfort--and, as to herself, she could +not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey. A Mrs. +Knightley for them all to give way to!--No--Mr. Knightley must never +marry. Little Henry must remain the heir of Donwell. + +Presently Mr. Knightley looked back, and came and sat down by her. They +talked at first only of the performance. His admiration was certainly +very warm; yet she thought, but for Mrs. Weston, it would not have +struck her. As a sort of touchstone, however, she began to speak of his +kindness in conveying the aunt and niece; and though his answer was in +the spirit of cutting the matter short, she believed it to indicate only +his disinclination to dwell on any kindness of his own. + +"I often feel concern," said she, "that I dare not make our carriage +more useful on such occasions. It is not that I am without the wish; but +you know how impossible my father would deem it that James should put-to +for such a purpose." + +"Quite out of the question, quite out of the question," he +replied;--"but you must often wish it, I am sure." And he smiled with +such seeming pleasure at the conviction, that she must proceed another +step. + +"This present from the Campbells," said she--"this pianoforte is very +kindly given." + +"Yes," he replied, and without the smallest apparent +embarrassment.--"But they would have done better had they given +her notice of it. Surprizes are foolish things. The pleasure is not +enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. I should have +expected better judgment in Colonel Campbell." + +From that moment, Emma could have taken her oath that Mr. Knightley had +had no concern in giving the instrument. But whether he were +entirely free from peculiar attachment--whether there were no actual +preference--remained a little longer doubtful. Towards the end of Jane's +second song, her voice grew thick. + +"That will do," said he, when it was finished, thinking aloud--"you have +sung quite enough for one evening--now be quiet." + +Another song, however, was soon begged for. "One more;--they would not +fatigue Miss Fairfax on any account, and would only ask for one more." +And Frank Churchill was heard to say, "I think you could manage this +without effort; the first part is so very trifling. The strength of the +song falls on the second." + +Mr. Knightley grew angry. + +"That fellow," said he, indignantly, "thinks of nothing but shewing off +his own voice. This must not be." And touching Miss Bates, who at that +moment passed near--"Miss Bates, are you mad, to let your niece sing +herself hoarse in this manner? Go, and interfere. They have no mercy on +her." + +Miss Bates, in her real anxiety for Jane, could hardly stay even to +be grateful, before she stept forward and put an end to all farther +singing. Here ceased the concert part of the evening, for Miss Woodhouse +and Miss Fairfax were the only young lady performers; but soon (within +five minutes) the proposal of dancing--originating nobody exactly knew +where--was so effectually promoted by Mr. and Mrs. Cole, that every +thing was rapidly clearing away, to give proper space. Mrs. Weston, +capital in her country-dances, was seated, and beginning an irresistible +waltz; and Frank Churchill, coming up with most becoming gallantry to +Emma, had secured her hand, and led her up to the top. + +While waiting till the other young people could pair themselves off, +Emma found time, in spite of the compliments she was receiving on +her voice and her taste, to look about, and see what became of Mr. +Knightley. This would be a trial. He was no dancer in general. If he +were to be very alert in engaging Jane Fairfax now, it might augur +something. There was no immediate appearance. No; he was talking to Mrs. +Cole--he was looking on unconcerned; Jane was asked by somebody else, +and he was still talking to Mrs. Cole. + +Emma had no longer an alarm for Henry; his interest was yet safe; and +she led off the dance with genuine spirit and enjoyment. Not more than +five couple could be mustered; but the rarity and the suddenness of +it made it very delightful, and she found herself well matched in a +partner. They were a couple worth looking at. + +Two dances, unfortunately, were all that could be allowed. It was +growing late, and Miss Bates became anxious to get home, on her mother's +account. After some attempts, therefore, to be permitted to begin again, +they were obliged to thank Mrs. Weston, look sorrowful, and have done. + +"Perhaps it is as well," said Frank Churchill, as he attended Emma to +her carriage. "I must have asked Miss Fairfax, and her languid dancing +would not have agreed with me, after yours." + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Emma did not repent her condescension in going to the Coles. The visit +afforded her many pleasant recollections the next day; and all that she +might be supposed to have lost on the side of dignified seclusion, must +be amply repaid in the splendour of popularity. She must have delighted +the Coles--worthy people, who deserved to be made happy!--And left a +name behind her that would not soon die away. + +Perfect happiness, even in memory, is not common; and there were two +points on which she was not quite easy. She doubted whether she had not +transgressed the duty of woman by woman, in betraying her suspicions of +Jane Fairfax's feelings to Frank Churchill. It was hardly right; but it +had been so strong an idea, that it would escape her, and his submission +to all that she told, was a compliment to her penetration, which made +it difficult for her to be quite certain that she ought to have held her +tongue. + +The other circumstance of regret related also to Jane Fairfax; and +there she had no doubt. She did unfeignedly and unequivocally regret the +inferiority of her own playing and singing. She did most heartily +grieve over the idleness of her childhood--and sat down and practised +vigorously an hour and a half. + +She was then interrupted by Harriet's coming in; and if Harriet's praise +could have satisfied her, she might soon have been comforted. + +"Oh! if I could but play as well as you and Miss Fairfax!" + +"Don't class us together, Harriet. My playing is no more like her's, +than a lamp is like sunshine." + +"Oh! dear--I think you play the best of the two. I think you play quite +as well as she does. I am sure I had much rather hear you. Every body +last night said how well you played." + +"Those who knew any thing about it, must have felt the difference. The +truth is, Harriet, that my playing is just good enough to be praised, +but Jane Fairfax's is much beyond it." + +"Well, I always shall think that you play quite as well as she does, or +that if there is any difference nobody would ever find it out. Mr. Cole +said how much taste you had; and Mr. Frank Churchill talked a great deal +about your taste, and that he valued taste much more than execution." + +"Ah! but Jane Fairfax has them both, Harriet." + +"Are you sure? I saw she had execution, but I did not know she had any +taste. Nobody talked about it. And I hate Italian singing.--There is no +understanding a word of it. Besides, if she does play so very well, you +know, it is no more than she is obliged to do, because she will have to +teach. The Coxes were wondering last night whether she would get into +any great family. How did you think the Coxes looked?" + +"Just as they always do--very vulgar." + +"They told me something," said Harriet rather hesitatingly; "but it is +nothing of any consequence." + +Emma was obliged to ask what they had told her, though fearful of its +producing Mr. Elton. + +"They told me--that Mr. Martin dined with them last Saturday." + +"Oh!" + +"He came to their father upon some business, and he asked him to stay to +dinner." + +"Oh!" + +"They talked a great deal about him, especially Anne Cox. I do not know +what she meant, but she asked me if I thought I should go and stay there +again next summer." + +"She meant to be impertinently curious, just as such an Anne Cox should +be." + +"She said he was very agreeable the day he dined there. He sat by her at +dinner. Miss Nash thinks either of the Coxes would be very glad to marry +him." + +"Very likely.--I think they are, without exception, the most vulgar +girls in Highbury." + +Harriet had business at Ford's.--Emma thought it most prudent to go with +her. Another accidental meeting with the Martins was possible, and in +her present state, would be dangerous. + +Harriet, tempted by every thing and swayed by half a word, was always +very long at a purchase; and while she was still hanging over muslins +and changing her mind, Emma went to the door for amusement.--Much could +not be hoped from the traffic of even the busiest part of Highbury;--Mr. +Perry walking hastily by, Mr. William Cox letting himself in at the +office-door, Mr. Cole's carriage-horses returning from exercise, or a +stray letter-boy on an obstinate mule, were the liveliest objects she +could presume to expect; and when her eyes fell only on the butcher with +his tray, a tidy old woman travelling homewards from shop with her full +basket, two curs quarrelling over a dirty bone, and a string of dawdling +children round the baker's little bow-window eyeing the gingerbread, she +knew she had no reason to complain, and was amused enough; quite enough +still to stand at the door. A mind lively and at ease, can do with +seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer. + +She looked down the Randalls road. The scene enlarged; two persons +appeared; Mrs. Weston and her son-in-law; they were walking into +Highbury;--to Hartfield of course. They were stopping, however, in the +first place at Mrs. Bates's; whose house was a little nearer +Randalls than Ford's; and had all but knocked, when Emma caught their +eye.--Immediately they crossed the road and came forward to her; and the +agreeableness of yesterday's engagement seemed to give fresh pleasure to +the present meeting. Mrs. Weston informed her that she was going to call +on the Bateses, in order to hear the new instrument. + +"For my companion tells me," said she, "that I absolutely promised Miss +Bates last night, that I would come this morning. I was not aware of it +myself. I did not know that I had fixed a day, but as he says I did, I +am going now." + +"And while Mrs. Weston pays her visit, I may be allowed, I hope," said +Frank Churchill, "to join your party and wait for her at Hartfield--if +you are going home." + +Mrs. Weston was disappointed. + +"I thought you meant to go with me. They would be very much pleased." + +"Me! I should be quite in the way. But, perhaps--I may be equally in the +way here. Miss Woodhouse looks as if she did not want me. My aunt always +sends me off when she is shopping. She says I fidget her to death; and +Miss Woodhouse looks as if she could almost say the same. What am I to +do?" + +"I am here on no business of my own," said Emma; "I am only waiting for +my friend. She will probably have soon done, and then we shall go home. +But you had better go with Mrs. Weston and hear the instrument." + +"Well--if you advise it.--But (with a smile) if Colonel Campbell should +have employed a careless friend, and if it should prove to have an +indifferent tone--what shall I say? I shall be no support to Mrs. +Weston. She might do very well by herself. A disagreeable truth would be +palatable through her lips, but I am the wretchedest being in the world +at a civil falsehood." + +"I do not believe any such thing," replied Emma.--"I am persuaded that +you can be as insincere as your neighbours, when it is necessary; but +there is no reason to suppose the instrument is indifferent. Quite +otherwise indeed, if I understood Miss Fairfax's opinion last night." + +"Do come with me," said Mrs. Weston, "if it be not very disagreeable to +you. It need not detain us long. We will go to Hartfield afterwards. +We will follow them to Hartfield. I really wish you to call with me. It +will be felt so great an attention! and I always thought you meant it." + +He could say no more; and with the hope of Hartfield to reward him, +returned with Mrs. Weston to Mrs. Bates's door. Emma watched them in, +and then joined Harriet at the interesting counter,--trying, with all +the force of her own mind, to convince her that if she wanted plain +muslin it was of no use to look at figured; and that a blue ribbon, be +it ever so beautiful, would still never match her yellow pattern. At +last it was all settled, even to the destination of the parcel. + +"Should I send it to Mrs. Goddard's, ma'am?" asked Mrs. +Ford.--"Yes--no--yes, to Mrs. Goddard's. Only my pattern gown is at +Hartfield. No, you shall send it to Hartfield, if you please. But then, +Mrs. Goddard will want to see it.--And I could take the pattern gown +home any day. But I shall want the ribbon directly--so it had better go +to Hartfield--at least the ribbon. You could make it into two parcels, +Mrs. Ford, could not you?" + +"It is not worth while, Harriet, to give Mrs. Ford the trouble of two +parcels." + +"No more it is." + +"No trouble in the world, ma'am," said the obliging Mrs. Ford. + +"Oh! but indeed I would much rather have it only in one. Then, if you +please, you shall send it all to Mrs. Goddard's--I do not know--No, I +think, Miss Woodhouse, I may just as well have it sent to Hartfield, and +take it home with me at night. What do you advise?" + +"That you do not give another half-second to the subject. To Hartfield, +if you please, Mrs. Ford." + +"Aye, that will be much best," said Harriet, quite satisfied, "I should +not at all like to have it sent to Mrs. Goddard's." + +Voices approached the shop--or rather one voice and two ladies: Mrs. +Weston and Miss Bates met them at the door. + +"My dear Miss Woodhouse," said the latter, "I am just run across to +entreat the favour of you to come and sit down with us a little while, +and give us your opinion of our new instrument; you and Miss Smith. How +do you do, Miss Smith?--Very well I thank you.--And I begged Mrs. Weston +to come with me, that I might be sure of succeeding." + +"I hope Mrs. Bates and Miss Fairfax are--" + +"Very well, I am much obliged to you. My mother is delightfully well; +and Jane caught no cold last night. How is Mr. Woodhouse?--I am so glad +to hear such a good account. Mrs. Weston told me you were here.--Oh! +then, said I, I must run across, I am sure Miss Woodhouse will allow me +just to run across and entreat her to come in; my mother will be so +very happy to see her--and now we are such a nice party, she cannot +refuse.--'Aye, pray do,' said Mr. Frank Churchill, 'Miss Woodhouse's +opinion of the instrument will be worth having.'--But, said I, I shall +be more sure of succeeding if one of you will go with me.--'Oh,' said +he, 'wait half a minute, till I have finished my job;'--For, would you +believe it, Miss Woodhouse, there he is, in the most obliging manner in +the world, fastening in the rivet of my mother's spectacles.--The rivet +came out, you know, this morning.--So very obliging!--For my mother had +no use of her spectacles--could not put them on. And, by the bye, every +body ought to have two pair of spectacles; they should indeed. Jane said +so. I meant to take them over to John Saunders the first thing I did, +but something or other hindered me all the morning; first one thing, +then another, there is no saying what, you know. At one time Patty came +to say she thought the kitchen chimney wanted sweeping. Oh, said I, +Patty do not come with your bad news to me. Here is the rivet of your +mistress's spectacles out. Then the baked apples came home, Mrs. Wallis +sent them by her boy; they are extremely civil and obliging to us, the +Wallises, always--I have heard some people say that Mrs. Wallis can be +uncivil and give a very rude answer, but we have never known any thing +but the greatest attention from them. And it cannot be for the value +of our custom now, for what is our consumption of bread, you know? +Only three of us.--besides dear Jane at present--and she really eats +nothing--makes such a shocking breakfast, you would be quite frightened +if you saw it. I dare not let my mother know how little she eats--so I +say one thing and then I say another, and it passes off. But about the +middle of the day she gets hungry, and there is nothing she likes so +well as these baked apples, and they are extremely wholesome, for I took +the opportunity the other day of asking Mr. Perry; I happened to meet +him in the street. Not that I had any doubt before--I have so often +heard Mr. Woodhouse recommend a baked apple. I believe it is the only +way that Mr. Woodhouse thinks the fruit thoroughly wholesome. We +have apple-dumplings, however, very often. Patty makes an excellent +apple-dumpling. Well, Mrs. Weston, you have prevailed, I hope, and these +ladies will oblige us." + +Emma would be "very happy to wait on Mrs. Bates, &c.," and they did at +last move out of the shop, with no farther delay from Miss Bates than, + +"How do you do, Mrs. Ford? I beg your pardon. I did not see you before. +I hear you have a charming collection of new ribbons from town. Jane +came back delighted yesterday. Thank ye, the gloves do very well--only a +little too large about the wrist; but Jane is taking them in." + +"What was I talking of?" said she, beginning again when they were all in +the street. + +Emma wondered on what, of all the medley, she would fix. + +"I declare I cannot recollect what I was talking of.--Oh! my mother's +spectacles. So very obliging of Mr. Frank Churchill! 'Oh!' said he, +'I do think I can fasten the rivet; I like a job of this kind +excessively.'--Which you know shewed him to be so very.... Indeed I must +say that, much as I had heard of him before and much as I had expected, +he very far exceeds any thing.... I do congratulate you, Mrs. Weston, +most warmly. He seems every thing the fondest parent could.... +'Oh!' said he, 'I can fasten the rivet. I like a job of that sort +excessively.' I never shall forget his manner. And when I brought out +the baked apples from the closet, and hoped our friends would be so very +obliging as to take some, 'Oh!' said he directly, 'there is nothing +in the way of fruit half so good, and these are the finest-looking +home-baked apples I ever saw in my life.' That, you know, was so +very.... And I am sure, by his manner, it was no compliment. Indeed they +are very delightful apples, and Mrs. Wallis does them full justice--only +we do not have them baked more than twice, and Mr. Woodhouse made us +promise to have them done three times--but Miss Woodhouse will be so +good as not to mention it. The apples themselves are the very finest +sort for baking, beyond a doubt; all from Donwell--some of Mr. +Knightley's most liberal supply. He sends us a sack every year; and +certainly there never was such a keeping apple anywhere as one of his +trees--I believe there is two of them. My mother says the orchard was +always famous in her younger days. But I was really quite shocked the +other day--for Mr. Knightley called one morning, and Jane was eating +these apples, and we talked about them and said how much she enjoyed +them, and he asked whether we were not got to the end of our stock. 'I +am sure you must be,' said he, 'and I will send you another supply; for +I have a great many more than I can ever use. William Larkins let me +keep a larger quantity than usual this year. I will send you some more, +before they get good for nothing.' So I begged he would not--for really +as to ours being gone, I could not absolutely say that we had a great +many left--it was but half a dozen indeed; but they should be all kept +for Jane; and I could not at all bear that he should be sending us more, +so liberal as he had been already; and Jane said the same. And when +he was gone, she almost quarrelled with me--No, I should not say +quarrelled, for we never had a quarrel in our lives; but she was quite +distressed that I had owned the apples were so nearly gone; she wished +I had made him believe we had a great many left. Oh, said I, my dear, +I did say as much as I could. However, the very same evening William +Larkins came over with a large basket of apples, the same sort of +apples, a bushel at least, and I was very much obliged, and went down +and spoke to William Larkins and said every thing, as you may suppose. +William Larkins is such an old acquaintance! I am always glad to see +him. But, however, I found afterwards from Patty, that William said it +was all the apples of _that_ sort his master had; he had brought them +all--and now his master had not one left to bake or boil. William did +not seem to mind it himself, he was so pleased to think his master had +sold so many; for William, you know, thinks more of his master's profit +than any thing; but Mrs. Hodges, he said, was quite displeased at their +being all sent away. She could not bear that her master should not be +able to have another apple-tart this spring. He told Patty this, but bid +her not mind it, and be sure not to say any thing to us about it, for +Mrs. Hodges _would_ be cross sometimes, and as long as so many sacks +were sold, it did not signify who ate the remainder. And so Patty told +me, and I was excessively shocked indeed! I would not have Mr. Knightley +know any thing about it for the world! He would be so very.... I wanted +to keep it from Jane's knowledge; but, unluckily, I had mentioned it +before I was aware." + +Miss Bates had just done as Patty opened the door; and her visitors +walked upstairs without having any regular narration to attend to, +pursued only by the sounds of her desultory good-will. + +"Pray take care, Mrs. Weston, there is a step at the turning. Pray take +care, Miss Woodhouse, ours is rather a dark staircase--rather darker +and narrower than one could wish. Miss Smith, pray take care. Miss +Woodhouse, I am quite concerned, I am sure you hit your foot. Miss +Smith, the step at the turning." + + + +CHAPTER X + + +The appearance of the little sitting-room as they entered, was +tranquillity itself; Mrs. Bates, deprived of her usual employment, +slumbering on one side of the fire, Frank Churchill, at a table near +her, most deedily occupied about her spectacles, and Jane Fairfax, +standing with her back to them, intent on her pianoforte. + +Busy as he was, however, the young man was yet able to shew a most happy +countenance on seeing Emma again. + +"This is a pleasure," said he, in rather a low voice, "coming at least +ten minutes earlier than I had calculated. You find me trying to be +useful; tell me if you think I shall succeed." + +"What!" said Mrs. Weston, "have not you finished it yet? you would not +earn a very good livelihood as a working silversmith at this rate." + +"I have not been working uninterruptedly," he replied, "I have been +assisting Miss Fairfax in trying to make her instrument stand steadily, +it was not quite firm; an unevenness in the floor, I believe. You see +we have been wedging one leg with paper. This was very kind of you to be +persuaded to come. I was almost afraid you would be hurrying home." + +He contrived that she should be seated by him; and was sufficiently +employed in looking out the best baked apple for her, and trying to make +her help or advise him in his work, till Jane Fairfax was quite ready +to sit down to the pianoforte again. That she was not immediately ready, +Emma did suspect to arise from the state of her nerves; she had not yet +possessed the instrument long enough to touch it without emotion; she +must reason herself into the power of performance; and Emma could not +but pity such feelings, whatever their origin, and could not but resolve +never to expose them to her neighbour again. + +At last Jane began, and though the first bars were feebly given, the +powers of the instrument were gradually done full justice to. Mrs. +Weston had been delighted before, and was delighted again; Emma +joined her in all her praise; and the pianoforte, with every proper +discrimination, was pronounced to be altogether of the highest promise. + +"Whoever Colonel Campbell might employ," said Frank Churchill, with a +smile at Emma, "the person has not chosen ill. I heard a good deal of +Colonel Campbell's taste at Weymouth; and the softness of the upper +notes I am sure is exactly what he and _all_ _that_ _party_ would +particularly prize. I dare say, Miss Fairfax, that he either gave his +friend very minute directions, or wrote to Broadwood himself. Do not you +think so?" + +Jane did not look round. She was not obliged to hear. Mrs. Weston had +been speaking to her at the same moment. + +"It is not fair," said Emma, in a whisper; "mine was a random guess. Do +not distress her." + +He shook his head with a smile, and looked as if he had very little +doubt and very little mercy. Soon afterwards he began again, + +"How much your friends in Ireland must be enjoying your pleasure on this +occasion, Miss Fairfax. I dare say they often think of you, and wonder +which will be the day, the precise day of the instrument's coming to +hand. Do you imagine Colonel Campbell knows the business to be going +forward just at this time?--Do you imagine it to be the consequence +of an immediate commission from him, or that he may have sent only +a general direction, an order indefinite as to time, to depend upon +contingencies and conveniences?" + +He paused. She could not but hear; she could not avoid answering, + +"Till I have a letter from Colonel Campbell," said she, in a voice of +forced calmness, "I can imagine nothing with any confidence. It must be +all conjecture." + +"Conjecture--aye, sometimes one conjectures right, and sometimes one +conjectures wrong. I wish I could conjecture how soon I shall make this +rivet quite firm. What nonsense one talks, Miss Woodhouse, when hard +at work, if one talks at all;--your real workmen, I suppose, hold their +tongues; but we gentlemen labourers if we get hold of a word--Miss +Fairfax said something about conjecturing. There, it is done. I have the +pleasure, madam, (to Mrs. Bates,) of restoring your spectacles, healed +for the present." + +He was very warmly thanked both by mother and daughter; to escape a +little from the latter, he went to the pianoforte, and begged Miss +Fairfax, who was still sitting at it, to play something more. + +"If you are very kind," said he, "it will be one of the waltzes we +danced last night;--let me live them over again. You did not enjoy them +as I did; you appeared tired the whole time. I believe you were glad we +danced no longer; but I would have given worlds--all the worlds one ever +has to give--for another half-hour." + +She played. + +"What felicity it is to hear a tune again which _has_ made one +happy!--If I mistake not that was danced at Weymouth." + +She looked up at him for a moment, coloured deeply, and played something +else. He took some music from a chair near the pianoforte, and turning +to Emma, said, + +"Here is something quite new to me. Do you know it?--Cramer.--And here +are a new set of Irish melodies. That, from such a quarter, one might +expect. This was all sent with the instrument. Very thoughtful of +Colonel Campbell, was not it?--He knew Miss Fairfax could have no music +here. I honour that part of the attention particularly; it shews it to +have been so thoroughly from the heart. Nothing hastily done; nothing +incomplete. True affection only could have prompted it." + +Emma wished he would be less pointed, yet could not help being amused; +and when on glancing her eye towards Jane Fairfax she caught the remains +of a smile, when she saw that with all the deep blush of consciousness, +there had been a smile of secret delight, she had less scruple in the +amusement, and much less compunction with respect to her.--This +amiable, upright, perfect Jane Fairfax was apparently cherishing very +reprehensible feelings. + +He brought all the music to her, and they looked it over together.--Emma +took the opportunity of whispering, + +"You speak too plain. She must understand you." + +"I hope she does. I would have her understand me. I am not in the least +ashamed of my meaning." + +"But really, I am half ashamed, and wish I had never taken up the idea." + +"I am very glad you did, and that you communicated it to me. I have now +a key to all her odd looks and ways. Leave shame to her. If she does +wrong, she ought to feel it." + +"She is not entirely without it, I think." + +"I do not see much sign of it. She is playing _Robin_ _Adair_ at this +moment--_his_ favourite." + +Shortly afterwards Miss Bates, passing near the window, descried Mr. +Knightley on horse-back not far off. + +"Mr. Knightley I declare!--I must speak to him if possible, just to +thank him. I will not open the window here; it would give you all cold; +but I can go into my mother's room you know. I dare say he will come +in when he knows who is here. Quite delightful to have you all meet +so!--Our little room so honoured!" + +She was in the adjoining chamber while she still spoke, and opening the +casement there, immediately called Mr. Knightley's attention, and every +syllable of their conversation was as distinctly heard by the others, as +if it had passed within the same apartment. + +"How d' ye do?--how d'ye do?--Very well, I thank you. So obliged to you +for the carriage last night. We were just in time; my mother just ready +for us. Pray come in; do come in. You will find some friends here." + +So began Miss Bates; and Mr. Knightley seemed determined to be heard in +his turn, for most resolutely and commandingly did he say, + +"How is your niece, Miss Bates?--I want to inquire after you all, but +particularly your niece. How is Miss Fairfax?--I hope she caught no cold +last night. How is she to-day? Tell me how Miss Fairfax is." + +And Miss Bates was obliged to give a direct answer before he would hear +her in any thing else. The listeners were amused; and Mrs. Weston gave +Emma a look of particular meaning. But Emma still shook her head in +steady scepticism. + +"So obliged to you!--so very much obliged to you for the carriage," +resumed Miss Bates. + +He cut her short with, + +"I am going to Kingston. Can I do any thing for you?" + +"Oh! dear, Kingston--are you?--Mrs. Cole was saying the other day she +wanted something from Kingston." + +"Mrs. Cole has servants to send. Can I do any thing for _you_?" + +"No, I thank you. But do come in. Who do you think is here?--Miss +Woodhouse and Miss Smith; so kind as to call to hear the new pianoforte. +Do put up your horse at the Crown, and come in." + +"Well," said he, in a deliberating manner, "for five minutes, perhaps." + +"And here is Mrs. Weston and Mr. Frank Churchill too!--Quite delightful; +so many friends!" + +"No, not now, I thank you. I could not stay two minutes. I must get on +to Kingston as fast as I can." + +"Oh! do come in. They will be so very happy to see you." + +"No, no; your room is full enough. I will call another day, and hear the +pianoforte." + +"Well, I am so sorry!--Oh! Mr. Knightley, what a delightful party last +night; how extremely pleasant.--Did you ever see such dancing?--Was not +it delightful?--Miss Woodhouse and Mr. Frank Churchill; I never saw any +thing equal to it." + +"Oh! very delightful indeed; I can say nothing less, for I suppose Miss +Woodhouse and Mr. Frank Churchill are hearing every thing that passes. +And (raising his voice still more) I do not see why Miss Fairfax should +not be mentioned too. I think Miss Fairfax dances very well; and Mrs. +Weston is the very best country-dance player, without exception, +in England. Now, if your friends have any gratitude, they will say +something pretty loud about you and me in return; but I cannot stay to +hear it." + +"Oh! Mr. Knightley, one moment more; something of consequence--so +shocked!--Jane and I are both so shocked about the apples!" + +"What is the matter now?" + +"To think of your sending us all your store apples. You said you had +a great many, and now you have not one left. We really are so shocked! +Mrs. Hodges may well be angry. William Larkins mentioned it here. You +should not have done it, indeed you should not. Ah! he is off. He never +can bear to be thanked. But I thought he would have staid now, and it +would have been a pity not to have mentioned.... Well, (returning to the +room,) I have not been able to succeed. Mr. Knightley cannot stop. He is +going to Kingston. He asked me if he could do any thing...." + +"Yes," said Jane, "we heard his kind offers, we heard every thing." + +"Oh! yes, my dear, I dare say you might, because you know, the door was +open, and the window was open, and Mr. Knightley spoke loud. You must +have heard every thing to be sure. 'Can I do any thing for you at +Kingston?' said he; so I just mentioned.... Oh! Miss Woodhouse, must you +be going?--You seem but just come--so very obliging of you." + +Emma found it really time to be at home; the visit had already lasted +long; and on examining watches, so much of the morning was perceived +to be gone, that Mrs. Weston and her companion taking leave also, could +allow themselves only to walk with the two young ladies to Hartfield +gates, before they set off for Randalls. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been +known of young people passing many, many months successively, without +being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue +either to body or mind;--but when a beginning is made--when the +felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt--it +must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more. + +Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury, and longed to dance again; +and the last half-hour of an evening which Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded +to spend with his daughter at Randalls, was passed by the two young +people in schemes on the subject. Frank's was the first idea; and his +the greatest zeal in pursuing it; for the lady was the best judge of the +difficulties, and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance. +But still she had inclination enough for shewing people again how +delightfully Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse danced--for +doing that in which she need not blush to compare herself with Jane +Fairfax--and even for simple dancing itself, without any of the wicked +aids of vanity--to assist him first in pacing out the room they were in +to see what it could be made to hold--and then in taking the dimensions +of the other parlour, in the hope of discovering, in spite of all that +Mr. Weston could say of their exactly equal size, that it was a little +the largest. + +His first proposition and request, that the dance begun at Mr. Cole's +should be finished there--that the same party should be collected, +and the same musician engaged, met with the readiest acquiescence. Mr. +Weston entered into the idea with thorough enjoyment, and Mrs. Weston +most willingly undertook to play as long as they could wish to dance; +and the interesting employment had followed, of reckoning up exactly who +there would be, and portioning out the indispensable division of space +to every couple. + +"You and Miss Smith, and Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss +Coxes five," had been repeated many times over. "And there will be the +two Gilberts, young Cox, my father, and myself, besides Mr. Knightley. +Yes, that will be quite enough for pleasure. You and Miss Smith, and +Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss Coxes five; and for five +couple there will be plenty of room." + +But soon it came to be on one side, + +"But will there be good room for five couple?--I really do not think +there will." + +On another, + +"And after all, five couple are not enough to make it worth while to +stand up. Five couple are nothing, when one thinks seriously about it. +It will not do to _invite_ five couple. It can be allowable only as the +thought of the moment." + +Somebody said that _Miss_ Gilbert was expected at her brother's, and +must be invited with the rest. Somebody else believed _Mrs_. Gilbert +would have danced the other evening, if she had been asked. A word was +put in for a second young Cox; and at last, Mr. Weston naming one family +of cousins who must be included, and another of very old acquaintance +who could not be left out, it became a certainty that the five couple +would be at least ten, and a very interesting speculation in what +possible manner they could be disposed of. + +The doors of the two rooms were just opposite each other. "Might not +they use both rooms, and dance across the passage?" It seemed the +best scheme; and yet it was not so good but that many of them wanted a +better. Emma said it would be awkward; Mrs. Weston was in distress about +the supper; and Mr. Woodhouse opposed it earnestly, on the score of +health. It made him so very unhappy, indeed, that it could not be +persevered in. + +"Oh! no," said he; "it would be the extreme of imprudence. I could not +bear it for Emma!--Emma is not strong. She would catch a dreadful cold. +So would poor little Harriet. So you would all. Mrs. Weston, you would +be quite laid up; do not let them talk of such a wild thing. Pray do +not let them talk of it. That young man (speaking lower) is very +thoughtless. Do not tell his father, but that young man is not quite +the thing. He has been opening the doors very often this evening, +and keeping them open very inconsiderately. He does not think of the +draught. I do not mean to set you against him, but indeed he is not +quite the thing!" + +Mrs. Weston was sorry for such a charge. She knew the importance of +it, and said every thing in her power to do it away. Every door was now +closed, the passage plan given up, and the first scheme of dancing only +in the room they were in resorted to again; and with such good-will on +Frank Churchill's part, that the space which a quarter of an hour before +had been deemed barely sufficient for five couple, was now endeavoured +to be made out quite enough for ten. + +"We were too magnificent," said he. "We allowed unnecessary room. Ten +couple may stand here very well." + +Emma demurred. "It would be a crowd--a sad crowd; and what could be +worse than dancing without space to turn in?" + +"Very true," he gravely replied; "it was very bad." But still he went on +measuring, and still he ended with, + +"I think there will be very tolerable room for ten couple." + +"No, no," said she, "you are quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful +to be standing so close! Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be +dancing in a crowd--and a crowd in a little room!" + +"There is no denying it," he replied. "I agree with you exactly. A crowd +in a little room--Miss Woodhouse, you have the art of giving pictures +in a few words. Exquisite, quite exquisite!--Still, however, having +proceeded so far, one is unwilling to give the matter up. It would be +a disappointment to my father--and altogether--I do not know that--I am +rather of opinion that ten couple might stand here very well." + +Emma perceived that the nature of his gallantry was a little +self-willed, and that he would rather oppose than lose the pleasure of +dancing with her; but she took the compliment, and forgave the rest. +Had she intended ever to _marry_ him, it might have been worth while to +pause and consider, and try to understand the value of his preference, +and the character of his temper; but for all the purposes of their +acquaintance, he was quite amiable enough. + +Before the middle of the next day, he was at Hartfield; and he entered +the room with such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of +the scheme. It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement. + +"Well, Miss Woodhouse," he almost immediately began, "your inclination +for dancing has not been quite frightened away, I hope, by the terrors +of my father's little rooms. I bring a new proposal on the subject:--a +thought of my father's, which waits only your approbation to be acted +upon. May I hope for the honour of your hand for the two first dances +of this little projected ball, to be given, not at Randalls, but at the +Crown Inn?" + +"The Crown!" + +"Yes; if you and Mr. Woodhouse see no objection, and I trust you cannot, +my father hopes his friends will be so kind as to visit him there. +Better accommodations, he can promise them, and not a less grateful +welcome than at Randalls. It is his own idea. Mrs. Weston sees no +objection to it, provided you are satisfied. This is what we all feel. +Oh! you were perfectly right! Ten couple, in either of the Randalls +rooms, would have been insufferable!--Dreadful!--I felt how right you +were the whole time, but was too anxious for securing _any_ _thing_ +to like to yield. Is not it a good exchange?--You consent--I hope you +consent?" + +"It appears to me a plan that nobody can object to, if Mr. and Mrs. +Weston do not. I think it admirable; and, as far as I can answer for +myself, shall be most happy--It seems the only improvement that could +be. Papa, do you not think it an excellent improvement?" + +She was obliged to repeat and explain it, before it was fully +comprehended; and then, being quite new, farther representations were +necessary to make it acceptable. + +"No; he thought it very far from an improvement--a very bad plan--much +worse than the other. A room at an inn was always damp and dangerous; +never properly aired, or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they +had better dance at Randalls. He had never been in the room at the Crown +in his life--did not know the people who kept it by sight.--Oh! no--a +very bad plan. They would catch worse colds at the Crown than anywhere." + +"I was going to observe, sir," said Frank Churchill, "that one of the +great recommendations of this change would be the very little danger +of any body's catching cold--so much less danger at the Crown than at +Randalls! Mr. Perry might have reason to regret the alteration, but +nobody else could." + +"Sir," said Mr. Woodhouse, rather warmly, "you are very much mistaken +if you suppose Mr. Perry to be that sort of character. Mr. Perry is +extremely concerned when any of us are ill. But I do not understand how +the room at the Crown can be safer for you than your father's house." + +"From the very circumstance of its being larger, sir. We shall have no +occasion to open the windows at all--not once the whole evening; and it +is that dreadful habit of opening the windows, letting in cold air upon +heated bodies, which (as you well know, sir) does the mischief." + +"Open the windows!--but surely, Mr. Churchill, nobody would think of +opening the windows at Randalls. Nobody could be so imprudent! I never +heard of such a thing. Dancing with open windows!--I am sure, neither +your father nor Mrs. Weston (poor Miss Taylor that was) would suffer +it." + +"Ah! sir--but a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a +window-curtain, and throw up a sash, without its being suspected. I have +often known it done myself." + +"Have you indeed, sir?--Bless me! I never could have supposed it. But I +live out of the world, and am often astonished at what I hear. However, +this does make a difference; and, perhaps, when we come to talk it +over--but these sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One +cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If Mr. and Mrs. Weston will be so +obliging as to call here one morning, we may talk it over, and see what +can be done." + +"But, unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited--" + +"Oh!" interrupted Emma, "there will be plenty of time for talking every +thing over. There is no hurry at all. If it can be contrived to be at +the Crown, papa, it will be very convenient for the horses. They will be +so near their own stable." + +"So they will, my dear. That is a great thing. Not that James ever +complains; but it is right to spare our horses when we can. If I could +be sure of the rooms being thoroughly aired--but is Mrs. Stokes to be +trusted? I doubt it. I do not know her, even by sight." + +"I can answer for every thing of that nature, sir, because it will be +under Mrs. Weston's care. Mrs. Weston undertakes to direct the whole." + +"There, papa!--Now you must be satisfied--Our own dear Mrs. Weston, who +is carefulness itself. Do not you remember what Mr. Perry said, so many +years ago, when I had the measles? 'If _Miss_ _Taylor_ undertakes to +wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have any fears, sir.' How often have I +heard you speak of it as such a compliment to her!" + +"Aye, very true. Mr. Perry did say so. I shall never forget it. Poor +little Emma! You were very bad with the measles; that is, you would have +been very bad, but for Perry's great attention. He came four times a day +for a week. He said, from the first, it was a very good sort--which +was our great comfort; but the measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope +whenever poor Isabella's little ones have the measles, she will send for +Perry." + +"My father and Mrs. Weston are at the Crown at this moment," said Frank +Churchill, "examining the capabilities of the house. I left them there +and came on to Hartfield, impatient for your opinion, and hoping you +might be persuaded to join them and give your advice on the spot. I was +desired to say so from both. It would be the greatest pleasure to +them, if you could allow me to attend you there. They can do nothing +satisfactorily without you." + +Emma was most happy to be called to such a council; and her father, +engaging to think it all over while she was gone, the two young people +set off together without delay for the Crown. There were Mr. and Mrs. +Weston; delighted to see her and receive her approbation, very busy and +very happy in their different way; she, in some little distress; and he, +finding every thing perfect. + +"Emma," said she, "this paper is worse than I expected. Look! in places +you see it is dreadfully dirty; and the wainscot is more yellow and +forlorn than any thing I could have imagined." + +"My dear, you are too particular," said her husband. "What does all that +signify? You will see nothing of it by candlelight. It will be as +clean as Randalls by candlelight. We never see any thing of it on our +club-nights." + +The ladies here probably exchanged looks which meant, "Men never know +when things are dirty or not;" and the gentlemen perhaps thought each to +himself, "Women will have their little nonsenses and needless cares." + +One perplexity, however, arose, which the gentlemen did not disdain. +It regarded a supper-room. At the time of the ballroom's being built, +suppers had not been in question; and a small card-room adjoining, was +the only addition. What was to be done? This card-room would be wanted +as a card-room now; or, if cards were conveniently voted unnecessary +by their four selves, still was it not too small for any comfortable +supper? Another room of much better size might be secured for the +purpose; but it was at the other end of the house, and a long awkward +passage must be gone through to get at it. This made a difficulty. Mrs. +Weston was afraid of draughts for the young people in that passage; +and neither Emma nor the gentlemen could tolerate the prospect of being +miserably crowded at supper. + +Mrs. Weston proposed having no regular supper; merely sandwiches, +&c., set out in the little room; but that was scouted as a wretched +suggestion. A private dance, without sitting down to supper, was +pronounced an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women; and +Mrs. Weston must not speak of it again. She then took another line of +expediency, and looking into the doubtful room, observed, + +"I do not think it _is_ so very small. We shall not be many, you know." + +And Mr. Weston at the same time, walking briskly with long steps through +the passage, was calling out, + +"You talk a great deal of the length of this passage, my dear. It is a +mere nothing after all; and not the least draught from the stairs." + +"I wish," said Mrs. Weston, "one could know which arrangement our guests +in general would like best. To do what would be most generally pleasing +must be our object--if one could but tell what that would be." + +"Yes, very true," cried Frank, "very true. You want your neighbours' +opinions. I do not wonder at you. If one could ascertain what the chief +of them--the Coles, for instance. They are not far off. Shall I call +upon them? Or Miss Bates? She is still nearer.--And I do not know +whether Miss Bates is not as likely to understand the inclinations of +the rest of the people as any body. I think we do want a larger council. +Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to join us?" + +"Well--if you please," said Mrs. Weston rather hesitating, "if you think +she will be of any use." + +"You will get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates," said Emma. "She +will be all delight and gratitude, but she will tell you nothing. She +will not even listen to your questions. I see no advantage in consulting +Miss Bates." + +"But she is so amusing, so extremely amusing! I am very fond of hearing +Miss Bates talk. And I need not bring the whole family, you know." + +Here Mr. Weston joined them, and on hearing what was proposed, gave it +his decided approbation. + +"Aye, do, Frank.--Go and fetch Miss Bates, and let us end the matter at +once. She will enjoy the scheme, I am sure; and I do not know a properer +person for shewing us how to do away difficulties. Fetch Miss Bates. +We are growing a little too nice. She is a standing lesson of how to be +happy. But fetch them both. Invite them both." + +"Both sir! Can the old lady?"... + +"The old lady! No, the young lady, to be sure. I shall think you a great +blockhead, Frank, if you bring the aunt without the niece." + +"Oh! I beg your pardon, sir. I did not immediately recollect. +Undoubtedly if you wish it, I will endeavour to persuade them both." And +away he ran. + +Long before he reappeared, attending the short, neat, brisk-moving aunt, +and her elegant niece,--Mrs. Weston, like a sweet-tempered woman and +a good wife, had examined the passage again, and found the evils of it +much less than she had supposed before--indeed very trifling; and here +ended the difficulties of decision. All the rest, in speculation at +least, was perfectly smooth. All the minor arrangements of table and +chair, lights and music, tea and supper, made themselves; or were left +as mere trifles to be settled at any time between Mrs. Weston and Mrs. +Stokes.--Every body invited, was certainly to come; Frank had already +written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days beyond his fortnight, +which could not possibly be refused. And a delightful dance it was to +be. + +Most cordially, when Miss Bates arrived, did she agree that it must. +As a counsellor she was not wanted; but as an approver, (a much safer +character,) she was truly welcome. Her approbation, at once general +and minute, warm and incessant, could not but please; and for another +half-hour they were all walking to and fro, between the different rooms, +some suggesting, some attending, and all in happy enjoyment of the +future. The party did not break up without Emma's being positively +secured for the two first dances by the hero of the evening, nor without +her overhearing Mr. Weston whisper to his wife, "He has asked her, my +dear. That's right. I knew he would!" + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +One thing only was wanting to make the prospect of the ball completely +satisfactory to Emma--its being fixed for a day within the granted +term of Frank Churchill's stay in Surry; for, in spite of Mr. Weston's +confidence, she could not think it so very impossible that the +Churchills might not allow their nephew to remain a day beyond his +fortnight. But this was not judged feasible. The preparations must take +their time, nothing could be properly ready till the third week were +entered on, and for a few days they must be planning, proceeding and +hoping in uncertainty--at the risk--in her opinion, the great risk, of +its being all in vain. + +Enscombe however was gracious, gracious in fact, if not in word. His +wish of staying longer evidently did not please; but it was not opposed. +All was safe and prosperous; and as the removal of one solicitude +generally makes way for another, Emma, being now certain of her +ball, began to adopt as the next vexation Mr. Knightley's provoking +indifference about it. Either because he did not dance himself, or +because the plan had been formed without his being consulted, he +seemed resolved that it should not interest him, determined against its +exciting any present curiosity, or affording him any future amusement. +To her voluntary communications Emma could get no more approving reply, +than, + +"Very well. If the Westons think it worth while to be at all this +trouble for a few hours of noisy entertainment, I have nothing to say +against it, but that they shall not chuse pleasures for me.--Oh! yes, +I must be there; I could not refuse; and I will keep as much awake as +I can; but I would rather be at home, looking over William Larkins's +week's account; much rather, I confess.--Pleasure in seeing +dancing!--not I, indeed--I never look at it--I do not know who +does.--Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward. +Those who are standing by are usually thinking of something very +different." + +This Emma felt was aimed at her; and it made her quite angry. It was not +in compliment to Jane Fairfax however that he was so indifferent, or so +indignant; he was not guided by _her_ feelings in reprobating the ball, +for _she_ enjoyed the thought of it to an extraordinary degree. It made +her animated--open hearted--she voluntarily said;-- + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, I hope nothing may happen to prevent the ball. +What a disappointment it would be! I do look forward to it, I own, with +_very_ great pleasure." + +It was not to oblige Jane Fairfax therefore that he would have preferred +the society of William Larkins. No!--she was more and more convinced +that Mrs. Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise. There was a great +deal of friendly and of compassionate attachment on his side--but no +love. + +Alas! there was soon no leisure for quarrelling with Mr. Knightley. Two +days of joyful security were immediately followed by the over-throw of +every thing. A letter arrived from Mr. Churchill to urge his nephew's +instant return. Mrs. Churchill was unwell--far too unwell to do without +him; she had been in a very suffering state (so said her husband) +when writing to her nephew two days before, though from her usual +unwillingness to give pain, and constant habit of never thinking of +herself, she had not mentioned it; but now she was too ill to trifle, +and must entreat him to set off for Enscombe without delay. + +The substance of this letter was forwarded to Emma, in a note from Mrs. +Weston, instantly. As to his going, it was inevitable. He must be gone +within a few hours, though without feeling any real alarm for his aunt, +to lessen his repugnance. He knew her illnesses; they never occurred but +for her own convenience. + +Mrs. Weston added, "that he could only allow himself time to hurry to +Highbury, after breakfast, and take leave of the few friends there +whom he could suppose to feel any interest in him; and that he might be +expected at Hartfield very soon." + +This wretched note was the finale of Emma's breakfast. When once it had +been read, there was no doing any thing, but lament and exclaim. The +loss of the ball--the loss of the young man--and all that the young man +might be feeling!--It was too wretched!--Such a delightful evening as +it would have been!--Every body so happy! and she and her partner the +happiest!--"I said it would be so," was the only consolation. + +Her father's feelings were quite distinct. He thought principally of +Mrs. Churchill's illness, and wanted to know how she was treated; and as +for the ball, it was shocking to have dear Emma disappointed; but they +would all be safer at home. + +Emma was ready for her visitor some time before he appeared; but if this +reflected at all upon his impatience, his sorrowful look and total want +of spirits when he did come might redeem him. He felt the going away +almost too much to speak of it. His dejection was most evident. He +sat really lost in thought for the first few minutes; and when rousing +himself, it was only to say, + +"Of all horrid things, leave-taking is the worst." + +"But you will come again," said Emma. "This will not be your only visit +to Randalls." + +"Ah!--(shaking his head)--the uncertainty of when I may be able to +return!--I shall try for it with a zeal!--It will be the object of +all my thoughts and cares!--and if my uncle and aunt go to town this +spring--but I am afraid--they did not stir last spring--I am afraid it +is a custom gone for ever." + +"Our poor ball must be quite given up." + +"Ah! that ball!--why did we wait for any thing?--why not seize the +pleasure at once?--How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, +foolish preparation!--You told us it would be so.--Oh! Miss Woodhouse, +why are you always so right?" + +"Indeed, I am very sorry to be right in this instance. I would much +rather have been merry than wise." + +"If I can come again, we are still to have our ball. My father depends +on it. Do not forget your engagement." + +Emma looked graciously. + +"Such a fortnight as it has been!" he continued; "every day more +precious and more delightful than the day before!--every day making +me less fit to bear any other place. Happy those, who can remain at +Highbury!" + +"As you do us such ample justice now," said Emma, laughing, "I will +venture to ask, whether you did not come a little doubtfully at first? +Do not we rather surpass your expectations? I am sure we do. I am sure +you did not much expect to like us. You would not have been so long in +coming, if you had had a pleasant idea of Highbury." + +He laughed rather consciously; and though denying the sentiment, Emma +was convinced that it had been so. + +"And you must be off this very morning?" + +"Yes; my father is to join me here: we shall walk back together, and I +must be off immediately. I am almost afraid that every moment will bring +him." + +"Not five minutes to spare even for your friends Miss Fairfax and Miss +Bates? How unlucky! Miss Bates's powerful, argumentative mind might have +strengthened yours." + +"Yes--I _have_ called there; passing the door, I thought it better. It +was a right thing to do. I went in for three minutes, and was detained +by Miss Bates's being absent. She was out; and I felt it impossible not +to wait till she came in. She is a woman that one may, that one _must_ +laugh at; but that one would not wish to slight. It was better to pay my +visit, then"-- + +He hesitated, got up, walked to a window. + +"In short," said he, "perhaps, Miss Woodhouse--I think you can hardly be +quite without suspicion"-- + +He looked at her, as if wanting to read her thoughts. She hardly knew +what to say. It seemed like the forerunner of something absolutely +serious, which she did not wish. Forcing herself to speak, therefore, in +the hope of putting it by, she calmly said, + +"You are quite in the right; it was most natural to pay your visit, +then"-- + +He was silent. She believed he was looking at her; probably reflecting +on what she had said, and trying to understand the manner. She heard +him sigh. It was natural for him to feel that he had _cause_ to sigh. +He could not believe her to be encouraging him. A few awkward moments +passed, and he sat down again; and in a more determined manner said, + +"It was something to feel that all the rest of my time might be given to +Hartfield. My regard for Hartfield is most warm"-- + +He stopt again, rose again, and seemed quite embarrassed.--He was more +in love with her than Emma had supposed; and who can say how it might +have ended, if his father had not made his appearance? Mr. Woodhouse +soon followed; and the necessity of exertion made him composed. + +A very few minutes more, however, completed the present trial. Mr. +Weston, always alert when business was to be done, and as incapable of +procrastinating any evil that was inevitable, as of foreseeing any that +was doubtful, said, "It was time to go;" and the young man, though he +might and did sigh, could not but agree, to take leave. + +"I shall hear about you all," said he; "that is my chief consolation. +I shall hear of every thing that is going on among you. I have engaged +Mrs. Weston to correspond with me. She has been so kind as to promise +it. Oh! the blessing of a female correspondent, when one is really +interested in the absent!--she will tell me every thing. In her letters +I shall be at dear Highbury again." + +A very friendly shake of the hand, a very earnest "Good-bye," closed the +speech, and the door had soon shut out Frank Churchill. Short had been +the notice--short their meeting; he was gone; and Emma felt so sorry +to part, and foresaw so great a loss to their little society from his +absence as to begin to be afraid of being too sorry, and feeling it too +much. + +It was a sad change. They had been meeting almost every day since his +arrival. Certainly his being at Randalls had given great spirit to +the last two weeks--indescribable spirit; the idea, the expectation +of seeing him which every morning had brought, the assurance of his +attentions, his liveliness, his manners! It had been a very happy +fortnight, and forlorn must be the sinking from it into the common +course of Hartfield days. To complete every other recommendation, he had +_almost_ told her that he loved her. What strength, or what constancy of +affection he might be subject to, was another point; but at present +she could not doubt his having a decidedly warm admiration, a conscious +preference of herself; and this persuasion, joined to all the rest, +made her think that she _must_ be a little in love with him, in spite of +every previous determination against it. + +"I certainly must," said she. "This sensation of listlessness, +weariness, stupidity, this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, +this feeling of every thing's being dull and insipid about the house!-- +I must be in love; I should be the oddest creature in the world if I +were not--for a few weeks at least. Well! evil to some is always good to +others. I shall have many fellow-mourners for the ball, if not for Frank +Churchill; but Mr. Knightley will be happy. He may spend the evening +with his dear William Larkins now if he likes." + +Mr. Knightley, however, shewed no triumphant happiness. He could not say +that he was sorry on his own account; his very cheerful look would have +contradicted him if he had; but he said, and very steadily, that he +was sorry for the disappointment of the others, and with considerable +kindness added, + +"You, Emma, who have so few opportunities of dancing, you are really out +of luck; you are very much out of luck!" + +It was some days before she saw Jane Fairfax, to judge of her honest +regret in this woeful change; but when they did meet, her composure +was odious. She had been particularly unwell, however, suffering from +headache to a degree, which made her aunt declare, that had the ball +taken place, she did not think Jane could have attended it; and it was +charity to impute some of her unbecoming indifference to the languor of +ill-health. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Emma continued to entertain no doubt of her being in love. Her ideas +only varied as to the how much. At first, she thought it was a good +deal; and afterwards, but little. She had great pleasure in hearing +Frank Churchill talked of; and, for his sake, greater pleasure than ever +in seeing Mr. and Mrs. Weston; she was very often thinking of him, and +quite impatient for a letter, that she might know how he was, how were +his spirits, how was his aunt, and what was the chance of his coming to +Randalls again this spring. But, on the other hand, she could not admit +herself to be unhappy, nor, after the first morning, to be less disposed +for employment than usual; she was still busy and cheerful; and, +pleasing as he was, she could yet imagine him to have faults; and +farther, though thinking of him so much, and, as she sat drawing or +working, forming a thousand amusing schemes for the progress and close +of their attachment, fancying interesting dialogues, and inventing +elegant letters; the conclusion of every imaginary declaration on his +side was that she _refused_ _him_. Their affection was always to subside +into friendship. Every thing tender and charming was to mark their +parting; but still they were to part. When she became sensible of this, +it struck her that she could not be very much in love; for in spite of +her previous and fixed determination never to quit her father, never +to marry, a strong attachment certainly must produce more of a struggle +than she could foresee in her own feelings. + +"I do not find myself making any use of the word _sacrifice_," said +she.--"In not one of all my clever replies, my delicate negatives, is +there any allusion to making a sacrifice. I do suspect that he is not +really necessary to my happiness. So much the better. I certainly will +not persuade myself to feel more than I do. I am quite enough in love. I +should be sorry to be more." + +Upon the whole, she was equally contented with her view of his feelings. + +"_He_ is undoubtedly very much in love--every thing denotes it--very +much in love indeed!--and when he comes again, if his affection +continue, I must be on my guard not to encourage it.--It would be most +inexcusable to do otherwise, as my own mind is quite made up. Not that I +imagine he can think I have been encouraging him hitherto. No, if he +had believed me at all to share his feelings, he would not have been +so wretched. Could he have thought himself encouraged, his looks and +language at parting would have been different.--Still, however, I must +be on my guard. This is in the supposition of his attachment continuing +what it now is; but I do not know that I expect it will; I do not look +upon him to be quite the sort of man--I do not altogether build upon +his steadiness or constancy.--His feelings are warm, but I can imagine +them rather changeable.--Every consideration of the subject, in short, +makes me thankful that my happiness is not more deeply involved.--I +shall do very well again after a little while--and then, it will be a +good thing over; for they say every body is in love once in their lives, +and I shall have been let off easily." + +When his letter to Mrs. Weston arrived, Emma had the perusal of it; and +she read it with a degree of pleasure and admiration which made her +at first shake her head over her own sensations, and think she had +undervalued their strength. It was a long, well-written letter, giving +the particulars of his journey and of his feelings, expressing all the +affection, gratitude, and respect which was natural and honourable, +and describing every thing exterior and local that could be supposed +attractive, with spirit and precision. No suspicious flourishes now of +apology or concern; it was the language of real feeling towards Mrs. +Weston; and the transition from Highbury to Enscombe, the contrast +between the places in some of the first blessings of social life was +just enough touched on to shew how keenly it was felt, and how much more +might have been said but for the restraints of propriety.--The charm +of her own name was not wanting. _Miss_ _Woodhouse_ appeared more than +once, and never without a something of pleasing connexion, either a +compliment to her taste, or a remembrance of what she had said; and in +the very last time of its meeting her eye, unadorned as it was by any +such broad wreath of gallantry, she yet could discern the effect of +her influence and acknowledge the greatest compliment perhaps of all +conveyed. Compressed into the very lowest vacant corner were these +words--"I had not a spare moment on Tuesday, as you know, for Miss +Woodhouse's beautiful little friend. Pray make my excuses and adieus +to her." This, Emma could not doubt, was all for herself. Harriet was +remembered only from being _her_ friend. His information and prospects +as to Enscombe were neither worse nor better than had been anticipated; +Mrs. Churchill was recovering, and he dared not yet, even in his own +imagination, fix a time for coming to Randalls again. + +Gratifying, however, and stimulative as was the letter in the material +part, its sentiments, she yet found, when it was folded up and returned +to Mrs. Weston, that it had not added any lasting warmth, that she could +still do without the writer, and that he must learn to do without her. +Her intentions were unchanged. Her resolution of refusal only grew more +interesting by the addition of a scheme for his subsequent consolation +and happiness. His recollection of Harriet, and the words which +clothed it, the "beautiful little friend," suggested to her the +idea of Harriet's succeeding her in his affections. Was it +impossible?--No.--Harriet undoubtedly was greatly his inferior in +understanding; but he had been very much struck with the loveliness +of her face and the warm simplicity of her manner; and all the +probabilities of circumstance and connexion were in her favour.--For +Harriet, it would be advantageous and delightful indeed. + +"I must not dwell upon it," said she.--"I must not think of it. I know +the danger of indulging such speculations. But stranger things have +happened; and when we cease to care for each other as we do now, it +will be the means of confirming us in that sort of true disinterested +friendship which I can already look forward to with pleasure." + +It was well to have a comfort in store on Harriet's behalf, though it +might be wise to let the fancy touch it seldom; for evil in that quarter +was at hand. As Frank Churchill's arrival had succeeded Mr. Elton's +engagement in the conversation of Highbury, as the latest interest +had entirely borne down the first, so now upon Frank Churchill's +disappearance, Mr. Elton's concerns were assuming the most irresistible +form.--His wedding-day was named. He would soon be among them again; Mr. +Elton and his bride. There was hardly time to talk over the first letter +from Enscombe before "Mr. Elton and his bride" was in every body's +mouth, and Frank Churchill was forgotten. Emma grew sick at the sound. +She had had three weeks of happy exemption from Mr. Elton; and Harriet's +mind, she had been willing to hope, had been lately gaining strength. +With Mr. Weston's ball in view at least, there had been a great deal of +insensibility to other things; but it was now too evident that she had +not attained such a state of composure as could stand against the actual +approach--new carriage, bell-ringing, and all. + +Poor Harriet was in a flutter of spirits which required all the +reasonings and soothings and attentions of every kind that Emma could +give. Emma felt that she could not do too much for her, that Harriet had +a right to all her ingenuity and all her patience; but it was heavy work +to be for ever convincing without producing any effect, for ever agreed +to, without being able to make their opinions the same. Harriet listened +submissively, and said "it was very true--it was just as Miss Woodhouse +described--it was not worth while to think about them--and she would not +think about them any longer" but no change of subject could avail, and +the next half-hour saw her as anxious and restless about the Eltons as +before. At last Emma attacked her on another ground. + +"Your allowing yourself to be so occupied and so unhappy about Mr. +Elton's marrying, Harriet, is the strongest reproach you can make _me_. +You could not give me a greater reproof for the mistake I fell into. +It was all my doing, I know. I have not forgotten it, I assure +you.--Deceived myself, I did very miserably deceive you--and it will +be a painful reflection to me for ever. Do not imagine me in danger of +forgetting it." + +Harriet felt this too much to utter more than a few words of eager +exclamation. Emma continued, + +"I have not said, exert yourself Harriet for my sake; think less, talk +less of Mr. Elton for my sake; because for your own sake rather, I +would wish it to be done, for the sake of what is more important than my +comfort, a habit of self-command in you, a consideration of what is your +duty, an attention to propriety, an endeavour to avoid the suspicions of +others, to save your health and credit, and restore your tranquillity. +These are the motives which I have been pressing on you. They are very +important--and sorry I am that you cannot feel them sufficiently to act +upon them. My being saved from pain is a very secondary consideration. +I want you to save yourself from greater pain. Perhaps I may sometimes +have felt that Harriet would not forget what was due--or rather what +would be kind by me." + +This appeal to her affections did more than all the rest. The idea of +wanting gratitude and consideration for Miss Woodhouse, whom she really +loved extremely, made her wretched for a while, and when the violence +of grief was comforted away, still remained powerful enough to prompt to +what was right and support her in it very tolerably. + +"You, who have been the best friend I ever had in my life--Want +gratitude to you!--Nobody is equal to you!--I care for nobody as I do +for you!--Oh! Miss Woodhouse, how ungrateful I have been!" + +Such expressions, assisted as they were by every thing that look and +manner could do, made Emma feel that she had never loved Harriet so +well, nor valued her affection so highly before. + +"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart," said she afterwards to +herself. "There is nothing to be compared to it. Warmth and tenderness +of heart, with an affectionate, open manner, will beat all the +clearness of head in the world, for attraction, I am sure it will. It +is tenderness of heart which makes my dear father so generally +beloved--which gives Isabella all her popularity.--I have it not--but +I know how to prize and respect it.--Harriet is my superior in all the +charm and all the felicity it gives. Dear Harriet!--I would not change +you for the clearest-headed, longest-sighted, best-judging female +breathing. Oh! the coldness of a Jane Fairfax!--Harriet is worth a +hundred such--And for a wife--a sensible man's wife--it is invaluable. I +mention no names; but happy the man who changes Emma for Harriet!" + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Mrs. Elton was first seen at church: but though devotion might be +interrupted, curiosity could not be satisfied by a bride in a pew, and +it must be left for the visits in form which were then to be paid, to +settle whether she were very pretty indeed, or only rather pretty, or +not pretty at all. + +Emma had feelings, less of curiosity than of pride or propriety, to make +her resolve on not being the last to pay her respects; and she made a +point of Harriet's going with her, that the worst of the business might +be gone through as soon as possible. + +She could not enter the house again, could not be in the same room to +which she had with such vain artifice retreated three months ago, to +lace up her boot, without _recollecting_. A thousand vexatious thoughts +would recur. Compliments, charades, and horrible blunders; and it was +not to be supposed that poor Harriet should not be recollecting too; but +she behaved very well, and was only rather pale and silent. The visit +was of course short; and there was so much embarrassment and occupation +of mind to shorten it, that Emma would not allow herself entirely to +form an opinion of the lady, and on no account to give one, beyond the +nothing-meaning terms of being "elegantly dressed, and very pleasing." + +She did not really like her. She would not be in a hurry to find fault, +but she suspected that there was no elegance;--ease, but not elegance.-- +She was almost sure that for a young woman, a stranger, a bride, there +was too much ease. Her person was rather good; her face not unpretty; +but neither feature, nor air, nor voice, nor manner, were elegant. Emma +thought at least it would turn out so. + +As for Mr. Elton, his manners did not appear--but no, she would not +permit a hasty or a witty word from herself about his manners. It was an +awkward ceremony at any time to be receiving wedding visits, and a man +had need be all grace to acquit himself well through it. The woman +was better off; she might have the assistance of fine clothes, and the +privilege of bashfulness, but the man had only his own good sense to +depend on; and when she considered how peculiarly unlucky poor Mr. +Elton was in being in the same room at once with the woman he had just +married, the woman he had wanted to marry, and the woman whom he had +been expected to marry, she must allow him to have the right to look as +little wise, and to be as much affectedly, and as little really easy as +could be. + +"Well, Miss Woodhouse," said Harriet, when they had quitted the +house, and after waiting in vain for her friend to begin; "Well, Miss +Woodhouse, (with a gentle sigh,) what do you think of her?--Is not she +very charming?" + +There was a little hesitation in Emma's answer. + +"Oh! yes--very--a very pleasing young woman." + +"I think her beautiful, quite beautiful." + +"Very nicely dressed, indeed; a remarkably elegant gown." + +"I am not at all surprized that he should have fallen in love." + +"Oh! no--there is nothing to surprize one at all.--A pretty fortune; and +she came in his way." + +"I dare say," returned Harriet, sighing again, "I dare say she was very +much attached to him." + +"Perhaps she might; but it is not every man's fate to marry the woman +who loves him best. Miss Hawkins perhaps wanted a home, and thought this +the best offer she was likely to have." + +"Yes," said Harriet earnestly, "and well she might, nobody could ever +have a better. Well, I wish them happy with all my heart. And now, Miss +Woodhouse, I do not think I shall mind seeing them again. He is just as +superior as ever;--but being married, you know, it is quite a different +thing. No, indeed, Miss Woodhouse, you need not be afraid; I can sit and +admire him now without any great misery. To know that he has not thrown +himself away, is such a comfort!--She does seem a charming young woman, +just what he deserves. Happy creature! He called her 'Augusta.' How +delightful!" + +When the visit was returned, Emma made up her mind. She could then see +more and judge better. From Harriet's happening not to be at Hartfield, +and her father's being present to engage Mr. Elton, she had a quarter +of an hour of the lady's conversation to herself, and could composedly +attend to her; and the quarter of an hour quite convinced her that +Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and +thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very +superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert +and familiar; that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, +and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that +her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good. + +Harriet would have been a better match. If not wise or refined herself, +she would have connected him with those who were; but Miss Hawkins, it +might be fairly supposed from her easy conceit, had been the best of +her own set. The rich brother-in-law near Bristol was the pride of the +alliance, and his place and his carriages were the pride of him. + +The very first subject after being seated was Maple Grove, "My brother +Mr. Suckling's seat;"--a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove. The +grounds of Hartfield were small, but neat and pretty; and the house was +modern and well-built. Mrs. Elton seemed most favourably impressed +by the size of the room, the entrance, and all that she could see or +imagine. "Very like Maple Grove indeed!--She was quite struck by the +likeness!--That room was the very shape and size of the morning-room +at Maple Grove; her sister's favourite room."--Mr. Elton was appealed +to.--"Was not it astonishingly like?--She could really almost fancy +herself at Maple Grove." + +"And the staircase--You know, as I came in, I observed how very like the +staircase was; placed exactly in the same part of the house. I really +could not help exclaiming! I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, it is very +delightful to me, to be reminded of a place I am so extremely partial to +as Maple Grove. I have spent so many happy months there! (with a little +sigh of sentiment). A charming place, undoubtedly. Every body who +sees it is struck by its beauty; but to me, it has been quite a home. +Whenever you are transplanted, like me, Miss Woodhouse, you will +understand how very delightful it is to meet with any thing at all like +what one has left behind. I always say this is quite one of the evils of +matrimony." + +Emma made as slight a reply as she could; but it was fully sufficient +for Mrs. Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself. + +"So extremely like Maple Grove! And it is not merely the house--the +grounds, I assure you, as far as I could observe, are strikingly like. +The laurels at Maple Grove are in the same profusion as here, and stand +very much in the same way--just across the lawn; and I had a glimpse +of a fine large tree, with a bench round it, which put me so exactly in +mind! My brother and sister will be enchanted with this place. People +who have extensive grounds themselves are always pleased with any thing +in the same style." + +Emma doubted the truth of this sentiment. She had a great idea that +people who had extensive grounds themselves cared very little for the +extensive grounds of any body else; but it was not worth while to attack +an error so double-dyed, and therefore only said in reply, + +"When you have seen more of this country, I am afraid you will think you +have overrated Hartfield. Surry is full of beauties." + +"Oh! yes, I am quite aware of that. It is the garden of England, you +know. Surry is the garden of England." + +"Yes; but we must not rest our claims on that distinction. Many +counties, I believe, are called the garden of England, as well as +Surry." + +"No, I fancy not," replied Mrs. Elton, with a most satisfied smile. +"I never heard any county but Surry called so." + +Emma was silenced. + +"My brother and sister have promised us a visit in the spring, or summer +at farthest," continued Mrs. Elton; "and that will be our time for +exploring. While they are with us, we shall explore a great deal, I dare +say. They will have their barouche-landau, of course, which holds four +perfectly; and therefore, without saying any thing of _our_ carriage, +we should be able to explore the different beauties extremely well. They +would hardly come in their chaise, I think, at that season of the +year. Indeed, when the time draws on, I shall decidedly recommend their +bringing the barouche-landau; it will be so very much preferable. +When people come into a beautiful country of this sort, you know, Miss +Woodhouse, one naturally wishes them to see as much as possible; and Mr. +Suckling is extremely fond of exploring. We explored to King's-Weston +twice last summer, in that way, most delightfully, just after their +first having the barouche-landau. You have many parties of that kind +here, I suppose, Miss Woodhouse, every summer?" + +"No; not immediately here. We are rather out of distance of the very +striking beauties which attract the sort of parties you speak of; and we +are a very quiet set of people, I believe; more disposed to stay at home +than engage in schemes of pleasure." + +"Ah! there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. Nobody can +be more devoted to home than I am. I was quite a proverb for it at Maple +Grove. Many a time has Selina said, when she has been going to Bristol, +'I really cannot get this girl to move from the house. I absolutely must +go in by myself, though I hate being stuck up in the barouche-landau +without a companion; but Augusta, I believe, with her own good-will, +would never stir beyond the park paling.' Many a time has she said so; +and yet I am no advocate for entire seclusion. I think, on the contrary, +when people shut themselves up entirely from society, it is a very +bad thing; and that it is much more advisable to mix in the world in +a proper degree, without living in it either too much or too little. I +perfectly understand your situation, however, Miss Woodhouse--(looking +towards Mr. Woodhouse), Your father's state of health must be a great +drawback. Why does not he try Bath?--Indeed he should. Let me recommend +Bath to you. I assure you I have no doubt of its doing Mr. Woodhouse +good." + +"My father tried it more than once, formerly; but without receiving any +benefit; and Mr. Perry, whose name, I dare say, is not unknown to you, +does not conceive it would be at all more likely to be useful now." + +"Ah! that's a great pity; for I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, where the +waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give. In my Bath +life, I have seen such instances of it! And it is so cheerful a place, +that it could not fail of being of use to Mr. Woodhouse's spirits, +which, I understand, are sometimes much depressed. And as to its +recommendations to _you_, I fancy I need not take much pains to dwell +on them. The advantages of Bath to the young are pretty generally +understood. It would be a charming introduction for you, who have lived +so secluded a life; and I could immediately secure you some of the best +society in the place. A line from me would bring you a little host of +acquaintance; and my particular friend, Mrs. Partridge, the lady I have +always resided with when in Bath, would be most happy to shew you any +attentions, and would be the very person for you to go into public +with." + +It was as much as Emma could bear, without being impolite. The idea +of her being indebted to Mrs. Elton for what was called an +_introduction_--of her going into public under the auspices of a friend +of Mrs. Elton's--probably some vulgar, dashing widow, who, with the +help of a boarder, just made a shift to live!--The dignity of Miss +Woodhouse, of Hartfield, was sunk indeed! + +She restrained herself, however, from any of the reproofs she could have +given, and only thanked Mrs. Elton coolly; "but their going to Bath was +quite out of the question; and she was not perfectly convinced that +the place might suit her better than her father." And then, to prevent +farther outrage and indignation, changed the subject directly. + +"I do not ask whether you are musical, Mrs. Elton. Upon these occasions, +a lady's character generally precedes her; and Highbury has long known +that you are a superior performer." + +"Oh! no, indeed; I must protest against any such idea. A superior +performer!--very far from it, I assure you. Consider from how partial +a quarter your information came. I am doatingly fond of +music--passionately fond;--and my friends say I am not entirely devoid +of taste; but as to any thing else, upon my honour my performance is +_mediocre_ to the last degree. You, Miss Woodhouse, I well know, play +delightfully. I assure you it has been the greatest satisfaction, +comfort, and delight to me, to hear what a musical society I am got +into. I absolutely cannot do without music. It is a necessary of life to +me; and having always been used to a very musical society, both at +Maple Grove and in Bath, it would have been a most serious sacrifice. I +honestly said as much to Mr. E. when he was speaking of my future +home, and expressing his fears lest the retirement of it should be +disagreeable; and the inferiority of the house too--knowing what I had +been accustomed to--of course he was not wholly without apprehension. +When he was speaking of it in that way, I honestly said that _the_ +_world_ I could give up--parties, balls, plays--for I had no fear of +retirement. Blessed with so many resources within myself, the world was +not necessary to _me_. I could do very well without it. To those who had +no resources it was a different thing; but my resources made me quite +independent. And as to smaller-sized rooms than I had been used to, I +really could not give it a thought. I hoped I was perfectly equal to any +sacrifice of that description. Certainly I had been accustomed to every +luxury at Maple Grove; but I did assure him that two carriages were not +necessary to my happiness, nor were spacious apartments. 'But,' said I, +'to be quite honest, I do not think I can live without something of a +musical society. I condition for nothing else; but without music, life +would be a blank to me.'" + +"We cannot suppose," said Emma, smiling, "that Mr. Elton would hesitate +to assure you of there being a _very_ musical society in Highbury; and +I hope you will not find he has outstepped the truth more than may be +pardoned, in consideration of the motive." + +"No, indeed, I have no doubts at all on that head. I am delighted to +find myself in such a circle. I hope we shall have many sweet little +concerts together. I think, Miss Woodhouse, you and I must establish a +musical club, and have regular weekly meetings at your house, or ours. +Will not it be a good plan? If _we_ exert ourselves, I think we shall +not be long in want of allies. Something of that nature would be +particularly desirable for _me_, as an inducement to keep me in +practice; for married women, you know--there is a sad story against +them, in general. They are but too apt to give up music." + +"But you, who are so extremely fond of it--there can be no danger, +surely?" + +"I should hope not; but really when I look around among my acquaintance, +I tremble. Selina has entirely given up music--never touches the +instrument--though she played sweetly. And the same may be said of Mrs. +Jeffereys--Clara Partridge, that was--and of the two Milmans, now Mrs. +Bird and Mrs. James Cooper; and of more than I can enumerate. Upon my +word it is enough to put one in a fright. I used to be quite angry with +Selina; but really I begin now to comprehend that a married woman has +many things to call her attention. I believe I was half an hour this +morning shut up with my housekeeper." + +"But every thing of that kind," said Emma, "will soon be in so regular a +train--" + +"Well," said Mrs. Elton, laughing, "we shall see." + +Emma, finding her so determined upon neglecting her music, had nothing +more to say; and, after a moment's pause, Mrs. Elton chose another +subject. + +"We have been calling at Randalls," said she, "and found them both at +home; and very pleasant people they seem to be. I like them extremely. +Mr. Weston seems an excellent creature--quite a first-rate favourite +with me already, I assure you. And _she_ appears so truly good--there is +something so motherly and kind-hearted about her, that it wins upon one +directly. She was your governess, I think?" + +Emma was almost too much astonished to answer; but Mrs. Elton hardly +waited for the affirmative before she went on. + +"Having understood as much, I was rather astonished to find her so very +lady-like! But she is really quite the gentlewoman." + +"Mrs. Weston's manners," said Emma, "were always particularly good. +Their propriety, simplicity, and elegance, would make them the safest +model for any young woman." + +"And who do you think came in while we were there?" + +Emma was quite at a loss. The tone implied some old acquaintance--and +how could she possibly guess? + +"Knightley!" continued Mrs. Elton; "Knightley himself!--Was not it +lucky?--for, not being within when he called the other day, I had never +seen him before; and of course, as so particular a friend of Mr. E.'s, +I had a great curiosity. 'My friend Knightley' had been so often +mentioned, that I was really impatient to see him; and I must do my +caro sposo the justice to say that he need not be ashamed of his friend. +Knightley is quite the gentleman. I like him very much. Decidedly, I +think, a very gentleman-like man." + +Happily, it was now time to be gone. They were off; and Emma could +breathe. + +"Insufferable woman!" was her immediate exclamation. "Worse than I had +supposed. Absolutely insufferable! Knightley!--I could not have +believed it. Knightley!--never seen him in her life before, and call +him Knightley!--and discover that he is a gentleman! A little upstart, +vulgar being, with her Mr. E., and her _caro_ _sposo_, and her +resources, and all her airs of pert pretension and underbred finery. +Actually to discover that Mr. Knightley is a gentleman! I doubt whether +he will return the compliment, and discover her to be a lady. I could +not have believed it! And to propose that she and I should unite to +form a musical club! One would fancy we were bosom friends! And Mrs. +Weston!--Astonished that the person who had brought me up should be a +gentlewoman! Worse and worse. I never met with her equal. Much beyond +my hopes. Harriet is disgraced by any comparison. Oh! what would Frank +Churchill say to her, if he were here? How angry and how diverted he +would be! Ah! there I am--thinking of him directly. Always the first +person to be thought of! How I catch myself out! Frank Churchill comes +as regularly into my mind!"-- + +All this ran so glibly through her thoughts, that by the time her father +had arranged himself, after the bustle of the Eltons' departure, and was +ready to speak, she was very tolerably capable of attending. + +"Well, my dear," he deliberately began, "considering we never saw her +before, she seems a very pretty sort of young lady; and I dare say she +was very much pleased with you. She speaks a little too quick. A little +quickness of voice there is which rather hurts the ear. But I believe +I am nice; I do not like strange voices; and nobody speaks like you and +poor Miss Taylor. However, she seems a very obliging, pretty-behaved +young lady, and no doubt will make him a very good wife. Though I think +he had better not have married. I made the best excuses I could for not +having been able to wait on him and Mrs. Elton on this happy occasion; I +said that I hoped I _should_ in the course of the summer. But I ought to +have gone before. Not to wait upon a bride is very remiss. Ah! it shews +what a sad invalid I am! But I do not like the corner into Vicarage +Lane." + +"I dare say your apologies were accepted, sir. Mr. Elton knows you." + +"Yes: but a young lady--a bride--I ought to have paid my respects to her +if possible. It was being very deficient." + +"But, my dear papa, you are no friend to matrimony; and therefore why +should you be so anxious to pay your respects to a _bride_? It ought to +be no recommendation to _you_. It is encouraging people to marry if you +make so much of them." + +"No, my dear, I never encouraged any body to marry, but I would always +wish to pay every proper attention to a lady--and a bride, especially, +is never to be neglected. More is avowedly due to _her_. A bride, you +know, my dear, is always the first in company, let the others be who +they may." + +"Well, papa, if this is not encouragement to marry, I do not know what +is. And I should never have expected you to be lending your sanction to +such vanity-baits for poor young ladies." + +"My dear, you do not understand me. This is a matter of mere +common politeness and good-breeding, and has nothing to do with any +encouragement to people to marry." + +Emma had done. Her father was growing nervous, and could not understand +_her_. Her mind returned to Mrs. Elton's offences, and long, very long, +did they occupy her. + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Emma was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her ill +opinion of Mrs. Elton. Her observation had been pretty correct. Such as +Mrs. Elton appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared +whenever they met again,--self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, +and ill-bred. She had a little beauty and a little accomplishment, +but so little judgment that she thought herself coming with superior +knowledge of the world, to enliven and improve a country neighbourhood; +and conceived Miss Hawkins to have held such a place in society as Mrs. +Elton's consequence only could surpass. + +There was no reason to suppose Mr. Elton thought at all differently from +his wife. He seemed not merely happy with her, but proud. He had the air +of congratulating himself on having brought such a woman to Highbury, +as not even Miss Woodhouse could equal; and the greater part of her +new acquaintance, disposed to commend, or not in the habit of judging, +following the lead of Miss Bates's good-will, or taking it for granted +that the bride must be as clever and as agreeable as she professed +herself, were very well satisfied; so that Mrs. Elton's praise +passed from one mouth to another as it ought to do, unimpeded by Miss +Woodhouse, who readily continued her first contribution and talked with +a good grace of her being "very pleasant and very elegantly dressed." + +In one respect Mrs. Elton grew even worse than she had appeared at +first. Her feelings altered towards Emma.--Offended, probably, by the +little encouragement which her proposals of intimacy met with, she drew +back in her turn and gradually became much more cold and distant; and +though the effect was agreeable, the ill-will which produced it was +necessarily increasing Emma's dislike. Her manners, too--and Mr. +Elton's, were unpleasant towards Harriet. They were sneering and +negligent. Emma hoped it must rapidly work Harriet's cure; but the +sensations which could prompt such behaviour sunk them both very +much.--It was not to be doubted that poor Harriet's attachment had been +an offering to conjugal unreserve, and her own share in the story, under +a colouring the least favourable to her and the most soothing to him, +had in all likelihood been given also. She was, of course, the object +of their joint dislike.--When they had nothing else to say, it must be +always easy to begin abusing Miss Woodhouse; and the enmity which +they dared not shew in open disrespect to her, found a broader vent in +contemptuous treatment of Harriet. + +Mrs. Elton took a great fancy to Jane Fairfax; and from the first. Not +merely when a state of warfare with one young lady might be supposed to +recommend the other, but from the very first; and she was not satisfied +with expressing a natural and reasonable admiration--but without +solicitation, or plea, or privilege, she must be wanting to assist and +befriend her.--Before Emma had forfeited her confidence, and about the +third time of their meeting, she heard all Mrs. Elton's knight-errantry +on the subject.-- + +"Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming, Miss Woodhouse.--I quite rave +about Jane Fairfax.--A sweet, interesting creature. So mild and +ladylike--and with such talents!--I assure you I think she has very +extraordinary talents. I do not scruple to say that she plays extremely +well. I know enough of music to speak decidedly on that point. Oh! she +is absolutely charming! You will laugh at my warmth--but, upon my word, +I talk of nothing but Jane Fairfax.--And her situation is so calculated +to affect one!--Miss Woodhouse, we must exert ourselves and endeavour +to do something for her. We must bring her forward. Such talent as hers +must not be suffered to remain unknown.--I dare say you have heard those +charming lines of the poet, + + 'Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, + 'And waste its fragrance on the desert air.' + +We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax." + +"I cannot think there is any danger of it," was Emma's calm answer--"and +when you are better acquainted with Miss Fairfax's situation and +understand what her home has been, with Colonel and Mrs. Campbell, I +have no idea that you will suppose her talents can be unknown." + +"Oh! but dear Miss Woodhouse, she is now in such retirement, such +obscurity, so thrown away.--Whatever advantages she may have enjoyed +with the Campbells are so palpably at an end! And I think she feels it. +I am sure she does. She is very timid and silent. One can see that she +feels the want of encouragement. I like her the better for it. I +must confess it is a recommendation to me. I am a great advocate for +timidity--and I am sure one does not often meet with it.--But in those +who are at all inferior, it is extremely prepossessing. Oh! I assure +you, Jane Fairfax is a very delightful character, and interests me more +than I can express." + +"You appear to feel a great deal--but I am not aware how you or any of +Miss Fairfax's acquaintance here, any of those who have known her longer +than yourself, can shew her any other attention than"-- + +"My dear Miss Woodhouse, a vast deal may be done by those who dare to +act. You and I need not be afraid. If _we_ set the example, many will +follow it as far as they can; though all have not our situations. _We_ +have carriages to fetch and convey her home, and _we_ live in a style +which could not make the addition of Jane Fairfax, at any time, the +least inconvenient.--I should be extremely displeased if Wright were to +send us up such a dinner, as could make me regret having asked _more_ +than Jane Fairfax to partake of it. I have no idea of that sort of +thing. It is not likely that I _should_, considering what I have been +used to. My greatest danger, perhaps, in housekeeping, may be quite the +other way, in doing too much, and being too careless of expense. Maple +Grove will probably be my model more than it ought to be--for we do not +at all affect to equal my brother, Mr. Suckling, in income.--However, my +resolution is taken as to noticing Jane Fairfax.--I shall certainly have +her very often at my house, shall introduce her wherever I can, shall +have musical parties to draw out her talents, and shall be constantly +on the watch for an eligible situation. My acquaintance is so very +extensive, that I have little doubt of hearing of something to suit +her shortly.--I shall introduce her, of course, very particularly to my +brother and sister when they come to us. I am sure they will like her +extremely; and when she gets a little acquainted with them, her fears +will completely wear off, for there really is nothing in the manners +of either but what is highly conciliating.--I shall have her very often +indeed while they are with me, and I dare say we shall sometimes find a +seat for her in the barouche-landau in some of our exploring parties." + +"Poor Jane Fairfax!"--thought Emma.--"You have not deserved this. You +may have done wrong with regard to Mr. Dixon, but this is a punishment +beyond what you can have merited!--The kindness and protection of Mrs. +Elton!--'Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.' Heavens! Let me not suppose +that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing me!--But upon my honour, +there seems no limits to the licentiousness of that woman's tongue!" + +Emma had not to listen to such paradings again--to any so exclusively +addressed to herself--so disgustingly decorated with a "dear Miss +Woodhouse." The change on Mrs. Elton's side soon afterwards appeared, +and she was left in peace--neither forced to be the very particular +friend of Mrs. Elton, nor, under Mrs. Elton's guidance, the very active +patroness of Jane Fairfax, and only sharing with others in a general +way, in knowing what was felt, what was meditated, what was done. + +She looked on with some amusement.--Miss Bates's gratitude for +Mrs. Elton's attentions to Jane was in the first style of guileless +simplicity and warmth. She was quite one of her worthies--the +most amiable, affable, delightful woman--just as accomplished and +condescending as Mrs. Elton meant to be considered. Emma's only surprize +was that Jane Fairfax should accept those attentions and tolerate Mrs. +Elton as she seemed to do. She heard of her walking with the Eltons, +sitting with the Eltons, spending a day with the Eltons! This was +astonishing!--She could not have believed it possible that the taste or +the pride of Miss Fairfax could endure such society and friendship as +the Vicarage had to offer. + +"She is a riddle, quite a riddle!" said she.--"To chuse to remain here +month after month, under privations of every sort! And now to chuse the +mortification of Mrs. Elton's notice and the penury of her conversation, +rather than return to the superior companions who have always loved her +with such real, generous affection." + +Jane had come to Highbury professedly for three months; the Campbells +were gone to Ireland for three months; but now the Campbells had +promised their daughter to stay at least till Midsummer, and fresh +invitations had arrived for her to join them there. According to Miss +Bates--it all came from her--Mrs. Dixon had written most pressingly. +Would Jane but go, means were to be found, servants sent, friends +contrived--no travelling difficulty allowed to exist; but still she had +declined it! + +"She must have some motive, more powerful than appears, for refusing +this invitation," was Emma's conclusion. "She must be under some sort +of penance, inflicted either by the Campbells or herself. There is great +fear, great caution, great resolution somewhere.--She is _not_ to be +with the _Dixons_. The decree is issued by somebody. But why must she +consent to be with the Eltons?--Here is quite a separate puzzle." + +Upon her speaking her wonder aloud on that part of the subject, before +the few who knew her opinion of Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Weston ventured this +apology for Jane. + +"We cannot suppose that she has any great enjoyment at the Vicarage, +my dear Emma--but it is better than being always at home. Her aunt is a +good creature, but, as a constant companion, must be very tiresome. We +must consider what Miss Fairfax quits, before we condemn her taste for +what she goes to." + +"You are right, Mrs. Weston," said Mr. Knightley warmly, "Miss Fairfax +is as capable as any of us of forming a just opinion of Mrs. Elton. +Could she have chosen with whom to associate, she would not have chosen +her. But (with a reproachful smile at Emma) she receives attentions from +Mrs. Elton, which nobody else pays her." + +Emma felt that Mrs. Weston was giving her a momentary glance; and she +was herself struck by his warmth. With a faint blush, she presently +replied, + +"Such attentions as Mrs. Elton's, I should have imagined, would rather +disgust than gratify Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton's invitations I should +have imagined any thing but inviting." + +"I should not wonder," said Mrs. Weston, "if Miss Fairfax were to have +been drawn on beyond her own inclination, by her aunt's eagerness in +accepting Mrs. Elton's civilities for her. Poor Miss Bates may +very likely have committed her niece and hurried her into a greater +appearance of intimacy than her own good sense would have dictated, in +spite of the very natural wish of a little change." + +Both felt rather anxious to hear him speak again; and after a few +minutes silence, he said, + +"Another thing must be taken into consideration too--Mrs. Elton does +not talk _to_ Miss Fairfax as she speaks _of_ her. We all know the +difference between the pronouns he or she and thou, the plainest spoken +amongst us; we all feel the influence of a something beyond common +civility in our personal intercourse with each other--a something more +early implanted. We cannot give any body the disagreeable hints that we +may have been very full of the hour before. We feel things differently. +And besides the operation of this, as a general principle, you may be +sure that Miss Fairfax awes Mrs. Elton by her superiority both of mind +and manner; and that, face to face, Mrs. Elton treats her with all the +respect which she has a claim to. Such a woman as Jane Fairfax probably +never fell in Mrs. Elton's way before--and no degree of vanity can +prevent her acknowledging her own comparative littleness in action, if +not in consciousness." + +"I know how highly you think of Jane Fairfax," said Emma. Little Henry +was in her thoughts, and a mixture of alarm and delicacy made her +irresolute what else to say. + +"Yes," he replied, "any body may know how highly I think of her." + +"And yet," said Emma, beginning hastily and with an arch look, but soon +stopping--it was better, however, to know the worst at once--she hurried +on--"And yet, perhaps, you may hardly be aware yourself how highly it +is. The extent of your admiration may take you by surprize some day or +other." + +Mr. Knightley was hard at work upon the lower buttons of his thick +leather gaiters, and either the exertion of getting them together, or +some other cause, brought the colour into his face, as he answered, + +"Oh! are you there?--But you are miserably behindhand. Mr. Cole gave me +a hint of it six weeks ago." + +He stopped.--Emma felt her foot pressed by Mrs. Weston, and did not +herself know what to think. In a moment he went on-- + +"That will never be, however, I can assure you. Miss Fairfax, I dare +say, would not have me if I were to ask her--and I am very sure I shall +never ask her." + +Emma returned her friend's pressure with interest; and was pleased +enough to exclaim, + +"You are not vain, Mr. Knightley. I will say that for you." + +He seemed hardly to hear her; he was thoughtful--and in a manner which +shewed him not pleased, soon afterwards said, + +"So you have been settling that I should marry Jane Fairfax?" + +"No indeed I have not. You have scolded me too much for match-making, +for me to presume to take such a liberty with you. What I said just now, +meant nothing. One says those sort of things, of course, without any +idea of a serious meaning. Oh! no, upon my word I have not the smallest +wish for your marrying Jane Fairfax or Jane any body. You would not come +in and sit with us in this comfortable way, if you were married." + +Mr. Knightley was thoughtful again. The result of his reverie was, "No, +Emma, I do not think the extent of my admiration for her will ever take +me by surprize.--I never had a thought of her in that way, I assure +you." And soon afterwards, "Jane Fairfax is a very charming young +woman--but not even Jane Fairfax is perfect. She has a fault. She has +not the open temper which a man would wish for in a wife." + +Emma could not but rejoice to hear that she had a fault. "Well," said +she, "and you soon silenced Mr. Cole, I suppose?" + +"Yes, very soon. He gave me a quiet hint; I told him he was mistaken; +he asked my pardon and said no more. Cole does not want to be wiser or +wittier than his neighbours." + +"In that respect how unlike dear Mrs. Elton, who wants to be wiser and +wittier than all the world! I wonder how she speaks of the Coles--what +she calls them! How can she find any appellation for them, deep enough +in familiar vulgarity? She calls you, Knightley--what can she do for +Mr. Cole? And so I am not to be surprized that Jane Fairfax accepts +her civilities and consents to be with her. Mrs. Weston, your argument +weighs most with me. I can much more readily enter into the temptation +of getting away from Miss Bates, than I can believe in the triumph of +Miss Fairfax's mind over Mrs. Elton. I have no faith in Mrs. Elton's +acknowledging herself the inferior in thought, word, or deed; or in her +being under any restraint beyond her own scanty rule of good-breeding. +I cannot imagine that she will not be continually insulting her visitor +with praise, encouragement, and offers of service; that she will not be +continually detailing her magnificent intentions, from the procuring her +a permanent situation to the including her in those delightful exploring +parties which are to take place in the barouche-landau." + +"Jane Fairfax has feeling," said Mr. Knightley--"I do not accuse her +of want of feeling. Her sensibilities, I suspect, are strong--and her +temper excellent in its power of forbearance, patience, self-control; +but it wants openness. She is reserved, more reserved, I think, than +she used to be--And I love an open temper. No--till Cole alluded to my +supposed attachment, it had never entered my head. I saw Jane Fairfax +and conversed with her, with admiration and pleasure always--but with no +thought beyond." + +"Well, Mrs. Weston," said Emma triumphantly when he left them, "what do +you say now to Mr. Knightley's marrying Jane Fairfax?" + +"Why, really, dear Emma, I say that he is so very much occupied by the +idea of _not_ being in love with her, that I should not wonder if it +were to end in his being so at last. Do not beat me." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Every body in and about Highbury who had ever visited Mr. Elton, was +disposed to pay him attention on his marriage. Dinner-parties and +evening-parties were made for him and his lady; and invitations flowed +in so fast that she had soon the pleasure of apprehending they were +never to have a disengaged day. + +"I see how it is," said she. "I see what a life I am to lead among you. +Upon my word we shall be absolutely dissipated. We really seem quite +the fashion. If this is living in the country, it is nothing very +formidable. From Monday next to Saturday, I assure you we have not a +disengaged day!--A woman with fewer resources than I have, need not have +been at a loss." + +No invitation came amiss to her. Her Bath habits made evening-parties +perfectly natural to her, and Maple Grove had given her a taste for +dinners. She was a little shocked at the want of two drawing rooms, at +the poor attempt at rout-cakes, and there being no ice in the Highbury +card-parties. Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Goddard and others, were a +good deal behind-hand in knowledge of the world, but she would soon shew +them how every thing ought to be arranged. In the course of the spring +she must return their civilities by one very superior party--in which +her card-tables should be set out with their separate candles and +unbroken packs in the true style--and more waiters engaged for the +evening than their own establishment could furnish, to carry round the +refreshments at exactly the proper hour, and in the proper order. + +Emma, in the meanwhile, could not be satisfied without a dinner at +Hartfield for the Eltons. They must not do less than others, or she +should be exposed to odious suspicions, and imagined capable of pitiful +resentment. A dinner there must be. After Emma had talked about it for +ten minutes, Mr. Woodhouse felt no unwillingness, and only made the +usual stipulation of not sitting at the bottom of the table himself, +with the usual regular difficulty of deciding who should do it for him. + +The persons to be invited, required little thought. Besides the +Eltons, it must be the Westons and Mr. Knightley; so far it was all of +course--and it was hardly less inevitable that poor little Harriet must +be asked to make the eighth:--but this invitation was not given with +equal satisfaction, and on many accounts Emma was particularly pleased +by Harriet's begging to be allowed to decline it. "She would rather not +be in his company more than she could help. She was not yet quite +able to see him and his charming happy wife together, without feeling +uncomfortable. If Miss Woodhouse would not be displeased, she would +rather stay at home." It was precisely what Emma would have wished, had +she deemed it possible enough for wishing. She was delighted with the +fortitude of her little friend--for fortitude she knew it was in her to +give up being in company and stay at home; and she could now invite the +very person whom she really wanted to make the eighth, Jane Fairfax.-- +Since her last conversation with Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley, she +was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she had often +been.--Mr. Knightley's words dwelt with her. He had said that Jane +Fairfax received attentions from Mrs. Elton which nobody else paid her. + +"This is very true," said she, "at least as far as relates to me, which +was all that was meant--and it is very shameful.--Of the same age--and +always knowing her--I ought to have been more her friend.--She will +never like me now. I have neglected her too long. But I will shew her +greater attention than I have done." + +Every invitation was successful. They were all disengaged and all +happy.--The preparatory interest of this dinner, however, was not yet +over. A circumstance rather unlucky occurred. The two eldest little +Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some +weeks in the spring, and their papa now proposed bringing them, and +staying one whole day at Hartfield--which one day would be the very day +of this party.--His professional engagements did not allow of his being +put off, but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening +so. Mr. Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the +utmost that his nerves could bear--and here would be a ninth--and Emma +apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not +being able to come even to Hartfield for forty-eight hours without +falling in with a dinner-party. + +She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself, by +representing that though he certainly would make them nine, yet +he always said so little, that the increase of noise would be very +immaterial. She thought it in reality a sad exchange for herself, to +have him with his grave looks and reluctant conversation opposed to her +instead of his brother. + +The event was more favourable to Mr. Woodhouse than to Emma. John +Knightley came; but Mr. Weston was unexpectedly summoned to town and +must be absent on the very day. He might be able to join them in the +evening, but certainly not to dinner. Mr. Woodhouse was quite at ease; +and the seeing him so, with the arrival of the little boys and the +philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate, removed the +chief of even Emma's vexation. + +The day came, the party were punctually assembled, and Mr. John +Knightley seemed early to devote himself to the business of being +agreeable. Instead of drawing his brother off to a window while they +waited for dinner, he was talking to Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton, +as elegant as lace and pearls could make her, he looked at in +silence--wanting only to observe enough for Isabella's information--but +Miss Fairfax was an old acquaintance and a quiet girl, and he could talk +to her. He had met her before breakfast as he was returning from a walk +with his little boys, when it had been just beginning to rain. It was +natural to have some civil hopes on the subject, and he said, + +"I hope you did not venture far, Miss Fairfax, this morning, or I am +sure you must have been wet.--We scarcely got home in time. I hope you +turned directly." + +"I went only to the post-office," said she, "and reached home before the +rain was much. It is my daily errand. I always fetch the letters when +I am here. It saves trouble, and is a something to get me out. A walk +before breakfast does me good." + +"Not a walk in the rain, I should imagine." + +"No, but it did not absolutely rain when I set out." + +Mr. John Knightley smiled, and replied, + +"That is to say, you chose to have your walk, for you were not six yards +from your own door when I had the pleasure of meeting you; and Henry +and John had seen more drops than they could count long before. The +post-office has a great charm at one period of our lives. When you have +lived to my age, you will begin to think letters are never worth going +through the rain for." + +There was a little blush, and then this answer, + +"I must not hope to be ever situated as you are, in the midst of every +dearest connexion, and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing +older should make me indifferent about letters." + +"Indifferent! Oh! no--I never conceived you could become indifferent. +Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very +positive curse." + +"You are speaking of letters of business; mine are letters of +friendship." + +"I have often thought them the worst of the two," replied he coolly. +"Business, you know, may bring money, but friendship hardly ever does." + +"Ah! you are not serious now. I know Mr. John Knightley too well--I am +very sure he understands the value of friendship as well as any body. I +can easily believe that letters are very little to you, much less than +to me, but it is not your being ten years older than myself which +makes the difference, it is not age, but situation. You have every +body dearest to you always at hand, I, probably, never shall again; +and therefore till I have outlived all my affections, a post-office, +I think, must always have power to draw me out, in worse weather than +to-day." + +"When I talked of your being altered by time, by the progress of years," +said John Knightley, "I meant to imply the change of situation which +time usually brings. I consider one as including the other. Time will +generally lessen the interest of every attachment not within the daily +circle--but that is not the change I had in view for you. As an old +friend, you will allow me to hope, Miss Fairfax, that ten years hence +you may have as many concentrated objects as I have." + +It was kindly said, and very far from giving offence. A pleasant "thank +you" seemed meant to laugh it off, but a blush, a quivering lip, a tear +in the eye, shewed that it was felt beyond a laugh. Her attention was +now claimed by Mr. Woodhouse, who being, according to his custom on such +occasions, making the circle of his guests, and paying his particular +compliments to the ladies, was ending with her--and with all his mildest +urbanity, said, + +"I am very sorry to hear, Miss Fairfax, of your being out this morning +in the rain. Young ladies should take care of themselves.--Young ladies +are delicate plants. They should take care of their health and their +complexion. My dear, did you change your stockings?" + +"Yes, sir, I did indeed; and I am very much obliged by your kind +solicitude about me." + +"My dear Miss Fairfax, young ladies are very sure to be cared for.--I +hope your good grand-mama and aunt are well. They are some of my very +old friends. I wish my health allowed me to be a better neighbour. You +do us a great deal of honour to-day, I am sure. My daughter and I +are both highly sensible of your goodness, and have the greatest +satisfaction in seeing you at Hartfield." + +The kind-hearted, polite old man might then sit down and feel that he +had done his duty, and made every fair lady welcome and easy. + +By this time, the walk in the rain had reached Mrs. Elton, and her +remonstrances now opened upon Jane. + +"My dear Jane, what is this I hear?--Going to the post-office in the +rain!--This must not be, I assure you.--You sad girl, how could you do +such a thing?--It is a sign I was not there to take care of you." + +Jane very patiently assured her that she had not caught any cold. + +"Oh! do not tell _me_. You really are a very sad girl, and do not know +how to take care of yourself.--To the post-office indeed! Mrs. Weston, +did you ever hear the like? You and I must positively exert our +authority." + +"My advice," said Mrs. Weston kindly and persuasively, "I certainly do +feel tempted to give. Miss Fairfax, you must not run such risks.--Liable +as you have been to severe colds, indeed you ought to be particularly +careful, especially at this time of year. The spring I always think +requires more than common care. Better wait an hour or two, or even +half a day for your letters, than run the risk of bringing on your cough +again. Now do not you feel that you had? Yes, I am sure you are much too +reasonable. You look as if you would not do such a thing again." + +"Oh! she _shall_ _not_ do such a thing again," eagerly rejoined Mrs. +Elton. "We will not allow her to do such a thing again:"--and nodding +significantly--"there must be some arrangement made, there must indeed. +I shall speak to Mr. E. The man who fetches our letters every morning +(one of our men, I forget his name) shall inquire for yours too and +bring them to you. That will obviate all difficulties you know; and from +_us_ I really think, my dear Jane, you can have no scruple to accept +such an accommodation." + +"You are extremely kind," said Jane; "but I cannot give up my early +walk. I am advised to be out of doors as much as I can, I must walk +somewhere, and the post-office is an object; and upon my word, I have +scarcely ever had a bad morning before." + +"My dear Jane, say no more about it. The thing is determined, that is +(laughing affectedly) as far as I can presume to determine any thing +without the concurrence of my lord and master. You know, Mrs. Weston, +you and I must be cautious how we express ourselves. But I do flatter +myself, my dear Jane, that my influence is not entirely worn out. If I +meet with no insuperable difficulties therefore, consider that point as +settled." + +"Excuse me," said Jane earnestly, "I cannot by any means consent to such +an arrangement, so needlessly troublesome to your servant. If the errand +were not a pleasure to me, it could be done, as it always is when I am +not here, by my grandmama's." + +"Oh! my dear; but so much as Patty has to do!--And it is a kindness to +employ our men." + +Jane looked as if she did not mean to be conquered; but instead of +answering, she began speaking again to Mr. John Knightley. + +"The post-office is a wonderful establishment!" said she.--"The +regularity and despatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, +and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing!" + +"It is certainly very well regulated." + +"So seldom that any negligence or blunder appears! So seldom that +a letter, among the thousands that are constantly passing about the +kingdom, is even carried wrong--and not one in a million, I suppose, +actually lost! And when one considers the variety of hands, and of bad +hands too, that are to be deciphered, it increases the wonder." + +"The clerks grow expert from habit.--They must begin with some quickness +of sight and hand, and exercise improves them. If you want any farther +explanation," continued he, smiling, "they are paid for it. That is +the key to a great deal of capacity. The public pays and must be served +well." + +The varieties of handwriting were farther talked of, and the usual +observations made. + +"I have heard it asserted," said John Knightley, "that the same sort +of handwriting often prevails in a family; and where the same master +teaches, it is natural enough. But for that reason, I should imagine +the likeness must be chiefly confined to the females, for boys have very +little teaching after an early age, and scramble into any hand they can +get. Isabella and Emma, I think, do write very much alike. I have not +always known their writing apart." + +"Yes," said his brother hesitatingly, "there is a likeness. I know what +you mean--but Emma's hand is the strongest." + +"Isabella and Emma both write beautifully," said Mr. Woodhouse; "and +always did. And so does poor Mrs. Weston"--with half a sigh and half a +smile at her. + +"I never saw any gentleman's handwriting"--Emma began, looking also at +Mrs. Weston; but stopped, on perceiving that Mrs. Weston was attending +to some one else--and the pause gave her time to reflect, "Now, how am +I going to introduce him?--Am I unequal to speaking his name at once +before all these people? Is it necessary for me to use any roundabout +phrase?--Your Yorkshire friend--your correspondent in Yorkshire;--that +would be the way, I suppose, if I were very bad.--No, I can pronounce +his name without the smallest distress. I certainly get better and +better.--Now for it." + +Mrs. Weston was disengaged and Emma began again--"Mr. Frank Churchill +writes one of the best gentleman's hands I ever saw." + +"I do not admire it," said Mr. Knightley. "It is too small--wants +strength. It is like a woman's writing." + +This was not submitted to by either lady. They vindicated him against +the base aspersion. "No, it by no means wanted strength--it was not a +large hand, but very clear and certainly strong. Had not Mrs. Weston any +letter about her to produce?" No, she had heard from him very lately, +but having answered the letter, had put it away. + +"If we were in the other room," said Emma, "if I had my writing-desk, I +am sure I could produce a specimen. I have a note of his.--Do not you +remember, Mrs. Weston, employing him to write for you one day?" + +"He chose to say he was employed"-- + +"Well, well, I have that note; and can shew it after dinner to convince +Mr. Knightley." + +"Oh! when a gallant young man, like Mr. Frank Churchill," said Mr. +Knightley dryly, "writes to a fair lady like Miss Woodhouse, he will, of +course, put forth his best." + +Dinner was on table.--Mrs. Elton, before she could be spoken to, was +ready; and before Mr. Woodhouse had reached her with his request to be +allowed to hand her into the dining-parlour, was saying-- + +"Must I go first? I really am ashamed of always leading the way." + +Jane's solicitude about fetching her own letters had not escaped Emma. +She had heard and seen it all; and felt some curiosity to know whether +the wet walk of this morning had produced any. She suspected that it +_had_; that it would not have been so resolutely encountered but in full +expectation of hearing from some one very dear, and that it had not been +in vain. She thought there was an air of greater happiness than usual--a +glow both of complexion and spirits. + +She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the +expense of the Irish mails;--it was at her tongue's end--but she +abstained. She was quite determined not to utter a word that should hurt +Jane Fairfax's feelings; and they followed the other ladies out of the +room, arm in arm, with an appearance of good-will highly becoming to the +beauty and grace of each. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +When the ladies returned to the drawing-room after dinner, Emma found it +hardly possible to prevent their making two distinct parties;--with so +much perseverance in judging and behaving ill did Mrs. Elton engross +Jane Fairfax and slight herself. She and Mrs. Weston were obliged to +be almost always either talking together or silent together. Mrs. Elton +left them no choice. If Jane repressed her for a little time, she +soon began again; and though much that passed between them was in a +half-whisper, especially on Mrs. Elton's side, there was no avoiding +a knowledge of their principal subjects: The post-office--catching +cold--fetching letters--and friendship, were long under discussion; +and to them succeeded one, which must be at least equally unpleasant +to Jane--inquiries whether she had yet heard of any situation likely to +suit her, and professions of Mrs. Elton's meditated activity. + +"Here is April come!" said she, "I get quite anxious about you. June +will soon be here." + +"But I have never fixed on June or any other month--merely looked +forward to the summer in general." + +"But have you really heard of nothing?" + +"I have not even made any inquiry; I do not wish to make any yet." + +"Oh! my dear, we cannot begin too early; you are not aware of the +difficulty of procuring exactly the desirable thing." + +"I not aware!" said Jane, shaking her head; "dear Mrs. Elton, who can +have thought of it as I have done?" + +"But you have not seen so much of the world as I have. You do not know +how many candidates there always are for the _first_ situations. I saw +a vast deal of that in the neighbourhood round Maple Grove. A cousin of +Mr. Suckling, Mrs. Bragge, had such an infinity of applications; every +body was anxious to be in her family, for she moves in the first circle. +Wax-candles in the schoolroom! You may imagine how desirable! Of all +houses in the kingdom Mrs. Bragge's is the one I would most wish to see +you in." + +"Colonel and Mrs. Campbell are to be in town again by midsummer," +said Jane. "I must spend some time with them; I am sure they will want +it;--afterwards I may probably be glad to dispose of myself. But I would +not wish you to take the trouble of making any inquiries at present." + +"Trouble! aye, I know your scruples. You are afraid of giving me +trouble; but I assure you, my dear Jane, the Campbells can hardly be +more interested about you than I am. I shall write to Mrs. Partridge in +a day or two, and shall give her a strict charge to be on the look-out +for any thing eligible." + +"Thank you, but I would rather you did not mention the subject to +her; till the time draws nearer, I do not wish to be giving any body +trouble." + +"But, my dear child, the time is drawing near; here is April, and June, +or say even July, is very near, with such business to accomplish before +us. Your inexperience really amuses me! A situation such as you deserve, +and your friends would require for you, is no everyday occurrence, +is not obtained at a moment's notice; indeed, indeed, we must begin +inquiring directly." + +"Excuse me, ma'am, but this is by no means my intention; I make no +inquiry myself, and should be sorry to have any made by my friends. When +I am quite determined as to the time, I am not at all afraid of being +long unemployed. There are places in town, offices, where inquiry +would soon produce something--Offices for the sale--not quite of human +flesh--but of human intellect." + +"Oh! my dear, human flesh! You quite shock me; if you mean a fling at +the slave-trade, I assure you Mr. Suckling was always rather a friend to +the abolition." + +"I did not mean, I was not thinking of the slave-trade," replied Jane; +"governess-trade, I assure you, was all that I had in view; widely +different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on; but as to +the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies. But +I only mean to say that there are advertising offices, and that by +applying to them I should have no doubt of very soon meeting with +something that would do." + +"Something that would do!" repeated Mrs. Elton. "Aye, _that_ may suit +your humble ideas of yourself;--I know what a modest creature you are; +but it will not satisfy your friends to have you taking up with any +thing that may offer, any inferior, commonplace situation, in a family +not moving in a certain circle, or able to command the elegancies of +life." + +"You are very obliging; but as to all that, I am very indifferent; +it would be no object to me to be with the rich; my mortifications, I +think, would only be the greater; I should suffer more from comparison. +A gentleman's family is all that I should condition for." + +"I know you, I know you; you would take up with any thing; but I shall +be a little more nice, and I am sure the good Campbells will be quite +on my side; with your superior talents, you have a right to move in the +first circle. Your musical knowledge alone would entitle you to name +your own terms, have as many rooms as you like, and mix in the family +as much as you chose;--that is--I do not know--if you knew the harp, you +might do all that, I am very sure; but you sing as well as play;--yes, I +really believe you might, even without the harp, stipulate for what +you chose;--and you must and shall be delightfully, honourably and +comfortably settled before the Campbells or I have any rest." + +"You may well class the delight, the honour, and the comfort of such +a situation together," said Jane, "they are pretty sure to be equal; +however, I am very serious in not wishing any thing to be attempted +at present for me. I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mrs. Elton, I am +obliged to any body who feels for me, but I am quite serious in wishing +nothing to be done till the summer. For two or three months longer I +shall remain where I am, and as I am." + +"And I am quite serious too, I assure you," replied Mrs. Elton gaily, +"in resolving to be always on the watch, and employing my friends to +watch also, that nothing really unexceptionable may pass us." + +In this style she ran on; never thoroughly stopped by any thing till Mr. +Woodhouse came into the room; her vanity had then a change of object, +and Emma heard her saying in the same half-whisper to Jane, + +"Here comes this dear old beau of mine, I protest!--Only think of his +gallantry in coming away before the other men!--what a dear creature +he is;--I assure you I like him excessively. I admire all that quaint, +old-fashioned politeness; it is much more to my taste than modern ease; +modern ease often disgusts me. But this good old Mr. Woodhouse, I wish +you had heard his gallant speeches to me at dinner. Oh! I assure you I +began to think my caro sposo would be absolutely jealous. I fancy I +am rather a favourite; he took notice of my gown. How do you like +it?--Selina's choice--handsome, I think, but I do not know whether it +is not over-trimmed; I have the greatest dislike to the idea of being +over-trimmed--quite a horror of finery. I must put on a few ornaments +now, because it is expected of me. A bride, you know, must appear like +a bride, but my natural taste is all for simplicity; a simple style +of dress is so infinitely preferable to finery. But I am quite in the +minority, I believe; few people seem to value simplicity of dress,--show +and finery are every thing. I have some notion of putting such a +trimming as this to my white and silver poplin. Do you think it will +look well?" + +The whole party were but just reassembled in the drawing-room when Mr. +Weston made his appearance among them. He had returned to a late dinner, +and walked to Hartfield as soon as it was over. He had been too much +expected by the best judges, for surprize--but there was great joy. Mr. +Woodhouse was almost as glad to see him now, as he would have been sorry +to see him before. John Knightley only was in mute astonishment.--That +a man who might have spent his evening quietly at home after a day +of business in London, should set off again, and walk half a mile +to another man's house, for the sake of being in mixed company till +bed-time, of finishing his day in the efforts of civility and the noise +of numbers, was a circumstance to strike him deeply. A man who had been +in motion since eight o'clock in the morning, and might now have been +still, who had been long talking, and might have been silent, who had +been in more than one crowd, and might have been alone!--Such a man, to +quit the tranquillity and independence of his own fireside, and on the +evening of a cold sleety April day rush out again into the world!--Could +he by a touch of his finger have instantly taken back his wife, there +would have been a motive; but his coming would probably prolong rather +than break up the party. John Knightley looked at him with amazement, +then shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I could not have believed it +even of _him_." + +Mr. Weston meanwhile, perfectly unsuspicious of the indignation he was +exciting, happy and cheerful as usual, and with all the right of being +principal talker, which a day spent anywhere from home confers, was +making himself agreeable among the rest; and having satisfied the +inquiries of his wife as to his dinner, convincing her that none of all +her careful directions to the servants had been forgotten, and spread +abroad what public news he had heard, was proceeding to a family +communication, which, though principally addressed to Mrs. Weston, he +had not the smallest doubt of being highly interesting to every body in +the room. He gave her a letter, it was from Frank, and to herself; he +had met with it in his way, and had taken the liberty of opening it. + +"Read it, read it," said he, "it will give you pleasure; only a few +lines--will not take you long; read it to Emma." + +The two ladies looked over it together; and he sat smiling and talking +to them the whole time, in a voice a little subdued, but very audible to +every body. + +"Well, he is coming, you see; good news, I think. Well, what do you say +to it?--I always told you he would be here again soon, did not I?--Anne, +my dear, did not I always tell you so, and you would not believe me?--In +town next week, you see--at the latest, I dare say; for _she_ is as +impatient as the black gentleman when any thing is to be done; most +likely they will be there to-morrow or Saturday. As to her illness, all +nothing of course. But it is an excellent thing to have Frank among us +again, so near as town. They will stay a good while when they do come, +and he will be half his time with us. This is precisely what I wanted. +Well, pretty good news, is not it? Have you finished it? Has Emma read +it all? Put it up, put it up; we will have a good talk about it some +other time, but it will not do now. I shall only just mention the +circumstance to the others in a common way." + +Mrs. Weston was most comfortably pleased on the occasion. Her looks +and words had nothing to restrain them. She was happy, she knew she was +happy, and knew she ought to be happy. Her congratulations were warm and +open; but Emma could not speak so fluently. _She_ was a little occupied +in weighing her own feelings, and trying to understand the degree of her +agitation, which she rather thought was considerable. + +Mr. Weston, however, too eager to be very observant, too communicative +to want others to talk, was very well satisfied with what she did say, +and soon moved away to make the rest of his friends happy by a partial +communication of what the whole room must have overheard already. + +It was well that he took every body's joy for granted, or he might +not have thought either Mr. Woodhouse or Mr. Knightley particularly +delighted. They were the first entitled, after Mrs. Weston and Emma, to +be made happy;--from them he would have proceeded to Miss Fairfax, but +she was so deep in conversation with John Knightley, that it would have +been too positive an interruption; and finding himself close to Mrs. +Elton, and her attention disengaged, he necessarily began on the subject +with her. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +"I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of introducing my son to you," +said Mr. Weston. + +Mrs. Elton, very willing to suppose a particular compliment intended her +by such a hope, smiled most graciously. + +"You have heard of a certain Frank Churchill, I presume," he +continued--"and know him to be my son, though he does not bear my name." + +"Oh! yes, and I shall be very happy in his acquaintance. I am sure Mr. +Elton will lose no time in calling on him; and we shall both have great +pleasure in seeing him at the Vicarage." + +"You are very obliging.--Frank will be extremely happy, I am sure.-- +He is to be in town next week, if not sooner. We have notice of it in a +letter to-day. I met the letters in my way this morning, and seeing my +son's hand, presumed to open it--though it was not directed to me--it +was to Mrs. Weston. She is his principal correspondent, I assure you. I +hardly ever get a letter." + +"And so you absolutely opened what was directed to her! Oh! Mr. +Weston--(laughing affectedly) I must protest against that.--A most +dangerous precedent indeed!--I beg you will not let your neighbours +follow your example.--Upon my word, if this is what I am to expect, we +married women must begin to exert ourselves!--Oh! Mr. Weston, I could +not have believed it of you!" + +"Aye, we men are sad fellows. You must take care of yourself, Mrs. +Elton.--This letter tells us--it is a short letter--written in a hurry, +merely to give us notice--it tells us that they are all coming up to +town directly, on Mrs. Churchill's account--she has not been well the +whole winter, and thinks Enscombe too cold for her--so they are all to +move southward without loss of time." + +"Indeed!--from Yorkshire, I think. Enscombe is in Yorkshire?" + +"Yes, they are about one hundred and ninety miles from London, a +considerable journey." + +"Yes, upon my word, very considerable. Sixty-five miles farther than +from Maple Grove to London. But what is distance, Mr. Weston, to people +of large fortune?--You would be amazed to hear how my brother, Mr. +Suckling, sometimes flies about. You will hardly believe me--but twice +in one week he and Mr. Bragge went to London and back again with four +horses." + +"The evil of the distance from Enscombe," said Mr. Weston, "is, that +Mrs. Churchill, _as_ _we_ _understand_, has not been able to leave the +sofa for a week together. In Frank's last letter she complained, he +said, of being too weak to get into her conservatory without having +both his arm and his uncle's! This, you know, speaks a great degree of +weakness--but now she is so impatient to be in town, that she means to +sleep only two nights on the road.--So Frank writes word. Certainly, +delicate ladies have very extraordinary constitutions, Mrs. Elton. You +must grant me that." + +"No, indeed, I shall grant you nothing. I always take the part of my +own sex. I do indeed. I give you notice--You will find me a formidable +antagonist on that point. I always stand up for women--and I assure you, +if you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at an inn, you +would not wonder at Mrs. Churchill's making incredible exertions to +avoid it. Selina says it is quite horror to her--and I believe I have +caught a little of her nicety. She always travels with her own sheets; +an excellent precaution. Does Mrs. Churchill do the same?" + +"Depend upon it, Mrs. Churchill does every thing that any other fine +lady ever did. Mrs. Churchill will not be second to any lady in the land +for"-- + +Mrs. Elton eagerly interposed with, + +"Oh! Mr. Weston, do not mistake me. Selina is no fine lady, I assure +you. Do not run away with such an idea." + +"Is not she? Then she is no rule for Mrs. Churchill, who is as thorough +a fine lady as any body ever beheld." + +Mrs. Elton began to think she had been wrong in disclaiming so warmly. +It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was +_not_ a fine lady; perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence of +it;--and she was considering in what way she had best retract, when Mr. +Weston went on. + +"Mrs. Churchill is not much in my good graces, as you may suspect--but +this is quite between ourselves. She is very fond of Frank, and +therefore I would not speak ill of her. Besides, she is out of health +now; but _that_ indeed, by her own account, she has always been. I would +not say so to every body, Mrs. Elton, but I have not much faith in Mrs. +Churchill's illness." + +"If she is really ill, why not go to Bath, Mr. Weston?--To Bath, or to +Clifton?" "She has taken it into her head that Enscombe is too cold for +her. The fact is, I suppose, that she is tired of Enscombe. She has now +been a longer time stationary there, than she ever was before, and she +begins to want change. It is a retired place. A fine place, but very +retired." + +"Aye--like Maple Grove, I dare say. Nothing can stand more retired from +the road than Maple Grove. Such an immense plantation all round it! You +seem shut out from every thing--in the most complete retirement.--And +Mrs. Churchill probably has not health or spirits like Selina to enjoy +that sort of seclusion. Or, perhaps she may not have resources enough in +herself to be qualified for a country life. I always say a woman cannot +have too many resources--and I feel very thankful that I have so many +myself as to be quite independent of society." + +"Frank was here in February for a fortnight." + +"So I remember to have heard. He will find an _addition_ to the society +of Highbury when he comes again; that is, if I may presume to call +myself an addition. But perhaps he may never have heard of there being +such a creature in the world." + +This was too loud a call for a compliment to be passed by, and Mr. +Weston, with a very good grace, immediately exclaimed, + +"My dear madam! Nobody but yourself could imagine such a thing possible. +Not heard of you!--I believe Mrs. Weston's letters lately have been full +of very little else than Mrs. Elton." + +He had done his duty and could return to his son. + +"When Frank left us," continued he, "it was quite uncertain when we +might see him again, which makes this day's news doubly welcome. It has +been completely unexpected. That is, _I_ always had a strong persuasion +he would be here again soon, I was sure something favourable would turn +up--but nobody believed me. He and Mrs. Weston were both dreadfully +desponding. 'How could he contrive to come? And how could it be supposed +that his uncle and aunt would spare him again?' and so forth--I always +felt that something would happen in our favour; and so it has, you see. +I have observed, Mrs. Elton, in the course of my life, that if things +are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next." + +"Very true, Mr. Weston, perfectly true. It is just what I used to say to +a certain gentleman in company in the days of courtship, when, because +things did not go quite right, did not proceed with all the rapidity +which suited his feelings, he was apt to be in despair, and exclaim that +he was sure at this rate it would be _May_ before Hymen's saffron robe +would be put on for us. Oh! the pains I have been at to dispel those +gloomy ideas and give him cheerfuller views! The carriage--we had +disappointments about the carriage;--one morning, I remember, he came to +me quite in despair." + +She was stopped by a slight fit of coughing, and Mr. Weston instantly +seized the opportunity of going on. + +"You were mentioning May. May is the very month which Mrs. Churchill +is ordered, or has ordered herself, to spend in some warmer place than +Enscombe--in short, to spend in London; so that we have the agreeable +prospect of frequent visits from Frank the whole spring--precisely the +season of the year which one should have chosen for it: days almost at +the longest; weather genial and pleasant, always inviting one out, and +never too hot for exercise. When he was here before, we made the best +of it; but there was a good deal of wet, damp, cheerless weather; +there always is in February, you know, and we could not do half that we +intended. Now will be the time. This will be complete enjoyment; and I +do not know, Mrs. Elton, whether the uncertainty of our meetings, the +sort of constant expectation there will be of his coming in to-day or +to-morrow, and at any hour, may not be more friendly to happiness than +having him actually in the house. I think it is so. I think it is the +state of mind which gives most spirit and delight. I hope you will be +pleased with my son; but you must not expect a prodigy. He is generally +thought a fine young man, but do not expect a prodigy. Mrs. Weston's +partiality for him is very great, and, as you may suppose, most +gratifying to me. She thinks nobody equal to him." + +"And I assure you, Mr. Weston, I have very little doubt that my opinion +will be decidedly in his favour. I have heard so much in praise of Mr. +Frank Churchill.--At the same time it is fair to observe, that I am one +of those who always judge for themselves, and are by no means implicitly +guided by others. I give you notice that as I find your son, so I shall +judge of him.--I am no flatterer." + +Mr. Weston was musing. + +"I hope," said he presently, "I have not been severe upon poor Mrs. +Churchill. If she is ill I should be sorry to do her injustice; but +there are some traits in her character which make it difficult for me to +speak of her with the forbearance I could wish. You cannot be ignorant, +Mrs. Elton, of my connexion with the family, nor of the treatment I have +met with; and, between ourselves, the whole blame of it is to be laid +to her. She was the instigator. Frank's mother would never have been +slighted as she was but for her. Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride +is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentlemanlike sort +of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless +and tiresome; but her pride is arrogance and insolence! And what +inclines one less to bear, she has no fair pretence of family or blood. +She was nobody when he married her, barely the daughter of a gentleman; +but ever since her being turned into a Churchill she has out-Churchill'd +them all in high and mighty claims: but in herself, I assure you, she is +an upstart." + +"Only think! well, that must be infinitely provoking! I have quite +a horror of upstarts. Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to +people of that sort; for there is a family in that neighbourhood who +are such an annoyance to my brother and sister from the airs they give +themselves! Your description of Mrs. Churchill made me think of them +directly. People of the name of Tupman, very lately settled there, and +encumbered with many low connexions, but giving themselves immense airs, +and expecting to be on a footing with the old established families. +A year and a half is the very utmost that they can have lived at West +Hall; and how they got their fortune nobody knows. They came from +Birmingham, which is not a place to promise much, you know, Mr. Weston. +One has not great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something +direful in the sound: but nothing more is positively known of the +Tupmans, though a good many things I assure you are suspected; and +yet by their manners they evidently think themselves equal even to +my brother, Mr. Suckling, who happens to be one of their nearest +neighbours. It is infinitely too bad. Mr. Suckling, who has been eleven +years a resident at Maple Grove, and whose father had it before him--I +believe, at least--I am almost sure that old Mr. Suckling had completed +the purchase before his death." + +They were interrupted. Tea was carrying round, and Mr. Weston, having +said all that he wanted, soon took the opportunity of walking away. + +After tea, Mr. and Mrs. Weston, and Mr. Elton sat down with Mr. +Woodhouse to cards. The remaining five were left to their own powers, +and Emma doubted their getting on very well; for Mr. Knightley seemed +little disposed for conversation; Mrs. Elton was wanting notice, which +nobody had inclination to pay, and she was herself in a worry of spirits +which would have made her prefer being silent. + +Mr. John Knightley proved more talkative than his brother. He was to +leave them early the next day; and he soon began with-- + +"Well, Emma, I do not believe I have any thing more to say about the +boys; but you have your sister's letter, and every thing is down at full +length there we may be sure. My charge would be much more concise than +her's, and probably not much in the same spirit; all that I have to +recommend being comprised in, do not spoil them, and do not physic +them." + +"I rather hope to satisfy you both," said Emma, "for I shall do all +in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and +happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic." + +"And if you find them troublesome, you must send them home again." + +"That is very likely. You think so, do not you?" + +"I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father--or even +may be some encumbrance to you, if your visiting engagements continue to +increase as much as they have done lately." + +"Increase!" + +"Certainly; you must be sensible that the last half-year has made a +great difference in your way of life." + +"Difference! No indeed I am not." + +"There can be no doubt of your being much more engaged with company than +you used to be. Witness this very time. Here am I come down for only +one day, and you are engaged with a dinner-party!--When did it happen +before, or any thing like it? Your neighbourhood is increasing, and you +mix more with it. A little while ago, every letter to Isabella brought +an account of fresh gaieties; dinners at Mr. Cole's, or balls at the +Crown. The difference which Randalls, Randalls alone makes in your +goings-on, is very great." + +"Yes," said his brother quickly, "it is Randalls that does it all." + +"Very well--and as Randalls, I suppose, is not likely to have less +influence than heretofore, it strikes me as a possible thing, Emma, that +Henry and John may be sometimes in the way. And if they are, I only beg +you to send them home." + +"No," cried Mr. Knightley, "that need not be the consequence. Let them +be sent to Donwell. I shall certainly be at leisure." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed Emma, "you amuse me! I should like to know how +many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being of +the party; and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure to +attend to the little boys. These amazing engagements of mine--what have +they been? Dining once with the Coles--and having a ball talked of, +which never took place. I can understand you--(nodding at Mr. John +Knightley)--your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends at +once here, delights you too much to pass unnoticed. But you, (turning to +Mr. Knightley,) who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from +Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I +cannot imagine. And as to my dear little boys, I must say, that if Aunt +Emma has not time for them, I do not think they would fare much better +with Uncle Knightley, who is absent from home about five hours where she +is absent one--and who, when he is at home, is either reading to himself +or settling his accounts." + +Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without +difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton's beginning to talk to him. + + + + +VOLUME III + + + +CHAPTER I + + +A very little quiet reflection was enough to satisfy Emma as to the +nature of her agitation on hearing this news of Frank Churchill. She +was soon convinced that it was not for herself she was feeling at all +apprehensive or embarrassed; it was for him. Her own attachment had +really subsided into a mere nothing; it was not worth thinking of;--but +if he, who had undoubtedly been always so much the most in love of the +two, were to be returning with the same warmth of sentiment which he had +taken away, it would be very distressing. If a separation of two +months should not have cooled him, there were dangers and evils before +her:--caution for him and for herself would be necessary. She did +not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be +incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his. + +She wished she might be able to keep him from an absolute declaration. +That would be so very painful a conclusion of their present +acquaintance! and yet, she could not help rather anticipating something +decisive. She felt as if the spring would not pass without bringing a +crisis, an event, a something to alter her present composed and tranquil +state. + +It was not very long, though rather longer than Mr. Weston had foreseen, +before she had the power of forming some opinion of Frank Churchill's +feelings. The Enscombe family were not in town quite so soon as had been +imagined, but he was at Highbury very soon afterwards. He rode down +for a couple of hours; he could not yet do more; but as he came from +Randalls immediately to Hartfield, she could then exercise all her quick +observation, and speedily determine how he was influenced, and how she +must act. They met with the utmost friendliness. There could be no doubt +of his great pleasure in seeing her. But she had an almost instant doubt +of his caring for her as he had done, of his feeling the same tenderness +in the same degree. She watched him well. It was a clear thing he was +less in love than he had been. Absence, with the conviction probably +of her indifference, had produced this very natural and very desirable +effect. + +He was in high spirits; as ready to talk and laugh as ever, and seemed +delighted to speak of his former visit, and recur to old stories: and he +was not without agitation. It was not in his calmness that she read +his comparative difference. He was not calm; his spirits were evidently +fluttered; there was restlessness about him. Lively as he was, it seemed +a liveliness that did not satisfy himself; but what decided her belief +on the subject, was his staying only a quarter of an hour, and hurrying +away to make other calls in Highbury. "He had seen a group of old +acquaintance in the street as he passed--he had not stopped, he would +not stop for more than a word--but he had the vanity to think they would +be disappointed if he did not call, and much as he wished to stay longer +at Hartfield, he must hurry off." She had no doubt as to his being less +in love--but neither his agitated spirits, nor his hurrying away, seemed +like a perfect cure; and she was rather inclined to think it implied a +dread of her returning power, and a discreet resolution of not trusting +himself with her long. + +This was the only visit from Frank Churchill in the course of ten days. +He was often hoping, intending to come--but was always prevented. His +aunt could not bear to have him leave her. Such was his own account at +Randall's. If he were quite sincere, if he really tried to come, it was +to be inferred that Mrs. Churchill's removal to London had been of no +service to the wilful or nervous part of her disorder. That she was +really ill was very certain; he had declared himself convinced of it, at +Randalls. Though much might be fancy, he could not doubt, when he looked +back, that she was in a weaker state of health than she had been half a +year ago. He did not believe it to proceed from any thing that care +and medicine might not remove, or at least that she might not have many +years of existence before her; but he could not be prevailed on, by all +his father's doubts, to say that her complaints were merely imaginary, +or that she was as strong as ever. + +It soon appeared that London was not the place for her. She could +not endure its noise. Her nerves were under continual irritation and +suffering; and by the ten days' end, her nephew's letter to Randalls +communicated a change of plan. They were going to remove immediately to +Richmond. Mrs. Churchill had been recommended to the medical skill of +an eminent person there, and had otherwise a fancy for the place. A +ready-furnished house in a favourite spot was engaged, and much benefit +expected from the change. + +Emma heard that Frank wrote in the highest spirits of this arrangement, +and seemed most fully to appreciate the blessing of having two months +before him of such near neighbourhood to many dear friends--for the +house was taken for May and June. She was told that now he wrote with +the greatest confidence of being often with them, almost as often as he +could even wish. + +Emma saw how Mr. Weston understood these joyous prospects. He was +considering her as the source of all the happiness they offered. She +hoped it was not so. Two months must bring it to the proof. + +Mr. Weston's own happiness was indisputable. He was quite delighted. +It was the very circumstance he could have wished for. Now, it would be +really having Frank in their neighbourhood. What were nine miles to +a young man?--An hour's ride. He would be always coming over. The +difference in that respect of Richmond and London was enough to make +the whole difference of seeing him always and seeing him never. Sixteen +miles--nay, eighteen--it must be full eighteen to Manchester-street--was +a serious obstacle. Were he ever able to get away, the day would be +spent in coming and returning. There was no comfort in having him in +London; he might as well be at Enscombe; but Richmond was the very +distance for easy intercourse. Better than nearer! + +One good thing was immediately brought to a certainty by this +removal,--the ball at the Crown. It had not been forgotten before, +but it had been soon acknowledged vain to attempt to fix a day. Now, +however, it was absolutely to be; every preparation was resumed, and +very soon after the Churchills had removed to Richmond, a few lines from +Frank, to say that his aunt felt already much better for the change, and +that he had no doubt of being able to join them for twenty-four hours at +any given time, induced them to name as early a day as possible. + +Mr. Weston's ball was to be a real thing. A very few to-morrows stood +between the young people of Highbury and happiness. + +Mr. Woodhouse was resigned. The time of year lightened the evil to him. +May was better for every thing than February. Mrs. Bates was engaged to +spend the evening at Hartfield, James had due notice, and he sanguinely +hoped that neither dear little Henry nor dear little John would have any +thing the matter with them, while dear Emma were gone. + + + +CHAPTER II + + +No misfortune occurred, again to prevent the ball. The day approached, +the day arrived; and after a morning of some anxious watching, Frank +Churchill, in all the certainty of his own self, reached Randalls before +dinner, and every thing was safe. + +No second meeting had there yet been between him and Emma. The room +at the Crown was to witness it;--but it would be better than a +common meeting in a crowd. Mr. Weston had been so very earnest in his +entreaties for her arriving there as soon as possible after themselves, +for the purpose of taking her opinion as to the propriety and comfort of +the rooms before any other persons came, that she could not refuse him, +and must therefore spend some quiet interval in the young man's company. +She was to convey Harriet, and they drove to the Crown in good time, the +Randalls party just sufficiently before them. + +Frank Churchill seemed to have been on the watch; and though he did not +say much, his eyes declared that he meant to have a delightful evening. +They all walked about together, to see that every thing was as it should +be; and within a few minutes were joined by the contents of another +carriage, which Emma could not hear the sound of at first, without great +surprize. "So unreasonably early!" she was going to exclaim; but she +presently found that it was a family of old friends, who were coming, +like herself, by particular desire, to help Mr. Weston's judgment; and +they were so very closely followed by another carriage of cousins, +who had been entreated to come early with the same distinguishing +earnestness, on the same errand, that it seemed as if half the company +might soon be collected together for the purpose of preparatory +inspection. + +Emma perceived that her taste was not the only taste on which Mr. Weston +depended, and felt, that to be the favourite and intimate of a man +who had so many intimates and confidantes, was not the very first +distinction in the scale of vanity. She liked his open manners, but +a little less of open-heartedness would have made him a higher +character.--General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a +man what he ought to be.--She could fancy such a man. The whole party +walked about, and looked, and praised again; and then, having nothing +else to do, formed a sort of half-circle round the fire, to observe +in their various modes, till other subjects were started, that, though +_May_, a fire in the evening was still very pleasant. + +Emma found that it was not Mr. Weston's fault that the number of privy +councillors was not yet larger. They had stopped at Mrs. Bates's door +to offer the use of their carriage, but the aunt and niece were to be +brought by the Eltons. + +Frank was standing by her, but not steadily; there was a restlessness, +which shewed a mind not at ease. He was looking about, he was going to +the door, he was watching for the sound of other carriages,--impatient +to begin, or afraid of being always near her. + +Mrs. Elton was spoken of. "I think she must be here soon," said he. "I +have a great curiosity to see Mrs. Elton, I have heard so much of her. +It cannot be long, I think, before she comes." + +A carriage was heard. He was on the move immediately; but coming back, +said, + +"I am forgetting that I am not acquainted with her. I have never seen +either Mr. or Mrs. Elton. I have no business to put myself forward." + +Mr. and Mrs. Elton appeared; and all the smiles and the proprieties +passed. + +"But Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax!" said Mr. Weston, looking about. "We +thought you were to bring them." + +The mistake had been slight. The carriage was sent for them now. Emma +longed to know what Frank's first opinion of Mrs. Elton might be; how +he was affected by the studied elegance of her dress, and her smiles of +graciousness. He was immediately qualifying himself to form an opinion, +by giving her very proper attention, after the introduction had passed. + +In a few minutes the carriage returned.--Somebody talked of rain.--"I +will see that there are umbrellas, sir," said Frank to his father: +"Miss Bates must not be forgotten:" and away he went. Mr. Weston was +following; but Mrs. Elton detained him, to gratify him by her opinion +of his son; and so briskly did she begin, that the young man himself, +though by no means moving slowly, could hardly be out of hearing. + +"A very fine young man indeed, Mr. Weston. You know I candidly told you +I should form my own opinion; and I am happy to say that I am extremely +pleased with him.--You may believe me. I never compliment. I think him +a very handsome young man, and his manners are precisely what I like and +approve--so truly the gentleman, without the least conceit or puppyism. +You must know I have a vast dislike to puppies--quite a horror of them. +They were never tolerated at Maple Grove. Neither Mr. Suckling nor +me had ever any patience with them; and we used sometimes to say very +cutting things! Selina, who is mild almost to a fault, bore with them +much better." + +While she talked of his son, Mr. Weston's attention was chained; but +when she got to Maple Grove, he could recollect that there were ladies +just arriving to be attended to, and with happy smiles must hurry away. + +Mrs. Elton turned to Mrs. Weston. "I have no doubt of its being our +carriage with Miss Bates and Jane. Our coachman and horses are so +extremely expeditious!--I believe we drive faster than any body.--What +a pleasure it is to send one's carriage for a friend!--I understand you +were so kind as to offer, but another time it will be quite unnecessary. +You may be very sure I shall always take care of _them_." + +Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax, escorted by the two gentlemen, walked into +the room; and Mrs. Elton seemed to think it as much her duty as Mrs. +Weston's to receive them. Her gestures and movements might be understood +by any one who looked on like Emma; but her words, every body's words, +were soon lost under the incessant flow of Miss Bates, who came in +talking, and had not finished her speech under many minutes after her +being admitted into the circle at the fire. As the door opened she was +heard, + +"So very obliging of you!--No rain at all. Nothing to signify. I do not +care for myself. Quite thick shoes. And Jane declares--Well!--(as soon +as she was within the door) Well! This is brilliant indeed!--This is +admirable!--Excellently contrived, upon my word. Nothing wanting. Could +not have imagined it.--So well lighted up!--Jane, Jane, look!--did you +ever see any thing? Oh! Mr. Weston, you must really have had Aladdin's +lamp. Good Mrs. Stokes would not know her own room again. I saw her as +I came in; she was standing in the entrance. 'Oh! Mrs. Stokes,' said +I--but I had not time for more." She was now met by Mrs. Weston.--"Very +well, I thank you, ma'am. I hope you are quite well. Very happy to hear +it. So afraid you might have a headache!--seeing you pass by so often, +and knowing how much trouble you must have. Delighted to hear it indeed. +Ah! dear Mrs. Elton, so obliged to you for the carriage!--excellent +time. Jane and I quite ready. Did not keep the horses a moment. Most +comfortable carriage.--Oh! and I am sure our thanks are due to you, +Mrs. Weston, on that score. Mrs. Elton had most kindly sent Jane a note, +or we should have been.--But two such offers in one day!--Never were +such neighbours. I said to my mother, 'Upon my word, ma'am--.' Thank +you, my mother is remarkably well. Gone to Mr. Woodhouse's. I made her +take her shawl--for the evenings are not warm--her large new shawl-- +Mrs. Dixon's wedding-present.--So kind of her to think of my mother! +Bought at Weymouth, you know--Mr. Dixon's choice. There were three +others, Jane says, which they hesitated about some time. Colonel +Campbell rather preferred an olive. My dear Jane, are you sure you did +not wet your feet?--It was but a drop or two, but I am so afraid:--but +Mr. Frank Churchill was so extremely--and there was a mat to step +upon--I shall never forget his extreme politeness.--Oh! Mr. Frank +Churchill, I must tell you my mother's spectacles have never been in +fault since; the rivet never came out again. My mother often talks of +your good-nature. Does not she, Jane?--Do not we often talk of Mr. Frank +Churchill?--Ah! here's Miss Woodhouse.--Dear Miss Woodhouse, how do +you do?--Very well I thank you, quite well. This is meeting quite +in fairy-land!--Such a transformation!--Must not compliment, I know +(eyeing Emma most complacently)--that would be rude--but upon my word, +Miss Woodhouse, you do look--how do you like Jane's hair?--You are +a judge.--She did it all herself. Quite wonderful how she does her +hair!--No hairdresser from London I think could.--Ah! Dr. Hughes I +declare--and Mrs. Hughes. Must go and speak to Dr. and Mrs. Hughes for a +moment.--How do you do? How do you do?--Very well, I thank you. This +is delightful, is not it?--Where's dear Mr. Richard?--Oh! there he is. +Don't disturb him. Much better employed talking to the young ladies. How +do you do, Mr. Richard?--I saw you the other day as you rode through +the town--Mrs. Otway, I protest!--and good Mr. Otway, and Miss Otway +and Miss Caroline.--Such a host of friends!--and Mr. George and Mr. +Arthur!--How do you do? How do you all do?--Quite well, I am much +obliged to you. Never better.--Don't I hear another carriage?--Who can +this be?--very likely the worthy Coles.--Upon my word, this is charming +to be standing about among such friends! And such a noble fire!--I am +quite roasted. No coffee, I thank you, for me--never take coffee.--A +little tea if you please, sir, by and bye,--no hurry--Oh! here it comes. +Every thing so good!" + +Frank Churchill returned to his station by Emma; and as soon as Miss +Bates was quiet, she found herself necessarily overhearing the discourse +of Mrs. Elton and Miss Fairfax, who were standing a little way behind +her.--He was thoughtful. Whether he were overhearing too, she could not +determine. After a good many compliments to Jane on her dress and look, +compliments very quietly and properly taken, Mrs. Elton was evidently +wanting to be complimented herself--and it was, "How do you like +my gown?--How do you like my trimming?--How has Wright done my +hair?"--with many other relative questions, all answered with patient +politeness. Mrs. Elton then said, "Nobody can think less of dress in +general than I do--but upon such an occasion as this, when every body's +eyes are so much upon me, and in compliment to the Westons--who I have +no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do me honour--I would not wish +to be inferior to others. And I see very few pearls in the room except +mine.--So Frank Churchill is a capital dancer, I understand.--We shall +see if our styles suit.--A fine young man certainly is Frank Churchill. +I like him very well." + +At this moment Frank began talking so vigorously, that Emma could not +but imagine he had overheard his own praises, and did not want to hear +more;--and the voices of the ladies were drowned for a while, till +another suspension brought Mrs. Elton's tones again distinctly +forward.--Mr. Elton had just joined them, and his wife was exclaiming, + +"Oh! you have found us out at last, have you, in our seclusion?--I was +this moment telling Jane, I thought you would begin to be impatient for +tidings of us." + +"Jane!"--repeated Frank Churchill, with a look of surprize and +displeasure.--"That is easy--but Miss Fairfax does not disapprove it, I +suppose." + +"How do you like Mrs. Elton?" said Emma in a whisper. + +"Not at all." + +"You are ungrateful." + +"Ungrateful!--What do you mean?" Then changing from a frown to a +smile--"No, do not tell me--I do not want to know what you mean.--Where +is my father?--When are we to begin dancing?" + +Emma could hardly understand him; he seemed in an odd humour. He walked +off to find his father, but was quickly back again with both Mr. and +Mrs. Weston. He had met with them in a little perplexity, which must be +laid before Emma. It had just occurred to Mrs. Weston that Mrs. Elton +must be asked to begin the ball; that she would expect it; which +interfered with all their wishes of giving Emma that distinction.--Emma +heard the sad truth with fortitude. + +"And what are we to do for a proper partner for her?" said Mr. Weston. +"She will think Frank ought to ask her." + +Frank turned instantly to Emma, to claim her former promise; and +boasted himself an engaged man, which his father looked his most perfect +approbation of--and it then appeared that Mrs. Weston was wanting _him_ +to dance with Mrs. Elton himself, and that their business was to help to +persuade him into it, which was done pretty soon.--Mr. Weston and Mrs. +Elton led the way, Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse followed. +Emma must submit to stand second to Mrs. Elton, though she had always +considered the ball as peculiarly for her. It was almost enough to make +her think of marrying. Mrs. Elton had undoubtedly the advantage, at this +time, in vanity completely gratified; for though she had intended to +begin with Frank Churchill, she could not lose by the change. Mr. Weston +might be his son's superior.--In spite of this little rub, however, +Emma was smiling with enjoyment, delighted to see the respectable length +of the set as it was forming, and to feel that she had so many hours +of unusual festivity before her.--She was more disturbed by Mr. +Knightley's not dancing than by any thing else.--There he was, among +the standers-by, where he ought not to be; he ought to be dancing,--not +classing himself with the husbands, and fathers, and whist-players, who +were pretending to feel an interest in the dance till their rubbers were +made up,--so young as he looked!--He could not have appeared to greater +advantage perhaps anywhere, than where he had placed himself. His tall, +firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of +the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw every body's eyes; +and, excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of +young men who could be compared with him.--He moved a few steps nearer, +and those few steps were enough to prove in how gentlemanlike a manner, +with what natural grace, he must have danced, would he but take the +trouble.--Whenever she caught his eye, she forced him to smile; but +in general he was looking grave. She wished he could love a ballroom +better, and could like Frank Churchill better.--He seemed often +observing her. She must not flatter herself that he thought of her +dancing, but if he were criticising her behaviour, she did not feel +afraid. There was nothing like flirtation between her and her partner. +They seemed more like cheerful, easy friends, than lovers. That Frank +Churchill thought less of her than he had done, was indubitable. + +The ball proceeded pleasantly. The anxious cares, the incessant +attentions of Mrs. Weston, were not thrown away. Every body seemed +happy; and the praise of being a delightful ball, which is seldom +bestowed till after a ball has ceased to be, was repeatedly given in +the very beginning of the existence of this. Of very important, very +recordable events, it was not more productive than such meetings usually +are. There was one, however, which Emma thought something of.--The two +last dances before supper were begun, and Harriet had no partner;--the +only young lady sitting down;--and so equal had been hitherto the +number of dancers, that how there could be any one disengaged was the +wonder!--But Emma's wonder lessened soon afterwards, on seeing Mr. Elton +sauntering about. He would not ask Harriet to dance if it were possible +to be avoided: she was sure he would not--and she was expecting him +every moment to escape into the card-room. + +Escape, however, was not his plan. He came to the part of the room where +the sitters-by were collected, spoke to some, and walked about in front +of them, as if to shew his liberty, and his resolution of maintaining +it. He did not omit being sometimes directly before Miss Smith, or +speaking to those who were close to her.--Emma saw it. She was not yet +dancing; she was working her way up from the bottom, and had therefore +leisure to look around, and by only turning her head a little she saw +it all. When she was half-way up the set, the whole group were exactly +behind her, and she would no longer allow her eyes to watch; but Mr. +Elton was so near, that she heard every syllable of a dialogue which +just then took place between him and Mrs. Weston; and she perceived that +his wife, who was standing immediately above her, was not only +listening also, but even encouraging him by significant glances.--The +kind-hearted, gentle Mrs. Weston had left her seat to join him and say, +"Do not you dance, Mr. Elton?" to which his prompt reply was, "Most +readily, Mrs. Weston, if you will dance with me." + +"Me!--oh! no--I would get you a better partner than myself. I am no +dancer." + +"If Mrs. Gilbert wishes to dance," said he, "I shall have great +pleasure, I am sure--for, though beginning to feel myself rather an old +married man, and that my dancing days are over, it would give me very +great pleasure at any time to stand up with an old friend like Mrs. +Gilbert." + +"Mrs. Gilbert does not mean to dance, but there is a young lady +disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing--Miss Smith." "Miss +Smith!--oh!--I had not observed.--You are extremely obliging--and if I +were not an old married man.--But my dancing days are over, Mrs. Weston. +You will excuse me. Any thing else I should be most happy to do, at your +command--but my dancing days are over." + +Mrs. Weston said no more; and Emma could imagine with what surprize and +mortification she must be returning to her seat. This was Mr. Elton! the +amiable, obliging, gentle Mr. Elton.--She looked round for a moment; he +had joined Mr. Knightley at a little distance, and was arranging himself +for settled conversation, while smiles of high glee passed between him +and his wife. + +She would not look again. Her heart was in a glow, and she feared her +face might be as hot. + +In another moment a happier sight caught her;--Mr. Knightley leading +Harriet to the set!--Never had she been more surprized, seldom more +delighted, than at that instant. She was all pleasure and gratitude, +both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him; and though +too distant for speech, her countenance said much, as soon as she could +catch his eye again. + +His dancing proved to be just what she had believed it, extremely good; +and Harriet would have seemed almost too lucky, if it had not been for +the cruel state of things before, and for the very complete enjoyment +and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features +announced. It was not thrown away on her, she bounded higher than ever, +flew farther down the middle, and was in a continual course of smiles. + +Mr. Elton had retreated into the card-room, looking (Emma trusted) very +foolish. She did not think he was quite so hardened as his wife, though +growing very like her;--_she_ spoke some of her feelings, by observing +audibly to her partner, + +"Knightley has taken pity on poor little Miss Smith!--Very good-natured, +I declare." + +Supper was announced. The move began; and Miss Bates might be heard from +that moment, without interruption, till her being seated at table and +taking up her spoon. + +"Jane, Jane, my dear Jane, where are you?--Here is your tippet. Mrs. +Weston begs you to put on your tippet. She says she is afraid there will +be draughts in the passage, though every thing has been done--One door +nailed up--Quantities of matting--My dear Jane, indeed you must. +Mr. Churchill, oh! you are too obliging! How well you put it on!--so +gratified! Excellent dancing indeed!--Yes, my dear, I ran home, as I +said I should, to help grandmama to bed, and got back again, and +nobody missed me.--I set off without saying a word, just as I told you. +Grandmama was quite well, had a charming evening with Mr. Woodhouse, a +vast deal of chat, and backgammon.--Tea was made downstairs, biscuits +and baked apples and wine before she came away: amazing luck in some +of her throws: and she inquired a great deal about you, how you were +amused, and who were your partners. 'Oh!' said I, 'I shall not forestall +Jane; I left her dancing with Mr. George Otway; she will love to tell +you all about it herself to-morrow: her first partner was Mr. Elton, +I do not know who will ask her next, perhaps Mr. William Cox.' My dear +sir, you are too obliging.--Is there nobody you would not rather?--I am +not helpless. Sir, you are most kind. Upon my word, Jane on one arm, and +me on the other!--Stop, stop, let us stand a little back, Mrs. Elton is +going; dear Mrs. Elton, how elegant she looks!--Beautiful lace!--Now we +all follow in her train. Quite the queen of the evening!--Well, here we +are at the passage. Two steps, Jane, take care of the two steps. Oh! no, +there is but one. Well, I was persuaded there were two. How very odd! +I was convinced there were two, and there is but one. I never saw any +thing equal to the comfort and style--Candles everywhere.--I was telling +you of your grandmama, Jane,--There was a little disappointment.--The +baked apples and biscuits, excellent in their way, you know; but there +was a delicate fricassee of sweetbread and some asparagus brought in at +first, and good Mr. Woodhouse, not thinking the asparagus quite boiled +enough, sent it all out again. Now there is nothing grandmama loves +better than sweetbread and asparagus--so she was rather disappointed, +but we agreed we would not speak of it to any body, for fear of +its getting round to dear Miss Woodhouse, who would be so very much +concerned!--Well, this is brilliant! I am all amazement! could not have +supposed any thing!--Such elegance and profusion!--I have seen nothing +like it since--Well, where shall we sit? where shall we sit? Anywhere, +so that Jane is not in a draught. Where _I_ sit is of no consequence. +Oh! do you recommend this side?--Well, I am sure, Mr. Churchill--only +it seems too good--but just as you please. What you direct in this house +cannot be wrong. Dear Jane, how shall we ever recollect half the dishes +for grandmama? Soup too! Bless me! I should not be helped so soon, but +it smells most excellent, and I cannot help beginning." + +Emma had no opportunity of speaking to Mr. Knightley till after supper; +but, when they were all in the ballroom again, her eyes invited +him irresistibly to come to her and be thanked. He was warm in his +reprobation of Mr. Elton's conduct; it had been unpardonable rudeness; +and Mrs. Elton's looks also received the due share of censure. + +"They aimed at wounding more than Harriet," said he. "Emma, why is it +that they are your enemies?" + +He looked with smiling penetration; and, on receiving no answer, added, +"_She_ ought not to be angry with you, I suspect, whatever he may +be.--To that surmise, you say nothing, of course; but confess, Emma, +that you did want him to marry Harriet." + +"I did," replied Emma, "and they cannot forgive me." + +He shook his head; but there was a smile of indulgence with it, and he +only said, + +"I shall not scold you. I leave you to your own reflections." + +"Can you trust me with such flatterers?--Does my vain spirit ever tell +me I am wrong?" + +"Not your vain spirit, but your serious spirit.--If one leads you wrong, +I am sure the other tells you of it." + +"I do own myself to have been completely mistaken in Mr. Elton. There is +a littleness about him which you discovered, and which I did not: and I +was fully convinced of his being in love with Harriet. It was through a +series of strange blunders!" + +"And, in return for your acknowledging so much, I will do you the +justice to say, that you would have chosen for him better than he has +chosen for himself.--Harriet Smith has some first-rate qualities, which +Mrs. Elton is totally without. An unpretending, single-minded, artless +girl--infinitely to be preferred by any man of sense and taste to such a +woman as Mrs. Elton. I found Harriet more conversable than I expected." + +Emma was extremely gratified.--They were interrupted by the bustle of +Mr. Weston calling on every body to begin dancing again. + +"Come Miss Woodhouse, Miss Otway, Miss Fairfax, what are you all +doing?--Come Emma, set your companions the example. Every body is lazy! +Every body is asleep!" + +"I am ready," said Emma, "whenever I am wanted." + +"Whom are you going to dance with?" asked Mr. Knightley. + +She hesitated a moment, and then replied, "With you, if you will ask +me." + +"Will you?" said he, offering his hand. + +"Indeed I will. You have shewn that you can dance, and you know we are +not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper." + +"Brother and sister! no, indeed." + + + +CHAPTER III + + +This little explanation with Mr. Knightley gave Emma considerable +pleasure. It was one of the agreeable recollections of the ball, which +she walked about the lawn the next morning to enjoy.--She was extremely +glad that they had come to so good an understanding respecting the +Eltons, and that their opinions of both husband and wife were so much +alike; and his praise of Harriet, his concession in her favour, was +peculiarly gratifying. The impertinence of the Eltons, which for a few +minutes had threatened to ruin the rest of her evening, had been the +occasion of some of its highest satisfactions; and she looked forward +to another happy result--the cure of Harriet's infatuation.--From +Harriet's manner of speaking of the circumstance before they quitted the +ballroom, she had strong hopes. It seemed as if her eyes were suddenly +opened, and she were enabled to see that Mr. Elton was not the superior +creature she had believed him. The fever was over, and Emma could +harbour little fear of the pulse being quickened again by injurious +courtesy. She depended on the evil feelings of the Eltons for +supplying all the discipline of pointed neglect that could be farther +requisite.--Harriet rational, Frank Churchill not too much in love, and +Mr. Knightley not wanting to quarrel with her, how very happy a summer +must be before her! + +She was not to see Frank Churchill this morning. He had told her that he +could not allow himself the pleasure of stopping at Hartfield, as he was +to be at home by the middle of the day. She did not regret it. + +Having arranged all these matters, looked them through, and put them all +to rights, she was just turning to the house with spirits freshened up +for the demands of the two little boys, as well as of their grandpapa, +when the great iron sweep-gate opened, and two persons entered whom she +had never less expected to see together--Frank Churchill, with Harriet +leaning on his arm--actually Harriet!--A moment sufficed to convince +her that something extraordinary had happened. Harriet looked white +and frightened, and he was trying to cheer her.--The iron gates and the +front-door were not twenty yards asunder;--they were all three soon in +the hall, and Harriet immediately sinking into a chair fainted away. + +A young lady who faints, must be recovered; questions must be answered, +and surprizes be explained. Such events are very interesting, but the +suspense of them cannot last long. A few minutes made Emma acquainted +with the whole. + +Miss Smith, and Miss Bickerton, another parlour boarder at Mrs. +Goddard's, who had been also at the ball, had walked out together, and +taken a road, the Richmond road, which, though apparently public enough +for safety, had led them into alarm.--About half a mile beyond Highbury, +making a sudden turn, and deeply shaded by elms on each side, it became +for a considerable stretch very retired; and when the young ladies +had advanced some way into it, they had suddenly perceived at a small +distance before them, on a broader patch of greensward by the side, a +party of gipsies. A child on the watch, came towards them to beg; and +Miss Bickerton, excessively frightened, gave a great scream, and calling +on Harriet to follow her, ran up a steep bank, cleared a slight hedge at +the top, and made the best of her way by a short cut back to Highbury. +But poor Harriet could not follow. She had suffered very much from cramp +after dancing, and her first attempt to mount the bank brought on such +a return of it as made her absolutely powerless--and in this state, and +exceedingly terrified, she had been obliged to remain. + +How the trampers might have behaved, had the young ladies been more +courageous, must be doubtful; but such an invitation for attack could +not be resisted; and Harriet was soon assailed by half a dozen children, +headed by a stout woman and a great boy, all clamorous, and impertinent +in look, though not absolutely in word.--More and more frightened, she +immediately promised them money, and taking out her purse, gave them a +shilling, and begged them not to want more, or to use her ill.--She +was then able to walk, though but slowly, and was moving away--but her +terror and her purse were too tempting, and she was followed, or rather +surrounded, by the whole gang, demanding more. + +In this state Frank Churchill had found her, she trembling and +conditioning, they loud and insolent. By a most fortunate chance his +leaving Highbury had been delayed so as to bring him to her assistance +at this critical moment. The pleasantness of the morning had induced +him to walk forward, and leave his horses to meet him by another road, +a mile or two beyond Highbury--and happening to have borrowed a pair +of scissors the night before of Miss Bates, and to have forgotten to +restore them, he had been obliged to stop at her door, and go in for a +few minutes: he was therefore later than he had intended; and being +on foot, was unseen by the whole party till almost close to them. The +terror which the woman and boy had been creating in Harriet was then +their own portion. He had left them completely frightened; and Harriet +eagerly clinging to him, and hardly able to speak, had just strength +enough to reach Hartfield, before her spirits were quite overcome. +It was his idea to bring her to Hartfield: he had thought of no other +place. + +This was the amount of the whole story,--of his communication and of +Harriet's as soon as she had recovered her senses and speech.--He dared +not stay longer than to see her well; these several delays left him +not another minute to lose; and Emma engaging to give assurance of her +safety to Mrs. Goddard, and notice of there being such a set of people +in the neighbourhood to Mr. Knightley, he set off, with all the grateful +blessings that she could utter for her friend and herself. + +Such an adventure as this,--a fine young man and a lovely young woman +thrown together in such a way, could hardly fail of suggesting certain +ideas to the coldest heart and the steadiest brain. So Emma thought, at +least. Could a linguist, could a grammarian, could even a mathematician +have seen what she did, have witnessed their appearance together, and +heard their history of it, without feeling that circumstances had been +at work to make them peculiarly interesting to each other?--How much +more must an imaginist, like herself, be on fire with speculation and +foresight!--especially with such a groundwork of anticipation as her +mind had already made. + +It was a very extraordinary thing! Nothing of the sort had ever +occurred before to any young ladies in the place, within her memory; no +rencontre, no alarm of the kind;--and now it had happened to the very +person, and at the very hour, when the other very person was chancing +to pass by to rescue her!--It certainly was very extraordinary!--And +knowing, as she did, the favourable state of mind of each at this +period, it struck her the more. He was wishing to get the better of his +attachment to herself, she just recovering from her mania for Mr. Elton. +It seemed as if every thing united to promise the most interesting +consequences. It was not possible that the occurrence should not be +strongly recommending each to the other. + +In the few minutes' conversation which she had yet had with him, while +Harriet had been partially insensible, he had spoken of her terror, +her naivete, her fervour as she seized and clung to his arm, with a +sensibility amused and delighted; and just at last, after Harriet's +own account had been given, he had expressed his indignation at the +abominable folly of Miss Bickerton in the warmest terms. Every thing was +to take its natural course, however, neither impelled nor assisted. +She would not stir a step, nor drop a hint. No, she had had enough of +interference. There could be no harm in a scheme, a mere passive scheme. +It was no more than a wish. Beyond it she would on no account proceed. + +Emma's first resolution was to keep her father from the knowledge of +what had passed,--aware of the anxiety and alarm it would occasion: but +she soon felt that concealment must be impossible. Within half an hour +it was known all over Highbury. It was the very event to engage those +who talk most, the young and the low; and all the youth and servants in +the place were soon in the happiness of frightful news. The last night's +ball seemed lost in the gipsies. Poor Mr. Woodhouse trembled as he sat, +and, as Emma had foreseen, would scarcely be satisfied without their +promising never to go beyond the shrubbery again. It was some comfort +to him that many inquiries after himself and Miss Woodhouse (for his +neighbours knew that he loved to be inquired after), as well as Miss +Smith, were coming in during the rest of the day; and he had +the pleasure of returning for answer, that they were all very +indifferent--which, though not exactly true, for she was perfectly well, +and Harriet not much otherwise, Emma would not interfere with. She had +an unhappy state of health in general for the child of such a man, +for she hardly knew what indisposition was; and if he did not invent +illnesses for her, she could make no figure in a message. + +The gipsies did not wait for the operations of justice; they took +themselves off in a hurry. The young ladies of Highbury might have +walked again in safety before their panic began, and the whole history +dwindled soon into a matter of little importance but to Emma and her +nephews:--in her imagination it maintained its ground, and Henry and +John were still asking every day for the story of Harriet and the +gipsies, and still tenaciously setting her right if she varied in the +slightest particular from the original recital. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +A very few days had passed after this adventure, when Harriet came one +morning to Emma with a small parcel in her hand, and after sitting down +and hesitating, thus began: + +"Miss Woodhouse--if you are at leisure--I have something that I should +like to tell you--a sort of confession to make--and then, you know, it +will be over." + +Emma was a good deal surprized; but begged her to speak. There was a +seriousness in Harriet's manner which prepared her, quite as much as her +words, for something more than ordinary. + +"It is my duty, and I am sure it is my wish," she continued, "to have +no reserves with you on this subject. As I am happily quite an altered +creature in _one_ _respect_, it is very fit that you should have +the satisfaction of knowing it. I do not want to say more than is +necessary--I am too much ashamed of having given way as I have done, and +I dare say you understand me." + +"Yes," said Emma, "I hope I do." + +"How I could so long a time be fancying myself!..." cried Harriet, +warmly. "It seems like madness! I can see nothing at all extraordinary +in him now.--I do not care whether I meet him or not--except that of the +two I had rather not see him--and indeed I would go any distance round +to avoid him--but I do not envy his wife in the least; I neither admire +her nor envy her, as I have done: she is very charming, I dare say, and +all that, but I think her very ill-tempered and disagreeable--I shall +never forget her look the other night!--However, I assure you, Miss +Woodhouse, I wish her no evil.--No, let them be ever so happy together, +it will not give me another moment's pang: and to convince you that I +have been speaking truth, I am now going to destroy--what I ought to +have destroyed long ago--what I ought never to have kept--I know that +very well (blushing as she spoke).--However, now I will destroy it +all--and it is my particular wish to do it in your presence, that you +may see how rational I am grown. Cannot you guess what this parcel +holds?" said she, with a conscious look. + +"Not the least in the world.--Did he ever give you any thing?" + +"No--I cannot call them gifts; but they are things that I have valued +very much." + +She held the parcel towards her, and Emma read the words _Most_ +_precious_ _treasures_ on the top. Her curiosity was greatly excited. +Harriet unfolded the parcel, and she looked on with impatience. Within +abundance of silver paper was a pretty little Tunbridge-ware box, +which Harriet opened: it was well lined with the softest cotton; but, +excepting the cotton, Emma saw only a small piece of court-plaister. + +"Now," said Harriet, "you _must_ recollect." + +"No, indeed I do not." + +"Dear me! I should not have thought it possible you could forget what +passed in this very room about court-plaister, one of the very last +times we ever met in it!--It was but a very few days before I had my +sore throat--just before Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley came--I think the +very evening.--Do not you remember his cutting his finger with your new +penknife, and your recommending court-plaister?--But, as you had none +about you, and knew I had, you desired me to supply him; and so I took +mine out and cut him a piece; but it was a great deal too large, and he +cut it smaller, and kept playing some time with what was left, before he +gave it back to me. And so then, in my nonsense, I could not help making +a treasure of it--so I put it by never to be used, and looked at it now +and then as a great treat." + +"My dearest Harriet!" cried Emma, putting her hand before her face, +and jumping up, "you make me more ashamed of myself than I can bear. +Remember it? Aye, I remember it all now; all, except your saving this +relic--I knew nothing of that till this moment--but the cutting the +finger, and my recommending court-plaister, and saying I had none +about me!--Oh! my sins, my sins!--And I had plenty all the while in my +pocket!--One of my senseless tricks!--I deserve to be under a continual +blush all the rest of my life.--Well--(sitting down again)--go on--what +else?" + +"And had you really some at hand yourself? I am sure I never suspected +it, you did it so naturally." + +"And so you actually put this piece of court-plaister by for his sake!" +said Emma, recovering from her state of shame and feeling divided +between wonder and amusement. And secretly she added to herself, "Lord +bless me! when should I ever have thought of putting by in cotton a +piece of court-plaister that Frank Churchill had been pulling about! I +never was equal to this." + +"Here," resumed Harriet, turning to her box again, "here is something +still more valuable, I mean that _has_ _been_ more valuable, because +this is what did really once belong to him, which the court-plaister +never did." + +Emma was quite eager to see this superior treasure. It was the end of an +old pencil,--the part without any lead. + +"This was really his," said Harriet.--"Do not you remember one +morning?--no, I dare say you do not. But one morning--I forget exactly +the day--but perhaps it was the Tuesday or Wednesday before _that_ +_evening_, he wanted to make a memorandum in his pocket-book; it was +about spruce-beer. Mr. Knightley had been telling him something about +brewing spruce-beer, and he wanted to put it down; but when he took out +his pencil, there was so little lead that he soon cut it all away, and +it would not do, so you lent him another, and this was left upon the +table as good for nothing. But I kept my eye on it; and, as soon as I +dared, caught it up, and never parted with it again from that moment." + +"I do remember it," cried Emma; "I perfectly remember it.--Talking +about spruce-beer.--Oh! yes--Mr. Knightley and I both saying we +liked it, and Mr. Elton's seeming resolved to learn to like it too. I +perfectly remember it.--Stop; Mr. Knightley was standing just here, was +not he? I have an idea he was standing just here." + +"Ah! I do not know. I cannot recollect.--It is very odd, but I cannot +recollect.--Mr. Elton was sitting here, I remember, much about where I +am now."-- + +"Well, go on." + +"Oh! that's all. I have nothing more to shew you, or to say--except that +I am now going to throw them both behind the fire, and I wish you to see +me do it." + +"My poor dear Harriet! and have you actually found happiness in +treasuring up these things?" + +"Yes, simpleton as I was!--but I am quite ashamed of it now, and wish I +could forget as easily as I can burn them. It was very wrong of me, you +know, to keep any remembrances, after he was married. I knew it was--but +had not resolution enough to part with them." + +"But, Harriet, is it necessary to burn the court-plaister?--I have not +a word to say for the bit of old pencil, but the court-plaister might be +useful." + +"I shall be happier to burn it," replied Harriet. "It has a disagreeable +look to me. I must get rid of every thing.--There it goes, and there is +an end, thank Heaven! of Mr. Elton." + +"And when," thought Emma, "will there be a beginning of Mr. Churchill?" + +She had soon afterwards reason to believe that the beginning was already +made, and could not but hope that the gipsy, though she had _told_ no +fortune, might be proved to have made Harriet's.--About a fortnight +after the alarm, they came to a sufficient explanation, and quite +undesignedly. Emma was not thinking of it at the moment, which made the +information she received more valuable. She merely said, in the course +of some trivial chat, "Well, Harriet, whenever you marry I would advise +you to do so and so"--and thought no more of it, till after a minute's +silence she heard Harriet say in a very serious tone, "I shall never +marry." + +Emma then looked up, and immediately saw how it was; and after a +moment's debate, as to whether it should pass unnoticed or not, replied, + +"Never marry!--This is a new resolution." + +"It is one that I shall never change, however." + +After another short hesitation, "I hope it does not proceed from--I hope +it is not in compliment to Mr. Elton?" + +"Mr. Elton indeed!" cried Harriet indignantly.--"Oh! no"--and Emma could +just catch the words, "so superior to Mr. Elton!" + +She then took a longer time for consideration. Should she proceed no +farther?--should she let it pass, and seem to suspect nothing?--Perhaps +Harriet might think her cold or angry if she did; or perhaps if she were +totally silent, it might only drive Harriet into asking her to hear too +much; and against any thing like such an unreserve as had been, such +an open and frequent discussion of hopes and chances, she was perfectly +resolved.--She believed it would be wiser for her to say and know at +once, all that she meant to say and know. Plain dealing was always +best. She had previously determined how far she would proceed, on any +application of the sort; and it would be safer for both, to have the +judicious law of her own brain laid down with speed.--She was decided, +and thus spoke-- + +"Harriet, I will not affect to be in doubt of your meaning. Your +resolution, or rather your expectation of never marrying, results from +an idea that the person whom you might prefer, would be too greatly your +superior in situation to think of you. Is not it so?" + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, believe me I have not the presumption to suppose-- +Indeed I am not so mad.--But it is a pleasure to me to admire him at a +distance--and to think of his infinite superiority to all the rest of +the world, with the gratitude, wonder, and veneration, which are so +proper, in me especially." + +"I am not at all surprized at you, Harriet. The service he rendered you +was enough to warm your heart." + +"Service! oh! it was such an inexpressible obligation!--The very +recollection of it, and all that I felt at the time--when I saw him +coming--his noble look--and my wretchedness before. Such a change! In +one moment such a change! From perfect misery to perfect happiness!" + +"It is very natural. It is natural, and it is honourable.--Yes, +honourable, I think, to chuse so well and so gratefully.--But that +it will be a fortunate preference is more that I can promise. I do not +advise you to give way to it, Harriet. I do not by any means engage +for its being returned. Consider what you are about. Perhaps it will be +wisest in you to check your feelings while you can: at any rate do not +let them carry you far, unless you are persuaded of his liking you. Be +observant of him. Let his behaviour be the guide of your sensations. I +give you this caution now, because I shall never speak to you again on +the subject. I am determined against all interference. Henceforward I +know nothing of the matter. Let no name ever pass our lips. We were very +wrong before; we will be cautious now.--He is your superior, no doubt, +and there do seem objections and obstacles of a very serious nature; but +yet, Harriet, more wonderful things have taken place, there have been +matches of greater disparity. But take care of yourself. I would not +have you too sanguine; though, however it may end, be assured your +raising your thoughts to _him_, is a mark of good taste which I shall +always know how to value." + +Harriet kissed her hand in silent and submissive gratitude. Emma was +very decided in thinking such an attachment no bad thing for her friend. +Its tendency would be to raise and refine her mind--and it must be +saving her from the danger of degradation. + + + +CHAPTER V + + +In this state of schemes, and hopes, and connivance, June opened upon +Hartfield. To Highbury in general it brought no material change. The +Eltons were still talking of a visit from the Sucklings, and of the use +to be made of their barouche-landau; and Jane Fairfax was still at her +grandmother's; and as the return of the Campbells from Ireland was again +delayed, and August, instead of Midsummer, fixed for it, she was likely +to remain there full two months longer, provided at least she were able +to defeat Mrs. Elton's activity in her service, and save herself from +being hurried into a delightful situation against her will. + +Mr. Knightley, who, for some reason best known to himself, had certainly +taken an early dislike to Frank Churchill, was only growing to dislike +him more. He began to suspect him of some double dealing in his pursuit +of Emma. That Emma was his object appeared indisputable. Every thing +declared it; his own attentions, his father's hints, his mother-in-law's +guarded silence; it was all in unison; words, conduct, discretion, and +indiscretion, told the same story. But while so many were devoting him +to Emma, and Emma herself making him over to Harriet, Mr. Knightley +began to suspect him of some inclination to trifle with Jane Fairfax. He +could not understand it; but there were symptoms of intelligence between +them--he thought so at least--symptoms of admiration on his side, which, +having once observed, he could not persuade himself to think entirely +void of meaning, however he might wish to escape any of Emma's errors +of imagination. _She_ was not present when the suspicion first arose. +He was dining with the Randalls family, and Jane, at the Eltons'; and he +had seen a look, more than a single look, at Miss Fairfax, which, from +the admirer of Miss Woodhouse, seemed somewhat out of place. When he was +again in their company, he could not help remembering what he had seen; +nor could he avoid observations which, unless it were like Cowper and +his fire at twilight, + +"Myself creating what I saw," + +brought him yet stronger suspicion of there being a something of private +liking, of private understanding even, between Frank Churchill and Jane. + +He had walked up one day after dinner, as he very often did, to spend +his evening at Hartfield. Emma and Harriet were going to walk; he joined +them; and, on returning, they fell in with a larger party, who, like +themselves, judged it wisest to take their exercise early, as the +weather threatened rain; Mr. and Mrs. Weston and their son, Miss Bates +and her niece, who had accidentally met. They all united; and, on +reaching Hartfield gates, Emma, who knew it was exactly the sort of +visiting that would be welcome to her father, pressed them all to go in +and drink tea with him. The Randalls party agreed to it immediately; and +after a pretty long speech from Miss Bates, which few persons listened +to, she also found it possible to accept dear Miss Woodhouse's most +obliging invitation. + +As they were turning into the grounds, Mr. Perry passed by on horseback. +The gentlemen spoke of his horse. + +"By the bye," said Frank Churchill to Mrs. Weston presently, "what +became of Mr. Perry's plan of setting up his carriage?" + +Mrs. Weston looked surprized, and said, "I did not know that he ever had +any such plan." + +"Nay, I had it from you. You wrote me word of it three months ago." + +"Me! impossible!" + +"Indeed you did. I remember it perfectly. You mentioned it as what +was certainly to be very soon. Mrs. Perry had told somebody, and was +extremely happy about it. It was owing to _her_ persuasion, as she +thought his being out in bad weather did him a great deal of harm. You +must remember it now?" + +"Upon my word I never heard of it till this moment." + +"Never! really, never!--Bless me! how could it be?--Then I must have +dreamt it--but I was completely persuaded--Miss Smith, you walk as if +you were tired. You will not be sorry to find yourself at home." + +"What is this?--What is this?" cried Mr. Weston, "about Perry and a +carriage? Is Perry going to set up his carriage, Frank? I am glad he can +afford it. You had it from himself, had you?" + +"No, sir," replied his son, laughing, "I seem to have had it from +nobody.--Very odd!--I really was persuaded of Mrs. Weston's having +mentioned it in one of her letters to Enscombe, many weeks ago, with all +these particulars--but as she declares she never heard a syllable of +it before, of course it must have been a dream. I am a great dreamer. +I dream of every body at Highbury when I am away--and when I have gone +through my particular friends, then I begin dreaming of Mr. and Mrs. +Perry." + +"It is odd though," observed his father, "that you should have had such +a regular connected dream about people whom it was not very likely you +should be thinking of at Enscombe. Perry's setting up his carriage! and +his wife's persuading him to it, out of care for his health--just +what will happen, I have no doubt, some time or other; only a little +premature. What an air of probability sometimes runs through a dream! +And at others, what a heap of absurdities it is! Well, Frank, your dream +certainly shews that Highbury is in your thoughts when you are absent. +Emma, you are a great dreamer, I think?" + +Emma was out of hearing. She had hurried on before her guests to +prepare her father for their appearance, and was beyond the reach of Mr. +Weston's hint. + +"Why, to own the truth," cried Miss Bates, who had been trying in vain +to be heard the last two minutes, "if I must speak on this subject, +there is no denying that Mr. Frank Churchill might have--I do not mean +to say that he did not dream it--I am sure I have sometimes the oddest +dreams in the world--but if I am questioned about it, I must acknowledge +that there was such an idea last spring; for Mrs. Perry herself +mentioned it to my mother, and the Coles knew of it as well as +ourselves--but it was quite a secret, known to nobody else, and only +thought of about three days. Mrs. Perry was very anxious that he should +have a carriage, and came to my mother in great spirits one morning +because she thought she had prevailed. Jane, don't you remember +grandmama's telling us of it when we got home? I forget where we +had been walking to--very likely to Randalls; yes, I think it was to +Randalls. Mrs. Perry was always particularly fond of my mother--indeed +I do not know who is not--and she had mentioned it to her in confidence; +she had no objection to her telling us, of course, but it was not to go +beyond: and, from that day to this, I never mentioned it to a soul that +I know of. At the same time, I will not positively answer for my having +never dropt a hint, because I know I do sometimes pop out a thing before +I am aware. I am a talker, you know; I am rather a talker; and now and +then I have let a thing escape me which I should not. I am not like +Jane; I wish I were. I will answer for it _she_ never betrayed the least +thing in the world. Where is she?--Oh! just behind. Perfectly remember +Mrs. Perry's coming.--Extraordinary dream, indeed!" + +They were entering the hall. Mr. Knightley's eyes had preceded Miss +Bates's in a glance at Jane. From Frank Churchill's face, where +he thought he saw confusion suppressed or laughed away, he had +involuntarily turned to hers; but she was indeed behind, and too busy +with her shawl. Mr. Weston had walked in. The two other gentlemen waited +at the door to let her pass. Mr. Knightley suspected in Frank +Churchill the determination of catching her eye--he seemed watching her +intently--in vain, however, if it were so--Jane passed between them +into the hall, and looked at neither. + +There was no time for farther remark or explanation. The dream must be +borne with, and Mr. Knightley must take his seat with the rest round the +large modern circular table which Emma had introduced at Hartfield, and +which none but Emma could have had power to place there and persuade her +father to use, instead of the small-sized Pembroke, on which two of his +daily meals had, for forty years been crowded. Tea passed pleasantly, +and nobody seemed in a hurry to move. + +"Miss Woodhouse," said Frank Churchill, after examining a table behind +him, which he could reach as he sat, "have your nephews taken away their +alphabets--their box of letters? It used to stand here. Where is it? +This is a sort of dull-looking evening, that ought to be treated rather +as winter than summer. We had great amusement with those letters one +morning. I want to puzzle you again." + +Emma was pleased with the thought; and producing the box, the table +was quickly scattered over with alphabets, which no one seemed so much +disposed to employ as their two selves. They were rapidly forming words +for each other, or for any body else who would be puzzled. The quietness +of the game made it particularly eligible for Mr. Woodhouse, who had +often been distressed by the more animated sort, which Mr. Weston had +occasionally introduced, and who now sat happily occupied in lamenting, +with tender melancholy, over the departure of the "poor little boys," +or in fondly pointing out, as he took up any stray letter near him, how +beautifully Emma had written it. + +Frank Churchill placed a word before Miss Fairfax. She gave a slight +glance round the table, and applied herself to it. Frank was next to +Emma, Jane opposite to them--and Mr. Knightley so placed as to see them +all; and it was his object to see as much as he could, with as little +apparent observation. The word was discovered, and with a faint smile +pushed away. If meant to be immediately mixed with the others, and +buried from sight, she should have looked on the table instead of +looking just across, for it was not mixed; and Harriet, eager after +every fresh word, and finding out none, directly took it up, and fell to +work. She was sitting by Mr. Knightley, and turned to him for help. The +word was _blunder_; and as Harriet exultingly proclaimed it, there was a +blush on Jane's cheek which gave it a meaning not otherwise ostensible. +Mr. Knightley connected it with the dream; but how it could all be, +was beyond his comprehension. How the delicacy, the discretion of his +favourite could have been so lain asleep! He feared there must be some +decided involvement. Disingenuousness and double dealing seemed to meet +him at every turn. These letters were but the vehicle for gallantry and +trick. It was a child's play, chosen to conceal a deeper game on Frank +Churchill's part. + +With great indignation did he continue to observe him; with great alarm +and distrust, to observe also his two blinded companions. He saw a short +word prepared for Emma, and given to her with a look sly and demure. He +saw that Emma had soon made it out, and found it highly entertaining, +though it was something which she judged it proper to appear to censure; +for she said, "Nonsense! for shame!" He heard Frank Churchill next say, +with a glance towards Jane, "I will give it to her--shall I?"--and as +clearly heard Emma opposing it with eager laughing warmth. "No, no, you +must not; you shall not, indeed." + +It was done however. This gallant young man, who seemed to love without +feeling, and to recommend himself without complaisance, directly handed +over the word to Miss Fairfax, and with a particular degree of sedate +civility entreated her to study it. Mr. Knightley's excessive curiosity +to know what this word might be, made him seize every possible moment +for darting his eye towards it, and it was not long before he saw it +to be _Dixon_. Jane Fairfax's perception seemed to accompany his; +her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, +the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged. She was +evidently displeased; looked up, and seeing herself watched, blushed +more deeply than he had ever perceived her, and saying only, "I did not +know that proper names were allowed," pushed away the letters with even +an angry spirit, and looked resolved to be engaged by no other word +that could be offered. Her face was averted from those who had made the +attack, and turned towards her aunt. + +"Aye, very true, my dear," cried the latter, though Jane had not spoken +a word--"I was just going to say the same thing. It is time for us to be +going indeed. The evening is closing in, and grandmama will be looking +for us. My dear sir, you are too obliging. We really must wish you good +night." + +Jane's alertness in moving, proved her as ready as her aunt had +preconceived. She was immediately up, and wanting to quit the table; but +so many were also moving, that she could not get away; and Mr. Knightley +thought he saw another collection of letters anxiously pushed towards +her, and resolutely swept away by her unexamined. She was afterwards +looking for her shawl--Frank Churchill was looking also--it was growing +dusk, and the room was in confusion; and how they parted, Mr. Knightley +could not tell. + +He remained at Hartfield after all the rest, his thoughts full of +what he had seen; so full, that when the candles came to assist his +observations, he must--yes, he certainly must, as a friend--an anxious +friend--give Emma some hint, ask her some question. He could not see her +in a situation of such danger, without trying to preserve her. It was +his duty. + +"Pray, Emma," said he, "may I ask in what lay the great amusement, the +poignant sting of the last word given to you and Miss Fairfax? I saw the +word, and am curious to know how it could be so very entertaining to the +one, and so very distressing to the other." + +Emma was extremely confused. She could not endure to give him the true +explanation; for though her suspicions were by no means removed, she was +really ashamed of having ever imparted them. + +"Oh!" she cried in evident embarrassment, "it all meant nothing; a mere +joke among ourselves." + +"The joke," he replied gravely, "seemed confined to you and Mr. +Churchill." + +He had hoped she would speak again, but she did not. She would rather +busy herself about any thing than speak. He sat a little while in +doubt. A variety of evils crossed his mind. Interference--fruitless +interference. Emma's confusion, and the acknowledged intimacy, seemed to +declare her affection engaged. Yet he would speak. He owed it to her, +to risk any thing that might be involved in an unwelcome interference, +rather than her welfare; to encounter any thing, rather than the +remembrance of neglect in such a cause. + +"My dear Emma," said he at last, with earnest kindness, "do you +think you perfectly understand the degree of acquaintance between the +gentleman and lady we have been speaking of?" + +"Between Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax? Oh! yes, perfectly.--Why +do you make a doubt of it?" + +"Have you never at any time had reason to think that he admired her, or +that she admired him?" + +"Never, never!" she cried with a most open eagerness--"Never, for the +twentieth part of a moment, did such an idea occur to me. And how could +it possibly come into your head?" + +"I have lately imagined that I saw symptoms of attachment between +them--certain expressive looks, which I did not believe meant to be +public." + +"Oh! you amuse me excessively. I am delighted to find that you can +vouchsafe to let your imagination wander--but it will not do--very sorry +to check you in your first essay--but indeed it will not do. There is no +admiration between them, I do assure you; and the appearances which +have caught you, have arisen from some peculiar circumstances--feelings +rather of a totally different nature--it is impossible exactly to +explain:--there is a good deal of nonsense in it--but the part which is +capable of being communicated, which is sense, is, that they are as far +from any attachment or admiration for one another, as any two beings in +the world can be. That is, I _presume_ it to be so on her side, and I +can _answer_ for its being so on his. I will answer for the gentleman's +indifference." + +She spoke with a confidence which staggered, with a satisfaction +which silenced, Mr. Knightley. She was in gay spirits, and would have +prolonged the conversation, wanting to hear the particulars of his +suspicions, every look described, and all the wheres and hows of a +circumstance which highly entertained her: but his gaiety did not meet +hers. He found he could not be useful, and his feelings were too much +irritated for talking. That he might not be irritated into an absolute +fever, by the fire which Mr. Woodhouse's tender habits required almost +every evening throughout the year, he soon afterwards took a hasty +leave, and walked home to the coolness and solitude of Donwell Abbey. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +After being long fed with hopes of a speedy visit from Mr. and Mrs. +Suckling, the Highbury world were obliged to endure the mortification +of hearing that they could not possibly come till the autumn. No such +importation of novelties could enrich their intellectual stores at +present. In the daily interchange of news, they must be again restricted +to the other topics with which for a while the Sucklings' coming had +been united, such as the last accounts of Mrs. Churchill, whose health +seemed every day to supply a different report, and the situation of Mrs. +Weston, whose happiness it was to be hoped might eventually be as much +increased by the arrival of a child, as that of all her neighbours was +by the approach of it. + +Mrs. Elton was very much disappointed. It was the delay of a great deal +of pleasure and parade. Her introductions and recommendations must all +wait, and every projected party be still only talked of. So she thought +at first;--but a little consideration convinced her that every thing +need not be put off. Why should not they explore to Box Hill though +the Sucklings did not come? They could go there again with them in the +autumn. It was settled that they should go to Box Hill. That there was +to be such a party had been long generally known: it had even given the +idea of another. Emma had never been to Box Hill; she wished to see what +every body found so well worth seeing, and she and Mr. Weston had agreed +to chuse some fine morning and drive thither. Two or three more of the +chosen only were to be admitted to join them, and it was to be done in a +quiet, unpretending, elegant way, infinitely superior to the bustle and +preparation, the regular eating and drinking, and picnic parade of the +Eltons and the Sucklings. + +This was so very well understood between them, that Emma could not but +feel some surprise, and a little displeasure, on hearing from Mr. Weston +that he had been proposing to Mrs. Elton, as her brother and sister had +failed her, that the two parties should unite, and go together; and that +as Mrs. Elton had very readily acceded to it, so it was to be, if she +had no objection. Now, as her objection was nothing but her very great +dislike of Mrs. Elton, of which Mr. Weston must already be perfectly +aware, it was not worth bringing forward again:--it could not be done +without a reproof to him, which would be giving pain to his wife; and +she found herself therefore obliged to consent to an arrangement which +she would have done a great deal to avoid; an arrangement which would +probably expose her even to the degradation of being said to be of Mrs. +Elton's party! Every feeling was offended; and the forbearance of her +outward submission left a heavy arrear due of secret severity in her +reflections on the unmanageable goodwill of Mr. Weston's temper. + +"I am glad you approve of what I have done," said he very comfortably. +"But I thought you would. Such schemes as these are nothing without +numbers. One cannot have too large a party. A large party secures its +own amusement. And she is a good-natured woman after all. One could not +leave her out." + +Emma denied none of it aloud, and agreed to none of it in private. + +It was now the middle of June, and the weather fine; and Mrs. Elton +was growing impatient to name the day, and settle with Mr. Weston as to +pigeon-pies and cold lamb, when a lame carriage-horse threw every thing +into sad uncertainty. It might be weeks, it might be only a few days, +before the horse were useable; but no preparations could be ventured +on, and it was all melancholy stagnation. Mrs. Elton's resources were +inadequate to such an attack. + +"Is not this most vexatious, Knightley?" she cried.--"And such weather +for exploring!--These delays and disappointments are quite odious. What +are we to do?--The year will wear away at this rate, and nothing +done. Before this time last year I assure you we had had a delightful +exploring party from Maple Grove to Kings Weston." + +"You had better explore to Donwell," replied Mr. Knightley. "That may +be done without horses. Come, and eat my strawberries. They are ripening +fast." + +If Mr. Knightley did not begin seriously, he was obliged to proceed so, +for his proposal was caught at with delight; and the "Oh! I should like +it of all things," was not plainer in words than manner. Donwell was +famous for its strawberry-beds, which seemed a plea for the invitation: +but no plea was necessary; cabbage-beds would have been enough to tempt +the lady, who only wanted to be going somewhere. She promised him again +and again to come--much oftener than he doubted--and was extremely +gratified by such a proof of intimacy, such a distinguishing compliment +as she chose to consider it. + +"You may depend upon me," said she. "I certainly will come. Name your +day, and I will come. You will allow me to bring Jane Fairfax?" + +"I cannot name a day," said he, "till I have spoken to some others whom +I would wish to meet you." + +"Oh! leave all that to me. Only give me a carte-blanche.--I am Lady +Patroness, you know. It is my party. I will bring friends with me." + +"I hope you will bring Elton," said he: "but I will not trouble you to +give any other invitations." + +"Oh! now you are looking very sly. But consider--you need not be afraid +of delegating power to _me_. I am no young lady on her preferment. +Married women, you know, may be safely authorised. It is my party. Leave +it all to me. I will invite your guests." + +"No,"--he calmly replied,--"there is but one married woman in the world +whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and +that one is--" + +"--Mrs. Weston, I suppose," interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified. + +"No--Mrs. Knightley;--and till she is in being, I will manage such +matters myself." + +"Ah! you are an odd creature!" she cried, satisfied to have no one +preferred to herself.--"You are a humourist, and may say what you +like. Quite a humourist. Well, I shall bring Jane with me--Jane and her +aunt.--The rest I leave to you. I have no objections at all to meeting +the Hartfield family. Don't scruple. I know you are attached to them." + +"You certainly will meet them if I can prevail; and I shall call on Miss +Bates in my way home." + +"That's quite unnecessary; I see Jane every day:--but as you like. It +is to be a morning scheme, you know, Knightley; quite a simple thing. I +shall wear a large bonnet, and bring one of my little baskets hanging +on my arm. Here,--probably this basket with pink ribbon. Nothing can be +more simple, you see. And Jane will have such another. There is to be +no form or parade--a sort of gipsy party. We are to walk about +your gardens, and gather the strawberries ourselves, and sit under +trees;--and whatever else you may like to provide, it is to be all out +of doors--a table spread in the shade, you know. Every thing as natural +and simple as possible. Is not that your idea?" + +"Not quite. My idea of the simple and the natural will be to have +the table spread in the dining-room. The nature and the simplicity of +gentlemen and ladies, with their servants and furniture, I think is +best observed by meals within doors. When you are tired of eating +strawberries in the garden, there shall be cold meat in the house." + +"Well--as you please; only don't have a great set out. And, by the bye, +can I or my housekeeper be of any use to you with our opinion?--Pray be +sincere, Knightley. If you wish me to talk to Mrs. Hodges, or to inspect +anything--" + +"I have not the least wish for it, I thank you." + +"Well--but if any difficulties should arise, my housekeeper is extremely +clever." + +"I will answer for it, that mine thinks herself full as clever, and +would spurn any body's assistance." + +"I wish we had a donkey. The thing would be for us all to come on +donkeys, Jane, Miss Bates, and me--and my caro sposo walking by. I +really must talk to him about purchasing a donkey. In a country life +I conceive it to be a sort of necessary; for, let a woman have ever +so many resources, it is not possible for her to be always shut up at +home;--and very long walks, you know--in summer there is dust, and in +winter there is dirt." + +"You will not find either, between Donwell and Highbury. Donwell Lane is +never dusty, and now it is perfectly dry. Come on a donkey, however, if +you prefer it. You can borrow Mrs. Cole's. I would wish every thing to +be as much to your taste as possible." + +"That I am sure you would. Indeed I do you justice, my good friend. +Under that peculiar sort of dry, blunt manner, I know you have the +warmest heart. As I tell Mr. E., you are a thorough humourist.--Yes, +believe me, Knightley, I am fully sensible of your attention to me in +the whole of this scheme. You have hit upon the very thing to please +me." + +Mr. Knightley had another reason for avoiding a table in the shade. He +wished to persuade Mr. Woodhouse, as well as Emma, to join the party; +and he knew that to have any of them sitting down out of doors to +eat would inevitably make him ill. Mr. Woodhouse must not, under the +specious pretence of a morning drive, and an hour or two spent at +Donwell, be tempted away to his misery. + +He was invited on good faith. No lurking horrors were to upbraid him for +his easy credulity. He did consent. He had not been at Donwell for two +years. "Some very fine morning, he, and Emma, and Harriet, could go +very well; and he could sit still with Mrs. Weston, while the dear girls +walked about the gardens. He did not suppose they could be damp now, +in the middle of the day. He should like to see the old house again +exceedingly, and should be very happy to meet Mr. and Mrs. Elton, and +any other of his neighbours.--He could not see any objection at all to +his, and Emma's, and Harriet's going there some very fine morning. He +thought it very well done of Mr. Knightley to invite them--very kind +and sensible--much cleverer than dining out.--He was not fond of dining +out." + +Mr. Knightley was fortunate in every body's most ready concurrence. The +invitation was everywhere so well received, that it seemed as if, like +Mrs. Elton, they were all taking the scheme as a particular compliment +to themselves.--Emma and Harriet professed very high expectations of +pleasure from it; and Mr. Weston, unasked, promised to get Frank over to +join them, if possible; a proof of approbation and gratitude which could +have been dispensed with.--Mr. Knightley was then obliged to say that +he should be glad to see him; and Mr. Weston engaged to lose no time in +writing, and spare no arguments to induce him to come. + +In the meanwhile the lame horse recovered so fast, that the party to +Box Hill was again under happy consideration; and at last Donwell was +settled for one day, and Box Hill for the next,--the weather appearing +exactly right. + +Under a bright mid-day sun, at almost Midsummer, Mr. Woodhouse was +safely conveyed in his carriage, with one window down, to partake of +this al-fresco party; and in one of the most comfortable rooms in the +Abbey, especially prepared for him by a fire all the morning, he was +happily placed, quite at his ease, ready to talk with pleasure of what +had been achieved, and advise every body to come and sit down, and not +to heat themselves.--Mrs. Weston, who seemed to have walked there on +purpose to be tired, and sit all the time with him, remained, when +all the others were invited or persuaded out, his patient listener and +sympathiser. + +It was so long since Emma had been at the Abbey, that as soon as she was +satisfied of her father's comfort, she was glad to leave him, and look +around her; eager to refresh and correct her memory with more particular +observation, more exact understanding of a house and grounds which must +ever be so interesting to her and all her family. + +She felt all the honest pride and complacency which her alliance with +the present and future proprietor could fairly warrant, as she viewed +the respectable size and style of the building, its suitable, becoming, +characteristic situation, low and sheltered--its ample gardens +stretching down to meadows washed by a stream, of which the Abbey, with +all the old neglect of prospect, had scarcely a sight--and its abundance +of timber in rows and avenues, which neither fashion nor extravagance +had rooted up.--The house was larger than Hartfield, and totally unlike +it, covering a good deal of ground, rambling and irregular, with many +comfortable, and one or two handsome rooms.--It was just what it ought +to be, and it looked what it was--and Emma felt an increasing respect +for it, as the residence of a family of such true gentility, untainted +in blood and understanding.--Some faults of temper John Knightley had; +but Isabella had connected herself unexceptionably. She had given them +neither men, nor names, nor places, that could raise a blush. These were +pleasant feelings, and she walked about and indulged them till it +was necessary to do as the others did, and collect round the +strawberry-beds.--The whole party were assembled, excepting Frank +Churchill, who was expected every moment from Richmond; and Mrs. Elton, +in all her apparatus of happiness, her large bonnet and her basket, +was very ready to lead the way in gathering, accepting, or +talking--strawberries, and only strawberries, could now be thought or +spoken of.--"The best fruit in England--every body's favourite--always +wholesome.--These the finest beds and finest sorts.--Delightful to +gather for one's self--the only way of really enjoying them.--Morning +decidedly the best time--never tired--every sort good--hautboy +infinitely superior--no comparison--the others hardly eatable--hautboys +very scarce--Chili preferred--white wood finest flavour of all--price +of strawberries in London--abundance about Bristol--Maple +Grove--cultivation--beds when to be renewed--gardeners thinking exactly +different--no general rule--gardeners never to be put out of their +way--delicious fruit--only too rich to be eaten much of--inferior +to cherries--currants more refreshing--only objection to gathering +strawberries the stooping--glaring sun--tired to death--could bear it no +longer--must go and sit in the shade." + +Such, for half an hour, was the conversation--interrupted only once by +Mrs. Weston, who came out, in her solicitude after her son-in-law, to +inquire if he were come--and she was a little uneasy.--She had some +fears of his horse. + +Seats tolerably in the shade were found; and now Emma was obliged +to overhear what Mrs. Elton and Jane Fairfax were talking of.--A +situation, a most desirable situation, was in question. Mrs. Elton had +received notice of it that morning, and was in raptures. It was not +with Mrs. Suckling, it was not with Mrs. Bragge, but in felicity and +splendour it fell short only of them: it was with a cousin of Mrs. +Bragge, an acquaintance of Mrs. Suckling, a lady known at Maple Grove. +Delightful, charming, superior, first circles, spheres, lines, ranks, +every thing--and Mrs. Elton was wild to have the offer closed with +immediately.--On her side, all was warmth, energy, and triumph--and she +positively refused to take her friend's negative, though Miss Fairfax +continued to assure her that she would not at present engage in any +thing, repeating the same motives which she had been heard to urge +before.--Still Mrs. Elton insisted on being authorised to write an +acquiescence by the morrow's post.--How Jane could bear it at all, was +astonishing to Emma.--She did look vexed, she did speak pointedly--and +at last, with a decision of action unusual to her, proposed a +removal.--"Should not they walk? Would not Mr. Knightley shew them the +gardens--all the gardens?--She wished to see the whole extent."--The +pertinacity of her friend seemed more than she could bear. + +It was hot; and after walking some time over the gardens in a scattered, +dispersed way, scarcely any three together, they insensibly followed one +another to the delicious shade of a broad short avenue of limes, which +stretching beyond the garden at an equal distance from the river, seemed +the finish of the pleasure grounds.--It led to nothing; nothing but a +view at the end over a low stone wall with high pillars, which seemed +intended, in their erection, to give the appearance of an approach to +the house, which never had been there. Disputable, however, as might be +the taste of such a termination, it was in itself a charming walk, and +the view which closed it extremely pretty.--The considerable slope, at +nearly the foot of which the Abbey stood, gradually acquired a steeper +form beyond its grounds; and at half a mile distant was a bank of +considerable abruptness and grandeur, well clothed with wood;--and at +the bottom of this bank, favourably placed and sheltered, rose the +Abbey Mill Farm, with meadows in front, and the river making a close and +handsome curve around it. + +It was a sweet view--sweet to the eye and the mind. English verdure, +English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being +oppressive. + +In this walk Emma and Mr. Weston found all the others assembled; and +towards this view she immediately perceived Mr. Knightley and Harriet +distinct from the rest, quietly leading the way. Mr. Knightley and +Harriet!--It was an odd tete-a-tete; but she was glad to see it.--There +had been a time when he would have scorned her as a companion, and +turned from her with little ceremony. Now they seemed in pleasant +conversation. There had been a time also when Emma would have been sorry +to see Harriet in a spot so favourable for the Abbey Mill Farm; but now +she feared it not. It might be safely viewed with all its appendages of +prosperity and beauty, its rich pastures, spreading flocks, orchard in +blossom, and light column of smoke ascending.--She joined them at the +wall, and found them more engaged in talking than in looking around. He +was giving Harriet information as to modes of agriculture, etc. and Emma +received a smile which seemed to say, "These are my own concerns. I have +a right to talk on such subjects, without being suspected of +introducing Robert Martin."--She did not suspect him. It was too old +a story.--Robert Martin had probably ceased to think of Harriet.--They +took a few turns together along the walk.--The shade was most +refreshing, and Emma found it the pleasantest part of the day. + +The next remove was to the house; they must all go in and eat;--and they +were all seated and busy, and still Frank Churchill did not come. Mrs. +Weston looked, and looked in vain. His father would not own himself +uneasy, and laughed at her fears; but she could not be cured of wishing +that he would part with his black mare. He had expressed himself as to +coming, with more than common certainty. "His aunt was so much better, +that he had not a doubt of getting over to them."--Mrs. Churchill's +state, however, as many were ready to remind her, was liable to such +sudden variation as might disappoint her nephew in the most reasonable +dependence--and Mrs. Weston was at last persuaded to believe, or to say, +that it must be by some attack of Mrs. Churchill that he was +prevented coming.--Emma looked at Harriet while the point was under +consideration; she behaved very well, and betrayed no emotion. + +The cold repast was over, and the party were to go out once more to see +what had not yet been seen, the old Abbey fish-ponds; perhaps get as far +as the clover, which was to be begun cutting on the morrow, or, at +any rate, have the pleasure of being hot, and growing cool again.--Mr. +Woodhouse, who had already taken his little round in the highest part +of the gardens, where no damps from the river were imagined even by him, +stirred no more; and his daughter resolved to remain with him, that +Mrs. Weston might be persuaded away by her husband to the exercise and +variety which her spirits seemed to need. + +Mr. Knightley had done all in his power for Mr. Woodhouse's +entertainment. Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, +shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been +prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness +had perfectly answered. Mr. Woodhouse had been exceedingly well amused. +Mrs. Weston had been shewing them all to him, and now he would shew them +all to Emma;--fortunate in having no other resemblance to a child, than +in a total want of taste for what he saw, for he was slow, constant, and +methodical.--Before this second looking over was begun, however, Emma +walked into the hall for the sake of a few moments' free observation of +the entrance and ground-plot of the house--and was hardly there, when +Jane Fairfax appeared, coming quickly in from the garden, and with a +look of escape.--Little expecting to meet Miss Woodhouse so soon, there +was a start at first; but Miss Woodhouse was the very person she was in +quest of. + +"Will you be so kind," said she, "when I am missed, as to say that I am +gone home?--I am going this moment.--My aunt is not aware how late it +is, nor how long we have been absent--but I am sure we shall be wanted, +and I am determined to go directly.--I have said nothing about it to any +body. It would only be giving trouble and distress. Some are gone to the +ponds, and some to the lime walk. Till they all come in I shall not be +missed; and when they do, will you have the goodness to say that I am +gone?" + +"Certainly, if you wish it;--but you are not going to walk to Highbury +alone?" + +"Yes--what should hurt me?--I walk fast. I shall be at home in twenty +minutes." + +"But it is too far, indeed it is, to be walking quite alone. Let my +father's servant go with you.--Let me order the carriage. It can be +round in five minutes." + +"Thank you, thank you--but on no account.--I would rather walk.--And +for _me_ to be afraid of walking alone!--I, who may so soon have to +guard others!" + +She spoke with great agitation; and Emma very feelingly replied, "That +can be no reason for your being exposed to danger now. I must order the +carriage. The heat even would be danger.--You are fatigued already." + +"I am,"--she answered--"I am fatigued; but it is not the sort of +fatigue--quick walking will refresh me.--Miss Woodhouse, we all know +at times what it is to be wearied in spirits. Mine, I confess, are +exhausted. The greatest kindness you can shew me, will be to let me have +my own way, and only say that I am gone when it is necessary." + +Emma had not another word to oppose. She saw it all; and entering into +her feelings, promoted her quitting the house immediately, and +watched her safely off with the zeal of a friend. Her parting look was +grateful--and her parting words, "Oh! Miss Woodhouse, the comfort of +being sometimes alone!"--seemed to burst from an overcharged heart, and +to describe somewhat of the continual endurance to be practised by her, +even towards some of those who loved her best. + +"Such a home, indeed! such an aunt!" said Emma, as she turned back into +the hall again. "I do pity you. And the more sensibility you betray of +their just horrors, the more I shall like you." + +Jane had not been gone a quarter of an hour, and they had only +accomplished some views of St. Mark's Place, Venice, when Frank +Churchill entered the room. Emma had not been thinking of him, she had +forgotten to think of him--but she was very glad to see him. Mrs. Weston +would be at ease. The black mare was blameless; _they_ were right +who had named Mrs. Churchill as the cause. He had been detained by +a temporary increase of illness in her; a nervous seizure, which had +lasted some hours--and he had quite given up every thought of coming, +till very late;--and had he known how hot a ride he should have, and +how late, with all his hurry, he must be, he believed he should not have +come at all. The heat was excessive; he had never suffered any thing +like it--almost wished he had staid at home--nothing killed him +like heat--he could bear any degree of cold, etc., but heat was +intolerable--and he sat down, at the greatest possible distance from the +slight remains of Mr. Woodhouse's fire, looking very deplorable. + +"You will soon be cooler, if you sit still," said Emma. + +"As soon as I am cooler I shall go back again. I could very ill be +spared--but such a point had been made of my coming! You will all be +going soon I suppose; the whole party breaking up. I met _one_ as I +came--Madness in such weather!--absolute madness!" + +Emma listened, and looked, and soon perceived that Frank Churchill's +state might be best defined by the expressive phrase of being out of +humour. Some people were always cross when they were hot. Such might be +his constitution; and as she knew that eating and drinking were often +the cure of such incidental complaints, she recommended his taking +some refreshment; he would find abundance of every thing in the +dining-room--and she humanely pointed out the door. + +"No--he should not eat. He was not hungry; it would only make him +hotter." In two minutes, however, he relented in his own favour; and +muttering something about spruce-beer, walked off. Emma returned all her +attention to her father, saying in secret-- + +"I am glad I have done being in love with him. I should not like a man +who is so soon discomposed by a hot morning. Harriet's sweet easy temper +will not mind it." + +He was gone long enough to have had a very comfortable meal, and came +back all the better--grown quite cool--and, with good manners, like +himself--able to draw a chair close to them, take an interest in their +employment; and regret, in a reasonable way, that he should be so late. +He was not in his best spirits, but seemed trying to improve them; and, +at last, made himself talk nonsense very agreeably. They were looking +over views in Swisserland. + +"As soon as my aunt gets well, I shall go abroad," said he. "I shall +never be easy till I have seen some of these places. You will have my +sketches, some time or other, to look at--or my tour to read--or my +poem. I shall do something to expose myself." + +"That may be--but not by sketches in Swisserland. You will never go to +Swisserland. Your uncle and aunt will never allow you to leave England." + +"They may be induced to go too. A warm climate may be prescribed for +her. I have more than half an expectation of our all going abroad. I +assure you I have. I feel a strong persuasion, this morning, that I +shall soon be abroad. I ought to travel. I am tired of doing nothing. I +want a change. I am serious, Miss Woodhouse, whatever your penetrating +eyes may fancy--I am sick of England--and would leave it to-morrow, if +I could." + +"You are sick of prosperity and indulgence. Cannot you invent a few +hardships for yourself, and be contented to stay?" + +"_I_ sick of prosperity and indulgence! You are quite mistaken. I do +not look upon myself as either prosperous or indulged. I am thwarted +in every thing material. I do not consider myself at all a fortunate +person." + +"You are not quite so miserable, though, as when you first came. Go and +eat and drink a little more, and you will do very well. Another slice of +cold meat, another draught of Madeira and water, will make you nearly on +a par with the rest of us." + +"No--I shall not stir. I shall sit by you. You are my best cure." + +"We are going to Box Hill to-morrow;--you will join us. It is not +Swisserland, but it will be something for a young man so much in want of +a change. You will stay, and go with us?" + +"No, certainly not; I shall go home in the cool of the evening." + +"But you may come again in the cool of to-morrow morning." + +"No--It will not be worth while. If I come, I shall be cross." + +"Then pray stay at Richmond." + +"But if I do, I shall be crosser still. I can never bear to think of you +all there without me." + +"These are difficulties which you must settle for yourself. Chuse your +own degree of crossness. I shall press you no more." + +The rest of the party were now returning, and all were soon collected. +With some there was great joy at the sight of Frank Churchill; others +took it very composedly; but there was a very general distress and +disturbance on Miss Fairfax's disappearance being explained. That it was +time for every body to go, concluded the subject; and with a short final +arrangement for the next day's scheme, they parted. Frank Churchill's +little inclination to exclude himself increased so much, that his last +words to Emma were, + +"Well;--if _you_ wish me to stay and join the party, I will." + +She smiled her acceptance; and nothing less than a summons from Richmond +was to take him back before the following evening. + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +They had a very fine day for Box Hill; and all the other outward +circumstances of arrangement, accommodation, and punctuality, were in +favour of a pleasant party. Mr. Weston directed the whole, officiating +safely between Hartfield and the Vicarage, and every body was in good +time. Emma and Harriet went together; Miss Bates and her niece, with +the Eltons; the gentlemen on horseback. Mrs. Weston remained with Mr. +Woodhouse. Nothing was wanting but to be happy when they got there. +Seven miles were travelled in expectation of enjoyment, and every body +had a burst of admiration on first arriving; but in the general amount +of the day there was deficiency. There was a languor, a want of spirits, +a want of union, which could not be got over. They separated too much +into parties. The Eltons walked together; Mr. Knightley took charge of +Miss Bates and Jane; and Emma and Harriet belonged to Frank Churchill. +And Mr. Weston tried, in vain, to make them harmonise better. It seemed +at first an accidental division, but it never materially varied. Mr. and +Mrs. Elton, indeed, shewed no unwillingness to mix, and be as agreeable +as they could; but during the two whole hours that were spent on the +hill, there seemed a principle of separation, between the other parties, +too strong for any fine prospects, or any cold collation, or any +cheerful Mr. Weston, to remove. + +At first it was downright dulness to Emma. She had never seen Frank +Churchill so silent and stupid. He said nothing worth hearing--looked +without seeing--admired without intelligence--listened without knowing +what she said. While he was so dull, it was no wonder that Harriet +should be dull likewise; and they were both insufferable. + +When they all sat down it was better; to her taste a great deal better, +for Frank Churchill grew talkative and gay, making her his first object. +Every distinguishing attention that could be paid, was paid to her. +To amuse her, and be agreeable in her eyes, seemed all that he cared +for--and Emma, glad to be enlivened, not sorry to be flattered, was gay +and easy too, and gave him all the friendly encouragement, the admission +to be gallant, which she had ever given in the first and most animating +period of their acquaintance; but which now, in her own estimation, +meant nothing, though in the judgment of most people looking on it must +have had such an appearance as no English word but flirtation could very +well describe. "Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse flirted together +excessively." They were laying themselves open to that very phrase--and +to having it sent off in a letter to Maple Grove by one lady, to +Ireland by another. Not that Emma was gay and thoughtless from any +real felicity; it was rather because she felt less happy than she had +expected. She laughed because she was disappointed; and though she liked +him for his attentions, and thought them all, whether in friendship, +admiration, or playfulness, extremely judicious, they were not winning +back her heart. She still intended him for her friend. + +"How much I am obliged to you," said he, "for telling me to come +to-day!--If it had not been for you, I should certainly have lost all +the happiness of this party. I had quite determined to go away again." + +"Yes, you were very cross; and I do not know what about, except that you +were too late for the best strawberries. I was a kinder friend than you +deserved. But you were humble. You begged hard to be commanded to come." + +"Don't say I was cross. I was fatigued. The heat overcame me." + +"It is hotter to-day." + +"Not to my feelings. I am perfectly comfortable to-day." + +"You are comfortable because you are under command." + +"Your command?--Yes." + +"Perhaps I intended you to say so, but I meant self-command. You had, +somehow or other, broken bounds yesterday, and run away from your own +management; but to-day you are got back again--and as I cannot be always +with you, it is best to believe your temper under your own command +rather than mine." + +"It comes to the same thing. I can have no self-command without a +motive. You order me, whether you speak or not. And you can be always +with me. You are always with me." + +"Dating from three o'clock yesterday. My perpetual influence could not +begin earlier, or you would not have been so much out of humour before." + +"Three o'clock yesterday! That is your date. I thought I had seen you +first in February." + +"Your gallantry is really unanswerable. But (lowering her voice)--nobody +speaks except ourselves, and it is rather too much to be talking +nonsense for the entertainment of seven silent people." + +"I say nothing of which I am ashamed," replied he, with lively +impudence. "I saw you first in February. Let every body on the Hill +hear me if they can. Let my accents swell to Mickleham on one side, +and Dorking on the other. I saw you first in February." And then +whispering--"Our companions are excessively stupid. What shall we do +to rouse them? Any nonsense will serve. They _shall_ talk. Ladies +and gentlemen, I am ordered by Miss Woodhouse (who, wherever she is, +presides) to say, that she desires to know what you are all thinking +of?" + +Some laughed, and answered good-humouredly. Miss Bates said a great +deal; Mrs. Elton swelled at the idea of Miss Woodhouse's presiding; Mr. +Knightley's answer was the most distinct. + +"Is Miss Woodhouse sure that she would like to hear what we are all +thinking of?" + +"Oh! no, no"--cried Emma, laughing as carelessly as she could--"Upon no +account in the world. It is the very last thing I would stand the brunt +of just now. Let me hear any thing rather than what you are all thinking +of. I will not say quite all. There are one or two, perhaps, (glancing +at Mr. Weston and Harriet,) whose thoughts I might not be afraid of +knowing." + +"It is a sort of thing," cried Mrs. Elton emphatically, "which _I_ +should not have thought myself privileged to inquire into. Though, +perhaps, as the _Chaperon_ of the party--_I_ never was in any +circle--exploring parties--young ladies--married women--" + +Her mutterings were chiefly to her husband; and he murmured, in reply, + +"Very true, my love, very true. Exactly so, indeed--quite unheard +of--but some ladies say any thing. Better pass it off as a joke. Every +body knows what is due to _you_." + +"It will not do," whispered Frank to Emma; "they are most of them +affronted. I will attack them with more address. Ladies and gentlemen--I +am ordered by Miss Woodhouse to say, that she waives her right of +knowing exactly what you may all be thinking of, and only requires +something very entertaining from each of you, in a general way. Here +are seven of you, besides myself, (who, she is pleased to say, am very +entertaining already,) and she only demands from each of you either one +thing very clever, be it prose or verse, original or repeated--or two +things moderately clever--or three things very dull indeed, and she +engages to laugh heartily at them all." + +"Oh! very well," exclaimed Miss Bates, "then I need not be uneasy. +'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know. I +shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, +shan't I? (looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every +body's assent)--Do not you all think I shall?" + +Emma could not resist. + +"Ah! ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me--but you will be +limited as to number--only three at once." + +Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not +immediately catch her meaning; but, when it burst on her, it could not +anger, though a slight blush shewed that it could pain her. + +"Ah!--well--to be sure. Yes, I see what she means, (turning to Mr. +Knightley,) and I will try to hold my tongue. I must make myself very +disagreeable, or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend." + +"I like your plan," cried Mr. Weston. "Agreed, agreed. I will do my +best. I am making a conundrum. How will a conundrum reckon?" + +"Low, I am afraid, sir, very low," answered his son;--"but we shall be +indulgent--especially to any one who leads the way." + +"No, no," said Emma, "it will not reckon low. A conundrum of Mr. +Weston's shall clear him and his next neighbour. Come, sir, pray let me +hear it." + +"I doubt its being very clever myself," said Mr. Weston. "It is too much +a matter of fact, but here it is.--What two letters of the alphabet are +there, that express perfection?" + +"What two letters!--express perfection! I am sure I do not know." + +"Ah! you will never guess. You, (to Emma), I am certain, will never +guess.--I will tell you.--M. and A.--Em-ma.--Do you understand?" + +Understanding and gratification came together. It might be a very +indifferent piece of wit, but Emma found a great deal to laugh at and +enjoy in it--and so did Frank and Harriet.--It did not seem to touch +the rest of the party equally; some looked very stupid about it, and Mr. +Knightley gravely said, + +"This explains the sort of clever thing that is wanted, and Mr. Weston +has done very well for himself; but he must have knocked up every body +else. _Perfection_ should not have come quite so soon." + +"Oh! for myself, I protest I must be excused," said Mrs. Elton; "_I_ +really cannot attempt--I am not at all fond of the sort of thing. I had +an acrostic once sent to me upon my own name, which I was not at all +pleased with. I knew who it came from. An abominable puppy!--You know +who I mean (nodding to her husband). These kind of things are very +well at Christmas, when one is sitting round the fire; but quite out of +place, in my opinion, when one is exploring about the country in summer. +Miss Woodhouse must excuse me. I am not one of those who have witty +things at every body's service. I do not pretend to be a wit. I have a +great deal of vivacity in my own way, but I really must be allowed to +judge when to speak and when to hold my tongue. Pass us, if you please, +Mr. Churchill. Pass Mr. E., Knightley, Jane, and myself. We have nothing +clever to say--not one of us. + +"Yes, yes, pray pass _me_," added her husband, with a sort of sneering +consciousness; "_I_ have nothing to say that can entertain Miss +Woodhouse, or any other young lady. An old married man--quite good for +nothing. Shall we walk, Augusta?" + +"With all my heart. I am really tired of exploring so long on one spot. +Come, Jane, take my other arm." + +Jane declined it, however, and the husband and wife walked off. +"Happy couple!" said Frank Churchill, as soon as they were out of +hearing:--"How well they suit one another!--Very lucky--marrying as they +did, upon an acquaintance formed only in a public place!--They only knew +each other, I think, a few weeks in Bath! Peculiarly lucky!--for as to +any real knowledge of a person's disposition that Bath, or any public +place, can give--it is all nothing; there can be no knowledge. It is +only by seeing women in their own homes, among their own set, just as +they always are, that you can form any just judgment. Short of that, it +is all guess and luck--and will generally be ill-luck. How many a man +has committed himself on a short acquaintance, and rued it all the rest +of his life!" + +Miss Fairfax, who had seldom spoken before, except among her own +confederates, spoke now. + +"Such things do occur, undoubtedly."--She was stopped by a cough. Frank +Churchill turned towards her to listen. + +"You were speaking," said he, gravely. She recovered her voice. + +"I was only going to observe, that though such unfortunate circumstances +do sometimes occur both to men and women, I cannot imagine them to be +very frequent. A hasty and imprudent attachment may arise--but there is +generally time to recover from it afterwards. I would be understood to +mean, that it can be only weak, irresolute characters, (whose happiness +must be always at the mercy of chance,) who will suffer an unfortunate +acquaintance to be an inconvenience, an oppression for ever." + +He made no answer; merely looked, and bowed in submission; and soon +afterwards said, in a lively tone, + +"Well, I have so little confidence in my own judgment, that whenever I +marry, I hope some body will chuse my wife for me. Will you? (turning to +Emma.) Will you chuse a wife for me?--I am sure I should like any body +fixed on by you. You provide for the family, you know, (with a smile at +his father). Find some body for me. I am in no hurry. Adopt her, educate +her." + +"And make her like myself." + +"By all means, if you can." + +"Very well. I undertake the commission. You shall have a charming wife." + +"She must be very lively, and have hazle eyes. I care for nothing else. +I shall go abroad for a couple of years--and when I return, I shall come +to you for my wife. Remember." + +Emma was in no danger of forgetting. It was a commission to touch every +favourite feeling. Would not Harriet be the very creature described? +Hazle eyes excepted, two years more might make her all that he wished. +He might even have Harriet in his thoughts at the moment; who could say? +Referring the education to her seemed to imply it. + +"Now, ma'am," said Jane to her aunt, "shall we join Mrs. Elton?" + +"If you please, my dear. With all my heart. I am quite ready. I was +ready to have gone with her, but this will do just as well. We shall +soon overtake her. There she is--no, that's somebody else. That's one +of the ladies in the Irish car party, not at all like her.