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 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 I 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 34
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.