--Well, I +declare--" + +They walked off, followed in half a minute by Mr. Knightley. Mr. Weston, +his son, Emma, and Harriet, only remained; and the young man's spirits +now rose to a pitch almost unpleasant. Even Emma grew tired at last of +flattery and merriment, and wished herself rather walking quietly about +with any of the others, or sitting almost alone, and quite unattended +to, in tranquil observation of the beautiful views beneath her. The +appearance of the servants looking out for them to give notice of the +carriages was a joyful sight; and even the bustle of collecting and +preparing to depart, and the solicitude of Mrs. Elton to have _her_ +carriage first, were gladly endured, in the prospect of the quiet drive +home which was to close the very questionable enjoyments of this day of +pleasure. Such another scheme, composed of so many ill-assorted people, +she hoped never to be betrayed into again. + +While waiting for the carriage, she found Mr. Knightley by her side. He +looked around, as if to see that no one were near, and then said, + +"Emma, I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do: a +privilege rather endured than allowed, perhaps, but I must still use it. +I cannot see you acting wrong, without a remonstrance. How could you be +so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to +a woman of her character, age, and situation?--Emma, I had not thought +it possible." + +Emma recollected, blushed, was sorry, but tried to laugh it off. + +"Nay, how could I help saying what I did?--Nobody could have helped it. +It was not so very bad. I dare say she did not understand me." + +"I assure you she did. She felt your full meaning. She has talked of +it since. I wish you could have heard how she talked of it--with what +candour and generosity. I wish you could have heard her honouring your +forbearance, in being able to pay her such attentions, as she was for +ever receiving from yourself and your father, when her society must be +so irksome." + +"Oh!" cried Emma, "I know there is not a better creature in the world: +but you must allow, that what is good and what is ridiculous are most +unfortunately blended in her." + +"They are blended," said he, "I acknowledge; and, were she prosperous, +I could allow much for the occasional prevalence of the ridiculous over +the good. Were she a woman of fortune, I would leave every harmless +absurdity to take its chance, I would not quarrel with you for any +liberties of manner. Were she your equal in situation--but, Emma, +consider how far this is from being the case. She is poor; she has sunk +from the comforts she was born to; and, if she live to old age, must +probably sink more. Her situation should secure your compassion. It was +badly done, indeed! You, whom she had known from an infant, whom she had +seen grow up from a period when her notice was an honour, to have you +now, in thoughtless spirits, and the pride of the moment, laugh at her, +humble her--and before her niece, too--and before others, many of whom +(certainly _some_,) would be entirely guided by _your_ treatment +of her.--This is not pleasant to you, Emma--and it is very far from +pleasant to me; but I must, I will,--I will tell you truths while I can; +satisfied with proving myself your friend by very faithful counsel, and +trusting that you will some time or other do me greater justice than you +can do now." + +While they talked, they were advancing towards the carriage; it was +ready; and, before she could speak again, he had handed her in. He had +misinterpreted the feelings which had kept her face averted, and her +tongue motionless. They were combined only of anger against herself, +mortification, and deep concern. She had not been able to speak; and, on +entering the carriage, sunk back for a moment overcome--then reproaching +herself for having taken no leave, making no acknowledgment, parting in +apparent sullenness, she looked out with voice and hand eager to shew a +difference; but it was just too late. He had turned away, and the horses +were in motion. She continued to look back, but in vain; and soon, with +what appeared unusual speed, they were half way down the hill, and +every thing left far behind. She was vexed beyond what could have been +expressed--almost beyond what she could conceal. Never had she felt so +agitated, mortified, grieved, at any circumstance in her life. She was +most forcibly struck. The truth of this representation there was no +denying. She felt it at her heart. How could she have been so brutal, +so cruel to Miss Bates! How could she have exposed herself to such ill +opinion in any one she valued! And how suffer him to leave her without +saying one word of gratitude, of concurrence, of common kindness! + +Time did not compose her. As she reflected more, she seemed but to feel +it more. She never had been so depressed. Happily it was not necessary +to speak. There was only Harriet, who seemed not in spirits herself, +fagged, and very willing to be silent; and Emma felt the tears running +down her cheeks almost all the way home, without being at any trouble to +check them, extraordinary as they were. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +The wretchedness of a scheme to Box Hill was in Emma's thoughts all the +evening. How it might be considered by the rest of the party, she could +not tell. They, in their different homes, and their different ways, +might be looking back on it with pleasure; but in her view it was +a morning more completely misspent, more totally bare of rational +satisfaction at the time, and more to be abhorred in recollection, than +any she had ever passed. A whole evening of back-gammon with her father, +was felicity to it. _There_, indeed, lay real pleasure, for there she +was giving up the sweetest hours of the twenty-four to his comfort; and +feeling that, unmerited as might be the degree of his fond affection and +confiding esteem, she could not, in her general conduct, be open to any +severe reproach. As a daughter, she hoped she was not without a heart. +She hoped no one could have said to her, "How could you be so unfeeling +to your father?--I must, I will tell you truths while I can." Miss +Bates should never again--no, never! If attention, in future, could do +away the past, she might hope to be forgiven. She had been often remiss, +her conscience told her so; remiss, perhaps, more in thought than fact; +scornful, ungracious. But it should be so no more. In the warmth of true +contrition, she would call upon her the very next morning, and it should +be the beginning, on her side, of a regular, equal, kindly intercourse. + +She was just as determined when the morrow came, and went early, that +nothing might prevent her. It was not unlikely, she thought, that she +might see Mr. Knightley in her way; or, perhaps, he might come in +while she were paying her visit. She had no objection. She would not be +ashamed of the appearance of the penitence, so justly and truly hers. +Her eyes were towards Donwell as she walked, but she saw him not. + +"The ladies were all at home." She had never rejoiced at the sound +before, nor ever before entered the passage, nor walked up the stairs, +with any wish of giving pleasure, but in conferring obligation, or of +deriving it, except in subsequent ridicule. + +There was a bustle on her approach; a good deal of moving and talking. +She heard Miss Bates's voice, something was to be done in a hurry; the +maid looked frightened and awkward; hoped she would be pleased to wait a +moment, and then ushered her in too soon. The aunt and niece seemed both +escaping into the adjoining room. Jane she had a distinct glimpse of, +looking extremely ill; and, before the door had shut them out, she heard +Miss Bates saying, "Well, my dear, I shall _say_ you are laid down upon +the bed, and I am sure you are ill enough." + +Poor old Mrs. Bates, civil and humble as usual, looked as if she did not +quite understand what was going on. + +"I am afraid Jane is not very well," said she, "but I do not know; they +_tell_ me she is well. I dare say my daughter will be here presently, +Miss Woodhouse. I hope you find a chair. I wish Hetty had not gone. I am +very little able--Have you a chair, ma'am? Do you sit where you like? I +am sure she will be here presently." + +Emma seriously hoped she would. She had a moment's fear of Miss Bates +keeping away from her. But Miss Bates soon came--"Very happy and +obliged"--but Emma's conscience told her that there was not the same +cheerful volubility as before--less ease of look and manner. A very +friendly inquiry after Miss Fairfax, she hoped, might lead the way to a +return of old feelings. The touch seemed immediate. + +"Ah! Miss Woodhouse, how kind you are!--I suppose you have heard--and +are come to give us joy. This does not seem much like joy, indeed, in +me--(twinkling away a tear or two)--but it will be very trying for us +to part with her, after having had her so long, and she has a dreadful +headache just now, writing all the morning:--such long letters, you +know, to be written to Colonel Campbell, and Mrs. Dixon. 'My dear,' said +I, 'you will blind yourself'--for tears were in her eyes perpetually. +One cannot wonder, one cannot wonder. It is a great change; and though +she is amazingly fortunate--such a situation, I suppose, as no +young woman before ever met with on first going out--do not think us +ungrateful, Miss Woodhouse, for such surprising good fortune--(again +dispersing her tears)--but, poor dear soul! if you were to see what a +headache she has. When one is in great pain, you know one cannot feel +any blessing quite as it may deserve. She is as low as possible. To +look at her, nobody would think how delighted and happy she is to have +secured such a situation. You will excuse her not coming to you--she is +not able--she is gone into her own room--I want her to lie down upon the +bed. 'My dear,' said I, 'I shall say you are laid down upon the bed:' +but, however, she is not; she is walking about the room. But, now that +she has written her letters, she says she shall soon be well. She will +be extremely sorry to miss seeing you, Miss Woodhouse, but your +kindness will excuse her. You were kept waiting at the door--I was quite +ashamed--but somehow there was a little bustle--for it so happened that +we had not heard the knock, and till you were on the stairs, we did not +know any body was coming. 'It is only Mrs. Cole,' said I, 'depend upon +it. Nobody else would come so early.' 'Well,' said she, 'it must be +borne some time or other, and it may as well be now.' But then Patty +came in, and said it was you. 'Oh!' said I, 'it is Miss Woodhouse: I am +sure you will like to see her.'--'I can see nobody,' said she; and +up she got, and would go away; and that was what made us keep you +waiting--and extremely sorry and ashamed we were. 'If you must go, my +dear,' said I, 'you must, and I will say you are laid down upon the +bed.'" + +Emma was most sincerely interested. Her heart had been long growing +kinder towards Jane; and this picture of her present sufferings acted +as a cure of every former ungenerous suspicion, and left her nothing but +pity; and the remembrance of the less just and less gentle sensations of +the past, obliged her to admit that Jane might very naturally resolve on +seeing Mrs. Cole or any other steady friend, when she might not bear +to see herself. She spoke as she felt, with earnest regret and +solicitude--sincerely wishing that the circumstances which she collected +from Miss Bates to be now actually determined on, might be as much for +Miss Fairfax's advantage and comfort as possible. "It must be a severe +trial to them all. She had understood it was to be delayed till Colonel +Campbell's return." + +"So very kind!" replied Miss Bates. "But you are always kind." + +There was no bearing such an "always;" and to break through her dreadful +gratitude, Emma made the direct inquiry of-- + +"Where--may I ask?--is Miss Fairfax going?" + +"To a Mrs. Smallridge--charming woman--most superior--to have the charge +of her three little girls--delightful children. Impossible that any +situation could be more replete with comfort; if we except, perhaps, +Mrs. Suckling's own family, and Mrs. Bragge's; but Mrs. Smallridge is +intimate with both, and in the very same neighbourhood:--lives only four +miles from Maple Grove. Jane will be only four miles from Maple Grove." + +"Mrs. Elton, I suppose, has been the person to whom Miss Fairfax owes--" + +"Yes, our good Mrs. Elton. The most indefatigable, true friend. She +would not take a denial. She would not let Jane say, 'No;' for when Jane +first heard of it, (it was the day before yesterday, the very morning +we were at Donwell,) when Jane first heard of it, she was quite decided +against accepting the offer, and for the reasons you mention; exactly +as you say, she had made up her mind to close with nothing till Colonel +Campbell's return, and nothing should induce her to enter into any +engagement at present--and so she told Mrs. Elton over and over +again--and I am sure I had no more idea that she would change her +mind!--but that good Mrs. Elton, whose judgment never fails her, saw +farther than I did. It is not every body that would have stood out in +such a kind way as she did, and refuse to take Jane's answer; but she +positively declared she would _not_ write any such denial yesterday, as +Jane wished her; she would wait--and, sure enough, yesterday evening it +was all settled that Jane should go. Quite a surprize to me! I had not +the least idea!--Jane took Mrs. Elton aside, and told her at once, that +upon thinking over the advantages of Mrs. Smallridge's situation, she +had come to the resolution of accepting it.--I did not know a word of it +till it was all settled." + +"You spent the evening with Mrs. Elton?" + +"Yes, all of us; Mrs. Elton would have us come. It was settled so, upon +the hill, while we were walking about with Mr. Knightley. 'You _must_ +_all_ spend your evening with us,' said she--'I positively must have you +_all_ come.'" + +"Mr. Knightley was there too, was he?" + +"No, not Mr. Knightley; he declined it from the first; and though I +thought he would come, because Mrs. Elton declared she would not let him +off, he did not;--but my mother, and Jane, and I, were all there, and +a very agreeable evening we had. Such kind friends, you know, Miss +Woodhouse, one must always find agreeable, though every body seemed +rather fagged after the morning's party. Even pleasure, you know, is +fatiguing--and I cannot say that any of them seemed very much to have +enjoyed it. However, _I_ shall always think it a very pleasant party, +and feel extremely obliged to the kind friends who included me in it." + +"Miss Fairfax, I suppose, though you were not aware of it, had been +making up her mind the whole day?" + +"I dare say she had." + +"Whenever the time may come, it must be unwelcome to her and all her +friends--but I hope her engagement will have every alleviation that is +possible--I mean, as to the character and manners of the family." + +"Thank you, dear Miss Woodhouse. Yes, indeed, there is every thing +in the world that can make her happy in it. Except the Sucklings and +Bragges, there is not such another nursery establishment, so liberal +and elegant, in all Mrs. Elton's acquaintance. Mrs. Smallridge, a most +delightful woman!--A style of living almost equal to Maple Grove--and as +to the children, except the little Sucklings and little Bragges, there +are not such elegant sweet children anywhere. Jane will be treated with +such regard and kindness!--It will be nothing but pleasure, a life of +pleasure.--And her salary!--I really cannot venture to name her salary +to you, Miss Woodhouse. Even you, used as you are to great sums, would +hardly believe that so much could be given to a young person like Jane." + +"Ah! madam," cried Emma, "if other children are at all like what I +remember to have been myself, I should think five times the amount of +what I have ever yet heard named as a salary on such occasions, dearly +earned." + +"You are so noble in your ideas!" + +"And when is Miss Fairfax to leave you?" + +"Very soon, very soon, indeed; that's the worst of it. Within a +fortnight. Mrs. Smallridge is in a great hurry. My poor mother does not +know how to bear it. So then, I try to put it out of her thoughts, and +say, Come ma'am, do not let us think about it any more." + +"Her friends must all be sorry to lose her; and will not Colonel and +Mrs. Campbell be sorry to find that she has engaged herself before their +return?" + +"Yes; Jane says she is sure they will; but yet, this is such a situation +as she cannot feel herself justified in declining. I was so astonished +when she first told me what she had been saying to Mrs. Elton, and when +Mrs. Elton at the same moment came congratulating me upon it! It was +before tea--stay--no, it could not be before tea, because we were +just going to cards--and yet it was before tea, because I remember +thinking--Oh! no, now I recollect, now I have it; something happened +before tea, but not that. Mr. Elton was called out of the room before +tea, old John Abdy's son wanted to speak with him. Poor old John, I +have a great regard for him; he was clerk to my poor father twenty-seven +years; and now, poor old man, he is bed-ridden, and very poorly with the +rheumatic gout in his joints--I must go and see him to-day; and so will +Jane, I am sure, if she gets out at all. And poor John's son came to +talk to Mr. Elton about relief from the parish; he is very well to do +himself, you know, being head man at the Crown, ostler, and every thing +of that sort, but still he cannot keep his father without some help; +and so, when Mr. Elton came back, he told us what John ostler had been +telling him, and then it came out about the chaise having been sent to +Randalls to take Mr. Frank Churchill to Richmond. That was what happened +before tea. It was after tea that Jane spoke to Mrs. Elton." + +Miss Bates would hardly give Emma time to say how perfectly new this +circumstance was to her; but as without supposing it possible that she +could be ignorant of any of the particulars of Mr. Frank Churchill's +going, she proceeded to give them all, it was of no consequence. + +What Mr. Elton had learned from the ostler on the subject, being the +accumulation of the ostler's own knowledge, and the knowledge of the +servants at Randalls, was, that a messenger had come over from Richmond +soon after the return of the party from Box Hill--which messenger, +however, had been no more than was expected; and that Mr. Churchill had +sent his nephew a few lines, containing, upon the whole, a tolerable +account of Mrs. Churchill, and only wishing him not to delay coming +back beyond the next morning early; but that Mr. Frank Churchill having +resolved to go home directly, without waiting at all, and his horse +seeming to have got a cold, Tom had been sent off immediately for the +Crown chaise, and the ostler had stood out and seen it pass by, the boy +going a good pace, and driving very steady. + +There was nothing in all this either to astonish or interest, and it +caught Emma's attention only as it united with the subject which already +engaged her mind. The contrast between Mrs. Churchill's importance in +the world, and Jane Fairfax's, struck her; one was every thing, the +other nothing--and she sat musing on the difference of woman's destiny, +and quite unconscious on what her eyes were fixed, till roused by Miss +Bates's saying, + +"Aye, I see what you are thinking of, the pianoforte. What is to become +of that?--Very true. Poor dear Jane was talking of it just now.--'You +must go,' said she. 'You and I must part. You will have no business +here.--Let it stay, however,' said she; 'give it houseroom till Colonel +Campbell comes back. I shall talk about it to him; he will settle for +me; he will help me out of all my difficulties.'--And to this day, I do +believe, she knows not whether it was his present or his daughter's." + +Now Emma was obliged to think of the pianoforte; and the remembrance of +all her former fanciful and unfair conjectures was so little pleasing, +that she soon allowed herself to believe her visit had been long enough; +and, with a repetition of every thing that she could venture to say of +the good wishes which she really felt, took leave. + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Emma's pensive meditations, as she walked home, were not interrupted; +but on entering the parlour, she found those who must rouse her. Mr. +Knightley and Harriet had arrived during her absence, and were sitting +with her father.--Mr. Knightley immediately got up, and in a manner +decidedly graver than usual, said, + +"I would not go away without seeing you, but I have no time to spare, +and therefore must now be gone directly. I am going to London, to spend +a few days with John and Isabella. Have you any thing to send or say, +besides the 'love,' which nobody carries?" + +"Nothing at all. But is not this a sudden scheme?" + +"Yes--rather--I have been thinking of it some little time." + +Emma was sure he had not forgiven her; he looked unlike himself. Time, +however, she thought, would tell him that they ought to be friends +again. While he stood, as if meaning to go, but not going--her father +began his inquiries. + +"Well, my dear, and did you get there safely?--And how did you find my +worthy old friend and her daughter?--I dare say they must have been very +much obliged to you for coming. Dear Emma has been to call on Mrs. +and Miss Bates, Mr. Knightley, as I told you before. She is always so +attentive to them!" + +Emma's colour was heightened by this unjust praise; and with a +smile, and shake of the head, which spoke much, she looked at Mr. +Knightley.--It seemed as if there were an instantaneous impression in +her favour, as if his eyes received the truth from her's, and all that +had passed of good in her feelings were at once caught and honoured.-- +He looked at her with a glow of regard. She was warmly gratified--and in +another moment still more so, by a little movement of more than common +friendliness on his part.--He took her hand;--whether she had not +herself made the first motion, she could not say--she might, perhaps, +have rather offered it--but he took her hand, pressed it, and certainly +was on the point of carrying it to his lips--when, from some fancy or +other, he suddenly let it go.--Why he should feel such a scruple, why +he should change his mind when it was all but done, she could not +perceive.--He would have judged better, she thought, if he had not +stopped.--The intention, however, was indubitable; and whether it was +that his manners had in general so little gallantry, or however else it +happened, but she thought nothing became him more.--It was with him, +of so simple, yet so dignified a nature.--She could not but recall the +attempt with great satisfaction. It spoke such perfect amity.--He left +them immediately afterwards--gone in a moment. He always moved with the +alertness of a mind which could neither be undecided nor dilatory, but +now he seemed more sudden than usual in his disappearance. + +Emma could not regret her having gone to Miss Bates, but she wished she +had left her ten minutes earlier;--it would have been a great pleasure +to talk over Jane Fairfax's situation with Mr. Knightley.--Neither +would she regret that he should be going to Brunswick Square, for she +knew how much his visit would be enjoyed--but it might have happened +at a better time--and to have had longer notice of it, would have been +pleasanter.--They parted thorough friends, however; she could not +be deceived as to the meaning of his countenance, and his unfinished +gallantry;--it was all done to assure her that she had fully recovered +his good opinion.--He had been sitting with them half an hour, she +found. It was a pity that she had not come back earlier! + +In the hope of diverting her father's thoughts from the disagreeableness +of Mr. Knightley's going to London; and going so suddenly; and going on +horseback, which she knew would be all very bad; Emma communicated her +news of Jane Fairfax, and her dependence on the effect was justified; +it supplied a very useful check,--interested, without disturbing him. He +had long made up his mind to Jane Fairfax's going out as governess, and +could talk of it cheerfully, but Mr. Knightley's going to London had +been an unexpected blow. + +"I am very glad, indeed, my dear, to hear she is to be so comfortably +settled. Mrs. Elton is very good-natured and agreeable, and I dare say +her acquaintance are just what they ought to be. I hope it is a dry +situation, and that her health will be taken good care of. It ought to +be a first object, as I am sure poor Miss Taylor's always was with me. +You know, my dear, she is going to be to this new lady what Miss Taylor +was to us. And I hope she will be better off in one respect, and not be +induced to go away after it has been her home so long." + +The following day brought news from Richmond to throw every thing else +into the background. An express arrived at Randalls to announce the +death of Mrs. Churchill! Though her nephew had had no particular reason +to hasten back on her account, she had not lived above six-and-thirty +hours after his return. A sudden seizure of a different nature from any +thing foreboded by her general state, had carried her off after a short +struggle. The great Mrs. Churchill was no more. + +It was felt as such things must be felt. Every body had a degree of +gravity and sorrow; tenderness towards the departed, solicitude for the +surviving friends; and, in a reasonable time, curiosity to know where +she would be buried. Goldsmith tells us, that when lovely woman stoops +to folly, she has nothing to do but to die; and when she stoops to be +disagreeable, it is equally to be recommended as a clearer of ill-fame. +Mrs. Churchill, after being disliked at least twenty-five years, was +now spoken of with compassionate allowances. In one point she was fully +justified. She had never been admitted before to be seriously ill. The +event acquitted her of all the fancifulness, and all the selfishness of +imaginary complaints. + +"Poor Mrs. Churchill! no doubt she had been suffering a great deal: +more than any body had ever supposed--and continual pain would try the +temper. It was a sad event--a great shock--with all her faults, what +would Mr. Churchill do without her? Mr. Churchill's loss would be +dreadful indeed. Mr. Churchill would never get over it."--Even Mr. +Weston shook his head, and looked solemn, and said, "Ah! poor woman, +who would have thought it!" and resolved, that his mourning should be as +handsome as possible; and his wife sat sighing and moralising over her +broad hems with a commiseration and good sense, true and steady. How it +would affect Frank was among the earliest thoughts of both. It was also +a very early speculation with Emma. The character of Mrs. Churchill, +the grief of her husband--her mind glanced over them both with awe and +compassion--and then rested with lightened feelings on how Frank might +be affected by the event, how benefited, how freed. She saw in a moment +all the possible good. Now, an attachment to Harriet Smith would have +nothing to encounter. Mr. Churchill, independent of his wife, was feared +by nobody; an easy, guidable man, to be persuaded into any thing by his +nephew. All that remained to be wished was, that the nephew should form +the attachment, as, with all her goodwill in the cause, Emma could feel +no certainty of its being already formed. + +Harriet behaved extremely well on the occasion, with great self-command. +What ever she might feel of brighter hope, she betrayed nothing. Emma +was gratified, to observe such a proof in her of strengthened character, +and refrained from any allusion that might endanger its maintenance. +They spoke, therefore, of Mrs. Churchill's death with mutual +forbearance. + +Short letters from Frank were received at Randalls, communicating all +that was immediately important of their state and plans. Mr. Churchill +was better than could be expected; and their first removal, on the +departure of the funeral for Yorkshire, was to be to the house of a very +old friend in Windsor, to whom Mr. Churchill had been promising a +visit the last ten years. At present, there was nothing to be done for +Harriet; good wishes for the future were all that could yet be possible +on Emma's side. + +It was a more pressing concern to shew attention to Jane Fairfax, whose +prospects were closing, while Harriet's opened, and whose engagements +now allowed of no delay in any one at Highbury, who wished to shew her +kindness--and with Emma it was grown into a first wish. She had scarcely +a stronger regret than for her past coldness; and the person, whom she +had been so many months neglecting, was now the very one on whom she +would have lavished every distinction of regard or sympathy. She wanted +to be of use to her; wanted to shew a value for her society, and testify +respect and consideration. She resolved to prevail on her to spend a day +at Hartfield. A note was written to urge it. The invitation was refused, +and by a verbal message. "Miss Fairfax was not well enough to write;" +and when Mr. Perry called at Hartfield, the same morning, it appeared +that she was so much indisposed as to have been visited, though against +her own consent, by himself, and that she was suffering under severe +headaches, and a nervous fever to a degree, which made him doubt the +possibility of her going to Mrs. Smallridge's at the time proposed. +Her health seemed for the moment completely deranged--appetite quite +gone--and though there were no absolutely alarming symptoms, nothing +touching the pulmonary complaint, which was the standing apprehension +of the family, Mr. Perry was uneasy about her. He thought she had +undertaken more than she was equal to, and that she felt it so herself, +though she would not own it. Her spirits seemed overcome. Her +present home, he could not but observe, was unfavourable to a nervous +disorder:--confined always to one room;--he could have wished it +otherwise--and her good aunt, though his very old friend, he must +acknowledge to be not the best companion for an invalid of that +description. Her care and attention could not be questioned; they were, +in fact, only too great. He very much feared that Miss Fairfax derived +more evil than good from them. Emma listened with the warmest concern; +grieved for her more and more, and looked around eager to discover some +way of being useful. To take her--be it only an hour or two--from +her aunt, to give her change of air and scene, and quiet rational +conversation, even for an hour or two, might do her good; and the +following morning she wrote again to say, in the most feeling language +she could command, that she would call for her in the carriage at any +hour that Jane would name--mentioning that she had Mr. Perry's decided +opinion, in favour of such exercise for his patient. The answer was only +in this short note: + +"Miss Fairfax's compliments and thanks, but is quite unequal to any +exercise." + +Emma felt that her own note had deserved something better; but it was +impossible to quarrel with words, whose tremulous inequality shewed +indisposition so plainly, and she thought only of how she might best +counteract this unwillingness to be seen or assisted. In spite of the +answer, therefore, she ordered the carriage, and drove to Mrs. Bates's, +in the hope that Jane would be induced to join her--but it would not +do;--Miss Bates came to the carriage door, all gratitude, and agreeing +with her most earnestly in thinking an airing might be of the greatest +service--and every thing that message could do was tried--but all in +vain. Miss Bates was obliged to return without success; Jane was +quite unpersuadable; the mere proposal of going out seemed to make her +worse.--Emma wished she could have seen her, and tried her own powers; +but, almost before she could hint the wish, Miss Bates made it appear +that she had promised her niece on no account to let Miss Woodhouse in. +"Indeed, the truth was, that poor dear Jane could not bear to see any +body--any body at all--Mrs. Elton, indeed, could not be denied--and +Mrs. Cole had made such a point--and Mrs. Perry had said so much--but, +except them, Jane would really see nobody." + +Emma did not want to be classed with the Mrs. Eltons, the Mrs. Perrys, +and the Mrs. Coles, who would force themselves anywhere; neither could +she feel any right of preference herself--she submitted, therefore, and +only questioned Miss Bates farther as to her niece's appetite and diet, +which she longed to be able to assist. On that subject poor Miss Bates +was very unhappy, and very communicative; Jane would hardly eat any +thing:--Mr. Perry recommended nourishing food; but every thing +they could command (and never had any body such good neighbours) was +distasteful. + +Emma, on reaching home, called the housekeeper directly, to an +examination of her stores; and some arrowroot of very superior quality +was speedily despatched to Miss Bates with a most friendly note. In half +an hour the arrowroot was returned, with a thousand thanks from Miss +Bates, but "dear Jane would not be satisfied without its being sent +back; it was a thing she could not take--and, moreover, she insisted on +her saying, that she was not at all in want of any thing." + +When Emma afterwards heard that Jane Fairfax had been seen wandering +about the meadows, at some distance from Highbury, on the afternoon of +the very day on which she had, under the plea of being unequal to any +exercise, so peremptorily refused to go out with her in the carriage, +she could have no doubt--putting every thing together--that Jane was +resolved to receive no kindness from _her_. She was sorry, very sorry. +Her heart was grieved for a state which seemed but the more pitiable +from this sort of irritation of spirits, inconsistency of action, and +inequality of powers; and it mortified her that she was given so little +credit for proper feeling, or esteemed so little worthy as a friend: but +she had the consolation of knowing that her intentions were good, and of +being able to say to herself, that could Mr. Knightley have been privy +to all her attempts of assisting Jane Fairfax, could he even have seen +into her heart, he would not, on this occasion, have found any thing to +reprove. + + + +CHAPTER X + + +One morning, about ten days after Mrs. Churchill's decease, Emma was +called downstairs to Mr. Weston, who "could not stay five minutes, +and wanted particularly to speak with her."--He met her at the +parlour-door, and hardly asking her how she did, in the natural key of +his voice, sunk it immediately, to say, unheard by her father, + +"Can you come to Randalls at any time this morning?--Do, if it be +possible. Mrs. Weston wants to see you. She must see you." + +"Is she unwell?" + +"No, no, not at all--only a little agitated. She would have ordered the +carriage, and come to you, but she must see you _alone_, and that you +know--(nodding towards her father)--Humph!--Can you come?" + +"Certainly. This moment, if you please. It is impossible to refuse what +you ask in such a way. But what can be the matter?--Is she really not +ill?" + +"Depend upon me--but ask no more questions. You will know it all in +time. The most unaccountable business! But hush, hush!" + +To guess what all this meant, was impossible even for Emma. Something +really important seemed announced by his looks; but, as her friend was +well, she endeavoured not to be uneasy, and settling it with her father, +that she would take her walk now, she and Mr. Weston were soon out of +the house together and on their way at a quick pace for Randalls. + +"Now,"--said Emma, when they were fairly beyond the sweep gates,--"now +Mr. Weston, do let me know what has happened." + +"No, no,"--he gravely replied.--"Don't ask me. I promised my wife to +leave it all to her. She will break it to you better than I can. Do not +be impatient, Emma; it will all come out too soon." + +"Break it to me," cried Emma, standing still with terror.--"Good +God!--Mr. Weston, tell me at once.--Something has happened in Brunswick +Square. I know it has. Tell me, I charge you tell me this moment what it +is." + +"No, indeed you are mistaken."-- + +"Mr. Weston do not trifle with me.--Consider how many of my dearest +friends are now in Brunswick Square. Which of them is it?--I charge you +by all that is sacred, not to attempt concealment." + +"Upon my word, Emma."-- + +"Your word!--why not your honour!--why not say upon your honour, that +it has nothing to do with any of them? Good Heavens!--What can be to be +_broke_ to me, that does not relate to one of that family?" + +"Upon my honour," said he very seriously, "it does not. It is not in +the smallest degree connected with any human being of the name of +Knightley." + +Emma's courage returned, and she walked on. + +"I was wrong," he continued, "in talking of its being _broke_ to you. +I should not have used the expression. In fact, it does not concern +you--it concerns only myself,--that is, we hope.--Humph!--In short, my +dear Emma, there is no occasion to be so uneasy about it. I don't +say that it is not a disagreeable business--but things might be much +worse.--If we walk fast, we shall soon be at Randalls." + +Emma found that she must wait; and now it required little effort. She +asked no more questions therefore, merely employed her own fancy, and +that soon pointed out to her the probability of its being some money +concern--something just come to light, of a disagreeable nature in the +circumstances of the family,--something which the late event at Richmond +had brought forward. Her fancy was very active. Half a dozen natural +children, perhaps--and poor Frank cut off!--This, though very +undesirable, would be no matter of agony to her. It inspired little more +than an animating curiosity. + +"Who is that gentleman on horseback?" said she, as they +proceeded--speaking more to assist Mr. Weston in keeping his secret, +than with any other view. + +"I do not know.--One of the Otways.--Not Frank;--it is not Frank, I +assure you. You will not see him. He is half way to Windsor by this +time." + +"Has your son been with you, then?" + +"Oh! yes--did not you know?--Well, well, never mind." + +For a moment he was silent; and then added, in a tone much more guarded +and demure, + +"Yes, Frank came over this morning, just to ask us how we did." + +They hurried on, and were speedily at Randalls.--"Well, my dear," said +he, as they entered the room--"I have brought her, and now I hope you +will soon be better. I shall leave you together. There is no use in +delay. I shall not be far off, if you want me."--And Emma distinctly +heard him add, in a lower tone, before he quitted the room,--"I have +been as good as my word. She has not the least idea." + +Mrs. Weston was looking so ill, and had an air of so much perturbation, +that Emma's uneasiness increased; and the moment they were alone, she +eagerly said, + +"What is it my dear friend? Something of a very unpleasant nature, I +find, has occurred;--do let me know directly what it is. I have been +walking all this way in complete suspense. We both abhor suspense. +Do not let mine continue longer. It will do you good to speak of your +distress, whatever it may be." + +"Have you indeed no idea?" said Mrs. Weston in a trembling voice. +"Cannot you, my dear Emma--cannot you form a guess as to what you are to +hear?" + +"So far as that it relates to Mr. Frank Churchill, I do guess." + +"You are right. It does relate to him, and I will tell you directly;" +(resuming her work, and seeming resolved against looking up.) "He has +been here this very morning, on a most extraordinary errand. It is +impossible to express our surprize. He came to speak to his father on a +subject,--to announce an attachment--" + +She stopped to breathe. Emma thought first of herself, and then of +Harriet. + +"More than an attachment, indeed," resumed Mrs. Weston; "an +engagement--a positive engagement.--What will you say, Emma--what will +any body say, when it is known that Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are +engaged;--nay, that they have been long engaged!" + +Emma even jumped with surprize;--and, horror-struck, exclaimed, + +"Jane Fairfax!--Good God! You are not serious? You do not mean it?" + +"You may well be amazed," returned Mrs. Weston, still averting her eyes, +and talking on with eagerness, that Emma might have time to recover-- +"You may well be amazed. But it is even so. There has been a solemn +engagement between them ever since October--formed at Weymouth, and +kept a secret from every body. Not a creature knowing it but +themselves--neither the Campbells, nor her family, nor his.--It is so +wonderful, that though perfectly convinced of the fact, it is yet almost +incredible to myself. I can hardly believe it.--I thought I knew him." + +Emma scarcely heard what was said.--Her mind was divided between two +ideas--her own former conversations with him about Miss Fairfax; and +poor Harriet;--and for some time she could only exclaim, and require +confirmation, repeated confirmation. + +"Well," said she at last, trying to recover herself; "this is a +circumstance which I must think of at least half a day, before I can at +all comprehend it. What!--engaged to her all the winter--before either +of them came to Highbury?" + +"Engaged since October,--secretly engaged.--It has hurt me, Emma, very +much. It has hurt his father equally. _Some_ _part_ of his conduct we +cannot excuse." + +Emma pondered a moment, and then replied, "I will not pretend _not_ to +understand you; and to give you all the relief in my power, be assured +that no such effect has followed his attentions to me, as you are +apprehensive of." + +Mrs. Weston looked up, afraid to believe; but Emma's countenance was as +steady as her words. + +"That you may have less difficulty in believing this boast, of my +present perfect indifference," she continued, "I will farther tell you, +that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I +did like him, when I was very much disposed to be attached to him--nay, +was attached--and how it came to cease, is perhaps the wonder. +Fortunately, however, it did cease. I have really for some time past, +for at least these three months, cared nothing about him. You may +believe me, Mrs. Weston. This is the simple truth." + +Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and when she could find +utterance, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good +than any thing else in the world could do. + +"Mr. Weston will be almost as much relieved as myself," said she. "On +this point we have been wretched. It was our darling wish that you +might be attached to each other--and we were persuaded that it was so.-- +Imagine what we have been feeling on your account." + +"I have escaped; and that I should escape, may be a matter of grateful +wonder to you and myself. But this does not acquit _him_, Mrs. Weston; +and I must say, that I think him greatly to blame. What right had he +to come among us with affection and faith engaged, and with manners +so _very_ disengaged? What right had he to endeavour to please, as +he certainly did--to distinguish any one young woman with persevering +attention, as he certainly did--while he really belonged to +another?--How could he tell what mischief he might be doing?--How could +he tell that he might not be making me in love with him?--very wrong, +very wrong indeed." + +"From something that he said, my dear Emma, I rather imagine--" + +"And how could _she_ bear such behaviour! Composure with a witness! +to look on, while repeated attentions were offering to another woman, +before her face, and not resent it.--That is a degree of placidity, +which I can neither comprehend nor respect." + +"There were misunderstandings between them, Emma; he said so expressly. +He had not time to enter into much explanation. He was here only a +quarter of an hour, and in a state of agitation which did not allow +the full use even of the time he could stay--but that there had been +misunderstandings he decidedly said. The present crisis, indeed, +seemed to be brought on by them; and those misunderstandings might very +possibly arise from the impropriety of his conduct." + +"Impropriety! Oh! Mrs. Weston--it is too calm a censure. Much, much +beyond impropriety!--It has sunk him, I cannot say how it has sunk him +in my opinion. So unlike what a man should be!--None of that upright +integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of +trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of +his life." + +"Nay, dear Emma, now I must take his part; for though he has been wrong +in this instance, I have known him long enough to answer for his having +many, very many, good qualities; and--" + +"Good God!" cried Emma, not attending to her.--"Mrs. Smallridge, too! +Jane actually on the point of going as governess! What could he mean by +such horrible indelicacy? To suffer her to engage herself--to suffer her +even to think of such a measure!" + +"He knew nothing about it, Emma. On this article I can fully acquit +him. It was a private resolution of hers, not communicated to him--or at +least not communicated in a way to carry conviction.--Till yesterday, I +know he said he was in the dark as to her plans. They burst on him, I do +not know how, but by some letter or message--and it was the discovery of +what she was doing, of this very project of hers, which determined him +to come forward at once, own it all to his uncle, throw himself on +his kindness, and, in short, put an end to the miserable state of +concealment that had been carrying on so long." + +Emma began to listen better. + +"I am to hear from him soon," continued Mrs. Weston. "He told me at +parting, that he should soon write; and he spoke in a manner which +seemed to promise me many particulars that could not be given now. Let +us wait, therefore, for this letter. It may bring many extenuations. It +may make many things intelligible and excusable which now are not to +be understood. Don't let us be severe, don't let us be in a hurry to +condemn him. Let us have patience. I must love him; and now that I am +satisfied on one point, the one material point, I am sincerely anxious +for its all turning out well, and ready to hope that it may. They must +both have suffered a great deal under such a system of secresy and +concealment." + +"_His_ sufferings," replied Emma dryly, "do not appear to have done him +much harm. Well, and how did Mr. Churchill take it?" + +"Most favourably for his nephew--gave his consent with scarcely a +difficulty. Conceive what the events of a week have done in that family! +While poor Mrs. Churchill lived, I suppose there could not have been a +hope, a chance, a possibility;--but scarcely are her remains at rest in +the family vault, than her husband is persuaded to act exactly opposite +to what she would have required. What a blessing it is, when undue +influence does not survive the grave!--He gave his consent with very +little persuasion." + +"Ah!" thought Emma, "he would have done as much for Harriet." + +"This was settled last night, and Frank was off with the light this +morning. He stopped at Highbury, at the Bates's, I fancy, some time--and +then came on hither; but was in such a hurry to get back to his uncle, +to whom he is just now more necessary than ever, that, as I tell you, +he could stay with us but a quarter of an hour.--He was very much +agitated--very much, indeed--to a degree that made him appear quite +a different creature from any thing I had ever seen him before.--In +addition to all the rest, there had been the shock of finding her so +very unwell, which he had had no previous suspicion of--and there was +every appearance of his having been feeling a great deal." + +"And do you really believe the affair to have been carrying on with such +perfect secresy?--The Campbells, the Dixons, did none of them know of +the engagement?" + +Emma could not speak the name of Dixon without a little blush. + +"None; not one. He positively said that it had been known to no being in +the world but their two selves." + +"Well," said Emma, "I suppose we shall gradually grow reconciled to the +idea, and I wish them very happy. But I shall always think it a +very abominable sort of proceeding. What has it been but a system of +hypocrisy and deceit,--espionage, and treachery?--To come among us with +professions of openness and simplicity; and such a league in secret +to judge us all!--Here have we been, the whole winter and spring, +completely duped, fancying ourselves all on an equal footing of truth +and honour, with two people in the midst of us who may have been +carrying round, comparing and sitting in judgment on sentiments and +words that were never meant for both to hear.--They must take the +consequence, if they have heard each other spoken of in a way not +perfectly agreeable!" + +"I am quite easy on that head," replied Mrs. Weston. "I am very sure +that I never said any thing of either to the other, which both might not +have heard." + +"You are in luck.--Your only blunder was confined to my ear, when you +imagined a certain friend of ours in love with the lady." + +"True. But as I have always had a thoroughly good opinion of Miss +Fairfax, I never could, under any blunder, have spoken ill of her; and +as to speaking ill of him, there I must have been safe." + +At this moment Mr. Weston appeared at a little distance from the window, +evidently on the watch. His wife gave him a look which invited him +in; and, while he was coming round, added, "Now, dearest Emma, let me +intreat you to say and look every thing that may set his heart at ease, +and incline him to be satisfied with the match. Let us make the best of +it--and, indeed, almost every thing may be fairly said in her favour. It +is not a connexion to gratify; but if Mr. Churchill does not feel that, +why should we? and it may be a very fortunate circumstance for him, for +Frank, I mean, that he should have attached himself to a girl of such +steadiness of character and good judgment as I have always given her +credit for--and still am disposed to give her credit for, in spite of +this one great deviation from the strict rule of right. And how much may +be said in her situation for even that error!" + +"Much, indeed!" cried Emma feelingly. "If a woman can ever be +excused for thinking only of herself, it is in a situation like Jane +Fairfax's.--Of such, one may almost say, that 'the world is not their's, +nor the world's law.'" + +She met Mr. Weston on his entrance, with a smiling countenance, +exclaiming, + +"A very pretty trick you have been playing me, upon my word! This was a +device, I suppose, to sport with my curiosity, and exercise my talent of +guessing. But you really frightened me. I thought you had lost half +your property, at least. And here, instead of its being a matter of +condolence, it turns out to be one of congratulation.--I congratulate +you, Mr. Weston, with all my heart, on the prospect of having one of the +most lovely and accomplished young women in England for your daughter." + +A glance or two between him and his wife, convinced him that all was as +right as this speech proclaimed; and its happy effect on his spirits was +immediate. His air and voice recovered their usual briskness: he shook +her heartily and gratefully by the hand, and entered on the subject in +a manner to prove, that he now only wanted time and persuasion to think +the engagement no very bad thing. His companions suggested only what +could palliate imprudence, or smooth objections; and by the time they +had talked it all over together, and he had talked it all over again +with Emma, in their walk back to Hartfield, he was become perfectly +reconciled, and not far from thinking it the very best thing that Frank +could possibly have done. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"Harriet, poor Harriet!"--Those were the words; in them lay the +tormenting ideas which Emma could not get rid of, and which constituted +the real misery of the business to her. Frank Churchill had behaved very +ill by herself--very ill in many ways,--but it was not so much _his_ +behaviour as her _own_, which made her so angry with him. It was the +scrape which he had drawn her into on Harriet's account, that gave the +deepest hue to his offence.--Poor Harriet! to be a second time the +dupe of her misconceptions and flattery. Mr. Knightley had spoken +prophetically, when he once said, "Emma, you have been no friend +to Harriet Smith."--She was afraid she had done her nothing but +disservice.--It was true that she had not to charge herself, in this +instance as in the former, with being the sole and original author of +the mischief; with having suggested such feelings as might otherwise +never have entered Harriet's imagination; for Harriet had acknowledged +her admiration and preference of Frank Churchill before she had ever +given her a hint on the subject; but she felt completely guilty +of having encouraged what she might have repressed. She might have +prevented the indulgence and increase of such sentiments. Her influence +would have been enough. And now she was very conscious that she ought +to have prevented them.--She felt that she had been risking her friend's +happiness on most insufficient grounds. Common sense would have directed +her to tell Harriet, that she must not allow herself to think of him, +and that there were five hundred chances to one against his ever caring +for her.--"But, with common sense," she added, "I am afraid I have had +little to do." + +She was extremely angry with herself. If she could not have been angry +with Frank Churchill too, it would have been dreadful.--As for Jane +Fairfax, she might at least relieve her feelings from any present +solicitude on her account. Harriet would be anxiety enough; she need +no longer be unhappy about Jane, whose troubles and whose ill-health +having, of course, the same origin, must be equally under cure.--Her +days of insignificance and evil were over.--She would soon be well, and +happy, and prosperous.--Emma could now imagine why her own attentions +had been slighted. This discovery laid many smaller matters open. No +doubt it had been from jealousy.--In Jane's eyes she had been a rival; +and well might any thing she could offer of assistance or regard be +repulsed. An airing in the Hartfield carriage would have been the rack, +and arrowroot from the Hartfield storeroom must have been poison. She +understood it all; and as far as her mind could disengage itself from +the injustice and selfishness of angry feelings, she acknowledged that +Jane Fairfax would have neither elevation nor happiness beyond her +desert. But poor Harriet was such an engrossing charge! There was little +sympathy to be spared for any body else. Emma was sadly fearful +that this second disappointment would be more severe than the first. +Considering the very superior claims of the object, it ought; and +judging by its apparently stronger effect on Harriet's mind, producing +reserve and self-command, it would.--She must communicate the painful +truth, however, and as soon as possible. An injunction of secresy had +been among Mr. Weston's parting words. "For the present, the whole +affair was to be completely a secret. Mr. Churchill had made a point of +it, as a token of respect to the wife he had so very recently lost; +and every body admitted it to be no more than due decorum."--Emma had +promised; but still Harriet must be excepted. It was her superior duty. + +In spite of her vexation, she could not help feeling it almost +ridiculous, that she should have the very same distressing and delicate +office to perform by Harriet, which Mrs. Weston had just gone through by +herself. The intelligence, which had been so anxiously announced to her, +she was now to be anxiously announcing to another. Her heart beat quick +on hearing Harriet's footstep and voice; so, she supposed, had poor Mrs. +Weston felt when _she_ was approaching Randalls. Could the event of +the disclosure bear an equal resemblance!--But of that, unfortunately, +there could be no chance. + +"Well, Miss Woodhouse!" cried Harriet, coming eagerly into the room--"is +not this the oddest news that ever was?" + +"What news do you mean?" replied Emma, unable to guess, by look or +voice, whether Harriet could indeed have received any hint. + +"About Jane Fairfax. Did you ever hear any thing so strange? Oh!--you +need not be afraid of owning it to me, for Mr. Weston has told me +himself. I met him just now. He told me it was to be a great secret; +and, therefore, I should not think of mentioning it to any body but you, +but he said you knew it." + +"What did Mr. Weston tell you?"--said Emma, still perplexed. + +"Oh! he told me all about it; that Jane Fairfax and Mr. Frank Churchill +are to be married, and that they have been privately engaged to one +another this long while. How very odd!" + +It was, indeed, so odd; Harriet's behaviour was so extremely odd, +that Emma did not know how to understand it. Her character appeared +absolutely changed. She seemed to propose shewing no agitation, or +disappointment, or peculiar concern in the discovery. Emma looked at +her, quite unable to speak. + +"Had you any idea," cried Harriet, "of his being in love with her?--You, +perhaps, might.--You (blushing as she spoke) who can see into every +body's heart; but nobody else--" + +"Upon my word," said Emma, "I begin to doubt my having any such talent. +Can you seriously ask me, Harriet, whether I imagined him attached +to another woman at the very time that I was--tacitly, if not +openly--encouraging you to give way to your own feelings?--I never +had the slightest suspicion, till within the last hour, of Mr. Frank +Churchill's having the least regard for Jane Fairfax. You may be very +sure that if I had, I should have cautioned you accordingly." + +"Me!" cried Harriet, colouring, and astonished. "Why should you caution +me?--You do not think I care about Mr. Frank Churchill." + +"I am delighted to hear you speak so stoutly on the subject," replied +Emma, smiling; "but you do not mean to deny that there was a time--and +not very distant either--when you gave me reason to understand that you +did care about him?" + +"Him!--never, never. Dear Miss Woodhouse, how could you so mistake me?" +turning away distressed. + +"Harriet!" cried Emma, after a moment's pause--"What do you mean?--Good +Heaven! what do you mean?--Mistake you!--Am I to suppose then?--" + +She could not speak another word.--Her voice was lost; and she sat down, +waiting in great terror till Harriet should answer. + +Harriet, who was standing at some distance, and with face turned from +her, did not immediately say any thing; and when she did speak, it was +in a voice nearly as agitated as Emma's. + +"I should not have thought it possible," she began, "that you could have +misunderstood me! I know we agreed never to name him--but considering +how infinitely superior he is to every body else, I should not have +thought it possible that I could be supposed to mean any other person. +Mr. Frank Churchill, indeed! I do not know who would ever look at him in +the company of the other. I hope I have a better taste than to think of +Mr. Frank Churchill, who is like nobody by his side. And that you should +have been so mistaken, is amazing!--I am sure, but for believing that +you entirely approved and meant to encourage me in my attachment, I +should have considered it at first too great a presumption almost, +to dare to think of him. At first, if you had not told me that more +wonderful things had happened; that there had been matches of greater +disparity (those were your very words);--I should not have dared to +give way to--I should not have thought it possible--But if _you_, who +had been always acquainted with him--" + +"Harriet!" cried Emma, collecting herself resolutely--"Let us understand +each other now, without the possibility of farther mistake. Are you +speaking of--Mr. Knightley?" + +"To be sure I am. I never could have an idea of any body else--and so +I thought you knew. When we talked about him, it was as clear as +possible." + +"Not quite," returned Emma, with forced calmness, "for all that you then +said, appeared to me to relate to a different person. I could almost +assert that you had _named_ Mr. Frank Churchill. I am sure the service +Mr. Frank Churchill had rendered you, in protecting you from the +gipsies, was spoken of." + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, how you do forget!" + +"My dear Harriet, I perfectly remember the substance of what I said on +the occasion. I told you that I did not wonder at your attachment; +that considering the service he had rendered you, it was extremely +natural:--and you agreed to it, expressing yourself very warmly as to +your sense of that service, and mentioning even what your sensations had +been in seeing him come forward to your rescue.--The impression of it is +strong on my memory." + +"Oh, dear," cried Harriet, "now I recollect what you mean; but I +was thinking of something very different at the time. It was not the +gipsies--it was not Mr. Frank Churchill that I meant. No! (with some +elevation) I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance--of Mr. +Knightley's coming and asking me to dance, when Mr. Elton would not +stand up with me; and when there was no other partner in the room. That +was the kind action; that was the noble benevolence and generosity; that +was the service which made me begin to feel how superior he was to every +other being upon earth." + +"Good God!" cried Emma, "this has been a most unfortunate--most +deplorable mistake!--What is to be done?" + +"You would not have encouraged me, then, if you had understood me? At +least, however, I cannot be worse off than I should have been, if the +other had been the person; and now--it _is_ possible--" + +She paused a few moments. Emma could not speak. + +"I do not wonder, Miss Woodhouse," she resumed, "that you should feel a +great difference between the two, as to me or as to any body. You must +think one five hundred million times more above me than the other. But +I hope, Miss Woodhouse, that supposing--that if--strange as it may +appear--. But you know they were your own words, that _more_ wonderful +things had happened, matches of _greater_ disparity had taken place than +between Mr. Frank Churchill and me; and, therefore, it seems as if such +a thing even as this, may have occurred before--and if I should be so +fortunate, beyond expression, as to--if Mr. Knightley should really--if +_he_ does not mind the disparity, I hope, dear Miss Woodhouse, you will +not set yourself against it, and try to put difficulties in the way. But +you are too good for that, I am sure." + +Harriet was standing at one of the windows. Emma turned round to look at +her in consternation, and hastily said, + +"Have you any idea of Mr. Knightley's returning your affection?" + +"Yes," replied Harriet modestly, but not fearfully--"I must say that I +have." + +Emma's eyes were instantly withdrawn; and she sat silently meditating, +in a fixed attitude, for a few minutes. A few minutes were sufficient +for making her acquainted with her own heart. A mind like hers, +once opening to suspicion, made rapid progress. She touched--she +admitted--she acknowledged the whole truth. Why was it so much worse +that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley, than with Frank +Churchill? Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet's having +some hope of a return? It darted through her, with the speed of an +arrow, that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself! + +Her own conduct, as well as her own heart, was before her in the same +few minutes. She saw it all with a clearness which had never blessed +her before. How improperly had she been acting by Harriet! How +inconsiderate, how indelicate, how irrational, how unfeeling had been +her conduct! What blindness, what madness, had led her on! It struck her +with dreadful force, and she was ready to give it every bad name in the +world. Some portion of respect for herself, however, in spite of all +these demerits--some concern for her own appearance, and a strong sense +of justice by Harriet--(there would be no need of _compassion_ to the +girl who believed herself loved by Mr. Knightley--but justice required +that she should not be made unhappy by any coldness now,) gave Emma the +resolution to sit and endure farther with calmness, with even apparent +kindness.--For her own advantage indeed, it was fit that the utmost +extent of Harriet's hopes should be enquired into; and Harriet had done +nothing to forfeit the regard and interest which had been so voluntarily +formed and maintained--or to deserve to be slighted by the person, whose +counsels had never led her right.--Rousing from reflection, therefore, +and subduing her emotion, she turned to Harriet again, and, in a more +inviting accent, renewed the conversation; for as to the subject which +had first introduced it, the wonderful story of Jane Fairfax, that was +quite sunk and lost.--Neither of them thought but of Mr. Knightley and +themselves. + +Harriet, who had been standing in no unhappy reverie, was yet very glad +to be called from it, by the now encouraging manner of such a judge, and +such a friend as Miss Woodhouse, and only wanted invitation, to give +the history of her hopes with great, though trembling delight.--Emma's +tremblings as she asked, and as she listened, were better concealed than +Harriet's, but they were not less. Her voice was not unsteady; but her +mind was in all the perturbation that such a development of self, such +a burst of threatening evil, such a confusion of sudden and perplexing +emotions, must create.--She listened with much inward suffering, but +with great outward patience, to Harriet's detail.--Methodical, or well +arranged, or very well delivered, it could not be expected to be; but it +contained, when separated from all the feebleness and tautology of +the narration, a substance to sink her spirit--especially with the +corroborating circumstances, which her own memory brought in favour of +Mr. Knightley's most improved opinion of Harriet. + +Harriet had been conscious of a difference in his behaviour ever since +those two decisive dances.--Emma knew that he had, on that occasion, +found her much superior to his expectation. From that evening, or at +least from the time of Miss Woodhouse's encouraging her to think of him, +Harriet had begun to be sensible of his talking to her much more than he +had been used to do, and of his having indeed quite a different manner +towards her; a manner of kindness and sweetness!--Latterly she had been +more and more aware of it. When they had been all walking together, +he had so often come and walked by her, and talked so very +delightfully!--He seemed to want to be acquainted with her. Emma knew it +to have been very much the case. She had often observed the change, to +almost the same extent.--Harriet repeated expressions of approbation +and praise from him--and Emma felt them to be in the closest agreement +with what she had known of his opinion of Harriet. He praised her for +being without art or affectation, for having simple, honest, generous, +feelings.--She knew that he saw such recommendations in Harriet; he +had dwelt on them to her more than once.--Much that lived in Harriet's +memory, many little particulars of the notice she had received from +him, a look, a speech, a removal from one chair to another, a compliment +implied, a preference inferred, had been unnoticed, because unsuspected, +by Emma. Circumstances that might swell to half an hour's relation, +and contained multiplied proofs to her who had seen them, had passed +undiscerned by her who now heard them; but the two latest occurrences to +be mentioned, the two of strongest promise to Harriet, were not without +some degree of witness from Emma herself.--The first, was his walking +with her apart from the others, in the lime-walk at Donwell, where they +had been walking some time before Emma came, and he had taken pains (as +she was convinced) to draw her from the rest to himself--and at first, +he had talked to her in a more particular way than he had ever done +before, in a very particular way indeed!--(Harriet could not recall +it without a blush.) He seemed to be almost asking her, whether her +affections were engaged.--But as soon as she (Miss Woodhouse) appeared +likely to join them, he changed the subject, and began talking about +farming:--The second, was his having sat talking with her nearly half +an hour before Emma came back from her visit, the very last morning of +his being at Hartfield--though, when he first came in, he had said that +he could not stay five minutes--and his having told her, during their +conversation, that though he must go to London, it was very much against +his inclination that he left home at all, which was much more (as +Emma felt) than he had acknowledged to _her_. The superior degree of +confidence towards Harriet, which this one article marked, gave her +severe pain. + +On the subject of the first of the two circumstances, she did, after a +little reflection, venture the following question. "Might he not?--Is +not it possible, that when enquiring, as you thought, into the state of +your affections, he might be alluding to Mr. Martin--he might have +Mr. Martin's interest in view? But Harriet rejected the suspicion with +spirit. + +"Mr. Martin! No indeed!--There was not a hint of Mr. Martin. I hope I +know better now, than to care for Mr. Martin, or to be suspected of it." + +When Harriet had closed her evidence, she appealed to her dear Miss +Woodhouse, to say whether she had not good ground for hope. + +"I never should have presumed to think of it at first," said she, "but +for you. You told me to observe him carefully, and let his behaviour +be the rule of mine--and so I have. But now I seem to feel that I may +deserve him; and that if he does chuse me, it will not be any thing so +very wonderful." + +The bitter feelings occasioned by this speech, the many bitter feelings, +made the utmost exertion necessary on Emma's side, to enable her to say +on reply, + +"Harriet, I will only venture to declare, that Mr. Knightley is the last +man in the world, who would intentionally give any woman the idea of his +feeling for her more than he really does." + +Harriet seemed ready to worship her friend for a sentence so +satisfactory; and Emma was only saved from raptures and fondness, which +at that moment would have been dreadful penance, by the sound of her +father's footsteps. He was coming through the hall. Harriet was too +much agitated to encounter him. "She could not compose herself-- +Mr. Woodhouse would be alarmed--she had better go;"--with most ready +encouragement from her friend, therefore, she passed off through another +door--and the moment she was gone, this was the spontaneous burst of +Emma's feelings: "Oh God! that I had never seen her!" + +The rest of the day, the following night, were hardly enough for her +thoughts.--She was bewildered amidst the confusion of all that had +rushed on her within the last few hours. Every moment had brought a +fresh surprize; and every surprize must be matter of humiliation to +her.--How to understand it all! How to understand the deceptions she had +been thus practising on herself, and living under!--The blunders, the +blindness of her own head and heart!--she sat still, she walked about, +she tried her own room, she tried the shrubbery--in every place, every +posture, she perceived that she had acted most weakly; that she had +been imposed on by others in a most mortifying degree; that she had +been imposing on herself in a degree yet more mortifying; that she +was wretched, and should probably find this day but the beginning of +wretchedness. + +To understand, thoroughly understand her own heart, was the first +endeavour. To that point went every leisure moment which her father's +claims on her allowed, and every moment of involuntary absence of mind. + +How long had Mr. Knightley been so dear to her, as every feeling +declared him now to be? When had his influence, such influence begun?-- +When had he succeeded to that place in her affection, which Frank +Churchill had once, for a short period, occupied?--She looked back; +she compared the two--compared them, as they had always stood in her +estimation, from the time of the latter's becoming known to her--and as +they must at any time have been compared by her, had it--oh! had it, by +any blessed felicity, occurred to her, to institute the comparison.--She +saw that there never had been a time when she did not consider Mr. +Knightley as infinitely the superior, or when his regard for her had not +been infinitely the most dear. She saw, that in persuading herself, +in fancying, in acting to the contrary, she had been entirely under a +delusion, totally ignorant of her own heart--and, in short, that she had +never really cared for Frank Churchill at all! + +This was the conclusion of the first series of reflection. This was +the knowledge of herself, on the first question of inquiry, which +she reached; and without being long in reaching it.--She was most +sorrowfully indignant; ashamed of every sensation but the one revealed +to her--her affection for Mr. Knightley.--Every other part of her mind +was disgusting. + +With insufferable vanity had she believed herself in the secret of every +body's feelings; with unpardonable arrogance proposed to arrange every +body's destiny. She was proved to have been universally mistaken; and +she had not quite done nothing--for she had done mischief. She had +brought evil on Harriet, on herself, and she too much feared, on Mr. +Knightley.--Were this most unequal of all connexions to take place, on +her must rest all the reproach of having given it a beginning; for his +attachment, she must believe to be produced only by a consciousness of +Harriet's;--and even were this not the case, he would never have known +Harriet at all but for her folly. + +Mr. Knightley and Harriet Smith!--It was a union to distance every +wonder of the kind.--The attachment of Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax +became commonplace, threadbare, stale in the comparison, exciting no +surprize, presenting no disparity, affording nothing to be said or +thought.--Mr. Knightley and Harriet Smith!--Such an elevation on her +side! Such a debasement on his! It was horrible to Emma to think how it +must sink him in the general opinion, to foresee the smiles, the sneers, +the merriment it would prompt at his expense; the mortification and +disdain of his brother, the thousand inconveniences to himself.--Could +it be?--No; it was impossible. And yet it was far, very far, from +impossible.--Was it a new circumstance for a man of first-rate abilities +to be captivated by very inferior powers? Was it new for one, perhaps +too busy to seek, to be the prize of a girl who would seek him?--Was +it new for any thing in this world to be unequal, inconsistent, +incongruous--or for chance and circumstance (as second causes) to direct +the human fate? + +Oh! had she never brought Harriet forward! Had she left her where she +ought, and where he had told her she ought!--Had she not, with a +folly which no tongue could express, prevented her marrying the +unexceptionable young man who would have made her happy and respectable +in the line of life to which she ought to belong--all would have been +safe; none of this dreadful sequel would have been. + +How Harriet could ever have had the presumption to raise her thoughts to +Mr. Knightley!--How she could dare to fancy herself the chosen of such +a man till actually assured of it!--But Harriet was less humble, had +fewer scruples than formerly.--Her inferiority, whether of mind or +situation, seemed little felt.--She had seemed more sensible of Mr. +Elton's being to stoop in marrying her, than she now seemed of Mr. +Knightley's.--Alas! was not that her own doing too? Who had been at +pains to give Harriet notions of self-consequence but herself?--Who but +herself had taught her, that she was to elevate herself if possible, +and that her claims were great to a high worldly establishment?--If +Harriet, from being humble, were grown vain, it was her doing too. + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Till now that she was threatened with its loss, Emma had never known +how much of her happiness depended on being _first_ with Mr. Knightley, +first in interest and affection.--Satisfied that it was so, and feeling +it her due, she had enjoyed it without reflection; and only in the +dread of being supplanted, found how inexpressibly important it had +been.--Long, very long, she felt she had been first; for, having no +female connexions of his own, there had been only Isabella whose claims +could be compared with hers, and she had always known exactly how far +he loved and esteemed Isabella. She had herself been first with him for +many years past. She had not deserved it; she had often been negligent +or perverse, slighting his advice, or even wilfully opposing him, +insensible of half his merits, and quarrelling with him because he would +not acknowledge her false and insolent estimate of her own--but still, +from family attachment and habit, and thorough excellence of mind, he +had loved her, and watched over her from a girl, with an endeavour to +improve her, and an anxiety for her doing right, which no other creature +had at all shared. In spite of all her faults, she knew she was dear +to him; might she not say, very dear?--When the suggestions of hope, +however, which must follow here, presented themselves, she could not +presume to indulge them. Harriet Smith might think herself not unworthy +of being peculiarly, exclusively, passionately loved by Mr. Knightley. +_She_ could not. She could not flatter herself with any idea of +blindness in his attachment to _her_. She had received a very recent +proof of its impartiality.--How shocked had he been by her behaviour to +Miss Bates! How directly, how strongly had he expressed himself to her +on the subject!--Not too strongly for the offence--but far, far too +strongly to issue from any feeling softer than upright justice and +clear-sighted goodwill.--She had no hope, nothing to deserve the name +of hope, that he could have that sort of affection for herself which was +now in question; but there was a hope (at times a slight one, at +times much stronger,) that Harriet might have deceived herself, and be +overrating his regard for _her_.--Wish it she must, for his sake--be the +consequence nothing to herself, but his remaining single all his life. +Could she be secure of that, indeed, of his never marrying at all, she +believed she should be perfectly satisfied.--Let him but continue the +same Mr. Knightley to her and her father, the same Mr. Knightley to +all the world; let Donwell and Hartfield lose none of their precious +intercourse of friendship and confidence, and her peace would be +fully secured.--Marriage, in fact, would not do for her. It would be +incompatible with what she owed to her father, and with what she felt +for him. Nothing should separate her from her father. She would not +marry, even if she were asked by Mr. Knightley. + +It must be her ardent wish that Harriet might be disappointed; and she +hoped, that when able to see them together again, she might at least +be able to ascertain what the chances for it were.--She should see them +henceforward with the closest observance; and wretchedly as she had +hitherto misunderstood even those she was watching, she did not know how +to admit that she could be blinded here.--He was expected back every +day. The power of observation would be soon given--frightfully soon it +appeared when her thoughts were in one course. In the meanwhile, she +resolved against seeing Harriet.--It would do neither of them good, +it would do the subject no good, to be talking of it farther.--She was +resolved not to be convinced, as long as she could doubt, and yet had +no authority for opposing Harriet's confidence. To talk would be only to +irritate.--She wrote to her, therefore, kindly, but decisively, to beg +that she would not, at present, come to Hartfield; acknowledging it to +be her conviction, that all farther confidential discussion of _one_ +topic had better be avoided; and hoping, that if a few days were allowed +to pass before they met again, except in the company of others--she +objected only to a tete-a-tete--they might be able to act as if they +had forgotten the conversation of yesterday.--Harriet submitted, and +approved, and was grateful. + +This point was just arranged, when a visitor arrived to tear Emma's +thoughts a little from the one subject which had engrossed them, +sleeping or waking, the last twenty-four hours--Mrs. Weston, who had +been calling on her daughter-in-law elect, and took Hartfield in her +way home, almost as much in duty to Emma as in pleasure to herself, to +relate all the particulars of so interesting an interview. + +Mr. Weston had accompanied her to Mrs. Bates's, and gone through his +share of this essential attention most handsomely; but she having then +induced Miss Fairfax to join her in an airing, was now returned with +much more to say, and much more to say with satisfaction, than a quarter +of an hour spent in Mrs. Bates's parlour, with all the encumbrance of +awkward feelings, could have afforded. + +A little curiosity Emma had; and she made the most of it while her +friend related. Mrs. Weston had set off to pay the visit in a good deal +of agitation herself; and in the first place had wished not to go at all +at present, to be allowed merely to write to Miss Fairfax instead, and +to defer this ceremonious call till a little time had passed, and Mr. +Churchill could be reconciled to the engagement's becoming known; as, +considering every thing, she thought such a visit could not be paid +without leading to reports:--but Mr. Weston had thought differently; he +was extremely anxious to shew his approbation to Miss Fairfax and her +family, and did not conceive that any suspicion could be excited by it; +or if it were, that it would be of any consequence; for "such things," +he observed, "always got about." Emma smiled, and felt that Mr. Weston +had very good reason for saying so. They had gone, in short--and very +great had been the evident distress and confusion of the lady. She had +hardly been able to speak a word, and every look and action had shewn +how deeply she was suffering from consciousness. The quiet, heart-felt +satisfaction of the old lady, and the rapturous delight of her +daughter--who proved even too joyous to talk as usual, had been a +gratifying, yet almost an affecting, scene. They were both so truly +respectable in their happiness, so disinterested in every sensation; +thought so much of Jane; so much of every body, and so little of +themselves, that every kindly feeling was at work for them. Miss +Fairfax's recent illness had offered a fair plea for Mrs. Weston to +invite her to an airing; she had drawn back and declined at first, but, +on being pressed had yielded; and, in the course of their drive, +Mrs. Weston had, by gentle encouragement, overcome so much of her +embarrassment, as to bring her to converse on the important subject. +Apologies for her seemingly ungracious silence in their first reception, +and the warmest expressions of the gratitude she was always feeling +towards herself and Mr. Weston, must necessarily open the cause; but +when these effusions were put by, they had talked a good deal of the +present and of the future state of the engagement. Mrs. Weston was +convinced that such conversation must be the greatest relief to her +companion, pent up within her own mind as every thing had so long been, +and was very much pleased with all that she had said on the subject. + +"On the misery of what she had suffered, during the concealment of so +many months," continued Mrs. Weston, "she was energetic. This was one +of her expressions. 'I will not say, that since I entered into the +engagement I have not had some happy moments; but I can say, that I have +never known the blessing of one tranquil hour:'--and the quivering lip, +Emma, which uttered it, was an attestation that I felt at my heart." + +"Poor girl!" said Emma. "She thinks herself wrong, then, for having +consented to a private engagement?" + +"Wrong! No one, I believe, can blame her more than she is disposed +to blame herself. 'The consequence,' said she, 'has been a state of +perpetual suffering to me; and so it ought. But after all the punishment +that misconduct can bring, it is still not less misconduct. Pain is no +expiation. I never can be blameless. I have been acting contrary to all +my sense of right; and the fortunate turn that every thing has taken, +and the kindness I am now receiving, is what my conscience tells me +ought not to be.' 'Do not imagine, madam,' she continued, 'that I was +taught wrong. Do not let any reflection fall on the principles or the +care of the friends who brought me up. The error has been all my own; +and I do assure you that, with all the excuse that present circumstances +may appear to give, I shall yet dread making the story known to Colonel +Campbell.'" + +"Poor girl!" said Emma again. "She loves him then excessively, I +suppose. It must have been from attachment only, that she could be +led to form the engagement. Her affection must have overpowered her +judgment." + +"Yes, I have no doubt of her being extremely attached to him." + +"I am afraid," returned Emma, sighing, "that I must often have +contributed to make her unhappy." + +"On your side, my love, it was very innocently done. But she +probably had something of that in her thoughts, when alluding to the +misunderstandings which he had given us hints of before. One natural +consequence of the evil she had involved herself in," she said, "was +that of making her _unreasonable_. The consciousness of having done +amiss, had exposed her to a thousand inquietudes, and made her captious +and irritable to a degree that must have been--that had been--hard for +him to bear. 'I did not make the allowances,' said she, 'which I ought +to have done, for his temper and spirits--his delightful spirits, and +that gaiety, that playfulness of disposition, which, under any other +circumstances, would, I am sure, have been as constantly bewitching to +me, as they were at first.' She then began to speak of you, and of the +great kindness you had shewn her during her illness; and with a blush +which shewed me how it was all connected, desired me, whenever I had +an opportunity, to thank you--I could not thank you too much--for every +wish and every endeavour to do her good. She was sensible that you had +never received any proper acknowledgment from herself." + +"If I did not know her to be happy now," said Emma, seriously, "which, +in spite of every little drawback from her scrupulous conscience, she +must be, I could not bear these thanks;--for, oh! Mrs. Weston, if there +were an account drawn up of the evil and the good I have done Miss +Fairfax!--Well (checking herself, and trying to be more lively), this +is all to be forgotten. You are very kind to bring me these interesting +particulars. They shew her to the greatest advantage. I am sure she is +very good--I hope she will be very happy. It is fit that the fortune +should be on his side, for I think the merit will be all on hers." + +Such a conclusion could not pass unanswered by Mrs. Weston. She thought +well of Frank in almost every respect; and, what was more, she loved him +very much, and her defence was, therefore, earnest. She talked with a +great deal of reason, and at least equal affection--but she had too much +to urge for Emma's attention; it was soon gone to Brunswick Square or +to Donwell; she forgot to attempt to listen; and when Mrs. Weston ended +with, "We have not yet had the letter we are so anxious for, you know, +but I hope it will soon come," she was obliged to pause before she +answered, and at last obliged to answer at random, before she could at +all recollect what letter it was which they were so anxious for. + +"Are you well, my Emma?" was Mrs. Weston's parting question. + +"Oh! perfectly. I am always well, you know. Be sure to give me +intelligence of the letter as soon as possible." + +Mrs. Weston's communications furnished Emma with more food for +unpleasant reflection, by increasing her esteem and compassion, and her +sense of past injustice towards Miss Fairfax. She bitterly regretted +not having sought a closer acquaintance with her, and blushed for the +envious feelings which had certainly been, in some measure, the cause. +Had she followed Mr. Knightley's known wishes, in paying that attention +to Miss Fairfax, which was every way her due; had she tried to know her +better; had she done her part towards intimacy; had she endeavoured +to find a friend there instead of in Harriet Smith; she must, in all +probability, have been spared from every pain which pressed on her +now.--Birth, abilities, and education, had been equally marking one as +an associate for her, to be received with gratitude; and the other--what +was she?--Supposing even that they had never become intimate friends; +that she had never been admitted into Miss Fairfax's confidence on this +important matter--which was most probable--still, in knowing her as +she ought, and as she might, she must have been preserved from the +abominable suspicions of an improper attachment to Mr. Dixon, which she +had not only so foolishly fashioned and harboured herself, but had so +unpardonably imparted; an idea which she greatly feared had been made a +subject of material distress to the delicacy of Jane's feelings, by the +levity or carelessness of Frank Churchill's. Of all the sources of evil +surrounding the former, since her coming to Highbury, she was persuaded +that she must herself have been the worst. She must have been a +perpetual enemy. They never could have been all three together, without +her having stabbed Jane Fairfax's peace in a thousand instances; and on +Box Hill, perhaps, it had been the agony of a mind that would bear no +more. + +The evening of this day was very long, and melancholy, at Hartfield. +The weather added what it could of gloom. A cold stormy rain set in, and +nothing of July appeared but in the trees and shrubs, which the wind was +despoiling, and the length of the day, which only made such cruel sights +the longer visible. + +The weather affected Mr. Woodhouse, and he could only be kept tolerably +comfortable by almost ceaseless attention on his daughter's side, and by +exertions which had never cost her half so much before. It reminded +her of their first forlorn tete-a-tete, on the evening of Mrs. Weston's +wedding-day; but Mr. Knightley had walked in then, soon after tea, +and dissipated every melancholy fancy. Alas! such delightful proofs of +Hartfield's attraction, as those sort of visits conveyed, might shortly +be over. The picture which she had then drawn of the privations of the +approaching winter, had proved erroneous; no friends had deserted them, +no pleasures had been lost.--But her present forebodings she feared +would experience no similar contradiction. The prospect before her now, +was threatening to a degree that could not be entirely dispelled--that +might not be even partially brightened. If all took place that +might take place among the circle of her friends, Hartfield must be +comparatively deserted; and she left to cheer her father with the +spirits only of ruined happiness. + +The child to be born at Randalls must be a tie there even dearer than +herself; and Mrs. Weston's heart and time would be occupied by it. +They should lose her; and, probably, in great measure, her husband +also.--Frank Churchill would return among them no more; and Miss +Fairfax, it was reasonable to suppose, would soon cease to belong to +Highbury. They would be married, and settled either at or near Enscombe. +All that were good would be withdrawn; and if to these losses, the +loss of Donwell were to be added, what would remain of cheerful or +of rational society within their reach? Mr. Knightley to be no longer +coming there for his evening comfort!--No longer walking in at all +hours, as if ever willing to change his own home for their's!--How was +it to be endured? And if he were to be lost to them for Harriet's sake; +if he were to be thought of hereafter, as finding in Harriet's society +all that he wanted; if Harriet were to be the chosen, the first, +the dearest, the friend, the wife to whom he looked for all the best +blessings of existence; what could be increasing Emma's wretchedness but +the reflection never far distant from her mind, that it had been all her +own work? + +When it came to such a pitch as this, she was not able to refrain from +a start, or a heavy sigh, or even from walking about the room for a +few seconds--and the only source whence any thing like consolation +or composure could be drawn, was in the resolution of her own better +conduct, and the hope that, however inferior in spirit and gaiety might +be the following and every future winter of her life to the past, it +would yet find her more rational, more acquainted with herself, and +leave her less to regret when it were gone. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +The weather continued much the same all the following morning; and +the same loneliness, and the same melancholy, seemed to reign at +Hartfield--but in the afternoon it cleared; the wind changed into a +softer quarter; the clouds were carried off; the sun appeared; it was +summer again. With all the eagerness which such a transition gives, Emma +resolved to be out of doors as soon as possible. Never had the exquisite +sight, smell, sensation of nature, tranquil, warm, and brilliant after +a storm, been more attractive to her. She longed for the serenity they +might gradually introduce; and on Mr. Perry's coming in soon after +dinner, with a disengaged hour to give her father, she lost no time +ill hurrying into the shrubbery.--There, with spirits freshened, and +thoughts a little relieved, she had taken a few turns, when she saw Mr. +Knightley passing through the garden door, and coming towards her.--It +was the first intimation of his being returned from London. She had +been thinking of him the moment before, as unquestionably sixteen miles +distant.--There was time only for the quickest arrangement of mind. She +must be collected and calm. In half a minute they were together. The +"How d'ye do's" were quiet and constrained on each side. She asked after +their mutual friends; they were all well.--When had he left them?--Only +that morning. He must have had a wet ride.--Yes.--He meant to walk with +her, she found. "He had just looked into the dining-room, and as he was +not wanted there, preferred being out of doors."--She thought he neither +looked nor spoke cheerfully; and the first possible cause for it, +suggested by her fears, was, that he had perhaps been communicating his +plans to his brother, and was pained by the manner in which they had +been received. + +They walked together. He was silent. She thought he was often looking +at her, and trying for a fuller view of her face than it suited her to +give. And this belief produced another dread. Perhaps he wanted to +speak to her, of his attachment to Harriet; he might be watching for +encouragement to begin.--She did not, could not, feel equal to lead the +way to any such subject. He must do it all himself. Yet she could +not bear this silence. With him it was most unnatural. She +considered--resolved--and, trying to smile, began-- + +"You have some news to hear, now you are come back, that will rather +surprize you." + +"Have I?" said he quietly, and looking at her; "of what nature?" + +"Oh! the best nature in the world--a wedding." + +After waiting a moment, as if to be sure she intended to say no more, he +replied, + +"If you mean Miss Fairfax and Frank Churchill, I have heard that +already." + +"How is it possible?" cried Emma, turning her glowing cheeks towards +him; for, while she spoke, it occurred to her that he might have called +at Mrs. Goddard's in his way. + +"I had a few lines on parish business from Mr. Weston this morning, and +at the end of them he gave me a brief account of what had happened." + +Emma was quite relieved, and could presently say, with a little more +composure, + +"_You_ probably have been less surprized than any of us, for you have +had your suspicions.--I have not forgotten that you once tried to give +me a caution.--I wish I had attended to it--but--(with a sinking voice +and a heavy sigh) I seem to have been doomed to blindness." + +For a moment or two nothing was said, and she was unsuspicious of having +excited any particular interest, till she found her arm drawn within +his, and pressed against his heart, and heard him thus saying, in a tone +of great sensibility, speaking low, + +"Time, my dearest Emma, time will heal the wound.--Your own excellent +sense--your exertions for your father's sake--I know you will not allow +yourself--." Her arm was pressed again, as he added, in a more +broken and subdued accent, "The feelings of the warmest +friendship--Indignation--Abominable scoundrel!"--And in a louder, +steadier tone, he concluded with, "He will soon be gone. They will soon +be in Yorkshire. I am sorry for _her_. She deserves a better fate." + +Emma understood him; and as soon as she could recover from the flutter +of pleasure, excited by such tender consideration, replied, + +"You are very kind--but you are mistaken--and I must set you right.-- +I am not in want of that sort of compassion. My blindness to what was +going on, led me to act by them in a way that I must always be ashamed +of, and I was very foolishly tempted to say and do many things which may +well lay me open to unpleasant conjectures, but I have no other reason +to regret that I was not in the secret earlier." + +"Emma!" cried he, looking eagerly at her, "are you, indeed?"--but +checking himself--"No, no, I understand you--forgive me--I am pleased +that you can say even so much.--He is no object of regret, indeed! and +it will not be very long, I hope, before that becomes the acknowledgment +of more than your reason.--Fortunate that your affections were not +farther entangled!--I could never, I confess, from your manners, assure +myself as to the degree of what you felt--I could only be certain that +there was a preference--and a preference which I never believed him to +deserve.--He is a disgrace to the name of man.--And is he to be rewarded +with that sweet young woman?--Jane, Jane, you will be a miserable +creature." + +"Mr. Knightley," said Emma, trying to be lively, but really confused--"I +am in a very extraordinary situation. I cannot let you continue in your +error; and yet, perhaps, since my manners gave such an impression, I +have as much reason to be ashamed of confessing that I never have been +at all attached to the person we are speaking of, as it might be natural +for a woman to feel in confessing exactly the reverse.--But I never +have." + +He listened in perfect silence. She wished him to speak, but he would +not. She supposed she must say more before she were entitled to his +clemency; but it was a hard case to be obliged still to lower herself in +his opinion. She went on, however. + +"I have very little to say for my own conduct.--I was tempted by his +attentions, and allowed myself to appear pleased.--An old story, +probably--a common case--and no more than has happened to hundreds of my +sex before; and yet it may not be the more excusable in one who sets up +as I do for Understanding. Many circumstances assisted the temptation. +He was the son of Mr. Weston--he was continually here--I always found +him very pleasant--and, in short, for (with a sigh) let me swell out the +causes ever so ingeniously, they all centre in this at last--my vanity +was flattered, and I allowed his attentions. Latterly, however--for some +time, indeed--I have had no idea of their meaning any thing.--I thought +them a habit, a trick, nothing that called for seriousness on my side. +He has imposed on me, but he has not injured me. I have never been +attached to him. And now I can tolerably comprehend his behaviour. He +never wished to attach me. It was merely a blind to conceal his real +situation with another.--It was his object to blind all about him; and +no one, I am sure, could be more effectually blinded than myself--except +that I was _not_ blinded--that it was my good fortune--that, in short, I +was somehow or other safe from him." + +She had hoped for an answer here--for a few words to say that her +conduct was at least intelligible; but he was silent; and, as far as she +could judge, deep in thought. At last, and tolerably in his usual tone, +he said, + +"I have never had a high opinion of Frank Churchill.--I can suppose, +however, that I may have underrated him. My acquaintance with him has +been but trifling.--And even if I have not underrated him hitherto, he +may yet turn out well.--With such a woman he has a chance.--I have no +motive for wishing him ill--and for her sake, whose happiness will be +involved in his good character and conduct, I shall certainly wish him +well." + +"I have no doubt of their being happy together," said Emma; "I believe +them to be very mutually and very sincerely attached." + +"He is a most fortunate man!" returned Mr. Knightley, with energy. "So +early in life--at three-and-twenty--a period when, if a man chuses a +wife, he generally chuses ill. At three-and-twenty to have drawn such +a prize! What years of felicity that man, in all human calculation, +has before him!--Assured of the love of such a woman--the disinterested +love, for Jane Fairfax's character vouches for her disinterestedness; +every thing in his favour,--equality of situation--I mean, as far as +regards society, and all the habits and manners that are important; +equality in every point but one--and that one, since the purity of her +heart is not to be doubted, such as must increase his felicity, for it +will be his to bestow the only advantages she wants.--A man would always +wish to give a woman a better home than the one he takes her from; +and he who can do it, where there is no doubt of _her_ regard, must, +I think, be the happiest of mortals.--Frank Churchill is, indeed, the +favourite of fortune. Every thing turns out for his good.--He meets +with a young woman at a watering-place, gains her affection, cannot even +weary her by negligent treatment--and had he and all his family sought +round the world for a perfect wife for him, they could not have found +her superior.--His aunt is in the way.--His aunt dies.--He has only to +speak.--His friends are eager to promote his happiness.--He had used +every body ill--and they are all delighted to forgive him.--He is a +fortunate man indeed!" + +"You speak as if you envied him." + +"And I do envy him, Emma. In one respect he is the object of my envy." + +Emma could say no more. They seemed to be within half a sentence +of Harriet, and her immediate feeling was to avert the subject, if +possible. She made her plan; she would speak of something totally +different--the children in Brunswick Square; and she only waited for +breath to begin, when Mr. Knightley startled her, by saying, + +"You will not ask me what is the point of envy.--You are determined, I +see, to have no curiosity.--You are wise--but _I_ cannot be wise. Emma, +I must tell you what you will not ask, though I may wish it unsaid the +next moment." + +"Oh! then, don't speak it, don't speak it," she eagerly cried. "Take a +little time, consider, do not commit yourself." + +"Thank you," said he, in an accent of deep mortification, and not +another syllable followed. + +Emma could not bear to give him pain. He was wishing to confide in +her--perhaps to consult her;--cost her what it would, she would listen. +She might assist his resolution, or reconcile him to it; she might give +just praise to Harriet, or, by representing to him his own independence, +relieve him from that state of indecision, which must be more +intolerable than any alternative to such a mind as his.--They had +reached the house. + +"You are going in, I suppose?" said he. + +"No,"--replied Emma--quite confirmed by the depressed manner in which +he still spoke--"I should like to take another turn. Mr. Perry is not +gone." And, after proceeding a few steps, she added--"I stopped you +ungraciously, just now, Mr. Knightley, and, I am afraid, gave you +pain.--But if you have any wish to speak openly to me as a friend, or +to ask my opinion of any thing that you may have in contemplation--as +a friend, indeed, you may command me.--I will hear whatever you like. I +will tell you exactly what I think." + +"As a friend!"--repeated Mr. Knightley.--"Emma, that I fear is a +word--No, I have no wish--Stay, yes, why should I hesitate?--I +have gone too far already for concealment.--Emma, I accept your +offer--Extraordinary as it may seem, I accept it, and refer myself to +you as a friend.--Tell me, then, have I no chance of ever succeeding?" + +He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression +of his eyes overpowered her. + +"My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever +the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved +Emma--tell me at once. Say 'No,' if it is to be said."--She could +really say nothing.--"You are silent," he cried, with great animation; +"absolutely silent! at present I ask no more." + +Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The +dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most +prominent feeling. + +"I cannot make speeches, Emma:" he soon resumed; and in a tone of +such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably +convincing.--"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it +more. But you know what I am.--You hear nothing but truth from me.--I +have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other +woman in England would have borne it.--Bear with the truths I would +tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them. The +manner, perhaps, may have as little to recommend them. God knows, I have +been a very indifferent lover.--But you understand me.--Yes, you see, +you understand my feelings--and will return them if you can. At present, +I ask only to hear, once to hear your voice." + +While he spoke, Emma's mind was most busy, and, with all the wonderful +velocity of thought, had been able--and yet without losing a word--to +catch and comprehend the exact truth of the whole; to see that Harriet's +hopes had been entirely groundless, a mistake, a delusion, as complete a +delusion as any of her own--that Harriet was nothing; that she was every +thing herself; that what she had been saying relative to Harriet +had been all taken as the language of her own feelings; and that her +agitation, her doubts, her reluctance, her discouragement, had been all +received as discouragement from herself.--And not only was there time +for these convictions, with all their glow of attendant happiness; there +was time also to rejoice that Harriet's secret had not escaped her, and +to resolve that it need not, and should not.--It was all the service +she could now render her poor friend; for as to any of that heroism of +sentiment which might have prompted her to entreat him to transfer his +affection from herself to Harriet, as infinitely the most worthy of the +two--or even the more simple sublimity of resolving to refuse him at +once and for ever, without vouchsafing any motive, because he could not +marry them both, Emma had it not. She felt for Harriet, with pain and +with contrition; but no flight of generosity run mad, opposing all that +could be probable or reasonable, entered her brain. She had led her +friend astray, and it would be a reproach to her for ever; but her +judgment was as strong as her feelings, and as strong as it had ever +been before, in reprobating any such alliance for him, as most unequal +and degrading. Her way was clear, though not quite smooth.--She spoke +then, on being so entreated.--What did she say?--Just what she ought, +of course. A lady always does.--She said enough to shew there need not +be despair--and to invite him to say more himself. He _had_ despaired at +one period; he had received such an injunction to caution and silence, +as for the time crushed every hope;--she had begun by refusing to hear +him.--The change had perhaps been somewhat sudden;--her proposal of +taking another turn, her renewing the conversation which she had +just put an end to, might be a little extraordinary!--She felt its +inconsistency; but Mr. Knightley was so obliging as to put up with it, +and seek no farther explanation. + +Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; +seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a +little mistaken; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is +mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material.--Mr. +Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting heart than she +possessed, or a heart more disposed to accept of his. + +He had, in fact, been wholly unsuspicious of his own influence. He had +followed her into the shrubbery with no idea of trying it. He had come, +in his anxiety to see how she bore Frank Churchill's engagement, with no +selfish view, no view at all, but of endeavouring, if she allowed him an +opening, to soothe or to counsel her.--The rest had been the work of +the moment, the immediate effect of what he heard, on his feelings. The +delightful assurance of her total indifference towards Frank Churchill, +of her having a heart completely disengaged from him, had given birth +to the hope, that, in time, he might gain her affection himself;--but +it had been no present hope--he had only, in the momentary conquest of +eagerness over judgment, aspired to be told that she did not forbid his +attempt to attach her.--The superior hopes which gradually opened were +so much the more enchanting.--The affection, which he had been asking +to be allowed to create, if he could, was already his!--Within half +an hour, he had passed from a thoroughly distressed state of mind, to +something so like perfect happiness, that it could bear no other name. + +_Her_ change was equal.--This one half-hour had given to each the same +precious certainty of being beloved, had cleared from each the same +degree of ignorance, jealousy, or distrust.--On his side, there had been +a long-standing jealousy, old as the arrival, or even the expectation, +of Frank Churchill.--He had been in love with Emma, and jealous of Frank +Churchill, from about the same period, one sentiment having probably +enlightened him as to the other. It was his jealousy of Frank Churchill +that had taken him from the country.--The Box Hill party had decided +him on going away. He would save himself from witnessing again +such permitted, encouraged attentions.--He had gone to learn to be +indifferent.--But he had gone to a wrong place. There was too much +domestic happiness in his brother's house; woman wore too amiable a form +in it; Isabella was too much like Emma--differing only in those striking +inferiorities, which always brought the other in brilliancy before +him, for much to have been done, even had his time been longer.--He had +stayed on, however, vigorously, day after day--till this very morning's +post had conveyed the history of Jane Fairfax.--Then, with the gladness +which must be felt, nay, which he did not scruple to feel, having never +believed Frank Churchill to be at all deserving Emma, was there so much +fond solicitude, so much keen anxiety for her, that he could stay no +longer. He had ridden home through the rain; and had walked up directly +after dinner, to see how this sweetest and best of all creatures, +faultless in spite of all her faults, bore the discovery. + +He had found her agitated and low.--Frank Churchill was a villain.-- +He heard her declare that she had never loved him. Frank Churchill's +character was not desperate.--She was his own Emma, by hand and word, +when they returned into the house; and if he could have thought of Frank +Churchill then, he might have deemed him a very good sort of fellow. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +What totally different feelings did Emma take back into the house from +what she had brought out!--she had then been only daring to hope for +a little respite of suffering;--she was now in an exquisite flutter of +happiness, and such happiness moreover as she believed must still be +greater when the flutter should have passed away. + +They sat down to tea--the same party round the same table--how often +it had been collected!--and how often had her eyes fallen on the same +shrubs in the lawn, and observed the same beautiful effect of the +western sun!--But never in such a state of spirits, never in any thing +like it; and it was with difficulty that she could summon enough of her +usual self to be the attentive lady of the house, or even the attentive +daughter. + +Poor Mr. Woodhouse little suspected what was plotting against him in the +breast of that man whom he was so cordially welcoming, and so anxiously +hoping might not have taken cold from his ride.--Could he have seen the +heart, he would have cared very little for the lungs; but without the +most distant imagination of the impending evil, without the slightest +perception of any thing extraordinary in the looks or ways of either, +he repeated to them very comfortably all the articles of news he had +received from Mr. Perry, and talked on with much self-contentment, +totally unsuspicious of what they could have told him in return. + +As long as Mr. Knightley remained with them, Emma's fever continued; +but when he was gone, she began to be a little tranquillised and +subdued--and in the course of the sleepless night, which was the tax +for such an evening, she found one or two such very serious points +to consider, as made her feel, that even her happiness must have some +alloy. Her father--and Harriet. She could not be alone without feeling +the full weight of their separate claims; and how to guard the comfort +of both to the utmost, was the question. With respect to her father, +it was a question soon answered. She hardly knew yet what Mr. Knightley +would ask; but a very short parley with her own heart produced the most +solemn resolution of never quitting her father.--She even wept over +the idea of it, as a sin of thought. While he lived, it must be only an +engagement; but she flattered herself, that if divested of the danger of +drawing her away, it might become an increase of comfort to him.--How +to do her best by Harriet, was of more difficult decision;--how to spare +her from any unnecessary pain; how to make her any possible atonement; +how to appear least her enemy?--On these subjects, her perplexity +and distress were very great--and her mind had to pass again and +again through every bitter reproach and sorrowful regret that had ever +surrounded it.--She could only resolve at last, that she would still +avoid a meeting with her, and communicate all that need be told by +letter; that it would be inexpressibly desirable to have her removed +just now for a time from Highbury, and--indulging in one scheme +more--nearly resolve, that it might be practicable to get an invitation +for her to Brunswick Square.--Isabella had been pleased with Harriet; +and a few weeks spent in London must give her some amusement.--She did +not think it in Harriet's nature to escape being benefited by novelty +and variety, by the streets, the shops, and the children.--At any rate, +it would be a proof of attention and kindness in herself, from whom +every thing was due; a separation for the present; an averting of the +evil day, when they must all be together again. + +She rose early, and wrote her letter to Harriet; an employment which +left her so very serious, so nearly sad, that Mr. Knightley, in walking +up to Hartfield to breakfast, did not arrive at all too soon; and half +an hour stolen afterwards to go over the same ground again with him, +literally and figuratively, was quite necessary to reinstate her in a +proper share of the happiness of the evening before. + +He had not left her long, by no means long enough for her to have the +slightest inclination for thinking of any body else, when a letter was +brought her from Randalls--a very thick letter;--she guessed what it +must contain, and deprecated the necessity of reading it.--She was now +in perfect charity with Frank Churchill; she wanted no explanations, she +wanted only to have her thoughts to herself--and as for understanding +any thing he wrote, she was sure she was incapable of it.--It must be +waded through, however. She opened the packet; it was too surely so;--a +note from Mrs. Weston to herself, ushered in the letter from Frank to +Mrs. Weston. + +"I have the greatest pleasure, my dear Emma, in forwarding to you the +enclosed. I know what thorough justice you will do it, and have scarcely +a doubt of its happy effect.--I think we shall never materially disagree +about the writer again; but I will not delay you by a long preface.--We +are quite well.--This letter has been the cure of all the little +nervousness I have been feeling lately.--I did not quite like your looks +on Tuesday, but it was an ungenial morning; and though you will never +own being affected by weather, I think every body feels a north-east +wind.--I felt for your dear father very much in the storm of Tuesday +afternoon and yesterday morning, but had the comfort of hearing last +night, by Mr. Perry, that it had not made him ill. + + "Yours ever, + "A. W." + + [To Mrs. Weston.] + + + WINDSOR-JULY. +MY DEAR MADAM, + +"If I made myself intelligible yesterday, this letter will be +expected; but expected or not, I know it will be read with candour and +indulgence.--You are all goodness, and I believe there will be need of +even all your goodness to allow for some parts of my past conduct.--But +I have been forgiven by one who had still more to resent. My courage +rises while I write. It is very difficult for the prosperous to be +humble. I have already met with such success in two applications for +pardon, that I may be in danger of thinking myself too sure of yours, +and of those among your friends who have had any ground of offence.--You +must all endeavour to comprehend the exact nature of my situation when I +first arrived at Randalls; you must consider me as having a secret which +was to be kept at all hazards. This was the fact. My right to place +myself in a situation requiring such concealment, is another question. +I shall not discuss it here. For my temptation to _think_ it a right, +I refer every caviller to a brick house, sashed windows below, and +casements above, in Highbury. I dared not address her openly; my +difficulties in the then state of Enscombe must be too well known to +require definition; and I was fortunate enough to prevail, before we +parted at Weymouth, and to induce the most upright female mind in the +creation to stoop in charity to a secret engagement.--Had she refused, I +should have gone mad.--But you will be ready to say, what was your +hope in doing this?--What did you look forward to?--To any thing, every +thing--to time, chance, circumstance, slow effects, sudden bursts, +perseverance and weariness, health and sickness. Every possibility of +good was before me, and the first of blessings secured, in obtaining her +promises of faith and correspondence. If you need farther explanation, +I have the honour, my dear madam, of being your husband's son, and +the advantage of inheriting a disposition to hope for good, which no +inheritance of houses or lands can ever equal the value of.--See +me, then, under these circumstances, arriving on my first visit to +Randalls;--and here I am conscious of wrong, for that visit might have +been sooner paid. You will look back and see that I did not come till +Miss Fairfax was in Highbury; and as _you_ were the person slighted, you +will forgive me instantly; but I must work on my father's compassion, by +reminding him, that so long as I absented myself from his house, so long +I lost the blessing of knowing you. My behaviour, during the very +happy fortnight which I spent with you, did not, I hope, lay me open to +reprehension, excepting on one point. And now I come to the principal, +the only important part of my conduct while belonging to you, which +excites my own anxiety, or requires very solicitous explanation. With +the greatest respect, and the warmest friendship, do I mention Miss +Woodhouse; my father perhaps will think I ought to add, with the deepest +humiliation.--A few words which dropped from him yesterday spoke his +opinion, and some censure I acknowledge myself liable to.--My behaviour +to Miss Woodhouse indicated, I believe, more than it ought.--In order to +assist a concealment so essential to me, I was led on to make more than +an allowable use of the sort of intimacy into which we were immediately +thrown.--I cannot deny that Miss Woodhouse was my ostensible object--but +I am sure you will believe the declaration, that had I not been +convinced of her indifference, I would not have been induced by any +selfish views to go on.--Amiable and delightful as Miss Woodhouse is, +she never gave me the idea of a young woman likely to be attached; and +that she was perfectly free from any tendency to being attached to me, +was as much my conviction as my wish.--She received my attentions with +an easy, friendly, goodhumoured playfulness, which exactly suited me. +We seemed to understand each other. From our relative situation, those +attentions were her due, and were felt to be so.--Whether Miss Woodhouse +began really to understand me before the expiration of that fortnight, +I cannot say;--when I called to take leave of her, I remember that I was +within a moment of confessing the truth, and I then fancied she was not +without suspicion; but I have no doubt of her having since detected me, +at least in some degree.--She may not have surmised the whole, but her +quickness must have penetrated a part. I cannot doubt it. You will find, +whenever the subject becomes freed from its present restraints, that it +did not take her wholly by surprize. She frequently gave me hints of it. +I remember her telling me at the ball, that I owed Mrs. Elton gratitude +for her attentions to Miss Fairfax.--I hope this history of my conduct +towards her will be admitted by you and my father as great extenuation +of what you saw amiss. While you considered me as having sinned against +Emma Woodhouse, I could deserve nothing from either. Acquit me here, and +procure for me, when it is allowable, the acquittal and good wishes +of that said Emma Woodhouse, whom I regard with so much brotherly +affection, as to long to have her as deeply and as happily in love as +myself.--Whatever strange things I said or did during that fortnight, +you have now a key to. My heart was in Highbury, and my business was to +get my body thither as often as might be, and with the least suspicion. +If you remember any queernesses, set them all to the right account.--Of +the pianoforte so much talked of, I feel it only necessary to say, that +its being ordered was absolutely unknown to Miss F--, who would never +have allowed me to send it, had any choice been given her.--The +delicacy of her mind throughout the whole engagement, my dear madam, +is much beyond my power of doing justice to. You will soon, I earnestly +hope, know her thoroughly yourself.--No description can describe her. +She must tell you herself what she is--yet not by word, for never +was there a human creature who would so designedly suppress her own +merit.--Since I began this letter, which will be longer than I foresaw, +I have heard from her.--She gives a good account of her own health; but +as she never complains, I dare not depend. I want to have your opinion +of her looks. I know you will soon call on her; she is living in dread +of the visit. Perhaps it is paid already. Let me hear from you without +delay; I am impatient for a thousand particulars. Remember how few +minutes I was at Randalls, and in how bewildered, how mad a state: and +I am not much better yet; still insane either from happiness or +misery. When I think of the kindness and favour I have met with, of her +excellence and patience, and my uncle's generosity, I am mad with joy: +but when I recollect all the uneasiness I occasioned her, and how little +I deserve to be forgiven, I am mad with anger. If I could but see her +again!--But I must not propose it yet. My uncle has been too good for me +to encroach.--I must still add to this long letter. You have not heard +all that you ought to hear. I could not give any connected detail +yesterday; but the suddenness, and, in one light, the unseasonableness +with which the affair burst out, needs explanation; for though the event +of the 26th ult., as you will conclude, immediately opened to me the +happiest prospects, I should not have presumed on such early measures, +but from the very particular circumstances, which left me not an hour to +lose. I should myself have shrunk from any thing so hasty, and she +would have felt every scruple of mine with multiplied strength and +refinement.--But I had no choice. The hasty engagement she had entered +into with that woman--Here, my dear madam, I was obliged to leave off +abruptly, to recollect and compose myself.--I have been walking over +the country, and am now, I hope, rational enough to make the rest of +my letter what it ought to be.--It is, in fact, a most mortifying +retrospect for me. I behaved shamefully. And here I can admit, that +my manners to Miss W., in being unpleasant to Miss F., were highly +blameable. _She_ disapproved them, which ought to have been enough.--My +plea of concealing the truth she did not think sufficient.--She was +displeased; I thought unreasonably so: I thought her, on a thousand +occasions, unnecessarily scrupulous and cautious: I thought her even +cold. But she was always right. If I had followed her judgment, and +subdued my spirits to the level of what she deemed proper, I should have +escaped the greatest unhappiness I have ever known.--We quarrelled.-- +Do you remember the morning spent at Donwell?--_There_ every little +dissatisfaction that had occurred before came to a crisis. I was late; +I met her walking home by herself, and wanted to walk with her, but she +would not suffer it. She absolutely refused to allow me, which I then +thought most unreasonable. Now, however, I see nothing in it but a very +natural and consistent degree of discretion. While I, to blind the +world to our engagement, was behaving one hour with objectionable +particularity to another woman, was she to be consenting the next to a +proposal which might have made every previous caution useless?--Had we +been met walking together between Donwell and Highbury, the truth must +have been suspected.--I was mad enough, however, to resent.--I doubted +her affection. I doubted it more the next day on Box Hill; when, +provoked by such conduct on my side, such shameful, insolent neglect +of her, and such apparent devotion to Miss W., as it would have been +impossible for any woman of sense to endure, she spoke her resentment in +a form of words perfectly intelligible to me.--In short, my dear +madam, it was a quarrel blameless on her side, abominable on mine; and +I returned the same evening to Richmond, though I might have staid with +you till the next morning, merely because I would be as angry with +her as possible. Even then, I was not such a fool as not to mean to +be reconciled in time; but I was the injured person, injured by her +coldness, and I went away determined that she should make the first +advances.--I shall always congratulate myself that you were not of +the Box Hill party. Had you witnessed my behaviour there, I can hardly +suppose you would ever have thought well of me again. Its effect upon +her appears in the immediate resolution it produced: as soon as she +found I was really gone from Randalls, she closed with the offer of that +officious Mrs. Elton; the whole system of whose treatment of her, by the +bye, has ever filled me with indignation and hatred. I must not quarrel +with a spirit of forbearance which has been so richly extended towards +myself; but, otherwise, I should loudly protest against the share of it +which that woman has known.--'Jane,' indeed!--You will observe that I +have not yet indulged myself in calling her by that name, even to you. +Think, then, what I must have endured in hearing it bandied between +the Eltons with all the vulgarity of needless repetition, and all the +insolence of imaginary superiority. Have patience with me, I shall soon +have done.--She closed with this offer, resolving to break with me +entirely, and wrote the next day to tell me that we never were to meet +again.--_She_ _felt_ _the_ _engagement_ _to_ _be_ _a_ _source_ _of_ +_repentance_ _and_ _misery_ _to_ _each_: _she_ _dissolved_ _it_.--This +letter reached me on the very morning of my poor aunt's death. I +answered it within an hour; but from the confusion of my mind, and the +multiplicity of business falling on me at once, my answer, instead of +being sent with all the many other letters of that day, was locked up in +my writing-desk; and I, trusting that I had written enough, though but +a few lines, to satisfy her, remained without any uneasiness.--I was +rather disappointed that I did not hear from her again speedily; but I +made excuses for her, and was too busy, and--may I add?--too cheerful +in my views to be captious.--We removed to Windsor; and two +days afterwards I received a parcel from her, my own letters all +returned!--and a few lines at the same time by the post, stating her +extreme surprize at not having had the smallest reply to her last; and +adding, that as silence on such a point could not be misconstrued, +and as it must be equally desirable to both to have every subordinate +arrangement concluded as soon as possible, she now sent me, by a safe +conveyance, all my letters, and requested, that if I could not directly +command hers, so as to send them to Highbury within a week, I would +forward them after that period to her at--: in short, the full direction +to Mr. Smallridge's, near Bristol, stared me in the face. I knew the +name, the place, I knew all about it, and instantly saw what she had +been doing. It was perfectly accordant with that resolution of character +which I knew her to possess; and the secrecy she had maintained, as to +any such design in her former letter, was equally descriptive of its +anxious delicacy. For the world would not she have seemed to threaten +me.--Imagine the shock; imagine how, till I had actually detected my +own blunder, I raved at the blunders of the post.--What was to be +done?--One thing only.--I must speak to my uncle. Without his sanction I +could not hope to be listened to again.--I spoke; circumstances were +in my favour; the late event had softened away his pride, and he was, +earlier than I could have anticipated, wholly reconciled and complying; +and could say at last, poor man! with a deep sigh, that he wished I +might find as much happiness in the marriage state as he had done.--I +felt that it would be of a different sort.--Are you disposed to pity +me for what I must have suffered in opening the cause to him, for my +suspense while all was at stake?--No; do not pity me till I reached +Highbury, and saw how ill I had made her. Do not pity me till I saw her +wan, sick looks.--I reached Highbury at the time of day when, from my +knowledge of their late breakfast hour, I was certain of a good chance +of finding her alone.--I was not disappointed; and at last I was not +disappointed either in the object of my journey. A great deal of very +reasonable, very just displeasure I had to persuade away. But it is +done; we are reconciled, dearer, much dearer, than ever, and no moment's +uneasiness can ever occur between us again. Now, my dear madam, I will +release you; but I could not conclude before. A thousand and a thousand +thanks for all the kindness you have ever shewn me, and ten thousand for +the attentions your heart will dictate towards her.--If you think me in +a way to be happier than I deserve, I am quite of your opinion.--Miss +W. calls me the child of good fortune. I hope she is right.--In one +respect, my good fortune is undoubted, that of being able to subscribe +myself, + + Your obliged and affectionate Son, + + F. C. WESTON CHURCHILL. + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +This letter must make its way to Emma's feelings. She was obliged, in +spite of her previous determination to the contrary, to do it all the +justice that Mrs. Weston foretold. As soon as she came to her own name, +it was irresistible; every line relating to herself was interesting, +and almost every line agreeable; and when this charm ceased, the subject +could still maintain itself, by the natural return of her former regard +for the writer, and the very strong attraction which any picture of +love must have for her at that moment. She never stopt till she had gone +through the whole; and though it was impossible not to feel that he had +been wrong, yet he had been less wrong than she had supposed--and he had +suffered, and was very sorry--and he was so grateful to Mrs. Weston, and +so much in love with Miss Fairfax, and she was so happy herself, that +there was no being severe; and could he have entered the room, she must +have shaken hands with him as heartily as ever. + +She thought so well of the letter, that when Mr. Knightley came again, +she desired him to read it. She was sure of Mrs. Weston's wishing it to +be communicated; especially to one, who, like Mr. Knightley, had seen so +much to blame in his conduct. + +"I shall be very glad to look it over," said he; "but it seems long. I +will take it home with me at night." + +But that would not do. Mr. Weston was to call in the evening, and she +must return it by him. + +"I would rather be talking to you," he replied; "but as it seems a +matter of justice, it shall be done." + +He began--stopping, however, almost directly to say, "Had I been offered +the sight of one of this gentleman's letters to his mother-in-law a few +months ago, Emma, it would not have been taken with such indifference." + +He proceeded a little farther, reading to himself; and then, with a +smile, observed, "Humph! a fine complimentary opening: But it is his +way. One man's style must not be the rule of another's. We will not be +severe." + +"It will be natural for me," he added shortly afterwards, "to speak my +opinion aloud as I read. By doing it, I shall feel that I am near you. +It will not be so great a loss of time: but if you dislike it--" + +"Not at all. I should wish it." + +Mr. Knightley returned to his reading with greater alacrity. + +"He trifles here," said he, "as to the temptation. He knows he is wrong, +and has nothing rational to urge.--Bad.--He ought not to have formed the +engagement.--'His father's disposition:'--he is unjust, however, to his +father. Mr. Weston's sanguine temper was a blessing on all his upright +and honourable exertions; but Mr. Weston earned every present comfort +before he endeavoured to gain it.--Very true; he did not come till Miss +Fairfax was here." + +"And I have not forgotten," said Emma, "how sure you were that he might +have come sooner if he would. You pass it over very handsomely--but you +were perfectly right." + +"I was not quite impartial in my judgment, Emma:--but yet, I think--had +_you_ not been in the case--I should still have distrusted him." + +When he came to Miss Woodhouse, he was obliged to read the whole of it +aloud--all that related to her, with a smile; a look; a shake of the +head; a word or two of assent, or disapprobation; or merely of love, as +the subject required; concluding, however, seriously, and, after steady +reflection, thus-- + +"Very bad--though it might have been worse.--Playing a most dangerous +game. Too much indebted to the event for his acquittal.--No judge of +his own manners by you.--Always deceived in fact by his own wishes, and +regardless of little besides his own convenience.--Fancying you to have +fathomed his secret. Natural enough!--his own mind full of intrigue, +that he should suspect it in others.--Mystery; Finesse--how they pervert +the understanding! My Emma, does not every thing serve to prove more +and more the beauty of truth and sincerity in all our dealings with each +other?" + +Emma agreed to it, and with a blush of sensibility on Harriet's account, +which she could not give any sincere explanation of. + +"You had better go on," said she. + +He did so, but very soon stopt again to say, "the pianoforte! Ah! That +was the act of a very, very young man, one too young to consider whether +the inconvenience of it might not very much exceed the pleasure. A +boyish scheme, indeed!--I cannot comprehend a man's wishing to give a +woman any proof of affection which he knows she would rather dispense +with; and he did know that she would have prevented the instrument's +coming if she could." + +After this, he made some progress without any pause. Frank Churchill's +confession of having behaved shamefully was the first thing to call for +more than a word in passing. + +"I perfectly agree with you, sir,"--was then his remark. "You did behave +very shamefully. You never wrote a truer line." And having gone through +what immediately followed of the basis of their disagreement, and his +persisting to act in direct opposition to Jane Fairfax's sense of right, +he made a fuller pause to say, "This is very bad.--He had induced her +to place herself, for his sake, in a situation of extreme difficulty and +uneasiness, and it should have been his first object to prevent her from +suffering unnecessarily.--She must have had much more to contend +with, in carrying on the correspondence, than he could. He should have +respected even unreasonable scruples, had there been such; but hers were +all reasonable. We must look to her one fault, and remember that she +had done a wrong thing in consenting to the engagement, to bear that she +should have been in such a state of punishment." + +Emma knew that he was now getting to the Box Hill party, and grew +uncomfortable. Her own behaviour had been so very improper! She was +deeply ashamed, and a little afraid of his next look. It was all read, +however, steadily, attentively, and without the smallest remark; and, +excepting one momentary glance at her, instantly withdrawn, in the fear +of giving pain--no remembrance of Box Hill seemed to exist. + +"There is no saying much for the delicacy of our good friends, the +Eltons," was his next observation.--"His feelings are natural.--What! +actually resolve to break with him entirely!--She felt the engagement to +be a source of repentance and misery to each--she dissolved it.--What a +view this gives of her sense of his behaviour!--Well, he must be a most +extraordinary--" + +"Nay, nay, read on.--You will find how very much he suffers." + +"I hope he does," replied Mr. Knightley coolly, and resuming the letter. +"'Smallridge!'--What does this mean? What is all this?" + +"She had engaged to go as governess to Mrs. Smallridge's children--a +dear friend of Mrs. Elton's--a neighbour of Maple Grove; and, by the +bye, I wonder how Mrs. Elton bears the disappointment?" + +"Say nothing, my dear Emma, while you oblige me to read--not even of +Mrs. Elton. Only one page more. I shall soon have done. What a letter +the man writes!" + +"I wish you would read it with a kinder spirit towards him." + +"Well, there _is_ feeling here.--He does seem to have suffered in +finding her ill.--Certainly, I can have no doubt of his being fond of +her. 'Dearer, much dearer than ever.' I hope he may long continue to +feel all the value of such a reconciliation.--He is a very liberal +thanker, with his thousands and tens of thousands.--'Happier than I +deserve.' Come, he knows himself there. 'Miss Woodhouse calls me the +child of good fortune.'--Those were Miss Woodhouse's words, were they?-- +And a fine ending--and there is the letter. The child of good fortune! +That was your name for him, was it?" + +"You do not appear so well satisfied with his letter as I am; but still +you must, at least I hope you must, think the better of him for it. I +hope it does him some service with you." + +"Yes, certainly it does. He has had great faults, faults of +inconsideration and thoughtlessness; and I am very much of his opinion +in thinking him likely to be happier than he deserves: but still as he +is, beyond a doubt, really attached to Miss Fairfax, and will soon, it +may be hoped, have the advantage of being constantly with her, I am very +ready to believe his character will improve, and acquire from hers the +steadiness and delicacy of principle that it wants. And now, let me talk +to you of something else. I have another person's interest at present +so much at heart, that I cannot think any longer about Frank Churchill. +Ever since I left you this morning, Emma, my mind has been hard at work +on one subject." + +The subject followed; it was in plain, unaffected, gentlemanlike +English, such as Mr. Knightley used even to the woman he was in love +with, how to be able to ask her to marry him, without attacking the +happiness of her father. Emma's answer was ready at the first word. +"While her dear father lived, any change of condition must be impossible +for her. She could never quit him." Part only of this answer, however, +was admitted. The impossibility of her quitting her father, Mr. +Knightley felt as strongly as herself; but the inadmissibility of any +other change, he could not agree to. He had been thinking it over most +deeply, most intently; he had at first hoped to induce Mr. Woodhouse to +remove with her to Donwell; he had wanted to believe it feasible, but +his knowledge of Mr. Woodhouse would not suffer him to deceive himself +long; and now he confessed his persuasion, that such a transplantation +would be a risk of her father's comfort, perhaps even of his life, which +must not be hazarded. Mr. Woodhouse taken from Hartfield!--No, he felt +that it ought not to be attempted. But the plan which had arisen on the +sacrifice of this, he trusted his dearest Emma would not find in any +respect objectionable; it was, that he should be received at Hartfield; +that so long as her father's happiness in other words his life--required +Hartfield to continue her home, it should be his likewise. + +Of their all removing to Donwell, Emma had already had her own passing +thoughts. Like him, she had tried the scheme and rejected it; but such +an alternative as this had not occurred to her. She was sensible of all +the affection it evinced. She felt that, in quitting Donwell, he must +be sacrificing a great deal of independence of hours and habits; that +in living constantly with her father, and in no house of his own, there +would be much, very much, to be borne with. She promised to think of it, +and advised him to think of it more; but he was fully convinced, that no +reflection could alter his wishes or his opinion on the subject. He had +given it, he could assure her, very long and calm consideration; he had +been walking away from William Larkins the whole morning, to have his +thoughts to himself. + +"Ah! there is one difficulty unprovided for," cried Emma. "I am sure +William Larkins will not like it. You must get his consent before you +ask mine." + +She promised, however, to think of it; and pretty nearly promised, +moreover, to think of it, with the intention of finding it a very good +scheme. + +It is remarkable, that Emma, in the many, very many, points of view in +which she was now beginning to consider Donwell Abbey, was never +struck with any sense of injury to her nephew Henry, whose rights as +heir-expectant had formerly been so tenaciously regarded. Think she must +of the possible difference to the poor little boy; and yet she only +gave herself a saucy conscious smile about it, and found amusement in +detecting the real cause of that violent dislike of Mr. Knightley's +marrying Jane Fairfax, or any body else, which at the time she had +wholly imputed to the amiable solicitude of the sister and the aunt. + +This proposal of his, this plan of marrying and continuing at +Hartfield--the more she contemplated it, the more pleasing it became. +His evils seemed to lessen, her own advantages to increase, their mutual +good to outweigh every drawback. Such a companion for herself in the +periods of anxiety and cheerlessness before her!--Such a partner in +all those duties and cares to which time must be giving increase of +melancholy! + +She would have been too happy but for poor Harriet; but every blessing +of her own seemed to involve and advance the sufferings of her friend, +who must now be even excluded from Hartfield. The delightful family +party which Emma was securing for herself, poor Harriet must, in mere +charitable caution, be kept at a distance from. She would be a loser in +every way. Emma could not deplore her future absence as any deduction +from her own enjoyment. In such a party, Harriet would be rather a +dead weight than otherwise; but for the poor girl herself, it seemed a +peculiarly cruel necessity that was to be placing her in such a state of +unmerited punishment. + +In time, of course, Mr. Knightley would be forgotten, that is, +supplanted; but this could not be expected to happen very early. Mr. +Knightley himself would be doing nothing to assist the cure;--not +like Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightley, always so kind, so feeling, so truly +considerate for every body, would never deserve to be less worshipped +than now; and it really was too much to hope even of Harriet, that she +could be in love with more than _three_ men in one year. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +It was a very great relief to Emma to find Harriet as desirous as +herself to avoid a meeting. Their intercourse was painful enough by +letter. How much worse, had they been obliged to meet! + +Harriet expressed herself very much as might be supposed, without +reproaches, or apparent sense of ill-usage; and yet Emma fancied there +was a something of resentment, a something bordering on it in her style, +which increased the desirableness of their being separate.--It might be +only her own consciousness; but it seemed as if an angel only could have +been quite without resentment under such a stroke. + +She had no difficulty in procuring Isabella's invitation; and she was +fortunate in having a sufficient reason for asking it, without resorting +to invention.--There was a tooth amiss. Harriet really wished, and +had wished some time, to consult a dentist. Mrs. John Knightley was +delighted to be of use; any thing of ill health was a recommendation to +her--and though not so fond of a dentist as of a Mr. Wingfield, she was +quite eager to have Harriet under her care.--When it was thus settled +on her sister's side, Emma proposed it to her friend, and found her +very persuadable.--Harriet was to go; she was invited for at least a +fortnight; she was to be conveyed in Mr. Woodhouse's carriage.--It was +all arranged, it was all completed, and Harriet was safe in Brunswick +Square. + +Now Emma could, indeed, enjoy Mr. Knightley's visits; now she could +talk, and she could listen with true happiness, unchecked by that sense +of injustice, of guilt, of something most painful, which had haunted her +when remembering how disappointed a heart was near her, how much might +at that moment, and at a little distance, be enduring by the feelings +which she had led astray herself. + +The difference of Harriet at Mrs. Goddard's, or in London, made perhaps +an unreasonable difference in Emma's sensations; but she could not think +of her in London without objects of curiosity and employment, which must +be averting the past, and carrying her out of herself. + +She would not allow any other anxiety to succeed directly to the place +in her mind which Harriet had occupied. There was a communication before +her, one which _she_ only could be competent to make--the confession of +her engagement to her father; but she would have nothing to do with it +at present.--She had resolved to defer the disclosure till Mrs. Weston +were safe and well. No additional agitation should be thrown at this +period among those she loved--and the evil should not act on herself +by anticipation before the appointed time.--A fortnight, at least, of +leisure and peace of mind, to crown every warmer, but more agitating, +delight, should be hers. + +She soon resolved, equally as a duty and a pleasure, to employ half an +hour of this holiday of spirits in calling on Miss Fairfax.--She ought +to go--and she was longing to see her; the resemblance of their present +situations increasing every other motive of goodwill. It would be a +_secret_ satisfaction; but the consciousness of a similarity of prospect +would certainly add to the interest with which she should attend to any +thing Jane might communicate. + +She went--she had driven once unsuccessfully to the door, but had not +been into the house since the morning after Box Hill, when poor Jane had +been in such distress as had filled her with compassion, though all the +worst of her sufferings had been unsuspected.--The fear of being still +unwelcome, determined her, though assured of their being at home, to +wait in the passage, and send up her name.--She heard Patty announcing +it; but no such bustle succeeded as poor Miss Bates had before made so +happily intelligible.--No; she heard nothing but the instant reply of, +"Beg her to walk up;"--and a moment afterwards she was met on the stairs +by Jane herself, coming eagerly forward, as if no other reception of her +were felt sufficient.--Emma had never seen her look so well, so lovely, +so engaging. There was consciousness, animation, and warmth; there was +every thing which her countenance or manner could ever have wanted.-- +She came forward with an offered hand; and said, in a low, but very +feeling tone, + +"This is most kind, indeed!--Miss Woodhouse, it is impossible for me +to express--I hope you will believe--Excuse me for being so entirely +without words." + +Emma was gratified, and would soon have shewn no want of words, if the +sound of Mrs. Elton's voice from the sitting-room had not checked +her, and made it expedient to compress all her friendly and all her +congratulatory sensations into a very, very earnest shake of the hand. + +Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Elton were together. Miss Bates was out, which +accounted for the previous tranquillity. Emma could have wished Mrs. +Elton elsewhere; but she was in a humour to have patience with every +body; and as Mrs. Elton met her with unusual graciousness, she hoped the +rencontre would do them no harm. + +She soon believed herself to penetrate Mrs. Elton's thoughts, and +understand why she was, like herself, in happy spirits; it was being in +Miss Fairfax's confidence, and fancying herself acquainted with what was +still a secret to other people. Emma saw symptoms of it immediately in +the expression of her face; and while paying her own compliments to Mrs. +Bates, and appearing to attend to the good old lady's replies, she saw +her with a sort of anxious parade of mystery fold up a letter which she +had apparently been reading aloud to Miss Fairfax, and return it into +the purple and gold reticule by her side, saying, with significant nods, + +"We can finish this some other time, you know. You and I shall not want +opportunities. And, in fact, you have heard all the essential already. I +only wanted to prove to you that Mrs. S. admits our apology, and is +not offended. You see how delightfully she writes. Oh! she is a sweet +creature! You would have doated on her, had you gone.--But not a word +more. Let us be discreet--quite on our good behaviour.--Hush!--You +remember those lines--I forget the poem at this moment: + + "For when a lady's in the case, + "You know all other things give place." + +Now I say, my dear, in _our_ case, for _lady_, read----mum! a word to +the wise.--I am in a fine flow of spirits, an't I? But I want to set +your heart at ease as to Mrs. S.--_My_ representation, you see, has +quite appeased her." + +And again, on Emma's merely turning her head to look at Mrs. Bates's +knitting, she added, in a half whisper, + +"I mentioned no _names_, you will observe.--Oh! no; cautious as a +minister of state. I managed it extremely well." + +Emma could not doubt. It was a palpable display, repeated on every +possible occasion. When they had all talked a little while in harmony of +the weather and Mrs. Weston, she found herself abruptly addressed with, + +"Do not you think, Miss Woodhouse, our saucy little friend here is +charmingly recovered?--Do not you think her cure does Perry the highest +credit?--(here was a side-glance of great meaning at Jane.) Upon my +word, Perry has restored her in a wonderful short time!--Oh! if you had +seen her, as I did, when she was at the worst!"--And when Mrs. Bates +was saying something to Emma, whispered farther, "We do not say a word +of any _assistance_ that Perry might have; not a word of a certain young +physician from Windsor.--Oh! no; Perry shall have all the credit." + +"I have scarce had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Woodhouse," she +shortly afterwards began, "since the party to Box Hill. Very pleasant +party. But yet I think there was something wanting. Things did not +seem--that is, there seemed a little cloud upon the spirits of some.--So +it appeared to me at least, but I might be mistaken. However, I think +it answered so far as to tempt one to go again. What say you both to our +collecting the same party, and exploring to Box Hill again, while the +fine weather lasts?--It must be the same party, you know, quite the +same party, not _one_ exception." + +Soon after this Miss Bates came in, and Emma could not help being +diverted by the perplexity of her first answer to herself, resulting, +she supposed, from doubt of what might be said, and impatience to say +every thing. + +"Thank you, dear Miss Woodhouse, you are all kindness.--It is impossible +to say--Yes, indeed, I quite understand--dearest Jane's prospects--that +is, I do not mean.--But she is charmingly recovered.--How is Mr. +Woodhouse?--I am so glad.--Quite out of my power.--Such a happy little +circle as you find us here.--Yes, indeed.--Charming young man!--that +is--so very friendly; I mean good Mr. Perry!--such attention to +Jane!"--And from her great, her more than commonly thankful delight +towards Mrs. Elton for being there, Emma guessed that there had been a +little show of resentment towards Jane, from the vicarage quarter, +which was now graciously overcome.--After a few whispers, indeed, which +placed it beyond a guess, Mrs. Elton, speaking louder, said, + +"Yes, here I am, my good friend; and here I have been so long, that +anywhere else I should think it necessary to apologise; but, the truth +is, that I am waiting for my lord and master. He promised to join me +here, and pay his respects to you." + +"What! are we to have the pleasure of a call from Mr. Elton?--That will +be a favour indeed! for I know gentlemen do not like morning visits, and +Mr. Elton's time is so engaged." + +"Upon my word it is, Miss Bates.--He really is engaged from morning to +night.--There is no end of people's coming to him, on some pretence or +other.--The magistrates, and overseers, and churchwardens, are always +wanting his opinion. They seem not able to do any thing without +him.--'Upon my word, Mr. E.,' I often say, 'rather you than I.--I do +not know what would become of my crayons and my instrument, if I had +half so many applicants.'--Bad enough as it is, for I absolutely neglect +them both to an unpardonable degree.--I believe I have not played a bar +this fortnight.--However, he is coming, I assure you: yes, indeed, on +purpose to wait on you all." And putting up her hand to screen her +words from Emma--"A congratulatory visit, you know.--Oh! yes, quite +indispensable." + +Miss Bates looked about her, so happily--! + +"He promised to come to me as soon as he could disengage himself +from Knightley; but he and Knightley are shut up together in deep +consultation.--Mr. E. is Knightley's right hand." + +Emma would not have smiled for the world, and only said, "Is Mr. Elton +gone on foot to Donwell?--He will have a hot walk." + +"Oh! no, it is a meeting at the Crown, a regular meeting. Weston and +Cole will be there too; but one is apt to speak only of those who +lead.--I fancy Mr. E. and Knightley have every thing their own way." + +"Have not you mistaken the day?" said Emma. "I am almost certain that +the meeting at the Crown is not till to-morrow.--Mr. Knightley was at +Hartfield yesterday, and spoke of it as for Saturday." + +"Oh! no, the meeting is certainly to-day," was the abrupt answer, which +denoted the impossibility of any blunder on Mrs. Elton's side.--"I do +believe," she continued, "this is the most troublesome parish that ever +was. We never heard of such things at Maple Grove." + +"Your parish there was small," said Jane. + +"Upon my word, my dear, I do not know, for I never heard the subject +talked of." + +"But it is proved by the smallness of the school, which I have heard +you speak of, as under the patronage of your sister and Mrs. Bragge; the +only school, and not more than five-and-twenty children." + +"Ah! you clever creature, that's very true. What a thinking brain you +have! I say, Jane, what a perfect character you and I should make, if we +could be shaken together. My liveliness and your solidity would produce +perfection.--Not that I presume to insinuate, however, that _some_ +people may not think _you_ perfection already.--But hush!--not a word, +if you please." + +It seemed an unnecessary caution; Jane was wanting to give her words, +not to Mrs. Elton, but to Miss Woodhouse, as the latter plainly saw. +The wish of distinguishing her, as far as civility permitted, was very +evident, though it could not often proceed beyond a look. + +Mr. Elton made his appearance. His lady greeted him with some of her +sparkling vivacity. + +"Very pretty, sir, upon my word; to send me on here, to be an +encumbrance to my friends, so long before you vouchsafe to come!--But +you knew what a dutiful creature you had to deal with. You knew I should +not stir till my lord and master appeared.--Here have I been sitting +this hour, giving these young ladies a sample of true conjugal +obedience--for who can say, you know, how soon it may be wanted?" + +Mr. Elton was so hot and tired, that all this wit seemed thrown away. +His civilities to the other ladies must be paid; but his subsequent +object was to lament over himself for the heat he was suffering, and the +walk he had had for nothing. + +"When I got to Donwell," said he, "Knightley could not be found. Very +odd! very unaccountable! after the note I sent him this morning, and the +message he returned, that he should certainly be at home till one." + +"Donwell!" cried his wife.--"My dear Mr. E., you have not been to +Donwell!--You mean the Crown; you come from the meeting at the Crown." + +"No, no, that's to-morrow; and I particularly wanted to see Knightley +to-day on that very account.--Such a dreadful broiling morning!--I went +over the fields too--(speaking in a tone of great ill-usage,) which made +it so much the worse. And then not to find him at home! I assure you +I am not at all pleased. And no apology left, no message for me. The +housekeeper declared she knew nothing of my being expected.--Very +extraordinary!--And nobody knew at all which way he was gone. Perhaps +to Hartfield, perhaps to the Abbey Mill, perhaps into his woods.--Miss +Woodhouse, this is not like our friend Knightley!--Can you explain it?" + +Emma amused herself by protesting that it was very extraordinary, +indeed, and that she had not a syllable to say for him. + +"I cannot imagine," said Mrs. Elton, (feeling the indignity as a wife +ought to do,) "I cannot imagine how he could do such a thing by you, of +all people in the world! The very last person whom one should expect to +be forgotten!--My dear Mr. E., he must have left a message for you, I am +sure he must.--Not even Knightley could be so very eccentric;--and his +servants forgot it. Depend upon it, that was the case: and very likely +to happen with the Donwell servants, who are all, I have often observed, +extremely awkward and remiss.--I am sure I would not have such a +creature as his Harry stand at our sideboard for any consideration. And +as for Mrs. Hodges, Wright holds her very cheap indeed.--She promised +Wright a receipt, and never sent it." + +"I met William Larkins," continued Mr. Elton, "as I got near the house, +and he told me I should not find his master at home, but I did not +believe him.--William seemed rather out of humour. He did not know what +was come to his master lately, he said, but he could hardly ever get the +speech of him. I have nothing to do with William's wants, but it really +is of very great importance that _I_ should see Knightley to-day; and it +becomes a matter, therefore, of very serious inconvenience that I should +have had this hot walk to no purpose." + +Emma felt that she could not do better than go home directly. In +all probability she was at this very time waited for there; and Mr. +Knightley might be preserved from sinking deeper in aggression towards +Mr. Elton, if not towards William Larkins. + +She was pleased, on taking leave, to find Miss Fairfax determined to +attend her out of the room, to go with her even downstairs; it gave her +an opportunity which she immediately made use of, to say, + +"It is as well, perhaps, that I have not had the possibility. Had you +not been surrounded by other friends, I might have been tempted to +introduce a subject, to ask questions, to speak more openly than might +have been strictly correct.--I feel that I should certainly have been +impertinent." + +"Oh!" cried Jane, with a blush and an hesitation which Emma thought +infinitely more becoming to her than all the elegance of all her usual +composure--"there would have been no danger. The danger would have +been of my wearying you. You could not have gratified me more than +by expressing an interest--. Indeed, Miss Woodhouse, (speaking more +collectedly,) with the consciousness which I have of misconduct, very +great misconduct, it is particularly consoling to me to know that those +of my friends, whose good opinion is most worth preserving, are not +disgusted to such a degree as to--I have not time for half that I could +wish to say. I long to make apologies, excuses, to urge something for +myself. I feel it so very due. But, unfortunately--in short, if your +compassion does not stand my friend--" + +"Oh! you are too scrupulous, indeed you are," cried Emma warmly, and +taking her hand. "You owe me no apologies; and every body to whom you +might be supposed to owe them, is so perfectly satisfied, so delighted +even--" + +"You are very kind, but I know what my manners were to you.--So +cold and artificial!--I had always a part to act.--It was a life of +deceit!--I know that I must have disgusted you." + +"Pray say no more. I feel that all the apologies should be on my side. +Let us forgive each other at once. We must do whatever is to be done +quickest, and I think our feelings will lose no time there. I hope you +have pleasant accounts from Windsor?" + +"Very." + +"And the next news, I suppose, will be, that we are to lose you--just as +I begin to know you." + +"Oh! as to all that, of course nothing can be thought of yet. I am here +till claimed by Colonel and Mrs. Campbell." + +"Nothing can be actually settled yet, perhaps," replied Emma, +smiling--"but, excuse me, it must be thought of." + +The smile was returned as Jane answered, + +"You are very right; it has been thought of. And I will own to you, (I +am sure it will be safe), that so far as our living with Mr. Churchill +at Enscombe, it is settled. There must be three months, at least, of +deep mourning; but when they are over, I imagine there will be nothing +more to wait for." + +"Thank you, thank you.--This is just what I wanted to be assured +of.--Oh! if you knew how much I love every thing that is decided and +open!--Good-bye, good-bye." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mrs. Weston's friends were all made happy by her safety; and if the +satisfaction of her well-doing could be increased to Emma, it was by +knowing her to be the mother of a little girl. She had been decided in +wishing for a Miss Weston. She would not acknowledge that it was with +any view of making a match for her, hereafter, with either of Isabella's +sons; but she was convinced that a daughter would suit both father +and mother best. It would be a great comfort to Mr. Weston, as he grew +older--and even Mr. Weston might be growing older ten years hence--to +have his fireside enlivened by the sports and the nonsense, the freaks +and the fancies of a child never banished from home; and Mrs. Weston--no +one could doubt that a daughter would be most to her; and it would be +quite a pity that any one who so well knew how to teach, should not have +their powers in exercise again. + +"She has had the advantage, you know, of practising on me," she +continued--"like La Baronne d'Almane on La Comtesse d'Ostalis, in Madame +de Genlis' Adelaide and Theodore, and we shall now see her own little +Adelaide educated on a more perfect plan." + +"That is," replied Mr. Knightley, "she will indulge her even more than +she did you, and believe that she does not indulge her at all. It will +be the only difference." + +"Poor child!" cried Emma; "at that rate, what will become of her?" + +"Nothing very bad.--The fate of thousands. She will be disagreeable +in infancy, and correct herself as she grows older. I am losing all my +bitterness against spoilt children, my dearest Emma. I, who am owing all +my happiness to _you_, would not it be horrible ingratitude in me to be +severe on them?" + +Emma laughed, and replied: "But I had the assistance of all your +endeavours to counteract the indulgence of other people. I doubt whether +my own sense would have corrected me without it." + +"Do you?--I have no doubt. Nature gave you understanding:--Miss Taylor +gave you principles. You must have done well. My interference was quite +as likely to do harm as good. It was very natural for you to say, what +right has he to lecture me?--and I am afraid very natural for you to +feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner. I do not believe I did +you any good. The good was all to myself, by making you an object of the +tenderest affection to me. I could not think about you so much without +doating on you, faults and all; and by dint of fancying so many errors, +have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least." + +"I am sure you were of use to me," cried Emma. "I was very often +influenced rightly by you--oftener than I would own at the time. I +am very sure you did me good. And if poor little Anna Weston is to be +spoiled, it will be the greatest humanity in you to do as much for her +as you have done for me, except falling in love with her when she is +thirteen." + +"How often, when you were a girl, have you said to me, with one of your +saucy looks--'Mr. Knightley, I am going to do so-and-so; papa says I +may, or I have Miss Taylor's leave'--something which, you knew, I +did not approve. In such cases my interference was giving you two bad +feelings instead of one." + +"What an amiable creature I was!--No wonder you should hold my speeches +in such affectionate remembrance." + +"'Mr. Knightley.'--You always called me, 'Mr. Knightley;' and, from +habit, it has not so very formal a sound.--And yet it is formal. I want +you to call me something else, but I do not know what." + +"I remember once calling you 'George,' in one of my amiable fits, about +ten years ago. I did it because I thought it would offend you; but, as +you made no objection, I never did it again." + +"And cannot you call me 'George' now?" + +"Impossible!--I never can call you any thing but 'Mr. Knightley.' I +will not promise even to equal the elegant terseness of Mrs. Elton, by +calling you Mr. K.--But I will promise," she added presently, laughing +and blushing--"I will promise to call you once by your Christian name. +I do not say when, but perhaps you may guess where;--in the building in +which N. takes M. for better, for worse." + +Emma grieved that she could not be more openly just to one important +service which his better sense would have rendered her, to the +advice which would have saved her from the worst of all her womanly +follies--her wilful intimacy with Harriet Smith; but it was too tender a +subject.--She could not enter on it.--Harriet was very seldom mentioned +between them. This, on his side, might merely proceed from her not being +thought of; but Emma was rather inclined to attribute it to delicacy, +and a suspicion, from some appearances, that their friendship were +declining. She was aware herself, that, parting under any other +circumstances, they certainly should have corresponded more, and that +her intelligence would not have rested, as it now almost wholly did, on +Isabella's letters. He might observe that it was so. The pain of being +obliged to practise concealment towards him, was very little inferior to +the pain of having made Harriet unhappy. + +Isabella sent quite as good an account of her visitor as could be +expected; on her first arrival she had thought her out of spirits, which +appeared perfectly natural, as there was a dentist to be consulted; but, +since that business had been over, she did not appear to find Harriet +different from what she had known her before.--Isabella, to be sure, +was no very quick observer; yet if Harriet had not been equal to playing +with the children, it would not have escaped her. Emma's comforts and +hopes were most agreeably carried on, by Harriet's being to stay longer; +her fortnight was likely to be a month at least. Mr. and Mrs. John +Knightley were to come down in August, and she was invited to remain +till they could bring her back. + +"John does not even mention your friend," said Mr. Knightley. "Here is +his answer, if you like to see it." + +It was the answer to the communication of his intended marriage. Emma +accepted it with a very eager hand, with an impatience all alive to know +what he would say about it, and not at all checked by hearing that her +friend was unmentioned. + +"John enters like a brother into my happiness," continued Mr. Knightley, +"but he is no complimenter; and though I well know him to have, +likewise, a most brotherly affection for you, he is so far from making +flourishes, that any other young woman might think him rather cool in +her praise. But I am not afraid of your seeing what he writes." + +"He writes like a sensible man," replied Emma, when she had read the +letter. "I honour his sincerity. It is very plain that he considers the +good fortune of the engagement as all on my side, but that he is not +without hope of my growing, in time, as worthy of your affection, as +you think me already. Had he said any thing to bear a different +construction, I should not have believed him." + +"My Emma, he means no such thing. He only means--" + +"He and I should differ very little in our estimation of the two," +interrupted she, with a sort of serious smile--"much less, perhaps, than +he is aware of, if we could enter without ceremony or reserve on the +subject." + +"Emma, my dear Emma--" + +"Oh!" she cried with more thorough gaiety, "if you fancy your brother +does not do me justice, only wait till my dear father is in the secret, +and hear his opinion. Depend upon it, he will be much farther from doing +_you_ justice. He will think all the happiness, all the advantage, on +your side of the question; all the merit on mine. I wish I may not +sink into 'poor Emma' with him at once.--His tender compassion towards +oppressed worth can go no farther." + +"Ah!" he cried, "I wish your father might be half as easily convinced as +John will be, of our having every right that equal worth can give, to be +happy together. I am amused by one part of John's letter--did you notice +it?--where he says, that my information did not take him wholly by +surprize, that he was rather in expectation of hearing something of the +kind." + +"If I understand your brother, he only means so far as your having +some thoughts of marrying. He had no idea of me. He seems perfectly +unprepared for that." + +"Yes, yes--but I am amused that he should have seen so far into my +feelings. What has he been judging by?--I am not conscious of any +difference in my spirits or conversation that could prepare him at +this time for my marrying any more than at another.--But it was so, I +suppose. I dare say there was a difference when I was staying with them +the other day. I believe I did not play with the children quite so much +as usual. I remember one evening the poor boys saying, 'Uncle seems +always tired now.'" + +The time was coming when the news must spread farther, and other +persons' reception of it tried. As soon as Mrs. Weston was sufficiently +recovered to admit Mr. Woodhouse's visits, Emma having it in view that +her gentle reasonings should be employed in the cause, resolved first to +announce it at home, and then at Randalls.--But how to break it to her +father at last!--She had bound herself to do it, in such an hour of Mr. +Knightley's absence, or when it came to the point her heart would have +failed her, and she must have put it off; but Mr. Knightley was to come +at such a time, and follow up the beginning she was to make.--She was +forced to speak, and to speak cheerfully too. She must not make it a +more decided subject of misery to him, by a melancholy tone herself. +She must not appear to think it a misfortune.--With all the spirits she +could command, she prepared him first for something strange, and then, +in a few words, said, that if his consent and approbation could be +obtained--which, she trusted, would be attended with no difficulty, +since it was a plan to promote the happiness of all--she and Mr. +Knightley meant to marry; by which means Hartfield would receive the +constant addition of that person's company whom she knew he loved, next +to his daughters and Mrs. Weston, best in the world. + +Poor man!--it was at first a considerable shock to him, and he tried +earnestly to dissuade her from it. She was reminded, more than once, of +having always said she would never marry, and assured that it would be +a great deal better for her to remain single; and told of poor Isabella, +and poor Miss Taylor.--But it would not do. Emma hung about him +affectionately, and smiled, and said it must be so; and that he must +not class her with Isabella and Mrs. Weston, whose marriages taking them +from Hartfield, had, indeed, made a melancholy change: but she was not +going from Hartfield; she should be always there; she was introducing +no change in their numbers or their comforts but for the better; and she +was very sure that he would be a great deal the happier for having Mr. +Knightley always at hand, when he were once got used to the idea.--Did +he not love Mr. Knightley very much?--He would not deny that he did, +she was sure.--Whom did he ever want to consult on business but Mr. +Knightley?--Who was so useful to him, who so ready to write his letters, +who so glad to assist him?--Who so cheerful, so attentive, so attached +to him?--Would not he like to have him always on the spot?--Yes. That +was all very true. Mr. Knightley could not be there too often; he should +be glad to see him every day;--but they did see him every day as it +was.--Why could not they go on as they had done? + +Mr. Woodhouse could not be soon reconciled; but the worst was overcome, +the idea was given; time and continual repetition must do the rest.--To +Emma's entreaties and assurances succeeded Mr. Knightley's, whose fond +praise of her gave the subject even a kind of welcome; and he was soon +used to be talked to by each, on every fair occasion.--They had all +the assistance which Isabella could give, by letters of the strongest +approbation; and Mrs. Weston was ready, on the first meeting, to +consider the subject in the most serviceable light--first, as a settled, +and, secondly, as a good one--well aware of the nearly equal importance +of the two recommendations to Mr. Woodhouse's mind.--It was agreed +upon, as what was to be; and every body by whom he was used to be +guided assuring him that it would be for his happiness; and having some +feelings himself which almost admitted it, he began to think that some +time or other--in another year or two, perhaps--it might not be so very +bad if the marriage did take place. + +Mrs. Weston was acting no part, feigning no feelings in all that she +said to him in favour of the event.--She had been extremely surprized, +never more so, than when Emma first opened the affair to her; but she +saw in it only increase of happiness to all, and had no scruple in +urging him to the utmost.--She had such a regard for Mr. Knightley, as +to think he deserved even her dearest Emma; and it was in every respect +so proper, suitable, and unexceptionable a connexion, and in one +respect, one point of the highest importance, so peculiarly eligible, +so singularly fortunate, that now it seemed as if Emma could not safely +have attached herself to any other creature, and that she had herself +been the stupidest of beings in not having thought of it, and wished it +long ago.--How very few of those men in a rank of life to address Emma +would have renounced their own home for Hartfield! And who but Mr. +Knightley could know and bear with Mr. Woodhouse, so as to make such +an arrangement desirable!--The difficulty of disposing of poor Mr. +Woodhouse had been always felt in her husband's plans and her own, for +a marriage between Frank and Emma. How to settle the claims of Enscombe +and Hartfield had been a continual impediment--less acknowledged by Mr. +Weston than by herself--but even he had never been able to finish +the subject better than by saying--"Those matters will take care of +themselves; the young people will find a way." But here there was +nothing to be shifted off in a wild speculation on the future. It was +all right, all open, all equal. No sacrifice on any side worth the name. +It was a union of the highest promise of felicity in itself, and without +one real, rational difficulty to oppose or delay it. + +Mrs. Weston, with her baby on her knee, indulging in such reflections +as these, was one of the happiest women in the world. If any thing could +increase her delight, it was perceiving that the baby would soon have +outgrown its first set of caps. + +The news was universally a surprize wherever it spread; and Mr. Weston +had his five minutes share of it; but five minutes were enough to +familiarise the idea to his quickness of mind.--He saw the advantages +of the match, and rejoiced in them with all the constancy of his wife; +but the wonder of it was very soon nothing; and by the end of an hour he +was not far from believing that he had always foreseen it. + +"It is to be a secret, I conclude," said he. "These matters are always a +secret, till it is found out that every body knows them. Only let me be +told when I may speak out.--I wonder whether Jane has any suspicion." + +He went to Highbury the next morning, and satisfied himself on that +point. He told her the news. Was not she like a daughter, his eldest +daughter?--he must tell her; and Miss Bates being present, it passed, +of course, to Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. Elton, immediately +afterwards. It was no more than the principals were prepared for; they +had calculated from the time of its being known at Randalls, how soon it +would be over Highbury; and were thinking of themselves, as the evening +wonder in many a family circle, with great sagacity. + +In general, it was a very well approved match. Some might think him, and +others might think her, the most in luck. One set might recommend their +all removing to Donwell, and leaving Hartfield for the John Knightleys; +and another might predict disagreements among their servants; but yet, +upon the whole, there was no serious objection raised, except in one +habitation, the Vicarage.--There, the surprize was not softened by any +satisfaction. Mr. Elton cared little about it, compared with his wife; +he only hoped "the young lady's pride would now be contented;" and +supposed "she had always meant to catch Knightley if she could;" and, +on the point of living at Hartfield, could daringly exclaim, "Rather +he than I!"--But Mrs. Elton was very much discomposed indeed.--"Poor +Knightley! poor fellow!--sad business for him."--She was extremely +concerned; for, though very eccentric, he had a thousand good +qualities.--How could he be so taken in?--Did not think him at all in +love--not in the least.--Poor Knightley!--There would be an end of all +pleasant intercourse with him.--How happy he had been to come and dine +with them whenever they asked him! But that would be all over now.--Poor +fellow!--No more exploring parties to Donwell made for _her_. Oh! +no; there would be a Mrs. Knightley to throw cold water on every +thing.--Extremely disagreeable! But she was not at all sorry that +she had abused the housekeeper the other day.--Shocking plan, living +together. It would never do. She knew a family near Maple Grove who +had tried it, and been obliged to separate before the end of the first +quarter. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Time passed on. A few more to-morrows, and the party from London would +be arriving. It was an alarming change; and Emma was thinking of it one +morning, as what must bring a great deal to agitate and grieve her, when +Mr. Knightley came in, and distressing thoughts were put by. After the +first chat of pleasure he was silent; and then, in a graver tone, began +with, + +"I have something to tell you, Emma; some news." + +"Good or bad?" said she, quickly, looking up in his face. + +"I do not know which it ought to be called." + +"Oh! good I am sure.--I see it in your countenance. You are trying not +to smile." + +"I am afraid," said he, composing his features, "I am very much afraid, +my dear Emma, that you will not smile when you hear it." + +"Indeed! but why so?--I can hardly imagine that any thing which pleases +or amuses you, should not please and amuse me too." + +"There is one subject," he replied, "I hope but one, on which we do not +think alike." He paused a moment, again smiling, with his eyes fixed on +her face. "Does nothing occur to you?--Do not you recollect?--Harriet +Smith." + +Her cheeks flushed at the name, and she felt afraid of something, though +she knew not what. + +"Have you heard from her yourself this morning?" cried he. "You have, I +believe, and know the whole." + +"No, I have not; I know nothing; pray tell me." + +"You are prepared for the worst, I see--and very bad it is. Harriet +Smith marries Robert Martin." + +Emma gave a start, which did not seem like being prepared--and her eyes, +in eager gaze, said, "No, this is impossible!" but her lips were closed. + +"It is so, indeed," continued Mr. Knightley; "I have it from Robert +Martin himself. He left me not half an hour ago." + +She was still looking at him with the most speaking amazement. + +"You like it, my Emma, as little as I feared.--I wish our opinions were +the same. But in time they will. Time, you may be sure, will make one +or the other of us think differently; and, in the meanwhile, we need not +talk much on the subject." + +"You mistake me, you quite mistake me," she replied, exerting herself. +"It is not that such a circumstance would now make me unhappy, but I +cannot believe it. It seems an impossibility!--You cannot mean to say, +that Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin. You cannot mean that he +has even proposed to her again--yet. You only mean, that he intends it." + +"I mean that he has done it," answered Mr. Knightley, with smiling but +determined decision, "and been accepted." + +"Good God!" she cried.--"Well!"--Then having recourse to her workbasket, +in excuse for leaning down her face, and concealing all the exquisite +feelings of delight and entertainment which she knew she must be +expressing, she added, "Well, now tell me every thing; make this +intelligible to me. How, where, when?--Let me know it all. I never was +more surprized--but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you.--How--how +has it been possible?" + +"It is a very simple story. He went to town on business three days ago, +and I got him to take charge of some papers which I was wanting to send +to John.--He delivered these papers to John, at his chambers, and was +asked by him to join their party the same evening to Astley's. They were +going to take the two eldest boys to Astley's. The party was to be our +brother and sister, Henry, John--and Miss Smith. My friend Robert could +not resist. They called for him in their way; were all extremely amused; +and my brother asked him to dine with them the next day--which he +did--and in the course of that visit (as I understand) he found an +opportunity of speaking to Harriet; and certainly did not speak +in vain.--She made him, by her acceptance, as happy even as he is +deserving. He came down by yesterday's coach, and was with me this +morning immediately after breakfast, to report his proceedings, first +on my affairs, and then on his own. This is all that I can relate of +the how, where, and when. Your friend Harriet will make a much +longer history when you see her.--She will give you all the minute +particulars, which only woman's language can make interesting.--In our +communications we deal only in the great.--However, I must say, that +Robert Martin's heart seemed for _him_, and to _me_, very overflowing; +and that he did mention, without its being much to the purpose, that +on quitting their box at Astley's, my brother took charge of Mrs. John +Knightley and little John, and he followed with Miss Smith and Henry; +and that at one time they were in such a crowd, as to make Miss Smith +rather uneasy." + +He stopped.--Emma dared not attempt any immediate reply. To speak, she +was sure would be to betray a most unreasonable degree of happiness. +She must wait a moment, or he would think her mad. Her silence disturbed +him; and after observing her a little while, he added, + +"Emma, my love, you said that this circumstance would not now make you +unhappy; but I am afraid it gives you more pain than you expected. His +situation is an evil--but you must consider it as what satisfies your +friend; and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him +as you know him more. His good sense and good principles would delight +you.--As far as the man is concerned, you could not wish your friend +in better hands. His rank in society I would alter if I could, which is +saying a great deal I assure you, Emma.--You laugh at me about William +Larkins; but I could quite as ill spare Robert Martin." + +He wanted her to look up and smile; and having now brought herself not +to smile too broadly--she did--cheerfully answering, + +"You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think +Harriet is doing extremely well. _Her_ connexions may be worse than +_his_. In respectability of character, there can be no doubt that they +are. I have been silent from surprize merely, excessive surprize. You +cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me! how peculiarly unprepared +I was!--for I had reason to believe her very lately more determined +against him, much more, than she was before." + +"You ought to know your friend best," replied Mr. Knightley; "but I +should say she was a good-tempered, soft-hearted girl, not likely to be +very, very determined against any young man who told her he loved her." + +Emma could not help laughing as she answered, "Upon my word, I believe +you know her quite as well as I do.--But, Mr. Knightley, are you +perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright _accepted_ him. +I could suppose she might in time--but can she already?--Did not you +misunderstand him?--You were both talking of other things; of business, +shows of cattle, or new drills--and might not you, in the confusion of +so many subjects, mistake him?--It was not Harriet's hand that he was +certain of--it was the dimensions of some famous ox." + +The contrast between the countenance and air of Mr. Knightley and Robert +Martin was, at this moment, so strong to Emma's feelings, and so strong +was the recollection of all that had so recently passed on Harriet's +side, so fresh the sound of those words, spoken with such emphasis, +"No, I hope I know better than to think of Robert Martin," that she was +really expecting the intelligence to prove, in some measure, premature. +It could not be otherwise. + +"Do you dare say this?" cried Mr. Knightley. "Do you dare to suppose me +so great a blockhead, as not to know what a man is talking of?--What do +you deserve?" + +"Oh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with +any other; and, therefore, you must give me a plain, direct answer. Are +you quite sure that you understand the terms on which Mr. Martin and +Harriet now are?" + +"I am quite sure," he replied, speaking very distinctly, "that he +told me she had accepted him; and that there was no obscurity, nothing +doubtful, in the words he used; and I think I can give you a proof that +it must be so. He asked my opinion as to what he was now to do. He knew +of no one but Mrs. Goddard to whom he could apply for information of +her relations or friends. Could I mention any thing more fit to be done, +than to go to Mrs. Goddard? I assured him that I could not. Then, he +said, he would endeavour to see her in the course of this day." + +"I am perfectly satisfied," replied Emma, with the brightest smiles, +"and most sincerely wish them happy." + +"You are materially changed since we talked on this subject before." + +"I hope so--for at that time I was a fool." + +"And I am changed also; for I am now very willing to grant you all +Harriet's good qualities. I have taken some pains for your sake, and for +Robert Martin's sake, (whom I have always had reason to believe as much +in love with her as ever,) to get acquainted with her. I have often +talked to her a good deal. You must have seen that I did. Sometimes, +indeed, I have thought you were half suspecting me of pleading poor +Martin's cause, which was never the case; but, from all my observations, +I am convinced of her being an artless, amiable girl, with very good +notions, very seriously good principles, and placing her happiness in +the affections and utility of domestic life.--Much of this, I have no +doubt, she may thank you for." + +"Me!" cried Emma, shaking her head.--"Ah! poor Harriet!" + +She checked herself, however, and submitted quietly to a little more +praise than she deserved. + +Their conversation was soon afterwards closed by the entrance of her +father. She was not sorry. She wanted to be alone. Her mind was in a +state of flutter and wonder, which made it impossible for her to be +collected. She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits; and till she +had moved about, and talked to herself, and laughed and reflected, she +could be fit for nothing rational. + +Her father's business was to announce James's being gone out to put the +horses to, preparatory to their now daily drive to Randalls; and she +had, therefore, an immediate excuse for disappearing. + +The joy, the gratitude, the exquisite delight of her sensations may be +imagined. The sole grievance and alloy thus removed in the prospect of +Harriet's welfare, she was really in danger of becoming too happy for +security.--What had she to wish for? Nothing, but to grow more worthy of +him, whose intentions and judgment had been ever so superior to her own. +Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her humility +and circumspection in future. + +Serious she was, very serious in her thankfulness, and in her +resolutions; and yet there was no preventing a laugh, sometimes in the +very midst of them. She must laugh at such a close! Such an end of the +doleful disappointment of five weeks back! Such a heart--such a Harriet! + +Now there would be pleasure in her returning--Every thing would be a +pleasure. It would be a great pleasure to know Robert Martin. + +High in the rank of her most serious and heartfelt felicities, was the +reflection that all necessity of concealment from Mr. Knightley would +soon be over. The disguise, equivocation, mystery, so hateful to her to +practise, might soon be over. She could now look forward to giving him +that full and perfect confidence which her disposition was most ready to +welcome as a duty. + +In the gayest and happiest spirits she set forward with her father; not +always listening, but always agreeing to what he said; and, whether in +speech or silence, conniving at the comfortable persuasion of his +being obliged to go to Randalls every day, or poor Mrs. Weston would be +disappointed. + +They arrived.--Mrs. Weston was alone in the drawing-room:--but hardly +had they been told of the baby, and Mr. Woodhouse received the thanks +for coming, which he asked for, when a glimpse was caught through the +blind, of two figures passing near the window. + +"It is Frank and Miss Fairfax," said Mrs. Weston. "I was just going to +tell you of our agreeable surprize in seeing him arrive this morning. He +stays till to-morrow, and Miss Fairfax has been persuaded to spend the +day with us.--They are coming in, I hope." + +In half a minute they were in the room. Emma was extremely glad to +see him--but there was a degree of confusion--a number of embarrassing +recollections on each side. They met readily and smiling, but with a +consciousness which at first allowed little to be said; and having all +sat down again, there was for some time such a blank in the circle, that +Emma began to doubt whether the wish now indulged, which she had long +felt, of seeing Frank Churchill once more, and of seeing him with Jane, +would yield its proportion of pleasure. When Mr. Weston joined the +party, however, and when the baby was fetched, there was no longer a +want of subject or animation--or of courage and opportunity for Frank +Churchill to draw near her and say, + +"I have to thank you, Miss Woodhouse, for a very kind forgiving message +in one of Mrs. Weston's letters. I hope time has not made you less +willing to pardon. I hope you do not retract what you then said." + +"No, indeed," cried Emma, most happy to begin, "not in the least. I am +particularly glad to see and shake hands with you--and to give you joy +in person." + +He thanked her with all his heart, and continued some time to speak with +serious feeling of his gratitude and happiness. + +"Is not she looking well?" said he, turning his eyes towards Jane. +"Better than she ever used to do?--You see how my father and Mrs. Weston +doat upon her." + +But his spirits were soon rising again, and with laughing eyes, after +mentioning the expected return of the Campbells, he named the name of +Dixon.--Emma blushed, and forbade its being pronounced in her hearing. + +"I can never think of it," she cried, "without extreme shame." + +"The shame," he answered, "is all mine, or ought to be. But is it +possible that you had no suspicion?--I mean of late. Early, I know, you +had none." + +"I never had the smallest, I assure you." + +"That appears quite wonderful. I was once very near--and I wish I +had--it would have been better. But though I was always doing wrong +things, they were very bad wrong things, and such as did me no +service.--It would have been a much better transgression had I broken +the bond of secrecy and told you every thing." + +"It is not now worth a regret," said Emma. + +"I have some hope," resumed he, "of my uncle's being persuaded to pay a +visit at Randalls; he wants to be introduced to her. When the Campbells +are returned, we shall meet them in London, and continue there, I trust, +till we may carry her northward.--But now, I am at such a distance from +her--is not it hard, Miss Woodhouse?--Till this morning, we have not +once met since the day of reconciliation. Do not you pity me?" + +Emma spoke her pity so very kindly, that with a sudden accession of gay +thought, he cried, + +"Ah! by the bye," then sinking his voice, and looking demure for the +moment--"I hope Mr. Knightley is well?" He paused.--She coloured and +laughed.--"I know you saw my letter, and think you may remember my wish +in your favour. Let me return your congratulations.--I assure you that +I have heard the news with the warmest interest and satisfaction.--He is +a man whom I cannot presume to praise." + +Emma was delighted, and only wanted him to go on in the same style; but +his mind was the next moment in his own concerns and with his own Jane, +and his next words were, + +"Did you ever see such a skin?--such smoothness! such delicacy!--and +yet without being actually fair.--One cannot call her fair. It is a +most uncommon complexion, with her dark eye-lashes and hair--a most +distinguishing complexion! So peculiarly the lady in it.--Just colour +enough for beauty." + +"I have always admired her complexion," replied Emma, archly; "but +do not I remember the time when you found fault with her for being so +pale?--When we first began to talk of her.--Have you quite forgotten?" + +"Oh! no--what an impudent dog I was!--How could I dare--" + +But he laughed so heartily at the recollection, that Emma could not help +saying, + +"I do suspect that in the midst of your perplexities at that time, you +had very great amusement in tricking us all.--I am sure you had.--I am +sure it was a consolation to you." + +"Oh! no, no, no--how can you suspect me of such a thing? I was the most +miserable wretch!" + +"Not quite so miserable as to be insensible to mirth. I am sure it was a +source of high entertainment to you, to feel that you were taking us +all in.--Perhaps I am the readier to suspect, because, to tell you the +truth, I think it might have been some amusement to myself in the same +situation. I think there is a little likeness between us." + +He bowed. + +"If not in our dispositions," she presently added, with a look of true +sensibility, "there is a likeness in our destiny; the destiny which bids +fair to connect us with two characters so much superior to our own." + +"True, true," he answered, warmly. "No, not true on your side. You can +have no superior, but most true on mine.--She is a complete angel. Look +at her. Is not she an angel in every gesture? Observe the turn of her +throat. Observe her eyes, as she is looking up at my father.--You will +be glad to hear (inclining his head, and whispering seriously) that my +uncle means to give her all my aunt's jewels. They are to be new set. +I am resolved to have some in an ornament for the head. Will not it be +beautiful in her dark hair?" + +"Very beautiful, indeed," replied Emma; and she spoke so kindly, that he +gratefully burst out, + +"How delighted I am to see you again! and to see you in such excellent +looks!--I would not have missed this meeting for the world. I should +certainly have called at Hartfield, had you failed to come." + +The others had been talking of the child, Mrs. Weston giving an account +of a little alarm she had been under, the evening before, from the +infant's appearing not quite well. She believed she had been foolish, +but it had alarmed her, and she had been within half a minute of sending +for Mr. Perry. Perhaps she ought to be ashamed, but Mr. Weston had been +almost as uneasy as herself.--In ten minutes, however, the child had +been perfectly well again. This was her history; and particularly +interesting it was to Mr. Woodhouse, who commended her very much for +thinking of sending for Perry, and only regretted that she had not done +it. "She should always send for Perry, if the child appeared in the +slightest degree disordered, were it only for a moment. She could not be +too soon alarmed, nor send for Perry too often. It was a pity, perhaps, +that he had not come last night; for, though the child seemed well now, +very well considering, it would probably have been better if Perry had +seen it." + +Frank Churchill caught the name. + +"Perry!" said he to Emma, and trying, as he spoke, to catch Miss +Fairfax's eye. "My friend Mr. Perry! What are they saying about Mr. +Perry?--Has he been here this morning?--And how does he travel now?--Has +he set up his carriage?" + +Emma soon recollected, and understood him; and while she joined in the +laugh, it was evident from Jane's countenance that she too was really +hearing him, though trying to seem deaf. + +"Such an extraordinary dream of mine!" he cried. "I can never think of +it without laughing.--She hears us, she hears us, Miss Woodhouse. I see +it in her cheek, her smile, her vain attempt to frown. Look at her. Do +not you see that, at this instant, the very passage of her own letter, +which sent me the report, is passing under her eye--that the whole +blunder is spread before her--that she can attend to nothing else, +though pretending to listen to the others?" + +Jane was forced to smile completely, for a moment; and the smile partly +remained as she turned towards him, and said in a conscious, low, yet +steady voice, + +"How you can bear such recollections, is astonishing to me!--They +_will_ sometimes obtrude--but how you can court them!" + +He had a great deal to say in return, and very entertainingly; but +Emma's feelings were chiefly with Jane, in the argument; and on leaving +Randalls, and falling naturally into a comparison of the two men, she +felt, that pleased as she had been to see Frank Churchill, and really +regarding him as she did with friendship, she had never been more +sensible of Mr. Knightley's high superiority of character. The happiness +of this most happy day, received its completion, in the animated +contemplation of his worth which this comparison produced. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +If Emma had still, at intervals, an anxious feeling for Harriet, a +momentary doubt of its being possible for her to be really cured of her +attachment to Mr. Knightley, and really able to accept another man from +unbiased inclination, it was not long that she had to suffer from the +recurrence of any such uncertainty. A very few days brought the party +from London, and she had no sooner an opportunity of being one hour +alone with Harriet, than she became perfectly satisfied--unaccountable +as it was!--that Robert Martin had thoroughly supplanted Mr. Knightley, +and was now forming all her views of happiness. + +Harriet was a little distressed--did look a little foolish at first: +but having once owned that she had been presumptuous and silly, and +self-deceived, before, her pain and confusion seemed to die away with +the words, and leave her without a care for the past, and with the +fullest exultation in the present and future; for, as to her friend's +approbation, Emma had instantly removed every fear of that nature, by +meeting her with the most unqualified congratulations.--Harriet was +most happy to give every particular of the evening at Astley's, and the +dinner the next day; she could dwell on it all with the utmost delight. +But what did such particulars explain?--The fact was, as Emma could now +acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin; and that his +continuing to love her had been irresistible.--Beyond this, it must ever +be unintelligible to Emma. + +The event, however, was most joyful; and every day was giving her fresh +reason for thinking so.--Harriet's parentage became known. She proved +to be the daughter of a tradesman, rich enough to afford her the +comfortable maintenance which had ever been hers, and decent enough to +have always wished for concealment.--Such was the blood of gentility +which Emma had formerly been so ready to vouch for!--It was likely to +be as untainted, perhaps, as the blood of many a gentleman: but what +a connexion had she been preparing for Mr. Knightley--or for the +Churchills--or even for Mr. Elton!--The stain of illegitimacy, +unbleached by nobility or wealth, would have been a stain indeed. + +No objection was raised on the father's side; the young man was treated +liberally; it was all as it should be: and as Emma became acquainted +with Robert Martin, who was now introduced at Hartfield, she fully +acknowledged in him all the appearance of sense and worth which could +bid fairest for her little friend. She had no doubt of Harriet's +happiness with any good-tempered man; but with him, and in the home he +offered, there would be the hope of more, of security, stability, and +improvement. She would be placed in the midst of those who loved her, +and who had better sense than herself; retired enough for safety, +and occupied enough for cheerfulness. She would be never led into +temptation, nor left for it to find her out. She would be respectable +and happy; and Emma admitted her to be the luckiest creature in the +world, to have created so steady and persevering an affection in such a +man;--or, if not quite the luckiest, to yield only to herself. + +Harriet, necessarily drawn away by her engagements with the Martins, +was less and less at Hartfield; which was not to be regretted.--The +intimacy between her and Emma must sink; their friendship must change +into a calmer sort of goodwill; and, fortunately, what ought to be, +and must be, seemed already beginning, and in the most gradual, natural +manner. + +Before the end of September, Emma attended Harriet to church, and saw +her hand bestowed on Robert Martin with so complete a satisfaction, as +no remembrances, even connected with Mr. Elton as he stood before them, +could impair.--Perhaps, indeed, at that time she scarcely saw Mr. Elton, +but as the clergyman whose blessing at the altar might next fall on +herself.--Robert Martin and Harriet Smith, the latest couple engaged of +the three, were the first to be married. + +Jane Fairfax had already quitted Highbury, and was restored to the +comforts of her beloved home with the Campbells.--The Mr. Churchills +were also in town; and they were only waiting for November. + +The intermediate month was the one fixed on, as far as they dared, by +Emma and Mr. Knightley.--They had determined that their marriage ought +to be concluded while John and Isabella were still at Hartfield, to +allow them the fortnight's absence in a tour to the seaside, which was +the plan.--John and Isabella, and every other friend, were agreed in +approving it. But Mr. Woodhouse--how was Mr. Woodhouse to be induced +to consent?--he, who had never yet alluded to their marriage but as a +distant event. + +When first sounded on the subject, he was so miserable, that they were +almost hopeless.--A second allusion, indeed, gave less pain.--He +began to think it was to be, and that he could not prevent it--a very +promising step of the mind on its way to resignation. Still, however, he +was not happy. Nay, he appeared so much otherwise, that his daughter's +courage failed. She could not bear to see him suffering, to know +him fancying himself neglected; and though her understanding almost +acquiesced in the assurance of both the Mr. Knightleys, that when +once the event were over, his distress would be soon over too, she +hesitated--she could not proceed. + +In this state of suspense they were befriended, not by any sudden +illumination of Mr. Woodhouse's mind, or any wonderful change of his +nervous system, but by the operation of the same system in another +way.--Mrs. Weston's poultry-house was robbed one night of all her +turkeys--evidently by the ingenuity of man. Other poultry-yards in +the neighbourhood also suffered.--Pilfering was _housebreaking_ to Mr. +Woodhouse's fears.--He was very uneasy; and but for the sense of his +son-in-law's protection, would have been under wretched alarm every +night of his life. The strength, resolution, and presence of mind of the +Mr. Knightleys, commanded his fullest dependence. While either of them +protected him and his, Hartfield was safe.--But Mr. John Knightley must +be in London again by the end of the first week in November. + +The result of this distress was, that, with a much more voluntary, +cheerful consent than his daughter had ever presumed to hope for at the +moment, she was able to fix her wedding-day--and Mr. Elton was called +on, within a month from the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin, to +join the hands of Mr. Knightley and Miss Woodhouse. + +The wedding was very much like other weddings, where the parties have +no taste for finery or parade; and Mrs. Elton, from the particulars +detailed by her husband, thought it all extremely shabby, and very +inferior to her own.--"Very little white satin, very few lace veils; a +most pitiful business!--Selina would stare when she heard of it."--But, +in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, +the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the +ceremony, were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union. + + + +FINIS + + + + + + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by Jane Austen + + + + +I + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNON + + +Langford, Dec. + +MY DEAR BROTHER,--I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to you +and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few +days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be +acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately +urgent with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful +dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation +and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to the hour when I +shall be admitted into Your delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest I shall soon have need for all +my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. +The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that +attention which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too +much reason to fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was +unequal to the charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one +of the best private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity +of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to +be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful +sensations to know that it were not in your power to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +II + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than +those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the +females of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would +be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly +pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remember +saying to myself, as I drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven +no harm come of it!" But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in +mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: +and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no one's +attentions but Mainwaring's. I have avoided all general flirtation +whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the numbers +resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little +notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world +could know my motive THERE they would honour me. I have been called an +unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it +was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter +were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for +my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who +was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently +against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for +the present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him +myself; and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly +should: but I must own myself rather romantic in that respect, and +that riches only will not satisfy me. The event of all this is very +provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring +insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged against +me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized at her +appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of addressing him: +but there your husband stands my friend; and the kindest, most amiable +action of his life was his throwing her off for ever on her marriage. +Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. We are now in a sad +state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party are at war, and +Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to be gone; I +have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I hope, a +comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am as little +in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 Wigmore +street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, with +all his faults, is a man to whom that great word "respectable" is always +given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me +has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is +my last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I would +prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. +At Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something better in +view. My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her +under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a +little more reasonable. She will made good connections there, as the +girls are all of the best families. The price is immense, and much +beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to +make us any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has +declared her intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such +a visit is in all probability merely an affair of convenience, it is +impossible to conjecture its length. I was by no means prepared for such +an event, nor can I now account for her ladyship's conduct; Langford +appeared so exactly the place for her in every respect, as well from +the elegant and expensive style of living there, as from her particular +attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from expecting so +speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her increasing +friendship for us since her husband's death that we should, at some +future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, was a +great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her behaviour +to him, independent of her general character, has been so inexcusably +artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first in agitation that no +one less amiable and mild than himself could have overlooked it all; +and though, as his brother's widow, and in narrow circumstances, it was +proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot help thinking +his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill perfectly +unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the best of +everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and general +resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and make +him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still +unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot +make up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to +us. You may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look +forward to her arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive +powers for which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard; and +I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence, +if not accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a +most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious +mention of my children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman +who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own +child, should be attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at +a school in London before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for +her sake and my own. It must be to her advantage to be separated from +her mother, and a girl of sixteen who has received so wretched an +education, could not be a very desirable companion here. Reginald has +long wished, I know, to see the captivating Lady Susan, and we shall +depend on his joining our party soon. I am glad to hear that my father +continues so well; and am, with best love, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,--I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a +very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but +it has lately fallen In my way to hear some particulars of her conduct +at Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort +of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the +more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her +behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his +wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr. +Mainwaring's sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford +where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well +qualified to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching +powers which can do so much--engaging at the same time, and in the same +house, the affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to +bestow them--and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find +Miss Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not +even manners to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith's account, is +equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be +no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to +unrelenting contempt; but by all that I can gather Lady Susan possesses +a degree of captivating deceit which it must be pleasing to witness and +detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am ever, + +Your affectionate brother, + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your +engagement the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him +entirely, and since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived +here in safety, and have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. +Vernon; but I confess myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour of +his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman +of fashion, but her manners are not such as can persuade me of her being +prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. +I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does +not like me. To be sure when we consider that I DID take some pains to +prevent my brother-in-law's marrying her, this want of cordiality is not +very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit +to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never +succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy +Vernon Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying +circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly at the time +of his marriage; and everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those +feelings which could not endure that my husband's dignity should be +lessened by his younger brother's having possession of the family +estate. Could matters have been so arranged as to prevent the necessity +of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with Charles and kept +him single, I should have been very far from persuading my husband to +dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying +Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in +abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his purchasing +Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his wife an +unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to dislike, +a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has not +withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard +for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the +furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with +it, keep very little company, and never go to London but on business. We +shall be as stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law's heart +through the children; I know all their names already, and am going to +attach myself with the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a +young Frederic, whom I take on my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's +sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on +my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and +lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his +wife's, to the Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover +to you. + +Ever yours, S. VERNON. + + + + + +VI + + +MRS. VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to +form your own judgment she is really excessively pretty; however you may +choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, +for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman +as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and dark +eyelashes; and from her appearance one would not suppose her more than +five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years older, I was +certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she was +beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon +union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so +gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much +she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had +never met before, I should have imagined her an attached friend. One +is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with coquetry, and to +expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind; +at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of confidence in +Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and +manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but deceit? +Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, has +all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and talks +very well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, I +believe, to make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me +of her being warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long +convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and +anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she +represents however as wholly unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect +how many successive springs her ladyship spent in town, while her +daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care of servants, or a +governess very little better, to prevent my believing what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you +may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon's generous +temper. I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really +her choice to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed +there for months before she discovered that her friend's manner of +living did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed +that concern for the loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her +own behaviour was far from unexceptionable, might for a time make her +wish for retirement. But I cannot forget the length of her visit to the +Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the different mode of life which she +led with them from that to which she must now submit, I can only suppose +that the wish of establishing her reputation by following though late +the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a family where she +must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. Smith's +story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds regularly +with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It is scarcely +possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her at once. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + + +VII + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,--You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and +I am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have +any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so +heavy a sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend +her. I would not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment +of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially +as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education, +which I really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss +Summers's. I want her to play and sing with some portion of taste and +a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable +voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was never +obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the +accomplishments which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not +that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect +knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It is throwing time +away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: music, singing, +and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will not add +one lover to her list--grace and manner, after all, are of the greatest +importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica's acquirements +should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she will not +remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what +I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school must +be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age. And, by-the-by, you +had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to +find her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at +any time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I shall +trouble you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when +he comes to town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to him of +Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend my own +conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance +of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on +their daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture; but I +could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from +which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure +merely propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him--but enough of this tiresome +girl. You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for +the first week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, +our party is enlarged by Mrs. Vernon's brother, a handsome young man, +who promises me some amusement. There is something about him which +rather interests me, a sort of sauciness and familiarity which I shall +teach him to correct. He is lively, and seems clever, and when I have +inspired him with greater respect for me than his sister's kind offices +have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There is exquisite +pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person +predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my +endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still +lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been +bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has scandalously +belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and prevent +my feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all whom I +love. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that +they may have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses +immediately, and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I +will not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, +though I think you had better not communicate them to my father, whose +excessive anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an alarm which +might seriously affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly +contrived, in the space of a fortnight, to make my brother like her. +In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here beyond the time +originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much by a degree of +fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with Mr. Vernon, and +of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his visit +which my brother's company would otherwise give me. I am, indeed, +provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what stronger +proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this perversion of +Reginald's judgment, which when he entered the house was so decidedly +against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some particulars of +her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a gentleman who knew +her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise abhorrence against her, +and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to credit. His opinion +of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in England; and when he +first came it was evident that he considered her as one entitled neither +to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be delighted with +the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her behaviour, I +confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I have +not detected the smallest impropriety in it--nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should +not wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her +previous to this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against +conviction, to be so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does +really astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but no more +than was natural, and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the +gentleness and delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of +late it has been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he +actually said that he could not be surprised at any effect produced +on the heart of man by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I +lamented, in reply, the badness of her disposition, he observed that +whatever might have been her errors they were to be imputed to her +neglected education and early marriage, and that she was altogether a +wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in +the warmth of admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald +is too much at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening +his visit, I should regret Mr. Vernon's giving him any. Lady Susan's +intentions are of course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire +of universal admiration; I cannot for a moment imagine that she has +anything more serious in view; but it mortifies me to see a young man of +Reginald's sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IX + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY S. VERNON + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy's arrival, and +I advise you by all means to marry him; his father's estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man +well spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest +Susan, Mr. De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of +course, but you easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of +honour could not require you to wait for HIS emancipation. I have seen +Sir James; he came to town for a few days last week, and called several +times in Edward Street. I talked to him about you and your daughter, and +he is so far from having forgotten you, that I am sure he would marry +either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting, +and told him a great deal of her improvements. I scolded him for making +love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he had been only in joke, +and we both laughed heartily at her disappointment; and, in short, were +very agreeable. He is as silly as ever. + +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +X + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting +Mr. De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I +am not at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old +gentleman's death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true +that I am vain enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him +sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing +over a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my +past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the +ungenerous representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will +avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and manner. I +see plainly that she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion of +her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanting on her part to +counteract me; but having once made him doubt the justice of her opinion +of me, I think I may defy, her. It has been delightful to me to watch +his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe his altered manner +in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of my deportment +his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been equally +guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like a coquette in the +whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of dominion was never +more decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious +conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, at least half in love +with me, without the semblance of the most commonplace flirtation. Mrs. +Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge that it can +be in my power to inflict for her ill-offices could alone enable her +to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so gentle +and unpretending. Let her think and act as she chooses, however. I have +never yet found that the advice of a sister could prevent a young +man's being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to some kind of +confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of platonic +friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if +I were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I +should make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared +to think so meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy +the praise you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior +to our friend at Langford. He is less polished, less insinuating than +Mainwaring, and is comparatively deficient in the power of saying those +delightful things which put one in good humour with oneself and all the +world. He is quite agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, +and to make many of those hours pass very pleasantly which would +otherwise be spent in endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law's +reserve, and listening to the insipid talk of her husband. Your account +of Sir James is most satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a +hint of my intentions very soon. + +Yours, &c., + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence. They are +now on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in +long conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful +coquetry to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible +to see the intimacy between them so very soon established without some +alarm, though I can hardly suppose that Lady Susan's plans extend to +marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home again on any plausible +pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I have given him as +many hints of my father's precarious state of health as common decency +will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must now be +boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former ill-opinion, +and persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her conduct. Mr. +Smith's account of her proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of +having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring +distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when he +came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous invention. He +has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke his regret at having +believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I grieve that she +ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her coming with +uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety for +Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but could +not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of being +captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well acquainted, +and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him away it +will be a good thing. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XII + + +SIR REGINALD DE COURCY TO HIS SON + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a +father's anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their +confidence and slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only +son, and the representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life +is most interesting to your connections; and in the very important +concern of marriage especially, there is everything at stake--your own +happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not +suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that +nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help +fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached +you, to a marriage which the whole of your family, far and near, must +highly reprobate. Lady Susan's age is itself a material objection, but +her want of character is one so much more serious, that the difference +of even twelve years becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you not +blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat +the instances of great misconduct on her side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one +could be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. +To our family she has always been represented in softened colours by +the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his generous +endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most selfish +motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own +will make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it +is my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, +and must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may +arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man +whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it +is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is poor, +and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to +herself; you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to +prevent your inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing +you during my life would be a species of revenge to which I could hardly +stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; +it would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think +of him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by +this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for +Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. +I should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith's +intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If +you can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying +the conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding +admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by +them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness; but, if you cannot +do this, explain to me, at least, what has occasioned so great an +alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, + +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + + +XIII + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,--Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse Your father when he offered +to read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great +vexation, with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to +write to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, +as well as I could, the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so +artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, and high +expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being quite +alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits these +long winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can never be +settled now, but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know +anything of a matter which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He +caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter, and I am sure +he has not had the business out of his head since. He wrote by the same +post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, and particularly asking +an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady Susan to contradict +the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, which I shall +enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. I wish it was more +satisfactory; but it seems written with such a determination to think +well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to marriage, &c., do not set +my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and +he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's letter. How provoking it +is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of yours should not +only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so much +vexation and trouble! Kiss the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,--I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, +I suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me +in your opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should +choose to make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an +event which no one but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought +possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her +every claim to that excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies +have never denied her; and equally low must sink my pretensions to +common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my behaviour +to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour +a suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to our +understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady Susan, +than to enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed it) the +conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. Vernon +would allow something to my affection for herself and her husband in the +length of my visit, she would do more justice to us all; but my sister +is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction against Lady +Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself does honour to +both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing their union, which +have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in this case, as +well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that lady, by +supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been doubtful. +Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage of my +sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she +was always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. And +this circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's +conduct, and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, +may also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to +be credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the +malevolence of slander. If my sister, in the security of retirement, +with as little opportunity as inclination to do evil, could not avoid +censure, we must not rashly condemn those who, living in the world and +surrounded with temptations, should be accused of errors which they are +known to have the power of committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I +am now convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. +Mainwaring's jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account +of her attaching Miss Mainwaring's lover was scarcely better founded. +Sir James Martin had been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some +attention; and as he is a man of fortune, it was easy to see HER views +extended to marriage. It is well known that Miss M. is absolutely on the +catch for a husband, and no one therefore can pity her for losing, by +the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of being able to +make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan was far from intending +such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her +lover's defection, determined, in spite of Mr. and Mrs. Mainwaring's +most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I have reason to imagine +she did receive serious proposals from Sir James, but her removing to +Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment, must acquit her +on that article with any mind of common candour. You will, I am sure, my +dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice to +the character of a very injured woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming +to Churchhill was governed only by the most honourable and amiable +intentions; her prudence and economy are exemplary, her regard for Mr. +Vernon equal even to HIS deserts; and her wish of obtaining my sister's +good opinion merits a better return than it has received. As a mother +she is unexceptionable; her solid affection for her child is shown by +placing her in hands where her education will be properly attended to; +but because she has not the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, +she is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, +however, will know how to value and commend her well-directed affection, +and will join me in wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more worthy +than she has yet done of her mother's tender care. I have now, my dear +father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from +this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; +but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance +that your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XV + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,--I return you Reginald's letter, and rejoice with all +my heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only +convinced ME of my brother's having no PRESENT intention of marrying +Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. +He gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish +it may be true, but his intelligence must come from herself, and I +am less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree of intimacy +subsisting, between them implied by the discussion of such a subject. I +am sorry to have incurred his displeasure, but can expect nothing better +while he is so very eager in Lady Susan's justification. He is very +severe against me indeed, and yet I hope I have not been hasty in +my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have reasons enough for +my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is in real +distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an +attempt to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not +appear; but, as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is +a sad thing, and of course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica +must be as much as sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what +her mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has +been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. +Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what should be +done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill +for the present, till some other situation can be found for her. +Her ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the +shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all his tender feelings, I +suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been talking a great deal +about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of being ungenerous, +or I should say, TOO well to feel so very deeply; but I will not look +for her faults; she may be Reginald's wife! Heaven forbid it! but why +should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon declares that +he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of the letter; +and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as +it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but +it was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain +here long. "It will be absolutely necessary," said she, "as you, my dear +sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while +she is here; a most painful necessity, but I will ENDEAVOUR to submit to +it. I am afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica's +temper could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage +me; you must urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient." +All this sounds very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the +poor silly girl. Surely it is not to Lady Susan's credit that he should +be so bitter against her daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from +the mother's description. Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the +comfort of knowing that we have done our utmost to save him. We must +commit the event to a higher power. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying +to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, +she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter +in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted +to elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She +meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no +other acquaintances. But she shall be punished, she shall have him. I +have sent Charles to town to make matters up if he can, for I do not +by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep her, you must +find me out another school, unless we can get her married immediately. +Miss S. writes word that she could not get the young lady to assign +any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own +previous explanation of it, Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much +in awe of me to tell tales, but if the mildness of her uncle should get +anything out of her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my +story as good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. +Consideration and esteem as surely follow command of language as +admiration waits on beauty, and here I have opportunity enough for the +exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on +the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he +is sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he +may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks +he has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort +of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend itself to me. +I infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, +impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, is satisfied that +whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree of contempt on +the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which seems always +debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is indeed, +beyond all compare, superior to Reginald--superior in everything but the +power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, +which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has +been teazing me to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging +somewhere near INCOG.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women +are inexcusable who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of +the world. + +Yours ever, S. VERNON. + + + + + +XVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day's +post, informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of +Miss Vernon's continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for +her arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came +while we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as +Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding +tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, +received her with perfect self-command, and without betraying the +least tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's +bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took her out of the room, +and did not return for some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red +and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no more of her daughter. +Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see his fair friend in +such distress, and watched her with so much tender solicitude, that I, +who occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, +was quite out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole +evening, and so ostentatious and artful a display has entirely convinced +me that she did in fact feel nothing. I am more angry with her than ever +since I have seen her daughter; the poor girl looks so unhappy that my +heart aches for her. Lady Susan is surely too severe, for Frederica +does not seem to have the sort of temper to make severity necessary. +She looks perfectly timid, dejected, and penitent. She is very +pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at all like her. Her +complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so blooming as Lady +Susan's, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, the oval face +and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her look when she +speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to her we have +of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from +what I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable +severity of Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am +led to believe as heretofore that the former has no real love for her +daughter, and has never done her justice or treated her affectionately. +I have not been able to have any conversation with my niece; she is shy, +and I think I can see that some pains are taken to prevent her being +much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her reason for +running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful +of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I wish it +had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I should +have discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile journey. The +small pianoforte has been removed within these few days, at Lady Susan's +request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends great part of the +day there, practising as it is called; but I seldom hear any noise when +I pass that way; what she does with herself there I do not know. There +are plenty of books, but it is not every girl who has been running +wild the first fifteen years of her life, that can or will read. Poor +creature! the prospect from her window is not very instructive, for that +room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery on one side, +where she may see her mother walking for an hour together in earnest +conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica's age must be childish +indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not inexcusable to give +such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan the +best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl! He +is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no, justifiable +cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it HAD, +but while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of +obstinacy or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till +she was detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady +Susan has made him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely +an impatience of restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of +masters which brought on the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is +your judgment enslaved! He scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, +and when I speak of her beauty, replies only that her eyes have no +brilliancy! Sometimes he is sure she is deficient in understanding, and +at others that her temper only is in fault. In short, when a person is +always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan +finds it necessary that Frederica should be to blame, and probably has +sometimes judged it expedient to excuse her of ill-nature and sometimes +to lament her want of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her +ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVIII + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck +me, your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. +I cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so +very often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression +of pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, +there is an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, +and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her +countenance always brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything +amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he may be +conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power +of gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica's artless +affection detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which +brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not +disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, +has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and her +natural abilities very good. Though totally without accomplishments, she +is by no means so ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond +of books and spending the chief of her time in reading. Her mother +leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have her with me as much +as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We +are very good friends, and though she never opens her lips before her +mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if +properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater +advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more +obliging manners, when acting without restraint; and her little cousins +are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, + +C. VERNON + + + + + +XIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with +her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in +demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been +perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of +it frightened her so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish +perverseness and folly, she resolved on getting out of the house and +proceeding directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes; and had +really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey when +she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the first +distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we consider that +it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall have room for +the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively +provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss +Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so extraordinary a piece of +nicety, considering my daughter's family connections, that I can only +suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of never getting her money. +Be that as it may, however, Frederica is returned on my hands; and, +having nothing else to employ her, is busy in pursuing the plan of +romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling in love with Reginald +De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable offer +is not enough; her affections must also be given without her mother's +approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport +of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly +artless in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of her +being ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet +certain that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much +consequence. She is now an object of indifference to him, and she would +be one of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is +much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on him. She is in high +favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little like myself, +of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who dearly +loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of the +conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she +first came I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; +but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend on her observing the rules +I have laid down for their discourse. But do not imagine that with all +this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of her marriage. No; I +am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not yet quite decided +on the manner of bringing it about. I should not chuse to have the +business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise heads of Mr. and +Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica +must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XX + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with +my children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the +nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, +as pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her own room. +I instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. "Oh!" said +she, "he is come--Sir James is come, and what shall I do?" This was no +explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we +were interrupted by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by +Lady Susan's direction, to call Frederica down. "It is Mr. De Courcy!" +said she, colouring violently. "Mamma has sent for me; I must go." +We all three went down together; and I saw my brother examining the +terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we +found Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she +introduced by the name of Sir James Martin--the very person, as you may +remember, whom it was said she had been at pains to detach from Miss +Mainwaring; but the conquest, it seems, was not designed for herself, +or she has since transferred it to her daughter; for Sir James is now +desperately in love with Frederica, and with full encouragement from +mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, dislikes him; and though his +person and address are very well, he appears, both to Mr. Vernon and +me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so confused, when +we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved +with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive +that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a +great deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he had +taken in coming to Churchhill--mixing more frequent laughter with his +discourse than the subject required--said many things over and over +again, and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson +a few evenings before. He now and then addressed Frederica, but more +frequently her mother. The poor girl sat all this time without opening +her lips--her eyes cast down, and her colour varying every instant; +while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length +Lady Susan, weary, I believe, of her situation, proposed walking; and +we left the two gentlemen together, to put on our pelisses. As we went +upstairs Lady Susan begged permission to attend me for a few moments in +my dressing-room, as she was anxious to speak with me in private. I led +her thither accordingly, and as soon as the door was closed, she said: +"I was never more surprized in my life than by Sir James's arrival, +and the suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; +though to ME, as a mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely +attached to my daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing +her. Sir James is a young man of an amiable disposition and excellent +character; a little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two +will rectify THAT: and he is in other respects so very eligible a match +for Frederica, that I have always observed his attachment with the +greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my brother will give +the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned the +likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I thought that whilst +Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to exist; +but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union +with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to +acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree +with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause +in suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the +happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, on +a man who in connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you +will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my +reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided +for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life." She concluded by demanding +my congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in +fact, the sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the +power of speaking with any clearness, She thanked me, however, most +affectionately, for my kind concern in the welfare of herself and +daughter; and then said: "I am not apt to deal in professions, my +dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of affecting +sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will believe +me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I knew +you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I +must further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly +gratifying because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made +to prejudice you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, +to whom I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the terms on +which we now are together, and understand the real affection we feel +for each other; but I will not detain you any longer. God bless you, for +your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you all your present +happiness." What can one say of such a woman, my dear mother? Such +earnestness such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot help +suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe +he does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he +appeared all astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man and +the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a little +private discourse with Lady Susan has since had its effect, he is still +hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such a man's attentions to her +daughter. Sir James invited himself with great composure to remain here +a few days--hoped we would not think it odd, was aware of its being very +impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; and concluded by +wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very soon. Even Lady +Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in her heart I +am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must be done +for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her uncle +believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or ambition, +and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl whose +heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may +slight her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin's wife. As soon +as I can get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to +wish to avoid me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and +that I shall not find out I have thought too well of her. Her +behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness and +embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu, +my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXI + + +MISS VERNON TO MR DE COURCY + + +Sir,--I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking +to my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am +afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and +as if I attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands. +But if you do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall +be half distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but YOU could +have any chance of prevailing with her. If you will, therefore, have the +unspeakably great kindness of taking my part with her, and persuading +her to send Sir James away, I shall be more obliged to you than it is +possible for me to express. I always disliked him from the first: it is +not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always thought him silly and +impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than ever. I +would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do not know how +to apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking so great a +liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, but I +remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, + +F. S. V. + + + + + +XXII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into +all my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess +my astonishment, and vexation--for, as you well know, I never wished him +to be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known +his intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to +remain here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of +it, however, and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, +whatever might be her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to +mine. I made a point also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, +and gave her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her +marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that was all. I have +for some time been more particularly resolved on the match from seeing +the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling +secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end awaken +a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion must make +them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be +the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown +cool towards me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously +and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of her person. +HE was all astonishment at the appearance of my visitor, and at first +observed Sir James with an attention which I was pleased to see not +unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was impossible for me really +to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me, very +soon made the whole party understand that his heart was devoted to my +daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when we +were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, +in desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles +Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for interference; +though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for +doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly; and, +though I counted the hours of Sir James's stay, my mind was entirely +satisfied with the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I must feel at +the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, from a quarter +where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came this morning into +my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of countenance, and after +some preface informed me in so many words that he wished to reason with +me on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin to +address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all amazement. +When I found that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I calmly +begged an explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and +by whom commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in +his speech a few insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of +tenderness, to which I listened with perfect indifference, that my +daughter had acquainted him with some circumstances concerning herself, +Sir James, and me which had given him great uneasiness. In short, I +found that she had in the first place actually written to him to request +his interference, and that, on receiving her letter, he had conversed +with her on the subject of it, in order to understand the particulars, +and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have not a doubt but that +the girl took this opportunity of making downright love to him. I am +convinced of it by the manner in which he spoke of her. Much good may +such love do him! I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by +the passion which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal +of. I shall always detest them both. He can have no true regard for +me, or he would not have listened to her; and SHE, with her little +rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the +protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged +two words before! I am equally confounded at HER impudence and HIS +credulity. How dared he believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought +he not to have felt assured that I must have unanswerable motives for +all that I had done? Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness +then? Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against +the person defaming me--that person, too, a chit, a child, without +talent or education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I +was calm for some time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be +overcome, and I hope I was afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, +long endeavoured, to soften my resentment; but that woman is a +fool indeed who, while insulted by accusation, can be worked on by +compliments. At length he left me, as deeply provoked as myself; and +he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the most +violent indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, +and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still +fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I +heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be +his reflections! but some people's feelings are incomprehensible. I have +not yet tranquillised myself enough to see Frederica. SHE shall not soon +forget the occurrences of this day; she shall find that she has poured +forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed herself for ever +to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest resentment of her +injured mother. + +Your affectionate + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is +most delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, +I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the +pleasure of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased +by all that you have previously suffered. I am so much agitated by +delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but am determined to send you +a few short lines by James, that you may have some explanation of what +must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald should be returning to +Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in +the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out of the room. I +instantly saw that something was the matter; his complexion was raised, +and he spoke with great emotion; you know his eager manner, my dear +mother, when his mind is interested. "Catherine," said he, "I am going +home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must go: it is a great while +since I have seen my father and mother. I am going to send James forward +with my hunters immediately; if you have any letter, therefore, he can +take it. I shall not be at home myself till Wednesday or Thursday, as I +shall go through London, where I have business; but before I leave you," +he continued, speaking in a lower tone, and with still greater energy, +"I must warn you of one thing--do not let Frederica Vernon be made +unhappy by that Martin. He wants to marry her; her mother promotes the +match, but she cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I speak +from the fullest conviction of the truth of what I say; I Know that +Frederica is made wretched by Sir James's continuing here. She is a +sweet girl, and deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately; he is +only a fool: but what her mother can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye," +he added, shaking my hand with earnestness; "I do not know when you will +see me again; but remember what I tell you of Frederica; you MUST make +it your business to see justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and +has a very superior mind to what we have given her credit for." He then +left me, and ran upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for I know what +his feelings must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I need +not attempt to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same +spot, overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it +required some consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes +after my return to the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, +of course, that she and Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with +anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress +of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after +chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said to me, "I find +from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy--is it true that +he leaves Churchhill this morning?" I replied that it was. "He told +us nothing of all this last night," said she, laughing, "or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men +are often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming +than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to +change his mind at last, and not go." She soon afterwards left the room. +I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear an +alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. They must have +quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. What +delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy +your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I next +write I shall be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan +vanquished, and Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it shall +be done. I am all impatience to hear how this astonishing change was +effected. I finish as I began, with the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATH. VERNON. + + + + + +XXIV + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo +so speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that +I wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? +My dear mother, every hope which made me so happy only two hours ago has +vanished. The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we +are all as we were before. One point only is gained. Sir James Martin is +dismissed. What are we now to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed; +Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered and all but brought +to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half an hour I was in +momentary expectation of his departure. After I had sent off my letter +to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over +the whole matter, and then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had +not seen since breakfast. I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was +crying. "My dear aunt," said she, "he is going--Mr. De Courcy is going, +and it is all my fault. I am afraid you will be very angry with me, but +indeed I had no idea it would end so." "My love," I replied, "do not +think it necessary to apologize to me on that account. I shall feel +myself under an obligation to anyone who is the means of sending my +brother home, because," recollecting myself, "I know my father wants +very much to see him. But what is it you have done to occasion all +this?" She blushed deeply as she answered: "I was so unhappy about Sir +James that I could not help--I have done something very wrong, I know; +but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had +ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and--" "You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference," said I, to +save her the explanation. "No, but I wrote to him--I did indeed, I got +up this morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and +when my letter was done I thought I never should have courage to give +it. After breakfast however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the +passage, and then, as I knew that everything must depend on that moment, +I forced myself to give it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I +dared not look at him, and ran away directly. I was in such a fright I +could hardly breathe. My dear aunt, you do not know how miserable I +have been." "Frederica" said I, "you ought to have told me all your +distresses. You would have found in me a friend always ready to assist +you. Do you think that your uncle or I should not have espoused your +cause as warmly as my brother?" "Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness," +said she, colouring again, "but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do +anything with my mother; but I was mistaken: they have had a dreadful +quarrel about it, and he is going away. Mamma will never forgive me, +and I shall be worse off than ever." "No, you shall not," I replied; +"in such a point as this your mother's prohibition ought not to have +prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She has no right to +make you unhappy, and she shall NOT do it. Your applying, however, to +Reginald can be productive only of good to all parties. I believe it +is best as it is. Depend upon it that you shall not be made unhappy any +longer." At that moment how great was my astonishment at seeing Reginald +come out of Lady Susan's dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. +His confusion at seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately +disappeared. "Are you going?" I said; "you will find Mr. Vernon in his +own room." "No, Catherine," he replied, "I am not going. Will you let +me speak to you a moment?" We went into my room. "I find," he continued, +his confusion increasing as he spoke, "that I have been acting with my +usual foolish impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and +was on the point of leaving the house under a false impression of +her conduct. There has been some very great mistake; we have been all +mistaken, I fancy. Frederica does not know her mother. Lady Susan means +nothing but her good, but she will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan +does not always know, therefore, what will make her daughter happy. +Besides, I could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in +applying to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but it +is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to +you about it, if you are at leisure." "Certainly," I replied, deeply +sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. "Did I not tell you," said she with +a smile, "that your brother would not leave us after all?" "You did, +indeed," replied I very gravely; "but I flattered myself you would be +mistaken." "I should not have hazarded such an opinion," returned she, +"if it had not at that moment occurred to me that his resolution of +going might be occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this +morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, +from our not rightly understanding each other's meaning. This idea +struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an accidental +dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the room +almost immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up those +mistakes as far as I could. The case was this--Frederica had set herself +violently against marrying Sir James." "And can your ladyship wonder +that she should?" cried I with some warmth; "Frederica has an excellent +understanding, and Sir James has none." "I am at least very far from +regretting it, my dear sister," said she; "on the contrary, I am +grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter's sense. Sir James is +certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and had +Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could have +wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much as she +does, I should not have been anxious for the match." "It is odd that +you should alone be ignorant of your daughter's sense!" "Frederica never +does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and besides +she is afraid of me. During her poor father's life she was a spoilt +child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to show +has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy +of intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself +forward." "Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her education!" +"Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware of that; but +I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw blame on the +memory of one whose name is sacred with me." Here she pretended to cry; +I was out of patience with her. "But what," said I, "was your ladyship +going to tell me about your disagreement with my brother?" "It +originated in an action of my daughter's, which equally marks her want +of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been mentioning--she +wrote to Mr. De Courcy." "I know she did; you had forbidden her speaking +to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress; what could she do, +therefore, but apply to my brother?" "Good God!" she exclaimed, "what an +opinion you must have of me! Can you possibly suppose that I was +aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object to make my own child +miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to you on the subject +from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? Do you think +me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I capable of +consigning HER to everlasting: misery whose welfare it is my first +earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!" "What, then, was your +intention when you insisted on her silence?" "Of what use, my dear +sister, could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? +Why should I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to +myself? Neither for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such +a thing be desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could nor +wish for the interference, however friendly, of another person. I was +mistaken, it is true, but I believed myself right." "But what was this +mistake to which your ladyship so often alludes! from whence arose so +astonishing a misconception of your daughter's feelings! Did you not +know that she disliked Sir James?" "I knew that he was not absolutely +the man she would have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections +to him did not arise from any perception of his deficiency. You must +not question me, however, my dear sister, too minutely on this point," +continued she, taking me affectionately by the hand; "I honestly own +that there is something to conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her +applying to Mr. De Courcy hurt me particularly." "What is it you mean +to infer," said I, "by this appearance of mystery? If you think your +daughter at all attached to Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could +not less deserve to be attended to than if the cause of her objecting +had been a consciousness of his folly; and why should your ladyship, +at any rate, quarrel with my brother for an interference which, you must +know, it is not in his nature to refuse when urged in such a manner?" + +"His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with +me; his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in +distress! We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than +I really was; I considered his interference less excusable than I +now find it. I have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression +mortified to find it, as I thought, so ill bestowed We were both warm, +and of course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is +consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, +however, and at the same time began to think that we had been perhaps +equally mistaken in each other's meaning, I resolved to have an +explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I must +always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have sensibly hurt +me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so gloomily. I have +now only to say further, that as I am convinced of Frederica's having +a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he +must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for having even, though +innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She shall have all the +retribution in my power to make; if she value her own happiness as much +as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself as she ought, she may +now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for thus trespassing on your +time, but I owe it to my own character; and after this explanation I +trust I am in no danger of sinking in your opinion." I could have +said, "Not much, indeed!" but I left her almost in silence. It was +the greatest stretch of forbearance I could practise. I could not have +stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her deceit! but I will not +allow myself to dwell on them; they will strike you sufficiently. My +heart sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I returned +to the parlour. Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry +as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship +encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still +looks unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of her mother's anger; and though +dreading my brother's departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I +see how closely she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now +no hope for her. There is not a chance of her affection being returned. +He thinks very differently of her from what he used to do; he does her +some justice, but his reconciliation with her mother precludes every +dearer hope. Prepare, my dear mother, for the worst! The probability of +their marrying is surely heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. +When that wretched event takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to +us. I am thankful that my last letter will precede this by so little, as +every moment that you can be saved from feeling a joy which leads only +to disappointment is of consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in +high irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought +to be quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring +peace than I ever intended to submit to--a spirit, too, resulting from +a fancied sense of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I +shall not easily forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the point +of leaving Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson +brought me word of it. I found, therefore, that something must be done; +for I did not choose to leave my character at the mercy of a man whose +passions are so violent and so revengeful. It would have been trifling +with my reputation to allow of his departing with such an impression in +my disfavour; in this light, condescension was necessary. I sent +Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he went; he came +immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature when we +last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the summons, +and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened by what I +might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it was composed +and dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which might +convince him that I was not quite happy. "I beg your pardon, sir, for +the liberty I have taken in sending for you," said I; "but as I have +just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it my +duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your visit here +even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed between +us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in the same +house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of friendship +must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; and your +resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison with our +situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. +But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it +must be to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so +dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon +which your society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. +My removal, therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, +with perfect convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular +request that I may not in any way be instrumental in separating a +family so affectionately attached to each other. Where I go is of +no consequence to anyone; of very little to myself; but you are of +importance to all your connections." Here I concluded, and I hope you +will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on Reginald justifies some +portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable than instantaneous. Oh, +how delightful it was to watch the variations of his countenance while I +spoke! to see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains +of displeasure. There is something agreeable in feelings so easily +worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the +world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes +to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a +very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, and +rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would +have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without +deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive +him such an instance of pride, and am doubtful whether I ought not to +punish him by dismissing him at once after this reconciliation, or +by marrying and teazing him for ever. But these measures are each too +violent to be adopted without some deliberation; at present my thoughts +are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things to compass: +I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application to +Reginald; I must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the +rest of his conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent +triumph of her look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, +in reconciling Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated +young man; and I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which +I have stooped within these few days. To effect all this I have various +plans. I have also an idea of being soon in town; and whatever may be +my determination as to the rest, I shall probably put THAT project +in execution; for London will be always the fairest field of action, +however my views may be directed; and at any rate I shall there be +rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten weeks' +penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to complete +the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of +mind, a disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you +know I am not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim +to the indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's +inclinations. Her idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to +discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it +seems incumbent on me to take her to town and marry her immediately to +Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary to his, I shall have +some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at present, in +fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given up +the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the +honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these +matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings to +suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVI + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well +established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest +of his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think more of +yourself and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition to do +you credit in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place at +Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it +is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, +to punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging that +romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging +this: Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite +of Mr. Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely +miserable about you, and jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it +would be highly unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet, if you +do not allow him to see you here, I cannot answer for his not committing +some great imprudence--such as going to Churchhill, for instance, which +would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my advice, and resolve to marry +De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to you to get Mainwaring +out of the way; and you only can have influence enough to send him back +to his wife. I have still another motive for your coming: Mr. Johnson +leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for his health to Bath, where, +if the waters are favourable to his constitution and my wishes, he will +be laid up with the gout many weeks. During his absence we shall be able +to chuse our own society, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to +Edward Street, but that once he forced from me a kind of promise never +to invite you to my house; nothing but my being in the utmost distress +for money should have extorted it from me. I can get you, however, +a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we may be +always together there or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. Johnson +as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not sleeping in the +house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife's jealousy. +Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she always +was silly--intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of a +large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might +have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share HIS feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and +I could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the +masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles--there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or +her mother's friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a very +bad set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I can +hardly tell which would have been worse for her. If she is with her +mother, moreover, she must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, +and that would be the greatest evil of all. Here we shall in time be in +peace, and our regular employments, our books and conversations, with +exercise, the children, and every domestic pleasure in my power to +procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this youthful attachment. +I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any other woman in +the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will be in town, or +whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be cordial in my +invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality on my part +will keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he intended +being in London this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship's +steps would be bent thither; and though he professed himself quite +undetermined, there was something in his look and voice as he spoke +which contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; I look upon +the event as so far decided that I resign myself to it in despair. If he +leaves you soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some +means or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately +contrived to have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his +journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is +brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to +join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when I had a fancy +for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. +It is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my +confinement must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill here +instead of at Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At Bath +his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon me; and +he bears pain with such patience that I have not the common excuse for +losing my temper. + +Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXIX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,--There needed not this last fit of the gout to make +me detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to +be estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear +Alicia, of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! +just old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too +old to be agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, +had scarcely swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. +I will not dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how +strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners and those of +Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or two +I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though this +was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not +feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with +much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, +is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under some +pretence or other. He must not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still +doubtful at times as to marrying; if the old man would die I might not +hesitate, but a state of dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will +not suit the freedom of my spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that +event, I shall have excuse enough at present in having been scarcely ten +months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring any hint of my intention, or +allowed him to consider my acquaintance with Reginald as more than the +commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably appeased. Adieu, till we meet; +I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that +I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet +feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time +originally fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my +power, nor accuse me of instability without first hearing my reasons. +In the course of my journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for +reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every review has +served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness of +conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have +been hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill +accords with the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We +have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not +complete the imprudence by ratifying it while there is so much reason +to fear the connection would be opposed by those friends on whom you +depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on your father's side +of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so extensive as +those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not strictly +reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has a +right to require; a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a connection +so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often acknowledged too late +by those who feel like me. I have now been but a few months a widow, +and, however little indebted to my husband's memory for any happiness +derived from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget that the +indelicacy of so early a second marriage must subject me to the censure +of the world, and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the +displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against +the injustice of general reproach, but the loss of HIS valued esteem +I am, as you well know, ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be +added the consciousness of having injured you with your family, how am I +to support myself? With feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of +having divided the son from his parents would make me, even with you, +the most miserable of beings. It will surely, therefore, be advisable to +delay our union--to delay it till appearances are more promising--till +affairs have taken a more favourable turn. To assist us In such a +resolution I feel that absence will be necessary. We must not meet. +Cruel as this sentence may appear, the necessity of pronouncing it, +which can alone reconcile it to myself, will be evident to you when you +have considered our situation in the light in which I have found myself +imperiously obliged to place it. You may be--you must be--well assured +that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty could induce me +to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of +insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, +I say that we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some +months from each other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. +Vernon, who, accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers +fortune as necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a +nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon--very soon. Tell me +that you submit to my arguments, and do not reproach me for using such. +I cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so high as to need being +repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and fortunately many +of my friends are in town; amongst them the Mainwarings; you know how +sincerely I regard both husband and wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XXXI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,--That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him +to town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased +with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. +He will carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction to +you, with whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening +with you, that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I have told +him that I am not quite well, and must be alone; and should he call +again there might be confusion, for it is impossible to be sure of +servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You will +not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as +much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; say +all that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if he +remains here; you know my reasons--propriety, and so forth. I would +urge them more myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as +Mainwaring comes within half an hour. Adieu! + +S VERNON + + + + + +XXXII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,--I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant +entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian's presence, +though I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out +when both she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away at all +events; but she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the +drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her husband, +but perhaps you know this already from himself. She came to this house +to entreat my husband's interference, and before I could be aware of +it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known to him, and +unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring's servant that he had visited +you every day since your being in town, and had just watched him to your +door herself! What could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by +this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not +accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for +some time suspected De Courcy of intending to marry you, and would +speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be in the house. That +detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has fretted herself +thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have been all +closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will plague +his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This eclaircissement is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am +undismayed however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; +depend on it, I can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just +gone; he brought me the news of his wife's arrival. Silly woman, what +does she expect by such manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly +at Langford. Reginald will be a little enraged at first, but by +to-morrow's dinner, everything will be well again. + +Adieu! + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +--Hotel + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as +you are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable +authority such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying +conviction of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute +necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You +cannot doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! that word will be +sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. +Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can intimately +judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find indulgence +in describing them to a woman who will glory in having excited their +anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form +some rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you +to occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not +explained everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a +doubtful meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted +to my discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for +me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate +me beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. +Mainwaring's jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to +again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely +incomprehensible. Believe me the single word of Langford is not of such +potent intelligence as to supersede the necessity of more. If we ARE to +part, it will at least be handsome to take your personal leave--but +I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am serious enough; for to be +sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem Is a humiliation to which I +know not how to submit. I shall count every minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVI + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +----Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since +it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had +reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire +belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your +perverted abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been +unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, +of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time +existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which +you were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever +since your leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that +he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at +the time when I was an encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I +not escaped! I have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complaint, +every sigh of regret. My own folly had endangered me, my preservation I +owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; but the unfortunate Mrs. +Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past seemed to threaten +her reason, how is SHE to be consoled! After such a discovery as this, +you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding you +adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less to +abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for the +weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXVII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago +is no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that +the prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your +restoration to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of +filial obedience, and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my +share in this disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. +De Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves +London, he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, +and do not be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must +soon be given up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I +persist in the connection, he will settle in the country for the rest of +his life, and you know it is impossible to submit to such an extremity +while any other alternative remains. You have heard of course that the +Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will come home to us +again; but she is still so fond of her husband, and frets so much about +him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just come to +town to be with her aunt, and they say that she declares she will have +Sir James Martin before she leaves London again. If I were you, I would +certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to give you my opinion of +Mr. De Courcy; I am really delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I +think, as Mainwaring, and with such an open, good-humoured countenance, +that one cannot help loving him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he +are the greatest friends in the world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish +matters did not go so perversely. That unlucky visit to Langford! but I +dare say you did all for the best, and there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + +My dear Alicia,--I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot +be impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as +independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as +ever. For this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure +you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and +everything about me than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor, +Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing either again. Have +I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and +were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by +HIM. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your power to +hasten. The violence of her feelings, which must wear her out, may be +easily kept in irritation. I rely on your friendship for this. I am now +satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald, and +am equally determined that Frederica never shall. To-morrow, I shall +fetch her from Churchhill, and let Maria Mainwaring tremble for the +consequence. Frederica shall be Sir James's wife before she quits my +house, and she may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, I regard them +not. I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others; of +resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, +and for whom I feel no respect. I have given up too much, have been too +easily worked on, but Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, +dearest of friends; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and +may you always regard me as unalterably yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XL + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +My dear Catherine,--I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald's being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald +is returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to +tell us they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, +and I have not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low +that I have not the heart to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon +know all. This is the most joyful hour he has ever given us since the +day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to have you here, and it is our +particular wish and entreaty that you would come to us as soon as you +can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope nothing will make +it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my grand-children; and +your dear niece is included, of course; I long to see her. It has been +a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, and seeing nobody from +Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary before; but this happy +meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in my thoughts, +and when Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits (as I trust he +soon will) we will try to rob him of his heart once more, and I am full +of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY + + + + + +XLI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated--and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because +on Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most +unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness +and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry him when she +got to London than as if parted from him for ever. She stayed nearly two +hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable, +not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness between them. +I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his arrival in town; +not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see +how she looked. She immediately answered, without any embarrassment, +that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; but she believed +he had already returned home, which I was very far from crediting. Your +kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we +and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be +in town again by that time! I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, +but I am sorry to say that her mother's errand hither was to fetch her +away; and, miserable as it made the poor girl, it was impossible to +detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to let her go, and so was her +uncle; and all that could be urged we did urge; but Lady Susan declared +that as she was now about to fix herself in London for several months, +she could not be easy if her daughter were not with her for masters, +&c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and Mr. Vernon +believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking +leave of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember +that if she were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took +care to see her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a +little more comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town +and judge of her situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect +than now appears of the match which the conclusion of your letter +declares your expectations of. At present, it is not very likely, + +Yours ever, &c., + +C. VERNON + + + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance +to the State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. +Vernon and her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style +of Frederica's letters, that they were written under her mother's +inspection! and therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she +could make it personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. +Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, +of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower +than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get +Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; +and, though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing +unattempted that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law's +consent to it. Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early +visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, +lived only to do whatever he was desired, soon found some accommodating +business to call him thither. With a heart full of the matter, Mrs. +Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her arrival in town, and was +met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made her almost turn +from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of +guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent spirits, and +seemed eager to show at once by ever possible attention to her brother +and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in their +society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same +restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother as +heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and +confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, on the +part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir James was +entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he was not in +London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was solicitous only for +the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging, in terms of +grateful delight, that Frederica was now growing every day more and more +what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, surprized and incredulous, +knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in her own views, +only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first hope +of anything better was derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she +thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London's +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, +directly proposed her niece's returning with them into the country. Lady +Susan was unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, +from a variety of reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though +her own plans were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long +be in her power to take Frederica into the country herself, concluded by +declining entirely to profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon +persevered, however, in the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued +to resist, her resistance in the course of a few days seemed somewhat +less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza decided what might not +have been decided quite so soon. Lady Susan's maternal fears were then +too much awakened for her to think of anything but Frederica's removal +from the risk of infection; above all disorders in the world she most +dreaded the influenza for her daughter's constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging +a removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very +ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her +stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, +and in the course of two or more to write to her at all. Frederica was +therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an +affection for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his +attachment to her mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and +detesting the sex, might be reasonably looked for in the course of a +twelvemonth. Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald's +feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or +was not happy in her second choice, I do not see how it can ever be +ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on either side of +the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she had nothing +against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem to +have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, therefore, +to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess that I +can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting herself +to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on +purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years +older than herself. + + + + + + + + + + +LOVE AND FREINDSHIP AND OTHER EARLY WORKS + +A Collection of Juvenile Writings + +By Jane Austen + + + +Transcriber's Note: A few very small changes have been made to this +version: Italics have been converted to capitals. The British 'pound' +symbol has been converted to 'L'; but in general the author's erratic +spelling, punctuation and capitalisations have been retained. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + Love and Freindship + Lesley Castle + The History of England + Collection of Letters + Scraps + + + + + +LOVE AND FREINDSHIP + + + + TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE FEUILLIDE THIS NOVEL + IS INSCRIBED BY HER + OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT + + THE AUTHOR. + + + "Deceived in Freindship and Betrayed in Love." + + + + +LETTER the FIRST From ISABEL to LAURA + +How often, in answer to my repeated intreaties that you would give my +Daughter a regular detail of the Misfortunes and Adventures of your +Life, have you said "No, my freind never will I comply with your request +till I may be no longer in Danger of again experiencing such dreadful +ones." + +Surely that time is now at hand. You are this day 55. If a woman +may ever be said to be in safety from the determined Perseverance of +disagreeable Lovers and the cruel Persecutions of obstinate Fathers, +surely it must be at such a time of Life. Isabel + + + + +LETTER 2nd LAURA to ISABEL + +Altho' I cannot agree with you in supposing that I shall never again be +exposed to Misfortunes as unmerited as those I have already experienced, +yet to avoid the imputation of Obstinacy or ill-nature, I will gratify +the curiosity of your daughter; and may the fortitude with which I have +suffered the many afflictions of my past Life, prove to her a useful +lesson for the support of those which may befall her in her own. Laura + + + + +LETTER 3rd LAURA to MARIANNE + +As the Daughter of my most intimate freind I think you entitled to that +knowledge of my unhappy story, which your Mother has so often solicited +me to give you. + +My Father was a native of Ireland and an inhabitant of Wales; my Mother +was the natural Daughter of a Scotch Peer by an italian Opera-girl--I +was born in Spain and received my Education at a Convent in France. + +When I had reached my eighteenth Year I was recalled by my Parents to +my paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion was situated in one of the most +romantic parts of the Vale of Uske. Tho' my Charms are now considerably +softened and somewhat impaired by the Misfortunes I have undergone, I +was once beautiful. But lovely as I was the Graces of my Person were the +least of my Perfections. Of every accomplishment accustomary to my sex, +I was Mistress. When in the Convent, my progress had always exceeded my +instructions, my Acquirements had been wonderfull for my age, and I had +shortly surpassed my Masters. + +In my Mind, every Virtue that could adorn it was centered; it was the +Rendez-vous of every good Quality and of every noble sentiment. + +A sensibility too tremblingly alive to every affliction of my Freinds, +my Acquaintance and particularly to every affliction of my own, was my +only fault, if a fault it could be called. Alas! how altered now! Tho' +indeed my own Misfortunes do not make less impression on me than they +ever did, yet now I never feel for those of an other. My accomplishments +too, begin to fade--I can neither sing so well nor Dance so gracefully +as I once did--and I have entirely forgot the MINUET DELA COUR. Adeiu. +Laura. + + + + +LETTER 4th Laura to MARIANNE + +Our neighbourhood was small, for it consisted only of your Mother. She +may probably have already told you that being left by her Parents +in indigent Circumstances she had retired into Wales on eoconomical +motives. There it was our freindship first commenced. Isobel was then +one and twenty. Tho' pleasing both in her Person and Manners (between +ourselves) she never possessed the hundredth part of my Beauty or +Accomplishments. Isabel had seen the World. She had passed 2 Years at +one of the first Boarding-schools in London; had spent a fortnight in +Bath and had supped one night in Southampton. + +"Beware my Laura (she would often say) Beware of the insipid Vanities +and idle Dissipations of the Metropolis of England; Beware of the +unmeaning Luxuries of Bath and of the stinking fish of Southampton." + +"Alas! (exclaimed I) how am I to avoid those evils I shall never +be exposed to? What probability is there of my ever tasting the +Dissipations of London, the Luxuries of Bath, or the stinking Fish of +Southampton? I who am doomed to waste my Days of Youth and Beauty in an +humble Cottage in the Vale of Uske." + +Ah! little did I then think I was ordained so soon to quit that humble +Cottage for the Deceitfull Pleasures of the World. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 5th LAURA to MARIANNE + +One Evening in December as my Father, my Mother and myself, were +arranged in social converse round our Fireside, we were on a sudden +greatly astonished, by hearing a violent knocking on the outward door of +our rustic Cot. + +My Father started--"What noise is that," (said he.) "It sounds like a +loud rapping at the door"--(replied my Mother.) "it does indeed." (cried +I.) "I am of your opinion; (said my Father) it certainly does appear +to proceed from some uncommon violence exerted against our unoffending +door." "Yes (exclaimed I) I cannot help thinking it must be somebody who +knocks for admittance." + +"That is another point (replied he;) We must not pretend to determine +on what motive the person may knock--tho' that someone DOES rap at the +door, I am partly convinced." + +Here, a 2d tremendous rap interrupted my Father in his speech, and +somewhat alarmed my Mother and me. + +"Had we better not go and see who it is? (said she) the servants are +out." "I think we had." (replied I.) "Certainly, (added my Father) +by all means." "Shall we go now?" (said my Mother,) "The sooner the +better." (answered he.) "Oh! let no time be lost" (cried I.) + +A third more violent Rap than ever again assaulted our ears. "I am +certain there is somebody knocking at the Door." (said my Mother.) +"I think there must," (replied my Father) "I fancy the servants are +returned; (said I) I think I hear Mary going to the Door." "I'm glad of +it (cried my Father) for I long to know who it is." + +I was right in my conjecture; for Mary instantly entering the Room, +informed us that a young Gentleman and his Servant were at the door, who +had lossed their way, were very cold and begged leave to warm themselves +by our fire. + +"Won't you admit them?" (said I.) "You have no objection, my Dear?" +(said my Father.) "None in the World." (replied my Mother.) + +Mary, without waiting for any further commands immediately left the room +and quickly returned introducing the most beauteous and amiable Youth, I +had ever beheld. The servant she kept to herself. + +My natural sensibility had already been greatly affected by the +sufferings of the unfortunate stranger and no sooner did I first behold +him, than I felt that on him the happiness or Misery of my future Life +must depend. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 6th LAURA to MARIANNE + +The noble Youth informed us that his name was Lindsay--for particular +reasons however I shall conceal it under that of Talbot. He told us that +he was the son of an English Baronet, that his Mother had been for many +years no more and that he had a Sister of the middle size. "My Father +(he continued) is a mean and mercenary wretch--it is only to such +particular freinds as this Dear Party that I would thus betray his +failings. Your Virtues my amiable Polydore (addressing himself to my +father) yours Dear Claudia and yours my Charming Laura call on me to +repose in you, my confidence." We bowed. "My Father seduced by the false +glare of Fortune and the Deluding Pomp of Title, insisted on my giving +my hand to Lady Dorothea. No never exclaimed I. Lady Dorothea is lovely +and Engaging; I prefer no woman to her; but know Sir, that I scorn to +marry her in compliance with your Wishes. No! Never shall it be said +that I obliged my Father." + +We all admired the noble Manliness of his reply. He continued. + +"Sir Edward was surprised; he had perhaps little expected to meet with +so spirited an opposition to his will. "Where, Edward in the name of +wonder (said he) did you pick up this unmeaning gibberish? You have +been studying Novels I suspect." I scorned to answer: it would have +been beneath my dignity. I mounted my Horse and followed by my faithful +William set forth for my Aunts." + +"My Father's house is situated in Bedfordshire, my Aunt's in Middlesex, +and tho' I flatter myself with being a tolerable proficient in +Geography, I know not how it happened, but I found myself entering this +beautifull Vale which I find is in South Wales, when I had expected to +have reached my Aunts." + +"After having wandered some time on the Banks of the Uske without +knowing which way to go, I began to lament my cruel Destiny in the +bitterest and most pathetic Manner. It was now perfectly dark, not a +single star was there to direct my steps, and I know not what might have +befallen me had I not at length discerned thro' the solemn Gloom that +surrounded me a distant light, which as I approached it, I discovered +to be the chearfull Blaze of your fire. Impelled by the combination +of Misfortunes under which I laboured, namely Fear, Cold and Hunger I +hesitated not to ask admittance which at length I have gained; and +now my Adorable Laura (continued he taking my Hand) when may I hope +to receive that reward of all the painfull sufferings I have undergone +during the course of my attachment to you, to which I have ever aspired. +Oh! when will you reward me with Yourself?" + +"This instant, Dear and Amiable Edward." (replied I.). We were +immediately united by my Father, who tho' he had never taken orders had +been bred to the Church. Adeiu Laura + + + + +LETTER 7th LAURA to MARIANNE + +We remained but a few days after our Marriage, in the Vale of Uske. +After taking an affecting Farewell of my Father, my Mother and my +Isabel, I accompanied Edward to his Aunt's in Middlesex. Philippa +received us both with every expression of affectionate Love. My arrival +was indeed a most agreable surprise to her as she had not only been +totally ignorant of my Marriage with her Nephew, but had never even had +the slightest idea of there being such a person in the World. + +Augusta, the sister of Edward was on a visit to her when we arrived. +I found her exactly what her Brother had described her to be--of the +middle size. She received me with equal surprise though not with equal +Cordiality, as Philippa. There was a disagreable coldness and Forbidding +Reserve in her reception of me which was equally distressing and +Unexpected. None of that interesting Sensibility or amiable simpathy +in her manners and Address to me when we first met which should have +distinguished our introduction to each other. Her Language was neither +warm, nor affectionate, her expressions of regard were neither animated +nor cordial; her arms were not opened to receive me to her Heart, tho' +my own were extended to press her to mine. + +A short Conversation between Augusta and her Brother, which I +accidentally overheard encreased my dislike to her, and convinced me +that her Heart was no more formed for the soft ties of Love than for the +endearing intercourse of Freindship. + +"But do you think that my Father will ever be reconciled to this +imprudent connection?" (said Augusta.) + +"Augusta (replied the noble Youth) I thought you had a better opinion of +me, than to imagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as to consider +my Father's Concurrence in any of my affairs, either of Consequence +or concern to me. Tell me Augusta with sincerity; did you ever know +me consult his inclinations or follow his Advice in the least trifling +Particular since the age of fifteen?" + +"Edward (replied she) you are surely too diffident in your own praise. +Since you were fifteen only! My Dear Brother since you were five years +old, I entirely acquit you of ever having willingly contributed to the +satisfaction of your Father. But still I am not without apprehensions +of your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by +seeking a support for your wife in the Generosity of Sir Edward." + +"Never, never Augusta will I so demean myself. (said Edward). Support! +What support will Laura want which she can receive from him?" + +"Only those very insignificant ones of Victuals and Drink." (answered +she.) + +"Victuals and Drink! (replied my Husband in a most nobly contemptuous +Manner) and dost thou then imagine that there is no other support for +an exalted mind (such as is my Laura's) than the mean and indelicate +employment of Eating and Drinking?" + +"None that I know of, so efficacious." (returned Augusta). + +"And did you then never feel the pleasing Pangs of Love, Augusta? +(replied my Edward). Does it appear impossible to your vile and +corrupted Palate, to exist on Love? Can you not conceive the Luxury of +living in every distress that Poverty can inflict, with the object of +your tenderest affection?" + +"You are too ridiculous (said Augusta) to argue with; perhaps however +you may in time be convinced that..." + +Here I was prevented from hearing the remainder of her speech, by the +appearance of a very Handsome young Woman, who was ushured into the Room +at the Door of which I had been listening. On hearing her announced by +the Name of "Lady Dorothea," I instantly quitted my Post and followed +her into the Parlour, for I well remembered that she was the Lady, +proposed as a Wife for my Edward by the Cruel and Unrelenting Baronet. + +Altho' Lady Dorothea's visit was nominally to Philippa and Augusta, yet +I have some reason to imagine that (acquainted with the Marriage and +arrival of Edward) to see me was a principal motive to it. + +I soon perceived that tho' Lovely and Elegant in her Person and tho' +Easy and Polite in her Address, she was of that inferior order of +Beings with regard to Delicate Feeling, tender Sentiments, and refined +Sensibility, of which Augusta was one. + +She staid but half an hour and neither in the Course of her Visit, +confided to me any of her secret thoughts, nor requested me to confide +in her, any of Mine. You will easily imagine therefore my Dear Marianne +that I could not feel any ardent affection or very sincere Attachment +for Lady Dorothea. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 8th LAURA to MARIANNE, in continuation + +Lady Dorothea had not left us long before another visitor as unexpected +a one as her Ladyship, was announced. It was Sir Edward, who informed +by Augusta of her Brother's marriage, came doubtless to reproach him for +having dared to unite himself to me without his Knowledge. But Edward +foreseeing his design, approached him with heroic fortitude as soon as +he entered the Room, and addressed him in the following Manner. + +"Sir Edward, I know the motive of your Journey here--You come with the +base Design of reproaching me for having entered into an indissoluble +engagement with my Laura without your Consent. But Sir, I glory in the +Act--. It is my greatest boast that I have incurred the displeasure of +my Father!" + +So saying, he took my hand and whilst Sir Edward, Philippa, and Augusta +were doubtless reflecting with admiration on his undaunted Bravery, led +me from the Parlour to his Father's Carriage which yet remained at the +Door and in which we were instantly conveyed from the pursuit of Sir +Edward. + +The Postilions had at first received orders only to take the London +road; as soon as we had sufficiently reflected However, we ordered them +to Drive to M----. the seat of Edward's most particular freind, which +was but a few miles distant. + +At M----. we arrived in a few hours; and on sending in our names were +immediately admitted to Sophia, the Wife of Edward's freind. After +having been deprived during the course of 3 weeks of a real freind (for +such I term your Mother) imagine my transports at beholding one, most +truly worthy of the Name. Sophia was rather above the middle size; most +elegantly formed. A soft languor spread over her lovely features, but +increased their Beauty--. It was the Charectarestic of her Mind--. She +was all sensibility and Feeling. We flew into each others arms and after +having exchanged vows of mutual Freindship for the rest of our Lives, +instantly unfolded to each other the most inward secrets of our +Hearts--. We were interrupted in the delightfull Employment by the +entrance of Augustus, (Edward's freind) who was just returned from a +solitary ramble. + +Never did I see such an affecting Scene as was the meeting of Edward and +Augustus. + +"My Life! my Soul!" (exclaimed the former) "My adorable angel!" (replied +the latter) as they flew into each other's arms. It was too pathetic +for the feelings of Sophia and myself--We fainted alternately on a sofa. +Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 9th From the same to the same + +Towards the close of the day we received the following Letter from +Philippa. + +"Sir Edward is greatly incensed by your abrupt departure; he has +taken back Augusta to Bedfordshire. Much as I wish to enjoy again your +charming society, I cannot determine to snatch you from that, of such +dear and deserving Freinds--When your Visit to them is terminated, I +trust you will return to the arms of your" "Philippa." + +We returned a suitable answer to this affectionate Note and after +thanking her for her kind invitation assured her that we would certainly +avail ourselves of it, whenever we might have no other place to go to. +Tho' certainly nothing could to any reasonable Being, have appeared more +satisfactory, than so gratefull a reply to her invitation, yet I know +not how it was, but she was certainly capricious enough to be displeased +with our behaviour and in a few weeks after, either to revenge our +Conduct, or releive her own solitude, married a young and illiterate +Fortune-hunter. This imprudent step (tho' we were sensible that it would +probably deprive us of that fortune which Philippa had ever taught us to +expect) could not on our own accounts, excite from our exalted minds a +single sigh; yet fearfull lest it might prove a source of endless misery +to the deluded Bride, our trembling Sensibility was greatly affected +when we were first informed of the Event. The affectionate Entreaties of +Augustus and Sophia that we would for ever consider their House as our +Home, easily prevailed on us to determine never more to leave them, In +the society of my Edward and this Amiable Pair, I passed the happiest +moments of my Life; Our time was most delightfully spent, in mutual +Protestations of Freindship, and in vows of unalterable Love, in which +we were secure from being interrupted, by intruding and disagreable +Visitors, as Augustus and Sophia had on their first Entrance in the +Neighbourhood, taken due care to inform the surrounding Families, that +as their happiness centered wholly in themselves, they wished for no +other society. But alas! my Dear Marianne such Happiness as I then +enjoyed was too perfect to be lasting. A most severe and unexpected Blow +at once destroyed every sensation of Pleasure. Convinced as you must be +from what I have already told you concerning Augustus and Sophia, that +there never were a happier Couple, I need not I imagine, inform you that +their union had been contrary to the inclinations of their Cruel +and Mercenery Parents; who had vainly endeavoured with obstinate +Perseverance to force them into a Marriage with those whom they had ever +abhorred; but with a Heroic Fortitude worthy to be related and admired, +they had both, constantly refused to submit to such despotic Power. + +After having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles of +Parental Authority, by a Clandestine Marriage, they were determined +never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in the World, in +so doing, by accepting any proposals of reconciliation that might be +offered them by their Fathers--to this farther tryal of their noble +independance however they never were exposed. + +They had been married but a few months when our visit to them commenced +during which time they had been amply supported by a considerable sum of +money which Augustus had gracefully purloined from his unworthy father's +Escritoire, a few days before his union with Sophia. + +By our arrival their Expenses were considerably encreased tho' their +means for supplying them were then nearly exhausted. But they, Exalted +Creatures! scorned to reflect a moment on their pecuniary Distresses and +would have blushed at the idea of paying their Debts.--Alas! what was +their Reward for such disinterested Behaviour! The beautifull Augustus +was arrested and we were all undone. Such perfidious Treachery in the +merciless perpetrators of the Deed will shock your gentle nature Dearest +Marianne as much as it then affected the Delicate sensibility of +Edward, Sophia, your Laura, and of Augustus himself. To compleat such +unparalelled Barbarity we were informed that an Execution in the House +would shortly take place. Ah! what could we do but what we did! We +sighed and fainted on the sofa. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 10th LAURA in continuation + +When we were somewhat recovered from the overpowering Effusions of our +grief, Edward desired that we would consider what was the most prudent +step to be taken in our unhappy situation while he repaired to his +imprisoned freind to lament over his misfortunes. We promised that we +would, and he set forwards on his journey to Town. During his absence +we faithfully complied with his Desire and after the most mature +Deliberation, at length agreed that the best thing we could do was +to leave the House; of which we every moment expected the officers +of Justice to take possession. We waited therefore with the greatest +impatience, for the return of Edward in order to impart to him the +result of our Deliberations. But no Edward appeared. In vain did we +count the tedious moments of his absence--in vain did we weep--in +vain even did we sigh--no Edward returned--. This was too cruel, too +unexpected a Blow to our Gentle Sensibility--we could not support it--we +could only faint. At length collecting all the Resolution I was Mistress +of, I arose and after packing up some necessary apparel for Sophia and +myself, I dragged her to a Carriage I had ordered and we instantly set +out for London. As the Habitation of Augustus was within twelve miles +of Town, it was not long e'er we arrived there, and no sooner had we +entered Holboun than letting down one of the Front Glasses I enquired of +every decent-looking Person that we passed "If they had seen my Edward?" + +But as we drove too rapidly to allow them to answer my repeated +Enquiries, I gained little, or indeed, no information concerning him. +"Where am I to drive?" said the Postilion. "To Newgate Gentle Youth +(replied I), to see Augustus." "Oh! no, no, (exclaimed Sophia) I cannot +go to Newgate; I shall not be able to support the sight of my Augustus +in so cruel a confinement--my feelings are sufficiently shocked by +the RECITAL, of his Distress, but to behold it will overpower my +Sensibility." As I perfectly agreed with her in the Justice of her +Sentiments the Postilion was instantly directed to return into the +Country. You may perhaps have been somewhat surprised my Dearest +Marianne, that in the Distress I then endured, destitute of any support, +and unprovided with any Habitation, I should never once have remembered +my Father and Mother or my paternal Cottage in the Vale of Uske. To +account for this seeming forgetfullness I must inform you of a trifling +circumstance concerning them which I have as yet never mentioned. The +death of my Parents a few weeks after my Departure, is the circumstance +I allude to. By their decease I became the lawfull Inheritress of their +House and Fortune. But alas! the House had never been their own and +their Fortune had only been an Annuity on their own Lives. Such is +the Depravity of the World! To your Mother I should have returned with +Pleasure, should have been happy to have introduced to her, my charming +Sophia and should with Chearfullness have passed the remainder of my +Life in their dear Society in the Vale of Uske, had not one obstacle +to the execution of so agreable a scheme, intervened; which was the +Marriage and Removal of your Mother to a distant part of Ireland. Adeiu +Laura. + + + + +LETTER 11th LAURA in continuation + +"I have a Relation in Scotland (said Sophia to me as we left London) who +I am certain would not hesitate in receiving me." "Shall I order the Boy +to drive there?" said I--but instantly recollecting myself, exclaimed, +"Alas I fear it will be too long a Journey for the Horses." Unwilling +however to act only from my own inadequate Knowledge of the Strength and +Abilities of Horses, I consulted the Postilion, who was entirely of my +Opinion concerning the Affair. We therefore determined to change Horses +at the next Town and to travel Post the remainder of the Journey--. When +we arrived at the last Inn we were to stop at, which was but a few miles +from the House of Sophia's Relation, unwilling to intrude our Society on +him unexpected and unthought of, we wrote a very elegant and well +penned Note to him containing an account of our Destitute and melancholy +Situation, and of our intention to spend some months with him in +Scotland. As soon as we had dispatched this Letter, we immediately +prepared to follow it in person and were stepping into the Carriage +for that Purpose when our attention was attracted by the Entrance of +a coroneted Coach and 4 into the Inn-yard. A Gentleman considerably +advanced in years descended from it. At his first Appearance my +Sensibility was wonderfully affected and e'er I had gazed at him a 2d +time, an instinctive sympathy whispered to my Heart, that he was my +Grandfather. Convinced that I could not be mistaken in my conjecture I +instantly sprang from the Carriage I had just entered, and following the +Venerable Stranger into the Room he had been shewn to, I threw myself +on my knees before him and besought him to acknowledge me as his Grand +Child. He started, and having attentively examined my features, raised +me from the Ground and throwing his Grand-fatherly arms around my Neck, +exclaimed, "Acknowledge thee! Yes dear resemblance of my Laurina and +Laurina's Daughter, sweet image of my Claudia and my Claudia's Mother, +I do acknowledge thee as the Daughter of the one and the Grandaughter of +the other." While he was thus tenderly embracing me, Sophia astonished +at my precipitate Departure, entered the Room in search of me. No sooner +had she caught the eye of the venerable Peer, than he exclaimed with +every mark of Astonishment--"Another Grandaughter! Yes, yes, I see you +are the Daughter of my Laurina's eldest Girl; your resemblance to the +beauteous Matilda sufficiently proclaims it. "Oh!" replied Sophia, "when +I first beheld you the instinct of Nature whispered me that we were in +some degree related--But whether Grandfathers, or Grandmothers, I could +not pretend to determine." He folded her in his arms, and whilst they +were tenderly embracing, the Door of the Apartment opened and a most +beautifull young Man appeared. On perceiving him Lord St. Clair started +and retreating back a few paces, with uplifted Hands, said, "Another +Grand-child! What an unexpected Happiness is this! to discover in the +space of 3 minutes, as many of my Descendants! This I am certain is +Philander the son of my Laurina's 3d girl the amiable Bertha; there +wants now but the presence of Gustavus to compleat the Union of my +Laurina's Grand-Children." + +"And here he is; (said a Gracefull Youth who that instant entered the +room) here is the Gustavus you desire to see. I am the son of Agatha +your Laurina's 4th and youngest Daughter," "I see you are indeed; +replied Lord St. Clair--But tell me (continued he looking fearfully +towards the Door) tell me, have I any other Grand-children in the +House." "None my Lord." "Then I will provide for you all without farther +delay--Here are 4 Banknotes of 50L each--Take them and remember I +have done the Duty of a Grandfather." He instantly left the Room and +immediately afterwards the House. Adeiu, Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 12th LAURA in continuation + +You may imagine how greatly we were surprised by the sudden departure +of Lord St Clair. "Ignoble Grand-sire!" exclaimed Sophia. "Unworthy +Grandfather!" said I, and instantly fainted in each other's arms. How +long we remained in this situation I know not; but when we recovered +we found ourselves alone, without either Gustavus, Philander, or the +Banknotes. As we were deploring our unhappy fate, the Door of the +Apartment opened and "Macdonald" was announced. He was Sophia's cousin. +The haste with which he came to our releif so soon after the receipt +of our Note, spoke so greatly in his favour that I hesitated not to +pronounce him at first sight, a tender and simpathetic Freind. Alas! +he little deserved the name--for though he told us that he was much +concerned at our Misfortunes, yet by his own account it appeared that +the perusal of them, had neither drawn from him a single sigh, nor +induced him to bestow one curse on our vindictive stars--. He told +Sophia that his Daughter depended on her returning with him to +Macdonald-Hall, and that as his Cousin's freind he should be happy +to see me there also. To Macdonald-Hall, therefore we went, and were +received with great kindness by Janetta the Daughter of Macdonald, and +the Mistress of the Mansion. Janetta was then only fifteen; naturally +well disposed, endowed with a susceptible Heart, and a simpathetic +Disposition, she might, had these amiable qualities been properly +encouraged, have been an ornament to human Nature; but unfortunately her +Father possessed not a soul sufficiently exalted to admire so promising +a Disposition, and had endeavoured by every means on his power +to prevent it encreasing with her Years. He had actually so far +extinguished the natural noble Sensibility of her Heart, as to prevail +on her to accept an offer from a young Man of his Recommendation. They +were to be married in a few months, and Graham, was in the House when +we arrived. WE soon saw through his character. He was just such a Man as +one might have expected to be the choice of Macdonald. They said he was +Sensible, well-informed, and Agreable; we did not pretend to Judge of +such trifles, but as we were convinced he had no soul, that he had +never read the sorrows of Werter, and that his Hair bore not the least +resemblance to auburn, we were certain that Janetta could feel no +affection for him, or at least that she ought to feel none. The very +circumstance of his being her father's choice too, was so much in his +disfavour, that had he been deserving her, in every other respect yet +THAT of itself ought to have been a sufficient reason in the Eyes of +Janetta for rejecting him. These considerations we were determined to +represent to her in their proper light and doubted not of meeting with +the desired success from one naturally so well disposed; whose errors in +the affair had only arisen from a want of proper confidence in her own +opinion, and a suitable contempt of her father's. We found her indeed +all that our warmest wishes could have hoped for; we had no difficulty +to convince her that it was impossible she could love Graham, or that it +was her Duty to disobey her Father; the only thing at which she rather +seemed to hesitate was our assertion that she must be attached to some +other Person. For some time, she persevered in declaring that she knew +no other young man for whom she had the the smallest Affection; but upon +explaining the impossibility of such a thing she said that she beleived +she DID LIKE Captain M'Kenrie better than any one she knew besides. This +confession satisfied us and after having enumerated the good Qualities +of M'Kenrie and assured her that she was violently in love with him, we +desired to know whether he had ever in any wise declared his affection +to her. + +"So far from having ever declared it, I have no reason to imagine that +he has ever felt any for me." said Janetta. "That he certainly adores +you (replied Sophia) there can be no doubt--. The Attachment must be +reciprocal. Did he never gaze on you with admiration--tenderly press +your hand--drop an involantary tear--and leave the room abruptly?" +"Never (replied she) that I remember--he has always left the room indeed +when his visit has been ended, but has never gone away particularly +abruptly or without making a bow." Indeed my Love (said I) you must be +mistaken--for it is absolutely impossible that he should ever have left +you but with Confusion, Despair, and Precipitation. Consider but for a +moment Janetta, and you must be convinced how absurd it is to suppose +that he could ever make a Bow, or behave like any other Person." +Having settled this Point to our satisfaction, the next we took into +consideration was, to determine in what manner we should inform M'Kenrie +of the favourable Opinion Janetta entertained of him.... We at length +agreed to acquaint him with it by an anonymous Letter which Sophia drew +up in the following manner. + +"Oh! happy Lover of the beautifull Janetta, oh! amiable Possessor of +HER Heart whose hand is destined to another, why do you thus delay a +confession of your attachment to the amiable Object of it? Oh! consider +that a few weeks will at once put an end to every flattering Hope that +you may now entertain, by uniting the unfortunate Victim of her father's +Cruelty to the execrable and detested Graham." + +"Alas! why do you thus so cruelly connive at the projected Misery of +her and of yourself by delaying to communicate that scheme which had +doubtless long possessed your imagination? A secret Union will at once +secure the felicity of both." + +The amiable M'Kenrie, whose modesty as he afterwards assured us had +been the only reason of his having so long concealed the violence of +his affection for Janetta, on receiving this Billet flew on the wings of +Love to Macdonald-Hall, and so powerfully pleaded his Attachment to her +who inspired it, that after a few more private interveiws, Sophia and +I experienced the satisfaction of seeing them depart for Gretna-Green, +which they chose for the celebration of their Nuptials, in preference +to any other place although it was at a considerable distance from +Macdonald-Hall. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 13th LAURA in continuation + +They had been gone nearly a couple of Hours, before either Macdonald or +Graham had entertained any suspicion of the affair. And they might not +even then have suspected it, but for the following little Accident. +Sophia happening one day to open a private Drawer in Macdonald's Library +with one of her own keys, discovered that it was the Place where he +kept his Papers of consequence and amongst them some bank notes of +considerable amount. This discovery she imparted to me; and having +agreed together that it would be a proper treatment of so vile a Wretch +as Macdonald to deprive him of money, perhaps dishonestly gained, it was +determined that the next time we should either of us happen to go that +way, we would take one or more of the Bank notes from the drawer. This +well meant Plan we had often successfully put in Execution; but alas! +on the very day of Janetta's Escape, as Sophia was majestically removing +the 5th Bank-note from the Drawer to her own purse, she was suddenly +most impertinently interrupted in her employment by the entrance of +Macdonald himself, in a most abrupt and precipitate Manner. Sophia (who +though naturally all winning sweetness could when occasions demanded it +call forth the Dignity of her sex) instantly put on a most forbidding +look, and darting an angry frown on the undaunted culprit, demanded in +a haughty tone of voice "Wherefore her retirement was thus insolently +broken in on?" The unblushing Macdonald, without even endeavouring to +exculpate himself from the crime he was charged with, meanly endeavoured +to reproach Sophia with ignobly defrauding him of his money... The +dignity of Sophia was wounded; "Wretch (exclaimed she, hastily replacing +the Bank-note in the Drawer) how darest thou to accuse me of an Act, +of which the bare idea makes me blush?" The base wretch was still +unconvinced and continued to upbraid the justly-offended Sophia in such +opprobious Language, that at length he so greatly provoked the gentle +sweetness of her Nature, as to induce her to revenge herself on him by +informing him of Janetta's Elopement, and of the active Part we had +both taken in the affair. At this period of their Quarrel I entered the +Library and was as you may imagine equally offended as Sophia at the +ill-grounded accusations of the malevolent and contemptible Macdonald. +"Base Miscreant! (cried I) how canst thou thus undauntedly endeavour to +sully the spotless reputation of such bright Excellence? Why dost thou +not suspect MY innocence as soon?" "Be satisfied Madam (replied he) I +DO suspect it, and therefore must desire that you will both leave this +House in less than half an hour." + +"We shall go willingly; (answered Sophia) our hearts have long detested +thee, and nothing but our freindship for thy Daughter could have induced +us to remain so long beneath thy roof." + +"Your Freindship for my Daughter has indeed been most powerfully exerted +by throwing her into the arms of an unprincipled Fortune-hunter." +(replied he) + +"Yes, (exclaimed I) amidst every misfortune, it will afford us some +consolation to reflect that by this one act of Freindship to Janetta, +we have amply discharged every obligation that we have received from her +father." + +"It must indeed be a most gratefull reflection, to your exalted minds." +(said he.) + +As soon as we had packed up our wardrobe and valuables, we left +Macdonald Hall, and after having walked about a mile and a half we +sate down by the side of a clear limpid stream to refresh our exhausted +limbs. The place was suited to meditation. A grove of full-grown Elms +sheltered us from the East--. A Bed of full-grown Nettles from the +West--. Before us ran the murmuring brook and behind us ran the +turn-pike road. We were in a mood for contemplation and in a Disposition +to enjoy so beautifull a spot. A mutual silence which had for some time +reigned between us, was at length broke by my exclaiming--"What a lovely +scene! Alas why are not Edward and Augustus here to enjoy its Beauties +with us?" + +"Ah! my beloved Laura (cried Sophia) for pity's sake forbear recalling +to my remembrance the unhappy situation of my imprisoned Husband. Alas, +what would I not give to learn the fate of my Augustus! to know if he is +still in Newgate, or if he is yet hung. But never shall I be able so far +to conquer my tender sensibility as to enquire after him. Oh! do not +I beseech you ever let me again hear you repeat his beloved name--. It +affects me too deeply--. I cannot bear to hear him mentioned it wounds +my feelings." + +"Excuse me my Sophia for having thus unwillingly offended you--" replied +I--and then changing the conversation, desired her to admire the noble +Grandeur of the Elms which sheltered us from the Eastern Zephyr. "Alas! +my Laura (returned she) avoid so melancholy a subject, I intreat you. +Do not again wound my Sensibility by observations on those elms. They +remind me of Augustus. He was like them, tall, magestic--he possessed +that noble grandeur which you admire in them." + +I was silent, fearfull lest I might any more unwillingly distress her by +fixing on any other subject of conversation which might again remind her +of Augustus. + +"Why do you not speak my Laura? (said she after a short pause) "I cannot +support this silence you must not leave me to my own reflections; they +ever recur to Augustus." + +"What a beautifull sky! (said I) How charmingly is the azure varied by +those delicate streaks of white!" + +"Oh! my Laura (replied she hastily withdrawing her Eyes from a momentary +glance at the sky) do not thus distress me by calling my Attention to +an object which so cruelly reminds me of my Augustus's blue sattin +waistcoat striped in white! In pity to your unhappy freind avoid a +subject so distressing." What could I do? The feelings of Sophia were +at that time so exquisite, and the tenderness she felt for Augustus so +poignant that I had not power to start any other topic, justly fearing +that it might in some unforseen manner again awaken all her sensibility +by directing her thoughts to her Husband. Yet to be silent would be +cruel; she had intreated me to talk. + +From this Dilemma I was most fortunately releived by an accident truly +apropos; it was the lucky overturning of a Gentleman's Phaeton, on the +road which ran murmuring behind us. It was a most fortunate accident +as it diverted the attention of Sophia from the melancholy reflections +which she had been before indulging. We instantly quitted our seats and +ran to the rescue of those who but a few moments before had been in so +elevated a situation as a fashionably high Phaeton, but who were +now laid low and sprawling in the Dust. "What an ample subject for +reflection on the uncertain Enjoyments of this World, would not that +Phaeton and the Life of Cardinal Wolsey afford a thinking Mind!" said I +to Sophia as we were hastening to the field of Action. + +She had not time to answer me, for every thought was now engaged by the +horrid spectacle before us. Two Gentlemen most elegantly attired +but weltering in their blood was what first struck our Eyes--we +approached--they were Edward and Augustus--. Yes dearest Marianne they +were our Husbands. Sophia shreiked and fainted on the ground--I screamed +and instantly ran mad--. We remained thus mutually deprived of our +senses, some minutes, and on regaining them were deprived of them +again. For an Hour and a Quarter did we continue in this unfortunate +situation--Sophia fainting every moment and I running mad as often. At +length a groan from the hapless Edward (who alone retained any share +of life) restored us to ourselves. Had we indeed before imagined that +either of them lived, we should have been more sparing of our Greif--but +as we had supposed when we first beheld them that they were no more, +we knew that nothing could remain to be done but what we were about. +No sooner did we therefore hear my Edward's groan than postponing our +lamentations for the present, we hastily ran to the Dear Youth and +kneeling on each side of him implored him not to die--. "Laura (said He +fixing his now languid Eyes on me) I fear I have been overturned." + +I was overjoyed to find him yet sensible. + +"Oh! tell me Edward (said I) tell me I beseech you before you die, what +has befallen you since that unhappy Day in which Augustus was arrested +and we were separated--" + +"I will" (said he) and instantly fetching a deep sigh, Expired--. Sophia +immediately sank again into a swoon--. MY greif was more audible. My +Voice faltered, My Eyes assumed a vacant stare, my face became as pale +as Death, and my senses were considerably impaired--. + +"Talk not to me of Phaetons (said I, raving in a frantic, incoherent +manner)--Give me a violin--. I'll play to him and sooth him in his +melancholy Hours--Beware ye gentle Nymphs of Cupid's Thunderbolts, avoid +the piercing shafts of Jupiter--Look at that grove of Firs--I see a Leg +of Mutton--They told me Edward was not Dead; but they deceived me--they +took him for a cucumber--" Thus I continued wildly exclaiming on my +Edward's Death--. For two Hours did I rave thus madly and should not +then have left off, as I was not in the least fatigued, had not Sophia +who was just recovered from her swoon, intreated me to consider that +Night was now approaching and that the Damps began to fall. "And +whither shall we go (said I) to shelter us from either?" "To that white +Cottage." (replied she pointing to a neat Building which rose up amidst +the grove of Elms and which I had not before observed--) I agreed and we +instantly walked to it--we knocked at the door--it was opened by an old +woman; on being requested to afford us a Night's Lodging, she informed +us that her House was but small, that she had only two Bedrooms, but +that However we should be wellcome to one of them. We were satisfied and +followed the good woman into the House where we were greatly cheered +by the sight of a comfortable fire--. She was a widow and had only one +Daughter, who was then just seventeen--One of the best of ages; but +alas! she was very plain and her name was Bridget..... Nothing therfore +could be expected from her--she could not be supposed to possess either +exalted Ideas, Delicate Feelings or refined Sensibilities--. She was +nothing more than a mere good-tempered, civil and obliging young woman; +as such we could scarcely dislike here--she was only an Object of +Contempt--. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 14th LAURA in continuation + +Arm yourself my amiable young Freind with all the philosophy you are +Mistress of; summon up all the fortitude you possess, for alas! in the +perusal of the following Pages your sensibility will be most severely +tried. Ah! what were the misfortunes I had before experienced and which +I have already related to you, to the one I am now going to inform you +of. The Death of my Father and my Mother and my Husband though almost +more than my gentle Nature could support, were trifles in comparison +to the misfortune I am now proceeding to relate. The morning after +our arrival at the Cottage, Sophia complained of a violent pain in her +delicate limbs, accompanied with a disagreable Head-ake She attributed +it to a cold caught by her continued faintings in the open air as the +Dew was falling the Evening before. This I feared was but too probably +the case; since how could it be otherwise accounted for that I should +have escaped the same indisposition, but by supposing that the +bodily Exertions I had undergone in my repeated fits of frenzy had so +effectually circulated and warmed my Blood as to make me proof against +the chilling Damps of Night, whereas, Sophia lying totally inactive +on the ground must have been exposed to all their severity. I was most +seriously alarmed by her illness which trifling as it may appear to +you, a certain instinctive sensibility whispered me, would in the End be +fatal to her. + +Alas! my fears were but too fully justified; she grew gradually +worse--and I daily became more alarmed for her. At length she was +obliged to confine herself solely to the Bed allotted us by our worthy +Landlady--. Her disorder turned to a galloping Consumption and in a few +days carried her off. Amidst all my Lamentations for her (and violent +you may suppose they were) I yet received some consolation in the +reflection of my having paid every attention to her, that could be +offered, in her illness. I had wept over her every Day--had bathed her +sweet face with my tears and had pressed her fair Hands continually in +mine--. "My beloved Laura (said she to me a few Hours before she died) +take warning from my unhappy End and avoid the imprudent conduct which +had occasioned it... Beware of fainting-fits... Though at the time they +may be refreshing and agreable yet beleive me they will in the end, if +too often repeated and at improper seasons, prove destructive to your +Constitution... My fate will teach you this.. I die a Martyr to my greif +for the loss of Augustus.. One fatal swoon has cost me my Life.. Beware +of swoons Dear Laura.... A frenzy fit is not one quarter so pernicious; +it is an exercise to the Body and if not too violent, is I dare say +conducive to Health in its consequences--Run mad as often as you chuse; +but do not faint--" + +These were the last words she ever addressed to me.. It was her dieing +Advice to her afflicted Laura, who has ever most faithfully adhered to +it. + +After having attended my lamented freind to her Early Grave, I +immediately (tho' late at night) left the detested Village in which +she died, and near which had expired my Husband and Augustus. I had not +walked many yards from it before I was overtaken by a stage-coach, +in which I instantly took a place, determined to proceed in it to +Edinburgh, where I hoped to find some kind some pitying Freind who would +receive and comfort me in my afflictions. + +It was so dark when I entered the Coach that I could not distinguish +the Number of my Fellow-travellers; I could only perceive that they were +many. Regardless however of anything concerning them, I gave myself up +to my own sad Reflections. A general silence prevailed--A silence, which +was by nothing interrupted but by the loud and repeated snores of one of +the Party. + +"What an illiterate villain must that man be! (thought I to myself) What +a total want of delicate refinement must he have, who can thus shock our +senses by such a brutal noise! He must I am certain be capable of every +bad action! There is no crime too black for such a Character!" Thus +reasoned I within myself, and doubtless such were the reflections of my +fellow travellers. + +At length, returning Day enabled me to behold the unprincipled Scoundrel +who had so violently disturbed my feelings. It was Sir Edward the father +of my Deceased Husband. By his side sate Augusta, and on the same seat +with me were your Mother and Lady Dorothea. Imagine my surprise at +finding myself thus seated amongst my old Acquaintance. Great as was my +astonishment, it was yet increased, when on looking out of Windows, +I beheld the Husband of Philippa, with Philippa by his side, on the +Coachbox and when on looking behind I beheld, Philander and Gustavus in +the Basket. "Oh! Heavens, (exclaimed I) is it possible that I should +so unexpectedly be surrounded by my nearest Relations and Connections?" +These words roused the rest of the Party, and every eye was directed to +the corner in which I sat. "Oh! my Isabel (continued I throwing myself +across Lady Dorothea into her arms) receive once more to your Bosom the +unfortunate Laura. Alas! when we last parted in the Vale of Usk, I was +happy in being united to the best of Edwards; I had then a Father and +a Mother, and had never known misfortunes--But now deprived of every +freind but you--" + +"What! (interrupted Augusta) is my Brother dead then? Tell us I intreat +you what is become of him?" "Yes, cold and insensible Nymph, (replied I) +that luckless swain your Brother, is no more, and you may now glory in +being the Heiress of Sir Edward's fortune." + +Although I had always despised her from the Day I had overheard her +conversation with my Edward, yet in civility I complied with hers and +Sir Edward's intreaties that I would inform them of the whole melancholy +affair. They were greatly shocked--even the obdurate Heart of Sir Edward +and the insensible one of Augusta, were touched with sorrow, by the +unhappy tale. At the request of your Mother I related to them every +other misfortune which had befallen me since we parted. Of the +imprisonment of Augustus and the absence of Edward--of our arrival +in Scotland--of our unexpected Meeting with our Grand-father and our +cousins--of our visit to Macdonald-Hall--of the singular service we +there performed towards Janetta--of her Fathers ingratitude for it.. of +his inhuman Behaviour, unaccountable suspicions, and barbarous treatment +of us, in obliging us to leave the House.. of our lamentations on the +loss of Edward and Augustus and finally of the melancholy Death of my +beloved Companion. + +Pity and surprise were strongly depictured in your Mother's countenance, +during the whole of my narration, but I am sorry to say, that to the +eternal reproach of her sensibility, the latter infinitely predominated. +Nay, faultless as my conduct had certainly been during the whole course +of my late misfortunes and adventures, she pretended to find fault with +my behaviour in many of the situations in which I had been placed. As +I was sensible myself, that I had always behaved in a manner which +reflected Honour on my Feelings and Refinement, I paid little attention +to what she said, and desired her to satisfy my Curiosity by informing +me how she came there, instead of wounding my spotless reputation with +unjustifiable Reproaches. As soon as she had complyed with my wishes in +this particular and had given me an accurate detail of every thing that +had befallen her since our separation (the particulars of which if you +are not already acquainted with, your Mother will give you) I applied to +Augusta for the same information respecting herself, Sir Edward and Lady +Dorothea. + +She told me that having a considerable taste for the Beauties of Nature, +her curiosity to behold the delightful scenes it exhibited in that part +of the World had been so much raised by Gilpin's Tour to the Highlands, +that she had prevailed on her Father to undertake a Tour to Scotland and +had persuaded Lady Dorothea to accompany them. That they had arrived at +Edinburgh a few Days before and from thence had made daily Excursions +into the Country around in the Stage Coach they were then in, from one +of which Excursions they were at that time returning. My next enquiries +were concerning Philippa and her Husband, the latter of whom I learned +having spent all her fortune, had recourse for subsistence to the talent +in which, he had always most excelled, namely, Driving, and that +having sold every thing which belonged to them except their Coach, had +converted it into a Stage and in order to be removed from any of his +former Acquaintance, had driven it to Edinburgh from whence he went to +Sterling every other Day. That Philippa still retaining her affection +for her ungratefull Husband, had followed him to Scotland and generally +accompanied him in his little Excursions to Sterling. "It has only been +to throw a little money into their Pockets (continued Augusta) that my +Father has always travelled in their Coach to veiw the beauties of the +Country since our arrival in Scotland--for it would certainly have been +much more agreable to us, to visit the Highlands in a Postchaise +than merely to travel from Edinburgh to Sterling and from Sterling +to Edinburgh every other Day in a crowded and uncomfortable Stage." I +perfectly agreed with her in her sentiments on the affair, and secretly +blamed Sir Edward for thus sacrificing his Daughter's Pleasure for the +sake of a ridiculous old woman whose folly in marrying so young a man +ought to be punished. His Behaviour however was entirely of a peice +with his general Character; for what could be expected from a man who +possessed not the smallest atom of Sensibility, who scarcely knew the +meaning of simpathy, and who actually snored--. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 15th LAURA in continuation. + +When we arrived at the town where we were to Breakfast, I was determined +to speak with Philander and Gustavus, and to that purpose as soon as +I left the Carriage, I went to the Basket and tenderly enquired after +their Health, expressing my fears of the uneasiness of their situation. +At first they seemed rather confused at my appearance dreading no doubt +that I might call them to account for the money which our Grandfather +had left me and which they had unjustly deprived me of, but finding +that I mentioned nothing of the Matter, they desired me to step into +the Basket as we might there converse with greater ease. Accordingly I +entered and whilst the rest of the party were devouring green tea and +buttered toast, we feasted ourselves in a more refined and sentimental +Manner by a confidential Conversation. I informed them of every thing +which had befallen me during the course of my life, and at my request +they related to me every incident of theirs. + +"We are the sons as you already know, of the two youngest Daughters +which Lord St Clair had by Laurina an italian opera girl. Our mothers +could neither of them exactly ascertain who were our Father, though it +is generally beleived that Philander, is the son of one Philip Jones +a Bricklayer and that my Father was one Gregory Staves a Staymaker of +Edinburgh. This is however of little consequence for as our Mothers were +certainly never married to either of them it reflects no Dishonour on +our Blood, which is of a most ancient and unpolluted kind. Bertha (the +Mother of Philander) and Agatha (my own Mother) always lived together. +They were neither of them very rich; their united fortunes had +originally amounted to nine thousand Pounds, but as they had always +lived on the principal of it, when we were fifteen it was diminished to +nine Hundred. This nine Hundred they always kept in a Drawer in one +of the Tables which stood in our common sitting Parlour, for the +convenience of having it always at Hand. Whether it was from this +circumstance, of its being easily taken, or from a wish of being +independant, or from an excess of sensibility (for which we were always +remarkable) I cannot now determine, but certain it is that when we had +reached our 15th year, we took the nine Hundred Pounds and ran away. +Having obtained this prize we were determined to manage it with eoconomy +and not to spend it either with folly or Extravagance. To this purpose +we therefore divided it into nine parcels, one of which we devoted to +Victuals, the 2d to Drink, the 3d to Housekeeping, the 4th to Carriages, +the 5th to Horses, the 6th to Servants, the 7th to Amusements, the 8th +to Cloathes and the 9th to Silver Buckles. Having thus arranged our +Expences for two months (for we expected to make the nine Hundred Pounds +last as long) we hastened to London and had the good luck to spend it in +7 weeks and a Day which was 6 Days sooner than we had intended. As soon +as we had thus happily disencumbered ourselves from the weight of +so much money, we began to think of returning to our Mothers, but +accidentally hearing that they were both starved to Death, we gave over +the design and determined to engage ourselves to some strolling Company +of Players, as we had always a turn for the Stage. Accordingly we +offered our services to one and were accepted; our Company was +indeed rather small, as it consisted only of the Manager his wife +and ourselves, but there were fewer to pay and the only inconvenience +attending it was the Scarcity of Plays which for want of People to fill +the Characters, we could perform. We did not mind trifles however--. +One of our most admired Performances was MACBETH, in which we were +truly great. The Manager always played BANQUO himself, his Wife my LADY +MACBETH. I did the THREE WITCHES and Philander acted ALL THE REST. To +say the truth this tragedy was not only the Best, but the only Play +that we ever performed; and after having acted it all over England, and +Wales, we came to Scotland to exhibit it over the remainder of Great +Britain. We happened to be quartered in that very Town, where you came +and met your Grandfather--. We were in the Inn-yard when his Carriage +entered and perceiving by the arms to whom it belonged, and knowing +that Lord St Clair was our Grandfather, we agreed to endeavour to get +something from him by discovering the Relationship--. You know how well +it succeeded--. Having obtained the two Hundred Pounds, we instantly +left the Town, leaving our Manager and his Wife to act MACBETH by +themselves, and took the road to Sterling, where we spent our little +fortune with great ECLAT. We are now returning to Edinburgh in order to +get some preferment in the Acting way; and such my Dear Cousin is our +History." + +I thanked the amiable Youth for his entertaining narration, and after +expressing my wishes for their Welfare and Happiness, left them in +their little Habitation and returned to my other Freinds who impatiently +expected me. + +My adventures are now drawing to a close my dearest Marianne; at least +for the present. + +When we arrived at Edinburgh Sir Edward told me that as the Widow of his +son, he desired I would accept from his Hands of four Hundred a year. I +graciously promised that I would, but could not help observing that the +unsimpathetic Baronet offered it more on account of my being the Widow +of Edward than in being the refined and amiable Laura. + +I took up my Residence in a Romantic Village in the Highlands +of Scotland where I have ever since continued, and where I can +uninterrupted by unmeaning Visits, indulge in a melancholy solitude, my +unceasing Lamentations for the Death of my Father, my Mother, my Husband +and my Freind. + +Augusta has been for several years united to Graham the Man of all +others most suited to her; she became acquainted with him during her +stay in Scotland. + +Sir Edward in hopes of gaining an Heir to his Title and Estate, at the +same time married Lady Dorothea--. His wishes have been answered. + +Philander and Gustavus, after having raised their reputation by their +Performances in the Theatrical Line at Edinburgh, removed to Covent +Garden, where they still exhibit under the assumed names of LUVIS and +QUICK. + +Philippa has long paid the Debt of Nature, Her Husband however still +continues to drive the Stage-Coach from Edinburgh to Sterling:--Adeiu my +Dearest Marianne. Laura. + +Finis + +June 13th 1790. + + + + +***** + + + + +AN UNFINISHED NOVEL IN LETTERS + + +To HENRY THOMAS AUSTEN Esqre. + +Sir + +I am now availing myself of the Liberty you have frequently honoured +me with of dedicating one of my Novels to you. That it is unfinished, I +greive; yet fear that from me, it will always remain so; that as far +as it is carried, it should be so trifling and so unworthy of you, is +another concern to your obliged humble Servant + +The Author + + +Messrs Demand and Co--please to pay Jane Austen Spinster the sum of one +hundred guineas on account of your Humble Servant. + +H. T. Austen + +L105. 0. 0. + +***** + + + + +LESLEY CASTLE + + + + +LETTER the FIRST is from Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE +LUTTERELL. Lesley Castle Janry 3rd--1792. + +My Brother has just left us. "Matilda (said he at parting) you and +Margaret will I am certain take all the care of my dear little one, that +she might have received from an indulgent, and affectionate and amiable +Mother." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he spoke these words--the +remembrance of her, who had so wantonly disgraced the Maternal character +and so openly violated the conjugal Duties, prevented his adding +anything farther; he embraced his sweet Child and after saluting Matilda +and Me hastily broke from us and seating himself in his Chaise, pursued +the road to Aberdeen. Never was there a better young Man! Ah! how little +did he deserve the misfortunes he has experienced in the Marriage state. +So good a Husband to so bad a Wife! for you know my dear Charlotte that +the Worthless Louisa left him, her Child and reputation a few weeks ago +in company with Danvers and dishonour. Never was there a sweeter face, a +finer form, or a less amiable Heart than Louisa owned! Her child already +possesses the personal Charms of her unhappy Mother! May she inherit +from her Father all his mental ones! Lesley is at present but five and +twenty, and has already given himself up to melancholy and Despair; +what a difference between him and his Father! Sir George is 57 and still +remains the Beau, the flighty stripling, the gay Lad, and sprightly +Youngster, that his Son was really about five years back, and that HE +has affected to appear ever since my remembrance. While our father is +fluttering about the streets of London, gay, dissipated, and Thoughtless +at the age of 57, Matilda and I continue secluded from Mankind in our +old and Mouldering Castle, which is situated two miles from Perth on a +bold projecting Rock, and commands an extensive veiw of the Town and its +delightful Environs. But tho' retired from almost all the World, (for +we visit no one but the M'Leods, The M'Kenzies, the M'Phersons, the +M'Cartneys, the M'Donalds, The M'kinnons, the M'lellans, the M'kays, +the Macbeths and the Macduffs) we are neither dull nor unhappy; on the +contrary there never were two more lively, more agreable or more witty +girls, than we are; not an hour in the Day hangs heavy on our Hands. We +read, we work, we walk, and when fatigued with these Employments releive +our spirits, either by a lively song, a graceful Dance, or by some smart +bon-mot, and witty repartee. We are handsome my dear Charlotte, very +handsome and the greatest of our Perfections is, that we are entirely +insensible of them ourselves. But why do I thus dwell on myself! Let me +rather repeat the praise of our dear little Neice the innocent Louisa, +who is at present sweetly smiling in a gentle Nap, as she reposes on the +sofa. The dear Creature is just turned of two years old; as handsome as +tho' 2 and 20, as sensible as tho' 2 and 30, and as prudent as tho' 2 +and 40. To convince you of this, I must inform you that she has a very +fine complexion and very pretty features, that she already knows the two +first letters in the Alphabet, and that she never tears her frocks--. If +I have not now convinced you of her Beauty, Sense and Prudence, I have +nothing more to urge in support of my assertion, and you will therefore +have no way of deciding the Affair but by coming to Lesley-Castle, and +by a personal acquaintance with Louisa, determine for yourself. Ah! my +dear Freind, how happy should I be to see you within these venerable +Walls! It is now four years since my removal from School has separated +me from you; that two such tender Hearts, so closely linked together by +the ties of simpathy and Freindship, should be so widely removed from +each other, is vastly moving. I live in Perthshire, You in Sussex. We +might meet in London, were my Father disposed to carry me there, and +were your Mother to be there at the same time. We might meet at Bath, +at Tunbridge, or anywhere else indeed, could we but be at the same place +together. We have only to hope that such a period may arrive. My Father +does not return to us till Autumn; my Brother will leave Scotland in a +few Days; he is impatient to travel. Mistaken Youth! He vainly flatters +himself that change of Air will heal the Wounds of a broken Heart! You +will join with me I am certain my dear Charlotte, in prayers for the +recovery of the unhappy Lesley's peace of Mind, which must ever be +essential to that of your sincere freind M. Lesley. + + + + +LETTER the SECOND From Miss C. LUTTERELL to Miss M. LESLEY in answer. +Glenford Febry 12 + +I have a thousand excuses to beg for having so long delayed thanking you +my dear Peggy for your agreable Letter, which beleive me I should not +have deferred doing, had not every moment of my time during the last +five weeks been so fully employed in the necessary arrangements for +my sisters wedding, as to allow me no time to devote either to you or +myself. And now what provokes me more than anything else is that the +Match is broke off, and all my Labour thrown away. Imagine how great +the Dissapointment must be to me, when you consider that after having +laboured both by Night and by Day, in order to get the Wedding dinner +ready by the time appointed, after having roasted Beef, Broiled Mutton, +and Stewed Soup enough to last the new-married Couple through the +Honey-moon, I had the mortification of finding that I had been Roasting, +Broiling and Stewing both the Meat and Myself to no purpose. Indeed my +dear Freind, I never remember suffering any vexation equal to what I +experienced on last Monday when my sister came running to me in the +store-room with her face as White as a Whipt syllabub, and told me that +Hervey had been thrown from his Horse, had fractured his Scull and was +pronounced by his surgeon to be in the most emminent Danger. "Good God! +(said I) you dont say so? Why what in the name of Heaven will become +of all the Victuals! We shall never be able to eat it while it is good. +However, we'll call in the Surgeon to help us. I shall be able to manage +the Sir-loin myself, my Mother will eat the soup, and You and the Doctor +must finish the rest." Here I was interrupted, by seeing my poor Sister +fall down to appearance Lifeless upon one of the Chests, where we keep +our Table linen. I immediately called my Mother and the Maids, and at +last we brought her to herself again; as soon as ever she was sensible, +she expressed a determination of going instantly to Henry, and was so +wildly bent on this Scheme, that we had the greatest Difficulty in the +World to prevent her putting it in execution; at last however more by +Force than Entreaty we prevailed on her to go into her room; we laid +her upon the Bed, and she continued for some Hours in the most dreadful +Convulsions. My Mother and I continued in the room with her, and when +any intervals of tolerable Composure in Eloisa would allow us, we joined +in heartfelt lamentations on the dreadful Waste in our provisions which +this Event must occasion, and in concerting some plan for getting rid of +them. We agreed that the best thing we could do was to begin eating them +immediately, and accordingly we ordered up the cold Ham and Fowls, and +instantly began our Devouring Plan on them with great Alacrity. We would +have persuaded Eloisa to have taken a Wing of a Chicken, but she would +not be persuaded. She was however much quieter than she had been; +the convulsions she had before suffered having given way to an almost +perfect Insensibility. We endeavoured to rouse her by every means in our +power, but to no purpose. I talked to her of Henry. "Dear Eloisa (said +I) there's no occasion for your crying so much about such a trifle. (for +I was willing to make light of it in order to comfort her) I beg you +would not mind it--You see it does not vex me in the least; though +perhaps I may suffer most from it after all; for I shall not only be +obliged to eat up all the Victuals I have dressed already, but must if +Henry should recover (which however is not very likely) dress as much +for you again; or should he die (as I suppose he will) I shall still +have to prepare a Dinner for you whenever you marry any one else. So +you see that tho' perhaps for the present it may afflict you to think +of Henry's sufferings, Yet I dare say he'll die soon, and then his pain +will be over and you will be easy, whereas my Trouble will last much +longer for work as hard as I may, I am certain that the pantry cannot be +cleared in less than a fortnight." Thus I did all in my power to console +her, but without any effect, and at last as I saw that she did not seem +to listen to me, I said no more, but leaving her with my Mother I took +down the remains of The Ham and Chicken, and sent William to ask how +Henry did. He was not expected to live many Hours; he died the same day. +We took all possible care to break the melancholy Event to Eloisa in the +tenderest manner; yet in spite of every precaution, her sufferings on +hearing it were too violent for her reason, and she continued for many +hours in a high Delirium. She is still extremely ill, and her Physicians +are greatly afraid of her going into a Decline. We are therefore +preparing for Bristol, where we mean to be in the course of the next +week. And now my dear Margaret let me talk a little of your affairs; and +in the first place I must inform you that it is confidently reported, +your Father is going to be married; I am very unwilling to beleive so +unpleasing a report, and at the same time cannot wholly discredit it. I +have written to my freind Susan Fitzgerald, for information concerning +it, which as she is at present in Town, she will be very able to give +me. I know not who is the Lady. I think your Brother is extremely +right in the resolution he has taken of travelling, as it will perhaps +contribute to obliterate from his remembrance, those disagreable Events, +which have lately so much afflicted him--I am happy to find that +tho' secluded from all the World, neither you nor Matilda are dull or +unhappy--that you may never know what it is to, be either is the wish of +your sincerely affectionate C.L. + +P. S. I have this instant received an answer from my freind Susan, which +I enclose to you, and on which you will make your own reflections. + +The enclosed LETTER + +My dear CHARLOTTE You could not have applied for information concerning +the report of Sir George Lesleys Marriage, to any one better able to +give it you than I am. Sir George is certainly married; I was myself +present at the Ceremony, which you will not be surprised at when I +subscribe myself your Affectionate Susan Lesley + + + + +LETTER the THIRD From Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss C. LUTTERELL Lesley +Castle February the 16th + +I have made my own reflections on the letter you enclosed to me, my +Dear Charlotte and I will now tell you what those reflections were. +I reflected that if by this second Marriage Sir George should have a +second family, our fortunes must be considerably diminushed--that if +his Wife should be of an extravagant turn, she would encourage him +to persevere in that gay and Dissipated way of Life to which little +encouragement would be necessary, and which has I fear already proved +but too detrimental to his health and fortune--that she would now become +Mistress of those Jewels which once adorned our Mother, and which Sir +George had always promised us--that if they did not come into +Perthshire I should not be able to gratify my curiosity of beholding my +Mother-in-law and that if they did, Matilda would no longer sit at +the head of her Father's table--. These my dear Charlotte were the +melancholy reflections which crowded into my imagination after perusing +Susan's letter to you, and which instantly occurred to Matilda when she +had perused it likewise. The same ideas, the same fears, immediately +occupied her Mind, and I know not which reflection distressed her most, +whether the probable Diminution of our Fortunes, or her own Consequence. +We both wish very much to know whether Lady Lesley is handsome and what +is your opinion of her; as you honour her with the appellation of your +freind, we flatter ourselves that she must be amiable. My Brother is +already in Paris. He intends to quit it in a few Days, and to begin his +route to Italy. He writes in a most chearfull manner, says that the air +of France has greatly recovered both his Health and Spirits; that he has +now entirely ceased to think of Louisa with any degree either of Pity or +Affection, that he even feels himself obliged to her for her Elopement, +as he thinks it very good fun to be single again. By this, you may +perceive that he has entirely regained that chearful Gaiety, and +sprightly Wit, for which he was once so remarkable. When he first became +acquainted with Louisa which was little more than three years ago, he +was one of the most lively, the most agreable young Men of the age--. +I beleive you never yet heard the particulars of his first acquaintance +with her. It commenced at our cousin Colonel Drummond's; at whose house +in Cumberland he spent the Christmas, in which he attained the age of +two and twenty. Louisa Burton was the Daughter of a distant Relation of +Mrs. Drummond, who dieing a few Months before in extreme poverty, left +his only Child then about eighteen to the protection of any of his +Relations who would protect her. Mrs. Drummond was the only one who +found herself so disposed--Louisa was therefore removed from a miserable +Cottage in Yorkshire to an elegant Mansion in Cumberland, and from +every pecuniary Distress that Poverty could inflict, to every elegant +Enjoyment that Money could purchase--. Louisa was naturally ill-tempered +and Cunning; but she had been taught to disguise her real Disposition, +under the appearance of insinuating Sweetness, by a father who but too +well knew, that to be married, would be the only chance she would +have of not being starved, and who flattered himself that with such +an extroidinary share of personal beauty, joined to a gentleness of +Manners, and an engaging address, she might stand a good chance of +pleasing some young Man who might afford to marry a girl without a +Shilling. Louisa perfectly entered into her father's schemes and was +determined to forward them with all her care and attention. By dint of +Perseverance and Application, she had at length so thoroughly disguised +her natural disposition under the mask of Innocence, and Softness, as to +impose upon every one who had not by a long and constant intimacy with +her discovered her real Character. Such was Louisa when the hapless +Lesley first beheld her at Drummond-house. His heart which (to use +your favourite comparison) was as delicate as sweet and as tender as a +Whipt-syllabub, could not resist her attractions. In a very few Days, +he was falling in love, shortly after actually fell, and before he had +known her a Month, he had married her. My Father was at first highly +displeased at so hasty and imprudent a connection; but when he found +that they did not mind it, he soon became perfectly reconciled to the +match. The Estate near Aberdeen which my brother possesses by the bounty +of his great Uncle independant of Sir George, was entirely sufficient +to support him and my Sister in Elegance and Ease. For the first +twelvemonth, no one could be happier than Lesley, and no one more +amiable to appearance than Louisa, and so plausibly did she act and +so cautiously behave that tho' Matilda and I often spent several weeks +together with them, yet we neither of us had any suspicion of her real +Disposition. After the birth of Louisa however, which one would have +thought would have strengthened her regard for Lesley, the mask she had +so long supported was by degrees thrown aside, and as probably she then +thought herself secure in the affection of her Husband (which did indeed +appear if possible augmented by the birth of his Child) she seemed +to take no pains to prevent that affection from ever diminushing. Our +visits therefore to Dunbeath, were now less frequent and by far less +agreable than they used to be. Our absence was however never either +mentioned or lamented by Louisa who in the society of young Danvers +with whom she became acquainted at Aberdeen (he was at one of the +Universities there,) felt infinitely happier than in that of Matilda and +your freind, tho' there certainly never were pleasanter girls than we +are. You know the sad end of all Lesleys connubial happiness; I will not +repeat it--. Adeiu my dear Charlotte; although I have not yet mentioned +anything of the matter, I hope you will do me the justice to beleive +that I THINK and FEEL, a great deal for your Sisters affliction. I do +not doubt but that the healthy air of the Bristol downs will intirely +remove it, by erasing from her Mind the remembrance of Henry. I am my +dear Charlotte yrs ever M. L. + + + + +LETTER the FOURTH From Miss C. LUTTERELL to Miss M. LESLEY Bristol +February 27th + +My Dear Peggy I have but just received your letter, which being directed +to Sussex while I was at Bristol was obliged to be forwarded to me here, +and from some unaccountable Delay, has but this instant reached me--. +I return you many thanks for the account it contains of Lesley's +acquaintance, Love and Marriage with Louisa, which has not the less +entertained me for having often been repeated to me before. + +I have the satisfaction of informing you that we have every reason to +imagine our pantry is by this time nearly cleared, as we left Particular +orders with the servants to eat as hard as they possibly could, and to +call in a couple of Chairwomen to assist them. We brought a cold Pigeon +pye, a cold turkey, a cold tongue, and half a dozen Jellies with us, +which we were lucky enough with the help of our Landlady, her husband, +and their three children, to get rid of, in less than two days after +our arrival. Poor Eloisa is still so very indifferent both in Health and +Spirits, that I very much fear, the air of the Bristol downs, healthy as +it is, has not been able to drive poor Henry from her remembrance. + +You ask me whether your new Mother in law is handsome and amiable--I +will now give you an exact description of her bodily and mental charms. +She is short, and extremely well made; is naturally pale, but rouges a +good deal; has fine eyes, and fine teeth, as she will take care to let +you know as soon as she sees you, and is altogether very pretty. She is +remarkably good-tempered when she has her own way, and very lively when +she is not out of humour. She is naturally extravagant and not very +affected; she never reads anything but the letters she receives from me, +and never writes anything but her answers to them. She plays, sings and +Dances, but has no taste for either, and excells in none, tho' she says +she is passionately fond of all. Perhaps you may flatter me so far as to +be surprised that one of whom I speak with so little affection should +be my particular freind; but to tell you the truth, our freindship arose +rather from Caprice on her side than Esteem on mine. We spent two or +three days together with a Lady in Berkshire with whom we both happened +to be connected--. During our visit, the Weather being remarkably bad, +and our party particularly stupid, she was so good as to conceive +a violent partiality for me, which very soon settled in a downright +Freindship and ended in an established correspondence. She is probably +by this time as tired of me, as I am of her; but as she is too Polite +and I am too civil to say so, our letters are still as frequent and +affectionate as ever, and our Attachment as firm and sincere as when it +first commenced. As she had a great taste for the pleasures of London, +and of Brighthelmstone, she will I dare say find some difficulty in +prevailing on herself even to satisfy the curiosity I dare say she feels +of beholding you, at the expence of quitting those favourite haunts of +Dissipation, for the melancholy tho' venerable gloom of the castle you +inhabit. Perhaps however if she finds her health impaired by too much +amusement, she may acquire fortitude sufficient to undertake a Journey +to Scotland in the hope of its Proving at least beneficial to her +health, if not conducive to her happiness. Your fears I am sorry to say, +concerning your father's extravagance, your own fortunes, your Mothers +Jewels and your Sister's consequence, I should suppose are but too well +founded. My freind herself has four thousand pounds, and will probably +spend nearly as much every year in Dress and Public places, if she can +get it--she will certainly not endeavour to reclaim Sir George from the +manner of living to which he has been so long accustomed, and there is +therefore some reason to fear that you will be very well off, if you get +any fortune at all. The Jewels I should imagine too will undoubtedly be +hers, and there is too much reason to think that she will preside at +her Husbands table in preference to his Daughter. But as so melancholy a +subject must necessarily extremely distress you, I will no longer dwell +on it--. + +Eloisa's indisposition has brought us to Bristol at so unfashionable a +season of the year, that we have actually seen but one genteel family +since we came. Mr and Mrs Marlowe are very agreable people; the ill +health of their little boy occasioned their arrival here; you may +imagine that being the only family with whom we can converse, we are +of course on a footing of intimacy with them; we see them indeed almost +every day, and dined with them yesterday. We spent a very pleasant +Day, and had a very good Dinner, tho' to be sure the Veal was terribly +underdone, and the Curry had no seasoning. I could not help wishing +all dinner-time that I had been at the dressing it--. A brother of Mrs +Marlowe, Mr Cleveland is with them at present; he is a good-looking +young Man, and seems to have a good deal to say for himself. I tell +Eloisa that she should set her cap at him, but she does not at all +seem to relish the proposal. I should like to see the girl married and +Cleveland has a very good estate. Perhaps you may wonder that I do not +consider myself as well as my Sister in my matrimonial Projects; but +to tell you the truth I never wish to act a more principal part at a +Wedding than the superintending and directing the Dinner, and therefore +while I can get any of my acquaintance to marry for me, I shall never +think of doing it myself, as I very much suspect that I should not have +so much time for dressing my own Wedding-dinner, as for dressing that of +my freinds. Yours sincerely C. L. + + + + +LETTER the FIFTH Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL +Lesley-Castle March 18th + +On the same day that I received your last kind letter, Matilda received +one from Sir George which was dated from Edinburgh, and informed us that +he should do himself the pleasure of introducing Lady Lesley to us on +the following evening. This as you may suppose considerably surprised +us, particularly as your account of her Ladyship had given us reason to +imagine there was little chance of her visiting Scotland at a time that +London must be so gay. As it was our business however to be delighted at +such a mark of condescension as a visit from Sir George and Lady Lesley, +we prepared to return them an answer expressive of the happiness we +enjoyed in expectation of such a Blessing, when luckily recollecting +that as they were to reach the Castle the next Evening, it would be +impossible for my father to receive it before he left Edinburgh, we +contented ourselves with leaving them to suppose that we were as happy +as we ought to be. At nine in the Evening on the following day, +they came, accompanied by one of Lady Lesleys brothers. Her Ladyship +perfectly answers the description you sent me of her, except that I do +not think her so pretty as you seem to consider her. She has not a +bad face, but there is something so extremely unmajestic in her little +diminutive figure, as to render her in comparison with the elegant +height of Matilda and Myself, an insignificant Dwarf. Her curiosity to +see us (which must have been great to bring her more than four hundred +miles) being now perfectly gratified, she already begins to mention +their return to town, and has desired us to accompany her. We cannot +refuse her request since it is seconded by the commands of our Father, +and thirded by the entreaties of Mr. Fitzgerald who is certainly one +of the most pleasing young Men, I ever beheld. It is not yet determined +when we are to go, but when ever we do we shall certainly take our +little Louisa with us. Adeiu my dear Charlotte; Matilda unites in best +wishes to you, and Eloisa, with yours ever M. L. + + + + +LETTER the SIXTH LADY LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL Lesley-Castle +March 20th + +We arrived here my sweet Freind about a fortnight ago, and I already +heartily repent that I ever left our charming House in Portman-square +for such a dismal old weather-beaten Castle as this. You can form no +idea sufficiently hideous, of its dungeon-like form. It is actually +perched upon a Rock to appearance so totally inaccessible, that I +expected to have been pulled up by a rope; and sincerely repented having +gratified my curiosity to behold my Daughters at the expence of being +obliged to enter their prison in so dangerous and ridiculous a manner. +But as soon as I once found myself safely arrived in the inside of +this tremendous building, I comforted myself with the hope of having my +spirits revived, by the sight of two beautifull girls, such as the Miss +Lesleys had been represented to me, at Edinburgh. But here again, I +met with nothing but Disappointment and Surprise. Matilda and Margaret +Lesley are two great, tall, out of the way, over-grown, girls, just of +a proper size to inhabit a Castle almost as large in comparison as +themselves. I wish my dear Charlotte that you could but behold these +Scotch giants; I am sure they would frighten you out of your wits. +They will do very well as foils to myself, so I have invited them to +accompany me to London where I hope to be in the course of a fortnight. +Besides these two fair Damsels, I found a little humoured Brat here who +I beleive is some relation to them, they told me who she was, and gave +me a long rigmerole story of her father and a Miss SOMEBODY which I have +entirely forgot. I hate scandal and detest Children. I have been plagued +ever since I came here with tiresome visits from a parcel of Scotch +wretches, with terrible hard-names; they were so civil, gave me so many +invitations, and talked of coming again so soon, that I could not help +affronting them. I suppose I shall not see them any more, and yet as +a family party we are so stupid, that I do not know what to do with +myself. These girls have no Music, but Scotch airs, no Drawings but +Scotch Mountains, and no Books but Scotch Poems--and I hate everything +Scotch. In general I can spend half the Day at my toilett with a great +deal of pleasure, but why should I dress here, since there is not a +creature in the House whom I have any wish to please. I have just had +a conversation with my Brother in which he has greatly offended me, and +which as I have nothing more entertaining to send you I will gave you +the particulars of. You must know that I have for these 4 or 5 Days past +strongly suspected William of entertaining a partiality to my eldest +Daughter. I own indeed that had I been inclined to fall in love with any +woman, I should not have made choice of Matilda Lesley for the object +of my passion; for there is nothing I hate so much as a tall Woman: but +however there is no accounting for some men's taste and as William is +himself nearly six feet high, it is not wonderful that he should be +partial to that height. Now as I have a very great affection for my +Brother and should be extremely sorry to see him unhappy, which I +suppose he means to be if he cannot marry Matilda, as moreover I know +that his circumstances will not allow him to marry any one without a +fortune, and that Matilda's is entirely dependant on her Father, who +will neither have his own inclination nor my permission to give her +anything at present, I thought it would be doing a good-natured action +by my Brother to let him know as much, in order that he might choose +for himself, whether to conquer his passion, or Love and Despair. +Accordingly finding myself this Morning alone with him in one of the +horrid old rooms of this Castle, I opened the cause to him in the +following Manner. + +"Well my dear William what do you think of these girls? for my part, I +do not find them so plain as I expected: but perhaps you may think me +partial to the Daughters of my Husband and perhaps you are right--They +are indeed so very like Sir George that it is natural to think"-- + +"My Dear Susan (cried he in a tone of the greatest amazement) You do not +really think they bear the least resemblance to their Father! He is so +very plain!--but I beg your pardon--I had entirely forgotten to whom I +was speaking--" + +"Oh! pray dont mind me; (replied I) every one knows Sir George is +horribly ugly, and I assure you I always thought him a fright." + +"You surprise me extremely (answered William) by what you say both with +respect to Sir George and his Daughters. You cannot think your Husband +so deficient in personal Charms as you speak of, nor can you surely see +any resemblance between him and the Miss Lesleys who are in my opinion +perfectly unlike him and perfectly Handsome." + +"If that is your opinion with regard to the girls it certainly is no +proof of their Fathers beauty, for if they are perfectly unlike him and +very handsome at the same time, it is natural to suppose that he is very +plain." + +"By no means, (said he) for what may be pretty in a Woman, may be very +unpleasing in a Man." + +"But you yourself (replied I) but a few minutes ago allowed him to be +very plain." + +"Men are no Judges of Beauty in their own Sex." (said he). + +"Neither Men nor Women can think Sir George tolerable." + +"Well, well, (said he) we will not dispute about HIS Beauty, but your +opinion of his DAUGHTERS is surely very singular, for if I understood +you right, you said you did not find them so plain as you expected to +do!" + +"Why, do YOU find them plainer then?" (said I). + +"I can scarcely beleive you to be serious (returned he) when you speak +of their persons in so extroidinary a Manner. Do not you think the Miss +Lesleys are two very handsome young Women?" + +"Lord! No! (cried I) I think them terribly plain!" + +"Plain! (replied He) My dear Susan, you cannot really think so! Why +what single Feature in the face of either of them, can you possibly find +fault with?" + +"Oh! trust me for that; (replied I). Come I will begin with the +eldest--with Matilda. Shall I, William?" (I looked as cunning as I could +when I said it, in order to shame him). + +"They are so much alike (said he) that I should suppose the faults of +one, would be the faults of both." + +"Well, then, in the first place; they are both so horribly tall!" + +"They are TALLER than you are indeed." (said he with a saucy smile.) + +"Nay, (said I), I know nothing of that." + +"Well, but (he continued) tho' they may be above the common size, their +figures are perfectly elegant; and as to their faces, their Eyes are +beautifull." + +"I never can think such tremendous, knock-me-down figures in the least +degree elegant, and as for their eyes, they are so tall that I never +could strain my neck enough to look at them." + +"Nay, (replied he) I know not whether you may not be in the right in not +attempting it, for perhaps they might dazzle you with their Lustre." + +"Oh! Certainly. (said I, with the greatest complacency, for I assure +you my dearest Charlotte I was not in the least offended tho' by what +followed, one would suppose that William was conscious of having given +me just cause to be so, for coming up to me and taking my hand, he said) +"You must not look so grave Susan; you will make me fear I have offended +you!" + +"Offended me! Dear Brother, how came such a thought in your head! +(returned I) No really! I assure you that I am not in the least +surprised at your being so warm an advocate for the Beauty of these +girls."-- + +"Well, but (interrupted William) remember that we have not yet +concluded our dispute concerning them. What fault do you find with their +complexion?" + +"They are so horridly pale." + +"They have always a little colour, and after any exercise it is +considerably heightened." + +"Yes, but if there should ever happen to be any rain in this part of +the world, they will never be able raise more than their common +stock--except indeed they amuse themselves with running up and Down +these horrid old galleries and Antichambers." + +"Well, (replied my Brother in a tone of vexation, and glancing an +impertinent look at me) if they HAVE but little colour, at least, it is +all their own." + +This was too much my dear Charlotte, for I am certain that he had the +impudence by that look, of pretending to suspect the reality of mine. +But you I am sure will vindicate my character whenever you may hear +it so cruelly aspersed, for you can witness how often I have protested +against wearing Rouge, and how much I always told you I disliked it. And +I assure you that my opinions are still the same.--. Well, not bearing +to be so suspected by my Brother, I left the room immediately, and have +been ever since in my own Dressing-room writing to you. What a long +letter have I made of it! But you must not expect to receive such from +me when I get to Town; for it is only at Lesley castle, that one has +time to write even to a Charlotte Lutterell.--. I was so much vexed by +William's glance, that I could not summon Patience enough, to stay and +give him that advice respecting his attachment to Matilda which had +first induced me from pure Love to him to begin the conversation; and +I am now so thoroughly convinced by it, of his violent passion for her, +that I am certain he would never hear reason on the subject, and I +shall there fore give myself no more trouble either about him or his +favourite. Adeiu my dear girl--Yrs affectionately Susan L. + + + + +LETTER the SEVENTH From Miss C. LUTTERELL to Miss M. LESLEY Bristol the +27th of March + +I have received Letters from you and your Mother-in-law within this week +which have greatly entertained me, as I find by them that you are both +downright jealous of each others Beauty. It is very odd that two pretty +Women tho' actually Mother and Daughter cannot be in the same House +without falling out about their faces. Do be convinced that you are both +perfectly handsome and say no more of the Matter. I suppose this letter +must be directed to Portman Square where probably (great as is your +affection for Lesley Castle) you will not be sorry to find yourself. In +spite of all that people may say about Green fields and the Country +I was always of opinion that London and its amusements must be very +agreable for a while, and should be very happy could my Mother's income +allow her to jockey us into its Public-places, during Winter. I always +longed particularly to go to Vaux-hall, to see whether the cold Beef +there is cut so thin as it is reported, for I have a sly suspicion that +few people understand the art of cutting a slice of cold Beef so well +as I do: nay it would be hard if I did not know something of the Matter, +for it was a part of my Education that I took by far the most pains +with. Mama always found me HER best scholar, tho' when Papa was +alive Eloisa was HIS. Never to be sure were there two more different +Dispositions in the World. We both loved Reading. SHE preferred +Histories, and I Receipts. She loved drawing, Pictures, and I drawing +Pullets. No one could sing a better song than she, and no one make a +better Pye than I.--And so it has always continued since we have been +no longer children. The only difference is that all disputes on the +superior excellence of our Employments THEN so frequent are now no more. +We have for many years entered into an agreement always to admire +each other's works; I never fail listening to HER Music, and she is as +constant in eating my pies. Such at least was the case till Henry Hervey +made his appearance in Sussex. Before the arrival of his Aunt in our +neighbourhood where she established herself you know about a twelvemonth +ago, his visits to her had been at stated times, and of equal and +settled Duration; but on her removal to the Hall which is within a walk +from our House, they became both more frequent and longer. This as you +may suppose could not be pleasing to Mrs Diana who is a professed enemy +to everything which is not directed by Decorum and Formality, or which +bears the least resemblance to Ease and Good-breeding. Nay so great was +her aversion to her Nephews behaviour that I have often heard her give +such hints of it before his face that had not Henry at such times been +engaged in conversation with Eloisa, they must have caught his Attention +and have very much distressed him. The alteration in my Sisters +behaviour which I have before hinted at, now took place. The Agreement +we had entered into of admiring each others productions she no +longer seemed to regard, and tho' I constantly applauded even every +Country-dance, she played, yet not even a pidgeon-pye of my making could +obtain from her a single word of approbation. This was certainly enough +to put any one in a Passion; however, I was as cool as a cream-cheese +and having formed my plan and concerted a scheme of Revenge, I was +determined to let her have her own way and not even to make her a single +reproach. My scheme was to treat her as she treated me, and tho' she +might even draw my own Picture or play Malbrook (which is the only tune +I ever really liked) not to say so much as "Thank you Eloisa;" tho' +I had for many years constantly hollowed whenever she played, BRAVO, +BRAVISSIMO, ENCORE, DA CAPO, ALLEGRETTO, CON EXPRESSIONE, and POCO +PRESTO with many other such outlandish words, all of them as Eloisa told +me expressive of my Admiration; and so indeed I suppose they are, as I +see some of them in every Page of every Music book, being the sentiments +I imagine of the composer. + +I executed my Plan with great Punctuality. I can not say success, for +alas! my silence while she played seemed not in the least to displease +her; on the contrary she actually said to me one day "Well Charlotte, +I am very glad to find that you have at last left off that ridiculous +custom of applauding my Execution on the Harpsichord till you made +my head ake, and yourself hoarse. I feel very much obliged to you for +keeping your admiration to yourself." I never shall forget the very +witty answer I made to this speech. "Eloisa (said I) I beg you would +be quite at your Ease with respect to all such fears in future, for +be assured that I shall always keep my admiration to myself and my own +pursuits and never extend it to yours." This was the only very severe +thing I ever said in my Life; not but that I have often felt myself +extremely satirical but it was the only time I ever made my feelings +public. + +I suppose there never were two Young people who had a greater affection +for each other than Henry and Eloisa; no, the Love of your Brother for +Miss Burton could not be so strong tho' it might be more violent. You +may imagine therefore how provoked my Sister must have been to have +him play her such a trick. Poor girl! she still laments his Death with +undiminished constancy, notwithstanding he has been dead more than six +weeks; but some People mind such things more than others. The ill state +of Health into which his loss has thrown her makes her so weak, and so +unable to support the least exertion, that she has been in tears all +this Morning merely from having taken leave of Mrs. Marlowe who with her +Husband, Brother and Child are to leave Bristol this morning. I am sorry +to have them go because they are the only family with whom we have here +any acquaintance, but I never thought of crying; to be sure Eloisa +and Mrs Marlowe have always been more together than with me, and have +therefore contracted a kind of affection for each other, which does not +make Tears so inexcusable in them as they would be in me. The Marlowes +are going to Town; Cliveland accompanies them; as neither Eloisa nor I +could catch him I hope you or Matilda may have better Luck. I know not +when we shall leave Bristol, Eloisa's spirits are so low that she is +very averse to moving, and yet is certainly by no means mended by her +residence here. A week or two will I hope determine our Measures--in the +mean time believe me and etc--and etc--Charlotte Lutterell. + + + + +LETTER the EIGHTH Miss LUTTERELL to Mrs MARLOWE Bristol April 4th + +I feel myself greatly obliged to you my dear Emma for such a mark of +your affection as I flatter myself was conveyed in the proposal you made +me of our Corresponding; I assure you that it will be a great releif to +me to write to you and as long as my Health and Spirits will allow +me, you will find me a very constant correspondent; I will not say +an entertaining one, for you know my situation suffciently not to be +ignorant that in me Mirth would be improper and I know my own Heart too +well not to be sensible that it would be unnatural. You must not expect +news for we see no one with whom we are in the least acquainted, or in +whose proceedings we have any Interest. You must not expect scandal +for by the same rule we are equally debarred either from hearing or +inventing it.--You must expect from me nothing but the melancholy +effusions of a broken Heart which is ever reverting to the Happiness +it once enjoyed and which ill supports its present wretchedness. The +Possibility of being able to write, to speak, to you of my lost Henry +will be a luxury to me, and your goodness will not I know refuse to read +what it will so much releive my Heart to write. I once thought that to +have what is in general called a Freind (I mean one of my own sex +to whom I might speak with less reserve than to any other person) +independant of my sister would never be an object of my wishes, but how +much was I mistaken! Charlotte is too much engrossed by two confidential +correspondents of that sort, to supply the place of one to me, and I +hope you will not think me girlishly romantic, when I say that to +have some kind and compassionate Freind who might listen to my sorrows +without endeavouring to console me was what I had for some time wished +for, when our acquaintance with you, the intimacy which followed it and +the particular affectionate attention you paid me almost from the first, +caused me to entertain the flattering Idea of those attentions being +improved on a closer acquaintance into a Freindship which, if you were +what my wishes formed you would be the greatest Happiness I could +be capable of enjoying. To find that such Hopes are realised is a +satisfaction indeed, a satisfaction which is now almost the only one I +can ever experience.--I feel myself so languid that I am sure were you +with me you would oblige me to leave off writing, and I cannot give you +a greater proof of my affection for you than by acting, as I know you +would wish me to do, whether Absent or Present. I am my dear Emmas +sincere freind E. L. + + + + +LETTER the NINTH Mrs MARLOWE to Miss LUTTERELL Grosvenor Street, April +10th + +Need I say my dear Eloisa how wellcome your letter was to me I cannot +give a greater proof of the pleasure I received from it, or of the +Desire I feel that our Correspondence may be regular and frequent than +by setting you so good an example as I now do in answering it before the +end of the week--. But do not imagine that I claim any merit in being +so punctual; on the contrary I assure you, that it is a far greater +Gratification to me to write to you, than to spend the Evening either at +a Concert or a Ball. Mr Marlowe is so desirous of my appearing at some +of the Public places every evening that I do not like to refuse him, but +at the same time so much wish to remain at Home, that independant of +the Pleasure I experience in devoting any portion of my Time to my +Dear Eloisa, yet the Liberty I claim from having a letter to write of +spending an Evening at home with my little Boy, you know me well enough +to be sensible, will of itself be a sufficient Inducement (if one is +necessary) to my maintaining with Pleasure a Correspondence with you. +As to the subject of your letters to me, whether grave or merry, if they +concern you they must be equally interesting to me; not but that I think +the melancholy Indulgence of your own sorrows by repeating them and +dwelling on them to me, will only encourage and increase them, and +that it will be more prudent in you to avoid so sad a subject; but yet +knowing as I do what a soothing and melancholy Pleasure it must afford +you, I cannot prevail on myself to deny you so great an Indulgence, and +will only insist on your not expecting me to encourage you in it, by my +own letters; on the contrary I intend to fill them with such lively Wit +and enlivening Humour as shall even provoke a smile in the sweet but +sorrowfull countenance of my Eloisa. + +In the first place you are to learn that I have met your sisters three +freinds Lady Lesley and her Daughters, twice in Public since I have been +here. I know you will be impatient to hear my opinion of the Beauty of +three Ladies of whom you have heard so much. Now, as you are too ill and +too unhappy to be vain, I think I may venture to inform you that I +like none of their faces so well as I do your own. Yet they are all +handsome--Lady Lesley indeed I have seen before; her Daughters I beleive +would in general be said to have a finer face than her Ladyship, and yet +what with the charms of a Blooming complexion, a little Affectation and +a great deal of small-talk, (in each of which she is superior to the +young Ladies) she will I dare say gain herself as many admirers as the +more regular features of Matilda, and Margaret. I am sure you will agree +with me in saying that they can none of them be of a proper size for +real Beauty, when you know that two of them are taller and the other +shorter than ourselves. In spite of this Defect (or rather by reason +of it) there is something very noble and majestic in the figures of the +Miss Lesleys, and something agreably lively in the appearance of their +pretty little Mother-in-law. But tho' one may be majestic and the other +lively, yet the faces of neither possess that Bewitching sweetness of +my Eloisas, which her present languor is so far from diminushing. What +would my Husband and Brother say of us, if they knew all the fine things +I have been saying to you in this letter. It is very hard that a pretty +woman is never to be told she is so by any one of her own sex without +that person's being suspected to be either her determined Enemy, or +her professed Toad-eater. How much more amiable are women in that +particular! One man may say forty civil things to another without our +supposing that he is ever paid for it, and provided he does his Duty by +our sex, we care not how Polite he is to his own. + +Mrs Lutterell will be so good as to accept my compliments, Charlotte, +my Love, and Eloisa the best wishes for the recovery of her Health and +Spirits that can be offered by her affectionate Freind E. Marlowe. + +I am afraid this letter will be but a poor specimen of my Powers in the +witty way; and your opinion of them will not be greatly increased when I +assure you that I have been as entertaining as I possibly could. + + + + +LETTER the TENTH From Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL +Portman Square April 13th + +MY DEAR CHARLOTTE We left Lesley-Castle on the 28th of last Month, +and arrived safely in London after a Journey of seven Days; I had the +pleasure of finding your Letter here waiting my Arrival, for which you +have my grateful Thanks. Ah! my dear Freind I every day more regret the +serene and tranquil Pleasures of the Castle we have left, in exchange +for the uncertain and unequal Amusements of this vaunted City. Not that +I will pretend to assert that these uncertain and unequal Amusements +are in the least Degree unpleasing to me; on the contrary I enjoy them +extremely and should enjoy them even more, were I not certain that every +appearance I make in Public but rivetts the Chains of those unhappy +Beings whose Passion it is impossible not to pity, tho' it is out of my +power to return. In short my Dear Charlotte it is my sensibility for +the sufferings of so many amiable young Men, my Dislike of the extreme +admiration I meet with, and my aversion to being so celebrated both in +Public, in Private, in Papers, and in Printshops, that are the reasons +why I cannot more fully enjoy, the Amusements so various and pleasing +of London. How often have I wished that I possessed as little Personal +Beauty as you do; that my figure were as inelegant; my face as unlovely; +and my appearance as unpleasing as yours! But ah! what little chance +is there of so desirable an Event; I have had the small-pox, and must +therefore submit to my unhappy fate. + +I am now going to intrust you my dear Charlotte with a secret which has +long disturbed the tranquility of my days, and which is of a kind to +require the most inviolable Secrecy from you. Last Monday se'night +Matilda and I accompanied Lady Lesley to a Rout at the Honourable Mrs +Kickabout's; we were escorted by Mr Fitzgerald who is a very amiable +young Man in the main, tho' perhaps a little singular in his Taste--He +is in love with Matilda--. We had scarcely paid our Compliments to the +Lady of the House and curtseyed to half a score different people when my +Attention was attracted by the appearance of a Young Man the most lovely +of his Sex, who at that moment entered the Room with another Gentleman +and Lady. From the first moment I beheld him, I was certain that on him +depended the future Happiness of my Life. Imagine my surprise when he +was introduced to me by the name of Cleveland--I instantly recognised +him as the Brother of Mrs Marlowe, and the acquaintance of my Charlotte +at Bristol. Mr and Mrs M. were the gentleman and Lady who accompanied +him. (You do not think Mrs Marlowe handsome?) The elegant address of Mr +Cleveland, his polished Manners and Delightful Bow, at once confirmed my +attachment. He did not speak; but I can imagine everything he would have +said, had he opened his Mouth. I can picture to myself the cultivated +Understanding, the Noble sentiments, and elegant Language which would +have shone so conspicuous in the conversation of Mr Cleveland. The +approach of Sir James Gower (one of my too numerous admirers) prevented +the Discovery of any such Powers, by putting an end to a Conversation we +had never commenced, and by attracting my attention to himself. But oh! +how inferior are the accomplishments of Sir James to those of his so +greatly envied Rival! Sir James is one of the most frequent of our +Visitors, and is almost always of our Parties. We have since often met +Mr and Mrs Marlowe but no Cleveland--he is always engaged some where +else. Mrs Marlowe fatigues me to Death every time I see her by her +tiresome Conversations about you and Eloisa. She is so stupid! I live in +the hope of seeing her irrisistable Brother to night, as we are going to +Lady Flambeaus, who is I know intimate with the Marlowes. Our party will +be Lady Lesley, Matilda, Fitzgerald, Sir James Gower, and myself. We see +little of Sir George, who is almost always at the gaming-table. Ah! my +poor Fortune where art thou by this time? We see more of Lady L. who +always makes her appearance (highly rouged) at Dinner-time. Alas! what +Delightful Jewels will she be decked in this evening at Lady Flambeau's! +Yet I wonder how she can herself delight in wearing them; surely she +must be sensible of the ridiculous impropriety of loading her little +diminutive figure with such superfluous ornaments; is it possible that +she can not know how greatly superior an elegant simplicity is to the +most studied apparel? Would she but Present them to Matilda and me, how +greatly should we be obliged to her, How becoming would Diamonds be on +our fine majestic figures! And how surprising it is that such an Idea +should never have occurred to HER. I am sure if I have reflected in this +manner once, I have fifty times. Whenever I see Lady Lesley dressed in +them such reflections immediately come across me. My own Mother's Jewels +too! But I will say no more on so melancholy a subject--let me entertain +you with something more pleasing--Matilda had a letter this morning from +Lesley, by which we have the pleasure of finding that he is at Naples +has turned Roman-Catholic, obtained one of the Pope's Bulls for +annulling his 1st Marriage and has since actually married a Neapolitan +Lady of great Rank and Fortune. He tells us moreover that much the same +sort of affair has befallen his first wife the worthless Louisa who is +likewise at Naples had turned Roman-catholic, and is soon to be married +to a Neapolitan Nobleman of great and Distinguished merit. He says, +that they are at present very good Freinds, have quite forgiven all +past errors and intend in future to be very good Neighbours. He invites +Matilda and me to pay him a visit to Italy and to bring him his little +Louisa whom both her Mother, Step-mother, and himself are equally +desirous of beholding. As to our accepting his invitation, it is at +Present very uncertain; Lady Lesley advises us to go without loss of +time; Fitzgerald offers to escort us there, but Matilda has some doubts +of the Propriety of such a scheme--she owns it would be very agreable. +I am certain she likes the Fellow. My Father desires us not to be in a +hurry, as perhaps if we wait a few months both he and Lady Lesley will +do themselves the pleasure of attending us. Lady Lesley says no, that +nothing will ever tempt her to forego the Amusements of Brighthelmstone +for a Journey to Italy merely to see our Brother. "No (says the +disagreable Woman) I have once in my life been fool enough to travel I +dont know how many hundred Miles to see two of the Family, and I found +it did not answer, so Deuce take me, if ever I am so foolish again."So +says her Ladyship, but Sir George still Perseveres in saying that +perhaps in a month or two, they may accompany us. Adeiu my Dear +Charlotte Yrs faithful Margaret Lesley. + + +***** + + + + +THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND + +FROM THE REIGN OF HENRY THE 4TH TO THE DEATH OF CHARLES THE 1ST + +BY A PARTIAL, PREJUDICED, AND IGNORANT HISTORIAN. + +***** + +To Miss Austen, eldest daughter of the Rev. George Austen, this work is +inscribed with all due respect by THE AUTHOR. + + +N.B. There will be very few Dates in this History. + + +THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND + + +HENRY the 4th + +Henry the 4th ascended the throne of England much to his own +satisfaction in the year 1399, after having prevailed on his cousin and +predecessor Richard the 2nd, to resign it to him, and to retire for the +rest of his life to Pomfret Castle, where he happened to be murdered. +It is to be supposed that Henry was married, since he had certainly four +sons, but it is not in my power to inform the Reader who was his wife. +Be this as it may, he did not live for ever, but falling ill, his son +the Prince of Wales came and took away the crown; whereupon the King +made a long speech, for which I must refer the Reader to Shakespear's +Plays, and the Prince made a still longer. Things being thus settled +between them the King died, and was succeeded by his son Henry who had +previously beat Sir William Gascoigne. + + +HENRY the 5th + +This Prince after he succeeded to the throne grew quite reformed and +amiable, forsaking all his dissipated companions, and never thrashing +Sir William again. During his reign, Lord Cobham was burnt alive, but I +forget what for. His Majesty then turned his thoughts to France, where +he went and fought the famous Battle of Agincourt. He afterwards married +the King's daughter Catherine, a very agreable woman by Shakespear's +account. In spite of all this however he died, and was succeeded by his +son Henry. + + +HENRY the 6th + +I cannot say much for this Monarch's sense. Nor would I if I could, for +he was a Lancastrian. I suppose you know all about the Wars between him +and the Duke of York who was of the right side; if you do not, you had +better read some other History, for I shall not be very diffuse in this, +meaning by it only to vent my spleen AGAINST, and shew my Hatred TO all +those people whose parties or principles do not suit with mine, and not +to give information. This King married Margaret of Anjou, a Woman whose +distresses and misfortunes were so great as almost to make me who hate +her, pity her. It was in this reign that Joan of Arc lived and made such +a ROW among the English. They should not have burnt her--but they did. +There were several Battles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians, in +which the former (as they ought) usually conquered. At length they were +entirely overcome; The King was murdered--The Queen was sent home--and +Edward the 4th ascended the Throne. + + +EDWARD the 4th + +This Monarch was famous only for his Beauty and his Courage, of which +the Picture we have here given of him, and his undaunted Behaviour +in marrying one Woman while he was engaged to another, are sufficient +proofs. His Wife was Elizabeth Woodville, a Widow who, poor Woman! was +afterwards confined in a Convent by that Monster of Iniquity and Avarice +Henry the 7th. One of Edward's Mistresses was Jane Shore, who has had +a play written about her, but it is a tragedy and therefore not worth +reading. Having performed all these noble actions, his Majesty died, and +was succeeded by his son. + + +EDWARD the 5th + +This unfortunate Prince lived so little a while that nobody had him to +draw his picture. He was murdered by his Uncle's Contrivance, whose name +was Richard the 3rd. + + +RICHARD the 3rd + +The Character of this Prince has been in general very severely treated +by Historians, but as he was a YORK, I am rather inclined to suppose him +a very respectable Man. It has indeed been confidently asserted that he +killed his two Nephews and his Wife, but it has also been declared that +he did not kill his two Nephews, which I am inclined to beleive true; +and if this is the case, it may also be affirmed that he did not kill +his Wife, for if Perkin Warbeck was really the Duke of York, why might +not Lambert Simnel be the Widow of Richard. Whether innocent or guilty, +he did not reign long in peace, for Henry Tudor E. of Richmond as great +a villain as ever lived, made a great fuss about getting the Crown and +having killed the King at the battle of Bosworth, he succeeded to it. + + +HENRY the 7th + +This Monarch soon after his accession married the Princess Elizabeth of +York, by which alliance he plainly proved that he thought his own right +inferior to hers, tho' he pretended to the contrary. By this Marriage he +had two sons and two daughters, the elder of which Daughters was married +to the King of Scotland and had the happiness of being grandmother +to one of the first Characters in the World. But of HER, I shall have +occasion to speak more at large in future. The youngest, Mary, married +first the King of France and secondly the D. of Suffolk, by whom she had +one daughter, afterwards the Mother of Lady Jane Grey, who tho' inferior +to her lovely Cousin the Queen of Scots, was yet an amiable young woman +and famous for reading Greek while other people were hunting. It was in +the reign of Henry the 7th that Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel before +mentioned made their appearance, the former of whom was set in the +stocks, took shelter in Beaulieu Abbey, and was beheaded with the Earl +of Warwick, and the latter was taken into the Kings kitchen. His Majesty +died and was succeeded by his son Henry whose only merit was his not +being quite so bad as his daughter Elizabeth. + + +HENRY the 8th + +It would be an affront to my Readers were I to suppose that they were +not as well acquainted with the particulars of this King's reign as I am +myself. It will therefore be saving THEM the task of reading again what +they have read before, and MYSELF the trouble of writing what I do not +perfectly recollect, by giving only a slight sketch of the principal +Events which marked his reign. Among these may be ranked Cardinal +Wolsey's telling the father Abbott of Leicester Abbey that "he was come +to lay his bones among them," the reformation in Religion and the King's +riding through the streets of London with Anna Bullen. It is however +but Justice, and my Duty to declare that this amiable Woman was entirely +innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, and of which her +Beauty, her Elegance, and her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs, not +to mention her solemn Protestations of Innocence, the weakness of the +Charges against her, and the King's Character; all of which add some +confirmation, tho' perhaps but slight ones when in comparison with those +before alledged in her favour. Tho' I do not profess giving many dates, +yet as I think it proper to give some and shall of course make choice +of those which it is most necessary for the Reader to know, I think it +right to inform him that her letter to the King was dated on the 6th of +May. The Crimes and Cruelties of this Prince, were too numerous to be +mentioned, (as this history I trust has fully shown;) and nothing can +be said in his vindication, but that his abolishing Religious Houses and +leaving them to the ruinous depredations of time has been of infinite +use to the landscape of England in general, which probably was a +principal motive for his doing it, since otherwise why should a Man who +was of no Religion himself be at so much trouble to abolish one which +had for ages been established in the Kingdom. His Majesty's 5th Wife +was the Duke of Norfolk's Neice who, tho' universally acquitted of the +crimes for which she was beheaded, has been by many people supposed to +have led an abandoned life before her Marriage--of this however I have +many doubts, since she was a relation of that noble Duke of Norfolk who +was so warm in the Queen of Scotland's cause, and who at last fell a +victim to it. The Kings last wife contrived to survive him, but with +difficulty effected it. He was succeeded by his only son Edward. + + +EDWARD the 6th + +As this prince was only nine years old at the time of his Father's +death, he was considered by many people as too young to govern, and the +late King happening to be of the same opinion, his mother's Brother the +Duke of Somerset was chosen Protector of the realm during his minority. +This Man was on the whole of a very amiable Character, and is somewhat +of a favourite with me, tho' I would by no means pretend to affirm that +he was equal to those first of Men Robert Earl of Essex, Delamere, or +Gilpin. He was beheaded, of which he might with reason have been proud, +had he known that such was the death of Mary Queen of Scotland; but +as it was impossible that he should be conscious of what had never +happened, it does not appear that he felt particularly delighted with +the manner of it. After his decease the Duke of Northumberland had the +care of the King and the Kingdom, and performed his trust of both so +well that the King died and the Kingdom was left to his daughter in law +the Lady Jane Grey, who has been already mentioned as reading Greek. +Whether she really understood that language or whether such a study +proceeded only from an excess of vanity for which I beleive she was +always rather remarkable, is uncertain. Whatever might be the cause, +she preserved the same appearance of knowledge, and contempt of what +was generally esteemed pleasure, during the whole of her life, for +she declared herself displeased with being appointed Queen, and while +conducting to the scaffold, she wrote a sentence in Latin and another in +Greek on seeing the dead Body of her Husband accidentally passing that +way. + + +MARY + +This woman had the good luck of being advanced to the throne of England, +in spite of the superior pretensions, Merit, and Beauty of her Cousins +Mary Queen of Scotland and Jane Grey. Nor can I pity the Kingdom for the +misfortunes they experienced during her Reign, since they fully deserved +them, for having allowed her to succeed her Brother--which was a double +peice of folly, since they might have foreseen that as she died without +children, she would be succeeded by that disgrace to humanity, that +pest of society, Elizabeth. Many were the people who fell martyrs to the +protestant Religion during her reign; I suppose not fewer than a dozen. +She married Philip King of Spain who in her sister's reign was famous +for building Armadas. She died without issue, and then the dreadful +moment came in which the destroyer of all comfort, the deceitful +Betrayer of trust reposed in her, and the Murderess of her Cousin +succeeded to the Throne.---- + + +ELIZABETH + +It was the peculiar misfortune of this Woman to have bad +Ministers---Since wicked as she herself was, she could not have +committed such extensive mischeif, had not these vile and abandoned Men +connived at, and encouraged her in her Crimes. I know that it has by +many people been asserted and beleived that Lord Burleigh, Sir Francis +Walsingham, and the rest of those who filled the cheif offices of State +were deserving, experienced, and able Ministers. But oh! how blinded +such writers and such Readers must be to true Merit, to Merit despised, +neglected and defamed, if they can persist in such opinions when they +reflect that these men, these boasted men were such scandals to their +Country and their sex as to allow and assist their Queen in confining +for the space of nineteen years, a WOMAN who if the claims of +Relationship and Merit were of no avail, yet as a Queen and as one who +condescended to place confidence in her, had every reason to expect +assistance and protection; and at length in allowing Elizabeth to bring +this amiable Woman to an untimely, unmerited, and scandalous Death. Can +any one if he reflects but for a moment on this blot, this everlasting +blot upon their understanding and their Character, allow any praise to +Lord Burleigh or Sir Francis Walsingham? Oh! what must this bewitching +Princess whose only freind was then the Duke of Norfolk, and whose +only ones now Mr Whitaker, Mrs Lefroy, Mrs Knight and myself, who was +abandoned by her son, confined by her Cousin, abused, reproached and +vilified by all, what must not her most noble mind have suffered when +informed that Elizabeth had given orders for her Death! Yet she bore +it with a most unshaken fortitude, firm in her mind; constant in her +Religion; and prepared herself to meet the cruel fate to which she +was doomed, with a magnanimity that would alone proceed from conscious +Innocence. And yet could you Reader have beleived it possible that +some hardened and zealous Protestants have even abused her for that +steadfastness in the Catholic Religion which reflected on her so +much credit? But this is a striking proof of THEIR narrow souls and +prejudiced Judgements who accuse her. She was executed in the Great Hall +at Fortheringay Castle (sacred Place!) on Wednesday the 8th of February +1586--to the everlasting Reproach of Elizabeth, her Ministers, and of +England in general. It may not be unnecessary before I entirely conclude +my account of this ill-fated Queen, to observe that she had been accused +of several crimes during the time of her reigning in Scotland, of which +I now most seriously do assure my Reader that she was entirely innocent; +having never been guilty of anything more than Imprudencies into which +she was betrayed by the openness of her Heart, her Youth, and her +Education. Having I trust by this assurance entirely done away every +Suspicion and every doubt which might have arisen in the Reader's mind, +from what other Historians have written of her, I shall proceed to +mention the remaining Events that marked Elizabeth's reign. It was about +this time that Sir Francis Drake the first English Navigator who sailed +round the World, lived, to be the ornament of his Country and his +profession. Yet great as he was, and justly celebrated as a sailor, +I cannot help foreseeing that he will be equalled in this or the next +Century by one who tho' now but young, already promises to answer all +the ardent and sanguine expectations of his Relations and Freinds, +amongst whom I may class the amiable Lady to whom this work is +dedicated, and my no less amiable self. + +Though of a different profession, and shining in a different sphere of +Life, yet equally conspicuous in the Character of an Earl, as Drake was +in that of a Sailor, was Robert Devereux Lord Essex. This unfortunate +young Man was not unlike in character to that equally unfortunate +one FREDERIC DELAMERE. The simile may be carried still farther, and +Elizabeth the torment of Essex may be compared to the Emmeline of +Delamere. It would be endless to recount the misfortunes of this noble +and gallant Earl. It is sufficient to say that he was beheaded on the +25th of Feb, after having been Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, after having +clapped his hand on his sword, and after performing many other services +to his Country. Elizabeth did not long survive his loss, and died so +miserable that were it not an injury to the memory of Mary I should pity +her. + + +JAMES the 1st + +Though this King had some faults, among which and as the most principal, +was his allowing his Mother's death, yet considered on the whole I +cannot help liking him. He married Anne of Denmark, and had several +Children; fortunately for him his eldest son Prince Henry died before +his father or he might have experienced the evils which befell his +unfortunate Brother. + +As I am myself partial to the roman catholic religion, it is with +infinite regret that I am obliged to blame the Behaviour of any Member +of it: yet Truth being I think very excusable in an Historian, I am +necessitated to say that in this reign the roman Catholics of England +did not behave like Gentlemen to the protestants. Their Behaviour +indeed to the Royal Family and both Houses of Parliament might justly +be considered by them as very uncivil, and even Sir Henry Percy tho' +certainly the best bred man of the party, had none of that general +politeness which is so universally pleasing, as his attentions were +entirely confined to Lord Mounteagle. + +Sir Walter Raleigh flourished in this and the preceeding reign, and is +by many people held in great veneration and respect--But as he was an +enemy of the noble Essex, I have nothing to say in praise of him, and +must refer all those who may wish to be acquainted with the particulars +of his life, to Mr Sheridan's play of the Critic, where they will +find many interesting anecdotes as well of him as of his friend Sir +Christopher Hatton.--His Majesty was of that amiable disposition which +inclines to Freindship, and in such points was possessed of a keener +penetration in discovering Merit than many other people. I once heard an +excellent Sharade on a Carpet, of which the subject I am now on reminds +me, and as I think it may afford my Readers some amusement to FIND IT +OUT, I shall here take the liberty of presenting it to them. + +SHARADE My first is what my second was to King James the 1st, and you +tread on my whole. + +The principal favourites of his Majesty were Car, who was afterwards +created Earl of Somerset and whose name perhaps may have some share +in the above mentioned Sharade, and George Villiers afterwards Duke of +Buckingham. On his Majesty's death he was succeeded by his son Charles. + + +CHARLES the 1st + +This amiable Monarch seems born to have suffered misfortunes equal to +those of his lovely Grandmother; misfortunes which he could not deserve +since he was her descendant. Never certainly were there before so many +detestable Characters at one time in England as in this Period of its +History; never were amiable men so scarce. The number of them throughout +the whole Kingdom amounting only to FIVE, besides the inhabitants +of Oxford who were always loyal to their King and faithful to his +interests. The names of this noble five who never forgot the duty of +the subject, or swerved from their attachment to his Majesty, were as +follows--The King himself, ever stedfast in his own support--Archbishop +Laud, Earl of Strafford, Viscount Faulkland and Duke of Ormond, who were +scarcely less strenuous or zealous in the cause. While the VILLIANS +of the time would make too long a list to be written or read; I shall +therefore content myself with mentioning the leaders of the Gang. +Cromwell, Fairfax, Hampden, and Pym may be considered as the original +Causers of all the disturbances, Distresses, and Civil Wars in which +England for many years was embroiled. In this reign as well as in that +of Elizabeth, I am obliged in spite of my attachment to the Scotch, +to consider them as equally guilty with the generality of the English, +since they dared to think differently from their Sovereign, to forget +the Adoration which as STUARTS it was their Duty to pay them, to rebel +against, dethrone and imprison the unfortunate Mary; to oppose, to +deceive, and to sell the no less unfortunate Charles. The Events of this +Monarch's reign are too numerous for my pen, and indeed the recital +of any Events (except what I make myself) is uninteresting to me; my +principal reason for undertaking the History of England being to Prove +the innocence of the Queen of Scotland, which I flatter myself with +having effectually done, and to abuse Elizabeth, tho' I am rather +fearful of having fallen short in the latter part of my scheme.--As +therefore it is not my intention to give any particular account of the +distresses into which this King was involved through the misconduct and +Cruelty of his Parliament, I shall satisfy myself with vindicating him +from the Reproach of Arbitrary and tyrannical Government with which he +has often been charged. This, I feel, is not difficult to be done, for +with one argument I am certain of satisfying every sensible and well +disposed person whose opinions have been properly guided by a good +Education--and this Argument is that he was a STUART. + +Finis Saturday Nov: 26th 1791. + + +***** + + + + +A COLLECTION OF LETTERS + + + + +To Miss COOPER + +COUSIN Conscious of the Charming Character which in every Country, and +every Clime in Christendom is Cried, Concerning you, with Caution and +Care I Commend to your Charitable Criticism this Clever Collection +of Curious Comments, which have been Carefully Culled, Collected and +Classed by your Comical Cousin + +The Author. + +***** + + + + +A COLLECTION OF LETTERS + + + + +LETTER the FIRST From a MOTHER to her FREIND. + +My Children begin now to claim all my attention in different Manner from +that in which they have been used to receive it, as they are now arrived +at that age when it is necessary for them in some measure to become +conversant with the World, My Augusta is 17 and her sister scarcely a +twelvemonth younger. I flatter myself that their education has been such +as will not disgrace their appearance in the World, and that THEY will +not disgrace their Education I have every reason to beleive. Indeed they +are sweet Girls--. Sensible yet unaffected--Accomplished yet Easy--. +Lively yet Gentle--. As their progress in every thing they have learnt +has been always the same, I am willing to forget the difference of age, +and to introduce them together into Public. This very Evening is fixed +on as their first ENTREE into Life, as we are to drink tea with Mrs Cope +and her Daughter. I am glad that we are to meet no one, for my Girls +sake, as it would be awkward for them to enter too wide a Circle on the +very first day. But we shall proceed by degrees.--Tomorrow Mr Stanly's +family will drink tea with us, and perhaps the Miss Phillips's will meet +them. On Tuesday we shall pay Morning Visits--On Wednesday we are to +dine at Westbrook. On Thursday we have Company at home. On Friday we +are to be at a Private Concert at Sir John Wynna's--and on Saturday +we expect Miss Dawson to call in the Morning--which will complete my +Daughters Introduction into Life. How they will bear so much dissipation +I cannot imagine; of their spirits I have no fear, I only dread their +health. + +This mighty affair is now happily over, and my Girls are OUT. As the +moment approached for our departure, you can have no idea how the sweet +Creatures trembled with fear and expectation. Before the Carriage drove +to the door, I called them into my dressing-room, and as soon as they +were seated thus addressed them. "My dear Girls the moment is now +arrived when I am to reap the rewards of all my Anxieties and Labours +towards you during your Education. You are this Evening to enter a World +in which you will meet with many wonderfull Things; Yet let me warn +you against suffering yourselves to be meanly swayed by the Follies and +Vices of others, for beleive me my beloved Children that if you do--I +shall be very sorry for it." They both assured me that they would ever +remember my advice with Gratitude, and follow it with attention; That +they were prepared to find a World full of things to amaze and to shock +them: but that they trusted their behaviour would never give me reason +to repent the Watchful Care with which I had presided over their infancy +and formed their Minds--" "With such expectations and such intentions +(cried I) I can have nothing to fear from you--and can chearfully +conduct you to Mrs Cope's without a fear of your being seduced by her +Example, or contaminated by her Follies. Come, then my Children (added +I) the Carriage is driving to the door, and I will not a moment delay +the happiness you are so impatient to enjoy." When we arrived at +Warleigh, poor Augusta could scarcely breathe, while Margaret was all +Life and Rapture. "The long-expected Moment is now arrived (said she) +and we shall soon be in the World."--In a few Moments we were in Mrs +Cope's parlour, where with her daughter she sate ready to receive us. +I observed with delight the impression my Children made on them--. They +were indeed two sweet, elegant-looking Girls, and tho' somewhat abashed +from the peculiarity of their situation, yet there was an ease in their +Manners and address which could not fail of pleasing--. Imagine my +dear Madam how delighted I must have been in beholding as I did, how +attentively they observed every object they saw, how disgusted with some +Things, how enchanted with others, how astonished at all! On the whole +however they returned in raptures with the World, its Inhabitants, and +Manners. Yrs Ever--A. F. + + + + +LETTER the SECOND From a YOUNG LADY crossed in Love to her freind + +Why should this last disappointment hang so heavily on my spirits? Why +should I feel it more, why should it wound me deeper than those I +have experienced before? Can it be that I have a greater affection for +Willoughby than I had for his amiable predecessors? Or is it that our +feelings become more acute from being often wounded? I must suppose my +dear Belle that this is the Case, since I am not conscious of being more +sincerely attached to Willoughby than I was to Neville, Fitzowen, or +either of the Crawfords, for all of whom I once felt the most lasting +affection that ever warmed a Woman's heart. Tell me then dear Belle why +I still sigh when I think of the faithless Edward, or why I weep when I +behold his Bride, for too surely this is the case--. My Freinds are all +alarmed for me; They fear my declining health; they lament my want +of spirits; they dread the effects of both. In hopes of releiving my +melancholy, by directing my thoughts to other objects, they have invited +several of their freinds to spend the Christmas with us. Lady Bridget +Darkwood and her sister-in-law, Miss Jane are expected on Friday; and +Colonel Seaton's family will be with us next week. This is all most +kindly meant by my Uncle and Cousins; but what can the presence of a +dozen indefferent people do to me, but weary and distress me--. I will +not finish my Letter till some of our Visitors are arrived. + +Friday Evening Lady Bridget came this morning, and with her, her sweet +sister Miss Jane--. Although I have been acquainted with this charming +Woman above fifteen Years, yet I never before observed how lovely she +is. She is now about 35, and in spite of sickness, sorrow and Time is +more blooming than I ever saw a Girl of 17. I was delighted with her, +the moment she entered the house, and she appeared equally pleased with +me, attaching herself to me during the remainder of the day. There is +something so sweet, so mild in her Countenance, that she seems more than +Mortal. Her Conversation is as bewitching as her appearance; I could not +help telling her how much she engaged my admiration--. "Oh! Miss Jane +(said I)--and stopped from an inability at the moment of expressing +myself as I could wish--Oh! Miss Jane--(I repeated)--I could not think +of words to suit my feelings--She seemed waiting for my speech--. I +was confused--distressed--my thoughts were bewildered--and I could only +add--"How do you do?" She saw and felt for my Embarrassment and with +admirable presence of mind releived me from it by saying--"My dear +Sophia be not uneasy at having exposed yourself--I will turn the +Conversation without appearing to notice it. "Oh! how I loved her for +her kindness!" Do you ride as much as you used to do?" said she--. "I +am advised to ride by my Physician. We have delightful Rides round us, +I have a Charming horse, am uncommonly fond of the Amusement, replied +I quite recovered from my Confusion, and in short I ride a great deal." +"You are in the right my Love," said she. Then repeating the following +line which was an extempore and equally adapted to recommend both Riding +and Candour-- + +"Ride where you may, Be Candid where you can," she added," I rode once, +but it is many years ago--She spoke this in so low and tremulous a +Voice, that I was silent--. Struck with her Manner of speaking I could +make no reply. "I have not ridden, continued she fixing her Eyes on my +face, since I was married." I was never so surprised--"Married, Ma'am!" +I repeated. "You may well wear that look of astonishment, said she, +since what I have said must appear improbable to you--Yet nothing is +more true than that I once was married." + +"Then why are you called Miss Jane?" + +"I married, my Sophia without the consent or knowledge of my father the +late Admiral Annesley. It was therefore necessary to keep the secret +from him and from every one, till some fortunate opportunity might offer +of revealing it--. Such an opportunity alas! was but too soon given in +the death of my dear Capt. Dashwood--Pardon these tears, continued Miss +Jane wiping her Eyes, I owe them to my Husband's memory. He fell my +Sophia, while fighting for his Country in America after a most happy +Union of seven years--. My Children, two sweet Boys and a Girl, who +had constantly resided with my Father and me, passing with him and with +every one as the Children of a Brother (tho' I had ever been an only +Child) had as yet been the comforts of my Life. But no sooner had +I lossed my Henry, than these sweet Creatures fell sick and died--. +Conceive dear Sophia what my feelings must have been when as an Aunt I +attended my Children to their early Grave--. My Father did not survive +them many weeks--He died, poor Good old man, happily ignorant to his +last hour of my Marriage.' + +"But did not you own it, and assume his name at your husband's death?" + +"No; I could not bring myself to do it; more especially when in my +Children I lost all inducement for doing it. Lady Bridget, and yourself +are the only persons who are in the knowledge of my having ever been +either Wife or Mother. As I could not Prevail on myself to take the +name of Dashwood (a name which after my Henry's death I could never hear +without emotion) and as I was conscious of having no right to that of +Annesley, I dropt all thoughts of either, and have made it a point of +bearing only my Christian one since my Father's death." She paused--"Oh! +my dear Miss Jane (said I) how infinitely am I obliged to you for so +entertaining a story! You cannot think how it has diverted me! But have +you quite done?" + +"I have only to add my dear Sophia, that my Henry's elder Brother dieing +about the same time, Lady Bridget became a Widow like myself, and as we +had always loved each other in idea from the high Character in which we +had ever been spoken of, though we had never met, we determined to live +together. We wrote to one another on the same subject by the same post, +so exactly did our feeling and our actions coincide! We both eagerly +embraced the proposals we gave and received of becoming one family, and +have from that time lived together in the greatest affection." + +"And is this all? said I, I hope you have not done." + +"Indeed I have; and did you ever hear a story more pathetic?" + +"I never did--and it is for that reason it pleases me so much, for when +one is unhappy nothing is so delightful to one's sensations as to hear +of equal misery." + +"Ah! but my Sophia why are YOU unhappy?" + +"Have you not heard Madam of Willoughby's Marriage?" + +"But my love why lament HIS perfidy, when you bore so well that of many +young Men before?" + +"Ah! Madam, I was used to it then, but when Willoughby broke his +Engagements I had not been dissapointed for half a year." + +"Poor Girl!" said Miss Jane. + + + + +LETTER the THIRD From a YOUNG LADY in distressed Circumstances to her +freind + +A few days ago I was at a private Ball given by Mr Ashburnham. As my +Mother never goes out she entrusted me to the care of Lady Greville who +did me the honour of calling for me in her way and of allowing me to sit +forwards, which is a favour about which I am very indifferent especially +as I know it is considered as confering a great obligation on me "So +Miss Maria (said her Ladyship as she saw me advancing to the door of the +Carriage) you seem very smart to night--MY poor Girls will appear quite +to disadvantage by YOU--I only hope your Mother may not have distressed +herself to set YOU off. Have you got a new Gown on?" + +"Yes Ma'am." replied I with as much indifference as I could assume. + +"Aye, and a fine one too I think--(feeling it, as by her permission I +seated myself by her) I dare say it is all very smart--But I must +own, for you know I always speak my mind, that I think it was quite a +needless piece of expence--Why could not you have worn your old striped +one? It is not my way to find fault with People because they are poor, +for I always think that they are more to be despised and pitied than +blamed for it, especially if they cannot help it, but at the same time I +must say that in my opinion your old striped Gown would have been quite +fine enough for its Wearer--for to tell you the truth (I always speak my +mind) I am very much afraid that one half of the people in the room will +not know whether you have a Gown on or not--But I suppose you intend to +make your fortune to night--. Well, the sooner the better; and I wish +you success." + +"Indeed Ma'am I have no such intention--" + +"Who ever heard a young Lady own that she was a Fortune-hunter?" Miss +Greville laughed but I am sure Ellen felt for me. + +"Was your Mother gone to bed before you left her?" said her Ladyship. + +"Dear Ma'am, said Ellen it is but nine o'clock." + +"True Ellen, but Candles cost money, and Mrs Williams is too wise to be +extravagant." + +"She was just sitting down to supper Ma'am." + +"And what had she got for supper?" "I did not observe." "Bread and +Cheese I suppose." "I should never wish for a better supper." said +Ellen. "You have never any reason replied her Mother, as a better is +always provided for you." Miss Greville laughed excessively, as she +constantly does at her Mother's wit. + +Such is the humiliating Situation in which I am forced to appear while +riding in her Ladyship's Coach--I dare not be impertinent, as my Mother +is always admonishing me to be humble and patient if I wish to make my +way in the world. She insists on my accepting every invitation of Lady +Greville, or you may be certain that I would never enter either her +House, or her Coach with the disagreable certainty I always have of +being abused for my Poverty while I am in them.--When we arrived at +Ashburnham, it was nearly ten o'clock, which was an hour and a half +later than we were desired to be there; but Lady Greville is too +fashionable (or fancies herself to be so) to be punctual. The Dancing +however was not begun as they waited for Miss Greville. I had not been +long in the room before I was engaged to dance by Mr Bernard, but just +as we were going to stand up, he recollected that his Servant had got +his white Gloves, and immediately ran out to fetch them. In the mean +time the Dancing began and Lady Greville in passing to another room went +exactly before me--She saw me and instantly stopping, said to me though +there were several people close to us, + +"Hey day, Miss Maria! What cannot you get a partner? Poor Young Lady! +I am afraid your new Gown was put on for nothing. But do not despair; +perhaps you may get a hop before the Evening is over." So saying, she +passed on without hearing my repeated assurance of being engaged, and +leaving me very much provoked at being so exposed before every one--Mr +Bernard however soon returned and by coming to me the moment he entered +the room, and leading me to the Dancers my Character I hope was cleared +from the imputation Lady Greville had thrown on it, in the eyes of all +the old Ladies who had heard her speech. I soon forgot all my vexations +in the pleasure of dancing and of having the most agreable partner in +the room. As he is moreover heir to a very large Estate I could see that +Lady Greville did not look very well pleased when she found who had been +his Choice--She was determined to mortify me, and accordingly when we +were sitting down between the dances, she came to me with more than her +usual insulting importance attended by Miss Mason and said loud enough +to be heard by half the people in the room, "Pray Miss Maria in what +way of business was your Grandfather? for Miss Mason and I cannot agree +whether he was a Grocer or a Bookbinder." I saw that she wanted to +mortify me, and was resolved if I possibly could to Prevent her seeing +that her scheme succeeded. "Neither Madam; he was a Wine Merchant." +"Aye, I knew he was in some such low way--He broke did not he?" "I +beleive not Ma'am." "Did not he abscond?" "I never heard that he did." +"At least he died insolvent?" "I was never told so before." "Why, was +not your FATHER as poor as a Rat" "I fancy not." "Was not he in the +Kings Bench once?" "I never saw him there." She gave me SUCH a look, and +turned away in a great passion; while I was half delighted with myself +for my impertinence, and half afraid of being thought too saucy. As Lady +Greville was extremely angry with me, she took no further notice of +me all the Evening, and indeed had I been in favour I should have been +equally neglected, as she was got into a Party of great folks and she +never speaks to me when she can to anyone else. Miss Greville was with +her Mother's party at supper, but Ellen preferred staying with the +Bernards and me. We had a very pleasant Dance and as Lady G--slept all +the way home, I had a very comfortable ride. + +The next day while we were at dinner Lady Greville's Coach stopped at +the door, for that is the time of day she generally contrives it should. +She sent in a message by the servant to say that "she should not get out +but that Miss Maria must come to the Coach-door, as she wanted to speak +to her, and that she must make haste and come immediately--" "What an +impertinent Message Mama!" said I--"Go Maria--" replied she--Accordingly +I went and was obliged to stand there at her Ladyships pleasure though +the Wind was extremely high and very cold. + +"Why I think Miss Maria you are not quite so smart as you were last +night--But I did not come to examine your dress, but to tell you that +you may dine with us the day after tomorrow--Not tomorrow, remember, do +not come tomorrow, for we expect Lord and Lady Clermont and Sir Thomas +Stanley's family--There will be no occasion for your being very fine +for I shant send the Carriage--If it rains you may take an umbrella--" +I could hardly help laughing at hearing her give me leave to keep myself +dry--"And pray remember to be in time, for I shant wait--I hate my +Victuals over-done--But you need not come before the time--How does +your Mother do? She is at dinner is not she?" "Yes Ma'am we were in the +middle of dinner when your Ladyship came." "I am afraid you find it very +cold Maria." said Ellen. "Yes, it is an horrible East wind--said her +Mother--I assure you I can hardly bear the window down--But you are used +to be blown about by the wind Miss Maria and that is what has made your +Complexion so rudely and coarse. You young Ladies who cannot often ride +in a Carriage never mind what weather you trudge in, or how the wind +shews your legs. I would not have my Girls stand out of doors as you do +in such a day as this. But some sort of people have no feelings either +of cold or Delicacy--Well, remember that we shall expect you on Thursday +at 5 o'clock--You must tell your Maid to come for you at night--There +will be no Moon--and you will have an horrid walk home--My compts to +Your Mother--I am afraid your dinner will be cold--Drive on--" And away +she went, leaving me in a great passion with her as she always does. +Maria Williams. + + + + +LETTER the FOURTH From a YOUNG LADY rather impertinent to her freind + +We dined yesterday with Mr Evelyn where we were introduced to a very +agreable looking Girl his Cousin. I was extremely pleased with her +appearance, for added to the charms of an engaging face, her manner and +voice had something peculiarly interesting in them. So much so, that +they inspired me with a great curiosity to know the history of her Life, +who were her Parents, where she came from, and what had befallen her, +for it was then only known that she was a relation of Mr Evelyn, and +that her name was Grenville. In the evening a favourable opportunity +offered to me of attempting at least to know what I wished to know, for +every one played at Cards but Mrs Evelyn, My Mother, Dr Drayton, Miss +Grenville and myself, and as the two former were engaged in a whispering +Conversation, and the Doctor fell asleep, we were of necessity obliged +to entertain each other. This was what I wished and being determined not +to remain in ignorance for want of asking, I began the Conversation in +the following Manner. + +"Have you been long in Essex Ma'am?" + +"I arrived on Tuesday." + +"You came from Derbyshire?" + +"No, Ma'am! appearing surprised at my question, from Suffolk." You will +think this a good dash of mine my dear Mary, but you know that I am not +wanting for Impudence when I have any end in veiw. "Are you pleased with +the Country Miss Grenville? Do you find it equal to the one you have +left?" + +"Much superior Ma'am in point of Beauty." She sighed. I longed to know +for why. + +"But the face of any Country however beautiful said I, can be but a poor +consolation for the loss of one's dearest Freinds." She shook her +head, as if she felt the truth of what I said. My Curiosity was so much +raised, that I was resolved at any rate to satisfy it. + +"You regret having left Suffolk then Miss Grenville?" "Indeed I do." +"You were born there I suppose?" "Yes Ma'am I was and passed many happy +years there--" + +"That is a great comfort--said I--I hope Ma'am that you never spent any +unhappy one's there." + +"Perfect Felicity is not the property of Mortals, and no one has a right +to expect uninterrupted Happiness.--Some Misfortunes I have certainly +met with." + +"WHAT Misfortunes dear Ma'am? replied I, burning with impatience to know +every thing. "NONE Ma'am I hope that have been the effect of any wilfull +fault in me." "I dare say not Ma'am, and have no doubt but that any +sufferings you may have experienced could arise only from the cruelties +of Relations or the Errors of Freinds." She sighed--"You seem unhappy +my dear Miss Grenville--Is it in my power to soften your Misfortunes?" +"YOUR power Ma'am replied she extremely surprised; it is in NO ONES +power to make me happy." She pronounced these words in so mournfull and +solemn an accent, that for some time I had not courage to reply. I +was actually silenced. I recovered myself however in a few moments and +looking at her with all the affection I could, "My dear Miss Grenville +said I, you appear extremely young--and may probably stand in need of +some one's advice whose regard for you, joined to superior Age, perhaps +superior Judgement might authorise her to give it. I am that person, and +I now challenge you to accept the offer I make you of my Confidence and +Freindship, in return to which I shall only ask for yours--" + +"You are extremely obliging Ma'am--said she--and I am highly flattered +by your attention to me--But I am in no difficulty, no doubt, no +uncertainty of situation in which any advice can be wanted. Whenever I +am however continued she brightening into a complaisant smile, I shall +know where to apply." + +I bowed, but felt a good deal mortified by such a repulse; still however +I had not given up my point. I found that by the appearance of sentiment +and Freindship nothing was to be gained and determined therefore to +renew my attacks by Questions and suppositions. "Do you intend staying +long in this part of England Miss Grenville?" + +"Yes Ma'am, some time I beleive." + +"But how will Mr and Mrs Grenville bear your absence?" + +"They are neither of them alive Ma'am." This was an answer I did not +expect--I was quite silenced, and never felt so awkward in my Life---. + + + + +LETTER the FIFTH From a YOUNG LADY very much in love to her Freind + +My Uncle gets more stingy, my Aunt more particular, and I more in love +every day. What shall we all be at this rate by the end of the year! I +had this morning the happiness of receiving the following Letter from my +dear Musgrove. + +Sackville St: Janry 7th It is a month to day since I first beheld my +lovely Henrietta, and the sacred anniversary must and shall be kept in +a manner becoming the day--by writing to her. Never shall I forget the +moment when her Beauties first broke on my sight--No time as you well +know can erase it from my Memory. It was at Lady Scudamores. Happy Lady +Scudamore to live within a mile of the divine Henrietta! When the lovely +Creature first entered the room, oh! what were my sensations? The sight +of you was like the sight ofa wonderful fine Thing. I started--I gazed +at her with admiration--She appeared every moment more Charming, and the +unfortunate Musgrove became a captive to your Charms before I had time +to look about me. Yes Madam, I had the happiness of adoring you, an +happiness for which I cannot be too grateful. "What said he to himself +is Musgrove allowed to die for Henrietta? Enviable Mortal! and may he +pine for her who is the object of universal admiration, who is adored +by a Colonel, and toasted by a Baronet! Adorable Henrietta how beautiful +you are! I declare you are quite divine! You are more than Mortal. +You are an Angel. You are Venus herself. In short Madam you are the +prettiest Girl I ever saw in my Life--and her Beauty is encreased in her +Musgroves Eyes, by permitting him to love her and allowing me to hope. +And ah! Angelic Miss Henrietta Heaven is my witness how ardently I do +hope for the death of your villanous Uncle and his abandoned Wife, since +my fair one will not consent to be mine till their decease has placed +her in affluence above what my fortune can procure--. Though it is an +improvable Estate--. Cruel Henrietta to persist in such a resolution! I +am at Present with my sister where I mean to continue till my own house +which tho' an excellent one is at Present somewhat out of repair, is +ready to receive me. Amiable princess of my Heart farewell--Of that +Heart which trembles while it signs itself Your most ardent Admirer and +devoted humble servt. T. Musgrove. + +There is a pattern for a Love-letter Matilda! Did you ever read such +a master-piece of Writing? Such sense, such sentiment, such purity of +Thought, such flow of Language and such unfeigned Love in one sheet? +No, never I can answer for it, since a Musgrove is not to be met with +by every Girl. Oh! how I long to be with him! I intend to send him the +following in answer to his Letter tomorrow. + +My dearest Musgrove--. Words cannot express how happy your Letter made +me; I thought I should have cried for joy, for I love you better than +any body in the World. I think you the most amiable, and the handsomest +Man in England, and so to be sure you are. I never read so sweet a +Letter in my Life. Do write me another just like it, and tell me you are +in love with me in every other line. I quite die to see you. How shall +we manage to see one another? for we are so much in love that we cannot +live asunder. Oh! my dear Musgrove you cannot think how impatiently I +wait for the death of my Uncle and Aunt--If they will not Die soon, I +beleive I shall run mad, for I get more in love with you every day of my +Life. + +How happy your Sister is to enjoy the pleasure of your Company in her +house, and how happy every body in London must be because you are there. +I hope you will be so kind as to write to me again soon, for I never +read such sweet Letters as yours. I am my dearest Musgrove most truly +and faithfully yours for ever and ever Henrietta Halton. + +I hope he will like my answer; it is as good a one as I can write +though nothing to his; Indeed I had always heard what a dab he was at +a Love-letter. I saw him you know for the first time at Lady +Scudamores--And when I saw her Ladyship afterwards she asked me how I +liked her Cousin Musgrove? + +"Why upon my word said I, I think he is a very handsome young Man." + +"I am glad you think so replied she, for he is distractedly in love with +you." + +"Law! Lady Scudamore said I, how can you talk so ridiculously?" + +"Nay, t'is very true answered she, I assure you, for he was in love with +you from the first moment he beheld you." + +"I wish it may be true said I, for that is the only kind of love I +would give a farthing for--There is some sense in being in love at first +sight." + +"Well, I give you Joy of your conquest, replied Lady Scudamore, and +I beleive it to have been a very complete one; I am sure it is not a +contemptible one, for my Cousin is a charming young fellow, has seen a +great deal of the World, and writes the best Love-letters I ever read." + +This made me very happy, and I was excessively pleased with my conquest. +However, I thought it was proper to give myself a few Airs--so I said to +her-- + +"This is all very pretty Lady Scudamore, but you know that we young +Ladies who are Heiresses must not throw ourselves away upon Men who have +no fortune at all." + +"My dear Miss Halton said she, I am as much convinced of that as you can +be, and I do assure you that I should be the last person to encourage +your marrying anyone who had not some pretensions to expect a fortune +with you. Mr Musgrove is so far from being poor that he has an estate of +several hundreds an year which is capable of great Improvement, and an +excellent House, though at Present it is not quite in repair." + +"If that is the case replied I, I have nothing more to say against +him, and if as you say he is an informed young Man and can write a +good Love-letter, I am sure I have no reason to find fault with him +for admiring me, tho' perhaps I may not marry him for all that Lady +Scudamore." + +"You are certainly under no obligation to marry him answered her +Ladyship, except that which love himself will dictate to you, for if I +am not greatly mistaken you are at this very moment unknown to yourself, +cherishing a most tender affection for him." + +"Law, Lady Scudamore replied I blushing how can you think of such a +thing?" + +"Because every look, every word betrays it, answered she; Come my dear +Henrietta, consider me as a freind, and be sincere with me--Do not you +prefer Mr Musgrove to any man of your acquaintance?" + +"Pray do not ask me such questions Lady Scudamore, said I turning away +my head, for it is not fit for me to answer them." + +"Nay my Love replied she, now you confirm my suspicions. But why +Henrietta should you be ashamed to own a well-placed Love, or why refuse +to confide in me?" + +"I am not ashamed to own it; said I taking Courage. I do not refuse to +confide in you or blush to say that I do love your cousin Mr Musgrove, +that I am sincerely attached to him, for it is no disgrace to love a +handsome Man. If he were plain indeed I might have had reason to be +ashamed of a passion which must have been mean since the object would +have been unworthy. But with such a figure and face, and such beautiful +hair as your Cousin has, why should I blush to own that such superior +merit has made an impression on me." + +"My sweet Girl (said Lady Scudamore embracing me with great affection) +what a delicate way of thinking you have in these matters, and what a +quick discernment for one of your years! Oh! how I honour you for such +Noble Sentiments!" + +"Do you Ma'am said I; You are vastly obliging. But pray Lady Scudamore +did your Cousin himself tell you of his affection for me I shall like +him the better if he did, for what is a Lover without a Confidante?" + +"Oh! my Love replied she, you were born for each other. Every word +you say more deeply convinces me that your Minds are actuated by the +invisible power of simpathy, for your opinions and sentiments so exactly +coincide. Nay, the colour of your Hair is not very different. Yes my +dear Girl, the poor despairing Musgrove did reveal to me the story of +his Love--. Nor was I surprised at it--I know not how it was, but I had +a kind of presentiment that he would be in love with you." + +"Well, but how did he break it to you?" + +"It was not till after supper. We were sitting round the fire +together talking on indifferent subjects, though to say the truth the +Conversation was cheifly on my side for he was thoughtful and silent, +when on a sudden he interrupted me in the midst of something I was +saying, by exclaiming in a most Theatrical tone-- + +Yes I'm in love I feel it now And Henrietta Halton has undone me + +"Oh! What a sweet way replied I, of declaring his Passion! To make such +a couple of charming lines about me! What a pity it is that they are not +in rhime!" + +"I am very glad you like it answered she; To be sure there was a great +deal of Taste in it. And are you in love with her, Cousin? said I. I am +very sorry for it, for unexceptionable as you are in every respect, with +a pretty Estate capable of Great improvements, and an excellent House +tho' somewhat out of repair, yet who can hope to aspire with success +to the adorable Henrietta who has had an offer from a Colonel and +been toasted by a Baronet"--"THAT I have--" cried I. Lady Scudamore +continued. "Ah dear Cousin replied he, I am so well convinced of the +little Chance I can have of winning her who is adored by thousands, that +I need no assurances of yours to make me more thoroughly so. Yet surely +neither you or the fair Henrietta herself will deny me the exquisite +Gratification of dieing for her, of falling a victim to her Charms. And +when I am dead"--continued her-- + +"Oh Lady Scudamore, said I wiping my eyes, that such a sweet Creature +should talk of dieing!" + +"It is an affecting Circumstance indeed, replied Lady Scudamore." "When +I am dead said he, let me be carried and lain at her feet, and perhaps +she may not disdain to drop a pitying tear on my poor remains." + +"Dear Lady Scudamore interrupted I, say no more on this affecting +subject. I cannot bear it." + +"Oh! how I admire the sweet sensibility of your Soul, and as I would not +for Worlds wound it too deeply, I will be silent." + +"Pray go on." said I. She did so. + +"And then added he, Ah! Cousin imagine what my transports will be when +I feel the dear precious drops trickle on my face! Who would not die +to haste such extacy! And when I am interred, may the divine Henrietta +bless some happier Youth with her affection, May he be as tenderly +attached to her as the hapless Musgrove and while HE crumbles to dust, +May they live an example of Felicity in the Conjugal state!" + +Did you ever hear any thing so pathetic? What a charming wish, to be +lain at my feet when he was dead! Oh! what an exalted mind he must have +to be capable of such a wish! Lady Scudamore went on. + +"Ah! my dear Cousin replied I to him, such noble behaviour as this, must +melt the heart of any woman however obdurate it may naturally be; +and could the divine Henrietta but hear your generous wishes for her +happiness, all gentle as is her mind, I have not a doubt but that she +would pity your affection and endeavour to return it." "Oh! Cousin +answered he, do not endeavour to raise my hopes by such flattering +assurances. No, I cannot hope to please this angel of a Woman, and the +only thing which remains for me to do, is to die." "True Love is ever +desponding replied I, but I my dear Tom will give you even greater +hopes of conquering this fair one's heart, than I have yet given you, by +assuring you that I watched her with the strictest attention during the +whole day, and could plainly discover that she cherishes in her bosom +though unknown to herself, a most tender affection for you." + +"Dear Lady Scudamore cried I, This is more than I ever knew!" + +"Did not I say that it was unknown to yourself? I did not, continued +I to him, encourage you by saying this at first, that surprise might +render the pleasure still Greater." "No Cousin replied he in a languid +voice, nothing will convince me that I can have touched the heart of +Henrietta Halton, and if you are deceived yourself, do not attempt +deceiving me." "In short my Love it was the work of some hours for me to +Persuade the poor despairing Youth that you had really a preference for +him; but when at last he could no longer deny the force of my arguments, +or discredit what I told him, his transports, his Raptures, his Extacies +are beyond my power to describe." + +"Oh! the dear Creature, cried I, how passionately he loves me! But dear +Lady Scudamore did you tell him that I was totally dependant on my Uncle +and Aunt?" + +"Yes, I told him every thing." + +"And what did he say." + +"He exclaimed with virulence against Uncles and Aunts; Accused the laws +of England for allowing them to Possess their Estates when wanted by +their Nephews or Neices, and wished HE were in the House of Commons, +that he might reform the Legislature, and rectify all its abuses." + +"Oh! the sweet Man! What a spirit he has!" said I. + +"He could not flatter himself he added, that the adorable Henrietta +would condescend for his sake to resign those Luxuries and that splendor +to which she had been used, and accept only in exchange the Comforts +and Elegancies which his limited Income could afford her, even supposing +that his house were in Readiness to receive her. I told him that it +could not be expected that she would; it would be doing her an injustice +to suppose her capable of giving up the power she now possesses and so +nobly uses of doing such extensive Good to the poorer part of her fellow +Creatures, merely for the gratification of you and herself." + +"To be sure said I, I AM very Charitable every now and then. And what +did Mr Musgrove say to this?" + +"He replied that he was under a melancholy necessity of owning the truth +of what I said, and that therefore if he should be the happy Creature +destined to be the Husband of the Beautiful Henrietta he must bring +himself to wait, however impatiently, for the fortunate day, when she +might be freed from the power of worthless Relations and able to bestow +herself on him." + +What a noble Creature he is! Oh! Matilda what a fortunate one I am, who +am to be his Wife! My Aunt is calling me to come and make the pies, so +adeiu my dear freind, and beleive me yours etc--H. Halton. + +Finis. + + + + +***** + + + +SCRAPS + + +To Miss FANNY CATHERINE AUSTEN + +MY Dear Neice As I am prevented by the great distance between Rowling +and Steventon from superintending your Education myself, the care of +which will probably on that account devolve on your Father and Mother, +I think it is my particular Duty to Prevent your feeling as much as +possible the want of my personal instructions, by addressing to you on +paper my Opinions and Admonitions on the conduct of Young Women, which +you will find expressed in the following pages.--I am my dear Neice Your +affectionate Aunt The Author. + + + + +THE FEMALE PHILOSOPHER + +A LETTER + +My Dear Louisa Your friend Mr Millar called upon us yesterday in his way +to Bath, whither he is going for his health; two of his daughters were +with him, but the eldest and the three Boys are with their Mother in +Sussex. Though you have often told me that Miss Millar was remarkably +handsome, you never mentioned anything of her Sisters' beauty; yet they +are certainly extremely pretty. I'll give you their description.--Julia +is eighteen; with a countenance in which Modesty, Sense and Dignity are +happily blended, she has a form which at once presents you with Grace, +Elegance and Symmetry. Charlotte who is just sixteen is shorter than her +Sister, and though her figure cannot boast the easy dignity of +Julia's, yet it has a pleasing plumpness which is in a different way as +estimable. She is fair and her face is expressive sometimes of softness +the most bewitching, and at others of Vivacity the most striking. +She appears to have infinite Wit and a good humour unalterable; her +conversation during the half hour they set with us, was replete with +humourous sallies, Bonmots and repartees; while the sensible, the +amiable Julia uttered sentiments of Morality worthy of a heart like her +own. Mr Millar appeared to answer the character I had always received +of him. My Father met him with that look of Love, that social Shake, and +cordial kiss which marked his gladness at beholding an old and valued +freind from whom thro' various circumstances he had been separated +nearly twenty years. Mr Millar observed (and very justly too) that +many events had befallen each during that interval of time, which gave +occasion to the lovely Julia for making most sensible reflections on the +many changes in their situation which so long a period had occasioned, +on the advantages of some, and the disadvantages of others. From +this subject she made a short digression to the instability of human +pleasures and the uncertainty of their duration, which led her to +observe that all earthly Joys must be imperfect. She was proceeding to +illustrate this doctrine by examples from the Lives of great Men when +the Carriage came to the Door and the amiable Moralist with her Father +and Sister was obliged to depart; but not without a promise of spending +five or six months with us on their return. We of course mentioned you, +and I assure you that ample Justice was done to your Merits by all. +"Louisa Clarke (said I) is in general a very pleasant Girl, yet +sometimes her good humour is clouded by Peevishness, Envy and Spite. She +neither wants Understanding or is without some pretensions to Beauty, +but these are so very trifling, that the value she sets on her personal +charms, and the adoration she expects them to be offered are at once a +striking example of her vanity, her pride, and her folly." So said I, +and to my opinion everyone added weight by the concurrence of their own. +Your affectionate Arabella Smythe. + + + + +THE FIRST ACT OF A COMEDY + +CHARACTERS Popgun Maria Charles Pistolletta Postilion Hostess Chorus of +ploughboys Cook and and +Strephon Chloe + +SCENE--AN INN + +ENTER Hostess, Charles, Maria, and Cook. + +Hostess to Maria) If the gentry in the Lion should want beds, shew them +number 9. + +Maria) Yes Mistress.--EXIT Maria + +Hostess to Cook) If their Honours in the Moon ask for the bill of fare, +give it them. + +Cook) I wull, I wull. EXIT Cook. + +Hostess to Charles) If their Ladyships in the Sun ring their +Bell--answerit. + +Charles) Yes Madam. EXEUNT Severally. + + +SCENE CHANGES TO THE MOON, and discovers Popgun and Pistoletta. + +Pistoletta) Pray papa how far is it to London? + +Popgun) My Girl, my Darling, my favourite of all my Children, who art +the picture of thy poor Mother who died two months ago, with whom I am +going to Town to marry to Strephon, and to whom I mean to bequeath my +whole Estate, it wants seven Miles. + + +SCENE CHANGES TO THE SUN-- + +ENTER Chloe and a chorus of ploughboys. + +Chloe) Where am I? At Hounslow.--Where go I? To London--. What to do? To +be married--. Unto whom? Unto Strephon. Who is he? A Youth. Then I will +sing a song. + +SONG I go to Town And when I come down, I shall be married to Streephon * +[*Note the two e's] And that to me will be fun. + +Chorus) Be fun, be fun, be fun, And that to me will be fun. + +ENTER Cook--Cook) Here is the bill of fare. + +Chloe reads) 2 Ducks, a leg of beef, a stinking partridge, and a +tart.--I will have the leg of beef and the partridge. EXIT Cook. And now +I will sing another song. + +SONG--I am going to have my dinner, After which I shan't be thinner, I +wish I had here Strephon For he would carve the partridge if it should +be a tough one. + +Chorus) Tough one, tough one, tough one For he would carve the partridge +if it Should be a tough one. EXIT Chloe and Chorus.-- + +SCENE CHANGES TO THE INSIDE OF THE LION. + +Enter Strephon and Postilion. Streph:) You drove me from Staines to this +place, from whence I mean to go to Town to marry Chloe. How much is your +due? + +Post:) Eighteen pence. Streph:) Alas, my freind, I have but a bad guinea +with which I mean to support myself in Town. But I will pawn to you an +undirected Letter that I received from Chloe. + +Post:) Sir, I accept your offer. + +END OF THE FIRST ACT. + + + + +A LETTER from a YOUNG LADY, whose feelings being too strong for +her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart +disapproved. + +Many have been the cares and vicissitudes of my past life, my beloved +Ellinor, and the only consolation I feel for their bitterness is that on +a close examination of my conduct, I am convinced that I have strictly +deserved them. I murdered my father at a very early period of my Life, I +have since murdered my Mother, and I am now going to murder my Sister. I +have changed my religion so often that at present I have not an idea of +any left. I have been a perjured witness in every public tryal for these +last twelve years; and I have forged my own Will. In short there is +scarcely a crime that I have not committed--But I am now going to +reform. Colonel Martin of the Horse guards has paid his Addresses to me, +and we are to be married in a few days. As there is something singular +in our Courtship, I will give you an account of it. Colonel Martin is +the second son of the late Sir John Martin who died immensely rich, but +bequeathing only one hundred thousand pound apeice to his three younger +Children, left the bulk of his fortune, about eight Million to the +present Sir Thomas. Upon his small pittance the Colonel lived tolerably +contented for nearly four months when he took it into his head to +determine on getting the whole of his eldest Brother's Estate. A new +will was forged and the Colonel produced it in Court--but nobody would +swear to it's being the right will except himself, and he had sworn so +much that Nobody beleived him. At that moment I happened to be passing +by the door of the Court, and was beckoned in by the Judge who told the +Colonel that I was a Lady ready to witness anything for the cause of +Justice, and advised him to apply to me. In short the Affair was soon +adjusted. The Colonel and I swore to its' being the right will, and Sir +Thomas has been obliged to resign all his illgotten wealth. The Colonel +in gratitude waited on me the next day with an offer of his hand--. I am +now going to murder my Sister. Yours Ever, Anna Parker. + + + + +A TOUR THROUGH WALES--in a LETTER from a YOUNG LADY-- + +My Dear Clara I have been so long on the ramble that I have not till now +had it in my power to thank you for your Letter--. We left our dear home +on last Monday month; and proceeded on our tour through Wales, which is +a principality contiguous to England and gives the title to the Prince +of Wales. We travelled on horseback by preference. My Mother rode upon +our little poney and Fanny and I walked by her side or rather ran, for +my Mother is so fond of riding fast that she galloped all the way. You +may be sure that we were in a fine perspiration when we came to our +place of resting. Fanny has taken a great many Drawings of the Country, +which are very beautiful, tho' perhaps not such exact resemblances +as might be wished, from their being taken as she ran along. It would +astonish you to see all the Shoes we wore out in our Tour. We determined +to take a good Stock with us and therefore each took a pair of our own +besides those we set off in. However we were obliged to have them both +capped and heelpeiced at Carmarthen, and at last when they were quite +gone, Mama was so kind as to lend us a pair of blue Sattin Slippers, of +which we each took one and hopped home from Hereford delightfully---I am +your ever affectionate Elizabeth Johnson. + + + + + +A TALE. + +A Gentleman whose family name I shall conceal, bought a small Cottage in +Pembrokeshire about two years ago. This daring Action was suggested to +him by his elder Brother who promised to furnish two rooms and a Closet +for him, provided he would take a small house near the borders of an +extensive Forest, and about three Miles from the Sea. Wilhelminus gladly +accepted the offer and continued for some time searching after such a +retreat when he was one morning agreably releived from his suspence by +reading this advertisement in a Newspaper. + +TO BE LETT A Neat Cottage on the borders of an extensive forest and +about three Miles from the Sea. It is ready furnished except two rooms +and a Closet. + +The delighted Wilhelminus posted away immediately to his brother, and +shewed him the advertisement. Robertus congratulated him and sent him +in his Carriage to take possession of the Cottage. After travelling for +three days and six nights without stopping, they arrived at the Forest +and following a track which led by it's side down a steep Hill over +which ten Rivulets meandered, they reached the Cottage in half an hour. +Wilhelminus alighted, and after knocking for some time without receiving +any answer or hearing any one stir within, he opened the door which +was fastened only by a wooden latch and entered a small room, which he +immediately perceived to be one of the two that were unfurnished--From +thence he proceeded into a Closet equally bare. A pair of stairs that +went out of it led him into a room above, no less destitute, and these +apartments he found composed the whole of the House. He was by no means +displeased with this discovery, as he had the comfort of reflecting that +he should not be obliged to lay out anything on furniture himself--. He +returned immediately to his Brother, who took him the next day to every +Shop in Town, and bought what ever was requisite to furnish the two +rooms and the Closet, In a few days everything was completed, and +Wilhelminus returned to take possession of his Cottage. Robertus +accompanied him, with his Lady the amiable Cecilia and her two lovely +Sisters Arabella and Marina to whom Wilhelminus was tenderly attached, +and a large number of Attendants.--An ordinary Genius might probably +have been embarrassed, in endeavouring to accomodate so large a party, +but Wilhelminus with admirable presence of mind gave orders for the +immediate erection of two noble Tents in an open spot in the Forest +adjoining to the house. Their Construction was both simple and +elegant--A couple of old blankets, each supported by four sticks, gave +a striking proof of that taste for architecture and that happy ease in +overcoming difficulties which were some of Wilhelminus's most striking +Virtues. + + + + + + + + + +PRIDE AND PREJUDICE + +By Jane Austen + + + +Chapter 1 + + +It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession +of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. + +However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his +first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds +of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property +of some one or other of their daughters. + +"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that +Netherfield Park is let at last?" + +Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. + +"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she +told me all about it." + +Mr. Bennet made no answer. + +"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently. + +"_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it." + +This was invitation enough. + +"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken +by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came +down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much +delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he +is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to +be in the house by the end of next week." + +"What is his name?" + +"Bingley." + +"Is he married or single?" + +"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or +five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!" + +"How so? How can it affect them?" + +"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You +must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them." + +"Is that his design in settling here?" + +"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he +_may_ fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as +soon as he comes." + +"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send +them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are +as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the +party." + +"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly _have_ had my share of beauty, but +I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five +grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty." + +"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of." + +"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into +the neighbourhood." + +"It is more than I engage for, I assure you." + +"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would +be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to +go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no +newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for _us_ to +visit him if you do not." + +"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very +glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my +hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though +I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy." + +"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the +others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so +good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving _her_ the preference." + +"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are +all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of +quickness than her sisters." + +"Mr. Bennet, how _can_ you abuse your own children in such a way? You +take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves." + +"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They +are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration +these last twenty years at least." + +"Ah, you do not know what I suffer." + +"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four +thousand a year come into the neighbourhood." + +"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not +visit them." + +"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them +all." + +Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, +reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had +been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. _Her_ mind +was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, +little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, +she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her +daughters married; its solace was visiting and news. + + + +Chapter 2 + + +Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He +had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring +his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was +paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following +manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he +suddenly addressed her with: + +"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy." + +"We are not in a way to know _what_ Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother +resentfully, "since we are not to visit." + +"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the +assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him." + +"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces +of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion +of her." + +"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do +not depend on her serving you." + +Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain +herself, began scolding one of her daughters. + +"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little +compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces." + +"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times +them ill." + +"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully. "When is +your next ball to be, Lizzy?" + +"To-morrow fortnight." + +"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back +till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, +for she will not know him herself." + +"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce +Mr. Bingley to _her_." + +"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him +myself; how can you be so teasing?" + +"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly +very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a +fortnight. But if _we_ do not venture somebody else will; and after all, +Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as +she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will +take it on myself." + +The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, "Nonsense, +nonsense!" + +"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he. "Do +you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on +them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you _there_. What say you, +Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read +great books and make extracts." + +Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how. + +"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. +Bingley." + +"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife. + +"I am sorry to hear _that_; but why did not you tell me that before? If +I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called +on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we +cannot escape the acquaintance now." + +The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. +Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy +was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the +while. + +"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should +persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to +neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a +good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a +word about it till now." + +"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. Bennet; and, +as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife. + +"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was +shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; +or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so +pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but +for your sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you _are_ +the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next +ball." + +"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I _am_ the +youngest, I'm the tallest." + +The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would +return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to +dinner. + + + +Chapter 3 + + +Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five +daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her +husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him +in various ways--with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and +distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at +last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, +Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been +delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely +agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly +with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of +dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively +hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained. + +"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield," +said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the others equally well +married, I shall have nothing to wish for." + +In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about +ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being +admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had +heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more +fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper +window that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse. + +An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already +had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her +housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley +was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable +to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite +disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town +so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that +he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never +settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears +a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get +a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley +was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. +The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the +day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only +six with him from London--his five sisters and a cousin. And when +the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five +altogether--Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and +another young man. + +Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant +countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, +with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely +looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention +of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and +the report which was in general circulation within five minutes +after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen +pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he +was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great +admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust +which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be +proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all +his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most +forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared +with his friend. + +Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal +people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, +was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving +one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for +themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced +only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being +introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in +walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. +His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man +in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. +Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of +his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his +having slighted one of her daughters. + +Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit +down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been +standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr. +Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend +to join it. + +"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you +standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better +dance." + +"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am +particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this +it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not +another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to +stand up with." + +"I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Mr. Bingley, "for a +kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in +my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see +uncommonly pretty." + +"_You_ are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. +Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet. + +"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one +of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I +dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you." + +"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at +Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: +"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt _me_; I am in no +humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted +by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her +smiles, for you are wasting your time with me." + +Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth +remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, +however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, +playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous. + +The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. +Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield +party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been +distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as +her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's +pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most +accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been +fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all that they +had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good +spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they +were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With +a book he was regardless of time; and on the present occasion he had a +good deal of curiosity as to the events of an evening which had raised +such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife's views on +the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a +different story to hear. + +"Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have had a most +delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. +Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well +she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with +her twice! Only think of _that_, my dear; he actually danced with her +twice! and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second +time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand +up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody +can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going +down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and +asked her for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King, +and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, +and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the _Boulanger_--" + +"If he had had any compassion for _me_," cried her husband impatiently, +"he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more of +his partners. O that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!" + +"Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively +handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw +anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. +Hurst's gown--" + +Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any +description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch +of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit and some +exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy. + +"But I can assure you," she added, "that Lizzy does not lose much by not +suiting _his_ fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at +all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring +him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very +great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my +dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man." + + + +Chapter 4 + + +When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in +her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister just how very +much she admired him. + +"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, +good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much +ease, with such perfect good breeding!" + +"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought +likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete." + +"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I +did not expect such a compliment." + +"Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between +us. Compliments always take _you_ by surprise, and _me_ never. What +could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help +seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman +in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is +very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a +stupider person." + +"Dear Lizzy!" + +"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. +You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable +in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your +life." + +"I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak +what I think." + +"I know you do; and it is _that_ which makes the wonder. With _your_ +good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of +others! Affectation of candour is common enough--one meets with it +everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design--to take the +good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing +of the bad--belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters, +too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his." + +"Certainly not--at first. But they are very pleasing women when you +converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep +his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming +neighbour in her." + +Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour at +the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more +quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, +and with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself, she +was very little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine +ladies; not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the +power of making themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and +conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the +first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand +pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of +associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect +entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of +a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply +impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their +own had been acquired by trade. + +Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred +thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an +estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and +sometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a +good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those +who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the +remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to +purchase. + +His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but, +though he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no +means unwilling to preside at his table--nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had +married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider +his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of +age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation +to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it, and into it for +half-an-hour--was pleased with the situation and the principal +rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it +immediately. + +Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of +great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the +easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition +could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he +never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley +had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. +In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means +deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, +reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not +inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley +was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually +giving offense. + +The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently +characteristic. Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or +prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive +to him; there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt +acquainted with all the room; and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not +conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a +collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for +none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received +either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, +but she smiled too much. + +Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they admired +her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one +whom they would not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore +established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such +commendation to think of her as he chose. + + + +Chapter 5 + + +Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets +were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade +in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the +honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. +The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a +disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; +and, in quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house +about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, +where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, +unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all +the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him +supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody. By +nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. +James's had made him courteous. + +Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a +valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several children. The eldest +of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was +Elizabeth's intimate friend. + +That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over +a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly +brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate. + +"_You_ began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Bennet with civil +self-command to Miss Lucas. "_You_ were Mr. Bingley's first choice." + +"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better." + +"Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be +sure that _did_ seem as if he admired her--indeed I rather believe he +_did_--I heard something about it--but I hardly know what--something +about Mr. Robinson." + +"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not +I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he liked our Meryton +assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many +pretty women in the room, and _which_ he thought the prettiest? and his +answering immediately to the last question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, +beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.'" + +"Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed--that does seem as +if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know." + +"_My_ overhearings were more to the purpose than _yours_, Eliza," said +Charlotte. "Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, +is he?--poor Eliza!--to be only just _tolerable_." + +"I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by his +ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it would be quite +a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he +sat close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips." + +"Are you quite sure, ma'am?--is not there a little mistake?" said Jane. +"I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her." + +"Aye--because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he +could not help answering her; but she said he seemed quite angry at +being spoke to." + +"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much, +unless among his intimate acquaintances. With _them_ he is remarkably +agreeable." + +"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very +agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it +was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had +heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to +the ball in a hack chaise." + +"I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long," said Miss Lucas, "but I +wish he had danced with Eliza." + +"Another time, Lizzy," said her mother, "I would not dance with _him_, +if I were you." + +"I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you _never_ to dance with him." + +"His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend _me_ so much as pride +often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so +very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, +should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a _right_ +to be proud." + +"That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily forgive +_his_ pride, if he had not mortified _mine_." + +"Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her +reflections, "is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have +ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human +nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us +who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some +quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different +things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may +be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of +ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." + +"If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy," cried a young Lucas, who came with +his sisters, "I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of +foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a day." + +"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said Mrs. +Bennet; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle +directly." + +The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she +would, and the argument ended only with the visit. + + + +Chapter 6 + + +The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit +was soon returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on +the goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was +found to be intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, +a wish of being better acquainted with _them_ was expressed towards +the two eldest. By Jane, this attention was received with the greatest +pleasure, but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment +of everybody, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; +though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value as arising in +all probability from the influence of their brother's admiration. It +was generally evident whenever they met, that he _did_ admire her and +to _her_ it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference +which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a +way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it +was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane +united, with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and a +uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions +of the impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas. + +"It may perhaps be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to impose +on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be +so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill +from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and +it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in +the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every +attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all +_begin_ freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are +very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without +encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a women had better show _more_ +affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he +may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on." + +"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can +perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to +discover it too." + +"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do." + +"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal +it, he must find it out." + +"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But, though Bingley and Jane +meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and, as they +always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that +every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should +therefore make the most of every half-hour in which she can command his +attention. When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for +falling in love as much as she chooses." + +"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in +question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined +to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But +these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, +she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its +reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four +dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, +and has since dined with him in company four times. This is not quite +enough to make her understand his character." + +"Not as you represent it. Had she merely _dined_ with him, she might +only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must +remember that four evenings have also been spent together--and four +evenings may do a great deal." + +"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they +both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other +leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded." + +"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and +if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a +chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a +twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If +the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or +ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the +least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to +have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as +possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your +life." + +"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not +sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself." + +Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth +was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some +interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely +allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the +ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no +sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly +had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered +uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To +this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had +detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry +in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and +pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those +of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of +this she was perfectly unaware; to her he was only the man who made +himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough +to dance with. + +He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing +with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so +drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were +assembled. + +"What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by listening to my +conversation with Colonel Forster?" + +"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer." + +"But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see +what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by +being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him." + +On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have +any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such +a subject to him; which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she +turned to him and said: + +"Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly +well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at +Meryton?" + +"With great energy; but it is always a subject which makes a lady +energetic." + +"You are severe on us." + +"It will be _her_ turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. "I am going +to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows." + +"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!--always wanting me +to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken +a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would +really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of +hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, +she added, "Very well, if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing +at Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of +course familiar with: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge'; and I +shall keep mine to swell my song." + +Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song +or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that +she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her +sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in +the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always +impatient for display. + +Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her +application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited +manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she +had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with +much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the +end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by +Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, +with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in +dancing at one end of the room. + +Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of +passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too +much engrossed by his thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was +his neighbour, till Sir William thus began: + +"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There +is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first +refinements of polished society." + +"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst +the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance." + +Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully," he +continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; "and I doubt +not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy." + +"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir." + +"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do +you often dance at St. James's?" + +"Never, sir." + +"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?" + +"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it." + +"You have a house in town, I conclude?" + +Mr. Darcy bowed. + +"I had once had some thought of fixing in town myself--for I am fond +of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of +London would agree with Lady Lucas." + +He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed +to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was +struck with the action of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to +her: + +"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow +me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You +cannot refuse to dance, I am sure when so much beauty is before you." +And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though +extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly +drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William: + +"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you +not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner." + +Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of +her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at +all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion. + +"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny +me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the +amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us +for one half-hour." + +"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling. + +"He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, +we cannot wonder at his complaisance--for who would object to such a +partner?" + +Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not +injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some +complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley: + +"I can guess the subject of your reverie." + +"I should imagine not." + +"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings +in this manner--in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. +I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise--the +nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! What would +I give to hear your strictures on them!" + +"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more +agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure +which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow." + +Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he +would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. +Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity: + +"Miss Elizabeth Bennet." + +"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. +How long has she been such a favourite?--and pray, when am I to wish you +joy?" + +"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's +imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love +to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy." + +"Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter is +absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed; +and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you." + +He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to +entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her +that all was safe, her wit flowed long. + + + +Chapter 7 + + +Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two +thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, +in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's +fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply +the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and +had left her four thousand pounds. + +She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to +their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in +London in a respectable line of trade. + +The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most +convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted +thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt and +to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, +Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; +their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing +better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning +hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news +the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some +from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with +news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the +neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the +headquarters. + +Their visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive of the most +interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge +of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a +secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. +Phillips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of +felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and +Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation +to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the +regimentals of an ensign. + +After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. +Bennet coolly observed: + +"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two +of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but +I am now convinced." + +Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect +indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, +and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the +next morning to London. + +"I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "that you should be so +ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly +of anybody's children, it should not be of my own, however." + +"If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it." + +"Yes--but as it happens, they are all of them very clever." + +"This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I +had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must +so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly +foolish." + +"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of +their father and mother. When they get to our age, I dare say they will +not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when +I liked a red coat myself very well--and, indeed, so I do still at my +heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, +should want one of my girls I shall not say nay to him; and I thought +Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in +his regimentals." + +"Mamma," cried Lydia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain +Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first +came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library." + +Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with +a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited +for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was +eagerly calling out, while her daughter read, + +"Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, +Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love." + +"It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud. + +"MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +"If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, +we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, +for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a +quarrel. Come as soon as you can on receipt of this. My brother and the +gentlemen are to dine with the officers.--Yours ever, + +"CAROLINE BINGLEY" + +"With the officers!" cried Lydia. "I wonder my aunt did not tell us of +_that_." + +"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "that is very unlucky." + +"Can I have the carriage?" said Jane. + +"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to +rain; and then you must stay all night." + +"That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, "if you were sure that +they would not offer to send her home." + +"Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton, +and the Hursts have no horses to theirs." + +"I had much rather go in the coach." + +"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are +wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?" + +"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them." + +"But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, "my mother's purpose +will be answered." + +She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses +were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her +mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a +bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before +it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was +delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; +Jane certainly could not come back. + +"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet more than +once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the +next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her +contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield +brought the following note for Elizabeth: + +"MY DEAREST LIZZY,-- + +"I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be +imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not +hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. +Jones--therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been +to me--and, excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the +matter with me.--Yours, etc." + +"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note +aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness--if she +should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of +Mr. Bingley, and under your orders." + +"Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling +colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is +all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage." + +Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though +the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking +was her only alternative. She declared her resolution. + +"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a +thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get +there." + +"I shall be very fit to see Jane--which is all I want." + +"Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, "to send for the +horses?" + +"No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing +when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner." + +"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but every +impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, +exertion should always be in proportion to what is required." + +"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and Lydia. +Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off +together. + +"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may +see something of Captain Carter before he goes." + +In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one +of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing +field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing +over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last +within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face +glowing with the warmth of exercise. + +She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were +assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. +That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such +dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and +Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt +for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their +brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there +was good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. +Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the +brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as +to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was +thinking only of his breakfast. + +Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss +Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not +well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her +immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving +alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed +for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, +however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left them +together, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the +extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended +her. + +When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth +began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and +solicitude they showed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having +examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught +a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; +advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice +was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head +ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment; nor were +the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had, in +fact, nothing to do elsewhere. + +When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very +unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only +wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern +in parting with her, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer +of the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. +Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to +Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply +of clothes. + + + +Chapter 8 + + +At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half-past six +Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil inquiries which then +poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the +much superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley's, she could not make a very +favourable answer. Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing +this, repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how +shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked +being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their +indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them restored +Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former dislike. + +Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could +regard with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his +attentions to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling +herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the +others. She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was +engrossed by Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. +Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to +eat, drink, and play at cards; who, when he found her to prefer a plain +dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her. + +When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley +began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were +pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; +she had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the +same, and added: + +"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent +walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really +looked almost wild." + +"She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very +nonsensical to come at all! Why must _she_ be scampering about the +country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!" + +"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep +in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to +hide it not doing its office." + +"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was +all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably +well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite +escaped my notice." + +"_You_ observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am +inclined to think that you would not wish to see _your_ sister make such +an exhibition." + +"Certainly not." + +"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, +above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by +it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, +a most country-town indifference to decorum." + +"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said +Bingley. + +"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, "that +this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes." + +"Not at all," he replied; "they were brightened by the exercise." A +short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again: + +"I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very +sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with +such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is +no chance of it." + +"I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney on +Meryton." + +"Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside." + +"That is capital," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily. + +"If they had uncles enough to fill _all_ Cheapside," cried Bingley, "it +would not make them one jot less agreeable." + +"But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any +consideration in the world," replied Darcy. + +To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their +hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of +their dear friend's vulgar relations. + +With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on +leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. +She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till +late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and +when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go +downstairs herself. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole +party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting +them to be playing high she declined it, and making her sister the +excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay +below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment. + +"Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather singular." + +"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great +reader, and has no pleasure in anything else." + +"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth; "I am +_not_ a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things." + +"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and +I hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well." + +Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the +table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her +others--all that his library afforded. + +"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own +credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more +than I ever looked into." + +Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those +in the room. + +"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should have left +so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at +Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!" + +"It ought to be good," he replied, "it has been the work of many +generations." + +"And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying +books." + +"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as +these." + +"Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of +that noble place. Charles, when you build _your_ house, I wish it may be +half as delightful as Pemberley." + +"I wish it may." + +"But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that +neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a +finer county in England than Derbyshire." + +"With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it." + +"I am talking of possibilities, Charles." + +"Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get +Pemberley by purchase than by imitation." + +Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed, as to leave her very +little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew +near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his +eldest sister, to observe the game. + +"Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?" said Miss Bingley; "will +she be as tall as I am?" + +"I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or +rather taller." + +"How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me +so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished +for her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite." + +"It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young ladies can have patience +to be so very accomplished as they all are." + +"All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?" + +"Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and +net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure +I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being +informed that she was very accomplished." + +"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments," said Darcy, "has +too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no +otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very +far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I +cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my +acquaintance, that are really accomplished." + +"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley. + +"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your +idea of an accomplished woman." + +"Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it." + +"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can be really +esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met +with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, +dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides +all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of +walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word +will be but half-deserved." + +"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must +yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by +extensive reading." + +"I am no longer surprised at your knowing _only_ six accomplished women. +I rather wonder now at your knowing _any_." + +"Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all +this?" + +"I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and +application, and elegance, as you describe united." + +Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice of her +implied doubt, and were both protesting that they knew many women who +answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with +bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all +conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the +room. + +"Elizabeth Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, +"is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the +other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it +succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art." + +"Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, +"there is a meanness in _all_ the arts which ladies sometimes condescend +to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is +despicable." + +Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to +continue the subject. + +Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and +that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones being sent for +immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could +be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most +eminent physicians. This she would not hear of; but she was not so +unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal; and it was settled +that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet +were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters +declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, +however, by duets after supper, while he could find no better relief +to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every +attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister. + + + +Chapter 9 + + +Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the +morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the +inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, +and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his +sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a +note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her +own judgement of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and +its contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her +two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast. + +Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been +very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was +not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her +restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She +would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried +home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think +it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss +Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughter all +attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes +that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected. + +"Indeed I have, sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal too ill to be +moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass +a little longer on your kindness." + +"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought of. My sister, I am +sure, will not hear of her removal." + +"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, +"that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she +remains with us." + +Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments. + +"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not +know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers +a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is +always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest +temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are +nothing to _her_. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a +charming prospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the +country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it +in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease." + +"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he; "and therefore if I +should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five +minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here." + +"That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Elizabeth. + +"You begin to comprehend me, do you?" cried he, turning towards her. + +"Oh! yes--I understand you perfectly." + +"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen +through I am afraid is pitiful." + +"That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, intricate +character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours." + +"Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do not run on in +the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home." + +"I did not know before," continued Bingley immediately, "that you were a +studier of character. It must be an amusing study." + +"Yes, but intricate characters are the _most_ amusing. They have at +least that advantage." + +"The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but a few subjects for +such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and +unvarying society." + +"But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be +observed in them for ever." + +"Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning +a country neighbourhood. "I assure you there is quite as much of _that_ +going on in the country as in town." + +Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, +turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete +victory over him, continued her triumph. + +"I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for +my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal +pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?" + +"When I am in the country," he replied, "I never wish to leave it; +and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their +advantages, and I can be equally happy in either." + +"Aye--that is because you have the right disposition. But that +gentleman," looking at Darcy, "seemed to think the country was nothing +at all." + +"Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth, blushing for her +mother. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not +such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, +which you must acknowledge to be true." + +"Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting +with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few +neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families." + +Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his +countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards +Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of +saying something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if +Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since _her_ coming away. + +"Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir +William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? So much the man of fashion! So +genteel and easy! He had always something to say to everybody. _That_ +is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very +important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter." + +"Did Charlotte dine with you?" + +"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For +my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; +_my_ daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to +judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, +I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think +Charlotte so _very_ plain--but then she is our particular friend." + +"She seems a very pleasant young woman." + +"Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself +has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to boast +of my own child, but to be sure, Jane--one does not often see anybody +better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own +partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother +Gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was +sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he +did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses +on her, and very pretty they were." + +"And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth impatiently. "There has +been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first +discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!" + +"I have been used to consider poetry as the _food_ of love," said Darcy. + +"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is +strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I +am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away." + +Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth +tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to +speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. +Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to +Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was +unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be +civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part +indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and +soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of +her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to +each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the +youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming +into the country to give a ball at Netherfield. + +Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion +and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose +affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high +animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the +attention of the officers, to whom her uncle's good dinners, and her own +easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very +equal, therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and +abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be the most +shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this +sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear: + +"I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when +your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of +the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill." + +Lydia declared herself satisfied. "Oh! yes--it would be much better to +wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter +would be at Meryton again. And when you have given _your_ ball," she +added, "I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel +Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not." + +Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned +instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the +remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, +could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of _her_, in spite of +all Miss Bingley's witticisms on _fine eyes_. + + + +Chapter 10 + + +The day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss +Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who +continued, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined +their party in the drawing-room. The loo-table, however, did not appear. +Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching +the progress of his letter and repeatedly calling off his attention by +messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and +Mrs. Hurst was observing their game. + +Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in +attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual +commendations of the lady, either on his handwriting, or on the evenness +of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern +with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was +exactly in union with her opinion of each. + +"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!" + +He made no answer. + +"You write uncommonly fast." + +"You are mistaken. I write rather slowly." + +"How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a +year! Letters of business, too! How odious I should think them!" + +"It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of yours." + +"Pray tell your sister that I long to see her." + +"I have already told her so once, by your desire." + +"I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend +pens remarkably well." + +"Thank you--but I always mend my own." + +"How can you contrive to write so even?" + +He was silent. + +"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp; +and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful +little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss +Grantley's." + +"Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? At +present I have not room to do them justice." + +"Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you +always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?" + +"They are generally long; but whether always charming it is not for me +to determine." + +"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter with +ease, cannot write ill." + +"That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried her +brother, "because he does _not_ write with ease. He studies too much for +words of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy?" + +"My style of writing is very different from yours." + +"Oh!" cried Miss Bingley, "Charles writes in the most careless way +imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest." + +"My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them--by which +means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents." + +"Your humility, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth, "must disarm reproof." + +"Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance of +humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an +indirect boast." + +"And which of the two do you call _my_ little recent piece of modesty?" + +"The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your defects in +writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of +thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you +think at least highly interesting. The power of doing anything with +quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any +attention to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. +Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved upon quitting Netherfield +you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of +panegyric, of compliment to yourself--and yet what is there so very +laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business +undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone else?" + +"Nay," cried Bingley, "this is too much, to remember at night all the +foolish things that were said in the morning. And yet, upon my honour, +I believe what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this +moment. At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of needless +precipitance merely to show off before the ladies." + +"I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that +you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as +dependent on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were +mounting your horse, a friend were to say, 'Bingley, you had better +stay till next week,' you would probably do it, you would probably not +go--and at another word, might stay a month." + +"You have only proved by this," cried Elizabeth, "that Mr. Bingley did +not do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much +more than he did himself." + +"I am exceedingly gratified," said Bingley, "by your converting what my +friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am +afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means +intend; for he would certainly think better of me, if under such a +circumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I +could." + +"Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intentions +as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?" + +"Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter; Darcy must speak for +himself." + +"You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, +but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to +stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, +that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and +the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering +one argument in favour of its propriety." + +"To yield readily--easily--to the _persuasion_ of a friend is no merit +with you." + +"To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of +either." + +"You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of +friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make +one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason +one into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have +supposed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the +circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour +thereupon. But in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend, +where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no +very great moment, should you think ill of that person for complying +with the desire, without waiting to be argued into it?" + +"Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this subject, to +arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to +appertain to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting +between the parties?" + +"By all means," cried Bingley; "let us hear all the particulars, not +forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more +weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure +you, that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with +myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not +know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in +particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, +when he has nothing to do." + +Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was +rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly +resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her +brother for talking such nonsense. + +"I see your design, Bingley," said his friend. "You dislike an argument, +and want to silence this." + +"Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss +Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very +thankful; and then you may say whatever you like of me." + +"What you ask," said Elizabeth, "is no sacrifice on my side; and Mr. +Darcy had much better finish his letter." + +Mr. Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter. + +When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley and Elizabeth +for an indulgence of some music. Miss Bingley moved with some alacrity +to the pianoforte; and, after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead +the way which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she +seated herself. + +Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were thus employed, +Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books +that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed +on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of +admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her +because he disliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine, +however, at last that she drew his notice because there was something +more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in +any other person present. The supposition did not pain her. She liked +him too little to care for his approbation. + +After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by +a lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near +Elizabeth, said to her: + +"Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an +opportunity of dancing a reel?" + +She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some +surprise at her silence. + +"Oh!" said she, "I heard you before, but I could not immediately +determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say 'Yes,' +that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always +delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of +their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell +you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all--and now despise me if +you dare." + +"Indeed I do not dare." + +Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his +gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her +manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy +had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really +believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he +should be in some danger. + +Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and her great +anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some +assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth. + +She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of +their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such an alliance. + +"I hope," said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery +the next day, "you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this +desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue; +and if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after +officers. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to +check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, +which your lady possesses." + +"Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?" + +"Oh! yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips be placed +in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the +judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different +lines. As for your Elizabeth's picture, you must not have it taken, for +what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?" + +"It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their +colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be +copied." + +At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and +Elizabeth herself. + +"I did not know that you intended to walk," said Miss Bingley, in some +confusion, lest they had been overheard. + +"You used us abominably ill," answered Mrs. Hurst, "running away without +telling us that you were coming out." + +Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk +by herself. The path just admitted three. Mr. Darcy felt their rudeness, +and immediately said: + +"This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the +avenue." + +But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with them, +laughingly answered: + +"No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear +to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a +fourth. Good-bye." + +She then ran gaily off, rejoicing as she rambled about, in the hope of +being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered +as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening. + + + +Chapter 11 + + +When the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her +sister, and seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the +drawing-room, where she was welcomed by her two friends with many +professions of pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable +as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. +Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an +entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh +at their acquaintance with spirit. + +But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object; +Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned toward Darcy, and she had +something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed +himself to Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also +made her a slight bow, and said he was "very glad;" but diffuseness +and warmth remained for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and +attention. The first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she +should suffer from the change of room; and she removed at his desire +to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be further from +the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone +else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great +delight. + +When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the +card-table--but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. +Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open +petition rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and +the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. +Hurst had therefore nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the +sofas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; +and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets +and rings, joined now and then in her brother's conversation with Miss +Bennet. + +Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. +Darcy's progress through _his_ book, as in reading her own; and she +was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She +could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her +question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be +amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the +second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, "How pleasant +it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no +enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a +book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not +an excellent library." + +No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and +cast her eyes round the room in quest for some amusement; when hearing +her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly +towards him and said: + +"By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at +Netherfield? I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult +the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are +not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a +pleasure." + +"If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if he +chooses, before it begins--but as for the ball, it is quite a settled +thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, I shall send +round my cards." + +"I should like balls infinitely better," she replied, "if they were +carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably +tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much +more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of +the day." + +"Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be +near so much like a ball." + +Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards she got up and walked +about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; but +Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In +the desperation of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, +turning to Elizabeth, said: + +"Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a +turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so +long in one attitude." + +Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley +succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked +up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as +Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was +directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that +he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down +the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would +interfere. "What could he mean? She was dying to know what could be his +meaning?"--and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him? + +"Not at all," was her answer; "but depend upon it, he means to be severe +on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing +about it." + +Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in +anything, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his +two motives. + +"I have not the smallest objection to explaining them," said he, as soon +as she allowed him to speak. "You either choose this method of passing +the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret +affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures +appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be +completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better +as I sit by the fire." + +"Oh! shocking!" cried Miss Bingley. "I never heard anything so +abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?" + +"Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination," said Elizabeth. "We +can all plague and punish one another. Tease him--laugh at him. Intimate +as you are, you must know how it is to be done." + +"But upon my honour, I do _not_. I do assure you that my intimacy has +not yet taught me _that_. Tease calmness of manner and presence of +mind! No, no--feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will +not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a +subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself." + +"Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. "That is an +uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would +be a great loss to _me_ to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a +laugh." + +"Miss Bingley," said he, "has given me more credit than can be. +The wisest and the best of men--nay, the wisest and best of their +actions--may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in +life is a joke." + +"Certainly," replied Elizabeth--"there are such people, but I hope I +am not one of _them_. I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good. +Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, _do_ divert me, I own, +and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely +what you are without." + +"Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study +of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong +understanding to ridicule." + +"Such as vanity and pride." + +"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride--where there is a real +superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation." + +Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile. + +"Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said Miss Bingley; +"and pray what is the result?" + +"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it +himself without disguise." + +"No," said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, +but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch +for. It is, I believe, too little yielding--certainly too little for the +convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others +so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings +are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper +would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost +forever." + +"_That_ is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Implacable resentment +_is_ a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I +really cannot _laugh_ at it. You are safe from me." + +"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular +evil--a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome." + +"And _your_ defect is to hate everybody." + +"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand +them." + +"Do let us have a little music," cried Miss Bingley, tired of a +conversation in which she had no share. "Louisa, you will not mind my +waking Mr. Hurst?" + +Her sister had not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte was +opened; and Darcy, after a few moments' recollection, was not sorry for +it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention. + + + +Chapter 12 + + +In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the +next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for +them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on +her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which +would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive +them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at +least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. +Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage +before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley +and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them +very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively +resolved--nor did she much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the +contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, +she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at +length it was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield +that morning should be mentioned, and the request made. + +The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough was +said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work +on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was +then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike +of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other. + +The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so +soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be +safe for her--that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where +she felt herself to be right. + +To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence--Elizabeth had been at +Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked--and Miss +Bingley was uncivil to _her_, and more teasing than usual to himself. +He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration +should _now_ escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope +of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been +suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight +in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke +ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were +at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most +conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her. + +On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost +all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last +very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, +after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her +to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most +tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of +the whole party in the liveliest of spirits. + +They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet +wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so much +trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their +father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really +glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The +evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of +its animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and +Elizabeth. + +They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough-bass and human +nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of +threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information +for them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said +in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers +had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it +had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married. + + + +Chapter 13 + + +"I hope, my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at +breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, +because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party." + +"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, +unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in--and I hope _my_ dinners +are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home." + +"The person of whom I speak is a gentleman, and a stranger." + +Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. +Bingley, I am sure! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. +Bingley. But--good Lord! how unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be +got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell--I must speak to Hill this +moment." + +"It is _not_ Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I +never saw in the whole course of my life." + +This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being +eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once. + +After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained: + +"About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago +I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring +early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, +may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases." + +"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. +Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing +in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own +children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago +to do something or other about it." + +Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail. They +had often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject on which +Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason, and she continued to rail +bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of +five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about. + +"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and +nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. +But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little +softened by his manner of expressing himself." + +"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent of +him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false +friends. Why could he not keep on quarreling with you, as his father did +before him?" + +"Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that +head, as you will hear." + +"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October. + +"Dear Sir,-- + +"The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured +father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the +misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but +for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might +seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone +with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.--'There, Mrs. +Bennet.'--My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having +received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be +distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de +Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has +preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be +my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her +ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which +are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I +feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in +all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I +flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and +that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate +will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the +offered olive-branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the +means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for +it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible +amends--but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to +receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting +on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and +shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'ennight +following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine +is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided +that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.--I +remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and +daughters, your well-wisher and friend, + +"WILLIAM COLLINS" + +"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-making gentleman," +said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most +conscientious and polite young man, upon my word, and I doubt not will +prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so +indulgent as to let him come to us again." + +"There is some sense in what he says about the girls, however, and if +he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to +discourage him." + +"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean +to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his +credit." + +Elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary deference for Lady +Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying +his parishioners whenever it were required. + +"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him +out.--There is something very pompous in his style.--And what can he +mean by apologising for being next in the entail?--We cannot suppose he +would help it if he could.--Could he be a sensible man, sir?" + +"No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the +reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his +letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him." + +"In point of composition," said Mary, "the letter does not seem +defective. The idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I +think it is well expressed." + +To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any +degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should +come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had +received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for +their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, +and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which +astonished her husband and daughters. + +Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great +politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little; but the +ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in +need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a +tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and +stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated +before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of +daughters; said he had heard much of their beauty, but that in this +instance fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did +not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage. This +gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers; but Mrs. +Bennet, who quarreled with no compliments, answered most readily. + +"You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may +prove so, for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so +oddly." + +"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate." + +"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you +must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with _you_, for such things +I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates +will go when once they come to be entailed." + +"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and +could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing +forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come +prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more; but, perhaps, +when we are better acquainted--" + +He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each +other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The +hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; +and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's +heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his +own future property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and +he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its +cooking was owing. But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, who +assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a +good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He +begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared +herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a +quarter of an hour. + + + +Chapter 14 + + +During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants +were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his +guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to +shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady +Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for +his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen +better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him +to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect +he protested that "he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in +a person of rank--such affability and condescension, as he had himself +experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to +approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of +preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, +and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of +quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many +people he knew, but _he_ had never seen anything but affability in her. +She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she +made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the +neighbourhood nor to his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or +two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to +marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had +once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly +approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed +to suggest some herself--some shelves in the closet upstairs." + +"That is all very proper and civil, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and +I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies +in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?" + +"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane +from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence." + +"I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any family?" + +"She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very +extensive property." + +"Ah!" said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than +many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? Is she handsome?" + +"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says +that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the +handsomest of her sex, because there is that in her features which marks +the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly +constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in many +accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am +informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still +resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends +to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." + +"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at +court." + +"Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; +and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the +British court of its brightest ornaments. Her ladyship seemed pleased +with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to +offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable +to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that +her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most +elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by +her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and +it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to +pay." + +"You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is happy for you +that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask +whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the +moment, or are the result of previous study?" + +"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I +sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant +compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to +give them as unstudied an air as possible." + +Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd +as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, +maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, +and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner +in his pleasure. + +By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad +to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, +glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily +assented, and a book was produced; but, on beholding it (for everything +announced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and +begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at +him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some +deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the +volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three +pages, she interrupted him with: + +"Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away +Richard; and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me +so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more +about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town." + +Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. +Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said: + +"I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books +of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes +me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to +them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin." + +Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at +backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted +very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. +Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's +interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would +resume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his +young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any +affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared +for backgammon. + + + +Chapter 15 + + +Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had +been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part +of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and +miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he +had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful +acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had +given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now a +good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in +retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected +prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de +Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which +he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, +mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a +clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of +pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. + +Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to +marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had +a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found +them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. +This was his plan of amends--of atonement--for inheriting their father's +estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and +suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own +part. + +His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face +confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what +was due to seniority; and for the first evening _she_ was his settled +choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a +quarter of an hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a +conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally +to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at +Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general +encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. "As to +her _younger_ daughters, she could not take upon her to say--she could +not positively answer--but she did not _know_ of any prepossession; her +_eldest_ daughter, she must just mention--she felt it incumbent on her +to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged." + +Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth--and it was soon +done--done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally +next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. + +Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have +two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of +the day before was now high in her good graces. + +Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister +except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, +at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, +and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed +him after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with +one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. +Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such +doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been +always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told +Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the +house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, +was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their +walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker +than a reader, was extremely pleased to close his large book, and go. + +In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his +cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of +the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were +immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and +nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in +a shop window, could recall them. + +But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom +they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking +with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was +the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came +to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the +stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, +determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under +pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately +had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had +reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated +permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with +him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a +commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the +young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. +His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of +beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. +The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness +of conversation--a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and +unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together +very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy +and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the +ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and +began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and +Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to +Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated +it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes +on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the +stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they +looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. +Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, +after a few moments, touched his hat--a salutation which Mr. Darcy just +deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to +imagine; it was impossible not to long to know. + +In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what +passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. + +Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of +Mr. Phillip's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's +pressing entreaties that they should come in, and even in spite of +Mrs. Phillips's throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the +invitation. + +Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, +from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was +eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as +their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing +about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the +street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to +Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility +was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She +received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with +as much more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous +acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, +however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who +introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Phillips was quite awed by such an +excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon +put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about the other; of whom, +however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that +Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a +lieutenant's commission in the ----shire. She had been watching him the +last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. +Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the +occupation, but unluckily no one passed windows now except a few of the +officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, +disagreeable fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Phillipses +the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. +Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn +would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Phillips +protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery +tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such +delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. +Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured +with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless. + +As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass +between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either +or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain +such behaviour than her sister. + +Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring +Mrs. Phillips's manners and politeness. He protested that, except Lady +Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; +for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but even +pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although +utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be +attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so +much attention in the whole course of his life. + + + +Chapter 16 + + +As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their +aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for +a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach +conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and +the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, +that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in +the house. + +When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. +Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much +struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he +might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast +parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much +gratification; but when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what +Rosings was, and who was its proprietor--when she had listened to the +description of only one of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found +that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all +the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison +with the housekeeper's room. + +In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, +with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and +the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the +gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Phillips a very attentive +listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she +heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as +soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, +and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine +their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantelpiece, the +interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. +The gentlemen did approach, and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, +Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking +of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. +The officers of the ----shire were in general a very creditable, +gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but +Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and +walk, as _they_ were superior to the broad-faced, stuffy uncle Phillips, +breathing port wine, who followed them into the room. + +Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was +turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated +himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into +conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel +that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered +interesting by the skill of the speaker. + +With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr. Wickham and the +officers, Mr. Collins seemed to sink into insignificance; to the young +ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind +listener in Mrs. Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, most abundantly +supplied with coffee and muffin. When the card-tables were placed, he +had the opportunity of obliging her in turn, by sitting down to whist. + +"I know little of the game at present," said he, "but I shall be glad +to improve myself, for in my situation in life--" Mrs. Phillips was very +glad for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason. + +Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he +received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there +seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely, for she was a most +determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, +she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets +and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular. +Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore +at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear +him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be +told--the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not +even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly +relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far +Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in +a hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there. + +"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject +drop, added, "He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I +understand." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Wickham; "his estate there is a noble one. A clear +ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more +capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself, for +I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my +infancy." + +Elizabeth could not but look surprised. + +"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after +seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting +yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?" + +"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth very warmly. "I have +spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very +disagreeable." + +"I have no right to give _my_ opinion," said Wickham, "as to his being +agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him +too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for _me_ +to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general +astonish--and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly +anywhere else. Here you are in your own family." + +"Upon my word, I say no more _here_ than I might say in any house in +the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in +Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find +him more favourably spoken of by anyone." + +"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a short +interruption, "that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond +their deserts; but with _him_ I believe it does not often happen. The +world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his +high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen." + +"I should take him, even on _my_ slight acquaintance, to be an +ill-tempered man." Wickham only shook his head. + +"I wonder," said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, "whether he is +likely to be in this country much longer." + +"I do not at all know; but I _heard_ nothing of his going away when I +was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the ----shire will +not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood." + +"Oh! no--it is not for _me_ to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If _he_ +wishes to avoid seeing _me_, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, +and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for +avoiding _him_ but what I might proclaim before all the world, a sense +of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he +is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men +that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never +be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by +a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been +scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him anything and +everything, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the +memory of his father." + +Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with +all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry. + +Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the +neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that +he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter with gentle but very +intelligible gallantry. + +"It was the prospect of constant society, and good society," he added, +"which was my chief inducement to enter the ----shire. I knew it to be +a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me +further by his account of their present quarters, and the very great +attentions and excellent acquaintances Meryton had procured them. +Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and +my spirits will not bear solitude. I _must_ have employment and society. +A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have +now made it eligible. The church _ought_ to have been my profession--I +was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in +possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we +were speaking of just now." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes--the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best +living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. +I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, +and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given +elsewhere." + +"Good heavens!" cried Elizabeth; "but how could _that_ be? How could his +will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?" + +"There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to +give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the +intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it--or to treat it as a merely +conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim +to it by extravagance, imprudence--in short anything or nothing. Certain +it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was +of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no +less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done +anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and +I may have spoken my opinion _of_ him, and _to_ him, too freely. I can +recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort +of men, and that he hates me." + +"This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly disgraced." + +"Some time or other he _will_ be--but it shall not be by _me_. Till I +can forget his father, I can never defy or expose _him_." + +Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than +ever as he expressed them. + +"But what," said she, after a pause, "can have been his motive? What can +have induced him to behave so cruelly?" + +"A thorough, determined dislike of me--a dislike which I cannot but +attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me +less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father's uncommon +attachment to me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had +not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood--the sort +of preference which was often given me." + +"I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this--though I have never liked +him. I had not thought so very ill of him. I had supposed him to be +despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of +descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as +this." + +After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, "I _do_ +remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of +his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition +must be dreadful." + +"I will not trust myself on the subject," replied Wickham; "I can hardly +be just to him." + +Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, "To +treat in such a manner the godson, the friend, the favourite of his +father!" She could have added, "A young man, too, like _you_, whose very +countenance may vouch for your being amiable"--but she contented herself +with, "and one, too, who had probably been his companion from childhood, +connected together, as I think you said, in the closest manner!" + +"We were born in the same parish, within the same park; the greatest +part of our youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, +sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. _My_ +father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Phillips, +appears to do so much credit to--but he gave up everything to be of +use to the late Mr. Darcy and devoted all his time to the care of the +Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most +intimate, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to +be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence, +and when, immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a +voluntary promise of providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to +be as much a debt of gratitude to _him_, as of his affection to myself." + +"How strange!" cried Elizabeth. "How abominable! I wonder that the very +pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you! If from no better +motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest--for +dishonesty I must call it." + +"It _is_ wonderful," replied Wickham, "for almost all his actions may +be traced to pride; and pride had often been his best friend. It has +connected him nearer with virtue than with any other feeling. But we are +none of us consistent, and in his behaviour to me there were stronger +impulses even than pride." + +"Can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good?" + +"Yes. It has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money +freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the +poor. Family pride, and _filial_ pride--for he is very proud of what +his father was--have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, +to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the +Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also _brotherly_ pride, +which, with _some_ brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and +careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried up +as the most attentive and best of brothers." + +"What sort of girl is Miss Darcy?" + +He shook his head. "I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to +speak ill of a Darcy. But she is too much like her brother--very, very +proud. As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond +of me; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement. But she is +nothing to me now. She is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, +and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father's death, her +home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her +education." + +After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not +help reverting once more to the first, and saying: + +"I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley! How can Mr. Bingley, +who seems good humour itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, +be in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? Do you +know Mr. Bingley?" + +"Not at all." + +"He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. +Darcy is." + +"Probably not; but Mr. Darcy can please where he chooses. He does not +want abilities. He can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth +his while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is +a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His +pride never deserts him; but with the rich he is liberal-minded, just, +sincere, rational, honourable, and perhaps agreeable--allowing something +for fortune and figure." + +The whist party soon afterwards breaking up, the players gathered round +the other table and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin +Elizabeth and Mrs. Phillips. The usual inquiries as to his success was +made by the latter. It had not been very great; he had lost every +point; but when Mrs. Phillips began to express her concern thereupon, +he assured her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least +importance, that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged +that she would not make herself uneasy. + +"I know very well, madam," said he, "that when persons sit down to a +card-table, they must take their chances of these things, and happily I +am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There +are undoubtedly many who could not say the same, but thanks to Lady +Catherine de Bourgh, I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding +little matters." + +Mr. Wickham's attention was caught; and after observing Mr. Collins for +a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation +was very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh. + +"Lady Catherine de Bourgh," she replied, "has very lately given him +a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her +notice, but he certainly has not known her long." + +"You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy +were sisters; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy." + +"No, indeed, I did not. I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's +connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before +yesterday." + +"Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is +believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates." + +This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss +Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her +affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already +self-destined for another. + +"Mr. Collins," said she, "speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her +daughter; but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship, +I suspect his gratitude misleads him, and that in spite of her being his +patroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman." + +"I believe her to be both in a great degree," replied Wickham; "I have +not seen her for many years, but I very well remember that I never liked +her, and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the +reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever; but I rather believe +she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from +her authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride for her +nephew, who chooses that everyone connected with him should have an +understanding of the first class." + +Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it, and +they continued talking together, with mutual satisfaction till supper +put an end to cards, and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. +Wickham's attentions. There could be no conversation in the noise +of Mrs. Phillips's supper party, but his manners recommended him to +everybody. Whatever he said, was said well; and whatever he did, done +gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could +think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all +the way home; but there was not time for her even to mention his name +as they went, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent. Lydia +talked incessantly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the +fish she had won; and Mr. Collins in describing the civility of Mr. and +Mrs. Phillips, protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses +at whist, enumerating all the dishes at supper, and repeatedly fearing +that he crowded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage +before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House. + + + +Chapter 17 + + +Elizabeth related to Jane the next day what had passed between Mr. +Wickham and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern; she +knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. +Bingley's regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the +veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The +possibility of his having endured such unkindness, was enough to +interest all her tender feelings; and nothing remained therefore to be +done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, +and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be +otherwise explained. + +"They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way +or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps +misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to +conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, +without actual blame on either side." + +"Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say on +behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the +business? Do clear _them_ too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of +somebody." + +"Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my +opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light +it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such +a manner, one whom his father had promised to provide for. It is +impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his +character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so +excessively deceived in him? Oh! no." + +"I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than +that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me +last night; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it +be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his +looks." + +"It is difficult indeed--it is distressing. One does not know what to +think." + +"I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think." + +But Jane could think with certainty on only one point--that Mr. Bingley, +if he _had_ been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the affair +became public. + +The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this +conversation passed, by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had +been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal +invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed +for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their +dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly +asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To +the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet +as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to +the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an +activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if +eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities. + +The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every +female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in +compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered +by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a +ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the +society of her two friends, and the attentions of her brother; and +Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. +Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look +and behavior. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended +less on any single event, or any particular person, for though they +each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, +he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball +was, at any rate, a ball. And even Mary could assure her family that she +had no disinclination for it. + +"While I can have my mornings to myself," said she, "it is enough--I +think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. +Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those +who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for +everybody." + +Elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion, that though she did +not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking +him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if +he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's +amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no +scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke +either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to +dance. + +"I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball +of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, +can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing +myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair +cousins in the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of +soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, +a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right +cause, and not to any disrespect for her." + +Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being +engaged by Mr. Wickham for those very dances; and to have Mr. Collins +instead! her liveliness had never been worse timed. There was no help +for it, however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own were perforce +delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as +good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his +gallantry from the idea it suggested of something more. It now first +struck her, that _she_ was selected from among her sisters as worthy +of being mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a +quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. +The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing +civilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a +compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than +gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before +her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage +was extremely agreeable to _her_. Elizabeth, however, did not choose +to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the +consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and +till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him. + +If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the +younger Miss Bennets would have been in a very pitiable state at this +time, for from the day of the invitation, to the day of the ball, there +was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton +once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after--the very +shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have +found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the +improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less than +a dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and +Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia. + + + +Chapter 18 + + +Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and looked in +vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled, a +doubt of his being present had never occurred to her. The certainty +of meeting him had not been checked by any of those recollections that +might not unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with more than +usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all +that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than +might be won in the course of the evening. But in an instant arose +the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted for Mr. Darcy's +pleasure in the Bingleys' invitation to the officers; and though +this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact of his absence was +pronounced by his friend Denny, to whom Lydia eagerly applied, and who +told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the +day before, and was not yet returned; adding, with a significant smile, +"I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if +he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here." + +This part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by +Elizabeth, and, as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for +Wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just, every +feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate +disappointment, that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to +the polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make. +Attendance, forbearance, patience with Darcy, was injury to Wickham. She +was resolved against any sort of conversation with him, and turned away +with a degree of ill-humour which she could not wholly surmount even in +speaking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind partiality provoked her. + +But Elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour; and though every prospect +of her own was destroyed for the evening, it could not dwell long on her +spirits; and having told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had +not seen for a week, she was soon able to make a voluntary transition +to the oddities of her cousin, and to point him out to her particular +notice. The first two dances, however, brought a return of distress; +they were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, +apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being +aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable +partner for a couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from +him was ecstasy. + +She danced next with an officer, and had the refreshment of talking of +Wickham, and of hearing that he was universally liked. When those dances +were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with +her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy who took +her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, +without knowing what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again +immediately, and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of +mind; Charlotte tried to console her: + +"I dare say you will find him very agreeable." + +"Heaven forbid! _That_ would be the greatest misfortune of all! To find +a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an +evil." + +When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her +hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her in a whisper, not to be a +simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant +in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence. Elizabeth made no +answer, and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which +she was arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and +reading in her neighbours' looks, their equal amazement in beholding +it. They stood for some time without speaking a word; and she began to +imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances, and at +first was resolved not to break it; till suddenly fancying that it would +be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made +some slight observation on the dance. He replied, and was again +silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time +with:--"It is _your_ turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked +about the dance, and _you_ ought to make some sort of remark on the size +of the room, or the number of couples." + +He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be +said. + +"Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may +observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But +_now_ we may be silent." + +"Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?" + +"Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be +entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet for the advantage of +_some_, conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may have the +trouble of saying as little as possible." + +"Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you +imagine that you are gratifying mine?" + +"Both," replied Elizabeth archly; "for I have always seen a great +similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, +taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say +something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to +posterity with all the eclat of a proverb." + +"This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure," +said he. "How near it may be to _mine_, I cannot pretend to say. _You_ +think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly." + +"I must not decide on my own performance." + +He made no answer, and they were again silent till they had gone down +the dance, when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often +walk to Meryton. She answered in the affirmative, and, unable to resist +the temptation, added, "When you met us there the other day, we had just +been forming a new acquaintance." + +The effect was immediate. A deeper shade of _hauteur_ overspread his +features, but he said not a word, and Elizabeth, though blaming herself +for her own weakness, could not go on. At length Darcy spoke, and in a +constrained manner said, "Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners +as may ensure his _making_ friends--whether he may be equally capable of +_retaining_ them, is less certain." + +"He has been so unlucky as to lose _your_ friendship," replied Elizabeth +with emphasis, "and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all +his life." + +Darcy made no answer, and seemed desirous of changing the subject. At +that moment, Sir William Lucas appeared close to them, meaning to pass +through the set to the other side of the room; but on perceiving Mr. +Darcy, he stopped with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on +his dancing and his partner. + +"I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such very +superior dancing is not often seen. It is evident that you belong to the +first circles. Allow me to say, however, that your fair partner does not +disgrace you, and that I must hope to have this pleasure often repeated, +especially when a certain desirable event, my dear Eliza (glancing at +her sister and Bingley) shall take place. What congratulations will then +flow in! I appeal to Mr. Darcy:--but let me not interrupt you, sir. You +will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that +young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me." + +The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy; but Sir +William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly, and his +eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards Bingley and +Jane, who were dancing together. Recovering himself, however, shortly, +he turned to his partner, and said, "Sir William's interruption has made +me forget what we were talking of." + +"I do not think we were speaking at all. Sir William could not have +interrupted two people in the room who had less to say for themselves. +We have tried two or three subjects already without success, and what we +are to talk of next I cannot imagine." + +"What think you of books?" said he, smiling. + +"Books--oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same +feelings." + +"I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be +no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions." + +"No--I cannot talk of books in a ball-room; my head is always full of +something else." + +"The _present_ always occupies you in such scenes--does it?" said he, +with a look of doubt. + +"Yes, always," she replied, without knowing what she said, for her +thoughts had wandered far from the subject, as soon afterwards appeared +by her suddenly exclaiming, "I remember hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, +that you hardly ever forgave, that your resentment once created was +unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its _being +created_." + +"I am," said he, with a firm voice. + +"And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?" + +"I hope not." + +"It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, +to be secure of judging properly at first." + +"May I ask to what these questions tend?" + +"Merely to the illustration of _your_ character," said she, endeavouring +to shake off her gravity. "I am trying to make it out." + +"And what is your success?" + +She shook her head. "I do not get on at all. I hear such different +accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly." + +"I can readily believe," answered he gravely, "that reports may vary +greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were +not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to +fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either." + +"But if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have another +opportunity." + +"I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours," he coldly replied. +She said no more, and they went down the other dance and parted in +silence; and on each side dissatisfied, though not to an equal degree, +for in Darcy's breast there was a tolerable powerful feeling towards +her, which soon procured her pardon, and directed all his anger against +another. + +They had not long separated, when Miss Bingley came towards her, and +with an expression of civil disdain accosted her: + +"So, Miss Eliza, I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham! +Your sister has been talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand +questions; and I find that the young man quite forgot to tell you, among +his other communication, that he was the son of old Wickham, the late +Mr. Darcy's steward. Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to +give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy's +using him ill, it is perfectly false; for, on the contrary, he has +always been remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated +Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but +I know very well that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame, that he +cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned, and that though my brother +thought that he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to +the officers, he was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself +out of the way. His coming into the country at all is a most insolent +thing, indeed, and I wonder how he could presume to do it. I pity you, +Miss Eliza, for this discovery of your favourite's guilt; but really, +considering his descent, one could not expect much better." + +"His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same," said +Elizabeth angrily; "for I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse +than of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of _that_, I can +assure you, he informed me himself." + +"I beg your pardon," replied Miss Bingley, turning away with a sneer. +"Excuse my interference--it was kindly meant." + +"Insolent girl!" said Elizabeth to herself. "You are much mistaken +if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this. I see +nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr. +Darcy." She then sought her eldest sister, who has undertaken to make +inquiries on the same subject of Bingley. Jane met her with a smile of +such sweet complacency, a glow of such happy expression, as sufficiently +marked how well she was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening. +Elizabeth instantly read her feelings, and at that moment solicitude for +Wickham, resentment against his enemies, and everything else, gave way +before the hope of Jane's being in the fairest way for happiness. + +"I want to know," said she, with a countenance no less smiling than her +sister's, "what you have learnt about Mr. Wickham. But perhaps you have +been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third person; in which case +you may be sure of my pardon." + +"No," replied Jane, "I have not forgotten him; but I have nothing +satisfactory to tell you. Mr. Bingley does not know the whole of +his history, and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have +principally offended Mr. Darcy; but he will vouch for the good conduct, +the probity, and honour of his friend, and is perfectly convinced that +Mr. Wickham has deserved much less attention from Mr. Darcy than he has +received; and I am sorry to say by his account as well as his sister's, +Mr. Wickham is by no means a respectable young man. I am afraid he has +been very imprudent, and has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard." + +"Mr. Bingley does not know Mr. Wickham himself?" + +"No; he never saw him till the other morning at Meryton." + +"This account then is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am +satisfied. But what does he say of the living?" + +"He does not exactly recollect the circumstances, though he has heard +them from Mr. Darcy more than once, but he believes that it was left to +him _conditionally_ only." + +"I have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity," said Elizabeth warmly; +"but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only. Mr. +Bingley's defense of his friend was a very able one, I dare say; but +since he is unacquainted with several parts of the story, and has learnt +the rest from that friend himself, I shall venture to still think of +both gentlemen as I did before." + +She then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each, and on +which there could be no difference of sentiment. Elizabeth listened with +delight to the happy, though modest hopes which Jane entertained of Mr. +Bingley's regard, and said all in her power to heighten her confidence +in it. On their being joined by Mr. Bingley himself, Elizabeth withdrew +to Miss Lucas; to whose inquiry after the pleasantness of her last +partner she had scarcely replied, before Mr. Collins came up to them, +and told her with great exultation that he had just been so fortunate as +to make a most important discovery. + +"I have found out," said he, "by a singular accident, that there is now +in the room a near relation of my patroness. I happened to overhear the +gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of +the house the names of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady +Catherine. How wonderfully these sort of things occur! Who would have +thought of my meeting with, perhaps, a nephew of Lady Catherine de +Bourgh in this assembly! I am most thankful that the discovery is made +in time for me to pay my respects to him, which I am now going to +do, and trust he will excuse my not having done it before. My total +ignorance of the connection must plead my apology." + +"You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy!" + +"Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier. +I believe him to be Lady Catherine's _nephew_. It will be in my power to +assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday se'nnight." + +Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme, assuring him +that Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction +as an impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment to his aunt; that +it was not in the least necessary there should be any notice on either +side; and that if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in +consequence, to begin the acquaintance. Mr. Collins listened to her +with the determined air of following his own inclination, and, when she +ceased speaking, replied thus: + +"My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world in +your excellent judgement in all matters within the scope of your +understanding; but permit me to say, that there must be a wide +difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the laity, +and those which regulate the clergy; for, give me leave to observe that +I consider the clerical office as equal in point of dignity with +the highest rank in the kingdom--provided that a proper humility of +behaviour is at the same time maintained. You must therefore allow me to +follow the dictates of my conscience on this occasion, which leads me to +perform what I look on as a point of duty. Pardon me for neglecting to +profit by your advice, which on every other subject shall be my constant +guide, though in the case before us I consider myself more fitted by +education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young +lady like yourself." And with a low bow he left her to attack Mr. +Darcy, whose reception of his advances she eagerly watched, and whose +astonishment at being so addressed was very evident. Her cousin prefaced +his speech with a solemn bow and though she could not hear a word of +it, she felt as if hearing it all, and saw in the motion of his lips the +words "apology," "Hunsford," and "Lady Catherine de Bourgh." It vexed +her to see him expose himself to such a man. Mr. Darcy was eyeing him +with unrestrained wonder, and when at last Mr. Collins allowed him time +to speak, replied with an air of distant civility. Mr. Collins, however, +was not discouraged from speaking again, and Mr. Darcy's contempt seemed +abundantly increasing with the length of his second speech, and at the +end of it he only made him a slight bow, and moved another way. Mr. +Collins then returned to Elizabeth. + +"I have no reason, I assure you," said he, "to be dissatisfied with my +reception. Mr. Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention. He answered +me with the utmost civility, and even paid me the compliment of saying +that he was so well convinced of Lady Catherine's discernment as to be +certain she could never bestow a favour unworthily. It was really a very +handsome thought. Upon the whole, I am much pleased with him." + +As Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue, she turned +her attention almost entirely on her sister and Mr. Bingley; and the +train of agreeable reflections which her observations gave birth to, +made her perhaps almost as happy as Jane. She saw her in idea settled in +that very house, in all the felicity which a marriage of true affection +could bestow; and she felt capable, under such circumstances, of +endeavouring even to like Bingley's two sisters. Her mother's thoughts +she plainly saw were bent the same way, and she determined not to +venture near her, lest she might hear too much. When they sat down to +supper, therefore, she considered it a most unlucky perverseness which +placed them within one of each other; and deeply was she vexed to find +that her mother was talking to that one person (Lady Lucas) freely, +openly, and of nothing else but her expectation that Jane would soon +be married to Mr. Bingley. It was an animating subject, and Mrs. Bennet +seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the +match. His being such a charming young man, and so rich, and living but +three miles from them, were the first points of self-gratulation; and +then it was such a comfort to think how fond the two sisters were of +Jane, and to be certain that they must desire the connection as much as +she could do. It was, moreover, such a promising thing for her younger +daughters, as Jane's marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of +other rich men; and lastly, it was so pleasant at her time of life to be +able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister, that +she might not be obliged to go into company more than she liked. It was +necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure, because on +such occasions it is the etiquette; but no one was less likely than Mrs. +Bennet to find comfort in staying home at any period of her life. She +concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally +fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no +chance of it. + +In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's +words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible +whisper; for, to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the +chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat opposite to them. Her +mother only scolded her for being nonsensical. + +"What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am +sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say +nothing _he_ may not like to hear." + +"For heaven's sake, madam, speak lower. What advantage can it be for you +to offend Mr. Darcy? You will never recommend yourself to his friend by +so doing!" + +Nothing that she could say, however, had any influence. Her mother would +talk of her views in the same intelligible tone. Elizabeth blushed and +blushed again with shame and vexation. She could not help frequently +glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what +she dreaded; for though he was not always looking at her mother, she was +convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her. The expression +of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and +steady gravity. + +At length, however, Mrs. Bennet had no more to say; and Lady Lucas, who +had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no +likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham and +chicken. Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long was the interval of +tranquillity; for, when supper was over, singing was talked of, and +she had the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, +preparing to oblige the company. By many significant looks and silent +entreaties, did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance, +but in vain; Mary would not understand them; such an opportunity of +exhibiting was delightful to her, and she began her song. Elizabeth's +eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations, and she watched her +progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very +ill rewarded at their close; for Mary, on receiving, amongst the thanks +of the table, the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to +favour them again, after the pause of half a minute began another. +Mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display; her voice was +weak, and her manner affected. Elizabeth was in agonies. She looked at +Jane, to see how she bore it; but Jane was very composedly talking to +Bingley. She looked at his two sisters, and saw them making signs +of derision at each other, and at Darcy, who continued, however, +imperturbably grave. She looked at her father to entreat his +interference, lest Mary should be singing all night. He took the hint, +and when Mary had finished her second song, said aloud, "That will do +extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other +young ladies have time to exhibit." + +Mary, though pretending not to hear, was somewhat disconcerted; and +Elizabeth, sorry for her, and sorry for her father's speech, was afraid +her anxiety had done no good. Others of the party were now applied to. + +"If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I +should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an +air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly +compatible with the profession of a clergyman. I do not mean, however, +to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time +to music, for there are certainly other things to be attended to. The +rector of a parish has much to do. In the first place, he must make +such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not +offensive to his patron. He must write his own sermons; and the time +that remains will not be too much for his parish duties, and the care +and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making +as comfortable as possible. And I do not think it of light importance +that he should have attentive and conciliatory manner towards everybody, +especially towards those to whom he owes his preferment. I cannot acquit +him of that duty; nor could I think well of the man who should omit an +occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the +family." And with a bow to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech, which had +been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room. Many stared--many +smiled; but no one looked more amused than Mr. Bennet himself, while his +wife seriously commended Mr. Collins for having spoken so sensibly, +and observed in a half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably +clever, good kind of young man. + +To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to +expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would +have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or +finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister +that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his +feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he +must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should +have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations, was bad enough, +and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the +gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable. + +The rest of the evening brought her little amusement. She was teased by +Mr. Collins, who continued most perseveringly by her side, and though +he could not prevail on her to dance with him again, put it out of her +power to dance with others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up with +somebody else, and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room. +He assured her, that as to dancing, he was perfectly indifferent to it; +that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to +her and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her +the whole evening. There was no arguing upon such a project. She owed +her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who often joined them, and +good-naturedly engaged Mr. Collins's conversation to herself. + +She was at least free from the offense of Mr. Darcy's further notice; +though often standing within a very short distance of her, quite +disengaged, he never came near enough to speak. She felt it to be the +probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in +it. + +The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart, and, by +a manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet, had to wait for their carriage a quarter of +an hour after everybody else was gone, which gave them time to see how +heartily they were wished away by some of the family. Mrs. Hurst and her +sister scarcely opened their mouths, except to complain of fatigue, and +were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves. They repulsed +every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at conversation, and by so doing threw a +languor over the whole party, which was very little relieved by the +long speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr. Bingley and his +sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and +politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests. Darcy said +nothing at all. Mr. Bennet, in equal silence, was enjoying the scene. +Mr. Bingley and Jane were standing together, a little detached from the +rest, and talked only to each other. Elizabeth preserved as steady a +silence as either Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley; and even Lydia was too +much fatigued to utter more than the occasional exclamation of "Lord, +how tired I am!" accompanied by a violent yawn. + +When at length they arose to take leave, Mrs. Bennet was most pressingly +civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at Longbourn, and +addressed herself especially to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how happy he +would make them by eating a family dinner with them at any time, without +the ceremony of a formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure, +and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on +her, after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go the next +day for a short time. + +Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied, and quitted the house under the +delightful persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparations of +settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes, she should undoubtedly +see her daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four +months. Of having another daughter married to Mr. Collins, she thought +with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal, pleasure. +Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children; and though the +man and the match were quite good enough for _her_, the worth of each +was eclipsed by Mr. Bingley and Netherfield. + + + +Chapter 19 + + +The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his +declaration in form. Having resolved to do it without loss of time, as +his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday, and having +no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at +the moment, he set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the +observances, which he supposed a regular part of the business. On +finding Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and one of the younger girls together, +soon after breakfast, he addressed the mother in these words: + +"May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, +when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the +course of this morning?" + +Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs. +Bennet answered instantly, "Oh dear!--yes--certainly. I am sure Lizzy +will be very happy--I am sure she can have no objection. Come, Kitty, I +want you upstairs." And, gathering her work together, she was hastening +away, when Elizabeth called out: + +"Dear madam, do not go. I beg you will not go. Mr. Collins must excuse +me. He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am +going away myself." + +"No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. I desire you to stay where you are." And upon +Elizabeth's seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks, about to +escape, she added: "Lizzy, I _insist_ upon your staying and hearing Mr. +Collins." + +Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction--and a moment's +consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it +over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat down again and tried to +conceal, by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between +distress and diversion. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off, and as soon as +they were gone, Mr. Collins began. + +"Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from +doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections. You +would have been less amiable in my eyes had there _not_ been this little +unwillingness; but allow me to assure you, that I have your respected +mother's permission for this address. You can hardly doubt the +purport of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to +dissemble; my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as +soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the companion of +my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings on this +subject, perhaps it would be advisable for me to state my reasons for +marrying--and, moreover, for coming into Hertfordshire with the design +of selecting a wife, as I certainly did." + +The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being run away +with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing, that she could +not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him further, +and he continued: + +"My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for +every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example +of matrimony in his parish; secondly, that I am convinced that it will +add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly--which perhaps I ought +to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and +recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling +patroness. Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked +too!) on this subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I +left Hunsford--between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson was +arranging Miss de Bourgh's footstool, that she said, 'Mr. Collins, you +must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly, choose +a gentlewoman for _my_ sake; and for your _own_, let her be an active, +useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small +income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon as +you can, bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her.' Allow me, by the +way, to observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice +and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the +advantages in my power to offer. You will find her manners beyond +anything I can describe; and your wit and vivacity, I think, must be +acceptable to her, especially when tempered with the silence and +respect which her rank will inevitably excite. Thus much for my general +intention in favour of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views +were directed towards Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood, where I +can assure you there are many amiable young women. But the fact is, that +being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured +father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy +myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that +the loss to them might be as little as possible, when the melancholy +event takes place--which, however, as I have already said, may not +be for several years. This has been my motive, my fair cousin, and +I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem. And now nothing +remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the +violence of my affection. To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and +shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well +aware that it could not be complied with; and that one thousand pounds +in the four per cents, which will not be yours till after your mother's +decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to. On that head, +therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure yourself that +no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married." + +It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now. + +"You are too hasty, sir," she cried. "You forget that I have made no +answer. Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for +the compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible of the honour of +your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than to +decline them." + +"I am not now to learn," replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave of the +hand, "that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the +man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their +favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second, or even a +third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just +said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long." + +"Upon my word, sir," cried Elizabeth, "your hope is a rather +extraordinary one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not +one of those young ladies (if such young ladies there are) who are so +daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second +time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not make _me_ +happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who +could make you so. Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I +am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the +situation." + +"Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so," said Mr. Collins +very gravely--"but I cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all +disapprove of you. And you may be certain when I have the honour of +seeing her again, I shall speak in the very highest terms of your +modesty, economy, and other amiable qualification." + +"Indeed, Mr. Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary. You +must give me leave to judge for myself, and pay me the compliment +of believing what I say. I wish you very happy and very rich, and by +refusing your hand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. +In making me the offer, you must have satisfied the delicacy of your +feelings with regard to my family, and may take possession of Longbourn +estate whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. This matter may +be considered, therefore, as finally settled." And rising as she +thus spoke, she would have quitted the room, had Mr. Collins not thus +addressed her: + +"When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject, I +shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given +me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I +know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on +the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to +encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the +female character." + +"Really, Mr. Collins," cried Elizabeth with some warmth, "you puzzle me +exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form +of encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as +to convince you of its being one." + +"You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your +refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for +believing it are briefly these: It does not appear to me that my hand is +unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would +be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections +with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are +circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into further +consideration, that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no +means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. Your +portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo +the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must +therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, +I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by +suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females." + +"I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions whatever to that kind +of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would +rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you +again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but +to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect +forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant +female, intending to plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking +the truth from her heart." + +"You are uniformly charming!" cried he, with an air of awkward +gallantry; "and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express +authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of +being acceptable." + +To such perseverance in wilful self-deception Elizabeth would make +no reply, and immediately and in silence withdrew; determined, if +he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering +encouragement, to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered +in such a manner as to be decisive, and whose behavior at least could +not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female. + + + +Chapter 20 + + +Mr. Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his +successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about in the vestibule +to watch for the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open +the door and with quick step pass her towards the staircase, than she +entered the breakfast-room, and congratulated both him and herself in +warm terms on the happy prospect or their nearer connection. Mr. Collins +received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then +proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview, with the result +of which he trusted he had every reason to be satisfied, since the +refusal which his cousin had steadfastly given him would naturally flow +from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character. + +This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; she would have been +glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage +him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not believe it, +and could not help saying so. + +"But, depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy shall be +brought to reason. I will speak to her about it directly. She is a very +headstrong, foolish girl, and does not know her own interest but I will +_make_ her know it." + +"Pardon me for interrupting you, madam," cried Mr. Collins; "but if +she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would +altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who +naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she +actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not +to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of +temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity." + +"Sir, you quite misunderstand me," said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed. "Lizzy is +only headstrong in such matters as these. In everything else she is as +good-natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and +we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure." + +She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her +husband, called out as she entered the library, "Oh! Mr. Bennet, you +are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make +Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you +do not make haste he will change his mind and not have _her_." + +Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them +on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by +her communication. + +"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he, when she had +finished her speech. "Of what are you talking?" + +"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, +and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy." + +"And what am I to do on the occasion? It seems an hopeless business." + +"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her +marrying him." + +"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion." + +Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the +library. + +"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have sent for +you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made +you an offer of marriage. Is it true?" Elizabeth replied that it was. +"Very well--and this offer of marriage you have refused?" + +"I have, sir." + +"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your +accepting it. Is it not so, Mrs. Bennet?" + +"Yes, or I will never see her again." + +"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must +be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you +again if you do _not_ marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again +if you _do_." + +Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning, +but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the +affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed. + +"What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, in talking this way? You promised me to +_insist_ upon her marrying him." + +"My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours to request. +First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the +present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the +library to myself as soon as may be." + +Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her husband, did +Mrs. Bennet give up the point. She talked to Elizabeth again and again; +coaxed and threatened her by turns. She endeavoured to secure Jane +in her interest; but Jane, with all possible mildness, declined +interfering; and Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness, and +sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner +varied, however, her determination never did. + +Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. +He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motives his cousin +could refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other +way. His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her +deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret. + +While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came to spend +the day with them. She was met in the vestibule by Lydia, who, flying to +her, cried in a half whisper, "I am glad you are come, for there is such +fun here! What do you think has happened this morning? Mr. Collins has +made an offer to Lizzy, and she will not have him." + +Charlotte hardly had time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, +who came to tell the same news; and no sooner had they entered the +breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, than she likewise began on +the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for her compassion, and entreating +her to persuade her friend Lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her +family. "Pray do, my dear Miss Lucas," she added in a melancholy tone, +"for nobody is on my side, nobody takes part with me. I am cruelly used, +nobody feels for my poor nerves." + +Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth. + +"Aye, there she comes," continued Mrs. Bennet, "looking as unconcerned +as may be, and caring no more for us than if we were at York, provided +she can have her own way. But I tell you, Miss Lizzy--if you take it +into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, +you will never get a husband at all--and I am sure I do not know who is +to maintain you when your father is dead. I shall not be able to keep +you--and so I warn you. I have done with you from this very day. I told +you in the library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, +and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking +to undutiful children. Not that I have much pleasure, indeed, in talking +to anybody. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have +no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it +is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied." + +Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that +any attempt to reason with her or soothe her would only increase the +irritation. She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of +them, till they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered the room with +an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to +the girls, "Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold +your tongues, and let me and Mr. Collins have a little conversation +together." + +Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but +Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, +detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after +herself and all her family were very minute, and then by a little +curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending +not to hear. In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet began the projected +conversation: "Oh! Mr. Collins!" + +"My dear madam," replied he, "let us be for ever silent on this point. +Far be it from me," he presently continued, in a voice that marked his +displeasure, "to resent the behaviour of your daughter. Resignation +to inevitable evils is the evil duty of us all; the peculiar duty of a +young man who has been so fortunate as I have been in early preferment; +and I trust I am resigned. Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt +of my positive happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand; +for I have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as +when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of its value in our +estimation. You will not, I hope, consider me as showing any disrespect +to your family, my dear madam, by thus withdrawing my pretensions to +your daughter's favour, without having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the +compliment of requesting you to interpose your authority in my +behalf. My conduct may, I fear, be objectionable in having accepted my +dismission from your daughter's lips instead of your own. But we are all +liable to error. I have certainly meant well through the whole affair. +My object has been to secure an amiable companion for myself, with due +consideration for the advantage of all your family, and if my _manner_ +has been at all reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise." + + + +Chapter 21 + + +The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and +Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily +attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusions of her +mother. As for the gentleman himself, _his_ feelings were chiefly +expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, +but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke +to her, and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of +himself were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose +civility in listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all, and +especially to her friend. + +The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill-humour or ill +health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth +had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did +not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on +Saturday, and to Saturday he meant to stay. + +After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if Mr. Wickham +were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. +He joined them on their entering the town, and attended them to their +aunt's where his regret and vexation, and the concern of everybody, was +well talked over. To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged +that the necessity of his absence _had_ been self-imposed. + +"I found," said he, "as the time drew near that I had better not meet +Mr. Darcy; that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so +many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes +might arise unpleasant to more than myself." + +She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full +discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly +bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with +them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to +her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the +compliment it offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an +occasion of introducing him to her father and mother. + +Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came +from Netherfield. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, +hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and +Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw +her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected +herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual +cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety +on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no +sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane +invited her to follow her upstairs. When they had gained their own room, +Jane, taking out the letter, said: + +"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me a good +deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on +their way to town--and without any intention of coming back again. You +shall hear what she says." + +She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information +of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, +and of their meaning to dine in Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Hurst had a +house. The next was in these words: "I do not pretend to regret anything +I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; +but we will hope, at some future period, to enjoy many returns of that +delightful intercourse we have known, and in the meanwhile may +lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved +correspondence. I depend on you for that." To these highflown +expressions Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; +and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw +nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their +absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as +to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must cease to +regard it, in the enjoyment of his. + +"It is unlucky," said she, after a short pause, "that you should not be +able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not +hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks +forward may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful +intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater +satisfaction as sisters? Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by +them." + +"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into +Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you:" + +"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which +took him to London might be concluded in three or four days; but as we +are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when +Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have +determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend +his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintances are +already there for the winter; I wish that I could hear that you, my +dearest friend, had any intention of making one of the crowd--but of +that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may +abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your +beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the +three of whom we shall deprive you." + +"It is evident by this," added Jane, "that he comes back no more this +winter." + +"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean that he _should_." + +"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. He is his own +master. But you do not know _all_. I _will_ read you the passage which +particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from _you_." + +"Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister; and, to confess the truth, +_we_ are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think +Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; +and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into +something still more interesting, from the hope we dare entertain of +her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before +mentioned to you my feelings on this subject; but I will not leave the +country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them +unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already; he will have +frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing; +her relations all wish the connection as much as his own; and a sister's +partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most +capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to +favour an attachment, and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest +Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness +of so many?" + +"What do you think of _this_ sentence, my dear Lizzy?" said Jane as she +finished it. "Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare that +Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is +perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference; and that if she +suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to +put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?" + +"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. Will you hear it?" + +"Most willingly." + +"You shall have it in a few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is +in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him +to town in hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he +does not care about you." + +Jane shook her head. + +"Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you +together can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot. She +is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. +Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the +case is this: We are not rich enough or grand enough for them; and she +is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion +that when there has been _one_ intermarriage, she may have less trouble +in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and +I dare say it would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way. But, +my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley +tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest +degree less sensible of _your_ merit than when he took leave of you on +Tuesday, or that it will be in her power to persuade him that, instead +of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend." + +"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley," replied Jane, "your +representation of all this might make me quite easy. But I know the +foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving +anyone; and all that I can hope in this case is that she is deceiving +herself." + +"That is right. You could not have started a more happy idea, since you +will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived, by all means. +You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer." + +"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in +accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry +elsewhere?" + +"You must decide for yourself," said Elizabeth; "and if, upon mature +deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is +more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by +all means to refuse him." + +"How can you talk so?" said Jane, faintly smiling. "You must know that +though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could +not hesitate." + +"I did not think you would; and that being the case, I cannot consider +your situation with much compassion." + +"But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be +required. A thousand things may arise in six months!" + +The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost +contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's +interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those +wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man +so totally independent of everyone. + +She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt +on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. +Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, +though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that +Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart. + +They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the +family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; +but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, +and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen +to go away just as they were all getting so intimate together. After +lamenting it, however, at some length, she had the consolation that Mr. +Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn, and the +conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration, that though he had +been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two +full courses. + + + +Chapter 22 + + +The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the +chief of the day was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. +Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. "It keeps him in good +humour," said she, "and I am more obliged to you than I can express." +Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and +that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was +very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth +had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her +from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards +herself. Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so +favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost +secure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very +soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his +character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next +morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw +himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, +from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to +conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known +till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost +secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, +he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. +His reception, however, was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas +perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and +instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had +she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there. + +In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, +everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as +they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that +was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must +be waived for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with +his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must +guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its +continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure +and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that +establishment were gained. + +Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; +and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins's present +circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom +they could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were +exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate, with more +interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer +Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided +opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the +Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife +should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, +were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes +of _coming out_ a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have +done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's +dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had +gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were +in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible +nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must +be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking highly +either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was +the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, +and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest +preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at +the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all +the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business +was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship +she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, +and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be +shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation. She resolved +to give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, +when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had +passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very +dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the +curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct +questions on his return as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was +at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to +publish his prosperous love. + +As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the +family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved +for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, +said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever +his engagements might allow him to visit them. + +"My dear madam," he replied, "this invitation is particularly +gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and +you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as +possible." + +They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for +so speedy a return, immediately said: + +"But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my +good sir? You had better neglect your relations than run the risk of +offending your patroness." + +"My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly obliged to you +for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so +material a step without her ladyship's concurrence." + +"You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her +displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us +again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, +and be satisfied that _we_ shall take no offence." + +"Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such +affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive +from me a letter of thanks for this, and for every other mark of your +regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though +my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now +take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my +cousin Elizabeth." + +With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally +surprised that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to +understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her +younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. +She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was +a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no +means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read +and improve himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very +agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this +kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a +private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before. + +The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her +friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but +that Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from +possibility as she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was +consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and +she could not help crying out: + +"Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte--impossible!" + +The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her +story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a +reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained +her composure, and calmly replied: + +"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible +that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, +because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?" + +But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort +for it, was able to assure with tolerable firmness that the prospect of +their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her +all imaginable happiness. + +"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte. "You must be surprised, +very much surprised--so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry +you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be +satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never +was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's +character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my +chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on +entering the marriage state." + +Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly;" and after an awkward pause, +they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much +longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. +It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so +unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers +of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now +accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was +not exactly like her own, but she had not supposed it to be possible +that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better +feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a +most humiliating picture! And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself +and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it +was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had +chosen. + + + +Chapter 23 + + +Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what +she had heard, and doubting whether she was authorised to mention +it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter, to +announce her engagement to the family. With many compliments to them, +and much self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the +houses, he unfolded the matter--to an audience not merely wondering, but +incredulous; for Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, +protested he must be entirely mistaken; and Lydia, always unguarded and +often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed: + +"Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? Do not you know +that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?" + +Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have borne +without anger such treatment; but Sir William's good breeding carried +him through it all; and though he begged leave to be positive as to the +truth of his information, he listened to all their impertinence with the +most forbearing courtesy. + +Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant +a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account, by +mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself; and +endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters +by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William, in which she +was readily joined by Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the +happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character +of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London. + +Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while +Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left them than her feelings +found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving +the whole of the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins +had been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be +happy together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two +inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole: one, that +Elizabeth was the real cause of the mischief; and the other that she +herself had been barbarously misused by them all; and on these two +points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could +console and nothing could appease her. Nor did that day wear out her +resentment. A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without +scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William +or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone before she +could at all forgive their daughter. + +Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion, and such +as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for +it gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had +been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and +more foolish than his daughter! + +Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said +less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; +nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty +and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a +clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news +to spread at Meryton. + +Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort +on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she +called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, +though Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been +enough to drive happiness away. + +Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them +mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that +no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her +disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her +sister, of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could +never be shaken, and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, +as Bingley had now been gone a week and nothing more was heard of his +return. + +Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting +the days till she might reasonably hope to hear again. The promised +letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to +their father, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a +twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted. After discharging +his conscience on that head, he proceeded to inform them, with many +rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained the affection +of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, and then explained that it was +merely with the view of enjoying her society that he had been so ready +to close with their kind wish of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither +he hoped to be able to return on Monday fortnight; for Lady Catherine, +he added, so heartily approved his marriage, that she wished it to take +place as soon as possible, which he trusted would be an unanswerable +argument with his amiable Charlotte to name an early day for making him +the happiest of men. + +Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of +pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to +complain of it as her husband. It was very strange that he should come +to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient +and exceedingly troublesome. She hated having visitors in the house +while her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the +most disagreeable. Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and +they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued +absence. + +Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject. Day after +day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the +report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to +Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. +Bennet, and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous +falsehood. + +Even Elizabeth began to fear--not that Bingley was indifferent--but that +his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as +she was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane's happiness, and so +dishonorable to the stability of her lover, she could not prevent its +frequently occurring. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters +and of his overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss +Darcy and the amusements of London might be too much, she feared, for +the strength of his attachment. + +As for Jane, _her_ anxiety under this suspense was, of course, more +painful than Elizabeth's, but whatever she felt she was desirous of +concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth, therefore, the subject +was never alluded to. But as no such delicacy restrained her mother, +an hour seldom passed in which she did not talk of Bingley, express her +impatience for his arrival, or even require Jane to confess that if he +did not come back she would think herself very ill used. It needed +all Jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable +tranquillity. + +Mr. Collins returned most punctually on Monday fortnight, but his +reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his +first introduction. He was too happy, however, to need much attention; +and luckily for the others, the business of love-making relieved them +from a great deal of his company. The chief of every day was spent by +him at Lucas Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time +to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed. + +Mrs. Bennet was really in a most pitiable state. The very mention of +anything concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill-humour, +and wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of. The sight +of Miss Lucas was odious to her. As her successor in that house, she +regarded her with jealous abhorrence. Whenever Charlotte came to see +them, she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession; and +whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, was convinced that +they were talking of the Longbourn estate, and resolving to turn herself +and her daughters out of the house, as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead. She +complained bitterly of all this to her husband. + +"Indeed, Mr. Bennet," said she, "it is very hard to think that Charlotte +Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I should be forced to +make way for _her_, and live to see her take her place in it!" + +"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for +better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor." + +This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and therefore, instead of +making any answer, she went on as before. + +"I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate. If it was +not for the entail, I should not mind it." + +"What should not you mind?" + +"I should not mind anything at all." + +"Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such +insensibility." + +"I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for anything about the entail. How +anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's own +daughters, I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! +Why should _he_ have it more than anybody else?" + +"I leave it to yourself to determine," said Mr. Bennet. + + + +Chapter 24 + + +Miss Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first +sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for +the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had +time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left +the country. + +Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest +of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the +writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied +the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline +boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict +the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former +letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an +inmate of Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of +the latter with regard to new furniture. + +Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, +heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern +for her sister, and resentment against all others. To Caroline's +assertion of her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no +credit. That he was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she +had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she +could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness +of temper, that want of proper resolution, which now made him the slave +of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice of his own happiness +to the caprice of their inclination. Had his own happiness, however, +been the only sacrifice, he might have been allowed to sport with it in +whatever manner he thought best, but her sister's was involved in it, as +she thought he must be sensible himself. It was a subject, in short, +on which reflection would be long indulged, and must be unavailing. She +could think of nothing else; and yet whether Bingley's regard had really +died away, or were suppressed by his friends' interference; whether +he had been aware of Jane's attachment, or whether it had escaped his +observation; whatever were the case, though her opinion of him must be +materially affected by the difference, her sister's situation remained +the same, her peace equally wounded. + +A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to +Elizabeth; but at last, on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together, after a +longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could +not help saying: + +"Oh, that my dear mother had more command over herself! She can have no +idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But +I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall +all be as we were before." + +Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said +nothing. + +"You doubt me," cried Jane, slightly colouring; "indeed, you have +no reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my +acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, +and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not _that_ pain. A +little time, therefore--I shall certainly try to get the better." + +With a stronger voice she soon added, "I have this comfort immediately, +that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it +has done no harm to anyone but myself." + +"My dear Jane!" exclaimed Elizabeth, "you are too good. Your sweetness +and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say +to you. I feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you +deserve." + +Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back +the praise on her sister's warm affection. + +"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. _You_ wish to think all the +world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of anybody. I only want +to think _you_ perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not +be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your +privilege of universal good-will. You need not. There are few people +whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see +of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms +my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the +little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or +sense. I have met with two instances lately, one I will not mention; the +other is Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! In every view it is +unaccountable!" + +"My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. They will +ruin your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference +of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability, and +Charlotte's steady, prudent character. Remember that she is one of a +large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be +ready to believe, for everybody's sake, that she may feel something like +regard and esteem for our cousin." + +"To oblige you, I would try to believe almost anything, but no one else +could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that +Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her +understanding than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a +conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as +I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who married him +cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though +it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, +change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade +yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of +danger security for happiness." + +"I must think your language too strong in speaking of both," replied +Jane; "and I hope you will be convinced of it by seeing them happy +together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You +mentioned _two_ instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I entreat +you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking _that person_ to blame, and +saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy +ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man +to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but +our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than +it does." + +"And men take care that they should." + +"If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea +of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine." + +"I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design," +said Elizabeth; "but without scheming to do wrong, or to make others +unhappy, there may be error, and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness, +want of attention to other people's feelings, and want of resolution, +will do the business." + +"And do you impute it to either of those?" + +"Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what +I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can." + +"You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him?" + +"Yes, in conjunction with his friend." + +"I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can +only wish his happiness; and if he is attached to me, no other woman can +secure it." + +"Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his +happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they +may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great +connections, and pride." + +"Beyond a doubt, they _do_ wish him to choose Miss Darcy," replied Jane; +"but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have +known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love +her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely +they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think +herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very +objectionable? If they believed him attached to me, they would not try +to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an +affection, you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most +unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been +mistaken--or, at least, it is light, it is nothing in comparison of what +I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in +the best light, in the light in which it may be understood." + +Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's +name was scarcely ever mentioned between them. + +Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no +more, and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account +for it clearly, there was little chance of her ever considering it with +less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she +did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the +effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her +no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at +the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best +comfort was that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer. + +Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. "So, Lizzy," said he one day, +"your sister is crossed in love, I find. I congratulate her. Next to +being married, a girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. +It is something to think of, and it gives her a sort of distinction +among her companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to +be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough in +Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham +be _your_ man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably." + +"Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not +all expect Jane's good fortune." + +"True," said Mr. Bennet, "but it is a comfort to think that whatever of +that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will make +the most of it." + +Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom +which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn +family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now +added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already +heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, +was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and everybody was +pleased to know how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they +had known anything of the matter. + +Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be +any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society +of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for +allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes--but by everybody else +Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men. + + + +Chapter 25 + + +After a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, +Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of +Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his +side, by preparations for the reception of his bride; as he had reason +to hope, that shortly after his return into Hertfordshire, the day would +be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his +relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair +cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father another +letter of thanks. + +On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving +her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend the Christmas +at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly +superior to his sister, as well by nature as education. The Netherfield +ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived +by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so +well-bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger +than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant +woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the +two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a particular regard. +They had frequently been staying with her in town. + +The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival was to +distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was +done she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. +Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They +had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her +girls had been upon the point of marriage, and after all there was +nothing in it. + +"I do not blame Jane," she continued, "for Jane would have got Mr. +Bingley if she could. But Lizzy! Oh, sister! It is very hard to think +that she might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had it not +been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, +and she refused him. The consequence of it is, that Lady Lucas will have +a daughter married before I have, and that the Longbourn estate is just +as much entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, +sister. They are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of +them, but so it is. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted +so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves +before anybody else. However, your coming just at this time is the +greatest of comforts, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of +long sleeves." + +Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before, +in the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her, made her +sister a slight answer, and, in compassion to her nieces, turned the +conversation. + +When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject. "It +seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane," said she. "I am +sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such +as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl +for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets +her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent." + +"An excellent consolation in its way," said Elizabeth, "but it will not +do for _us_. We do not suffer by _accident_. It does not often +happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of +independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in +love with only a few days before." + +"But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so +doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as +often applied to feelings which arise from a half-hour's acquaintance, +as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how _violent was_ Mr. Bingley's +love?" + +"I never saw a more promising inclination; he was growing quite +inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time +they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he +offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance; and I +spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be +finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?" + +"Oh, yes!--of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor +Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get +over it immediately. It had better have happened to _you_, Lizzy; you +would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she +would be prevailed upon to go back with us? Change of scene might be +of service--and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as +anything." + +Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded +of her sister's ready acquiescence. + +"I hope," added Mrs. Gardiner, "that no consideration with regard to +this young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of +town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go +out so little, that it is very improbable that they should meet at all, +unless he really comes to see her." + +"And _that_ is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his +friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such +a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may +perhaps have _heard_ of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he +would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its +impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley +never stirs without him." + +"So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane +correspond with his sister? _She_ will not be able to help calling." + +"She will drop the acquaintance entirely." + +But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place this +point, as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley's being +withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on the subject which +convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider it entirely +hopeless. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that +his affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friends +successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's +attractions. + +Miss Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure; and the +Bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the same time, than as she +hoped by Caroline's not living in the same house with her brother, +she might occasionally spend a morning with her, without any danger of +seeing him. + +The Gardiners stayed a week at Longbourn; and what with the Phillipses, +the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its +engagement. Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment +of her brother and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family +dinner. When the engagement was for home, some of the officers always +made part of it--of which officers Mr. Wickham was sure to be one; and +on these occasion, Mrs. Gardiner, rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's +warm commendation, narrowly observed them both. Without supposing them, +from what she saw, to be very seriously in love, their preference +of each other was plain enough to make her a little uneasy; and +she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject before she left +Hertfordshire, and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such +an attachment. + +To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, +unconnected with his general powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, +before her marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very +part of Derbyshire to which he belonged. They had, therefore, many +acquaintances in common; and though Wickham had been little there since +the death of Darcy's father, it was yet in his power to give her fresher +intelligence of her former friends than she had been in the way of +procuring. + +Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by +character perfectly well. Here consequently was an inexhaustible subject +of discourse. In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute +description which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of +praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both +him and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's +treatment of him, she tried to remember some of that gentleman's +reputed disposition when quite a lad which might agree with it, and +was confident at last that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam +Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy. + + + +Chapter 26 + + +Mrs. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given +on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after +honestly telling her what she thought, she thus went on: + +"You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because +you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking +openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve +yourself or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want +of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against +_him_; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he +ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is, you +must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all +expect you to use it. Your father would depend on _your_ resolution and +good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father." + +"My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed." + +"Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise." + +"Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of +myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me, if I +can prevent it." + +"Elizabeth, you are not serious now." + +"I beg your pardon, I will try again. At present I am not in love with +Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, +the most agreeable man I ever saw--and if he becomes really attached to +me--I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the imprudence +of it. Oh! _that_ abominable Mr. Darcy! My father's opinion of me does +me the greatest honour, and I should be miserable to forfeit it. My +father, however, is partial to Mr. Wickham. In short, my dear aunt, I +should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy; but +since we see every day that where there is affection, young people +are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into +engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many +of my fellow-creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even to know that it +would be wisdom to resist? All that I can promise you, therefore, is not +to be in a hurry. I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first +object. When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing. In short, +I will do my best." + +"Perhaps it will be as well if you discourage his coming here so very +often. At least, you should not _remind_ your mother of inviting him." + +"As I did the other day," said Elizabeth with a conscious smile: "very +true, it will be wise in me to refrain from _that_. But do not imagine +that he is always here so often. It is on your account that he has been +so frequently invited this week. You know my mother's ideas as to the +necessity of constant company for her friends. But really, and upon my +honour, I will try to do what I think to be the wisest; and now I hope +you are satisfied." + +Her aunt assured her that she was, and Elizabeth having thanked her for +the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice +being given on such a point, without being resented. + +Mr. Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted +by the Gardiners and Jane; but as he took up his abode with the Lucases, +his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs. Bennet. His marriage was +now fast approaching, and she was at length so far resigned as to think +it inevitable, and even repeatedly to say, in an ill-natured tone, that +she "_wished_ they might be happy." Thursday was to be the wedding day, +and on Wednesday Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit; and when she +rose to take leave, Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and +reluctant good wishes, and sincerely affected herself, accompanied her +out of the room. As they went downstairs together, Charlotte said: + +"I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza." + +"_That_ you certainly shall." + +"And I have another favour to ask you. Will you come and see me?" + +"We shall often meet, I hope, in Hertfordshire." + +"I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me, therefore, to +come to Hunsford." + +Elizabeth could not refuse, though she foresaw little pleasure in the +visit. + +"My father and Maria are coming to me in March," added Charlotte, "and I +hope you will consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as +welcome as either of them." + +The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from +the church door, and everybody had as much to say, or to hear, on +the subject as usual. Elizabeth soon heard from her friend; and their +correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been; that +it should be equally unreserved was impossible. Elizabeth could never +address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, +and though determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the +sake of what had been, rather than what was. Charlotte's first letters +were received with a good deal of eagerness; there could not but be +curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home, how she would +like Lady Catherine, and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to +be; though, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte +expressed herself on every point exactly as she might have foreseen. She +wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded with comforts, and mentioned nothing +which she could not praise. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, and +roads, were all to her taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most +friendly and obliging. It was Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and +Rosings rationally softened; and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait +for her own visit there to know the rest. + +Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their +safe arrival in London; and when she wrote again, Elizabeth hoped it +would be in her power to say something of the Bingleys. + +Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience +generally is. Jane had been a week in town without either seeing or +hearing from Caroline. She accounted for it, however, by supposing that +her last letter to her friend from Longbourn had by some accident been +lost. + +"My aunt," she continued, "is going to-morrow into that part of the +town, and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor Street." + +She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley. +"I did not think Caroline in spirits," were her words, "but she was very +glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming +to London. I was right, therefore, my last letter had never reached +her. I inquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much +engaged with Mr. Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that +Miss Darcy was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her. My visit was +not long, as Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall +see them soon here." + +Elizabeth shook her head over this letter. It convinced her that +accident only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister's being in town. + +Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She endeavoured to +persuade herself that she did not regret it; but she could no longer be +blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After waiting at home every morning +for a fortnight, and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her, the +visitor did at last appear; but the shortness of her stay, and yet more, +the alteration of her manner would allow Jane to deceive herself no +longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister will +prove what she felt. + +"My dearest Lizzy will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in her +better judgement, at my expense, when I confess myself to have been +entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for me. But, my dear sister, +though the event has proved you right, do not think me obstinate if I +still assert that, considering what her behaviour was, my confidence was +as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her reason for +wishing to be intimate with me; but if the same circumstances were to +happen again, I am sure I should be deceived again. Caroline did not +return my visit till yesterday; and not a note, not a line, did I +receive in the meantime. When she did come, it was very evident that +she had no pleasure in it; she made a slight, formal apology, for not +calling before, said not a word of wishing to see me again, and was +in every respect so altered a creature, that when she went away I was +perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity, +though I cannot help blaming her. She was very wrong in singling me out +as she did; I can safely say that every advance to intimacy began on +her side. But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting +wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the +cause of it. I need not explain myself farther; and though _we_ know +this anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she feels it, it will easily +account for her behaviour to me; and so deservedly dear as he is to +his sister, whatever anxiety she must feel on his behalf is natural and +amiable. I cannot but wonder, however, at her having any such fears now, +because, if he had at all cared about me, we must have met, long ago. +He knows of my being in town, I am certain, from something she said +herself; and yet it would seem, by her manner of talking, as if she +wanted to persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy. I +cannot understand it. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should +be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity +in all this. But I will endeavour to banish every painful thought, +and think only of what will make me happy--your affection, and the +invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me hear from you very +soon. Miss Bingley said something of his never returning to Netherfield +again, of giving up the house, but not with any certainty. We had better +not mention it. I am extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts +from our friends at Hunsford. Pray go to see them, with Sir William and +Maria. I am sure you will be very comfortable there.--Yours, etc." + +This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she +considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by the sister at least. +All expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not +even wish for a renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on +every review of it; and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible +advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. +Darcy's sister, as by Wickham's account, she would make him abundantly +regret what he had thrown away. + +Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her promise +concerning that gentleman, and required information; and Elizabeth +had such to send as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to +herself. His apparent partiality had subsided, his attentions were over, +he was the admirer of some one else. Elizabeth was watchful enough to +see it all, but she could see it and write of it without material pain. +Her heart had been but slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied +with believing that _she_ would have been his only choice, had fortune +permitted it. The sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most +remarkable charm of the young lady to whom he was now rendering himself +agreeable; but Elizabeth, less clear-sighted perhaps in this case than +in Charlotte's, did not quarrel with him for his wish of independence. +Nothing, on the contrary, could be more natural; and while able to +suppose that it cost him a few struggles to relinquish her, she was +ready to allow it a wise and desirable measure for both, and could very +sincerely wish him happy. + +All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating the +circumstances, she thus went on: "I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that +I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure +and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and +wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial +towards _him_; they are even impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find +out that I hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to +think her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all this. My +watchfulness has been effectual; and though I certainly should be a more +interesting object to all my acquaintances were I distractedly in love +with him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance. +Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly. Kitty and Lydia take +his defection much more to heart than I do. They are young in the +ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that +handsome young men must have something to live on as well as the plain." + + + +Chapter 27 + + +With no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise +diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and +sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. March was to take +Elizabeth to Hunsford. She had not at first thought very seriously of +going thither; but Charlotte, she soon found, was depending on the plan +and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure +as well as greater certainty. Absence had increased her desire of seeing +Charlotte again, and weakened her disgust of Mr. Collins. There +was novelty in the scheme, and as, with such a mother and such +uncompanionable sisters, home could not be faultless, a little change +was not unwelcome for its own sake. The journey would moreover give her +a peep at Jane; and, in short, as the time drew near, she would have +been very sorry for any delay. Everything, however, went on smoothly, +and was finally settled according to Charlotte's first sketch. She was +to accompany Sir William and his second daughter. The improvement +of spending a night in London was added in time, and the plan became +perfect as plan could be. + +The only pain was in leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, +and who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going, that he +told her to write to him, and almost promised to answer her letter. + +The farewell between herself and Mr. Wickham was perfectly friendly; on +his side even more. His present pursuit could not make him forget that +Elizabeth had been the first to excite and to deserve his attention, the +first to listen and to pity, the first to be admired; and in his manner +of bidding her adieu, wishing her every enjoyment, reminding her of +what she was to expect in Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and trusting their +opinion of her--their opinion of everybody--would always coincide, there +was a solicitude, an interest which she felt must ever attach her to +him with a most sincere regard; and she parted from him convinced that, +whether married or single, he must always be her model of the amiable +and pleasing. + +Her fellow-travellers the next day were not of a kind to make her +think him less agreeable. Sir William Lucas, and his daughter Maria, a +good-humoured girl, but as empty-headed as himself, had nothing to say +that could be worth hearing, and were listened to with about as much +delight as the rattle of the chaise. Elizabeth loved absurdities, but +she had known Sir William's too long. He could tell her nothing new of +the wonders of his presentation and knighthood; and his civilities were +worn out, like his information. + +It was a journey of only twenty-four miles, and they began it so early +as to be in Gracechurch Street by noon. As they drove to Mr. Gardiner's +door, Jane was at a drawing-room window watching their arrival; when +they entered the passage she was there to welcome them, and Elizabeth, +looking earnestly in her face, was pleased to see it healthful and +lovely as ever. On the stairs were a troop of little boys and girls, +whose eagerness for their cousin's appearance would not allow them to +wait in the drawing-room, and whose shyness, as they had not seen +her for a twelvemonth, prevented their coming lower. All was joy and +kindness. The day passed most pleasantly away; the morning in bustle and +shopping, and the evening at one of the theatres. + +Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt. Their first object was her +sister; and she was more grieved than astonished to hear, in reply to +her minute inquiries, that though Jane always struggled to support her +spirits, there were periods of dejection. It was reasonable, however, +to hope that they would not continue long. Mrs. Gardiner gave her the +particulars also of Miss Bingley's visit in Gracechurch Street, and +repeated conversations occurring at different times between Jane and +herself, which proved that the former had, from her heart, given up the +acquaintance. + +Mrs. Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham's desertion, and +complimented her on bearing it so well. + +"But my dear Elizabeth," she added, "what sort of girl is Miss King? I +should be sorry to think our friend mercenary." + +"Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference in matrimonial affairs, +between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, +and avarice begin? Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, +because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get +a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he is +mercenary." + +"If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is, I shall know +what to think." + +"She is a very good kind of girl, I believe. I know no harm of her." + +"But he paid her not the smallest attention till her grandfather's death +made her mistress of this fortune." + +"No--what should he? If it were not allowable for him to gain _my_ +affections because I had no money, what occasion could there be for +making love to a girl whom he did not care about, and who was equally +poor?" + +"But there seems an indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her +so soon after this event." + +"A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant +decorums which other people may observe. If _she_ does not object to it, +why should _we_?" + +"_Her_ not objecting does not justify _him_. It only shows her being +deficient in something herself--sense or feeling." + +"Well," cried Elizabeth, "have it as you choose. _He_ shall be +mercenary, and _she_ shall be foolish." + +"No, Lizzy, that is what I do _not_ choose. I should be sorry, you know, +to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in Derbyshire." + +"Oh! if that is all, I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in +Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not +much better. I am sick of them all. Thank Heaven! I am going to-morrow +where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality, who has +neither manner nor sense to recommend him. Stupid men are the only ones +worth knowing, after all." + +"Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappointment." + +Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play, she had the +unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her uncle and aunt in +a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer. + +"We have not determined how far it shall carry us," said Mrs. Gardiner, +"but, perhaps, to the Lakes." + +No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and her +acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful. "Oh, my dear, +dear aunt," she rapturously cried, "what delight! what felicity! You +give me fresh life and vigour. Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What +are young men to rocks and mountains? Oh! what hours of transport +we shall spend! And when we _do_ return, it shall not be like other +travellers, without being able to give one accurate idea of anything. We +_will_ know where we have gone--we _will_ recollect what we have seen. +Lakes, mountains, and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our +imaginations; nor when we attempt to describe any particular scene, +will we begin quarreling about its relative situation. Let _our_ +first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of +travellers." + + + +Chapter 28 + + +Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to +Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state of enjoyment; for she had +seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, +and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight. + +When they left the high road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in +search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. +The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth +smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants. + +At length the Parsonage was discernible. The garden sloping to the +road, the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, +everything declared they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte +appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate which +led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of +the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing +at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the +liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with +coming when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw +instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; +his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some +minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his inquiries after all her +family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the +neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they +were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time, with ostentatious +formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife's +offers of refreshment. + +Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help +in fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its +aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, +as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But +though everything seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to +gratify him by any sigh of repentance, and rather looked with wonder at +her friend that she could have so cheerful an air with such a companion. +When Mr. Collins said anything of which his wife might reasonably be +ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her +eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but +in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to +admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to +the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had +happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the +garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of +which he attended himself. To work in this garden was one of his most +respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance +with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the exercise, and +owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way +through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an +interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out +with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the +fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in +the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which +the country or kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the +prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered +the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome +modern building, well situated on rising ground. + +From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows; +but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white +frost, turned back; and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte +took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, +probably, to have the opportunity of showing it without her husband's +help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything +was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which +Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be +forgotten, there was really an air of great comfort throughout, and by +Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often +forgotten. + +She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It +was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining +in, observed: + +"Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine +de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will +be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I +doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice +when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying she +will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she +honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is +charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed +to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I +_should_ say, one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several." + +"Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed," added +Charlotte, "and a most attentive neighbour." + +"Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of +woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference." + +The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, +and telling again what had already been written; and when it closed, +Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon +Charlotte's degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, +and composure in bearing with, her husband, and to acknowledge that it +was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit +would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious +interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with +Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all. + +About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready +for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in +confusion; and, after listening a moment, she heard somebody running +upstairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened +the door and met Maria in the landing place, who, breathless with +agitation, cried out-- + +"Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for +there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make +haste, and come down this moment." + +Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more, +and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in +quest of this wonder; It was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the +garden gate. + +"And is this all?" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the pigs +were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her +daughter." + +"La! my dear," said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake, "it is not +Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them; +the other is Miss de Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little +creature. Who would have thought that she could be so thin and small?" + +"She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. +Why does she not come in?" + +"Oh, Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours +when Miss de Bourgh comes in." + +"I like her appearance," said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. "She +looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will +make him a very proper wife." + +Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation +with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was +stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness +before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that +way. + +At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and +the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two +girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which +Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked +to dine at Rosings the next day. + + + +Chapter 29 + + +Mr. Collins's triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete. +The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering +visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his +wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity +of doing it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady +Catherine's condescension, as he knew not how to admire enough. + +"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by +her ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at +Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it +would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who +could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there +(an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so immediately +after your arrival!" + +"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, +"from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which +my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the court, such +instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon." + +Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their +visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what +they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and +so splendid a dinner, might not wholly overpower them. + +When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth-- + +"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady +Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which +becomes herself and her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on +whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest--there is no occasion +for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you +for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank +preserved." + +While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different +doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much +objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. Such formidable accounts of +her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas +who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her +introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension as her father had done +to his presentation at St. James's. + +As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a +mile across the park. Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and +Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such +raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but +slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the +house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally +cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh. + +When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every +moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. +Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady +Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or +miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought +she could witness without trepidation. + +From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a +rapturous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments, they +followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady +Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her ladyship, +with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had +settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should +be hers, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those +apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary. + +In spite of having been at St. James's Sir William was so completely +awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage +enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; +and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge +of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself +quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her +composedly. Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked +features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not +conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her +visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by +silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, +as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to +Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she +believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he represented. + +When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment +she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the +daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her +being so thin and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any +likeness between the ladies. Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her +features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very +little, except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance +there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening +to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before +her eyes. + +After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to +admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, +and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth +looking at in the summer. + +The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants and +all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had +likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her +ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish +nothing greater. He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted +alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him and then by Sir +William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law +said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. +But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and +gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved +a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth +was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated +between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh--the former of whom was engaged in +listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all +dinner-time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little +Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing +she was indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the +gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire. + +When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was little to +be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any +intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every +subject in so decisive a manner, as proved that she was not used to +have her judgement controverted. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic +concerns familiarly and minutely, gave her a great deal of advice as +to the management of them all; told her how everything ought to be +regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her as to the +care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was +beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an +occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse +with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and +Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew +the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins was a very genteel, +pretty kind of girl. She asked her, at different times, how many sisters +she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of +them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they +had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been +her mother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of +her questions but answered them very composedly. Lady Catherine then +observed, + +"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your +sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no +occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought +necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do you play and sing, Miss +Bennet?" + +"A little." + +"Oh! then--some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our +instrument is a capital one, probably superior to----You shall try it +some day. Do your sisters play and sing?" + +"One of them does." + +"Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss +Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do +you draw?" + +"No, not at all." + +"What, none of you?" + +"Not one." + +"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother +should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters." + +"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London." + +"Has your governess left you?" + +"We never had any governess." + +"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home +without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must +have been quite a slave to your education." + +Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been +the case. + +"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess, you +must have been neglected." + +"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as +wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to +read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be +idle, certainly might." + +"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had +known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage +one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady +and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is +wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that +way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces +of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and +it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, +who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite +delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalf's +calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady +Catherine,' said she, 'you have given me a treasure.' Are any of your +younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?" + +"Yes, ma'am, all." + +"All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The +younger ones out before the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters +must be very young?" + +"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps _she_ is full young to be +much in company. But really, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon +younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and +amusement, because the elder may not have the means or inclination to +marry early. The last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth +at the first. And to be kept back on _such_ a motive! I think it would +not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind." + +"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly +for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?" + +"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth, smiling, "your +ladyship can hardly expect me to own it." + +Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; +and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever +dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence. + +"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, therefore you need not +conceal your age." + +"I am not one-and-twenty." + +When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card-tables +were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat +down to quadrille; and as Miss de Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the +two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her +party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was +uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson +expressed her fears of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or +having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the +other table. Lady Catherine was generally speaking--stating the mistakes +of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins +was employed in agreeing to everything her ladyship said, thanking her +for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too many. +Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes +and noble names. + +When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, +the tables were broken up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, +gratefully accepted and immediately ordered. The party then gathered +round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were +to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by +the arrival of the coach; and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. +Collins's side and as many bows on Sir William's they departed. As soon +as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin +to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for +Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her +commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy +Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise +into his own hands. + + + +Chapter 30 + + +Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford, but his visit was long +enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, +and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not +often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his +morning to driving him out in his gig, and showing him the country; but +when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, +and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her +cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast +and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden or in +reading and writing, and looking out of the window in his own book-room, +which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. +Elizabeth had at first rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer +the dining-parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a +more pleasant aspect; but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent +reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been +much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and +she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement. + +From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and +were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went +along, and how often especially Miss de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, +which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened +almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and +had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever +prevailed upon to get out. + +Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and +not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; +and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings +to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many +hours. Now and then they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, +and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during +these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, +and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement +of the furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she +accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding +out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family. + +Elizabeth soon perceived, that though this great lady was not in +commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate +in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her +by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to +be quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the +village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold +them into harmony and plenty. + +The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; +and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one +card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart +of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living +in the neighbourhood in general was beyond Mr. Collins's reach. This, +however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time +comfortably enough; there were half-hours of pleasant conversation with +Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year that she had +often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she +frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was +along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was +a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and +where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity. + +In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. +Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an +addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be +important. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was +expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not +many of her acquaintances whom she did not prefer, his coming would +furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and +she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him +were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently +destined by Lady Catherine, who talked of his coming with the greatest +satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and +seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by +Miss Lucas and herself. + +His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage; for Mr. Collins was walking +the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, +in order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his +bow as the carriage turned into the Park, hurried home with the great +intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his +respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for +Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of +his uncle Lord ----, and, to the great surprise of all the party, when +Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen +them from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately running +into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding: + +"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would +never have come so soon to wait upon me." + +Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, +before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly +afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, +who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and +address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been +used to look in Hertfordshire--paid his compliments, with his usual +reserve, to Mrs. Collins, and whatever might be his feelings toward her +friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely +curtseyed to him without saying a word. + +Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the +readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but +his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and +garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to anybody. +At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of +Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual +way, and after a moment's pause, added: + +"My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never +happened to see her there?" + +She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see +whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between +the Bingleys and Jane, and she thought he looked a little confused as he +answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The +subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went +away. + + + +Chapter 31 + + +Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, +and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures +of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they +received any invitation thither--for while there were visitors in the +house, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day, +almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by +such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to +come there in the evening. For the last week they had seen very little +of Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the +Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had seen +only at church. + +The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined +the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received +them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so +acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, +almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, +much more than to any other person in the room. + +Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a +welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had +moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and +talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying +at home, of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so +well entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much +spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, +as well as of Mr. Darcy. _His_ eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned +towards them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship, after a +while, shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not +scruple to call out: + +"What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking +of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is." + +"We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid +a reply. + +"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I +must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. +There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment +of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, +I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health +had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed +delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?" + +Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency. + +"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady +Catherine; "and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel +if she does not practice a good deal." + +"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice. +She practises very constantly." + +"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write +to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often +tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without +constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she +will never play really well unless she practises more; and though Mrs. +Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told +her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. +Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part +of the house." + +Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made +no answer. + +When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having +promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He +drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and then +talked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away +from her, and making with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte +stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's +countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first +convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said: + +"You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear +me? I will not be alarmed though your sister _does_ play so well. There +is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the +will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate +me." + +"I shall not say you are mistaken," he replied, "because you could not +really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have +had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find +great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are +not your own." + +Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to +Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of +me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky +in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part +of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of +credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all +that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire--and, give me leave to +say, very impolitic too--for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such +things may come out as will shock your relations to hear." + +"I am not afraid of you," said he, smilingly. + +"Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel +Fitzwilliam. "I should like to know how he behaves among strangers." + +"You shall hear then--but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. +The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, +was at a ball--and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced +only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain +knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a +partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact." + +"I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly +beyond my own party." + +"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel +Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders." + +"Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better, had I sought an +introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers." + +"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth, still +addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man of sense and +education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend +himself to strangers?" + +"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to +him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble." + +"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, +"of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot +catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their +concerns, as I often see done." + +"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the +masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same +force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I +have always supposed it to be my own fault--because I will not take the +trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe _my_ fingers as +capable as any other woman's of superior execution." + +Darcy smiled and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your +time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can +think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers." + +Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know +what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. +Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said +to Darcy: + +"Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and +could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion +of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have +been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn." + +Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his +cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she +discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss +de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have +been just as likely to marry _her_, had she been his relation. + +Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing +with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received +them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the +gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was +ready to take them all home. + + + +Chapter 32 + + +Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane +while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village, +when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a +visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to +be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her +half-finished letter that she might escape all impertinent questions, +when the door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and +Mr. Darcy only, entered the room. + +He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologised for his +intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were +to be within. + +They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Rosings were made, +seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely +necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence +recollecting _when_ she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and +feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty +departure, she observed: + +"How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy! +It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you +all after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day +before. He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London?" + +"Perfectly so, I thank you." + +She found that she was to receive no other answer, and, after a short +pause added: + +"I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever +returning to Netherfield again?" + +"I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend +very little of his time there in the future. He has many friends, and +is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually +increasing." + +"If he means to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for +the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we +might possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley did +not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as +for his own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same +principle." + +"I should not be surprised," said Darcy, "if he were to give it up as +soon as any eligible purchase offers." + +Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his +friend; and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the +trouble of finding a subject to him. + +He took the hint, and soon began with, "This seems a very comfortable +house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. +Collins first came to Hunsford." + +"I believe she did--and I am sure she could not have bestowed her +kindness on a more grateful object." + +"Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife." + +"Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one +of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made +him happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding--though +I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the +wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a +prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her." + +"It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a +distance of her own family and friends." + +"An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles." + +"And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's +journey. Yes, I call it a _very_ easy distance." + +"I should never have considered the distance as one of the _advantages_ +of the match," cried Elizabeth. "I should never have said Mrs. Collins +was settled _near_ her family." + +"It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond +the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far." + +As he spoke there was a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she +understood; he must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane and +Netherfield, and she blushed as she answered: + +"I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her +family. The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many +varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expenses of +travelling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the +case _here_. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not +such a one as will allow of frequent journeys--and I am persuaded my +friend would not call herself _near_ her family under less than _half_ +the present distance." + +Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her, and said, "_You_ cannot +have a right to such very strong local attachment. _You_ cannot have +been always at Longbourn." + +Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of +feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and +glancing over it, said, in a colder voice: + +"Are you pleased with Kent?" + +A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side +calm and concise--and soon put an end to by the entrance of Charlotte +and her sister, just returned from her walk. The tete-a-tete surprised +them. Mr. Darcy related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding +on Miss Bennet, and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying +much to anybody, went away. + +"What can be the meaning of this?" said Charlotte, as soon as he was +gone. "My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never +have called us in this familiar way." + +But when Elizabeth told of his silence; it did not seem very likely, +even to Charlotte's wishes, to be the case; and after various +conjectures, they could at last only suppose his visit to proceed from +the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was the more probable +from the time of year. All field sports were over. Within doors there +was Lady Catherine, books, and a billiard-table, but gentlemen cannot +always be within doors; and in the nearness of the Parsonage, or the +pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, the +two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking thither +almost every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes +separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their +aunt. It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he +had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended +him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction in +being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her +former favourite George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw +there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners, +she believed he might have the best informed mind. + +But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage, it was more difficult +to understand. It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there +ten minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, +it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice--a sacrifice +to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really +animated. Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him. Colonel +Fitzwilliam's occasionally laughing at his stupidity, proved that he was +generally different, which her own knowledge of him could not have told +her; and as she would liked to have believed this change the effect +of love, and the object of that love her friend Eliza, she set herself +seriously to work to find it out. She watched him whenever they were at +Rosings, and whenever he came to Hunsford; but without much success. He +certainly looked at her friend a great deal, but the expression of that +look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she often +doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it +seemed nothing but absence of mind. + +She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his +being partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea; and Mrs. +Collins did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger of +raising expectations which might only end in disappointment; for in her +opinion it admitted not of a doubt, that all her friend's dislike would +vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power. + + +In her kind schemes for Elizabeth, she sometimes planned her marrying +Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was beyond comparison the most pleasant man; he +certainly admired her, and his situation in life was most eligible; but, +to counterbalance these advantages, Mr. Darcy had considerable patronage +in the church, and his cousin could have none at all. + + + +Chapter 33 + + +More than once did Elizabeth, in her ramble within the park, +unexpectedly meet Mr. Darcy. She felt all the perverseness of the +mischance that should bring him where no one else was brought, and, to +prevent its ever happening again, took care to inform him at first that +it was a favourite haunt of hers. How it could occur a second time, +therefore, was very odd! Yet it did, and even a third. It seemed like +wilful ill-nature, or a voluntary penance, for on these occasions it was +not merely a few formal inquiries and an awkward pause and then away, +but he actually thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her. He +never said a great deal, nor did she give herself the trouble of talking +or of listening much; but it struck her in the course of their third +rencontre that he was asking some odd unconnected questions--about +her pleasure in being at Hunsford, her love of solitary walks, and her +opinion of Mr. and Mrs. Collins's happiness; and that in speaking of +Rosings and her not perfectly understanding the house, he seemed to +expect that whenever she came into Kent again she would be staying +_there_ too. His words seemed to imply it. Could he have Colonel +Fitzwilliam in his thoughts? She supposed, if he meant anything, he must +mean an allusion to what might arise in that quarter. It distressed +her a little, and she was quite glad to find herself at the gate in the +pales opposite the Parsonage. + +She was engaged one day as she walked, in perusing Jane's last letter, +and dwelling on some passages which proved that Jane had not written in +spirits, when, instead of being again surprised by Mr. Darcy, she saw +on looking up that Colonel Fitzwilliam was meeting her. Putting away the +letter immediately and forcing a smile, she said: + +"I did not know before that you ever walked this way." + +"I have been making the tour of the park," he replied, "as I generally +do every year, and intend to close it with a call at the Parsonage. Are +you going much farther?" + +"No, I should have turned in a moment." + +And accordingly she did turn, and they walked towards the Parsonage +together. + +"Do you certainly leave Kent on Saturday?" said she. + +"Yes--if Darcy does not put it off again. But I am at his disposal. He +arranges the business just as he pleases." + +"And if not able to please himself in the arrangement, he has at least +pleasure in the great power of choice. I do not know anybody who seems +more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy." + +"He likes to have his own way very well," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. +"But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it +than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak +feelingly. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and +dependence." + +"In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of +either. Now seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and +dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going +wherever you chose, or procuring anything you had a fancy for?" + +"These are home questions--and perhaps I cannot say that I have +experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater +weight, I may suffer from want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where +they like." + +"Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often +do." + +"Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many +in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to +money." + +"Is this," thought Elizabeth, "meant for me?" and she coloured at the +idea; but, recovering herself, said in a lively tone, "And pray, what +is the usual price of an earl's younger son? Unless the elder brother is +very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds." + +He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped. To interrupt +a silence which might make him fancy her affected with what had passed, +she soon afterwards said: + +"I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of +having someone at his disposal. I wonder he does not marry, to secure a +lasting convenience of that kind. But, perhaps, his sister does as well +for the present, and, as she is under his sole care, he may do what he +likes with her." + +"No," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "that is an advantage which he must +divide with me. I am joined with him in the guardianship of Miss Darcy." + +"Are you indeed? And pray what sort of guardians do you make? Does your +charge give you much trouble? Young ladies of her age are sometimes a +little difficult to manage, and if she has the true Darcy spirit, she +may like to have her own way." + +As she spoke she observed him looking at her earnestly; and the manner +in which he immediately asked her why she supposed Miss Darcy likely to +give them any uneasiness, convinced her that she had somehow or other +got pretty near the truth. She directly replied: + +"You need not be frightened. I never heard any harm of her; and I dare +say she is one of the most tractable creatures in the world. She is a +very great favourite with some ladies of my acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst and +Miss Bingley. I think I have heard you say that you know them." + +"I know them a little. Their brother is a pleasant gentlemanlike man--he +is a great friend of Darcy's." + +"Oh! yes," said Elizabeth drily; "Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. +Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him." + +"Care of him! Yes, I really believe Darcy _does_ take care of him in +those points where he most wants care. From something that he told me in +our journey hither, I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to +him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that +Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture." + +"What is it you mean?" + +"It is a circumstance which Darcy could not wish to be generally known, +because if it were to get round to the lady's family, it would be an +unpleasant thing." + +"You may depend upon my not mentioning it." + +"And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be +Bingley. What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself +on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most +imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other +particulars, and I only suspected it to be Bingley from believing +him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from +knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer." + +"Did Mr. Darcy give you reasons for this interference?" + +"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the +lady." + +"And what arts did he use to separate them?" + +"He did not talk to me of his own arts," said Fitzwilliam, smiling. "He +only told me what I have now told you." + +Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swelling with +indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she +was so thoughtful. + +"I am thinking of what you have been telling me," said she. "Your +cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was he to be the judge?" + +"You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?" + +"I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his +friend's inclination, or why, upon his own judgement alone, he was to +determine and direct in what manner his friend was to be happy. +But," she continued, recollecting herself, "as we know none of the +particulars, it is not fair to condemn him. It is not to be supposed +that there was much affection in the case." + +"That is not an unnatural surmise," said Fitzwilliam, "but it is a +lessening of the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly." + +This was spoken jestingly; but it appeared to her so just a picture +of Mr. Darcy, that she would not trust herself with an answer, and +therefore, abruptly changing the conversation talked on indifferent +matters until they reached the Parsonage. There, shut into her own room, +as soon as their visitor left them, she could think without interruption +of all that she had heard. It was not to be supposed that any other +people could be meant than those with whom she was connected. There +could not exist in the world _two_ men over whom Mr. Darcy could have +such boundless influence. That he had been concerned in the measures +taken to separate Bingley and Jane she had never doubted; but she had +always attributed to Miss Bingley the principal design and arrangement +of them. If his own vanity, however, did not mislead him, _he_ was +the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had +suffered, and still continued to suffer. He had ruined for a while +every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the +world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted. + +"There were some very strong objections against the lady," were Colonel +Fitzwilliam's words; and those strong objections probably were, her +having one uncle who was a country attorney, and another who was in +business in London. + +"To Jane herself," she exclaimed, "there could be no possibility of +objection; all loveliness and goodness as she is!--her understanding +excellent, her mind improved, and her manners captivating. Neither +could anything be urged against my father, who, though with some +peculiarities, has abilities Mr. Darcy himself need not disdain, and +respectability which he will probably never reach." When she thought of +her mother, her confidence gave way a little; but she would not allow +that any objections _there_ had material weight with Mr. Darcy, whose +pride, she was convinced, would receive a deeper wound from the want of +importance in his friend's connections, than from their want of sense; +and she was quite decided, at last, that he had been partly governed +by this worst kind of pride, and partly by the wish of retaining Mr. +Bingley for his sister. + +The agitation and tears which the subject occasioned, brought on a +headache; and it grew so much worse towards the evening, that, added to +her unwillingness to see Mr. Darcy, it determined her not to attend her +cousins to Rosings, where they were engaged to drink tea. Mrs. Collins, +seeing that she was really unwell, did not press her to go and as much +as possible prevented her husband from pressing her; but Mr. Collins +could not conceal his apprehension of Lady Catherine's being rather +displeased by her staying at home. + + + +Chapter 34 + + +When they were gone, Elizabeth, as if intending to exasperate herself +as much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for her employment the +examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her +being in Kent. They contained no actual complaint, nor was there any +revival of past occurrences, or any communication of present suffering. +But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that +cheerfulness which had been used to characterise her style, and which, +proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly +disposed towards everyone, had been scarcely ever clouded. Elizabeth +noticed every sentence conveying the idea of uneasiness, with an +attention which it had hardly received on the first perusal. Mr. Darcy's +shameful boast of what misery he had been able to inflict, gave her +a keener sense of her sister's sufferings. It was some consolation +to think that his visit to Rosings was to end on the day after the +next--and, a still greater, that in less than a fortnight she should +herself be with Jane again, and enabled to contribute to the recovery of +her spirits, by all that affection could do. + +She could not think of Darcy's leaving Kent without remembering that +his cousin was to go with him; but Colonel Fitzwilliam had made it clear +that he had no intentions at all, and agreeable as he was, she did not +mean to be unhappy about him. + +While settling this point, she was suddenly roused by the sound of the +door-bell, and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its +being Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in +the evening, and might now come to inquire particularly after her. +But this idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently +affected, when, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the +room. In an hurried manner he immediately began an inquiry after her +health, imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. +She answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, and +then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but +said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her +in an agitated manner, and thus began: + +"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be +repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love +you." + +Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, +doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement; +and the avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, +immediately followed. He spoke well; but there were feelings besides +those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the +subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority--of +its being a degradation--of the family obstacles which had always +opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to +the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his +suit. + +In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to +the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did +not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to +receive; till, roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she +lost all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to +answer him with patience, when he should have done. He concluded with +representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite +of all his endeavours, he had found impossible to conquer; and with +expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of +his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt +of a favourable answer. He _spoke_ of apprehension and anxiety, but +his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance could +only exasperate farther, and, when he ceased, the colour rose into her +cheeks, and she said: + +"In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to +express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however +unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should +be felt, and if I could _feel_ gratitude, I would now thank you. But I +cannot--I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly +bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to +anyone. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be +of short duration. The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented +the acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty in +overcoming it after this explanation." + +Mr. Darcy, who was leaning against the mantelpiece with his eyes fixed +on her face, seemed to catch her words with no less resentment than +surprise. His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance +of his mind was visible in every feature. He was struggling for the +appearance of composure, and would not open his lips till he believed +himself to have attained it. The pause was to Elizabeth's feelings +dreadful. At length, with a voice of forced calmness, he said: + +"And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! +I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so little _endeavour_ at +civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance." + +"I might as well inquire," replied she, "why with so evident a desire +of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me +against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? +Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I _was_ uncivil? But I have +other provocations. You know I have. Had not my feelings decided against +you--had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you +think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has +been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most +beloved sister?" + +As she pronounced these words, Mr. Darcy changed colour; but the emotion +was short, and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she +continued: + +"I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive can +excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted _there_. You dare not, +you cannot deny, that you have been the principal, if not the only means +of dividing them from each other--of exposing one to the censure of the +world for caprice and instability, and the other to its derision for +disappointed hopes, and involving them both in misery of the acutest +kind." + +She paused, and saw with no slight indignation that he was listening +with an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any feeling of remorse. +He even looked at her with a smile of affected incredulity. + +"Can you deny that you have done it?" she repeated. + +With assumed tranquillity he then replied: "I have no wish of denying +that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your +sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards _him_ I have been +kinder than towards myself." + +Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection, +but its meaning did not escape, nor was it likely to conciliate her. + +"But it is not merely this affair," she continued, "on which my dislike +is founded. Long before it had taken place my opinion of you was +decided. Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received +many months ago from Mr. Wickham. On this subject, what can you have to +say? In what imaginary act of friendship can you here defend yourself? +or under what misrepresentation can you here impose upon others?" + +"You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns," said Darcy, +in a less tranquil tone, and with a heightened colour. + +"Who that knows what his misfortunes have been, can help feeling an +interest in him?" + +"His misfortunes!" repeated Darcy contemptuously; "yes, his misfortunes +have been great indeed." + +"And of your infliction," cried Elizabeth with energy. "You have reduced +him to his present state of poverty--comparative poverty. You have +withheld the advantages which you must know to have been designed for +him. You have deprived the best years of his life of that independence +which was no less his due than his desert. You have done all this! +and yet you can treat the mention of his misfortune with contempt and +ridicule." + +"And this," cried Darcy, as he walked with quick steps across the room, +"is your opinion of me! This is the estimation in which you hold me! +I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this +calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps," added he, stopping in +his walk, and turning towards her, "these offenses might have been +overlooked, had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the +scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design. These +bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I, with greater +policy, concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of +my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by +reflection, by everything. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. +Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and +just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your +connections?--to congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose +condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?" + +Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment; yet she tried to +the utmost to speak with composure when she said: + +"You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your +declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared the concern +which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more +gentlemanlike manner." + +She saw him start at this, but he said nothing, and she continued: + +"You could not have made the offer of your hand in any possible way that +would have tempted me to accept it." + +Again his astonishment was obvious; and he looked at her with an +expression of mingled incredulity and mortification. She went on: + +"From the very beginning--from the first moment, I may almost say--of +my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest +belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of +the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of +disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a +dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the +last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." + +"You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your +feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. +Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best +wishes for your health and happiness." + +And with these words he hastily left the room, and Elizabeth heard him +the next moment open the front door and quit the house. + +The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great. She knew not how +to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for +half-an-hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected on what had passed, +was increased by every review of it. That she should receive an offer of +marriage from Mr. Darcy! That he should have been in love with her for +so many months! So much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of +all the objections which had made him prevent his friend's marrying +her sister, and which must appear at least with equal force in his +own case--was almost incredible! It was gratifying to have inspired +unconsciously so strong an affection. But his pride, his abominable +pride--his shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to +Jane--his unpardonable assurance in acknowledging, though he could +not justify it, and the unfeeling manner in which he had mentioned Mr. +Wickham, his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny, soon +overcame the pity which the consideration of his attachment had for +a moment excited. She continued in very agitated reflections till the +sound of Lady Catherine's carriage made her feel how unequal she was to +encounter Charlotte's observation, and hurried her away to her room. + + + +Chapter 35 + + +Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and meditations +which had at length closed her eyes. She could not yet recover from the +surprise of what had happened; it was impossible to think of anything +else; and, totally indisposed for employment, she resolved, soon after +breakfast, to indulge herself in air and exercise. She was proceeding +directly to her favourite walk, when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's +sometimes coming there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, +she turned up the lane, which led farther from the turnpike-road. The +park paling was still the boundary on one side, and she soon passed one +of the gates into the ground. + +After walking two or three times along that part of the lane, she was +tempted, by the pleasantness of the morning, to stop at the gates and +look into the park. The five weeks which she had now passed in Kent had +made a great difference in the country, and every day was adding to the +verdure of the early trees. She was on the point of continuing her walk, +when she caught a glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which +edged the park; he was moving that way; and, fearful of its being Mr. +Darcy, she was directly retreating. But the person who advanced was now +near enough to see her, and stepping forward with eagerness, pronounced +her name. She had turned away; but on hearing herself called, though +in a voice which proved it to be Mr. Darcy, she moved again towards the +gate. He had by that time reached it also, and, holding out a letter, +which she instinctively took, said, with a look of haughty composure, +"I have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you. +Will you do me the honour of reading that letter?" And then, with a +slight bow, turned again into the plantation, and was soon out of sight. + +With no expectation of pleasure, but with the strongest curiosity, +Elizabeth opened the letter, and, to her still increasing wonder, +perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper, written +quite through, in a very close hand. The envelope itself was likewise +full. Pursuing her way along the lane, she then began it. It was dated +from Rosings, at eight o'clock in the morning, and was as follows:-- + +"Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension +of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those +offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any +intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes +which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the +effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion, +should have been spared, had not my character required it to be written +and read. You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand +your attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I +demand it of your justice. + +"Two offenses of a very different nature, and by no means of equal +magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was, +that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley +from your sister, and the other, that I had, in defiance of various +claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate +prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. Wilfully and +wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged +favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other +dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect +its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young +persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could +bear no comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last +night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope +to be in the future secured, when the following account of my actions +and their motives has been read. If, in the explanation of them, which +is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which +may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity +must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd. + +"I had not been long in Hertfordshire, before I saw, in common with +others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young +woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance +at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious +attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that ball, while I +had the honour of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir +William Lucas's accidental information, that Bingley's attentions to +your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. +He spoke of it as a certain event, of which the time alone could +be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behaviour +attentively; and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss +Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also +watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, +but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced +from the evening's scrutiny, that though she received his attentions +with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of +sentiment. If _you_ have not been mistaken here, _I_ must have been +in error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter +probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to inflict +pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. But I shall not +scruple to assert, that the serenity of your sister's countenance and +air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction +that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to be +easily touched. That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is +certain--but I will venture to say that my investigation and decisions +are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not believe +her to be indifferent because I wished it; I believed it on impartial +conviction, as truly as I wished it in reason. My objections to the +marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have +the utmost force of passion to put aside, in my own case; the want of +connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. But +there were other causes of repugnance; causes which, though still +existing, and existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had +myself endeavoured to forget, because they were not immediately before +me. These causes must be stated, though briefly. The situation of your +mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that +total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by +herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your +father. Pardon me. It pains me to offend you. But amidst your concern +for the defects of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this +representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that, to +have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure, +is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your elder sister, than +it is honourable to the sense and disposition of both. I will only say +farther that from what passed that evening, my opinion of all parties +was confirmed, and every inducement heightened which could have led +me before, to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy +connection. He left Netherfield for London, on the day following, as +you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning. + +"The part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters' uneasiness +had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling was +soon discovered, and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in +detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in +London. We accordingly went--and there I readily engaged in the office +of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I +described, and enforced them earnestly. But, however this remonstrance +might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose +that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not been +seconded by the assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of your +sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return his +affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley has great +natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgement than on his +own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was +no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into +Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the +work of a moment. I cannot blame myself for having done thus much. There +is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on which I do not +reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the +measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in +town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her +brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without +ill consequence is perhaps probable; but his regard did not appear to me +enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this +concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it +was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no +other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's feelings, it +was unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to +you very naturally appear insufficient, I have not yet learnt to condemn +them. + +"With respect to that other, more weighty accusation, of having injured +Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his +connection with my family. Of what he has _particularly_ accused me I +am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate, I can summon more +than one witness of undoubted veracity. + +"Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many +years the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good +conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to +be of service to him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his +kindness was therefore liberally bestowed. My father supported him at +school, and afterwards at Cambridge--most important assistance, as his +own father, always poor from the extravagance of his wife, would have +been unable to give him a gentleman's education. My father was not only +fond of this young man's society, whose manner were always engaging; he +had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the church would be +his profession, intended to provide for him in it. As for myself, it is +many, many years since I first began to think of him in a very different +manner. The vicious propensities--the want of principle, which he was +careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend, could not escape +the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself, +and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments, which Mr. +Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give you pain--to what degree +you only can tell. But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham +has created, a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from +unfolding his real character--it adds even another motive. + +"My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to +Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly +recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner +that his profession might allow--and if he took orders, desired that a +valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. There +was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His own father did not long +survive mine, and within half a year from these events, Mr. Wickham +wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, +he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more +immediate pecuniary advantage, in lieu of the preferment, by which he +could not be benefited. He had some intention, he added, of studying +law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would +be a very insufficient support therein. I rather wished, than believed +him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to +his proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman; the +business was therefore soon settled--he resigned all claim to assistance +in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to +receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. All connection +between us seemed now dissolved. I thought too ill of him to invite him +to Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town I believe he chiefly +lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free +from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. +For about three years I heard little of him; but on the decease of the +incumbent of the living which had been designed for him, he applied to +me again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances, he assured +me, and I had no difficulty in believing it, were exceedingly bad. He +had found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely +resolved on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in +question--of which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was +well assured that I had no other person to provide for, and I could not +have forgotten my revered father's intentions. You will hardly blame +me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every +repetition to it. His resentment was in proportion to the distress of +his circumstances--and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me +to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period every +appearance of acquaintance was dropped. How he lived I know not. But +last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice. + +"I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, +and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold +to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your +secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to +the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. +About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed +for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided +over it, to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by +design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him +and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and +by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, +whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to +her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and +to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her +excuse; and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed +the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two +before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the +idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as +a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and +how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented +any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place +immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed from her charge. Mr. +Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which +is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of +revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have +been complete indeed. + +"This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have +been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as +false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. +Wickham. I know not in what manner, under what form of falsehood he +had imposed on you; but his success is not perhaps to be wondered +at. Ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either, +detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in +your inclination. + +"You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but +I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to +be revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can appeal more +particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our +near relationship and constant intimacy, and, still more, as one of +the executors of my father's will, has been unavoidably acquainted +with every particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of _me_ +should make _my_ assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by +the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be +the possibility of consulting him, I shall endeavour to find some +opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the +morning. I will only add, God bless you. + +"FITZWILLIAM DARCY" + + + +Chapter 36 + + +If Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it to +contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of +its contents. But such as they were, it may well be supposed how eagerly +she went through them, and what a contrariety of emotion they excited. +Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined. With amazement did +she first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power; +and steadfastly was she persuaded, that he could have no explanation +to give, which a just sense of shame would not conceal. With a strong +prejudice against everything he might say, she began his account of what +had happened at Netherfield. She read with an eagerness which hardly +left her power of comprehension, and from impatience of knowing what the +next sentence might bring, was incapable of attending to the sense of +the one before her eyes. His belief of her sister's insensibility she +instantly resolved to be false; and his account of the real, the worst +objections to the match, made her too angry to have any wish of doing +him justice. He expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied +her; his style was not penitent, but haughty. It was all pride and +insolence. + +But when this subject was succeeded by his account of Mr. Wickham--when +she read with somewhat clearer attention a relation of events which, +if true, must overthrow every cherished opinion of his worth, and which +bore so alarming an affinity to his own history of himself--her +feelings were yet more acutely painful and more difficult of definition. +Astonishment, apprehension, and even horror, oppressed her. She wished +to discredit it entirely, repeatedly exclaiming, "This must be false! +This cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!"--and when she had +gone through the whole letter, though scarcely knowing anything of the +last page or two, put it hastily away, protesting that she would not +regard it, that she would never look in it again. + +In this perturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could rest on +nothing, she walked on; but it would not do; in half a minute the letter +was unfolded again, and collecting herself as well as she could, she +again began the mortifying perusal of all that related to Wickham, and +commanded herself so far as to examine the meaning of every sentence. +The account of his connection with the Pemberley family was exactly what +he had related himself; and the kindness of the late Mr. Darcy, though +she had not before known its extent, agreed equally well with his own +words. So far each recital confirmed the other; but when she came to the +will, the difference was great. What Wickham had said of the living +was fresh in her memory, and as she recalled his very words, it was +impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or the +other; and, for a few moments, she flattered herself that her wishes did +not err. But when she read and re-read with the closest attention, the +particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions +to the living, of his receiving in lieu so considerable a sum as three +thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate. She put down +the letter, weighed every circumstance with what she meant to be +impartiality--deliberated on the probability of each statement--but with +little success. On both sides it was only assertion. Again she read +on; but every line proved more clearly that the affair, which she had +believed it impossible that any contrivance could so represent as to +render Mr. Darcy's conduct in it less than infamous, was capable of a +turn which must make him entirely blameless throughout the whole. + +The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay at +Mr. Wickham's charge, exceedingly shocked her; the more so, as she could +bring no proof of its injustice. She had never heard of him before his +entrance into the ----shire Militia, in which he had engaged at the +persuasion of the young man who, on meeting him accidentally in town, +had there renewed a slight acquaintance. Of his former way of life +nothing had been known in Hertfordshire but what he told himself. As +to his real character, had information been in her power, she had +never felt a wish of inquiring. His countenance, voice, and manner had +established him at once in the possession of every virtue. She tried +to recollect some instance of goodness, some distinguished trait of +integrity or benevolence, that might rescue him from the attacks of +Mr. Darcy; or at least, by the predominance of virtue, atone for those +casual errors under which she would endeavour to class what Mr. Darcy +had described as the idleness and vice of many years' continuance. But +no such recollection befriended her. She could see him instantly before +her, in every charm of air and address; but she could remember no more +substantial good than the general approbation of the neighbourhood, and +the regard which his social powers had gained him in the mess. After +pausing on this point a considerable while, she once more continued to +read. But, alas! the story which followed, of his designs on Miss +Darcy, received some confirmation from what had passed between Colonel +Fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before; and at last she was +referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel Fitzwilliam +himself--from whom she had previously received the information of his +near concern in all his cousin's affairs, and whose character she had no +reason to question. At one time she had almost resolved on applying to +him, but the idea was checked by the awkwardness of the application, and +at length wholly banished by the conviction that Mr. Darcy would never +have hazarded such a proposal, if he had not been well assured of his +cousin's corroboration. + +She perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversation +between Wickham and herself, in their first evening at Mr. Phillips's. +Many of his expressions were still fresh in her memory. She was _now_ +struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger, and +wondered it had escaped her before. She saw the indelicacy of putting +himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions +with his conduct. She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear +of seeing Mr. Darcy--that Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but that +_he_ should stand his ground; yet he had avoided the Netherfield ball +the very next week. She remembered also that, till the Netherfield +family had quitted the country, he had told his story to no one but +herself; but that after their removal it had been everywhere discussed; +that he had then no reserves, no scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy's +character, though he had assured her that respect for the father would +always prevent his exposing the son. + +How differently did everything now appear in which he was concerned! +His attentions to Miss King were now the consequence of views solely and +hatefully mercenary; and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer +the moderation of his wishes, but his eagerness to grasp at anything. +His behaviour to herself could now have had no tolerable motive; he had +either been deceived with regard to her fortune, or had been gratifying +his vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had most +incautiously shown. Every lingering struggle in his favour grew fainter +and fainter; and in farther justification of Mr. Darcy, she could not +but allow Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane, had long ago asserted +his blamelessness in the affair; that proud and repulsive as were his +manners, she had never, in the whole course of their acquaintance--an +acquaintance which had latterly brought them much together, and given +her a sort of intimacy with his ways--seen anything that betrayed him +to be unprincipled or unjust--anything that spoke him of irreligious +or immoral habits; that among his own connections he was esteemed and +valued--that even Wickham had allowed him merit as a brother, and that +she had often heard him speak so affectionately of his sister as to +prove him capable of _some_ amiable feeling; that had his actions been +what Mr. Wickham represented them, so gross a violation of everything +right could hardly have been concealed from the world; and that +friendship between a person capable of it, and such an amiable man as +Mr. Bingley, was incomprehensible. + +She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham +could she think without feeling she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, +absurd. + +"How despicably I have acted!" she cried; "I, who have prided myself +on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have +often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified +my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this +discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could +not have been more wretchedly blind! But vanity, not love, has been my +folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect +of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted +prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were +concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself." + +From herself to Jane--from Jane to Bingley, her thoughts were in a line +which soon brought to her recollection that Mr. Darcy's explanation +_there_ had appeared very insufficient, and she read it again. Widely +different was the effect of a second perusal. How could she deny that +credit to his assertions in one instance, which she had been obliged to +give in the other? He declared himself to be totally unsuspicious of her +sister's attachment; and she could not help remembering what Charlotte's +opinion had always been. Neither could she deny the justice of his +description of Jane. She felt that Jane's feelings, though fervent, were +little displayed, and that there was a constant complacency in her air +and manner not often united with great sensibility. + +When she came to that part of the letter in which her family were +mentioned in terms of such mortifying, yet merited reproach, her sense +of shame was severe. The justice of the charge struck her too forcibly +for denial, and the circumstances to which he particularly alluded as +having passed at the Netherfield ball, and as confirming all his first +disapprobation, could not have made a stronger impression on his mind +than on hers. + +The compliment to herself and her sister was not unfelt. It soothed, +but it could not console her for the contempt which had thus been +self-attracted by the rest of her family; and as she considered +that Jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest +relations, and reflected how materially the credit of both must be hurt +by such impropriety of conduct, she felt depressed beyond anything she +had ever known before. + +After wandering along the lane for two hours, giving way to every +variety of thought--re-considering events, determining probabilities, +and reconciling herself, as well as she could, to a change so sudden and +so important, fatigue, and a recollection of her long absence, made +her at length return home; and she entered the house with the wish +of appearing cheerful as usual, and the resolution of repressing such +reflections as must make her unfit for conversation. + +She was immediately told that the two gentlemen from Rosings had each +called during her absence; Mr. Darcy, only for a few minutes, to take +leave--but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at least +an hour, hoping for her return, and almost resolving to walk after her +till she could be found. Elizabeth could but just _affect_ concern +in missing him; she really rejoiced at it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was no +longer an object; she could think only of her letter. + + + +Chapter 37 + + +The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having +been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was +able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very +good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the +melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then +hastened, to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return +brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, +importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of +having them all to dine with her. + +Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had +she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as +her future niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her +ladyship's indignation would have been. "What would she have said? how +would she have behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself. + +Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. "I assure +you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine; "I believe no one +feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly +attached to these young men, and know them to be so much attached to +me! They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The +dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy +seemed to feel it most acutely, more, I think, than last year. His +attachment to Rosings certainly increases." + +Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which +were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter. + +Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of +spirits, and immediately accounting for it by herself, by supposing that +she did not like to go home again so soon, she added: + +"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother and beg that +you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your +company, I am sure." + +"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied +Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town +next Saturday." + +"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected +you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There +can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly +spare you for another fortnight." + +"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return." + +"Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters +are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay +another _month_ complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as +far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as +Dawson does not object to the barouche-box, there will be very good room +for one of you--and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I +should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large." + +"You are all kindness, madam; but I believe we must abide by our +original plan." + +Lady Catherine seemed resigned. "Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant +with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea +of two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. +You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in +the world to that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly +guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my +niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her +having two men-servants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of +Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with +propriety in a different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those +things. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I +am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be +discreditable to _you_ to let them go alone." + +"My uncle is to send a servant for us." + +"Oh! Your uncle! He keeps a man-servant, does he? I am very glad you +have somebody who thinks of these things. Where shall you change horses? +Oh! Bromley, of course. If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be +attended to." + +Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, +and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, +which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her; or, with a mind so +occupied, she might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be +reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it +as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary +walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant +recollections. + +Mr. Darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She +studied every sentence; and her feelings towards its writer were at +times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, +she was still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly +she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against +herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. +His attachment excited gratitude, his general character respect; but she +could not approve him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, +or feel the slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past +behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in +the unhappy defects of her family, a subject of yet heavier chagrin. +They were hopeless of remedy. Her father, contented with laughing at +them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his +youngest daughters; and her mother, with manners so far from right +herself, was entirely insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently +united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine +and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, +what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, +irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always +affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would +scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While +there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while +Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there +forever. + +Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern; and Mr. Darcy's +explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, +heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved +to have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any +could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How +grievous then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every +respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had +been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family! + +When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's +character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had +seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it +almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful. + +Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of +her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent +there; and her ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of +their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, +and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right +way, that Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the +work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh. + +When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished them +a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year; +and Miss de Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her +hand to both. + + + +Chapter 38 + + +On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few +minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of +paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary. + +"I know not, Miss Elizabeth," said he, "whether Mrs. Collins has yet +expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us; but I am very +certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for +it. The favor of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We +know how little there is to tempt anyone to our humble abode. Our plain +manner of living, our small rooms and few domestics, and the little we +see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like +yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, +and that we have done everything in our power to prevent your spending +your time unpleasantly." + +Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness. She +had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with +Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make _her_ +feel the obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified, and with a more smiling +solemnity replied: + +"It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not +disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately +having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and, +from our connection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the +humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford +visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to +Lady Catherine's family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage +and blessing which few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You +see how continually we are engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge +that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should +not think anyone abiding in it an object of compassion, while they are +sharers of our intimacy at Rosings." + +Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was +obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility +and truth in a few short sentences. + +"You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into +Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will +be able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you +have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear +that your friend has drawn an unfortunate--but on this point it will be +as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, +that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in +marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of +thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of +character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each +other." + +Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was +the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly believed +and rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to +have the recital of them interrupted by the lady from whom they sprang. +Poor Charlotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society! But she +had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that +her visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her +home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their +dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms. + +At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels +placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate +parting between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by +Mr. Collins, and as they walked down the garden he was commissioning her +with his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks +for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his +compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. He then handed her +in, Maria followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, +when he suddenly reminded them, with some consternation, that they had +hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies at Rosings. + +"But," he added, "you will of course wish to have your humble respects +delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you +while you have been here." + +Elizabeth made no objection; the door was then allowed to be shut, and +the carriage drove off. + +"Good gracious!" cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence, "it seems +but a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have +happened!" + +"A great many indeed," said her companion with a sigh. + +"We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! +How much I shall have to tell!" + +Elizabeth added privately, "And how much I shall have to conceal!" + +Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and +within four hours of their leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's +house, where they were to remain a few days. + +Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her +spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her +aunt had reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and at +Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation. + +It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for +Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals. To know +that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish +Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own +vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation +to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision +in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate; +and her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried +into repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister +further. + + + +Chapter 39 + + +It was the second week in May, in which the three young ladies set out +together from Gracechurch Street for the town of ----, in Hertfordshire; +and, as they drew near the appointed inn where Mr. Bennet's carriage +was to meet them, they quickly perceived, in token of the coachman's +punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining-room upstairs. +These two girls had been above an hour in the place, happily employed +in visiting an opposite milliner, watching the sentinel on guard, and +dressing a salad and cucumber. + +After welcoming their sisters, they triumphantly displayed a table set +out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords, exclaiming, +"Is not this nice? Is not this an agreeable surprise?" + +"And we mean to treat you all," added Lydia, "but you must lend us the +money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there." Then, showing +her purchases--"Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think +it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall +pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any +better." + +And when her sisters abused it as ugly, she added, with perfect +unconcern, "Oh! but there were two or three much uglier in the shop; and +when I have bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh, I +think it will be very tolerable. Besides, it will not much signify what +one wears this summer, after the ----shire have left Meryton, and they +are going in a fortnight." + +"Are they indeed!" cried Elizabeth, with the greatest satisfaction. + +"They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do so want papa to +take us all there for the summer! It would be such a delicious scheme; +and I dare say would hardly cost anything at all. Mamma would like to +go too of all things! Only think what a miserable summer else we shall +have!" + +"Yes," thought Elizabeth, "_that_ would be a delightful scheme indeed, +and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven! Brighton, and a whole +campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor +regiment of militia, and the monthly balls of Meryton!" + +"Now I have got some news for you," said Lydia, as they sat down at +table. "What do you think? It is excellent news--capital news--and about +a certain person we all like!" + +Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, and the waiter was told he need +not stay. Lydia laughed, and said: + +"Aye, that is just like your formality and discretion. You thought the +waiter must not hear, as if he cared! I dare say he often hears worse +things said than I am going to say. But he is an ugly fellow! I am glad +he is gone. I never saw such a long chin in my life. Well, but now for +my news; it is about dear Wickham; too good for the waiter, is it not? +There is no danger of Wickham's marrying Mary King. There's for you! She +is gone down to her uncle at Liverpool: gone to stay. Wickham is safe." + +"And Mary King is safe!" added Elizabeth; "safe from a connection +imprudent as to fortune." + +"She is a great fool for going away, if she liked him." + +"But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side," said Jane. + +"I am sure there is not on _his_. I will answer for it, he never cared +three straws about her--who could about such a nasty little freckled +thing?" + +Elizabeth was shocked to think that, however incapable of such +coarseness of _expression_ herself, the coarseness of the _sentiment_ +was little other than her own breast had harboured and fancied liberal! + +As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was +ordered; and after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their +boxes, work-bags, and parcels, and the unwelcome addition of Kitty's and +Lydia's purchases, were seated in it. + +"How nicely we are all crammed in," cried Lydia. "I am glad I bought my +bonnet, if it is only for the fun of having another bandbox! Well, now +let us be quite comfortable and snug, and talk and laugh all the way +home. And in the first place, let us hear what has happened to you all +since you went away. Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any +flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband +before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. +She is almost three-and-twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not +being married before three-and-twenty! My aunt Phillips wants you so to +get husbands, you can't think. She says Lizzy had better have taken Mr. +Collins; but _I_ do not think there would have been any fun in it. Lord! +how I should like to be married before any of you; and then I would +chaperon you about to all the balls. Dear me! we had such a good piece +of fun the other day at Colonel Forster's. Kitty and me were to spend +the day there, and Mrs. Forster promised to have a little dance in the +evening; (by the bye, Mrs. Forster and me are _such_ friends!) and so +she asked the two Harringtons to come, but Harriet was ill, and so Pen +was forced to come by herself; and then, what do you think we did? We +dressed up Chamberlayne in woman's clothes on purpose to pass for a +lady, only think what fun! Not a soul knew of it, but Colonel and Mrs. +Forster, and Kitty and me, except my aunt, for we were forced to borrow +one of her gowns; and you cannot imagine how well he looked! When Denny, +and Wickham, and Pratt, and two or three more of the men came in, they +did not know him in the least. Lord! how I laughed! and so did Mrs. +Forster. I thought I should have died. And _that_ made the men suspect +something, and then they soon found out what was the matter." + +With such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes, did +Lydia, assisted by Kitty's hints and additions, endeavour to amuse her +companions all the way to Longbourn. Elizabeth listened as little as she +could, but there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name. + +Their reception at home was most kind. Mrs. Bennet rejoiced to see Jane +in undiminished beauty; and more than once during dinner did Mr. Bennet +say voluntarily to Elizabeth: + +"I am glad you are come back, Lizzy." + +Their party in the dining-room was large, for almost all the Lucases +came to meet Maria and hear the news; and various were the subjects that +occupied them: Lady Lucas was inquiring of Maria, after the welfare and +poultry of her eldest daughter; Mrs. Bennet was doubly engaged, on one +hand collecting an account of the present fashions from Jane, who sat +some way below her, and, on the other, retailing them all to the younger +Lucases; and Lydia, in a voice rather louder than any other person's, +was enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to anybody who +would hear her. + +"Oh! Mary," said she, "I wish you had gone with us, for we had such fun! +As we went along, Kitty and I drew up the blinds, and pretended there +was nobody in the coach; and I should have gone so all the way, if Kitty +had not been sick; and when we got to the George, I do think we behaved +very handsomely, for we treated the other three with the nicest cold +luncheon in the world, and if you would have gone, we would have treated +you too. And then when we came away it was such fun! I thought we never +should have got into the coach. I was ready to die of laughter. And then +we were so merry all the way home! we talked and laughed so loud, that +anybody might have heard us ten miles off!" + +To this Mary very gravely replied, "Far be it from me, my dear sister, +to depreciate such pleasures! They would doubtless be congenial with the +generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for +_me_--I should infinitely prefer a book." + +But of this answer Lydia heard not a word. She seldom listened to +anybody for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary at all. + +In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk +to Meryton, and to see how everybody went on; but Elizabeth steadily +opposed the scheme. It should not be said that the Miss Bennets could +not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers. +There was another reason too for her opposition. She dreaded seeing Mr. +Wickham again, and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The +comfort to _her_ of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond +expression. In a fortnight they were to go--and once gone, she hoped +there could be nothing more to plague her on his account. + +She had not been many hours at home before she found that the Brighton +scheme, of which Lydia had given them a hint at the inn, was under +frequent discussion between her parents. Elizabeth saw directly that her +father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were +at the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often +disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last. + + + +Chapter 40 + + +Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could +no longer be overcome; and at length, resolving to suppress every +particular in which her sister was concerned, and preparing her to be +surprised, she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene +between Mr. Darcy and herself. + +Miss Bennet's astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly +partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth appear perfectly +natural; and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings. She was +sorry that Mr. Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so +little suited to recommend them; but still more was she grieved for the +unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him. + +"His being so sure of succeeding was wrong," said she, "and certainly +ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his +disappointment!" + +"Indeed," replied Elizabeth, "I am heartily sorry for him; but he has +other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for me. +You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?" + +"Blame you! Oh, no." + +"But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?" + +"No--I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did." + +"But you _will_ know it, when I tell you what happened the very next +day." + +She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far +as they concerned George Wickham. What a stroke was this for poor Jane! +who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that +so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here +collected in one individual. Nor was Darcy's vindication, though +grateful to her feelings, capable of consoling her for such discovery. +Most earnestly did she labour to prove the probability of error, and +seek to clear the one without involving the other. + +"This will not do," said Elizabeth; "you never will be able to make both +of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied +with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just +enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting +about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Darcy's; +but you shall do as you choose." + +It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane. + +"I do not know when I have been more shocked," said she. "Wickham so +very bad! It is almost past belief. And poor Mr. Darcy! Dear Lizzy, only +consider what he must have suffered. Such a disappointment! and with the +knowledge of your ill opinion, too! and having to relate such a thing +of his sister! It is really too distressing. I am sure you must feel it +so." + +"Oh! no, my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so +full of both. I know you will do him such ample justice, that I am +growing every moment more unconcerned and indifferent. Your profusion +makes me saving; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will +be as light as a feather." + +"Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness in his +countenance! such an openness and gentleness in his manner!" + +"There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those +two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the +appearance of it." + +"I never thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in the _appearance_ of it as you +used to do." + +"And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike +to him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an +opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually +abusive without saying anything just; but one cannot always be laughing +at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty." + +"Lizzy, when you first read that letter, I am sure you could not treat +the matter as you do now." + +"Indeed, I could not. I was uncomfortable enough, I may say unhappy. And +with no one to speak to about what I felt, no Jane to comfort me and say +that I had not been so very weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I +had! Oh! how I wanted you!" + +"How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions +in speaking of Wickham to Mr. Darcy, for now they _do_ appear wholly +undeserved." + +"Certainly. But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most +natural consequence of the prejudices I had been encouraging. There +is one point on which I want your advice. I want to be told whether I +ought, or ought not, to make our acquaintances in general understand +Wickham's character." + +Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied, "Surely there can be no +occasion for exposing him so dreadfully. What is your opinion?" + +"That it ought not to be attempted. Mr. Darcy has not authorised me +to make his communication public. On the contrary, every particular +relative to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to +myself; and if I endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest of his +conduct, who will believe me? The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy +is so violent, that it would be the death of half the good people in +Meryton to attempt to place him in an amiable light. I am not equal +to it. Wickham will soon be gone; and therefore it will not signify to +anyone here what he really is. Some time hence it will be all found out, +and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before. At +present I will say nothing about it." + +"You are quite right. To have his errors made public might ruin him for +ever. He is now, perhaps, sorry for what he has done, and anxious to +re-establish a character. We must not make him desperate." + +The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was allayed by this conversation. She had +got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight, +and was certain of a willing listener in Jane, whenever she might wish +to talk again of either. But there was still something lurking behind, +of which prudence forbade the disclosure. She dared not relate the other +half of Mr. Darcy's letter, nor explain to her sister how sincerely she +had been valued by her friend. Here was knowledge in which no one +could partake; and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect +understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off +this last encumbrance of mystery. "And then," said she, "if that very +improbable event should ever take place, I shall merely be able to +tell what Bingley may tell in a much more agreeable manner himself. The +liberty of communication cannot be mine till it has lost all its value!" + +She was now, on being settled at home, at leisure to observe the real +state of her sister's spirits. Jane was not happy. She still cherished a +very tender affection for Bingley. Having never even fancied herself +in love before, her regard had all the warmth of first attachment, +and, from her age and disposition, greater steadiness than most first +attachments often boast; and so fervently did she value his remembrance, +and prefer him to every other man, that all her good sense, and all her +attention to the feelings of her friends, were requisite to check the +indulgence of those regrets which must have been injurious to her own +health and their tranquillity. + +"Well, Lizzy," said Mrs. Bennet one day, "what is your opinion _now_ of +this sad business of Jane's? For my part, I am determined never to speak +of it again to anybody. I told my sister Phillips so the other day. But +I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London. Well, he is +a very undeserving young man--and I do not suppose there's the least +chance in the world of her ever getting him now. There is no talk of +his coming to Netherfield again in the summer; and I have inquired of +everybody, too, who is likely to know." + +"I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield any more." + +"Oh well! it is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come. Though I +shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill; and if I was her, I +would not have put up with it. Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will +die of a broken heart; and then he will be sorry for what he has done." + +But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation, +she made no answer. + +"Well, Lizzy," continued her mother, soon afterwards, "and so the +Collinses live very comfortable, do they? Well, well, I only hope +it will last. And what sort of table do they keep? Charlotte is an +excellent manager, I dare say. If she is half as sharp as her +mother, she is saving enough. There is nothing extravagant in _their_ +housekeeping, I dare say." + +"No, nothing at all." + +"A great deal of good management, depend upon it. Yes, yes. _they_ will +take care not to outrun their income. _They_ will never be distressed +for money. Well, much good may it do them! And so, I suppose, they often +talk of having Longbourn when your father is dead. They look upon it as +quite their own, I dare say, whenever that happens." + +"It was a subject which they could not mention before me." + +"No; it would have been strange if they had; but I make no doubt they +often talk of it between themselves. Well, if they can be easy with an +estate that is not lawfully their own, so much the better. I should be +ashamed of having one that was only entailed on me." + + + +Chapter 41 + + +The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began. It was +the last of the regiment's stay in Meryton, and all the young ladies +in the neighbourhood were drooping apace. The dejection was almost +universal. The elder Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat, drink, +and sleep, and pursue the usual course of their employments. Very +frequently were they reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and +Lydia, whose own misery was extreme, and who could not comprehend such +hard-heartedness in any of the family. + +"Good Heaven! what is to become of us? What are we to do?" would they +often exclaim in the bitterness of woe. "How can you be smiling so, +Lizzy?" + +Their affectionate mother shared all their grief; she remembered what +she had herself endured on a similar occasion, five-and-twenty years +ago. + +"I am sure," said she, "I cried for two days together when Colonel +Miller's regiment went away. I thought I should have broken my heart." + +"I am sure I shall break _mine_," said Lydia. + +"If one could but go to Brighton!" observed Mrs. Bennet. + +"Oh, yes!--if one could but go to Brighton! But papa is so +disagreeable." + +"A little sea-bathing would set me up forever." + +"And my aunt Phillips is sure it would do _me_ a great deal of good," +added Kitty. + +Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually through +Longbourn House. Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them; but all sense +of pleasure was lost in shame. She felt anew the justice of Mr. Darcy's +objections; and never had she been so much disposed to pardon his +interference in the views of his friend. + +But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away; for she +received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the colonel of +the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This invaluable friend was a +very young woman, and very lately married. A resemblance in good humour +and good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of +their _three_ months' acquaintance they had been intimate _two_. + +The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs. Forster, +the delight of Mrs. Bennet, and the mortification of Kitty, are scarcely +to be described. Wholly inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia +flew about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone's +congratulations, and laughing and talking with more violence than ever; +whilst the luckless Kitty continued in the parlour repined at her fate +in terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish. + +"I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask _me_ as well as Lydia," +said she, "Though I am _not_ her particular friend. I have just as much +right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years older." + +In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable, and Jane to make +her resigned. As for Elizabeth herself, this invitation was so far from +exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia, that she +considered it as the death warrant of all possibility of common sense +for the latter; and detestable as such a step must make her were it +known, she could not help secretly advising her father not to let her +go. She represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general +behaviour, the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of +such a woman as Mrs. Forster, and the probability of her being yet more +imprudent with such a companion at Brighton, where the temptations must +be greater than at home. He heard her attentively, and then said: + +"Lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in some public +place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so +little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present +circumstances." + +"If you were aware," said Elizabeth, "of the very great disadvantage to +us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's unguarded and +imprudent manner--nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure you +would judge differently in the affair." + +"Already arisen?" repeated Mr. Bennet. "What, has she frightened away +some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such +squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity +are not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of pitiful fellows who +have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly." + +"Indeed you are mistaken. I have no such injuries to resent. It is not +of particular, but of general evils, which I am now complaining. Our +importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the +wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark +Lydia's character. Excuse me, for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear +father, will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and +of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of +her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character +will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt +that ever made herself or her family ridiculous; a flirt, too, in the +worst and meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond +youth and a tolerable person; and, from the ignorance and emptiness +of her mind, wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal +contempt which her rage for admiration will excite. In this danger +Kitty also is comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, +ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled! Oh! my dear father, can you +suppose it possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever +they are known, and that their sisters will not be often involved in the +disgrace?" + +Mr. Bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject, and +affectionately taking her hand said in reply: + +"Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known +you must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to less +advantage for having a couple of--or I may say, three--very silly +sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to +Brighton. Let her go, then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will +keep her out of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an +object of prey to anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance +even as a common flirt than she has been here. The officers will find +women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being +there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow +many degrees worse, without authorising us to lock her up for the rest +of her life." + +With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content; but her own opinion +continued the same, and she left him disappointed and sorry. It was not +in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on +them. She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret +over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her +disposition. + +Had Lydia and her mother known the substance of her conference with her +father, their indignation would hardly have found expression in their +united volubility. In Lydia's imagination, a visit to Brighton comprised +every possibility of earthly happiness. She saw, with the creative eye +of fancy, the streets of that gay bathing-place covered with officers. +She saw herself the object of attention, to tens and to scores of them +at present unknown. She saw all the glories of the camp--its tents +stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young +and the gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and, to complete the view, she +saw herself seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least six +officers at once. + +Had she known her sister sought to tear her from such prospects and such +realities as these, what would have been her sensations? They could have +been understood only by her mother, who might have felt nearly the same. +Lydia's going to Brighton was all that consoled her for her melancholy +conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself. + +But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed; and their raptures +continued, with little intermission, to the very day of Lydia's leaving +home. + +Elizabeth was now to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having been +frequently in company with him since her return, agitation was pretty +well over; the agitations of formal partiality entirely so. She had even +learnt to detect, in the very gentleness which had first delighted +her, an affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary. In his present +behaviour to herself, moreover, she had a fresh source of displeasure, +for the inclination he soon testified of renewing those intentions which +had marked the early part of their acquaintance could only serve, after +what had since passed, to provoke her. She lost all concern for him in +finding herself thus selected as the object of such idle and frivolous +gallantry; and while she steadily repressed it, could not but feel the +reproof contained in his believing, that however long, and for whatever +cause, his attentions had been withdrawn, her vanity would be gratified, +and her preference secured at any time by their renewal. + +On the very last day of the regiment's remaining at Meryton, he dined, +with other of the officers, at Longbourn; and so little was Elizabeth +disposed to part from him in good humour, that on his making some +inquiry as to the manner in which her time had passed at Hunsford, she +mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam's and Mr. Darcy's having both spent three +weeks at Rosings, and asked him, if he was acquainted with the former. + +He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed; but with a moment's +recollection and a returning smile, replied, that he had formerly seen +him often; and, after observing that he was a very gentlemanlike man, +asked her how she had liked him. Her answer was warmly in his favour. +With an air of indifference he soon afterwards added: + +"How long did you say he was at Rosings?" + +"Nearly three weeks." + +"And you saw him frequently?" + +"Yes, almost every day." + +"His manners are very different from his cousin's." + +"Yes, very different. But I think Mr. Darcy improves upon acquaintance." + +"Indeed!" cried Mr. Wickham with a look which did not escape her. "And +pray, may I ask?--" But checking himself, he added, in a gayer tone, "Is +it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add aught of civility +to his ordinary style?--for I dare not hope," he continued in a lower +and more serious tone, "that he is improved in essentials." + +"Oh, no!" said Elizabeth. "In essentials, I believe, he is very much +what he ever was." + +While she spoke, Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing whether to +rejoice over her words, or to distrust their meaning. There was a +something in her countenance which made him listen with an apprehensive +and anxious attention, while she added: + +"When I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that +his mind or his manners were in a state of improvement, but that, from +knowing him better, his disposition was better understood." + +Wickham's alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion and agitated +look; for a few minutes he was silent, till, shaking off his +embarrassment, he turned to her again, and said in the gentlest of +accents: + +"You, who so well know my feeling towards Mr. Darcy, will readily +comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume +even the _appearance_ of what is right. His pride, in that direction, +may be of service, if not to himself, to many others, for it must only +deter him from such foul misconduct as I have suffered by. I only +fear that the sort of cautiousness to which you, I imagine, have been +alluding, is merely adopted on his visits to his aunt, of whose good +opinion and judgement he stands much in awe. His fear of her has always +operated, I know, when they were together; and a good deal is to be +imputed to his wish of forwarding the match with Miss de Bourgh, which I +am certain he has very much at heart." + +Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this, but she answered only by a +slight inclination of the head. She saw that he wanted to engage her on +the old subject of his grievances, and she was in no humour to indulge +him. The rest of the evening passed with the _appearance_, on his +side, of usual cheerfulness, but with no further attempt to distinguish +Elizabeth; and they parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a +mutual desire of never meeting again. + +When the party broke up, Lydia returned with Mrs. Forster to Meryton, +from whence they were to set out early the next morning. The separation +between her and her family was rather noisy than pathetic. Kitty was the +only one who shed tears; but she did weep from vexation and envy. Mrs. +Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter, +and impressive in her injunctions that she should not miss the +opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible--advice which +there was every reason to believe would be well attended to; and in +the clamorous happiness of Lydia herself in bidding farewell, the more +gentle adieus of her sisters were uttered without being heard. + + + +Chapter 42 + + +Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could +not have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal felicity or domestic +comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance +of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a +woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in +their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, +esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views +of domestic happiness were overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of +a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own +imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often +console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was fond of +the country and of books; and from these tastes had arisen his principal +enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as +her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This is not +the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his +wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true +philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given. + +Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her +father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain; but +respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of +herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to +banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation +and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own +children, was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so +strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children of so +unsuitable a marriage, nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising +from so ill-judged a direction of talents; talents, which, rightly used, +might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even +if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife. + +When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure she found little +other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties +abroad were less varied than before, and at home she had a mother and +sister whose constant repinings at the dullness of everything around +them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle; and, though Kitty +might in time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers +of her brain were removed, her other sister, from whose disposition +greater evil might be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all +her folly and assurance by a situation of such double danger as a +watering-place and a camp. Upon the whole, therefore, she found, what +has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had been +looking with impatient desire did not, in taking place, bring all the +satisfaction she had promised herself. It was consequently necessary to +name some other period for the commencement of actual felicity--to have +some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed, and by +again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, console herself for the +present, and prepare for another disappointment. Her tour to the Lakes +was now the object of her happiest thoughts; it was her best consolation +for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness of her mother +and Kitty made inevitable; and could she have included Jane in the +scheme, every part of it would have been perfect. + +"But it is fortunate," thought she, "that I have something to wish for. +Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain. +But here, by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my +sister's absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of +pleasure realised. A scheme of which every part promises delight can +never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by +the defence of some little peculiar vexation." + +When Lydia went away she promised to write very often and very minutely +to her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected, and +always very short. Those to her mother contained little else than that +they were just returned from the library, where such and such officers +had attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as +made her quite wild; that she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which +she would have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a +violent hurry, as Mrs. Forster called her, and they were going off to +the camp; and from her correspondence with her sister, there was still +less to be learnt--for her letters to Kitty, though rather longer, were +much too full of lines under the words to be made public. + +After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence, health, good +humour, and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longbourn. Everything wore +a happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter came +back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose. Mrs. Bennet +was restored to her usual querulous serenity; and, by the middle of +June, Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without +tears; an event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope that by +the following Christmas she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to +mention an officer above once a day, unless, by some cruel and malicious +arrangement at the War Office, another regiment should be quartered in +Meryton. + +The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast +approaching, and a fortnight only was wanting of it, when a letter +arrived from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and +curtailed its extent. Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from +setting out till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again +within a month, and as that left too short a period for them to go so +far, and see so much as they had proposed, or at least to see it with +the leisure and comfort they had built on, they were obliged to give up +the Lakes, and substitute a more contracted tour, and, according to the +present plan, were to go no farther northwards than Derbyshire. In that +county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three +weeks; and to Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The +town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where +they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of +her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, +Dovedale, or the Peak. + +Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart on seeing +the Lakes, and still thought there might have been time enough. But it +was her business to be satisfied--and certainly her temper to be happy; +and all was soon right again. + +With the mention of Derbyshire there were many ideas connected. It was +impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its +owner. "But surely," said she, "I may enter his county without impunity, +and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me." + +The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away +before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass away, and Mr. +and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear at +Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two +younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their +cousin Jane, who was the general favourite, and whose steady sense and +sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every +way--teaching them, playing with them, and loving them. + +The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set off the +next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. +One enjoyment was certain--that of suitableness of companions; +a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear +inconveniences--cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure--and affection +and intelligence, which might supply it among themselves if there were +disappointments abroad. + +It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, +nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither +lay; Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, Birmingham, etc. are +sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present +concern. To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's +former residence, and where she had lately learned some acquaintance +still remained, they bent their steps, after having seen all the +principal wonders of the country; and within five miles of Lambton, +Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley was situated. It was not +in their direct road, nor more than a mile or two out of it. In +talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed +an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared his +willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation. + +"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard +so much?" said her aunt; "a place, too, with which so many of your +acquaintances are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you +know." + +Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at +Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She +must own that she was tired of seeing great houses; after going over so +many, she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains. + +Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. "If it were merely a fine house +richly furnished," said she, "I should not care about it myself; but +the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the +country." + +Elizabeth said no more--but her mind could not acquiesce. The +possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly +occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea, and +thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such +a risk. But against this there were objections; and she finally resolved +that it could be the last resource, if her private inquiries to the +absence of the family were unfavourably answered. + +Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid +whether Pemberley were not a very fine place? what was the name of its +proprietor? and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for +the summer? A most welcome negative followed the last question--and her +alarms now being removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of +curiosity to see the house herself; and when the subject was revived the +next morning, and she was again applied to, could readily answer, and +with a proper air of indifference, that she had not really any dislike +to the scheme. To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go. + + + +Chapter 43 + + +Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of +Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned +in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter. + +The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They +entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through +a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent. + +Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired +every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended for +half-a-mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable +eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by +Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which +the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone +building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of +high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was +swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks +were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She +had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural +beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were +all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that +to be mistress of Pemberley might be something! + +They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door; and, +while examining the nearer aspect of the house, all her apprehension of +meeting its owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been +mistaken. On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the +hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper, had leisure to +wonder at her being where she was. + +The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking elderly woman, much less +fine, and more civil, than she had any notion of finding her. They +followed her into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well proportioned +room, handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went +to a window to enjoy its prospect. The hill, crowned with wood, which +they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, +was a beautiful object. Every disposition of the ground was good; and +she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its +banks and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, +with delight. As they passed into other rooms these objects were taking +different positions; but from every window there were beauties to be +seen. The rooms were lofty and handsome, and their furniture suitable to +the fortune of its proprietor; but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of +his taste, that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine; with less of +splendour, and more real elegance, than the furniture of Rosings. + +"And of this place," thought she, "I might have been mistress! With +these rooms I might now have been familiarly acquainted! Instead of +viewing them as a stranger, I might have rejoiced in them as my own, and +welcomed to them as visitors my uncle and aunt. But no,"--recollecting +herself--"that could never be; my uncle and aunt would have been lost to +me; I should not have been allowed to invite them." + +This was a lucky recollection--it saved her from something very like +regret. + +She longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her master was really +absent, but had not the courage for it. At length however, the question +was asked by her uncle; and she turned away with alarm, while Mrs. +Reynolds replied that he was, adding, "But we expect him to-morrow, with +a large party of friends." How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own +journey had not by any circumstance been delayed a day! + +Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She approached and saw the +likeness of Mr. Wickham, suspended, amongst several other miniatures, +over the mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she liked it. +The housekeeper came forward, and told them it was a picture of a young +gentleman, the son of her late master's steward, who had been brought +up by him at his own expense. "He is now gone into the army," she added; +"but I am afraid he has turned out very wild." + +Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth could not +return it. + +"And that," said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures, +"is my master--and very like him. It was drawn at the same time as the +other--about eight years ago." + +"I have heard much of your master's fine person," said Mrs. Gardiner, +looking at the picture; "it is a handsome face. But, Lizzy, you can tell +us whether it is like or not." + +Mrs. Reynolds respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this +intimation of her knowing her master. + +"Does that young lady know Mr. Darcy?" + +Elizabeth coloured, and said: "A little." + +"And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, ma'am?" + +"Yes, very handsome." + +"I am sure I know none so handsome; but in the gallery upstairs you +will see a finer, larger picture of him than this. This room was my late +master's favourite room, and these miniatures are just as they used to +be then. He was very fond of them." + +This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr. Wickham's being among them. + +Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy, drawn +when she was only eight years old. + +"And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?" said Mrs. Gardiner. + +"Oh! yes--the handsomest young lady that ever was seen; and so +accomplished!--She plays and sings all day long. In the next room is +a new instrument just come down for her--a present from my master; she +comes here to-morrow with him." + +Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were very easy and pleasant, encouraged her +communicativeness by his questions and remarks; Mrs. Reynolds, either +by pride or attachment, had evidently great pleasure in talking of her +master and his sister. + +"Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year?" + +"Not so much as I could wish, sir; but I dare say he may spend half his +time here; and Miss Darcy is always down for the summer months." + +"Except," thought Elizabeth, "when she goes to Ramsgate." + +"If your master would marry, you might see more of him." + +"Yes, sir; but I do not know when _that_ will be. I do not know who is +good enough for him." + +Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth could not help saying, "It is +very much to his credit, I am sure, that you should think so." + +"I say no more than the truth, and everybody will say that knows him," +replied the other. Elizabeth thought this was going pretty far; and she +listened with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added, "I have +never known a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever +since he was four years old." + +This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her +ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man had been her firmest opinion. +Her keenest attention was awakened; she longed to hear more, and was +grateful to her uncle for saying: + +"There are very few people of whom so much can be said. You are lucky in +having such a master." + +"Yes, sir, I know I am. If I were to go through the world, I could +not meet with a better. But I have always observed, that they who are +good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up; and +he was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the +world." + +Elizabeth almost stared at her. "Can this be Mr. Darcy?" thought she. + +"His father was an excellent man," said Mrs. Gardiner. + +"Yes, ma'am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like him--just +as affable to the poor." + +Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was impatient for more. Mrs. +Reynolds could interest her on no other point. She related the subjects +of the pictures, the dimensions of the rooms, and the price of the +furniture, in vain. Mr. Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of family +prejudice to which he attributed her excessive commendation of her +master, soon led again to the subject; and she dwelt with energy on his +many merits as they proceeded together up the great staircase. + +"He is the best landlord, and the best master," said she, "that ever +lived; not like the wild young men nowadays, who think of nothing but +themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but will give +him a good name. Some people call him proud; but I am sure I never saw +anything of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away +like other young men." + +"In what an amiable light does this place him!" thought Elizabeth. + +"This fine account of him," whispered her aunt as they walked, "is not +quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend." + +"Perhaps we might be deceived." + +"That is not very likely; our authority was too good." + +On reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown into a very pretty +sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than +the apartments below; and were informed that it was but just done to +give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking to the room when +last at Pemberley. + +"He is certainly a good brother," said Elizabeth, as she walked towards +one of the windows. + +Mrs. Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight, when she should enter +the room. "And this is always the way with him," she added. "Whatever +can give his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment. There +is nothing he would not do for her." + +The picture-gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms, were +all that remained to be shown. In the former were many good paintings; +but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and from such as had been already +visible below, she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss +Darcy's, in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and +also more intelligible. + +In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could have +little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked in quest of +the only face whose features would be known to her. At last it arrested +her--and she beheld a striking resemblance to Mr. Darcy, with such a +smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen when he +looked at her. She stood several minutes before the picture, in earnest +contemplation, and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery. +Mrs. Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father's +lifetime. + +There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a more gentle +sensation towards the original than she had ever felt at the height of +their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed on him by Mrs. Reynolds +was of no trifling nature. What praise is more valuable than the praise +of an intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, she +considered how many people's happiness were in his guardianship!--how +much of pleasure or pain was it in his power to bestow!--how much of +good or evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought +forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character, and as she +stood before the canvas on which he was represented, and fixed his +eyes upon herself, she thought of his regard with a deeper sentiment of +gratitude than it had ever raised before; she remembered its warmth, and +softened its impropriety of expression. + +When all of the house that was open to general inspection had been seen, +they returned downstairs, and, taking leave of the housekeeper, were +consigned over to the gardener, who met them at the hall-door. + +As they walked across the hall towards the river, Elizabeth turned back +to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, and while the former +was conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself +suddenly came forward from the road, which led behind it to the stables. + +They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his +appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes +instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest +blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from +surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, +and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least +of perfect civility. + +She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach, +received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be +overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture +they had just been examining, been insufficient to assure the other two +that they now saw Mr. Darcy, the gardener's expression of surprise, on +beholding his master, must immediately have told it. They stood a little +aloof while he was talking to their niece, who, astonished and confused, +scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face, and knew not what answer +she returned to his civil inquiries after her family. Amazed at the +alteration of his manner since they last parted, every sentence that +he uttered was increasing her embarrassment; and every idea of the +impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind, the few +minutes in which they continued were some of the most uncomfortable in +her life. Nor did he seem much more at ease; when he spoke, his accent +had none of its usual sedateness; and he repeated his inquiries as +to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of her having stayed in +Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the +distraction of his thoughts. + +At length every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing a few +moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took +leave. + +The others then joined her, and expressed admiration of his figure; but +Elizabeth heard not a word, and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, +followed them in silence. She was overpowered by shame and vexation. Her +coming there was the most unfortunate, the most ill-judged thing in the +world! How strange it must appear to him! In what a disgraceful light +might it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she had purposely +thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why did she come? Or, why did he +thus come a day before he was expected? Had they been only ten minutes +sooner, they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination; +for it was plain that he was that moment arrived--that moment alighted +from his horse or his carriage. She blushed again and again over +the perverseness of the meeting. And his behaviour, so strikingly +altered--what could it mean? That he should even speak to her was +amazing!--but to speak with such civility, to inquire after her family! +Never in her life had she seen his manners so little dignified, never +had he spoken with such gentleness as on this unexpected meeting. What +a contrast did it offer to his last address in Rosings Park, when he put +his letter into her hand! She knew not what to think, or how to account +for it. + +They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water, and +every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground, or a finer +reach of the woods to which they were approaching; but it was some time +before Elizabeth was sensible of any of it; and, though she answered +mechanically to the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt, and +seemed to direct her eyes to such objects as they pointed out, she +distinguished no part of the scene. Her thoughts were all fixed on that +one spot of Pemberley House, whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy then +was. She longed to know what at the moment was passing in his mind--in +what manner he thought of her, and whether, in defiance of everything, +she was still dear to him. Perhaps he had been civil only because he +felt himself at ease; yet there had been _that_ in his voice which was +not like ease. Whether he had felt more of pain or of pleasure in +seeing her she could not tell, but he certainly had not seen her with +composure. + +At length, however, the remarks of her companions on her absence of mind +aroused her, and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself. + +They entered the woods, and bidding adieu to the river for a while, +ascended some of the higher grounds; when, in spots where the opening of +the trees gave the eye power to wander, were many charming views of the +valley, the opposite hills, with the long range of woods overspreading +many, and occasionally part of the stream. Mr. Gardiner expressed a wish +of going round the whole park, but feared it might be beyond a walk. +With a triumphant smile they were told that it was ten miles round. +It settled the matter; and they pursued the accustomed circuit; which +brought them again, after some time, in a descent among hanging woods, +to the edge of the water, and one of its narrowest parts. They crossed +it by a simple bridge, in character with the general air of the scene; +it was a spot less adorned than any they had yet visited; and the +valley, here contracted into a glen, allowed room only for the stream, +and a narrow walk amidst the rough coppice-wood which bordered it. +Elizabeth longed to explore its windings; but when they had crossed the +bridge, and perceived their distance from the house, Mrs. Gardiner, +who was not a great walker, could go no farther, and thought only +of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible. Her niece was, +therefore, obliged to submit, and they took their way towards the house +on the opposite side of the river, in the nearest direction; but their +progress was slow, for Mr. Gardiner, though seldom able to indulge the +taste, was very fond of fishing, and was so much engaged in watching the +occasional appearance of some trout in the water, and talking to the +man about them, that he advanced but little. Whilst wandering on in this +slow manner, they were again surprised, and Elizabeth's astonishment +was quite equal to what it had been at first, by the sight of Mr. Darcy +approaching them, and at no great distance. The walk being here +less sheltered than on the other side, allowed them to see him before +they met. Elizabeth, however astonished, was at least more prepared +for an interview than before, and resolved to appear and to speak with +calmness, if he really intended to meet them. For a few moments, indeed, +she felt that he would probably strike into some other path. The idea +lasted while a turning in the walk concealed him from their view; the +turning past, he was immediately before them. With a glance, she saw +that he had lost none of his recent civility; and, to imitate his +politeness, she began, as they met, to admire the beauty of the place; +but she had not got beyond the words "delightful," and "charming," when +some unlucky recollections obtruded, and she fancied that praise of +Pemberley from her might be mischievously construed. Her colour changed, +and she said no more. + +Mrs. Gardiner was standing a little behind; and on her pausing, he asked +her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends. +This was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared; +and she could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the +acquaintance of some of those very people against whom his pride had +revolted in his offer to herself. "What will be his surprise," thought +she, "when he knows who they are? He takes them now for people of +fashion." + +The introduction, however, was immediately made; and as she named their +relationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him, to see how he bore +it, and was not without the expectation of his decamping as fast as he +could from such disgraceful companions. That he was _surprised_ by the +connection was evident; he sustained it, however, with fortitude, and +so far from going away, turned his back with them, and entered into +conversation with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but be pleased, +could not but triumph. It was consoling that he should know she had +some relations for whom there was no need to blush. She listened most +attentively to all that passed between them, and gloried in every +expression, every sentence of her uncle, which marked his intelligence, +his taste, or his good manners. + +The conversation soon turned upon fishing; and she heard Mr. Darcy +invite him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as often as he +chose while he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time +to supply him with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of +the stream where there was usually most sport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was +walking arm-in-arm with Elizabeth, gave her a look expressive of wonder. +Elizabeth said nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the compliment +must be all for herself. Her astonishment, however, was extreme, and +continually was she repeating, "Why is he so altered? From what can +it proceed? It cannot be for _me_--it cannot be for _my_ sake that his +manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a +change as this. It is impossible that he should still love me." + +After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front, the two +gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, after descending to +the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious +water-plant, there chanced to be a little alteration. It originated +in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found +Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support, and consequently preferred +her husband's. Mr. Darcy took her place by her niece, and they walked on +together. After a short silence, the lady first spoke. She wished him +to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the +place, and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival had been +very unexpected--"for your housekeeper," she added, "informed us that +you would certainly not be here till to-morrow; and indeed, before we +left Bakewell, we understood that you were not immediately expected +in the country." He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said that +business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours +before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling. "They +will join me early to-morrow," he continued, "and among them are some +who will claim an acquaintance with you--Mr. Bingley and his sisters." + +Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly +driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been the last +mentioned between them; and, if she might judge by his complexion, _his_ +mind was not very differently engaged. + +"There is also one other person in the party," he continued after a +pause, "who more particularly wishes to be known to you. Will you allow +me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance +during your stay at Lambton?" + +The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too great +for her to know in what manner she acceded to it. She immediately felt +that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of being acquainted with her +must be the work of her brother, and, without looking farther, it was +satisfactory; it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made +him think really ill of her. + +They now walked on in silence, each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth +was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and +pleased. His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of +the highest kind. They soon outstripped the others, and when they had +reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a +mile behind. + +He then asked her to walk into the house--but she declared herself not +tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time much might +have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but +there seemed to be an embargo on every subject. At last she recollected +that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale +with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly--and her +patience and her ideas were nearly worn our before the tete-a-tete was +over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's coming up they were all pressed to go +into the house and take some refreshment; but this was declined, and +they parted on each side with utmost politeness. Mr. Darcy handed the +ladies into the carriage; and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him +walking slowly towards the house. + +The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and each of them +pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything they had expected. +"He is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming," said her uncle. + +"There _is_ something a little stately in him, to be sure," replied her +aunt, "but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can now +say with the housekeeper, that though some people may call him proud, I +have seen nothing of it." + +"I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It was more +than civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessity for such +attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very trifling." + +"To be sure, Lizzy," said her aunt, "he is not so handsome as Wickham; +or, rather, he has not Wickham's countenance, for his features +are perfectly good. But how came you to tell me that he was so +disagreeable?" + +Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could; said that she had liked +him better when they had met in Kent than before, and that she had never +seen him so pleasant as this morning. + +"But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities," replied +her uncle. "Your great men often are; and therefore I shall not take him +at his word, as he might change his mind another day, and warn me off +his grounds." + +Elizabeth felt that they had entirely misunderstood his character, but +said nothing. + +"From what we have seen of him," continued Mrs. Gardiner, "I really +should not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by +anybody as he has done by poor Wickham. He has not an ill-natured look. +On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he +speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance that would +not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart. But, to be sure, the +good lady who showed us his house did give him a most flaming character! +I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal +master, I suppose, and _that_ in the eye of a servant comprehends every +virtue." + +Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of +his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand, in +as guarded a manner as she could, that by what she had heard from +his relations in Kent, his actions were capable of a very different +construction; and that his character was by no means so faulty, nor +Wickham's so amiable, as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In +confirmation of this, she related the particulars of all the pecuniary +transactions in which they had been connected, without actually naming +her authority, but stating it to be such as might be relied on. + +Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now +approaching the scene of her former pleasures, every idea gave way to +the charm of recollection; and she was too much engaged in pointing out +to her husband all the interesting spots in its environs to think of +anything else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk they +had no sooner dined than she set off again in quest of her former +acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfactions of a +intercourse renewed after many years' discontinuance. + +The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth +much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do nothing +but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility, and, above +all, of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister. + + + +Chapter 44 + + +Elizabeth had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit +her the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and was consequently +resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning. +But her conclusion was false; for on the very morning after their +arrival at Lambton, these visitors came. They had been walking about the +place with some of their new friends, and were just returning to the inn +to dress themselves for dining with the same family, when the sound of a +carriage drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and a lady in +a curricle driving up the street. Elizabeth immediately recognizing +the livery, guessed what it meant, and imparted no small degree of her +surprise to her relations by acquainting them with the honour which she +expected. Her uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment +of her manner as she spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many +of the circumstances of the preceding day, opened to them a new idea on +the business. Nothing had ever suggested it before, but they felt that +there was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a +quarter than by supposing a partiality for their niece. While these +newly-born notions were passing in their heads, the perturbation of +Elizabeth's feelings was at every moment increasing. She was quite +amazed at her own discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet, +she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much +in her favour; and, more than commonly anxious to please, she naturally +suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her. + +She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she walked +up and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of +inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse. + +Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction +took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new +acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her +being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; +but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was +only exceedingly shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from +her beyond a monosyllable. + +Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though +little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance +womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother; but there +was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly +unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as +acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much +relieved by discerning such different feelings. + +They had not long been together before Mr. Darcy told her that Bingley +was also coming to wait on her; and she had barely time to express her +satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick +step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All +Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away; but had she still +felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected +cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He +inquired in a friendly, though general way, after her family, and looked +and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done. + +To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage +than to herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before +them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which had just +arisen of Mr. Darcy and their niece directed their observation towards +each with an earnest though guarded inquiry; and they soon drew from +those inquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew +what it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they remained a little +in doubt; but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was +evident enough. + +Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the +feelings of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own, and +to make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where she +feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she +endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley +was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased. + +In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister; and, oh! +how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in +a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on +former occasions, and once or twice pleased herself with the notion +that, as he looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. But, +though this might be imaginary, she could not be deceived as to his +behaviour to Miss Darcy, who had been set up as a rival to Jane. No look +appeared on either side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred +between them that could justify the hopes of his sister. On this point +she was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred +ere they parted, which, in her anxious interpretation, denoted a +recollection of Jane not untinctured by tenderness, and a wish of saying +more that might lead to the mention of her, had he dared. He observed +to her, at a moment when the others were talking together, and in a tone +which had something of real regret, that it "was a very long time since +he had had the pleasure of seeing her;" and, before she could reply, +he added, "It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of +November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield." + +Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards +took occasion to ask her, when unattended to by any of the rest, whether +_all_ her sisters were at Longbourn. There was not much in the question, +nor in the preceding remark; but there was a look and a manner which +gave them meaning. + +It was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself; +but, whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general +complaisance, and in all that he said she heard an accent so removed +from _hauteur_ or disdain of his companions, as convinced her that +the improvement of manners which she had yesterday witnessed however +temporary its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When +she saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion +of people with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a +disgrace--when she saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the +very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last +lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage--the difference, the change was +so great, and struck so forcibly on her mind, that she could hardly +restrain her astonishment from being visible. Never, even in the company +of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations +at Rosings, had she seen him so desirous to please, so free from +self-consequence or unbending reserve, as now, when no importance +could result from the success of his endeavours, and when even the +acquaintance of those to whom his attentions were addressed would draw +down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and +Rosings. + +Their visitors stayed with them above half-an-hour; and when they arose +to depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing +their wish of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and Miss Bennet, to dinner +at Pemberley, before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a +diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, +readily obeyed. Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing +how _she_, whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its +acceptance, but Elizabeth had turned away her head. Presuming however, +that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment than +any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of +society, a perfect willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for +her attendance, and the day after the next was fixed on. + +Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth +again, having still a great deal to say to her, and many inquiries to +make after all their Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, construing all +this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased, and on +this account, as well as some others, found herself, when their +visitors left them, capable of considering the last half-hour with some +satisfaction, though while it was passing, the enjoyment of it had been +little. Eager to be alone, and fearful of inquiries or hints from her +uncle and aunt, she stayed with them only long enough to hear their +favourable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to dress. + +But she had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity; it was +not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she was +much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea of; +it was evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much to +interest, but nothing to justify inquiry. + +Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and, as far +as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could +not be untouched by his politeness; and had they drawn his character +from their own feelings and his servant's report, without any reference +to any other account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known +would not have recognized it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest, +however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible +that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four +years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be +hastily rejected. Neither had anything occurred in the intelligence of +their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. They had +nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, +it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town +where the family did not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he +was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor. + +With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held +there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns with the +son of his patron were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well-known +fact that, on his quitting Derbyshire, he had left many debts behind +him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged. + +As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than +the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not +long enough to determine her feelings towards _one_ in that mansion; +and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She +certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she +had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him, +that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his +valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some +time ceased to be repugnant to her feeling; and it was now heightened +into somewhat of a friendlier nature, by the testimony so highly in +his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, +which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, +there was a motive within her of goodwill which could not be overlooked. +It was gratitude; gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, +but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and +acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations +accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid +her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most +eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display +of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only +were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent +on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much +pride exciting not only astonishment but gratitude--for to love, ardent +love, it must be attributed; and as such its impression on her was of a +sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be +exactly defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him, +she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how +far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would +be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her +fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on her the renewal of +his addresses. + +It had been settled in the evening between the aunt and the niece, that +such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's in coming to see them on the +very day of her arrival at Pemberley, for she had reached it only to a +late breakfast, ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, +by some exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that +it would be highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following +morning. They were, therefore, to go. Elizabeth was pleased; though when +she asked herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply. + +Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been +renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting +some of the gentlemen at Pemberley before noon. + + + +Chapter 45 + + +Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had +originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how unwelcome her +appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was curious to know with how +much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed. + +On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, +whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows +opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody +hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts +which were scattered over the intermediate lawn. + +In this house they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there +with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in +London. Georgiana's reception of them was very civil, but attended with +all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear +of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior +the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, +however, did her justice, and pitied her. + +By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a curtsey; and, +on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, +succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a +genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind +of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the +others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from +Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she +wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a +short sentence when there was least danger of its being heard. + +Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley, +and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without +calling her attention. This observation would not have prevented her +from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an +inconvenient distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity +of saying much. Her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every +moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room. She wished, she +feared that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether +she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After +sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss +Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold +inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal +indifference and brevity, and the others said no more. + +The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the +entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the +finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many +a significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been +given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole +party--for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the +beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected +them round the table. + +While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether +she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the +feelings which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though but +a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate, she began to +regret that he came. + +He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other +gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river, and had left him +only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to +Georgiana that morning. No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely +resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed; a resolution the more +necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she +saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them, +and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour +when he first came into the room. In no countenance was attentive +curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley's, in spite of the +smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its +objects; for jealousy had not yet made her desperate, and her attentions +to Mr. Darcy were by no means over. Miss Darcy, on her brother's +entrance, exerted herself much more to talk, and Elizabeth saw that he +was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted, and forwarded +as much as possible, every attempt at conversation on either side. Miss +Bingley saw all this likewise; and, in the imprudence of anger, took the +first opportunity of saying, with sneering civility: + +"Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the ----shire Militia removed from Meryton? +They must be a great loss to _your_ family." + +In Darcy's presence she dared not mention Wickham's name; but Elizabeth +instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts; and the +various recollections connected with him gave her a moment's distress; +but exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack, she +presently answered the question in a tolerably detached tone. While +she spoke, an involuntary glance showed her Darcy, with a heightened +complexion, earnestly looking at her, and his sister overcome with +confusion, and unable to lift up her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known what +pain she was then giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would +have refrained from the hint; but she had merely intended to discompose +Elizabeth by bringing forward the idea of a man to whom she believed +her partial, to make her betray a sensibility which might injure her in +Darcy's opinion, and, perhaps, to remind the latter of all the follies +and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected +with that corps. Not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss Darcy's +meditated elopement. To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy +was possible, except to Elizabeth; and from all Bingley's connections +her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from the very +wish which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him, of their becoming +hereafter her own. He had certainly formed such a plan, and without +meaning that it should effect his endeavour to separate him from Miss +Bennet, it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern +for the welfare of his friend. + +Elizabeth's collected behaviour, however, soon quieted his emotion; and +as Miss Bingley, vexed and disappointed, dared not approach nearer to +Wickham, Georgiana also recovered in time, though not enough to be able +to speak any more. Her brother, whose eye she feared to meet, scarcely +recollected her interest in the affair, and the very circumstance which +had been designed to turn his thoughts from Elizabeth seemed to have +fixed them on her more and more cheerfully. + +Their visit did not continue long after the question and answer above +mentioned; and while Mr. Darcy was attending them to their carriage Miss +Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth's person, +behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her. Her brother's +recommendation was enough to ensure her favour; his judgement could not +err. And he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as to leave Georgiana +without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. When +Darcy returned to the saloon, Miss Bingley could not help repeating to +him some part of what she had been saying to his sister. + +"How very ill Miss Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy," she +cried; "I never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since +the winter. She is grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing +that we should not have known her again." + +However little Mr. Darcy might have liked such an address, he contented +himself with coolly replying that he perceived no other alteration than +her being rather tanned, no miraculous consequence of travelling in the +summer. + +"For my own part," she rejoined, "I must confess that I never could +see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no +brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose +wants character--there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are +tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, +which have sometimes been called so fine, I could never see anything +extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do +not like at all; and in her air altogether there is a self-sufficiency +without fashion, which is intolerable." + +Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not +the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always +wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all the +success she expected. He was resolutely silent, however, and, from a +determination of making him speak, she continued: + +"I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all +were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect +your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, '_She_ +a beauty!--I should as soon call her mother a wit.' But afterwards she +seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at +one time." + +"Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but _that_ +was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have +considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance." + +He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of +having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself. + +Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their +visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested them +both. The look and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed, +except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked +of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit--of everything but +himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of +him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's +beginning the subject. + + + +Chapter 46 + + +Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from +Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been +renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but +on the third her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the +receipt of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that +it had been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as +Jane had written the direction remarkably ill. + +They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and +her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by +themselves. The one missent must first be attended to; it had been +written five days ago. The beginning contained an account of all their +little parties and engagements, with such news as the country afforded; +but the latter half, which was dated a day later, and written in evident +agitation, gave more important intelligence. It was to this effect: + +"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a +most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you--be +assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. +An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, +from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland +with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! Imagine our +surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am +very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! But I am willing +to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. +Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step +(and let us rejoice over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is +disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. +Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better. How +thankful am I that we never let them know what has been said against +him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about +twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at +eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have +passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect +him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of +their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor +mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly +know what I have written." + +Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing +what she felt, Elizabeth on finishing this letter instantly seized the +other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows: it +had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first. + +"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I +wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my +head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest +Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, +and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham +and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has +taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone +to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the +day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short +letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna +Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. +never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was +repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. +intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, +but no further; for on entering that place, they removed into a hackney +coach, and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that +is known after this is, that they were seen to continue the London road. +I know not what to think. After making every possible inquiry on that +side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing +them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but +without any success--no such people had been seen to pass through. With +the kindest concern he came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions +to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved +for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on them. Our +distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the +worst, but I cannot think so ill of him. Many circumstances might make +it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than to pursue +their first plan; and even if _he_ could form such a design against a +young woman of Lydia's connections, which is not likely, can I suppose +her so lost to everything? Impossible! I grieve to find, however, that +Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon their marriage; he shook his +head when I expressed my hopes, and said he feared W. was not a man to +be trusted. My poor mother is really ill, and keeps her room. Could she +exert herself, it would be better; but this is not to be expected. And +as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty has +anger for having concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of +confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you +have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but now, as the +first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your return? I am not +so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu! I +take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not; but +circumstances are such that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to +come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well, +that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still something +more to ask of the former. My father is going to London with Colonel +Forster instantly, to try to discover her. What he means to do I am sure +I know not; but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any +measure in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is obliged to +be at Brighton again to-morrow evening. In such an exigence, my +uncle's advice and assistance would be everything in the world; he will +immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness." + +"Oh! where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat +as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, without losing +a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door it was +opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous +manner made him start, and before he could recover himself to speak, +she, in whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia's situation, +hastily exclaimed, "I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find +Mr. Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not +an instant to lose." + +"Good God! what is the matter?" cried he, with more feeling than +politeness; then recollecting himself, "I will not detain you a minute; +but let me, or let the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are +not well enough; you cannot go yourself." + +Elizabeth hesitated, but her knees trembled under her and she felt how +little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them. Calling back +the servant, therefore, she commissioned him, though in so breathless +an accent as made her almost unintelligible, to fetch his master and +mistress home instantly. + +On his quitting the room she sat down, unable to support herself, and +looking so miserably ill, that it was impossible for Darcy to leave her, +or to refrain from saying, in a tone of gentleness and commiseration, +"Let me call your maid. Is there nothing you could take to give you +present relief? A glass of wine; shall I get you one? You are very ill." + +"No, I thank you," she replied, endeavouring to recover herself. "There +is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well; I am only distressed by +some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn." + +She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few minutes could +not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say +something indistinctly of his concern, and observe her in compassionate +silence. At length she spoke again. "I have just had a letter from Jane, +with such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from anyone. My younger +sister has left all her friends--has eloped; has thrown herself into +the power of--of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. +_You_ know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no +connections, nothing that can tempt him to--she is lost for ever." + +Darcy was fixed in astonishment. "When I consider," she added in a yet +more agitated voice, "that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what +he was. Had I but explained some part of it only--some part of what I +learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not +have happened. But it is all--all too late now." + +"I am grieved indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved--shocked. But is it +certain--absolutely certain?" + +"Oh, yes! They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and were traced +almost to London, but not beyond; they are certainly not gone to +Scotland." + +"And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?" + +"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's +immediate assistance; and we shall be off, I hope, in half-an-hour. But +nothing can be done--I know very well that nothing can be done. How is +such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have +not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!" + +Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence. + +"When _my_ eyes were opened to his real character--Oh! had I known what +I ought, what I dared to do! But I knew not--I was afraid of doing too +much. Wretched, wretched mistake!" + +Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her, and was walking +up and down the room in earnest meditation, his brow contracted, his air +gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed, and instantly understood it. Her +power was sinking; everything _must_ sink under such a proof of family +weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. She could neither +wonder nor condemn, but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing +consolatory to her bosom, afforded no palliation of her distress. It +was, on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her own +wishes; and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved +him, as now, when all love must be vain. + +But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her. Lydia--the +humiliation, the misery she was bringing on them all, soon swallowed +up every private care; and covering her face with her handkerchief, +Elizabeth was soon lost to everything else; and, after a pause of +several minutes, was only recalled to a sense of her situation by +the voice of her companion, who, in a manner which, though it spoke +compassion, spoke likewise restraint, said, "I am afraid you have been +long desiring my absence, nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my +stay, but real, though unavailing concern. Would to Heaven that anything +could be either said or done on my part that might offer consolation to +such distress! But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may +seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I +fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley +to-day." + +"Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy. Say that +urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as +long as it is possible, I know it cannot be long." + +He readily assured her of his secrecy; again expressed his sorrow for +her distress, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present +reason to hope, and leaving his compliments for her relations, with only +one serious, parting look, went away. + +As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that they +should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as +had marked their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a +retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full +of contradictions and varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those +feelings which would now have promoted its continuance, and would +formerly have rejoiced in its termination. + +If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection, Elizabeth's +change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. But if +otherwise--if regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or +unnatural, in comparison of what is so often described as arising on +a first interview with its object, and even before two words have been +exchanged, nothing can be said in her defence, except that she had given +somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, +and that its ill success might, perhaps, authorise her to seek the other +less interesting mode of attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him +go with regret; and in this early example of what Lydia's infamy must +produce, found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched +business. Never, since reading Jane's second letter, had she entertained +a hope of Wickham's meaning to marry her. No one but Jane, she thought, +could flatter herself with such an expectation. Surprise was the least +of her feelings on this development. While the contents of the first +letter remained in her mind, she was all surprise--all astonishment that +Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry +for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared +incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment +as this she might have sufficient charms; and though she did not suppose +Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention +of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue +nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey. + +She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire, that +Lydia had any partiality for him; but she was convinced that Lydia +wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody. Sometimes one +officer, sometimes another, had been her favourite, as their attentions +raised them in her opinion. Her affections had continually been +fluctuating but never without an object. The mischief of neglect and +mistaken indulgence towards such a girl--oh! how acutely did she now +feel it! + +She was wild to be at home--to hear, to see, to be upon the spot to +share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her, in a +family so deranged, a father absent, a mother incapable of exertion, and +requiring constant attendance; and though almost persuaded that nothing +could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost +importance, and till he entered the room her impatience was severe. Mr. +and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing by the servant's +account that their niece was taken suddenly ill; but satisfying them +instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause of their +summons, reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript +of the last with trembling energy, though Lydia had never been a +favourite with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply +afflicted. Not Lydia only, but all were concerned in it; and after the +first exclamations of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner promised every +assistance in his power. Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked +him with tears of gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, +everything relating to their journey was speedily settled. They were to +be off as soon as possible. "But what is to be done about Pemberley?" +cried Mrs. Gardiner. "John told us Mr. Darcy was here when you sent for +us; was it so?" + +"Yes; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement. +_That_ is all settled." + +"What is all settled?" repeated the other, as she ran into her room to +prepare. "And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real +truth? Oh, that I knew how it was!" + +But wishes were vain, or at least could only serve to amuse her in the +hurry and confusion of the following hour. Had Elizabeth been at leisure +to be idle, she would have remained certain that all employment was +impossible to one so wretched as herself; but she had her share of +business as well as her aunt, and amongst the rest there were notes to +be written to all their friends at Lambton, with false excuses for their +sudden departure. An hour, however, saw the whole completed; and Mr. +Gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn, nothing +remained to be done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of +the morning, found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could +have supposed, seated in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn. + + + +Chapter 47 + + +"I have been thinking it over again, Elizabeth," said her uncle, as they +drove from the town; "and really, upon serious consideration, I am much +more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does on the +matter. It appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should +form such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or +friendless, and who was actually staying in his colonel's family, that I +am strongly inclined to hope the best. Could he expect that her friends +would not step forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the +regiment, after such an affront to Colonel Forster? His temptation is +not adequate to the risk!" + +"Do you really think so?" cried Elizabeth, brightening up for a moment. + +"Upon my word," said Mrs. Gardiner, "I begin to be of your uncle's +opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency, honour, and +interest, for him to be guilty of. I cannot think so very ill of +Wickham. Can you yourself, Lizzy, so wholly give him up, as to believe +him capable of it?" + +"Not, perhaps, of neglecting his own interest; but of every other +neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so! But I +dare not hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland if that had been +the case?" + +"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no absolute proof +that they are not gone to Scotland." + +"Oh! but their removing from the chaise into a hackney coach is such +a presumption! And, besides, no traces of them were to be found on the +Barnet road." + +"Well, then--supposing them to be in London. They may be there, though +for the purpose of concealment, for no more exceptional purpose. It is +not likely that money should be very abundant on either side; and it +might strike them that they could be more economically, though less +expeditiously, married in London than in Scotland." + +"But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why must their +marriage be private? Oh, no, no--this is not likely. His most particular +friend, you see by Jane's account, was persuaded of his never intending +to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without some money. He +cannot afford it. And what claims has Lydia--what attraction has she +beyond youth, health, and good humour that could make him, for her sake, +forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what +restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps might throw on a +dishonourable elopement with her, I am not able to judge; for I know +nothing of the effects that such a step might produce. But as to your +other objection, I am afraid it will hardly hold good. Lydia has +no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father's +behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever +seemed to give to what was going forward in his family, that _he_ would +do as little, and think as little about it, as any father could do, in +such a matter." + +"But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but love of him +as to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage?" + +"It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed," replied Elizabeth, with +tears in her eyes, "that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such +a point should admit of doubt. But, really, I know not what to say. +Perhaps I am not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never +been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half-year, +nay, for a twelvemonth--she has been given up to nothing but amusement +and vanity. She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle +and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. +Since the ----shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, +flirtation, and officers have been in her head. She has been doing +everything in her power by thinking and talking on the subject, to give +greater--what shall I call it? susceptibility to her feelings; which are +naturally lively enough. And we all know that Wickham has every charm of +person and address that can captivate a woman." + +"But you see that Jane," said her aunt, "does not think so very ill of +Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt." + +"Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever might be +their former conduct, that she would think capable of such an attempt, +till it were proved against them? But Jane knows, as well as I do, what +Wickham really is. We both know that he has been profligate in every +sense of the word; that he has neither integrity nor honour; that he is +as false and deceitful as he is insinuating." + +"And do you really know all this?" cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity +as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive. + +"I do indeed," replied Elizabeth, colouring. "I told you, the other day, +of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you yourself, when last at +Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved +with such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other +circumstances which I am not at liberty--which it is not worth while to +relate; but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From +what he said of Miss Darcy I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud, +reserved, disagreeable girl. Yet he knew to the contrary himself. He +must know that she was as amiable and unpretending as we have found +her." + +"But does Lydia know nothing of this? can she be ignorant of what you +and Jane seem so well to understand?" + +"Oh, yes!--that, that is the worst of all. Till I was in Kent, and saw +so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation Colonel Fitzwilliam, I was +ignorant of the truth myself. And when I returned home, the ----shire +was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time. As that was the +case, neither Jane, to whom I related the whole, nor I, thought it +necessary to make our knowledge public; for of what use could +it apparently be to any one, that the good opinion which all the +neighbourhood had of him should then be overthrown? And even when it was +settled that Lydia should go with Mrs. Forster, the necessity of opening +her eyes to his character never occurred to me. That _she_ could be +in any danger from the deception never entered my head. That such a +consequence as _this_ could ensue, you may easily believe, was far +enough from my thoughts." + +"When they all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason, I +suppose, to believe them fond of each other?" + +"Not the slightest. I can remember no symptom of affection on either +side; and had anything of the kind been perceptible, you must be aware +that ours is not a family on which it could be thrown away. When first +he entered the corps, she was ready enough to admire him; but so we all +were. Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for +the first two months; but he never distinguished _her_ by any particular +attention; and, consequently, after a moderate period of extravagant and +wild admiration, her fancy for him gave way, and others of the regiment, +who treated her with more distinction, again became her favourites." + + * * * * * + +It may be easily believed, that however little of novelty could be added +to their fears, hopes, and conjectures, on this interesting subject, by +its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during +the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent. +Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self-reproach, she could find +no interval of ease or forgetfulness. + +They travelled as expeditiously as possible, and, sleeping one night +on the road, reached Longbourn by dinner time the next day. It was a +comfort to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied +by long expectations. + +The little Gardiners, attracted by the sight of a chaise, were standing +on the steps of the house as they entered the paddock; and, when the +carriage drove up to the door, the joyful surprise that lighted up their +faces, and displayed itself over their whole bodies, in a variety of +capers and frisks, was the first pleasing earnest of their welcome. + +Elizabeth jumped out; and, after giving each of them a hasty kiss, +hurried into the vestibule, where Jane, who came running down from her +mother's apartment, immediately met her. + +Elizabeth, as she affectionately embraced her, whilst tears filled the +eyes of both, lost not a moment in asking whether anything had been +heard of the fugitives. + +"Not yet," replied Jane. "But now that my dear uncle is come, I hope +everything will be well." + +"Is my father in town?" + +"Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote you word." + +"And have you heard from him often?" + +"We have heard only twice. He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday to say +that he had arrived in safety, and to give me his directions, which I +particularly begged him to do. He merely added that he should not write +again till he had something of importance to mention." + +"And my mother--how is she? How are you all?" + +"My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are greatly +shaken. She is upstairs and will have great satisfaction in seeing you +all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room. Mary and Kitty, thank +Heaven, are quite well." + +"But you--how are you?" cried Elizabeth. "You look pale. How much you +must have gone through!" + +Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well; and their +conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were +engaged with their children, was now put an end to by the approach +of the whole party. Jane ran to her uncle and aunt, and welcomed and +thanked them both, with alternate smiles and tears. + +When they were all in the drawing-room, the questions which Elizabeth +had already asked were of course repeated by the others, and they soon +found that Jane had no intelligence to give. The sanguine hope of +good, however, which the benevolence of her heart suggested had not yet +deserted her; she still expected that it would all end well, and that +every morning would bring some letter, either from Lydia or her father, +to explain their proceedings, and, perhaps, announce their marriage. + +Mrs. Bennet, to whose apartment they all repaired, after a few minutes' +conversation together, received them exactly as might be expected; with +tears and lamentations of regret, invectives against the villainous +conduct of Wickham, and complaints of her own sufferings and ill-usage; +blaming everybody but the person to whose ill-judging indulgence the +errors of her daughter must principally be owing. + +"If I had been able," said she, "to carry my point in going to Brighton, +with all my family, _this_ would not have happened; but poor dear Lydia +had nobody to take care of her. Why did the Forsters ever let her go out +of their sight? I am sure there was some great neglect or other on their +side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing if she had been +well looked after. I always thought they were very unfit to have the +charge of her; but I was overruled, as I always am. Poor dear child! +And now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham, +wherever he meets him and then he will be killed, and what is to become +of us all? The Collinses will turn us out before he is cold in his +grave, and if you are not kind to us, brother, I do not know what we +shall do." + +They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas; and Mr. Gardiner, after +general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told her +that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr. +Bennet in every endeavour for recovering Lydia. + +"Do not give way to useless alarm," added he; "though it is right to be +prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain. +It is not quite a week since they left Brighton. In a few days more we +may gain some news of them; and till we know that they are not married, +and have no design of marrying, do not let us give the matter over as +lost. As soon as I get to town I shall go to my brother, and make +him come home with me to Gracechurch Street; and then we may consult +together as to what is to be done." + +"Oh! my dear brother," replied Mrs. Bennet, "that is exactly what I +could most wish for. And now do, when you get to town, find them out, +wherever they may be; and if they are not married already, _make_ them +marry. And as for wedding clothes, do not let them wait for that, but +tell Lydia she shall have as much money as she chooses to buy them, +after they are married. And, above all, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting. +Tell him what a dreadful state I am in, that I am frighted out of my +wits--and have such tremblings, such flutterings, all over me--such +spasms in my side and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that +I can get no rest by night nor by day. And tell my dear Lydia not to +give any directions about her clothes till she has seen me, for she does +not know which are the best warehouses. Oh, brother, how kind you are! I +know you will contrive it all." + +But Mr. Gardiner, though he assured her again of his earnest endeavours +in the cause, could not avoid recommending moderation to her, as well +in her hopes as her fear; and after talking with her in this manner till +dinner was on the table, they all left her to vent all her feelings on +the housekeeper, who attended in the absence of her daughters. + +Though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real +occasion for such a seclusion from the family, they did not attempt to +oppose it, for they knew that she had not prudence enough to hold her +tongue before the servants, while they waited at table, and judged it +better that _one_ only of the household, and the one whom they could +most trust should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the +subject. + +In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been +too busily engaged in their separate apartments to make their appearance +before. One came from her books, and the other from her toilette. The +faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; and no change was visible +in either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger +which she had herself incurred in this business, had given more of +fretfulness than usual to the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was +mistress enough of herself to whisper to Elizabeth, with a countenance +of grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table: + +"This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. +But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of +each other the balm of sisterly consolation." + +Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, +"Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful +lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one +false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less +brittle than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in +her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex." + +Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement, but was too much oppressed +to make any reply. Mary, however, continued to console herself with such +kind of moral extractions from the evil before them. + +In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for +half-an-hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of +the opportunity of making any inquiries, which Jane was equally eager to +satisfy. After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel +of this event, which Elizabeth considered as all but certain, and Miss +Bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible, the former continued +the subject, by saying, "But tell me all and everything about it which +I have not already heard. Give me further particulars. What did Colonel +Forster say? Had they no apprehension of anything before the elopement +took place? They must have seen them together for ever." + +"Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality, +especially on Lydia's side, but nothing to give him any alarm. I am so +grieved for him! His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost. He +_was_ coming to us, in order to assure us of his concern, before he had +any idea of their not being gone to Scotland: when that apprehension +first got abroad, it hastened his journey." + +"And was Denny convinced that Wickham would not marry? Did he know of +their intending to go off? Had Colonel Forster seen Denny himself?" + +"Yes; but, when questioned by _him_, Denny denied knowing anything of +their plans, and would not give his real opinion about it. He did not +repeat his persuasion of their not marrying--and from _that_, I am +inclined to hope, he might have been misunderstood before." + +"And till Colonel Forster came himself, not one of you entertained a +doubt, I suppose, of their being really married?" + +"How was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains? I felt +a little uneasy--a little fearful of my sister's happiness with him +in marriage, because I knew that his conduct had not been always quite +right. My father and mother knew nothing of that; they only felt how +imprudent a match it must be. Kitty then owned, with a very natural +triumph on knowing more than the rest of us, that in Lydia's last letter +she had prepared her for such a step. She had known, it seems, of their +being in love with each other, many weeks." + +"But not before they went to Brighton?" + +"No, I believe not." + +"And did Colonel Forster appear to think well of Wickham himself? Does +he know his real character?" + +"I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he formerly +did. He believed him to be imprudent and extravagant. And since this sad +affair has taken place, it is said that he left Meryton greatly in debt; +but I hope this may be false." + +"Oh, Jane, had we been less secret, had we told what we knew of him, +this could not have happened!" + +"Perhaps it would have been better," replied her sister. "But to expose +the former faults of any person without knowing what their present +feelings were, seemed unjustifiable. We acted with the best intentions." + +"Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note to his +wife?" + +"He brought it with him for us to see." + +Jane then took it from her pocket-book, and gave it to Elizabeth. These +were the contents: + +"MY DEAR HARRIET, + +"You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help +laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am +missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, +I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I +love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy without him, so think +it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at Longbourn of my +going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise the greater, +when I write to them and sign my name 'Lydia Wickham.' What a good joke +it will be! I can hardly write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to +Pratt for not keeping my engagement, and dancing with him to-night. +Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all; and tell him I will +dance with him at the next ball we meet, with great pleasure. I shall +send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell +Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are +packed up. Good-bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will +drink to our good journey. + +"Your affectionate friend, + +"LYDIA BENNET." + +"Oh! thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!" cried Elizabeth when she had +finished it. "What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment! +But at least it shows that _she_ was serious on the subject of their +journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to, it was not on her +side a _scheme_ of infamy. My poor father! how he must have felt it!" + +"I never saw anyone so shocked. He could not speak a word for full ten +minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house in +such confusion!" + +"Oh! Jane," cried Elizabeth, "was there a servant belonging to it who +did not know the whole story before the end of the day?" + +"I do not know. I hope there was. But to be guarded at such a time is +very difficult. My mother was in hysterics, and though I endeavoured to +give her every assistance in my power, I am afraid I did not do so +much as I might have done! But the horror of what might possibly happen +almost took from me my faculties." + +"Your attendance upon her has been too much for you. You do not look +well. Oh that I had been with you! you have had every care and anxiety +upon yourself alone." + +"Mary and Kitty have been very kind, and would have shared in every +fatigue, I am sure; but I did not think it right for either of them. +Kitty is slight and delicate; and Mary studies so much, that her hours +of repose should not be broken in on. My aunt Phillips came to Longbourn +on Tuesday, after my father went away; and was so good as to stay till +Thursday with me. She was of great use and comfort to us all. And +Lady Lucas has been very kind; she walked here on Wednesday morning to +condole with us, and offered her services, or any of her daughters', if +they should be of use to us." + +"She had better have stayed at home," cried Elizabeth; "perhaps she +_meant_ well, but, under such a misfortune as this, one cannot see +too little of one's neighbours. Assistance is impossible; condolence +insufferable. Let them triumph over us at a distance, and be satisfied." + +She then proceeded to inquire into the measures which her father had +intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter. + +"He meant I believe," replied Jane, "to go to Epsom, the place where +they last changed horses, see the postilions and try if anything could +be made out from them. His principal object must be to discover the +number of the hackney coach which took them from Clapham. It had come +with a fare from London; and as he thought that the circumstance of a +gentleman and lady's removing from one carriage into another might +be remarked he meant to make inquiries at Clapham. If he could anyhow +discover at what house the coachman had before set down his fare, he +determined to make inquiries there, and hoped it might not be impossible +to find out the stand and number of the coach. I do not know of any +other designs that he had formed; but he was in such a hurry to be gone, +and his spirits so greatly discomposed, that I had difficulty in finding +out even so much as this." + + + +Chapter 48 + + +The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the next +morning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him. +His family knew him to be, on all common occasions, a most negligent and +dilatory correspondent; but at such a time they had hoped for exertion. +They were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to +send; but even of _that_ they would have been glad to be certain. Mr. +Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off. + +When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant +information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, +to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, +to the great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the only +security for her husband's not being killed in a duel. + +Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few +days longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable +to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a +great comfort to them in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt also +visited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of +cheering and heartening them up--though, as she never came without +reporting some fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, +she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found +them. + +All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months +before, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt +to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with +the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family. +Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; +and everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the +appearance of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit above +half of what was said, believed enough to make her former assurance of +her sister's ruin more certain; and even Jane, who believed still less +of it, became almost hopeless, more especially as the time was now come +when, if they had gone to Scotland, which she had never before entirely +despaired of, they must in all probability have gained some news of +them. + +Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday his wife received a +letter from him; it told them that, on his arrival, he had immediately +found out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street; +that Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, +but without gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was now +determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet +thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first +coming to London, before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himself +did not expect any success from this measure, but as his brother was +eager in it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it. He added that Mr. +Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised +to write again very soon. There was also a postscript to this effect: + +"I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, if +possible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment, +whether Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to +know in what part of town he has now concealed himself. If there were +anyone that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a +clue as that, it might be of essential consequence. At present we have +nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say, do everything in +his power to satisfy us on this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps, +Lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living, better than any +other person." + +Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference to her +authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any information +of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved. She had never +heard of his having had any relations, except a father and mother, both +of whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however, that some of +his companions in the ----shire might be able to give more information; +and though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, the application +was a something to look forward to. + +Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious +part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters +was the grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters, +whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every +succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance. + +But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived for +their father, from a different quarter, from Mr. Collins; which, as Jane +had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence, +she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his +letters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as +follows: + +"MY DEAR SIR, + +"I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation +in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now +suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from +Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself +sincerely sympathise with you and all your respectable family, in +your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because +proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be +wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune--or that +may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others the +most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would +have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to +be lamented, because there is reason to suppose as my dear Charlotte +informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has +proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence; though, at the same time, +for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think +that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be +guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, +you are grievously to be pitied; in which opinion I am not only joined +by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to +whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that +this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of +all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, +will connect themselves with such a family? And this consideration leads +me moreover to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain event +of last November; for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved +in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me then advise you, dear sir, to +console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child +from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her +own heinous offense. + +"I am, dear sir, etc., etc." + +Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from +Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. +It was not known that Wickham had a single relationship with whom he +kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one +living. His former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he +had been in the militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of +particular friendship with any of them. There was no one, therefore, +who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him. And in the +wretched state of his own finances, there was a very powerful motive for +secrecy, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for +it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him to a +very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a +thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. +He owed a good deal in town, but his debts of honour were still more +formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars +from the Longbourn family. Jane heard them with horror. "A gamester!" +she cried. "This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it." + +Mr. Gardiner added in his letter, that they might expect to see their +father at home on the following day, which was Saturday. Rendered +spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours, he had yielded +to his brother-in-law's entreaty that he would return to his family, and +leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable +for continuing their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did +not express so much satisfaction as her children expected, considering +what her anxiety for his life had been before. + +"What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia?" she cried. "Sure he +will not leave London before he has found them. Who is to fight Wickham, +and make him marry her, if he comes away?" + +As Mrs. Gardiner began to wish to be at home, it was settled that she +and the children should go to London, at the same time that Mr. Bennet +came from it. The coach, therefore, took them the first stage of their +journey, and brought its master back to Longbourn. + +Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her +Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world. His +name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece; and +the kind of half-expectation which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, of their +being followed by a letter from him, had ended in nothing. Elizabeth had +received none since her return that could come from Pemberley. + +The present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse for +the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be +fairly conjectured from _that_, though Elizabeth, who was by this time +tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware +that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread of +Lydia's infamy somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought, +one sleepless night out of two. + +When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual +philosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in the +habit of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken him +away, and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of +it. + +It was not till the afternoon, when he had joined them at tea, that +Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her briefly +expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, "Say +nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, +and I ought to feel it." + +"You must not be too severe upon yourself," replied Elizabeth. + +"You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so prone +to fall into it! No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I have +been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. +It will pass away soon enough." + +"Do you suppose them to be in London?" + +"Yes; where else can they be so well concealed?" + +"And Lydia used to want to go to London," added Kitty. + +"She is happy then," said her father drily; "and her residence there +will probably be of some duration." + +Then after a short silence he continued: + +"Lizzy, I bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice to me +last May, which, considering the event, shows some greatness of mind." + +They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her mother's +tea. + +"This is a parade," he cried, "which does one good; it gives such an +elegance to misfortune! Another day I will do the same; I will sit in my +library, in my nightcap and powdering gown, and give as much trouble as +I can; or, perhaps, I may defer it till Kitty runs away." + +"I am not going to run away, papa," said Kitty fretfully. "If I should +ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia." + +"_You_ go to Brighton. I would not trust you so near it as Eastbourne +for fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to be cautious, and +you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter into +my house again, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be +absolutely prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. +And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have +spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner." + +Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry. + +"Well, well," said he, "do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good +girl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review at the end of +them." + + + +Chapter 49 + + +Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking +together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper +coming towards them, and, concluding that she came to call them to their +mother, went forward to meet her; but, instead of the expected summons, +when they approached her, she said to Miss Bennet, "I beg your pardon, +madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some +good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask." + +"What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town." + +"Dear madam," cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, "don't you know +there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner? He has been here +this half-hour, and master has had a letter." + +Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech. They +ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; from thence to the +library; their father was in neither; and they were on the point of +seeking him upstairs with their mother, when they were met by the +butler, who said: + +"If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the +little copse." + +Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall once +more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately +pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock. + +Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running as +Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath, +came up with him, and eagerly cried out: + +"Oh, papa, what news--what news? Have you heard from my uncle?" + +"Yes I have had a letter from him by express." + +"Well, and what news does it bring--good or bad?" + +"What is there of good to be expected?" said he, taking the letter from +his pocket. "But perhaps you would like to read it." + +Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up. + +"Read it aloud," said their father, "for I hardly know myself what it is +about." + +"Gracechurch Street, Monday, August 2. + +"MY DEAR BROTHER, + +"At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such as, +upon the whole, I hope it will give you satisfaction. Soon after you +left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out in what part of +London they were. The particulars I reserve till we meet; it is enough +to know they are discovered. I have seen them both--" + +"Then it is as I always hoped," cried Jane; "they are married!" + +Elizabeth read on: + +"I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I find there +was any intention of being so; but if you are willing to perform the +engagements which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will +not be long before they are. All that is required of you is, to assure +to your daughter, by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand +pounds secured among your children after the decease of yourself and +my sister; and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, +during your life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions +which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, +as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by +express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer. You +will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham's +circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be. +The world has been deceived in that respect; and I am happy to say there +will be some little money, even when all his debts are discharged, to +settle on my niece, in addition to her own fortune. If, as I conclude +will be the case, you send me full powers to act in your name throughout +the whole of this business, I will immediately give directions to +Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement. There will not be the +smallest occasion for your coming to town again; therefore stay quiet at +Longbourn, and depend on my diligence and care. Send back your answer as +fast as you can, and be careful to write explicitly. We have judged it +best that my niece should be married from this house, of which I hope +you will approve. She comes to us to-day. I shall write again as soon as +anything more is determined on. Yours, etc., + +"EDW. GARDINER." + +"Is it possible?" cried Elizabeth, when she had finished. "Can it be +possible that he will marry her?" + +"Wickham is not so undeserving, then, as we thought him," said her +sister. "My dear father, I congratulate you." + +"And have you answered the letter?" cried Elizabeth. + +"No; but it must be done soon." + +Most earnestly did she then entreaty him to lose no more time before he +wrote. + +"Oh! my dear father," she cried, "come back and write immediately. +Consider how important every moment is in such a case." + +"Let me write for you," said Jane, "if you dislike the trouble +yourself." + +"I dislike it very much," he replied; "but it must be done." + +And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towards the house. + +"And may I ask--" said Elizabeth; "but the terms, I suppose, must be +complied with." + +"Complied with! I am only ashamed of his asking so little." + +"And they _must_ marry! Yet he is _such_ a man!" + +"Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be done. But there +are two things that I want very much to know; one is, how much money +your uncle has laid down to bring it about; and the other, how am I ever +to pay him." + +"Money! My uncle!" cried Jane, "what do you mean, sir?" + +"I mean, that no man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a +temptation as one hundred a year during my life, and fifty after I am +gone." + +"That is very true," said Elizabeth; "though it had not occurred to me +before. His debts to be discharged, and something still to remain! Oh! +it must be my uncle's doings! Generous, good man, I am afraid he has +distressed himself. A small sum could not do all this." + +"No," said her father; "Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing +less than ten thousand pounds. I should be sorry to think so ill of him, +in the very beginning of our relationship." + +"Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is half such a sum to be +repaid?" + +Mr. Bennet made no answer, and each of them, deep in thought, continued +silent till they reached the house. Their father then went on to the +library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room. + +"And they are really to be married!" cried Elizabeth, as soon as they +were by themselves. "How strange this is! And for _this_ we are to be +thankful. That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, +and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice. Oh, Lydia!" + +"I comfort myself with thinking," replied Jane, "that he certainly would +not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her. Though our kind +uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten +thousand pounds, or anything like it, has been advanced. He has children +of his own, and may have more. How could he spare half ten thousand +pounds?" + +"If he were ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been," said +Elizabeth, "and how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall +exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has +not sixpence of his own. The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never +be requited. Their taking her home, and affording her their personal +protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as +years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge. By this time she is +actually with them! If such goodness does not make her miserable now, +she will never deserve to be happy! What a meeting for her, when she +first sees my aunt!" + +"We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side," said +Jane: "I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to +marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of +thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them; and I flatter myself +they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in +time make their past imprudence forgotten." + +"Their conduct has been such," replied Elizabeth, "as neither you, nor +I, nor anybody can ever forget. It is useless to talk of it." + +It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood +perfectly ignorant of what had happened. They went to the library, +therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make +it known to her. He was writing and, without raising his head, coolly +replied: + +"Just as you please." + +"May we take my uncle's letter to read to her?" + +"Take whatever you like, and get away." + +Elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table, and they went upstairs +together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet: one communication +would, therefore, do for all. After a slight preparation for good news, +the letter was read aloud. Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself. As +soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner's hope of Lydia's being soon +married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its +exuberance. She was now in an irritation as violent from delight, as she +had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation. To know that her daughter +would be married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear for her +felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct. + +"My dear, dear Lydia!" she cried. "This is delightful indeed! She will +be married! I shall see her again! She will be married at sixteen! +My good, kind brother! I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage +everything! How I long to see her! and to see dear Wickham too! But the +clothes, the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about +them directly. Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him +how much he will give her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, +Kitty, for Hill. I will put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear +Lydia! How merry we shall be together when we meet!" + +Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of +these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. +Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under. + +"For we must attribute this happy conclusion," she added, "in a great +measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to +assist Mr. Wickham with money." + +"Well," cried her mother, "it is all very right; who should do it but +her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children +must have had all his money, you know; and it is the first time we have +ever had anything from him, except a few presents. Well! I am so happy! +In a short time I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well +it sounds! And she was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I am in +such a flutter, that I am sure I can't write; so I will dictate, and +you write for me. We will settle with your father about the money +afterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately." + +She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and +cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had +not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her +father was at leisure to be consulted. One day's delay, she observed, +would be of small importance; and her mother was too happy to be quite +so obstinate as usual. Other schemes, too, came into her head. + +"I will go to Meryton," said she, "as soon as I am dressed, and tell the +good, good news to my sister Philips. And as I come back, I can call +on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. +An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure. Girls, can I do +anything for you in Meryton? Oh! Here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you +heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall +all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding." + +Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. Elizabeth received her +congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took +refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom. + +Poor Lydia's situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was +no worse, she had need to be thankful. She felt it so; and though, in +looking forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could +be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had +feared, only two hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had +gained. + + + +Chapter 50 + + +Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that, +instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for +the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived +him. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that +respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever +of honour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of +prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be +her husband might then have rested in its proper place. + +He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone +should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he +was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance, +and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could. + +When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectly +useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The son was to join +in cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow +and younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters +successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. +Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he +would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then +too late to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her +husband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their +income. + +Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and +the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the +latter depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, with +regard to Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet +could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. In +terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, +though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect +approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the +engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed +that, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would +be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present +arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the +hundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocket +allowance, and the continual presents in money which passed to her +through her mother's hands, Lydia's expenses had been very little within +that sum. + +That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was +another very welcome surprise; for his wish at present was to have as +little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports +of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he +naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon +dispatched; for, though dilatory in undertaking business, he was quick +in its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he +was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any +message to her. + +The good news spread quickly through the house, and with proportionate +speed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decent +philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage +of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the +happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant +farmhouse. But there was much to be talked of in marrying her; and the +good-natured wishes for her well-doing which had proceeded before from +all the spiteful old ladies in Meryton lost but a little of their spirit +in this change of circumstances, because with such an husband her misery +was considered certain. + +It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been downstairs; but on this +happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table, and in +spirits oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her +triumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object +of her wishes since Jane was sixteen, was now on the point of +accomplishment, and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those +attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, and +servants. She was busily searching through the neighbourhood for a +proper situation for her daughter, and, without knowing or considering +what their income might be, rejected many as deficient in size and +importance. + +"Haye Park might do," said she, "if the Gouldings could quit it--or the +great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; but Ashworth is +too far off! I could not bear to have her ten miles from me; and as for +Pulvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful." + +Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the +servants remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her: "Mrs. +Bennet, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and +daughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into _one_ house in this +neighbourhood they shall never have admittance. I will not encourage the +impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn." + +A long dispute followed this declaration; but Mr. Bennet was firm. It +soon led to another; and Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror, +that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his +daughter. He protested that she should receive from him no mark of +affection whatever on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly comprehend +it. That his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivable +resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without which her +marriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all she could believe +possible. She was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new +clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense of +shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they +took place. + +Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of +the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for +her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the +proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its +unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the +spot. + +She had no fear of its spreading farther through his means. There were +few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended; +but, at the same time, there was no one whose knowledge of a sister's +frailty would have mortified her so much--not, however, from any fear +of disadvantage from it individually to herself, for, at any rate, +there seemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been +concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that +Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where, to every other +objection, would now be added an alliance and relationship of the +nearest kind with a man whom he so justly scorned. + +From such a connection she could not wonder that he would shrink. The +wish of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of his +feeling in Derbyshire, could not in rational expectation survive such a +blow as this. She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she +hardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could no +longer hope to be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when there +seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that +she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they +should meet. + +What a triumph for him, as she often thought, could he know that the +proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now +have been most gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, she +doubted not, as the most generous of his sex; but while he was mortal, +there must be a triumph. + +She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in +disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and +temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It +was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease +and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; +and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she +must have received benefit of greater importance. + +But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what +connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, and +precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their +family. + +How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, +she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could +belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions +were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr. Bennet's +acknowledgments he briefly replied, with assurance of his eagerness to +promote the welfare of any of his family; and concluded with entreaties +that the subject might never be mentioned to him again. The principal +purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved +on quitting the militia. + +"It was greatly my wish that he should do so," he added, "as soon as +his marriage was fixed on. And I think you will agree with me, in +considering the removal from that corps as highly advisable, both on +his account and my niece's. It is Mr. Wickham's intention to go into +the regulars; and among his former friends, there are still some who +are able and willing to assist him in the army. He has the promise of an +ensigncy in General ----'s regiment, now quartered in the North. It +is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom. He +promises fairly; and I hope among different people, where they may each +have a character to preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have +written to Colonel Forster, to inform him of our present arrangements, +and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mr. Wickham +in and near Brighton, with assurances of speedy payment, for which I +have pledged myself. And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying +similar assurances to his creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin +a list according to his information? He has given in all his debts; I +hope at least he has not deceived us. Haggerston has our directions, +and all will be completed in a week. They will then join his regiment, +unless they are first invited to Longbourn; and I understand from Mrs. +Gardiner, that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she +leaves the South. She is well, and begs to be dutifully remembered to +you and your mother.--Yours, etc., + +"E. GARDINER." + +Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal +from the ----shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do. But Mrs. Bennet +was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's being settled in the North, +just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company, +for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in +Hertfordshire, was a severe disappointment; and, besides, it was such a +pity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted +with everybody, and had so many favourites. + +"She is so fond of Mrs. Forster," said she, "it will be quite shocking +to send her away! And there are several of the young men, too, that she +likes very much. The officers may not be so pleasant in General ----'s +regiment." + +His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of being +admitted into her family again before she set off for the North, +received at first an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth, +who agreed in wishing, for the sake of their sister's feelings and +consequence, that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents, +urged him so earnestly yet so rationally and so mildly, to receive her +and her husband at Longbourn, as soon as they were married, that he was +prevailed on to think as they thought, and act as they wished. And their +mother had the satisfaction of knowing that she would be able to show +her married daughter in the neighbourhood before she was banished to the +North. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent +his permission for them to come; and it was settled, that as soon as +the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn. Elizabeth was +surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme, and +had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would +have been the last object of her wishes. + + + +Chapter 51 + + +Their sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her +probably more than she felt for herself. The carriage was sent to +meet them at ----, and they were to return in it by dinner-time. Their +arrival was dreaded by the elder Miss Bennets, and Jane more especially, +who gave Lydia the feelings which would have attended herself, had she +been the culprit, and was wretched in the thought of what her sister +must endure. + +They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive +them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to +the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, +anxious, uneasy. + +Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open, and +she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards, embraced her, and +welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand, with an affectionate smile, +to Wickham, who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with an +alacrity which shewed no doubt of their happiness. + +Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not quite +so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely +opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was +enough to provoke him. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet +was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, +and fearless. She turned from sister to sister, demanding their +congratulations; and when at length they all sat down, looked eagerly +round the room, took notice of some little alteration in it, and +observed, with a laugh, that it was a great while since she had been +there. + +Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself, but his manners +were always so pleasing, that had his character and his marriage been +exactly what they ought, his smiles and his easy address, while he +claimed their relationship, would have delighted them all. Elizabeth had +not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, +resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence +of an impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the +two who caused their confusion suffered no variation of colour. + +There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could neither +of them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened to sit near +Elizabeth, began inquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood, +with a good humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her +replies. They seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the +world. Nothing of the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led +voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have alluded to for +the world. + +"Only think of its being three months," she cried, "since I went away; +it seems but a fortnight I declare; and yet there have been things +enough happened in the time. Good gracious! when I went away, I am sure +I had no more idea of being married till I came back again! though I +thought it would be very good fun if I was." + +Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed. Elizabeth looked +expressively at Lydia; but she, who never heard nor saw anything of +which she chose to be insensible, gaily continued, "Oh! mamma, do the +people hereabouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they might not; +and we overtook William Goulding in his curricle, so I was determined he +should know it, and so I let down the side-glass next to him, and took +off my glove, and let my hand just rest upon the window frame, so that +he might see the ring, and then I bowed and smiled like anything." + +Elizabeth could bear it no longer. She got up, and ran out of the room; +and returned no more, till she heard them passing through the hall to +the dining parlour. She then joined them soon enough to see Lydia, with +anxious parade, walk up to her mother's right hand, and hear her say +to her eldest sister, "Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go +lower, because I am a married woman." + +It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment +from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good +spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips, the Lucases, and +all their other neighbours, and to hear herself called "Mrs. Wickham" +by each of them; and in the mean time, she went after dinner to show her +ring, and boast of being married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids. + +"Well, mamma," said she, when they were all returned to the breakfast +room, "and what do you think of my husband? Is not he a charming man? I +am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half +my good luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get +husbands. What a pity it is, mamma, we did not all go." + +"Very true; and if I had my will, we should. But my dear Lydia, I don't +at all like your going such a way off. Must it be so?" + +"Oh, lord! yes;--there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all +things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come down and see us. We +shall be at Newcastle all the winter, and I dare say there will be some +balls, and I will take care to get good partners for them all." + +"I should like it beyond anything!" said her mother. + +"And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of my sisters +behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the +winter is over." + +"I thank you for my share of the favour," said Elizabeth; "but I do not +particularly like your way of getting husbands." + +Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them. Mr. Wickham +had received his commission before he left London, and he was to join +his regiment at the end of a fortnight. + +No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be so short; and +she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter, and +having very frequent parties at home. These parties were acceptable to +all; to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did +think, than such as did not. + +Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected +to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She had scarcely needed her +present observation to be satisfied, from the reason of things, that +their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love, rather +than by his; and she would have wondered why, without violently caring +for her, he chose to elope with her at all, had she not felt certain +that his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; and +if that were the case, he was not the young man to resist an opportunity +of having a companion. + +Lydia was exceedingly fond of him. He was her dear Wickham on every +occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him. He did every +thing best in the world; and she was sure he would kill more birds on +the first of September, than any body else in the country. + +One morning, soon after their arrival, as she was sitting with her two +elder sisters, she said to Elizabeth: + +"Lizzy, I never gave _you_ an account of my wedding, I believe. You +were not by, when I told mamma and the others all about it. Are not you +curious to hear how it was managed?" + +"No really," replied Elizabeth; "I think there cannot be too little said +on the subject." + +"La! You are so strange! But I must tell you how it went off. We were +married, you know, at St. Clement's, because Wickham's lodgings were in +that parish. And it was settled that we should all be there by eleven +o'clock. My uncle and aunt and I were to go together; and the others +were to meet us at the church. Well, Monday morning came, and I was in +such a fuss! I was so afraid, you know, that something would happen to +put it off, and then I should have gone quite distracted. And there was +my aunt, all the time I was dressing, preaching and talking away just as +if she was reading a sermon. However, I did not hear above one word in +ten, for I was thinking, you may suppose, of my dear Wickham. I longed +to know whether he would be married in his blue coat." + +"Well, and so we breakfasted at ten as usual; I thought it would never +be over; for, by the bye, you are to understand, that my uncle and aunt +were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with them. If you'll believe +me, I did not once put my foot out of doors, though I was there a +fortnight. Not one party, or scheme, or anything. To be sure London was +rather thin, but, however, the Little Theatre was open. Well, and so +just as the carriage came to the door, my uncle was called away upon +business to that horrid man Mr. Stone. And then, you know, when once +they get together, there is no end of it. Well, I was so frightened I +did not know what to do, for my uncle was to give me away; and if we +were beyond the hour, we could not be married all day. But, luckily, he +came back again in ten minutes' time, and then we all set out. However, +I recollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going, the +wedding need not be put off, for Mr. Darcy might have done as well." + +"Mr. Darcy!" repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement. + +"Oh, yes!--he was to come there with Wickham, you know. But gracious +me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a word about it. I promised +them so faithfully! What will Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!" + +"If it was to be secret," said Jane, "say not another word on the +subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further." + +"Oh! certainly," said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity; "we will +ask you no questions." + +"Thank you," said Lydia, "for if you did, I should certainly tell you +all, and then Wickham would be angry." + +On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her +power, by running away. + +But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or at least +it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy had been at +her sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene, and exactly among people, +where he had apparently least to do, and least temptation to go. +Conjectures as to the meaning of it, rapid and wild, hurried into her +brain; but she was satisfied with none. Those that best pleased her, as +placing his conduct in the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She +could not bear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, +wrote a short letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of what +Lydia had dropt, if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been +intended. + +"You may readily comprehend," she added, "what my curiosity must be +to know how a person unconnected with any of us, and (comparatively +speaking) a stranger to our family, should have been amongst you at such +a time. Pray write instantly, and let me understand it--unless it is, +for very cogent reasons, to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems +to think necessary; and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with +ignorance." + +"Not that I _shall_, though," she added to herself, as she finished +the letter; "and my dear aunt, if you do not tell me in an honourable +manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it +out." + +Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to +Elizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall; Elizabeth was glad +of it;--till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any +satisfaction, she had rather be without a confidante. + + + +Chapter 52 + + +Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as +soon as she possibly could. She was no sooner in possession of it +than, hurrying into the little copse, where she was least likely to +be interrupted, she sat down on one of the benches and prepared to +be happy; for the length of the letter convinced her that it did not +contain a denial. + +"Gracechurch street, Sept. 6. + +"MY DEAR NIECE, + +"I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning +to answering it, as I foresee that a _little_ writing will not comprise +what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your +application; I did not expect it from _you_. Don't think me angry, +however, for I only mean to let you know that I had not imagined such +inquiries to be necessary on _your_ side. If you do not choose to +understand me, forgive my impertinence. Your uncle is as much surprised +as I am--and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned +would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really +innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. + +"On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most +unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several +hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity was not so +dreadfully racked as _yours_ seems to have been. He came to tell Mr. +Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, +and that he had seen and talked with them both; Wickham repeatedly, +Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day +after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for +them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to +himself that Wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to +make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide +in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and +confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private +actions open to the world. His character was to speak for itself. He +called it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy +an evil which had been brought on by himself. If he _had another_ +motive, I am sure it would never disgrace him. He had been some days +in town, before he was able to discover them; but he had something to +direct his search, which was more than _we_ had; and the consciousness +of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us. + +"There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago +governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause +of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large +house in Edward-street, and has since maintained herself by letting +lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with +Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him as soon as he got to +town. But it was two or three days before he could get from her what he +wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery and +corruption, for she really did know where her friend was to be found. +Wickham indeed had gone to her on their first arrival in London, and had +she been able to receive them into her house, they would have taken up +their abode with her. At length, however, our kind friend procured the +wished-for direction. They were in ---- street. He saw Wickham, and +afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he +acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful +situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed +on to receive her, offering his assistance, as far as it would go. But +he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was. She cared +for none of her friends; she wanted no help of his; she would not hear +of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married some time or +other, and it did not much signify when. Since such were her feelings, +it only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which, +in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never +been _his_ design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment, +on account of some debts of honour, which were very pressing; and +scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of Lydia's flight on her +own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as +to his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it. He +must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he knew he should have +nothing to live on. + +"Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your sister at once. Though +Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able +to do something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by +marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still +cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in +some other country. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely +to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief. + +"They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham of +course wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be +reasonable. + +"Every thing being settled between _them_, Mr. Darcy's next step was to +make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch +street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be +seen, and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father was +still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge +your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your +uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the +departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the next +day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business. + +"On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, +and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. + +"They met again on Sunday, and then _I_ saw him too. It was not all +settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to +Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that +obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been +accused of many faults at different times, but _this_ is the true one. +Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and +I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it), your +uncle would most readily have settled the whole. + +"They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either +the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle +was forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his +niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, +which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter +this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation +that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where +it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther than yourself, or Jane +at most. + +"You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young +people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably +more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own +settled upon _her_, and his commission purchased. The reason why all +this was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It +was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that +Wickham's character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that he +had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth +in _this_; though I doubt whether _his_ reserve, or _anybody's_ reserve, +can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, +my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would +never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for _another +interest_ in the affair. + +"When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who +were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in +London once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were +then to receive the last finish. + +"I believe I have now told you every thing. It is a relation which +you tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not +afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us; and Wickham had constant +admission to the house. _He_ was exactly what he had been, when I +knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was +satisfied with her behaviour while she staid with us, if I had not +perceived, by Jane's letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming +home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now tell +you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most +serious manner, representing to her all the wickedness of what she had +done, and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family. If she +heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen. I was +sometimes quite provoked, but then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and +Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her. + +"Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and as Lydia informed you, +attended the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave +town again on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my +dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold +enough to say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has, +in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His +understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little +more liveliness, and _that_, if he marry _prudently_, his wife may teach +him. I thought him very sly;--he hardly ever mentioned your name. But +slyness seems the fashion. + +"Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least do not +punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy +till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton, with a nice little +pair of ponies, would be the very thing. + +"But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half +hour. + +"Yours, very sincerely, + +"M. GARDINER." + +The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, +in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the +greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had +produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister's +match, which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too +great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be just, from the +pain of obligation, were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true! +He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all +the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which +supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and +despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason +with, persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished to +avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had +done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her +heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly +checked by other considerations, and she soon felt that even her vanity +was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her--for +a woman who had already refused him--as able to overcome a sentiment so +natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law +of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, +to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had +given a reason for his interference, which asked no extraordinary +stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been +wrong; he had liberality, and he had the means of exercising it; and +though she would not place herself as his principal inducement, she +could, perhaps, believe that remaining partiality for her might assist +his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially +concerned. It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were +under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They +owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, every thing, to him. Oh! +how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever +encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him. For +herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in a cause +of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better of himself. +She read over her aunt's commendation of him again and again. It +was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some +pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how steadfastly both she +and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted +between Mr. Darcy and herself. + +She was roused from her seat, and her reflections, by some one's +approach; and before she could strike into another path, she was +overtaken by Wickham. + +"I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?" said he, +as he joined her. + +"You certainly do," she replied with a smile; "but it does not follow +that the interruption must be unwelcome." + +"I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and +now we are better." + +"True. Are the others coming out?" + +"I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to +Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that +you have actually seen Pemberley." + +She replied in the affirmative. + +"I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much +for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the +old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of +me. But of course she did not mention my name to you." + +"Yes, she did." + +"And what did she say?" + +"That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had--not turned +out well. At such a distance as _that_, you know, things are strangely +misrepresented." + +"Certainly," he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had +silenced him; but he soon afterwards said: + +"I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other +several times. I wonder what he can be doing there." + +"Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh," said +Elizabeth. "It must be something particular, to take him there at this +time of year." + +"Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I +understood from the Gardiners that you had." + +"Yes; he introduced us to his sister." + +"And do you like her?" + +"Very much." + +"I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year +or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad +you liked her. I hope she will turn out well." + +"I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age." + +"Did you go by the village of Kympton?" + +"I do not recollect that we did." + +"I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had. A +most delightful place!--Excellent Parsonage House! It would have suited +me in every respect." + +"How should you have liked making sermons?" + +"Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, +and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to +repine;--but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The +quiet, the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas +of happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the +circumstance, when you were in Kent?" + +"I have heard from authority, which I thought _as good_, that it was +left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron." + +"You have. Yes, there was something in _that_; I told you so from the +first, you may remember." + +"I _did_ hear, too, that there was a time, when sermon-making was not +so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually +declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business +had been compromised accordingly." + +"You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember +what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it." + +They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast +to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister's sake, to provoke him, +she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile: + +"Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let +us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one +mind." + +She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though +he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house. + + + +Chapter 53 + + +Mr. Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation that he +never again distressed himself, or provoked his dear sister Elizabeth, +by introducing the subject of it; and she was pleased to find that she +had said enough to keep him quiet. + +The day of his and Lydia's departure soon came, and Mrs. Bennet was +forced to submit to a separation, which, as her husband by no means +entered into her scheme of their all going to Newcastle, was likely to +continue at least a twelvemonth. + +"Oh! my dear Lydia," she cried, "when shall we meet again?" + +"Oh, lord! I don't know. Not these two or three years, perhaps." + +"Write to me very often, my dear." + +"As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for +writing. My sisters may write to _me_. They will have nothing else to +do." + +Mr. Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's. He +smiled, looked handsome, and said many pretty things. + +"He is as fine a fellow," said Mr. Bennet, as soon as they were out of +the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to +us all. I am prodigiously proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas +himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law." + +The loss of her daughter made Mrs. Bennet very dull for several days. + +"I often think," said she, "that there is nothing so bad as parting with +one's friends. One seems so forlorn without them." + +"This is the consequence, you see, Madam, of marrying a daughter," said +Elizabeth. "It must make you better satisfied that your other four are +single." + +"It is no such thing. Lydia does not leave me because she is married, +but only because her husband's regiment happens to be so far off. If +that had been nearer, she would not have gone so soon." + +But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly +relieved, and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope, by an +article of news which then began to be in circulation. The housekeeper +at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her +master, who was coming down in a day or two, to shoot there for several +weeks. Mrs. Bennet was quite in the fidgets. She looked at Jane, and +smiled and shook her head by turns. + +"Well, well, and so Mr. Bingley is coming down, sister," (for Mrs. +Phillips first brought her the news). "Well, so much the better. Not +that I care about it, though. He is nothing to us, you know, and I am +sure _I_ never want to see him again. But, however, he is very welcome +to come to Netherfield, if he likes it. And who knows what _may_ happen? +But that is nothing to us. You know, sister, we agreed long ago never to +mention a word about it. And so, is it quite certain he is coming?" + +"You may depend on it," replied the other, "for Mrs. Nicholls was in +Meryton last night; I saw her passing by, and went out myself on purpose +to know the truth of it; and she told me that it was certain true. He +comes down on Thursday at the latest, very likely on Wednesday. She was +going to the butcher's, she told me, on purpose to order in some meat on +Wednesday, and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed." + +Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing +colour. It was many months since she had mentioned his name to +Elizabeth; but now, as soon as they were alone together, she said: + +"I saw you look at me to-day, Lizzy, when my aunt told us of the present +report; and I know I appeared distressed. But don't imagine it was from +any silly cause. I was only confused for the moment, because I felt that +I _should_ be looked at. I do assure you that the news does not affect +me either with pleasure or pain. I am glad of one thing, that he comes +alone; because we shall see the less of him. Not that I am afraid of +_myself_, but I dread other people's remarks." + +Elizabeth did not know what to make of it. Had she not seen him in +Derbyshire, she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no +other view than what was acknowledged; but she still thought him partial +to Jane, and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming +there _with_ his friend's permission, or being bold enough to come +without it. + +"Yet it is hard," she sometimes thought, "that this poor man cannot +come to a house which he has legally hired, without raising all this +speculation! I _will_ leave him to himself." + +In spite of what her sister declared, and really believed to be her +feelings in the expectation of his arrival, Elizabeth could easily +perceive that her spirits were affected by it. They were more disturbed, +more unequal, than she had often seen them. + +The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents, +about a twelvemonth ago, was now brought forward again. + +"As soon as ever Mr. Bingley comes, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "you +will wait on him of course." + +"No, no. You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised, if I +went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in +nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again." + +His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention +would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen, on his returning to +Netherfield. + +"'Tis an etiquette I despise," said he. "If he wants our society, +let him seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours +in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back +again." + +"Well, all I know is, that it will be abominably rude if you do not wait +on him. But, however, that shan't prevent my asking him to dine here, I +am determined. We must have Mrs. Long and the Gouldings soon. That will +make thirteen with ourselves, so there will be just room at table for +him." + +Consoled by this resolution, she was the better able to bear her +husband's incivility; though it was very mortifying to know that her +neighbours might all see Mr. Bingley, in consequence of it, before +_they_ did. As the day of his arrival drew near: + +"I begin to be sorry that he comes at all," said Jane to her sister. "It +would be nothing; I could see him with perfect indifference, but I can +hardly bear to hear it thus perpetually talked of. My mother means well; +but she does not know, no one can know, how much I suffer from what she +says. Happy shall I be, when his stay at Netherfield is over!" + +"I wish I could say anything to comfort you," replied Elizabeth; "but it +is wholly out of my power. You must feel it; and the usual satisfaction +of preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me, because you have +always so much." + +Mr. Bingley arrived. Mrs. Bennet, through the assistance of servants, +contrived to have the earliest tidings of it, that the period of anxiety +and fretfulness on her side might be as long as it could. She counted +the days that must intervene before their invitation could be sent; +hopeless of seeing him before. But on the third morning after his +arrival in Hertfordshire, she saw him, from her dressing-room window, +enter the paddock and ride towards the house. + +Her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy. Jane resolutely +kept her place at the table; but Elizabeth, to satisfy her mother, went +to the window--she looked,--she saw Mr. Darcy with him, and sat down +again by her sister. + +"There is a gentleman with him, mamma," said Kitty; "who can it be?" + +"Some acquaintance or other, my dear, I suppose; I am sure I do not +know." + +"La!" replied Kitty, "it looks just like that man that used to be with +him before. Mr. what's-his-name. That tall, proud man." + +"Good gracious! Mr. Darcy!--and so it does, I vow. Well, any friend of +Mr. Bingley's will always be welcome here, to be sure; but else I must +say that I hate the very sight of him." + +Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern. She knew but little +of their meeting in Derbyshire, and therefore felt for the awkwardness +which must attend her sister, in seeing him almost for the first time +after receiving his explanatory letter. Both sisters were uncomfortable +enough. Each felt for the other, and of course for themselves; and their +mother talked on, of her dislike of Mr. Darcy, and her resolution to be +civil to him only as Mr. Bingley's friend, without being heard by either +of them. But Elizabeth had sources of uneasiness which could not be +suspected by Jane, to whom she had never yet had courage to shew Mrs. +Gardiner's letter, or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him. +To Jane, he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused, +and whose merit she had undervalued; but to her own more extensive +information, he was the person to whom the whole family were indebted +for the first of benefits, and whom she regarded herself with an +interest, if not quite so tender, at least as reasonable and just as +what Jane felt for Bingley. Her astonishment at his coming--at his +coming to Netherfield, to Longbourn, and voluntarily seeking her again, +was almost equal to what she had known on first witnessing his altered +behaviour in Derbyshire. + +The colour which had been driven from her face, returned for half a +minute with an additional glow, and a smile of delight added lustre to +her eyes, as she thought for that space of time that his affection and +wishes must still be unshaken. But she would not be secure. + +"Let me first see how he behaves," said she; "it will then be early +enough for expectation." + +She sat intently at work, striving to be composed, and without daring to +lift up her eyes, till anxious curiosity carried them to the face of +her sister as the servant was approaching the door. Jane looked a little +paler than usual, but more sedate than Elizabeth had expected. On the +gentlemen's appearing, her colour increased; yet she received them with +tolerable ease, and with a propriety of behaviour equally free from any +symptom of resentment or any unnecessary complaisance. + +Elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow, and sat down +again to her work, with an eagerness which it did not often command. She +had ventured only one glance at Darcy. He looked serious, as usual; and, +she thought, more as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, than as +she had seen him at Pemberley. But, perhaps he could not in her mother's +presence be what he was before her uncle and aunt. It was a painful, but +not an improbable, conjecture. + +Bingley, she had likewise seen for an instant, and in that short period +saw him looking both pleased and embarrassed. He was received by Mrs. +Bennet with a degree of civility which made her two daughters ashamed, +especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of +her curtsey and address to his friend. + +Elizabeth, particularly, who knew that her mother owed to the latter +the preservation of her favourite daughter from irremediable infamy, +was hurt and distressed to a most painful degree by a distinction so ill +applied. + +Darcy, after inquiring of her how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did, a question +which she could not answer without confusion, said scarcely anything. He +was not seated by her; perhaps that was the reason of his silence; but +it had not been so in Derbyshire. There he had talked to her friends, +when he could not to herself. But now several minutes elapsed without +bringing the sound of his voice; and when occasionally, unable to resist +the impulse of curiosity, she raised her eyes to his face, she as often +found him looking at Jane as at herself, and frequently on no object but +the ground. More thoughtfulness and less anxiety to please, than when +they last met, were plainly expressed. She was disappointed, and angry +with herself for being so. + +"Could I expect it to be otherwise!" said she. "Yet why did he come?" + +She was in no humour for conversation with anyone but himself; and to +him she had hardly courage to speak. + +She inquired after his sister, but could do no more. + +"It is a long time, Mr. Bingley, since you went away," said Mrs. Bennet. + +He readily agreed to it. + +"I began to be afraid you would never come back again. People _did_ say +you meant to quit the place entirely at Michaelmas; but, however, I hope +it is not true. A great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood, +since you went away. Miss Lucas is married and settled. And one of my +own daughters. I suppose you have heard of it; indeed, you must have +seen it in the papers. It was in The Times and The Courier, I know; +though it was not put in as it ought to be. It was only said, 'Lately, +George Wickham, Esq. to Miss Lydia Bennet,' without there being a +syllable said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything. +It was my brother Gardiner's drawing up too, and I wonder how he came to +make such an awkward business of it. Did you see it?" + +Bingley replied that he did, and made his congratulations. Elizabeth +dared not lift up her eyes. How Mr. Darcy looked, therefore, she could +not tell. + +"It is a delightful thing, to be sure, to have a daughter well married," +continued her mother, "but at the same time, Mr. Bingley, it is very +hard to have her taken such a way from me. They are gone down to +Newcastle, a place quite northward, it seems, and there they are to stay +I do not know how long. His regiment is there; for I suppose you have +heard of his leaving the ----shire, and of his being gone into the +regulars. Thank Heaven! he has _some_ friends, though perhaps not so +many as he deserves." + +Elizabeth, who knew this to be levelled at Mr. Darcy, was in such +misery of shame, that she could hardly keep her seat. It drew from her, +however, the exertion of speaking, which nothing else had so effectually +done before; and she asked Bingley whether he meant to make any stay in +the country at present. A few weeks, he believed. + +"When you have killed all your own birds, Mr. Bingley," said her mother, +"I beg you will come here, and shoot as many as you please on Mr. +Bennet's manor. I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you, and +will save all the best of the covies for you." + +Elizabeth's misery increased, at such unnecessary, such officious +attention! Were the same fair prospect to arise at present as had +flattered them a year ago, every thing, she was persuaded, would be +hastening to the same vexatious conclusion. At that instant, she felt +that years of happiness could not make Jane or herself amends for +moments of such painful confusion. + +"The first wish of my heart," said she to herself, "is never more to +be in company with either of them. Their society can afford no pleasure +that will atone for such wretchedness as this! Let me never see either +one or the other again!" + +Yet the misery, for which years of happiness were to offer no +compensation, received soon afterwards material relief, from observing +how much the beauty of her sister re-kindled the admiration of her +former lover. When first he came in, he had spoken to her but little; +but every five minutes seemed to be giving her more of his attention. He +found her as handsome as she had been last year; as good natured, and +as unaffected, though not quite so chatty. Jane was anxious that no +difference should be perceived in her at all, and was really persuaded +that she talked as much as ever. But her mind was so busily engaged, +that she did not always know when she was silent. + +When the gentlemen rose to go away, Mrs. Bennet was mindful of her +intended civility, and they were invited and engaged to dine at +Longbourn in a few days time. + +"You are quite a visit in my debt, Mr. Bingley," she added, "for when +you went to town last winter, you promised to take a family dinner with +us, as soon as you returned. I have not forgot, you see; and I assure +you, I was very much disappointed that you did not come back and keep +your engagement." + +Bingley looked a little silly at this reflection, and said something of +his concern at having been prevented by business. They then went away. + +Mrs. Bennet had been strongly inclined to ask them to stay and dine +there that day; but, though she always kept a very good table, she did +not think anything less than two courses could be good enough for a man +on whom she had such anxious designs, or satisfy the appetite and pride +of one who had ten thousand a year. + + + +Chapter 54 + + +As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth walked out to recover her spirits; +or in other words, to dwell without interruption on those subjects that +must deaden them more. Mr. Darcy's behaviour astonished and vexed her. + +"Why, if he came only to be silent, grave, and indifferent," said she, +"did he come at all?" + +She could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure. + +"He could be still amiable, still pleasing, to my uncle and aunt, when +he was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come hither? If +he no longer cares for me, why silent? Teasing, teasing, man! I will +think no more about him." + +Her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the approach +of her sister, who joined her with a cheerful look, which showed her +better satisfied with their visitors, than Elizabeth. + +"Now," said she, "that this first meeting is over, I feel perfectly +easy. I know my own strength, and I shall never be embarrassed again by +his coming. I am glad he dines here on Tuesday. It will then be publicly +seen that, on both sides, we meet only as common and indifferent +acquaintance." + +"Yes, very indifferent indeed," said Elizabeth, laughingly. "Oh, Jane, +take care." + +"My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me so weak, as to be in danger now?" + +"I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with +you as ever." + + * * * * * + +They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday; and Mrs. Bennet, in +the meanwhile, was giving way to all the happy schemes, which the good +humour and common politeness of Bingley, in half an hour's visit, had +revived. + +On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn; and the two +who were most anxiously expected, to the credit of their punctuality +as sportsmen, were in very good time. When they repaired to the +dining-room, Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether Bingley would take +the place, which, in all their former parties, had belonged to him, by +her sister. Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore +to invite him to sit by herself. On entering the room, he seemed to +hesitate; but Jane happened to look round, and happened to smile: it was +decided. He placed himself by her. + +Elizabeth, with a triumphant sensation, looked towards his friend. +He bore it with noble indifference, and she would have imagined that +Bingley had received his sanction to be happy, had she not seen his eyes +likewise turned towards Mr. Darcy, with an expression of half-laughing +alarm. + +His behaviour to her sister was such, during dinner time, as showed an +admiration of her, which, though more guarded than formerly, persuaded +Elizabeth, that if left wholly to himself, Jane's happiness, and his +own, would be speedily secured. Though she dared not depend upon the +consequence, she yet received pleasure from observing his behaviour. It +gave her all the animation that her spirits could boast; for she was in +no cheerful humour. Mr. Darcy was almost as far from her as the table +could divide them. He was on one side of her mother. She knew how little +such a situation would give pleasure to either, or make either appear to +advantage. She was not near enough to hear any of their discourse, but +she could see how seldom they spoke to each other, and how formal and +cold was their manner whenever they did. Her mother's ungraciousness, +made the sense of what they owed him more painful to Elizabeth's mind; +and she would, at times, have given anything to be privileged to tell +him that his kindness was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the +family. + +She was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of +bringing them together; that the whole of the visit would not pass away +without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than +the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance. Anxious +and uneasy, the period which passed in the drawing-room, before the +gentlemen came, was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her +uncivil. She looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all +her chance of pleasure for the evening must depend. + +"If he does not come to me, _then_," said she, "I shall give him up for +ever." + +The gentlemen came; and she thought he looked as if he would have +answered her hopes; but, alas! the ladies had crowded round the table, +where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee, +in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her +which would admit of a chair. And on the gentlemen's approaching, one of +the girls moved closer to her than ever, and said, in a whisper: + +"The men shan't come and part us, I am determined. We want none of them; +do we?" + +Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with +her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough +to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for +being so silly! + +"A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to +expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not +protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? +There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!" + +She was a little revived, however, by his bringing back his coffee cup +himself; and she seized the opportunity of saying: + +"Is your sister at Pemberley still?" + +"Yes, she will remain there till Christmas." + +"And quite alone? Have all her friends left her?" + +"Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough, +these three weeks." + +She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse +with her, he might have better success. He stood by her, however, for +some minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady's whispering +to Elizabeth again, he walked away. + +When the tea-things were removed, and the card-tables placed, the ladies +all rose, and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him, +when all her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her +mother's rapacity for whist players, and in a few moments after seated +with the rest of the party. She now lost every expectation of pleasure. +They were confined for the evening at different tables, and she had +nothing to hope, but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side +of the room, as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself. + +Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to +supper; but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the +others, and she had no opportunity of detaining them. + +"Well girls," said she, as soon as they were left to themselves, "What +say you to the day? I think every thing has passed off uncommonly well, +I assure you. The dinner was as well dressed as any I ever saw. The +venison was roasted to a turn--and everybody said they never saw so +fat a haunch. The soup was fifty times better than what we had at the +Lucases' last week; and even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges +were remarkably well done; and I suppose he has two or three French +cooks at least. And, my dear Jane, I never saw you look in greater +beauty. Mrs. Long said so too, for I asked her whether you did not. And +what do you think she said besides? 'Ah! Mrs. Bennet, we shall have her +at Netherfield at last.' She did indeed. I do think Mrs. Long is as good +a creature as ever lived--and her nieces are very pretty behaved girls, +and not at all handsome: I like them prodigiously." + +Mrs. Bennet, in short, was in very great spirits; she had seen enough of +Bingley's behaviour to Jane, to be convinced that she would get him at +last; and her expectations of advantage to her family, when in a happy +humour, were so far beyond reason, that she was quite disappointed at +not seeing him there again the next day, to make his proposals. + +"It has been a very agreeable day," said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth. "The +party seemed so well selected, so suitable one with the other. I hope we +may often meet again." + +Elizabeth smiled. + +"Lizzy, you must not do so. You must not suspect me. It mortifies me. +I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an +agreeable and sensible young man, without having a wish beyond it. I am +perfectly satisfied, from what his manners now are, that he never had +any design of engaging my affection. It is only that he is blessed +with greater sweetness of address, and a stronger desire of generally +pleasing, than any other man." + +"You are very cruel," said her sister, "you will not let me smile, and +are provoking me to it every moment." + +"How hard it is in some cases to be believed!" + +"And how impossible in others!" + +"But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I +acknowledge?" + +"That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to +instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive +me; and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante." + + + +Chapter 55 + + +A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His +friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in +ten days time. He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably +good spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but, with many +expressions of concern, he confessed himself engaged elsewhere. + +"Next time you call," said she, "I hope we shall be more lucky." + +He should be particularly happy at any time, etc. etc.; and if she would +give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them. + +"Can you come to-morrow?" + +Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her invitation was +accepted with alacrity. + +He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them +dressed. In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughter's room, in her dressing +gown, and with her hair half finished, crying out: + +"My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come--Mr. Bingley is +come. He is, indeed. Make haste, make haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss +Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss +Lizzy's hair." + +"We will be down as soon as we can," said Jane; "but I dare say Kitty is +forwarder than either of us, for she went up stairs half an hour ago." + +"Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come be quick, be quick! +Where is your sash, my dear?" + +But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to go down +without one of her sisters. + +The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the +evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was his +custom, and Mary went up stairs to her instrument. Two obstacles of +the five being thus removed, Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at +Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time, without making any +impression on them. Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last +Kitty did, she very innocently said, "What is the matter mamma? What do +you keep winking at me for? What am I to do?" + +"Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you." She then sat still +five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion, she +suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty, "Come here, my love, I want to +speak to you," took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look +at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her +entreaty that _she_ would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. +Bennet half-opened the door and called out: + +"Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you." + +Elizabeth was forced to go. + +"We may as well leave them by themselves you know;" said her mother, as +soon as she was in the hall. "Kitty and I are going upstairs to sit in +my dressing-room." + +Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother, but remained +quietly in the hall, till she and Kitty were out of sight, then returned +into the drawing-room. + +Mrs. Bennet's schemes for this day were ineffectual. Bingley was every +thing that was charming, except the professed lover of her daughter. His +ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their +evening party; and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the +mother, and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command +of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter. + +He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper; and before he went +away, an engagement was formed, chiefly through his own and Mrs. +Bennet's means, for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband. + +After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference. Not a word passed +between the sisters concerning Bingley; but Elizabeth went to bed in +the happy belief that all must speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy +returned within the stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably +persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's +concurrence. + +Bingley was punctual to his appointment; and he and Mr. Bennet spent +the morning together, as had been agreed on. The latter was much more +agreeable than his companion expected. There was nothing of presumption +or folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule, or disgust him into +silence; and he was more communicative, and less eccentric, than the +other had ever seen him. Bingley of course returned with him to dinner; +and in the evening Mrs. Bennet's invention was again at work to get +every body away from him and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter +to write, went into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after tea; +for as the others were all going to sit down to cards, she could not be +wanted to counteract her mother's schemes. + +But on returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was finished, she +saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to fear that her mother +had been too ingenious for her. On opening the door, she perceived her +sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth, as if engaged in +earnest conversation; and had this led to no suspicion, the faces of +both, as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other, would +have told it all. Their situation was awkward enough; but _hers_ she +thought was still worse. Not a syllable was uttered by either; and +Elizabeth was on the point of going away again, when Bingley, who as +well as the other had sat down, suddenly rose, and whispering a few +words to her sister, ran out of the room. + +Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence would give +pleasure; and instantly embracing her, acknowledged, with the liveliest +emotion, that she was the happiest creature in the world. + +"'Tis too much!" she added, "by far too much. I do not deserve it. Oh! +why is not everybody as happy?" + +Elizabeth's congratulations were given with a sincerity, a warmth, +a delight, which words could but poorly express. Every sentence of +kindness was a fresh source of happiness to Jane. But she would not +allow herself to stay with her sister, or say half that remained to be +said for the present. + +"I must go instantly to my mother;" she cried. "I would not on any +account trifle with her affectionate solicitude; or allow her to hear it +from anyone but myself. He is gone to my father already. Oh! Lizzy, to +know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear +family! how shall I bear so much happiness!" + +She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up the +card party, and was sitting up stairs with Kitty. + +Elizabeth, who was left by herself, now smiled at the rapidity and ease +with which an affair was finally settled, that had given them so many +previous months of suspense and vexation. + +"And this," said she, "is the end of all his friend's anxious +circumspection! of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance! the +happiest, wisest, most reasonable end!" + +In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley, whose conference with her +father had been short and to the purpose. + +"Where is your sister?" said he hastily, as he opened the door. + +"With my mother up stairs. She will be down in a moment, I dare say." + +He then shut the door, and, coming up to her, claimed the good wishes +and affection of a sister. Elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed +her delight in the prospect of their relationship. They shook hands with +great cordiality; and then, till her sister came down, she had to listen +to all he had to say of his own happiness, and of Jane's perfections; +and in spite of his being a lover, Elizabeth really believed all his +expectations of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for +basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of +Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and +himself. + +It was an evening of no common delight to them all; the satisfaction of +Miss Bennet's mind gave a glow of such sweet animation to her face, as +made her look handsomer than ever. Kitty simpered and smiled, and hoped +her turn was coming soon. Mrs. Bennet could not give her consent or +speak her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings, +though she talked to Bingley of nothing else for half an hour; and when +Mr. Bennet joined them at supper, his voice and manner plainly showed +how really happy he was. + +Not a word, however, passed his lips in allusion to it, till their +visitor took his leave for the night; but as soon as he was gone, he +turned to his daughter, and said: + +"Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy woman." + +Jane went to him instantly, kissed him, and thanked him for his +goodness. + +"You are a good girl;" he replied, "and I have great pleasure in +thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your +doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are +each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so +easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will +always exceed your income." + +"I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be +unpardonable in me." + +"Exceed their income! My dear Mr. Bennet," cried his wife, "what are you +talking of? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and very likely +more." Then addressing her daughter, "Oh! my dear, dear Jane, I am so +happy! I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it +would be. I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure you could not +be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as ever I saw him, when +he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was +that you should come together. Oh! he is the handsomest young man that +ever was seen!" + +Wickham, Lydia, were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her +favourite child. At that moment, she cared for no other. Her younger +sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness +which she might in future be able to dispense. + +Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield; and Kitty +begged very hard for a few balls there every winter. + +Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn; +coming frequently before breakfast, and always remaining till after +supper; unless when some barbarous neighbour, who could not be enough +detested, had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself +obliged to accept. + +Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister; for +while he was present, Jane had no attention to bestow on anyone else; +but she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours +of separation that must sometimes occur. In the absence of Jane, he +always attached himself to Elizabeth, for the pleasure of talking of +her; and when Bingley was gone, Jane constantly sought the same means of +relief. + +"He has made me so happy," said she, one evening, "by telling me that he +was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring! I had not believed +it possible." + +"I suspected as much," replied Elizabeth. "But how did he account for +it?" + +"It must have been his sister's doing. They were certainly no friends to +his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have +chosen so much more advantageously in many respects. But when they see, +as I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will +learn to be contented, and we shall be on good terms again; though we +can never be what we once were to each other." + +"That is the most unforgiving speech," said Elizabeth, "that I ever +heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again +the dupe of Miss Bingley's pretended regard." + +"Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last November, +he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of _my_ being +indifferent would have prevented his coming down again!" + +"He made a little mistake to be sure; but it is to the credit of his +modesty." + +This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence, and +the little value he put on his own good qualities. Elizabeth was pleased +to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend; for, +though Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world, she +knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him. + +"I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!" cried +Jane. "Oh! Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed +above them all! If I could but see _you_ as happy! If there _were_ but +such another man for you!" + +"If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as +you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your +happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very +good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time." + +The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a +secret. Mrs. Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs. Phillips, +and she ventured, without any permission, to do the same by all her +neighbours in Meryton. + +The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the +world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, +they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune. + + + +Chapter 56 + + +One morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement with Jane had been +formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the +dining-room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window, by the +sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up +the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the +equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses +were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who +preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that +somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid +the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the +shrubbery. They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three +continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown +open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. + +They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their +astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. +Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even +inferior to what Elizabeth felt. + +She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no +other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the +head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her +name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance, though no request of +introduction had been made. + +Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such +high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting +for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth, + +"I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your +mother." + +Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was. + +"And _that_ I suppose is one of your sisters." + +"Yes, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine. +"She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, +and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man +who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family." + +"You have a very small park here," returned Lady Catherine after a short +silence. + +"It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I +assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's." + +"This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in +summer; the windows are full west." + +Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner, and then +added: + +"May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and +Mrs. Collins well." + +"Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last." + +Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from +Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no +letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled. + +Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some +refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, +declined eating anything; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth, + +"Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness +on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you +will favour me with your company." + +"Go, my dear," cried her mother, "and show her ladyship about the +different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage." + +Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, +attended her noble guest downstairs. As they passed through the +hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and +drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent +looking rooms, walked on. + +Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her +waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk +that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for +conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and +disagreeable. + +"How could I ever think her like her nephew?" said she, as she looked in +her face. + +As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following +manner:-- + +"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my +journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I +come." + +Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment. + +"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account +for the honour of seeing you here." + +"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to +know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere _you_ may +choose to be, you shall not find _me_ so. My character has ever been +celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such +moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most +alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your +sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that +you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon +afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I +_know_ it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him +so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved +on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to +you." + +"If you believed it impossible to be true," said Elizabeth, colouring +with astonishment and disdain, "I wonder you took the trouble of coming +so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?" + +"At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted." + +"Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family," said Elizabeth +coolly, "will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report +is in existence." + +"If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been +industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a +report is spread abroad?" + +"I never heard that it was." + +"And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?" + +"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may +ask questions which I shall not choose to answer." + +"This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has +he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?" + +"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible." + +"It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his +reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, +have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You +may have drawn him in." + +"If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it." + +"Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such +language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, +and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns." + +"But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, +ever induce me to be explicit." + +"Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the +presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is +engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?" + +"Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will +make an offer to me." + +Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied: + +"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, +they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of +_his_ mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned +the union: and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would +be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of +inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to +the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his +tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of +propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest +hours he was destined for his cousin?" + +"Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is +no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not +be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to +marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the +marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither +by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make +another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?" + +"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, +Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or +friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will +be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. +Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned +by any of us." + +"These are heavy misfortunes," replied Elizabeth. "But the wife of Mr. +Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily +attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause +to repine." + +"Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude +for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that +score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came +here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will +I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's +whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment." + +"_That_ will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; +but it will have no effect on me." + +"I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my +nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal +side, from the same noble line; and, on the father's, from respectable, +honourable, and ancient--though untitled--families. Their fortune on +both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of +every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? +The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, +or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you +were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in +which you have been brought up." + +"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that +sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are +equal." + +"True. You _are_ a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? +Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their +condition." + +"Whatever my connections may be," said Elizabeth, "if your nephew does +not object to them, they can be nothing to _you_." + +"Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?" + +Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady +Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a +moment's deliberation: + +"I am not." + +Lady Catherine seemed pleased. + +"And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?" + +"I will make no promise of the kind." + +"Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more +reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that +I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the +assurance I require." + +"And I certainly _never_ shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into +anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry +your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their +marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would +my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? +Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have +supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the +application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if +you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your +nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; +but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, +therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject." + +"Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the +objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am +no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous +elopement. I know it all; that the young man's marrying her was a +patched-up business, at the expence of your father and uncles. And is +such a girl to be my nephew's sister? Is her husband, is the son of his +late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!--of what are +you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?" + +"You can now have nothing further to say," she resentfully answered. +"You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to +the house." + +And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned +back. Her ladyship was highly incensed. + +"You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! +Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you +must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?" + +"Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments." + +"You are then resolved to have him?" + +"I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, +which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without +reference to _you_, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me." + +"It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the +claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in +the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world." + +"Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude," replied Elizabeth, "have any +possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either +would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the +resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former +_were_ excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's +concern--and the world in general would have too much sense to join in +the scorn." + +"And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. +I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your +ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you +reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point." + +In this manner Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the door of +the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added, "I take no leave +of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve +no such attention. I am most seriously displeased." + +Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her +ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She +heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs. Her mother +impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room, to ask why Lady +Catherine would not come in again and rest herself. + +"She did not choose it," said her daughter, "she would go." + +"She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously +civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were +well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare say, and so, passing through +Meryton, thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had +nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?" + +Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to +acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible. + + + +Chapter 57 + + +The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw +Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many +hours, learn to think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it +appeared, had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, +for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. +Darcy. It was a rational scheme, to be sure! but from what the report +of their engagement could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; +till she recollected that _his_ being the intimate friend of Bingley, +and _her_ being the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the +expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another, to supply +the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her +sister must bring them more frequently together. And her neighbours +at Lucas Lodge, therefore (for through their communication with the +Collinses, the report, she concluded, had reached Lady Catherine), had +only set that down as almost certain and immediate, which she had looked +forward to as possible at some future time. + +In revolving Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not help +feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting +in this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to +prevent their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate +an application to her nephew; and how _he_ might take a similar +representation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she dared +not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his +aunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to suppose +that he thought much higher of her ladyship than _she_ could do; and it +was certain that, in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with _one_, +whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt would +address him on his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he would +probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth had appeared weak +and ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid reasoning. + +If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often +seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might +settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity +unblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady +Catherine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement to +Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way. + +"If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his +friend within a few days," she added, "I shall know how to understand +it. I shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his +constancy. If he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he might +have obtained my affections and hand, I shall soon cease to regret him +at all." + + * * * * * + +The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor had +been, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the same +kind of supposition which had appeased Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; and +Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject. + +The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she was met by her +father, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand. + +"Lizzy," said he, "I was going to look for you; come into my room." + +She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to +tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner +connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it +might be from Lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the +consequent explanations. + +She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. He +then said, + +"I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me +exceedingly. As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its +contents. I did not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink +of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest." + +The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous +conviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt; +and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained +himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to +herself; when her father continued: + +"You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such matters +as these; but I think I may defy even _your_ sagacity, to discover the +name of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins." + +"From Mr. Collins! and what can _he_ have to say?" + +"Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins with +congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, of +which, it seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping +Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience, by reading what he says +on that point. What relates to yourself, is as follows: 'Having thus +offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on +this happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another; +of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter +Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, after +her elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may +be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in +this land.' + +"Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?" 'This young +gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with every thing the heart of +mortal can most desire,--splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive +patronage. Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousin +Elizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur by a precipitate +closure with this gentleman's proposals, which, of course, you will be +inclined to take immediate advantage of.' + +"Have you any idea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out: + +"'My motive for cautioning you is as follows. We have reason to imagine +that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with +a friendly eye.' + +"_Mr. Darcy_, you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think I _have_ +surprised you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man within +the circle of our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie +more effectually to what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any +woman but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at you in his +life! It is admirable!" + +Elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry, but could only force +one most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner so +little agreeable to her. + +"Are you not diverted?" + +"Oh! yes. Pray read on." + +"'After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last +night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she +felt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that on the score of some +family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give her +consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my duty +to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she and +her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about, and not run +hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.' Mr. +Collins moreover adds, 'I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sad +business has been so well hushed up, and am only concerned that their +living together before the marriage took place should be so generally +known. I must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrain +from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young +couple into your house as soon as they were married. It was an +encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should +very strenuously have opposed it. You ought certainly to forgive them, +as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their +names to be mentioned in your hearing.' That is his notion of Christian +forgiveness! The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's +situation, and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzy, you +look as if you did not enjoy it. You are not going to be _missish_, +I hope, and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we +live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our +turn?" + +"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I am excessively diverted. But it is so +strange!" + +"Yes--_that_ is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any other man +it would have been nothing; but _his_ perfect indifference, and _your_ +pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abominate +writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any +consideration. Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving +him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and +hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzy, what said Lady Catherine +about this report? Did she call to refuse her consent?" + +To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had +been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by +his repeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her +feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she +would rather have cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by +what he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference, and she could do nothing but +wonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead of +his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much. + + + +Chapter 58 + + +Instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend, as +Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do, he was able to bring Darcy +with him to Longbourn before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's +visit. The gentlemen arrived early; and, before Mrs. Bennet had time +to tell him of their having seen his aunt, of which her daughter sat +in momentary dread, Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane, proposed +their all walking out. It was agreed to. Mrs. Bennet was not in the +habit of walking; Mary could never spare time; but the remaining five +set off together. Bingley and Jane, however, soon allowed the others +to outstrip them. They lagged behind, while Elizabeth, Kitty, and Darcy +were to entertain each other. Very little was said by either; Kitty +was too much afraid of him to talk; Elizabeth was secretly forming a +desperate resolution; and perhaps he might be doing the same. + +They walked towards the Lucases, because Kitty wished to call upon +Maria; and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern, +when Kitty left them she went boldly on with him alone. Now was the +moment for her resolution to be executed, and, while her courage was +high, she immediately said: + +"Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, for the sake of giving +relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours. I +can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my +poor sister. Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to +acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest +of my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express." + +"I am sorry, exceedingly sorry," replied Darcy, in a tone of surprise +and emotion, "that you have ever been informed of what may, in a +mistaken light, have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner +was so little to be trusted." + +"You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to +me that you had been concerned in the matter; and, of course, I could +not rest till I knew the particulars. Let me thank you again and again, +in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced +you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications, for the +sake of discovering them." + +"If you _will_ thank me," he replied, "let it be for yourself alone. +That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other +inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your +_family_ owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought +only of _you_." + +Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, +her companion added, "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your +feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. _My_ +affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence +me on this subject for ever." + +Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of +his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not +very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone +so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make +her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The +happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never +felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as +warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth +been able to encounter his eye, she might have seen how well the +expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; +but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of +feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his +affection every moment more valuable. + +They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to +be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects. She +soon learnt that they were indebted for their present good understanding +to the efforts of his aunt, who did call on him in her return through +London, and there relate her journey to Longbourn, its motive, and the +substance of her conversation with Elizabeth; dwelling emphatically on +every expression of the latter which, in her ladyship's apprehension, +peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance; in the belief that +such a relation must assist her endeavours to obtain that promise +from her nephew which she had refused to give. But, unluckily for her +ladyship, its effect had been exactly contrariwise. + +"It taught me to hope," said he, "as I had scarcely ever allowed myself +to hope before. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, +had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have +acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly." + +Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied, "Yes, you know enough +of my frankness to believe me capable of _that_. After abusing you so +abominably to your face, I could have no scruple in abusing you to all +your relations." + +"What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your +accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my +behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was +unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence." + +"We will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that +evening," said Elizabeth. "The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, +will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved +in civility." + +"I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I +then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of +it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. Your +reproof, so well applied, I shall never forget: 'had you behaved in a +more gentlemanlike manner.' Those were your words. You know not, you can +scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me;--though it was some time, +I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice." + +"I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an +impression. I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such +a way." + +"I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper +feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never +forget, as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible +way that would induce you to accept me." + +"Oh! do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at +all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it." + +Darcy mentioned his letter. "Did it," said he, "did it soon make you +think better of me? Did you, on reading it, give any credit to its +contents?" + +She explained what its effect on her had been, and how gradually all her +former prejudices had been removed. + +"I knew," said he, "that what I wrote must give you pain, but it was +necessary. I hope you have destroyed the letter. There was one part +especially, the opening of it, which I should dread your having the +power of reading again. I can remember some expressions which might +justly make you hate me." + +"The letter shall certainly be burnt, if you believe it essential to the +preservation of my regard; but, though we have both reason to think my +opinions not entirely unalterable, they are not, I hope, quite so easily +changed as that implies." + +"When I wrote that letter," replied Darcy, "I believed myself perfectly +calm and cool, but I am since convinced that it was written in a +dreadful bitterness of spirit." + +"The letter, perhaps, began in bitterness, but it did not end so. The +adieu is charity itself. But think no more of the letter. The feelings +of the person who wrote, and the person who received it, are now +so widely different from what they were then, that every unpleasant +circumstance attending it ought to be forgotten. You must learn some +of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you +pleasure." + +"I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind. Your +retrospections must be so totally void of reproach, that the contentment +arising from them is not of philosophy, but, what is much better, of +innocence. But with me, it is not so. Painful recollections will intrude +which cannot, which ought not, to be repelled. I have been a selfish +being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I +was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I +was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. +Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt +by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all +that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught +me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family +circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least +to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I +was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been +but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You +taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, +I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. +You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman +worthy of being pleased." + +"Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?" + +"Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you to be +wishing, expecting my addresses." + +"My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally, I assure +you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might often lead me +wrong. How you must have hated me after _that_ evening?" + +"Hate you! I was angry perhaps at first, but my anger soon began to take +a proper direction." + +"I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me, when we met at +Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?" + +"No indeed; I felt nothing but surprise." + +"Your surprise could not be greater than _mine_ in being noticed by you. +My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness, and I +confess that I did not expect to receive _more_ than my due." + +"My object then," replied Darcy, "was to show you, by every civility in +my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to +obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you +see that your reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes +introduced themselves I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an +hour after I had seen you." + +He then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance, and of her +disappointment at its sudden interruption; which naturally leading to +the cause of that interruption, she soon learnt that his resolution of +following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed +before he quitted the inn, and that his gravity and thoughtfulness +there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must +comprehend. + +She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to +each, to be dwelt on farther. + +After walking several miles in a leisurely manner, and too busy to know +anything about it, they found at last, on examining their watches, that +it was time to be at home. + +"What could become of Mr. Bingley and Jane!" was a wonder which +introduced the discussion of their affairs. Darcy was delighted with +their engagement; his friend had given him the earliest information of +it. + +"I must ask whether you were surprised?" said Elizabeth. + +"Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen." + +"That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as much." And +though he exclaimed at the term, she found that it had been pretty much +the case. + +"On the evening before my going to London," said he, "I made a +confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I +told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his +affairs absurd and impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had +the slightest suspicion. I told him, moreover, that I believed myself +mistaken in supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent +to him; and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was +unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together." + +Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his +friend. + +"Did you speak from your own observation," said she, "when you told him +that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?" + +"From the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits +which I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection." + +"And your assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to +him." + +"It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had +prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but +his reliance on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess +one thing, which for a time, and not unjustly, offended him. I could not +allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months +last winter, that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was +angry. But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained +in any doubt of your sister's sentiments. He has heartily forgiven me +now." + +Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful +friend; so easily guided that his worth was invaluable; but she checked +herself. She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, +and it was rather too early to begin. In anticipating the happiness +of Bingley, which of course was to be inferior only to his own, he +continued the conversation till they reached the house. In the hall they +parted. + + + +Chapter 59 + + +"My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a question +which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, +and from all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to +say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own +knowledge. She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor anything +else, awakened a suspicion of the truth. + +The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary. The +acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent. +Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; +and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather _knew_ that she was happy +than _felt_ herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, +there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt +in the family when her situation became known; she was aware that no +one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a +dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away. + +At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far +from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here. + +"You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be!--engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, +you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible." + +"This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and +I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am +in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are +engaged." + +Jane looked at her doubtingly. "Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much +you dislike him." + +"You know nothing of the matter. _That_ is all to be forgot. Perhaps I +did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as +these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever +remember it myself." + +Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more +seriously assured her of its truth. + +"Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you," cried +Jane. "My dear, dear Lizzy, I would--I do congratulate you--but are you +certain? forgive the question--are you quite certain that you can be +happy with him?" + +"There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that +we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, +Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother?" + +"Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more +delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible. And do you +really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than +marry without affection. Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought +to do?" + +"Oh, yes! You will only think I feel _more_ than I ought to do, when I +tell you all." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am +afraid you will be angry." + +"My dearest sister, now _be_ serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let +me know every thing that I am to know, without delay. Will you tell me +how long you have loved him?" + +"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. +But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds +at Pemberley." + +Another entreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the +desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances +of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing +further to wish. + +"Now I am quite happy," said she, "for you will be as happy as myself. +I always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, +I must always have esteemed him; but now, as Bingley's friend and your +husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But +Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you +tell me of what passed at Pemberley and Lambton! I owe all that I know +of it to another, not to you." + +Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had been unwilling +to mention Bingley; and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made +her equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer +conceal from her his share in Lydia's marriage. All was acknowledged, +and half the night spent in conversation. + + * * * * * + +"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Bennet, as she stood at a window the next +morning, "if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with +our dear Bingley! What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always +coming here? I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or +other, and not disturb us with his company. What shall we do with him? +Lizzy, you must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley's +way." + +Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal; yet +was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an +epithet. + +As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so expressively, and +shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information; +and he soon afterwards said aloud, "Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes +hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?" + +"I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty," said Mrs. Bennet, "to walk +to Oakham Mount this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has +never seen the view." + +"It may do very well for the others," replied Mr. Bingley; "but I am +sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty?" Kitty owned that +she had rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see +the view from the Mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went +up stairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying: + +"I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that +disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is +all for Jane's sake, you know; and there is no occasion for talking +to him, except just now and then. So, do not put yourself to +inconvenience." + +During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's consent should be +asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the +application for her mother's. She could not determine how her mother +would take it; sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur +would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man. But whether she +were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it +was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit +to her sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear +the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her +disapprobation. + + * * * * * + +In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw +Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was +extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition, but he was going to +be made unhappy; and that it should be through her means--that _she_, +his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be +filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her--was a wretched +reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again, when, +looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes +he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while +pretending to admire her work said in a whisper, "Go to your father, he +wants you in the library." She was gone directly. + +Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. +"Lizzy," said he, "what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be +accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?" + +How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more +reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from +explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; +but they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, +of her attachment to Mr. Darcy. + +"Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be +sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. +But will they make you happy?" + +"Have you any other objection," said Elizabeth, "than your belief of my +indifference?" + +"None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but +this would be nothing if you really liked him." + +"I do, I do like him," she replied, with tears in her eyes, "I love him. +Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not +know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in +such terms." + +"Lizzy," said her father, "I have given him my consent. He is the kind +of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything, which he +condescended to ask. I now give it to _you_, if you are resolved on +having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know +your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor +respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked +up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the +greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape +discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing +_you_ unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are +about." + +Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and +at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object +of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of +him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection +was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months' +suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did +conquer her father's incredulity, and reconcile him to the match. + +"Well, my dear," said he, when she ceased speaking, "I have no more to +say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with +you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy." + +To complete the favourable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy +had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment. + +"This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy did every thing; +made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him +his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble +and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and _would_ have +paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own +way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about +his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter." + +He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before, on his reading +Mr. Collins's letter; and after laughing at her some time, allowed her +at last to go--saying, as she quitted the room, "If any young men come +for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure." + +Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight; and, after +half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join +the others with tolerable composure. Every thing was too recent for +gaiety, but the evening passed tranquilly away; there was no longer +anything material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity +would come in time. + +When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night, she followed her, +and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary; +for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and unable to +utter a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could +comprehend what she heard; though not in general backward to credit +what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a +lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in +her chair, get up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself. + +"Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would +have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich +and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages +you will have! Jane's is nothing to it--nothing at all. I am so +pleased--so happy. Such a charming man!--so handsome! so tall!--Oh, my +dear Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I +hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing +that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, +Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted." + +This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted: and +Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, +soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, +her mother followed her. + +"My dearest child," she cried, "I can think of nothing else! Ten +thousand a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a +special licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence. But +my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, +that I may have it to-morrow." + +This was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman +himself might be; and Elizabeth found that, though in the certain +possession of his warmest affection, and secure of her relations' +consent, there was still something to be wished for. But the morrow +passed off much better than she expected; for Mrs. Bennet luckily stood +in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to +him, unless it was in her power to offer him any attention, or mark her +deference for his opinion. + +Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get +acquainted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising +every hour in his esteem. + +"I admire all my three sons-in-law highly," said he. "Wickham, perhaps, +is my favourite; but I think I shall like _your_ husband quite as well +as Jane's." + + + +Chapter 60 + + +Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. +Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "How could +you begin?" said she. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when +you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first +place?" + +"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which +laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I +knew that I _had_ begun." + +"My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners--my behaviour +to _you_ was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke +to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; +did you admire me for my impertinence?" + +"For the liveliness of your mind, I did." + +"You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. +The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious +attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, +and looking, and thinking for _your_ approbation alone. I roused, and +interested you, because I was so unlike _them_. Had you not been really +amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you +took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and +in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously +courted you. There--I have saved you the trouble of accounting for +it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly +reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me--but nobody thinks +of _that_ when they fall in love." + +"Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane while she was +ill at Netherfield?" + +"Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it +by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are +to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me +to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may +be; and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling +to come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first +called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did +you look as if you did not care about me?" + +"Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement." + +"But I was embarrassed." + +"And so was I." + +"You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner." + +"A man who had felt less, might." + +"How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that +I should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you +_would_ have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when +you _would_ have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of +thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. +_Too much_, I am afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort +springs from a breach of promise? for I ought not to have mentioned the +subject. This will never do." + +"You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady +Catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of +removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to +your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour +to wait for any opening of yours. My aunt's intelligence had given me +hope, and I was determined at once to know every thing." + +"Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, +for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to +Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? +or had you intended any more serious consequence?" + +"My real purpose was to see _you_, and to judge, if I could, whether I +might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to +myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, +and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made." + +"Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to +befall her?" + +"I am more likely to want more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it +ought to be done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be +done directly." + +"And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and +admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But +I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected." + +From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy +had been over-rated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's +long letter; but now, having _that_ to communicate which she knew would +be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and +aunt had already lost three days of happiness, and immediately wrote as +follows: + +"I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, +for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the +truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. +But _now_ suppose as much as you choose; give a loose rein to your +fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the +subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you +cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a +great deal more than you did in your last. I thank you, again and again, +for not going to the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your +idea of the ponies is delightful. We will go round the Park every day. I +am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so +before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she +only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that +he can spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. +Yours, etc." + +Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style; and still +different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins, in reply +to his last. + +"DEAR SIR, + +"I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon +be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. +But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give. + +"Yours sincerely, etc." + +Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother, on his approaching +marriage, were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even +to Jane on the occasion, to express her delight, and repeat all her +former professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was +affected; and though feeling no reliance on her, could not help writing +her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved. + +The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information, +was as sincere as her brother's in sending it. Four sides of paper were +insufficient to contain all her delight, and all her earnest desire of +being loved by her sister. + +Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations +to Elizabeth from his wife, the Longbourn family heard that the +Collinses were come themselves to Lucas Lodge. The reason of this +sudden removal was soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered +so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter, that +Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till +the storm was blown over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend +was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, though in the course of their +meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought, when she +saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of +her husband. He bore it, however, with admirable calmness. He could even +listen to Sir William Lucas, when he complimented him on carrying away +the brightest jewel of the country, and expressed his hopes of their all +meeting frequently at St. James's, with very decent composure. If he did +shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight. + +Mrs. Phillips's vulgarity was another, and perhaps a greater, tax on his +forbearance; and though Mrs. Phillips, as well as her sister, stood in +too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good +humour encouraged, yet, whenever she _did_ speak, she must be vulgar. +Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all +likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield +him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep +him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse +without mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising +from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it +added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to +the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing +to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at +Pemberley. + + + +Chapter 61 + + +Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got +rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride +she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may +be guessed. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the +accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so many +of her children produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, +amiable, well-informed woman for the rest of her life; though perhaps it +was lucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity +in so unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and +invariably silly. + +Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her +drew him oftener from home than anything else could do. He delighted in +going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected. + +Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near +a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to +_his_ easy temper, or _her_ affectionate heart. The darling wish of his +sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county +to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source +of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other. + +Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with +her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally +known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a +temper as Lydia; and, removed from the influence of Lydia's example, +she became, by proper attention and management, less irritable, less +ignorant, and less insipid. From the further disadvantage of Lydia's +society she was of course carefully kept, and though Mrs. Wickham +frequently invited her to come and stay with her, with the promise of +balls and young men, her father would never consent to her going. + +Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily +drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet's being quite +unable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but +she could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no +longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own, +it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without +much reluctance. + +As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution from +the marriage of her sisters. He bore with philosophy the conviction that +Elizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude +and falsehood had before been unknown to her; and in spite of every +thing, was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on +to make his fortune. The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth received +from Lydia on her marriage, explained to her that, by his wife at least, +if not by himself, such a hope was cherished. The letter was to this +effect: + +"MY DEAR LIZZY, + +"I wish you joy. If you love Mr. Darcy half as well as I do my dear +Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so +rich, and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. +I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not +think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. +Any place would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but however, +do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not. + +"Yours, etc." + +As it happened that Elizabeth had _much_ rather not, she endeavoured in +her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind. +Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford, by the practice +of what might be called economy in her own private expences, she +frequently sent them. It had always been evident to her that such an +income as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in +their wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to +their support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or +herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance +towards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even when the +restoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in the +extreme. They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap +situation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection for +her soon sunk into indifference; hers lasted a little longer; and +in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to +reputation which her marriage had given her. + +Though Darcy could never receive _him_ at Pemberley, yet, for +Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia was +occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself +in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently +staid so long, that even Bingley's good humour was overcome, and he +proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone. + +Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy's marriage; but as she +thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, she +dropt all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost as +attentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civility +to Elizabeth. + +Pemberley was now Georgiana's home; and the attachment of the sisters +was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each +other even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinion +in the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with +an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive, manner of +talking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect +which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open +pleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen +in her way. By Elizabeth's instructions, she began to comprehend that +a woman may take liberties with her husband which a brother will not +always allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself. + +Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew; +and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character in +her reply to the letter which announced its arrangement, she sent him +language so very abusive, especially of Elizabeth, that for some time +all intercourse was at an end. But at length, by Elizabeth's persuasion, +he was prevailed on to overlook the offence, and seek a reconciliation; +and, after a little further resistance on the part of his aunt, her +resentment gave way, either to her affection for him, or her curiosity +to see how his wife conducted herself; and she condescended to wait +on them at Pemberley, in spite of that pollution which its woods had +received, not merely from the presence of such a mistress, but the +visits of her uncle and aunt from the city. + +With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. +Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever +sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing +her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them. + + + + + + + + + + + SENSE & SENSIBILITY + + + + BY + + JANE AUSTEN + + + + WITH AN INTRODUCTION + + + BY + + AUSTIN DOBSON + + + + ILLUSTRATED + + + BY + + HUGH THOMSON + + + + + + + LONDON: MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED + + NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + + 1902 + + + + _First Edition with Hugh Thomson's Illustrations_ 1896 + + * * * * * + + + + Transcriber's Note: + +The Table of Contents is not part of the original book. The illustration +on page 290 is missing from the book. The Introduction ends abruptly. +Seems incomplete. + + + [Illustration: _Mr. Dashwood introduced him._--P. 219.] + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +INTRODUCTION +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS +CHAPTER I +CHAPTER II +CHAPTER III +CHAPTER IV +CHAPTER V +CHAPTER VI +CHAPTER VII +CHAPTER VIII +CHAPTER IX +CHAPTER X +CHAPTER XI +CHAPTER XII +CHAPTER XIII +CHAPTER XIV +CHAPTER XV +CHAPTER XVI +CHAPTER XVII +CHAPTER XVIII +CHAPTER XIX +CHAPTER XX +CHAPTER XXI +CHAPTER XXII +CHAPTER XXIII +CHAPTER XXIV +CHAPTER XXV +CHAPTER XXVI +CHAPTER XXVII +CHAPTER XXVIII +CHAPTER XXIX +CHAPTER XXX +CHAPTER XXXI +CHAPTER XXXII +CHAPTER XXXIII +CHAPTER XXXIV +CHAPTER XXXV +CHAPTER XXXVI +CHAPTER XXXVII +CHAPTER XXXVIII +CHAPTER XXXIX +CHAPTER XL +CHAPTER XLI +CHAPTER XLII +CHAPTER XLIII +CHAPTER XLIV +CHAPTER XLV +CHAPTER XLVI +CHAPTER XLVII +CHAPTER XLVIII +CHAPTER XLIX +CHAPTER L + + * * * * * + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +With the title of _Sense and Sensibility_ is connected one of those minor +problems which delight the cummin-splitters of criticism. In the _Cecilia_ +of Madame D'Arblay--the forerunner, if not the model, of Miss Austen--is a +sentence which at first sight suggests some relationship to the name of +the book which, in the present series, inaugurated Miss Austen's novels. +'The whole of this unfortunate business'--says a certain didactic Dr. +Lyster, talking in capitals, towards the end of volume three of +_Cecilia_--'has been the result of PRIDE and PREJUDICE,' and looking to +the admitted familiarity of Miss Austen with Madame D'Arblay's work, it +has been concluded that Miss Austen borrowed from _Cecilia_, the title of +her second novel. But here comes in the little problem to which we have +referred. _Pride and Prejudice_ it is true, was written and finished +before _Sense and Sensibility_--its original title for several years being +_First Impressions_. Then, in 1797, the author fell to work upon an older +essay in letters _a la_ Richardson, called _Elinor and Marianne_, which +she re-christened _Sense and Sensibility._ This, as we know, was her first +published book; and whatever may be the connection between the title of +_Pride and Prejudice_ and the passage in _Cecilia_, there is an obvious +connection between the title of _Pride and Prejudice_ and the _title of +Sense and Sensibility_. If Miss Austen re-christened _Elinor and +Marianne_ before she changed the title of _First Impressions_, as she well +may have, it is extremely unlikely that the name of _Pride and Prejudice_ +has anything to do with _Cecilia_ (which, besides, had been published at +least twenty years before). Upon the whole, therefore, it is most likely +that the passage in Madame D'Arblay is a mere coincidence; and that in +_Sense and Sensibility_, as well as in the novel that succeeded it in +publication, Miss Austen, after the fashion of the old morality plays, +simply substituted the leading characteristics of her principal personages +for their names. Indeed, in _Sense and Sensibility_ the sense of Elinor, +and the sensibility (or rather _sensiblerie_) of Marianne, are markedly +emphasised in the opening pages of the book But Miss Austen subsequently, +and, as we think, wisely, discarded in her remaining efforts the cheap +attraction of an alliterative title. _Emma_ and _Persuasion, Northanger +Abbey_ and _Mansfield Park_, are names far more in consonance with the +quiet tone of her easy and unobtrusive art. + +_Elinor and Marianne_ was originally written about 1792. After the +completion--or partial completion, for it was again revised in +1811--of _First Impressions_ (subsequently _Pride and Prejudice_), +Miss Austen set about recasting _Elinor and Marianne_, then composed +in the form of letters; and she had no sooner accomplished this task, +than she began _Northanger Abbey_. It would be interesting to know to +what extent she remodelled _Sense and Sensibility_ in 1797-98, for we +are told that previous to its publication in 1811 she again devoted a +considerable time to its preparation for the press, and it is clear +that this does not mean the correction of proofs alone, but also a +preliminary revision of MS. Especially would it be interesting if we +could ascertain whether any of its more finished passages, _e.g._ the +admirable conversation between the Miss Dashwoods and Willoughby in +chapter x., were the result of those fallow and apparently barren +years at Bath and Southampton, or whether they were already part of +the second version of 1797-98. But upon this matter the records are +mute. A careful examination of the correspondence published by Lord +Brabourne in 1884 only reveals two definite references to _Sense and +Sensibility_ and these are absolutely unfruitful in suggestion. In +April 1811 she speaks of having corrected two sheets of 'S and S,' +which she has scarcely a hope of getting out in the following June; +and in September, an extract from the diary of another member of the +family indirectly discloses the fact that the book had by that time +been published. This extract is a brief reference to a letter which +had been received from Cassandra Austen, begging her correspondent not +to mention that Aunt Jane wrote _Sense and Sensibility._ Beyond these +minute items of information, and the statement--already referred to in +the Introduction to _Pride and Prejudice_--that she considered herself +overpaid for the labour she had bestowed upon it, absolutely nothing +seems to have been preserved by her descendants respecting her first +printed effort. In the absence of particulars some of her critics have +fallen to speculate upon the reason which made her select it, and not +_Pride and Prejudice_, for her debut; and they have, perhaps +naturally, found in the fact a fresh confirmation of that traditional +blindness of authors to their own best work, which is one of the +commonplaces of literary history. But this is to premise that she +_did_ regard it as her masterpiece, a fact which, apart from this +accident of priority of issue, is, as far as we are aware, nowhere +asserted. A simpler solution is probably that, of the three novels she +had written or sketched by 1811, _Pride and Prejudice_ was languishing +under the stigma of having been refused by one bookseller without the +formality of inspection, while _Northanger Abbey_ was lying _perdu_ in +another bookseller's drawer at Bath. In these circumstances it is +intelligible that she should turn to _Sense and Sensibility_, when, at +length--upon the occasion of a visit to her brother in London in the +spring of 1811--Mr. T. Egerton of the 'Military Library,' Whitehall, +dawned upon the horizon as a practicable publisher. + +By the time _Sense and Sensibility_ left the press, Miss Austen was +again domiciled at Chawton Cottage. For those accustomed to the +swarming reviews of our day, with their Babel of notices, it may seem +strange that there should be no record of the effect produced, seeing +that, as already stated, the book sold well enough to enable its +putter-forth to hand over to its author what Mr. Gargery, in _Great +Expectations_, would have described as 'a cool L150.' Surely Mr. +Egerton, who had visited Miss Austen at Sloane Street, must have later +conveyed to her some intelligence of the way in which her work had +been welcomed by the public. But if he did, it is no longer +discoverable. Mr. Austen Leigh, her first and best biographer, could +find no account either of the publication or of the author's feelings +thereupon. As far as it is possible to judge, the critical verdicts +she obtained were mainly derived from her own relatives and intimate +friends, and some of these latter--if one may trust a little anthology +which she herself collected, and from which Mr. Austen Leigh prints +extracts--must have been more often exasperating than sympathetic. The +long chorus of intelligent approval by which she was afterwards +greeted did not begin to be really audible before her death, and her +'fit audience' during her lifetime must have been emphatically 'few,' +Of two criticisms which came out in the _Quarterly_ early in the +century, she could only have seen one, that of 1815; the other, by +Archbishop Whately, the first which treated her in earnest, did not +appear until she had been three years dead. Dr. Whately deals mainly +with _Mansfield Park_ and _Persuasion_; his predecessor professed to +review _Emma_, though he also gives brief summaries of _Sense and +Sensibility_ and _Pride and Prejudice_. Mr. Austen Leigh, we think, +speaks too contemptuously of this initial notice of 1815. If, at +certain points, it is half-hearted and inadequate, it is still fairly +accurate in its recognition of Miss Austen's supreme merit, as +contrasted with her contemporaries--to wit, her skill in investing the +fortunes of ordinary characters and the narrative of common +occurrences with all the sustained excitement of romance. The Reviewer +points out very justly that this kind of work, 'being deprived of all +that, according to Bayes, goes "to elevate and surprise," must make +amends by displaying depth of knowledge and dexterity of execution.' +And in these qualities, even with such living competitors of her own +sex as Miss Edgeworth and Miss Brunton (whose _Self-control_ came out +in the same year as _Sense and Sensibility_), he does not scruple to +declare that 'Miss Austen stands almost alone.' If he omits to lay +stress upon her judgment, her nice sense of fitness, her restraint, +her fine irony, and the delicacy of her artistic touch, something must +be allowed for the hesitations and reservations which invariably beset +the critical pioneer. + +To contend, however, for a moment that the present volume is Miss +Austen's greatest, as it was her first published, novel, would be a +mere exercise in paradox. There are, who swear by _Persuasion_; there +are, who prefer _Emma_ and _Mansfield Park_; there is a large +contingent for _Pride and Prejudice_; and there is even a section +which advocates the pre-eminence of _Northanger Abbey_. But no one, as +far as we can remember, has ever put _Sense and Sensibility_ first, +nor can we believe that its author did so herself. And yet it is she +herself who has furnished the standard by which we judge it, and it is +by comparison with _Pride and Prejudice_, in which the leading +characters are also two sisters, that we assess and depress its merit. +The Elinor and Marianne of _Sense and Sensibility_ are only inferior +when they are contrasted with the Elizabeth and Jane of _Pride and +Prejudice_; and even then, it is probably because we personally like +the handsome and amiable Jane Bennet rather better than the obsolete +survival of the sentimental novel represented by Marianne Dashwood. +Darcy and Bingley again are much more 'likeable' (to use Lady +Queensberry's word) than the colourless Edward Ferrars and the +stiff-jointed Colonel Brandon. Yet it might not unfairly be contended +that there is more fidelity to what Mr. Thomas Hardy has termed +'life's little ironies' in Miss Austen's disposal of the two Miss +Dashwoods than there is in her disposal of the heroines of _Pride and +Prejudice_. Every one does not get a Bingley, or a Darcy (with a +park); but a good many sensible girls like Elinor pair off contentedly +with poor creatures like Edward Ferrars, while not a few enthusiasts +like Marianne decline at last upon middle-aged colonels with flannel +waistcoats. George Eliot, we fancy, would have held that the fates of +Elinor and Marianne were more probable than the fortunes of Jane and +Eliza Bennet. That, of the remaining characters, there is certainly +none to rival Mr. Bennet, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, or the +ineffable Mr. Collins, of _Pride and Prejudice_, is true; but we +confess to a kindness for vulgar matchmaking Mrs. Jennings with her +still-room 'parmaceti for an inward bruise' in the shape of a glass of +old Constantia; and for the diluted Squire Western, Sir John +Middleton, whose horror of being alone carries him to the point of +rejoicing in the acquisition of _two_ to the population of London. +Excellent again are Mr. Palmer and his wife; excellent, in their +sordid veracity, the self-seeking figures of the Miss Steeles. But the +pearls of the book must be allowed to be that egregious amateur in +toothpick-cases, Mr. Robert Ferrars (with his excursus in chapter +xxxvi. on life in a cottage), and the admirably-matched Mr. and Mrs. +John Dashwood. Miss Austen herself has never done anything better than +the inimitable and oft-quoted chapter wherein is debated between the +last-named pair the momentous matter of the amount to be devoted to +Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters; while the suggestion in chapters +xxxiii. and xxxiv. that the owner of Norland was once within some +thousands of having to sell out at a loss, deserves to be remembered +with that other memorable escape of Sir Roger de Coverley's ancestor, +who was only not killed in the civil wars because 'he was sent out of +the field upon a private message, the day before the battle of +Worcester.' + +Of local colouring there is as little in _Sense and Sensibility_ as in +_Pride and Prejudice_. It is not unlikely that some memories of +Steventon may survive in Norland; and it may be noted that there is +actually a Barton Place to the north of Exeter, not far from Lord +Iddesleigh's well-known seat of Upton Pynes. It is scarcely possible, +also, not to believe that, in Mrs. Jennings's description of +Delaford--'a nice place, I can tell you; exactly what I call a nice +old-fashioned place, full of comforts and conveniences; quite shut in +with great garden walls that are covered with the best fruit-trees in +the country; and such a mulberry tree in one corner!'--Miss Austen had +in mind some real Hampshire or Devonshire country house. In any case, +it comes nearer a picture than what we usually get from her pen. 'Then +there is a dovecote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a very pretty +canal; and everything, in short, that one could wish for; and, +moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile +from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit +up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the +carriages that pass along.' The last lines suggest those quaint +'gazebos' and alcoves, which, in the coaching days, were so often to +be found perched at the roadside, where one might sit and watch the +Dover or Canterbury stage go whirling by. Of genteel accomplishments +there is a touch In the 'landscape in coloured silks' which Charlotte +Palmer had worked at school (chap, xxvi.); and of old remedies for the +lost art of swooning, in the 'lavender drops' of chapter xxix. The +mention of a dance as a 'little hop' in chapter ix. reads like a +premature instance of middle Victorian slang. But nothing is new--even +in a novel--and 'hop,' in this sense, is at least as old as _Joseph +Andrews_. + + * * * * * + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Mr. Dashwood introduced him _Frontispiece_ + +His son's son, a child of four years old + +"I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it" + +So shy before company + +They sang together + +He cut off a long lock of her hair + +"I have found you out in spite of all your tricks" + +Apparently In violent affliction + +Begging her to stop + +Came to take a survey of the guest + +"I declare they are quite charming" + +Mischievous tricks + +Drinking to her best affections + +Amiably bashful + +"I can answer for it," said Mrs. Jennings + +At that moment she first perceived him + +"How fond he was of it!" + +Offered him one of Folly's puppies + +A very smart beau + +Introduced to Mrs. Jennings + +Mrs. Jennings assured him directly that she should not stand +upon ceremony + +Mrs. Ferrars + +Drawing him a little aside + +In a whisper + +"You have heard, I suppose" + +Talking over the business + +"She put in the feather last night" + +Listening at the door + +Both gained considerable amusement + +"Of one thing I may assure you" + +Showing her child to the housekeeper + +The gardener's lamentations + +Opened a window-shutter + +"I entreat you to stay" + +"I was formally dismissed" + +"I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight" + +"And see how the children go on" + +"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married" + +It _was_ Edward + +"Everything in such respectable condition" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex. Their estate +was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of +their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so +respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their +surrounding acquaintance. The late owner of this estate was a single +man, who lived to a very advanced age, and who for many years of his +life, had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister. But her +death, which happened ten years before his own, produced a great +alteration in his home; for to supply her loss, he invited and +received into his house the family of his nephew Mr. Henry Dashwood, +the legal inheritor of the Norland estate, and the person to whom he +intended to bequeath it. In the society of his nephew and niece, and +their children, the old Gentleman's days were comfortably spent. His +attachment to them all increased. The constant attention of Mr. and +Mrs. Henry Dashwood to his wishes, which proceeded not merely from +interest, but from goodness of heart, gave him every degree of solid +comfort which his age could receive; and the cheerfulness of the +children added a relish to his existence. + +By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present +lady, three daughters. The son, a steady respectable young man, was +amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large, +and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age. By his own +marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his +wealth. To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not +so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent +of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that +property, could be but small. Their mother had nothing, and their +father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the +remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her +child, and he had only a life-interest in it. + +The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every +other will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure. He was neither so +unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew; but +he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the +bequest. Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife +and daughters than for himself or his son; but to his son, and his +son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, +as to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most +dear to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the +estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods. The whole was tied up +for the benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his +father and mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of +his uncle, by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children +of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest +desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of +noise, as to outweigh all the value of all the attention which, for +years, he had received from his niece and her daughters. He meant not +to be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection for the three +girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece. + +Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper +was cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many +years, and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the +produce of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate +improvement. But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was +his only one twelvemonth. He survived his uncle no longer; and ten +thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained +for his widow and daughters. + +His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr. +Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness +could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters. + +Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the +family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at +such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make +them comfortable. His father was rendered easy by such an assurance, +and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there +might prudently be in his power to do for them. + +[Illustration: _His son's son, a child of four years old._] + +He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted +and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well +respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of +his ordinary duties. Had he married a more amiable woman, he might +have been made still more respectable than he was: he might even have +been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and +very fond of his wife. But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature +of himself; more narrow-minded and selfish. + +When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to +increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand +pounds a-piece. He then really thought himself equal to it. The +prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income, +besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his +heart, and made him feel capable of generosity. "Yes, he would give +them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would +be enough to make them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he +could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience." He +thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did +not repent. + +No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood, +without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law, +arrived with her child and their attendants. No one could dispute her +right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his +father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the +greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common +feelings, must have been highly unpleasing. But in _her_ mind there +was a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any +offence of the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a +source of immovable disgust. Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a +favourite with any of her husband's family; but she had had no +opportunity, till the present, of showing them with how little +attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion +required it. + +So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so +earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the +arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had +not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on +the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three +children determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid +a breach with their brother. + +Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed +a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified +her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and +enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, +that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led +to imprudence. She had an excellent heart; her disposition was +affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern +them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which +one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught. + +Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. +She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her +joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, +interesting: she was everything but prudent. The resemblance between +her and her mother was strikingly great. + +Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but +by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged each +other now in the violence of their affliction. The agony of grief +which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought +for, was created again and again. They gave themselves up wholly to +their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection +that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation +in future. Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could +struggle, she could exert herself. She could consult with her brother, +could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with +proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar +exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance. + +Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; +but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, +without having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair +to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her +mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors. +As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by +her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody +beyond himself, his wife, and their child. He really pressed them, +with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no +plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she +could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his +invitation was accepted. + +A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former +delight, was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, +no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater +degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness +itself. But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, +and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy. + +Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended +to do for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune +of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most +dreadful degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How +could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child +too, of so large a sum? And what possible claim could the Miss +Dashwoods, who were related to him only by half blood, which she +considered as no relationship at all, have on his generosity to so +large an amount. It was very well known that no affection was ever +supposed to exist between the children of any man by different +marriages; and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little +Harry, by giving away all his money to his half sisters? + +"It was my father's last request to me," replied her husband, "that I +should assist his widow and daughters." + +"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he +was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he +could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away +half your fortune from your own child." + +"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only +requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their +situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it +would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could +hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, +I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. +The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something +must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new +home." + +"Well, then, _let_ something be done for them; but _that_ something +need not be three thousand pounds. Consider," she added, "that when +the money is once parted with, it never can return. Your sisters will +marry, and it will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could be restored +to our poor little boy--" + +"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would make +great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so +large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for +instance, it would be a very convenient addition." + +"To be sure it would." + +"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were +diminished one half. Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious +increase to their fortunes!" + +"Oh! beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do half so +much for his sisters, even if _really_ his sisters! And as it is--only +half blood! But you have such a generous spirit!" + +"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied. "One had rather, +on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can +think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can +hardly expect more." + +"There is no knowing what _they_ may expect," said the lady, "but we +are not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can +afford to do." + +"Certainly; and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds +a-piece. As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have +about three thousand pounds on their mother's death--a very +comfortable fortune for any young woman." + +"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no +addition at all. They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst +them. If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do +not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of +ten thousand pounds." + +"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the +whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother +while she lives, rather than for them--something of the annuity kind I +mean. My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself. +A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable." + +His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this +plan. + +"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen +hundred pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live +fifteen years we shall be completely taken in." + +"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that +purchase." + +"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when +there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and +healthy, and hardly forty. An annuity is a very serious business; it +comes over and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it. You +are not aware of what you are doing. I have known a great deal of the +trouble of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of +three to old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is +amazing how disagreeable she found it. Twice every year these +annuities were to be paid; and then there was the trouble of getting +it to them; and then one of them was said to have died, and afterwards +it turned out to be no such thing. My mother was quite sick of it. Her +income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; +and it was the more unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money +would have been entirely at my mother's disposal, without any +restriction whatever. It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, +that I am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for +all the world." + +"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have +those kind of yearly drains on one's income. One's fortune, as your +mother justly says, is _not_ one's own. To be tied down to the regular +payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it +takes away one's independence." + +"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it. They think +themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises +no gratitude at all. If I were you, whatever I did should be done at +my own discretion entirely. I would not bind myself to allow them any +thing yearly. It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a +hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses." + +"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should +be no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will +be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they +would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger +income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the +year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty +pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for +money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my +father." + +"To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within +myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at +all. The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might +be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a +comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, +and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever +they are in season. I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; +indeed, it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did. Do but +consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your +mother-in-law and her daughters may live on the interest of seven +thousand pounds, besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the +girls, which brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of +course, they will pay their mother for their board out of it. +Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what +on earth can four women want for more than that?--They will live so +cheap! Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no +carriage, no horses, and hardly any servants; they will keep no +company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive how +comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I cannot +imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving them +more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much more able +to give _you_ something." + +"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. +My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than +what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil +my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you +have described. When my mother removes into another house my services +shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little +present of furniture too may be acceptable then." + +"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, _one_ thing +must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, +though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and +linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will +therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it." + +"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy +indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant +addition to our own stock here." + +"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what +belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for +any place _they_ can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. +Your father thought only of _them_ And I must say this: that you owe +no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we +very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything +in the world to _them._" + +This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of +decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be +absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the +widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts +as his own wife pointed out. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any +disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased +to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when +her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other +exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy +remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her +inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for +to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible. But she could +hear of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and +ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier +judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which +her mother would have approved. + +[Illustration: "_I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it._"] + +Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise +on the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last +earthly reflections. She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no +more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her +daughters' sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was +persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would support her +in affluence. For their brother's sake, too, for the sake of his own +heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to +his merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity. His +attentive behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that +their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied +on the liberality of his intentions. + +The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for +her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge +of her character, which half a year's residence in her family +afforded; and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or +maternal affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might +have found it impossible to have lived together so long, had not a +particular circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, +according to the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' +continuance at Norland. + +This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and +the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentlemanlike and pleasing young +man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister's +establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of +his time there. + +Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of +interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died +very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence, +for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the +will of his mother. But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either +consideration. It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable, +that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality. +It was contrary to every doctrine of her's that difference of fortune +should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of +disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by +every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible. + +Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any +peculiar graces of person or address. He was not handsome, and his +manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident +to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, +his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. +His understanding was good, and his education had given it solid +improvement. But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to +answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him +distinguished as--they hardly knew what. They wanted him to make a +fine figure in the world in some manner or other. His mother wished to +interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to +see him connected with some of the great men of the day. Mrs. John +Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these +superior blessings could be attained, it would have quieted her +ambition to see him driving a barouche. But Edward had no turn for +great men or barouches. All his wishes centered in domestic comfort +and the quiet of private life. Fortunately he had a younger brother +who was more promising. + +Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged +much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such +affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects. She saw +only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it. He +did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed +conversation. She was first called to observe and approve him farther, +by a reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the +difference between him and his sister. It was a contrast which +recommended him most forcibly to her mother. + +"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. +It implies everything amiable. I love him already." + +"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you know more of him." + +"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile. "I feel no sentiment of +approbation inferior to love." + +"You may esteem him." + +"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love." + +Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him. Her manners +were attaching, and soon banished his reserve. She speedily +comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor +perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his +worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all +her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was +no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his +temper affectionate. + +No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love in his behaviour to +Elinor, than she considered their serious attachment as certain, and +looked forward to their marriage as rapidly approaching. + +"In a few months, my dear Marianne," said she, "Elinor will, in all +probability be settled for life. We shall miss her; but _she_ will be +happy." + +"Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?" + +"My love, it will be scarcely a separation. We shall live within a few +miles of each other, and shall meet every day of our lives. You will +gain a brother--a real, affectionate brother. I have the highest +opinion in the world of Edward's heart. But you look grave, Marianne; +do you disapprove your sister's choice?" + +"Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it with some surprise. +Edward is very amiable, and I love him tenderly. But yet--he is not +the kind of young man; there is something wanting--his figure is not +striking; it has none of that grace which I should expect in the man +who could seriously attach my sister. His eyes want all that spirit, +that fire, which at once announce virtue and intelligence. And besides +all this, I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste. Music seems +scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's drawings very +much, it is not the admiration of a person who can understand their +worth. It is evident, in spite of his frequent attention to her while +she draws, that in fact he knows nothing of the matter. He admires as +a lover, not as a connoisseur. To satisfy me, those characters must be +united. I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every +point coincide with my own. He must enter into all my feelings; the +same books, the same music must charm us both. Oh! mama, how +spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night! +I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with so much +composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep my +seat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost +driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such +dreadful indifference!" + +"He would certainly have done more justice to simple and elegant +prose. I thought so at the time; but you _would_ give him Cowper." + +"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--but we must allow +for difference of taste. Elinor has not my feelings, and therefore she +may overlook it, and be happy with him. But it would have broke _my_ +heart, had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility. +Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I +shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much! He +must have all Edward's virtues, and his person and manners must +ornament his goodness with every possible charm." + +"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen. It is yet too early in +life to despair of such a happiness. Why should you be less fortunate +than your mother? In one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your +destiny be different from her's!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have +no taste for drawing." + +"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? He +does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the +performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means +deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of +improving it. Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he +would have drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgment in such +matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on +any picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, +which in general direct him perfectly right." + +Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but +the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by +the drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous +delight, which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste. Yet, +though smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured her sister +for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it. + +"I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as +deficient in general taste. Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot, +for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if _that_ were +your opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him." + +Marianne hardly knew what to say. She would not wound the feelings of +her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was +impossible. At length she replied: + +"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him is not in every thing +equal to your sense of his merits. I have not had so many +opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind, his +inclinations and tastes, as you have; but I have the highest opinion +in the world of his goodness and sense. I think him every thing that +is worthy and amiable." + +"I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile, "that his dearest friends +could not be dissatisfied with such commendation as that. I do not +perceive how you could express yourself more warmly." + +Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased. + +"Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor, "no one can, I +think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in +unreserved conversation. The excellence of his understanding and his +principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too often keeps +him silent. You know enough of him to do justice to his solid worth. +But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from +peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself. He and I +have been at times thrown a good deal together, while you have been +wholly engrossed on the most affectionate principle by my mother. I +have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and heard +his opinion on subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole, +I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, enjoyment of +books exceedingly great, his imagination lively, his observation just +and correct, and his taste delicate and pure. His abilities in every +respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person. +At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person +can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which +are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is +perceived. At present, I know him so well, that I think him really +handsome; or at least, almost so. What say you, Marianne?" + +"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I do not now. When +you tell me to love him as a brother, I shall no more see imperfection +in his face, than I now do in his heart." + +Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for the warmth she +had been betrayed into, in speaking of him. She felt that Edward stood +very high in her opinion. She believed the regard to be mutual; but +she required greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction of +their attachment agreeable to her. She knew that what Marianne and her +mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next--that with them, +to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect. She tried to explain +the real state of the case to her sister. + +"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think very highly of +him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him." + +Marianne here burst forth with indignation-- + +"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh! worse than +cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise. Use those words again, and I +will leave the room this moment." + +Elinor could not help laughing. "Excuse me," said she; "and be assured +that I meant no offence to you, by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my +own feelings. Believe them to be stronger than I have declared; +believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the +suspicion--the hope--of his affection for me may warrant, without +imprudence or folly. But farther than this you must not believe. I am +by no means assured of his regard for me. There are moments when the +extent of it seems doubtful; and till his sentiments are fully known, +you cannot wonder at my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own +partiality, by believing or calling it more than it is. In my heart I +feel little--scarcely any doubt of his preference. But there are other +points to be considered besides his inclination. He is very far from +being independent. What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from +Fanny's occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have never +been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very much mistaken if +Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties in +his way, if he were to wish to marry a woman who had not either a +great fortune or high rank." + +Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination of her mother +and herself had outstripped the truth. + +"And you really are not engaged to him!" said she. "Yet it certainly +soon will happen. But two advantages will proceed from this delay. I +shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity +of improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must +be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity. Oh! if he +should be so far stimulated by your genius as to learn to draw +himself, how delightful it would be!" + +Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister. She could not +consider her partiality for Edward in so prosperous a state as +Marianne had believed it. There was, at times, a want of spirits about +him which, if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something +almost as unpromising. A doubt of her regard, supposing him to feel +it, need not give him more than inquietude. It would not be likely to +produce that dejection of mind which frequently attended him. A more +reasonable cause might be found in the dependent situation which +forbade the indulgence of his affection. She knew that his mother +neither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortable at present, +nor to give him any assurance that he might form a home for himself, +without strictly attending to her views for his aggrandizement. With +such a knowledge as this, it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on +the subject. She was far from depending on that result of his +preference of her, which her mother and sister still considered as +certain. Nay, the longer they were together the more doubtful seemed +the nature of his regard; and sometimes, for a few painful minutes, +she believed it to be no more than friendship. + +But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough, when +perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy, and at the same time, +(which was still more common,) to make her uncivil. She took the first +opportunity of affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking +to her so expressively of her brother's great expectations, of Mrs. +Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should marry well, and of the +danger attending any young woman who attempted to _draw him in_, that +Mrs. Dashwood could neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to +be calm. She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and +instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might be the +inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal, her beloved Elinor +should not be exposed another week to such insinuations. + +In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered to her from the +post, which contained a proposal particularly well timed. It was the +offer of a small house, on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of +her own, a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire. The +letter was from this gentleman himself, and written in the true spirit +of friendly accommodation. He understood that she was in need of a +dwelling; and though the house he now offered her was merely a +cottage, he assured her that everything should be done to it which she +might think necessary, if the situation pleased her. He earnestly +pressed her, after giving the particulars of the house and garden, to +come with her daughters to Barton Park, the place of his own +residence, from whence she might judge, herself, whether Barton +Cottage, for the houses were in the same parish, could, by any +alteration, be made comfortable to her. He seemed really anxious to +accommodate them and the whole of his letter was written in so +friendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasure to his cousin; +more especially at a moment when she was suffering under the cold and +unfeeling behaviour of her nearer connections. She needed no time for +deliberation or inquiry. Her resolution was formed as she read. The +situation of Barton, in a county so far distant from Sussex as +Devonshire, which, but a few hours before, would have been a +sufficient objection to outweigh every possible advantage belonging to +the place, was now its first recommendation. To quit the neighbourhood +of Norland was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire; it was a +blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing her +daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for ever from that beloved +place would be less painful than to inhabit or visit it while such a +woman was its mistress. She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her +acknowledgment of his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal; +and then hastened to show both letters to her daughters, that she +might be secure of their approbation before her answer were sent. + +Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for them to settle +at some distance from Norland, than immediately amongst their present +acquaintance. On _that_ head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose +her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire. The house, too, as +described by Sir John, was on so simple a scale, and the rent so +uncommonly moderate, as to leave her no right of objection on either +point; and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought any +charm to her fancy, though it was a removal from the vicinity of +Norland beyond her wishes, she made no attempt to dissuade her mother +from sending a letter of acquiescence. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged +herself in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his wife +that she was provided with a house, and should incommode them no +longer than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it. They +heard her with surprise. Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her +husband civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland. +She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going into +Devonshire. Edward turned hastily towards her, on hearing this, and, +in a voice of surprise and concern, which required no explanation to +her, repeated, "Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there? So far from +hence! And to what part of it?" She explained the situation. It was +within four miles northward of Exeter. + +"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope to see many of my +friends in it. A room or two can easily be added; and if my friends +find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will +find none in accommodating them." + +She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr. and Mrs. John +Dashwood to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with still +greater affection. Though her late conversation with her +daughter-in-law had made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer +than was unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect on her +in that point to which it principally tended. To separate Edward and +Elinor was as far from being her object as ever; and she wished to +show Mrs. John Dashwood, by this pointed invitation to her brother, +how totally she disregarded her disapprobation of the match. + +Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly +sorry he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from +Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her in removing her +furniture. He really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for +the very exertion to which he had limited the performance of his +promise to his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable. +The furniture was all sent around by water. It chiefly consisted of +household linen, plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte +of Marianne's. Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: +she could not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income +would be so trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any +handsome article of furniture. + +Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready +furnished, and she might have immediate possession. No difficulty +arose on either side in the agreement; and she waited only for the +disposal of her effects at Norland, and to determine her future +household, before she set off for the west; and this, as she was +exceedingly rapid in the performance of everything that interested +her, was soon done. The horses which were left her by her husband had +been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering of +disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at the +earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her +children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept +it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. _Her_ wisdom too limited +the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom +they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their +establishment at Norland. + +The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into +Devonshire, to prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for as +Lady Middleton was entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred +going directly to the cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and +she relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house, as +to feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she entered it as her +own. Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was preserved from +diminution by the evident satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the +prospect of her removal; a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted +to be concealed under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure. +Now was the time when her son-in-law's promise to his father might +with particular propriety be fulfilled. Since he had neglected to do +it on first coming to the estate, their quitting his house might be +looked on as the most suitable period for its accomplishment. But Mrs. +Dashwood began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to be +convinced, from the general drift of his discourse, that his +assistance extended no farther than their maintenance for six months +at Norland. He so frequently talked of the increasing expenses of +housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands upon his purse, which a man +of any consequence in the world was beyond calculation exposed to, +that he seemed rather to stand in need of more money himself than to +have any design of giving money away. + +In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton's +first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their +future abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin +their journey. + +Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so +much beloved. "Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered +alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; +"when shall I cease to regret you!--when learn to feel a home +elsewhere! Oh! happy house, could you know what I suffer in now +viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no +more! And you, ye well-known trees!--but you will continue the same. +No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become +motionless although we can observe you no longer! No; you will +continue the same; unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you +occasion, and insensible of any change in those who walk under your +shade! But who will remain to enjoy you?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a +disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant. But as they +drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a +country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a +view of Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness. It +was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture. After +winding along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house. A +small green court was the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat +wicket gate admitted them into it. + +As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; +but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the +roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were +the walls covered with honeysuckles. A narrow passage led directly +through the house into the garden behind. On each side of the entrance +was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were +the offices and the stairs. Four bedrooms and two garrets formed the +rest of the house. It had not been built many years and was in good +repair. In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but +the tears which recollection called forth as they entered the house +were soon dried away. They were cheered by the joy of the servants on +their arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear +happy. It was very early in September; the season was fine, and from +first seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they +received an impression in its favour which was of material service in +recommending it to their lasting approbation. + +The situation of the house was good. High hills rose immediately +behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open +downs, the others cultivated and woody. The village of Barton was +chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the +cottage windows. The prospect in front was more extensive; it +commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country +beyond. The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley +in that direction; under another name, and in another course, it +branched out again between two of the steepest of them. + +With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the +whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered +many additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was +a delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to +supply all that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments. "As +for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our +family, but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the +present, as it is too late in the year for improvements. Perhaps in +the spring, if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may +think about building. These parlors are both too small for such +parties of our friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I +have some thoughts of throwing the passage into one of them with +perhaps a part of the other, and so leave the remainder of that other +for an entrance; this, with a new drawing room which may be easily +added, and a bed-chamber and garret above, will make it a very snug +little cottage. I could wish the stairs were handsome. But one must +not expect every thing; though I suppose it would be no difficult +matter to widen them. I shall see how much I am before-hand with the +world in the spring, and we will plan our improvements accordingly." + +In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from the +savings of an income of five hundred a-year by a woman who never +saved in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with the +house as it was; and each of them was busy in arranging their +particular concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books and +other possessions, to form themselves a home. Marianne's pianoforte +was unpacked and properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were +affixed to the walls of their sitting room. + +In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after +breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called +to welcome them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from +his own house and garden in which theirs might at present be +deficient. Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty. He +had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too long for his young +cousins to remember him. His countenance was thoroughly good-humoured; +and his manners were as friendly as the style of his letter. Their +arrival seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to +be an object of real solicitude to him. He said much of his earnest +desire of their living in the most sociable terms with his family, and +pressed them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they +were better settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried +to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give +offence. His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour +after he left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit +arrived from the park, which was followed before the end of the day by +a present of game. He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their +letters to and from the post for them, and would not be denied the +satisfaction of sending them his newspaper every day. + +Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her +intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured +that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was +answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced +to them the next day. + +[Illustration: _So shy before company._] + +They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of +their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her +appearance was favourable to their wishes. Lady Middleton was not more +than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall +and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had all the +elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have been improved +by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long +enough to detract something from their first admiration, by showing +that, though perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had +nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or +remark. + +Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and +Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her +their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which +means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in +case of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire +his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, +while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise +of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as +he could make noise enough at home. On every formal visit a child +ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse. In the +present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were +most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled +either, for of course every body differed, and every body was +astonished at the opinion of the others. + +An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on +the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house +without securing their promise of dining at the park the next day. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage. The ladies had +passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from +their view at home by the projection of a hill. The house was large +and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality +and elegance. The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter +for that of his lady. They were scarcely ever without some friends +staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every +kind than any other family in the neighbourhood. It was necessary to +the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward +behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of +talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with +such as society produced, within a very narrow compass. Sir John was a +sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she +humoured her children; and these were their only resources. Lady +Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all +the year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in +existence only half the time. Continual engagements at home and +abroad, however, supplied all the deficiencies of nature and +education; supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise +to the good breeding of his wife. + +Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of +all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her +greatest enjoyment in any of their parties. But Sir John's +satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting +about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier +they were the better was he pleased. He was a blessing to all the +juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever +forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in +winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who +was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen. + +The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter of joy +to him, and in every point of view he was charmed with the inhabitants +he had now procured for his cottage at Barton. The Miss Dashwoods were +young, pretty, and unaffected. It was enough to secure his good +opinion; for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could want to +make her mind as captivating as her person. The friendliness of his +disposition made him happy in accommodating those, whose situation +might be considered, in comparison with the past, as unfortunate. In +showing kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction +of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only in his +cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman; for a sportsman, +though he esteems only those of his sex who are sportsmen likewise, is +not often desirous of encouraging their taste by admitting them to a +residence within his own manor. + +Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by +Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity; +and as he attended them to the drawing room repeated to the young +ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day +before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them. They +would see, he said, only one gentleman there besides himself; a +particular friend who was staying at the park, but who was neither +very young nor very gay. He hoped they would all excuse the smallness +of the party, and could assure them it should never happen so again. +He had been to several families that morning in hopes of procuring +some addition to their number, but it was moonlight and every body was +full of engagements. Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at +Barton within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful agreeable +woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as +they might imagine. The young ladies, as well as their mother, were +perfectly satisfied with having two entire strangers of the party, and +wished for no more. + +Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a good-humoured, merry, +fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and +rather vulgar. She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner +was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and +husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex, +and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not. Marianne was +vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor +to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave +Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery +as Mrs. Jennings's. + +Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by +resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be +his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother. He was +silent and grave. His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite +of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old +bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though +his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his +address was particularly gentlemanlike. + +There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as +companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton +was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity +of Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his +mother-in-law was interesting. Lady Middleton seemed to be roused to +enjoyment only by the entrance of her four noisy children after +dinner, who pulled her about, tore her clothes, and put an end to +every kind of discourse except what related to themselves. + +In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical, she was +invited to play. The instrument was unlocked, every body prepared to +be charmed, and Marianne, who sang very well, at their request went +through the chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into +the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain ever since in +the same position on the pianoforte, for her ladyship had celebrated +that event by giving up music, although by her mother's account, she +had played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it. + +Marianne's performance was highly applauded. Sir John was loud in his +admiration at the end of every song, and as loud in his conversation +with the others while every song lasted. Lady Middleton frequently +called him to order, wondered how any one's attention could be +diverted from music for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a +particular song which Marianne had just finished. Colonel Brandon +alone, of all the party, heard her without being in raptures. He paid +her only the compliment of attention; and she felt a respect for him +on the occasion, which the others had reasonably forfeited by their +shameless want of taste. His pleasure in music, though it amounted not +to that ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own, +was estimable when contrasted against the horrible insensibility of +the others; and she was reasonable enough to allow that a man of five +and thirty might well have outlived all acuteness of feeling and every +exquisite power of enjoyment. She was perfectly disposed to make every +allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life which humanity +required. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure. She had only two +daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and +she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the +world. In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as +far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting +weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance. She was +remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the +advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady +by insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of +discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to +pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne +Dashwood. She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first evening +of their being together, from his listening so attentively while she +sang to them; and when the visit was returned by the Middletons' +dining at the cottage, the fact was ascertained by his listening to +her again. It must be so. She was perfectly convinced of it. It would +be an excellent match, for _he_ was rich, and _she_ was handsome. Mrs. +Jennings had been anxious to see Colonel Brandon well married, ever +since her connection with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge; +and she was always anxious to get a good husband for every pretty +girl. + +The immediate advantage to herself was by no means inconsiderable, for +it supplied her with endless jokes against them both. At the park she +laughed at the colonel, and in the cottage at Marianne. To the former +her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself, +perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first +incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew +whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence, +for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's +advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor. + +Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than +herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy +of her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability +of wishing to throw ridicule on his age. + +"But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity of the accusation, +though you may not think it intentionally ill-natured. Colonel Brandon +is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be +_my_ father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must +have long outlived every sensation of the kind. It is too ridiculous! +When is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not +protect him?" + +"Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon infirm? I can +easily suppose that his age may appear much greater to you than to my +mother; but you can hardly deceive yourself as to his having the use +of his limbs!" + +"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism? and is not that the +commonest infirmity of declining life?" + +"My dearest child," said her mother, laughing, "at this rate you must +be in continual terror of _my_ decay; and it must seem to you a +miracle that my life has been extended to the advanced age of forty." + +"Mamma, you are not doing me justice. I know very well that Colonel +Brandon is not old enough to make his friends yet apprehensive of +losing him in the course of nature. He may live twenty years longer. +But thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony." + +"Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had better not have +any thing to do with matrimony together. But if there should by any +chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I +should not think Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to +his marrying _her_ ." + +"A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne, after pausing a moment, +"can never hope to feel or inspire affection again, and if her home be +uncomfortable, or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might +bring herself to submit to the offices of a nurse, for the sake of the +provision and security of a wife. In his marrying such a woman +therefore there would be nothing unsuitable. It would be a compact of +convenience, and the world would be satisfied. In my eyes it would be +no marriage at all, but that would be nothing. To me it would seem +only a commercial exchange, in which each wished to be benefited at +the expense of the other." + +"It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor, "to convince you +that a woman of seven and twenty could feel for a man of thirty-five +anything near enough to love, to make him a desirable companion to +her. But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and his wife to +the constant confinement of a sick chamber, merely because he chanced +to complain yesterday (a very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic +feel in one of his shoulders." + +"But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne; "and with me a +flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with aches, cramps, +rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and +the feeble." + +"Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not have despised him +half so much. Confess, Marianne, is not there something interesting to +you in the flushed cheek, hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?" + +Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room, "Mamma," said +Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot +conceal from you. I am sure Edward Ferrars is not well. We have now +been here almost a fortnight, and yet he does not come. Nothing but +real indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay. What else +can detain him at Norland?" + +"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?" said Mrs. Dashwood. "I had +none. On the contrary, if I have felt any anxiety at all on the +subject, it has been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want +of pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation, when I talked of +his coming to Barton. Does Elinor expect him already?" + +"I have never mentioned it to her, but of course she must." + +"I rather think you are mistaken, for when I was talking to her +yesterday of getting a new grate for the spare bed-chamber, she +observed that there was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not +likely that the room would be wanted for some time." + +"How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it! But the whole of +their behaviour to each other has been unaccountable! How cold, how +composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the +last evening of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was +no distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes of an +affectionate brother to both. Twice did I leave them purposely +together in the course of the last morning, and each time did he most +unaccountably follow me out of the room. And Elinor, in quitting +Norland and Edward, cried not as I did. Even now her self-command is +invariable. When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try to +avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied in it?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to +themselves. The house and the garden, with all the objects surrounding +them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had +given to Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far +greater enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the loss +of their father. Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for +the first fortnight, and who was not in the habit of seeing much +occupation at home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them +always employed. + +Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in +spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the +neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at +their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the +wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to +visit any family beyond the distance of a walk. There were but few who +could be so classed; and it was not all of them that were attainable. +About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding +valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly +described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered +an ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a +little of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to +be better acquainted with it. But they learnt, on enquiry, that its +possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately +too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home. + +The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks. The high +downs which invited them from almost every window of the cottage to +seek the exquisite enjoyment of air on their summits, were a happy +alternative when the dirt of the valleys beneath shut up their +superior beauties; and towards one of these hills did Marianne and +Margaret one memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the +partial sunshine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear the +confinement which the settled rain of the two preceding days had +occasioned. The weather was not tempting enough to draw the two others +from their pencil and their book, in spite of Marianne's declaration +that the day would be lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud +would be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off +together. + +They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own penetration at +every glimpse of blue sky; and when they caught in their faces the +animating gales of a high south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears +which had prevented their mother and Elinor from sharing such +delightful sensations. + +"Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne, "superior to +this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours." + +Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, +resisting it with laughing delight for about twenty minutes longer, +when suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain +set full in their face. Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, +though unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their +own house. One consolation however remained for them, to which the +exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety,--it was that of +running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which +led immediately to their garden gate. + +They set off. Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step +brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret, unable to stop +herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached +the bottom in safety. + +A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was +passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her +accident happened. He put down his gun and ran to her assistance. She +had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in +her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand. The gentleman offered +his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her +situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther +delay, and carried her down the hill. Then passing through the garden, +the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly +into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his +hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour. + +Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and +while the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a +secret admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he +apologized for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so +frank and so graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, +received additional charms from his voice and expression. Had he been +even old, ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. +Dashwood would have been secured by any act of attention to her child; +but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to +the action which came home to her feelings. + +She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness of address +which always attended her, invited him to be seated. But this he +declined, as he was dirty and wet. Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know +to whom she was obliged. His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his +present home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him +the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood. The +honour was readily granted, and he then departed, to make himself +still more interesting, in the midst of a heavy rain. + +His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the +theme of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised +against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior +attractions. Marianne herself had seen less of his person than the +rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting +her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding him after their +entering the house. But she had seen enough of him to join in all the +admiration of the others, and with an energy which always adorned her +praise. His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever drawn +for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying her into the +house with so little previous formality, there was a rapidity of +thought which particularly recommended the action to her. Every +circumstance belonging to him was interesting. His name was good, his +residence was in their favourite village, and she soon found out that +of all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming. Her +imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a +sprained ankle was disregarded. + +Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather +that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne's accident +being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any +gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham. + +"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is _he_ in the country? That is +good news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on +Thursday." + +"You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood. + +"Know him! to be sure I do. Why, he is down here every year." + +"And what sort of a young man is he?" + +"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you. A very decent +shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England." + +"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne, indignantly. +"But what are his manners on more intimate acquaintance? What his +pursuits, his talents, and genius?" + +Sir John was rather puzzled. + +"Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him as to all +_that._ But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the +nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw. Was she out with +him today?" + +But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr. +Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his +mind. + +"But who is he?" said Elinor. "Where does he come from? Has he a house +at Allenham?" + +On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence; and he +told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property of his own in the +country; that he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady +at Allenham Court, to whom he was related, and whose possessions he +was to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I +can tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own +in Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up +to my younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills. Miss +Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself. Brandon will +be jealous, if she does not take care." + +"I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a good humoured smile, +"that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts of either of +_my_ daughters towards what you call _catching him._ It is not an +employment to which they have been brought up. Men are very safe with +us, let them be ever so rich. I am glad to find, however, from what +you say, that he is a respectable young man, and one whose +acquaintance will not be ineligible." + +"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived," repeated +Sir John. "I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he +danced from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down." + +"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, "and with +elegance, with spirit?" + +"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert." + +"That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be. Whatever +be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should know no moderation, and +leave him no sense of fatigue." + +"Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see how it will +be. You will be setting your cap at him now, and never think of poor +Brandon." + +"That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne, warmly, "which I +particularly dislike. I abhor every common-place phrase by which wit +is intended; and 'setting one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,' +are the most odious of all. Their tendency is gross and illiberal; and +if their construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long ago +destroyed all its ingenuity." + +Sir John did not much understand this reproof; but he laughed as +heartily as if he did, and then replied-- + +"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other. +Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he is very well worth +setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling +about and spraining of ankles." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision, +styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to +make his personal enquiries. He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with +more than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him +and her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during the +visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection, +and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introduced +him. Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview +to be convinced. + +Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a +remarkably pretty figure. Marianne was still handsomer. Her form, +though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of +height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in +the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was +less violently outraged than usually happens. Her skin was very brown, +but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; +her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in +her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an +eagerness, which could hardily be seen without delight. From +Willoughby their expression was at first held back, by the +embarrassment which the remembrance of his assistance created. But +when this passed away, when her spirits became collected, when she saw +that to the perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united +frankness and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare, +that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him such +a look of approbation as secured the largest share of his discourse to +herself for the rest of his stay. + +It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her +to talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and +she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion. They speedily +discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and +that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that +related to either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of his +opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; her +favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so +rapturous a delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have +been insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the +excellence of such works, however disregarded before. Their taste was +strikingly alike. The same books, the same passages were idolized by +each; or if any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no +longer than till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her +eyes could be displayed. He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught +all her enthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they +conversed with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance. + +"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for _one_ +morning I think you have done pretty well. You have already +ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of +importance. You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are +certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have +received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper. +But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such +extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse? You will soon +have exhausted each favourite topic. Another meeting will suffice to +explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, +and then you can have nothing farther to ask." + +"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my ideas so +scanty? But I see what you mean. I have been too much at my ease, too +happy, too frank. I have erred against every common-place notion of +decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been +reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful:--had I talked only of the +weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this +reproach would have been spared." + +"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor--she +was only in jest. I should scold her myself, if she were capable of +wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new +friend." Marianne was softened in a moment. + +Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their +acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer. He +came to them every day. To enquire after Marianne was at first his +excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day +gave greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had +ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery. She was +confined for some days to the house; but never had any confinement +been less irksome. Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick +imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners. He was +exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he +joined not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind +which was now roused and increased by the example of her own, and +which recommended him to her affection beyond every thing else. + +His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They read, +they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were +considerable; and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which +Edward had unfortunately wanted. + +In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's; +and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he +strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too +much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons +or circumstances. In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other +people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of +undivided attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too +easily the forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution +which Elinor could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne +could say in its support. + +Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized +her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her +ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable. Willoughby was +all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every +brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviour +declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilities +were strong. + +[Illustration: _They sang together._] + +Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their +marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before +the end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulate +herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and +Willoughby. + +Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so +early been discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to +Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit +were drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the +other had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his +feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to +sensibility. Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that +the sentiments which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own +satisfaction, were now actually excited by her sister; and that +however a general resemblance of disposition between the parties might +forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally striking +opposition of character was no hindrance to the regard of Colonel +Brandon. She saw it with concern; for what could a silent man of five +and thirty hope, when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? +and as she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished him +indifferent. She liked him--in spite of his gravity and reserve, she +beheld in him an object of interest. His manners, though serious, were +mild; and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of +spirits than of any natural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped +hints of past injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief +of his being an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and +compassion. + +Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted +by Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being +neither lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits. + +"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they +were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and +nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody +remembers to talk to." + +"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne. + +"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in +both of you. He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and +I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him." + +"That he is patronised by _you_," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in +his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in +itself. Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a +woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the +indifference of any body else?" + +"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will +make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother. If their +praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more +undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust." + +"In defence of your _protege_ you can even be saucy." + +"My _protege_, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will +always have attractions for me. Yes, Marianne, even in a man between +thirty and forty. He has seen a great deal of the world; has been +abroad, has read, and has a thinking mind. I have found him capable of +giving me much information on various subjects; and he has always +answered my inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good +nature." + +"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you, +that in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are +troublesome." + +"He _would_ have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such +inquiries, but they happened to be points on which I had been +previously informed." + +"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the +existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins." + +"I may venture to say that _his_ observations have stretched much +further than _your_ candour. But why should you dislike him?" + +"I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary, as a very +respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice; +who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to +employ, and two new coats every year." + +"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius, taste, +nor spirit. That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings no +ardour, and his voice no expression." + +"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor, +"and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the +commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and +insipid. I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, +well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an +amiable heart." + +"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly. You +are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my +will. But it will not do. You shall find me as stubborn as you can be +artful. I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel +Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he +has found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade +him to buy my brown mare. If it will be any satisfaction to you, +however, to be told, that I believe his character to be in other +respects irreproachable, I am ready to confess it. And in return for +an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me +the privilege of disliking him as much as ever." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first +came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy +their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have +such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them +little leisure for serious employment. Yet such was the case. When +Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, +which Sir John had been previously forming, were put into execution. +The private balls at the park then began; and parties on the water +were made and accomplished as often as a showery October would allow. +In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and +familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly +calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the +Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of +Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving, +in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her +affection. + +Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment. She only wished +that it were less openly shown; and once or twice did venture to +suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne. But Marianne +abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend +unreserve; and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in +themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary +effort, but a disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and +mistaken notions. Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at +all times, was an illustration of their opinions. + +When he was present she had no eyes for any one else. Every thing he +did, was right. Every thing he said, was clever. If their evenings at +the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the +rest of the party to get her a good hand. If dancing formed the +amusement of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when +obliged to separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand +together and scarcely spoke a word to any body else. Such conduct made +them of course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not +shame, and seemed hardly to provoke them. + +Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left +her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them. To her +it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young +and ardent mind. + +This was the season of happiness to Marianne. Her heart was devoted to +Willoughby, and the fond attachment to Norland, which she brought with +her from Sussex, was more likely to be softened than she had thought +it possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed on her +present home. + +Elinor's happiness was not so great. Her heart was not so much at +ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure. They afforded +her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind, +nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than +ever. Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the +conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting +talker, and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which +ensured her a large share of her discourse. She had already repeated +her own history to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory +been equal to her means of improvement, she might have known very +early in their acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jennings's last +illness, and what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died. +Lady Middleton was more agreeable than her mother only in being more +silent. Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her reserve +was a mere calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do. +Towards her husband and mother she was the same as to them; and +intimacy was therefore neither to be looked for nor desired. She had +nothing to say one day that she had not said the day before. Her +insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; +and though she did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, +provided every thing were conducted in style and her two eldest +children attended her, she never appeared to receive more enjoyment +from them than she might have experienced in sitting at home; and so +little did her presence add to the pleasure of the others, by any +share in their conversation, that they were sometimes only reminded of +her being amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys. + +In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find +a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, +excite the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion. +Willoughby was out of the question. Her admiration and regard, even +her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his +attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might +have been more generally pleasing. Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for +himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in +conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the +indifference of her sister. + +Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect +that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him. +This suspicion was given by some words which accidentally dropped from +him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by +mutual consent, while the others were dancing. His eyes were fixed on +Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint +smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second +attachments." + +"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic." + +"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist." + +"I believe she does. But how she contrives it without reflecting on +the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know +not. A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable +basis of common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy +to define and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself." + +"This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is +something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is +sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions." + +"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor. "There are +inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the +charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for. Her +systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at +nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look +forward to as her greatest possible advantage." + +After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying-- + +"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a +second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body? Are those +who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the +inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be +equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?" + +"Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles. +I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second +attachment's being pardonable." + +"This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of +sentiments--No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic +refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently +are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too +dangerous! I speak from experience. I once knew a lady who in temper +and mind greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like +her, but who from an enforced change--from a series of unfortunate +circumstances--" Here he stopped suddenly; appeared to think that he +had said too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, +which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's head. The lady would +probably have passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss +Dashwood that what concerned her ought not to escape his lips. As it +was, it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion +with the tender recollection of past regard. Elinor attempted no more. +But Marianne, in her place, would not have done so little. The whole +story would have been speedily formed under her active imagination; +and every thing established in the most melancholy order of disastrous +love. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning the +latter communicated a piece of news to her sister, which in spite of +all that she knew before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought, +surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both. Marianne told her, +with the greatest delight, that Willoughby had given her a horse, one +that he had bred himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was +exactly calculated to carry a woman. Without considering that it was +not in her mother's plan to keep any horse, that if she were to alter +her resolution in favour of this gift, she must buy another for the +servant, and keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable +to receive them, she had accepted the present without hesitation, and +told her sister of it in raptures. + +"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire immediately for it," +she added, "and when it arrives we will ride every day. You shall +share its use with me. Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the +delight of a gallop on some of these downs." + +Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity to +comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended the affair; and for +some time she refused to submit to them. As to an additional servant, +the expense would be a trifle; Mamma she was sure would never object +to it; and any horse would do for _him_; he might always get one at +the park; as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient. Elinor +then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving such a present +from a man so little, or at least so lately known to her. This was too +much. + +"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly, "in supposing I know very +little of Willoughby. I have not known him long indeed, but I am much +better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the +world, except yourself and mama. It is not time or opportunity that is +to determine intimacy; it is disposition alone. Seven years would be +insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven +days are more than enough for others. I should hold myself guilty of +greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from +Willoughby. Of John I know very little, though we have lived together +for years; but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed." + +Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more. She knew her +sister's temper. Opposition on so tender a subject would only attach +her the more to her own opinion. But by an appeal to her affection for +her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent +mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she +consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly +subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent +kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw +him next, that it must be declined. + +She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby called at the +cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to +him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his +present. The reasons for this alteration were at the same time +related, and they were such as to make further entreaty on his side +impossible. His concern however was very apparent; and after +expressing it with earnestness, he added, in the same low voice, "But, +Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now. I +shall keep it only till you can claim it. When you leave Barton to +form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall +receive you." + +This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the whole of the +sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her +sister by her Christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so +decided, a meaning so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between +them. From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged to each +other; and the belief of it created no other surprise than that she, +or any of their friends, should be left by tempers so frank, to +discover it by accident. + +Margaret related something to her the next day, which placed this +matter in a still clearer light. Willoughby had spent the preceding +evening with them, and Margaret, by being left some time in the +parlour with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity for +observations, which, with a most important face, she communicated to +her eldest sister, when they were next by themselves. + +"Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to tell you about +Marianne. I am sure she will be married to Mr. Willoughby very soon." + +"You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every day since they first +met on High-church Down; and they had not known each other a week, I +believe, before you were certain that Marianne wore his picture round +her neck; but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great +uncle." + +"But indeed this is quite another thing. I am sure they will be +married very soon, for he has got a lock of her hair." + +"Take care, Margaret. It may be only the hair of some great uncle of +_his_." + +"But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost sure it is, for I +saw him cut it off. Last night after tea, when you and mama went out +of the room, they were whispering and talking together as fast as +could be, and he seemed to be begging something of her, and presently +he took up her scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair, for it +was all tumbled down her back; and he kissed it, and folded it up in a +piece of white paper; and put it into his pocket-book." + +For such particulars, stated on such authority, Elinor could not +withhold her credit; nor was she disposed to it, for the circumstance +was in perfect unison with what she had heard and seen herself. + +Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a way so satisfactory +to her sister. When Mrs. Jennings attacked her one evening at the +park, to give the name of the young man who was Elinor's particular +favourite, which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her, +Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying, "I must not +tell, may I, Elinor?" + +This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor tried to laugh too. +But the effort was painful. She was convinced that Margaret had fixed +on a person whose name she could not bear with composure to become a +standing joke with Mrs. Jennings. + +[Illustration: _He cut off a long lock of her hair._] + +Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good +to the cause, by turning very red and saying in an angry manner to +Margaret-- + +"Remember that whatever your conjectures may be, you have no right to +repeat them." + +"I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret; "it was you +who told me of it yourself." + +This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret was eagerly +pressed to say something more. + +"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it," said Mrs. +Jennings. "What is the gentleman's name?" + +"I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is; and I know +where he is too." + +"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house at Norland to be +sure. He is the curate of the parish I dare say." + +"No, _that_ he is not. He is of no profession at all." + +"Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth, "you know that all this +is an invention of your own, and that there is no such person in +existence." + +"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I am sure there was such +a man once, and his name begins with an F." + +Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this +moment, "that it rained very hard," though she believed the +interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her +ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as +delighted her husband and mother. The idea however started by her, was +immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion +mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of +rain by both of them. Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked +Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of +different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground. But not so +easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into which it had thrown her. + +A party was formed this evening for going on the following day to see +a very fine place about twelve miles from Barton, belonging to a +brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, without whose interest it could not +be seen, as the proprietor, who was then abroad, had left strict +orders on that head. The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, +and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be +allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit +them, at least, twice every summer for the last ten years. They +contained a noble piece of water--a sail on which was to a form a +great part of the morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be +taken, open carriages only to be employed, and every thing conducted +in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure. + +To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold undertaking, +considering the time of year, and that it had rained every day for the +last fortnight; and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was +persuaded by Elinor to stay at home. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very different from +what Elinor had expected. She was prepared to be wet through, +fatigued, and frightened; but the event was still more unfortunate, +for they did not go at all. + +By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at the park, where they +were to breakfast. The morning was rather favourable, though it had +rained all night, as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky, +and the sun frequently appeared. They were all in high spirits and +good humour, eager to be happy, and determined to submit to the +greatest inconveniences and hardships rather than be otherwise. + +While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in. Among the +rest there was one for Colonel Brandon:--he took it, looked at the +direction, changed colour, and immediately left the room. + +"What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John. + +Nobody could tell. + +"I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton. "It must be +something extraordinary that could make Colonel Brandon leave my +breakfast table so suddenly." + +In about five minutes he returned. + +"No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he +entered the room. + +"None at all, ma'am, I thank you." + +"Was it from Avignon? I hope it is not to say that your sister is +worse." + +"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business." + +"But how came the hand to discompose you so much, if it was only a +letter of business? Come, come, this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear +the truth of it." + +"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what you are saying." + +"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married?" said +Mrs. Jennings, without attending to her daughter's reproof. + +"No, indeed, it is not." + +"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel. And I hope she is well." + +"Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little. + +"Oh! you know who I mean." + +"I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he, addressing Lady Middleton, +"that I should receive this letter today, for it is on business which +requires my immediate attendance in town." + +"In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings. "What can you have to do in town at +this time of year?" + +"My own loss is great," he continued, "in being obliged to leave so +agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned, as I fear my presence +is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell." + +What a blow upon them all was this! + +"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon," said +Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?" + +He shook his head. + +"We must go," said Sir John. "It shall not be put off when we are so +near it. You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all." + +"I wish it could be so easily settled. But it is not in my power to +delay my journey for one day!" + +"If you would but let us know what your business is," said Mrs. +Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put off or not." + +"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby, "if you were to +defer your journey till our return." + +"I cannot afford to lose _one_ hour." + +Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne, "There +are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure. Brandon is one of +them. He was afraid of catching cold I dare say, and invented this +trick for getting out of it. I would lay fifty guineas the letter was +of his own writing." + +"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne. + +"There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of +old," said Sir John, "when once you are determined on anything. But, +however, I hope you will think better of it. Consider, here are the +two Miss Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods walked +up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up two hours before his +usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell." + +Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause of +disappointing the party; but at the same time declared it to be +unavoidable. + +"Well, then, when will you come back again?" + +"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as +you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to +Whitwell till you return." + +"You are very obliging. But it is so uncertain, when I may have it in +my power to return, that I dare not engage for it at all." + +"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John. "If he is not here +by the end of the week, I shall go after him." + +"Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then perhaps you may +find out what his business is." + +"I do not want to pry into other men's concerns. I suppose it is +something he is ashamed of." + +Colonel Brandon's horses were announced. + +"You do not go to town on horseback, do you?" added Sir John. + +"No. Only to Honiton. I shall then go post." + +"Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you a good journey. But you +had better change your mind." + +"I assure you it is not in my power." + +He then took leave of the whole party. + +"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town this +winter, Miss Dashwood?" + +"I am afraid, none at all." + +"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should wish to +do." + +To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing. + +"Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go, do let us know +what you are going about." + +He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John, left the +room. + +The complaints and lamentations which politeness had hitherto +restrained, now burst forth universally; and they all agreed again and +again how provoking it was to be so disappointed. + +"I can guess what his business is, however," said Mrs. Jennings +exultingly. + +"Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body. + +"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure." + +"And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne. + +"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am sure you must have +heard of her before. She is a relation of the Colonel's, my dear; a +very near relation. We will not say how near, for fear of shocking the +young ladies." Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor, +"She is his natural daughter." + +"Indeed!" + +"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare. I dare say the Colonel +will leave her all his fortune." + +When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily in the general regret +on so unfortunate an event; concluding however by observing, that as +they were all got together, they must do something by way of being +happy; and after some consultation it was agreed, that although +happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell, they might procure a +tolerable composure of mind by driving about the country. The +carriages were then ordered; Willoughby's was first, and Marianne +never looked happier than when she got into it. He drove through the +park very fast, and they were soon out of sight; and nothing more of +them was seen till their return, which did not happen till after the +return of all the rest. They both seemed delighted with their drive; +but said only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes, while +the others went on the downs. + +It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening, and that +every body should be extremely merry all day long. Some more of the +Careys came to dinner, and they had the pleasure of sitting down +nearly twenty to table, which Sir John observed with great +contentment. Willoughby took his usual place between the two elder +Miss Dashwoods. Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had +not been long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby, and +said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear, "I have found you +out in spite of all your tricks. I know where you spent the morning." + +Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily, "Where, pray?" + +"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had been out in my +curricle?" + +"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well, and I was determined +to find out _where_ you had been to. I hope you like your house, Miss +Marianne. It is a very large one, I know; and when I come to see you, +I hope you will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much when +I was there six years ago." + +Marianne turned away in great confusion. Mrs. Jennings laughed +heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know where they +had been, she had actually made her own woman enquire of Mr. +Willoughby's groom; and that she had by that method been informed that +they had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there in +walking about the garden and going all over the house. + +Elinor could hardly believe this to be true, as it seemed very +unlikely that Willoughby should propose, or Marianne consent, to enter +the house while Mrs. Smith was in it, with whom Marianne had not the +smallest acquaintance. + +As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired of her about it; +and great was her surprise when she found that every circumstance +related by Mrs. Jennings was perfectly true. Marianne was quite angry +with her for doubting it. + +"Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not go there, or that we +did not see the house? Is not it what you have often wished to do +yourself?" + +"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith was there, and +with no other companion than Mr. Willoughby." + +[Illustration: "_I have found you out in spite of all your tricks._"] + +"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can have a right to +show that house; and as he went in an open carriage, it was +impossible to have any other companion. I never spent a pleasanter +morning in my life." + +"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment +does not always evince its propriety." + +"On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for +if there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have +been sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting +wrong, and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure." + +"But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you to some very +impertinent remarks, do you not now begin to doubt the discretion of +your own conduct?" + +"If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of +impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our +lives. I value not her censure any more than I should do her +commendation. I am not sensible of having done anything wrong in +walking over Mrs. Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house. They will +one day be Mr. Willoughby's, and--" + +"If they were one day to be your own, Marianne, you would not be +justified in what you have done." + +She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly gratifying to her; +and after a ten minutes' interval of earnest thought, she came to her +sister again, and said with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it +_was_ rather ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby +wanted particularly to show me the place; and it is a charming house, +I assure you. There is one remarkably pretty sitting room up stairs; +of a nice comfortable size for constant use, and with modern furniture +it would be delightful. It is a corner room, and has windows on two +sides. On one side you look across the bowling-green, behind the +house, to a beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you have a view +of the church and village, and, beyond them, of those fine bold hills +that we have so often admired. I did not see it to advantage, for +nothing could be more forlorn than the furniture; but if it were newly +fitted up--a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says, would make it +one of the pleasantest summer-rooms in England." + +Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the +others, she would have described every room in the house with equal +delight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit at the park, with +his steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised +the wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great +wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all +the comings and goings of all their acquaintance. She wondered, with +little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there +must be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that +could have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not +escape them all. + +"Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she. +"I could see it in his face. Poor man! I am afraid his circumstances +may be bad. The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two +thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved. I do +think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else +can it be? I wonder whether it is so. I would give anything to know +the truth of it. Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I +dare say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her. +May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I +have a notion she is always rather sickly. I would lay any wager it is +about Miss Williams. It is not so very likely he should be distressed +in his circumstances _now_, for he is a very prudent man, and to be +sure must have cleared the estate by this time. I wonder what it can +be! May be his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over. +His setting off in such a hurry seems very like it. Well, I wish him +out of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the +bargain." + +So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings. Her opinion varying with every +fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose. +Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel +Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly +away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides +that the circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting +amazement or variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise +disposed of. It was engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her +sister and Willoughby on the subject, which they must know to be +peculiarly interesting to them all. As this silence continued, every +day made it appear more strange and more incompatible with the +disposition of both. Why they should not openly acknowledge to her +mother and herself, what their constant behaviour to each other +declared to have taken place, Elinor could not imagine. + +She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in +their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no +reason to believe him rich. His estate had been rated by Sir John at +about six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which +that income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained +of his poverty. But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by +them relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at +all, she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to +their general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered +her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to +prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne. + +Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than +Willoughby's behaviour. To Marianne it had all the distinguishing +tenderness which a lover's heart could give, and to the rest of the +family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother. The +cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many +more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general +engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him +out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest +of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his +favourite pointer at her feet. + +One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the +country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of +attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's happening +to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he +warmly opposed every alteration of a place which affection had +established as perfect with him. + +"What!" he exclaimed, "Improve this dear cottage! No. _That_ I will +never consent to. Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch +to its size, if my feelings are regarded." + +"Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be +done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it." + +"I am heartily glad of it," he cried. "May she always be poor, if she +can employ her riches no better." + +"Thank you, Willoughby. But you may be assured that I would not +sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one +whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world. Depend upon it +that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in +the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it +in a manner so painful to you. But are you really so attached to this +place as to see no defect in it?" + +"I am," said he. "To me it is faultless. Nay, more, I consider it as +the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I +rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again +in the exact plan of this cottage." + +"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said +Elinor. + +"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing +belonging to it--in no one convenience or inconvenience about it, +should the least variation be perceptible. Then, and then only, under +such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at +Barton." + +"I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage +of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your +own house as faultless as you now do this." + +"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might +greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of +my affection, which no other can possibly share." + +Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were +fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she +understood him. + +"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time +twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited! I never passed within +view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one +should live in it. How little did I then think that the very first +news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country, +would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate +satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of +prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account +for. Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered +voice. Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house +you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood? You would rob it of its simplicity by +imaginary improvement! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance +first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by +us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance, +and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has +hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort +than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world +could possibly afford." + +Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should +be attempted. + +"You are a good woman," he warmly replied. "Your promise makes me +easy. Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy. Tell me +that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever +find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will +always consider me with the kindness which has made everything +belonging to you so dear to me." + +The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's behaviour during the +whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness. + +"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was +leaving them. "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must +walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton." + +He engaged to be with them by four o'clock. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place the next day, and +two of her daughters went with her; but Marianne excused herself from +being of the party, under some trifling pretext of employment; and her +mother, who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby the +night before of calling on her while they were absent, was perfectly +satisfied with her remaining at home. + +On their return from the park they found Willoughby's curricle and +servant in waiting at the cottage, and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced +that her conjecture had been just. So far it was all as she had +foreseen; but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight had +taught her to expect. They were no sooner in the passage than Marianne +came hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affliction, with +her handkerchief at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs. +Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room she had +just quitted, where they found only Willoughby, who was leaning +against the mantelpiece with his back towards them. He turned round +on their coming in, and his countenance showed that he strongly +partook of the emotion which overpowered Marianne. + +"Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood as she +entered:--"is she ill?" + +"I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful; and with a forced +smile presently added, "It is I who may rather expect to be ill--for I +am now suffering under a very heavy disappointment!" + +"Disappointment?" + +"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you. Mrs. Smith has +this morning exercised the privilege of riches upon a poor dependent +cousin, by sending me on business to London. I have just received my +dispatches, and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of +exhilaration I am now come to take my farewell of you." + +"To London!--and are you going this morning?" + +"Almost this moment." + +[Illustration: _Apparently in violent affliction._] + +"This is very unfortunate. But Mrs. Smith must be obliged, and her +business will not detain you from us long I hope." + +He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I have no idea of +returning into Devonshire immediately. My visits to Mrs. Smith are +never repeated within the twelvemonth." + +"And is Mrs. Smith your only friend? Is Allenham the only house in the +neighbourhood to which you will be welcome? For shame, Willoughby, can +you wait for an invitation here?" + +His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed on the ground he only +replied, "You are too good." + +Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise. Elinor felt equal +amazement. For a few moments every one was silent. Mrs. Dashwood first +spoke. + +"I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at Barton cottage you +will always be welcome; for I will not press you to return here +immediately, because you only can judge how far _that_ might be +pleasing to Mrs. Smith; and on this head I shall be no more disposed +to question your judgment than to doubt your inclination." + +"My engagements at present," replied Willoughby, confusedly, "are of +such a nature--that--I dare not flatter myself--" + +He stopped. Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished to speak, and +another pause succeeded. This was broken by Willoughby, who said with +a faint smile, "It is folly to linger in this manner. I will not +torment myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it +is impossible for me now to enjoy." + +He then hastily took leave of them all and left the room. They saw him +step into his carriage, and in a minute it was out of sight. + +Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly quitted the +parlour to give way in solitude to the concern and alarm which this +sudden departure occasioned. + +Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's. She thought of +what had just passed with anxiety and distrust. Willoughby's behaviour +in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, and affectation of +cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness to accept her mother's +invitation--a backwardness so unlike a lover, so unlike +himself--greatly disturbed her. One moment she feared that no serious +design had ever been formed on his side; and the next that some +unfortunate quarrel had taken place between him and her sister. The +distress in which Marianne had quitted the room was such as a serious +quarrel could most reasonably account for, though when she considered +what Marianne's love for him was, a quarrel seemed almost impossible. + +But whatever might be the particulars of their separation, her +sister's affliction was indubitable; and she thought with the +tenderest compassion of that violent sorrow which Marianne was in all +probability not merely giving way to as a relief, but feeding and +encouraging as a duty. + +In about half an hour her mother returned, and though her eyes were +red, her countenance was not uncheerful. + +"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor," said she, +as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart does he travel?" + +"It is all very strange. So suddenly to be gone! It seems but the work +of a moment. And last night he was with us so happy, so cheerful, so +affectionate? And now, after only ten minutes notice,--gone too +without intending to return! Something more than what he owned to us +must have happened. He did not speak, he did not behave like himself. +_You_ must have seen the difference as well as I. What can it be? Can +they have quarrelled? Why else should he have shown such unwillingness +to accept your invitation here?" + +"It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could plainly see +_that._ He had not the power of accepting it. I have thought it all +over I assure you, and I can perfectly account for every thing that at +first seemed strange to me as well as to you." + +"Can you, indeed!" + +"Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most satisfactory way; but +you, Elinor, who love to doubt where you can--it will not satisfy +_you_, I know; but you shall not talk _me_ out of my trust in it. I am +persuaded that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne, +disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has other views for him,) and +on that account is eager to get him away; and that the business which +she sends him off to transact is invented as an excuse to dismiss +him. This is what I believe to have happened. He is, moreover, aware +that she _does_ disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at +present confess to her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels +himself obliged, from his dependent situation, to give into her +schemes, and absent himself from Devonshire for a while. You will tell +me, I know, that this may or may _not_ have happened; but I will +listen to no cavil, unless you can point out any other method of +understanding the affair as satisfactory at this. And now, Elinor, +what have you to say?" + +"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer." + +"Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have +happened. Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings! You had +rather take evil upon credit than good. You had rather look out for +misery for Marianne, and guilt for poor Willoughby, than an apology +for the latter. You are resolved to think him blamable, because he +took leave of us with less affection than his usual behaviour has +shown. And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for spirits +depressed by recent disappointment? Are no probabilities to be +accepted, merely because they are not certainties? Is nothing due to +the man whom we have all such reason to love, and no reason in the +world to think ill of?--to the possibility of motives unanswerable in +themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while? And, after all, +what is it you suspect him of?" + +"I can hardly tell myself. But suspicion of something unpleasant is +the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we just witnessed +in him. There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of +the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be +candid in my judgment of every body. Willoughby may undoubtedly have +very sufficient reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has. +But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge them at +once. Secrecy may be advisable; but still I cannot help wondering at +its being practiced by him." + +"Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where +the deviation is necessary. But you really do admit the justice of +what I have said in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted." + +"Not entirely. It may be proper to conceal their engagement (if they +_are_ engaged) from Mrs. Smith; and if that is the case, it must be +highly expedient for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at +present. But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us." + +"Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse Willoughby and +Marianne of concealment? This is strange indeed, when your eyes have +been reproaching them every day for incautiousness." + +"I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor; "but of their +engagement I do." + +"I am perfectly satisfied of both." + +"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the subject, by either of +them." + +"I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly. Has +not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last +fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future +wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation? +Have we not perfectly understood each other? Has not my consent been +daily asked by his looks, his manner, his attentive and affectionate +respect? My Elinor, is it possible to doubt their engagement? How +could such a thought occur to you? How is it to be supposed that +Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your sister's love, should +leave her, and leave her perhaps for months, without telling her of +his affection,--that they should part without a mutual exchange of +confidence?" + +"I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance except _one_ is +in favour of their engagement; but that _one_ is the total silence of +both on the subject, and with me it almost outweighs every other." + +"How strange this is! You must think wretchedly indeed of Willoughby, +if, after all that has openly passed between them, you can doubt the +nature of the terms on which they are together. Has he been acting a +part in his behaviour to your sister all this time? Do you suppose him +really indifferent to her?" + +"No, I cannot think that. He must and does love her I am sure." + +"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can leave her with such +indifference, such carelessness of the future, as you attribute to +him." + +"You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never considered this +matter as certain. I have had my doubts, I confess; but they are +fainter than they were, and they may soon be entirely done away. If we +find they correspond, every fear of mine will be removed." + +"A mighty concession indeed! If you were to see them at the altar, you +would suppose they were going to be married. Ungracious girl! But I +require no such proof. Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to +justify doubt; no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly +open and unreserved. You cannot doubt your sister's wishes. It must be +Willoughby therefore whom you suspect. But why? Is he not a man of +honour and feeling? Has there been any inconsistency on his side to +create alarm? can he be deceitful?" + +"I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor. "I love Willoughby, +sincerely love him; and suspicion of his integrity cannot be more +painful to yourself than to me. It has been involuntary, and I will +not encourage it. I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his +manners this morning; he did not speak like himself, and did not +return your kindness with any cordiality. But all this may be +explained by such a situation of his affairs as you have supposed. He +had just parted from my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest +affliction; and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs. +Smith, to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet aware +that by declining your invitation, by saying that he was going away +for some time, he should seem to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part +by our family, he might well be embarrassed and disturbed. In such a +case, a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been more +to his honour I think, as well as more consistent with his general +character;--but I will not raise objections against any one's conduct +on so illiberal a foundation, as a difference in judgment from myself, +or a deviation from what I may think right and consistent." + +"You speak very properly. Willoughby certainly does not deserve to be +suspected. Though _we_ have not known him long, he is no stranger in +this part of the world; and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage? +Had he been in a situation to act independently and marry immediately, +it might have been odd that he should leave us without acknowledging +everything to me at once: but this is not the case. It is an +engagement in some respects not prosperously begun, for their marriage +must be at a very uncertain distance; and even secrecy, as far as it +can be observed, may now be very advisable." + +They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret; and Elinor was then +at liberty to think over the representations of her mother, to +acknowledge the probability of many, and hope for the justice of all. + +They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time, when she entered the +room and took her place at the table without saying a word. Her eyes +were red and swollen; and it seemed as if her tears were even then +restrained with difficulty. She avoided the looks of them all, could +neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her mother's silently +pressing her hand with tender compassion, her small degree of +fortitude was quite overcome, she burst into tears and left the room. + +This violent oppression of spirits continued the whole evening. She +was without any power, because she was without any desire of command +over herself. The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby +overpowered her in an instant; and though her family were most +anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was impossible for them, if +they spoke at all, to keep clear of every subject which her feelings +connected with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able +to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby. She +would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next +morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than +when she lay down in it. But the feelings which made such composure a +disgrace, left her in no danger of incurring it. She was awake the +whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it. She got up with a +headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment; +giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters, and forbidding +all attempt at consolation from either. Her sensibility was potent +enough! + +When breakfast was over she walked out by herself, and wandered about +the village of Allenham, indulging the recollection of past enjoyment +and crying over the present reverse for the chief of the morning. + +The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling. She played +over every favourite song that she had been used to play to +Willoughby, every air in which their voices had been oftenest joined, +and sat at the instrument gazing on every line of music that he had +written out for her, till her heart was so heavy that no farther +sadness could be gained; and this nourishment of grief was every day +applied. She spent whole hours at the pianoforte alternately singing +and crying; her voice often totally suspended by her tears. In books +too, as well as in music, she courted the misery which a contrast +between the past and present was certain of giving. She read nothing +but what they had been used to read together. + +Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported for ever; it +sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy; but these +employments, to which she daily recurred, her solitary walks and +silent meditations, still produced occasional effusions of sorrow as +lively as ever. + +No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected by Marianne. +Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again became uneasy. But Mrs. +Dashwood could find explanations whenever she wanted them, which at +least satisfied herself. + +"Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John fetches our +letters himself from the post, and carries them to it. We have already +agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and we must acknowledge that it +could not be maintained if their correspondence were to pass through +Sir John's hands." + +Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried to find in it a +motive sufficient for their silence. But there was one method so +direct, so simple, and in her opinion so eligible of knowing the real +state of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that she +could not help suggesting it to her mother. + +"Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she, "whether she is or +she is not engaged to Willoughby? From you, her mother, and so kind, +so indulgent a mother, the question could not give offence. It would +be the natural result of your affection for her. She used to be all +unreserve, and to you more especially." + +"I would not ask such a question for the world. Supposing it possible +that they are not engaged, what distress would not such an enquiry +inflict! At any rate it would be most ungenerous. I should never +deserve her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession of +what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one. I know +Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me, and that I shall +not be the last to whom the affair is made known, when circumstances +make the revealment of it eligible. I would not attempt to force the +confidence of any one; of a child much less; because a sense of duty +would prevent the denial which her wishes might direct." + +Elinor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's +youth, and urged the matter farther, but in vain; common sense, common +care, common prudence, were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic +delicacy. + +It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before +Marianne by any of her family; Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, +were not so nice; their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour; +but one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a volume of +Shakespeare, exclaimed-- + +"We have never finished _Hamlet_, Marianne; our dear Willoughby went +away before we could get through it. We will put it by, that when he +comes again--; But it may be months, perhaps, before _that_ happens." + +"Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise. "No--nor many weeks." + +Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said; but it gave Elinor +pleasure, as it produced a reply from Marianne so expressive of +confidence in Willoughby and knowledge of his intentions. + +One morning, about a week after his leaving the country, Marianne was +prevailed on to join her sisters in their usual walk, instead of +wandering away by herself. Hitherto she had carefully avoided every +companion in her rambles. If her sisters intended to walk on the +downs, she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked of +the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills, and could never +be found when the others set off. But at length she was secured by the +exertions of Elinor, who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion. +They walked along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence, +for Marianne's _mind_ could not be controlled, and Elinor, satisfied +with gaining one point, would not then attempt more. Beyond the +entrance of the valley, where the country, though still rich, was less +wild and more open, a long stretch of the road which they had +travelled on first coming to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching +that point, they stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect +which formed the distance of their view from the cottage, from a spot +which they had never happened to reach in any of their walks before. + +Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered an animated +one; it was a man on horseback riding towards them. In a few minutes +they could distinguish him to be a gentleman; and in a moment +afterwards Marianne rapturously exclaimed-- + +"It is he; it is indeed--I know it is!" and was hastening to meet him, +when Elinor cried out-- + +"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken. It is not Willoughby. The +person is not tall enough for him, and has not his air." + +"He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has. His air, his +coat, his horse. I knew how soon he would come." + +She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor, to screen Marianne +from particularity, as she felt almost certain of its not being +Willoughby, quickened her pace and kept up with her. They were soon +within thirty yards of the gentleman. Marianne looked again; her heart +sunk within her; and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, +when the voices of both her sisters were raised to detain her; a +third, almost as well known as Willoughby's, joined them in begging +her to stop, and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome +Edward Ferrars. + +[Illustration: _Begging her to stop._] + +He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be +forgiven for not being Willoughby; the only one who could have gained +a smile from her; but she dispersed her tears to smile on _him_, and +in her sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment. + +He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant, walked back with +them to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them. + +He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but especially by +Marianne, who showed more warmth of regard in her reception of him +than even Elinor herself. To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between +Edward and her sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable +coldness which she had often observed at Norland in their mutual +behaviour. On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency +of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion. He was +confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked +neither rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by +questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection. Marianne +saw and listened with increasing surprise. She began almost to feel a +dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, +by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a +contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect. + +After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and enquiries +of meeting, Marianne asked Edward if he came directly from London. No, +he had been in Devonshire a fortnight. + +"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being so long in the +same county with Elinor without seeing her before. + +He looked rather distressed as he added, that he had been staying with +some friends near Plymouth. + +"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor. + +"I was at Norland about a month ago." + +"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne. + +"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always +does at this time of the year--the woods and walks thickly covered +with dead leaves." + +"Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation have I +formerly seen them fall! How have I delighted, as I walked, to see +them driven in showers about me by the wind! What feelings have they, +the season, the air altogether inspired! Now there is no one to regard +them. They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven +as much as possible from the sight." + +"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead +leaves." + +"No; my feelings are not often shared, not often understood. But +_sometimes_ they are." As she said this, she sunk into a reverie for a +few moments; but rousing herself again, "Now, Edward," said she, +calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley. Look up +to it, and be tranquil if you can. Look at those hills! Did you ever +see their equals? To the left is Barton park, amongst those woods and +plantations. You may see the end of the house. And there, beneath that +farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage." + +"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be +dirty in winter." + +"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?" + +"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the objects before +me, I see a very dirty lane." + +"How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on. + +"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here? Are the Middletons pleasant +people?" + +"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not be more unfortunately +situated." + +"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can you be so +unjust? They are a very respectable family, Mr. Ferrars; and towards +us have behaved in the friendliest manner. Have you forgot, Marianne, +how many pleasant days we have owed to them?" + +"No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many painful moments." + +Elinor took no notice of this; and directing her attention to their +visitor, endeavoured to support something like discourse with him, by +talking of their present residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting +from him occasional questions and remarks. His coldness and reserve +mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry; but resolving to +regulate her behaviour to him by the past rather than the present, +she avoided every appearance of resentment or displeasure, and treated +him as she thought he ought to be treated from the family connection. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at seeing him; for his +coming to Barton was, in her opinion, of all things the most natural. +Her joy and expression of regard long outlived her wonder. He received +the kindest welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not +stand against such a reception. They had begun to fail him before he +entered the house, and they were quite overcome by the captivating +manners of Mrs. Dashwood. Indeed a man could not very well be in love +with either of her daughters, without extending the passion to her; +and Elinor had the satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like +himself. His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all, and his +interest in their welfare again became perceptible. He was not in +spirits, however; he praised their house, admired its prospect, was +attentive, and kind; but still he was not in spirits. The whole family +perceived it, and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of +liberality in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all +selfish parents. + +"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?" said she, +when dinner was over and they had drawn round the fire; "are you still +to be a great orator in spite of yourself?" + +"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more talents +than inclination for a public life!" + +"But how is your fame to be established? for famous you must be to +satisfy all your family; and with no inclination for expense, no +affection for strangers, no profession, and no assurance, you may find +it a difficult matter." + +"I shall not attempt it. I have no wish to be distinguished; and have +every reason to hope I never shall. Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced +into genius and eloquence." + +"You have no ambition, I well know. Your wishes are all moderate." + +"As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe. I wish as +well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body +else it must be in my own way. Greatness will not make me so." + +"Strange that it would!" cried Marianne. "What have wealth or grandeur +to do with happiness?" + +"Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth has much to do +with it." + +"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness +where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can +afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned." + +"Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come to the same point. +_Your_ competence and _my_ wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and +without them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every +kind of external comfort must be wanting. Your ideas are only more +noble than mine. Come, what is your competence?" + +"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than _that._" + +Elinor laughed. "_Two_ thousand a year! _One_ is my wealth! I guessed +how it would end." + +"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income," said +Marianne. "A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller. I am sure +I am not extravagant in my demands. A proper establishment of +servants, a carriage, perhaps two, and hunters, cannot be supported on +less." + +Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing so accurately their +future expenses at Combe Magna. + +"Hunters!" repeated Edward; "but why must you have hunters? Every body +does not hunt." + +Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do." + +"I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought, "that somebody +would give us all a large fortune a-piece!" + +"Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes sparkling with +animation, and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such imaginary +happiness. + +"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose," said Elinor, "in spite +of the insufficiency of wealth." + +"Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be! I wonder what I +should do with it!" + +Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point. + +"I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself," said Mrs. +Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich without my help." + +"You must begin your improvements on this house," observed Elinor, +"and your difficulties will soon vanish." + +"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London," +said Edward, "in such an event! What a happy day for booksellers, +music-sellers, and print-shops! You, Miss Dashwood, would give a +general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you--and as +for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music +enough in London to content her. And books!--Thomson, Cowper, +Scott--she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up +every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; +and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old +twisted tree. Should not you, Marianne? Forgive me, if I am very +saucy. But I was willing to show you that I had not forgot our old +disputes." + +"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--whether it be melancholy +or gay, I love to recall it--and you will never offend me by talking +of former times. You are very right in supposing how my money would be +spent; some of it, at least--my loose cash--would certainly be +employed in improving my collection of music and books." + +"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the +authors or their heirs." + +"No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it." + +"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who +wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever +be in love more than once in their life--for your opinion on that +point is unchanged, I presume?" + +"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed. It is +not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them." + +"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor, "she is not +at all altered." + +"She is only grown a little more grave than she was." + +"Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me. You are not +very gay yourself." + +"Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh. "But gaiety never +was a part of _my_ character." + +"Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor; "I should +hardly call her a lively girl--she is very earnest, very eager in all +she does--sometimes talks a great deal and always with animation--but +she is not often really merry." + +"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I have always set her +down as a lively girl." + +"I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes," said +Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some point or +other: fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or +stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why or in what the +deception originated. Sometimes one is guided by what they say of +themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them, +without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge." + +"But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne, "to be guided +wholly by the opinion of other people. I thought our judgments were +given us merely to be subservient to those of neighbours. This has +always been your doctrine, I am sure." + +"No, Marianne, never. My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of +the understanding. All I have ever attempted to influence has been the +behaviour. You must not confound my meaning. I am guilty, I confess, +of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with +greater attention; but when have I advised you to adopt their +sentiments or to conform to their judgment in serious matters?" + +"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan of +general civility," said Edward to Elinor, "Do you gain no ground?" + +"Quite the contrary," replied Elinor, looking expressively at +Marianne. + +"My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side of the question; but +I am afraid my practice is much more on your sister's. I never wish to +offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I +am only kept back by my natural awkwardness. I have frequently thought +that I must have been intended by nature to be fond of low company, I +am so little at my ease among strangers of gentility!" + +"Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers," said +Elinor. + +"She knows her own worth too well for false shame," replied Edward. +"Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or +other. If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy +and graceful, I should not be shy." + +"But you would still be reserved," said Marianne, "and that is worse." + +Edward started. "Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?" + +"Yes, very." + +"I do not understand you," replied he, colouring. "Reserved!--how, in +what manner? What am I to tell you? What can you suppose?" + +Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh off the +subject, she said to him, "Do not you know my sister well enough to +understand what she means? Do not you know she calls every one +reserved who does not talk as fast, and admire what she admires as +rapturously as herself?" + +Edward made no answer. His gravity and thoughtfulness returned on him +in their fullest extent--and he sat for some time silent and dull. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend. His +visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own +enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect. It was evident that he was +unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still +distinguished her by the same affection which once she had felt no +doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference +seemed very uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her +contradicted one moment what a more animated look had intimated the +preceding one. + +He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning +before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to +promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to +themselves. But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour +door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself +come out. + +"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are +not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently." + + * * * * * + +Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding +country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the +valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher +situation than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, +which had exceedingly pleased him. This was a subject which ensured +Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe her own +admiration of these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the +objects that had particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her +by saying, "You must not enquire too far, Marianne: remember I have no +knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance +and want of taste if we come to particulars. I shall call hills steep, +which ought to be bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to +be irregular and rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought +only to be indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere. +You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give. I +call it a very fine country,--the hills are steep, the woods seem full +of fine timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug,--with rich +meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here and there. It +exactly answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty +with utility--and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you +admire it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and +promontories, grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me. +I know nothing of the picturesque." + +"I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you +boast of it?" + +"I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation, +Edward here falls into another. Because he believes many people +pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really +feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater +indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he +possesses. He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own." + +"It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape +scenery is become a mere jargon. Every body pretends to feel and tries +to describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what +picturesque beauty was. I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I +have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to +describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and +meaning." + +"I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight +in a fine prospect which you profess to feel. But, in return, your +sister must allow me to feel no more than I profess. I like a fine +prospect, but not on picturesque principles. I do not like crooked, +twisted, blasted trees. I admire them much more if they are tall, +straight, and flourishing. I do not like ruined, tattered cottages. I +am not fond of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms. I have more +pleasure in a snug farm-house than a watch-tower,--and a troop of +tidy, happy villages please me better than the finest banditti in the +world." + +Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her +sister. Elinor only laughed. + +The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained +thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention. +She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, +his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a +plait of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers. + +"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried. "Is that +Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some. But I should +have thought her hair had been darker." + +Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt; but when she saw +how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of +thought could not be surpassed by his. He coloured very deeply, and +giving a momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's +hair. The setting always casts a different shade on it, you know." + +Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise. That the hair +was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne; +the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne +considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must +have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself. +She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and +affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of +something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every +opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all +doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own. + +Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of +mind still more settled. He was particularly grave the whole morning. +Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own +forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little +offence it had given her sister. + +Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs. +Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the +cottage, came to take a survey of the guest. With the assistance of +his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name +of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of +raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of +their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being +immediately sprung. But, as it was, she only learned, from some very +significant looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's +instructions, extended. + +Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to +dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening. +On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their +visitor, towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, +he wished to engage them for both. + +"You _must_ drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be +quite alone; and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we +shall be a large party." + +Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity. "And who knows but you may raise +a dance," said she. "And that will tempt _you_, Miss Marianne." + +"A dance!" cried Marianne. "Impossible! Who is to dance?" + +[Illustration: _Came to take a survey of the guest._] + +"Who? why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure. +What! you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that +shall be nameless is gone!" + +"I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among +us again." + +This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward. "And who +is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he +was sitting. + +She gave him a brief reply. Marianne's countenance was more +communicative. Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning +of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him +before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round +her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing. Shall I tell you +my guess?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Shall I tell you." + +"Certainly." + +"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts." + +Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at +the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said-- + +"Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come I hope--I am sure +you will like him." + +"I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness +and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of +her acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing +between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to +mention it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly pressed by +Mrs. Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he were bent only on +self-mortification, he seemed resolved to be gone when his enjoyment +among his friends was at the height. His spirits, during the last two +or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved--he +grew more and more partial to the house and environs--never spoke of +going away without a sigh--declared his time to be wholly +disengaged--even doubted to what place he should go when he left +them--but still, go he must. Never had any week passed so quickly--he +could hardly believe it to be gone. He said so repeatedly; other +things he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the +lie to his actions. He had no pleasure at Norland; he detested being +in town; but either to Norland or London, he must go. He valued their +kindness beyond any thing, and his greatest happiness was in being +with them. Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite of +their wishes and his own, and without any restraint on his time. + +Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to his +mother's account; and it was happy for her that he had a mother whose +character was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general excuse +for every thing strange on the part of her son. Disappointed, however, +and vexed as she was, and sometimes displeased with his uncertain +behaviour to herself, she was very well disposed on the whole to +regard his actions with all the candid allowances and generous +qualifications, which had been rather more painfully extorted from +her, for Willoughby's service, by her mother. His want of spirits, of +openness, and of consistency, were most usually attributed to his want +of independence, and his better knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's +disposition and designs. The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of +his purpose in leaving them, originated in the same fettered +inclination, the same inevitable necessity of temporizing with his +mother. The old well-established grievance of duty against will, +parent against child, was the cause of all. She would have been glad +to know when these difficulties were to cease, this opposition was to +yield, when Mrs. Ferrars would be reformed, and her son be at liberty +to be happy. But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for +comfort to the renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection, to the +remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word which fell from +him while at Barton, and above all to that flattering proof of it +which he constantly wore round his finger. + +"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the +last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to +engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions. Some +inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it--you would +not be able to give them so much of your time. But (with a smile) you +would be materially benefited in one particular at least--you would +know where to go when you left them." + +"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long thought on this +point, as you think now. It has been, and is, and probably will always +be a heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to +engage me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing +like independence. But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of +my friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being. We never +could agree in our choice of a profession. I always preferred the +church, as I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family. +They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me. The +law was allowed to be genteel enough; many young men, who had chambers +in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first circles, and +drove about town in very knowing gigs. But I had no inclination for +the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which my family +approved. As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I was too +old when the subject was first started to enter it; and, at length, as +there was no necessity for my having any profession at all, as I might +be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as with one, +idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous and +honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly +bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his friends to do +nothing. I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been properly idle +ever since." + +"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be," said Mrs. Dashwood, +"since leisure has not promoted your own happiness, that your sons +will be brought up to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and +trades as Columella's." + +"They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent, "to be as +unlike myself as is possible. In feeling, in action, in condition, in +every thing." + +"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate want of spirits, +Edward. You are in a melancholy humour, and fancy that any one unlike +yourself must be happy. But remember that the pain of parting from +friends will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their +education or state. Know your own happiness. You want nothing but +patience--or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope. Your +mother will secure to you, in time, that independence you are so +anxious for; it is her duty, and it will, it must ere long become her +happiness to prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent. +How much may not a few months do?" + +"I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many months to produce any +good to me." + +This desponding turn of mind, though it could not be communicated to +Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain to them all in the parting, which +shortly took place, and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's +feelings especially, which required some trouble and time to subdue. +But as it was her determination to subdue it, and to prevent herself +from appearing to suffer more than what all her family suffered on his +going away, she did not adopt the method so judiciously employed by +Marianne, on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow, by +seeking silence, solitude and idleness. Their means were as different +as their objects, and equally suited to the advancement of each. + +Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he was out of the +house, busily employed herself the whole day, neither sought nor +avoided the mention of his name, appeared to interest herself almost +as much as ever in the general concerns of the family, and if, by this +conduct, she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented +from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters were spared much +solicitude on her account. + +Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse of her own, appeared no +more meritorious to Marianne, than her own had seemed faulty to her. +The business of self-command she settled very easily;--with strong +affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could have no merit. +That her sister's affections _were_ calm, she dared not deny, though +she blushed to acknowledge it; and of the strength of her own, she +gave a very striking proof, by still loving and respecting that +sister, in spite of this mortifying conviction. + +Without shutting herself up from her family, or leaving the house in +determined solitude to avoid them, or lying awake the whole night to +indulge meditation, Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough +to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every possible +variety which the different state of her spirits at different times +could produce,--with tenderness, pity, approbation, censure, and +doubt. There were moments in abundance, when, if not by the absence of +her mother and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments, +conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect of solitude +was produced. Her mind was inevitably at liberty; her thoughts could +not be chained elsewhere; and the past and the future, on a subject so +interesting, must be before her, must force her attention, and engross +her memory, her reflection, and her fancy. + +From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her drawing-table, she was +roused one morning, soon after Edward's leaving them, by the arrival +of company. She happened to be quite alone. The closing of the little +gate, at the entrance of the green court in front of the house, drew +her eyes to the window, and she saw a large party walking up to the +door. Amongst them were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, +but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were quite +unknown to her. She was sitting near the window, and as soon as Sir +John perceived her, he left the rest of the party to the ceremony of +knocking at the door, and stepping across the turf, obliged her to +open the casement to speak to him, though the space was so short +between the door and the window, as to make it hardly possible to +speak at one without being heard at the other. + +"Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers. How do you like +them?" + +"Hush! they will hear you." + +"Never mind if they do. It is only the Palmers. Charlotte is very +pretty, I can tell you. You may see her if you look this way." + +As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple of minutes, without +taking that liberty, she begged to be excused. + +"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we are come? I see her +instrument is open." + +"She is walking, I believe." + +They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not patience enough to +wait till the door was opened before she told _her_ story. She came +hallooing to the window, "How do you do, my dear? How does Mrs. +Dashwood do? And where are your sisters? What! all alone! you will be +glad of a little company to sit with you. I have brought my other son +and daughter to see you. Only think of their coming so suddenly! I +thought I heard a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea, +but it never entered my head that it could be them. I thought of +nothing but whether it might not be Colonel Brandon come back again; +so I said to Sir John, I do think I hear a carriage; perhaps it is +Colonel Brandon come back again--" + +Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle of her story, to +receive the rest of the party; Lady Middleton introduced the two +strangers; Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the same +time, and they all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. +Jennings continued her story as she walked through the passage into +the parlour, attended by Sir John. + +Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton, and totally +unlike her in every respect. She was short and plump, had a very +pretty face, and the finest expression of good humour in it that could +possibly be. Her manners were by no means so elegant as her sister's, +but they were much more prepossessing. She came in with a smile, +smiled all the time of her visit, except when she laughed, and smiled +when she went away. Her husband was a grave looking young man of five +or six and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than his +wife, but of less willingness to please or be pleased. He entered the +room with a look of self-consequence, slightly bowed to the ladies, +without speaking a word, and, after briefly surveying them and their +apartments, took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read +it as long as he stayed. + +Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed by nature with +a turn for being uniformly civil and happy, was hardly seated before +her admiration of the parlour and every thing in it burst forth. + +"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so +charming! Only think, Mamma, how it is improved since I was here last! +I always thought it such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs. +Dashwood) but you have made it so charming! Only look, sister, how +delightful every thing is! How I should like such a house for myself! +Should not you, Mr. Palmer?" + +Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise his eyes from +the newspaper. + +"Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing; "he never does +sometimes. It is so ridiculous!" + +This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had never been used to +find wit in the inattention of any one, and could not help looking +with surprise at them both. + +Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud as she could, and +continued her account of their surprise, the evening before, on seeing +their friends, without ceasing till every thing was told. Mrs. Palmer +laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment, and every +body agreed, two or three times over, that it had been quite an +agreeable surprise. + +"You may believe how glad we all were to see them," added Mrs. +Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor, and speaking in a low voice +as if she meant to be heard by no one else, though they were seated on +different sides of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they +had not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey of it, +for they came all round by London upon account of some business, for +you know (nodding significantly and pointing to her daughter) it was +wrong in her situation. I wanted her to stay at home and rest this +morning, but she would come with us; she longed so much to see you +all!" + +Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her any harm. + +"She expects to be confined in February," continued Mrs. Jennings. + +Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation, and +therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there was any news in +the paper. + +"No, none at all," he replied, and read on. + +"Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John. "Now, Palmer, you shall see a +monstrous pretty girl." + +He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door, and +ushered her in himself. Mrs. Jennings asked her, as soon as she +appeared, if she had not been to Allenham; and Mrs. Palmer laughed so +heartily at the question, as to show she understood it. Mr. Palmer +looked up on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes, and +then returned to his newspaper. Mrs. Palmer's eye was now caught by +the drawings which hung round the room. She got up to examine them. + +[Illustration: "_I declare they are quite charming_."] + +"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are! Well! how delightful! Do but look, +mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming; I could look at +them for ever." And then sitting down again, she very soon forgot that +there were any such things in the room. + +When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer rose also, laid down +the newspaper, stretched himself and looked at them all around. + +"My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing. + +He made her no answer; and only observed, after again examining the +room, that it was very low pitched, and that the ceiling was crooked. +He then made his bow, and departed with the rest. + +Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next day at +the park. Mrs. Dashwood, who did not choose to dine with them oftener +than they dined at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account; +her daughters might do as they pleased. But they had no curiosity to +see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner, and no expectation of +pleasure from them in any other way. They attempted, therefore, +likewise, to excuse themselves; the weather was uncertain, and not +likely to be good. But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage +should be sent for them and they must come. Lady Middleton too, though +she did not press their mother, pressed them. Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. +Palmer joined their entreaties, all seemed equally anxious to avoid a +family party; and the young ladies were obliged to yield. + +"Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they were gone. +"The rent of this cottage is said to be low; but we have it on very +hard terms, if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is staying +either with them, or with us." + +"They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now," said Elinor, "by +these frequent invitations, than by those which we received from them +a few weeks ago. The alteration is not in them, if their parties are +grown tedious and dull. We must look for the change elsewhere." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park the next +day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at the other, looking as +good humoured and merry as before. She took them all most +affectionately by the hand, and expressed great delight in seeing them +again. + +"I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself between Elinor +and Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come, +which would be a shocking thing, as we go away again tomorrow. We must +go, for the Westons come to us next week you know. It was quite a +sudden thing our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the +carriage was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I +would go with him to Barton. He is so droll! He never tells me any +thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer; however we shall meet +again in town very soon, I hope." + +They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation. + +"Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh, "I shall be quite +disappointed if you do not. I could get the nicest house in world for +you, next door to ours, in Hanover-square. You must come, indeed. I am +sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till I am +confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go into public." + +They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all her entreaties. + +"Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband, who just then entered +the room--"you must help me to persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to +town this winter." + +Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing to the ladies, +began complaining of the weather. + +"How horrid all this is!" said he. "Such weather makes every thing and +every body disgusting. Dullness is as much produced within doors as +without, by rain. It makes one detest all one's acquaintance. What the +devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his house? +How few people know what comfort is! Sir John is as stupid as the +weather." + +The rest of the company soon dropt in. + +"I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have not been able +to take your usual walk to Allenham today." + +Marianne looked very grave and said nothing. + +"Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer; "for we know all +about it, I assure you; and I admire your taste very much, for I think +he is extremely handsome. We do not live a great way from him in the +country, you know. Not above ten miles, I dare say." + +"Much nearer thirty," said her husband. + +"Ah, well! there is not much difference. I never was at his house; but +they say it is a sweet pretty place." + +"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life," said Mr. Palmer. + +Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her countenance betrayed +her interest in what was said. + +"Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer--"then it must be some other +place that is so pretty I suppose." + +When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John observed with +regret that they were only eight all together. + +"My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking that we should +be so few. Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today?" + +"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me about it before, +that it could not be done? They dined with us last." + +"You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings, "should not stand upon such +ceremony." + +"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer. + +"My love you contradict every body," said his wife with her usual +laugh. "Do you know that you are quite rude?" + +"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother +ill-bred." + +"Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured old lady, +"you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back +again. So there I have the whip hand of you." + +Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not get rid +of her; and exultingly said, she did not care how cross he was to her, +as they must live together. It was impossible for any one to be more +thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy than Mrs. +Palmer. The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her +husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was +highly diverted. + +"Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper, to Elinor. "He is +always out of humour." + +Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation, to give him +credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred +as he wished to appear. His temper might perhaps be a little soured by +finding, like many others of his sex, that through some unaccountable +bias in favour of beauty, he was the husband of a very silly +woman,--but she knew that this kind of blunder was too common for any +sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it. It was rather a wish of +distinction, she believed, which produced his contemptuous treatment +of every body, and his general abuse of every thing before him. It was +the desire of appearing superior to other people. The motive was too +common to be wondered at; but the means, however they might succeed by +establishing his superiority in ill-breeding, were not likely to +attach any one to him except his wife. + +"Oh, my dear Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Palmer soon afterwards, "I have +got such a favour to ask of you and your sister. Will you come and +spend some time at Cleveland this Christmas? Now, pray do,--and come +while the Westons are with us. You cannot think how happy I shall be! +It will be quite delightful!--My love," applying to her husband, +"don't you long to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland?" + +"Certainly," he replied, with a sneer--"I came into Devonshire with no +other view." + +"There now,"--said his lady, "you see Mr. Palmer expects you; so you +cannot refuse to come." + +They both eagerly and resolutely declined her invitation. + +"But indeed you must and shall come. I am sure you will like it of all +things. The Westons will be with us, and it will be quite delightful. +You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay +now, for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing +against the election; and so many people came to dine with us that I +never saw before, it is quite charming! But, poor fellow! it is very +fatiguing to him! for he is forced to make every body like him." + +Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she assented to the +hardship of such an obligation. + +"How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he is in +Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh! It will be so ridiculous to +see all his letters directed to him with an M.P. But do you know, he +says, he will never frank for me? He declares he won't. Don't you, Mr. +Palmer?" + +Mr. Palmer took no notice of her. + +"He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued; "he says it is +quite shocking." + +"No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational. Don't palm all +your abuses of languages upon me." + +"There now; you see how droll he is. This is always the way with him! +Sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day together, and then he +comes out with something so droll--all about any thing in the world." + +She surprised Elinor very much as they returned into the drawing-room, +by asking her whether she did not like Mr. Palmer excessively. + +"Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable." + +"Well--I am so glad you do. I thought you would, he is so pleasant; +and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased with you and your sisters I can +tell you, and you can't think how disappointed he will be if you don't +come to Cleveland. I can't imagine why you should object to it." + +Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation; and by changing +the subject, put a stop to her entreaties. She thought it probable +that as they lived in the same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to +give some more particular account of Willoughby's general character, +than could be gathered from the Middletons' partial acquaintance with +him; and she was eager to gain from any one, such a confirmation of +his merits as might remove the possibility of fear from Marianne. She +began by inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland, +and whether they were intimately acquainted with him. + +"Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well," replied Mrs. Palmer;--"Not +that I ever spoke to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in +town. Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton while +he was at Allenham. Mama saw him here once before, but I was with my +uncle at Weymouth. However, I dare say we should have seen a great +deal of him in Somersetshire, if it had not happened very unluckily +that we should never have been in the country together. He is very +little at Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there, I do +not think Mr. Palmer would visit him, for he is in the opposition, you +know, and besides it is such a way off. I know why you inquire about +him, very well; your sister is to marry him. I am monstrous glad of +it, for then I shall have her for a neighbour you know." + +"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much more of the matter than +I do, if you have any reason to expect such a match." + +"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is what every body +talks of. I assure you I heard of it in my way through town." + +"My dear Mrs. Palmer!" + +"Upon my honour I did. I met Colonel Brandon Monday morning in +Bond-street, just before we left town, and he told me of it directly." + +"You surprise me very much. Colonel Brandon tell you of it! Surely you +must be mistaken. To give such intelligence to a person who could not +be interested in it, even if it were true, is not what I should expect +Colonel Brandon to do." + +"But I do assure you it was so, for all that, and I will tell you how +it happened. When we met him, he turned back and walked with us; and +so we began talking of my brother and sister, and one thing and +another, and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family come +to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word they are very +pretty, and that one of them is going to be married to Mr. Willoughby +of Combe Magna. Is it true, pray? for of course you must know, as you +have been in Devonshire so lately.'" + +"And what did the Colonel say?" + +"Oh--he did not say much; but he looked as if he knew it to be true, +so from that moment I set it down as certain. It will be quite +delightful, I declare! When is it to take place?" + +"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?" + +"Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises, he did nothing but +say fine things of you." + +"I am flattered by his commendation. He seems an excellent man; and I +think him uncommonly pleasing." + +"So do I. He is such a charming man, that it is quite a pity he should +be so grave and so dull. Mamma says _he_ was in love with your sister +too. I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he hardly +ever falls in love with any body." + +"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part of Somersetshire?" said +Elinor. + +"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe many people are +acquainted with him, because Combe Magna is so far off; but they all +think him extremely agreeable I assure you. Nobody is more liked than +Mr. Willoughby wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister. She +is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour; not but that he +is much more lucky in getting her, because she is so very handsome and +agreeable, that nothing can be good enough for her. However, I don't +think her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you; for I think +you both excessively pretty, and so does Mr. Palmer too I am sure, +though we could not get him to own it last night." + +Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby was not very material; +but any testimony in his favour, however small, was pleasing to her. + +"I am so glad we are got acquainted at last," continued Charlotte. +"And now I hope we shall always be great friends. You can't think how +much I longed to see you! It is so delightful that you should live at +the cottage! Nothing can be like it, to be sure! And I am so glad your +sister is going to be well married! I hope you will be a great deal at +Combe Magna. It is a sweet place, by all accounts." + +"You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon, have not you?" + +"Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married. He was a particular +friend of Sir John's. I believe," she added in a low voice, "he would +have been very glad to have had me, if he could. Sir John and Lady +Middleton wished it very much. But mama did not think the match good +enough for me, otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to the +Colonel, and we should have been married immediately." + +"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother +before it was made? Had he never owned his affection to yourself?" + +"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it, I dare say he would have +liked it of all things. He had not seen me then above twice, for it +was before I left school. However, I am much happier as I am. Mr. +Palmer is the kind of man I like." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families +at Barton were again left to entertain each other. But this did not +last long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, +had hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a +cause, at Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at +the strange unsuitableness which often existed between husband and +wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause +of society, procured her some other new acquaintance to see and +observe. + +In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with two young +ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be +her relations, and this was enough for Sir John to invite them +directly to the park, as soon as their present engagements at Exeter +were over. Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such +an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on +the return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a +visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose +elegance--whose tolerable gentility even--she could have no proof; for +the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for +nothing at all. Their being her relations too made it so much the +worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts at consolation were therefore +unfortunately founded, when she advised her daughter not to care about +their being so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put +up with one another. As it was impossible, however, now to prevent +their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it, with +all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with +merely giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or +six times every day. + +The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by no means ungenteel +or unfashionable. Their dress was very smart, their manners very +civil, they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the +furniture, and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children that +Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their favour before they +had been an hour at the Park. She declared them to be very agreeable +girls indeed, which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration. Sir +John's confidence in his own judgment rose with this animated praise, +and he set off directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of +the Miss Steeles' arrival, and to assure them of their being the +sweetest girls in the world. From such commendation as this, however, +there was not much to be learned; Elinor well knew that the sweetest +girls in the world were to be met with in every part of England, under +every possible variation of form, face, temper and understanding. Sir +John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at +his guests. Benevolent, philanthropic man! It was painful to him even +to keep a third cousin to himself. + +"Do come now," said he--"pray come--you must come--I declare you shall +come--You can't think how you will like them. Lucy is monstrous +pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable! The children are all +hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance. And they +both long to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter that +you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told +them it is all very true, and a great deal more. You will be delighted +with them I am sure. They have brought the whole coach full of +playthings for the children. How can you be so cross as not to come? +Why they are your cousins, you know, after a fashion. _You_ are my +cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must be related." + +But Sir John could not prevail. He could only obtain a promise of +their calling at the Park within a day or two, and then left them in +amazement at their indifference, to walk home and boast anew of their +attractions to the Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of +the Miss Steeles to them. + +When their promised visit to the Park and consequent introduction to +these young ladies took place, they found in the appearance of the +eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible +face, nothing to admire; but in the other, who was not more than two +or three and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her +features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness +of air, which though it did not give actual elegance or grace, gave +distinction to her person. Their manners were particularly civil, and +Elinor soon allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she saw +with what constant and judicious attention they were making themselves +agreeable to Lady Middleton. With her children they were in continual +raptures, extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring +their whims; and such of their time as could be spared from the +importunate demands which this politeness made on it, was spent in +admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing, if she happened to be +doing any thing, or in taking patterns of some elegant new dress, in +which her appearance the day before had thrown them into unceasing +delight. Fortunately for those who pay their court through such +foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, +the most rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; +her demands are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing; and the +excessive affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her +offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest +surprise or distrust. She saw with maternal complacency all the +impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins +submitted. She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about their +ears, their work-bags searched, and their knives and scissors stolen +away, and felt no doubt of its being a reciprocal enjoyment. It +suggested no other surprise than that Elinor and Marianne should sit +so composedly by, without claiming a share in what was passing. + +"John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his taking Miss Steele's +pocket handkerchief, and throwing it out of window--"He is full of +monkey tricks." + +And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently pinching one of the +same lady's fingers, she fondly observed, "How playful William is!" + +[Illustration: _Mischievous tricks._] + +"And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added, tenderly caressing +a little girl of three years old, who had not made a noise for the +last two minutes; "And she is always so gentle and quiet--Never was +there such a quiet little thing!" + +But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces, a pin in her ladyship's +head dress slightly scratching the child's neck, produced from this +pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone +by any creature professedly noisy. The mother's consternation was +excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the Miss Steeles, and +every thing was done by all three, in so critical an emergency, which +affection could suggest as likely to assuage the agonies of the little +sufferer. She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses, her +wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the Miss Steeles, who was +on her knees to attend her, and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by +the other. With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise to +cease crying. She still screamed and sobbed lustily, kicked her two +brothers for offering to touch her, and all their united soothings +were ineffectual till Lady Middleton luckily remembering that in a +scene of similar distress last week, some apricot marmalade had been +successfully applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly +proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight intermission of +screams in the young lady on hearing it, gave them reason to hope that +it would not be rejected. She was carried out of the room therefore in +her mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the two boys +chose to follow, though earnestly entreated by their mother to stay +behind, the four young ladies were left in a quietness which the room +had not known for many hours. + +"Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon as they were gone. +"It might have been a very sad accident." + +"Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it had been under +totally different circumstances. But this is the usual way of +heightening alarm, where there is nothing to be alarmed at in +reality." + +"What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele. + +Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not +feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the +whole task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell. +She did her best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton +with more warmth than she felt, though with far less than Miss Lucy. + +"And Sir John too," cried the elder sister, "what a charming man he +is!" + +Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only simple and just, +came in without any eclat. She merely observed that he was perfectly +good humoured and friendly. + +"And what a charming little family they have! I never saw such fine +children in my life. I declare I quite doat upon them already, and +indeed I am always distractedly fond of children." + +"I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile, "from what I have +witnessed this morning." + +"I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little Middletons rather +too much indulged; perhaps they may be the outside of enough; but it +is so natural in Lady Middleton; and for my part, I love to see +children full of life and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame +and quiet." + +"I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at Barton Park, I never +think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence." + +A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first broken by Miss +Steele, who seemed very much disposed for conversation, and who now +said rather abruptly, "And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood? +I suppose you were very sorry to leave Sussex." + +In some surprise at the familiarity of this question, or at least of +the manner in which it was spoken, Elinor replied that she was. + +"Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?" added Miss +Steele. + +"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively," said Lucy, who seemed +to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her sister. + +"I think every one _must_ admire it," replied Elinor, "who ever saw +the place; though it is not to be supposed that any one can estimate +its beauties as we do." + +"And had you a great many smart beaux there? I suppose you have not so +many in this part of the world; for my part, I think they are a vast +addition always." + +"But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed of her sister, +"that there are not as many genteel young men in Devonshire as +Sussex?" + +"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there an't. I'm +sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter; but you know, how +could I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland; and I was +only afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they +had not so many as they used to have. But perhaps you young ladies may +not care about the beaux, and had as lief be without them as with +them. For my part, I think they are vastly agreeable, provided they +dress smart and behave civil. But I can't bear to see them dirty and +nasty. Now there's Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man, +quite a beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you do but +meet him of a morning, he is not fit to be seen. I suppose your +brother was quite a beau, Miss Dashwood, before he married, as he was +so rich?" + +"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you, for I do not +perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word. But this I can say, that +if he ever was a beau before he married, he is one still for there is +not the smallest alteration in him." + +"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being beaux--they have +something else to do." + +"Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of nothing but +beaux;--you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of nothing +else." And then to turn the discourse, she began admiring the house +and the furniture. + +This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough. The vulgar freedom and +folly of the eldest left her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not +blinded by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest, to her want +of real elegance and artlessness, she left the house without any wish +of knowing them better. + +Not so the Miss Steeles. They came from Exeter, well provided with +admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton, his family, and all his +relations, and no niggardly proportion was now dealt out to his fair +cousins, whom they declared to be the most beautiful, elegant, +accomplished, and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom +they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted. And to be +better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found was their inevitable +lot, for as Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles, +their party would be too strong for opposition, and that kind of +intimacy must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour or +two together in the same room almost every day. Sir John could do no +more; but he did not know that any more was required: to be together +was, in his opinion, to be intimate, and while his continual schemes +for their meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being +established friends. + +To do him justice, he did every thing in his power to promote their +unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with whatever he knew +or supposed of his cousins' situations in the most delicate +particulars,--and Elinor had not seen them more than twice, before the +eldest of them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky as +to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she came to Barton. + +"'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure," said +she, "and I hear he is quite a beau, and prodigious handsome. And I +hope you may have as good luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may +have a friend in the corner already." + +Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in +proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward, than he had been +with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of +the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since +Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to +her best affections with so much significancy and so many nods and +winks, as to excite general attention. The letter F had been likewise +invariably brought forward, and found productive of such countless +jokes, that its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had +been long established with Elinor. + +The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the benefit of these +jokes, and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to know the +name of the gentleman alluded to, which, though often impertinently +expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness +into the concerns of their family. But Sir John did not sport long +with the curiosity which he delighted to raise, for he had at least as +much pleasure in telling the name, as Miss Steele had in hearing it. + +"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper; "but pray +do not tell it, for it's a great secret." + +[Illustration: _Drinking to her best affections._] + +"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is the happy man, is he? +What! your sister-in-law's brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable +young man to be sure; I know him very well." + +"How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally made an +amendment to all her sister's assertions. "Though we have seen him +once or twice at my uncle's, it is rather too much to pretend to know +him very well." + +Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise. "And who was this +uncle? Where did he live? How came they acquainted?" She wished very +much to have the subject continued, though she did not choose to join +in it herself; but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time +in her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either in curiosity +after petty information, or in a disposition to communicate it. The +manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward, increased her +curiosity; for it struck her as being rather ill-natured, and +suggested the suspicion of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to +know something to his disadvantage. But her curiosity was unavailing, +for no farther notice was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by Miss Steele +when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by Sir John. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like +impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of +taste from herself, was at this time particularly ill-disposed, from +the state of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to +encourage their advances; and to the invariable coldness of her +behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour at intimacy on +their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of herself +which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of +Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of +striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank +communication of her sentiments. + +Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often just and amusing; +and as a companion for half an hour Elinor frequently found her +agreeable; but her powers had received no aid from education: she was +ignorant and illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement, +her want of information in the most common particulars, could not be +concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her constant endeavour to +appear to advantage. Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of +abilities which education might have rendered so respectable; but she +saw, with less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, +of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her +assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have +no lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined +insincerity with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their +meeting in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward +others made every show of attention and deference towards herself +perfectly valueless. + +"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say," said Lucy to her +one day, as they were walking together from the park to the +cottage--"but pray, are you personally acquainted with your +sister-in-law's mother, Mrs. Ferrars?" + +Elinor _did_ think the question a very odd one, and her countenance +expressed it, as she answered that she had never seen Mrs. Ferrars. + +"Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I thought you must have +seen her at Norland sometimes. Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what +sort of a woman she is?" + +"No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real opinion of Edward's +mother, and not very desirous of satisfying what seemed impertinent +curiosity; "I know nothing of her." + +"I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such +a way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; "but +perhaps there may be reasons--I wish I might venture; but however I +hope you will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be +impertinent." + +Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in +silence. It was broken by Lucy, who renewed the subject again by +saying, with some hesitation-- + +"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious. I am sure I +would rather do any thing in the world than be thought so by a person +whose good opinion is so well worth having as yours. And I am sure I +should not have the smallest fear of trusting _you_; indeed, I should +be very glad of your advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable +situation as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble +_you._ I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars." + +"I am sorry I do _not_," said Elinor, in great astonishment, "if it +could be of any use to _you_ to know my opinion of her. But really I +never understood that you were at all connected with that family, and +therefore I am a little surprised, I confess, at so serious an inquiry +into her character." + +"I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it. But +if I dared tell you all, you would not be so much surprised. Mrs. +Ferrars is certainly nothing to me at present--but the time _may_ +come--how soon it will come must depend upon herself--when we may be +very intimately connected." + +She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful, with only one side +glance at her companion to observe its effect on her. + +"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean? Are you acquainted +with Mr. Robert Ferrars? Can you be?" And she did not feel much +delighted with the idea of such a sister-in-law. + +"No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. _Robert_ Ferrars--I never saw him in +my life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor, "to his eldest brother." + +What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment, that would have been as +painful as it was strong, had not an immediate disbelief of the +assertion attended it. She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, +unable to divine the reason or object of such a declaration; and +though her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity, and felt +in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon. + +"You may well be surprised," continued Lucy; "for to be sure you could +have had no idea of it before; for I dare say he never dropped the +smallest hint of it to you or any of your family; because it was +always meant to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully +kept so by me to this hour. Not a soul of all my relations know of it +but Anne, and I never should have mentioned it to you, if I had not +felt the greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy; and I +really thought my behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. +Ferrars must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained. And I do not +think Mr. Ferrars can be displeased, when he knows I have trusted +you, because I know he has the highest opinion in the world of all +your family, and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods +quite as his own sisters."--She paused. + +[Illustration: _Amiably bashful._] + +Elinor for a few moments remained silent. Her astonishment at what she +heard was at first too great for words; but at length forcing herself +to speak, and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner, +which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude--"May I ask +if your engagement is of long standing?" + +"We have been engaged these four years." + +"Four years!" + +"Yes." + +Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable to believe it. + +"I did not know," said she, "that you were even acquainted till the +other day." + +"Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date. He was under my +uncle's care, you know, a considerable while." + +"Your uncle!" + +"Yes; Mr. Pratt. Did you never hear him talk of Mr. Pratt?" + +"I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion of spirits, which +increased with her increase of emotion. + +"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple, near +Plymouth. It was there our acquaintance begun, for my sister and me +was often staying with my uncle, and it was there our engagement was +formed, though not till a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he +was almost always with us afterwards. I was very unwilling to enter +into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and approbation of +his mother; but I was too young, and loved him too well, to be so +prudent as I ought to have been. Though you do not know him so well as +me, Miss Dashwood, you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he +is very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him." + +"Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what she said; but after +a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security of Edward's +honour and love, and her companion's falsehood--"Engaged to Mr. Edward +Ferrars!--I confess myself so totally surprised at what you tell me, +that really--I beg your pardon; but surely there must be some mistake +of person or name. We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars." + +"We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling. "Mr. Edward Ferrars, the +eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street, and brother of your +sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood, is the person I mean; you must +allow that I am not likely to be deceived as to the name of the man on +who all my happiness depends." + +"It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity, "that I +should never have heard him even mention your name." + +"No; considering our situation, it was not strange. Our first care has +been to keep the matter secret. You knew nothing of me, or my family, +and, therefore, there could be no _occasion_ for ever mentioning my +name to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's +suspecting any thing, _that_ was reason enough for his not mentioning +it." + +She was silent. Elinor's security sunk; but her self-command did not +sink with it. + +"Four years you have been engaged," said she with a firm voice. + +"Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait. Poor +Edward! It puts him quite out of heart." Then taking a small miniature +from her pocket, she added, "To prevent the possibility of mistake, be +so good as to look at this face. It does not do him justice, to be +sure, but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person it was +drew for. I have had it above these three years." + +She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor saw the +painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a too hasty decision, or +her wish of detecting falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, +she could have none of its being Edward's face. She returned it almost +instantly, acknowledging the likeness. + +"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give him my picture in +return, which I am very much vexed at, for he has been always so +anxious to get it! But I am determined to set for it the very first +opportunity." + +"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly. They then +proceeded a few paces in silence. Lucy spoke first. + +"I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world of your +faithfully keeping this secret, because you must know of what +importance it is to us, not to have it reach his mother; for she +would never approve of it, I dare say. I shall have no fortune, and I +fancy she is an exceeding proud woman." + +"I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor; "but you do +me no more than justice in imagining that I may be depended on. Your +secret is safe with me; but pardon me if I express some surprise at so +unnecessary a communication. You must at least have felt that my being +acquainted with it could not add to its safety." + +As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping to discover +something in her countenance; perhaps the falsehood of the greatest +part of what she had been saying; but Lucy's countenance suffered no +change. + +"I was afraid you would think I was taking a great liberty with you," +said she, "in telling you all this. I have not known you long to be +sure, personally at least, but I have known you and all your family by +description a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as +if you was an old acquaintance. Besides in the present case, I really +thought some explanation was due to you after my making such +particular inquiries about Edward's mother; and I am so unfortunate, +that I have not a creature whose advice I can ask. Anne is the only +person that knows of it, and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she +does me a great deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of +her betraying me. She does not know how to hold her tongue, as you +must perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest fright in the world +t'other day, when Edward's name was mentioned by Sir John, lest she +should out with it all. You can't think how much I go through in my +mind from it altogether. I only wonder that I am alive after what I +have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years. Every thing in +such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing him so seldom--we can hardly +meet above twice a-year. I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite +broke." + +Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did not feel very +compassionate. + +"Sometimes," continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes, "I think whether +it would not be better for us both to break off the matter entirely." +As she said this, she looked directly at her companion. "But then at +other times I have not resolution enough for it. I cannot bear the +thoughts of making him so miserable, as I know the very mention of +such a thing would do. And on my own account too--so dear as he is to +me--I don't think I could be equal to it. What would you advise me to +do in such a case, Miss Dashwood? What would you do yourself?" + +"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question; "but I can give +you no advice under such circumstances. Your own judgment must direct +you." + +"To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes silence on both +sides, "his mother must provide for him sometime or other; but poor +Edward is so cast down by it! Did you not think him dreadful +low-spirited when he was at Barton? He was so miserable when he left +us at Longstaple, to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him +quite ill." + +"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?" + +"Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us. Did you think he +came directly from town?" + +"No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of every fresh +circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity; "I remember he told us, +that he had been staying a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth." +She remembered too, her own surprise at the time, at his mentioning +nothing farther of those friends, at his total silence with respect +even to their names. + +"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?" repeated Lucy. + +"We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived." + +"I begged him to exert himself for fear you should suspect what was +the matter; but it made him so melancholy, not being able to stay more +than a fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected. Poor +fellow!--I am afraid it is just the same with him now; for he writes +in wretched spirits. I heard from him just before I left Exeter;" +taking a letter from her pocket and carelessly showing the direction +to Elinor. "You know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is; but +that is not written so well as usual. He was tired, I dare say, for he +had just filled the sheet to me as full as possible." + +Elinor saw that it _was_ his hand, and she could doubt no longer. This +picture, she had allowed herself to believe, might have been +accidentally obtained; it might not have been Edward's gift; but a +correspondence between them by letter, could subsist only under a +positive engagement, could be authorised by nothing else; for a few +moments, she was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she +could hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary; and she +struggled so resolutely against the oppression of her feelings, that +her success was speedy, and for the time complete. + +"Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the letter into her +pocket, "is the only comfort we have in such long separations. Yes, I +have one other comfort in his picture, but poor Edward has not even +_that._ If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy. I gave +him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at Longstaple last, +and that was some comfort to him, he said, but not equal to a picture. +Perhaps you might notice the ring when you saw him?" + +"I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice, under which was +concealed an emotion and distress beyond any thing she had ever felt +before. She was mortified, shocked, confounded. + +Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage, and the +conversation could be continued no farther. After sitting with them a +few minutes, the Miss Steeles returned to the Park, and Elinor was +then at liberty to think and be wretched. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +However small Elinor's general dependence on Lucy's veracity might be, +it was impossible for her on serious reflection to suspect it in the +present case, where no temptation could be answerable to the folly of +inventing a falsehood of such a description. What Lucy had asserted to +be true, therefore, Elinor could not, dared not longer doubt; +supported as it was too on every side by such probabilities and +proofs, and contradicted by nothing but her own wishes. Their +opportunity of acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation +for the rest, at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's visit +near Plymouth, his melancholy state of mind, his dissatisfaction at +his own prospects, his uncertain behaviour towards herself, the +intimate knowledge of the Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family +connections, which had often surprised her, the picture, the letter, +the ring, formed altogether such a body of evidence, as overcame +every fear of condemning him unfairly, and established as a fact, +which no partiality could set aside, his ill-treatment of herself. Her +resentment of such behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe, +for a short time made her feel only for herself; but other ideas, +other considerations, soon arose. Had Edward been intentionally +deceiving her? Had he feigned a regard for her which he did not feel? +Was his engagement to Lucy an engagement of the heart? No; whatever it +might once have been, she could not believe it such at present. His +affection was all her own. She could not be deceived in that. Her +mother, sisters, Fanny, all had been conscious of his regard for her +at Norland; it was not an illusion of her own vanity. He certainly +loved her. What a softener of the heart was this persuasion! How much +could it not tempt her to forgive! He had been blamable, highly +blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first felt her influence +over him to be more than it ought to be. In that, he could not be +defended; but if he had injured her, how much more had he injured +himself; if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless. His imprudence +had made her miserable for a while; but it seemed to have deprived +himself of all chance of ever being otherwise. She might in time +regain tranquillity; but _he_, what had he to look forward to? Could +he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he, were his +affection for herself out of the question, with his integrity, his +delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a wife like +her--illiterate, artful, and selfish? + +The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to +every thing but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding +years--years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the +understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education, +while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society +and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity +which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty. + +If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself, his +difficulties from his mother had seemed great, how much greater were +they now likely to be, when the object of his engagement was +undoubtedly inferior in connections, and probably inferior in fortune +to herself. These difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated +from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his patience; but melancholy +was the state of the person by whom the expectation of family +opposition and unkindness, could be felt as a relief! + +As these considerations occurred to her in painful succession, she +wept for him, more than for herself. Supported by the conviction of +having done nothing to merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by +the belief that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem, she +thought she could even now, under the first smart of the heavy blow, +command herself enough to guard every suspicion of the truth from her +mother and sisters. And so well was she able to answer her own +expectations, that when she joined them at dinner only two hours after +she had first suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one +would have supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor +was mourning in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever +from the object of her love, and that Marianne was internally dwelling +on the perfections of a man, of whose whole heart she felt thoroughly +possessed, and whom she expected to see in every carriage which drove +near their house. + +The necessity of concealing from her mother and Marianne, what had +been entrusted in confidence to herself, though it obliged her to +unceasing exertion, was no aggravation of Elinor's distress. On the +contrary it was a relief to her, to be spared the communication of +what would give such affliction to them, and to be saved likewise from +hearing that condemnation of Edward, which would probably flow from +the excess of their partial affection for herself, and which was more +than she felt equal to support. + +From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew she could receive +no assistance, their tenderness and sorrow must add to her distress, +while her self-command would neither receive encouragement from their +example nor from their praise. She was stronger alone, and her own +good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken, +her appearance of cheerfulness as invariable, as with regrets so +poignant and so fresh, it was possible for them to be. + +Much as she had suffered from her first conversation with Lucy on the +subject, she soon felt an earnest wish of renewing it; and this for +more reasons than one. She wanted to hear many particulars of their +engagement repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand what +Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any sincerity in her +declaration of tender regard for him, and she particularly wanted to +convince Lucy, by her readiness to enter on the matter again, and her +calmness in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested in +it than as a friend, which she very much feared her involuntary +agitation, in their morning discourse, must have left at least +doubtful. That Lucy was disposed to be jealous of her appeared very +probable: it was plain that Edward had always spoken highly in her +praise, not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing to +trust her on so short a personal acquaintance, with a secret so +confessedly and evidently important. And even Sir John's joking +intelligence must have had some weight. But indeed, while Elinor +remained so well assured within herself of being really beloved by +Edward, it required no other consideration of probabilities to make it +natural that Lucy should be jealous; and that she was so, her very +confidence was a proof. What other reason for the disclosure of the +affair could there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of +Lucy's superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him in +future? She had little difficulty in understanding thus much of her +rival's intentions, and while she was firmly resolved to act by her as +every principle of honour and honesty directed, to combat her own +affection for Edward and to see him as little as possible; she could +not deny herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy that her +heart was unwounded. And as she could now have nothing more painful to +hear on the subject than had already been told, she did not mistrust +her own ability of going through a repetition of particulars with +composure. + +But it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be +commanded, though Lucy was as well disposed as herself to take +advantage of any that occurred; for the weather was not often fine +enough to allow of their joining in a walk, where they might most +easily separate themselves from the others; and though they met at +least every other evening either at the park or cottage, and chiefly +at the former, they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of +conversation. Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or +Lady Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure was ever +given for a general chat, and none at all for particular discourse. +They met for the sake of eating, drinking, and laughing together, +playing at cards, or consequences, or any other game that was +sufficiently noisy. + +One or two meetings of this kind had taken place, without affording +Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy in private, when Sir John called at +the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they +would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to +attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone, +except her mother and the two Miss Steeles. Elinor, who foresaw a +fairer opening for the point she had in view, in such a party as this +was likely to be, more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil +and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when her husband united +them together in one noisy purpose, immediately accepted the +invitation; Margaret, with her mother's permission, was equally +compliant, and Marianne, though always unwilling to join any of their +parties, was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her +seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise. + +The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily preserved from +the frightful solitude which had threatened her. The insipidity of the +meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one +novelty of thought or expression, and nothing could be less +interesting than the whole of their discourse both in the dining +parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the children accompanied +them, and while they remained there, she was too well convinced of the +impossibility of engaging Lucy's attention to attempt it. They quitted +it only with the removal of the tea-things. The card-table was then +placed, and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having ever +entertained a hope of finding time for conversation at the park. They +all rose up in preparation for a round game. + +"I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy, "you are not going to finish +poor little Annamaria's basket this evening; for I am sure it must +hurt your eyes to work filigree by candlelight. And we will make the +dear little love some amends for her disappointment to-morrow, and +then I hope she will not much mind it." + +This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly and replied, +"Indeed you are very much mistaken, Lady Middleton; I am only waiting +to know whether you can make your party without me, or I should have +been at my filigree already. I would not disappoint the little angel +for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now, I am +resolved to finish the basket after supper." + +"You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes:--will you ring the +bell for some working candles? My poor little girl would be sadly +disappointed, I know, if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for +though I told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends upon +having it done." + +Lucy directly drew her work table near her and reseated herself with +an alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could +taste no greater delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt +child. + +Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others. No one made +any objection but Marianne, who with her usual inattention to the +forms of general civility, exclaimed, "Your Ladyship will have the +goodness to excuse _me_--you know I detest cards. I shall go to the +piano-forte; I have not touched it since it was tuned." And without +farther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument. + +Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven that _she_ had never +made so rude a speech. + +"Marianne can never keep long from that instrument you know, ma'am," +said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth away the offence; "and I do not +much wonder at it; for it is the very best toned piano-forte I ever +heard." + +The remaining five were now to draw their cards. + +"Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen to cut out, I may be +of some use to Miss Lucy Steele, in rolling her papers for her; and +there is so much still to be done to the basket, that it must be +impossible I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening. I +should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow me a share in +it." + +"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you for your help," cried +Lucy, "for I find there is more to be done to it than I thought there +was; and it would be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria +after all." + +"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele. "Dear little +soul, how I do love her!" + +"You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor; "and as you +really like the work, perhaps you will be as well pleased not to cut +in till another rubber, or will you take your chance now?" + +Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals, and thus by +a little of that address which Marianne could never condescend to +practise, gained her own end, and pleased Lady Middleton at the same +time. Lucy made room for her with ready attention, and the two fair +rivals were thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the +utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work. The pianoforte at +which Marianne, wrapped up in her own music and her own thoughts, had +by this time forgotten that any body was in the room besides herself, +was luckily so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might +safely, under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting +subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began. + +"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with, +if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on +its subject. I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward +again." + +"Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking the ice; you have set my +heart at ease by it; for I was somehow or other afraid I had offended +you by what I told you that Monday." + +"Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me," and Elinor spoke +it with the truest sincerity, "nothing could be farther from my +intention than to give you such an idea. Could you have a motive for +the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?" + +"And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of +meaning, "there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your +manner that made me quite uncomfortable. I felt sure that you was +angry with me; and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for +having took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs. But I am +very glad to find it was only my own fancy, and that you really do not +blame me. If you knew what a consolation it was to me to relieve my +heart speaking to you of what I am always thinking of every moment of +my life, your compassion would make you overlook every thing else I am +sure." + +"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you, +to acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall +never have reason to repent it. Your case is a very unfortunate one; +you seem to me to be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have +need of all your mutual affection to support you under them. Mr. +Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother." + +"He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to +marry upon that, though for my own part, I could give up every +prospect of more without a sigh. I have been always used to a very +small income, and could struggle with any poverty for him; but I love +him too well to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all +that his mother might give him if he married to please her. We must +wait, it may be for many years. With almost every other man in the +world, it would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection and +constancy nothing can deprive me of I know." + +"That conviction must be every thing to you; and he is undoubtedly +supported by the same trust in your's. If the strength of your +reciprocal attachment had failed, as between many people, and under +many circumstances it naturally would during a four years' engagement, +your situation would have been pitiable, indeed." + +Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her +countenance from every expression that could give her words a +suspicious tendency. + +"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty well put to the +test, by our long, very long absence since we were first engaged, and +it has stood the trial so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt +it now. I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's alarm +on that account from the first." + +Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion. + +Lucy went on. "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from +our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the +world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for +suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had +been the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or +any lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had +talked more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less +happy at Longstaple than he used to be. I do not mean to say that I am +particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case +I am sure I could not be deceived." + +"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon +neither of us." + +"But what," said she after a short silence, "are your views? or have +you none but that of waiting for Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a +melancholy and shocking extremity?--Is her son determined to submit to +this, and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense in +which it may involve you, rather than run the risk of her displeasure +for a while by owning the truth?" + +"If we could be certain that it would be only for a while! But Mrs. +Ferrars is a very headstrong proud woman, and in her first fit of +anger upon hearing it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert, +and the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away all my +inclination for hasty measures." + +"And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness +beyond reason." + +Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent. + +"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor. + +"Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his +brother--silly and a great coxcomb." + +"A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had caught those +words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music. "Oh, they are talking of +their favourite beaux, I dare say." + +"No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our favourite beaux +are _not_ great coxcombs." + +"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not," said Mrs. Jennings, +laughing heartily; "for he is one of the modestest, prettiest behaved +young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little +creature, there is no finding out who _she_ likes." + +[Illustration: "_I can answer for it," said Mrs. Jennings._] + +"Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare +say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss +Dashwood's." + +Elinor blushed in spite of herself. Lucy bit her lip, and looked +angrily at her sister. A mutual silence took place for some time. Lucy +first put an end to it by saying in a lower tone, though Marianne was +then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent +concerto-- + +"I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my +head, for bringing matters to bear; indeed I am bound to let you into +the secret, for you are a party concerned. I dare say you have seen +enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every +other profession; now my plan is that he should take orders as soon as +he can, and then through your interest, which I am sure you would be +kind enough to use out of friendship for him, and I hope out of some +regard to me, your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland +living; which I understand is a very good one, and the present +incumbent not likely to live a great while. That would be enough for +us to marry upon, and we might trust to time and chance for the rest." + +"I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show any mark of my +esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars; but do you not perceive that my +interest on such an occasion would be perfectly unnecessary? He is +brother to Mrs. John Dashwood--_that_ must be recommendation enough to +her husband." + +"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into +orders." + +"Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little." + +They were again silent for many minutes. At length Lucy exclaimed with +a deep sigh-- + +"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at +once by dissolving the engagement. We seem so beset with difficulties +on every side, that though it would make us miserable for a time, we +should be happier perhaps in the end. But you will not give me your +advice, Miss Dashwood?" + +"No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed very agitated +feelings, "on such a subject I certainly will not. You know very well +that my opinion would have no weight with you, unless it were on the +side of your wishes." + +"Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know +nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do +really believe, that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all +means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be +more for the happiness of both of you,' I should resolve upon doing it +immediately." + +Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and +replied, "This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving +any opinion on the subject had I formed one. It raises my influence +much too high; the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached +is too much for an indifferent person." + +"'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy, with some +pique, and laying a particular stress on those words, "that your +judgment might justly have such weight with me. If you could be +supposed to be biased in any respect by your own feelings, your +opinion would not be worth having." + +Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this, lest they might +provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve; +and was even partly determined never to mention the subject again. +Another pause therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this +speech, and Lucy was still the first to end it. + +"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" said she with all +her accustomary complacency. + +"Certainly not." + +"I am sorry for that," returned the other, while her eyes brightened +at the information, "it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you +there! But I dare say you will go for all that. To be sure, your +brother and sister will ask you to come to them." + +"It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do." + +"How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon meeting you there. +Anne and me are to go the latter end of January to some relations who +have been wanting us to visit them these several years! But I only go +for the sake of seeing Edward. He will be there in February, otherwise +London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it." + +Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the conclusion of the +first rubber, and the confidential discourse of the two ladies was +therefore at an end, to which both of them submitted without any +reluctance, for nothing had been said on either side to make them +dislike each other less than they had done before; and Elinor sat down +to the card table with the melancholy persuasion that Edward was not +only without affection for the person who was to be his wife; but that +he had not even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage, which +sincere affection on _her_ side would have given, for self-interest +alone could induce a woman to keep a man to an engagement, of which +she seemed so thoroughly aware that he was weary. + +From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor, and when +entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity of introducing +it, and was particularly careful to inform her confidante, of her +happiness whenever she received a letter from Edward, it was treated +by the former with calmness and caution, and dismissed as soon as +civility would allow; for she felt such conversations to be an +indulgence which Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to +herself. + +The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far beyond +what the first invitation implied. Their favour increased; they could +not be spared; Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite of +their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter, in spite of +the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill them immediately, which +was in full force at the end of every week, they were prevailed on to +stay nearly two months at the park, and to assist in the due +celebration of that festival which requires a more than ordinary share +of private balls and large dinners to proclaim its importance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large portion of +the year at the houses of her children and friends, she was not +without a settled habitation of her own. Since the death of her +husband, who had traded with success in a less elegant part of the +town, she had resided every winter in a house in one of the streets +near Portman Square. Towards this home, she began on the approach of +January to turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly, and +very unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses Dashwood to +accompany her. Elinor, without observing the varying complexion of her +sister, and the animated look which spoke no indifference to the plan, +immediately gave a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she +believed herself to be speaking their united inclinations. The reason +alleged was their determined resolution of not leaving their mother at +that time of the year. Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some +surprise, and repeated her invitation immediately. + +"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you very well, and I _do_ +beg you will favour me with your company, for I've quite set my heart +upon it. Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me, for I +shan't put myself at all out of my way for you. It will only be +sending Betty by the coach, and I hope I can afford _that._ We three +shall be able to go very well in my chaise; and when we are in town, +if you do not like to go wherever I do, well and good, you may always +go with one of my daughters. I am sure your mother will not object to +it; for I have had such good luck in getting my own children off my +hands that she will think me a very fit person to have the charge of +you; and if I don't get one of you at least well married before I have +done with you, it shall not be my fault. I shall speak a good word for +you to all the young men, you may depend upon it." + +"I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne would not object +to such a scheme, if her elder sister would come into it. It is very +hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure, because Miss +Dashwood does not wish it. So I would advise you two, to set off for +town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying a word to Miss +Dashwood about it." + +"Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be monstrous glad of +Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss Dashwood will go or not, only +the more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable +for them to be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might +talk to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back. But one +or the other, if not both of them, I must have. Lord bless me! how do +you think I can live poking by myself, I who have been always used +till this winter to have Charlotte with me. Come, Miss Marianne, let +us strike hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change her +mind by and bye, why so much the better." + +"I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne, with warmth: +"your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever, and it would give +me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest happiness I am capable of, +to be able to accept it. But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,--I +feel the justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be made +less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no, nothing should +tempt me to leave her. It should not, must not be a struggle." + +Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood could spare +them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now understood her sister, and +saw to what indifference to almost every thing else she was carried by +her eagerness to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct +opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her mother's +decision, from whom however she scarcely expected to receive any +support in her endeavour to prevent a visit, which she could not +approve of for Marianne, and which on her own account she had +particular reasons to avoid. Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her +mother would be eager to promote--she could not expect to influence +the latter to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which +she had never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she dared +not explain the motive of her own disinclination for going to London. +That Marianne, fastidious as she was, thoroughly acquainted with Mrs. +Jennings' manners, and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook +every inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever must be +most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her pursuit of one object, +was such a proof, so strong, so full, of the importance of that object +to her, as Elinor, in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared +to witness. + +On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood, persuaded that +such an excursion would be productive of much amusement to both her +daughters, and perceiving through all her affectionate attention to +herself, how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear of +their declining the offer upon _her_ account; insisted on their both +accepting it directly; and then began to foresee, with her usual +cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that would accrue to them all, +from this separation. + +"I am delighted with the plan," she cried, "it is exactly what I could +wish. Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as yourselves. +When you and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly and +happily together with our books and our music! You will find Margaret +so improved when you come back again! I have a little plan of +alteration for your bedrooms too, which may now be performed without +any inconvenience to any one. It is very right that you _should_ go to +town; I would have every young woman of your condition in life +acquainted with the manners and amusements of London. You will be +under the care of a motherly good sort of woman, of whose kindness to +you I can have no doubt. And in all probability you will see your +brother, and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife, +when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so wholly +estranged from each other." + +"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness," said Elinor, "you +have been obviating every impediment to the present scheme which +occurred to you, there is still one objection which, in my opinion, +cannot be so easily removed." + +Marianne's countenance sunk. + +"And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent Elinor going to +suggest? What formidable obstacle is she now to bring forward? Do let +me hear a word about the expense of it." + +"My objection is this; though I think very well of Mrs. Jennings's +heart, she is not a woman whose society can afford us pleasure, or +whose protection will give us consequence." + +"That is very true," replied her mother, "but of her society, +separately from that of other people, you will scarcely have any thing +at all, and you will almost always appear in public with Lady +Middleton." + +"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs. Jennings," said +Marianne, "at least it need not prevent _my_ accepting her invitation. +I have no such scruples, and I am sure I could put up with every +unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort." + +Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference towards +the manners of a person, to whom she had often had difficulty in +persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable politeness; and resolved +within herself, that if her sister persisted in going, she would go +likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne should be left +to the sole guidance of her own judgment, or that Mrs. Jennings should +be abandoned to the mercy of Marianne for all the comfort of her +domestic hours. To this determination she was the more easily +reconciled, by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account, +was not to be in town before February; and that their visit, without +any unreasonable abridgement, might be previously finished. + +"I will have you _both_ go," said Mrs. Dashwood; "these objections are +nonsensical. You will have much pleasure in being in London, and +especially in being together; and if Elinor would ever condescend to +anticipate enjoyment, she would foresee it there from a variety of +sources; she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her +acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family." + +Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to weaken her +mother's dependence on the attachment of Edward and herself, that the +shock might be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now on +this attack, though almost hopeless of success, she forced herself to +begin her design by saying, as calmly as she could, "I like Edward +Ferrars very much, and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the +rest of the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference to me, +whether I am ever known to them or not." + +Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing. Marianne lifted up her eyes in +astonishment, and Elinor conjectured that she might as well have held +her tongue. + +After very little farther discourse, it was finally settled that the +invitation should be fully accepted. Mrs. Jennings received the +information with a great deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness +and care; nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her. Sir John was +delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety was the dread of +being alone, the acquisition of two, to the number of inhabitants in +London, was something. Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being +delighted, which was putting herself rather out of her way; and as +for the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had never been so happy in +their lives as this intelligence made them. + +Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with +less reluctance than she had expected to feel. With regard to herself, +it was now a matter of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and +when she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan, and her +sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner, restored to all +her usual animation, and elevated to more than her usual gaiety, she +could not be dissatisfied with the cause, and would hardly allow +herself to distrust the consequence. + +Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the +perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone. Her +unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to calmness; +and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive. +Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor was the only one +of the three, who seemed to consider the separation as any thing short +of eternal. + +Their departure took place in the first week in January. The +Middletons were to follow in about a week. The Miss Steeles kept their +station at the park, and were to quit it only with the rest of the +family. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings, and +beginning a journey to London under her protection, and as her guest, +without wondering at her own situation, so short had their +acquaintance with that lady been, so wholly unsuited were they in age +and disposition, and so many had been her objections against such a +measure only a few days before! But these objections had all, with +that happy ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother equally +shared, been overcome or overlooked; and Elinor, in spite of every +occasional doubt of Willoughby's constancy, could not witness the +rapture of delightful expectation which filled the whole soul and +beamed in the eyes of Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own +prospect, how cheerless her own state of mind in the comparison, and +how gladly she would engage in the solicitude of Marianne's situation +to have the same animating object in view, the same possibility of +hope. A short, a very short time however must now decide what +Willoughby's intentions were; in all probability he was already in +town. Marianne's eagerness to be gone declared her dependence on +finding him there; and Elinor was resolved not only upon gaining every +new light as to his character which her own observation or the +intelligence of others could give her, but likewise upon watching his +behaviour to her sister with such zealous attention, as to ascertain +what he was and what he meant, before many meetings had taken place. +Should the result of her observations be unfavourable, she was +determined at all events to open the eyes of her sister; should it be +otherwise, her exertions would be of a different nature--she must then +learn to avoid every selfish comparison, and banish every regret which +might lessen her satisfaction in the happiness of Marianne. + +They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as +they travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and +companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be. She sat in +silence almost all the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely +ever voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque +beauty within their view drew from her an exclamation of delight +exclusively addressed to her sister. To atone for this conduct +therefore, Elinor took immediate possession of the post of civility +which she had assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to +Mrs. Jennings, talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her +whenever she could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both +with all possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their +ease and enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them +choose their own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their +preferring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets. They +reached town by three o'clock the third day, glad to be released, +after such a journey, from the confinement of a carriage, and ready to +enjoy all the luxury of a good fire. + +The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up, and the young +ladies were immediately put in possession of a very comfortable +apartment. It had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece +still hung a landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof +of her having spent seven years at a great school in town to some +effect. + +As dinner was not to be ready in less than two hours from their +arrival, Elinor determined to employ the interval in writing to her +mother, and sat down for that purpose. In a few moments Marianne did +the same. "I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you +better defer your letter for a day or two?" + +"I am _not_ going to write to my mother," replied Marianne, hastily, +and as if wishing to avoid any farther inquiry. Elinor said no more; +it immediately struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby; +and the conclusion which as instantly followed was, that, however +mysteriously they might wish to conduct the affair, they must be +engaged. This conviction, though not entirely satisfactory, gave her +pleasure, and she continued her letter with greater alacrity. +Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes; in length it could be +no more than a note; it was then folded up, sealed, and directed with +eager rapidity. Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in the +direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne, ringing the +bell, requested the footman who answered it to get that letter +conveyed for her to the two-penny post. This decided the matter at +once. + +Her spirits still continued very high; but there was a flutter in them +which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister, and this +agitation increased as the evening drew on. She could scarcely eat any +dinner, and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room, seemed +anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage. + +It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings, by being +much engaged in her own room, could see little of what was passing. +The tea things were brought in, and already had Marianne been +disappointed more than once by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a +loud one was suddenly heard which could not be mistaken for one at any +other house, Elinor felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's +approach, and Marianne, starting up, moved towards the door. Every +thing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds; she opened +the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs, and after listening +half a minute, returned into the room in all the agitation which a +conviction of having heard him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy +of her feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, +Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to +throw herself into his arms, when Colonel Brandon appeared. + +It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she +immediately left the room. Elinor was disappointed too; but at the +same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; +and she felt particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister +should perceive that she experienced nothing but grief and +disappointment in seeing him. She instantly saw that it was not +unnoticed by him, that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the +room, with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him the +recollection of what civility demanded towards herself. + +"Is your sister ill?" said he. + +Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of +head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues; and of every thing to +which she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour. + +He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect +himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of +his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries +about their journey, and the friends they had left behind. + +In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side, +they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts +of both engaged elsewhere. Elinor wished very much to ask whether +Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by +any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying +something, she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen +him last. "Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "almost ever +since; I have been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it +has never been in my power to return to Barton." + +This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to +her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with +the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings, and +she was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on +the subject than she had ever felt. + +Mrs. Jennings soon came in. "Oh! Colonel," said she, with her usual +noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not +come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me +a little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have +been at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things +to do after one has been away for any time; and then I have had +Cartwright to settle with. Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever +since dinner! But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I +should be in town today?" + +"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been +dining." + +"Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house? How does +Charlotte do? I warrant you she is a fine size by this time." + +"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you, +that you will certainly see her to-morrow." + +"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much. Well, Colonel, I have brought two +young ladies with me, you see--that is, you see but one of them now, +but there is another somewhere. Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which +you will not be sorry to hear. I do not know what you and Mr. +Willoughby will do between you about her. Ay, it is a fine thing to be +young and handsome. Well! I was young once, but I never was very +handsome--worse luck for me. However, I got a very good husband, and I +don't know what the greatest beauty can do more. Ah! poor man! he has +been dead these eight years and better. But Colonel, where have you +been to since we parted? And how does your business go on? Come, come, +let's have no secrets among friends." + +He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but +without satisfying her in any. Elinor now began to make the tea, and +Marianne was obliged to appear again. + +After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent +than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to +stay long. No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were +unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed. + +Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and happy looks. +The disappointment of the evening before seemed forgotten in the +expectation of what was to happen that day. They had not long finished +their breakfast before Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and +in a few minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted to see +them all, that it was hard to say whether she received most pleasure +from meeting her mother or the Miss Dashwoods again. So surprised at +their coming to town, though it was what she had rather expected all +along; so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation after +having declined her own, though at the same time she would never have +forgiven them if they had not come! + +"Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you," said she; "What do you think +he said when he heard of your coming with Mamma? I forget what it was +now, but it was something so droll!" + +After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat, +or in other words, in every variety of inquiry concerning all their +acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on +Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all +accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning, to +which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented, as having likewise +some purchases to make themselves; and Marianne, though declining it +at first was induced to go likewise. + +Wherever they went, she was evidently always on the watch. In Bond +Street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in +constant inquiry; and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her +mind was equally abstracted from every thing actually before them, +from all that interested and occupied the others. Restless and +dissatisfied every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of +any article of purchase, however it might equally concern them both: +she received no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at +home again, and could with difficulty govern her vexation at the +tediousness of Mrs. Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing +pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild to buy all, could determine on +none, and dawdled away her time in rapture and indecision. + +It was late in the morning before they returned home; and no sooner +had they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up stairs, and +when Elinor followed, she found her turning from the table with a +sorrowful countenance, which declared that no Willoughby had been +there. + +"Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?" said she to +the footman who then entered with the parcels. She was answered in the +negative. "Are you quite sure of it?" she replied. "Are you certain +that no servant, no porter has left any letter or note?" + +The man replied that none had. + +"How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed voice, as she +turned away to the window. + +"How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself, regarding her +sister with uneasiness. "If she had not known him to be in town she +would not have written to him, as she did; she would have written to +Combe Magna; and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither come +nor write! Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong in permitting an +engagement between a daughter so young, a man so little known, to be +carried on in so doubtful, so mysterious a manner! I long to inquire; +and how will _my_ interference be borne." + +She determined, after some consideration, that if appearances +continued many days longer as unpleasant as they now were, she would +represent in the strongest manner to her mother the necessity of some +serious enquiry into the affair. + +Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's intimate +acquaintance, whom she had met and invited in the morning, dined with +them. The former left them soon after tea to fulfill her evening +engagements; and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table +for the others. Marianne was of no use on these occasions, as she +would never learn the game; but though her time was therefore at her +own disposal, the evening was by no means more productive of pleasure +to her than to Elinor, for it was spent in all the anxiety of +expectation and the pain of disappointment. She sometimes endeavoured +for a few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside, and she +returned to the more interesting employment of walking backwards and +forwards across the room, pausing for a moment whenever she came to +the window, in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +"If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings, when +they met at breakfast the following morning, "Sir John will not like +leaving Barton next week; 'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a +day's pleasure. Poor souls! I always pity them when they do; they seem +to take it so much to heart." + +"That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice, and walking to +the window as she spoke, to examine the day. "I had not thought of +that. This weather will keep many sportsmen in the country." + +It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were restored by it. +"It is charming weather for _them_ indeed," she continued, as she sat +down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance. "How much they +must enjoy it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot be +expected to last long. At this time of the year, and after such a +series of rain, we shall certainly have very little more of it. Frosts +will soon set in, and in all probability with severity. In another day +or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last longer--nay, +perhaps it may freeze tonight!" + +"At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent Mrs. Jennings from +seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly as she did, "I dare say we +shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of next +week." + +"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do. Mary always has her own way." + +"And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will write to Combe by +this day's post." + +But if she _did_, the letter was written and sent away with a privacy +which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain the fact. Whatever the +truth of it might be, and far as Elinor was from feeling thorough +contentment about it, yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could +not be very uncomfortable herself. And Marianne was in spirits; happy +in the mildness of the weather, and still happier in her expectation +of a frost. + +The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of Mrs. +Jennings's acquaintance to inform them of her being in town; and +Marianne was all the time busy in observing the direction of the wind, +watching the variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the +air. + +"Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning, Elinor? There +seems to me a very decided difference. I can hardly keep my hands warm +even in my muff. It was not so yesterday, I think. The clouds seem +parting too, the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a +clear afternoon." + +Elinor was alternately diverted and pained; but Marianne persevered, +and saw every night in the brightness of the fire, and every morning +in the appearance of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of +approaching frost. + +The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be dissatisfied with Mrs. +Jennings's style of living, and set of acquaintance, than with her +behaviour to themselves, which was invariably kind. Every thing in her +household arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan, and +excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady Middleton's regret, +she had never dropped, she visited no one to whom an introduction +could at all discompose the feelings of her young companions. Pleased +to find herself more comfortably situated in that particular than she +had expected, Elinor was very willing to compound for the want of much +real enjoyment from any of their evening parties, which, whether at +home or abroad, formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her. + +Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation to the house, was with +them almost every day; he came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor, +who often derived more satisfaction from conversing with him than from +any other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time with much +concern his continued regard for her sister. She feared it was a +strengthening regard. It grieved her to see the earnestness with which +he often watched Marianne, and his spirits were certainly worse than +when at Barton. + +About a week after their arrival, it became certain that Willoughby +was also arrived. His card was on the table when they came in from the +morning's drive. + +"Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while we were out." +Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his being in London, now ventured +to say, "Depend upon it, he will call again tomorrow." But Marianne +seemed hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jennings's entrance, escaped +with the precious card. + +This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor, restored to those +of her sister all, and more than all, their former agitation. From +this moment her mind was never quiet; the expectation of seeing him +every hour of the day, made her unfit for any thing. She insisted on +being left behind, the next morning, when the others went out. + +Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing in Berkeley +Street during their absence; but a moment's glance at her sister when +they returned was enough to inform her, that Willoughby had paid no +second visit there. A note was just then brought in, and laid on the +table. + +"For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward. + +"No, ma'am, for my mistress." + +But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up. + +"It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!" + +"You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor, unable to be longer +silent. + +"Yes, a little--not much." + +After a short pause. "You have no confidence in me, Marianne." + +"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from _you_--you who have confidence in no +one!" + +"Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed, Marianne, I have +nothing to tell." + +"Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations then are +alike. We have neither of us any thing to tell; you, because you do +not communicate, and I, because I conceal nothing." + +Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself, which she was +not at liberty to do away, knew not how, under such circumstances, to +press for greater openness in Marianne. + +Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being given her, she read it +aloud. It was from Lady Middleton, announcing their arrival in Conduit +Street the night before, and requesting the company of her mother and +cousins the following evening. Business on Sir John's part, and a +violent cold on her own, prevented their calling in Berkeley Street. +The invitation was accepted; but when the hour of appointment drew +near, necessary as it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that +they should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some +difficulty in persuading her sister to go, for still she had seen +nothing of Willoughby; and therefore was not more indisposed for +amusement abroad, than unwilling to run the risk of his calling again +in her absence. + +Elinor found, when the evening was over, that disposition is not +materially altered by a change of abode, for although scarcely settled +in town, Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty +young people, and to amuse them with a ball. This was an affair, +however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve. In the country, an +unpremeditated dance was very allowable; but in London, where the +reputation of elegance was more important and less easily attained, it +was risking too much for the gratification of a few girls, to have it +known that Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine +couple, with two violins, and a mere side-board collation. + +Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former, whom they had +not seen before since their arrival in town, as he was careful to +avoid the appearance of any attention to his mother-in-law, and +therefore never came near her, they received no mark of recognition on +their entrance. He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know +who they were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from the other side +of the room. Marianne gave one glance round the apartment as she +entered: it was enough--_he_ was not there--and she sat down, equally +ill-disposed to receive or communicate pleasure. After they had been +assembled about an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards the Miss +Dashwoods to express his surprise on seeing them in town, though +Colonel Brandon had been first informed of their arrival at his house, +and he had himself said something very droll on hearing that they were +to come. + +"I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he. + +"Did you?" replied Elinor. + +"When do you go back again?" + +"I do not know." And thus ended their discourse. + +Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance in her life, as she was +that evening, and never so much fatigued by the exercise. She +complained of it as they returned to Berkeley Street. + +"Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason of all that very +well; if a certain person who shall be nameless, had been there, you +would not have been a bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very +pretty of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited." + +"Invited!" cried Marianne. + +"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir John met him +somewhere in the street this morning." Marianne said no more, but +looked exceedingly hurt. Impatient in this situation to be doing +something that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved to +write the next morning to her mother, and hoped by awakening her fears +for the health of Marianne, to procure those inquiries which had been +so long delayed; and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure +by perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne was again +writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose it to be to any other +person. + +About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by herself on +business, and Elinor began her letter directly, while Marianne, too +restless for employment, too anxious for conversation, walked from one +window to the other, or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation. +Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother, relating all +that had passed, her suspicions of Willoughby's inconstancy, urging +her by every plea of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an +account of her real situation with respect to him. + +Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap foretold a visitor, and +Colonel Brandon was announced. Marianne, who had seen him from the +window, and who hated company of any kind, left the room before he +entered it. He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing +satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he had somewhat in +particular to tell her, sat for some time without saying a word. +Elinor, persuaded that he had some communication to make in which her +sister was concerned, impatiently expected its opening. It was not the +first time of her feeling the same kind of conviction; for, more than +once before, beginning with the observation of "your sister looks +unwell to-day," or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had +appeared on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring, +something particular about her. After a pause of several minutes, +their silence was broken, by his asking her in a voice of some +agitation, when he was to congratulate her on the acquisition of a +brother? Elinor was not prepared for such a question, and having no +answer ready, was obliged to adopt the simple and common expedient, of +asking what he meant? He tried to smile as he replied, "your sister's +engagement to Mr. Willoughby is very generally known." + +"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor, "for her own family +do not know it." + +He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon, I am afraid my +inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy +intended, as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally +talked of." + +"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it mentioned?" + +"By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others with whom you +are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, and the Middletons. But +still I might not have believed it, for where the mind is perhaps +rather unwilling to be convinced, it will always find something to +support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today, +accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr. Willoughby in +your sister's writing. I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I +could ask the question. Is every thing finally settled? Is it +impossible to-? But I have no right, and I could have no chance of +succeeding. Excuse me, Miss Dashwood. I believe I have been wrong in +saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on your prudence I +have the strongest dependence. Tell me that it is all absolutely +resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if +concealment be possible, is all that remains." + +These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal of his love for +her sister, affected her very much. She was not immediately able to +say anything, and even when her spirits were recovered, she debated +for a short time, on the answer it would be most proper to give. The +real state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little +known to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she might be as +liable to say too much as too little. Yet as she was convinced that +Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel +Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection might be, and +at the same time wished to shield her conduct from censure, she +thought it most prudent and kind, after some consideration, to say +more than she really knew or believed. She acknowledged, therefore, +that though she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on +which they stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no +doubt, and of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear. + +He listened to her with silent attention, and on her ceasing to speak, +rose directly from his seat, and after saying in a voice of emotion, +"to your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he +may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away. + +Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this conversation, to +lessen the uneasiness of her mind on other points; she was left, on +the contrary, with a melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's +unhappiness, and was prevented even from wishing it removed, by her +anxiety for the very event that must confirm it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Nothing occurred during the next three or four days, to make Elinor +regret what she had done, in applying to her mother; for Willoughby +neither came nor wrote. They were engaged about the end of that time +to attend Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was kept +away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter; and for this +party, Marianne, wholly dispirited, careless of her appearance, and +seeming equally indifferent whether she went or staid, prepared, +without one look of hope or one expression of pleasure. She sat by the +drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady Middleton's +arrival, without once stirring from her seat, or altering her +attitude, lost in her own thoughts, and insensible of her sister's +presence; and when at last they were told that Lady Middleton waited +for them at the door, she started as if she had forgotten that any one +was expected. + +They arrived in due time at the place of destination, and as soon as +the string of carriages before them would allow, alighted, ascended +the stairs, heard their names announced from one landing-place to +another in an audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up, +quite full of company, and insufferably hot. When they had paid their +tribute of politeness by curtsying to the lady of the house, they were +permitted to mingle in the crowd, and take their share of the heat and +inconvenience, to which their arrival must necessarily add. After some +time spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat down to +Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for moving about, she and +Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs, placed themselves at no great +distance from the table. + +They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor perceived +Willoughby, standing within a few yards of them, in earnest +conversation with a very fashionable looking young woman. She soon +caught his eye, and he immediately bowed, but without attempting to +speak to her, or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see +her; and then continued his discourse with the same lady. Elinor +turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether it could be +unobserved by her. At that moment she first perceived him, and her +whole countenance glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved +towards him instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he is there--Oh! why does +he not look at me? why cannot I speak to him?" + +"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do not betray what you +feel to every body present. Perhaps he has not observed you yet." + +This however was more than she could believe herself; and to be +composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of Marianne, +it was beyond her wish. She sat in an agony of impatience which +affected every feature. + +[Illustration: _At that moment she first perceived him._] + +At last he turned round again, and regarded them both; she started up, +and pronouncing his name in a tone of affection, held out her hand to +him. He approached, and addressing himself rather to Elinor than +Marianne, as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to +observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after Mrs. +Dashwood, and asked how long they had been in town. Elinor was robbed +of all presence of mind by such an address, and was unable to say a +word. But the feelings of her sister were instantly expressed. Her +face was crimsoned over, and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest +emotion, "Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this? Have you +not received my letters? Will you not shake hands with me?" + +He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed painful to him, and +he held her hand only for a moment. During all this time he was +evidently struggling for composure. Elinor watched his countenance and +saw its expression becoming more tranquil. After a moment's pause, he +spoke with calmness. + +"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday, +and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find +yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home. My card was not lost, I hope." + +"But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne in the wildest +anxiety. "Here is some mistake I am sure--some dreadful mistake. What +can be the meaning of it? Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell +me, what is the matter?" + +He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his embarrassment +returned; but as if, on catching the eye of the young lady with whom +he had been previously talking, he felt the necessity of instant +exertion, he recovered himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had +the pleasure of receiving the information of your arrival in town, +which you were so good as to send me," turned hastily away with a +slight bow and joined his friend. + +Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into +her chair, and Elinor, expecting every moment to see her faint, tried +to screen her from the observation of others, while reviving her with +lavender water. + +"Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she could speak, "and force +him to come to me. Tell him I must see him again--must speak to him +instantly. I cannot rest--I shall not have a moment's peace till this +is explained--some dreadful misapprehension or other. Oh, go to him +this moment." + +"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait. This is +not the place for explanations. Wait only till tomorrow." + +With difficulty however could she prevent her from following him +herself; and to persuade her to check her agitation, to wait, at +least, with the appearance of composure, till she might speak to him +with more privacy and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne +continued incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery of her +feelings, by exclamations of wretchedness. In a short time Elinor saw +Willoughby quit the room by the door towards the staircase, and +telling Marianne that he was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking +to him again that evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm. She +instantly begged her sister would entreat Lady Middleton to take them +home, as she was too miserable to stay a minute longer. + +Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber, on being informed +that Marianne was unwell, was too polite to object for a moment to her +wish of going away, and making over her cards to a friend, they +departed as soon as the carriage could be found. Scarcely a word was +spoken during their return to Berkeley Street. Marianne was in a +silent agony, too much oppressed even for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings +was luckily not come home, they could go directly to their own room, +where hartshorn restored her a little to herself. She was soon +undressed and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone, her +sister then left her, and while she waited the return of Mrs. +Jennings, had leisure enough for thinking over the past. + +That some kind of engagement had subsisted between Willoughby and +Marianne she could not doubt, and that Willoughby was weary of it, +seemed equally clear; for however Marianne might still feed her own +wishes, _she_ could not attribute such behaviour to mistake or +misapprehension of any kind. Nothing but a thorough change of +sentiment could account for it. Her indignation would have been still +stronger than it was, had she not witnessed that embarrassment which +seemed to speak a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented +her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been sporting with +the affections of her sister from the first, without any design that +would bear investigation. Absence might have weakened his regard, and +convenience might have determined him to overcome it, but that such a +regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself to doubt. + +As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting must already +have given her, and on those still more severe which might await her +in its probable consequence, she could not reflect without the deepest +concern. Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she +could _esteem_ Edward as much as ever, however they might be divided +in future, her mind might be always supported. But every circumstance +that could embitter such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery +of Marianne in a final separation from Willoughby--in an immediate and +irreconcilable rupture with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +Before the housemaid had lit their fire the next day, or the sun +gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning in January, Marianne, +only half dressed, was kneeling against one of the window-seats for +the sake of all the little light she could command from it, and +writing as fast as a continual flow of tears would permit her. In this +situation, Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation and sobs, first +perceived her; and after observing her for a few moments with silent +anxiety, said, in a tone of the most considerate gentleness-- + +"Marianne, may I ask--" + +"No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will soon know all." + +The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said, lasted no +longer than while she spoke, and was immediately followed by a return +of the same excessive affliction. It was some minutes before she could +go on with her letter, and the frequent bursts of grief which still +obliged her, at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of +her feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing for the +last time to Willoughby. + +Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her power; +and she would have tried to sooth and tranquilize her still more, had +not Marianne entreated her, with all the eagerness of the most nervous +irritability, not to speak to her for the world. In such +circumstances, it was better for both that they should not be long +together; and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented +her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed, but +requiring at once solitude and continual change of place, made her +wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding the sight of +every body. + +At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat any thing; and +Elinor's attention was then all employed, not in urging her, not in +pitying her, nor in appearing to regard her, but in endeavouring to +engage Mrs. Jennings's notice entirely to herself. + +As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings, it lasted a +considerable time, and they were just setting themselves, after it, +round the common working table, when a letter was delivered to +Marianne, which she eagerly caught from the servant, and, turning of a +death-like paleness, instantly ran out of the room. Elinor, who saw as +plainly by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must come +from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness at heart as made her +hardly able to hold up her head, and sat in such a general tremor as +made her fear it impossible to escape Mrs. Jennings's notice. That +good lady, however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter from +Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke, and which she +treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh, that she would find it +to her liking. Of Elinor's distress, she was too busily employed in +measuring lengths of worsted for her rug, to see any thing at all; and +calmly continuing her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she +said-- + +"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my +life! _My_ girls were nothing to her, and yet they used to be foolish +enough; but as for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature. I +hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her waiting much +longer, for it is quite grievous to see her look so ill and forlorn. +Pray, when are they to be married?" + +Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at that moment, +obliged herself to answer such an attack as this, and, therefore, +trying to smile, replied, "And have you really, Ma'am, talked yourself +into a persuasion of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby? I +thought it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems to +imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not deceive +yourself any longer. I do assure you that nothing would surprise me +more than to hear of their being going to be married." + +"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you talk so? Don't we +all know that it must be a match, that they were over head and ears in +love with each other from the first moment they met? Did not I see +them together in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I +know that your sister came to town with me on purpose to buy wedding +clothes? Come, come, this won't do. Because you are so sly about it +yourself, you think nobody else has any senses; but it is no such +thing, I can tell you, for it has been known all over town this ever +so long. I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte." + +"Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously, "you are mistaken. +Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading the report, and +you will find that you have though you will not believe me now." + +Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not spirits to say more, +and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried +away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne +stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand, +and two or three others laying by her. Elinor drew near, but without +saying a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed +her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of +tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The +latter, though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness of +this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in joint affliction, +she put all the letters into Elinor's hands; and then covering her +face with her handkerchief, almost screamed with agony. Elinor, who +knew that such grief, shocking as it was to witness it, must have its +course, watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat +spent itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter, read as +follows:-- + +"Bond Street, January. + +"MY DEAR MADAM, + + "I have just had the honour of receiving your letter, for + which I beg to return my sincere acknowledgments. I am much + concerned to find there was anything in my behaviour last + night that did not meet your approbation; and though I am + quite at a loss to discover in what point I could be so + unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your forgiveness of + what I can assure you to have been perfectly unintentional. + I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance with your + family in Devonshire without the most grateful pleasure, and + flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or + misapprehension of my actions. My esteem for your whole + family is very sincere; but if I have been so unfortunate as + to give rise to a belief of more than I felt, or meant to + express, I shall reproach myself for not having been more + guarded in my professions of that esteem. That I should ever + have meant more you will allow to be impossible, when you + understand that my affections have been long engaged + elsewhere, and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before + this engagement is fulfilled. It is with great regret that I + obey your commands in returning the letters with which I + have been honoured from you, and the lock of hair, which you + so obligingly bestowed on me. + +I am, dear Madam, + +Your most obedient humble servant, + +"JOHN WILLOUGHBY." + +With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by Miss +Dashwood, may be imagined. Though aware, before she began it, that it +must bring a confession of his inconstancy, and confirm their +separation for ever, she was not aware that such language could be +suffered to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby +capable of departing so far from the appearance of every honourable +and delicate feeling--so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, +as to send a letter so impudently cruel: a letter which, instead of +bringing with his desire of a release any professions of regret, +acknowledged no breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection +whatever;--a letter of which every line was an insult, and which +proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy. + +She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment; then +read it again and again; but every perusal only served to increase +her abhorrence of the man, and so bitter were her feelings against +him, that she dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound +Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement, not as a loss +to her of any possible good but as an escape from the worst and most +irremediable of all evils,--a connection, for life, with an +unprincipled man, as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most +important. + +In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter, on the +depravity of that mind which could dictate it, and probably, on the +very different mind of a very different person, who had no other +connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him with +every thing that passed, Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her +sister, forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread, and +so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room, that when on +hearing a carriage drive up to the door, she went to the window to see +who could be coming so unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to +perceive Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been ordered +till one. Determined not to quit Marianne, though hopeless of +contributing, at present, to her ease, she hurried away to excuse +herself from attending Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being +indisposed. Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern for +its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor, after seeing +her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she found attempting to rise +from the bed, and whom she reached just in time to prevent her from +falling on the floor, faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest +and food; for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many +nights since she had really slept; and now, when her mind was no +longer supported by the fever of suspense, the consequence of all this +was felt in an aching head, a weakened stomach, and a general nervous +faintness. A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly, +made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express some +sense of her kindness, by saying, "Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make +you!" + +"I only wish," replied her sister, "there were any thing I _could_ do, +which might be of comfort to you." + +This, as every thing else would have been, was too much for Marianne, +who could only exclaim, in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I +am miserable, indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs. + +Elinor could no longer witness this torrent of unresisted grief in +silence. + +"Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried, "if you would not kill +yourself and all who love you. Think of your mother; think of her +misery while _you_ suffer: for her sake you must exert yourself." + +"I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me, leave me, if I +distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me! but do not torture me so. +Oh! how easy for those, who have no sorrow of their own to talk of +exertion! Happy, happy Elinor, _you_ cannot have an idea of what I +suffer." + +"Do you call _me_ happy, Marianne? Ah! if you knew! And can you +believe me to be so, while I see you so wretched!" + +"Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round her sister's neck; +"I know you feel for me; I know what a heart you have; but yet you +are--you must be happy; Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do away +such happiness as that?" + +"Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly. + +"No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you, and only you. You +_can_ have no grief." + +"I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state." + +"And you will never see me otherwise. Mine is a misery which nothing +can do away." + +"You must not talk so, Marianne. Have you no comforts? no friends? Is +your loss such as leaves no opening for consolation? Much as you +suffer now, think of what you would have suffered if the discovery of +his character had been delayed to a later period;--if your engagement +had been carried on for months and months, as it might have been, +before he chose to put an end to it. Every additional day of unhappy +confidence, on your side, would have made the blow more dreadful." + +"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been no engagement." + +"No engagement!" + +"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him. He has broken no faith +with me." + +"But he told you that he loved you." + +"Yes--no--never absolutely. It was every day implied, but never +professedly declared. Sometimes I thought it had been--but it never +was." + +"Yet you wrote to him?" + +"Yes: could that be wrong after all that had passed? But I cannot +talk." + +Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three letters which now +raised a much stronger curiosity than before, directly ran over the +contents of all. The first, which was what her sister had sent him on +their arrival in town, was to this effect:-- + +"Berkeley Street, January. + + "How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on receiving this; + and I think you will feel something more than surprise, when + you know that I am in town. An opportunity of coming hither, + though with Mrs. Jennings, was a temptation we could not + resist. I wish you may receive this in time to come here + tonight, but I will not depend on it. At any rate I shall + expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu. + +M.D." + +Her second note, which had been written on the morning after the dance +at the Middletons', was in these words:-- + + "I cannot express my disappointment in having missed you the + day before yesterday, nor my astonishment at not having + received any answer to a note which I sent you above a week + ago. I have been expecting to hear from you, and still more + to see you, every hour of the day. Pray call again as soon + as possible, and explain the reason of my having expected + this in vain. You had better come earlier another time, + because we are generally out by one. We were last night at + Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance. I have been told + that you were asked to be of the party. But could it be so? + You must be very much altered indeed since we parted, if + that could be the case, and you not there. But I will not + suppose this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your + personal assurance of its being otherwise. + +M.D." + +The contents of her last note to him were these:-- + + "What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your behaviour last + night? Again I demand an explanation of it. I was prepared + to meet you with the pleasure which our separation naturally + produced,--with the familiarity which our intimacy at Barton + appeared to me to justify. I was repulsed indeed! I have + passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse a conduct + which can scarcely be called less than insulting; but though + I have not yet been able to form any reasonable apology for + your behaviour, I am perfectly ready to hear your + justification of it. You have perhaps been misinformed, or + purposely deceived, in something concerning me, which may + have lowered me in your opinion. Tell me what it is, explain + the grounds on which you acted, and I shall be satisfied, in + being able to satisfy you. It would grieve me indeed to be + obliged to think ill of you; but if I am to do it, if I am + to learn that you are not what we have hitherto believed + you, that your regard for us all was insincere, that your + behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let it be told + as soon as possible. My feelings are at present in a state + of dreadful indecision; I wish to acquit you, but certainty + on either side will be ease to what I now suffer. If your + sentiments are no longer what they were, you will return my + notes, and the lock of my hair which is in your possession. + +M.D." + +That such letters, so full of affection and confidence, could have +been so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake, would have been +unwilling to believe. But her condemnation of him did not blind her to +the impropriety of their having been written at all; and she was +silently grieving over the imprudence which had hazarded such +unsolicited proofs of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding, +and most severely condemned by the event, when Marianne, perceiving +that she had finished the letters, observed to her that they contained +nothing but what any one would have written in the same situation. + +"I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly engaged to him, as if +the strictest legal covenant had bound us to each other." + +"I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately he did not feel +the same." + +"He _did_ feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he felt it. I +know he did. Whatever may have changed him now, (and nothing but the +blackest art employed against me can have done it), I was once as dear +to him as my own soul could wish. This lock of hair, which now he can +so readily give up, was begged of me with the most earnest +supplication. Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his +voice at that moment! Have you forgot the last evening of our being +together at Barton? The morning that we parted too! When he told me +that it might be many weeks before we met again--his distress--can I +ever forget his distress?" + +For a moment or two she could say no more; but when this emotion had +passed away, she added, in a firmer tone-- + +"Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby." + +"Dearest Marianne, who but himself? By whom can he have been +instigated?" + +"By all the world, rather than by his own heart. I could rather +believe every creature of my acquaintance leagued together to ruin me +in his opinion, than believe his nature capable of such cruelty. This +woman of whom he writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short, but +your own dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous to +bely me. Beyond you three, is there a creature in the world whom I +would not rather suspect of evil than Willoughby, whose heart I know +so well?" + +Elinor would not contend, and only replied, "Whoever may have been so +detestably your enemy, let them be cheated of their malignant triumph, +my dear sister, by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own +innocence and good intentions supports your spirits. It is a +reasonable and laudable pride which resists such malevolence." + +"No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has no pride. I care +not who knows that I am wretched. The triumph of seeing me so may be +open to all the world. Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be +proud and independent as they like--may resist insult, or return +mortification--but I cannot. I must feel--I must be wretched--and they +are welcome to enjoy the consciousness of it that can." + +"But for my mother's sake and mine--" + +"I would do more than for my own. But to appear happy when I am so +miserable--oh! who can require it?" + +Again they were both silent. Elinor was employed in walking +thoughtfully from the fire to the window, from the window to the fire, +without knowing that she received warmth from one, or discerning +objects through the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the +bed, with her head leaning against one of its posts, again took up +Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering over every sentence, +exclaimed-- + +"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this be yours! +Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you. Elinor, nothing can. Whatever he +might have heard against me, ought he not to have suspended his +belief? ought he not to have told me of it, to have given me the power +of clearing myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,) +which you so obligingly bestowed on me'--that is unpardonable. +Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words? Oh, +barbarously insolent!--Elinor, can he be justified?" + +"No, Marianne, in no possible way." + +"And yet this woman--who knows what her art may have been?--how long +it may have been premeditated, and how deeply contrived by her!--Who +is she?--Who can she be?--Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young +and attractive among his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one, no one:--he +talked to me only of myself." + +Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated, and it ended +thus:-- + +"Elinor, I must go home. I must go and comfort mama. Can not we be +gone to-morrow?" + +"To-morrow, Marianne!" + +"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for Willoughby's sake--and +now who cares for me? Who regards me?" + +"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe Mrs. Jennings much +more than civility; and civility of the commonest kind must prevent +such a hasty removal as that." + +"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot stay here long, +I cannot stay to endure the questions and remarks of all these people. +The Middletons and Palmers--how am I to bear their pity? The pity of +such a woman as Lady Middleton! Oh, what would _he_ say to that!" + +Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a moment she did so; but +no attitude could give her ease; and in restless pain of mind and body +she moved from one posture to another, till growing more and more +hysterical, her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at +all, and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call for +assistance. Some lavender drops, however, which she was at length +persuaded to take, were of use; and from that time till Mrs. Jennings +returned, she continued on the bed quiet and motionless. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return, and +without waiting to have her request of admittance answered, opened the +door and walked in with a look of real concern. + +"How do you do my dear?" said she in a voice of great compassion to +Marianne, who turned away her face without attempting to answer. + +"How is she, Miss Dashwood? Poor thing! she looks very bad. No +wonder. Ay, it is but too true. He is to be married very soon--a +good-for-nothing fellow! I have no patience with him. Mrs. Taylor told +me of it half an hour ago, and she was told it by a particular friend +of Miss Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed it; +and I was almost ready to sink as it was. Well, said I, all I can say +is, that if this be true, he has used a young lady of my acquaintance +abominably ill, and I wish with all my soul his wife may plague his +heart out. And so I shall always say, my dear, you may depend on it. I +have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if ever I meet him +again, I will give him such a dressing as he has not had this many a +day. But there is one comfort, my dear Miss Marianne--he is not the +only young man in the world worth having; and with your pretty face +you will never want admirers. Well, poor thing! I won't disturb her +any longer, for she had better have her cry out at once and have done +with. The Parrys and Sandersons luckily are coming tonight you know, +and that will amuse her." + +She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room, as if she +supposed her young friend's affliction could be increased by noise. + +Marianne, to the surprise of her sister, determined on dining with +them. Elinor even advised her against it. But "no, she would go down; +she could bear it very well, and the bustle about her would be less." +Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive, +though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner, +said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could, +while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into +the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it. + +When there, though looking most wretchedly, she ate more and was +calmer than her sister had expected. Had she tried to speak, or had +she been conscious of half Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged +attentions to her, this calmness could not have been maintained; but +not a syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction of her thoughts +preserved her in ignorance of every thing that was passing before her. + +Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness, though its +effusions were often distressing, and sometimes almost ridiculous, +made her those acknowledgments, and returned her those civilities, +which her sister could not make or return for herself. Their good +friend saw that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing was +due to her which might make her at all less so. She treated her +therefore, with all the indulgent fondness of a parent towards a +favourite child on the last day of its holidays. Marianne was to have +the best place by the fire, was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy +in the house, and to be amused by the relation of all the news of the +day. Had not Elinor, in the sad countenance of her sister, seen a +check to all mirth, she could have been entertained by Mrs. Jennings's +endeavours to cure a disappointment in love, by a variety of +sweetmeats and olives, and a good fire. As soon, however, as the +consciousness of all this was forced by continual repetition on +Marianne, she could stay no longer. With a hasty exclamation of +Misery, and a sign to her sister not to follow her, she directly got +up and hurried out of the room. + +"Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone, "how it +grieves me to see her! And I declare if she is not gone away without +finishing her wine! And the dried cherries too! Lord! nothing seems to +do her any good. I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I +would send all over the town for it. Well, it is the oddest thing to +me, that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill! But when there +is plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord +bless you! they care no more about such things!" + +"The lady then,--Miss Grey I think you called her,--is very rich?" + +"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear. Did you ever see her? a smart, +stylish girl they say, but not handsome. I remember her aunt very +well, Biddy Henshawe; she married a very wealthy man. But the family +are all rich together. Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it +won't come before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces. No +wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters! Well, it don't +signify talking; but when a young man, be who he will, comes and makes +love to a pretty girl, and promises marriage, he has no business to +fly off from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer girl is +ready to have him. Why don't he, in such a case, sell his horses, let +his house, turn off his servants, and make a thorough reform at once? +I warrant you, Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till +matters came round. But that won't do nowadays; nothing in the way +of pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of this age." + +"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is? Is she said to be +amiable?" + +"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever heard her +mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say this morning, that one day +Miss Walker hinted to her, that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison +would not be sorry to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison +could never agree." + +"And who are the Ellisons?" + +"Her guardians, my dear. But now she is of age and may choose for +herself; and a pretty choice she has made!--What now," after pausing a +moment, "your poor sister is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan +by herself. Is there nothing one can get to comfort her? Poor dear, it +seems quite cruel to let her be alone. Well, by and by we shall have a +few friends, and that will amuse her a little. What shall we play at? +She hates whist I know; but is there no round game she cares for?" + +"Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary. Marianne, I dare say, +will not leave her room again this evening. I shall persuade her if I +can to go early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest." + +"Aye, I believe that will be best for her. Let her name her own +supper, and go to bed. Lord! no wonder she has been looking so bad and +so cast down this last week or two, for this matter I suppose has been +hanging over her head as long as that. And so the letter that came +today finished it! Poor soul! I am sure if I had had a notion of it, I +would not have joked her about it for all my money. But then you know, +how should I guess such a thing? I made sure of its being nothing but +a common love letter, and you know young people like to be laughed at +about them. Lord! how concerned Sir John and my daughters will be when +they hear it! If I had my senses about me I might have called in +Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it. But I shall see +them to-morrow." + +"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution Mrs. Palmer and +Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby, or making the slightest +allusion to what has passed, before my sister. Their own good-nature +must point out to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing +about it when she is present; and the less that may ever be said to +myself on the subject, the more my feelings will be spared, as you my +dear madam will easily believe." + +"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed. It must be terrible for you to hear +it talked of; and as for your sister, I am sure I would not mention a +word about it to her for the world. You saw I did not all dinner time. +No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are all very +thoughtful and considerate; especially if I give them a hint, as I +certainly will. For my part, I think the less that is said about such +things, the better, the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot. And what +does talking ever do you know?" + +"In this affair it can only do harm; more so perhaps than in many +cases of a similar kind, for it has been attended by circumstances +which, for the sake of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to +become the public conversation. I must do _this_ justice to Mr. +Willoughby--he has broken no positive engagement with my sister." + +"Law, my dear! Don't pretend to defend him. No positive engagement +indeed! after taking her all over Allenham House, and fixing on the +very rooms they were to live in hereafter!" + +Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the subject farther, +and she hoped it was not required of her for Willoughby's; since, +though Marianne might lose much, he could gain very little by the +enforcement of the real truth. After a short silence on both sides, +Mrs. Jennings, with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again. + +"Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill wind, for it will be +all the better for Colonel Brandon. He will have her at last; aye, +that he will. Mind me, now, if they an't married by Mid-summer. Lord! +how he'll chuckle over this news! I hope he will come tonight. It will +be all to one a better match for your sister. Two thousand a year +without debt or drawback--except the little love-child, indeed; aye, I +had forgot her; but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and +then what does it signify? Delaford is a nice place, I can tell you; +exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place, full of comforts and +conveniences; quite shut in with great garden walls that are covered +with the best fruit-trees in the country; and such a mulberry tree in +one corner! Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we were +there! Then, there is a dovecote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a +very pretty canal; and every thing, in short, that one could wish for; +and, moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile +from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit +up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the +carriages that pass along. Oh! 'tis a nice place! A butcher hard by in +the village, and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw. To my +fancy, a thousand times prettier than Barton Park, where they are +forced to send three miles for their meat, and have not a neighbour +nearer than your mother. Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon +as I can. One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down. If we +_can_ but put Willoughby out of her head!" + +"Ay, if we can do that, Ma'am," said Elinor, "we shall do very well +with or without Colonel Brandon." And then rising, she went away to +join Marianne, whom she found, as she expected, in her own room, +leaning, in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire, which, +till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light. + +"You had better leave me," was all the notice that her sister received +from her. + +"I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go to bed." But this, +from the momentary perverseness of impatient suffering, she at first +refused to do. Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion, +however, soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her lay her +aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped, in a way to get some +quiet rest before she left her. + +In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired, she was soon joined by +Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass, full of something, in her hand. + +"My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected that I have +some of the finest old Constantia wine in the house that ever was +tasted, so I have brought a glass of it for your sister. My poor +husband! how fond he was of it! Whenever he had a touch of his old +colicky gout, he said it did him more good than any thing else in the +world. Do take it to your sister." + +"Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference of the +complaints for which it was recommended, "how good you are! But I have +just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope, almost asleep; and as I think +nothing will be of so much service to her as rest, if you will give me +leave, I will drink the wine myself." + +Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been five minutes +earlier, was satisfied with the compromise; and Elinor, as she +swallowed the chief of it, reflected, that though its effects on a +colicky gout were, at present, of little importance to her, its +healing powers, on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried +on herself as on her sister. + +Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea, and by his manner +of looking round the room for Marianne, Elinor immediately fancied +that he neither expected nor wished to see her there, and, in short, +that he was already aware of what occasioned her absence. Mrs. +Jennings was not struck by the same thought; for soon after his +entrance, she walked across the room to the tea-table where Elinor +presided, and whispered, "The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see. +He knows nothing of it; do tell him, my dear." + +[Illustration: "_How fond he was of it!_"] + +He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's, and, with a look +which perfectly assured her of his good information, inquired after +her sister. + +"Marianne is not well," said she. "She has been indisposed all day, +and we have persuaded her to go to bed." + +"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I heard this morning +may be--there may be more truth in it than I could believe possible at +first." + +"What did you hear?" + +"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short, that a man, +whom I _knew_ to be engaged--but how shall I tell you? If you know it +already, as surely you must, I may be spared." + +"You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness, "Mr. Willoughby's +marriage with Miss Grey. Yes, we _do_ know it all. This seems to have +been a day of general elucidation, for this very morning first +unfolded it to us. Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable! Where did you hear +it?" + +"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I had business. Two ladies +were waiting for their carriage, and one of them was giving the other +an account of the intended match, in a voice so little attempting +concealment, that it was impossible for me not to hear all. The name +of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated, first caught my +attention; and what followed was a positive assertion that every thing +was now finally settled respecting his marriage with Miss Grey--it was +no longer to be a secret--it would take place even within a few weeks, +with many particulars of preparations and other matters. One thing, +especially, I remember, because it served to identify the man still +more:--as soon as the ceremony was over, they were to go to Combe +Magna, his seat in Somersetshire. My astonishment!--but it would be +impossible to describe what I felt. The communicative lady I learnt, +on inquiry,--for I stayed in the shop till they were gone,--was a Mrs. +Ellison, and that, as I have been since informed, is the name of Miss +Grey's guardian." + +"It is. But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty thousand +pounds? In that, if in any thing, we may find an explanation." + +"It may be so; but Willoughby is capable--at least I think--" He +stopped a moment; then added in a voice which seemed to distrust +itself, "And your sister,--how did she,--" + +"Her sufferings have been very severe. I have only to hope that they +may be proportionately short. It has been, it is a most cruel +affliction. Till yesterday, I believe, she never doubted his regard; +and even now, perhaps--but _I_ am almost convinced that he never was +really attached to her. He has been very deceitful! and, in some +points, there seems a hardness of heart about him." + +"Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed! But your sister does +not--I think you said so--she does not consider quite as you do?" + +"You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly she would still +justify him if she could." + +He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal of the +tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties, the subject was +necessarily dropped. Mrs. Jennings, who had watched them with pleasure +while they were talking, and who expected to see the effect of Miss +Dashwood's communication, in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel +Brandon's side, as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of +hope and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole evening +more serious and thoughtful than usual. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +From a night of more sleep than she had expected, Marianne awoke the +next morning to the same consciousness of misery in which she had +closed her eyes. + +Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk of what she felt; +and before breakfast was ready, they had gone through the subject +again and again; and with the same steady conviction and affectionate +counsel on Elinor's side, the same impetuous feelings and varying +opinions on Marianne's, as before. Sometimes she could believe +Willoughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as herself, and at +others, lost every consolation in the impossibility of acquitting him. +At one moment she was absolutely indifferent to the observation of all +the world, at another she would seclude herself from it for ever, and +at a third could resist it with energy. In one thing, however, she +was uniform, when it came to the point, in avoiding, where it was +possible, the presence of Mrs. Jennings, and in a determined silence +when obliged to endure it. Her heart was hardened against the belief +of Mrs. Jennings's entering into her sorrows with any compassion. + +"No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried; "she cannot feel. Her kindness +is not sympathy; her good-nature is not tenderness. All that she wants +is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it." + +Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to which her +sister was often led in her opinion of others, by the irritable +refinement of her own mind, and the too great importance placed by her +on the delicacies of a strong sensibility, and the graces of a +polished manner. Like half the rest of the world, if more than half +there be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities +and an excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid. She +expected from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, +and she judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their +actions on herself. Thus a circumstance occurred, while the sisters +were together in their own room after breakfast, which sunk the heart +of Mrs. Jennings still lower in her estimation; because, through her +own weakness, it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself, +though Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse of the utmost +good-will. + +With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance gaily smiling, +from the persuasion of bringing comfort, she entered their room, +saying-- + +"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure will do you good." + +Marianne heard enough. In one moment her imagination placed before her +a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness and contrition, +explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory, convincing; and +instantly followed by Willoughby himself, rushing eagerly into the +room to enforce, at her feet, by the eloquence of his eyes, the +assurances of his letter. The work of one moment was destroyed by the +next. The hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome, was +before her; and, in the acuteness of the disappointment which followed +such an ecstasy of more than hope, she felt as if, till that instant, +she had never suffered. + +The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings, no language, within her reach in her +moments of happiest eloquence, could have expressed; and now she could +reproach her only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with +passionate violence;--a reproach, however, so entirely lost on its +object, that after many expressions of pity, she withdrew, still +referring her to the letter of comfort. But the letter, when she was +calm enough to read it, brought little comfort. Willoughby filled +every page. Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and +relying as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused by +Elinor's application, to entreat from Marianne greater openness +towards them both; and this, with such tenderness towards her, such +affection for Willoughby, and such a conviction of their future +happiness in each other, that she wept with agony through the whole of +it. + +All her impatience to be at home again now returned; her mother was +dearer to her than ever; dearer through the very excess of her +mistaken confidence in Willoughby, and she was wildly urgent to be +gone. Elinor, unable herself to determine whether it were better for +Marianne to be in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own +except of patience till their mother's wishes could be known; and at +length she obtained her sister's consent to wait for that knowledge. + +Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she could not be easy +till the Middletons and Palmers were able to grieve as much as +herself; and positively refusing Elinor's offered attendance, went out +alone for the rest of the morning. Elinor, with a very heavy heart, +aware of the pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving, by +Marianne's letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying any foundation +for it, then sat down to write her mother an account of what had +passed, and entreat her directions for the future; while Marianne, who +came into the drawing-room on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained +fixed at the table where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her +pen, grieving over her for the hardship of such a task, and grieving +still more fondly over its effect on her mother. + +In this manner they had continued about a quarter of an hour, when +Marianne, whose nerves could not then bear any sudden noise, was +startled by a rap at the door. + +"Who can this be?" cried Elinor. "So early too! I thought we _had_ +been safe." + +Marianne moved to the window-- + +"It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation. "We are never safe +from _him._" + +"He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home." + +"I will not trust to _that_," retreating to her own room. "A man who +has nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion +on that of others." + +The event proved her conjecture right, though it was founded on +injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon _did_ come in; and Elinor, +who was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, +and who saw _that_ solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look, +and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her, could not forgive +her sister for esteeming him so lightly. + +"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he, after the first +salutation, "and she encouraged me to come on; and I was the more +easily encouraged, because I thought it probable that I might find you +alone, which I was very desirous of doing. My object--my wish--my sole +wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe it is--is to be a means of +giving comfort;--no, I must not say comfort--not present comfort--but +conviction, lasting conviction to your sister's mind. My regard for +her, for yourself, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it, by +relating some circumstances which nothing but a _very_ sincere +regard--nothing but an earnest desire of being useful--I think I am +justified--though where so many hours have been spent in convincing +myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be +wrong?" He stopped. + +"I understand you," said Elinor. "You have something to tell me of Mr. +Willoughby, that will open his character farther. Your telling it will +be the greatest act of friendship that can be shown Marianne. _My_ +gratitude will be insured immediately by any information tending to +that end, and _hers_ must be gained by it in time. Pray, pray let me +hear it." + +"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton last October,--but +this will give you no idea--I must go farther back. You will find me a +very awkward narrator, Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin. A +short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it _shall_ +be a short one. On such a subject," sighing heavily, "can I have +little temptation to be diffuse." + +He stopt a moment for recollection, and then, with another sigh, went +on. + +"You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation--(it is not to be +supposed that it could make any impression on you)--a conversation +between us one evening at Barton Park--it was the evening of a +dance--in which I alluded to a lady I had once known, as resembling, +in some measure, your sister Marianne." + +"Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have _not_ forgotten it." He looked +pleased by this remembrance, and added-- + +"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality of tender +recollection, there is a very strong resemblance between them, as well +in mind as person. The same warmth of heart, the same eagerness of +fancy and spirits. This lady was one of my nearest relations, an +orphan from her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father. Our +ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years we were +playfellows and friends. I cannot remember the time when I did not +love Eliza; and my affection for her, as we grew up, was such, as +perhaps, judging from my present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you +might think me incapable of having ever felt. Her's, for me, was, I +believe, fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby +and it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate. At +seventeen she was lost to me for ever. She was married--married +against her inclination to my brother. Her fortune was large, and our +family estate much encumbered. And this, I fear, is all that can be +said for the conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian. +My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her. I had hoped +that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for +some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she +experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though +she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I relate! I have +never told you how this was brought on. We were within a few hours of +eloping together for Scotland. The treachery, or the folly, of my +cousin's maid betrayed us. I was banished to the house of a relation +far distant, and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement, +till my father's point was gained. I had depended on her fortitude too +far, and the blow was a severe one, but had her marriage been happy, +so young as I then was, a few months must have reconciled me to it, +or at least I should not have now to lament it. This however was not +the case. My brother had no regard for her; his pleasures were not +what they ought to have been, and from the first he treated her +unkindly. The consequence of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so +inexperienced as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural. She resigned +herself at first to all the misery of her situation; and happy had it +been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets which the +remembrance of me occasioned. But can we wonder that, with such a +husband to provoke inconstancy, and without a friend to advise or +restrain her (for my father lived only a few months after their +marriage, and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she should +fall? Had I remained in England, perhaps--but I meant to promote the +happiness of both by removing from her for years, and for that purpose +had procured my exchange. The shock which her marriage had given me," +he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of trifling +weight--was nothing to what I felt when I heard, about two years +afterwards, of her divorce. It was _that_ which threw this +gloom,--even now the recollection of what I suffered--" + +He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few minutes +about the room. Elinor, affected by his relation, and still more by +his distress, could not speak. He saw her concern, and coming to her, +took her hand, pressed it, and kissed it with grateful respect. A few +minutes more of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure. + +"It was nearly three years after this unhappy period before I returned +to England. My first care, when I _did_ arrive, was of course to seek +for her; but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy. I could +not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there was every reason to +fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of +sin. Her legal allowance was not adequate to her fortune, nor +sufficient for her comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my +brother that the power of receiving it had been made over some months +before to another person. He imagined, and calmly could he imagine it, +that her extravagance, and consequent distress, had obliged her to +dispose of it for some immediate relief. At last, however, and after I +had been six months in England, I _did_ find her. Regard for a former +servant of my own, who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me +to visit him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt; and +there, in the same house, under a similar confinement, was my +unfortunate sister. So altered--so faded--worn down by acute suffering +of every kind! hardly could I believe the melancholy and sickly figure +before me, to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl, +on whom I had once doted. What I endured in so beholding her--but I +have no right to wound your feelings by attempting to describe it--I +have pained you too much already. That she was, to all appearance, in +the last stage of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was +my greatest comfort. Life could do nothing for her, beyond giving time +for a better preparation for death; and that was given. I saw her +placed in comfortable lodgings, and under proper attendants; I visited +her every day during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her +last moments." + +Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor spoke her feelings in +an exclamation of tender concern, at the fate of his unfortunate +friend. + +"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he, "by the +resemblance I have fancied between her and my poor disgraced relation. +Their fates, their fortunes, cannot be the same; and had the natural +sweet disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind, or a +happier marriage, she might have been all that you will live to see +the other be. But to what does all this lead? I seem to have been +distressing you for nothing. Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as +this--untouched for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle it at +all! I _will_ be more collected--more concise. She left to my care her +only child, a little girl, the offspring of her first guilty +connection, who was then about three years old. She loved the child, +and had always kept it with her. It was a valued, a precious trust to +me; and gladly would I have discharged it in the strictest sense, by +watching over her education myself, had the nature of our situations +allowed it; but I had no family, no home; and my little Eliza was +therefore placed at school. I saw her there whenever I could, and +after the death of my brother, (which happened about five years ago, +and which left to me the possession of the family property,) she +visited me at Delaford. I called her a distant relation; but I am +well aware that I have in general been suspected of a much nearer +connection with her. It is now three years ago (she had just reached +her fourteenth year,) that I removed her from school, to place her +under the care of a very respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire, +who had the charge of four or five other girls of about the same time +of life; and for two years I had every reason to be pleased with her +situation. But last February, almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly +disappeared. I had allowed her, (imprudently, as it has since turned +out,) at her earnest desire, to go to Bath with one of her young +friends, who was attending her father there for his health. I knew him +to be a very good sort of man, and I thought well of his +daughter--better than she deserved, for, with a most obstinate and +ill-judged secrecy, she would tell nothing, would give no clue, though +she certainly knew all. He, her father, a well-meaning, but not a +quick-sighted man, could really, I believe, give no information; for +he had been generally confined to the house, while the girls were +ranging over the town and making what acquaintance they chose; and he +tried to convince me, as thoroughly as he was convinced himself, of +his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the business. In short, I +could learn nothing but that she was gone; all the rest, for eight +long months, was left to conjecture. What I thought, what I feared, +may be imagined; and what I suffered too." + +"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be--could Willoughby!"-- + +"The first news that reached me of her," he continued, "came in a +letter from herself, last October. It was forwarded to me from +Delaford, and I received it on the very morning of our intended party +to Whitwell; and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly, +which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange to every body, +and which I believe gave offence to some. Little did Mr. Willoughby +imagine, I suppose, when his looks censured me for incivility in +breaking up the party, that I was called away to the relief of one +whom he had made poor and miserable; but _had_ he known it, what would +it have availed? Would he have been less gay or less happy in the +smiles of your sister? No, he had already done that, which no man who +_can_ feel for another would do. He had left the girl whose youth and +innocence he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress, with +no creditable home, no help, no friends, ignorant of his address! He +had left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor +relieved her." + +"This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor. + +"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse +than both. Knowing all this, as I have now known it many weeks, guess +what I must have felt on seeing your sister as fond of him as ever, +and on being assured that she was to marry him: guess what I must have +felt for all your sakes. When I came to you last week and found you +alone, I came determined to know the truth; though irresolute what to +do when it _was_ known. My behaviour must have seemed strange to you +then; but now you will comprehend it. To suffer you all to be so +deceived; to see your sister--but what could I do? I had no hope of +interfering with success; and sometimes I thought your sister's +influence might yet reclaim him. But now, after such dishonorable +usage, who can tell what were his designs on her. Whatever they may +have been, however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless _will_, turn +with gratitude towards her own condition, when she compares it with +that of my poor Eliza, when she considers the wretched and hopeless +situation of this poor girl, and pictures her to herself, with an +affection for him so strong, still as strong as her own, and with a +mind tormented by self-reproach, which must attend her through life. +Surely this comparison must have its use with her. She will feel her +own sufferings to be nothing. They proceed from no misconduct, and can +bring no disgrace. On the contrary, every friend must be made still +more her friend by them. Concern for her unhappiness, and respect for +her fortitude under it, must strengthen every attachment. Use your own +discretion, however, in communicating to her what I have told you. You +must know best what will be its effect; but had I not seriously, and +from my heart believed it might be of service, might lessen her +regrets, I would not have suffered myself to trouble you with this +account of my family afflictions, with a recital which may seem to +have been intended to raise myself at the expense of others." + +Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful earnestness; +attended too with the assurance of her expecting material advantage +to Marianne, from the communication of what had passed. + +"I have been more pained," said she, "by her endeavors to acquit him +than by all the rest; for it irritates her mind more than the most +perfect conviction of his unworthiness can do. Now, though at first +she will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier. Have +you," she continued, after a short silence, "ever seen Mr. Willoughby +since you left him at Barton?" + +"Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have. One meeting was unavoidable." + +Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously, saying-- + +"What? have you met him to--" + +"I could meet him no other way. Eliza had confessed to me, though most +reluctantly, the name of her lover; and when he returned to town, +which was within a fortnight after myself, we met by appointment, he +to defend, I to punish his conduct. We returned unwounded, and the +meeting, therefore, never got abroad." + +Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this; but to a man and a +soldier she presumed not to censure it. + +"Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause, "has been the unhappy +resemblance between the fate of mother and daughter! and so +imperfectly have I discharged my trust!" + +"Is she still in town?" + +"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in, for I found her near +her delivery, I removed her and her child into the country, and there +she remains." + +Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably dividing Elinor +from her sister, he put an end to his visit, receiving from her again +the same grateful acknowledgments, and leaving her full of compassion +and esteem for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss +Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were, the effect on her was +not entirely such as the former had hoped to see. Not that Marianne +appeared to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to +it all with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither +objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby, and +seemed to show by her tears that she felt it to be impossible. But +though this behaviour assured Elinor that the conviction of this guilt +_was_ carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the +effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he +called, in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking, with a kind +of compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less +violently irritated than before, she did not see her less wretched. +Her mind did become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection. +She felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she +had felt the loss of his heart; his seduction and desertion of Miss +Williams, the misery of that poor girl, and the doubt of what his +designs might _once_ have been on herself, preyed altogether so much +on her spirits, that she could not bring herself to speak of what she +felt even to Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in silence, gave +more pain to her sister than could have been communicated by the most +open and most frequent confession of them. + +To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood on receiving and +answering Elinor's letter would be only to give a repetition of what +her daughters had already felt and said; of a disappointment hardly +less painful than Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than +Elinor's. Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other, +arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought; to express her +anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat she would bear up with +fortitude under this misfortune. Bad indeed must the nature of +Marianne's affliction be, when her mother could talk of fortitude! +mortifying and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets, which +_she_ could wish her not to indulge! + +Against the interest of her own individual comfort, Mrs. Dashwood had +determined that it would be better for Marianne to be any where, at +that time, than at Barton, where every thing within her view would be +bringing back the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner, by +constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as she had always seen +him there. She recommended it to her daughters, therefore, by all +means not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of +which, though never exactly fixed, had been expected by all to +comprise at least five or six weeks. A variety of occupations, of +objects, and of company, which could not be procured at Barton, would +be inevitable there, and might yet, she hoped, cheat Marianne, at +times, into some interest beyond herself, and even into some +amusement, much as the ideas of both might now be spurned by her. + +From all danger of seeing Willoughby again, her mother considered her +to be at least equally safe in town as in the country, since his +acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called themselves her +friends. Design could never bring them in each other's way: negligence +could never leave them exposed to a surprise; and chance had less in +its favour in the crowd of London than even in the retirement of +Barton, where it might force him before her while paying that visit at +Allenham on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at +first as a probable event, had brought herself to expect as a certain +one. + +She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain where +they were; a letter from her son-in-law had told her that he and his +wife were to be in town before the middle of February, and she judged +it right that they should sometimes see their brother. + +Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion, and she +submitted to it therefore without opposition, though it proved +perfectly different from what she wished and expected, though she felt +it to be entirely wrong, formed on mistaken grounds, and that by +requiring her longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only +possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal sympathy of her +mother, and doomed her to such society and such scenes as must prevent +her ever knowing a moment's rest. + +But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought +evil to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the +other hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid +Edward entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their +longer stay would therefore militate against her own happiness, it +would be better for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire. + +Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing Willoughby's +name mentioned, was not thrown away. Marianne, though without knowing +it herself, reaped all its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor +Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her. +Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended towards +herself, but that was impossible, and she was obliged to listen day +after day to the indignation of them all. + +Sir John, could not have thought it possible. "A man of whom he had +always had such reason to think well! Such a good-natured fellow! He +did not believe there was a bolder rider in England! It was an +unaccountable business. He wished him at the devil with all his heart. +He would not speak another word to him, meet him where he might, for +all the world! No, not if it were to be by the side of Barton covert, +and they were kept watching for two hours together. Such a scoundrel +of a fellow! such a deceitful dog! It was only the last time they met +that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this was the end +of it!" + +Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry. "She was determined to +drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she +had never been acquainted with him at all. She wished with all her +heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify, +for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much +that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should +tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was." + +The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shown in procuring all the +particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and +communicating them to Elinor. She could soon tell at what coachmaker's +the new carriage was building, by what painter Mr. Willoughby's +portrait was drawn, and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be +seen. + +[Illustration: _Offered him one of Folly's puppies._] + +The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the occasion was a +happy relief to Elinor's spirits, oppressed as they often were by +the clamorous kindness of the others. It was a great comfort to her to +be sure of exciting no interest in _one_ person at least among their +circle of friends: a great comfort to know that there was _one_ who +would meet her without feeling any curiosity after particulars, or any +anxiety for her sister's health. + +Every qualification is raised at times, by the circumstances of the +moment, to more than its real value; and she was sometimes worried +down by officious condolence to rate good-breeding as more +indispensable to comfort than good-nature. + +Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once every day, +or twice, if the subject occurred very often, by saying, "It is very +shocking, indeed!" and by the means of this continual though gentle +vent, was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first +without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without +recollecting a word of the matter; and having thus supported the +dignity of her own sex, and spoken her decided censure of what was +wrong in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend to the +interest of her own assemblies, and therefore determined (though +rather against the opinion of Sir John) that as Mrs. Willoughby would +at once be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her +as soon as she married. + +Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries were never unwelcome +to Miss Dashwood. He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate +discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with +which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with +confidence. His chief reward for the painful exertion of disclosing +past sorrows and present humiliations, was given in the pitying eye +with which Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness of her +voice whenever (though it did not often happen) she was obliged, or +could oblige herself to speak to him. _These_ assured him that his +exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and +_these_ gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; +but Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that +the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither +prevail on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make +it for him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of +Mid-summer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end +of a week that it would not be a match at all. The good understanding +between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that +the honours of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour, would +all be made over to _her_; and Mrs. Jennings had, for some time ceased +to think at all of Mrs. Ferrars. + +Early in February, within a fortnight from the receipt of Willoughby's +letter, Elinor had the painful office of informing her sister that he +was married. She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed to +herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony was over, as she +was desirous that Marianne should not receive the first notice of it +from the public papers, which she saw her eagerly examining every +morning. + +She received the news with resolute composure; made no observation on +it, and at first shed no tears; but after a short time they would +burst out, and for the rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less +pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event. + +The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married; and Elinor now +hoped, as there could be no danger of her seeing either of them, to +prevail on her sister, who had never yet left the house since the blow +first fell, to go out again by degrees as she had done before. + +About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived at their cousin's +house in Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn, presented themselves again +before their more grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets; and +were welcomed by them all with great cordiality. + +Elinor only was sorry to see them. Their presence always gave her +pain, and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return to the +overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her _still_ in town. + +"I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you here +_still_," said she repeatedly, with a strong emphasis on the word. +"But I always thought I _should_ I was almost sure you would not leave +London yet awhile; though you _told_ me, you know, at Barton, that you +should not stay above a _month._ But I thought, at the time, that you +would most likely change your mind when it came to the point. It would +have been such a great pity to have went away before your brother and +sister came. And now to be sure you will be in no _hurry_ to be gone. +I am amazingly glad you did not keep to _your word._" + +Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her +self-command to make it appear that she did _not._ + +"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did you travel?" + +"Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele, with quick +exultation; "we came post all the way, and had a very smart beau to +attend us. Dr. Davies was coming to town, and so we thought we'd join +him in a post-chaise; and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or +twelve shillings more than we did." + +"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty, indeed! and the Doctor is +a single man, I warrant you." + +"There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering, "everybody laughs +at me so about the Doctor, and I cannot think why. My cousins say they +are sure I have made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never +think about him from one hour's end to another. 'Lord! here comes your +beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day, when she saw him crossing +the street to the house. My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who +you mean. The Doctor is no beau of mine." + +"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--the Doctor is +the man, I see." + +"No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness, "and I +beg you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of." + +Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that she +certainly would _not_, and Miss Steele was made completely happy. + +"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister, Miss +Dashwood, when they come to town," said Lucy, returning, after a +cessation of hostile hints, to the charge. + +"No, I do not think we shall." + +"Oh, yes, I dare say you will." + +Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition. + +"What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can spare you both for +so long a time together!" + +"Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings. "Why, their visit is +but just begun!" + +[Illustration: _A very smart beau._] + +Lucy was silenced. + +"I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood," said Miss +Steele. "I am sorry she is not well--" for Marianne had left the room +on their arrival. + +"You are very good. My sister will be equally sorry to miss the +pleasure of seeing you; but she has been very much plagued lately with +nervous head-aches, which make her unfit for company or conversation." + +"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old friends as Lucy and +me!--I think she might see _us_; and I am sure we would not speak a +word." + +Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal. Her sister was +perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her dressing gown, and therefore +not able to come to them. + +"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can just as well go and +see _her._" + +Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper; but +she was saved the trouble of checking it, by Lucy's sharp reprimand, +which now, as on many occasions, though it did not give much sweetness +to the manners of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of +the other. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, +and consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for +half an hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no +visits, and would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in +Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the +exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother. + +When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there +was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; +and as she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her +young friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return +for them. + +On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people +before them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to +tend to their orders; and they were obliged to wait. All that could be +done was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to +promise the quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing +there, and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting +his politeness to a quicker despatch. But the correctness of his eye, +and the delicacy of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness. He +was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, +shape, and ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining +and debating for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the +shop, were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no +leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was +comprised in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which +served to imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of +strong, natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first +style of fashion. + +Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and +resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on +the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of +the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by +remaining unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect +her thoughts within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing +around her, in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom. + +At last the affair was decided. The ivory, the gold, and the pearls, +all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the +last day on which his existence could be continued without the +possession of the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely +care, and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a +one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off +with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference. + +Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point +of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her +side. She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some +surprise to be her brother. + +[Illustration: _Introduced to Mrs. Jennings._] + +Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very +creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop. John Dashwood was really far +from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them +satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and +attentive. + +Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days. + +"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was +impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts +at Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. +Ferrars. Harry was vastly pleased. _This_ morning I had fully intended +to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one +has always so much to do on first coming to town. I am come here to +bespeak Fanny a seal. But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able +to call in Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. +Jennings. I understand she is a woman of very good fortune. And the +Middletons too, you must introduce me to _them_. As my mother-in-law's +relations, I shall be happy to show them every respect. They are +excellent neighbours to you in the country, I understand." + +"Excellent indeed. Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness +in every particular, is more than I can express." + +"I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed. +But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are +related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to +make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected. And so you +are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for +nothing! Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the +most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all +seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing. It was a great satisfaction to us +to hear it, I assure you." + +Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to +be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs. +Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for +them at the door. + +Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. +Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being +able to call on them the next day, took leave. + +[Illustration: _Mrs. Jennings assured him directly that she should not +stand upon ceremony._] + +His visit was duly paid. He came with a pretence at an apology from +their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged +with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where." +Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not +stand upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like +it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and +bring her sisters to see her. His manners to _them_, though calm, were +perfectly kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on +Colonel Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a +curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be +rich, to be equally civil to _him._ + +After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him +to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton. +The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented. As soon as +they were out of the house, his enquiries began. + +"Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune?" + +"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire." + +"I am glad of it. He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think, +Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable +establishment in life." + +"Me, brother! what do you mean?" + +"He likes you. I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it. What +is the amount of his fortune?" + +"I believe about two thousand a year." + +"Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of +enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart +it were _twice_ as much, for your sake." + +"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that +Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying _me._ + +"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken. A very little +trouble on your side secures him. Perhaps just at present he may be +undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his +friends may all advise him against it. But some of those little +attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix +him, in spite of himself. And there can be no reason why you should +not try for him. It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on +your side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is +quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you have +too much sense not to see all that. Colonel Brandon must be the man; +and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with +you and your family. It is a match that must give universal +satisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing that," lowering his +voice to an important whisper, "will be exceedingly welcome to _all +parties._" Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean +to say--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; +Fanny particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I +assure you. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured +woman, I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much +the other day." + +Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer. + +"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something +droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the +same time. And yet it is not very unlikely." + +"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be +married?" + +"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation. +He has a most excellent mother. Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost +liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if +the match takes place. The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter +of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds. A very desirable +connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place +in time. A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, +to make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit. To give +you another instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we +came to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just +now, she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two +hundred pounds. And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a +great expense while we are here." + +He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to +say-- + +"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be +considerable; but your income is a large one." + +"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose. I do not mean to +complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope +will in time be better. The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying +on, is a most serious drain. And then I have made a little purchase +within this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, +where old Gibson used to live. The land was so very desirable for me +in every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I +felt it my duty to buy it. I could not have answered it to my +conscience to let it fall into any other hands. A man must pay for his +convenience; and it _has_ cost me a vast deal of money." + +"More than you think it really and intrinsically worth." + +"Why, I hope not that. I might have sold it again, the next day, for +more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have +been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low, +that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's +hands, I must have sold out to very great loss." + +Elinor could only smile. + +"Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming +to Norland. Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the +Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they +were) to your mother. Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he +had an undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, +but, in consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large +purchases of linen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken +away. You may guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be +from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is." + +"Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you +may yet live to be in easy circumstances." + +"Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but +however there is still a great deal to be done. There is not a stone +laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the +flower-garden marked out." + +"Where is the green-house to be?" + +"Upon the knoll behind the house. The old walnut trees are all come +down to make room for it. It will be a very fine object from many +parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before +it, and be exceedingly pretty. We have cleared away all the old thorns +that grew in patches over the brow." + +Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very +thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation. + +Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the +necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in +his next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he +began to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings. + +"She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style of +living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an +acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but +in the end may prove materially advantageous. Her inviting you to town +is certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks +altogether so great a regard for you, that in all probability when she +dies you will not be forgotten. She must have a great deal to leave." + +"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her +jointure, which will descend to her children." + +"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income. Few +people of common prudence will do _that_; and whatever she saves, she +will be able to dispose of." + +"And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her +daughters, than to us?" + +"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I +cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther. +Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and +treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on +her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not +disregard. Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can +hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises." + +"But she raises none in those most concerned. Indeed, brother, your +anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far." + +"Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have +little, have very little in their power. But, my dear Elinor, what is +the matter with Marianne?--she looks very unwell, has lost her colour, +and is grown quite thin. Is she ill?" + +"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several +weeks." + +"I am sorry for that. At her time of life, any thing of an illness +destroys the bloom for ever! Her's has been a very short one! She was +as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to +attract the man. There was something in her style of beauty, to +please them particularly. I remember Fanny used to say that she would +marry sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly +fond of _you_, but so it happened to strike her. She will be mistaken, +however. I question whether Marianne _now_, will marry a man worth +more than five or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very +much deceived if _you_ do not do better. Dorsetshire! I know very +little of Dorsetshire; but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly +glad to know more of it; and I think I can answer for your having +Fanny and myself among the earliest and best pleased of your +visitors." + +Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no +likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation +of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really +resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the +marriage by every possible attention. He had just compunction enough +for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly +anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from +Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means +of atoning for his own neglect. + +They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John +came in before their visit ended. Abundance of civilities passed on +all sides. Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood +did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very +good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his +appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood +went away delighted with both. + +"I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he +walked back with his sister. "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant +woman! Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know. And Mrs. +Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant +as her daughter. Your sister need not have any scruple even of +visiting _her_, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, +and very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow +of a man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. +Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her +daughters were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate +with. But now I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her husband's judgment, +that she waited the very next day both on Mrs. Jennings and her +daughter; and her confidence was rewarded by finding even the former, +even the woman with whom her sisters were staying, by no means +unworthy her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of +the most charming women in the world! + +Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood. There was a +kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually +attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid +propriety of demeanor, and a general want of understanding. + +The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John Dashwood to the +good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the fancy of Mrs. +Jennings, and to _her_ she appeared nothing more than a little +proud-looking woman of uncordial address, who met her husband's +sisters without any affection, and almost without having anything to +say to them; for of the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley +Street, she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence. + +Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not choose to ask, +whether Edward was then in town; but nothing would have induced Fanny +voluntarily to mention his name before her, till able to tell her that +his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on, or till her husband's +expectations on Colonel Brandon were answered; because she believed +them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be +too sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion. The +intelligence however, which _she_ would not give, soon flowed from +another quarter. Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compassion +on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in town with Mr. +and Mrs. Dashwood. He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear +of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet, was not to +be told, they could do nothing at present but write. + +Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short +time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street. Twice was his card found on +the table, when they returned from their morning's engagements. Elinor +was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had +missed him. + +The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons, +that, though not much in the habit of giving anything, they determined +to give them--a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began, +invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they had taken a very +good house for three months. Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were +invited likewise, and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel +Brandon, who, always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, +received his eager civilities with some surprise, but much more +pleasure. They were to meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn +whether her sons were to be of the party. The expectation of seeing +_her_, however, was enough to make her interested in the engagement; +for though she could now meet Edward's mother without that strong +anxiety which had once promised to attend such an introduction, though +she could now see her with perfect indifference as to her opinion of +herself, her desire of being in company with Mrs. Ferrars, her +curiosity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever. + +The interest with which she thus anticipated the party, was soon +afterwards increased, more powerfully than pleasantly, by her hearing +that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it. + +So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so +agreeable had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was +certainly not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as +ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit +Street; and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss +Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their +visit should begin a few days before the party took place. + +Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood, as the nieces of +the gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother, +might not have done much, however, towards procuring them seats at her +table; but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy, +who had long wanted to be personally known to the family, to have a +nearer view of their characters and her own difficulties, and to have +an opportunity of endeavouring to please them, had seldom been happier +in her life, than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card. + +On Elinor its effect was very different. She began immediately to +determine, that Edward who lived with his mother, must be asked as his +mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him for the +first time, after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hardly +knew how she could bear it! + +These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded entirely on reason, and +certainly not at all on truth. They were relieved however, not by her +own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself +to be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward +certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to +be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her that he was kept +away by the extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal +when they were together. + +The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies +to this formidable mother-in-law. + +"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they walked up the stairs +together--for the Middletons arrived so directly after Mrs. Jennings, +that they all followed the servant at the same time--"There is nobody +here but you, that can feel for me. I declare I can hardly stand. Good +gracious!--In a moment I shall see the person that all my happiness +depends on--that is to be my mother!"-- + +Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the +possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own, +whom they were about to behold; but instead of doing that, she assured +her, and with great sincerity, that she did pity her--to the utter +amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at +least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor. + +Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in +her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect. Her +complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and +naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow had +rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity, by giving it +the strong characters of pride and ill nature. She was not a woman of +many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to +the number of her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her, +not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the +spirited determination of disliking her at all events. + +Elinor could not _now_ be made unhappy by this behaviour. A few months +ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. +Ferrars' power to distress her by it now; and the difference of her +manners to the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made +to humble her more, only amused her. She could not but smile to see +the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very +person--for Lucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others, +had they known as much as she did, they would have been most anxious +to mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound +them, sat pointedly slighted by both. But while she smiled at a +graciousness so misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited +folly from which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with +which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly +despising them all four. + +Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably distinguished; and Miss +Steele wanted only to be teased about Dr. Davies to be perfectly +happy. + +The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and every +thing bespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's +ability to support it. In spite of the improvements and additions +which were making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner +having once been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell +out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence which he had +tried to infer from it; no poverty of any kind, except of +conversation, appeared; but there, the deficiency was considerable. +John Dashwood had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, +and his wife had still less. But there was no peculiar disgrace in +this; for it was very much the case with the chief of their visitors, +who almost all laboured under one or other of these disqualifications +for being agreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want +of elegance--want of spirits--or want of temper. + +When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this +poverty was particularly evident, for the gentlemen _had_ supplied the +discourse with some variety--the variety of politics, inclosing land, +and breaking horses--but then it was all over; and one subject only +engaged the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative +heights of Harry Dashwood, and Lady Middleton's second son William, +who were nearly of the same age. + +Had both the children been there, the affair might have been +determined too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was +present, it was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every +body had a right to be equally positive in their opinion, and to +repeat it over and over again as often as they liked. + +The parties stood thus:-- + +The two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the +tallest, politely decided in favour of the other. The two +grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity, were +equally earnest in support of their own descendant. + +Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other, +thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their age, and could +not conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world +between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as +fast as she could, in favour of each. + +Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William's side, by which +she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the +necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when +called on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she had no +opinion to give, as she had never thought about it. + +Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very pretty +pair of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted +and brought home, ornamented her present drawing room; and these +screens, catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other +gentlemen into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel +Brandon for his admiration. + +"These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you, as a man of +taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them. I do not know whether +you have ever happened to see any of her performances before, but she +is in general reckoned to draw extremely well." + +The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions to connoisseurship, +warmly admired the screens, as he would have done any thing painted by +Miss Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of course +excited, they were handed round for general inspection. Mrs. Ferrars, +not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look +at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady +Middleton's approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother, +considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by +Miss Dashwood. + +"Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and without regarding them +at all, returned them to her daughter. + +Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude +enough,--for, colouring a little, she immediately said-- + +"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But then again, the dread of +having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over +her, for she presently added, "Do you not think they are something in +Miss Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She _does_ paint most +delightfully!--How beautifully her last landscape is done!" + +"Beautifully indeed! But _she_ does every thing well." + +Marianne could not bear this. She was already greatly displeased with +Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's +expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant +by it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth-- + +"This is admiration of a very particular kind! what is Miss Morton to +us? who knows, or who cares, for her?--it is Elinor of whom _we_ think +and speak." + +And so saying, she took the screens out of her sister-in-law's hands, +to admire them herself as they ought to be admired. + +[Illustration: _Mrs. Ferrars._] + +Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more +stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss +Morton is Lord Morton's daughter." + +Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at +his sister's audacity. Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth +than she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as +they were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was +amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a +sister slighted in the smallest point. + +Marianne's feelings did not stop here. The cold insolence of Mrs. +Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell +such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own wounded heart +taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of +affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment, to her sister's +chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to +hers, said in a low, but eager, voice-- + +"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them. Don't let them make _you_ +unhappy." + +She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her +face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears. Every body's +attention was called, and almost every body was concerned. Colonel +Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he did. Mrs. +Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave +her her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged against the +author of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to +one close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account +of the whole shocking affair. + +In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered enough to put an end +to the bustle, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits +retained the impression of what had passed, the whole evening. + +"Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice, +as soon as he could secure his attention: "She has not such good +health as her sister,--she is very nervous,--she has not Elinor's +constitution;--and one must allow that there is something very trying +to a young woman who _has been_ a beauty in the loss of her personal +attractions. You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne _was_ +remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor. Now +you see it is all gone." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied. She had found in +her every thing that could tend to make a farther connection between +the families undesirable. She had seen enough of her pride, her +meanness, and her determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend +all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement, and +retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise +free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thankful for her _own_ +sake, that one greater obstacle preserved her from suffering under any +other of Mrs. Ferrars's creation, preserved her from all dependence +upon her caprice, or any solicitude for her good opinion. Or at least, +if she did not bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being +fettered to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable, she +_ought_ to have rejoiced. + +She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much elevated by the +civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest and her vanity should so +very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid +her because she was _not Elinor_ appear a compliment to herself--or to +allow her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, +because her real situation was unknown. But that it was so, had not +only been declared by Lucy's eyes at the time, but was declared over +again the next morning more openly, for at her particular desire, Lady +Middleton set her down in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing +Elinor alone, to tell her how happy she was. + +The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from Mrs. Palmer soon +after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away. + +"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were by themselves, "I +come to talk to you of my happiness. Could anything be so flattering +as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me yesterday? So exceeding affable +as she was! You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her; but the +very moment I was introduced, there was such an affability in her +behaviour as really should seem to say, she had quite took a fancy to +me. Now was not it so? You saw it all; and was not you quite struck +with it?" + +"She was certainly very civil to you." + +"Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?--I saw a vast deal +more. Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!--No pride, +no hauteur, and your sister just the same--all sweetness and +affability!" + +Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still pressed her to +own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was obliged to +go on. + +"Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing +could be more flattering than their treatment of you;--but as that was +not the case--" + +"I guessed you would say so," replied Lucy quickly--"but there was no +reason in the world why Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she +did not, and her liking me is every thing. You shan't talk me out of +my satisfaction. I am sure it will all end well, and there will be no +difficulties at all, to what I used to think. Mrs. Ferrars is a +charming woman, and so is your sister. They are both delightful women, +indeed!--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable Mrs. +Dashwood was!" + +To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any. + +"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you don't speak;--sure you +an't well." + +"I never was in better health." + +"I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did not look it. I +should be sorry to have _you_ ill; you, that have been the greatest +comfort to me in the world!--Heaven knows what I should have done +without your friendship."-- + +Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting her own success. +But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she directly replied-- + +"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me, and next to +Edward's love, it is the greatest comfort I have. Poor Edward!--But +now there is one good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty +often, for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood, so we shall +be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say, and Edward spends half +his time with his sister--besides, Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars +will visit now;--and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good +to say more than once, they should always be glad to see me. They are +such charming women!--I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I +think of her, you cannot speak too high." + +But Elinor would not give her any encouragement to hope that she +_should_ tell her sister. Lucy continued. + +"I am sure I should have seen it in a moment, if Mrs. Ferrars had took +a dislike to me. If she had only made me a formal courtesy, for +instance, without saying a word, and never after had took any notice +of me, and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you know what I +mean--if I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way, I should +have gave it all up in despair. I could not have stood it. For where +she _does_ dislike, I know it is most violent." + +Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil triumph, by +the door's being thrown open, the servant's announcing Mr. Ferrars, +and Edward's immediately walking in. + +It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each showed that +it was so. They all looked exceedingly foolish; and Edward seemed to +have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again, as to +advance farther into it. The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest +form, which they would each have been most anxious to avoid, had +fallen on them. They were not only all three together, but were +together without the relief of any other person. The ladies recovered +themselves first. It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward, +and the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up. She could +therefore only _look_ her tenderness, and after slightly addressing +him, said no more. + +But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she, for his sake and +her own, to do it well, that she forced herself, after a moment's +recollection, to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost +easy, and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still +improved them. She would not allow the presence of Lucy, nor the +consciousness of some injustice towards herself, to deter her from +saying that she was happy to see him, and that she had very much +regretted being from home, when he called before in Berkeley Street. +She would not be frightened from paying him those attentions which, as +a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the observant eyes +of Lucy, though she soon perceived them to be narrowly watching her. + +Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he had courage +enough to sit down; but his embarrassment still exceeded that of the +ladies in a proportion, which the case rendered reasonable, though his +sex might make it rare; for his heart had not the indifference of +Lucy's, nor could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's. + +Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined to make no +contribution to the comfort of the others, and would not say a word; +and almost every thing that _was_ said, proceeded from Elinor, who was +obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health, +their coming to town, &c. which Edward ought to have inquired about, +but never did. + +Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon afterwards felt herself +so heroically disposed as to determine, under pretence of fetching +Marianne, to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it, +and _that_ in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several +minutes on the landing-place, with the most high-minded fortitude, +before she went to her sister. When that was once done, however, it +was time for the raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy +hurried her into the drawing-room immediately. Her pleasure in seeing +him was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself, and +strongly spoken. She met him with a hand that would be taken, and a +voice that expressed the affection of a sister. + +"Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great happiness!--This +would almost make amends for every thing?" + +Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved, but before such +witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt. Again they all +sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was +looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and +sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other +should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence. Edward was the first +to speak, and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks, and express +his fear of her not finding London agree with her. + +"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited earnestness, though +her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, "don't think of _my_ +health. Elinor is well, you see. That must be enough for us both." + +This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor +to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no +very benignant expression. + +"Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say any thing that might +introduce another subject. + +"Not at all. I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none. +The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and +thank Heaven! you are what you always were!" + +She paused--no one spoke. + +"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must employ Edward to take +care of us in our return to Barton. In a week or two, I suppose, we +shall be going; and, I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to +accept the charge." + +Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even +himself. But Marianne, who saw his agitation, and could easily trace +it to whatever cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied, +and soon talked of something else. + +"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street yesterday! So dull, so +wretchedly dull!--But I have much to say to you on that head, which +cannot be said now." + +And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance of her +finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever, and of her +being particularly disgusted with his mother, till they were more in +private. + +"But why were you not there, Edward?--Why did you not come?" + +"I was engaged elsewhere." + +"Engaged! But what was that, when such friends were to be met?" + +"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take some revenge on +her, "you think young men never stand upon engagements, if they have +no mind to keep them, little as well as great." + +Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the +sting; for she calmly replied-- + +"Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very sure that +conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street. And I really believe +he _has_ the most delicate conscience in the world; the most +scrupulous in performing every engagement, however minute, and however +it may make against his interest or pleasure. He is the most fearful +of giving pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of +being selfish, of any body I ever saw. Edward, it is so, and I will +say it. What! are you never to hear yourself praised!--Then you must +be no friend of mine; for those who will accept of my love and esteem, +must submit to my open commendation." + +The nature of her commendation, in the present case, however, happened +to be particularly ill-suited to the feelings of two thirds of her +auditors, and was so very unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon +got up to go away. + +"Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward, this must not be." + +And drawing him a little aside, she whispered her persuasion that Lucy +could not stay much longer. But even this encouragement failed, for he +would go; and Lucy, who would have outstayed him, had his visit lasted +two hours, soon afterwards went away. + +"What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne, on her leaving +them. "Could not she see that we wanted her gone!--how teasing to +Edward!" + +"Why so?--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been the longest known +to him of any. It is but natural that he should like to see her as +well as ourselves." + +Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know, Elinor, that +this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear. If you only hope to +have your assertion contradicted, as I must suppose to be the case, +you ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world to do +it. I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are not +really wanted." + +She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow her to say more, +for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy, she could give +no information that would convince Marianne; and painful as the +consequences of her still continuing in an error might be, she was +obliged to submit to it. All that she could hope, was that Edward +would not often expose her or himself to the distress of hearing +Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the repetition of any other part of +the pain that had attended their recent meeting--and this she had +every reason to expect. + +[Illustration: _Drawing him a little aside._] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the +world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a +son and heir; a very interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least +to all those intimate connections who knew it before. + +This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a +temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a +like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished +to be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every +morning as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in +the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the +Middletons, spent the whole of every day, in Conduit Street. For their +own comfort they would much rather have remained, at least all the +morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not a thing to be urged +against the wishes of everybody. Their hours were therefore made over +to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company, in +fact was as little valued, as it was professedly sought. + +They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and +by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on +_their_ ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to +monopolize. Though nothing could be more polite than Lady Middleton's +behaviour to Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all. +Because they neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not +believe them good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she +fancied them satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to +be satirical; but _that_ did not signify. It was censure in common +use, and easily given. + +Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy. It checked the +idleness of one, and the business of the other. Lady Middleton was +ashamed of doing nothing before them, and the flattery which Lucy was +proud to think of and administer at other times, she feared they would +despise her for offering. Miss Steele was the least discomposed of the +three, by their presence; and it was in their power to reconcile her +to it entirely. Would either of them only have given her a full and +minute account of the whole affair between Marianne and Mr. +Willoughby, she would have thought herself amply rewarded for the +sacrifice of the best place by the fire after dinner, which their +arrival occasioned. But this conciliation was not granted; for though +she often threw out expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor, and +more than once dropt a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before +Marianne, no effect was produced, but a look of indifference from the +former, or of disgust in the latter. An effort even yet lighter might +have made her their friend. Would they only have laughed at her about +the Doctor! But so little were they, anymore than the others, inclined +to oblige her, that if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a +whole day without hearing any other raillery on the subject, than what +she was kind enough to bestow on herself. + +All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so totally +unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought it a delightful thing +for the girls to be together; and generally congratulated her young +friends every night, on having escaped the company of a stupid old +woman so long. She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes at +her own house; but wherever it was, she always came in excellent +spirits, full of delight and importance, attributing Charlotte's well +doing to her own care, and ready to give so exact, so minute a detail +of her situation, as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire. +One thing _did_ disturb her; and of that she made her daily complaint. +Mr. Palmer maintained the common, but unfatherly opinion among his +sex, of all infants being alike; and though she could plainly +perceive, at different times, the most striking resemblance between +this baby and every one of his relations on both sides, there was no +convincing his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it was +not exactly like every other baby of the same age; nor could he even +be brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the +finest child in the world. + +I come now to the relation of a misfortune, which about this time +befell Mrs. John Dashwood. It so happened that while her two sisters +with Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street, another +of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance in itself not +apparently likely to produce evil to her. But while the imaginations +of other people will carry them away to form wrong judgments of our +conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness +must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance. In the present +instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy to so far outrun +truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss +Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she +immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this +misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards, cards of +invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister, to a +small musical party at her house. The consequence of which was, that +Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly +great inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, +but, what was still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness +of appearing to treat them with attention: and who could tell that +they might not expect to go out with her a second time? The power of +disappointing them, it was true, must always be her's. But that was +not enough; for when people are determined on a mode of conduct which +they know to be wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any +thing better from them. + +Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much into the habit of +going out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to +her, whether she went or not: and she prepared quietly and +mechanically for every evening's engagement, though without expecting +the smallest amusement from any, and very often without knowing, till +the last moment, where it was to take her. + +To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly indifferent, as +not to bestow half the consideration on it, during the whole of her +toilet, which it received from Miss Steele in the first five minutes +of their being together, when it was finished. Nothing escaped _her_ +minute observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing, and +asked every thing; was never easy till she knew the price of every +part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the number of her gowns +altogether with better judgment than Marianne herself, and was not +without hopes of finding out before they parted, how much her washing +cost per week, and how much she had every year to spend upon herself. +The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally +concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was +considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after +undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the +colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost +sure of being told that upon "her word she looked vastly smart, and +she dared to say she would make a great many conquests." + +With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed on the present +occasion, to her brother's carriage; which they were ready to enter +five minutes after it stopped at the door, a punctuality not very +agreeable to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house +of her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay on their part +that might inconvenience either herself or her coachman. + +The events of this evening were not very remarkable. The party, like +other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real +taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all; +and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation, +and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in +England. + +As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so, she made no +scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforte, whenever it +suited her, and unrestrained even by the presence of a harp, and +violoncello, would fix them at pleasure on any other object in the +room. In one of these excursive glances she perceived among a group of +young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture on +toothpick-cases at Gray's. She perceived him soon afterwards looking +at herself, and speaking familiarly to her brother; and had just +determined to find out his name from the latter, when they both came +towards her, and Mr. Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert +Ferrars. + +He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted his head into a bow +which assured her as plainly as words could have done, that he was +exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by Lucy. Happy +had it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended less on his +own merit, than on the merit of his nearest relations! For then his +brother's bow must have given the finishing stroke to what the +ill-humour of his mother and sister would have begun. But while she +wondered at the difference of the two young men, she did not find that +the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out of all charity with +the modesty and worth of the other. Why they _were_ different, Robert +exclaimed to her himself in the course of a quarter of an hour's +conversation; for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme +_gaucherie_ which he really believed kept him from mixing in proper +society, he candidly and generously attributed it much less to any +natural deficiency, than to the misfortune of a private education; +while he himself, though probably without any particular, any material +superiority by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school, +was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man. + +"Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more; and so I +often tell my mother, when she is grieving about it. 'My dear Madam,' +I always say to her, 'you must make yourself easy. The evil is now +irremediable, and it has been entirely your own doing. Why would you +be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to +place Edward under private tuition, at the most critical time of his +life? If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself, +instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been +prevented.' This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and +my mother is perfectly convinced of her error." + +Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever might be her +general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not +think of Edward's abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction. + +"You reside in Devonshire, I think,"--was his next observation, "in a +cottage near Dawlish." + +Elinor set him right as to its situation; and it seemed rather +surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire, without +living near Dawlish. He bestowed his hearty approbation however on +their species of house. + +"For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond of a cottage; there +is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them. And I protest, +if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one +myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself +down at any time, and collect a few friends about me, and be happy. I +advise every body who is going to build, to build a cottage. My friend +Lord Courtland came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice, +and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's. I was to decide +on the best of them. 'My dear Courtland,' said I, immediately throwing +them all into the fire, 'do not adopt either of them, but by all means +build a cottage.' And that I fancy, will be the end of it. + +"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space in +a cottage; but this is all a mistake. I was last month at my friend +Elliott's, near Dartford. Lady Elliott wished to give a dance. 'But +how can it be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it is +to be managed. There is not a room in this cottage that will hold ten +couple, and where can the supper be?' I immediately saw that there +could be no difficulty in it, so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not +be uneasy. The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease; +card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library may be open +for tea and other refreshments; and let the supper be set out in the +saloon.' Lady Elliott was delighted with the thought. We measured the +dining-room, and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the +affair was arranged precisely after my plan. So that, in fact, you +see, if people do but know how to set about it, every comfort may be +as well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling." + +Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the +compliment of rational opposition. + +As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his eldest sister, +his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing else; and a +thought struck him during the evening, which he communicated to his +wife, for her approbation, when they got home. The consideration of +Mrs. Dennison's mistake, in supposing his sisters their guests, had +suggested the propriety of their being really invited to become such, +while Mrs. Jennings's engagements kept her from home. The expense +would be nothing, the inconvenience not more; and it was altogether an +attention which the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be +requisite to its complete enfranchisement from his promise to his +father. Fanny was startled at the proposal. + +"I do not see how it can be done," said she, "without affronting Lady +Middleton, for they spend every day with her; otherwise I should be +exceedingly glad to do it. You know I am always ready to pay them any +attention in my power, as my taking them out this evening shows. But +they are Lady Middleton's visitors. How can I ask them away from her?" + +Her husband, but with great humility, did not see the force of her +objection. "They had already spent a week in this manner in Conduit +Street, and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at their giving the +same number of days to such near relations." + +Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said-- + +"My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power. +But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend +a few days with us. They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; +and I think the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very +well by Edward. We can ask your sisters some other year, you know; but +the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more. I am sure you will like +them; indeed, you _do_ like them, you know, very much already, and so +does my mother; and they are such favourites with Harry!" + +Mr. Dashwood was convinced. He saw the necessity of inviting the Miss +Steeles immediately, and his conscience was pacified by the resolution +of inviting his sisters another year; at the same time, however, slyly +suspecting that another year would make the invitation needless, by +bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife, and Marianne as +_their_ visitor. + +Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready wit that had +procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy, to request her company +and her sister's, for some days, in Harley Street, as soon as Lady +Middleton could spare them. This was enough to make Lucy really and +reasonably happy. Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her, +herself; cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views! Such +an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above all +things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the +most gratifying to her feelings! It was an advantage that could not +be too gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the +visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had any precise limits, +was instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two days' +time. + +When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after +its arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the +expectations of Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed +on so short an acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good-will +towards her arose from something more than merely malice against +herself; and might be brought, by time and address, to do every thing +that Lucy wished. Her flattery had already subdued the pride of Lady +Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of Mrs. John +Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of +greater. + +The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all that reached Elinor +of their influence there, strengthened her expectation of the event. +Sir John, who called on them more than once, brought home such +accounts of the favour they were in, as must be universally striking. +Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any young women in +her life, as she was with them; had given each of them a needle book +made by some emigrant; called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not +know whether she should ever be able to part with them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight, that her mother +felt it no longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her; +and, contenting herself with visiting her once or twice a day, +returned from that period to her own home, and her own habits, in +which she found the Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former +share. + +About the third or fourth morning after their being thus resettled in +Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings, on returning from her ordinary visit +to Mrs. Palmer, entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting by +herself, with an air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to +hear something wonderful; and giving her time only to form that idea, +began directly to justify it, by saying-- + +"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?" + +"No, ma'am. What is it?" + +"Something so strange! But you shall hear it all. When I got to Mr. +Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child. She was +sure it was very ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples. +So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,' says I, 'it is +nothing in the world, but the red gum--' and nurse said just the same. +But Charlotte, she would not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent +for; and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he +stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child, he said +just as we did, that it was nothing in the world but the red gum, and +then Charlotte was easy. And so, just as he was going away again, it +came into my head, I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of +it, but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news. So upon +that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave, and seemed to know +something or other, and at last he said in a whisper, 'For fear any +unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to +their sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say, that I +believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope Mrs. Dashwood will +do very well.'" + +"What! is Fanny ill?" + +[Illustration: _In a whisper._] + +"That is exactly what I said, my dear. 'Lord!' says I, 'is Mrs. +Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the long and the short of +the matter, by all I can learn, seems to be this. Mr. Edward Ferrars, +the very young man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it +turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing in it), Mr. +Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged above this twelvemonth to +my cousin Lucy! There's for you, my dear! And not a creature knowing a +syllable of the matter, except Nancy! Could you have believed such a +thing possible? There is no great wonder in their liking one another; +but that matters should be brought so forward between them, and nobody +suspect it! _That_ is strange! I never happened to see them together, +or I am sure I should have found it out directly. Well, and so this +was kept a great secret, for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor +your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter: till this very +morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a well-meaning creature, but no +conjurer, popt it all out. 'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are +all so fond of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about +it;' and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all alone +at her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to come--for she had +just been saying to your brother, only five minutes before, that she +thought to make a match between Edward and some Lord's daughter or +other, I forget who. So you may think what a blow it was to all her +vanity and pride. She fell into violent hysterics immediately, with +such screams as reached your brother's ears, as he was sitting in his +own dressing-room down stairs, thinking about writing a letter to his +steward in the country. So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene +took place, for Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming +what was going on. Poor soul! I pity _her._ And I must say, I think +she was used very hardly; for your sister scolded like any fury, and +soon drove her into a fainting fit. Nancy, she fell upon her knees, +and cried bitterly; and your brother, he walked about the room, and +said he did not know what to do. Mrs. Dashwood declared they should +not stay a minute longer in the house, and your brother was forced to +go down upon _his_ knees too, to persuade her to let them stay till +they had packed up their clothes. _Then_ she fell into hysterics +again, and he was so frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan, +and Mr. Donavan found the house in all this uproar. The carriage was +at the door ready to take my poor cousins away, and they were just +stepping in as he came off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says, +she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad. I declare, I +have no patience with your sister; and I hope, with all my heart, it +will be a match in spite of her. Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward +will be in when he hears of it! To have his love used so scornfully! +for they say he is monstrous fond of her, as well he may. I should not +wonder, if he was to be in the greatest passion!--and Mr. Donavan +thinks just the same. He and I had a great deal of talk about it; and +the best of all is, that he is gone back again to Harley Street, that +he may be within call when Mrs. Ferrars is told of it, for she was +sent for as soon as ever my cousins left the house, for your sister +was sure _she_ would be in hysterics too; and so she may, for what I +care. I have no pity for either of them. I have no notion of people's +making such a to-do about money and greatness. There is no reason on +earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should not marry; for I am sure Mrs. +Ferrars may afford to do very well by her son, and though Lucy has +next to nothing herself, she knows better than any body how to make +the most of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs. Ferrars would only allow +him five hundred a-year, she would make as good an appearance with it +as any body else would with eight. Lord! how snug they might live in +such another cottage as yours--or a little bigger--with two maids, and +two men; and I believe I could help them to a housemaid, for my Betty +has a sister out of place, that would fit them exactly." + +Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had time enough to +collect her thoughts, she was able to give such an answer, and make +such observations, as the subject might naturally be supposed to +produce. Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary +interest in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late often hoped +might be the case) had ceased to imagine her at all attached to +Edward; and happy above all the rest, in the absence of Marianne, she +felt very well able to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and +to give her judgment, as she believed, with impartiality on the +conduct of every one concerned in it. + +She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its event +really was; though she earnestly tried to drive away the notion of its +being possible to end otherwise at last, than in the marriage of +Edward and Lucy. What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there +could not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear; and still +more anxious to know how Edward would conduct himself. For _him_ she +felt much compassion;--for Lucy very little--and it cost her some +pains to procure that little;--for the rest of the party none at all. + +As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject, Elinor soon saw the +necessity of preparing Marianne for its discussion. No time was to be +lost in undeceiving her, in making her acquainted with the real truth, +and in endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others, +without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister, or any +resentment against Edward. + +Elinor's office was a painful one. She was going to remove what she +really believed to be her sister's chief consolation,--to give such +particulars of Edward as she feared would ruin him for ever in her +good opinion,-and to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their +situations, which to _her_ fancy would seem strong, feel all her own +disappointment over again. But unwelcome as such a task must be, it +was necessary to be done, and Elinor therefore hastened to perform it. + +She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings, or to +represent herself as suffering much, any otherwise than as the +self-command she had practised since her first knowledge of Edward's +engagement, might suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne. +Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could not be given +without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation, nor +impetuous grief. _That_ belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne +listened with horror, and cried excessively. Elinor was to be the +comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and +all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure +of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge +but of imprudence, was readily offered. + +But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither. Edward seemed +a second Willoughby; and acknowledging as Elinor did, that she _had_ +loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself! As for +Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely +incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded +at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of +Edward for her. She would not even admit it to have been natural; and +Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so, by that which only +could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind. + +Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact +of the engagement, and the length of time it had existed. Marianne's +feelings had then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of +detail; and for some time all that could be done was to soothe her +distress, lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment. The first +question on her side, which led to farther particulars, was-- + +"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?" + +"I have known it these four months. When Lucy first came to Barton +Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement." + +At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her +lips could not utter. After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed-- + +"Four months!--Have you known of this four months?" + +Elinor confirmed it. + +"What!--while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your +heart?--And I have reproached you for being happy!"-- + +"It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse!" + +"Four months!" cried Marianne again. "So calm! so cheerful! how have +you been supported?" + +"By feeling that I was doing my duty. My promise to Lucy, obliged me +to be secret. I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of +the truth; and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in +them a solicitude about me, which it could not be in my power to +satisfy." + +Marianne seemed much struck. + +"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother," added +Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it; but without betraying +my trust, I never could have convinced you." + +"Four months! and yet you loved him!" + +"Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the comfort of others +was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt. +Now, I can think and speak of it with little emotion. I would not have +you suffer on my account; for I assure you I no longer suffer +materially myself. I have many things to support me. I am not +conscious of having provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of +my own, I have borne it as much as possible without spreading it +farther. I acquit Edward of essential misconduct. I wish him very +happy; and I am so sure of his always doing his duty, that though now +he may harbour some regret, in the end he must become so. Lucy does +not want sense, and that is the foundation on which every thing good +may be built. And after all, Marianne, after all that is bewitching in +the idea of a single and constant attachment, and all that can be said +of one's happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is +not meant--it is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so. +Edward will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior in person and +understanding to half her sex; and time and habit will teach him to +forget that he ever thought another superior to _her._" + +"If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne, "if the loss of what +is most valued is so easily to be made up by something else, your +resolution, your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be +wondered at. They are brought more within my comprehension." + +"I understand you. You do not suppose that I have ever felt much. For +four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without +being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it +would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained +to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least. It was told +me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose +prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought, +with triumph. This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to +oppose, by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most +deeply interested;--and it has not been only once;--I have had her +hopes and exultation to listen to again and again. I have known myself +to be divided from Edward for ever, without hearing one circumstance +that could make me less desire the connection. Nothing has proved him +unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to me. I have had +to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and the insolence of +his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an attachment, without +enjoying its advantages. And all this has been going on at a time, +when, as you know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness. If +you can think me capable of ever feeling, surely you may suppose that +I have suffered _now._ The composure of mind with which I have brought +myself at present to consider the matter, the consolation that I have +been willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and painful +exertion; they did not spring up of themselves; they did not occur to +relieve my spirits at first. No, Marianne. _Then_, if I had not been +bound to silence, perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely--not +even what I owed to my dearest friends--from openly showing that I was +_very_ unhappy."-- + +Marianne was quite subdued. + +"Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate myself for ever. How +barbarous have I been to you!--you, who have been my only comfort, who +have borne with me in all my misery, who have seemed to be only +suffering for me! Is this my gratitude? Is this the only return I can +make you? Because your merit cries out upon myself, I have been trying +to do it away." + +The tenderest caresses followed this confession. In such a frame of +mind as she was now in, Elinor had no difficulty in obtaining from her +whatever promise she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged +never to speak of the affair to any one with the least appearance of +bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying the smallest increase of +dislike to her;--and even to see Edward himself, if chance should +bring them together, without any diminution of her usual cordiality. +These were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt that she had +injured, no reparation could be too much for her to make. + +She performed her promise of being discreet, to admiration. She +attended to all that Mrs. Jennings had to say upon the subject, with +an unchanging complexion, dissented from her in nothing, and was heard +three times to say, "Yes, ma'am."--She listened to her praise of Lucy +with only moving from one chair to another, and when Mrs. Jennings +talked of Edward's affection, it cost her only a spasm in her throat. +Such advances towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel equal to +any thing herself. + +The next morning brought a farther trial of it, in a visit from their +brother, who came with a most serious aspect to talk over the dreadful +affair, and bring them news of his wife. + +"You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity, as soon as +he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery that took place under +our roof yesterday." + +They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful a moment for speech. + +[Illustration: "_You have heard, I suppose._"] + +"Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully. Mrs. Ferrars +too--in short it has been a scene of such complicated distress--but +I will hope that the storm may be weathered without our being any of +us quite overcome. Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday. But +I would not alarm you too much. Donavan says there is nothing +materially to be apprehended; her constitution is a good one, and her +resolution equal to any thing. She has borne it all, with the +fortitude of an angel! She says she never shall think well of anybody +again; and one cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!--meeting +with such ingratitude, where so much kindness had been shown, so much +confidence had been placed! It was quite out of the benevolence of her +heart, that she had asked these young women to her house; merely +because she thought they deserved some attention, were harmless, +well-behaved girls, and would be pleasant companions; for otherwise we +both wished very much to have invited you and Marianne to be with us, +while your kind friend there, was attending her daughter. And now to +be so rewarded! 'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her +affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead of them.'" + +Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done, he went on. + +"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny broke it to her, is +not to be described. While she with the truest affection had been +planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed +that he could be all the time secretly engaged to another +person!--such a suspicion could never have entered her head! If she +suspected _any_ prepossession elsewhere, it could not be in _that_ +quarter. '_There_ to be sure,' said she, 'I might have thought myself +safe.' She was quite in an agony. We consulted together, however, as +to what should be done, and at last she determined to send for Edward. +He came. But I am sorry to relate what ensued. All that Mrs. Ferrars +could say to make him put an end to the engagement, assisted too as +you may well suppose by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of +no avail. Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded. I never +thought Edward so stubborn, so unfeeling before. His mother explained +to him her liberal designs, in case of his marrying Miss Morton; told +him she would settle on him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of +land-tax, brings in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters +grew desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition to this, +if he still persisted in this low connection, represented to him the +certain penury that must attend the match. His own two thousand pounds +she protested should be his all; she would never see him again; and so +far would she be from affording him the smallest assistance, that if +he were to enter into any profession with a view of better support, +she would do all in her power to prevent him advancing in it." + +Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation, clapped her hands +together, and cried, "Gracious God! can this be possible!" + +"Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother, "at the +obstinacy which could resist such arguments as these. Your exclamation +is very natural." + +Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered her promises, and +forbore. + +"All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain. Edward said +very little; but what he did say, was in the most determined manner. +Nothing should prevail on him to give up his engagement. He would +stand to it, cost him what it might." + +"Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity, no longer able to be +silent, "he has acted like an honest man! I beg your pardon, Mr. +Dashwood, but if he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a +rascal. I have some little concern in the business, as well as +yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe there is not a +better kind of girl in the world, nor one who more deserves a good +husband." + +John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature was calm, not +open to provocation, and he never wished to offend anybody, especially +anybody of good fortune. He therefore replied, without any +resentment-- + +"I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any relation of yours, +madam. Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say, a very deserving young woman, +but in the present case you know, the connection must be impossible. +And to have entered into a secret engagement with a young man under +her uncle's care, the son of a woman especially of such very large +fortune as Mrs. Ferrars, is perhaps, altogether a little +extraordinary. In short, I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour +of any person whom you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings. We all wish +her extremely happy; and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout the whole, +has been such as every conscientious, good mother, in like +circumstances, would adopt. It has been dignified and liberal. Edward +has drawn his own lot, and I fear it will be a bad one." + +Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung +for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a +woman who could not reward him. + +"Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?" + +"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:--Edward is +dismissed for ever from his mother's notice. He left her house +yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether he is still in town, I do +not know; for _we_ of course can make no inquiry." + +"Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?" + +"What, indeed, ma'am! It is a melancholy consideration. Born to the +prospect of such affluence! I cannot conceive a situation more +deplorable. The interest of two thousand pounds--how can a man live on +it?--and when to that is added the recollection, that he might, but +for his own folly, within three months have been in the receipt of two +thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has thirty thousand +pounds,) I cannot picture to myself a more wretched condition. We must +all feel for him; and the more so, because it is totally out of our +power to assist him." + +"Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure he should be very +welcome to bed and board at my house; and so I would tell him if I +could see him. It is not fit that he should be living about at his own +charge now, at lodgings and taverns." + +Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward, though +she could not forbear smiling at the form of it. + +"If he would only have done as well by himself," said John Dashwood, +"as all his friends were disposed to do by him, he might now have been +in his proper situation, and would have wanted for nothing. But as it +is, it must be out of anybody's power to assist him. And there is one +thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than all--his +mother has determined, with a very natural kind of spirit, to settle +_that_ estate upon Robert immediately, which might have been Edward's, +on proper conditions. I left her this morning with her lawyer, +talking over the business." + +[Illustration: _Talking over the business._] + +"Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is _her_ revenge. Everybody has a +way of their own. But I don't think mine would be, to make one son +independent, because another had plagued me." + +Marianne got up and walked about the room. + +"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man," continued John, +"than to see his younger brother in possession of an estate which +might have been his own? Poor Edward! I feel for him sincerely." + +A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion, concluded his +visit; and with repeated assurances to his sisters that he really +believed there was no material danger in Fanny's indisposition, and +that they need not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away; +leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments on the present +occasion, as far at least as it regarded Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the +Dashwoods', and Edward's. + +Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the room; and +as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in +Mrs. Jennings, they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the +party. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + + +Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's conduct, but +only Elinor and Marianne understood its true merit. _They_ only knew +how little he had had to tempt him to be disobedient, and how small +was the consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right, that +could remain to him in the loss of friends and fortune. Elinor gloried +in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion +for his punishment. But though confidence between them was, by this +public discovery, restored to its proper state, it was not a subject +on which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone. Elinor +avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix still more upon her +thoughts, by the too warm, too positive assurances of Marianne, that +belief of Edward's continued affection for herself which she rather +wished to do away; and Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying +to converse upon a topic which always left her more dissatisfied with +herself than ever, by the comparison it necessarily produced between +Elinor's conduct and her own. + +She felt all the force of that comparison; but not as her sister had +hoped, to urge her to exertion now; she felt it with all the pain of +continual self-reproach, regretted most bitterly that she had never +exerted herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence, +without the hope of amendment. Her mind was so much weakened that she +still fancied present exertion impossible, and therefore it only +dispirited her more. + +Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards, of affairs +in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings. But though so much of the +matter was known to them already, that Mrs. Jennings might have had +enough to do in spreading that knowledge farther, without seeking +after more, she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort +and inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could; and nothing but the +hindrance of more visitors than usual, had prevented her going to them +within that time. + +The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars, was so +fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington Gardens, +though it was only the second week in March. Mrs. Jennings and Elinor +were of the number; but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were +again in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them, chose rather +to stay at home, than venture into so public a place. + +An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined them soon after they +entered the Gardens, and Elinor was not sorry that by her continuing +with them, and engaging all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was +herself left to quiet reflection. She saw nothing of the Willoughbys, +nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody who could by +any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting to her. But at last +she found herself with some surprise, accosted by Miss Steele, who, +though looking rather shy, expressed great satisfaction in meeting +them, and on receiving encouragement from the particular kindness of +Mrs. Jennings, left her own party for a short time, to join their's. +Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor-- + +"Get it all out of her, my dear. She will tell you any thing if you +ask. You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke." + +It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity and Elinor's too, +that she would tell any thing _without_ being asked; for nothing would +otherwise have been learnt. + +"I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele, taking her familiarly by +the arm--"for I wanted to see you of all things in the world." And +then lowering her voice, "I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about +it. Is she angry?" + +"Not at all, I believe, with you." + +"That is a good thing. And Lady Middleton, is _she_ angry?" + +"I cannot suppose it possible that she should." + +"I am monstrous glad of it. Good gracious! I have had such a time of +it! I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life. She vowed at first she +would never trim me up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me +again, so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to, and we are +as good friends as ever. Look, she made me this bow to my hat, and put +in the feather last night. There now, _you_ are going to laugh at me +too. But why should not I wear pink ribbons? I do not care if it _is_ +the Doctor's favourite colour. I am sure, for my part, I should never +have known he _did_ like it better than any other colour, if he had +not happened to say so. My cousins have been so plaguing me! I declare +sometimes I do not know which way to look before them." + +She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had nothing to say, +and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her way back again to +the first. + +"Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly, "people may say what +they choose about Mr. Ferrars's declaring he would not have Lucy, for +it is no such thing I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such +ill-natured reports to be spread abroad. Whatever Lucy might think +about it herself, you know, it was no business of other people to set +it down for certain." + +"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before, I assure you," +said Elinor. + +[Illustration: "_She put in the feather last night._"] + +"Oh, did not you? But it _was_ said, I know, very well, and by more +than one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks, that nobody in their senses +could expect Mr. Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with +thirty thousand pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had +nothing at all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself. And besides +that, my cousin Richard said himself, that when it came to the point +he was afraid Mr. Ferrars would be off; and when Edward did not come +near us for three days, I could not tell what to think myself; and I +believe in my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost; for we came away +from your brother's Wednesday, and we saw nothing of him not all +Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and did not know what was become of +him. Once Lucy thought to write to him, but then her spirits rose +against that. However this morning he came just as we came home from +church; and then it all came out, how he had been sent for Wednesday +to Harley Street, and been talked to by his mother and all of them, +and how he had declared before them all that he loved nobody but Lucy, +and nobody but Lucy would he have. And how he had been so worried by +what passed, that as soon as he had went away from his mother's house, +he had got upon his horse, and rid into the country, some where or +other; and how he had stayed about at an inn all Thursday and Friday, +on purpose to get the better of it. And after thinking it all over and +over again, he said, it seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune, +and no nothing at all, it would be quite unkind to keep her on to the +engagement, because it must be for her loss, for he had nothing but +two thousand pounds, and no hope of any thing else; and if he was to +go into orders, as he had some thoughts, he could get nothing but a +curacy, and how was they to live upon that?--He could not bear to +think of her doing no better, and so he begged, if she had the least +mind for it, to put an end to the matter directly, and leave him shift +for himself. I heard him say all this as plain as could possibly be. +And it was entirely for _her_ sake, and upon _her_ account, that he +said a word about being off, and not upon his own. I will take my oath +he never dropt a syllable of being tired of her, or of wishing to +marry Miss Morton, or any thing like it. But, to be sure, Lucy would +not give ear to such kind of talking; so she told him directly (with a +great deal about sweet and love, you know, and all that--Oh, la! one +can't repeat such kind of things you know)--she told him directly, she +had not the least mind in the world to be off, for she could live with +him upon a trifle, and how little so ever he might have, she should be +very glad to have it all, you know, or something of the kind. So then +he was monstrous happy, and talked on some time about what they should +do, and they agreed he should take orders directly, and they must wait +to be married till he got a living. And just then I could not hear any +more, for my cousin called from below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was +come in her coach, and would take one of us to Kensington Gardens; so +I was forced to go into the room and interrupt them, to ask Lucy if +she would like to go, but she did not care to leave Edward; so I just +run up stairs and put on a pair of silk stockings and came off with +the Richardsons." + +"I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them," said Elinor; +"you were all in the same room together, were not you?" + +"No, indeed, not us. La! Miss Dashwood, do you think people make love +when any body else is by? Oh, for shame!--To be sure you must know +better than that. (Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in +the drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening at +the door." + +"How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me what you only +learnt yourself by listening at the door? I am sorry I did not know it +before; for I certainly would not have suffered you to give me +particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have known +yourself. How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?" + +"Oh, la! there is nothing in _that._ I only stood at the door, and +heard what I could. And I am sure Lucy would have done just the same +by me; for a year or two back, when Martha Sharpe and I had so many +secrets together, she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or +behind a chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said." + +Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss Steele could not be +kept beyond a couple of minutes, from what was uppermost in her mind. + +[Illustration: _Listening at the door._] + +"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she; "but now he is +lodging at No. --, Pall Mall. What an ill-natured woman his mother is, +an't she? And your brother and sister were not very kind! However, I +shan't say anything against them to _you_; and to be sure they did +send us home in their own chariot, which was more than I looked for. +And for my part, I was all in a fright for fear your sister should ask +us for the huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however, +nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine out of +sight. Edward have got some business at Oxford, he says; so he must go +there for a time; and after _that_, as soon as he can light upon a +Bishop, he will be ordained. I wonder what curacy he will get! Good +gracious! (giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what my +cousins will say, when they hear of it. They will tell me I should +write to the Doctor, to get Edward the curacy of his new living. I +know they will; but I am sure I would not do such a thing for all the +world. 'La!' I shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think of +such a thing? I write to the Doctor, indeed!'" + +"Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared against the +worst. You have got your answer ready." + +Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject, but the approach +of her own party made another more necessary. + +"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons. I had a vast deal more to say to +you, but I must not stay away from them not any longer. I assure you +they are very genteel people. He makes a monstrous deal of money, and +they keep their own coach. I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings +about it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she is not +in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same; and if anything +should happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs. Jennings +should want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay +with her for as long a time as she likes. I suppose Lady Middleton +won't ask us any more this bout. Good-bye; I am sorry Miss Marianne was +not here. Remember me kindly to her. La! if you have not got your +spotted muslin on!--I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn." + +Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had time only to pay +her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings, before her company was +claimed by Mrs. Richardson; and Elinor was left in possession of +knowledge which might feed her powers of reflection some time, though +she had learnt very little more than what had been already foreseen +and foreplanned in her own mind. Edward's marriage with Lucy was as +firmly determined on, and the time of its taking place remained as +absolutely uncertain, as she had concluded it would be;--every thing +depended, exactly after her expectation, on his getting that +preferment, of which, at present, there seemed not the smallest +chance. + +As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager for +information; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possible +intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, +she confined herself to the brief repetition of such simple +particulars, as she felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own +consequence, would choose to have known. The continuance of their +engagement, and the means that were able to be taken for promoting its +end, was all her communication; and this produced from Mrs. Jennings +the following natural remark:-- + +"Wait for his having a living!--ay, we all know how _that_ will +end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding no good comes of it, +will set down upon a curacy of fifty pounds a-year, with the interest +of his two thousand pounds, and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr. +Pratt can give her. Then they will have a child every year! and Lord +help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must see what I can give them +towards furnishing their house. Two maids and two men, indeed!--as I +talked of t'other day. No, no, they must get a stout girl of all +works. Betty's sister would never do for them _now._" + +The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the two-penny post from +Lucy herself. It was as follows: + +"Bartlett's Building, March. + + "I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the liberty I take + of writing to her; but I know your friendship for me will + make you pleased to hear such a good account of myself and + my dear Edward, after all the troubles we have went through + lately, therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed + to say that, thank God! though we have suffered dreadfully, + we are both quite well now, and as happy as we must always + be in one another's love. We have had great trials, and + great persecutions, but however, at the same time, + gratefully acknowledge many friends, yourself not the least + among them, whose great kindness I shall always thankfully + remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of it. I am + sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise dear Mrs. + Jennings, I spent two happy hours with him yesterday + afternoon, he would not hear of our parting, though + earnestly did I, as I thought my duty required, urge him to + it for prudence sake, and would have parted for ever on the + spot, would he consent to it; but he said it should never + be, he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could + have my affections; our prospects are not very bright, to be + sure, but we must wait, and hope for the best; he will be + ordained shortly; and should it ever be in your power to + recommend him to any body that has a living to bestow, am + very sure you will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings + too, trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John, or + Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to assist us. + Poor Anne was much to blame for what she did, but she did it + for the best, so I say nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't + think it too much trouble to give us a call, should she come + this way any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my + cousins would be proud to know her. My paper reminds me to + conclude; and begging to be most gratefully and respectfully + remembered to her, and to Sir John, and Lady Middleton, and + the dear children, when you chance to see them, and love to + Miss Marianne, + +"I am, etc., etc." + +As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed what she concluded to +be its writer's real design, by placing it in the hands of Mrs. +Jennings, who read it aloud with many comments of satisfaction and +praise. + +"Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye, that was quite +proper to let him be off if he would. That was just like Lucy. Poor +soul! I wish I _could_ get him a living, with all my heart. She calls +me dear Mrs. Jennings, you see. She is a good-hearted girl as ever +lived. Very well upon my word. That sentence is very prettily turned. +Yes, yes, I will go and see her, sure enough. How attentive she is, to +think of every body!--Thank you, my dear, for showing it me. It is as +pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head and heart great +credit." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + +The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two months in town, +and Marianne's impatience to be gone increased every day. She sighed +for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that +if any place could give her ease, Barton must do it. Elinor was hardly +less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much less +bent on its being effected immediately, as that she was conscious of +the difficulties of so long a journey, which Marianne could not be +brought to acknowledge. She began, however, seriously to turn her +thoughts towards its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their +wishes to their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the eloquence +of her good-will, when a plan was suggested, which, though detaining +them from home yet a few weeks longer, appeared to Elinor altogether +much more eligible than any other. The Palmers were to remove to +Cleveland about the end of March, for the Easter holidays; and Mrs. +Jennings, with both her friends, received a very warm invitation from +Charlotte to go with them. This would not, in itself, have been +sufficient for the delicacy of Miss Dashwood;--but it was enforced +with so much real politeness by Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the +very great amendment of his manners towards them since her sister had +been known to be unhappy, induced her to accept it with pleasure. + +When she told Marianne what she had done, however, her first reply was +not very auspicious. + +"Cleveland!"--she cried, with great agitation. "No, I cannot go to +Cleveland."-- + +"You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation is not--that it +is not in the neighbourhood of--" + +"But it is in Somersetshire. I cannot go into Somersetshire. There, +where I looked forward to going;--no, Elinor, you cannot expect me to +go there." + +Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such +feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by working on +others;--represented it, therefore, as a measure which would fix the +time of her returning to that dear mother, whom she so much wished to +see, in a more eligible, more comfortable manner, than any other plan +could do, and perhaps without any greater delay. From Cleveland, which +was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to Barton was not +beyond one day, though a long day's journey; and their mother's +servant might easily come there to attend them down; and as there +could be no occasion of their staying above a week at Cleveland, they +might now be at home in little more than three weeks' time. As +Marianne's affection for her mother was sincere, it must triumph with +little difficulty, over the imaginary evils she had started. + +Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest, that she +pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from Cleveland. +Elinor was grateful for the attention, but it could not alter her +design; and their mother's concurrence being readily gained, every +thing relative to their return was arranged as far as it could +be;--and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement of the +hours that were yet to divide her from Barton. + +"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss +Dashwoods;"--was Mrs. Jennings's address to him when he first called +on her, after their leaving her was settled--"for they are quite +resolved upon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we shall +be, when I come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as +dull as two cats." + +Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their +future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give +himself an escape from it; and if so, she had soon afterwards good +reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the +window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she +was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of +particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes. +The effect of his discourse on the lady too, could not escape her +observation, for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even +changed her seat, on purpose that she might _not_ hear, to one close +by the piano forte on which Marianne was playing, she could not keep +herself from seeing that Elinor changed colour, attended with +agitation, and was too intent on what he said to pursue her +employment. Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the +interval of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another, some words +of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear, in which he seemed to be +apologising for the badness of his house. This set the matter beyond a +doubt. She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary to do so; +but supposed it to be the proper etiquette. What Elinor said in reply +she could not distinguish, but judged from the motion of her lips, +that she did not think _that_ any material objection;--and Mrs. +Jennings commended her in her heart for being so honest. They then +talked on for a few minutes longer without her catching a syllable, +when another lucky stop in Marianne's performance brought her these +words in the Colonel's calm voice,-- + +"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon." + +Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech, she was almost +ready to cry out, "Lord! what should hinder it?"--but checking her +desire, confined herself to this silent ejaculation. + +"This is very strange!--sure he need not wait to be older." + +This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not seem to offend or +mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the +conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings +very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which showed her to +feel what she said-- + +"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you." + +Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude, and only wondered that +after hearing such a sentence, the Colonel should be able to take +leave of them, as he immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and +go away without making her any reply!--She had not thought her old +friend could have made so indifferent a suitor. + +What had really passed between them was to this effect. + +"I have heard," said he, with great compassion, "of the injustice your +friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered from his family; for if I understand +the matter right, he has been entirely cast off by them for +persevering in his engagement with a very deserving young woman. Have +I been rightly informed?--Is it so?--" + +Elinor told him that it was. + +"The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"--he replied, with great +feeling,--"of dividing, or attempting to divide, two young people +long attached to each other, is terrible. Mrs. Ferrars does not know +what she may be doing--what she may drive her son to. I have seen Mr. +Ferrars two or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased with +him. He is not a young man with whom one can be intimately acquainted +in a short time, but I have seen enough of him to wish him well for +his own sake, and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more. I +understand that he intends to take orders. Will you be so good as to +tell him that the living of Delaford, now just vacant, as I am +informed by this day's post, is his, if he think it worth his +acceptance--but _that_, perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he +is now, it may be nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it were +more valuable. It is a rectory, but a small one; the late incumbent, I +believe, did not make more than 200 L per annum, and though it is +certainly capable of improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as to +afford him a very comfortable income. Such as it is, however, my +pleasure in presenting him to it, will be very great. Pray assure him +of it." + +Elinor's astonishment at this commission could hardly have been +greater, had the Colonel been really making her an offer of his hand. +The preferment, which only two days before she had considered as +hopeless for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--and +_she_, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it!--Her +emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had attributed to a very different +cause;--but whatever minor feelings less pure, less pleasing, might +have a share in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence, +and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which together +prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly +expressed. She thanked him for it with all her heart, spoke of +Edward's principles and disposition with that praise which she knew +them to deserve; and promised to undertake the commission with +pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office +to another. But at the same time, she could not help thinking that no +one could so well perform it as himself. It was an office in short, +from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an +obligation from _her_, she would have been very glad to be spared +herself; but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining +it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being given through her +means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition. +Edward, she believed, was still in town, and fortunately she had heard +his address from Miss Steele. She could undertake therefore to inform +him of it, in the course of the day. After this had been settled, +Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in securing so +respectable and agreeable a neighbour, and _then_ it was that he +mentioned with regret, that the house was small and indifferent; an +evil which Elinor, as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very +light of, at least as far as regarded its size. + +"The smallness of the house," said she, "I cannot imagine any +inconvenience to them, for it will be in proportion to their family +and income." + +By which the Colonel was surprised to find that _she_ was considering +Mr. Ferrars's marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation; +for he did not suppose it possible that Delaford living could supply +such an income, as anybody in his style of life would venture to +settle on, and he said so. + +"This little rectory _can_ do no more than make Mr. Ferrars +comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry. I am sorry +to say that my patronage ends with this; and my interest is hardly +more extensive. If, however, by an unforeseen chance it should be in +my power to serve him farther, I must think very differently of him +from what I now do, if I am not as ready to be useful to him then as I +sincerely wish I could be at present. What I am now doing indeed, +seems nothing at all, since it can advance him so little towards what +must be his principal, his only object of happiness. His marriage must +still be a distant good;--at least, I am afraid it cannot take place +very soon." + +Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood, so justly offended +the delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings; but after this narration of +what really passed between Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they +stood at the window, the gratitude expressed by the latter on their +parting, may perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited, +nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from an offer of +marriage. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +"Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as +soon as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the +Colonel has been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I _tried_ +to keep out of hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand +his business. And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, +and I wish you joy of it with all my heart." + +"Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor. "It is a matter of great joy to me; +and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly. There are +not many men who would act as he has done. Few people who have so +compassionate a heart! I never was more astonished in my life." + +"Lord! my dear, you are very modest. I an't the least astonished at it +in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more +likely to happen." + +"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence; +but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very +soon occur." + +"Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that, when a man has +once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon +find an opportunity. Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and +again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I +shall soon know where to look for them." + +"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a +faint smile. + +"Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed. And as to the house being a bad one, +I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as +ever I saw." + +"He spoke of its being out of repair." + +"Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it? who should do +it but himself?" + +They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the +carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to +go, said-- + +"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out. +But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be +quite alone. I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind +is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must +long to tell your sister all about it." + +Marianne had left the room before the conversation began. + +"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not +mention it at present to any body else." + +"Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed. "Then you +would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as +Holborn to-day." + +"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please. One day's delay will not be +very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it +ought not to be mentioned to any body else. I shall do _that_ +directly. It is of importance that no time should be lost with him, +for he will of course have much to do relative to his ordination." + +This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly. Why Mr. +Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she +could not immediately comprehend. A few moments' reflection, however, +produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed-- + +"Oh, ho! I understand you. Mr. Ferrars is to be the man. Well, so much +the better for him. Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in readiness; +and I am very glad to find things are so forward between you. But, my +dear, is not this rather out of character? Should not the Colonel +write himself? Sure, he is the proper person." + +Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's +speech, neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore +only replied to its conclusion. + +"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one +to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself." + +"And so _you_ are forced to do it. Well _that_ is an odd kind of +delicacy! However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to +write.) You know your own concerns best. So good-bye, my dear. I have +not heard of any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was +brought to bed." + +And away she went; but returning again in a moment-- + +"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear. I should be +very glad to get her so good a mistress. But whether she would do for +a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell. She is an excellent housemaid, +and works very well at her needle. However, you will think of all that +at your leisure." + +"Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said, +and more anxious to be alone, than to be mistress of the subject. + +How she should begin--how she should express herself in her note to +Edward, was now all her concern. The particular circumstances between +them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have +been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too +much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen +in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself. + +He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he +came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not +returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss +Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular +business. + +Elinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her +perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself +properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the +information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her +upon this greatest exertion of all. Her astonishment and confusion +were very great on his so sudden appearance. She had not seen him +before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his +knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of +what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her +feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes. He too was much +distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of +embarrassment. Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on +first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to +be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could +say any thing, after taking a chair. + +"Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, +at least I understood her so--or I certainly should not have intruded +on you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been +extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister; +especially as it will most likely be some time--it is not probable +that I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again. I go to +Oxford tomorrow." + +"You would not have gone, however," said Elinor, recovering herself, +and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as +possible, "without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been +able to give them in person. Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she +said. I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on +the point of communicating by paper. I am charged with a most +agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke.) +Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to +say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure +in offering you the living of Delaford now just vacant, and only +wishes it were more valuable. Allow me to congratulate you on having +so respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that +the living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much more +considerable, and such as might better enable you to--as might be more +than a temporary accommodation to yourself--such, in short, as might +establish all your views of happiness." + +What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be +expected that any one else should say for him. He _looked_ all the +astonishment which such unexpected, such unthought-of information +could not fail of exciting; but he said only these two words-- + +"Colonel Brandon!" + +"Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the +worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his +concern for what has lately passed--for the cruel situation in which +the unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you--a concern +which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; +and likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, +and his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present +occasion." + +"Colonel Brandon give _me_ a living!--Can it be possible?" + +"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find +friendship any where." + +"No," replied be, with sudden consciousness, "not to find it in _you_; +for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it all. +I feel it--I would express it if I could--but, as you well know, I am +no orator." + +"You are very much mistaken. I do assure you that you owe it entirely, +at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's +discernment of it. I have had no hand in it. I did not even know, till +I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it ever +occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift. As a +friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he _has_, +still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe +nothing to my solicitation." + +Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action, but +she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of +Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably +contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently +entered it. For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had +ceased to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he +said-- + +"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability. I have +always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems +him highly. He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners +perfectly the gentleman." + +"Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him, on +farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you +will be such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is +almost close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that +he _should_ be all this." + +Edward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her +a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that +he might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the +mansion-house much greater. + +"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street," said he, soon +afterwards, rising from his chair. + +Elinor told him the number of the house. + +"I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks which you will not +allow me to give _you_; to assure him that he has made me a very--an +exceedingly happy man." + +Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very +earnest assurance on _her_ side of her unceasing good wishes for his +happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on +_his_, with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the +power of expressing it. + +"When I see him again," said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him +out, "I shall see him the husband of Lucy." + +And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down to reconsider the +past, recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of +Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent. + +When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people +whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a +great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important +secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to +it again as soon as Elinor appeared. + +"Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up the young man. Did not I do +right?--And I suppose you had no great difficulty--You did not find +him very unwilling to accept your proposal?" + +"No, ma'am; _that_ was not very likely." + +"Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems all to depend upon +that." + +"Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind of forms, that +I can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation +necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his +ordination." + +"Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear, how calmly +you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord +bless me!--I am sure it would put _me_ quite out of patience!--And +though one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I +do think it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him. +Sure somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that +is in orders already." + +"My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of? Why, +Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars." + +"Lord bless you, my dear! Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the +Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr. +Ferrars!" + +[Illustration: _Both gained considerable amusement_] + +The deception could not continue after this; and an explanation +immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement +for the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either, for +Mrs. Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and +still without forfeiting her expectation of the first. + +"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she, after the +first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, "and very +likely _may_ be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I +thought, for a house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on +the ground-floor, and I think the housekeeper told me could make up +fifteen beds! and to you too, that had been used to live in Barton +cottage! It seems quite ridiculous. But, my dear, we must touch up the +Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for +them, before Lucy goes to it." + +"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's +being enough to allow them to marry." + +"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a-year +himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less. Take my word +for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford +Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't +there." + +Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not +waiting for any thing more. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + + +Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon, proceeded with +his happiness to Lucy; and such was the excess of it by the time he +reached Bartlett's Buildings, that she was able to assure Mrs. +Jennings, who called on her again the next day with her +congratulations, that she had never seen him in such spirits before in +her life. + +Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at least very certain; +and she joined Mrs. Jennings most heartily in her expectation of their +being all comfortably together in Delaford Parsonage before +Michaelmas. So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to +give Elinor that credit which Edward _would_ give her, that she spoke +of her friendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was +ready to own all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no +exertion for their good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or +future, would ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing +any thing in the world for those she really valued. As for Colonel +Brandon, she was not only ready to worship him as a saint, but was +moreover truly anxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly +concerns; anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost; and +scarcely resolved to avail herself, at Delaford, as far as she +possibly could, of his servants, his carriage, his cows, and his +poultry. + +It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in Berkeley +Street, and as since that time no notice had been taken by them of his +wife's indisposition, beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel +it necessary to pay her a visit. This was an obligation, however, +which not only opposed her own inclination, but which had not the +assistance of any encouragement from her companions. Marianne, not +contented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent to +prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though her +carriage was always at Elinor's service, so very much disliked Mrs. +John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked after +the late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by taking +Edward's part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company +again. The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay a +visit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to run +the risk of a tete-a-tete with a woman, whom neither of the others had +so much reason to dislike. + +Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from the +house, her husband accidentally came out. He expressed great pleasure +in meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call in +Berkeley Street, and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to +see her, invited her to come in. + +They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room. Nobody was there. + +"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:--"I will go to her +presently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in the +world to seeing _you._ Very far from it, indeed. _Now_ especially +there cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always great +favourites. Why would not Marianne come?"-- + +Elinor made what excuse she could for her. + +"I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied, "for I have a good deal +to say to you. This living of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has +he really given it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was +coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it." + +"It is perfectly true. Colonel Brandon has given the living of +Delaford to Edward." + +"Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no relationship!--no +connection between them!--and now that livings fetch such a +price!--what was the value of this?" + +"About two hundred a year." + +"Very well--and for the next presentation to a living of that +value--supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly, and +likely to vacate it soon--he might have got I dare say--fourteen +hundred pounds. And how came he not to have settled that matter before +this person's death? _Now_ indeed it would be too late to sell it, but +a man of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should be so +improvident in a point of such common, such natural, concern!--Well, I +am convinced that there is a vast deal of inconsistency in almost +every human character. I suppose, however--on recollection--that the +case may probably be _this._ Edward is only to hold the living till +the person to whom the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is +old enough to take it. Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it." + +Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively; and by relating that +she had herself been employed in conveying the offer from Colonel +Brandon to Edward, and, therefore, must understand the terms on which +it was given, obliged him to submit to her authority. + +"It is truly astonishing!"--he cried, after hearing what she +said--"what could be the Colonel's motive?" + +"A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars." + +"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be, Edward is a very lucky +man. You will not mention the matter to Fanny, however, for though I +have broke it to her, and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like +to hear it much talked of." + +Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing, that she +thought Fanny might have borne with composure, an acquisition of +wealth to her brother, by which neither she nor her child could be +possibly impoverished. + +"Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the tone becoming so +important a subject, "knows nothing about it at present, and I believe +it will be best to keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may +be. When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear of it all." + +"But why should such precaution be used? Though it is not to be +supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction in +knowing that her son has money enough to live upon,--for _that_ must +be quite out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour, is she +supposed to feel at all? She has done with her son, she cast him off +for ever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, cast +him off likewise. Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined +liable to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--she +cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him. She would not be +so weak as to throw away the comfort of a child, and yet retain the +anxiety of a parent!" + +"Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good, but it is +founded on ignorance of human nature. When Edward's unhappy match +takes place, depend upon it his mother will feel as much as if she had +never discarded him; and, therefore every circumstance that may +accelerate that dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as +possible. Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son." + +"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly have escaped her +memory by _this_ time." + +"You wrong her exceedingly. Mrs. Ferrars is one of the most +affectionate mothers in the world." + +Elinor was silent. + +"We think _now_,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of +_Robert's_ marrying Miss Morton." + +Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother's +tone, calmly replied-- + +"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair." + +"Choice!--how do you mean?" + +"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must be +the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert." + +"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all +intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;--and as to any +thing else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know that +one is superior to the other." + +Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent. His +reflections ended thus. + +"Of _one_ thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand, and speaking +in an awful whisper,--"I may assure you; and I _will_ do it, because I +know it must gratify you. I have good reason to think--indeed I have +it from the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise +it would be very wrong to say any thing about it,--but I have it from +the very best authority,--not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars +say it herself--but her daughter _did_, and I have it from her,--that +in short, whatever objections there might be against a certain--a +certain connection, you understand me,--it would have been far +preferable to her, it would not have given her half the vexation that +_this_ does. I was exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars +considered it in that light; a very gratifying circumstance you know +to us all. 'It would have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the +least evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound _now_ for +nothing worse.' But however, all that is quite out of the +question,--not to be thought of or mentioned. As to any attachment you +know, it never could be; all that is gone by. But I thought I would +just tell you of this, because I knew how much it must please you. Not +that you have any reason to regret, my dear Elinor. There is no doubt +of your doing exceedingly well,--quite as well, or better, perhaps, +all things considered. Has Colonel Brandon been with you lately?" + +Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise her +self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;--and she was +therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in reply +herself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more from her +brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars. After a few moments' +chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that Fanny was yet uninformed of her +sister's being there, quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was +left to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the gay +unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner while enjoying so +unfair a division of his mother's love and liberality, to the +prejudice of his banished brother, earned only by his own dissipated +course of life, and that brother's integrity, was confirming her most +unfavourable opinion of his head and heart. + +[Illustration: "_Of one thing I may assure you._"] + +They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves, before he began to +speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard of the living, and was very +inquisitive on the subject. Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as +she had given them to John; and their effect on Robert, though very +different, was not less striking than it had been on _him._ He laughed +most immoderately. The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living +in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;--and when to +that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a +white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John +Smith and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous. + +Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, the +conclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixed +on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited. It was a +look, however, very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings, +and gave no intelligence to him. He was recalled from wit to wisdom, +not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility. + +"We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last, recovering from the +affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine +gaiety of the moment; "but, upon my soul, it is a most serious +business. Poor Edward! he is ruined for ever. I am extremely sorry for +it; for I know him to be a very good-hearted creature,--as +well-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world. You must not judge +of him, Miss Dashwood, from _your_ slight acquaintance. Poor Edward! +His manners are certainly not the happiest in nature. But we are not +all born, you know, with the same powers,--the same address. Poor +fellow! to see him in a circle of strangers! to be sure it was +pitiable enough; but upon my soul, I believe he has as good a heart as +any in the kingdom; and I declare and protest to you I never was so +shocked in my life, as when it all burst forth. I could not believe +it. My mother was the first person who told me of it; and I, feeling +myself called on to act with resolution, immediately said to her,--'My +dear madam, I do not know what you may intend to do on the occasion, +but as for myself, I must say, that if Edward does marry this young +woman, I never will see him again.' That was what I said immediately. +I was most uncommonly shocked, indeed! Poor Edward! he has done for +himself completely,--shut himself out for ever from all decent +society! but, as I directly said to my mother, I am not in the least +surprised at it; from his style of education, it was always to be +expected. My poor mother was half frantic." + +"Have you ever seen the lady?" + +"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house, I happened to drop in +for ten minutes; and I saw quite enough of her. The merest awkward +country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty. I +remember her perfectly. Just the kind of girl I should suppose likely +to captivate poor Edward. I offered immediately, as soon as my mother +related the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade him from +the match; but it was too late _then_, I found, to do any thing, for +unluckily, I was not in the way at first, and knew nothing of it till +after the breach had taken place, when it was not for me, you know, to +interfere. But had I been informed of it a few hours earlier, I think +it is most probable that something might have been hit on. I certainly +should have represented it to Edward in a very strong light. 'My dear +fellow,' I should have said, 'consider what you are doing. You are +making a most disgraceful connection, and such a one as your family +are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot help thinking, in short, that +means might have been found. But now it is all too late. He must be +starved, you know, that is certain; absolutely starved." + +He had just settled this point with great composure, when the entrance +of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject. But though _she_ +never spoke of it out of her own family, Elinor could see its +influence on her mind, in the something like confusion of countenance +with which she entered, and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour +to herself. She even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find that +Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave town, as she had hoped to +see more of them;--an exertion in which her husband, who attended her +into the room, and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to +distinguish every thing that was most affectionate and graceful. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + + +One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor received her +brother's congratulations on their travelling so far towards Barton +without any expense, and on Colonel Brandon's being to follow them to +Cleveland in a day or two, completed the intercourse of the brother +and sisters in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come to +Norland whenever it should happen to be in their way, which of all +things was the most unlikely to occur, with a more warm, though less +public, assurance, from John to Elinor, of the promptitude with which +he should come to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any +meeting in the country. + +It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to +send her to Delaford;--a place, in which, of all others, she would now +least choose to visit, or wish to reside; for not only was it +considered as her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but +even Lucy, when they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit +her there. + +Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day, the two parties +from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out from their respective +homes, to meet, by appointment, on the road. For the convenience of +Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their +journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel +Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival. + +Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort in London, and eager as +she had long been to quit it, could not, when it came to the point, +bid adieu to the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed +those hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby, which were now +extinguished for ever, without great pain. Nor could she leave the +place in which Willoughby remained, busy in new engagements, and new +schemes, in which _she_ could have no share, without shedding many +tears. + +Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal, was more positive. +She had no such object for her lingering thoughts to fix on, she left +no creature behind, from whom it would give her a moment's regret to +be divided for ever, she was pleased to be free herself from the +persecution of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing her +sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage, and she looked +forward with hope to what a few months of tranquility at Barton might +do towards restoring Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own. + +Their journey was safely performed. The second day brought them into +the cherished, or the prohibited, county of Somerset, for as such was +it dwelt on by turns in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of +the third they drove up to Cleveland. + +Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house, situated on a sloping +lawn. It had no park, but the pleasure-grounds were tolerably +extensive; and like every other place of the same degree of +importance, it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk, a road of +smooth gravel winding round a plantation, led to the front, the lawn +was dotted over with timber, the house itself was under the +guardianship of the fir, the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick +screen of them altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars, +shut out the offices. + +Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the +consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty +from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its +walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her +child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through +the winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a +distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering +over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on +the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their +summits Combe Magna might be seen. + +In such moments of precious, invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears +of agony to be at Cleveland; and as she returned by a different +circuit to the house, feeling all the happy privilege of country +liberty, of wandering from place to place in free and luxurious +solitude, she resolved to spend almost every hour of every day while +she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of such solitary +rambles. + +[Illustration: _Showing her child to the housekeeper._] + +She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the +house, on an excursion through its more immediate premises; and the +rest of the morning was easily whiled away, in lounging round the +kitchen garden, examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to +the gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through the +green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants, unwarily exposed, +and nipped by the lingering frost, raised the laughter of +Charlotte,--and in visiting her poultry-yard, where, in the +disappointed hopes of her dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, +or being stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising +young brood, she found fresh sources of merriment. + +The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne, in her plan of employment +abroad, had not calculated for any change of weather during their stay +at Cleveland. With great surprise therefore, did she find herself +prevented by a settled rain from going out again after dinner. She had +depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple, and perhaps all +over the grounds, and an evening merely cold or damp would not have +deterred her from it; but a heavy and settled rain even _she_ could +not fancy dry or pleasant weather for walking. + +Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away. Mrs. Palmer +had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of the +friends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements, +and wondered whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther +than Reading that night. Elinor, however little concerned in it, +joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding +her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by +the family in general, soon procured herself a book. + +Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendly +good humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome. The +openness and heartiness of her manner more than atoned for that want +of recollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the +forms of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, +was engaging; her folly, though evident was not disgusting, because it +was not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her +laugh. + +[Illustration: _The gardener's lamentations._] + +The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, +affording a pleasant enlargement of the party, and a very welcome +variety to their conversation, which a long morning of the same +continued rain had reduced very low. + +Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen +so much variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she +knew not what to expect to find him in his own family. She found him, +however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors, +and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him +very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented from +being so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as much +superior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs. +Jennings and Charlotte. For the rest of his character and habits, they +were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at all +unusual in his sex and time of life. He was nice in his eating, +uncertain in his hours; fond of his child, though affecting to slight +it; and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought to have been +devoted to business. She liked him, however, upon the whole, much +better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she +could like him no more; not sorry to be driven by the observation of +his epicurism, his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with +complacency on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple +taste, and diffident feelings. + +Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns, she now received +intelligence from Colonel Brandon, who had been into Dorsetshire +lately; and who, treating her at once as the disinterested friend of +Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself, talked to her a +great deal of the parsonage at Delaford, described its deficiencies, +and told her what he meant to do himself towards removing them. His +behaviour to her in this, as well as in every other particular, his +open pleasure in meeting her after an absence of only ten days, his +readiness to converse with her, and his deference for her opinion, +might very well justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment, +and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still, as from the +first, believed Marianne his real favourite, to make her suspect it +herself. But as it was, such a notion had scarcely ever entered her +head, except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could not help +believing herself the nicest observer of the two: she watched his +eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought only of his behaviour; and while his +looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and +throat, the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words, +entirely escaped the latter lady's observation,--_she_ could discover +in them the quick feelings, and needless alarm of a lover. + +Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of her +being there, not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery, but all +over the grounds, and especially in the most distant parts of them, +where there was something more of wildness than in the rest, where the +trees were the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest, +had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting in her wet +shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold so violent as, though for a +day or two trifled with or denied, would force itself by increasing +ailments on the concern of every body, and the notice of herself. +Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual, were all +declined. Though heavy and feverish, with a pain in her limbs, and a +cough, and a sore throat, a good night's rest was to cure her +entirely; and it was with difficulty that Elinor prevailed on her, +when she went to bed, to try one or two of the simplest of the +remedies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + + +Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time; to every inquiry +replied that she was better, and tried to prove herself so, by +engaging in her accustomary employments. But a day spent in sitting +shivering over the fire with a book in her hand, which she was unable +to read, or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak much +in favour of her amendment; and when, at last, she went early to bed, +more and more indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her +sister's composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole +day, against Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines on +her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of +sleep, and felt no real alarm. + +A very restless and feverish night, however, disappointed the +expectation of both; and when Marianne, after persisting in rising, +confessed herself unable to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her +bed, Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice, of sending +for the Palmers' apothecary. + +He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging Miss Dashwood to +expect that a very few days would restore her sister to health, yet, +by pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid tendency, and allowing +the word "infection" to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. +Palmer, on her baby's account. Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined +from the first to think Marianne's complaint more serious than Elinor, +now looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report, and confirming +Charlotte's fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate +removal with her infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their +apprehensions as idle, found the anxiety and importunity of his wife +too great to be withstood. Her departure, therefore, was fixed on; and +within an hour after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off, with her +little boy and his nurse, for the house of a near relation of Mr. +Palmer's, who lived a few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her +husband promised, at her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or +two; and whither she was almost equally urgent with her mother to +accompany her. Mrs. Jennings, however, with a kindness of heart which +made Elinor really love her, declared her resolution of not stirring +from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, +by her own attentive care, to supply to her the place of the mother +she had taken her from; and Elinor found her on every occasion a most +willing and active helpmate, desirous to share in all her fatigues, +and often by her better experience in nursing, of material use. + +Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady, and +feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that tomorrow +would find her recovered; and the idea of what tomorrow would have +produced, but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe; for +on that day they were to have begun their journey home; and, attended +the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings, were to have taken their +mother by surprise on the following forenoon. The little she said was +all in lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried to +raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she _then_ really believed +herself, that it would be a very short one. + +The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the +patient; she certainly was not better, and, except that there was no +amendment, did not appear worse. Their party was now farther reduced; +for Mr. Palmer, though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity +and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be frightened away +by his wife, was persuaded at last by Colonel Brandon to perform his +promise of following her; and while he was preparing to go, Colonel +Brandon himself, with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going +likewise. Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings interposed most +acceptably; for to send the Colonel away while his love was in so much +uneasiness on her sister's account, would be to deprive them both, she +thought, of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that his +stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself, that she should want him +to play at piquet of an evening, while Miss Dashwood was above with +her sister, &c. she urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was +gratifying the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not +long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's entreaty was +warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed to feel a relief to himself, +in leaving behind him a person so well able to assist or advise Miss +Dashwood in any emergence. + +Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all these arrangements. +She knew not that she had been the means of sending the owners of +Cleveland away, in about seven days from the time of their arrival. It +gave her no surprise that she saw nothing of Mrs. Palmer; and as it +gave her likewise no concern, she never mentioned her name. + +Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure, and her +situation continued, with little variation, the same. Mr. Harris, who +attended her every day, still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and +Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others +was by no means so cheerful. Mrs. Jennings had determined very early +in the seizure that Marianne would never get over it, and Colonel +Brandon, who was chiefly of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's +forebodings, was not in a state of mind to resist their influence. He +tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different judgment of +the apothecary seemed to render absurd; but the many hours of each day +in which he was left entirely alone, were but too favourable for the +admission of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from his +mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more. + +On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy anticipations of +both were almost done away; for when Mr. Harris arrived, he declared +his patient materially better. Her pulse was much stronger, and every +symptom more favourable than on the preceding visit. Elinor, confirmed +in every pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that in her +letters to her mother, she had pursued her own judgment rather than +her friend's, in making very light of the indisposition which delayed +them at Cleveland; and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would +be able to travel. + +But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began. Towards the +evening Marianne became ill again, growing more heavy, restless, and +uncomfortable than before. Her sister, however, still sanguine, was +willing to attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue of +having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully administering the +cordials prescribed, saw her, with satisfaction, sink at last into a +slumber, from which she expected the most beneficial effects. Her +sleep, though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it, lasted a +considerable time; and anxious to observe the result of it herself, +she resolved to sit with her during the whole of it. Mrs. Jennings, +knowing nothing of any change in the patient, went unusually early to +bed; her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating +herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained alone with +Marianne. + +The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed; and her +sister, who watched, with unremitting attention her continual change +of posture, and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds of +complaint which passed her lips, was almost wishing to rouse her from +so painful a slumber, when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some +accidental noise in the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish +wildness, cried out,-- + +"Is mama coming?--" + +"Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror, and assisting +Marianne to lie down again, "but she will be here, I hope, before it +is long. It is a great way, you know, from hence to Barton." + +"But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne, in the same +hurried manner. "I shall never see her, if she goes by London." + +Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself, and, while +attempting to soothe her, eagerly felt her pulse. It was lower and +quicker than ever! and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her +alarm increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending instantly +for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger to Barton for her mother. +To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best means of effecting the +latter, was a thought which immediately followed the resolution of its +performance; and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place by +her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room, where she knew he +was generally to be found at a much later hour than the present. + +It was no time for hesitation. Her fears and her difficulties were +immediately before him. Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to +attempt the removal of; he listened to them in silent despondence; but +her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness that +seemed to speak the occasion, and the service pre-arranged in his +mind, he offered himself as the messenger who should fetch Mrs. +Dashwood. Elinor made no resistance that was not easily overcome. She +thanked him with brief, though fervent gratitude, and while he went to +hurry off his servant with a message to Mr. Harris, and an order for +post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines to her mother. + +The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel Brandon--or +such a companion for her mother,--how gratefully was it felt!--a +companion whose judgment would guide, whose attendance must relieve, +and whose friendship might soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a +summons _could_ be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his +assistance, would lessen it. + +_He_, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all the firmness +of a collected mind, made every necessary arrangement with the utmost +despatch, and calculated with exactness the time in which she might +look for his return. Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind. The +horses arrived, even before they were expected, and Colonel Brandon +only pressing her hand with a look of solemnity, and a few words +spoken too low to reach her ear, hurried into the carriage. It was +then about twelve o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment +to wait for the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her the +rest of the night. It was a night of almost equal suffering to both. +Hour after hour passed away in sleepless pain and delirium on +Marianne's side, and in the most cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. +Harris appeared. Her apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess +for all her former security; and the servant who sat up with her, for +she would not allow Mrs. Jennings to be called, only tortured her +more, by hints of what her mistress had always thought. + +Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals, fixed incoherently on her +mother, and whenever she mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the +heart of poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled with +so many days of illness, and wretched for some immediate relief, +fancied that all relief might soon be in vain, that every thing had +been delayed too long, and pictured to herself her suffering mother +arriving too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational. + +She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris, or if _he_ could +not come, for some other advice, when the former--but not till after +five o'clock--arrived. His opinion, however, made some little amends +for his delay, for though acknowledging a very unexpected and +unpleasant alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger to +be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh mode of treatment +must procure, with a confidence which, in a lesser degree, was +communicated to Elinor. He promised to call again in the course of +three or four hours, and left both the patient and her anxious +attendant more composed than he had found them. + +With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not being called to +their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the morning of what had passed. +Her former apprehensions, now with greater reason restored, left her +no doubt of the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor, +her conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her to offer the +comfort of hope. Her heart was really grieved. The rapid decay, the +early death of a girl so young, so lovely as Marianne, must have +struck a less interested person with concern. On Mrs. Jennings's +compassion she had other claims. She had been for three months her +companion, was still under her care, and she was known to have been +greatly injured, and long unhappy. The distress of her sister too, +particularly a favourite, was before her;--and as for their mother, +when Mrs. Jennings considered that Marianne might probably be to _her_ +what Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in _her_ sufferings was +very sincere. + +Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit; but he came to be +disappointed in his hopes of what the last would produce. His +medicines had failed; the fever was unabated; and Marianne only more +quiet--not more herself--remained in a heavy stupor. Elinor, catching +all, and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call in +further advice. But he judged it unnecessary: he had still something +more to try, some more fresh application, of whose success he was as +confident as the last, and his visit concluded with encouraging +assurances which reached the ear, but could not enter the heart of +Miss Dashwood. She was calm, except when she thought of her mother; +but she was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued till +noon, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed, her thoughts wandering +from one image of grief, one suffering friend to another, and her +spirits oppressed to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings, +who scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger of this attack +to the many weeks of previous indisposition which Marianne's +disappointment had brought on. Elinor felt all the reasonableness of +the idea, and it gave fresh misery to her reflections. + +About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a dread of +disappointment which for some time kept her silent, even to her +friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive a slight amendment in her +sister's pulse; she waited, watched, and examined it again and again; +and at last, with an agitation more difficult to bury under exterior +calmness, than all her foregoing distress, ventured to communicate her +hopes. Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination, to acknowledge a +temporary revival, tried to keep her young friend from indulging a +thought of its continuance; and Elinor, conning over every injunction +of distrust, told herself likewise not to hope. But it was too late. +Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious flutter, she +bent over her sister to watch--she hardly knew for what. Half an hour +passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her. Others even +arose to confirm it. Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered +Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on her +with a rational, though languid, gaze. Anxiety and hope now oppressed +her in equal degrees, and left her no moment of tranquillity till the +arrival of Mr. Harris at four o'clock; when his assurances, his +felicitations on a recovery in her sister even surpassing his +expectation, gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy. + +Marianne was in every respect materially better, and he declared her +entirely out of danger. Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the +partial justification of her forebodings which had been found in their +late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted, +with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the +probability of an entire recovery. + +Elinor could not be cheerful. Her joy was of a different kind, and led +to any thing rather than to gaiety. Marianne restored to life, health, +friends, and to her doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with +sensations of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent +gratitude;--but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words, +no smiles. All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and +strong. + +She continued by the side of her sister, with little intermission the +whole afternoon, calming every fear, satisfying every inquiry of her +enfeebled spirits, supplying every succour, and watching almost every +look and every breath. The possibility of a relapse would of course, +in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was; but when she +saw, on her frequent and minute examination, that every symptom of +recovery continued, and saw Marianne at six o'clock sink into a quiet, +steady, and to all appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every +doubt. + +The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon might be expected +back. At ten o'clock, she trusted, or at least not much later her +mother would be relieved from the dreadful suspense in which she must +now be travelling towards them. The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely +less an object of pity! Oh! how slow was the progress of time which +yet kept them in ignorance! + +At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep, she joined +Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea. Of breakfast she had been +kept by her fears, and of dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating +much; and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings of +content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome. Mrs. Jennings +would have persuaded her, at its conclusion, to take some rest before +her mother's arrival, and allow _her_ to take her place by Marianne; +but Elinor had no sense of fatigue, no capability of sleep at that +moment about her, and she was not to be kept away from her sister an +unnecessary instant. Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs +into the sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right, +left her there again to her charge and her thoughts, and retired to +her own room to write letters and sleep. + +The night was cold and stormy. The wind roared round the house, and +the rain beat against the windows; but Elinor, all happiness within, +regarded it not. Marianne slept through every blast; and the +travellers, they had a rich reward in store, for every present +inconvenience. + +The clock struck eight. Had it been ten, Elinor would have been +convinced that at that moment she heard a carriage driving up to the +house; and so strong was the persuasion that she _did_, in spite of +the _almost_ impossibility of their being already come, that she moved +into the adjoining dressing-closet and opened a window shutter, to be +satisfied of the truth. She instantly saw that her ears had not +deceived her. The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in +view. By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be +drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the excess of her poor +mother's alarm, gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity. + +Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm, as at +that moment. The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the +carriage stopped the door,--of her doubt--her dread,--perhaps her +despair!--and of what _she_ had to tell! with such knowledge it was +impossible to be calm. All that remained to be done was to be speedy; +and, therefore staying only till she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid +with her sister, she hurried down stairs. + +The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along an inner lobby, +assured her that they were already in the house. She rushed to the +drawing-room,--she entered it,--and saw only Willoughby. + +[Illustration: _Opened a window-shutter._] + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + + +Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, +obeyed the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the +room, and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was +suspended by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of +command than supplication-- + +"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour--for ten minutes--I entreat you to +stay." + +"No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall _not_ stay. Your +business cannot be with _me._ The servants, I suppose, forgot to tell +you that Mr. Palmer was not in the house." + +"Had they told me," he cried with vehemence, "that Mr. Palmer and all +his relations were at the devil, it would not have turned me from the +door. My business is with you, and only you." + +"With me!"--in the utmost amazement;--"well, sir--be quick--and if you +can--less violent." + +"Sit down, and I will be both." + +She hesitated; she knew not what to do. The possibility of Colonel +Brandon's arriving and finding her there, came across her. But she had +promised to hear him, and her curiosity no less than her honor was +engaged. After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that +prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would best +promote it, she walked silently towards the table, and sat down. He +took the opposite chair, and for half a minute not a word was said by +either. + +"Pray be quick, sir," said Elinor, impatiently; "I have no time to +spare." + +He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation, and seemed not to +hear her. + +"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment afterwards--"is out +of danger. I heard it from the servant. God be praised!--But is it +true? is it really true?" + +Elinor would not speak. He repeated the inquiry with yet greater +eagerness. + +"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?" + +[Illustration: "_I entreat you to stay._"] + +"We hope she is." + +He rose up, and walked across the room. + +"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But since I _am_ +here,"--speaking with a forced vivacity as he returned to his +seat,--"what does it signify?--For once, Miss Dashwood--it will be the +last time, perhaps--let us be cheerful together. I am in a fine mood +for gaiety. Tell me honestly,"--a deeper glow overspreading his +cheeks, "do you think me most a knave or a fool?" + +Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever. She began to +think that he must be in liquor;--the strangeness of such a visit, and +of such manners, seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this +impression she immediately rose, saying-- + +"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return to Combe--I am not +at leisure to remain with you longer. Whatever your business may be +with me, will it be better recollected and explained to-morrow." + +"I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile, and a voice +perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk. A pint of porter with my cold +beef at Marlborough was enough to over-set me." + +"At Marlborough!"--cried Elinor, more and more at a loss to understand +what he would be at. + +"Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'clock, and the only ten +minutes I have spent out of my chaise since that time procured me a +nuncheon at Marlborough." + +The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence of his eye as he +spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever other unpardonable folly might +bring him to Cleveland, he was not brought there by intoxication, she +said, after a moment's recollection-- + +"Mr. Willoughby, you _ought_ to feel, and I certainly _do_, that after +what has passed--your coming here in this manner, and forcing yourself +upon my notice, requires a very particular excuse. What is it, that +you mean by it?"-- + +"I mean,"--said he, with serious energy--"if I can, to make you hate +me one degree less than you do _now._ I mean to offer some kind of +explanation, some kind of apology, for the past; to open my whole +heart to you, and by convincing you, that though I have been always a +blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain something like +forgiveness from Ma----, from your sister." + +"Is this the real reason of your coming?" + +"Upon my soul it is," was his answer, with a warmth which brought all +the former Willoughby to her remembrance, and in spite of herself made +her think him sincere. + +"If that is all, you may be satisfied already; for Marianne _does_, +she has _long_ forgiven you." + +"Has she?" he cried, in the same eager tone. "Then she has forgiven me +before she ought to have done it. But she shall forgive me again, and +on more reasonable grounds. _Now_ will you listen to me?" + +Elinor bowed her assent. + +"I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation on her side, +and thoughtfulness on his own, "how _you_ may have accounted for my +behaviour to your sister, or what diabolical motive you may have +imputed to me. Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,--it is +worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing. When I first +became intimate in your family, I had no other intention, no other +view in the acquaintance than to pass my time pleasantly while I was +obliged to remain in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done +before. Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners could not +but please me; and her behaviour to me almost from the first, was of a +kind--It is astonishing, when I reflect on what it was, and what _she_ +was, that my heart should have been so insensible! But at first I must +confess, my vanity only was elevated by it. Careless of her happiness, +thinking only of my own amusement, giving way to feelings which I had +always been too much in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by +every means in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any +design of returning her affection." + +Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him with the most +angry contempt, stopped him, by saying-- + +"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby, for you to relate, or for +me to listen any longer. Such a beginning as this cannot be followed +by any thing. Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on the +subject." + +"I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied, "My fortune was +never large, and I had always been expensive, always in the habit of +associating with people of better income than myself. Every year +since my coming of age, or even before, I believe, had added to my +debts; and though the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set +me free; yet that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant, it +had been for some time my intention to re-establish my circumstances +by marrying a woman of fortune. To attach myself to your sister, +therefore, was not a thing to be thought of; and with a meanness, +selfishness, cruelty, which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even +of yours, Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much,--I was acting in +this manner, trying to engage her regard, without a thought of +returning it. But one thing may be said for me: even in that horrid +state of selfish vanity, I did not know the extent of the injury I +meditated, because I did not _then_ know what it was to love. But have +I ever known it? Well may it be doubted; for, had I really loved, +could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity, to avarice? or, what is +more, could I have sacrificed hers? But I have done it. To avoid a +comparative poverty, which her affection and her society would have +deprived of all its horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence, +lost every thing that could make it a blessing." + +"You did then," said Elinor, a little softened, "believe yourself at +one time attached to her?" + +"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood such tenderness! +Is there a man on earth who could have done it? Yes, I found myself, +by insensible degrees, sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours +of my life were what I spent with her when I felt my intentions were +strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless. Even _then_, however, +when fully determined on paying my addresses to her, I allowed myself +most improperly to put off, from day to day, the moment of doing it, +from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement while my +circumstances were so greatly embarrassed. I will not reason here--nor +will I stop for _you_ to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse +than absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was +already bound. The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool, +providing with great circumspection for a possible opportunity of +making myself contemptible and wretched for ever. At last, however, my +resolution was taken, and I had determined, as soon as I could engage +her alone, to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her, and +openly assure her of an affection which I had already taken such pains +to display. But in the interim--in the interim of the very few hours +that were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with +her in private--a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance--to +ruin all my resolution, and with it all my comfort. A discovery took +place,"--here he hesitated and looked down. "Mrs. Smith had somehow or +other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose +interest it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a +connection--but I need not explain myself farther," he added, looking +at her with an heightened colour and an enquiring eye,--"your +particular intimacy--you have probably heard the whole story long +ago." + +"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart +anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all. And how you +will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I +confess is beyond my comprehension." + +"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account. +Could it be an impartial one? I acknowledge that her situation and her +character ought to have been respected by me. I do not mean to justify +myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have +nothing to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable, +and because _I_ was a libertine, _she_ must be a saint. If the +violence of her passions, the weakness of her understanding--I do not +mean, however, to defend myself. Her affection for me deserved better +treatment, and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the +tenderness which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any +return. I wish--I heartily wish it had never been. But I have injured +more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for +me--(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose +mind--Oh! how infinitely superior!" + +"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl--I must say +it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well +be--your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her. Do +not think yourself excused by any weakness, any natural defect of +understanding on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours. +You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself in +Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay, always happy, she was +reduced to the extremest indigence." + +"But, upon my soul, I did _not_ know it," he warmly replied; "I did +not recollect that I had omitted to give her my direction; and common +sense might have told her how to find it out." + +"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?" + +"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion may be +guessed. The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her +ignorance of the world,--every thing was against me. The matter itself +I could not deny, and vain was every endeavour to soften it. She was +previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my conduct in +general, and was moreover discontented with the very little attention, +the very little portion of my time that I had bestowed on her, in my +present visit. In short, it ended in a total breach. By one measure I +might have saved myself. In the height of her morality, good woman! +she offered to forgive the past, if I would marry Eliza. That could +not be; and I was formally dismissed from her favour and her house. +The night following this affair--I was to go the next morning--was +spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct should be. The +struggle was great, but it ended too soon. My affection for Marianne, +my thorough conviction of her attachment to me--it was all +insufficient to outweigh that dread of poverty, or get the better of +those false ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally +inclined to feel, and expensive society had increased. I had reason to +believe myself secure of my present wife, if I chose to address her, +and I persuaded myself to think that nothing else in common prudence +remained for me to do. A heavy scene however awaited me, before I +could leave Devonshire: I was engaged to dine with you on that very +day; some apology was therefore necessary for my breaking this +engagement. But whether I should write this apology, or deliver it in +person, was a point of long debate. To see Marianne, I felt, would be +dreadful, and I even doubted whether I could see her again, and keep +to my resolution. In that point, however, I undervalued my own +magnanimity, as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw her +miserable, and left her miserable;--and left her hoping never to see +her again." + +"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor, reproachfully; "a +note would have answered every purpose. Why was it necessary to +call?" + +[Illustration: "_I was formally dismissed._"] + +"It was necessary to my own pride. I could not bear to leave the +country in a manner that might lead you, or the rest of the +neighbourhood, to suspect any part of what had really passed between +Mrs. Smith and myself, and I resolved therefore on calling at the +cottage, in my way to Honiton. The sight of your dear sister, however, +was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter, I found her alone. +You were all gone I do not know where. I had left her only the evening +before, so fully, so firmly resolved within my self on doing right! A +few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever; and I remember how +happy, how gay were my spirits, as I walked from the cottage to +Allenham, satisfied with myself, delighted with every body! But in +this, our last interview of friendship, I approached her with a sense +of guilt that almost took from me the power of dissembling. Her +sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told her that I +was obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately--I never shall forget +it--united too with such reliance, such confidence in me! Oh, God! +what a hard-hearted rascal I was!" + +They were both silent for a few moments. Elinor first spoke. + +"Did you tell her that you should soon return?" + +"I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently; "less than +was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all likelihood much more +than was justified by the future. I cannot think of it. It won't do. +Then came your dear mother to torture me farther, with all her +kindness and confidence. Thank Heaven! it _did_ torture me. I was +miserable. Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it +gives me to look back on my own misery. I owe such a grudge to myself +for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart, that all my past +sufferings under it are only triumph and exultation to me now. Well, I +went, left all that I loved, and went to those to whom, at best, I was +only indifferent. My journey to town--travelling with my own horses, +and therefore so tediously--no creature to speak to--my own +reflections so cheerful--when I looked forward every thing so +inviting!--when I looked back at Barton, the picture so soothing!--oh, +it was a blessed journey!" + +He stopped. + +"Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him, grew impatient for +his departure, "and this is all?" + +"Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town? That infamous letter? +Did she show it you?" + +"Yes, I saw every note that passed." + +"When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did, for I was +in town the whole time,) what I felt is, in the common phrase, not to +be expressed; in a more simple one--perhaps too simple to raise any +emotion, my feelings were very, very painful. Every line, every word +was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer, were she here, +would forbid--a dagger to my heart. To know that Marianne was in town +was, in the same language, a thunderbolt. Thunderbolts and daggers! +what a reproof would she have given me! her taste, her opinions--I +believe they are better known to me than my own, and I am sure they +are dearer." + +Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes in the course of this +extraordinary conversation, was now softened again;--yet she felt it +her duty to check such ideas in her companion as the last. + +"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby. Remember that you are married. +Relate only what in your conscience you think necessary for me to +hear." + +"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still as dear to her as in +former days, that in spite of the many, many weeks we had been +separated, she was as constant in her own feelings, and as full of +faith in the constancy of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse. I say +awakened, because time and London, business and dissipation, had in +some measure quieted it, and I had been growing a fine hardened +villain, fancying myself indifferent to her, and choosing to fancy +that she too must have become indifferent to me; talking to myself of +our past attachment as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my +shoulders in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach, +overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then, 'I shall be +heartily glad to hear she is well married.' But this note made me know +myself better. I felt that she was infinitely dearer to me than any +other woman in the world, and that I was using her infamously. But +every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey and me. To retreat +was impossible. All that I had to do, was to avoid you both. I sent no +answer to Marianne, intending by that to preserve myself from her +farther notice; and for some time I was even determined not to call +in Berkeley Street; but at last, judging it wiser to affect the air of +a cool, common acquaintance than anything else, I watched you all +safely out of the house one morning, and left my name." + +"Watched us out of the house!" + +"Even so. You would be surprised to hear how often I watched you, how +often I was on the point of falling in with you. I have entered many a +shop to avoid your sight, as the carriage drove by. Lodging as I did +in Bond Street, there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a +glimpse of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant +watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing desire to keep +out of your sight, could have separated us so long. I avoided the +Middletons as much as possible, as well as everybody else who was +likely to prove an acquaintance in common. Not aware of their being in +town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe, the first day of +his coming, and the day after I had called at Mrs. Jennings's. He +asked me to a party, a dance at his house in the evening. Had he _not_ +told me as an inducement that you and your sister were to be there, I +should have felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him. The +next morning brought another short note from Marianne--still +affectionate, open, artless, confiding--everything that could make +_my_ conduct most hateful. I could not answer it. I tried--but could +not frame a sentence. But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of +the day. If you _can_ pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it +was _then._ With my head and heart full of your sister, I was forced +to play the happy lover to another woman! Those three or four weeks +were worse than all. Well, at last, as I need not tell you, you were +forced on me; and what a sweet figure I cut! what an evening of agony +it was! Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me +Willoughby in such a tone! Oh, God! holding out her hand to me, asking +me for an explanation, with those bewitching eyes fixed in such +speaking solicitude on my face! and Sophia, jealous as the devil on +the other hand, looking all that was--Well, it does not signify; it is +over now. Such an evening! I ran away from you all as soon as I could; +but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white as death. +_That_ was the last, last look I ever had of her; the last manner in +which she appeared to me. It was a horrid sight! yet when I thought +of her to-day as really dying, it was a kind of comfort to me to +imagine that I knew exactly how she would appear to those, who saw her +last in this world. She was before me, constantly before me, as I +travelled, in the same look and hue." + +[Illustration: "_I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight._"] + +A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded. Willoughby first +rousing himself, broke it thus: + +"Well, let me make haste and be gone. Your sister is certainly better, +certainly out of danger?" + +"We are assured of it." + +"Your poor mother, too!--doting on Marianne." + +"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter; have you any thing +to say about that?" + +"Yes, yes, _that_ in particular. Your sister wrote to me again, you +know, the very next morning. You saw what she said. I was breakfasting +at the Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was brought to me +there from my lodgings. It happened to catch Sophia's eye before it +caught mine;--and its size, the elegance of the paper, the hand-writing +altogether, immediately gave her a suspicion. Some vague report had +reached her before of my attachment to some young lady in Devonshire, +and what had passed within her observation the preceding evening had +marked who the young lady was, and made her more jealous than ever. +Affecting that air of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a +woman one loves, she opened the letter directly, and read its contents. +She was well paid for her impudence. She read what made her wretched. +Her wretchedness I could have borne, but her passion--her malice--at all +events it must be appeased. And, in short, what do you think of my +wife's style of letter-writing?--delicate--tender--truly feminine--was +it not?" + +"Your wife! The letter was in your own hand-writing." + +"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying such sentences as +I was ashamed to put my name to. The original was all her own--her own +happy thoughts and gentle diction. But what could I do! we were +engaged, every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--but I am +talking like a fool. Preparation! Day! In honest words, her money was +necessary to me, and in a situation like mine, any thing was to be +done to prevent a rupture. And after all, what did it signify to my +character in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what +language my answer was couched? It must have been only to one end. My +business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether I did it with +a bow or a bluster was of little importance. 'I am ruined for ever in +their opinion,' said I to myself; 'I am shut out for ever from their +society, they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter +will only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were my +reasonings, as, in a sort of desperate carelessness, I copied my +wife's words, and parted with the last relics of Marianne. Her three +notes--unluckily they were all in my pocket-book, or I should have +denied their existence, and hoarded them for ever--I was forced to put +them up, and could not even kiss them. And the lock of hair--that too +I had always carried about me in the same pocket-book, which was now +searched by Madam with the most ingratiating virulence,--the dear +lock--all, every memento was torn from me." + +"You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable," said Elinor, +while her voice, in spite of herself, betrayed her compassionate +emotion; "you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. +Willoughby or my sister. You had made your own choice. It was not +forced on you. Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your +respect, at least. She must be attached to you, or she would not have +married you. To treat her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly +is no atonement to Marianne--nor can I suppose it a relief to your own +conscience." + +"Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh. "She does +not deserve your compassion. She knew I had no regard for her when we +married. Well, married we were, and came down to Combe Magna to be +happy, and afterwards returned to town to be gay. And now do you pity +me, Miss Dashwood? or have I said all this to no purpose? Am I,--be +it only one degree,--am I less guilty in your opinion than I was +before? My intentions were not always wrong. Have I explained away any +part of my guilt?" + +"Yes, you have certainly removed something--a little. You have proved +yourself, on the whole, less faulty than I had believed you. You have +proved your heart less wicked, much less wicked. But I hardly +know--the misery that you have inflicted--I hardly know what could +have made it worse." + +"Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered, what I have +been telling you?--Let me be a little lightened too in her opinion as +well as in yours. You tell me that she has forgiven me already. Let me +be able to fancy that a better knowledge of my heart, and of my +present feelings, will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, +more gentle, less dignified, forgiveness. Tell her of my misery and my +penitence--tell her that my heart was never inconstant to her, and if +you will, that at this moment she is dearer to me than ever." + +"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively be +called, your justification. But you have not explained to me the +particular reason of your coming now, nor how you heard of her +illness." + +"Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir John Middleton, +and when he saw who I was, for the first time these two months--he +spoke to me. That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen +without surprise or resentment. Now, however, his good-natured, +honest, stupid soul, full of indignation against me, and concern for +your sister, could not resist the temptation of telling me what he +knew ought to, though probably he did not think it _would_, vex me +horridly. As bluntly as he could speak it, therefore, he told me that +Marianne Dashwood was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter +that morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger most +imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright, &c. I was too much +shocked to be able to pass myself off as insensible even to the +undiscerning Sir John. His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer; +and so much of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted, he +almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an old promise +about a pointer puppy. What I felt on hearing that your sister was +dying, and dying too, believing me the greatest villain upon earth, +scorning, hating me in her latest moments--for how could I tell what +horrid projects might not have been imputed? _One_ person I was sure +would represent me as capable of any thing. What I felt was dreadful! +My resolution was soon made, and at eight o'clock this morning I was +in my carriage. Now you know all." + +Elinor made no answer. Her thoughts were silently fixed on the +irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent +habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the +character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person +and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a +feeling, affectionate temper. The world had made him extravagant and +vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish. +Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of +another, had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or +at least its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed. Each +faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to +punishment. The attachment, from which against honour, against +feeling, against every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, +now, when no longer allowable, governed every thought; and the +connection, for the sake of which he had, with little scruple, left +her sister to misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to +himself of a far more incurable nature. From a reverie of this kind +she was recalled at the end of some minutes by Willoughby, who, +rousing himself from a reverie at least equally painful, started up in +preparation for going, and said-- + +"There is no use in staying here; I must be off." + +"Are you going back to town?" + +"No--to Combe Magna. I have business there; from thence to town in a +day or two. Good bye." + +He held out his hand. She could not refuse to give him hers;--he +pressed it with affection. + +"And you _do_ think something better of me than you did?"--said he, +letting it fall, and leaning against the mantelpiece as if forgetting +he was to go. + +Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave, pitied, wished him +well--was even interested in his happiness--and added some gentle +counsel as to the behaviour most likely to promote it. His answer was +not very encouraging. + +"As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world as well as I can. +Domestic happiness is out of the question. If, however, I am allowed +to think that you and yours feel an interest in my fate and actions, +it may be the means--it may put me on my guard--at least, it may be +something to live for. Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever. +Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again--" + +Elinor stopped him with a reproof. + +"Well,"--he replied--"once more good bye. I shall now go away and live +in dread of one event." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Your sister's marriage." + +"You are very wrong. She can never be more lost to you than she is +now." + +"But she will be gained by some one else. And if that some one should +be the very he whom, of all others, I could least bear--but I will not +stay to rob myself of all your compassionate good-will, by showing that +where I have most injured I can least forgive. Good bye,--God bless +you!" + +And with these words, he almost ran out of the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + + +Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the +sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a +crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness +was the general result, to think even of her sister. + +Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the +most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited +a degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which +made her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with +a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged +within herself--to his wishes than to his merits. She felt that his +influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought +not in reason to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction, +that open, affectionate, and lively manner which it was no merit to +possess; and by that still ardent love for Marianne, which it was not +even innocent to indulge. But she felt that it was so, long, long +before she could feel his influence less. + +When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her +just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of +her hopes. Elinor's heart was full. The past, the present, the future, +Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's expected +arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits which kept +off every indication of fatigue, and made her only fearful of +betraying herself to her sister. Short was the time, however, in which +that fear could affect her, for within half an hour after Willoughby's +leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the sound of +another carriage. Eager to save her mother from every unnecessary +moment's horrible suspense, she ran immediately into the hall, and +reached the outward door just in time to receive and support her as +she entered it. + +Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced +almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to +inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but _she_, waiting +neither for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief; +and her mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment +as much overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her +fears. She was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter +and her friend; and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable +to speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at +intervals to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke at +once her gratitude, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in +the bliss of the moment. He shared it, however, in a silence even +greater than her own. + +As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was +her first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child, +rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger. +Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only +checked by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther +sleep;--but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent, when +the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne, satisfied in knowing +her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for +conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by +every nurse around her. Mrs. Dashwood _would_ sit up with her all +night; and Elinor, in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to +bed. But the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours +of the most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by +irritation of spirits. Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now +allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would +not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now +acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before. But her +promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful. She +dreaded the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne +might be; doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever be +happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower. +Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to +_his_ sufferings and _his_ constancy far more than to his rival's, the +reward of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs. +Willoughby's death. + +The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened +to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her +uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out +for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further +intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival, +that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret +away, as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be +infection. + +Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant cheerfulness +of Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she +repeatedly declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world. +Elinor could not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs without +sometimes wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward. But +Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account of her own +disappointment which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the +exuberance of her joy to think only of what would increase it. +Marianne was restored to her from a danger in which, as she now began +to feel, her own mistaken judgment in encouraging the unfortunate +attachment to Willoughby, had contributed to place her; and in her +recovery she had yet another source of joy unthought of by Elinor. It +was thus imparted to her, as soon as any opportunity of private +conference between them occurred. + +"At last we are alone. My Elinor, you do not yet know all my +happiness. Colonel Brandon loves Marianne. He has told me so himself." + +Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and +not surprised, was all silent attention. + +"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your +composure now. Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my +family, I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you +as the object most desirable. And I believe Marianne will be the most +happy with him of the two." + +Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because +satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration of their +age, characters, or feelings, could be given;--but her mother must +always be carried away by her imagination on any interesting subject, +and therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile. + +"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled. It came +out quite unawares, quite undesignedly. I, you may well believe, could +talk of nothing but my child;--he could not conceal his distress; I +saw that it equalled my own, and he perhaps, thinking that mere +friendship, as the world now goes, would not justify so warm a +sympathy--or rather, not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to +irresistible feelings, made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, +constant, affection for Marianne. He has loved her, my Elinor, ever +since the first moment of seeing her." + +Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language, not the +professions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her +mother's active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful to her +as it chose. + +"His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby +ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or constant, +which ever we are to call it, has subsisted through all the knowledge +of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man! +and without selfishness, without encouraging a hope! could he have +seen her happy with another. Such a noble mind! such openness, such +sincerity! No one can be deceived in _him._" + +"Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is +well established." + +"I know it is," replied her mother seriously, "or after such a +warning, I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to +be pleased by it. But his coming for me as he did, with such active, +such ready friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of +men." + +"His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on _one_ act +of kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of +the case, would have prompted him. To Mrs. Jennings, to the +Middletons, he has been long and intimately known; they equally love +and respect him; and even my own knowledge of him, though lately +acquired, is very considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem +him, that if Marianne can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as +yourself to think our connection the greatest blessing to us in the +world. What answer did you give him? Did you allow him to hope?" + +"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself. +Marianne might at that moment be dying. But he did not ask for hope or +encouragement. His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible +effusion to a soothing friend, not an application to a parent. Yet +after a time I _did_ say, for at first I was quite overcome, that if +she lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in +promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful +security, I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every +encouragement in my power. Time, a very little time, I tell him, will +do everything; Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a +man as Willoughby. His own merits must soon secure it." + +"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made +him equally sanguine." + +"No. He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change +in it under a great length of time, and even supposing her heart again +free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a +difference of age and disposition he could ever attach her. There, +however, he is quite mistaken. His age is only so much beyond hers as +to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles +fixed;--and his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very +one to make your sister happy. And his person, his manners too, are +all in his favour. My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is +not so handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time, there is +something much more pleasing in his countenance. There was always a +something,--if you remember,--in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I +did not like." + +Elinor could _not_ remember it;--but her mother, without waiting for +her assent, continued-- + +"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to +me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to +be more solidly attaching to Marianne. Their gentleness, their +genuine attention to other people, and their manly unstudied +simplicity is much more accordant with her real disposition, than the +liveliness--often artificial, and often ill-timed of the other. I am +very sure myself, that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable, as +he has proved himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been +so happy with _him_ as she will be with Colonel Brandon." + +She paused. Her daughter could not quite agree with her, but her +dissent was not heard, and therefore gave no offence. + +"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs. +Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probability,--for I +hear it is a large village,--indeed there certainly _must_ be some +small house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as +our present situation." + +Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!--but +her spirit was stubborn. + +"His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know, everybody cares +about _that_;--and though I neither know nor desire to know, what it +really is, I am sure it must be a good one." + +Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and +Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to +her friend, and yet in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + + +Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind, had not been long +enough to make her recovery slow; and with youth, natural strength, +and her mother's presence in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to +enable her to remove, within four days after the arrival of the +latter, into Mrs. Palmer's dressing-room. When there, at her own +particular request, for she was impatient to pour forth her thanks to +him for fetching her mother, Colonel Brandon was invited to visit her. + +His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered looks, and in +receiving the pale hand which she immediately held out to him, was +such, as, in Elinor's conjecture, must arise from something more than +his affection for Marianne, or the consciousness of its being known to +others; and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying +complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable recurrence of many +past scenes of misery to his mind, brought back by that resemblance +between Marianne and Eliza already acknowledged, and now strengthened +by the hollow eye, the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness, +and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation. + +Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than her daughter, but +with a mind very differently influenced, and therefore watching to +very different effect, saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what +arose from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in the +actions and words of Marianne she persuaded herself to think that +something more than gratitude already dawned. + +At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing visibly stronger +every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood, urged equally by her own and her +daughter's wishes, began to talk of removing to Barton. On _her_ +measures depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could not +quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel Brandon was +soon brought, by their united request, to consider his own abode there +as equally determinate, if not equally indispensable. At his and Mrs. +Jennings's united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed on to +accept the use of his carriage on her journey back, for the better +accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel, at the joint +invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings, whose active +good-nature made her friendly and hospitable for other people as well +as herself, engaged with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the +cottage, in the course of a few weeks. + +The day of separation and departure arrived; and Marianne, after +taking so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so +earnestly grateful, so full of respect and kind wishes as seemed due +to her own heart from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and +bidding Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend, was +carefully assisted by him into the carriage, of which he seemed +anxious that she should engross at least half. Mrs. Dashwood and +Elinor then followed, and the others were left by themselves, to talk +of the travellers, and feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings +was summoned to her chaise to take comfort in the gossip of her maid +for the loss of her two young companions; and Colonel Brandon +immediately afterwards took his solitary way to Delaford. + +The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne bore her journey +on both, without essential fatigue. Every thing that the most zealous +affection, the most solicitous care could do to render her +comfortable, was the office of each watchful companion, and each found +their reward in her bodily ease, and her calmness of spirits. To +Elinor, the observation of the latter was particularly grateful. She, +who had seen her week after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by +anguish of heart which she had neither courage to speak of, nor +fortitude to conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other could equally +share, an apparent composure of mind, which, in being the result as +she trusted of serious reflection, must eventually lead her to +contentment and cheerfulness. + +As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered on scenes of which +every field and every tree brought some peculiar, some painful +recollection, she grew silent and thoughtful, and turning away her +face from their notice, sat earnestly gazing through the window. But +here, Elinor could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw, as she +assisted Marianne from the carriage, that she had been crying, she saw +only an emotion too natural in itself to raise any thing less tender +than pity, and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise. In the whole +of her subsequent manner, she traced the direction of a mind awakened +to reasonable exertion; for no sooner had they entered their common +sitting-room, than Marianne turned her eyes around it with a look of +resolute firmness, as if determined at once to accustom herself to the +sight of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could +be connected. She said little, but every sentence aimed at +cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her, it never passed +away without the atonement of a smile. After dinner she would try her +piano-forte. She went to it; but the music on which her eye first +rested was an opera, procured for her by Willoughby, containing some +of their favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name +in his hand-writing. That would not do. She shook her head, put the +music aside, and after running over the keys for a minute, complained +of feebleness in her fingers, and closed the instrument again; +declaring however with firmness as she did so, that she should in +future practice much. + +The next morning produced no abatement in these happy symptoms. On the +contrary, with a mind and body alike strengthened by rest, she looked +and spoke with more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of +Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party which would +then be restored, of their mutual pursuits and cheerful society, as +the only happiness worth a wish. + +"When the weather is settled, and I have recovered my strength," said +she, "we will take long walks together every day. We will walk to the +farm at the edge of the down, and see how the children go on; we will +walk to Sir John's new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland; +and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory, and try to trace its +foundations as far as we are told they once reached. I know we shall +be happy. I know the summer will pass happily away. I mean never to be +later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner I shall +divide every moment between music and reading. I have formed my plan, +and am determined to enter on a course of serious study. Our own +library is too well known to me, to be resorted to for any thing +beyond mere amusement. But there are many works well worth reading at +the Park; and there are others of more modern production which I know +I can borrow of Colonel Brandon. By reading only six hours a-day, I +shall gain in the course of a twelvemonth a great deal of instruction +which I now feel myself to want." + +Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as this; +though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been leading her +to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish repining, now at work +in introducing excess into a scheme of such rational employment and +virtuous self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she +remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled, and feared +she had that to communicate which might again unsettle the mind of +Marianne, and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy +tranquillity. Willing therefore to delay the evil hour, she resolved +to wait till her sister's health were more secure, before she +appointed it. But the resolution was made only to be broken. + +[Illustration: "_And see how the children go on._"] + +Marianne had been two or three days at home, before the weather was +fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out. But at last a +soft, genial morning appeared; such as might tempt the daughter's +wishes and the mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's +arm, was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue, in +the lane before the house. + +The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness of Marianne in +an exercise hitherto untried since her illness required;--and they had +advanced only so far beyond the house as to admit a full view of the +hill, the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes turned +towards it, Marianne calmly said-- + +"There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand, "on that projecting +mound,--there I fell; and there I first saw Willoughby." + +Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added, + +"I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain on the +spot! shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?" hesitatingly it was +said. "Or will it be wrong? I can talk of it now, I hope, as I ought +to do." + +Elinor tenderly invited her to be open. + +"As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that, as far as _he_ +is concerned. I do not mean to talk to you of what my feelings have +been for him, but what they are _now._ At present, if I could be +satisfied on one point, if I could be allowed to think that he was not +_always_ acting a part, not _always_ deceiving me; but above all, if I +could be assured that he never was so _very_ wicked as my fears have +sometimes fancied him, since the story of that unfortunate girl--" + +She stopped. Elinor joyfully treasured her words as she answered-- + +"If you could be assured of that, you think you should be easy." + +"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it; for not only is it +horrible to suspect a person, who has been what _he_ has been to _me_, +of such designs, but what must it make me appear to myself? What in a +situation like mine, but a most shamefully unguarded affection could +expose me to--" + +"How then," asked her sister, "would you account for his behaviour?" + +"I would suppose him--Oh, how gladly would I suppose him!--only +fickle, very, very fickle." + +Elinor said no more. She was debating within herself on the +eligibility of beginning her story directly, or postponing it till +Marianne were in stronger health; and they crept on for a few minutes +in silence. + +"I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne at last with a +sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections may be no more unpleasant +than my own. He will suffer enough in them." + +"Do you compare your conduct with his?" + +"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with +yours." + +"Our situations have borne little resemblance." + +"They have borne more than our conduct. Do not, my dearest Elinor, let +your kindness defend what I know your judgment must censure. My illness +has made me think. It has given me leisure and calmness for serious +recollection. Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was +perfectly able to reflect. I considered the past: I saw in my own +behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last autumn, +nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of kindness +to others. I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings, and +that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me to the grave. My +illness, I well knew, had been entirely brought on by myself by such +negligence of my own health, as I had felt even at the time to be wrong. +Had I died, it would have been self-destruction. I did not know my +danger till the danger was removed; but with such feelings as these +reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery,--wonder that the very +eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God, +and to you all, did not kill me at once. Had I died, in what peculiar +misery should I have left you, my nurse, my friend, my sister! You, who +had seen all the fretful selfishness of my latter days; who had known +all the murmurings of my heart! How should I have lived in _your_ +remembrance! My mother too! How could you have consoled her! I cannot +express my own abhorrence of myself. Whenever I looked towards the past, +I saw some duty neglected, or some failing indulged. Every body seemed +injured by me. The kindness, the unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings, I +had repaid with ungrateful contempt. To the Middletons, to the Palmers, +the Steeles, to every common acquaintance even, I had been insolent and +unjust; with a heart hardened against their merits, and a temper +irritated by their very attention. To John, to Fanny, yes, even to them, +little as they deserve, I had given less than their due. But you, you +above all, above my mother, had been wronged by me. I, and only I, knew +your heart and its sorrows; yet to what did it influence me?--not to any +compassion that could benefit you or myself. Your example was before me; +but to what avail? Was I more considerate of you and your comfort? Did I +imitate your forbearance, or lessen your restraints, by taking any part +in those offices of general complaisance or particular gratitude which +you had hitherto been left to discharge alone? No; not less when I knew +you to be unhappy, than when I had believed you at ease, did I turn away +from every exertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow to +exist but with me, regretting only _that_ heart which had deserted and +wronged me, and leaving you, for I professed an unbounded affection, to +be miserable for my sake." + +Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit; and Elinor, +impatient to soothe, though too honest to flatter, gave her instantly +that praise and support which her frankness and her contrition so well +deserved. Marianne pressed her hand and replied-- + +"You are very good. The future must be my proof. I have laid down my +plan, and if I am capable of adhering to it--my feelings shall be +governed and my temper improved. They shall no longer worry others, +nor torture myself. I shall now live solely for my family. You, my +mother, and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me; you will +share my affections entirely between you. From you, from my home, I +shall never again have the smallest incitement to move; and if I do +mix in other society, it will be only to show that my spirit is +humbled, my heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities, the +lesser duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance. As for +Willoughby--to say that I shall soon or that I shall ever forget him, +would be idle. His remembrance can be overcome by no change of +circumstances or opinions. But it shall be regulated, it shall be +checked by religion, by reason, by constant employment." + +She paused--and added in a low voice, "If I could but know _his_ +heart, everything would become easy." + +Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting on the propriety or +impropriety of speedily hazarding her narration, without feeling at +all nearer decision than at first, heard this; and perceiving that as +reflection did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself +leading to the fact. + +She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address; prepared her +anxious listener with caution; related simply and honestly the chief +points on which Willoughby grounded his apology; did justice to his +repentance, and softened only his protestations of present regard. +Marianne said not a word. She trembled, her eyes were fixed on the +ground, and her lips became whiter than even sickness had left them. A +thousand inquiries sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge +one. She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand, +unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and tears +covered her cheeks. + +Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home; and till they +reached the door of the cottage, easily conjecturing what her +curiosity must be though no question was suffered to speak it, talked +of nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation together; and was +carefully minute in every particular of speech and look, where +minuteness could be safely indulged. As soon as they entered the +house, Marianne with a kiss of gratitude and these two words just +articulate through her tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister +and walked slowly up stairs. Elinor would not attempt to disturb a +solitude so reasonable as what she now sought; and with a mind +anxiously pre-arranging its result, and a resolution of reviving the +subject again, should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into the +parlour to fulfill her parting injunction. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + + +Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication of her former +favourite. She rejoiced in his being cleared from some part of his +imputed guilt;--she was sorry for him;--she wished him happy. But the +feelings of the past could not be recalled. Nothing could restore him +with a faith unbroken--a character unblemished, to Marianne. Nothing +could do away the knowledge of what the latter had suffered through +his means, nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza. Nothing +could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem, nor injure the +interests of Colonel Brandon. + +Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's story from +himself,--had she witnessed his distress, and been under the influence +of his countenance and his manner, it is probable that her compassion +would have been greater. But it was neither in Elinor's power, nor in +her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her retailed +explanation, as had at first been called forth in herself. Reflection +had given calmness to her judgment, and sobered her own opinion of +Willoughby's deserts; she wished, therefore, to declare only the +simple truth, and lay open such facts as were really due to his +character, without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the fancy +astray. + +In the evening, when they were all three together, Marianne began +voluntarily to speak of him again; but that it was not without an +effort, the restless, unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for +some time previously sitting, her rising colour, as she spoke, and her +unsteady voice, plainly showed. + +"I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see every thing--as you +can desire me to do." + +Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly with soothing +tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished to hear her sister's +unbiased opinion, by an eager sign, engaged her silence. Marianne +slowly continued-- + +"It is a great relief to me--what Elinor told me this morning--I have +now heard exactly what I wished to hear."--For some moments her voice +was lost; but recovering herself, she added, and with greater calmness +than before--"I am now perfectly satisfied, I wish for no change. I +never could have been happy with him, after knowing, as sooner or +later I must have known, all this. I should have had no confidence, no +esteem. Nothing could have done it away to my feelings." + +"I know it--I know it," cried her mother. "Happy with a man of +libertine practices!--With one who so injured the peace of the dearest +of our friends, and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a heart +to be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her sensitive +conscience, would have felt all that the conscience of her husband +ought to have felt." + +Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change." + +"You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as a good mind and a +sound understanding must consider it; and I dare say you perceive, as +well as myself, not only in this, but in many other circumstances, +reason enough to be convinced that your marriage must have involved +you in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which you would +have been poorly supported by an affection, on his side, much less +certain. Had you married, you must have been always poor. His +expensiveness is acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct +declares that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him. His +demands and your inexperience together, on a small, very small income, +must have brought on distresses which would not be the _less_ grievous +to you, from having been entirely unknown and unthought of before. +_Your_ sense of honour and honesty would have led you, I know, when +aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy that would appear +to you possible: and, perhaps, as long as your frugality retrenched +only on your own comfort, you might have been suffered to practice it, +but beyond that--and how little could the utmost of your single +management do to stop the ruin which had begun before your marriage? +beyond _that_, had you endeavoured, however reasonably, to abridge +_his_ enjoyments, is it not to be feared, that instead of prevailing +on feelings so selfish to consent to it, you would have lessened your +own influence on his heart, and made him regret the connection which +had involved him in such difficulties?" + +Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word "Selfish?" in a +tone that implied, "do you really think him selfish?" + +"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor, "from the beginning to +the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness. It was +selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which +afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession +of it, and which finally carried him from Barton. His own enjoyment, +or his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle." + +"It is very true. _My_ happiness never was his object." + +"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he has done. And why +does he regret it?--Because he finds it has not answered towards +himself. It has not made him happy. His circumstances are now +unembarrassed--he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks +only that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than +yourself. But does it follow that had he married you, he would have +been happy?--The inconveniences would have been different. He would +then have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they +are removed, he now reckons as nothing. He would have had a wife of +whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always +necessitous--always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank +the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far +more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a +wife." + +"I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I have nothing to +regret--nothing but my own folly." + +"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child," said Mrs. Dashwood; +"_she_ must be answerable." + +Marianne would not let her proceed;--and Elinor, satisfied that each +felt their own error, wished to avoid any survey of the past that +might weaken her sister's spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first +subject, immediately continued-- + +"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from the whole of the +story--that all Willoughby's difficulties have arisen from the first +offence against virtue, in his behaviour to Eliza Williams. That crime +has been the origin of every lesser one, and of all his present +discontents." + +Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark; and her mother was led +by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon's injuries and merits, warm +as friendship and design could unitedly dictate. Her daughter did not +look, however, as if much of it were heard by her. + +Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two or three +following days, that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as she +had done; but while her resolution was unsubdued, and she still tried +to appear cheerful and easy, her sister could safely trust to the +effect of time upon her health. + +Margaret returned, and the family were again all restored to each +other, again quietly settled at the cottage; and if not pursuing their +usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first came to +Barton, at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future. + +Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward. She had heard +nothing of him since her leaving London, nothing new of his plans, +nothing certain even of his present abode. Some letters had passed +between her and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness; and +in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:--"We know +nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no enquiries on so +prohibited a subject, but conclude him to be still at Oxford"; which +was all the intelligence of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, +for his name was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters. +She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of his measures. + +Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on business; and +when, as he waited at table, he had satisfied the inquiries of his +mistress as to the event of his errand, this was his voluntary +communication-- + +"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married." + +Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes upon Elinor, saw her +turning pale, and fell back in her chair in hysterics. Mrs. Dashwood, +whose eyes, as she answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively +taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's +countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment afterwards, +alike distressed by Marianne's situation, knew not on which child to +bestow her principal attention. + +The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill, had sense +enough to call one of the maids, who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance, +supported her into the other room. By that time, Marianne was rather +better, and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret and the +maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so +far recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just +beginning an inquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence. +Mrs. Dashwood immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor +had the benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it. + +[Illustration: "_I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is +married._"] + +"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?" + +"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning in Exeter, and his lady +too, Miss Steele as was. They was stopping in a chaise at the door of +the New London Inn, as I went there with a message from Sally at the +Park to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened to look +up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly it was the youngest +Miss Steele; so I took off my hat, and she knew me and called to me, +and inquired after you, ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss +Marianne, and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's, +their best compliments and service, and how sorry they was they had +not time to come on and see you, but they was in a great hurry to go +forwards, for they was going further down for a little while, but +however, when they come back, they'd make sure to come and see you." + +"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?" + +"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she had changed her name since +she was in these parts. She was always a very affable and free-spoken +young lady, and very civil behaved. So, I made free to wish her joy." + +"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it, but he did not look +up;--he never was a gentleman much for talking." + +Elinor's heart could easily account for his not putting himself +forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably found the same explanation. + +"Was there no one else in the carriage?" + +"No, ma'am, only they two." + +"Do you know where they came from?" + +"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy--Mrs. Ferrars told me." + +"And are they going farther westward?" + +"Yes, ma'am--but not to bide long. They will soon be back again, and +then they'd be sure and call here." + +Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter; but Elinor knew better than +to expect them. She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and +was very confident that Edward would never come near them. She +observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they were probably going +down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth. + +Thomas's intelligence seemed over. Elinor looked as if she wished to +hear more. + +"Did you see them off, before you came away?" + +"No, ma'am--the horses were just coming out, but I could not bide any +longer; I was afraid of being late." + +"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?" + +"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well; and to my mind she was +always a very handsome young lady--and she seemed vastly contented." + +Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question, and Thomas and the +tablecloth, now alike needless, were soon afterwards dismissed. +Marianne had already sent to say, that she should eat nothing more. +Mrs. Dashwood's and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret +might think herself very well off, that with so much uneasiness as +both her sisters had lately experienced, so much reason as they had +often had to be careless of their meals, she had never been obliged to +go without her dinner before. + +When the dessert and the wine were arranged, and Mrs. Dashwood and +Elinor were left by themselves, they remained long together in a +similarity of thoughtfulness and silence. Mrs. Dashwood feared to +hazard any remark, and ventured not to offer consolation. She now +found that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation of +herself; and justly concluded that every thing had been expressly +softened at the time, to spare her from an increase of unhappiness, +suffering as she then had suffered for Marianne. She found that she +had been misled by the careful, the considerate attention of her +daughter, to think the attachment, which once she had so well +understood, much slighter in reality, than she had been wont to +believe, or than it was now proved to be. She feared that under this +persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to +her Elinor; that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged, +more immediately before her, had too much engrossed her tenderness, +and led her away to forget that in Elinor she might have a daughter +suffering almost as much, certainly with less self-provocation, and +greater fortitude. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + + +Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an +unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it, +and certainty itself. She now found, that in spite of herself, she had +always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something +would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his +own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible opportunity of +establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of +all. But he was now married; and she condemned her heart for the +lurking flattery, which so much heightened the pain of the +intelligence. + +That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined) he could be +in orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the +living, surprised her a little at first. But she soon saw how likely +it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure +him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay. They were +married, married in town, and now hastening down to her uncle's. What +had Edward felt on being within four miles from Barton, on seeing her +mother's servant, on hearing Lucy's message! + +They would soon, she supposed, be settled at +Delaford;--Delaford,--that place in which so much conspired to give +her an interest; which she wished to be acquainted with, and yet +desired to avoid. She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house; +saw in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once a desire +of smart appearance with the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be +suspected of half her economical practices; pursuing her own interest +in every thought, courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. +Jennings, and of every wealthy friend. In Edward, she knew not what +she saw, nor what she wished to see. Happy or unhappy, nothing pleased +her; she turned away her head from every sketch of him. + +Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London +would write to them to announce the event, and give farther +particulars,--but day after day passed off, and brought no letter, no +tidings. Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found fault +with every absent friend. They were all thoughtless or indolent. + +"When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?" was an inquiry which +sprung from the impatience of her mind to have something going on. + +"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see, than to +hear from him again. I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should +not be surprised to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day." + +This was gaining something, something to look forward to. Colonel +Brandon must have some information to give. + +Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure of a man on +horseback drew her eyes to the window. He stopped at their gate. It +was a gentleman, it was Colonel Brandon himself. Now she could hear +more; and she trembled in expectation of it. But--it was _not_ Colonel +Brandon--neither his air--nor his height. Were it possible, she must +say it must be Edward. She looked again. He had just dismounted;--she +could not be mistaken,--it _was_ Edward. She moved away and sat down. +"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us. I _will_ be calm, I +_will_ be mistress of myself." + +In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware of the +mistake. She saw her mother and Marianne change colour; saw them look +at herself, and whisper a few sentences to each other. She would have +given the world to be able to speak--and to make them understand that +she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear in their behaviour to +him;--but she had no utterance, and was obliged to leave all to their +own discretion. + +Not a syllable passed aloud. They all waited in silence for the +appearance of their visitor. His footsteps were heard along the gravel +path; in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before +them. + +His countenance, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for +Elinor. His complexion was white with agitation, and he looked as if +fearful of his reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one. +Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted, to the wishes of +that daughter, by whom she then meant in the warmth of her heart to be +guided in every thing, met with a look of forced complacency, gave him +her hand, and wished him joy. + +[Illustration: _It was Edward._] + +He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply. Elinor's lips +had moved with her mother's, and, when the moment of action was over, +she wished that she had shaken hands with him too. But it was then too +late, and with a countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again +and talked of the weather. + +Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal +her distress; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole +of the case, thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and +therefore took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a +strict silence. + +When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very +awful pause took place. It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who +felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well. In a +hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative. + +Another pause. + +Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own +voice, now said-- + +"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?" + +"At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise. "No, my mother +is in town." + +"I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to +inquire for Mrs. _Edward_ Ferrars." + +She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both turned their +eyes on him. He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and, +after some hesitation, said,-- + +"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs. _Robert_ Ferrars." + +"Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an +accent of the utmost amazement;--and though Elinor could not speak, +even _her_ eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder. He +rose from his seat, and walked to the window, apparently from not +knowing what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there, and +while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting the latter to +pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice-- + +"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard that my brother is +lately married to--to the youngest--to Miss Lucy Steele." + +His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all but +Elinor, who sat with her head leaning over her work, in a state of +such agitation as made her hardly know where she was. + +"Yes," said he, "they were married last week, and are now at Dawlish." + +Elinor could sit it no longer. She almost ran out of the room, and as +soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first +she thought would never cease. Edward, who had till then looked any +where, rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw, or +even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a +reverie, which no remarks, no inquiries, no affectionate address of +Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate, and at last, without saying a word, +quitted the room, and walked out towards the village, leaving the +others in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his +situation, so wonderful and so sudden,--a perplexity which they had no +means of lessening but by their own conjectures. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + + +Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his release might +appear to the whole family, it was certain that Edward was free; and +to what purpose that freedom would be employed was easily +pre-determined by all;--for after experiencing the blessings of _one_ +imprudent engagement, contracted without his mother's consent, as he +had already done for more than four years, nothing less could be +expected of him in the failure of _that_, than the immediate +contraction of another. + +His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one. It was only to ask +Elinor to marry him;--and considering that he was not altogether +inexperienced in such a question, it might be strange that he should +feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he really did, so much in +need of encouragement and fresh air. + +How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution, however, +how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred, in what manner he +expressed himself, and how he was received, need not be particularly +told. This only need be said;--that when they all sat down to table at +four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival, he had secured his +lady, engaged her mother's consent, and was not only in the rapturous +profession of the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth, one +of the happiest of men. His situation indeed was more than commonly +joyful. He had more than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to +swell his heart, and raise his spirits. He was released without any +reproach to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed his +misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love; and elevated at +once to that security with another, which he must have thought of +almost with despair, as soon as he had learnt to consider it with +desire. He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from misery to +happiness; and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine, +flowing, grateful cheerfulness, as his friends had never witnessed in +him before. + +His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses, all its errors +confessed, and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated with all +the philosophic dignity of twenty-four. + +"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side," said he, "the +consequence of ignorance of the world and want of employment. Had my +brother given me some active profession when I was removed at eighteen +from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think, nay, I am sure, it would never +have happened; for though I left Longstaple with what I thought, at +the time, a most unconquerable preference for his niece, yet had I +then had any pursuit, any object to engage my time and keep me at a +distance from her for a few months, I should very soon have outgrown +the fancied attachment, especially by mixing more with the world, as +in such case I must have done. But instead of having any thing to do, +instead of having any profession chosen for me, or being allowed to +choose any myself, I returned home to be completely idle; and for the +first twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment, +which belonging to the university would have given me; for I was not +entered at Oxford till I was nineteen. I had therefore nothing in the +world to do, but to fancy myself in love; and as my mother did not +make my home in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend, no +companion in my brother, and disliked new acquaintance, it was not +unnatural for me to be very often at Longstaple, where I always felt +myself at home, and was always sure of a welcome; and accordingly I +spent the greatest part of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: +Lucy appeared everything that was amiable and obliging. She was pretty +too--at least I thought so _then_; and I had seen so little of other +women, that I could make no comparisons, and see no defects. +Considering everything, therefore, I hope, foolish as our engagement +was, foolish as it has since in every way been proved, it was not at +the time an unnatural or an inexcusable piece of folly." + +The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and the +happiness of the Dashwoods, was such--so great--as promised them all, +the satisfaction of a sleepless night. Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be +comfortable, knew not how to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, +how to be enough thankful for his release without wounding his +delicacy, nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained +conversation together, and yet enjoy, as she wished, the sight and +society of both. + +Marianne could speak _her_ happiness only by tears. Comparisons would +occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy, though sincere as her love +for her sister, was of a kind to give her neither spirits nor +language. + +But Elinor--how are _her_ feelings to be described? From the moment of +learning that Lucy was married to another, that Edward was free, to +the moment of his justifying the hopes which had so instantly +followed, she was every thing by turns but tranquil. But when the +second moment had passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude +removed, compared her situation with what so lately it had been,--saw +him honourably released from his former engagement,--saw him instantly +profiting by the release, to address herself and declare an affection +as tender, as constant as she had ever supposed it to be,--she was +oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity; and happily disposed +as is the human mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the +better, it required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, +or any degree of tranquillity to her heart. + +Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week;--for whatever +other claims might be made on him, it was impossible that less than a +week should be given up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or +suffice to say half that was to be said of the past, the present, and +the future;--for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of +incessant talking will despatch more subjects than can really be in +common between any two rational creatures, yet with lovers it is +different. Between _them_ no subject is finished, no communication is +even made, till it has been made at least twenty times over. + +Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder among them all, +formed of course one of the earliest discussions of the lovers;--and +Elinor's particular knowledge of each party made it appear to her in +every view, as one of the most extraordinary and unaccountable +circumstances she had ever heard. How they could be thrown together, +and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry a girl, of +whose beauty she had herself heard him speak without any +admiration,--a girl too already engaged to his brother, and on whose +account that brother had been thrown off by his family--it was beyond +her comprehension to make out. To her own heart it was a delightful +affair, to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but to her +reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle. + +Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing, that, perhaps, +at first accidentally meeting, the vanity of the one had been so +worked on by the flattery of the other, as to lead by degrees to all +the rest. Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street, +of his opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's affairs +might have done, if applied to in time. She repeated it to Edward. + +"_That_ was exactly like Robert," was his immediate observation. "And +_that_," he presently added, "might perhaps be in _his_ head when the +acquaintance between them first began. And Lucy perhaps at first might +think only of procuring his good offices in my favour. Other designs +might afterward arise." + +How long it had been carrying on between them, however, he was equally +at a loss with herself to make out; for at Oxford, where he had +remained for choice ever since his quitting London, he had had no +means of hearing of her but from herself, and her letters to the very +last were neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual. Not +the smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred to prepare him +for what followed;--and when at last it burst on him in a letter from +Lucy herself, he had been for some time, he believed, half stupified +between the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance. He +put the letter into Elinor's hands. + +"DEAR SIR, + + "Being very sure I have long lost your affections, I have + thought myself at liberty to bestow my own on another, and + have no doubt of being as happy with him as I once used to + think I might be with you; but I scorn to accept a hand + while the heart was another's. Sincerely wish you happy in + your choice, and it shall not be my fault if we are not + always good friends, as our near relationship now makes + proper. I can safely say I owe you no ill-will, and am sure + you will be too generous to do us any ill offices. Your + brother has gained my affections entirely, and as we could + not live without one another, we are just returned from the + altar, and are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, + which place your dear brother has great curiosity to see, + but thought I would first trouble you with these few lines, + and shall always remain-- + + "Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister, + + "LUCY FERRARS." + + "I have burnt all your letters, and will return your picture + the first opportunity. Please to destroy my scrawls--but the + ring with my hair you are very welcome to keep." + +Elinor read and returned it without any comment. + +"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition," said Edward. +"For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by _you_ in +former days. In a sister it is bad enough, but in a wife! how I have +blushed over the pages of her writing! and I believe I may say that +since the first half year of our foolish business this is the only +letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me any +amends for the defect of the style." + +"However it may have come about," said Elinor, after a pause,--"they +are certainly married. And your mother has brought on herself a most +appropriate punishment. The independence she settled on Robert, +through resentment against you, has put it in his power to make his +own choice; and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand +a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the other for +intending to do. She will hardly be less hurt, I suppose, by Robert's +marrying Lucy, than she would have been by your marrying her." + +"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always was her favourite. She +will be more hurt by it, and on the same principle will forgive him +much sooner." + +In what state the affair stood at present between them, Edward knew +not, for no communication with any of his family had yet been +attempted by him. He had quitted Oxford within four and twenty hours +after Lucy's letter arrived, and with only one object before him, the +nearest road to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of +conduct, with which that road did not hold the most intimate +connection. He could do nothing till he were assured of his fate with +Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity in seeking _that_ fate, it is to be +supposed, in spite of the jealousy with which he had once thought of +Colonel Brandon, in spite of the modesty with which he rated his own +deserts, and the politeness with which he talked of his doubts, he did +not, upon the whole, expect a very cruel reception. It was his +business, however, to say that he _did_, and he said it very prettily. +What he might say on the subject a twelvemonth after, must be referred +to the imagination of husbands and wives. + +That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of +malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to +Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her +character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost +meanness of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened, +even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her ignorance and a +want of liberality in some of her opinions, they had been equally +imputed, by him, to her want of education; and till her last letter +reached him, he had always believed her to be a well-disposed, +good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself. Nothing but +such a persuasion could have prevented his putting an end to an +engagement, which, long before the discovery of it laid him open to +his mother's anger, had been a continual source of disquiet and regret +to him. + +"I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings, to give +her the option of continuing the engagement or not, when I was +renounced by my mother, and stood to all appearance without a friend +in the world to assist me. In such a situation as that, where there +seemed nothing to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living +creature, how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly +insisted on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing but +the most disinterested affection was her inducement? And even now, I +cannot comprehend on what motive she acted, or what fancied advantage +it could be to her, to be fettered to a man for whom she had not the +smallest regard, and who had only two thousand pounds in the world. +She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a living." + +"No; but she might suppose that something would occur in your favour; +that your own family might in time relent. And at any rate, she lost +nothing by continuing the engagement, for she has proved that it +fettered neither her inclination nor her actions. The connection was +certainly a respectable one, and probably gained her consideration +among her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred, it +would be better for her to marry _you_ than be single." + +Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that nothing could have +been more natural than Lucy's conduct, nor more self-evident than the +motive of it. + +Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold the imprudence +which compliments themselves, for having spent so much time with them +at Norland, when he must have felt his own inconstancy. + +"Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she; "because--to say +nothing of my own conviction, our relations were all led away by it to +fancy and expect _what_, as you were _then_ situated, could never be." + +He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart, and a mistaken +confidence in the force of his engagement. + +"I was simple enough to think, that because my _faith_ was plighted to +another, there could be no danger in my being with you; and that the +consciousness of my engagement was to keep my heart as safe and sacred +as my honour. I felt that I admired you, but I told myself it was only +friendship; and till I began to make comparisons between yourself and +Lucy, I did not know how far I was got. After that, I suppose, I _was_ +wrong in remaining so much in Sussex, and the arguments with which I +reconciled myself to the expediency of it, were no better than +these:--The danger is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but +myself." + +Elinor smiled, and shook her head. + +Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's being expected at the +Cottage, as he really wished not only to be better acquainted with +him, but to have an opportunity of convincing him that he no longer +resented his giving him the living of Delaford--"Which, at present," +said he, "after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine were on the +occasion, he must think I have never forgiven him for offering." + +_Now_ he felt astonished himself that he had never yet been to the +place. But so little interest had he taken in the matter, that he owed +all his knowledge of the house, garden, and glebe, extent of the +parish, condition of the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor +herself, who had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon, and heard +it with so much attention, as to be entirely mistress of the subject. + +One question after this only remained undecided, between them, one +difficulty only was to be overcome. They were brought together by +mutual affection, with the warmest approbation of their real friends; +their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make their happiness +certain--and they only wanted something to live upon. Edward had two +thousand pounds, and Elinor one, which, with Delaford living, was all +that they could call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs. +Dashwood should advance anything; and they were neither of them quite +enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a-year +would supply them with the comforts of life. + +Edward was not entirely without hopes of some favourable change in his +mother towards him; and on _that_ he rested for the residue of their +income. But Elinor had no such dependence; for since Edward would +still be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his choosing herself had +been spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language as only a lesser +evil than his choosing Lucy Steele, she feared that Robert's offence +would serve no other purpose than to enrich Fanny. + +About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel Brandon appeared, to +complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction, and to give her the dignity of +having, for the first time since her living at Barton, more company +with her than her house would hold. Edward was allowed to retain the +privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore walked every +night to his old quarters at the Park; from whence he usually returned +in the morning, early enough to interrupt the lovers' first +tete-a-tete before breakfast. + +A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where, in his evening hours at +least, he had little to do but to calculate the disproportion between +thirty-six and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind +which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks, all the kindness +of her welcome, and all the encouragement of her mother's language, to +make it cheerful. Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he +did revive. No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:--he knew +nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his visit were +consequently spent in hearing and in wondering. Every thing was +explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood, and he found fresh reason to +rejoice in what he had done for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it +promoted the interest of Elinor. + +It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced in the good +opinion of each other, as they advanced in each other's acquaintance, +for it could not be otherwise. Their resemblance in good principles +and good sense, in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably +have been sufficient to unite them in friendship, without any other +attraction; but their being in love with two sisters, and two sisters +fond of each other, made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate, +which might otherwise have waited the effect of time and judgment. + +The letters from town, which a few days before would have made every +nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport, now arrived to be read +with less emotion that mirth. Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the +wonderful tale, to vent her honest indignation against the jilting +girl, and pour forth her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she +was sure, had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now, by +all accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford. "I do think," she +continued, "nothing was ever carried on so sly; for it was but two +days before Lucy called and sat a couple of hours with me. Not a soul +suspected anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul! came +crying to me the day after, in a great fright for fear of Mrs. +Ferrars, as well as not knowing how to get to Plymouth; for Lucy it +seems borrowed all her money before she went off to be married, on +purpose we suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not seven +shillings in the world;--so I was very glad to give her five guineas +to take her down to Exeter, where she thinks of staying three or four +weeks with Mrs. Burgess, in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the +Doctor again. And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them +along with them in the chaise is worse than all. Poor Mr. Edward! I +cannot get him out of my head, but you must send for him to Barton, +and Miss Marianne must try to comfort him." + +Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn. Mrs. Ferrars was the most +unfortunate of women--poor Fanny had suffered agonies of +sensibility--and he considered the existence of each, under such a +blow, with grateful wonder. Robert's offence was unpardonable, but +Lucy's was infinitely worse. Neither of them were ever again to be +mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even, if she might hereafter be induced +to forgive her son, his wife should never be acknowledged as her +daughter, nor be permitted to appear in her presence. The secrecy with +which everything had been carried on between them, was rationally +treated as enormously heightening the crime, because, had any +suspicion of it occurred to the others, proper measures would have +been taken to prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join +with him in regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward had not +rather been fulfilled, than that she should thus be the means of +spreading misery farther in the family. He thus continued:-- + +"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name, which does not +surprise us; but, to our great astonishment, not a line has been +received from him on the occasion. Perhaps, however, he is kept silent +by his fear of offending, and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by +a line to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter of proper +submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny, and by her shown to +her mother, might not be taken amiss; for we all know the tenderness +of Mrs. Ferrars's heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to +be on good terms with her children." + +This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and conduct of +Edward. It determined him to attempt a reconciliation, though not +exactly in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister. + +"A letter of proper submission!" repeated he; "would they have me beg +my mother's pardon for Robert's ingratitude to _her_, and breach of +honour to _me_? I can make no submission. I am grown neither humble +nor penitent by what has passed. I am grown very happy; but that would +not interest. I know of no submission that _is_ proper for me to +make." + +"You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor, "because you have +offended;--and I should think you might _now_ venture so far as to +profess some concern for having ever formed the engagement which drew +on you your mother's anger." + +He agreed that he might. + +"And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility may be +convenient while acknowledging a second engagement, almost as +imprudent in _her_ eyes as the first." + +He had nothing to urge against it, but still resisted the idea of a +letter of proper submission; and therefore, to make it easier to him, +as he declared a much greater willingness to make mean concessions by +word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that, instead of writing +to Fanny, he should go to London, and personally entreat her good +offices in his favour. "And if they really _do_ interest themselves," +said Marianne, in her new character of candour, "in bringing about a +reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny are not +entirely without merit." + +After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three or four days, +the two gentlemen quitted Barton together. They were to go immediately +to Delaford, that Edward might have some personal knowledge of his +future home, and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what +improvements were needed to it; and from thence, after staying there a +couple of nights, he was to proceed on his journey to town. + + + + +CHAPTER L + + +After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars, just so violent +and so steady as to preserve her from that reproach which she always +seemed fearful of incurring, the reproach of being too amiable, Edward +was admitted to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son. + +Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating. For many years of +her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of +Edward a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar +annihilation of Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and +now, by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again. + +In spite of his being allowed once more to live, however, he did not +feel the continuance of his existence secure, till he had revealed his +present engagement; for the publication of that circumstance, he +feared, might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry him +off as rapidly as before. With apprehensive caution therefore it was +revealed, and he was listened to with unexpected calmness. Mrs. +Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying +Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power; told him, that in Miss +Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune; and +enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter +of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was +only the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than _three_; +but when she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her +representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she +judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit; and +therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own +dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she +issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor. + +What she would engage to do towards augmenting their income was next +to be considered; and here it plainly appeared, that though Edward was +now her only son, he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was +inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year, not the smallest +objection was made against Edward's taking orders for the sake of two +hundred and fifty at the utmost; nor was anything promised either for +the present or in future, beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had +been given with Fanny. + +It was as much, however, as was desired, and more than was expected, +by Edward and Elinor; and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling +excuses, seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more. + +With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them, +they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of the +living, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, with +an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was making +considerable improvements; and after waiting some time for their +completion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointments +and delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor, +as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marrying +till every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Barton +church early in the autumn. + +The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at +the Mansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of +the Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the +spot;--could choose papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep. +Mrs. Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled together, were +chiefly fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward and his wife in +their Parsonage by Michaelmas, and she found in Elinor and her +husband, as she really believed, one of the happiest couples in the +world. They had in fact nothing to wish for, but the marriage of +Colonel Brandon and Marianne, and rather better pasturage for their +cows. + +They were visited on their first settling by almost all their +relations and friends. Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness +which she was almost ashamed of having authorised; and even the +Dashwoods were at the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them +honour. + +"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, as +they were walking together one morning before the gates of Delaford +House, "_that_ would be saying too much, for certainly you have been +one of the most fortunate young women in the world, as it is. But, I +confess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon +brother. His property here, his place, his house,--every thing is in +such respectable and excellent condition! And his woods,--I have not +seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing in +Delaford Hanger! And though, perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactly +the person to attract him, yet I think it would altogether be +advisable for you to have them now frequently staying with you, for as +Colonel Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what may +happen; for, when people are much thrown together, and see little of +anybody else,--and it will always be in your power to set her off to +advantage, and so forth. In short, you may as well give her a chance; +You understand me." + +But though Mrs. Ferrars _did_ come to see them, and always treated +them with the make-believe of decent affection, they were never +insulted by her real favour and preference. _That_ was due to the +folly of Robert, and the cunning of his wife; and it was earned by +them before many months had passed away. The selfish sagacity of the +latter, which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the +principal instrument of his deliverance from it; for her respectful +humility, assiduous attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the +smallest opening was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars +to his choice, and re-established him completely in her favour. + +[Illustration: _Everything in such respectable condition_] + +The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which +crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging +instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, +however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing +every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time +and conscience. When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and +privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the +view imputed to him by his brother. He merely meant to persuade her to +give up the engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but +the affection of both, he naturally expected that one or two +interviews would settle the matter. In that point, however, and that +only, he erred; for though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence +would convince her in _time_, another visit, another conversation, was +always wanted to produce this conviction. Some doubts always lingered +in her mind when they parted, which could only be removed by another +half hour's discourse with himself. His attendance was by this means +secured, and the rest followed in course. Instead of talking of +Edward, they came gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject on +which he had always more to say than on any other, and in which she +soon betrayed an interest even equal to his own; and in short, it +became speedily evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his +brother. He was proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and +very proud of marrying privately without his mother's consent. What +immediately followed is known. They passed some months in great +happiness at Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances +to cut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages; and from +thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by +the simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was +adopted. The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable, +comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty +and therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks +longer unpardoned. But perseverance in humility of conduct and +messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for +the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty +notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon +afterwards, by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and +influence. Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert +or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having +once intended to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in +fortune and birth, was spoken of as an intruder, _she_ was in every +thing considered, and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite +child. They settled in town, received very liberal assistance from +Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; +and setting aside the jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting +between Fanny and Lucy, in which their husbands of course took a part, +as well as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy +themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which they all lived +together. + +What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest son, might have +puzzled many people to find out; and what Robert had done to succeed +to it, might have puzzled them still more. It was an arrangement, +however, justified in its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing +ever appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give a +suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income, as either +leaving his brother too little, or bringing himself too much;--and if +Edward might be judged from the ready discharge of his duties in every +particular, from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home, +and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits, he might be supposed +no less contented with his lot, no less free from every wish of an +exchange. + +Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her family as could well +be contrived, without rendering the cottage at Barton entirely +useless, for her mother and sisters spent much more than half their +time with her. Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well +as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delaford; for her wish +of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less +earnest, though rather more liberal than what John had expressed. It +was now her darling object. Precious as was the company of her +daughter to her, she desired nothing so much as to give up its +constant enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled +at the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor. They +each felt his sorrows, and their own obligations, and Marianne, by +general consent, was to be the reward of all. + +With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge so intimate of +his goodness--with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself, +which at last, though long after it was observable to everybody +else--burst on her--what could she do? + +Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to +discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her +conduct, her most favourite maxims. She was born to overcome an +affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no +sentiment superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily +to give her hand to another!--and _that_ other, a man who had suffered +no less than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two +years before, she had considered too old to be married,--and who still +sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat! + +But so it was. Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible +passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting, +instead of remaining even for ever with her mother, and finding her +only pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her more calm +and sober judgment she had determined on,--she found herself at +nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new duties, +placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the +patroness of a village. + +Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him, +believed he deserved to be;--in Marianne he was consoled for every +past affliction;--her regard and her society restored his mind to +animation, and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found +her own happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and +delight of each observing friend. Marianne could never love by halves; +and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, +as it had once been to Willoughby. + +Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his +punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness +of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, +as the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had +he behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been +happy and rich. That his repentance of misconduct, which thus brought +its own punishment, was sincere, need not be doubted;--nor that he +long thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with +regret. But that he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from +society, or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a +broken heart, must not be depended on--for he did neither. He lived to +exert, and frequently to enjoy himself. His wife was not always out of +humour, nor his home always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses +and dogs, and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable +degree of domestic felicity. + +For Marianne, however, in spite of his incivility in surviving her +loss, he always retained that decided regard which interested him in +every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of +perfection in woman; and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him +in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon. + +Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage, without +attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for Sir John and +Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret had +reached an age highly suitable for dancing, and not very ineligible +for being supposed to have a lover. + +Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication +which strong family affection would naturally dictate;--and among the +merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked +as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost +within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement +between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Complete Works of Jane Austen, +by Jane Austen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN *** + +***** This file should be named 31100.txt or 31100.txt ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/1/0/31100/ + +Produced by David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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